James Johnston, Castlederg to Robert Young, New York State
Castlederg April the 10th 1838 Mr Robert Young, Now for a letter but I am at alloss [a loss?] to know what to say as I suppose you are expecting mee [me?] busy this time from hearing my Calculations before But Robert when I came home I found our peaple [people?] quite In a Diferent [different?] way of thinking than I expected you will Remember hearing mee [me?] speak of one brother I had in as [a?] store and his time been up last fall and of my Intenshion [intention?] of haveing [having?] him over with mee [me?] this Spring But my mother would not hear tell of one of the family leaving home But she requested mee [me?] to joihn [join?] Him In a grocer Shop on Dergbridg [Dergbridge?] I told my Inteshion [intention?] of going back to America but through persuation [persuasion?] I agread [agreed?] to give Shop kepping [shopkeeping?] a trial So him and mee [me?] are now In our own Shop and has a good Share of busness [business?] And Robert When he is once Establisht [established?] I mean to return for I cannot fall in to the Customs of the people as well [as?] I expectted [expected?] But I think only my duty to asist [assist?] Him with alittll [a little?] money for awhile [a while?] But Robert I certainly Have spent A very pleasent [pleasant?] winter Among my relations and Old acquaintances but I suppose you think I ought to Say Something About the fair Sect to that I Cannot Say Much But this I will Say go where I will I see none to excell [excel?] the dauters [daughters?] of Earins [Erin's?] green aile [isle?] But none of them is willing to say the [they?] will go to America Robert plase [please?] right [write?] as soon as you reacive [receive?] these fue [few?] lines and let me [know?] How the times are as regards the money buisness [business?] or if the [there?] are any Change (sic) Since I left your Countray [Country?] the have [there has?] Been a great excitement here among the peaple [people?] about the Canada war wee [we?] have had several recuiting [recruiting?] parties here this winter Let mee [me?] know Robert if you have been at school this winter and let mee [me?]know how your mother and family is as it would give mee [me?] plesure [pleasure?] to hear of you all enjoying health and Comfert [Comfort?] and Robert I hope you are doing every thing in your power to add Comforts and hapiness [happiness?] on your mother and family Robert you will plese [please?] let mee [me?] know if any thing Particular has hapened [happened?] in the time since I left there Let Cousin Alexander know our people desires to be remember in the Cincerist [sincerest?] maner [manner?] and a great many more too numerous to mention and let him know that I was astonished to see so many changes among my old and young friends as for myself I am the smallest man in the family Andrew stands six feet three inches high and Margret [Margaret?] is taller than her mother and you may judge ab [about?] the rest of the family Robert the bearer of this is of [off?] to morow [tomorrow?] morning and I am in such a hurry I have not time to right [write?] but you will plase [please?] excuse any thing you see amiss You will plese [please?] remember mee [me?] to your mother and the family and to All enquireing [enquiring?] friends Right [write?] as soon as you recive [receive?] this and you will much oblige your old friend James Johnston Robert I am in good health thanks bee [be?] to the giver of every good gift Good buy [bye?] I am in good health. James Johnston. Robert right [write?] soon good buy [bye?] good buy [bye?] good buy [bye?] 1838 James Johnston to Robert Young (father Johnston Young) died 11-19-1836) Robert (b 11-28-1818) took charge of the Barkley/Young homestead after his father died. He visited Altamullan, N.Ireland in 1890. There is no record that James Johnston returned to America after his visit 1837/38 Envelope addressed to Mr Robt Young Montgomery Orange County New York America (Transcribed by Michael McKnight.)Close