| Title: | O'Brien, George to O'Brien, William, 1845 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6158 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/162 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | O'Brien, George |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shop keeper |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Destination | Collins, Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien, William |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1558 |
| Genre | correspondence, news of family, friends and neighbours |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dublin 2 mo 27th 1845 My dear Uncle It is now more than twelve months since I Wrote to Joseph, and as I have never had a reply to it I have been thinking that perhaps it did [not] come to hand, or that his written in reply had met that fate. I would regret that a correspondence once opened between us should be given up, and for that reason I take up my pen to address thee again. I am frequently asked about thee by many of thy old friends, particularly since they learned that I had once or twice received letters from thee; and it is pleasant for one nor only Co know something of their absent friends, but to be able when asked about them to show that they are not entirely ignorant of their existence. It is as I said before twelve months since I wrote to Joseph, and yet how many changes have taken place within that comparatively short period and that within our own circle. I mean die changes that have taken place in Killishin; perhaps the accounts of cousin John Waring's death have reached thee thro some other channels but lest it should not I will tell thee of it. I believe he was one of thy intimate friends before thou left this country and such being the case some mention will be interesting to thee. He went to Ballitore to attend the Mo Meeting held there in course in 4th month last and after Meeting he dined at Geo Shackleton's in company with my sister Mary Jane, to whom he had given a seat on his car. At that time he seemed in his usual health and spirits. When he had sat for a short time after dinner he told M.J. that he wished to be home early and that he would go for his car which was put up at Henry Allen's, another friend who resides in Ballitore. He went and giving some directions to his boy in the stable he turned into the cowhouse with one of H.A.'s sons to look at their cow and just as he got inside the door he fell. His boy heard him fall and ran and pulled him out into the yard, but the vital spark had fled. He never spoke, the only evidence of life that he gave after falling was a sigh or two, merely the exhaustion of the lungs. As he was examined it was ascertained that his death was caused by the bursting of a large blood vessel near the heart. What a heart rending thing it must have been to be the bearer of the mournful intelligence to his poor bereaved family (for there were none of them with him), or to be a witness to their feelings who were hourly expecting his return. But alas! that was not the only bereavement, for exactly seven months from the day on which he was interred, his eldest son, about 18 years old, the hope and dependence of the others, was laid beside him in New Garden. His eldest daughter has been married, and his Sister Jane is living in Killishin, intending if possible to make something of it for the children. The lease is out but the landlord (altho offered a much higher rent), having kindly consented to leave it with the children; and it [is] thought that as long as there be one of J.W.'s children to ... [benefit?] by it, he will not take it from, but as soon [as] one of diem be of age will give him a lease. I have taken up a great deal of paper with what might be told in a few words, but I thought that these few particulars of an old and intimate acquaintance would be interesting. I believe I mentioned in my last that Uncle Joshua had been living in Carlow. About two weeks since, Aunt Rachel had an arrack of parallysis, and has been and is now lying in a helpless state, not having the use of her right side, and not able to speak intelligibly. She may be a little better but there is but little chance of her ultimate permanent recovery. Poor Uncle, she will be a great loss to him, for he is far from being in good health himself, being asthmatic: his breathing is at times so bad at night that one would scarcely suppose he could hold out until morning. At such times aunt was of the greatest use to him, getting up at any hour to prepare something to relieve him, but now she requires every thing to be done for herself. I suppose ere thou receives this my father will have bid adieu to Carlow and his old acquaintance, and the place where once die O'Briens flourished will be left almost without the name - at least without any of our family. The business he has been at latterly has not been paying and he is now about to go to Liverpool where my brother John has been for some time, and he in conjunction with fattier about to open a provision store at Birkenhead which is on the other side of the river Mersey from Liverpool, a rising place and one that will one day vie with Liverpool The[y] have commenced building a new dock there which will accommodate as many ships as all the docks on die other side. [Twen]ty years ago I suppose it did not number 1000 inhabit[ants and] now I suppose they exceed twenty times that number. There are small steamers that ply across the river, starting every half hour from each side, so that one might say that living there was living in Liverpool. We are all pleased that father is about to give up the business in Carlo w for we have long been of [the] opinion that it would have been better for him to have been in a situation than be endeavouring, as he has been, to overcome insurmountable difficulties. We ate in hopes that he will now be more comfortable than he has been for many years. Many indeed have been the trials that have been permitted to attend him in his pilgrimage, but I sincerely hope that his latter days may be peaceful, and that he may be freed from the many difficulties that have surrounded him since the death of my dear mother, which indeed was but the beginning of sorrows. I had a letter from Aunt Susanna a few days since with an account of Uncle Saml Simon's decease which took place on 7th day last the 22nd. He was but a short time ill, being a little more than a week confined to bed. When first I wrote to thee, I thought that I would ere this have been at your side the wide Atlantic, and even at twelve months after, I thought that I would let nothing prevent me going, and even at this moment I have a lingering wish to become a member of your great Republic. But when I considered the difficulties thro which my father was toiling and that he might one day need my assistance, together with the thought of being so far removed from all that I hold dear, I was induced to relinquish it at least for a time. There may seem something effeminate in the latter reason, but no matter what one may say, every one will have such feelings. I could overcome them but former reason seemed peremtory, on me. I would be glad thou wouldst let me have a letter from thee. I will [be] glad to know some thing of you myself and there are many of your friends who will be glad to hear of your prosperity; and I hope thy next letter may be more encouraging than thy last; for I think thou mentioned having lost some of thy cattle during the winter of 1842-43. Was the last as severe or as this. I suppose Joseph has ere this removed to the West, as he intimated his intention of doing in his last letter to me. Altho unacquainted with any of you I feel an interest in you and any particulars about you will be interesting to me. I have many times thought of you since last I wrote and almost as often thought of writing to thee but put it off from time to time. Today you were brought forceibly to my recollection and I was determined I would not sleep until I had penned a few lines to thee. I did not think I would have written so much, nor do I think the contents would be interesting to many but thyself, but I supposed thou wouldst have no objection to hear something of thy old acquaintances. M. Jackson and Joshua Haughton are both well. John Whitten, who is still with Madders, seldom sees me that he does not make enquiry about thee. Farewell, and with love to you all, I remain Thy affect nephew Geo O'Brien On other occasions I have sent my letters thro my brother in Liverpool but this I intend sending thro the Post Office. If thou writes thou may either address me as before, or to Baker & Co., 3 Johnsons Place, Dublin (for G.O'B) |
