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Title: J & C McLees, NY, to James McLees, Ballymoney
ID3855
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
Filemclees, john/6
Year1832
SenderMcLees, John
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationfarmer?
Sender Religionunknown
OriginNew York, USA
DestinationBallymoney, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
RecipientMcLees, James
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipbrothers
SourceD904/3b: Presented by Mr M.J. McLees, Bovedy, Kilrea, County Londonderry
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9607022
Date27/02/1832
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 02:07:96.
Word Count628
Genre
Note
TranscriptAddressed to
Mr James Mc Lees
Brickfield
Care of Mr Alexander Dorrans
Ballymoney
Ireland

New York February 27th 1832
Dear Brother
With pleasure I write to you by
the ship Josephine - acknowledging the receipt of your
last letter that gives me great satisfaction and pleasure
to hear that you and my Father are in good health - with all
my Uncles Aunts and Cousins - except my Aunt Elizabeth
which makes me very sorry to hear the bad state of health
she is in, but hopes that the Almighty in his mercies has been
kinder towards her weak situation - that she may know
and feel his affliction is (I trust) to prepare her for a
happier place - you have mentioned that you have wrote
3 letters and have received no answer - which is quite the
contrary there is but one that escaped me when I was
from home.
I have observed the remarks in your last letter that
you expected a favor that was not in my power to grant
or you would not have had to insist so often.
When you consider that I had to begin with less
than you in a strange country without any friends to
give me any assistance or advise what business was best to
pursue you may now consider if your capital was not of more
value than mine, when I arrived in America - but thank
God I had good fortune, sometimes mixed with adversity but
while I enjoy good health I trust to surmount them all - my
last affliction was but one years ago laying with a broken
arm, and at the same time my Dear wife had a fever which
continued 13 weeks - and two little children to be attended
by strangers with Doctors expenses (which is very high in
their charge) kept me very busy to get all the little
charges cleared up in spring last - then the summer
required all my exertion and my wifes to provide for a
dreary winter which has been very stormy - had you embraced
the opportunity of coming to America at the time I wrote
to you it would have been the last chance that has offered
since I came to New York - but that is gone the man that
has it is offered 300 dollars more than I could have had it
at -
but I hope you will excuse me for trespassing on your
patience and forgive anything that is said amiss -
I have not any thing to mention worth notice we have
victualing [victualling?] very reasonable - Beef, Mutton & pork
from 5 to 7 cents per lb - flour 5 1/2 dollars per barrel
Butter from 14 to 18 cents per lb - potatoes 42 cents per
Bushel - and as for clothing of all kinds it is very cheap -
I have nothing more particular to mention but my wife
and my family all have good health and I hope the spring
will be brisk - for we have had the most snow & frost
this winter that has been since I came to this place -
you will give my love to all my Uncles and Aunts - Cousins
and relations seperate [separate?] - [&?] [old?] neighbours
that enquire for me and let them know I am well happy &
comfortable - remember me to Thos [Thomas?] [Boyce?] Stuart
Shirley & Brother Denis McQuilken & family - Wm [William?]
Simpson - Jas [James?] Kane - and in particular to Cousin
Danl [Daniel?] McLees and family with some news that I have
not time to write
I remain your affectionate and
loving Brother
John McLees
P.S.
write to me by the same ship
and give my love to my Father and Mother
let him know that I have wrote to him
by the same ship