| Title: | Isabella Marshall, New York to Doctor Marshall, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 37 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Allen, Isabella/107 |
| Year | 1838 |
| Sender | Allen, Isabella |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | NYC, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N. Ireland |
| Recipient | Marshall family |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | daughter and sister |
| Source | D/1558/1/2/35: Presented by F.D. Campbell Allen Esq, London Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, London. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9804170 |
| Date | 24/09/1838 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:04:98. |
| Word Count | 1012 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Great Western 24th 1838 My dear Peri, Meri, & Sisterhood We are now within a few hours sail of New York, but owing to the late hour - for its nearly Nine O'clock we will be obliged to lie at anchor at quarantine ground till day break and as tommorow is the day the Packet leaves, and the bay is closed at eleven I must make an effort to scribble a few lines to night. You have calculated I suppose that we reached our destination on Sunday but the winds and waves mercilessly conspired to delay. Since leaving Bristol we had contrary winds with the exception of two days and yet here we are only forty hours late. We have experienced all sorts of weather had one or two compilate gales and squalls, with rolling seas and only two days of real calmness. The boat is literally crammed with passengers, Saloon, cuddy, fore cabin all as full as they can be - be of live stock from old ladies of 78 years of age to children of a few months old. Our cabin is off the saloon 7 feet square and nine high with two small skylights and a shutter, which owing to the rough weather has been closed the greater part of the passage; it is however comfortable on being about than centre of the ship where the motion is least felt. You ask about seasickness, why I have suffered but all as you may guess pretty well recovered now indeed a good sail on the first day I kept on deck though not well the second I was worse and the third I took fairly to my berth and remained there until the following Sunday, fortuately William kept up and constantly proved that his mother was right when she called him a good nurse for no one could have attended me more carefully, he got everything for me, and what was better than all you me his company. I had almost despaired of highroving till we reached land but a day of calmness came, I got on deck and soon that gradually improved, a wave which came over me one bright blowing evening that I was getting half seasick the deck helped my recovery amazingly. I started up pretty quickly and enjoyed the large waves during the rest of the evening. We have had some glorious sunsets but the nights surpassed them. All the sun sank without a cloud and lifts on the ship the most brillant lights I ever witnessed, nothing in Ould Ireland could match it, the air was as [-----?] as possible, the young moon was up and to add to the pleasure of the evening we had the excitements of watching for a pilots boat, about which there were bets on depending, watching sails pass and looking for Sandypool lighthouse. At the entrance of harbour, it was the pleasantest night on board. I wished any of you had been with us to witness and partake in the enjoyments but while lying sick, I was heartly glad neither Alida nor the Rosebud were fellow sufferers. All the passengers, particularly the ladies suffered more or less but I think I took the last. We have had but little society, the crowd is too great and the voyage too short to permit of the passengers becoming acquainted. Mrs Court I have seen but little, she made acquaintance with only one lady that I could observe, whose reputation on board is one of the most favourable, and I have only exchanged salutations on convalescent days. We have been on speaking terms wityh a good many intercourse with whom will stop on land of course. There is not an Irish lady on board. I believe but the stewardess a very attractive woman comes from Cork. She and another have had all the duty of minding an innumerate number of ladies & 9 children and assisting in a variety of occupations quite too much labour for any two persons. Notwithstanding the crowding, and the consequent wants of many comforts I am quite in love with the boat, she is a noble creature and it was quite delightful to see her in spite of wind and waves going on her way. The packet of the 19th of the [-----?] is just getting in before us. To show how steady she so not had yesterday afternoon a squall that carried away a far and yet the passengers below were unconscious of it and then think of the seas we had when we were rolled almost out of our berths and plates, glasses, dishes, all made glorious rumble as they rolled and smashed. I felt no fear and did not once imagine I was going to the bottom. I must leave "that creature" space to write a few lines. I hope before this two letters are on their way to us which I think we will get on our return from Niagara for which we propose starting in a few days Good nights I have dreamt of home every night and all its dear inhabitants since I [------?]. Give my love to all friends, Porters, Marshalls, Broachy, & E & L and Believe me to be your ever loving and attached Isabella. Tuesday morning. We have just landed on the American shores and have found accommodation at the Carleton house which promises to be comfortable. I am in great hast as William is going to look after luggage and drop this at the Office. We will write more legibly by the Great Western which starts for Bristol in ten days. Our sail this morning was delightful we were up at sunrise and I am so tired I intend taking a rest until William gets all things arranged, letters delivered &c. I hope you may be able to read the first parts of this scrawl but I fear it the ink we had to water not having any at hand. I will say once more a pen and with love to all again remain Your affectionate Isabella. |
