Digital Archive
Letter from Jonathan Smyth, grocer, corner of Shipping Lane and Bedford Street, Philadelphia, to his father James Smyth and family, Moycraig, County Antrim, 30 April 1848
Cite this document IIIF Viewer
Collection Smith/ Smyth Letters
Title Letter from Jonathan Smyth, grocer, corner of Shipping Lane and Bedford Street, Philadelphia, to his father James Smyth and family, Moycraig, County Antrim, 30 April 1848
Description Jonathan Smyth writes to his father James to refuse his [apparent] request for money "as your object was money, you do not think that I have to consider the welfare of my own house". He claims that all his siblings could "do for themselves as I am [...] if they had the same courage" and that "the sandy banks of Moycraig cannot afford a fortune for them all, and if their lives be so precious, I will have them insured before they leave home and if they happen to fall overboard, I will make something by that speck. Ha. Ha". Jonathan further intimates that if his siblings came out to him they would not be guaranteed a home with him and would work"sore by ever they did in Ireland". Smyth also writes to his mother that he had meant to send something by t his time but that he had to cover the loss of $300 endured by his wife from a rogue employer. He claims that two letters he received after his uncle William died were only concerned with money and he denied that he was in their debt [likely referring to his siblings and father]. Jonathan informs her that his new grocery business is not doing well due to the "dull times" and that he has advised his brother James and sister Mary Jane to come out, but that it was up to James to decide. He wants one of his sisters to come out "as I will shortly want a girl" but that if his mother had to borrow the money to do so, "I will send it on as soon as ever word reaches me". He concludes by stating he is in the best health of his life and weighs 187 lbs having been only 170 lbs before.
Date 30/04/1848
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Resource Type Text
Archival Record Id p155/1/3/1
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 2pp
Topic Smith/ Smyth Letters
Geographic Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Moycraig Hamilton (townland),Antrim (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen forties
Genre Transcript
Note Title and transcript by Professor Kerby Miller. This transcript includes handwritten corrections to transcript from PRONI, made with reference to original letters. Letter description by University of Galway. The names Smith and Smyth are used interchangeably in this series so both are quoted.
Creator / Author Name Jonathan Smyth/ Smith