| Title: | Jonathan Smith, Philadelphia, USA to James Smith, Moycraig, Ireland |
|---|---|
| ID | 2526 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smith, Jonathan W/35(2) |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Smith, Jonathan W |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | distillery business, tavern keeping |
| 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. 1828/46: Presented by James Steele, The Whins, Mosside, Ballymoney, County Antrim |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9504097 |
| Date | 30/04/1848 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 24:04:1995. |
| Word Count | 1089 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mr James Smith Moycraig Co [County?] Antrim Ireland Mosside PO [Moss-side Post Office?] From: Philadelphia April 30 1848 Dear Parents I once more send you a fiew [few?] lines to let you know that if I should be married I have not forgotten you not yet has my love in the slightest manner ceased towards you, but it seems to me as your object was money you do not think that I have to consider on the welefare [welfare?] of my own house, every one of the family is as able to do for them selves as I am and they have the same chance if they had the same courage, but I assure you that they will have to pluck up their spirits some day for I am afraid that the Sandy banks of Moycraig cannot afford a fortune for them all, and if their lives be so precious, I will have them insured before they leave home and if they happen to fall overboard I will make something by that speck. ha ha ha do you think will that encourage aney [any?] of them, now to come to the conclusion if anney [any?] of them comes out here they will find a home with me as long as I have one, but I assure them that they will have to work sore by ever the [they?] done in, Ireland they would think it strange to have to change their shirt 3 times a day as I have done, and I felt more happy than ever I done in Ireland I am your son with respect Jonathan Smith to his Father James Smith Dear Mother I now adress [address?] you with a fiew [few?] lines from the hand of a loving son, the text of scripture whitch [which?] you coated [quoted?] to me comes fresh to my mind but although I cleave to the wife and leave father & Mother yet I am not to forget them, no I shall never forget you, for the care and affections of a parent is never thought of untill [until?] you are a parent and I do not now [know?] the day I shall be one myself, I would have sent you some loss of $300 dollers [dollars?] that remained in the hands of hir [her?] old employer he took the benefit & paid hir [her?] with a blank note & that left me verrey [very?] lean, but I hope that I will get over the loss of it, I received the gold watch I had to take to thre [three?] coarts [courts?] whitch [which?] cost me $50 dollers [dollars?] and between one expence [expense?] & another she cost me her value, whitch [which?] I will allow Wm [William?] to pay a part of to you as soon as he receives hir [her?] or sonner [sooner?] if he hinks [thinks?] that he can defend to me sending hir [her?] whitch [which?] I will do as soon as I can find one that I can trust her with, I received 2 letters the day after my uncle Wm [William?] Smith Dies whitch [which?] gave me no news what ever all the cry was money had they not spoke so shamfuley [shamefully?] to me the [they?] might have had the better chance but I will send a list of my expences [expenses?] and that will suffice them tho [though?] I am nothing in their debt Dear Mother you mist [must?] excuse me for speaking so free for I assure you that it is not meant to you in anney [any?] respect, you wil excuse my scrall [scrawl?] as I am Just returned from the wedding of Wm [William?] Neil at my Cousin An [Ann?] Smith and my eyes is [are?] rather dim for want of sleep, my uncle children is one here and the other there Wm [William?] lives with me, it was the last words of his father that I would be a father to him, he died worth about 20 thousand dollers [dollars?] whitch [which?] is to be divided share and share alike amongst the Childer [children?], I cannot say mutch [much?] about my own buisness [business?] as times is dull I cannot take in the from 30 to 40 dollers [dollars?] per day and that is vary [very?] little according to the demands I have to answer I received your letter from John White a fiew [few?] days ago, I sent a letter to brother James and Sister Mary Jane about 2 weeks ago encourageing [encouraging?] hir [her?] to come out , but James nows [knows?] what is best for him self in both Countries, Mrs Neil is always in a State of insenity [insanity?], I never got anney [any?] of my [----?] Clothes except what [-----?] of themselves [-----?] could not ware [wear?] and that was the worst of them, if Mary Jane Comes out write immediately and let me now [know?], for all sakes try to advise John against using that life destroying drink, Mrs Smith sends hir [her?] love to her new father mother brothers and Sisters Jo [Jonathan?] & M W Smith Remember me to my nephews and tell them that I will soon have a Cousin for them that will be the first in the family do you [-----?] [seperate sheet:] When you rite [write?] Direct to Jonathan Smith Green Corner of Shippen land and Bedford sts [streets?], let this suffise [suffice?] you all at this the as I think it is better for to save you all the expences [expenses?] that I can when money is so scarce with you, Miss McIllen has arrived heare [here?] an [and?] we received a letr [letter?] by telegraph from John White and he is on his journey to this City we expect him in every hour we will have a wedding as soon as he arrives or I expect so tell John to rite [write?] to me as son [soon?] as possible and let me now [know?] how he is getting along iff [if?] he wants a receipt for [------?] his Licquor [Liquor?] I will send him one, I wish anney [any?] of my sisters would come out as I will shortly want a girl if the [they?] come should you borrow money send them immediately and I will send it on as soon as ever word reaches me, I never was in better health in all my life I weigh 187 lbs [pounds?] I only weighed 170 before I was now may the Lord bless you all is the sincere prayer of your son & brother Jonath [Jonathan?] Smith |
