[The family are united as John has occasion to visit Philadelphia.]
Mr Robert Taylor
Shanrod
Dromore
County Down
[Page 1]
Philadelphia Nov 13 1841
My Dear Brother,
You will doubtless be surprised
to receive a letter from me dated at this place.
But so it is, I have been here for more than three
weeks as a witness in an important lawsuit between
the United States and Mr [Ruside?] who was an
extensive contractor for carrying the mail at the
time I was in the service of the Post Office
Department. I leave tonight for Pittsburgh and
have but a few moments to write you these lines
which I intend sending by the Steamship which sails
from Boston on Tuesday next.
Our sister Jane is not in very good health
altho [although?] she has everything else very
comfortably around her. Her eldest son John is out
of his apprenticeship and is now earning about ten
dollars per week. Robert the second son who resembles
me very much in features and person, but is your
counterfeit in ways and habits will be out of his
apprenticeship next August. Elizabeth and Nathaniel
are at good schools and are clever scholars for
their ages. They are a remarkably fine family of
children, good and kind to their mother and
piously raised. Jane wrote jointly with a
Mrs Bell to her sister Sally some time ago and is
daily looking for an answer.
[Page 2]
I received your last letter by [her?] Sister also
one from your son John and one from sister Nancy
together with the two pieces of linen for all of
which I am greatly obliged and will answer all
your letters more methodically after I get back
home and get a little leisure. I was most agreeably
surprised to learn from your letters that my mother
was still living, having been informed by [Orr?]
Snowden on his arrival that she had died before he
left home. The news, tho [though?] from her age not
unexpected, was of course distressing to me and
you may imagine how agreeably I was surprised
when I had it contradicted by your letters.
I pray she may be yet long spared to bless
and pray for us all, particularly for me her
absent tho [though?] affectionate son.
I have seen but a few of our old neighbors
here. The only ones Mary and Agness [Agnes?]
Beeten from whom, you may tell their mother I
got two first rate Ballaly kisses. They are very well,
are fine young girls and were very glad to
see me. We have had some very fine Irish cracks
together. I have seen also Hugh Carrols two
daughters who are both married and doing
very well. They overloaded me also with
kindness - Their father died last spring.
When I left home my family were all as I am
also myself altho [although?] sinking somewhat
into the vale of years
[Page 3]
and losing fast the buoyancy and vivacity
of youth. Twenty years in this country makes
rapid inroads upon our health and appearance.
I left James Gracy, his brother, and sister and
their respective families well at Pittsburgh.
You must excuse the haste and [quickness?]
of this letter. I write it in much confusion
with all my nephews around me and and [sic]
the turmoil incident upon the eve of a journey
of upwards of three hundred miles - I leave tonight
at 12 oclock and will reach home in about three days.
give my love to my mother Sister Susanna and your
children and [accept?] yourself the assurances of
my [affectionate?]
regard I am Dear Brother
Yours most truly
John Taylor
Mr Robert Taylor
PS I will endeavour to send herewith
two newspapers - in one of which you
will see me named in connexion
with the trial I was here upon. J.T [John Taylor?]
