| Title: | James Horner, Georgetown to Thomas Horner, Co. Derry. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1466 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Horner, James/16 |
| Year | 1803 |
| Sender | Horner, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | schoolmaster |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Georgetown, Maryland, USA |
| Destination | Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Horner, Thomas |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | T 1592/14: Copied by Permission of Hugh Conn Esq., Limavady, Co. Londonderry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006140 |
| Date | 10/12/1803 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 01:11:1993. |
| Word Count | 1454 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dear Father & Mother George Town [Georgetown?] Cross Roads 10th Dec 1803 I take this oppertunity [opportunity?] of enforming [informing?] you that I am in good health at present thank the giver of all good for his blessings which we are always experiencing every day I have rec'd [received?] five letters from you this year I got one the 7th Inst. dated 25th of Sept ---- [favoured?] by Joseph Smith at Sunderland they give me singular satisfaction to hear that you and my friends are well but that you are involved in war with the French which I am sorry to hear but such things must be and every one has their own troubles either hear [here?] or their [there?] either of body or of mind, as we are always ----ing on to we leave this Stage of action and still we are seeking after pleasure but never can find where it Dwells. perhaps we set things before us which we promise our selves lasting but how soon do the [they?] vanish away. I left Philadelphia last March and came down with the Rev'd Joseph Douglass to where he lived and I learned Navigation and some other improvement and he recommended me to a place and got me a school which has been advantegious [advantageous?] I cannot but let you know that Mr Douglass and his Brother were as kind as Brothers to me. I live within 16 miles of them and 62 from Philad [Philadelphia?] on the post Road leading to Chester town [Chestertown?] I have had a large school through the summer as many as I could attend it is the best to my advantage of any thing ever I joined as yet a Man living in the City is exposed to different things. this is a good Country for a young Man if he is a man of Learning he can make a handsome living for himself if he takes care and has his health which is the mother of all blessings it is not just so healthy as Ireland but I cannot say but it is as clear of Deseases [diseases?] as urope [Europe?] we cannot expect to have every thing in one land or we would think two [too?] much of it so I find that every sweet has its bitter along with it thank God I never enjoyed better health than since I came to this Country. as I have not been in Phil'd [Philadelphia?] since I cannot mention my acquaintance but I intend to up again Cristmass [Christmas?] perhaps I may have an oppertunity [opportunity?] of writing I am satisfied that you got the little flaxseed shirt I sent as it was the first it is verry [very?] high price this year it is sold at 6 pounds per --d and one Guiney [guinea?] freight which is more than it is worth you had not much for your trouble but as I had got the money and was not using it I thought it was better to send it but I suppose I will scarely send any more if ever it be my lot to return to see you and my Native Country I will not promise how soon as their [there is?] nothing but one thing certain perhaps I might get my Brother Jacob advised to come to this Country and leave that troublesom [troublesome?] Country I will write him on the subject I expect my Mother would think that I was going to robe [rob?] her of her family; if he had been Industrious in learning he need never work with the spaid [spade?] and shovel to take it upon me to be the only means of any one comming [coming?] hear #PAGE 2 [here?] they might say if any thing was disagreeable that I was the only means that brought them. but let them think for a moment and sign their own Commital [Committal?] and come as some of us has done before them take chance. God is as strong on sea as on land for my part if I had to do again I should think nothing of it. but before I would do as some of the young men does live at home a lifetime and does not know farther than their own market Town. as this Country affairs things is Reasonable Wheat is sold from 11s 8d to 12s per bushel Indian Corn 4s 6d Beef from 40s to 49s per every 100th peork [pork?] from 4 1/2 dollars to 5$ per l. [pound?] as mens weages [wages?] every one differs according to their employment some more and some less this Country has made a good purchase of Land from the French it formerly belonged to Spain but Spain ceded to France and France sold it to America Louisana [Louisiana?] and California and New Mexico includes an Extensive track [tract?] of land they lie between the River Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean some are in doubt that Spain will not let them have it without fighting this is a vast Country for ----ds as to Religion we have all Classes or sorts of people the Methodists is verry [very?] numerious [numerous?] but they are a sort of debauched people that a creditable person is loath to join with them I live as at home only I always go to hear when I have an oppertunity [opportunity?] to hear the word of God Delivered as we never can enjoy peace with our selves without our peace being made up I beive [believe?] I got all the letters that was wrote me this last summer I got one from my Grand Father [Grandfather?] one from Brother Jacob one from Brother Tom and one from Sister Elinor and one from Uncle John Horner I Intend writing them so they may expect if oppertunity [opportunity?] serves as I am so far from Phil'da [Philadelphia?] I have not as good an oppertunity [opportunity?] as I [had?] I find in one of your letters that you blame me in not Encouraging my friends and Country Men you do not know my reasons for it or you would not blame me as well as truth their [there?] is a grait [great?] number that write better of this Country than they ought the [they?] Encourage people to come that perhaps can enjoy them selves as well in Ireland if I take upon me to Intreat [entreat?] people to come they think that the [they?] will have no more trouble than at their own fireside and their [there?] is a grait [great?] many when the [they?] are a few days out at Sea they would wish they never left home and when the [they?] land in this port unless they have money or friends they find them selves lost I have seen some going about till they spent all they had and then go to hard work, this was disagreeable they would reflect on who ever advised them [but?] this is my Reasons for not Encouraging any Neighbours but any young Man that wishes to make progress in the world this is a good part for him espashely [especially?] for a man [torn] Learning their [there?] is no danger of him but he may advance him self I should wish to see my Country men doing well but let them take chane [chance?] as "Solomon says time and Chane [Chance?] happens to all" #PAGE 3 Give my kind love to my Grand Father [Grandfather?] & Mother and Uncle Thomas & Aunt McCracken Aunt Rose & Cousin Eliza & Nancy Clark Aunt Horner and Family Cousin Jas. [James?] Irons and Family to Uncle and Aunt Jackson and Family to Brother John & Elinor Jackson and Family my love to my Brother's [Brothers?] and Sisters & Uncle John Horner Likewise to all my wellwishing Neighbours and friends as if I named them by name give my kind love to Uncle and Aunt Miller and Family I expect they are living in the same place if he could make his boys midling [middling?] good scholars and learn them a traid [trade?] this will be the place for them but not for a family as it take so much for the removal May health and prosperity attend you all whilst I remain your son James Horner NB as this is the first I may send more I intend writing to some of my friends. Give my Compliments to Mr and Mrs Douglas and let them know that their sons Joseph & Samuel is well and doing well but as they will write themselves I need not. Give my love to Mr Quigly and let him know that I am well no more but remain your affectionate son James Horner. George Town [Georgetown?] Cross Roads 10th Dec. 1803 Kent County State of Maryland Mr Thomas Horner Bovevagh Care of Mr Hugh Sherer Merct [Merchant?] Newtown Lem.vady [Limavady?] County Londonderry Ireland. |
