| Title: | Lisa Smyth, Castledamph, to J A Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2639 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/25 |
| Year | 1907 |
| Sender | Smyth, Eliza Catherine |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co, Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0506077 |
| Date | 17/07/1907 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:07:2005. |
| Word Count | 793 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr Jas A Smyth Essex Essex Co Ontario Canada [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART 10 PM JY 18 07 [Written on Envelope] 20 cts for [Laundry?] Ans [Answered?] July 29 07 $3000 [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] PLUMBRIDGE A JY 18 07 ESSEX JY 29 07 ONT. [Calculations on Back of Envelope] [Page 1] Castledamph July 17th 07 Dear Brother I suppose you are wondering why we are not writing lately. Well we rec [received?] a letter from you on 13 July I am sure you saw in the paper where the celebration was to be this twelfth They left here shortly after seven, o'clock all on cars [horse drawn passenger vehicles?] I think eleven cars belonging to this Lodge played until [until?] outside the plum [Plumbridge?]. Paddy took some snapshots a lovely morning it was for that Quite a lot of the young [Page 2] women from this place went Mary & I both got Bella stayed here with mother We had a very nice drive into Newtownstewart they [the] Derry people arrived shortly after & procession was formed paraded the town & out to Barnoscourt [Baronscourt?]. There was neither preaching or speaking only a vote of thanks before we left Everyone got through the grounds the field was up to the left of the castle but you could hardly have told where it was only that the flags & drums were in heaps. One thing provision [Page 3] was very scarce. I think you were right in being here last year every one [everyone?] say’s it was better. We had no strangers this twelfth only Jamey Gordon. I had intended to tell you that they took the heads of the big Drum & on one of the flesh hoops your name & “May 24th 1894 first skin on the drum”. time runs round. They broke a few of the small drums this year. There was another big day in Omagh both being so close spoiled all. They started from Newtown [Newtownstewart?] about 6 o'clock for home but the rain [Page 4] had arrived so that marred the remained [remainder?] of they [the?] day [sic] did'nt play a tune untill [until?] they were coming below the gate. You know since the drink quit the gatherings are not so big around here none. so mad as Jamey Dunne he said in my hearing in Newtown [Newtownstewart?] they were Just as well when they were taking a drop of good clean whiskey I suppose he will die with that idea in his head I beleive [believe?] they have suspended him in the Lodge for non payment of dues. [Page 5] July 18 Did'nt get that letter finished yest [yesterday?] as they were all away We have got lovely weather since Sunday & I tell you there was a poor look out for everything up till that. We had to buy turf about 30 load £5 10s 0d we were out completely & nearly everybody They are putting in turnips today so you can think what it would [sic] been like to have been here this Spring. They cut the upland hay yest [yesterday?] Tuesday was the Plum [Plumbridge?] fair Tom sold 50 ewes at 25s cash cattle is down to nothing & us having so many to sell this year [Page 6] We did not get all the interest paid so he thinks he will pay 50s now. You talked about a black sash some time ago. I think you would be better to see for yourself as you could get them at different prices so that we could hardly know to what price you would care to go. I never knew you left yours behind untill [until?] a few days before the twelfth Did Mary tell you of Mrs Robt [Robert?] McKelvey having cancer not expected to live very long Life at best [Page 7] is very brief I had a great talk with Constable Willie going into Newtown [Newtownstewart?] on [sic] twelfth He says is and [isn’t?] your James a Christian. I said no, well he says [sic] is and he [sic] as good as is going. not what one ought to be but as good as is going I think these words suits alot “one thing thou lackest” We have got Miss Palmer preaching in Dergbrough Mary was to see Dr Rankin on [sic] twelfth July she has got a pain in her side this last while & I suppose with the bicycle it has got worse although she does not ride [Page 8] very much I think from all accounts she might be going into consumption she has failed considerable this last while she is going back tomorrow as the medicine is done he told her not to ride the bicycle very hard. We had a letter from John about a week ago he think [sic] he will come home in Oct so if you think of coming you will both be together This Lodge & band has [sic] got an invitation from Ryland today to celebrate the twelfth Aug. We are all in good health for so far will write as soon as possible your sister L. C. [Lisa Catherine?] Smyth Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
