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LETTER of 1852 |
Letter from William Hayes Phillips to his son, William Peyton Phillips, 1852
Editor's Notes:
William Hayes Phillips was living at Enniskean, co. Cork, Ireland
William Hayes Phillips is a Schoolmaster at the Enniskean Parochial School
William Peyton Phillips is 17-18 years old when he made the Atlantic crossing
1852 is near or at the end of the Famine years.
William Peyton Phillips had his own bed aboard ship
Words NOT in italics are mine inserted for clarity
A note in upper left of letter, page 1:
P?????? is very well and a?? great ??? with any one in this home and as fat as a lamb
A note along the left edge of the letter, page 1:
Your Aunt Jane called her son Robert
Enniskean, 5th May 1852
Wednesday Morning
My Dear Son William
At 8:00 on yesterday morning I received your long wished for and most welcome letter, indeed it has given you Dear Mamma and me unfg???? pleasure to hear from you after so long and dangerous a passage that we are now able to thank God & take homage as you have escaped the wide and dangerous ocean. We did not cease to pray for you and we do believe the Lord has graciously condescended to hear our prayers in your behalf. Thank God you are ?sistaied? from the wicked ??? fr?????? Who were with you and the Lord has preserved you while in their company, ???? Him thanks for all his ???? to you ???? to Him and choose your company and attend to the advice Mr. Smith gave you and the example I st??? to sit you always frequent the house of God and let nothing prevent you from attending the service of God on every Sabbath day and as often as you can on weekdays too most particularly devote the Sabbaths to the Lord by reading His Word and frequenting the House of God. His word as much of which I hope you have treasured in your heart & Soul which will be a lamp to guide you through this troublesome world. We are indeed very thankful to our Dear Friends Mr. And Mrs. Good for their kindness to you and hope you will take Mr. Goods advice and whatever he thinks best for you to do if you cannot get a Clerkship or something respectable to do in New York you had better go up to Kingston after you hear from your Uncle Barter, he ought to be glad to see you and if he and you think his trade good I have no objection to whatever you think that will make you comfortable.
All the neighbours and friends here were very glad to hear from you, all the friends you wished to be remembered to are indeed glad and delighted to hear from you. There was no letter from any other passenger who went with you or from those who left before you yet. I am very glad that you escaped from the Pickpockets and Robbers who were with so will as not to lose anything but on shirt & handkerchief. I hope they did not steal any money from you, while you are in New York and if you should get employment there keep away from the wicked and the ??and those who have the fear not God ???? of ???? I mean of the Irish may be looking for you but do not lose your time or keep company with them, choose your company and then you will be respected.
I know you were sorry for the death of your dear grandfather1. I have no doubt that he is gone safely to Heaven, which I hope we shall all meet him again. Your Grandmother2 was very ill after his death for some time, but is now much better thank God. If you see your Uncle Barter3 perhaps you could soften him down to send some help to his dear mother4, your Aunt Kate5 is well and your Aunt Jane Phillips6 was very ???? to hear from you. I wrote to her when I received your letter, do not neglect to mention her most affectionately in every letter you send as also your relatives and friends and the Dunmanway friends who were always fond of you. Your Aunt Jane Good7 and son8 are very well and were very glad to hear from you and Mrs. Good and Mr. were glad to hear the account you gave of Mr. And Mrs. Ca?????. Your aunt Moxley9 and family are well & I know will be delighted to hear from you as also your Uncle Mr. Peyton10 and family. I hope you want to see your cousins in Brooklin, if you see those Tobins you spoke about tell them that their brother Stephen is very badly off here and got no help from England and to send him some help but do not have any more to do with them.
Your Grandmother Peyton11, uncles John12, Isaac & Frank13 are well. Francis John14 was glad to get the two penny piece and gave it to me to keep safely for him, he sends you 20 kisses and is saying every day that he will go to you. Eliza ( his sister, age about 15, who is shown as dying young) is with Mrs. Packinham at the dressmaking and getting on very well. Ann, Kate, Rebecca Harriet and Frances Susan15 are all very well. I am sorry to tell you that Miss Ellen Smith is dead she died on Monday the 3rd of May in Bantry at Mr. ??????? poor Mr. Smith is greatly to be pitied indeed I know he will be very glad to see your letter, always mention him in your letters and wish often and send ??? I sent one to you. I hope you got it and one to Mr. Good and will send one today to Mr. Good. John Fitzgerald came home Mamma & I went to Bandon to see him of ??? knew you were to go he would not come home so soon I think he will go again if he go we will send you some shirts and warm stockings by him let us know in your next letter if you are gone to Kingston could you get them up from N. York on receipt of this write again and let me know particularly what you intend to do. I must now conclude by wishing you Gods blessings and believe us your Dear and affectionate Father and Mother & sisters.
William H. Phillips
Ann (Peyton) Phillips
Eliza Phillips
Annie A. Phillips
Catherine J. Phillips
Notes at the end of page:
Have you enough provision?
Did you use your own bed?
I fear (hear?) the ?Feinms? are not good boys
Numbered Notes:
1. Charles Phillips, died Mar, 1852
2. Eliza Hayes Phillips, died Dec, 1859
3. Barter Phillips, the first to immigrate to Canada
4. Anne Peyton
5. Catherine Phillips 1816-1887
6. Jane may have been living at Skibbereen, co. Cork
7. Jane Peyton married William Good c.1850 - This says 'Aunt" but according to what I have found they would have been cousins - something is not right.
8. Robert (Bob) Good b.1852 (see note at top of letter)
9. This should be Rebecca Peyton who married Wm. Moxley c. 1832. They had about 8 children
10. Not sure which Uncle Peyton this would have been.
11. Arabella Willis Peyton
12. Not sure if this is John Phillips or John Peyton. Listed with the Peyton's he is probably John Peyton.
13. I show an Uncle Isaac Peyton but not sure who if Frank is one of my unknown 2 others of the same family
14. 2nd youngest brother
15. All sisters