Digital Archive
James Richey, Philadelphia, to his family, Ireland, 22 September 1818
Luaigh an doiciméad seo Amharcóir IIIF
Bailiúchán Richey Letters
Title James Richey, Philadelphia, to his family, Ireland, 22 September 1818
Description James Richey writes to his parents of his passage to America since leaving Belfast Lough on 16 July, during which the ship carrying them experienced "such a tossing that we never had experienced the like before" with almost everyone being sick and followed by the "roaring raging sea waves mountains high" in the bay of Biscay. He relates how during cool weather, the sleeping compartments are comfortable, but in hot weather, "everything began to smell [...]the cooking is the most disagreebale thing [...] at sea for a person never can keep themselves clean'. Getting tired of steerage , his travelling partner gave six guineas to the Captain to upgrade to a cabin. Arriving at the Newfoundland Banks after thirty days sailing, Richey describes catching an abundance of fish for all on board. In a further ten days, they arrived in Philadelphia, to a crowded quayside where John Dickey "came on board an enquired off several if there were [any] from his neighbourhood'. On advice from John Wright, Richey informs that he stopped in the city but is still looking for a situation and he relates his communications with several of his acquaintances now there. He concludes by mentioning how hot the climate is, making it almost impossible to bear clothes and that "one third of the inhabitants of this town are blacks'. In a postscript, he confirms he just acquired a situation in the Western Country with a merchant.
Date 22/09/1818
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Cineál Acmhainne Text
Archival Record Id p155/2/1/1, p155/2/1/2
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 8pp
Topic Richey Letters
Geographic Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Lisburn,Antrim (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen tens
Genre Transcript,Reproduction
Note Title and transcript by Professor Kerby Miller. This transcript includes handwritten corrections to original transcript from PRONI, made with reference to original letters. Letter description by University of Galway.
Creator / Author Name James Richey