| Title: | W Richey, Pennsylvania, To Mrs J Heron, Killyleagh, Co Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 2280 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Richey, William/37 |
| Year | 1865 |
| Sender | Richey, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Penn Township, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Killyleagh, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Mrs James Herron |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | old friends |
| Source | T.1766/2/18: Photocopied by Courtesy of Mr N P Heron. #TYPE EMG Wm [William?] Richey, Pennsylvania, To Mrs J. Heron, Tullyveery House, Killyleagh, Co. Down, Ireland. 1st January 1865. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8911114 |
| Date | 01/01/1865 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 30:11:1989 GC created 22:06:1990 CD input 27:06:19 |
| Word Count | 833 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mrs James Herron, Tullyvery House, Killileagh, County Down, Ireland. ______________________________________________________________ Dear Mrs. Herron, Penn Township. Jan 1st 1865 It is with feelings of the kindest remembrance that I now venture to write this note to you & I am still liveing [living?] and in good health and I earnestly hope these lines may find you and your family enjoying the same blessings. Time has rolled around over 17 years since I last saw you yet I have not forgotten your kindness to me when I was a boy, in my thoughts in my dreames [dreams?] I often revisit your house, your garden, your fields and your beautiful landscape. There is no spot upon earth dearer to me than where you dwell I have roamed a good deal over this great land and on its mighty rivers and have seen beautiful dwellings, but yet if I had the privelege [privilege?] of selecting where to dwell, before all I have seen I would select that spot. I have often intended to write to you but still neglected. A few nights ago I dreamed that I was at your house, I walked in by the kitchen door, the first I saw was Matty Wood and Ann McConnell. Everything looked as usual and I saw your son James. He knew me and we embraced each other, I enquired for his mother and he said she was dead and we both wept bitterly until my sobbing awoke me and Lo it was a dream and I was relieved from my trouble. So I have resolved to write and see how matters are, it will do me good to hear from the place of my boyhood. In my memory everything remains the same as when I last beheld them in June 1847, but with myself times and circumstances are changed indeed. I married a wife on 18th. Sept. [September?] 1856 since we have 5 children, 3 girls, two boys. I have followed the business of Agriculture and have been moderatley successful. I rented a small farm at first but I now occupy one of 100 acres (80 clear). My father is liveing [living?] on a farm adjoining, they are all in good health, sister Mary is married and has 4 children. George is married had 4 children. James is in the union Army. Margaret Ann is lately married to a Mr David Herron. Except James, we all reside adjoining each other in a beautiful locality 10 miles North of the City of Pittsburg in a very fertile valley on the East bank of the Allegheny River, a navigable river for steamboats of large size. Also a rail road runs through our premises, we can go to market in twenty minutes. Thier [there?] is no denieing [denying?] but this is a Great and good Country and Americans a Great People. I suppose you have already heard of our Gigantic Rebellion. It is a calamity indeed although we in the North are not suffering it everything seems prospering although we miss many of our former associates and friends. I visited one of our armies after a battle and recovered the dead body of a young brother to my wife, she has two more still in the service, and there I saw the desolation of war that african slavery has brought upon this land, but slavery is now dead and it will be for ever buried with the end of this rebellion. Slavery was the curse and cause and it is right it should die. I am a naturalised Citisen [Citizen?] of these united states and a supporter of the present Administration having voted for the election and re-election of our present President, therefore I am subject to be drafted into the armies of the united states. I have escaped so far, but there is another appointed for the 15th. of Feb [February?], if my lot is drawn I will serve. Our Cause is good and just and with the help of the God of Nations we will come out of this contest purified and better fitted to be called a Free People. All we ask of Europeans is moral sympathy and nonintervention. I believe England has acted unfriendly in many respects, thier [there?] are many bitter feelings here against Her. I would mourn it as the greatest calamity that could befall Civilisation [civilization?] if war should break out between England and this Country. Let your influence your prayers be for friendship between these two countries and sympathy for our cause. You will please remember me to those of your house who knew me in other days. I wish you to write to me and I wish a letter from James or any other member of your family. My sincere wish is that these few lines may safely reach you and find all as well as I wish you. As it is getting late in the night and my paper getting full I will bid you Good Bye for the present and a merry new year. I am with respect, yours Wm [William?] M. Richey. P.S. If you think this worth answering, please direct Hulton Post Office, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [Pennsylvania?], America. write soon. (This letter is from an old Tullyveery servant domiciled in America.) |
