| Title: | Samuel Graham to his brothers |
|---|---|
| ID | 6237 |
| Collection | Ulster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells] |
| File | ulsterm/40 |
| Year | 1851 |
| Sender | Graham, Samuel |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shoemaker |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Pittsburgh, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Newpark, Co. Antrim |
| Recipient | Graham, James and David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 818 |
| Genre | finding trade, family, illness |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Pittsburgh Date: 20 December 1851 I suppose by this time you will think that I am very neglectful for not writing sooner but the reason was that I did not write before this I was still waiting on a steady employment, but it is very hard to get. This was one of the worst falls this long time. When I arrived in Pittsburgh, I wrote to David Kerr to find out if I could get anything to do in Cincinatti but he advised me not to come for it was very sickly times there. I stopped here all summer working about the one-fourth of the time. I started on coal boats for Cincinatti in August and was very unfortunate. We went to within about 35 miles of Cincinatti and sunk our boats and had very hard work to save our lives; I lost about 10 sovereigns and my carpet bag and a good many clothes. I was intending to go down to stop some time in Cincinatti, but owing to our misfortunes and being left on the shore with nothing but a shirt and pants I had to come back to Pittsburgh for fortunately I had some money in my trunk. There was four of the men died after they came to Pittsburgh with the fatigues of the trip. If it had been at night we would have been all lost. We had to lie on the shore all night and the first steamboat came up, we got on for Pittsburgh. The rules of coal boating is that when you lose you get no pay; when you make a good trip you make from one and half dollars till two dollars per day and board. I went to coal boating; I made a very good trip to Louisville in 10 days. I came up and stopped a few days in Cincinatti and then came to Pittsburgh. William Kerr is in very poor health. He is I am afraid in consumption. He is much in the same way as Matilda was, was not working this long time. David and Samuel are in good health. Samuel is learning to be a steamboat carpenter. He went to the house carpenter work first but could not stand it. He was idle a good part of the summer. He was sick sometimes but he is in good health now and working at his trade. His boss thinks a great deal of him and says he is one of the quietest boys ever he had. John is left Orleans and gone to Van Buren, Arkansas; he is in a great better health than when he was in Orleans. John wrote me a letter but I never got it. Samuel Rainey and him were thinking of purchasing a farm in Texas and going to raise mules. It is a very profitable business but it takes a good capital. I am in very poor health at present myself since I come up the river. 1 got a severe cold on the steam boat and have been confined to bed for 2 weeks. I have a pain in my left breast and shoulder. I could not turn myself in the bed. I applied to a doctor and he blistered me round the shoulder and breast and down to the small of the back. This is the second day for me to be out of bed and I am so weak that I cannot travel across the room, but I am getting better now. Wm and David Kerr were expecting James out this fall. But if he is to come the[y] expected him before now, they are very uneasy to hear from him. Wm Kyle lives about 18 miles from this. If I was well again, I will go and see him. There is a great many Antrim people here. Let me know all the particular news when you write. Give my best respects to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming and all the rest of my acquaintances. Please excuse this short letter. I have nothing more to say at present, but remain your affectionate brother, Samuel Graham PS. When you write, direct to me, to the care of Mr. James Miller, Boot and Shoemaker, Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA, America. Write as soon as this comes to hand. On account of my sickness, I am run short of money, and have incurred a little debt. And if you would be so kind as to send me the sum of 25#, which will oblige me at this time, for it is very unpleasant to be sick in a strange place without money. 1 believe the best way to send it is to put it in the Bank and send die check to me inside of a letter, but Mr. Crawford will tell you all about it. Please send the money as soon as possible. S.G. |
