| Title: | W. Williamson, New York, To Hugh Williamson, Richhill |
|---|---|
| ID | 3360 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Williamson, William/6 |
| Year | 1843 |
| Sender | Williamson, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | just arrived in the USA |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Richhill, Co. Armagh, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Williamson, Hugh |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T2680/2/1: Presented by W.P.Williamson Ahorey House, Richhill. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9409338 |
| Date | 22/05/1843 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:09:1994. |
| Word Count | 1072 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | New York 22nd May 1843 No 1 Dear Hugh We set sail for America on the 27th April 10 o' clock a.m. and were tugd [tugged?] out 15 or 20 miles by a Steamer,we had a calim [calm?] until 11 o'clock at night, when the wind rose pretty high. The passengers were greatly alarmed and sick, I was awakened at 12 o'clock at night and found myself pretty sick I got better before morning. but was in a stupid state for 5 or 6 days. I took a memorandum of the voyage which I send you, Friday the 28th quite calm Saturday the 29th we had a fine gale which lasted for 5 Days driving us from 10 to 12 nts.[knots?] per. hour, Sunday 30th there was a birth in the second cabin, the child died next day. We were going at a fair rate until Thursday 4th May when we saw a great quantity of Porpoise. Friday 5th we were not going so fast as the past days but the passengers were all begining to look a great deal better than I had seen them. Saturday 6th Headwind. Sunday 7th unpleasant cold wet day. Monday do Tuesday do Wednesday 10th. we crossed the south side of the Banks of Newfoundland, we now got as much Fresh Water as we wished for, Thursday 11th a fine brisk gale which lasted for two or three Days but on friday night the wind changed in a moment the sails got fastened in each other and the sailors could scarcely get them separated. Saturday 13th the wind was very high driving us at 11 1/2 knots per hour. We were now 300 miles of New York and Expected to be on shore Monday noon, Sunday 14th very calm we saw a great number of Porpoise the Captain tried to Harpoon some of them but did not suceed, Monday & Tuesday wind right a Head of us, Wednesday 17th we got on much better and was anxiously looking out for the Pilot, Thursday the 18th the pilot boarded us, Friday 19th we got into New York after a passage of 21 Days and 8 Hours We had 320 Passengers 15 Seamen 3 Mates & Captain The Captain and Mates were very Kind to all the Passengers in Keeping them Comfortable and clean, The Passengers had the most Respectable appearance of any that ever went into New York. the Mate said so, The first man I knew going into the Dock was Mr. Mafew [Matthew?] R. Douglas's Son in Law he has sent money to fetch the wife over The next was Mr Louden who went with Sam'l [Samuel?] Thomson they treated us very Kindly in showing us how to act, and Lodged Wm.[William?] Thomson & J.McLain [Mclean?] I stop in B. McParlanes 90 Mulberry St. he is a very decent man and treated us very cheap & well. Mr. Marshall and the family done very well during the voyage but all had a turn of sickness he wrote this day to Wm. [William?] Ferguson of Markethill, Jam [James?] Stott & McCartney was very poorly during the voyage but is now quite well, The Smuggler McKain Lad, got out without any other person Knowing - There was 3 other Boys came in the vessel the same way 2 of them was found out and had to work very hard for their passage across, one of them got a Legacy this day of 600 Dollars. The ship allowance is not worth anything at all. I saw 2 cwt [hundredweight?] of it thrown overboard -- you could not eat the Bread except Starvation. My Potatoes done 6 of us during the voyage there was nothing we so much wished for as potatoes and Butter. We paid as high for the Tea in Liverpool as at home and could not use it I have all mine yet John McKean had 1/2 lb [pound?] of Coffee which done us all during the voyage. I had about 5lbs [pounds?] of Beacon [Bacon?] left, more than 30 Bannocks all my meal, all my tea, all my sugar - 2 lb [pound?] of Butter and there was 6 of us eating my Butter during the voyage, we got some trifle for our provisions in New York, we expect to go to Albany tomorrow, it is rather expensive stopping in New York, I am getting pretty well acquainted with the Currency it easy understood when you soon get into the way ________ On Sunday I saw my Cousins Eliza Beryl & Caroline Rebecca they are quite well. I saw Ann & Mary Herdman of 30 Division St. and Mrs Dinnison and her Family she is Mrs Crozier's Sister and desires me to send you Miss Herdsmans address which I do, in case any Respectable neighbour coming out might fetch Letters or Parcels for her from Mrs. C. Mrs. Dinnison was enquiring after John Andersons Mother who she says visited her, and was much surprised to find my Grandmother still living. I need not mention those who I should ask for, but I hope when you write which will be on receipt of this, you will give me all the news and direct to Joseph Taylor for me. Tell me if John & Ben followed in the Rosicus and what their intentions were, if it was to follow me, or go to Upper Canada, I was greatly delighted to see the beauty of Liverpool but it is nothing in comparison to N.[New?] York, I never was in such a place, the water that supplies the Town is brought 185 miles in pipes it is wonderful to see the beauty of the River coming into the City. the Garrisons & the War ships and the view you have coming in would delight you, after being so long from seeing a potato field. Trade is doing very well in the City, and I am told young Ladies acquainted with the Millinery and Dressmaking Business has a fine chance of doing well, I think it would be wise for you not to put Jas [James?] to Business to some of us writes to you and see what would be best for him, should he have any desire in Learning a Trade he will learn it in 3 years and have a salary during his apprenticeship. hoping Father Mother Grandmother all the Family - T.McClure and some particular friends are well believe me affly [affably?] as ever Wm.Williamson [addressed to] Mr Hugh Williamson Ahory Rich.hill Co Armagh Ireland [Postmarks used in England and Ireland] Ju [July?] 8 [th?] 43 [1843?] Liverpool. Ship ARMAGH JU [JUNE?] 10 1843 4* JU [JUNE?] 9 184 |
