Home

CORVIZ

Main content

Title: 4. From James Prendergast to his son Thomas
ID5649
CollectionThe Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber]
Fileprendergast/4
Year1841
SenderPrendergast, James
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationfarmer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginMilltown, Co. Kerry, Ireland
DestinationBoston, Mass., USA
RecipientPrendergast, Thomas
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipfather-son
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count592
Genrefamily, local economy
Note
TranscriptMr Cornelius Riordan
Rear of No 8 Atkenson Street
Boston
America

Milltown July the 27th 1841

My Dear Thomas, I received your letter of 30th June last which
gave me and Mother and Brothers a good deal of pleasure
in finding ^you^ and the rest of the family in as perfect state
of health as this leaves me at present thanks be the
Lord. Now Danl Riordan is with Mr Finn at the Victoria
Hotel having only 1s/6d per week hardly has much as keeps him
Tobacco. He was prepared to write to his brother some time
past and reserved one shilling to write but it happened to be
two sixpence piece and his step Mother took it away from him which detained him since of having written to ye long since. He
had a pair of shirts from a Gentleman in Killarney and he sent
them to one of his sisters to be washed but they said they
were stolen from them. I was speaking to him in Killarney a
few days ago and he is in the latter end of the clothes at present.
He is in perfect health at present. Your Brother Maurice intends
going to Curraglass or Glenflesk on the first of November next. Now
my Dear Child, I write you hoping you will be kind enough
in remitting me some money as soon as possible and but
having a particular and worthy friend at the helm which
you are aware of we would be backward as the rates got
pretty smart here this Summer in the latter end. The potatoes
were from 4s/od to 4s/6d per peck and other sorts of food and nourishment
accordingly. Besides that fireing was doubly more expensive in this
Town as the Summer was very indifferent. I bought a pig which
cost me the sum of one pound ten shillings which I have
at present. I bought same out of your ^last^ remittance. Dear Thomas
I hope you will let me know in your next Jetter, how my Dear Judy
is situated also Cornelius Riordan her beloved husband as you
have not mentioned to me this time past how they were
situated and prospering in the world. I trust you will let
me know in your next letter. Mrs Fleming intends sailing
off on the next opportunity as she has the sum of thirty shillings
and expects to get a little more though going to Cork with John
Gnaw who promised her some money afterwards deceived her
and she spent a little there during her stay there in expectation
of being sailing with the above person but after all left her
at the see side. I dread ye may lose anything with John
Gnaw. Beware yourself of him. He behaved a great skeamer
in this country at his departure. He even went by night.
Without much trouble to yourself let me know if you should
know one William Keating who acted steward in the Navy Yard
in Boston or of two others (ie) a Nephew and Niece of the above person who lives in Charleston. She is married but we cannot know her
husbands name. If you should know said persons let me know.
Your Mother Brothers and friends join with me in
Love to you and Jeffeory Judy and not forgetting Cornelius
Riordan and remain your affectionate Father
until death.

James Prendergast
James Reordon got the
paper Con sint him
This is my wright
feare ye should think
Id be dead.
James Prendergast