Old Letters

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Letter of Jeremiah Sullivan, father of Daniel, Dennis, John, Timothy and Mary Sullivan, from New Market, Ireland, to his son Daniel at Alexandria, Louisiana.
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New Market, March the 16th, 1849.

My Dr. Child:

I received your letter on yesterday. It brought to my ears the joyful tidings of you all being alive and in good health which I had a grave doubt of as you say you were uneasy for not hearing from me.

I was so much troubled for not hearing from you as it was so unusual with you. I was so long expecting to hear from you that I wrote last January to know what became of you and you surprise me when you say you wrote two letters in which you inclosed . . . Dollars but I have not got them or any other letter since I got the letter with the Order for the money.

My Dr. Child I know your kindness and good nature to me and I hope by this time you have the letter I sent last. However I hope this will arrive safe. It is unknown how long or short I may live now. It is natural that it will not be long and I know you will not neglect me till then.

My Dr. Child you make inquiries how I am situated in regard to the tillage. I now tell you I payed 6 pounds an acre for potatoes ground and have not had 6 pence worth. By that as you know how the potato crops failed with everyone in the country. But if I could purchase a little field which I could have for that purpose without any rent then I would not worry how the loss of the tillage would be and without having a little money that cannot be had. I hope I will be able with your assistance to do so.

You also ask how I am situated in regard to provision for the Summer or have I a milch cow. I have a cow and 3 sheepe which I would not have this long time if there was any price for them here. You would get a good cow for 2 pounds as everyone are selling and no one buying and instead of selling them I had to pawn some articles to help support and had not for them I should be long since in the poor house and for the constant expectation of hearing from you that kept up my spirits.

There are some of the most respectable farmers in this country now in the poor house. You will be surprised when I tell you that Mr. Freeman of Castle Cair and others as rich has neither house or home and that will tell you how everything else is here.

I mentioned to you that Doughtery's of Carrol . . . had stepped from their farm. He and his wife are with me this fortnight to try to make sale of their cattle to fit themselves for America and my brother Tade is also preparing to go. And he also tells me he could not . . . date for his labour to the County is gone.

Also I have heard that your brother Tade and family are all dead. Tady and Jerry are in good health and your Aunt and send you all their fond love jointly with me to you, Dennis and John and hope you are in good health.

No more at present. From your Father,
Jeremiah Sullivan.

(Envelope postmarked March 18, 1849 at New Market, Ireland.)
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* Tade is a short form for Timothy and refers to the reputed death of Timothy and wife and three children from Typhus epidemic prevailing at Montreal in 1848, shortly after their arrival at Montreal.

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