| Title: | William J. Stavely, Philadelphia, USA, to his Mother |
|---|---|
| ID | 3049 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Stavely, William J/6 |
| Year | 1879 |
| Sender | Stavely, William J. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | D1835/27/3/18: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310740 |
| Date | 08/03/1879 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 26:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 635 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 156 North 9th Street Philadelphia March 8th 1879 My dear Mother It seems quite a time since I last wrote you having put off from week to week doing so through want of any thing [anything?] special to write about. We have had a long protracted and severe winter the streets not having been free from snow and ice since the week before Christmas but now we are again having a prospect of again enjoying genial weather today being mild enough to be without an overcoat although March with its proverbial changefulness may yet have in store for us a few more Northern blasts. It has been as far as I am concerned a poor business season having scarcely been able, when the needful was provided for, to hold my own. With the advent of spring weather, however, we hope for brighter times. I had hoped before this to have been able to render you some promising assistance in your troubles but indeed it is still out of my power as I never seem to have a $20 bill in my pocket that I can call my own there always being some claim to swallow it up. However I may find it in the future it seems for the last few years as if things went by contraries and ones hopes and wishes were never realized I am sorry to find by your letter that Sarah's knee shows no signs of improvement. It does seem as though it were a prominent injury. I can only hope for the best and by keeping up her health and spirits lighten the [-----?] of affliction and perhaps [------?] the cause. What of the Macfarlands I hope you have got your share of their trouble wound up and that that cause of anxiety is removed. How does your health keep and have you been able to avoid having colds this severe winter for it seems by the papers that you have been having an unusual spell of wintery weather. Thanks for the various papers which have from time to time come to hand. I see death is still living in your neighbourhood as I notice the removal of Rev [Reverend?] Anderson. What of Tolands are they still living at Brookville. I should think it would be now too lonely [?] for only the Mother and Daughter. What of the Stavely family. With the several Church [-------?] and us young men to fill them it would seem as though Uncle would stand a chance of getting settled there if he is [----?]. I am glad to know that Dr. H. [?] has improved by his journey to India. How are all his family. I am not surprised to hear that James and John Scott have not been able to pull together and that the latter has started for New Zealand. He will find life there somewhat different #PAGE 2 from Belfast but by all accounts it is a fine country especially for those who go in for a pastoral life. How is Jamie and his family. I suppose the elder members of his family are now quite out of babyhood and ready for school taking a hand in the active work about the house of [and?] farm. That Mr. Brown's ankle is now quite better is a cause for thankfulness. How does Ballymoney Church prosper now that it has a [---?]inate organisation and a minister all to itself. Garden work will now be claiming you attention I hope you will find the trees and plants not as much ignored by the past as you feared. Country folk here are anticipating a large fruit harvest this summer. But I must close hoping you are all well and with usual love all round. I remain PS I continue to enjoy W. [William?] J. Stavely usual good health |
