| Title: | M Smyth, Castledamph to J A Smyth, Canada |
|---|---|
| ID | 2981 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/43(2) |
| Year | 1905 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, Canada |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James A. |
| 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. | 506036 |
| Date | 17/8/1905 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:06:2005. |
| Word Count | 875 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr Jas. A. Smyth Essex, Ontario, Canada. [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART 10 PM AU 25 05 [Stamped on Back] PLUMBRIDGE A AU 25 05 ESSEX SP 4 05 ONT. [Page 1] Castledamph Aug. 17th, 05 Dear Brother:- We have been expecting a letter from you for some time but I suppose you will have more to do in holidays now than you had before. John was telling us in his last letter that you were going to New York to spend your holidays but you have been for going there so often that I won't believe it until you are right there. I suppose as far as money is concerned you would not be stopped for that now, but I think if you are intending to come next summer that you should save up your money and bring enough to give us all a good time. If you don’t send it before be sure and bring a little extra to buy me that long deserved bicycle [Page 2] 2 as I cannot rest until I get one. We saw by the Essex Free Press some weeks ago where you had made a successful visit to the hotels in Amherstburg. You seem to be doing your duty pretty well for a commencement. Somebody like you would be required at the Plum [Plumbridge?] at the present time as the public houses are open at all hours. The sergeant that they have got here is very popular all for having a good time and so neglects his business or rather doesn't care to enforce the law. There was a great day in Derry on the 12th August they were from Belfast and all round, great riots as the Catholics tried to put them off the walls. Too much work on hands or we would have been there. [Page 3] 3 Mother and Father may go to the seaside for a week in about a month or so. Great hurry now with the hay and flax. We pulled the flax two weeks ago had 39 men such a crowd of men. We will spread some of it tomorrow I think. Today is wet but we had lovely weather before this, no water any nearer than the well down the road wish we had some handy man to drain it down from Mathew's they are always talking about it but can't find time to do it. How are all the Essex people I suppose they are camping these times. What happened [sic] you with the entrance pupils this year. You did not go near the number you passed every other year you must be neglecting it when you got the other position [Page 4] 4 August 24th 1905 As you may see by the date that a week has passed since I began this letter. We had two post cards from you Tuesday so I suppose you are still in Essex. We also had a letter from John same day I think he is doing very well for a start at least he is earning some money anyway as he is going to send home some next month. This day last year I was on my way to Montreal. You would hardly think it was a year since. This is a lovely day our men are busy at the hay as there is so much of it this year Oats are ripe but our people won't get cutting until Monday Mathew and the girls are in Newtown [Newtownstewart?] living now. Charlie [Page 5] 5 Ballantine and wife are in the house now he is working for us every day and then we have another little fellow beside and lots of work for them all. Father is nearly ready to give up has got a pain in his back these last few days. They [will?] be ready to go to the seaside about saturday week so that may do both of them some good. Liza is still about the same. she was down with the Plum [Plumbridge?] Dr. [Doctor?] Monday and he still says she will be alright in time but there is no improvement whatever yet. [Page 6] 6 Andy Mc Knickle, [McNicholl?], Letterbratt [Letterbrat?] is dead also Mrs Fullerton, Glengaw [Glenga?], and a daughter of Willie Dunne's Fore Eden [Eden Fore?], three funerals in the one week. I think I told you before that Lizzie Hay has got a piano. I was over to see it one day. Lizzie is a fine player for her age. She was over here for [two or ten?] weeks they thought she was studying to [too?] hard. Schools here are all closing this week, but I think they are only giving a month. I believe Miss James is going to get married during holidays to [Harry?], the [Page 7] policeman, as his seven years are up now. Tillie [Matilda?] McCullagh or Mrs Fitzpatrick has got a young son [ten or two?] weeks ago or so. Lizzie is still at home yet. Don't think that she will get to Dublin this year either. George is a great little farmer. working every day and he is not a bit bigger than ever he was. Have you got James Houston's [Hustons?] stick. John never mentioned in any of his letters whether he got [is?] safe over or not I suppose it would be something new over there. It is dinner time now so I must hurry up as [sic] [Page 8] have to go to Stewarts afterwards and I will post this on the way. Good Bye [Goodbye?] Mary Smyth Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
