| Title: | Robert Craig, Birmingham, U.S.A. to James McBride, Lisburn. |
|---|---|
| ID | 730 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Craig, Robert/113 |
| Year | 1820 |
| Sender | Craig, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | flax, linen, wheat trader |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Birmingham, Alabama?, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McBride, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 2613/4: Copied by Permission of Mrs Emily McLister, Mosside Cottage, Dunmurry, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007098 |
| Date | 30/12/1820 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 06:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 1140 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Birmingham December 30th 1820 Dear James I recd [received?] your Letter and one from John Craig of 5th September on 15th November you say Miss Brown wrote at the same time but it has not come to hand yet. I would have written sooner to you but had litle [little?] of any importance to say and I know the people in Ireland expect something more than a plain how-d-ye-do [how do you do?] Letter from America. When I sit down to write I'm always puzzled what to write about for there is accounts of everything sent home that is worth writing about so that there is nothing left for me to describe. I get Letters regularly from J McBride hes [he's?] in good health and whats better in good spirits too he has born the loss of N [Hull?] not only with fortitude but christian resignation. Clark Johnson has grown either tired or lazy I wrote here to him but have got no answer I wished to hear from him before I wrote to you I don't think there is anything the matter but carelesness. I can hear nothing of my Mothers Friends I have seen several people from [Lewark?] and made every [enquiry?]. The Letter John sent by Liverpool had been opened I think before I got it it was sealed with real sealing wax and an impression stamped on it. I put Wm [William?] Kirkwoods Letter in the post office tell John and [?] that he was well lately and living in Louisville Kentucky I would have wrote to Miss Brown long before this but realy [really?] could not get about it there has nothing vexed me so much since I came here as leaving her in [?] [?] of [did?] I find it was a very bad job not bringing her with me however as [?] past can never be recalled and things being at the worst now I will not send for her until I get into a settled way of living that is until I get into a part of the Country I intend stoping [stopping?] in and begin to some other business for I do not intend working long as this let her know that I will send her a lengthened long detail soon that will make amends for my seeming [neglect?] I did not go to Orleans as I intended but intend taking a trip in spring if I get a good chance. you say that I appear to take ill with working but when I last wrote to you I took ill with play as wll [well?] as work I was then in a desponding state partly on account of my health and partly from other reasons however I never was better in health than at present and am beginging to like this country very well I have as easy times as I ever had and tolerable good wages my employer is well pleased with me he heard me say I was fond of reading a few weeks ago, and sent from Pittsburg to the house I board in 13 volumes of the British Encyclopedia and several other fine books so I pass my leisure hours pleasant #PAGE 2 enough I went out to the Country at Cristmas [Christmas?] and spent a few days The people I was with & the most of their neibours [neighbours?] came from Ireland when the [they?] landed the most of them had not more than what bought them a [hagin?] and now the [they?] are living like (what the [they?] are) Lords of the Soil markets are low but the [they?] require litle [little?] money having every thing within themselvese [themselves?] and paying neither rent tax or tythe they make their own Sugar from the [Maple?] the [they?] use [?] coffy [coffee?] that grows on their Farms there is litle [little?] tea drank [some?] of them rais [raise?] what tobaco [tobacco?] does them the [they?] manufacture their Linen and wollen [woollen?] cloth and some Cotton the women dress in silks when going to Church or Market a good many of them above their abilitys [abilities?] I heard this when I was in Ireland but could not believe it but its realy [really?] the case You will seldom see either man [stained] traveling [travelling?] on foot if the distance was ever so short I have seen women often coming to the market eight or ten miles with a basket of butter fowls &c [etc?] or perhaps a bag of flour or Indian meal under them on the sadle [saddle?] the woman makes the most of the mens dresses out in the Country, its a [?] with the Americans to employ a few hands as possible I have [?] several people that came in last [Summer?] there is some of them thrashing [threshing?] in the neibour hood [neighbourhood?] they get the tenth bushel or what the Rectors in [?] get for Preaching although the poor thrasher [thresher?] would better deserve it I spent a night at a Mr Cloakys he had a son that lost his life in Lisburn with Monroe in the unfortunate year Ninety-eight he is a [?] friendly old man has 500 Acres of land with fine improvements on it he sold 470 Dols [Dollars?] worth of wool this season & engages liberty in every sense of the word and thats more than any of his persecutors can boast of You would be surprised to see the Yankys [Yankees?] handling their Rifles they always charge with ball and seldom miss even a small bird I seen one man hit a paper four inches in diameter five times successively. Wm [William?] [McGowin?] wrote a Letter a few days ago I expect its a masterpiece of Politicks [Politics?] would like to know the contents of it. You mention a great many mariages [marriages?] that happened I expect an acct [account?] of your own in your next let [letter?] my acquaintances know that this is a fine poor mans country and thats all the encouragement I give. For I find that those that come here are like the Isrealites [Israelites?] mourning after Egypt for a long time thats [?] with [me?] Price of Markets flour 1 1/4 dollars per Cwt Potatoes 31 cents per bushel beef 2 to 3 Cents per lb [pound?] Pork the same butter 6 Cents per lb [pound?] #PAGE 3 whiskey 25 Cents [?] [?] whereas [?] [?] 20 [?] [?] equal to [?] [?] Irish I intend writing to John next month if I get anything to write the publick [public?] land is but [12?] dols [dollars?] p [per?] acre and four years credit heres a fine chance for you as your [you are?] fond of Farming when you get bold enough to come here give my best respects to all my friends & believe me your sincerely Robt [Robert?] Craig [Mr James?] McBride [?] [Care of Alexander Hunter Esq?] Dunmurry near Lisburn Ireland Feby [February?] 5th |
