| Title: | John Boyd, St. [Saint] John, New Brunswick to James Stavely, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 263 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Boyd, John/38 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | Boyd, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | St John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Staveley, James W. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D1835/27/5/5: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | Public Record Office , Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9305216 |
| Date | 10/12/1860 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by Jonathan Teer, 28 |
| Word Count | 674 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Letter from John Boyd, St. John, N.B. [New Brunswick, Canada], to James Stavely, 4 Glengall Place, Belfast. St. John N.B. [New Brunswick?] December 10 1860 My dear Mr. Stavely We are now looking to hear of the arrival of your brother, who should be at Halifax tomorrow or next day, if he sailed as we expect he did on the first in the good ship "Europa". We are anxiously awaiting his return, as we have had a cheerless house of Worship for some time past. He will come back to us in new heart, and fresh vigour, to enter again his duties, and I hope all will be as he could wish. and as all his friends, which are many could desire. You would have much [------?] in having him with you again, and I trust your Father had the pleasure he anticipated, it would be a sad parting, as neither can in the ordinary course of events hope to see each other again on this side of the grave. The Congregation here have kept together very well, and indeed much better than one could expect, as we are such a sett [?] of episcopalian and Methodist heretics. How is my friend Mr. M. McConkey - we hope the old gentleman is well, and also Mrs. Stavely, Mims Annie Janey, Baby and Willy. Kind love to them all. I dont [don't?] think I shall let my wife go again to Belfast, she talks so much about Mr. James Stavely; he is such a handsome man so that I think she had better turn her thoughts to some other subject: just ask Mrs. Stavely if she doesn't think so too. But that puts me in mind of your promise to send me the family portrait, and so I will expect it by Mr. Stavely. Have you been to the Giant's Chair lately? I don't believe the stories connected with it, or else it does not afflict all alike. Has our friend Mr. McIlwrath been to see you lately, our kind regards to him when you see him. I was very sorry I did not see your young friend and colleague - I hope however to have that pleasure the next time. I sometimes see Robert and Mrs. [sic.]: She does not look so blooming as she did, but of course, at this season there are no "berries and milk". An old fellow died here lately and left 1000 pounds to be divided among the four Congregations of Mrs. M Sommerville, Stewart and Lawson: I wish William Stavely was back to look after it, as nothing can be done, until his return; it is said also, that he left a horse and carriage additional to your brother. Not often do Covenanters have such a bequest. How are you getting on with enlarging the church? I fear Mr. McCarrol would make #PAGE 2 a poor beggar, he has not brain enough for such work; but sometimes we are disappointed in these matters. Your brother could not summon courage to beg a pound in St. John, which in New York, he was bold as a lion. I had two days experience of his work there. I had a letter of twenty-one pages from Mr. Sommerville last week on the Covenants; he is very able, but he has the too strong feeling of many against all not of his opinion. I like him very much; He is one of the men of whom we feel proud, in whatever fashion he is placed, he is master of it. Manly and Honest, he is a strong contrast to the brother Missionary of Mr. Stavely [?] in this Province. He has had much trouble lately in his family, the Diptheria has been among them, and two of the best members of his [-----?] have died. We are having serious troubles in financial matters here owing to the political difficulties in the States. I hardly think the Slave States will secede, although they threaten. Slavery is at length bring upon them the curse that it might be expected would follow such an evil. With Kindest regards to Mrs. Stavely, Mr. McConkey, Annie, Janey, Willy and Baby. I am Very truly yours John Boyd |
