| Title: | John Taylor, Pennsylvania to Robert Taylor, Shanrod |
|---|---|
| ID | 3100 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Taylor, John/84 |
| Year | 1827 |
| Sender | Taylor, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | school teacher |
| Sender Religion | Presbyterian |
| Origin | Carlisle, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Shanrod, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Taylor, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | The Taylors of Shanrod Co Down, Letters from America. Copyright retained by Heather Taylor, 46, Coolshinney Rd., Magherafelt, BT45 5JF, rookvale@hotmail.co.uk |
| Archive | The Centre For Migration Studies |
| Doc. No. | 0701091 |
| Date | 15/09/1827 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM, 29/01/2007 |
| Word Count | 1016 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Robert Taylor Shanrod Near Dromore County down Ireland Via Philadelphia United States of North America [Page 1] Carlisle Penna [Pennsylvania?] Sept 15th 1827 Dear Brother Your letter of February 9th last I received April 5th. You will I trust readily pardon my neglect for not answering it before this time when you hear the cause. By reference to my memorandum Books I find that on the 18th February last I wrote to you by a Wm [William?] Moore who was returning home to the County Derry, and when your letter arrived in April I did not deem it necessary to write you again so soon, especially, as I had nothing farther of any consequence to communicate. You cannot imagine with how much regret I learned about a week ago that he never went home and that other letters from this place sent by him, never reached their destination. This is my apology for not answering your letter before now. Since you have heard from me I have enjoyed good health and goodly share of what is termed generally, worldly prosperity. You are already advised that I was in the employ of the Commissioners of the county, before the term I had contracted for had expired (1st July last) I entered into another, with them, for the current year, to teach all the poor children of this borough and am now engaged in the fulfilment thereof. As my [exbour-?] and expenses were considerably increased by this new arrangement so was my salary, I get for the present year seven hundred dollars. I have been so far able to perform all the duties enjoined in me without assistance, but how long it will continue so is uncertain, there is [sic] nearly one hundred children in attendance and nearly two hundred privileged to attend if they choose. You may suppose perhaps, from this that easy salarys [salaries?] are easily obtained here but it is not the case and let not any person intending to come to this country, think, that he can grasp at the like of this immediately or perhaps ever if he indulges such hopes he will find himself egregiously disappointed. It was a long concurrence of circumstances [Page 2] which the scope of a letter is too brief to explain that procured me this, it is not that there were no others to accept of it, for hundreds here would be glad to get it. I am glad to hear you were pleased with the books and newspapers I sent you. I wish only the stock had been greater. You will readily perceive from the specimen of newspapers you got that this country possesses advantages over ever other in the diffusion of knowledge, every little village almost has its paper, and these are the rapid vehicles in which information is circulated in every class and grade of society. The purity and welfare of our government is based upon intelligence of her citizens, in Monarchies their stability mainly depends on the ignorance of their subjects and upon muzzling the Press, for no people on earth when once they are generally enlightened will remain long in bondage. This summer has been very warm indeed. I am beginning to think that every summer is getting warmer, the farmers have had excellent crops, but the produce is [lower?] flour only brings $4.25 cents per barrel of 196lb Rye about 37 cents per bushel and corn about 50 cents, Butter about 10 cents per lb and beef 5 cents. The best improved land in this country can be purchased at about 30 to 40 dollars per acre, and some much lower. I am sorry to hear the opinion you entertain of OConnel and others who are labouring to emancipate Ireland. I have not room to say more on this subject than to give you the words of the immortal Jefferson, writing upon the absurdity of government or even one man interfering with [Page 3] the religion of another, he said, What is it to me if my eighbour worships one God or twenty Gods, it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket. If you were to reflect on the subject you would see another man has as good a right to his opinion as yourself. The Commission I got from the Governor is entirely a post of honor without any emolument. I have to do duty two days in the year. I heard from Nathaniel and James a short time ago, they are all well. Peter and John McCavit are well, so is Hugh Hannahs family they are going to leave this in a week or two for the State of Ohio. I do not know whether I mentioned before or not that there was in this neighbourhood an old man from Cappy named Pierce Duffy a cousin to Peter in Ballaly. I also met with a Pat Duffy a tailor from Dromore who says he knew my father and uncle very well and has been in our house. When you write I wish you would send me a copy of my age in the Bible I would like to have it. I was in Harrisburgh some time ago and accidently [accidentally?] met with John Doyle he and his wife were very glad to see me and so was I to see them, they are well. Give my love to my mother, Sisters and Aunt and to all my friends and neighbours and accept yourself the assurances of my [most?] [sincere?] Attachment. John Taylor Jno [John?] Robt [Robert?] Taylor Please write when this arrives. If Mr Stewart has arrived in this country yet I have not heard it. I can give Mr Brown no further knowledge of Thomas [sic] affairs. I have not heard from the Administrator since last fall. I wish you would ask Mother and inform me if she knows of any [of?] the Paxtons other than her Brother that came to this country at an early day there is a lady married to a Mr Woods of that name whose father or Grandfather I do not remember which came from the County Down. The Rev Mr Penny is a relation of hers and called to see her, she and myself have been claiming kindred. |
