| Title: | John McBride, Quebec to James McBride, Derriaghy. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3746 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcbride, john/88 |
| Year | 1819 |
| Sender | McBride, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | weaver |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Quebec, Canada |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McBride, James Sr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | T 2613/1: Copied by Permission of Mrs Emily McLister, Mosside Cottage, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007095 |
| Date | 16/06/1819 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 26:11:1993 |
| Word Count | 956 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 16th June 1819 My dear Father I take this opportunity of fulfilling my promise of writing to you as soon as I would Land - On the 6th of May when I parted with you in Belfast I thought I would have got out to see you again, but that evening we were towed down the channel by the Rob Roy, on Saturday the 8th of May about 1 O'Clock we set sail with a fair Wind - on Tuesday the Wind began to blow hard & contrary & continued to blow till Wednesday the 19th when it got very pleasant I was sick two or three days during the rough weather James Hunter was about the same time sick, it was not near so unpleasant as I thought it would have been, although I would not allow any one who can afford to go direct to the United States to come this way, on acct [account?] of so many being taken in these Ships, Indeed I could not complain of anything so much as getting our Victuals made ready, as the fire we had was not near sufficient for so many - During all the passage the Weather was Very cold and when we made the Banks of N.Y. [New York?] on the 2nd of June it was uncommonly cold with a Very thick fog - On Tuesday the 15th of June we Anchored between Moose Island & Lubec, this place has a fine appearance being all covered with Wood to the Water-edge the Land here is not good it is sold at 5 to 10 Dol [Dollars?] partially cleared the houses here are all of wood painted and have a handsome appearance, where I am writing is in a Room at least 40 feet by 30 the Landlord is very civil in telling me anything I ask him, Carpenters have 2 Dollars: p [per?] day Labourers 1 Dollar: to 1 1/2 - two dollars or 1 1/2 for shoeing a horse [round?] the Iron the Smith, The day we Anchored there were 25 of us agreed with a man to carry us to New York we pay 4 Dollars: a [piece?] she is Laden with Plaster of Paris it is like our Limestone - James Hunter is going to travel by land to Boston you may let his people know he is in very good health - Hugh Brown the young man who was with me out at your house is going with me to N.Y. [New York?] I would be glad to know if you have seen any of his People as I have reason to think he is a very decent young man; James Hunter is here with me & desires me to inform you that he will not write at present untill he goes further into the country, and then he will write & send his people a satisfactory acct [account?] from the acct [account?] we have heard he is going to travel through a fine Country, he is to write to me as soon as he [falls?] in to work we have concluded that going as we intend will be to our mutual advantage. Dear Father You need not be in any uneasiness about me as I am sure from the accts [accounts?] I have heard I will succeed as work is very plenty I suppose I will settle about Philadelphia as I hear the weaving trade is doing well there. This place is about 15 Miles from St Andrews & is a better place for getting a passage to the United States than St Andrews I can say little more at present as the Boat is waiting to take us on Board. You may give my love to Mrs Phillips & Jane to John Craig & Nancy & all the Rest of my friends I will write to you again as soon as I be settled in New York or elsewhere I cannot Expect any letter from you till then as you cannot tell where to write to #PAGE 2 I enjoyed the best of health during the passage and now thank God I am in very good health at present; I eat some of my Eggs yesterday which w--- [were?] fresh & good as when I set out My Bread kept uncom [uncommonly?] well, two days ago I eat the last of it, I was very sorry [it did not last?] it was the best Bread I seen in the ship I am sure it [would?] have kept a Quarter of a year fresh & good; I had plenty of Butter & Beef; I got porridge & Sowens [Sowen?] & Broth the Sowens [Sowen?] made from OatMeal tell Charlotte & Betty they have great credit in the Bread; the Bread here is very fine about the same price it is in Ireland, the Dollar passes here as 6 Shillings, Guineas 4 2/3 Dollar. The view from the Window where I am writing is delightful Ships passing to & fro the View is terminated by hills covered with trees of a small some down to the edge of the Water - You may tell Mrs Dunlop that her husband is here with me he is in very good health & never was Sick - we go to N:Y: [New York?] together I can say no more at present but I am Dr [Dear?] Father your loving son John McBride I am not sure how I will send this but I think it will be with Rodger McCormick the Steward perhaps you will have a Letter from N:Y: [New York?] before you get this. We [-o--?] a vessel from St Johns, New Brunswick bound for [Hull?] The Captain said he would report our ship. To the Care of Mr Wm [William?] Phillips Innkeeper Lisburn To Mr James McBride Derriaghy August 23rd 1819 June 16th 1819 |
