| Title: | Edward H. Edwards, Baltimore, U.S.A., to James Douglas. |
|---|---|
| ID | 981 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Edwards, Edward H/73 |
| Year | 1817 |
| Sender | Edwards, Edward H. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | making arrangements to |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | Douglas, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | D2547/3: Presented by the Reverend R. Entrican, Bovevagh, Dungiven, County Londonderry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310443 |
| Date | 02/11/1817 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 15:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 1292 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Baltimore Nov. [November?] 2nd 1817 Dear Uncle After a very tedious but pleasant passage of 12 weeks we arrived here in good spirits. Tho [Though?] not without some anxiety on our passage of scarcity of proviosions for our own part we had a sufficiency by husbanding it well from our departure for 12 days longer, though the idea of some of our fellow passengers being in want gave a general gloom throughout the ship as hunger will break through walls which would have actually been the case had not kind providence sent us supplies twice at sea by meeting vessels with sea bread and flour - It may be some satisfaction to our friends to know one particular fare as when I mention the long passage and generally being unprovided for throughout the ship - doubt might arise that we were short also, in the morning we had a hearty breakfast of stirrabout and porter about ten o'clock in the morning we had coffee or tea with ham bread and butter & both in the middle of the day four times a week this course we pursued from we left Loughswilly for two motives the one to husband our stock and the other to have as little trouble in cooking as possible I foresaw a long passage from the moment we started our vessel sailed dull and the probability of light winds by making a southerly course - we had when we got to sight of land about 3 score of meal some biscuit 1 1/2 hams some beef with sugar tea and coffee in proportion I regretted very much bringing any spirits in our stock as the same amount in meal would have been of infinite use to some of the passengers who were out of provisions at the end of seven weeks and depended on the generosity of others who dare risk to divide their stock as "self preservation is certainly the first law of nature" upon the whole we were a favoured people for he who governs the universe at his will deigned to look at our distresses and relieve them we had not a wind on our passage to say one stormy day nor 12 hours rain put it all together the only dangerous event we had was a squall struck us and put the sails all black and put the vessel under stern way that is going the back part foremost which must have proved fatal to us had our ship been sharp built the change of the wind at the above moment showed an awful spectacle two seas met coming different directions and rose to the air perhaps as thick as a hogshead however as soon got all ajusted [adjusted?] - I got everything safe out of the ship with the exceptions of two pieces of [----?] that were partially damaged by a drop that got on the box I have disposed of part of the linen which appears to pay but poorly #PAGE 2 perhaps there will be made about £50 made on the whole of it. The shirts is not yet sold but I think may sell for about 17 shillings Irish the glue pays £8 pounds profit the shoe thread I have not disposed of yet being a good deal in this market and little made use of I am offered 4/10 Irish a pound for it which I will take markets are sale for everything here - I detained writing you from the 8th last month the day we arrived until this date in order that I might be the more able to give you some information the course we'er [we are?] going to pursue which is determined through the advice and assistance of our worthy friend Edward Grey - I am purchasing goods at present in this city to go back to the west to a flourishing place they call St. Louis on the river Mississippi about 300 miles further than Chillicothe this place you say is almost out of the world but is to make a competence in this world we left Ireland we have not here the relations and connections (with one exception) that is most dear to us to tye [tie?] us to one particular place Mr. Grey has shown his usual disposition for our welfare by placing the most implicit confidence in my steadiness of character he has introduced me to gentlemen of this city and giving me a credit for any amount of goods I please to take to St. Louis which will be with the money brot [brought?] with me about 12,000 dollars worth this will put us on a respectable footing a fortune may ultimately rise out of it. Indeed there is no doubt of the issue it has been uniformly the case in the western country Saml. [Samuel?] goes with me being afraid to commit him to a stranger who would not take care to instruct him and turn the Leck habits from him. Fredk. [Frederick?] we will endeavour to get a situation here for on the way back he has been generally at Mr. Grays in the country where thewy are much pleased with him Saml. [Samuel?] with Mrs. Stewart who behaves more to us like brothers than cousins I stop at a boarding house for which I pay 4 dollars a week - Our prospects are pleasing altho' [although?] we feel an uneasiness from the news we have from Ireland for the preservation of some of you from the fatal and malignant fever that (we understand) pervades every part of it and particularly at Derry. May the all powerful being put past thy dwellings it is a dreadful calamity It was to us all electrifying to hear of the death of my uncle [------?] so suddenly who only two weeks before had handed letters from him to [------?] stating all well when Robt. [Robert?] was received what a shock it must have gave you as well as us My Aunt must be a very disconsolate woman however we must not grieve it is the way we all must go sooner or later. #PAGE 3 [-?] McCloskey is engaged with Mr. Gray for 1 year for which Mr. Gray pays same amount his [----?] in hand Frederick Edwards is also employed at the [------?] cotton factory at his trade for which he receives one and one half dollars per day or seven & sixpence Irish they are both well content that they have escaped hard work and little for it in Ireland please inform Miss Steel that William and Jos. [Joseph?] left this place about 2 weeks since for Philadelphia on their way to Thomas in good spirits I fear that I should have a great deal more to say but my space is getting short and must conclude I will write to sister Rebecca We leave here which will be about three weeks time Saml. [Samuel?] & Fred. [Frederick?] join me in love to Grandmother Rebecca aunt mother James & the children Aunt Grey James & Fredk. [Frederick?] please tell her she may expect a letter from Francis shortly with an inclosure [enclosure?] Your ever affectionate Edw. [Edward?] H Edwards Please write me in receipt of this as I am anxious to hear from you Direct it to Ed. [Edward?] H Edwards care Edward Gray Baltimore NB I had a letter from my uncle Bart [----?] two days ago with an invitation to go and spend sometime there which will decline as it would be expensive they are all well there remember to aunt and uncle Osborne and all particular friends that I may omit mentioning tell Letty Hasson I remember her kindness to me E. [Edward?] H. E. [Edwards?] |
