| Title: | William Parke, Virginia to Mary Parke, Ireland. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2055 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Parke, William/25 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | Parke, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shop owner |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | Parke, Mary |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | husband-wife |
| Source | T 1648/8: Copied by Permission of Miss M. Parke, 9 Bridge Street, Banbridge, Co. Down |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9509005 |
| Date | 26/07/1860 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 13:09:95. |
| Word Count | 1481 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | July 26th 1860 My dearest Mary I got yours of the 2nd on Friday 20th I was looking out so anxiously for it you can hardly imagine what pleasure it gave me before I got the Cork paper (2 days [previous?]) I was quite [alarmed?] about your silence and would have telegraphed if I could, to learn what was the matter it must have been negligence in the person to whom you gave the paper as two [steamers?] left there before it did, and I think both of them Mail steamers. I am quite puzzled to know how American Mails are handled now in Ireland it seems they come by 4 [different?] routes your letter came by Derry the [?] Derry & Galway Steamer Carry the Mails alternately and they have two steamers from Cork every week so that makes 3 American mails each week but how they are regulated I cannot say I am in the dark on this side too My Darling Wife it gives me almost as much pleasure to hear you are enjoying your friends as if I were there myself If I had been with you I don't think you would have gone the whole distance in one day, it was too great a risque [risk?] but God be praised He gave you strength to bear the fatigue when you found it so late I wonder you did not stop in Armagh but I suppose you could not do it so near [home?], it would be [no rest?] it was enough to frighten the wits out of some of them to be waked up and find two such queer folk in the [house?]. I know dear Wife you had grown thin & oldlooking some months before you left and that was why I was so willing you should go back to your native air to get [recovered?] I did not mind your taking Son so much you know I could not have kept him I cannot say I missed him much, indeed I took you both being away quite cooly untill [until?] I expected to hear from you and now since I have heard you are both doing so well I mean to enjoy myself like any batchelor [bachelor?] and who knows but I may forget that I have a Wife & wean [wee one?] unless you kick my memory jogged pretty often but perhaps you will not give me time to forget you know some persons told you before you went that you would be more anxious to come back than to go so just say when you want to come and how and I will either send you a ticket or the money, (by the by tho [though?] I mentioned it in the last papers I gave you only 6£ when going so that you could not have lost any do you get 2 papers a week? I send 2 every week except once when I sent a letter a week after you left. I hope you get them all as there was some contraband in each, & if you got them all your [question?] would be answered. I have been boarding at Mrs Farley's since I got back and I set the house from the 1st July at the same rent I pay. I occupy part of John Glenn's room I sold some of the furniture as I mentioned tho [though?] perhaps too low but I had no room for them & moving about damages so much by watching auctions we will be able to get better ones as cheap when we want them when the weather gets a little cooler I must begin to look about for a house on the outskirts of the city I get along pretty comfortably in the store, take things quietly & don't fuss myself about them. Bob [Robert?] had an altercation with his Uncle a few days since about his extravagance he got very mad offered to sell any thing [anything?] he had at half price to raise money & swore he would not be here on Monday, but when it came he was "thar" as large as life & quiet as a mouse. You must have had a poor time of it on sea with your limited room but as you had a berth it would be useless to write to the agents about the want of comfort any person trying the 2 Cabin of the Cunard Line will find the accommodation worse in every respect I saw a good many of your friends dearest since I got your letter and they all seem to be very glad to hear of your improvement particulary Mrs [McClery?] & family, [aunt?] Lucy & Mrs Gardiner also Mrs Lynch, [?] [?] they all desire as much love sent as can be contained in a letter. Lucy says she misses you very much so does Mrs Gardiner Lizzie is still delicate tho' [though?] able to go out Kate is well, Alice midling [middling?] they do not like their neighbours, Hariet [Harriet?] has got over her fits & is nearly as well as usual. Cousin Lizzie brought home Hugh Caperton's corpse from some of his friends in the Mountains yesterday he wrote her 10 days since to send some clothes to him as he was going to ride with a cousin through some of the Middle States. the next letter was from a Dr [Doctor?] for her to hurry up as he had a bad fever & was raving about her. I have not heard whether she saw him alive or no this has been a very sickly [season?] all through "Little Brother" is tolerable, his bowels trouble him, he cannot attempt to walk yet. I fancy I can see Robert running about the grass plot in front has he found his way under the gooseberry bushes yet? You recollect the conditions on which I would consent to his staying with his Grandma's you did not mention whither [whether?] there was any prospect of its accomplishment don't fail to tell me dear if there is any prospect of any thing [anything?] "falling in your lap" this year what sort of an answer did you give to Mary's challange? I suppose you will have seen her before you get this, how soon does she expect it? what does [Amy?] think of Matrimony now her reasons for hastening the catastrophy were very cogent and so like her that I was quite [convinced?] reading her letter. I hope she never will have any cause to regret the step she has taken, give her & her other half [?] [best wishes?] [?] their continued happiness I wonder what sort of a conscience Tilly has, she begins by thanking me for sending you, and in the next breath says she means to keep you now that she has you, dare say she will plead possession being nine points of the law, she says I may come if I want you but what would she do with me if she had me there I would only have to turn round & come back as I have not made my fortune yet but I hope there is a good time coming I fear you will have a famine of turnip if nothing else there this year as your father had some planted when youngest there there were some apprehensions of short crops of oats & wheat some time since but I have not seen so much in late accounts our harvest has been a very abundant one except in some of the Southern States where the corn & nearly every green thing has been burned up for want of rain we are having refreshing showers nearly every day weather pleasant about 90 The Great Eastener's expected at Norfolk on Sunday, but I shall not see her unless she stays longer than next morning as it is said she will. I don't know dear if I have omitted any thing [anything?] you would care to hear if I have you must remind me of it now let me beg of you dearest to set your mind quite at rest about me. I shall do very well while I hear such good accounts from you untill [until?] your visit terminates when I will enjoy you & son all the more from having been without you you know I am no stranger here and ought to be able the take care of myself now. give my love to your Father Mother Tilly the boys & all friends, kiss son for me & let me hear from you often, tell Robert to write me I would be glad to hear from any of them that think enough of me to spend time writing. May God preserve you dearest Wife untill [until?] you come back in health & renewed strength to your affectionate & loving Husband Wm [William?] Parke |
