| Title: | Greeves, John Sr to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1827 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6023 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/64 |
| 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 | 1048 |
| Genre | correspondence, bad state of economy, health, family news, collection of sermons |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Lisburn 6 month 2d 1827 My Dear Ann I wrote to thee the Beginning of third Month Last from this place and heating the Vessel that the Letter went in, the Carolina Ann, was Lost, I suppose on the Coast of America, I thought I strive to write this in its place. I believe the Last acct from thee was to thy Sister Mary. I dont remember ever having a letter from thee since thou went to America. I Mentioned in my last, that I came here to reside with my daughter Jane & son Wm, John having been maried to his cousin Mary Sinton in autumn last, which was verry much against my wish, they being so very near related. I left the establishment in Armagh to him. His and her conduct in these respects hath grieved me much: I wish they may sincerely repent for their misconduct. The business here is verry dull owing to the great poverty the lower orders of the people has got into. The Manufacturing of all kinds of goods is so much depressed and vitualling to[o] high: oat mail from 3/9d to 4/= per stone and potatoes in proportion 5d to 6d per stone. Many of the poor doth not get half food. This Country is got into a wreched state, with poverty and Religious Contention. I think thee may be well pleased to be out of it. I did not hear of [if] Dan Sent any of the fiorin grass to Wm. I think it w*1 not succeed in your land owing to the Verry Dry Climate: it Dose best in Low Damp or Bog Ground. We had the Driest Summer last year I ever Remember. There was Great failure in the Crops, peotatoes and oats were the most injured. The crops this season apears much better altho we had a severe spring. The emigration to Cannada and the United States is most wonderfull, the people that hath a Little propert}' striving to get to Ametica before it is all gone. I chink Thos and Susanna wrote to thee last fell. We have not got any answer to their letter yet. Do write to us as often as thee can. I know thee must have a deal to do in a large growing family of small children, but while Win &: thee gets your health you have nothing to fear. I understand the Great Canale is got opened into Lake Erie, which I think must be great advantage to your country, having a waiter connection to New York. I may say my health is but poorly at times, having frequent swellings in my stomach, but on the whole have no right to complain owing to my advanced age going into my 67 year. I feel my self verry lonely at times owing to the loss of my beloved companion: since het departure I have but Little Earthly comfort. May it Draw me More and More to that Source Where Lasting Benifit proceeds from. Sister Molly hath been verry ill lately with her old complaint, the Quinsey. At one time I was doubtfull of her recovery. She is now able to be down stairs. The Friends here are in generate Kind & friendly - we have no right to complain on this head. Susanna Douglass has had no acct from Thos Nicholson how her affairs stands in America. I wish he wd write to her, as I think she mistrust me for getting her American property. I have had a good deal of uneasiness about het affairs, but I am now done with them and Intend not having any thing more to do with her. If Thos should write to her I wd not wish the letter to come throu my hands: he can direct to Susanna Douglass Near Dungannon. Our Relations in this land seems in general well. Old Thos Greeves or Greer340 of Redford is dead leatly. Sister Mollys Lease of Risk341 hath dropt in Consequence, which will be a loss to het of £30 a year, but she hath a sufficency to keep bet during life. It feels unpleasant to me in my advanced time of life to be driven about from place to place and making up new acquainantce, but necessary obliged me to strive to make a support for my self and my younger children. The slow sale of goods and the proffits so small, it seems at times hard to make out a livelihood. There was a letter a few days ago from Mary O'Brien: they seem all well, their warehouse was robbed in Spring of nearly £100 worth of goods. I hear they have got a few of the things lately and have some people in Goal [gaol]. I see by yesterdays Newspaper that the poor about Clonmell is robbing the flour carts. One of the Gmb[b]s hath lost several bags of flower taken by the starving ... . I suppose I mentioned in my last that I have set Ber[nagh] farm for 21 years to James Blacker, son of Dean Blacker. I ... [thought it?] best to have done with it as farming did not answer me in my old days. He lived in it for one year, relet it again: being a Clergyman was moved to [a] higher living. Has the difference of opinion among friends reached your neighourhood yet. I have seen some of Weathwels & Hicks sermons as also E Robinsons & Han[nah] Breath waits. They are published in print. The heads of the Society here doth not wish them to be circulated. I am afraid that such controversy will be injurious to many minds in America and will cause bitterness as was the case here, but it has greatly worn off here. Inclosed under the Seal is ½ soverine, a 10s piece English which if thee gets safe will help to pay for the postage. Thos inclosed one in his last letter which I hope was got safe. We have nothing but English currency here Now. With Dr love to Wm & children I remain thy affect Father John Greeves Write if Uncle Morton is alive & test of the Philada people. William O Brien Lodi Angola Post Office County of Erie State of New York, Ametica Ship Atlantic |
