| Title: | Robert McElderry, Lynchburg, Ba to David Boyd, Ballymoney. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3826 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcelderry, robert/33 |
| Year | 1853 |
| 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 | Boyd, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 2414/12: Copied by Permission of Dr. Helen Megaw, c/o 66 Malone Road, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007073 |
| Date | 12/12/1853 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 838 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Lynchburg 12th December 1853 Dear David I have delayed writing to you for some time back because of brother William's arrival, the day that he arrived here he wrote home and of course stated that all was well. I was as you may conceive very much surprised by seeing William standing at the store door as I was returning from breakfast, I was told down the street a short distance from the store that he had arrived in this City and was enquiring for me but I could hardly believe it was so He stayed with me in the store not doing anything about a month when he began to get very tired and almost dispaired [despaired?] of getting anything to do I had made up my mind from the first day he come to try and get him a situation in the best grocery house in this City in which I succeeded and it is all in his own hands now whether he does well or not Since he set in to work he has been writing all the time, but about the first of the year he will be engaged at some more active employment. The house at which he lives does the largest bussiness [business?] of any in the City McDaniel, Hunt & Preston is the style of the firm with which he lives. Since he has been here he has been boarding at the same house with me and sleeps with me every night he seems to very much pleased with the country. It was much in his favor [favour?] my being here before him as he can more easly [easily?] make acquaintances and can feel more at home. I have been all the time enquiring about how people and things were in Ireland and have been getting information all the time. I can hardly think when William tells me what changes have transpired since I left Ballymoney that it is so. Some folks are dead some married and others born since I was there and now going to school and some when I last seen them mere children grown up to be big boys Those then are indeed hard to realise for let me begin to think of home at any time and I think of it just as it was when I left Mr Mathews left here about a month ago for Baltimore and was well and looking as well as ever I have seen him look I do not think he has changed much since he was in Ireland Another of the Irish exiles has from Australia has arrived in New York and is producing great excitement among the people here Afflictions do not seem to have softened the heart of John Mitchell he is as violently opposed to the English government as ever he was in speaking a few days ago of the Queen he called her a she Tyrant This is a great country where a man can express his sentiments without fear No man need fear if he has any fault to find with the govement [government?] to speak his mind truly no matter what his mind may #PAGE 2 be It is good that there is one country on the face of the Earth where the oppressed may flee to and be safe. This country may well be called the City of Refuge for all those who are oppressed. The tenant league seems to be dieing [dying?] out in Ireland I do not see much said about it in the last papers I received from home I should think that now would be good time for the Irish to agitate when the Scotch seem to be disposed to demand what they consider their rights The Scotch & Irish joined together could hardly be well refused by the English no matter what the demand Christmass [Christmas?] will soon be here again and I hope you will all have a merry time With me it is the most dissagreeable [disagreeable?] season of the year there is so much trouble with Negroes (who are all hired out at this season for the next year) when they quit their old master the [they?] all crowd into twon [town?] and throng the place so you can hardly get along William was telling me that you said you would write to me to come home I should like to know what inducements you can offer for me to do so let me know in your next I will tell you beforehand that the [they?] must be strong ones or I will not go. In my next I will give you my views at length on this subject at present I cannot say much. I now close by sending my love to one and all yonong [young?] and old and wish you all a merry christmass [christmas?] and a happy new year I Remain Ever your Friend Ro. [Robert?] McElderry You need not trouble yourself directing to any ones can as I am well enough known to the Post master [envelope] [postmark] LIVERPOOL SHIP J [January?] 1854 [Postmark] LYNCHBURGE VA [Virginia?] DEC [December?] 13 Mr David Boyd Ballymoney Ireland |
