Old Letters

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Letter from William Cotter and Mary Cotter to their daughter Anne Cotter at Indianola, Texas - November 13, 1857.
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Meenygorman, November 13th, 1857

Dear Affectionate Child Anne:

I received your letter of September 24th. It gives me and family the greatest pleasure imaginable to hear of your perfect state of health, your Uncles and their family and all your cousins as this leaves me and family and all the friends. Thank God for his kindness to us all.

My dear we are all doing well. Your sisters are in a comfortable way of living. Mary's husband Thady Driscoll is a hard working man although being bred a fine scholar.
Mary is working harder than ever at home. A few days ago he had upwards of 120 horses one day bringing limestone from near Sally Cross. He treated them highly in Nanturk and at home, being a compliment shown them by many respectable farmers besides his friends nearly lost as much as he paid hire. He is highly respected by rich and poor. He had an excellent house built before he married at Coolclucher where I was born and had many a pleasant day.

There is two elegant boys brothers of his gone to Australia and has paid the fare for ten of their cousins including one only brother, a nice genteel boy, a fine young woman, a married sister, husband and three children and a son and daughter belonging to each of their three Uncles, all elegant boys and girls. They do not know the hour they will be called upon to go.
Thady's father has only one daughter then to do for. There is another married to a decent man of the Sheas near Millstreet in great opulence. Thady's father is a collector of Poor Rates. Thinks more of Thady than of all.

My Dear. I hear Mary is with child. She comes to visit us often and feels very lonesome going. Her husband and people in Law are very fond of her.

Dr. Anne, Catherine has an easy life. Can eat and drink and dress as decent and good as the best farmer's wife in the Parish. Has a nice clean house well furnished, of her own. She did not get half the land as yet. She is promised another large field. The most part of the tillage was on her lot. She had from 38 to 40 bags of wheat and the produce of eight acres, oats. Six fine cows and an elegant young horse.

It was I advanced William the money to buy all. Only one cow his father gave him in payment of the L20. William gave him to get half the land half stock and all. Instead of that he did get one farthing worth and had to pay a gale of rent for what he got. Only for William's mother insisting he should get a part he would not get anything. Her Mother-in-law is very fond of Catherine. William will never offend her. She is master and Mistress. He is genteel in his manner.

Aunt Kate received a letter from her husband Jer. Quinlan telling her he would come home so soon he could sell out land he purchased. Was six months sick under the hands of Doctors and Kate left him. Then he had to give up housekeeping and come to Michael to live with. Michael has a fine boy a child and requested to send him your address.

Aunt Kate is informed he is on his way and 840 took shipping the same day for Ireland. Forrests daughter is come home being 12 months under the hands of Doctors and have lost her health only barely having life.

Last Tuesday we received a letter from Nony Goggin, Ellen and Johny and Mary Leary. The poor girl has lost her health. It was her money that took them all out. Ellen is very strong and fat. Tom Goggin is come that went along with Nony. He was getting bad in health and hard at work which is the cause of all they have had bad times in Baltimore. No business doing there. Only murdering each other. The people are in dread of going outside doors.

Father Parker and Father McCarthy were sent out of the Parish together. It was Father McCarthy that got the land for Roger Sullivan these two years. I expect to get it next March.

Two wealthy farmers daughters went off with husbands a few days ago. Thady Carners daughter of Knockatullera eloped with Tim Guinness grandson from Knockaclarig and a grandson of Tim Florences of Munishal.

Florences son is married to her Sister. Her brother is in College to be priesthood. In short he could give a thousand pounds. The young mans property I suppose would afford about L100 or L150 fortune.

The other girl is the widow Neil's daughter. A brother's daughter of Den Neils of Coolanahane. Her brother is priesthood there 2 years back.

Tim Ring's wife in New Market was buried yesterday.

My Dear - tell Annie Sullivan her age out of the Parish Book. She was baptized the l9th of June 1842. That leaves her 15 years and her brother 2 years younger. Aunty tells me he was baptized in Kerry.

Dear Anne: I expect your Uncle Dan will send me his and your likeness or model by next letter if possible. Until I will see you both once more it would give your Mother and me and all the family the greatest pleasure to see it often.

My Dear. I hope your Uncle will not be offended for asking such. I see likeness come from America by many. So soon as I receive yours I'll strive to get your Mothers and mine to send to you both.

I expect your Uncle will fulfil his promise in having ye come to visit us so soon as possible where there would be thousands of welcomes. Many wants to persuade me I'll never see ye again. I would forfeit my life on your worthy Uncle's promise. My confidence is in God.

I'll have the pleasure of seeing ye shortly and my little family and Uncle John altho very delicate in health prays to God often to see ye once more. Do not forget sending the likenesses when convenient.

When Sister Honora is vexed or made cry she will sit down and cry enough saying God be with you Annie. We don't tease her of late. Through means of it she is going wild without looking into her book. Only visiting at her Sisters vieing with which she would stop the longer.

Eliza cannot go but seldom to visit them. Their husbands respects her highly. She tells you not to be a bit concerned for not sending any remembrance but be better pleased to see her Uncle and you than all in the whole world.

My Dear do not feel lonesome. There are people farther off than you coming home in numbers from Sidney and Australia. Let me know in your next letter if you are inclined.

To conclude give my kind respects and your Mother's brother, Sisters and Uncle John to your Uncles Dan, John and his lady, Denis and his lady and children. Also Timothy and Lady and children, your cousin and comrade Annie and her brother Dannie. A blessing from God may attend you all and not forgetting you Dr. child Anne. I remain yours truly.

William Cotter

N.B. - I feel highly obliged to you brother Denny and to the mistress for the kindness given my child in the absence of her worthy Uncle. (John) Dr. Anne do not forget letting me know in your next where Uncle John is now living.

Mary Cotter

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