William W Shaw, Chicago, Illinois, to Mrs Shaw, Ballyfounder, Co Down
Chicago Jany [January?] 22nd 1882
Dear mother I received
your letter I was glad to know
that you were all well I should
have wrote you sooner but I had
nothing new to write so you will
have to excuse me I was sailing
about half of the season and
the rest of the time ashore. Sam
and I sailed the same schooner
and we took spell about
it was a fair season and we
lost a schooner the [they?] called
her the W.B. Ogden. Sam
and I insured for six thousand
dollars and was worth eight
thousand so we did not [---?]
so much as she had Earned
about two thousand dollars
neither Sam nor I was
sailing her and there was no
lives lost on her I was sailing
the Sch. [Schooner?] Red, white & Blue the
mate of her got drowned with
me on the sixth of July in
Chicago harbour he was drunk
at the time it was the first
man I lost since I have been
Capt. I suppose you were expecting
me there to see you this winter
and I would have went across
but I was left executor for
Isabella and had to get her
affairs straigtened out [in?]
the Probate Court this
winter if she spared to next
winter I will have had leisure to
go it is not for the cost or been [being?]
scared of the Ocean only
Isabella was anxious to get it fixed
up. I have got wealth enough
to keep me if I never
sailed anymore but I would
rather be sailing as stopping
ashore. i have not heard from
sister Nancy this fall she
always came to see [us?] about
Christmas and i had to give
her something but she has
not come this one or wrote
either I was at Sam's two
days ago the [they?] were all well
and the children going to school
he lives about miles from
us Isabella & the Children is
all well the [they?] are all going to
school I am stopping with
her and so is your grandson
Wm Shanks he was Capt.
of the schr [schooner?] Frank Crawford
and he done very well he had
no accidents and he made a
good deal of money with her
he is a very sober and Preivering [Perserving?]
young man. but he is a great
boy among the young women
he has got one for every day in
the week and when he dont go
to see the [they?] come to him
there is some of there [their?] mothers
comes to see him and he has
got enough of presnts at
Chirstmas to start a pack he
has got a lot of silk handkerchiefs
& gold rings & studs & sleeve buttons
and the [they?] sent sister Bella & me
some silk Handkerchiefs I told
him if his mother was here the [they?]
would buy her a silk dress. I
was wondering wheather [wether?] it was
by the shanks or the pipers
he took it of you may think
that I am blowing some but it
is true when you write let me
know how the land lords
and tenants are getting along
about the rents tell sister
margret [Margaret?] if there is any of the
trials in the papers to send
me one. James McGifford was
here about a week ago and
stopped a day or two he was
in poor health he is gone back
to the county give my respects
to sister margret & to James
& Nicholas Shanks tell uncle
Nicholas that his Nephew
Wiliam will Discount him
among the girls
I have no more to say
your affectionate son
Wm. W. Shaw
