| Title: | D. W. McNeilly, Rathfriland to William [Wightman?]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1750 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | McNeilly, D.W/47 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | McNeilly, D.W. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Rathfriland, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | USA? |
| Recipient | Wightman, William |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 1475/1 p36: Copied by Permission of Miss A. McKisack, 9 Mount Pleasant, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9404174 |
| Date | 10/04/1860 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:04:1994. |
| Word Count | 841 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Rathfriland, Good friday. 10th April 1860. My Dear William, I told you long since my day of letter writing was past, and had it not been so, your Note of the 12th December would have been replied to long ago, even though I had little to communicate worth your Notice. I will now give you some account of friends and matters which may please you, and you must excuse me for being so long in giving my report - first, I am to thank you on my own account, and on behalf of our kind friend Jas. [James?] Henderson for your thought of us in a far distant land you having your own dear Wife to occupy all your thoughts and attentions at home, I can say with truth it gives your friends here great pleasure to hear of your happiness in your New State and you have our very best wishes for a long continuance of it, so long that Death may only separate you from your Dear Wife and that the longer you and she may be spared you may become the more attached to each other and that you may be blessed and prove a blessing to each other is our sincere wish. Anne has been with us for some weeks and we like her very much, our regret is we did not know her sooner. She has very many good qualities and lends a willing hand to Jane in our housekeeping. I am glad indeed I am thankful, I have it to say her health is and has been good since she came to us and this may almost be a wonder as this house, and our ways are so different to what she has been accustomed to both in this country and in America, in the latter Country her Affections seem to be more than in this, no wonder she should if she takes as a sample of Irishmen and manners. Jane is better than she has been during our very severe winter and I trust she may continue to improve with the Weather. Very few old people have escaped Colds, and other more fatal diseases, as for myself and my state of health, I am just as you saw me. I have good cause to be most thankful and no room for any complaint. Mary McAlister has been with us the last few weeks, she has been poorly for some days with a cold and Rheumatism, brought on by going for Tea on a severe Evening with Anne to Mr McClellands, as unfortunately the covered car had a window neither wind nor watertight, she is now better and I hope a few days will make her all right [alright?]. James Henderson is as well and as happy as any single man could expect or deserves to be, I hear from him about once in every two weeks, as he is even worse than myself in his communications he bid me to return to you his best thanks for your note, and as I had a reading of it I may tell you it is enough to make him unhappy, to think he has put in so many years without adding to his other comforts and blessings that great Earthly comfort and blessing a good wife, time is up with him for that now, and it is pity he did not become one like us 50 years since, had he done so I am sure the woman would have been a happy one, and the minds of his sister and myself would have been more so. Our mutual friends the Murphys down and up street are all well, save our Miss M. who has not been so well of late and had some weak turns, old age has come on her and she must expect other ailings with it. Joe is quite well. Sam complains of Rheumatism and pains, but is yet able to go out and visit his many friends who are always made the better by seeing him. No word of any of the Dromore St [Street?] people making any change, they are all now at home save Anne who is gone to Mrs Fennell to spend some time with her. When you write to John please tender to him our most affectionate regards and kindest wishes. Your note to Anne arrived this morning. We are all glad to hear you and Mrs W [Wightman?] are so well and doing so well, long may you both enjoy health and every other blessing. I hear [here?] repeat as it is my very sincere Prayer. There is some talk of a railway from this town by Newry to Belfast, if so, and should I live to see it I purpose D.V. [Deo Volente?] to wait on J.H. [James Henderson?] in the morning and be home in time for Tea!!! I may now come to a finish with a desire from my trio of Womankind to send to you and your dear Mary Anne their kindest love in which I join most sincerely. Ever yours affectly. [affectionately?] D. W. McNeilly. |
