| Title: | 44. From Elizabeth Prendergast to her daughter Julia and to her son Thomas |
|---|---|
| ID | 5689 |
| Collection | The Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber] |
| File | prendergast/44 |
| 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, Julia & Thomas |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | mother-children |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 703 |
| Genre | emigration, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Cornelius Riordan 72 Southstreet Boston State of Massachusetts N. America Milltown 23rd Feby 1850 My dear Julia Your Letter of the 5th Instant arrived here on the 20th and I need not say that I ^could^ have no greater pleasure than to hear that my Children are well and happy, and I would feel equally happy to go and spend the rest of my life with them whatever may be the danger or fatigue of the Voyage But I have one reason for not attempting it and I think you will deem me just. You know according to the course of nature I cannot live long, and as I began the world, when young, with your Father, I think I would act unfairly If I did not wish to be buried with him. I have no greater wish than enjoy a portion of the same grave. So my dear child, I am fully determined to remain until that period which of course cannot be very distant. I cannot complain as I have good Children who never see me want, and I will be careful of what they send me. I received the parcel you sent from Father Batt with two snuffboxes and snuff and I return you thanks for what you sent. I am sure I have plenty of clothes during the rest of my life and I know I will not want subsistence. Give my love to Con, to your Brothers their Wives and Children and not forgetting James Maurice. I will say no more than to send ye all my blessing, praying that God may protect and preserve ye, and I remain affectionately, your Mother Elizabeth Prendergast To Thomas My Dear Thomas You see by my letter to Julia that your letter of the 5th reached me. I return ye all thanks for the kindness ye shew me and I trust I shall never forget what ye do for me. I went to Father Batt and shewed him your Letter. His reply was that he would give me double the sum if you desired it. At the same time when I told him my reason for not attempting the voyage, He agreed with me in opinion. I am sure I will never leave this place until I shall be buried with your Father. I am sure I will get the am1 of the check when it becomes payable. I will be careful how to dispose of it. I have a parcel of small socks to send the Children. I went to Killorglin to see John Daly's daughter. She and her family are well and her father said she would not [...] this season. One of his neighbors told me [...]s unlikely she would go at all as her parents [...] provide for her at home. Father Batt told [...] that Jeffry had a young son. I was [...]h surprized that neither of ye mentioned [...]ous letter. Send me every account about it. [...] am very sorry to have to tell you that poor Maurice was very unlucky with regard to the ch[...] he recd from his son. The 3rd night after being paid the amt some person came at night and took the Box which contained £4 away. The Box was found broken near the lake on the following morning. He suspects a Boy of John Lynch's, John David Sullivan. James knows him. He is a bad character. It left him bare and poorly situated. Tell James Maurice he had every right to enquire for his uncle Darby. His father and Grandmother were so much ashamed that they would not shew his letter to his uncle. I send ye all my blessing and remain affectionately your Mother Elizabeth Prendergast P.S Tell Michl that his Wife and Children are well, and that his Wife is surprized he does not write. I am ashamed myself to see him so careless. He did not even enquire for them in several letters that came here. What he sent would not support and clothe them, besides keeping th[...]ool, and that she does regularly. The death of her Mother is a great [...] |
