| Title: | William Hill, Abbeville, South Carolina, to "Dear Brother David" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1434 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Hill, William/16 |
| Year | 1872 |
| Sender | Hill, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Abbeville, South Carolina, USA |
| Destination | Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Hill, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Donated by Ronnie Hill, Well House, Hinderclay, Diss, Norfolk. Phone 01379-898060 |
| Archive | Original Held by Ronnie Hill |
| Doc. No. | 212169 |
| Date | 08/03/1872 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 02:12:02. |
| Word Count | 1091 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Abbeville South Carolina. March 8 1872 Dear Brother David. I have just got your letter of the 20th ult, and was glad to hear from you once more. It is true I have neglected to write to my friends at home as frequently as I should have done, but I really had nothing of any Consequence to write, and knowing, that Maggie Erwin was in the habit of writing very often I concluded that she would sometimes mention me in her letters. You say that you had received two newspapers from me, which let you know that I had entered into a merchantile partnership in this Town, My partners are William R White and James R. Cunningham, both to the "manor born" they are steady and I believe honest men. Our joint Capital is small, not exceeding Eight thousand Dollars, we are doing tolerably well notwithstanding great competition from other similar houses. I had nothing else to turn my hand to, and I could not endure to be idle. All kinds of business in So Ca[South California?], and indeed in all the Southern States has been greatly frustrated since the war, more especially the farming interest owing to the uncertainty of labor. The negroes will not work it they can help it, and if you should have any of them at the first of the year to make a crop on your land, you have no certainty that they will continue with you until it is gathered. The situation of this country is not like yours, as you can obtain labor at any time when you need it but it is not so here. Freedom has ruined the negroes morally and I might say physically - the [they?] steal rather than work. The newspaper sent me, as it seems, by your daughters Mary it is true that in a fit of spleen I returned but in a very short-time I regretted doing so: I am sure that she did not intend it to tanlalize my feelings, altho for the moment I thought so; it was full of excellent rigmarole of the doings of the Orangemen. You know although she may not have known that I always utterly detested that party, and I am free to confess that I never had any love for the opposite faction: my wishes are that all Irishmen of every religious opinion should be united for the general good of their common country; and until such a state of things is accomplished you can have no hope for honest and impartial government. However I will remark in passing that I would greatly prefer your government, opressive as it is , to that under which we at present groan. We are governed by an irresponsible body of negroes! they have the ascendancy in the Legislature of the State, and the white people are utterly powerless to check the onerous and heavy taxation which they impose. High taxes don't hurt them as they have little or no property to be affected. I had heard of the marriage of my niece Sarah to her Cousin David Hay. Sarah said in her letter to me that she had no objection to marry - Provided she got an honest sober and industrious God fearing man. I devoutly pray that her wishes may have been accomplished, and that Husband and wife may live long and happy. I ask Sarah to excuse me for not, as yet, answering her last letter written from Lisburn, and tell her to write to me again when I will certainly reply. Give my brother John and family my kind love, and remember me to old Aunt Sallie. Tell John- To be kind to Aunt Sallie for now she is frail, Like a time shattered tree bending low in the gale. When he was a wee bainie tot totering [tottering?] about She watchd [watched?] him when in and she watchd [watched?] him when oot[out?]. And aye when he chanc'd in his daffin and fun, To dunt his wee head on the Cauld staney gran [cold stoney ground?] She lifted him up, and she kiss'd him fee fain, Tell a' His pit Cares were forgotten again. Then be kind to Aunt Sallie for now she is frail, Like a time shattered tree bending low in the gale. David, I charge you on your first meeting with Aunt Sallie that you treat her to a glass of good whiskey punch and charge to my account. And now for domestic or family news - My wife is not very stout, she is troubled with a severe and troublesome Cough, more especially in the night. Robert Emmetts wife is quite low and cannot live long her disease is consumption - she is all the time in bed. Robert has but one child a daughter some ten years old, they are quite well. Mary Jane (whose husband is a Doct[Doctor?]: Epting) lives at Williamston a village about thirty miles from here - she has three children one by her first marriage, and two by the last, the family are well. Sallie is a widow the second time, and lives with me- It is said she will not long remain single - she has one child Ann Eliza (Mrs Cox) lives in this place - she has six children Five boys and one girl who is the oldest of the children - MrsCox and the family are in usual health. I am; as usual, in good health although broken in fortune, yet cheerful in spirit, and as you done me the honor to contrast me in the latter respect to "old Jamie" I insist that you give him - a bountiful feed of oats, for my sake. My son John (a six footer) lives with me on the plantation he is unmarried. Malcom Irwin and Family are well I heard from them lately. Miss Ellen Forsythe called on us she looked well and said she liked the Country - she is now in Charleston. Please give my best regards to Jane, and tell her that I often think of her kindness on my last visit - and I must not forget John Gilmer [Gilmour?], and his good natured wife Nancy. I hope that they, and their three children are well. John might write me a letter. If you should see my early friend James Smith give him my best wishes. Well I think I will conclude at the present, as I cannot think of any more to say. Hoping to hear from you again before long. I remain Your affectionate Brother William Hill Transcribed by Jonathan Engstrand |
