Home

CORVIZ

Main content

Title: Jonathan W. Smith, Philadelphia, USA to James Smith, Moycraig, Ireland
ID2520
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmith, Jonathan W/8
Year1847
SenderSmith, Jonathan W
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationdistillery business, tavern keeping
Sender Religionunknown
OriginPhiladelphia, Penn., USA
DestinationMoycraig, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
RecipientSmith, James and Jane
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipson-parents
SourceD 1828/40: Presented by James Steele, The Whins, Mosside, Ballymoney, Co Antrim
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9504021
Date29/04/1847
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 04:04:1995.
Word Count1166
Genre
Note
TranscriptTo: James Smith
Moycraig County Antrim
Ireland Mosside [Moss-side?] Post

[Postmarks] 29 MY [MAY?] 1847 LIVERPOOL SHIP
3 MY [MAY?] 1847 C
[LONDON?] DERRY MY [MAY?] 31 1847 M
BALLYMONEY JU [JUNE?] 3 1847

From:
Philadelphia April 29th 1847

Dear Mother and brothers
to you I am indebted
and not to my father, for anney [any?] letters that I
received since I left my native home I have received 3
letters since I last wrote to you, I received yours and Wms
[Williams?] on one day and Johns a fiew [few?] days agow
[ago?] and I now haisten [hasten?] to answer them all in one,
and I am sorrey [sorry?] to say that I cannot comply with
your wishes and they are just what I promised in my last
letter but you will not think that it is anney [any?] want of
respect for you. when I tell you the way in whitch [which?] I
am situated, my friends has caused me a great deal of trouble
and cost they brought a suit against me for me being in debt
situation to attend to the law and this day the Alderman gave
Judgement against me for $8 and costs and I appealed to the
court of common pleas, I had my lawyers fees to pay together
with the Docters [Doctors?] bills for attendance during my
sickness, left me with but light funds and the day before I
left my situation the [they?] sold out their good will and
fixtures of the place, and Jas [James?] Carrick bought it for
me but funds being so mutch [much?] exhausted I was not able
for to redeem it, but the small capital whitch [which?] I had
I was able for to pay the one half of the input and enter
into partnership with him he has acted a amost noble friend
to me ever since I came to the Country his name is worthey
[worthy?] if renown for his house was my home and his money
at my command when ever I called upon it when the nearest
relation that I had refused to aid me one single cent he was
always my friend and I hope the Lord will enable me to prove
faithful to him in all my dealings Since I commenced buisness
[business?] I have no reason to complean [complain?] as to
the fortune I have had but the place being out of repair and
the customers falling away by bad management it will take
some time before it will be got up again, the money received
each day average from 5 to 10 dollars but not being able for
to purchase more than $100 dollars worth of liquor at first
the money is spent as fast as it comes in however I hope with
the Lords blessing to get ahead and you may rest assured that
as soon as the Lord will enable I will send you something for
to enable you to procure the nessessaries [necessaries?] of
life for there is nothing on this earth would give me more
joy nor to hear of your welefare [welfare?] it has caused
manney [many?] a tear to flow from my eyes since I red
[read?] Johns letter for to think on my beloved Mother and
helpless sisters and me after all my exertions not able to
aid them and all through the rascallity [rascality?] of those
who should [have?] been my warmest friends, as for John White
the Lord will reward him for the oaths that he swore and the
way in whitch [which?] he has tried to cheat me and all
belonging to me it is him that I blame for al [all?] that
has been done Dear Mother rest content and do not trouble
yourself nor be uneasey [uneasy?] for it is the Lords doings
and it is easey [easy?] for him to chainge [change?] every
thing into prosperity, write to me as son [soon?] as this
comes to hand and if I have not sent you something before
that time should I sell my part of all and gow [go?] to hard
work again I will send you the last cent that I have, I am
sorrey [sorry?] to hear brother James metting [meeting?] with
so mutch [much?] los [loss?] but I hope it will bee [be?] a
warning to him with all so wild as I was I always kept clear
of the girls but the Mc Curdays [Mc Curdys?] cracked his neck
at first and they will break it out before they part him I do
not throw the least insinuation to his wife for I respect her
as mutch [much?] as I do my own sister but the rest I will
let them gow [go?] for what they will fetch, I will now drop
this subject and let you know of something else of rather
more importance the trouble and anxiety of mind has drove Mrs
Neil into a state of insenity [insanity?] for the 2 Months
and it is laid to Jo Wh [John White?] charge for he caused
her to take more upon hir [her?] than she was able to get
along with and got strangers to gow [go?] their security and
I am afraid that they will have to stand for the amount of it
spent and then their security will have to answer, I have
succeeded in getting the gold watch placed in Alderman
Meyerses [Meyer's?] hand to be sent to my brother William it
being proved to be the Dying words of both Robert and Rachel
whether she will be placed in my hands or not I have not yet
assertained [ascertained?], I have not yet received the power
of Attorney yet and I sent 2 of them for father to sign, I
may now say that I want for nothing to make me happey
[happy?] except God's blessing and a good wife I will
have the latter as soon as I can find one to
suit me but I will not marrey [marry?] for nothing as my
brothers has done I am now in as good health as ever I was
hoping that you and all the family is enjoying the same
blessing my friends as far as I know is all well, A Mc Kay
left the Assilum [Asylum?] at the same time that I did and
has not got a situation yet he has never received a Answer to
anney [any?] of his letters as yet, give my Love in the
kindest manner to the Revd R Mc Conaghie [Reverend R MacConaghy?]
D S McKay and to D Onail [O'Neil?] I send my love to my
father Brothers and sisters and to my little favourite R
Smith and mother and tell him I wil [will?] send him the
stock the first oppertuniry [opportunity?] no more but that
the Lord may bless and prosper you and all the family and
lead them in the way to happiness is the fervant [fervent?]
prayer of your affectionate son Jonathan W Smith
to my beloved Mother & brothers
Wm [William?] & John an [and?] sister
to all [..... ......?]
Direct to the corner of Callowhill
and Nixon Sts [Streets?] near Fairmount
Philad [Philadelphia?] for me