| Title: | Whelan, John to Hughes, Laurence, 1854 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6427 |
| Collection | New Brunswick Letters |
| File | newbrunswick/62 |
| Year | 1854 |
| Sender | Whelan, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | emigrant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Fredericton, N.Brunswick, Canada |
| Recipient | Hughes, Laurence |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 847 |
| Genre | arrival, financial trouble, a friend helped him, prospects, account fo passage, inquires about family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Kensington PA., Sept. 25 St. John, N.B. Sept., 1854 Fredericton Oct. 4, 1854 (Addressed to) [In haste] Mr. Lawrence Hughes Fredericton New Brunswick America Philadelphia 25 Sept. 1854 Dear Uncle: I write to inform you that I landed in Philadelphia on Sunday week after 33 days of sailing. I got good health on sea when I landed at Philadelphia. A respectable female on board with me with whom I was acquainted gave me an invitation to her father who is in Philadelphia for the last ten years where I am most hospitably entertained and much respected. So I am here now for the last eight days. I wrote to my uncle Edward on Tuesday last, stating to him that I was landed and had not got money sufficient to pay my fare to him in consequence of me being nearly late in Liverpool for to pay my passage. It cost me 24 shillings above the ordinary fare of the vessel so I landed in Philadelphia with only four dollars when I should have had ten. I’m told from this to Summit where he lives is 250 miles and the fare is eight dollars. So you see I could not possibly go. I stated all in my letter to him. I think he could have replied to my letter since it is now seven or eight days since I wrote to him. If it was not for the kind friend I met I should be very badly off. I would feel happy if he would only write to me that I could write home to my poor mother who thinks every moment an hour until she hears from me. I cannot do so until I got a letter from either him or you for if she thought I was among strangers in a foreign land she would loose her life. It will be only a miracle from God if she is alive at present for she was heartbroken parting me. My sister was coming with me but she was rather delicate so she deferred it until spring. Girls can do much better in Philadelphia than boys. I did not learn my father’s trade, I went to live a servant in Carlow College so my only chance is to get into some store. I should think myself scholar enough or perhaps waiter in a hotel. I have a great desire for business. I do not drink. I never since I was born tasted any kind of liquor. I am pledged for the last 12 years and am only going on my twentieth year now. I cannot apply for anything until I hear from you of course I should like to be near my uncles, either of course would be pleasing to me. If you think it better it better for me to remain in Philadelphia and look for a situation, of course I shall do it. I have plenty of good clothes with me. My poor mother thought she would never have put enough in my large chest. I shall be all impatient until I now hear from you. the thoughts of not writing home and being in a strange house so long without being able to return the compliment hurts me. But if God leaves me my health, which I trust in his boundless mercy He will, I shall be able to requite them before it is long. So I now beg to you dear uncle to make no delay in answering this. I shall remain as I am until I get your letter. Dear uncle, I beg to be excused for not having inquired after your and Mrs. Hughes and family’s health in the first part of this letter. It is that I should have done but I hope in God that you are all well. I left all my dear parents, brother and sisters well when I was leaving home. I trust in the Lord they still enjoy the same blessing. I enjoy very good health myself, indeed I had a most favorable passage. There was no sickness nor deaths and I can say no Irish immigrant ever as well fitted for the voyage. My poor mother thought my large chest would never contain half enough for me. I now only ask of God grace to be one day able to recompense her for her affection, for she is the best of mothers. I can say no more. You know I shall be all impatient until I have a letter from you. dear uncle. You will please give my love and best respects to Mrs. Hughes and all my dear cousins. I beg to remain with great respect, your nephew John Whelan Dear sir, when you write, direct your letter in care Charles O’Neill, 133 Cadwalter Street above Master Kensington, Philadelphia, for John Whelan. (Written on back of letter) A copy of the survey of my logs to Mr Friel Logs measured for Laurance Hughes on a/c of B.C. Friel Esq. Market H 41 trees Making 3778 [unclear] Saint Marys Whitman Harris 18 April 1855 [Surveyor] |
