Digital Archive
William Brown, Belfast, to brother, James Brown[David's son], 73 Chesnut St., Philadelphia, 17 August 1819
Luaigh an doiciméad seo Amharcóir IIIF
Bailiúchán Brown Brothers Letters
Title William Brown, Belfast, to brother, James Brown[David's son], 73 Chesnut St., Philadelphia, 17 August 1819
Description "(W)e have a good job at the Spire & inside of the Church, It will come to 70 pounds. J.B. Shannon & Jas Stewart are now the Church wardens, & through their being steady friends, we got the job, there were Estimates from several painters, & particularly our old oponents Stormont & Ireland who never fail to cut low .... we have now six journeymen & 3 apprentices, & Hugh. he is getting very handy & has done some very nice work, it was no harm his going to america, as it completely set his neck". However, it appears that the business is strapped to pay for imported English paints and other supplies, and William resents the dparture of his brother, James, for America: "I am thinking of going to London in Spring if things do not pay better, I find I am losing my time and all for nothing, my situation I am tired of, & I must try to get something done for myself, as I find after working now 19 years for the benefit of fill the Family, I have no more than where I started," There is some dispute between this Brown family and that of the other James Brown (#1) and the latter's sister, Nancy, who went to America in Feb. 1818, after being sheltered and assisted by David Brown's family: "David & Aunt are much vexed, but they say what is true, She is not repaying them for keeping her from being a common prostitute, which it is certain would have been the case, if they had not kept her from her Mother". Chides James for never writing and/or mentioning what kind of employment he has. [Kerby Miller identifies the recipient of this letter as 'James Brown #2' in a note that reads "last in Belfast; son of David; nephew of Samuel & Thomas; and cousin of the James Brown who has been in Philadelphia since 1810"].
Date 17/08/1819
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Cineál Acmhainne Text
Archival Record Id p155/76/9
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 3pp
Topic Brown Brothers Letters
Geographic Belfast,Antrim (county),Ireland,Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen tens
Genre Transcript
Note Transcript text by PRONI. Title and description by Professor Kerby Miller.
Creator / Author Name William Brown