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Title: Dooly, Silvester to Gibbs, Valentine, 1832
ID6406
CollectionNew Brunswick Letters
Filenewbrunswick/41
Year1832
SenderDooly, Silvester
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginNewfoundland, Canada
DestinationChatham, N.Brunswick, Canada
RecipientGibbs, Valentine
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipcousins
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count554
Genreaccount of shipwreck, finding out family connection, request for advice on professions
Note
TranscriptMr. John Slack Tavern
Keeper Chatham to be
forwarded to Mr
Valentine Gibbs In
your vicinity or on the
coast Elsewhere
St Peters August August 3th 1832

Dear and Loving Cousin,

I send this as a silent Messenger. Hoping it may meet you and the rest of my country
men in as Perfect State of health, in those frozen regions of North America at present as this
leaves me, the Almighty be praised for Kind Benefits

Dear Valentine,
I happened to leave that Soil of your Birth Last April five years and Came to St Johns,
Newfoundland, and am back and forth from there to this Island called Prince Edwards ever
since, the first Winter I came to this Island, I happened to [Settle Myself] In this Vicinity called St Peters where I can See every Day hundreds of my fellow countrymen all around me which was a great consolation to me being a poor youngster from Old Erin Lately. Dear Cousin, its little I thought last fall that ever I would Speak a word to any mortal being in the world any more. I happened to go from this neighbourhood this spring, twelve months to Newfoundland and Spend that Summer at the fishery. But I being of a notion when I left this Island To come back in the fall and Settle and Take a farm here and spend the remainder of my days in this Little Island, But the Lord Being Pleased to Send a great Disaster in our Way, myself and fellow passengers. It Being Late when we Left St Johns The 19th Day of December our Vessel being Dashed to pieces on the Cape Bretian Shore and providence happened that I Came Alive myself and a good many More and a great many Frozen To Death. I will say no more about it. Dear Cousin, as I happened to have the Fortune that The Almighty spared my life for a longer day.
Dear Cousin, after being Cast away last fall, I happened to hear from a Neighbouring woman of mine that in Arochat on the Nova Scotia shore, Ann Henery, John Henery’s Wife, that She Saw you in that Country Called Mirarnichi and that you were a Credit To the rest of your Country men, which gave me the greatest of Pleasure to hear. Now Dear Cousin, I am to ask one Favour of you To let me know what am I To Do. I hope you let me know whether it would be Better for me to go over to you, to that Place or Settle myself in this Island or move to other Climes, I am Single as yet, don’t like to Settle on a farm. I hope you write to me as soon as possible and let Me know whether I would go over to you or not. This Island is Very Scarce of Money. Valentine your Cousin and mine Catham Martin went to the [Nunnery] to the town of Kilkenny and died after twelve months and was Very much regreted by all who knew her.
N B Direct your letter to Mr Michael Mullally St Peters Cross roads Kings County Parish of St.
Andrews P.E.I To Be Forwarded To Salvester Dooly of Said Island
So No More at Present

From your Loving Cousin
Salvester Dooly
farewell