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Title: Greeves, Jane to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1826
ID6017
CollectionThe Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson]
Filequaker/60(2)
Year1826
SenderGreeves, Jane
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationhelps in family business
Sender ReligionQuaker
OriginArmagh, N.Ireland
DestinationLake Erie, NY, USA
RecipientO'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipsiblings
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count1282
GenreAnne's possible change of residence, their sister Mary's illness, state of trade, news of friends, canal construction completed, Mary McDonnell's decease
Note
Transcript17 of 2nd month 1826

My dear sister
As my Father has left room, I thought I would scribble thee a few lines as I know they will be acceptable. I was
pleased to hear you had thoughts of going to Buffalo to live: should you go, I hope you may succeed well. You
will feel a little more in the world — you know very little of it where you are, and you that were accustomed to
agreeable society at home, I dont wonder you should not feel satisfied to be immured in the woods all your lives,
besides the advantage of getting your children educated. I often wish (but in vain) that you lived near us —we could
always have one or other of the children. Little George O'Brien lives in Dungannon at present and has been there
these 6 months past - he is a fine sensible boy of his age and is agreeable company for Susanna. I suppose thee
heard of sister Mary's illness. We had nearly given up hopes of her recovery bur thank providence she is finely again.
Susanna was with her upwards of five months and the Doctors acknowledge that her recovery was owing in a
great measure to the good care and attention she paid hcER — poor woman, she suffered a great deal but I suppose
she has written thee the particulars herself.
Business is rather dull at present but I hope it wont continue long so; however we get our share of what is
going. We have got into another house, which we find very comfortable and is in an agreeable and good situation
for business. I have a good deal to attend to between the house affairs and the shop - but now that we have got
my Brother Wm home I will have a little more time to myself. He is pretty clever at business, more so than I
expecTed to find him. It will also relieve my Father who had often to be in the shop when it was not fit for him.
Though he has been very poorly all winter, thee would be surprised to see how well he looks - thee would not see
a handsomer old man any place. He is greatly admired here and respected - it is a great comfort for us to have
him. I trust it will please providence to spare him long to us. I still miss my dear Mother greatly & I often dream
of her - a few nights ago I thought she had come alive again, and I woke with the joy of it and thee may guess my
disappointment. Aunt Molly is much as usual, just getting on in her old way. She often speaks of thee —you spent
many happy days together. She is as kind and as affectionate as ever. I hope to get her to spend a few weeks with
us when the weather gets warmer. There is not any sign of brother Thomas going to be married, nor indeed any
of us - were Susanna and I in America we would be considered on the shelf I suppose - but neither of us looks
on the decline yet.
Mary Hogg and Edwd Alexander of Dublin are to present their marriage next monthly meeting: it is considered
a very nice match for her. He is brother-in-law to the Garratts and it is reconed that he will be worth £20,000 at
his father's death. She will make him a very nice wife - she was considered The nicest girl at the last Dublin meeting.
Her sister Eliza [Pim] has two children now — she lives in great style — and their cousin Mary Culomore was
married to John Murphy of Belfast about 9 months ago. There was great fun and talk about it - it was said she
was the 13th young woman he has asked for. However it is no matter: he makes her a good husband and they
are very comfortably settled in Belfast; so if Jonathon Hogg gets the rest of his family as well settled it will do
very well.
I suppose thee heard of Anna Shaws being married to John Johnson. She has now a very fine little son, and I
think is improved in her looks. There are none of the old people to the fore: cousin Sarah3'4 died about 2 months
ago - her death was a long time expected, so Dreehill is greatly altered as well as every place else. We miss Uncle
Billy at Grange very much but he intends coming to see us in summer if he is well and able. I have some thoughts
of going to Dublin meeting and on to Carlow, but I dont know whether I ... get it accomplished or not; my
Father does not like me to leave he feels so lonely.
Our Moyallon friends are finely. Uncle Sam! comes often to see us: the distance is so short (11 miles), he can
come and return in a day. lane Sinton that lived with him is married to Thomas Hogg, who I suppose thee
remembers to see there. I was surprised when I heard it, for though it had been a good deal talked of I never
blieved it. However I do blieve he will make her a good husband and that is everything. She has not left my uncle's
yet and I am sure I dont know what he will do when she does. The people still talk, about Ruth and him but I dont
see more sign of it than ever. My Aunt Deb by looks right fat and well, and she says she never was more happy in
her life — she comes often to see us also. It was pleasant for you to have the Nicholsons even for so short a time. I understand John is a very nice looking
young man - it is a pity to have buried in the woods. The girls in town here have not heard from them this long
time. They are getting on very well - none of them married yet. You were a long time before you received the things
we sent you, but now since the Canal is opened the conveyance will be more direct and I hope we will hear
oftener from you. It will be 8 years the 25th of this month since I saw thee and I often fancy I see thee as thee looked
then, but I am sure thee muse be greatly changed: it seems a very long time indeed. I have still hopes I will see you
all sometime before I die - but dear knows wheather my hopes will ever be realised.
I suppose you heard of Mary McDonnell's death in America. I did not hear any of the particulars but I blieve
she suffered a great deal - poor woman, she lasted longer than could have been expected. The girls in Dublin are
well and Elizabeth Walpole has a very fine son: they are all getting on pretty well. Aunt Alice is gone back to live
with Joe.
I wish I could just get a peep at you sitting round the fire with the children running about you: it would be a
great change since the last time I saw you. I blieve I have written as much as I have room for, so muse conclude
with dear love to Brother Wm and the children in which John and Wm unite, and blieve me dear Anne as ever
thy very affectionate sister
Jane

Be sure and write soon.

William OBrien
Angola Post Office
Cataragus Creek
County of Erie State of New York America