| Title: | Greeves, John Sr to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1827 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6022 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/63 |
| Year | 1827 |
| Sender | Greeves, John Sr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | linen trader |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Lisburn, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | father-daughter |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 902 |
| Genre | change of residence, opening a shop, bad state of economy, still upset about the undesired match, bad crops, family news |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Lisburn 3 mo 25th 1827 Dear Ann I wrote to thee last fall on a large sheet of paper which Susanna & Thos filled up, which I hope thou hath rcd, and was frequently expecting a letter from thee. I have dated this from where I now reside with Jane & William and hath opened a shop much the same as we had in Armagh, owing to Johns mariage with Mary Simon which I think I informed thee in my last. I left Armagh &c resided with Thos untill about 8 days ago, when I came to this place. So far the business hath a gloomy prospect: indeed it is no wonder, the times is so verry bad, the vitualing high and the trade and manufactures of all kinds so verry low; & what seems even worse is the distracted state of the nation, prodestant against papist, and prodestants preaching in their pulpits against the papists and the priests preaching and writing against the protestants, the catholick petition having lately been thrown out of the House of Commons. How these things may end it is hard to say. I think thou may be thankfull that thou art out of such a distracted country. Added to the above the manny robbereys & murders that is frequently committed. I wish I has an open unity of sending thee a few newspapers but perhaps thou sees some extracts from the English &c Irish ones. I have not been in Armagh since John was marid nor have I seen him since. The step he hath taken hath given me a good deal of trouble and uneasiness: I wish they may sincerely repent for their misconduct. I was obliged to leave Wm & Jane in Armagh untill Thos provided this place for us. He hath been an afft son to me. I would be glad thee or Wm wd write often to us. I think some of us would write oftener to you but the expence of postage from New York to where you live comes high, where money is so scarce. The friends here so far seems kind and attentive to us. We have some verry rich relations here but hope we will not be any burden on them. The great drought last summer made a great failure in the oat, flax and potato crops. The poor in most places are in a sad condition and are afraid as the summer approaches they will be a deal worse. I was pleased to hear by thine and Wms letter to Dan and Mary that you had so good a fruit crop: the quantity seems wonderful of so young an orchard. Wm mentions in his letter of [to] Dan that he wd wish to get a few sets of fiorin grass. Whether he sent it or not I did not hear. All that could be sent in a letter wd be little use and I think your dry climate wd not answer for it. It is in low marshy or bog lands that it wd do well in. The hay crop last year was verry light: it is now selling in manny places from 5/- to 61- pr hundred. I am afraid many of the poor peoples cattle will be lost as they will not be able to buy. I have been frequently ailing with my stomach this considerable time. I suppose it is something bilious, but cant expect to be otherwise in my advanced age, which will be 66 years in next month. I frequently think my time here cane be long: may I be prepared for that final and awfull change. I frequently think that there are nothing here worth living for, short of the Divine aprobation in our own minds. The Dungannon family are well except sister Molly that is frequently ailing with a coff, but not much worse than she hath been this 2 or 3 years. I feel much for the loss of the company of thy beloved Mother. I believe she is reaping the reward of an inocent life. I wish I could say that my days had been spent like hers: she was always doing good to her neighbours & friends; many of them regrets her absence; may her dear children, whom she tenderly loved, follow her virtuous example. I have seen a letter from Dan a few days ago: it apears that... are all well. He mentioned Thos Sinton was lying ... at Ballitore where he resides with R. Shekleton at ... but not in a dangerous way. His sister Margt still ... shop in Com Market and I believe is able to make ... Elizabeth lives near her in the ... business. S. Douglass or 1 never had a letter from [Thomas Nicholson] which verry much surprises me. It is a shame he ... the statement of her acct and he having her affairs in ... for so many years. Her conduct Co me after winding up ... [her] brothers affairs which I done faithfully & honestly hath [been] verry disagreeable. However I forgive her, but never intend having any further dealings with her. Please let me know in thy next whether Uncle John Morton is still in being, and the remainder of our relations about Philadelphia. I conclude with dear love to Wm and children which Jane joins thy Loving father John Greeves Pr the ship Carolina Ann |
