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Title: Crockett, George Jr to Crockett, George Sr., 1797
ID6611
CollectionIrish Immigrants in the Land of Canaan. Letters and memoirs from colonial and revolutionary America (1675-1815) [K.A. Miller et al.]
Filecaanan/18
Year1797
SenderCrockett, George Jr
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationentrepreneur, trader
Sender Religionunknown
OriginCabarrus Co., N. Carolina, USA
DestinationDrumnashear, Co. Donegal, Ireland
RecipientCrockett, George Sr.
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipson-father
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count1159
Genrelife in the colonies, events
Note
TranscriptGeorge Crockett, Jr., Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to George Crockett, Sr., Drumnashear, Killea Parish, County Donegal, 2 June 1797
Captn Paul Phifers Cabarrus County June 2nd 1797
Dear Father I write you these few lines to let you know that I am in good health hoping that they will find you and all the rest of my friends in the same, When I wrote you last Cousin John Fulton and I intended to go Westwardly but upon later considerations we came Southwardly into the State of North Carolina where I now am, Cousin John being gone to the Northward to bring out more goods and I have the care of the store until he returns, There was a Man pas<s>ed here about the first of January last who (according to the description he gave) told us that he had seen My two Uncles Samuel Al<e>xander and Al<e>xander Donaughey, the<y> live westward in the State of pensilvina at a place caled redstone old fort on the Monongahelio River, he was to return he said some time in April, when Cousin John and I both intended to write to my Uncles by him, but we have not seen him since therefore we had no opportunity, I have been informed since I came to this part of two men of my name that lived about forty miles from here one Robert and the other Al<e>xander Crocket who according to every account must be my Grandfathers two Brothers, Roberts sons lives here yet I had an opportunity of sending them a few lines by a neighbour of thers informing them according to the best of my recollection who I am and that I expected they were my friends, Shortly after I received a letter from one of them informing me that according to the account that I gave of my people he was fully satisfyed I was his friend as every instance I mentioned agreed with what he had heard his father say of his friends in Ireland. He gave me an invitation to go and see him I sent him word that I could not make it convenient untill C<ousin> John would return and then if it was in my power I would, which I intend to do. Al<e>xander never Maried but the old men both dead. The Crockets here I am told are very respectable people and of tolarable good circumstance as much so as any in this part, but people here are nearly on an equality <are> one with another scarsely any distinction amongst them except what is acquired by good conduct and behaviour which is a thing very much taken notice of in this Country, This is not a good part fore tradsmen of any kind as almost every Man makes out to do his own buisness so that they are all tradsmen but in fact there is hardly a right workeman amongst us, neither is it very good for Laborers the most of that Buisness is done by Negros and those that has none contents themselves by raising as much crops as will support their familyes, as for Rent it is entirely out of the question here and the Taxes are but trifling but the distance of Market is a great inconv<en>ience to this part, Land here is low but it is not reckoned so good as upon the westeren waters away by Cumberland and Caintuckey but there it is got to be purty high where it is any way improven or well watered, this is avery healthy part and very good water here nearly as good as any I have seen in Ireland, Our public prints has given us several accounts of the French making a descent upon England and Ireland but that the<y> were in every attempt disapointed however the<y> have not laid aside their plan of invading you Now I think from the dread of a foreign Invasion with the internal commotion of the Country that you must live in the utmost disqui<e>tude these considerations induces me to wish that all my friends were in this Country here we enjoy the blessing of peace in its fullest purity under our happy and unparalleled Constitution, We have had some apprehensions of a rupture with France but that seems to be dying away and I hope it will come to nothing, The French if they invade us may expect a purty stiff opposition as the people here are very unanimous and very much exasperated against them, There is no prejudice or partiality reins in the breasts of individuals respecting Religion here every man is regarded according to his merit if hes a clever fellow his Religion is never called in question nor is it the least obstacle to his holding any office or trust whatsoever, I have not heard one word from my Brother James since I came to this Country nor is there any chance of getting any untill one of us finds out where the other is, I wrote twice to cousin Thomas Crocket desireing him if he got any account of him or Cousin James when he wrote to let me know but I recd no ans<we>r nor I dont expect to hear from him untill he or I by means of your Letters find each other out, I live at Captn Phifers Cabarrus County State of North Carolina about 500 Miles South of Philadelphia and 20 of Salisbury on the great Road leading to Charlestown. Cousin David Fulton lives now in Baltimore keeping Tavern you direct your Letters to his care and you can inform Brother James to do the same and any of my Brothers that comes over can by directing to him soon give me word but this is not the part I would recommend for them to come to, the North and west is much better, I add no more at present but with love to my Mother Brothers and Sisters and all my friends I remain your affectionate Son
George Crocket
NB I can not conclude without repeating what I mentioned in my last that if Brother John is still single I would recommend him to raise what money he could and leave that crowded place hes in and as I said before if he and Brother James and William were to stick togeather they might soon fix themselves on a good plantation back on the western waters where the land is good, which might be an introduction to all the Family Most of <the> people living in a country place here are at a great loss for want of Education <a> great many of our best farmers can scarsely wright their own name and as to figures they <k>no<w> very little, Therefore you ought to endeavour to make the young boys as good Scholars as possible as a man of good Learning or a treadsman can not be at a loss in this Country
your affectionate son
George