| Title: | James Collins, Peterborough, Ontario to James [?]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 675 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Collins, James/18 |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Collins, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | works at Registry Office |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 2487/1/55: Copied by Permission of E. H. McIlwaine Esq., Farnham Road, Bangor, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007040 |
| Date | 19/07/1865 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 746 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Peterboro [Peterborough?] C.W. [Canada West?] July 19th 1865 My dear James I suppose you will think by this time that I have forgotten you altogether, not having written to you since I left Peterboro [Peterborough?] - I suppose [if all?] are aware that after I left you last August that I went to Seaforth a small village within 20 miles of Lake Huron, where I met with a Capt. Ord [Ond?] late of the 71st Highlanders who is in the Grain business, he gave me a situation for the winter months to receive, and ship the grain from his store house. I liked the business first rate but found Ord devilish bad pay, I left him last May, he owes me about $30, which I dont expect to get, however I got a good knowledge of the business. When I left Ord I went to Toronto and tried to get a situation there but was unable to procure one. I remained in Toronto until the 20th of June, and then returned here, and acted as groomsman to Allan McDougall who was married a few days ago to Miss Mary Ridley. I don't think you knew her. I was going to pay Joe a visit a few days ago, and had every thing [everything?] prepared for a start when I heard of a situation in the Registry Office in Peterboro [Peterborough?]. I went in and made application and was appointed, I now go in every morning at 10 o'clock and remain until 3. The situation will only last until November, when I hope to get a commission from Nichols & Hall to buy Grain for them, or from some of the other Grain buyers - I saw Wheeler about a fortnight ago, he is just the same old [2/6?], he has got a situation as foreman over the men working on the Burleigh Road, at $1-50 per day. The day before he left I was in with him all morning and got awfully TIGHT. I never was so tight in my life, he took me over to Allan McDougall's office where I lay until about eight o'clock at night, I then went to Caisses and #PAGE 2 had something to eat and went home all right. Patterson (Wheeler's son-in-law) called here this morning for some money he saw Joe a few days ago, he says he is first rate. Joe has some chap called Harleison with him since March. I believe they get along together pretty well, but have a small bit of shindy now and again by way of variety - I saw Tharpe a few days ago, he looks better than ever I saw him. I believe he is off drink now altogether. Squire Perry is walking about the corners as usual, he is not Mayor now, for which I am sorry. The chap that is in his place is not half as well fitted for it, however he in (sic) intends to try again next election. Poor Templeton Brawn is regularly smashed up, he is at present in a situation at Boston and making $15 per week, he has also $300 per annum for singing in a Church, his family are in Peterboro [Peterborough?]. Jessie the mare has had a foal, I am sure she should have had a dozen after the BOREING she got last year. Poor Nellie Reid has been nearly dead this spring, but is quite recovered now, she never comes here now, but every time I see her, the whole subject of conversation is Mr Nichalson, she was not half pleased that you wrote to Miss Hilton and not to her. Miss Hilton and her party are just the same as ever. They are here nearly every evening; & I go [?] there pretty often. Do you remember the day we caught her in the BOG SHANTY? Old John Reid and Tom Armstrong are going off in the boat to Rice Lake tomorrow to spend a week and fish. I will go up this fall and spend a week or two with Joe and have a hunt. Wheeler poisoned four wolves last fall. Do you ever try the camping out at all? What do you think of the old country after this? I never saw so cool a summer as this has been since ever I came to the country, the thermometer ranges every day from 65 to 70 in the shade, it is much more pleasant than the roasting hot weather. Everything is just going on here the same. |
