| Title: | Rev. J. Orr, Portaferry, to John M. Orr, Chicago, U.S.A. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2039 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Orr, Revd John/94 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Rev. John Orr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | clergyman |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Portaferry, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Recipient | Orr, John M |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | father-son |
| Source | Copyright Retained by John McCleery, 80 Circular Road, Belfast,BT4 2GD. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. |
| Doc. No. | 9702059 |
| Date | 01/09/1847 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 31:01:97. |
| Word Count | 894 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Sept [1847?] My Dear John In writing our monthy epistle to you, the duty devolves on me at this time. We have now received five letters from you viz. 1st from New York dated June announcing your arrival 2nd from New York to Jane Ellen describing the city etc. 3rd from Chicago on your arrival there describing your travels. 4th from Chicago to Jane Ellen describing the [wee?] [launch?]. 5th from New York to your mother with Daguerreotype portrait received last night per Mr Joseph Bigger arrived in Belfast. Your Mother and Jane Ellen think you must have been cross looking at the time as there is no appearance of a smile Jane Ellen says no person should sit for a Daguerreotype likeness unless in great good humour - We suppose you must have been vexed at getting no news from home Mother respects the features are very like I wrote you on the 31st of May a letter which should have been lying for you in New York Post Office on your arrival. This [was?][noted?] to the direction 'Passenger per Ship Prince de Joinville' That letter mentioned several little incidents about home, and also the death of the Rev. Alex Patterson of Ballymena of [fever?], on the day you sailed from Belfast Lough. The next was dated June 30th. It mentioned among other things the death of Dr. Chalmers - the supposed loss of the Catherine, Henry Browne on board Joseph and George Nelson, Wm. [William?] Shanks and another man. She sailed from Whitehaven on the 9th of June and has not since been heard of. Henry Brown had in gold and silver œ390 on board - besides the cargo of coals. In the third letter directed to Chicago you mention having recd [received?] as the first intelligence from home. A fourth was written by Jane Ellen and sent by Mr. John Maxwell who has gone out to settle Thomas in New York and examine personally the capabilities of the country. A fifth dated Aug 30th from Jane Ellen directed to Chicago. In the New York Tribune a newspaper sent by Thos. [Thomas?] Warnock I saw your name in the list of uncalled for letters on the 31st July. There were two lists - one for ladies - the other for gentlemen - and parties calling at the office were requested to state in what list their names appeared - by which I understand in what month their names were advertised. There have been two letters from Robert Bowden from Quebec. The most melancholy accounts are given of the sickness and wholesale deaths of the Irish emigrants on Grosse Island. Since you left there has been a terrible smash in the mercantile world, especially those engaged in the grain trade. In Belfast John [Gault?] œ26 [0-0?] James Barnett, M. Mayne Neill & [several?] [Minor?] [concerns?] Glasgow, Greenock, Liverpool, London, Hull - all are suffering. The last [havoc?] reported in London [œ1.8.000.00?]. I sent you from Belfast the Banner of the 14th in which you wd [would?] get some mercantile news - and by the previous mail the Derry Standard. Your Mother is anxious to know many things concerning you, such as Have you got a situation? if so how do you like it? In what are you employed? Do you like your lodging? Do you pay high for it? What are your prospects? Are you contented? Do you regret leaving home? Now that the excitement of travelling is over can you settle? How does your money stand out? How do you spend the Sabbath? Who is your minister? How do you like him? In short every thing. 27 [date?] As I intend going to N'Ards [Newtownards?] tomorrow to the meeting of Presbytery and thence to Ballybeen, I must finish this letter before I go to be in time for the packet. We were very uneasy for some time respecting Mr Edwin Blow who was very ill of dysentery and his life despaired of, for upwards of a week. He is now safe recovered as to be in the parlour. One of his medical attendants [declared?] that if he had not had a constitution like iron he could not have stood the virulence of the attack. A great many respectable people in Belfast have died of it as well as of fever. We had the Bride & Groom in meeting yesterday. I had a visit yesterday from [Wm?] [William?] Bain to enrol his name in the Temperance list. He says you advised him to do it before you left and he wishes he had taken your advice sooner. He has [been?][on?] [this?][free?][by?][week?] I wish some of what ought to be our more respectable inhabitants wd [would?] adopt the same remedy and keep themselves out of danger and disgrace. Mr Green has got J.P. attached to his name and makes a most efficient magistrate. Miss Margt. [Margaret?] Warnock is still in Scotland but expects to be home shortly. Mr Warnock, James and the young ladies are well. Wm. [Wiliam?] McCleery arrived last week in Belfast [mate?] of the [Huron?]. The mate and some of the apprentices were left in Hospital at Quebec. The [Huron?] was in the channel during the storm and lying to, drifted from Dublin Bay to the mouth of the Mersey - She has 6 feet water in the hold, gaining on the pumps. |
