| Title: | William J. Stavely, Philadelphia, to his Mother |
|---|---|
| ID | 3052 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Stavely, William J/9 |
| 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 | D1835/27/3/19: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310741 |
| Date | 19/04/1879 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C.R., 26:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 612 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 126 North 9th Street Philadelphia April 19th 1879 My dear Mother It may [----?] some time since you last heard from me but if you knew the uneventful life I had you would not be surprised at the weeks passing by without my taking up the pen to write to you. It is folly however to suppose in this account that something has happened to me. I never am sick and there is no use anticipating such evils until they come. You will see by my address I have lately made a change in residence. The house I was living in the landlord took into his head to turn into a store and all had to leave. The Stocks gave up housekeeping and went boarding and as I had always been comfortable with them I moved along they only going a few squares away (1233 Filbert Street) and still in the heart of the City. The address I gave you is his office which I use living there more or less every day. This has been Easter week and kept more or less as a holiday. The native Americans do not mind it but the German and English portion of the community keep up their old country communications of the time. The weather however has been unfavourable for outdoor amusements it having been all the time cold and for the worst part wet. In the ajoining [adjoining?] State of New York they have had the heaviest Snowstorm of the season which accounts for the cold. Today gives signs that the storm is passed and more genial weather at hand. In another week or two the trees will be in full bloom although they yet give no sign of life. Already the markets are being supplied with Spring and Summer delicacies from the Southern States. New Potatoes, Tomatoes, Strawberries, etc., are now to be had but they are held at prices which only the rich can afford. I am sorry to find you have still such poor reports of Sarah. It would seem as though if anything could be done for her that some of the many Dr.s [Doctors?] she has been with should have found it out by this time I can only hope some good results may come from her visit to Derry. It entails heavy expense but I am powerless to assist all through the winter I have done nothing more than make expenses. If there are brighter days ahead they have yet to show themselves. Mary Chigston's marriage is certainly an event and may in her case ilustrate [illustrate?] the saying that after all the storms there comes a calm. I note the various social events and changes you mention in your last letter Ballymoney and Bally[----?] people seem to have their full share of family changes. I #PAGE 2 hope A. Hamilton recovered his health by his voyage and will be able to retain it. Aunt Langbridge being laid aside from business, it P[---?] aside she is will be a serious loss to her family [sic]. I hope Jamie and all her family are well Stavely going to school at the Ganaby [?] shows that they at least do not stand still. I hope the garden will not prove completely ruined by the winters storms but that it will still afford you much health and pleasure in making it assume its summer appearance. I was not aware you had been so ill during the winter I hope for all your trials your health and life may be long spared. I do not know of any new to interest so with usual love and hoping better news may soon be both crossing and recrossing the Atlantic. I remain Your attached son William J. Stavely |
