Alexander Hamilton, Ireland to Feorge & Margaret Ford, Upper Canada

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Document ID 0709036
Date 18-07-1843
Document Type Letters (Emigrants)
Archive Mellon Centre for Migration Studies
Citation Alexander Hamilton, Ireland to Feorge & Margaret Ford, Upper Canada;Donated by Mr Kenneth Featherston; CMSIED 0709036
52313
Fig.1: Letter to George and Margaret Ford

Lisnatunny
July 18, 1843

My Dear George and Margt [Margaret?],

Your kind letter Dated Feby reached us in due time. I need not tell you we are 
all rejoiced to know that you are all in good health and that you are increasing 
in the abundance of this world's wealth I trust and hope that you are also
labouring to increase in that wealth that will never perish 'tis this hope that 
helps to cheer your Mother and me now in our latter days for my Dear children we 
will never see each other this side of the grave, yet I trust and hope we will 
meet in a happier and better world. Oh how rejoiced we would be to see your 
children.

My Dear George I can plainly perceive by your letter that you have not idled 
your time in that Country. May you go on and increase still more and more, this 
is our earnest prayer. We cannot say that we are adding anything to our little 
property here. The times do not permit us. It would only tire and perhaps grieve 
you if I were to enter on a narration of everything that has befallen me since 
you left this. All I will say is your Mother and I live on in our own house 
striving still to hold half of the place. I labour as much as I can but the fact 
is I am not able to work as I used to. James and wife live in the upper part of 
the house, they have been married nearly three years, they had one child that 
died when about a month old and they are expecting to have another, his wife's 
name is Eliza Smith. They live contentedly.

Your brother Wm. [William?] is placed a place called Edenderry near Omagh, a 
Presbyterian minister he is married to Margt [Margaret?] Hood a daughter of 
Robin's. They have four children, Margt [Margaret?], Alex and Ross together with 
Robert. Your sister Eliza and her family are doing well. Their two oldest, like 
your own, are grown nearly to maturity. Robert and Matty are extremely well 
doing and industrious children. John himself is also greatly improved. They have 
besides Margt [Margaret?], Lizzy, Mary, Jane, James and Nancy.

I must tell you something about Alex. Shortly after James came home he took a 
notion of going to New South Wales. I did all in my power to prevent him but all 
was unavailing. This was a new trial for me. I had then to fit him out for his 
long journey and besides give him what money I was able and more than I was 
able. He is now six years away past in March last and we have only got two 
letters from him during that time. Poor good industrious Alex knew well the 
privations I underwent at his going away. The first letter he sent me he 
mentioned he would send me annually what would make us comfortable in our old 
days; the other letter that we got more than a year ago brought us tidings of a 
more sorrowful nature. He had been after a long and tedious illness which had 
brought him nearly to the gates of Death. Henry Robinson and Summer went with 
him and I have never got any letter from themm but Alex told us in his letter 
that they were well.

I must tell you now how Mary did. Shortly after Alex went away she made an 
elopement with John McLeer from beside Bessy Bell. This was still worse and 
worse and plunged me still in fresh trouble and difficulties I had to bind 
myself to him for a fortune. They were married. He had a piece of land but 
greatly behind in the rent. I struggled and sacrificed myself in order to give 
him what I could at the beginning. The first cow and calf I sent them were taken 
up for debt. They struggled on for some time but were unable to hold the place. 
What then do you think happened next? Why Mary and her little daughter came home 
to me - after paying her fortune every farthing. I had then to begin again to 
equip them out for America. This last run has put me into some debt but I 
thought nothing of that still thinking Alex would send me something that would 
be handsome. I am afraid he is dead.

Thus my dear children I have given you a faint outline of my family concerns 
since you left this. I must now tell you that my own health is greatly gone. The 
worst of all is I have lost the sight of one of my eyes.  I was rolling a large 
stone up a little precipice. My foot slipped behind me and the stone came back 
on which I fell. My eyes were bruised and consequence was the top of my eye. I 
had also a very sore turn of sickness sometime ago from the effects of which I 
am afraid I will never get well again. Your mother has wonderful health 
considering her age. She is still able to manage our domestic concerns with 
little or no help from anyone. This is more remarkable because in her young days 
she was grieviously afflicted with asthma.

I will not have room to give you any of the news of the neighourhood, at the 
present but hope as soon as you receive this you will write to us again and then 
I will write you a long letter. Your Uncle George is dead and three of the girls 
have gone to the United States to Baltimore. Also two of the Daniel McMorrison's 
girls have gone away lately to Philadelphia. Your sister Mary and John McLeer I 
hear are somewhere near to Kingston in British America. They never wrote to us. 
The Toyemegian family are still living in a state of celibacy. Old Aunt Ross is 
dead and so is Oliver. He was killed with his own horse and cart. The times here 
are in a bad state at present. God knows what the result may be, poverty and 
destitution are making the people desperate; high rents and no way of making 
them. There are thousands above thousands assembling daily in the upper part of 
this 5 kingdome [kingdom?] demanding a Repeal of the Legislative Union. What it 
will turn to we do not know.

James desires you to give his love to Mr. Fox and family and when you write to 
let him know how Robert is.

The provision markets here are very cheap but no money to buy anything-there is 
no weaving or spinning.

My Dear children I am rejoiced to find that you have so prosperous and good a 
family and that you are educating them so well. James joins your Mother and me 
in his love to you all and believe me to be your affections father.
                                                           Alexander Hamilton

Mr.George Forde
Trafalgar
Fifth Concession
Upper Canada



Transcribed by Steven Grant