| Title: | Sinton, Joseph to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1820 |
|---|---|
| ID | 5981 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/31 |
| Year | 1820 |
| Sender | Sinton, Joseph |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Wilkesbarre, near Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Cattaragus, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | uncle-niece |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 778 |
| Genre | birth, finding work, change of residence |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Wilkesbarre Sept 12th 1820 My Dear Niece I received thy letter - finished by William - announcing the arrival of a young stranger into a world of trouble & care. Some of the ancients made it a practice to weep round the cradle & dance round the Grave - at which I am not much surprised. I hope the rate & conduct of this addition to thy cares may be such as to make the difference in thy feelings proper. I am glad thee likes the place better than was expected. Plenty of employment must be pleasant to William after being so long unable to obtain it when he was anxious for it. I have little doubt with his industry & prudence that he may find the place advantageous - many here would be glad to leave here if they could. The alarm of yellow fever in the City has been very great - several persons have been here who moved out on that account & many I hear have left it with a resolution not to return if they can get into any employment elsewhere. Every place has its advantages & disadvantages but a "contented mind is a treasure". I intended to have written a long letter at my leisure but the many things I have to attend to puts it out of my power as I find, after so long time preparing, the last day is the busiest. S.C. I believe writes by this conveyance & having more time can, & no doubt will, tell thee all the news of the place likely to interest thee. As the time approaches for parting with my near relations I find my spirits droop. How I shall bear being entirely alone I cant tell. A man & his wife are to be in the back part of the house & provide me rations & wash my duds. However as there is a clever young man who occupies our store I shall not be quite so lonely as I feared I would. How long I shall stay here is quite uncertain - however I hope to hear from thee frequently by letter: dont forget this. Seeing no prospect of getting your goods along any other way, I sent them some time since to Tioga to the care of David Paine the Postmaster. If Wm goes for them as he talked, let him take this letter along: the P. Master knows my writing. I employed a man to put hoops round the ends of the boxes: he discovered some holes in the bottom of one of them where the feet seemed to have been taken off, put in his finger & found the things very loose. Fearing that mice might have gotten in, he raised a board & found room with ease to put in the bellows; if the others are as loosely packed the things would get injured in a waggon I think. I mention this that Wm may examine them. I have paid Doctor Covells Bill against Wm & I have given brother Jacob a memorandum of what I have paid as far as I can recollect. He will want some furniture & it can I presume be settled that way easier than any other, as I know to my sorrow that after every exertion he will have little money left when he reaches his journeys end. I look forward with great anxiety to the time when I shall be able to quit this place, where for the last three years has afforded me little pleasure & a great deal of trouble & I have many unpleasant things to do in pressing old acquaintances & customers - but it is unavoidable. Sidney wrote to me for some Newspapers: I send a batch which will be a feast to all of you no doubt. I am sorry to hear of mothers ill health, but she may long outlive the healthiest of us. I have heard nothing lately off. Nicholson - a friend who is acquainted with him was here about 2 months ago and said he had returned from Pittsburg without obtaining what he went for, on account of some informality in the power of attorney - perhaps he has written to thee on the subject. The bearer having lately returned from Easton can tell thee about James & Martha's young one &c. I am called off to settle with those who bought at... Dont forget to write, a long one & soon, & let me know about the young shaver who I hope will be a stout fellow & fit for a new country. Believe thy afft Uncle Jo |
