| Title: | J.W. Smith, Philadelphia to James Smith, Co. Antrim. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2518 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smith, Jonathan W/3 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Smith, Jonathan W |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Moycraig, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smith, James and Jane |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | D 1828/38: Presented by James Steele, The Whins, Mosside, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9506112 |
| Date | 28/02/1847 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:06:1995. |
| Word Count | 1418 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To [James Smith?] From: Friends Asylum, February 28th 1847 Dear Parents Once more imploring your blessing on your youngest Sun [Son?] now destined on a distant land beraved [bereaved?] of earthly friends except those whitch [which?] I have formed out of strangers, and they have proved a better friend to me nor anney [any?] of my relations ever did, I have not a relation in this country that would give me a nights lodging were I to ly [lie?] without, but rest Assured I am not without friends for when I gow [go?] to town there is as manney [many?] to welcom [welcome?] me as if I was to gow [go?] to Mosside, I have two particular friends viz James Carrick and Samuel Scott I mak [make?] their houses my home when I gow [go?] to town they are both from the County Tyrone, my friends perhaps may think by my letters that I will not stay long in this Country but you may let them to know that I would not change the situation that I now hold to anney [any?] of the dandey [dandy?] farmers sons with their dashing horses and jaunting cars, for believe me when I think on the pride and poverty of Ireland it makes me shudder to think how some of the faups [fops?] will flourish about when perhaps they have forgot to pay the coat they weare [wear?] or rather is not able to do it I wrote to you on 12 of January concerning the death of your Daughter in law I mentioned of my unkle [uncle?] Roberts ilness [illness?] and he died on the 16 Jan [January?] he never had a days health since I saw him he was like all the rest of his friends he thought he knew more than anney [any?] green irish man and would not take advice and you may guess what was the result, his childer [children?] is both free Wm [William?] is living in the city in a grocery store Anney is at my brothers old place she has been living there since May last I hear that my unkel [uncle?] Wm [William?] has noticed them for to leave the house and I wrote to him requesting him to let the house to me and assist me in starting for my self but has not received a answer yet, if I was started there I would make a fortune with Gods healp [help?] for anney [any?] yonge [young?] man with a small capital who would conduct himself right has no need to work for it is a bad way of making a fortune to work in summer and spend your earning in winter when you canot [cannot?] get work, I know hundreds of able yongue [young?] men that would be glad to work for their board and cannot get employ during the winter season, but this is expected to be a pretty brisk summer for labouring men, and if my brother James has not got a farm I would advise him to come out heare [here?] viz if he intends to gow [go?] to hard work and take the the [sic] bad luck with the good as I have to do, if brother John would settel [settle?] to his work he would well in this Countery [Country?] if him or James comes out if my Mother would part with anney [any?] of my Sisters and let them come along I would forward the money as quick as possible Mary Jane would suit but for she would make a livelyhood [livelihood?] with the needdlie [needle?] but they may remember they have no home to come to except I get one before that time I do not advise anney [any?] of them to come but as I understand Ireland is in a tremendious [tremendous?] stat [state?] of starvation I do not know how you will get along I would have sent you some of my earning before this time but I thought that you might thought worth your while to send me word whether you were all living or not. I was determined never to write to you again for this is the 5th or 6th letter and never received a answer to anney [any?] of them, if you think worth your while to own me as your son write immediately on receipt of this and if you are in the least needcesity [necessity?] should you borrow money do not want and I will send it on by the return of post so soon as the news comes to hand, should I leave myself without a single cent to your part of my brothers property becomes due, I have spent the most part of my Summers earning at the law for to see justice done to you and it is not all settled yet for there is a good deal of the property that they have given no account of yet, but I can do no more about it unto the year be expired, and if God spares me to that time I will stir them up to their duty. you will please let D S Mcay [MacKay?] esq [Esquire?] know that his brother Archy and I is living to gether he is in a verrey [very?] poor state of health since he heard of his father's death he is in bad spirits but I assure him that Danl [Daniel?] is more of a gentleman not to see him ronged [wronged?], but he thinks that he has forgot him for he never answered one of his letters his friends would be surprised if they knew the change that is on him his strictness to guard against bad company and intoxicating drink. he is a sober a wise well conducted young man since he came to this Countery [Country?], NB if anney [any?] of my friends comes to this Countrey [Country?] they need not fetch so mutch [much?] clothing as is commonly done nor yet so mutch [much?] provision for the one half would do when they get ships allow ance, no more at preasant [present?] but remains your loving and affectionate son Jonathan W Smith I now adress [address?] my beloved Mother earnestly hoping that this will find hir [her?] and all the family enjoying the same blessing whitch [which?] I am now enjoying that is good health whitch [which?] is above all other blessings, Dear Mother if you want for anney [any?] of the comforts of this life or anney [any?] thing that money will purchase to make you happey [happy?] send me word and I will send you of my own earning enough to make you comfortable be not delitory [dilatory] in letting me know your sircumstance [circumstance?] for my onley [only?] study is for your welefare [welfare?], you spoke of me getting married too soon but you need not be the least alarmed about that for I am none of the boys that is easy caught, O [I?] could have married to great advantage since I came to this country if I had been so inclined, she is of a respectable family and the presentage [percentage?] of hir [her?] money would be a hansom [handsome?] fortune to some of the girls in Ireland who would denied me if I had been in their offer I intend to pay you a visit before I change my life to a married state, if the Lord spears [spares?] us al [all?] I intend to gow [go?] to see you in the course of a fiew [few?] years unless something comes that I am not aware of, A Mcay and I is in some notion to leave this place and gow [go?] to the City in spring we think that so close confinement is injurious to our health we are from 5 oclock [o'clock?] in the morning to 9 at night every day without the least intermission, although our work is easy it is very confining and we never know a sabbath by another day my friends is all well as far as I know give my love in the kindest manner to all my brothers and Sisters and to my little favourite R S and his Mother and to all enquiring friends and neighbours. Please write immediately on receipt of this, may the Lord bless you and all the family and prosper your doings is the earnest prayer of your loving and affectionate son Jonathan W Smith direct to the care of Samuel Scott South St [Street?] 2 dor [doors?] above 12th JWS. |
