| Title: | Thomas Hay, England to "My dear Cousin Bella" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1377 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Hay, Thomas/66(2) |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Hay, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | soldier |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Canterbury, Kent, England |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, Bella M. |
| 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. | 508009 |
| Date | 6/11/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 19:08:2005. |
| Word Count | 644 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Page 1] (1) 6/11/00 Cavalary Depot Canterbury Kent My Dear Cousin Bella I am pleased to have the pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter you dont know how glad I am when I hear from my Friends in Ireland but I was thinking you were thinking me mean for not answering to you sooner Dear Cousin [Page 2] (2) I dont think I know or heard of James Ballantine but I would have liked to been over there with you to be in the fun especially when the courting time came round. Dear Cousin I was thinking the hard work for the year was very near over and I suppose you all are not sorry but I can assure you Cousin I like the work of course it was a change for me I also enjoyed myself well the time I had over with you all in Ireland I [Page 3] 3 have never felt content since I left I feel as if I could walk back at times when I think how happy we were at Aunt Mary's I only wish I could see her more often I am looking forward to getting over again at Christmas for a short time. My Dear Cousin I dont know who ever could say I always had whisky when ever I went to Uncle William for I dont remember ever having any thing with him except on the twelth of july and that was [Page 4] (4) in our own house with Aunt and the day we went to Bendoran and I dont see as he ought to find fault with me speaking to Tilda I think if any body should have had any fault to find Aunt Mary would have spoken to me about it and I dont think Tilda can be blamed for her Sister's bad conduct do you Cousin but never mind I dont think much about it now perhaps he is sorry and I shall never feel ill against him only I did not like him saying what he did in Gortin but I [Page 5] (5) hope there wont be any disagreeableness through me, Dear Cousin I would like to hear of Uncle Charle being settled down with a contented mind I think he is worrying himself too much I hope he is in good health also Aunt and Lizzie. Dear Cousin I am very sorry to hear of Mr Houston being very ill I liked him very much he was such a sensible man and a man you could learn something from I liked to be in his company I have [Page 6] (6) often thought of writing a line to him but I do not know his address Dear Cousin you cannot expect poor Mary to sit down and write after walking home from the Plum [Plumbridge?] at night and standing on her legs all day I know well you people at home have to work hard enough feeding etc I wish I could give you all a squeese and a kiss before going to bed and put nettles in [Page 7] (7) with you I never get any drinks of milk now I should like a bit of your bread and butter for tea I am getting a better appetite now I think I should get it alright if Dear Aunt would be kindd enough to send a bit I should enjoy it Dear Cousin I have not heard from Cousin James yet I am sure I vexed him when I wrote to him from Africa b [but?] he has never Answered [Page 8] (8) the letter I wrote to him while I was home with you. Dear Cousin I think I have said all this time hoping these few lines will find you and Dear (Aunt) Uncle and Cousins in the best of health give Liza a kiss for me remember me to all Friends give them my best wishes I remain your ever Loving Cousin T [Tommy?] Hay with Love and Kisses xxxxxx Transcribed by Gordon Drummond |
