| Title: | Hugh Donnan, Cahard, County Down, to John Donnan, New York. |
|---|---|
| ID | 846 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Donnan, Hugh/72 |
| Year | 1849 |
| Sender | Donnan, Hugh |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Cahard, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | New York, USA |
| Recipient | Donnan, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | father-son |
| Source | D/2795/5/1/11: Presented by Mrs. Charles Donnan, Cahard,Ballynahinch, Co. Down. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9805362 |
| Date | 02/04/1849 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 14:05:98. |
| Word Count | 1381 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Cahard Aprile [April ?] the 2nd 1849 Dear son I now embrace another opportunity of sending you some information respecting ourselves and also our country. first I may let you know we received your letter together with the enclosure from your uncle Thomas on the morning of the County ploughing match which was the 13th of February which gave us great pleasure to know that you were not only in good health but also in good spirits so far as we could judge. we may let you know that Mr. Shaw paid a visit to Cahard about the latter end of February when he commenced his old method of distraining some of his tenants who were gone in arrears however he did not proceed any farther [further?] but let the cattle home again we think that he was agitated on account of William Miller who left his place in Cahard with about 3 years rent due upon it and sailed for America we think this is but one instance of many that would do the same thing could the [they ?] get their foot in his shoe however Mr. Shaw has purposed [proposed ?] to give us a little abatement in addition to what we had before instead of 2/d out of the pound he will now give us 4/0 that is 20 per cent this will only be to them who can pay the rent in due time. I may also state to you that our country in general is become like a desolation all who you knew were in a declining state of circumstance before you left us are still worse now I think it not right to name the reality of these things as we can only judge from the external appearance one thing we can say that money is the greatest want of temperal blessings that we have. we have reason to be thankful notwithstanding the failure in the potatoes we are well supplied with victualing of every kind for as far as this season has gone meal has seldom exceeded 10/6 per cwt oats from 5/6 to 6/6 wheat 10/0 butter 9 [d ?] per lb pork from about 45 [shillings ?] to 47 [shillings ?] we will have about 7 ton and a half of grain this season beside our seed we have bought two little pigs about the middle of February at 1- 10.0 land is became of little value hear [here ?] now many a farm had been purposed [proposed ?] for sale this season but no one to buy it. you may be vey glad that you did not buy John Wilsons land for I believe it would have vexed both you and I he tried to sell it this winter but their [there ?] was no one to buy it I need not begin to inform you of the people of our neighbourhood who are gone and going to America this season for the [they ?] are to [too ?] numerous However I will mention one or two of them Hugh Leslie and Mrs Samuel Hays son to Robert Hays left his Mrs and child for to try how he could do. Rebinah Eliza and Margaretjane are at school with George Dun on account of a difference between us and Gills people on account of them forcing their son Billy in to be [being ?] teacher without any examination the time that Mr. Withers was in Dublin Mr Withers is now teaching in Omah [Omagh?] County Tyrone also Henry Oswald is now teaching a National school near Banbridge we may also let you know that this winter has been remarkably fine weather we had no snow except a shower or two and very little frost the month of May the seed time has been very early their [there ?] was some corn sowed in the month of February we drilled the little stoney park with potato on the 6th of March we began to sow on the 12th of March and we had done about the dat [date ?] of this letter and we intend to set as many more potatoes as we have set you may also let your uncle Thomas know that I send him my sincere thanks for his excellent letter which he sent me it was both intelegant [intelligent ?] and interesting to me and all who heard it and I likewise received it as a mark of respect which he showed me by so doing I was very glad to he hear that the little word I dropped when him and I parted has proved so useful to him since it reminds me of what solomon says rebuke a wise man and he shall yet be wiser. we need not send you any account of the great procession of Ribbonmen which assembled in Crossgar on patricks day which was the greatest ever seen in the North of Ireland of that kind. However here was two or three lives lost besides a great many wounded on account of a dispute betixt the orangemen and them about walking up the Killeagh street. their [there ?] was three or four magistrates their [there ?] besides about 60 police the [they ?] were ordered to fire and fired about 60 rounds it is thought that the police fired over them instead of firing on them on account of them being mostly roman catholics or the [they ?] might have killed hundreds. as James Thompson said he would post a newspaper for your uncle Thomas which gives the full account of it we wish to let you know that the big horse ploughed very well this season and the [they ?] were both healthy all winter Hugh has ploughed middling well he was greatly improved before he had done we tried to sell the big horse in the March fair of Saintfield we were offered 10 for him but we thought it to [too ?] little but we intend to try him again) : Thomas wishes to let his uncle Thomas know that the pain in his shoulder still attacts him a little betimes yet but he has got a little cure called Hillnaman Potter, son to Eloner [Eleanor?] O Neil [O Neill?] who helps him in a pinch he would wish to know how his uncle Thomas wrist stands it we wish to let you know that Eliza Jamison is staying with us all summer your uncle James Garrett thought it somewhat strange that he wrote two or three letters for his sons that never reached them but he posted one for them I think about 23 of march which bears to them the most alarming and sorrowful news that the [they ?] have yet heard that is the death of their Mother which happened on the 18th of march after a sickness of about a fortnight or better her spirits is now fled to wherever the righteous judge hath consigned it her body is now mingling with the body of her son Williams who lieth on her bosom. and now John I hope this instance of mortality which you now hear will be a warning to both you and your companions as well as to ourselves to make up your peace with God while you are in health and strength for I believe that is the only time that God requires it use the means God hath appointed and he will accomplish the ends. but I must now draw to a conclusion, I would then say to you be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the son of men cometh. I thank God that this leavs [leaves ?] us all in the enjoyment of our usual health except your mother who is not just as stout as she has been and I hope this letter will find you all enjoying the same blessing that is you and Francis and your uncle Thomas John Thompson and John & James Garrett ( any time you have to spare you may be watching for Thomas Patterson for he thinks great long to be with you for he has promised against Boat Races) Miss Margretjane [Margaret?] McRaken died the 27th Feb sister in law to A. Wilson Stfield [Saintfield ?] I remain Your Affectionate Father Hugh Donnan |
