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Ellen Rowntree, Philadelphia, to her brother, Laurence Rowntree, Dublin, 26 August 1851
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Collection Rowntree/ Roantree Letters
Title Ellen Rowntree, Philadelphia, to her brother, Laurence Rowntree, Dublin, 26 August 1851
Description Ellen had just arrived in the US - her passage having been paid by her brother, Daniel of Washington, D.C. She stayed temporarily with another brother, John, a butcher, in Phily, and also with a sister there. She apparently had children of her own, whom she brought with her; she had not yet started working, but her brothers had set her up in her own apartment. ''...I will go to work this week the children will go to school next month. I cannot say much of this City as yet but so far I think it is a very good place of business. The stores as they are called here are very large. there is as much business done in one week here as in Dublin for twelve months. Yet I am shure if the employment was as good at home as here we would do as well. I would not advise any one to come here that can live comfortable at home. yet there is work for every person. no female that can handle a needle may be idle. Dear Laurence, John Daniel they would advise you to keep your situation as long as you can as there is nothing for any men coming here in the commencement but hard labour - especially those with a family. a single man will ,,do better yet they say if you are disemployed it is your only chance." She then describes her wretched voyage, which left from Cork. The weather was bad, the passage slow (7 wks), and the provisions few and in terrible shape. Yet there were no deaths, nor any fever, and all of the occupants easily passed the medical inspection.
Date 26/08/1851
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Resource Type Text
Archival Record Id p155/38/4, p155/114/2
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 7pp
Topic Rowntree/ Roantree Letters
Geographic Philadelphia (city),Philadelphia (county),Pennsylvania,United States,Dublin (city),Dublin (county),Ireland
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen fifties
Genre Transcript,Reproduction,Manuscript
Note Title, description and transcript text by Professor Kerby Miller. Manuscript given to Professor Kerby Miller by Professor Arnold Schrier from a private collection.
Creator / Author Name Ellen Rowntree/ Roantree