| Title: | Martha Wilson, Ontario, to her Brother, George Reid, Armagh. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3380 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Wilson, Martha J/5 |
| Year | 1859 |
| Sender | Wilson, Martha Jane |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farming household |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Hope Township, Canada West (present-day Ontario) |
| Destination | Co. Armagh, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Reid, George |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D3014/3/2/2: Deposited by H.F.W. Reid. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9502061 |
| Date | 08/03/1859 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:02:1995. |
| Word Count | 1230 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Margaret Elizabeth grow [grew?] up very hand some girls there, her mother is very kind she has but 2. of her own. Perry Town, Hope, March 8/59 My Dear George I am almost ashamed to sit down to write to you now, but better late than never so I may commence by saying that we are pretty well at present, Joseph & the children have had a very severe cold this winter, I have escaped as yet, I hope you & yours (for I suppose by this time you have changed your mind or rather object of living) are enjoying the blessing of good health and spirits. I hope they are all well at home too. We received your hasty note written in Nov. stating that you were in Belfast, I hope that you are contented & doing well in your new situation. I hope also that you were not too hasty in your change though I can hardly think so, when I think of the remarks you made in your reply of your very kind friends in Armagh you must know that it is a great source of comfort to me when I hear that you are all doing well, but how much more, when I hear of your conduct been [being?] approved of men of Talent and ability. I can only add, go on, and endeavour to induce others to follow you, more especially your own Brothers I hope Th[?] is doing well, let him not be an eye-servant [?] as he fills a responsible situation, Mr Boyd generally living in Belleen [?], Robert John & Joseph have only to behave [?] themselves, the more faithful, the more profit. With regard to those likenesses, I hope we will attend to it this summer, so just exercise a little patience as we are not yet decided on which we shall send, our two selves or make a group of it, and have the two oldest children taken too, but, prior to sending it we will let you know. Times here are very dull everything in the shape of [___valing?], rising?] and we hear that in some places in the province that even want has appeared Flour, our main production, and main support, is very scarce and very high, serving [?] the failure of lost harvest, for I can tell you that some, hardly reaped the seed, much less from 10 to 50 Bushels to the acre as in former years, Oats at present are a very scarce and very dear article, Potatoes are 2" 6 for a Bushell. Butter 1s/ eggs 10d. I think that excepting the Almighty has ordered it otherwise many of the poor will feel very hard up before the crop comes off the grounds. But we must not despond but hope for the best. We are having a very strange winter for Canada with the exception of two cold spells we have had an open soft winter with a great deal of rain we have very little snow at present should the spring open now without any heavy frosts we have the appearance of a good wheat crop I mean of all wheat, I must stop for my knowledge of those affairs begins to fail me If it is a good year for wheat I hope we should reap in a good crop. I suppose you will be sending this letter home so I must put in a line or 2 for John Ireland, he left here yesterday afternoon, he was here from the day before, if you could only see the size of a man he grows into, I made him laugh telling him I remember when I could very easily have carried 2 like him and have whipped them if they had provoked me. he has left Newtonville and gone 35 miles further away, he has bought a place to set up his trade he gave 300 Dollars & could now get 600 for it. David is in the west has bought 50 acres of land we expect him down the coming summer, [Mangt?] is still in Clarke, let his Father know that he is waiting for a letter from him before he writes. The last letter I had from Uncle Thomas Johnston states that Uncle John Reid has come in from the U. States, and bought 50 acres of land not far from them, some time you might write to him, he would be so glad to hear from you all, but you need not look for an answer in a hurry, for he is one of the most negligent creatures about writing that ever existed, address Durham, Canada East. for he must be somewhat lonely, seeing Aunt is dead so let us help to cheer his old age for our Father's sake if nothing more he is as warm hearted a man as need be & so loyal to our Queen that no inducement would tempt him to take the Oath of allegiance to the States. It is bed-time and I am hard up for news Although by tomorrow I would have lots come into my head. From what you say I think Henry is doing pretty well I think he will do well he was always so steady even when a little boy, he used to think me so wild the fact is if he seen me sometimes even now he would doubt if I was much else yet, when things go on well and promising, & Joseph and the children well, I feel very lighthearted and sometimes Joseph thinks the lightness reaches my head. he is so sober & steady 6 years my junior I hope Ballynick friends are all well What has become of Thos [Thomas?] & his Dear. John Ireland laughed so At Mangt's [?] description of him getting a wife. Uncle John Carrol is treating us very careless, I wrote last, and I am sure he has plenty of time, send my respects to Grandmother Waddell it is surprising how she weathers out the gale so long, I would like to see her 25 years ago. I thought she was a very old woman give my love to Mangt [?] and John too. I am prevailing on Joseph to write so that the next Time, if of course you will see it, if you should be going over to Liverpool at any time, make your way to the Albert Dining or Coffee Rooms 32 Elliots Lime St. kept by Joseph's Uncle, Eli Spencer. You may as well throw them the penny & keep it in the family. I must conclude by hoping we will meet yet and believe me it would be a joyful meeting. I am Dear George as ever your affectionate sis. M.J.Z.Y. send a paper when you receive & write when convenient. I am hurried so excuse all specious incorrectness for I have else to mind now than writing I have no girl now I let her go in Dec after having her 6 mths. times looked hard & we have no man now. You cannot say I have not sent you quantity I will say nothing of the quality you have it as it came. the last I heard from J. Boland he was well & doing & from what I hear. Accept Joseph's best respects on this dirty sheet of paper. |
