John Taylor, Pennsylvania to Robert Taylor, Co Down
[Three years later John writes from Pittsburgh.]
[Front of Letter]
Mr Robert Taylor
(Shanrod)
near Dromore
County Down
Ireland
[Care?] by
Mr Jno [John?] [Porter?] Scott
[Page 1]
United States of America
Pittsburgh Penn [Pennsylvania?] April 25 1844
My Dear Brother,
I embrace the occasion
afforded by young Mr Scott who leaves here
tomorrow on a visit to Dromore to drop you a
few lines. I regretted much that I did not
know of Mr Wilson going home last spring until
after he had left, or I would have written to
him instead of Mr McKee. He told me on his
return however that he had seen you and that
you had got my letter - altho [although?]
not seen McKee. Since then I have heard nothing
from you.
I pray my mother may yet be alive to hear from
me again. If she be still spared, as I trust to
God she is, give her my most affectionate love.
Almost a quarter of a centurys absence has nothing
abated it, or the affection I bear you all.
We are all well. My oldest daughter Anne Elizabeth
was married in February last to a young man
[Page 2]
named Reilly of St Louis in the state of Missouri
as you will see in one of the newspapers herewith
sent. She done [sic] very well and is now at that
place about twelve hundred miles distant from this.
He was born near Killishandra in the county Cavan
Ireland. The Steam Boat in which they went from this
place was accidentally sunk in the night in the
Mississippi River and a number of lives lost. They
were fortunately saved with part of their effects.
Her husband was the clerk and part owner of the
Steam boat lost.
Mr Scott has promised to go and see you and I
hope you will write by his return, if not sooner. Let
me know how your son John (my namesake) is coming on
with his classics, whether you design giving him a
profession and what? I wish if [possible?] you could
make him a good mathematical scholar. If he has capacity
for it, he will find it of infinite advantage in after
life, let his pursuit be what it may. I wish you would say
what his abilities to learn are and contrast with what mine
were when of his age.
[Page 3]
I have little news to write about. The bearer whom you will
doubtless see often can give you all the details. We have a
very warm and forward spring, consequently the crops
[promise?] well. The trial of OConnel and his colleagues
excited much interest in this country - our newspapers
contained full details of it - we have not yet heard his
sentence. Enormous sums of money have been sent home from
the United States in aid of Repeal and if a rebellion
were to break out, which God forbid, any amount could be
collected here to support the liberal cause. We have no
doubt in this country but that England will be eventually
obliged to restore Ireland to a Parliament and either
totally abolish or greatly reform your Established Church.
I have had no accounts from Philadelphia lately,
but believe they are all well.
Give my love to Susanna, Sister Nancy and the children
and accept yourself of the assurances of the brotherly regard
and esteem of Your affectionate
John Taylor
James and Samuel Gracy and their brotherinlaw [brother-in-law?]
and families are all well I suppose some of them will also write
by Mr Scott
[The steamboat Buckeye sank in a collision with the De Soto on
the Mississippi near Atchafalaya on Friday, 1st March, 1844,
between three and four oclock in the morning.]
