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Title: W.K. Harshaw, Paterson NJ, to Robert Harshaw, Co Down.
ID1339
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileHarshaw, W. K/4
Year1895
SenderHarshaw, W.K.
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginPaterson, New Jersey, USA
DestinationCo. Down, N.Ireland
RecipientHarshaw, Robert
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipbrothers
SourceT 1505/2: Copied by Permission of Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra Manor, County Down. #TYPE EMG [W.K. Harshaw?], Paterson, N.J. [New Jersey?], 8 February 1895, to Robert [Harshaw?], [Ringclare, County Down?].
ArchivePublic Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9005214
Date08/02/1895
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
Log22:05:1990 JMR created 20:08:1991 SQ input 20:08:1
Word Count823
Genre
Note
TranscriptTo: "Master Robert, " [Ringclare, County Down?]
From: [W.K. Harshaw?] Paterson [New Jersey?]

Feb [February?] 8th 1895

Master Robert
I am in receipt of yours covering one
each from John and your new found friend, - Thank
Harshaw. Last week I had a similar one from
the same gentleman, and I have just been writting [writing?]
to him in reply. John could answer the points
referred to respecting the Ballinaferrin friends far
better than I could. However I give all the
information I can. Mr Frank H. is far more
prompt about acknowledging his obligations of pleasure
to Mr Wright than I have been for the "Brontes
in Ireland", although I must confess that away
back in last summer I wrote copy of a letter to be
send to Mr Wright on the subject, but one and another
thing enterposed [interposed?] to prevent me completing the writting [writing?] while the interest of the narrative was
strong upon me, and so it has remained an unfulfilled duty,
ever since. I read Mr Wrights' story with great
interest and commended it to many others, Chiefly those
from that neighbourhood, who were also greatly pleased
with the book and I suppose I was the means of having
copies of it sold. Moses Dalzell to whom I was
commending the book, and giving some of the incidents
recorded connected with Loughhorne, enterposed [interposed?]
probabably [probably?] a correction of one of the incidents noted by
Mr Wright. he speaks of Hugh Bronte and Alice
exchanging notes in a certain tree by the Loughhorne
lough, which tree came to be known as the "Bronte post
office." Moses explains that this actually took place
between our Canadian friends Mr & Mrs Frazer (Irene
Martin.) But he never heard of the Bronte transaction
of the same kind.
I think I have not mentioned to you that
Aunt Millie - Gimel's wife - invested in a young
son on Sep. [September?] 23rd a bright, good natured, well behaved
youngster. you know the custom with American people is to
select family names of their children, so the puzzle with
Aunt Millie, Gimel and all, has been to select a name
for this boy. Mrs H. and Aunt Millie favored "Robert"
in compliment to you. I suggested "John," scarcely out
of compliment to any one , but rather as a good, honest,
sensible name, that a grown up man would not be ashamed
of. Aunt Millie thinks it would gratify me to
name him thus after "John Harshaw," but yet she is
divided between this and a more fancy name, or a
double name, but yet there is no other that she is
specially partial to, that she would prefer. Beta and
her people were up her [here?] spending a few days at "New
Years." Aunt Millie with her new baby joined them here
at tea. The night was cold and in going home the young
fellow caught cold which developed into bronchitis.
They were alarmed about him for a few days, but he
has nearly got over it. About the same time the wife
and Alpha were taken down with the grip. Both cases
thoroughly pronounced. The former came down stairs
on last Sunday for the first; is still weak & has to be
very cautious. The latter has not ventured down yet
In recovering, the attack (or whatever it was) settled with the boy
into an intensed pain in the side, 'which has had to be
treated with fly blisters, making a great sore. Of course
one with such a debilitated constitution as his, the
enterjection [interjection?] of a serious epidemic made it serious,
and at one time as the symptoms were I thought
[page cut here]
ful housekeepers that everything must become subservient
to the proper regulation of every nook & corner of
her house, she ex[?]led herself during the next two or three
to such an extent, that on the 11th her back troubled her
with something like lumbago or neuralgia, a good deal
similar to what I had 2 years ago, but not quite
so intense. Consequently, she had to take to bed again,
and has remained there since. Not really sick, but
very weak, and her back catching when she moves.
Captain Irving's oldest son was buried last
week. He had been away out on the pacific Coast,
contracted consumption, and was brought home to die, a
few days before the end came. I was not aware of
the death till some days after else I should have
attended the funeral. Miss Farrell grand daughter
of your old neighbour, Sam. [Samuel?] Dalzel, was on here spending
some days with Beta and other friends in Newark;
and was to be here part of the time, but the wife's illness
prevented. She is a very nice girl, has quite a talent
ent and reputation in elocution and recitation, & by this
and personal accomplishments has given her access
to a style of society far above whatever would
have been dreamed of had her lot been cast among
[here the letter fragment ends]