| Title: | Mary Smyth, Castledamph, to J. A. Smyth, Ontario. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2994 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/74 |
| Year | 1897 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary and Bella M; Hay, Willie J. |
| Sender Gender | male-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 / cousins |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 505567 |
| Date | 08/02/1897 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:04:2005.’ |
| Word Count | 791 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. James A Smyth Essex Essex County Ontario Canada [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] 10 FE 11 97 [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [Plumbridge?] FE 11 97 [ESSEX?] FE 23 [97?] [Written] ANS [Answered?] Feb 25 [Page 1] Castledamph February 8th 1897 Dear Brother I now take the pleasure of writing to you when I have got time for I have not much this weather as we are preparing very hard for our examination which will be on the 18th February so it will not be long to it now. They say that I will not get going on any further after the examination [Page 2] but I do not know what I will do yet as I think there is enough at home without another There will be about 35 for the examination and I think Miss Dunbar will have about 38 her exam- will be on 17th inst I think I have told you enough of this news. Margaret Wilson [x?] was buried on Saturday Glengaw [Glenga?]. Old Thomas Campbell’s wife Derbrough [Dergbrough?] was buried yesterday Sunday. James McKernan is lying ill over in Uncle James' There are a great many people complaining at present, Feb 10th I commenced this letter two days ago but did not get it finished Sarah Barker [Page 3] has died since she died last night about twelve o’clock she suffered great pain since Saturday morning. Thomas and John is at the wake to night [tonight?]. Father and Mother was [were?] at it on the afternoon. William has got the cold and could not go but he will be able to attend the funeral tomorrow. I suppose by this time you have heard of Joe Gilkison [Gilkinson?] being in Strabane. Willie was in yesterday and he told him he was going to join the Good Templars to night [tonight?] So that will be a step for the better I have no more to say at present & I hope you will excuse me for this writing as it is afternight [after night?] and I dont see to [too?] well I am Your Loving Sister Mary Smyth (written at bottom of Page 2) I will have to go to Bed as it is past ten M S [Mary Smyth?] [Page 4] Dear James I am going to write you that letter now, the grey goose has layed [laid?]: six eggs, Tommy is clipping the foal John is cleaning the harness to go to the funeral I can write no more for its school time Willie John Hay [Page 5] Castledamph Feb 11th 1897 Dear Brother You will surly [surely?] get news enough this time for I am the third that [sic?] writing Mary commenced to write two or three nights ago and finished last night and she left a clean side of notepaper so Willie John took a notion this morning that he would write [Page 6] you will get enough to do to make it out but the next time he will do it better Whatever he wanted to tell you I wrote it down and then he copied We have nice weather here this last few days It looks like spring and work is commencing we have got no ploughing done this last while there was hard frost for a week or two and then William took a notion to sell the old horse and now when the weather is good the young one can do nothing It was very bad with lice they had to clip it all over and wash with sheep dip [Page 7] and it is badly failed John and Uncle is working on the road today they are doing their best to keep it in good order to see if they get their money. The new surveyor I think will keep steady he does not appear to take anything, he has been away at an examination since he came to Gortin so that is not a bad sign of him, he is but a young fellow and smart looking I think Mary told you of all the deaths There is a good many this last while but not half as many dying here as up at the cross something like the influenza Johnnie Campbell Dunamanagh (Satchell [Satchel?] clerk as the [they?] call him) [Page 8] is not expected to live long we have heard that his both lungs is gone -- Father wants to know if your money is near [sic]done you should always tell us in time and not be wanting [sic] he says that we might venture to send a soverign [sovereign?] in a letter now and then, would you think that it would be safe enough We have never saw [sic] that McFarland yet I dont think he will come up now, Miss Dunbar will write after the examination that paper signed M D was from her it should have been the one that you wanted or else she made a mistake We got Papers from Cassie yesterday but there is nothing particular in them only that two boys shot the Devil in Germany Good Bye No more Bella M Smyth Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice |
