| Title: | Thomas Hay, South Africa, to "My Dear Cousin" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1366 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Hay, Thomas/22 |
| Year | 1904 |
| Sender | Hay, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | soldier |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | South Africa |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Eliza |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth. |
| Doc. No. | 604072 |
| Date | 13/2/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 633 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | No Envelope] [Page 1 [HERALDIC CREST] PIETERSBURG SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY 13.02.1904. My Dear Cousin I am very pleased to be able to answer your kind and welcome letter received this morning. I am very pleased all are well at home in Ireland and glad you all had a good Christmas and New Year. I only wish I could have had th [the?] pleasure of being with you. I had a very quiet Christmas [Page 2] this year but I have made up for it since we where [were?] shifting camp so of course we could not expect anything much I was at a dance last night given by the Sisters of the Orphanage here we had a very good time up to two o'clock am this morning. My Dear Cousin you ask me how the world is abusing me well it has not abused me much I am in as good health and strength and [Page 3] as fit as a fiddle for any duty I am asked to perform and as happy as the birds I can go visiting now and again so the time does not seem long I have some nice ladies to keep me company now and again but I will be glad when when [sic] I can put my arms around your waist and a few others of my sweethearts I expect I have a few yet dont forget to give my love to them. My Dear Cousin you ask [Page 4] me if I hear much from Lpool [Liverpool?] Well to tell you the truth I hear very little I have not heard from them for months I am out here now over three year's and I have heard about three time [sic] from them but it dont [does not?] trouble me very much so long as I hear from my Friends in Ireland and Aunt Mary I am trying to come home for my 27th birthday which will be 5th Oct if all goes well so tell Aunt I hope to give her a long [Page 5] stay. Dear Cousin I am sorry about Willie John leaving you but I suppose he is quite a big chap now and fit to do a bit of work I am glad to hear of Tillie getting married I wish I could get home to dance at the wedding I must say I had a warm corner in my heart for her but us [chaps?] that like a roaming life are not much [Page 6] good[.] What do you think, I cannot say I know the other people I may do but I forget them. Dear Eliza I am very sorry to hear of the deaths in your part. I hope to hear of no more. Dear Eliza I wonder what ever is the matter with Bella Maggie I have not heard from her for about four year’s almost ask her to write a line some time. I would like to hear from her very much I have wrote [written?] to [Page 7] Mary and James and send them a card to Canada Dear Eliza you might send me the names of the three Lady Friends of ours that live up above your house I know their name is Gilkerson [Gilkinson?] and that is all how is my Cousin Tilda doing is she not going to get married I would like to give her a good squeeze now. Dear Cousin we have first quarters to live in now I have a splendid room I would now [sic] be ashamed of inviting [Page 8] into it my time was up this month but I have extended services for another two years which entitles me to six months leave. My Dear Cousin I cannot say much more please give my best Love to Aunt Mary and Uncle and all my Cousins aunts and Uncles I remain your Loving Cousin Thomas Hay accept my Love yourself xxxxxxxxx Transcribed by John Hunter |
