| Title: | Greeves, Susanna to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1819 |
|---|---|
| ID | 5962 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/13 |
| Year | 1819 |
| Sender | Greeves, Susanna |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | shop keeper |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1729 |
| Genre | family, improving the shop, friends, quaker meeting |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dungannon 5th month 19th 1819 My Dear Sister This is the third time I begin to address thee since thee arived in the land of Liberty. I wrote a few lines in a letter that sister Jane wrote thee a month or two ago, which I hope thee has got ere this, & I also wrote in a letter of Brother Thomas a few weeks since. It was Co go in a ship from Warrant Point [Warrenpoint] bound for Philadelphia but I do not know wheather it has sailed yet. I think it is very likely thee will get this first. My Mother got the Childs hair that thee sent her & is much obliged to thee for sending it. I believe thee is never out of her head the length of the day: we all often, verry. often, talk of you. I wonder if you think of us as often as we do of you. I am glad to hear that my dear Brother William gets his health so well & is so content. I am sure there is nothing in this world like being content. It is wonderful to think how finely thy head keeps. I suppose it must be owing to the change of air or else the voyage: thee says in thy letter that thee never is troubled with thy head. I am very glad to hear it for I know what thee used to suffer. I am glad to hear that Brother Tm is so fat and looks so well. I think by all accounts Maria is a very fine child: I suppose Win & thee thinks no foals sheep shank of her. I wish we could get a peep at her but, dear knows, it might be that we would see her yet. I may begin now to tell thee how snug we are since we got the shop altered. We have got the counters made a good deal broader & behind them Boarded. It is a great deal more comfortable than before & is easier kept clean. We also have a stove behind the counter about middle way: the pipe or funnel 1 runs into the parlour chimney. If thee would see it now, thee would hardly know it & now since John's shop is opened the two doors is together & at a distance it looks like one shop. We got both houses newly painted & white washed & they look verry well. Sister Jane and I sleep in Johns house since the middle of winter. It is verry pleasant for him - a great deal more so than to be alone. I often write to sister Mary [O'Brien]. I had a letter from her by Brother Thomas, who was up at the yearly meeting in Dublin & he went to see her. She is as well as can be expected. She expects to be confined some time about 7th month. My Mother intends going up - my Father is quite satisfied that she would, as Mary wished so much for her. Little John O'Brien is a very fine boy: he can read very near as well as Brother William [G reeves]. Thomas heard him read several times when he was there. As for Anna she is a sweet child. She can walk quite well and she is beginning to speak. Thomas says she will not attempt to speak without she speaks plain. My Mother intends bringing her down with her when she [is] coming. We will all be delighted with her. She was ill with sore eyes some time since, but Mary says they are quite well. As Thomas told thee about poor John Waring I need not say anything about him. Only that I am very sorry for him. He also told thee about Thirza Heaton. Eliza Branch [French?] has given up shop keeping. She lives quite retired now & Miss Ferguson, niece to Atturney Davison [Samuel Davidson, of Union Place], has taken her shop & keeps a Millen one. Peggy Roberts & her Mother & sister is gone to live a few door above Mo ran and has left the little house in the Preaching House Leane. We have got another stay maker in town. She is a Cousin to Jane: she lives with them. Peggy Roberts is quite jealous: I believe she gets a good deal of work. They make Gowns & dress caps for Ladys. Jane is not married yet, nor do I hear any word. The Miss Greshams does be often asking for thee. The second eldest is married to one of the little Lowrys: they went immediately after they were married to Warrant Point. Miss Anderson, [step-?]sister to Miss Bennett, was married today to O'Nail the tax collector. I believe she has a good fortune - I believe she has 5 or 6 Hundred Pounds. David Frizeals wire is dead: I suppose thee knows he was married to Clarissa Burrns that we used to go to school with. She had one child, & what is very remarkable, it died in the morning & she in the evening. I believe it was a consumption ailed her. Davy is single & fair again. Old Nancy Heazelton, Thomas Heazeltons Mother, died last first day morning & it is just about 18 weeks since the old man died. I am sure I am glad on Marys account. Mary has a fine child, call];] it Huldah for H. Nicholson. Jane & I can get very little sewing done for one thing or another. She is our at Bernarhese few days making a pair of stays and new cloaks for her & I. Thomas got the doth in Dublin: it is napt [brushed]. We also got pelicies [pelisses] in winter, the shade of thine but darker. Thomas & John intends going to Moyallon Meeting. Jane [&] I would have got, only we would rather go after, so are to go and spend a few days when they come home. Think of chis time two years that thee was going with us and think how agreeable we were disappointed Co find Elizabeth Simon hid behind the door. Matgt. Sinton intends being down at Grange Meeting. I am verry glad she will, as then we will have some person with us. I often write to Mary Sinton, but as for Elizabeth she would not write a scrap — I wrote to her often but she never thought worth while answering me. I believe thee are getting on as well as could be expected. My Aunt Molly desires her Dear love to William & thee & that she often thinks how thee is getting on with the nursing. Maria & Eliza Shaw desire their love to thee, also L Locke & Jane Bui lack and all the Dree Hill family & Uncle & Aunt Betty & several others that [I] do not remember. It is time to go to bed as tomorrow is Market day and perhaps I will have something else to write. Adieu for tonight. Sixth day evening the 21st 7 oclock I am just sat down to add something to this after Blue washing"2 my Aunts room & white washing die staircase down. Robert Board man is sailed for America: he went on first day two weeks. Elen"3 has been with her sister Mary Greer all winter. I may say she is verry free & pleasant with us, a great deal more so than she used. Martha McMeakin is living in Dublin in a Gendemans family - they keep their carriage ere etc. She is as house keeper but is as one of themselves. Her mistress is a verry delicate woman & she has to sit, I believe, at the head of the table (I know she does at Breakfast). Brother William goes to school to John O'Nail since the first of 5 month. I hope he may do some good with him. My Father had him at home all winter as he was not learning with Wm Hay. He taught him himself. Priest Grim[e]s is dead. I suppose thee knew him - he lived near Moy. He is much lamented by all his hearers. Miss Sinklair is not married yet: she does often be asking for thee, also her sister Mary Anne. Miss Sinklair is a very free nice girl. The Dicksons of Northland Row had a letter from Mary lately: she has had several offers but refused them all. Jane McMeakin lives in the west of England as house keeper or second tutoress. I do not know how their Mother does without them both. Thomas went to see Martha when he was in Dublin & she was out at their country house. He left his address and it was sent out to K her & she was sent in in their carriage. I believe they like I forget wheather I wrote thee before how I liked Cousin William Greeves wife: they call her Diana or Dina. She is to me a nice little woman, very engaging manners. I did not hear wheather they have go[t] any increase to their family yer or not. Dear Anne, I wish verry much thee would send jane & I some Indian corn. We would think so much of it as it would be from thee. I wish very much for something of the kind from thee for a keepsake, let it be ever so small. The next rime thee writes I would [be] much obliged to thee to send me a bit of Marias hair for myself, but I suppose thee would not like to cut any more of it. I have all reason to think Sally Kearns & T. Crump is married. They have no less than 4 or 5 children. She sits at table with him & when there is any company, & I think it is hardly likely she wd if they were not. I suppose thee will scarcely get this read as it is badly written & baddly composed, but thee must excuse both. Brother John desires his love to William & thee. Jinny McCan lives with us still & Betty Grim[e]s in Edward Shaws at Castle Caufield. Give my dear love to my deal Brother William & accept a large share thyself & believe me, dear Anne, thy loving & afft sister Susanna Anne OBrien Wakefield Philadelphia America |
