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Title: John Bones, Georgia, U.S.A to Rev. William Stavely, County Antrim.
ID233
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileBones, John/51
Year1815
SenderBones, John
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationcotton dealer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginAugusta, Georgia, USA
DestinationCo. Antrim, N.Ireland
RecipientRev William Stavely
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfriends
SourceD1835/27/1/2: Deposited by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9310381
Date05/04/1815
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogAction By Date Document added by C.R., 14:10:1993.
Word Count727
Genre
Note
TranscriptLetter from John Bones, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A to Reverend
William Stavely, Ballybollan [Ballyboyland?], Ballymoney,
County Antrim.
April 5, 1815.

Augusta Georgia 7th February 1823
My Dear Sir
With mingled feelings of pleasure and sorrow
I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th October
had the former produced by the knowledge that you and your
family as well as my other suspected relations in Ireland
are well the latter by the loss of a kind and affectionate
brother Thomas died on the 11th September last at his
plantation at Oglethorpe and after a short and severe
suffering of [----?] days. His disease was an inflammation
of the stomach produced by being exposed to [----?]. I had
not the melancholy satisfaction of being with him in his
last moments. He was taken ill on Saturday night and died on
the Wednesday morning following. On Monday he expected his
belief that he would not survive the attack and that he was
resigned to the decision of his Maker, whatever it might be.
His loss I mourn with [S-----?] sorrow. He was the same
hearted and affectionate being you formerly knew him to be,
and has not left a single enemy behind him. He had only one
child, for whom a handsome provision is left.
This has not been the only affection
[affliction?] to which our family has been exposed since I
last addressed you. For nearly two years my mother had been
alarmed by a rising in her head which was pronounced a short
time ago to be the commencement of a cancer. I immediately
on being informed of it went and brought her and my father
over to this place and had it extracted. The operation was
extremely painful but was done with astonishing firmness.
The tumour when taken out was as large as an egg. It gives
me much pleasure to add that the wound is entirely healed
and her general health is good and[as?] it has been for many
years. The other members of our family are all well. Eliza
Moore has a son about five months old. He is a promising
healthy child.
The situation of this country has changed very
little since I last wrote to you. Business has been very
dull this winter. The principle cause is the great depression
in the value of the staple article of our State, Cotton Wool,
which has fallen at least fifty per cent within the last
twelve months. We have lost fully 1200 pounds [----?] on our
purchases of that article last season. It is my intention to
bring the business of Fur and this article to a close
#PAGE 2
sometime in the ensuing summer with the view of continuing
the same kind of business on my own account.
I am sorry to hear that your John is still in
a delicate state of health. I would fondly hope that
providence will span him to you. From what I can learn of the
nature of his complaint, I am induced to believe that a
warmer climate might be of service to him.
I observe what you say respecting the
possibility of your yet removing to this country. It is a
step you will not take if you can, without due deliberation.
There are a great many things to be said both for and against
such an undertaking. As it is my intention to write to you in
the spring I shall give you my ideas more fully on the
subject. John Boreland is now here. I have been much
gratified with his [----?]. It will be however much shorter
than I could wish. I forward this letter to Charleston by him
also some American Newspapers which he has promised to
forward by a sipel[ship?] which is expected to sail [------torn]
They are addressed to the care of Mr. [--------torn] for you.
I have not written to any [------torn] friends
in Ireland at this time. You will therefore present my most
affectionate regards [----torn] my [----?] [-----torn] and
Aunts, Uncle and Aunt [-----damaged] [----torn] family. I
[---torn] wish to be rem[embered?] to all my old friends and
neighbours, many of whom I have forgotten. To my Aunt and
children you will present my most sincere regards and believe
me to be yours very sincerely
John Bones
I have written [the?] foregoing in much haste in consequence
of John Borelands leaving as much sooner than anticipated.