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Title: Greeves, Susanna to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1830
ID6033
CollectionThe Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson]
Filequaker/71
Year1830
SenderGreeves, Susanna
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationshop keeper
Sender ReligionQuaker
OriginLisburn, 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 Count1390
Genremoving to a new house, bad state of trade, news of family and friends
Note
TranscriptLisburn 19th of 4 month 1830377

My dear sister
My father and I wrote [16th] of 10th month ... since which time we have [not he]ard from [you], nor for a long
time before. The last was to brother Thomas. We had a letter from Carlow yesterday and sister says it was just twelve
months since she had a letter. We wonder very much why you do not write to us oftener, knowing how anxious
we feel about you.
We are about to remove into another house. It is on the opposite side of the street, or square (I should say): only
the market house intercepts the view. The one we are in at present, the landlords time of it expires against fifth
month, which time my father took it for, bur [he persons hands it now falls into wants too high a tent, higher than
the business of Lisburn can afford. Though so far we have no wright to complain untill lately & trade with us has
been dull, but it is, I am sorry to say, a general complaint everywhere & I am afraid there will be little amendment
for some time at least. The house we are going to is much smaller than the one we are in, but we think it may answer us full as… as our … not very large, … We have been at g[teat] deal of ... fitting up a shop and repairing ... house, ... way - it will be the nicest ... in town and
on the walking side it is within one door of the Inn where all the coaches (or most of them) stops & on the road
to Belfast. We will be more out of the Market, but there are two or three shops in the same direction. I have
been very busy these two weeks and more getting the house cleaned. I coloured the sleeping room walls myself,
and painted them also (accept the inside of the windows).
My father intends going to Armagh
tomorrow on his way to Dungon where he will
stay untill the bustle & hurry is over, & brother
Thomas is to come to assist us in his place; we
do not wish to have him put out of his way in
his old days, where-as if he staid he would be
unsettled for some time. Cousin Thos Simon
has been with us these several months. He is
out of a situation at present. He was of great use
to my father in looking & ov[erseeing?] the
workmen; he desires me give his lo[ve to
you and] ... Win. He supposes thee scarcely
remem[bers him?] if one stout young man, not
... 14 stone. Sister Jane had ... than she was a
few years ... [Phar]oes lane kine, their enough
... [I] have had my own looks since ...
[William's] death. Between the loss of my sleep
and the ... about him, it made me thinner than
... it; which seem never to have surmount ...
now on the warm weather comes I will ... fatter, though I am thin thank goodness ... uncommon good during the
winter I may say ... a cold when all the rest were ill but ... dear father is in his usual way of looks ... he did a few
weeks ago, he had a severe ... cough which is rather an unusual thing for him ... none. He is now quite well again.
Aunt Molly [has] been very poorly during the winter, not able [to go?] out to meeting. She complains very much
... in her limbs. She has only been once in ... my father came to it, & since I ... she seems the more confined.
The last... [meeting at?] ... [Moya]llon, our friends there were all well accept ... [William Dawson] who has
been a great martyr to rhumatism. He is very lame. I think I mentioned in my last of his daughter Han ah being
married to Joseph Harvey after ten years attachment. They live in Cork. Aunt Deb by and Thomas are still living
together & it is likely they will untill Thos. gets married which I do not hear any talk of. John & Elizth Walpole
seem to be doing pretty well in Cavan. We frequently see John on his way to Belfast. They have but two children:
the eldest is with his aunts in Dublin. Cousin Margaret, I think I told thee, was living in Cooks town but, finding
business did not do well, she has since removed579 to Monaghan where she has been since 11th month. She can nor
boast of it there either indeed ... such a general depression in trade that it is ... mber that are doing well at present
- [the?] poor ... [are greatly?] to be felt for. She generally stays a night or ... [two on t]he way to & from Belfast.
She has never spoken to Mary yet although they happened to meet by chance last Grange Meeting. It was almost
too much for Margt: it was the first time she had seen her since her marriage-she was not the better of it for days.
It is almost a pity that Margt keeps it up so long, but I fear she never will be otherwise.
Aunt Alice [Midkiff] is and has been living with Jo this long time. Cousin ... see his mother when coming here
Jo told h ... houses by auction and after paying his debts ... to himself he spoke of getting a farm ... when he gets
the money into his hands what ... do with it. His [step]son is a great big boy, but has got little or no education
which is a great disadvantage to him.
Thee will no doubt be surprised to hear that Betsy Allen and Samuel Tolerton are going to be married - he was
not at all in the habit of visiting at her fathers, but we are not to wonder at such things nowadays. Thomas Gilmore
is also going to be married to a young woman in Dublin of the name of Williams: she lives with Aunts. Thos is
very extensive in the grocery & wine business in Belfast. I had nearly forgot to say that brother John's little daughter
Eliz'h is thriving finely ...[I have] not seen her but once but I hear good acc[ount]. ... [You] will be sorry to hear
of our old neighbour Vern[er] ... been in a delicate state of health for ... went to England hoping to get benifited,
he de[ceased] ... and was interred in his mothers grave. Robt Brown [die]d in winter and shortly after him his son
Wm, whom thee might remember John & Jane Wilson adopted as their son & heir. Poor fellow, they spared no
expense with regard to his education. He was intended for a counselor and ! believe had he lived would have been
clever. It was consumption: they took him to England & France but, poor fellow, all did not do. His Uncle & Aunt are in great affliction. One of the Miss Graims (I think the eldest) is dead also: it was jandice. I saw her a few weeks
before her death when I was in Dungon in autumn last: she was then a black yellow. ... [fa]mily are all well. Roden
[Rawdon] & Helen Nicholson are ... others. She has a sweet baby ... his wife ...
... [We wou]ld be glad to know if you ... [got letters?] safe: one from Jane written ... [7th Month 26th 1829]
... [and one] from my father & I dated 10 mo [16th 1829] ... [with a?] sovereign under the seal each time. ...
[We] send 1 now; not hearing from you ... [we do not know if?] our letters had miscarried. We intend ... to remove
on fourth day it will be a ... some job. With dear love to thee & Wm in which ... and Jane unite, I am

thy affect sister
Susanna

Give our dear love to the children. How many have you now. Jane intends to write to thee the next time.

William OBrien Anne
Collins Post Office
County of Erie State of New York America

Packet Ship Atlantic
Abraham Bell & Co Owners
No 33 Pine St. New York