Rev. John Orr, Portaferry to John M. Orr, USA.

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Document ID 9702057
Date 03-05-1848
Document Type Letters (Emigrants)
Archive Ulster-American Folk Park.
Citation Rev. John Orr, Portaferry to John M. Orr, USA.;Copyright Retained by John McCleery; CMSIED 9702057
22343
                    Portaferry 3rd May 1848
My dear John
            Your letter of the 18th March reached us
on the 21 April and was gladly received. We were all
rejoiced to hear that your health has been so good since
you left this, and we hope and pray it may continue so.
I am happy to say that we are all well. William Henry
is gone to school again, but there is now no female school
here as Miss Fetherson has left and gone to Belfast. Jane
Ellen & Margaret have been in Belfast at Mr Wm. [William?]
McCleery's since a day or two before the arrival of your letter.
They are not home yet. In a letter your Mamma had on the
1st Inst., Jane Ellen mentions that they are to go to
Dunadry [*] to day on the railway which is now open.

 [* Anonymous genealogical notes inserted here in transcript
    of letter: Charlotte McC [McCleery?] nee Blow 1789-1860
               and daughter Mary Jane 1817-1846
               (Templecranny Graveyard)]


They are to be in N'ards [Newtownards?] and Ballybeen
before they return.  I have not heard very lately from
Ballybeen but the last account was that your grandmother
was in her usual health - I expect to see her on
Monday next as I have to go to N.T.ards [Newtownards?]
on Saturday to the Communion, and will go by Ballybeen
to the Synod in Belfast on Tuesday.
 James McCullough left us on Monday, he goes to sea. We have
got Saml. Stoupe in his place - A great many potatoes have
been planted this season. I have about an Acre in the Meadows
- a row of carrots, and about half an acre of turnips.
 I am not aware of any particular news in this neighbourhood
since I last wrote. Robert McDonnell the school master in
Kearney, has absconded and gone off to America greatly in
debt. I have heard between œ200 & œ300. He was thought to be
doing well in the world. He has turned out a complete swindler.
He owes John Lawson about œ80. Capt. Brown œ12 Margt. Donnan œ8
[and?] James McDonnell œ7 - Mich. [Michael?] Burns œ4 - besides large
sums to people in Downpatrick and in the country. Should he
take your direction I wish to put you on your guard - Had
he asked me for a certificate some time since I would have
given him a very good one.
  About a fortnight or three weeks since there was considerable
alarm felt about the peace of the country from the treasonable
and seditious speeches & writings of Mitchell, Meagher, & Smith
O'Brien. An act of Parliament that became law on Saturday week
has operated as a quietus in the meantime - and a row that
took place in Limerick on last Saturday night between the Old
Irelanders and the Young Irelanders - when the military had
to be called out to protect the lives of the latter - and
when Smith O'Brien received a black eye and some broken ribs
from his 'Old' friends - and has become so disgusted that he has
resigned the representation of Limerick, will I presume
[officiate?] more in quieting the country than the successful
issue of the state trials for sedition.  Mitchell & Meagher
had to be conveyed out of the city incog [incognito?] or it
is presumed the the former would not have been enabled to
appear on Monday in the Court of Queen's Bench - Smith O'Brien
appeared with his black eye, and his head ornamented with
sticking plaster - Large and highly influential meetings have
been held in Belfast, Ballymena, Antrim, &c - in which
confidence has been expressed in the Lord Lieutenant and their
services tendered to him in any way he may require - which will
tend to show the other three provinces the the North is not
yet ripe for Repeal, but quite the contrary - If I could get
some of our friends here to repeal the union between their
stomachs and whiskey, I would be satisfied.
I am sorry to say that the mail which brought your letters
brought very unfavourable advices from new York respecting James
Maxwell. It is feared he is in consumption, and the Doctors have
advised his immediate removal - John was also ill in Liverpool
of influenza - He has been at home for the last fortnight and
is now pretty well recovered.
  Hugh Boyd has been ejected out of his house in High Street. He
is now living in Ann St. William McMullan has purchased the
house in High Street and is to remove from Purgatory to it this
week. It is said he is to be spliced to Miss Sarah Stewart
shortly. Thomas McDonnell is setting up in the house
formerly occupied by [Wm?] Wallace near the Church Road.
  Geo. Bowden came home on Saturday night from Glasgow having
taken out his degree of M.D. He says he is now at the top of
his profession which I was advising him to keep. He looks
very well. 'On dits' He & [Miss?] [Allen?] who is now here -
& Dr Shaw & Margaretta - but time will tell.
  Doctor Filson is I am happy to say quite recovered. Isabella
is at present in Belfast on a visit - and Mary at school in
Ardglass. I saw Thomas Dalzell last night - he looks very
well - marriage has greatly improved him. Andrew McDonnell
is still living - that is all I can say about him - only I
trust he is a sincere penitent.
  Doctor Filson was telling me that John McCullough has
written to you - advising that he cd [could?] send out
some prime pork cured.
 I am sorry to say that your uncle James McCleery has
not yet paid his acceptance. I had a letter from him
requesting another renewal. I demurred to it - and
proposed [remaining?] for œ30, but only on condition that
he would give me settlement at the next.  I had a long
letter from him in reply detailing his arrangements -
stating his present inability to pay except by a renewal -
and saying after the 9th I shall have time, and I pledge
myself without any further delay to go into your account,
and to have it arranged I hope satisfactorily to you - I
am heavily in advance for the Lagan Company above a Thousand
Pounds which occasions with this matter my extreme scarcity
of money at present. There has been nothing paid yet
but the first œ50 - On Miss Savages Bond I got the Int
[Interest?] at Novr [November?]. James Baird is talking of
going to America - but his daughter Elicia has been ill of
fever - and is not yet fully recovered. About 3 weeks since
a large Law paper was left here directed to you - in connexion
with his affairs. At first I was afraid that some proceedings
were threatened but in reading it it appeared to be a notice
to bind you as a Judgment Creditor by the decision of the
Court of Equity respecting your claim agst [against?] the
freehold property [stained] of Belfast [stained] to have
power to sell-
 Mrs Welsh is quite well. She was here for a few minutes on
Sab [Sabbath?] Evening, before going to meeting.  Mrs Donnan
& Mrs McKibbin are also quite well and still enquiring about
you. I saw Mr Warnock in the shop this morning - all in
[state?] [of?]  [?] James has a severe cold but has now recovered.
Miss Margaret is very anxious about the building of a school
house for the Sab [Sabbath?] school.  In the letter from Jane
Ellen she mentions having spent Saturday Evg. [evening?] with
Mr Edwin Blow that Mr Blow told her that he and his brother are
going to dissolve partnership, and further she says that Mr Wm's
[William's] son Alexander is going out to the Brazils - and
William going to sea along with his brother James - who is
master of a large vessel. The Whig of the 1st of January I
ordered for you at the office.  Praying that God may direct
protect & bless you, & referring you for instruction
respecting practical matters to Rom XII Eph VI which I wish
you carefully to read.  I am Dear John, your fond
Father - John Orr

Your mother especially requests that you will take care of
your health and to write particularily how you are getting
on with your business.