| Title: | Jane Agnew, New York, To William Stavely, Co. Antrim. |
|---|---|
| ID | 8 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Agnew, Jane/12 |
| Year | 1821 |
| Sender | Agnew, Jane (n. McLeod) |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | NYC, USA |
| Destination | Co. Antrim, N. Ireland |
| Recipient | Stavely, William |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | niece-uncle |
| Source | D2013/1/2: Presented by Mr. W.S. Ferguson |
| Archive | Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9409141 |
| Date | 24/06/1821 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:09:1994. |
| Word Count | 859 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [page 1] New York June 24th 1821. My very dear Uncle. It is with the hope of increasing the probabilities of hearing more frequently from you, that I take the liberty of writing you a few transient thoughts. In this object, their [sic] is I confess more of selfishness than of benevolence.Could I prevail on you, My much loved Uncle to write me it is certain I w'd [would?] receive much higher gratification than I am able to give.I fear the letters which we wrote you some time ago respecting your visit to N.[New?] York was not received by you, or your family, as you have not taken notice of them in any of your letters. The hope I have long cherished with myself of seeing you is I fear hopeless, but allow me to say there is no source from which I could enjoy more satisfaction, except the approbation of my God, than the enjoyment of your society for a time. By the letters that my Mother and brothers received from you, I find you are already acquainted with the severe wound we have all suffered, by the death of my lamented Father.I have felt the stroke deeply, and mourned it sincerely, altho confidently assured that my loss is gain to him,for he longed with the Apostle to depart and be with Christ, I c'd [could?] have wished him detained with me a little longer. I think I never entered a year of my vain life with so many gloomy reflections. Bereved [Bereaved?] of my indulgent father to whom I was very fondly attached, on whome [whom?] so much of my affections were settled that I did not feel that submission to the will of God, w'h [which?] I ought for I could not give him up. I always thought tomorrow, w'd [would?] be more favourable until it came no more, I then felt that the heart which will [tri--?] with its Maker, must necessarily, break.But I had better reserve these gloomy Meditations than trouble you with them. I have to sensibly awak'd [sic] the remembrance of my happier days, w'h [which?] perhaps, it were better for me to forget forever. I must be sill [still?] and know that he is God, he is a Father who is to [sic] wise err [ere?] to [sic] good to be unkind While I mourn the loss of my Father for all who knew him did so. I hope I am not insensible to the goodness of God in sparing so long with me my Mother. Altho her health has for a long time been uncertain and the stroke heavy that has been laid on her, she is still ables for the charge of her family. Age is however making inroads upon her. You have heard that my Aunt Cush [Cusk?] has exchanged her day of trouble for a night of endless rest. I have often shed a tear of sympathy with her, over her unfortunate family. I remained with her during her illness though she could not speak for 8 days before her Death. I felt a secret pleasure in waiting upon one so nearly allied to My Mother. As my Brother is writeing [writing?] you, I need say little about our domestick [domestic?] affairs are at present, at our summer house about 2 miles from the City My Brother McLeod and family are with us. Their [sic] has no distribution of property as yet been made,I belive [believe?] My Brothers are more anxious to improve it than divide it. I mention this, because I know it will be satisfactory to you. I am desired by my Mother to say to you that she is much pleased with the conduct of my Brothers,and that she wishes you to write Cor'ns [sic] he has wrote you two or three letters. I suppose you did not receive them, he has a very great desire to visit your Country, but cannot obtain my Mothers consent. You w'd [would?] be pleased with him did you know him, though so young he has been a member of the Church for some time and in turn with John performs family duties, My Sister and family are well, my Cousin Mary Anne is well but unhappy she has the misfortune to be united to a worthless fellow, we all try by our little attentions to make her lot more easy but her Husband is void of principal and therefore a continued source of uneasyness [uneasiness?] to her. I fear I have tired you with this long letter. I will close it beging [begging?] you to present me, together with my, Mother and Sister, most affectionately to my Aunt, for whom I do entertain sentiments of the highest Esteem. And to all my Cousins I w'd [would?] wish to be remembered with the hope of one day knowing them personally. If I am to be disappointed in this wish I do hope to be known, and to know, you all in a country where distance of place will not mar our fellowship. I now bid you farewell, my revered and highly respected Uncle May the Almighty bless you with his choicest blessings. Jane Agnew. [Addressed] [Mr?] William Stavely Near Antrim [Town] Co. Antrim Ireland |
