| Title: | May Ann Blair, Shell Creek, USA to Jane Allen, Belfast |
|---|---|
| ID | 223 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Blair, Mary Ann/15 |
| Year | 1844 |
| Sender | Blair, Mary Ann |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Shell Creek, Nebraska?, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Allen, Jane |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | niece-aunt |
| Source | D1558/1/7/7: The Papers of William John Campbell Allen Esq., Deposited by the late F.D. Campbell Allen Esq., 15 London Road, Harrow-on-the-hill, Middlesex |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9911001 |
| Date | 03/12/1844 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 01:11:99. |
| Word Count | 888 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Shell Creek 3d December 1844 My Dear Aunt Some time ago I received a letter from William John. I would have replyed [replied?] immediately on receipt of it but Mary had an attack of worm fever and Charles of Bilious the [they?] are now recovered. Dear Aunt I have again and again looked for a letter from you I often have thought of the remark you made one evening previous to my leaving home, perhaps it has escaped your memory, you said I need never write home for any assistance if ever I should require it as there was none of my relations thought much of me. I began to think it was the case untill [until?] I received William Johns letter of the 29th September I had wrote again and again to those that I called near and dear to me and never received a line from one only William Campbell, before I left Georgia I wrote you a long letter acquainting you of the death of my little infant also James Blairs and the burning of our house and all our furniture, this all occurred in 1841 and 1840. A short time after poor Williams death I again wrote you describing the situation I was left in there I was without a friend to speak one word of consolation to me my children all taken down sick with the exception of Charles as soon as the [they?] got well him and I was taking [taken?] with Chills and fever and had no servant to assist me and my little infant only three months old, you may expect my time was pretty hard, a short time before poor Williams death I remarked to him what would become of me with all my little ones if it should please God to call him away, he said the Almighty was all sufficient and John would do all he could for me and the children. I cannot help giving you a little detail of Johns conversation to me after his Fathers death the day he was inteared [interred?] I remarked to him what would become of me with all my little children and so much in debt, you must write to your Uncle James for his own part he never intended to make his money by planting, I asked him how did he intend making it he said that was his own business, shortly after he was taken down sick you have some idea of what kind of a boy he was to wait upon although Charles and myself was the only persons to attend to him when Charles was taken sick he would scarcely hand him a drink of water, I am sorry to say John has neither affection nor gratitude God knows how my own children may act towards me I trust however the [they?] will not show the same disposition that John and James done (I know I always treated them as if the [they?] had been my own children) I often look back to the days of my girlhood when I lived with you and experience [experienced?] so many changes of life I cannot help drawing many sigh (sic) however I must do all I can to raise my children respectably if my health was as good as when I arrived in America I could get along better I assure you Aunt it was a gratification to me that I cannot express when I received Williams J.C. Letter I thank him for his present to Willy. [torn] I will apply it to his Education as he requested it although I required for other purposes. I have to pay Mr McGuire fifty Dollars a Month for my Boarding I wish Uncle would write me and let me know what to do I want to be settled and have a little a place of my own, Aunt I am going to make one request if you would allow me as much as would buy me a negro I ent [aint?] able to Cook and work as I have been in the habit of doing. I will write to Wm. [William?] J. C. next month and let him know how the children and me gets a long, Charles has got a swelling in his neck I am obliged to sit up a good part of the night with him the Dotor [Doctor?] says it arrises [arises?] from a tumour out of his head, make my repescts [respects?] to your Daughter you can say to her that shortly before Mr Blair Died he named the Baby Isabella Allen she ent [aint?] Christend [Christened?] yet I intend as soon as I can find an opportunity to take her and Ann Jane Campbell up to town and have Doctor Goulding to Christen them they are mighty particular here we must be all Christians before we Join the Church, do let me know if you still go to hear Mr Belles what is they [the?] great Doctor Cook doing and what has become of Mr Sims, make my respests [respects?] to all may aquire [enquire?] after me, my Children Joins with me, sending there [their?] Love to you and there [their?] Blessing I remain your affectionate niece May Ann Blair My Dear Aunt you must excuse the blots and blunders. I write to mother by the same mail *Envelope address:- Shell Creek lsa [Louisiana?] paid 25 Decr 12th Mrs Jane Allen Welligton [Wellington?] place Belfast Ireland Wm. [William?] J.C. Allen. Esqr Cunnards line of Steamars [Steamers?] Via Boston & Liverpool |
