| Title: | James Kerr to his Uncles |
|---|---|
| ID | 6231 |
| Collection | Ulster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells] |
| File | ulsterm/34 |
| Year | 1852 |
| Sender | Kerr, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | tutor |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Wellington, Mississippi |
| Destination | Newpark, Co. Antrim |
| Recipient | Graham, James and David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 739 |
| Genre | decease |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Wellington, Mississippi Date: 14 August 1852 My hand with difficulty can hold the pen, the ink reluctantly releases its hold, the paper with unwillingness receives the impression, my head reels my senses are floating in vacuum. I know not what I am thinking or writing, my mind is paralyzed with the shock of the sad and unexpected tidings I have just received. My mind rolls back to other days—indulge with me for a minute until I collect myself. I will try if I can write. I have this morning received the sad and melancholy news of John's death. Aye sad enough it is to me and us all. We will all sadly miss him. He was a father to us in this strange land—we looked up to him for directions as children to a fond father. But, alas, he has gone the way of all flesh and left us in this cold world alone. I can say no more, I will give you what David writes me about him. He says we have lost a brother indeed whose place cannot be filled, his every desire was for our welfare, his every thought was for us, his brothers. He thought more about us than he did about himself. He died in the 27 July at 6 o'clock in the morning, at Phillipsburgh, Pennsylvania, at a Water Cure Establishment where he had been for about 10 days. When he reached there he was so weak he could not stand any treatment. The doctor would not give him any baths. He said he was too far gone. He gave him a little medicine lo relieve him for the time. He had everything done for him that could be done. His disease was Atrophia [mesentiriea?] or drying up of the glands leading from the bowels. He had a severe pain on the bowels like the cholic a few days before his death, the doctor was with him when he died. He died The doctor telegraphed lo David immediately after his death. David went up— but he was loo late. He was buried the day before he got there. He was buried very respectably in the graveyard in that place. David has made arrangements for a headstone. These are all particulars. Dear Uncle little did I think when 1 left you it would fall to my lot to be the harbinger of such sad news. To think the first news I had to send you was of William's death then in a few weeks again of John's. Oh, this is too much for my frail person to bear! I will sink under the load, too heavy for my shoulders. Little did I think when John left me about 4 weeks ago that that would be the last time I would see him, the last time his voice would greet my ears with its grateful sound, the last time I would gaze upon his manly form and receive his paternal advice. He has gone from this weary world, his remains lies far away from the land of this birth and boyhood where dwells the early associations and dear friends of our youth. Oh delightful land, my blessings be with you though far away from your green shores which I may nevermore behold. My heart is true and round you my own native land, may you be happy and prosperous is my anxious wish. I hope you are all well, Uncle David, Sam and Elizabeth and all my friends and acquaintances. I hope Elizabeth is m good health and spirits. Tell her to take plenty of exercise and not sit in the house all the time. Tell old Ann Hart that I have not heard from Charlie yet. I wrote to him. David says he has not heard from him for more than a year. I got a letter from James Morrow about 3 weeks ago. He is well, he is in Oquawka, Illinois State. David and Sam are well; they are both in Cincinnati and working at their trades. I am pretty well, I will stop here until spring anyway. Excuse this letter. I know not scarcely what I was writing. Give my respects to Mr. Orr, Dr. Hale, Alex Black, Jamie Finaly and all my enquiring friends. I remain yours truly as ever. Postscript. Write soon and direct as before c/o Honourable Judge McGuire, Napoleon, Arkansas. |
