| Title: | Marianne Gurd, Montreal, to Fanny Payne, Longford |
|---|---|
| ID | 1284 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Gurd, Marianne/14 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Gurd, Marianne |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife, runs a boarding house |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Destination | Longford, Ireland |
| Recipient | Payne, Fanny |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | sisters |
| Source | T 3664/1 |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9309091 |
| Date | 04/05/1850 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C. R., 01:09:1993 |
| Word Count | 272 |
| Genre | |
| Note | N.B. includes short biography at the bottom |
| Transcript | MAY 4, 1850 I suppose my dear Fannie, you are all looking out for a line from me this month past. As you know, we were obliged to leave College Street. We have been lucky, I hope, in meeting with two nice cottages a little from the bustle of the city with a very nice garden at the back, some apple and pear trees. One of the [--------?] who has a wife and one grown daughter occupy one and we the other. We pay seven pounds ten shillings a year each: the garen [garden?] between us, but distinct houses each [------?] are bound for a year to them. They are situated on the top of a hill and command a view of the river then orchards all round and no very near neighbours to burn (?) us out. I should tell you that it is about ten minutes walk from the factory for Joseph. The two men, I mean Martin and Joe are busy digging and hoing [hoeing?] their beds every morn and evening [-----?]. As they leave off work at [------?] they have nice time. We have been here a forthnight [fortnight?]. I have been so busy having everything to do myself and the child is troublesome sometimes. She has not yet got a tooth. She stands, and creeps all over the room. Our cottage is small, two rooms and one large upstairs over the two, but beautifully situated. It's a wooden building. We spent last winter comfortably in our fine house. The parlour was so large I put my bed in it near the stove. We had a good deal of snow, but not as hard long freezing as the winter before. I put on flannel [--------------?] for a short time as I was nursing and threatened with pains at first hard frost which was in December. I had an old fellow lodging with me, a very plain person, he was box making at the factory and gave very little trouble. He slept in the back parlour. He is with me still, and pays half our rent. I am obliged to wash a shirt each week for him [---------?] [---------?] [-------?] and, I think of taking a young man to board soon, a plain one who will pay only 8/- a week but I'll (?) not be a bit particular, only to give plenty plain food, which is cheap here. Potatoes are 2/6 a bushel I think [-------?] in that [----------?] I begin to long now to hear from you all. My Mother and Father [--?] how do they get on. I dream continually of you all and my little Fannie, now bearly [barely?] five years old, must be grown out of my knowledge. Tomorrow the 4th is our Baby's birthday. Will you see Eliza and Bessie soon and tell them to quickly send Bessie here. She might be back next spring if on trial she did not like it. One of the head dress makers was kept by two sisters, old maids. They both died last summer of Cholera. Miss Majors, [Misses Major?] there was two crapes [crepes?] hung at the door, they died same night. I always think it is a pity for a person [---------------------------------?] amongst their friends to come to a distant land, but if so circumstanced that it becomes best to do so from the prospect, I'd greatly prefer coming to America and from several who have travelled the States and Upper Provinces, one may be as well here. There's for and against any place. I'd be very glad if Providence sent some of my own to live near me. I heard of Charlay's Charley's?] son and heir. How is #PAGE 2 Norman getting on? and the Scott's? You won't know. They may succeed if once they make [----------?]. Joseph had a pleasant trip into the States this winter with Mr. Mathewson. A horse was stolen and they followed quickly in a sleigh post haste. He was away three days, stopped at splendid hotels and crossed on the ice going and coming and got the horse stolen. [the stolen horse?] The Yankees have the name of being very knowing and great rogues, the Canadians are really nice people in their dealing, unsuspicious, and a quiet people. It's a great loss not to know French dealing with them though many speak broken English, and British any time here pick up as much as they can [-------------?] and [----------?]. There's an interesting mixture of French, Scotch, English and Irish. Our neighbour is English, his wife north of Ireland. All manner and kind of houses of worship. I go regularly to the English Church. Joe minds Bab and has dinner ready, he goes for the evening. I would be too sleepy at that hour. St. [Saint?] Ann's Church is mine now, a nice young English clergyman. How is Mr. Porch? His cousin went to the States. Mrs. Caire, her husband got [-------------ed?] and went off. Miss Payton holds situation as governess here. I hope you and Florence will write me long letters and you have much news. Write when you receive this direct to Mrs. Joseph Gurd, care of |
