Old Letters

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Letter of Mary Cotter (nee Sullivan) to her brother Daniel Sullivan at Alexandria, Louisiana, May 25, 857.
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Meenygorman May 25, 1857

My Dear Brother:

I received your letter of April 18th. It gives me and family and friends the greatest pleasure imaginable to hear of your perfect state of health. My Dr. child and all the friends as this leaves me, family and friends, at present, thanks be to the Great God for his goodness.

Dr. Brother we all feel happy in your being in a settled state and doing well. I think it no admiration having so many good blessings from rich and poor besides your own praying to God for your welfare and lately as you promised us the pleasure of seeing you and your little escort once more.

It will be an addition of life to us, especially to the old people. I could not fully describe to you the pleasure it gave Anne's father and said he always found you a man & prayed God to survive to see ye again. As for myself certainly it's an addition to my days and poor Uncle John got very high in spirit in reading your letter.

Dr. Brother we feel very lonesome parting three of our family in one year. Altho our mind is easy they left us bear enough. Mary and Catherine. I confide God will aid us to get over it.

Dr. Brother we were obliged to pay Mary's husband, Thady Driscoll, L 110 before he got married and have to pay L 50 more soon as possible, besides the expenses of marriage and wedding. We are not sorry for it as yet he is a decent, respectable man well conducted.

Catherine was paid L32 last year. Twenty pounds of it lodged in Father Brechinor's hands to see her justified. He handed over to her father-in-law promising half the land and half stock and all other commodities thereon. About a month ago her husband Wm. Doherty would not until they would get L20. We made it up and it was a hardship after all. Old Doherty and Catherine wanted to get their own part. Old Doherty would not yield after I going to Mr. Brechinor the appointed day to meet in Kanturk. I assure you he gave no help to settle it. Her mother-in-law was always for them. Were it not for her I believe they would not get anything only their own. They have got half the land, nothing else and have to wait for their money to be paid by installments.

We did not interfere between them. Lately we gave her L20 and a cow worth L10 and over it. In all L 62. Still we are in hopes they will do well. He is a sober, quiet boy. She is her own master and his.

Dr. Brother - Mrs. Hill expects you will urge her brother to send her some assistance, having many in the family to support, seven or eight females and one son and rearing them decently.

She lives within a mile of Mary Cotter and comes to visit her. I hope you will interfere with Mr. Connor her brother to aid her.

My Dr. tell Danny and Anne their grandmother, Uncles and Aunts are well & that Johny is married & all doing well.

Now I want to know how is John and his wife and have they any issue as yet. And Danny, wife and family and Timothy, wife and child. Also Danny and Anne and how they are all getting on and to let me know which of the Uncles is more fond of Anne & their wives or have she any . . . to them.

Dr. Loving Brother - conclude please to tell the business you are carrying on & are you nearer home than before and is my poor child Anne any way lonesome in having you so far from her.

Dr. affectionate Brother and Loving child I send a thousand Blessings and all my family, William Cotter, Johny, Mary Catherine, Eliza, Honoria & Uncle John and the friends. Also Uncle John prays to God to survive to see ye once more altho being feeble and old up to seventy years.

Dr. Loving and affectionate and well disposed brother adieu adieu for some time,

Mary Cotter

P.S.
Dr. Brother.

Tell Anne Cotter, Honoria Goggin and her daughter Ellen sent pounds to take over Johny and Catherine the fare being high. Catherine had to stop. Johny is gone about a month.

Sometime Patrick Sullivan Bawn received Ten pounds from John . . . from Australia and said she would take over Ellen this year and that her father should not forever more be in want of money. She is getting L18 a year.

Patrick Roche's sister at Meenishal, Aunty Kate, was buried about a month ago being an old woman.

Dr. Brother and Child your affectionate Sister and Mother &c.
Mary Cotter

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