| Title: | Robert McClorg, Pennsylvania, to David McClorg, Templemoyle. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3784 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcclorg, robert/103 |
| Year | 1820 |
| Sender | McClorg, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | teacher |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Pennsylvania, USA |
| Destination | Templemoyle, Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | David McClorg and Mrs McClorg |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | T 1227/9: Photocopied by Courtesy of Mr A MacLurg #TYPE EMG Robert McClorg, Whitehall, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 18 June 1820, to his Father, David McClorg, Templemoyle, Co. Londonderry. |
| Archive | Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 8905190 |
| Date | 18/06/1820 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 28:06:1989 LT created 12:11:1990 CD input 14:11:19 |
| Word Count | 2255 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Churchtown June 25th 3/6 To Mr David Mc Clorg Templemoyle Parish of Bovevah near new- townlimavady County Londonderry Ireland For the family alone White-hall June 18th 1820 Lancaster county Pennslvania [Pennsylvania?] Dear Father and Mother and brothers and sisters As the present time affords an opportunity of communication with you I embrace these opportunities at every period in my power you will see by the date of another letter agreeing with this that no letters have come to me as yet in my opinion they are here but have not been forwarded my request is, that from this time forth you will always send them by the captain of a vessel these go by the Conestoga a regular trader it is now a year since I left you and no accounts have reached me concerning you my situation at present is [goo?]d (considering the times) good as to the difficulties in [this?] Country I have not any thing to put from them some time being exercised in that school of difficulties after my arrival the person with whom I live is very rich which you may guess by the following statement as holding stock in several banks to a very large amount besides two large forges which manufacture iron on an extensive scale as also eight thousand acres of land besides all his stock and this without any enlargement or speaking beyond the truth but what I know to be according to the voice of those around and also rides in his coach when he pleases of any of these pleasures my salary is but small but sure & better than six hundred dollars in many places my shirts find clothes of every kind washed in the house all of which & all my clothes were safely brought here as also my books it is probable some alterations may be among you since I left you and probably some of you in another world but I hope the contrary and that I shall see you all again if my expenses and clothes had not required it I would have sent you twenty pounds this fall but now being furnished in that for some time I will be the more able to send you again, at november it is probable some may be sent and if not then more at a future period, my advice if you can is to hold the land & if you can struggle for a little rent on my word you shall get assistance if I am spared it is probable I may not see John until he goes home and my greatest comfort would be if I had something handsome to go back to you with: and if we never meet in this world let us all endeavour to meet in happiness in another see that there be concord among you outlayings here a[?] [g?]reat but I am not subject to much expenses I would advise none of you to come here this country is full of men some offering themselves for [their?] meat for their work this I have from good authority not that I would discourage any, I have reason to be thankful good health has always been continued to me in any way write me at every opportunity and direct to Mr John George as he always knows where I am who can forward them to me my salary per year at 5s per dollar is #50 pound and my expenses are defrayed for a length of time there is church here only every third sunday my commencement here was 17th January last as soon as a more profitable place offers I shall take it I have nothing at present to write of particular importance no exertion will be wanting on my part to hear from John at every opportunity send me an account of every thing important and if I were coming again there would not be so many shirts brought by me nor bed nor any thing of the kind however all these I can keep safe but with much more trouble you may have received letters from John or accounts from Hugh devlin which would mention him indeed, I know nothing of him since we parted but I am satisfied as he is in a better part than this and some acquaintances near him which will be of service. If you write to him direct to the care of Mr William Brown or Mr Robert Aul either of whom can inform about him the former in Germain street the latter york point unless you have received from himself When you write direct to Mr John George south Eighth-street and not south East-street as there is no such street in Philadelphia I remain with the sincerest affection and Gratitude your ever loving son & unto Brother and sisters your ever loving Brother Robert Mc Clorg this letter for the family alone & none or Nothing I had has been hurt on any account P.S. Dear father & mother with Brothers & sisters I most humbly beg your pardon for not writing to you by James [All?]ison but the Conestoga was expected in daily which made me wait and he could inform you that I was well & in Archibald Neely's at that time but as I have a house rented now, it is cheaper to board myself & only live alone but I hope I am not alone as the great Creator is present with those who seek him as you mentioned some time ago in your letters this country is not half as religious or rather the people as in Ireland & it takes a young man to take great care to make much in a city several offers are in my view at present for teaching & all pretty good in & near the City you no doubt expected something before this time & had I been in a permanent place you would have had #30 before this time I have been near three thousand miles through this country & can give you my opinion it is not very good in many places through Long island Newyork state New Jersey Pennseylvania [Pennsylvania?] Delaware & maryland & have found many dificulties in said places and could have had many places but wished a better salary in order to send something home last spring, 9 months here I travelled in America from first to last & underwent things which I Never imagined you mentioned my devious way in this country my reason for leaving my place was I was doing so in order to obtain a better toward the south & in order to save myself of much trouble & also my life as the mai[sons?] where I was being expelled from College & none could stay long in it for they were perfect Devils and teaching here is in some places profitable but very troublesome and hard to manage the children in this country David did not leave the handkerchief & book as he forgot them & therefore they are with him yet but I can get them, George moone who left Newtown informed me of John in October but stated he had met with bad treatment of his employer I am uneasy to hear from him and to see him & also you all but if we never meet here let us endeavour to mee[t?] in heaven I had to borrow after I came in 10 dollars from Archibald Neely & 15 paid to John George for the time I staid [stayed?] these make 25 dollars & my travelling so long makes me not have so much at present my rent per year is 50 dollars but better places offer & near the town & I will embrace some of them all the bed clothes remain with me yet and ever will many particulars are in this as also in yours in respect of Campbell & concerning his death many write of their salaries here the half of which is lies. John George has removed which made me direct to another place this letter goes to a mr stevenson from the Faughan with whom I am acquainted little attention is paid here in many places to precious sabbath time but I am almost entirely alone I sent a letter to John at november but got no answer remember my old promise as soon as possible but it is too long in coming Dear Father & Mother my greatest desire wish & prayer is that you make sure work for Eternity and my greatest happiness if I could once see you dear Brothers & sisters look to your Parents with care and attention I am far from them at present All my clothes since here has been nearly 3 suits & some other things stated many things of Great importance for time & eternity for which advices I am much indebted my kindest love to all for your present although not received but it will yet how sorry I am I cannot send something now but again And now to conclude may the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the peace of God & the communion of the Spirit be with you all Amen N B Miss no opportunity in writing & send me account of affairs and how matters stand. I commend you all to the great Redeemer now and for ever more Amen. yours unto Death Robert Mc Lorg These lines are to yourselves alone and none else whatever Dear Father Mother and family you may probably think me ungrateful and inconsiderate as also having succeeded ill in this country when many less time here than I am have sent something home before this time I am most uncommonly mortified that it is not in my power to send you something before this time and even now it gives me the utmost pain that at present I am not able you may think it strange but for one year I have made little and hardly held my own coming to Philadelphia I took a house at 50 dollars per year and did not succeed well in obtaining good pay from my employer by whom I was treated most shamefully I rather sunk than made money I am now in a place near the city where my prospects are or I may say pretty good [considering?] believe me this country is far from what it was said to be you may have seen a letter from Robert Pollock stating that his brother Joseph made from 10 - 20 dollars per day but that is altogether untrue and from his own statement he sometimes makes 1 dollar per day and some [less?] it was stated to me that brother John intended going to Ireland with a venture of tobacco from saint John Newbrunswick no letter came to me from him since I last saw him but one I hope he has not gone to the West Indies but it is singular no answer came to me from him you may think strange no letter was sent by one of the Thompsons from Ballyhenry but he went off sooner than I imagined Frankford is the name of the place where I now teach it is established academy but [no?] lands to it for the benefit of the teacher and only the scholars that may come are the support of the teacher teaching in this country is law from what it has been sometime ago and a good mechanic or labourer has in general ten chances to [?] I fear you are in difficult straits at present and had it not been for my moving often I would have had something to send you now but your patience may probably get tired and say I have long promised that and no sign of performing it sorry I am that I cannot but I spent money and travelled far in the Country to get good situations and found them very scarce I have been 3000 miles through this country and cannot invite any of you here the accounts from some others may be so contradictory to this that you may suppose me incapable of obtaining situations for making money my health has been very much impaired last summer as it was very sickly but it is now recovered as formerly much surprised that John did not come on here in last summer your harvest in Ireland from English papers received in this Country has been in many cases abundant Numbers have gone home this year to Ireland and many to England &c the severity of the climate here is very great mu[?] on the extremes both in the summer and winter the crops in the country have failed much owing to the unfavourable weather in the spring [harvest?] 5 miles from the city of Philadelphia is my residence at present I am determined not of move much more in this country [than?] I have done it is very unprofitable this goes by the Conestoga and the [this?] is the first ship back again to Philadelphia as mentioned in the paper. Now a word to my aged and much loved parents as also brothers and sisters some of the former I am afraid are not alive from my dreams look unto that God who alone can support you in all trials and dangers prepare for death & judgement take care of your parents while yet with you and ah that I were with them to assist them in their old age may the Almighty God of Jacob rest with you all Amen Robert Mc Clorg |
