Daniel T. Shehan [and Margaret Shehan], Stony Creek, near Hamilton, Canada West, to his mother, Mary Shehan, Ballylongford, Co. Kerry, 15 April 1847
Description
Daniel T. Shehan notes the "awfull picture" of Ireland which his family must bear at home, while he also laboured in severe weather and poor health. He reports of the birth of his son, named Thomas, in memory of his late father and late brother. He strongly advises that his Irish family sell up and come to Canada as "ye could not be worse of hear [off here]". Shehan offers to help them settle in and suggests his brother John could finish his three years in college in Canada and perhaps administer to the natives [as an ordained priest]. He then recommends they go to the States if possible. Shehan also mentions he has written lines in memory of his uncle Henny Breen, his son Thomas in Tralee. Appended to the end of the letter are some lines from Margret Shehan (Daniel's sister) to their mother advising her she had a son the previous January and advising her brothers, James or Daniel to "come to this country".