| Title: | James Kelly, Desertmartin to John Kelly, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| ID | 1595 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Kelly, James/167 |
| Year | 1822 |
| Sender | Kelly, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | teacher |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Desertmartin, Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Recipient | Kelly, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | The Kelly Family Documents: Copyright Retained by The Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 300018 |
| Date | 01/06/1822 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 14:03:00. |
| Word Count | 890 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Desertmartin, 1st June 1822 Dear John I Recd.[Received?] your last Letter from which I am glad to hear your family are all well. We are all in good health at present, Mary is now Making a rapid progress in learning, she can Read the Testament Tolerably correct, and my opinion is, that she'll be very sharp at any thing she engages, - Hugh has left Desertmartin about two Months ago, and is gone to be Overseer in Belfast Bridewell under Sergt. Henry, his salary is 14÷ p [per?] Annum with Boarding James Henry was Discharged from the Clerkship in Bridewell by Order of the Sovereign about six months since, and he has now got in to be Turnkey. He was Married at November last to a young woman in Belfast, - I have given up all notions of Going to America, my circumstances wont allow me to take all the family Over, and I cannot think of leaving them here behind me without the Means of Subsistence, - some Gentlemen in Moneymore have invited me to open School in that Town, and if they give me sufficient Encouragement in all probability I'll leave Desertmartin tho [though?], it is only in contemplation yet. I have applied to some Gentlemen for a Passage to Botany Bay as my inclination lies to that Hemisphere rather than to America, and if I could leave the family my inclination would be to see that country. On account of Hugh leaving me, I am more closely confined than usual both to the School and also to other employment, viz selling and shoviling [shovelling?] the Potatoes cutting Turf etc. - I have taken some Disease in my Eyes since Easter last, and I am much afraid I'll lose the sight of one of them, I intend to try what effect the salt water will have on me this summer, it is with difficulty I can see to write this letter. William never sent me a Letter but one since he parted with me, and I answered it, and would have written frequently to him if I knew where he was, he might think worth his Notice to Write me once in 12 Months at least, he must be very busily employ'd if he cannot afford that much time, he sd [said?], you gave me a better Description of the country than he could, that I grant, yet the same Country may Wear different aspects to Different Travellers. Joseph Brown particularly Requests that either you or William will make strict enquiry into his Brother John's Situation and Circumstances, and send him or me a true acct [account?] of the same, and he will send him 10÷ if he can get an opportunity, he applied to me frequently to get money remitted to him. I'll send the Money enclosed either to you or Wm. [William?] if he give it to me, after you send me an An/r [Answer?] to this with Directions how to remit. You would have Recd. [Received?] a letter sooner from me but I could get no Passenger going from this Neighbourhood to America, and I did not like to send it by Post. I have not received any account from Mr. Hamerton since, nor do I know whether he be in Newry yet or not, you mentioned something in your last Letter about Writing to him for some Money, to take Mary to America, But if I want Money till I get it from him By Writing to him for it my Purse 'ill be a long time empty, as long I can earn one Shilling by my own honest exertions Mary will not want a part of it, for she'll never get a frown from me on acct.[account?] of any expenses she may [issue?][to?] me, while I have her in charge. Since Nov. last there was great confusion throughout the S. W. Districts of Ireland with Murder, Robbery, and Burning; a Mr. Shea's House and Entire family (Seventeen in Number) were burned to Ashes in one night, and now they are (the Peasantry) in a state of starvation in 7 counties viz., Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Clare &c. The Noblemen of England, Ireland, & Scotland, are Raising subscriptions for the relief of the Starving Poor of those counties; in London there was 50,000÷ raised in Belfast about 1500÷ in Dublin 7221÷ &c. every town in proportion to their ability - If you think John Brown [is?] in need of help let me know in your next letter and I'll get something sent to him from Joseph, you did not [torn] [relate?] your employment to me in your last Letter or whether you were in business or not. I send this by James Kenning who intends to go to Virginia. I answered about 24 Charades &c. in this years Almanack, Thompson's Questions are only Answered by the Preposer [proposer?] these 2 years. - I believe I'll stop in this House another Season if I stay in this town. Give my Compliments to Mrs Kelly and I am glad that William gave her such a character as he has done, he told me in his letter that he experienced great friendship at her hands greater by far than he could have expected from the most intimate friend in the World. I am Dr. John your Most Obedt [Obedient?] &c James Kelly *Envelope address:- Mr. John Kelly Franklin Venango County and State of Pennsylvania |
