| Title: | 31. From James Prendergast to his children in Boston |
|---|---|
| ID | 5676 |
| Collection | The Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber] |
| File | prendergast/31 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Prendergast, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Milltown, Co. Kerry, Ireland |
| Destination | Boston, Mass., USA |
| Recipient | Prendergast children |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | father-children |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 709 |
| Genre | family, economy, neighbours |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Cornelius Riordan 16 Pearlplace Boston State of Massachusetts N. America Paid I forgot to mention that I got the white flannell petticote Milltown 25th July 1847 My dear Children I now write you that I may enjoy the pleasure of hearing by your reply that ye are well for really I think it an age since I received the last communication. Also your Mother and I feel very uneasy on account of your Brother Michl About the 27th of March last he left home and delayed a few days only in Cork before He sailed for St John's New Brunswick, as we heard. Since that time we never heard from him. We expected an account long since either by Letter from himself or thro ye, but we were really disappointed. We are really alarmed on his account. He left 4 children and their poor Mother, with no more subsistence than nine shillings. This was a very poor stock, even if the year were much more plentiful. We could not see them suffering without reeling for their wants. But our hope is in God. We expect better news at least when ye reply to this if we hear not sooner. Your Mother and I are now perfectly recovered from the severe and lingering illness under which we laboured, and thank God, we are in as good health as could be expected, at the present period of our lives. Ye will add to our comfort by answering this as speedily as ye can, and sending whatever account ye can of Michl’s state. Maurice and all his family were success =sively lying in fever. They are now recovering thank God and I hope out of danger tho Maurice himself is still languid and complaining of pains in all his Bones after his fit. They may thank ye for their lives as the part they received of what ye sent was a principal means to recover them. The markets here are still rather high, tho a reduction has taken place here. We cannot say much of the present crops of the country. They were very promising until within the few last days when some signs of a blight appeared on the potatoe stalks not very unlike that which destroyed them last year. It is too soon to know how it may terminate, however we must trust in God and hope for the best. Dan Riordan is well and still in the same situation. Last Wednesday the trunk which Julia sent arrived here. It was carried to Waterford by the captain who refused to give it up in Tralee saying it was entered for that custom house. Mr Riordan had a good deal of trouble to bring it up here. It cost us every way £1..5s. Mr Riordan desired to let Julia know that the captain charged freight tho Mr Riordan said he was sure that he was paid a greater compliment by ye than what would discharge the freight. The Trunk contained as follows viz Three Gowns and a quilled black silk petticoat two shawls, two handsome hand kerchiefs, two bedgowns four shifts, two shirts three waist =coats a black silk hand kerchief, a fine sheet 2 pair shoes a pair of black woven stockings a cap a trashbag and black ribbon and an Apron. From the appearance of the trunk I really believe it was not stirred. Her Mother says ^she^ feels as ^if^ she were only 20 years when she wears on part of what she knows to have belonged to her child. She desires to return Julia her grateful thanks for her precious Gifts and I am sure I have a right to do the same for her present to me. She joins with me to send all and every one of our children our love and blessing, and not forgetting Con and Tom's Wife whom we deem our children also. May the merciful God bless, protect and preserve ye is the constant prayer we offer. I remain my dear Children, affectionately your father James Prendergast P.S. I expect a speedy reply and desire ye will try and discover Michl if he has not arrived with ye before th [...] |
