| Title: | Robert McElderry, Virginia to Thomas McElderry, Ballymoney. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3819 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcelderry, robert/11 |
| Year | 1851 |
| Sender | McElderry, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman (dry goods) |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (joins The Presbyterian Church At Some Point) |
| Origin | Lynchburg, Virginia, USA |
| Destination | Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McElderry, Thomas |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T 2414/4: Copied by Permission of Dr. Helen Megaw, c/o 66 Malone Road, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007063 |
| Date | 09/06/1851 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 851 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Lynchburg 9th June 1851 Dear Brother It is now so long since you have all heard from me that you will begin to think that I have forgotten you I have been always intending to write to you for the last two week but could [?] find time youla [you will have?] seen by the last papers I sent to you that we have commenced to sell out our present stock at cost for Cash in order to make way for fall importations and I may safely say that I have never had more to do in the same time in all my life than I have had for the last two weeks the week before last we sold ten hundred an [and?] fifty dollars for Cash and a large amount on credit last week the cash sales were not quite so large but taking cash and credit together they were larger If we go on for some time as we have been doing our stock will be very much reduced before we receive any of the fall goods The papers that I send you today contain a letter from Dr Saunders (who is a member of the state convention, in reply to some remarks made by Mr Terry editor of the Virginian about his course in [regards?] to the bassis [basis?] question the Docter's [doctor's?] letter was copied from the Republican of this place Terry as you will see by the paper made a very cutting reply which as much enraged the Docter's [Doctor's?] son, James D Saunders, that he undertook to give Mr Terry a caining he met Terry on Thursday morg [morning?] at 8 Oclock at the markethouse and asked him if he was Terry to which he replyed he was when Saunders struck him over the head with a stick Terry went back a few steps pulled out a revolver fired and missed him Saunders then fired and missed but the next fire was fatal to both they were both wounded in the abdomen the ball passed out through Saunders and lodged in his silk shirt the ball did not pass through Terry but lodged in some vital part. Saunders died the same evg [evening?] at 5 Oclock and left a young widow only about six weeks married Terry died yesterday evg [evening?] at 8 Oclock and left a wife and small family It was indeed a most lamentable [?] and it has cast a great gloom over the place they were both very respectable and very much liked as citizens of this place Take good care of the papers as Mr Peters will be very glad to see them when he gets your length You can tell Mr Peters that we have had some changes in the concern since he left Charles S Miller left soon after he did and Richd [Richard?] M Ferguson left last week we were one day short of a hand untill [until?] C C Strikland came over from Tanville he seems to do remarkably well he found out the sum of the goods sooner than any young man I have ever seen we have a great deal to do in tailoring line at present Mr McMackin is bussy [busy?] cutting all the time Lewis has attended well to his busseness [business?] ever since Mr Peters left but Kitty was so drunk the third after he left that she could #PAGE 2 not move Mr Liggat had a letter from James Boyle in St Louis Mr Mathews was there on his way to see his friends he intends to return some time in the fall by the spring when Mr Boyle intends to accompany him 11th June. I had intended to finish this letter yesterday but we had so much to do that I could not find time trade is not slacking off any think it looks like we will sell all we have got so that we can take some days fishing in August In my last letter to David Boyd I requested him to get two good dogs for me I hope he has attended to it If he has not I will go over and whip him better than ever he was in all his life Dear Thomas I hope you did [?] your sudies [studies?] altogether aside [aside?] since you quit school I think you could not employ your leisure hours to better advantage in any way than by going on as you did while you were at school Give my love to Father & Mother Brothers & Sisters Thomas Lyle & Saml [Samuel?] Boyd I Remain your ever affectionate Brother Robert McElderry P S I could not spend more time at present but I will write to soon again the [they?] raised a subcription [subscription?] of nearly eight thousand dollars for Mrs Terry the [they?] want to make it ten she does not know any thing of as yet Mr Liggat's people are all well Mr Peters' son was here yesterday [and?] he was looking very well and all were well at home Dr Thornton & Richard were here yesterday they were well [envelope] [postmark] JY [July?] 1 1851 Mr Thomas McElderry Jr Ballymoney Co Antrim Ireland |
