| Title: | John Orr, Allegheny, PA. to Rebecca Orr, Co. Tyrone. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2026 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Orr, John M/32 |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Orr, John Malcolm |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Allegheny, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Orr, Rebecca |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | T 2027: Copied by Permission of Miss Elizabeth Orr, Woodhouse Gardens, Rostrevor, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 8809065 |
| Date | 25/04/1848 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 20:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 1057 |
| Genre | |
| Note | N.B. John Malcolm died in 1851 (Did various jobs and decided to go west where he expected to do some kind of business) |
| Transcript | To Mrs Rebecca Orr Glencordial Care of Mr Thomas Hamilton Omagh Tyrone Ireland Allegheny City Ohio St. April 25 / 48 [1848?] Der [Dear?] Sister I have long neglected to answer your letter which I received by Brother James and altho [although?], the news in it is distressing yet I hope it will be a lesson to us to make our salvation work Sure and a life and conversation Evidencencing [Evidencing?] its truth, we are all well at present and in comfortable circumstances and every thing in this country is in a properous condition at present but there are fearful foreboding of evil times coming as soon as the war with mexico is terminated but the best laid schemes deceives us and we are often disappointed in those things we hoped most from there is only one hope that will not make (sic) ashamed, let us fix our anchor there Brother James and family arived [arrived?] here in the fall and Staid [Stayed?] with us about two weeks and then rented a house and are now living in a house of their own on a rented lot for 8 years they have had a great deal of trouble in procuring work and especially James, Maria is the only one of them does stay any time in one place and yet there is no more religion in that family than if they had never heard the Gospel not considering that god directs and manages all the [concerns?] of all his people ruling and overuling [overruling?] all things to his own Glory I am sorry for James but it is out of my power to help him and if it was I do not know how I would advice is no use to him he must run his course I have had some Expectation you would have come out here this Spring and was stil [still?] Expecting a letter to that amount but my patience is Exhausted and (sic) have taken up my pen in order to draw a Scratch from some of my friends and I expect a ful [full?] and particular acct. [account?] of all my friends from whom I expect at least one letter Every year for I thought you had all forgotten me but James assures me you have not Rebecca if you come out here I cannot and if I could I would not invite you here to make a lady of you but I think that you and your family could do better and #PAGE 2 be more Independant [Independent?] than Ever you can be there and if Brother Samuel is Satisfyd [Satisfied?] with robbing me and will only do right to the rest of the family and Especially Mother & Jane who are helpless I shal [shall?] be in some mesure [measure?] reconciled to him but if he remains impenitent to keep from you your just right to retain from your Mother what She ought to have and curtail in Every thing that is her just right, not only the necesaries [necessaries?] but also those things that would render her Comfortable and happy in her declinning years tell him that God will follow him & punish him. My oldest boy is 20 years of age and has Served his time to learn painting and is now working [?] work and the rest are all at School Except the youngest I have put Samuel to the lattin [latin?] this quarter, we have enjoy'd pretty good health for a long season for which I am sure we are not thankful as we ought. Our provisions here have been pretty high the last season, but the [they?] are coming down in consequence of England not buying from our people dried hog is very cheap here Now meat that last year would cost you ten cents is now worth 5 or 5 1/2 cents and is Expected cheaper and almost all provisions is Expected cheaper, I though that before this Brother Thomas Hamilton would have written to me that he was coming out here, tel [tell?] him I am obliged to him for the Tyrone Constitution and other papers he Sent me I would like to know how J Buchannans Sister's trial may terminate I have been unable to conjecture what End the [they?] had in view in that business My son John Sent to Grandmother four pounds some time since and wrote a Letter to her but has not yet received any aswer [answer?] whether She has received it or not if you find out any thing about it please let us know I have been long Expecting a letter from some of my friends I Expect James Kyle Out this Season from what he wrote to me last year I have a notion that the people about Omagh thinks this a poor place tell them the [they?] are mistaken this is a large place and there is more manufactories here than any other City in the union and it is the 3rd in Size and population there is coal in almost every hill and between 50 & 100 Steam boats ply between here and New Orleans conveying Sugar Molasses and Cotton til [till?] us and our manufactures to them this Country is going a head [ahead?] with Rail roads, canals are too slow a mode of conveyance for the people of this place. #PAGE 3 Dear Rebecca there are a great many kinds of work that women engage in here Some go into factories Some hire out to sow [sew?] or do housework some Sow [Sew?] for Tailors some milliners & [mantua?] makers and some wash clean and dress bonnets, Fanny makes all the clothes that we wear Except a dress coat and never Served any time to learn it. I would like you were here and when I look at the Situation of Mother and Jane and Samuels Cruelty to [too?] towards them I am almost afraid to say it I know you and your children would be better here but what will poor mother do but I think that Mary will not see her destitute if you leave her the promises of God are the only security we have he will never leave any that trust in him. Fanny joins me in love to you & family & Mother & Sisters & Brothers and I remain your affectionate Brother John Orr N.B. I live on Ohio Street a few doors below the Market house in Alligheny [Allegheny?] City |
