| Title: | Mary Cunningham, Killybegs, To Her Son Michael, America. |
|---|---|
| ID | 804 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cunningham, Mary/28 |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Cunningham, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Killybegs, Co. Donegal, Ireland |
| Destination | America |
| Recipient | Cunningham, Michael |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | mother-son |
| Source | The Fyfennan Letters. All Publishing Rights Reserved By Susan Cunningham, 34 Phelps Ave., New Brunswick, New Jersey 08091, U.S.A. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9507150 |
| Date | 09/05/1865 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 24:07:1995. |
| Word Count | 661 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | The following are transcripts and Xerox copies of two letters written by Mary Cunningham in Ireland to her son Michael in America during the 1860s. In creating the transcripts, we have tried to be faithful to the original in terms of spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Since periods are not used to denote the end of a sentence and sometimes a new sentence does not begin with a capital letter, we have left larger spaces between words where a sentence ends. The People in the Letters Patrick: A brother, probably a younger brother. Robert Askin: Seems to be and Ireland-America commuter; probably one of the neighborhood boys but possibly a relative. Francis: Another brother, probably the youngest one. Kitty: Sounds like she was a neighborhood gal [girl?] who may have been his 'intended' when they left Ireland. We don't know her last name nor do we know what became of her. Mary: A married sister in Ireland; we don't know her husband's name. James Glerpp [Gillespie?] & wife: A mystery without clues. Bridget: A sister in Ireland. Patrick Carr: A cousin and trans-Atlantic commuter. Biddy Carr: Another cousin, probably Patrick's sister, who left for America. Mrs. Carr: Obviously someone in America, probably Patrick's wife or sister-in-law. Anthony Conwell: Probably someone in the neighborhood; he probably emigrated after selling his property. Mr. Malloy & Catherine: Catherine Cunningham, Michael's sister, and her husband Cornelius Malloy. They subsequently served as go dparents to Michael's first child, Daniel. James: A son who had gone to America and was not keeping in touch. Robert Conwell: Probably a borther [brother?] to Anthony; Robert obviously had earlier emigrated to America and had a farm in Georgia that was devastated during General Sherman's march to the sea. Charles Cunningham: Probably a cousin and a trans-Atlantic commuter. Dan Cunningham: Probably a cousin who stayed behind in Ireland and very likely a brother to Charles. Bridget's two Little Boys: This Bridget might be Mary's daughter, or it could be a sister after whom she named her daughter. (At that point Michael is 30 years old and it seems unlikely that he would have nephews who were old enough to have emigrated some years earlier.) Fyfennon May 9th 1865 Dear Michel [Michael?] I take the opportunity of writing those few lines to inform you that we are well and in good health at preasent [present?] Hopeing [Hoping?] that the arival [arrival?] of this may find you all there enjoying the same Bridget Thanks be to god for his kind Mercy to us all Dear Michel [Michael?] we received your both letters which gave us grade [great?] pleasure to hear of you enjoying good health Dear Mickel [Michael?] we return you many thanks for your kindness to us for the Death of Your Father has caused grade [great?] excistement [excitement?] upon us But cince [since?] it is the Lord's will we must be satisfied But we hope he is better provided for Dear Mickel [Michael?] we would write sooner only Mr. Carr said when he left that as soon as he would get any account about James that he would write to us so we got no account from any of them we get no letter from James since 59 turn over (page 2) Dear Mickel [Michael?] you may imagine how lonely we are after your Father and indeed we put in a very Lonely Winter here We were not expecting you or him But we hope to see you some time but Never is expecting him Dear Mickel [Michael?] you [your?] Father made no Settlement the time of his Death but allowed every on(e) to do their best and to mind home He told us to write to you to see what would be done with all the little tools belonging to the Forge the(y) are all here yet we have a good Crop down this year we had a very good Crop Last year and hopes to have the same this year Dear Michel [Michael?] I sent two pair of stockings with your cousin Biddy Carr She left here on Patrick's day a pair for each of you I would have more only I did not Know that she was going untill [until?] a few days before she went I hope she has arived [arrived?] before this time (page 3) Dear Mickel [Michael?] we were very glad to hear That Mrs. Carr is Mending Anthony Conwell of Shaluncy sould [sold?] his propert y at 192L [œ192?] The(re) are an immince [immense?] Number emigrating this year and I hope shortly that more will See the Place soon I have Nothing more to say for this time But I hope the next letter will be longer I hear a few days that the war is over and that Lincoln is dead Mr. Malloy I wish you to send me some papers once in the while I must conclude for this time By saying we would be Happy at any time in Hearing from you Hoping That Mr. Malloy & Catherine & family is in good Health and I hope you will be always advised by them Patrick Carr gave us James (written above) his adress [address?] in agust [august?] last so we wrote that time and the Letter Came returned it is very strange that the(re) are no word from him for the rest of the neighbouring boys the are all _________ (corner missing) from them all (page 4) Edward Conwells property was Burned in atlanta Georgy [Georgia?] I am inform you that we got none of your money from Charles Cunningham the(re) are no account from him Dan Cunningham Left the store he is a Shop Keeper for Mrs. Dunley of Killybgs [Killybegs ?]. So we must close up for this We all join in Sending our Kind Love & Blessing to you & Mr. Malloy Catherine & family in the Kindest Manner Whilest [Whilst?] I remain your affectionate Mother till Death Mary Cunningham XX I would wish Dear Michel [Michael?] when you write let us know how or where is Bridget two Little Boys So write when you gets this letter & Let us know how you are getting along Excuse bad writing write soon |
