| Title: | Jane Ellen Orr, Portaferry, to John M. Orr, [Chicago]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2015 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Orr, Jane Ellen/94 |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Orr, Jane Ellen |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Prob. Protestant |
| Origin | Portaferry, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Recipient | Orr, John M. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by John McCleery, 80 Circular Road, Belfast,BT4 2GD. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9702156 |
| Date | 06/03/1848 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 10:02:97. |
| Word Count | 1647 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Portaferry March 6th 1848 My dear John I am sure you will be anxiously waiting for the arrival of another letter from home, as I have no doubt the contents of Dada's last would make you uneasy about Wm. [William?] Henry. Since then he has been going on ahead, but particularily since this day fortnight, he has been gaining strength hourly, he is going about now as usual but is not very good at walking yet, partly owing I think to a large boil he had on his loin. His appetite is enormous, I am certain you would be astonished if you saw what he could eat. In fact he thinks of nothing but eating and working mischief the whole day. If possible he is a greater clip now than ever. You would not think to look at him, that he had such a severe illness, he is fatter and firmer now than ever he was in his life before. Eliza Stoop has had a very slight attack of fever also, she was out in the garden today for the first. She is still very weak. We have had a nice a nice house or hospital I might say, for the last two months. With the exception of Eliza and myself, all the others have been ill in some way or other, but are nearly all recovered again. It will be three weeks to-morrow since we received your letter of the 5th January, it was more than five weeks in coming. I wonder what could have been the cause of the delay. We generally get your letters three weeks after they are written. We had none last mail, and indeed we shall be disappointed if we have not one by this day week. The same mail that brought your last letter brought one from Tom Warnock, and one from Willy [William?] McCleery. The former mentioned that "John Orr was going a-head on his business" that he had had two letters from you, and that you had joined the "Chicago Hussars", all of which we had heard before. Well, I can't help thinking what a great dash you'll cut, when you mount the regimentals. Oh! how I wish I could see you. At what time do you exercise? I suppose if we are spared to see each other we will scarcely know you, you will be so much changed, and of course we cannot expect to remain unchanged. It is now more than ten months since you left Portaferry sometimes it appears much longer than that period since we saw you, at others much shorter. Portaferry is as dull as ever, indeed I think it is more so, many a time I think it is well for you that you are out of this hole. Dr. Boyd has gone to Kirkcubbin to live. There is some talk about Sophia Moreland and him going to be married but Old James does not approve of the match. Hugh Boyd has been put out of his house, he is gone to Ann St. to live. Tom McDonnell that used to be in Mr Donnan's, is going to his house to set up a public house. Mr. Baird has given up his fields, and I believe is going to America in May. he has not been doing anything for some time. Tuesday evening after [tay?] Shrove Tuesday and no pancakes, as there are too many invalids for them. I have just been asking mama what news I have to tell you, when Wm. Henry puts in his tongue, and desires me to ask you, if you are making much money this weather, he hopes to have an answer to his epistle next mail if not he won't be best pleased. We had a very pleasant drive this evening. The country has all the appearance of spring, the wheat is coming up beautifully. We have a fine large loaf this year, besides what we had last winter. There is not so much distress as what there was some time ago. We had very little frost this winter. I wish there had been more. I am sure it must be very cold where you are, when the water you wash in is frozen before you are done dressing. I suppose you would have plenty of skating but perhaps you would be too busy to amuse yourself in that way. Chicago must be a horrible place, I would have no fancy for living there at all. it's a great wonder the half of you aren't drowned in the streets, surely you were drawing the long bow as the saying is, when you said that in some places no bottom could be found. The papers are filled now with accounts of the King and Queen of the French. The King has abdicated the Throne, and has fled to England. It has caused a wonderful sensation. I believe Dada intends sending you a paper with an account of all the proceedings. Mrs John Maxwell has got another little son. Tom likes New York very much, and writes very pleasant letters home. I hear Robert Bowden does not care for America at all, I wouldn't be surprised if he lands home this spring. Margaretta is here at present, there is no word of her going to be married yet. I fear she'll soon be "on the shelf", perhaps she intends using her privileges this year, for you are aware I daresay that this is a Leap Year and they have the privilege of asking the Gentlemen. Grandmamma had a very severe attack of influenza, we thought she would not have got around again, she was so very weak. Uncle Robert is still feeling the effects of the fall he got some months since, he cannot yet speak well, he was at meeting on Sunday fortnight for the first. William John of the [Booten?] had a pretty smart attack of small-pox but is now quite recovered. Our Sacrament will be on Sunday fortnight. I do not yet know who will be here to assist Dada. I have not seen or heard from Mary Blow since you left. Mary Shaw writes occasionally. Her Father died at Dunadry about two months ago. Henry Blow is traveller for some house in Belfast, and Sandy is still in Alexander McDonnells - Dr. Filson is nearly recovered of fever. He was out on the car yesterday for about twenty minutes, he is still very weak. The Doctors were very much afraid of him at first he was very ill indeed for two or three days, he is greatly reduced. Sam Little has also been very ill the Dr. Tom said of fever but his friends think he is in consumption. There has been a great deal of sickness in town, scarcely a family has escaped. Mrs Welsh is in Gransha at present. She never came near us but once since Wm. Henry took ill, she is very much afraid of fever. I think she would not have come at all but she thought he was going to die, and was afraid of us being huffed. We had very few visits during his illness, even yet the people are afraid to come. I think Dada mentioned in his last that Mrs Gelston had got another husband - a blacksmith - well she has dismissed him until he learns manners, she is a most extraordinary woman. There were great rejoicings in Lecale on the 23rd of February the day on which Lord Bangor came of age. There were upwards of 40 bonfires in the evening, they looked beautiful from the hill. Mr Nugents house was very nicely illuminated. I hear the tenantry are to give him a grand dinner in June, after that he is going to the Continent for three years, so Lady Bangor will have that time to spend in Castleward [House?]. It is thought that Mr Moore, formerly minister of Ballycopeland, will be chosen by the congregation of Rosemary Street. Mr Gibson has got the chair of Sacred Ethics in the new College. Dr. Edgar has been appointed to one of the Chairs also, and has to resign his congregation Ash Wednesday. On Monday evening Mr Blair had an examination of his singing class, to which I was invited, and of course went. We had some very nice singing indeed. We had "Dame [Durden?]", it certainly is a very funny thing. Wm. Henry had joined the class before he took ill, & was continually singing "Joe Kiss Betty," and several other things they had learned from Mr Blair, he has a great taste for music, but I don't know whether he will be able to sing any or not. Andrew McDonnell of Ballywhite is very poorly at present, and has been so for some time. I am afraid he is going to die. He had an auction of his property some time ago, he bought Ballywhite himself, and Mr James Warnock got Marlfield. Rachel and Sarah Warnock are very poorly at present with cold. We are all busy knitting quilts to help increase the Sunday school funds. I hope we will be able to have the School House built this spring. How are your shirts holding out? Are there any of them beginning to wear yet? and your woollen stockings, I daresay you find them very comfortable now in the frosty weather. I think I have given you all the news. There is a deal of stuff in this epistle, but I wanted to write you every thing I could think of, as it appears from your last that you do not like short letters. I am sure if this one doesn't please in length, I don't know what will. I must now have done scribbling, this must be posted to-day, or it won't be in time for the mail. With love to you from all here. Believe me yours very affectionately Jane Ellen Orr |
