| Title: | 43. From Elizabeth Prendergast to her children in Boston |
|---|---|
| ID | 5688 |
| Collection | The Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber] |
| File | prendergast/43 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Prendergast, Elizabeth |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Milltown, Co. Kerry, Ireland |
| Destination | Boston, Mass., USA |
| Recipient | Prendergast children |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | mother-children |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 548 |
| Genre | family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Jeffry Prendergast 69 South street Boston State of Massachusetts N. America Milltown 21st Jany 1850 My dear Children I replied to your letter of the 19th of Octr last, and I was so well satisfied with the amt I then received that I was satisfied to await a return, whenever it may be your convenience. However I was much alarmed at the arri =val of Father Batt OConnor who reached here the day before yesterday. He made it his first business to call on me and declare publickly that ye were the best friends he met since He left home. He spoke of some more in particular, among whom was Bart Doyle. He said that all his Countrymen shewed themselves as Irishmen ought, his friends and friends to the cause on which he went. He further informed me that Thomas was in a delicate state of health, and that Jeffry's Wife gave him a Pound to hand me on his arrival. Of course, I am, and ought to be much obliged to her, who never saw me and remembered me. I fear much lest Thomas should be worse than he said and I dread greatly that Jude is not as she was and to say she did not join Jeffry's Wife to be remembered to me. I well know Con would be as willing as she would. He always was and and your Father and I always considered ^him^ as one of our own children and so we ought. I am not in a good state of health this time past, and I am nothing better now. I am very proud to hear that Father Bart baptized a for Jeffry a young James. May God bless him and his parents and all my Children and families. I will expect a reply to this without delay, and to shew me that Thos is not in a very bad state I expect he will write so that I may know it. Maurice is here present at writing this. He is like a madman. He fears His son is not alive as He never wrote since he left home. He says if his sons followed the example of his uncle He would be more grateful. His poor mother is nearly distracted. Sometime since, Maurice addressed you on the subject. He was then in a state of distraction somuch that ^He^ did not desire to be remembered to either brother or sister, neither did he subscribe his name. Father Bart did not make him much easier as He says He only heard the lad was bound [...] Trade but He does not say he saw him. [...] your reply to this send every account […] that will make the poor man quiet. Tell the truth. Say what the trade is. Maurice says He is much surprized ^he does not enquire as he knows how he left them^ and Michls Wife and Children are all well. They would wish to hear from him oftener. She is very careful and industrious to do the most she can for the Children. I will only say that I send all my children and their offspring my blessing, and that I am affectionately your Mother Elizabeth Prendergast |
