| Title: | Greeves, Susanna to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1837 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6063 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/92(2) |
| Year | 1837 |
| Sender | Greeves, Susanna |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | shop keeper |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Lisburn, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1026 |
| Genre | their sister Jane's illness, news of family and friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | My dear sister Our last letters to you have contained anything but comfortable news and this one will still add more sorrow when you hear how much affliction we have gone through. Poor dear Jane5 illness is one of the greatest trials we ever met with. I did not like to tell thee of it when I wrote thee last, hoping that before this it might please providence to restore her to us. At first we had her under Dr Eustaces care but finding her not much better, we thought it best to see what a change would make & we were also advised to have her removed to the Retreat where she has been since the Yearly Meeting. It is a nice place and every care and attention paid to patients; we think her better in many respects since she went & we trust, if once her general health was brought round again, that she may be restored bur until that is the case we cannot look for much improvement in her mental [condition?]. She was so much reduced altogether that she had never been fit to take sufficient medicine that would be necessary for her, but goodness only knows if ever she will be well. We endeavour to hope for the best and leave all to Him who alone can restore her if he sees meet in his own time. Poor brother Danls difficulties has been another source of trouble to us. Poor man, his family are widely scattered - John is settled in Youghal with Ruben Fisher who was at one time clerk with Dan. He offered to give him a share in the business for helping to conduct it - it is in the grosery business - I hope he may succeed. Anna is with her Aunt Mary in Armagh and it answers Mary well at present to have her, as she has lately been very delicate and not well able to attend to the business. She had enfluenza and ever since she seems not to have regained her strength. We felt very uneasy about her and feared much that her lungs were affected. However at present she is better -she has only her eldest child left her now: her last little boy, which was only 7 weeks old when dear John died, was taken off with influenza about 6 months ago. So, poor woman she is not without her own share of trouble. Lizzey is anything but a stout child - however she may get stouter as she grows up. I hope she may be spared to her. We have Margt. and the youngest Lizzie [Daniels Elizabeth]. She is a fine little girl of 5 years old. Margt. is able to help me in the shop: she is about 16 years of age and reckoned more like her dear mother than any of the children. I need scarcly say I have a deal of care upon me and the weight of the business, but I should be truly thankful that I have been enabled beyond my expectation to get on better than I thought I ever could. At the first of dear Jane' illness I thought I never could - but I have been wonderfully supported far beyond my des[s]erts. These are trying times on all classes - the poor in many parts are very badly off and it is thought the times are not yet at the worst. Brother Thomas has now a nice little family, two sons & two daughters. Their youngest is about 2 months old - a girl whom they call Mgt for my dear Mother. It is a great blessing that Thomas health continues pretty good, but it requires him still to be careful. His children are all fine & healthy - his eldest son is a strong boy. We feel anxious to hear about your son Thomas, who by this rime perhaps is no more. It is a great trial to parents to lose their children but, my dear sister, when they know they are going happy they should not repine at the dispensation of providence too much. I often think when I hear of a young persons death, what a multitude of trouble and temptation they have escaped - what is there in this world worth living for. I dont seem to have much more news to communicate that is cheering. It sinks my spirits to have such a doleful letter to send but we must only trust that hard things will yet be made easy and bitter things sweet. Cousin Elizabeth Walpole and John are getting on pretty well in Cavan. James & Mgt Greason are doing better than they were at first in Armagh: they have no family but them two selves. Uncle Saml & Aunt Ruth are finely. I saw them about a week ago - I was at the Q Meeting on first day. There seems nothing new in that quarter. Poor Sam! McDonnell died about ½ year ago rather suddenly; Molly is living with one of her sons in Copland who has a shop in the town; and where Ruth & Elizabeth] are I have not heard lately as they, like many others, failed and have given up business at the present. I will say farewell, hoping to hear from thee soon. Believe me as ever thy very affectionate sister Susanna Give my dear love to Wm & all the children. Cousin Mgt Pike is living in Balitore with Betsy Barrington: it is a nice place for her. It is a long time since I was in Dungannon; I cannot now leave home as I used, as it keeps me constantly to mind the business and these bad times it even requires more attention. My Father has written thee about Cousin Wm Simon & Family having gone out to N Orleans - what changes a short time brings about Old Ellen Boardman is still to the fore; also James & Nancy Nicholson. All the members of the Dree Hill family are as usual. Has thou a baby now and what is its name. As ever thy afft sister SG |
