[Front of Letter]
[---?] of [---?]
[Mr?] Thomas Battersby
Innkeeper
Dromore
County Down
Ireland
Robert Taylor
[Written on bottom right]
[Stamped on left]
CARLISLE
[18--?]
[-----?]
[Page 1]
Cumberland County Pennsylvania
January 5th 1821
Dear mother Brother and Sister
I take the oppertunity [opportunity?] of writing these
few lines to you to let you know we are all well at
present thanks to God who is the giver of all good I
recd [received?] your letter dated December 20th 1819 the
7th of April likewise the one with Jean which gave me great
satisfaction to hear of your wellfare [welfare?], you may
think by this time I have forgot you in not writing sooner
but the reason was I wanted to be settled in a place that I
could write more fully and expecting you heard in Jeans and
Thomas Browns letter from [me?] I intended to have a place
to farm or to went [sic] to the western country again Spring I
could have got places plenty [there?] and I was offered one in
the State of Ohio to build me A house and I might have it for
paying the tax as long as I pleased on the sale of it reasonable
enough but times is so Dull at present there is nothing to be
made by farming which hindered me of taking one, I am earning
more than If I was farming I fell in to work at an Iron furnace
where I have fourteen Dollars per month and finds myself
I can find [no? [---?] [---?] [---?] for four [Dollars?] [---?]
and [fr---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] for [some?] [---?] [---?]
[with?] [---?] [---?] [---?] from [---?] [---?]
[per?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [---?] [?
[Page 2]
For the particulars of the Country in respect of
farming I refer you to Thomas Browns letter my
employer carries on great work here he has A furnace
A forge and slitting mill for making hoop and nail
rod iron there is twelve watter [water?] wheels turned by
A spring and it is all charcoal the use which gives employ
to A great many men chopping [wood?] and he has not as much
pride as some farmers in Shanrod.
John had a Better errand [here?] than me he need never work a
days work in his life he has got in with the best people in this
country his school is not large at present but he expects to get
A better one again spring and he is well liked by the people and
he has behaved very well since he came here.
Jean metioned [mentioned?] that you had some notion of coming here
But I would not advise you yet I think if you would get the place
at A moderate rate you could live easyer [easier?] than you have
Done the time back and fowlow [follow?] the plan of labour I was
on when I came Away and I would be glad you would keep up the name
on the place when you
[---?] [send?] me word [al---?] [----?] [total?] [rent?] you
[---?] [----?] mention [----?] [----?] [-----?] for any
[---?] [----?] this [----?] [----?] [-----?] and
[---?] [----?][----?] [----?] [----?] [-----?] [--n?]
[---?] [----?][----?] [----?] [----?] [-----?] [ow?]
[Page 3]
Little John had a spell of sickness [and?] [----?] [----?]
part of the summer but he is thriving well[----?] [----?]
carry in stove wood now and little Jean [----?] [----?]
We have got note [--?] from James Brown [----?] [----?]
but there was A Neighbour seen him 15 [miles?] [----?] [----?]
Baltimore and he [----?] [----?] could be here [but?] [----?]
[butter?] was [well?] [----?] [----?] [--wel?] [----?] [----?]
Thomas Brown is [well?] [and?] so is Betty [----?] [----?]
mentioned in her letter [---?] John [Simpson?] [----?] [----?]
we wrote to the man he was with [and?] [----?] [----?]
over his sickness and went to [Columbia?] [----?] [----?]
word from him send me word if he does [----?] [----?]
I was well pleased with the last letter [----?] [----?]
acount [account?] of letting me know the state [of?] [----?]
and I expect you will write as soon [as?] [this?] [comes?]
to hand and it will satisfy me if [----?] [----?]
the same again and let me know [----?[----?] [----?]]
country and how the old neighbours [----?] [----?]
to be remembered to all my [enquiring?] [friends?]
and neighbours
Dear mother Brother [and sister?]
I remain [--?]
PS
[---?]