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Title: Liza Smyth, Castledamph, Co Tyrone to James A Smyth, Ontario
ID2637
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, Eliza Catherine/21
Year1907
SenderSmyth, Eliza Catherine
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationfarmer
Sender ReligionProtestant
OriginCastledamph, Co, Tyrone, N.Ireland
DestinationEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
RecipientSmyth, James Alexander
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.0506086
Date03/04/1907
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLTE
LogDocument added by LT, 07:07:2005.
Word Count912
Genre
Note
Transcript[Front of Envelope]
Mr Jas A Smyth
Essex
Ontario
Canada

[Stamped?]
NEWTOWNSTEWART
18
AP 3
07

[Written in pencil?]
For 162
Against 224

[Back of Envelope]
[Stamped]
PLUMBRIDGE
A
AP 3
07

[Stamped]
ESSEX
AP 13
07
ONT.



[Page 1]
Castledamph
April 3rd 1907

Dear Brother
It is quite a while since
I wrote to you as Mary was doing
most of the writing I got careless
We had a letter from you on
Sat also the paper with the account
of yourself I suppose you will
climb the ladder step by step
Everyone is glad to hear it we
had not Andrew Ballantine since
Aunt Beck [Rebecca?] had to get
it over today she thought you
ought to have sent her one.
I was over there 3 days last
week took Madge with me

[Page 2]
she is not so much of a pet now.
I suppose you get a lot of new [sic]
in the Tyrone Con [Constitution?]
did you notice the amount of money
the Gortin Creamery made for the
year. Did you read the letters
about To Dance or not to Dance
that has been carried on for
some time [sometime?] I think
I bid [did?] in last week a good
one. Also the R.C. priest that is
speaking in Newtown [Newtownstewart?]
Methodist Church. I would like
very much to hear him.
There is a report of the arrest
of a tramp & he was pretty
near being arrested here only
we sent him over to John Gordon

[Page 3]
he was about the burn [stream?]
when the police were here he had
conducted himself badly about
Mickey Davies likely but you
will see the whole case at the
crown sessions. What do you
think of that book I was reading
some of it but it would
take some time to study it
There was a wedding in the
Church yest. [yesterday?] you knew
the bride when she was about the
size of Bertie. but I am sure you
would not recognise her now
Lizzie Warnock & J. A. McDermot
[McDermott?] a young man from

[Page 4]
Derry. I remember Miss Dunne
talking about her youngest scholar
& oldest was Willie Gilkison
[Gilkinson?]. I suppose you
thought we might have remembered
to send some shamrock I am sure
we could hardly have got any to
sent [send?] in time I saw some
yest [yesterday?] in the graveyard
but like lots to [too?] late
Just as I think of it I had
a dream a night or two before
James Young died & I thought
you had died very suddenly
well I thought of all the
preachings & arguments we
had and now you were gone
without any change but I

[Page 5]
suppose it was James Young
as I beleive [believe?] he had
the Old Master away for drink
but when he came back it was not
required. We have got 31 members
in our Good Templar Lodge. We
meet every two weeks we have John
Duncan, in also Andy Campbell
Bradkeel so these are two that
required something
John A Duncan & wife arrived
home on Saturday last there is
very little change on him unless
that his hair has turned greyer
I only got a glimse [glimpse?] of
her but her complexion is similar
to his she is wearing glasses

[Page 6]
Mary went down yest [yesterday?]
to Lisnacraigh [Lisnacreaght?] as
she was to call & see them but she
has not returned yet she is buying
Lousie [Louise?] Campbell bicycle
the cost is not heavy only [£2?]
I think she will have it home
with her today.
Louise & husband are going
out to Canada 21st of this month
that is if she can get her
accounts cleared up at the
session quite a lot of people
got goods & wont pay so that
she has to take them to the law
I suppose you will be
wondering how the piano is

[Page 7]
getting along I have often
wondered at the people in this
town never coming in to see it
I told Bella Hay & Charlie to
come over & learn but Maggie J
& them has never been here
since you left the only one is
Willie John he come [sic] once
in a while I was going to learn
but I have always thought I
would be no good. I dont know
if Mary wrote to you since the
Auction they sold over £50 worth
of Potatoes corn turnips & straw
& hay This is Gortin Fair day
& for something new none of our

[Page 8]
men are over. Tommy is looking
after the sheep one got her leg
broken with a hunt last night
another lost her lamb & one wont
take up with hers so he has
put the dead lambs skin over the
other & has it with the mother of
the dead one I wonder will his plan
succed [succeed?]. Money making is
not so brisk now that is with cattle
sheep etc, we are waiting on the
Flax money [sic] expect it will draw
about £30 Did you know Bob Warnock
has got Uncle Charlies wee farm
at £200 I think he will be better
than working as he is [his?] Uncle
will let £150 of the money lie he
asked Willie Ballantine to give him
the other £50 but Willie has refused
We are all in good health hope
you will succed [succeed?] in the
parliament bussiness [business?]
as it some bussiness [business?]
like that that suits you Father
wants to know if you get any pay

[Note on Page 1]

Tommy says its to [too?] bad you
are not here now as Father
get [sic] his face washed every
two weeks going to the G T L
[Good Templars Lodge?]

John is still in [Bayville?]


Transcribed by Alan Houston