| Title: | Jane White, Goderich to Eleanor McIlwrath, Newtownards. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3308 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | White, Jane/40 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | White, Jane |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian?) |
| Origin | Goderich, Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Newtownards, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlwrath (n. Wallace), Eleanor |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D 1195/3/22: Presented by J. W. Russell & Co., Solicitors, 4 High Street, Newtownards, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9112105 |
| Date | 28/12/1860 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 29:11:1993 |
| Word Count | 915 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Eleanor [McIlwrath?], [nee Wallace?] [Newtownards?] [County Down?] [Ireland?] From: Jane White Goderich [Ontario?] [Canada?] December 28 1860 Goderich December 28th 1860 My dear Eleanor I suppose you will think I am dead by this time, I often thought of writing, and fully intended it when I received your kind letter, I could not expect to hear from you sooner, as you had not time to settle down before that, I sincerely hope the step you have taken will always be a happy one, I fully agree with you in saying matrimony is fate, so is a single life too, everyone has their vocation marked out, so if we do our duty well, and choose the one thing needful, it is the all that is required, my friend Eleanor has done well, and if anyone chooses to do better, why let them try. Christmas is far away now, we have had some very severe weather lately, but it seems more like a moderate winter now, my mother complains of the cold, but she is amazingly healthy, I often think what a kindness the Almighty confers on me by sparing my mother to me, particulary in this strange country, where I do not feel disposed for society as I would be at home the people are not so good or simple in their habits as in Ireland, not the same humility. I suppose you often heard me mention a Miss Parke to you, she has left her home, and stops a week here or there as she finds convenient, she complains of ill usage from her father if she means stinginess [?] of habit, her father is unbearable in that way, my father confesses he never saw a more queer character, and he puffs so much about his possessions she is the only child he has though there may be faults on both sides, still it is a pity of the poor thing, if she had a mother living, or even a step mother she would have been better [hearted?] because females are generally thoughtful whatever their faults may be, it is strange how [unfortunate?] some are, nothing ever seems to go as they likesome [like some?] expect too much of course I hear Mr Parke is going to [pay?] for his daughters [hand?] I am sure you would enjoy the trip to Edinburgh very much, there is a neighbour of ours, a Mrs Ferguson from Glasgow, entertained me #PAGE 2 with a description, she saw all you mentioned, another Lady Mrs [Sherlock?] too from Dublin described it to me [I'm?] [in Mary's?] bed will crumble away to nothing I think soon what melancholy accounts there are from Syria I now think those who spoke against the English and French for taking the part of the Turks in the Crimean War were quite right, and the Czar wasnt far wrong, the Turks have shown themselves perfect monsters, I do not suppose the Turkish government would take the part of the Christians if they could decently help it, I saw the death of a Mr Graham a Presbyterian Missionary killed in the [streets?] was he the Dundonald minister? if you recollect would you just mention it to your father. The town is scarce of news at present. The editor of the "Signal" has been stirring the people up with an article upon the soul-sleeping question setting forth that we all sleep soul and body and soul until the resurrection [--?] after death sounds queer to think of this after death but he will not make any converts to his opinion I think The Prince of Wales had a great time of it in America he did not come this far you will likely see him in Ireland next summer The Kingston orangemen acted very foolishly [pushing?] their company on him in spite of him, he did not land at their city, nor at Belleville because both places were decorated with orange, I sometimes think if the Irish Orangemen would only think how little they were thought of it should make them abolish the society altogether and let the Government just manage as they like, and of all things not to affront the Roman Catholics unless they cannot help it in some awkward ways. Now dear allow to (sic) conclude with kindest regards to you and Mr McIlwrath and sincerely wishing you every happiness in which my parents join me. I feel much obliged for your great kindness in writing to me so constantly. Please remember me affectionately to Mr and Mrs Milliken and family, I hope Mrs M [Milliken?] is quite well again. Wishing you a happy new year I remain Yours very sincerely Jane White I cannot close this without mentioning a strange circumstance, I heard since writing this letter, you will remember I wrote some years ago about a little girl who ran away and got married to an Irish boy called Ferguson, she and her husband are back and stopping with his parents she has laid claim to the whole property that was in the possession of her mother [&?] step-father, I hear she will succeed, as it was left by her own father for when she was of age [Ths?] bought the large farm from her step-father Mr Montgomery and the house was burned down shortly after, he then erected a beautiful house #PAGE 3 and outhouses, thinking the title of the property was secure, so she can claim house and all according to law. Montgomery really ought to be punished for swindling. Is the direction right or is there any other Mrs McIlwrath lives in your street? |
