[Front of Letter]
[Stamped]
CARLISLE
NOV 5
2/6
[Upside down bottom left]
[-OULL?]
LETTER
[Bottom Right]
[Stamped]
[PA?]
[---?]
Cumberland County Pennsa [Pennsylvania?]
Novemb 2nd 1822
Dear Mother Brother and Sister
I sit down with pleasure to write these few lines to
you hoping the [this?] will finds [sic] you all in good
health as we are at present thanks be to God for his
mercies toward us. I suppose by this time you will think
I have forgot to write to you there was [sic] several
reasons for me not writing sooner. When James Brown left
us he promised to me to [go?] [home?] [last?] [fall?]
and to come and see us first and I intended to write
[with?] him but he disappointed me [till?] it [was?]
[too?] [----?] Another thing there was so many letters
going home and still [no?] mention made of us that I
thought it unnecessary to put you to the expence of
a letter because they come so high and I had nothing
particular to write, but dont you neglect writing to
me on the same footing for your letters cost me but
A mere trifle, I had a son born to me on the 29th of
July [182-?] Named Robert and is is [sic] a fine child
now running about Jean and John is thriving well and
growing big. I still remain on at the same place I was
at first but I intend moving again spring I mentioned
before I was going to the [west?] [country?] but I have
changed my mind respecting that I intend going either
to Philadelphia or [Baltimore?] I have little to say
respecting the country more than I said of before I
still like it well yet times are getting better here.
Markets are getting by or flour is from $5 to 6 doll
per barrel. Dear Brother I received A few lines in Peter
[Wavets?] letter in your name but it did not satisfy me
because it was not your hand write, [writing?] John recvd
[received?] A letter from you some time in March last and
another in July which gave an account of Hugh Taylors Death
which surprised me very much more so than my uncles Death
for that I expected but Hugh I had [not?]
[Page 2]
I suppose you will expect Deal of news in this letter but
I have not much to send you have often wrote to John but
I expect Dear Brother you will not neglect writing to me
as soon as this comes to hand I understand by your letter
to John he is stil [still?] sending for supplys [supplies?]
from you, but if you take my advice you will send him none
for he has a gentlemans life here and dollars is plentyer
[more plentiful?] with him than a halfpenny is with you I
understood you thought John and I was not sociable you
might think so for he never would let me [---?] [---?]
write to you [or?] [what?] [---?] [I?] write until he shewed
[showed?] me your letters In May 1821 he got [A?] [school?]
[house?] [here?] he had from 24 to 30 [scholars?] at 2 dollars
per [quarter?] and then he had about [40?] Doll [Dollars?]
saved the winter before, and last Christmas there was a
schoolhouse vacant at the Gorge here one of the best in this
country and by his conduct the summer before got it where he had
from 10 to 50 scholars at the same price and there is not a man in
the parish of Garvahy [Garvaghy?] better Clothed or goes grander
you can buy all kind of wooling [woollen?] [and?] linning [linen?]
cloth as cheap here as in Ireland only the making is higher white
Irish linnen [linen?] is from 40 to 50 cents per yd [yard?]
according to quality. John went to Baltimore to [see?]James Brown
in harvest last and met with him in the city where he came
to Celebrate the fourth of July and at then he was working about
20 miles out of the City and we have not heard from him since
when you write let me know who is living on uncles place
and what you done about the difference in the land and let
me know if you have got a [lass?] or not and Dear Brother be
pleased to let me know how you are [circumstanced?] in your
afairs [affairs?] as I am afraid the rent is hard for you
according to rates of the markets and please be particular in that
for it is still a trouble to me about you and I would be glad of
your welfare.
[Page 3]
Dear Brother I have little more to say only I expect you will write
when this comes to hand if not before and direct as before as I expect
it before Aprile [April?] as I intend moving then, Thomas brown is well
and all the rest of the neighbours, Jean sends her compliments
to you all and I wish to be remembered to all my enquiring friends
and acquaintances
40 cents is equal to I remain with grattitude [gratitude?] your
2s Irish 50 cents is equal Affectionate Brother
to half a dollar
PS Last March Betty Magivren paid Robt [Robert?] Magowan 20 dollars and
he sent home A letter authorising them to pay Margret [Margaret?]
Magivren she expected word or [of?] her in before [that?] she got [A?]
few lines in petter [Peter?] [Movets?] letter but no word about it send
whether she gets it or not and Betty is well and dressed in silk
from top to toe.
Petter [Peter?] [Movet?] desires his Brother to come to him [in?] spring
and not wait on a great price for their land.
