| Title: | Robert Love, Petersburg, Va. to John Love, Banbridge, Co. Down. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3631 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | love, robert (nephew)/10 |
| Year | 1821 |
| Sender | Love, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shop assistant at hardware store |
| Sender Religion | Protestant? |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Banbridge, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | T 2393/2/22: Presented by Messrs Heron & Dobson, Solicitors, Banbridge, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007015 |
| Date | 09/06/1821 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:02:1994. |
| Word Count | 1137 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Petersburg Virginia June 9th 1821 My Dear Parents I received your letter dated March 18th on the 23rd May and was rejoiced to hear of the welfare of you all it found me in health which I still continue to enjoy. I am grieved at my inatention [inattention?] in the letter I wrote to you in Jany in not mentioning any date or place however I have a better excuse for that than the one you made for me (that the fumes of the Christmas Eggnog was not out of my head) I had written a letter to you before the one now mentioned in which I mentioned something about Geo. [George?] Mahood which he did not then want known (so in my haste (as it was late at night when he made the objection to my sending it) and as it was to go down early in the morning by the Steam Boat) I had made the mistake when copying the other off What I mentioned about G [George?] Mahood was that he was Courting a fine Girl here Eliza Ellis she is reckened [reckoned?] very handsome she is religious & she has some money it is very probable that in the course of a fortnight he may make her his wife he is now set up a Grocery & hardware business in town for himself & I am certain he will do well he has been very friendly & kind with me since we got together here I go to see him every day and he says when I dont continue to like the place I am in I have nothing to do but go to him. But apropos of places you were not pleased with my conduct with [Ch-?] [?]. Geo [George?] Mahood heard all that passed and he said I done nothing but what he would have done in my place but if I was to leave this place now I am not afraid but I would get my choice of more than one before a week. This moment I have just received a basket full of roses from a Lady in town to put on my clothes so you perceive I am fortunate with the Ladies here The Young people plauge [plague?] me about a young Girl here Miss Susan M. Wall [McWall?] but she is such a beautiful interesting & modest little creature that I am more gratified than vexed at the imputation I contrive to get along side of her still when going or coming from Church & makes up parties to take walks on the moonlight evenings merely to get into conversation with her I spend a great many of my evenings at her mothers after Store hours but you need not be alarmed I am in no danger of getting married this many years to come yet I attend Sunday School now twice on Sundays & Church 2 & 3 times in the afternoon I generally take a long walk till [until?] supper with Susan & several others & after supper goes to church again do you see I am improved in my method of spending the Sabbath [faded] [faded] But to be serious I am improved a great deal in my morals this #PAGE 2 while back & am determined to continue to do so, with Gods help (for I was very wild last year though not dissipated) as to religion I do not pretend to much of that but as I get older I will perhaps have my serious thoughts on that subject too You see I tell you candidly what & how I am doing you will perhaps see somethings which will displease you but you must not be angry I am still ready to take good advice when given and I know there is none can give me better than my father. You mention if I hold any correspondence with Mr Riddle I see him every day almost he has been unwell this while back but he is now recovered. John Ferguson is quite recovered from his sickness & continues to like the place well you will mention this to the McMurrays so that his father may hear of it. As to money I can not [cannot?] say I am saving any nor will not be able till my time is expired here I will then however begin & lay by for a rainy day I am glad to hear my birds come on so well & that the Garden is improving also that you have got the Land you did not mention what part of the land you had got but I expect it is that on the hill I should have been glad to have given you a help to fill up the holes you talk of that I might also have shared some of the honors. The people here strive to persuade me to become a Citizen but I tell them to wait till I'm married and I will then ask my wife about it however they have nearly persuaded me to join one of the Volunteer Companies in town but if I do it must be on my own terms which is that If they have a war with England I will lay down my arms for I can never fight against my own Country My Motto is "once a Briton always so" Perhaps you may mistake the meaning of Volunteer Companies & think they are on actual service it is only the young men of the place who form themselves into Companies furnish themselves with regimental Clothes & recieve [receive?] [--sgns?] from Government meet every saturday and parade &c & if there is a war they can be ordered to any part of the state but they are always at liberty to quit I am treated well here at present & lives as happy as possible only there is plenty of work to do here still but I have the evenings to myself and do as I please & conduct things in the store just according to my own liking they appear to be very well pleased with my conduct & Mr [P?] says I am the steadiest young man he has had this many years #PAGE 3 I have written you such a long letter I have hardly room to mention any persons Remember me affectionatly [affectionately?] to my mother & all the family & to all my old playfellows & every enquiring friend & believe me Your affectionate Son Robert Love PS I forgot to tell you I am a member of a singing society here we had an Oratorio for the benefit of an Orphan assylum [asylum?] at which we recd [received?] abt [about?] 300 Dollars I am going to write to my Uncle this time I will enclose your letter in his farewell [addressed to:] (single) Mr John Love Banbridge |
