Letters to William Fargher, 1833-1849

Introduction

The son of William and Eleanor Fargher, William, ch 1806, emigrated in 1832 to Michigan via Rochester. The first letter is from his mother, the second is written on behalf of his mother by his sister-in-law Eleanor ( Corlett) Fargher, the third by his sister-in-law and the fourth by his brother John

Letters

Isle of Mann Kk Andreas Lhen Mooar Febry 20th, 1833

Very Affectionate Son

I have taken this opoortunity of writing these few lines unto you hoping to find you in a good state of health as it leave us at present, we received your letter the 5th of February which we were very glad to hear of you being in a good state of health. We never expected to hear any word of you no more. I am a [] here than when you left the Isle of Man. Your brother and sisters is very well at health but never expects to see you in this world but hope to meet you in a better

The cholera have been in this island but have not visited us and by the blessing of Almighty God, we are yet spared. Thanks be to God for it. we have been informed in different letters that the manks folks in America gets on very poorly which we are very sorry to hear of you being in such a bad [], but the crops have been pretty well in this country this last season and the herring fishery have been very well. The cattle is a very great price, cows from seven to nine pounds,

William Quayle received a letter from son, Anguis, two days before we received your letter, which we got account of you being at work, which we were very glad to hear and we wishes to know what did you do with the letter that was sent with you to Ann. ?andler and we wishes to know whether you have seen or heard of her or no and we wishes to know what work are you at and what wages do you get, Thomas Goldsmiths mother have been here getting account of your letter and she inquires what do they do with their riches and do they get the gold on the bushes as you expected. Brother John have no notion of coming to America because he thinks to have a better place in the Isle of Man. We have no account of any manks folks to sail for America this year, Let us know if you are for coming home again or no. Jane Sayle Brause sends her kind love unto and inquires be it worth for to come out or no. Have got no account of Wm. Teare and family or James Kissack. Richard Drew and Robert Teare are took very ill, and I may safely say you will never see them any more in this world. James Kaighen is very well at health and gives his best.

Love unto you.

To Mr. William Farragher Manks-man Rochester County Monroie State of Newyork America

Lhen Mooar K.K. Andreas Isle of Man October 10, 1834

Dear Son

I have taken the opportunity of writing to you once more to inform you that we are all at good health. Thanks be to the Lord for the same. We received your letter in July last which we were very glad to hear of you being in a good state of health and getting on very well which makes me a deal of comfort. I would inform you that brother John and wife is in with us and he has buried his son a few weeks ago, Sister Ann is now in Mrs. Christians in Ramsey and she is resolved to come to America and she wants to know whether you are going to stop or to come home because if yo are coming home she will not come out and if not you will let her know how will she get out. Daniel Gawne, your old master has a notion of coming out too. I would try to inform you about the affairs of the Isle of Man. The corn is very cheap, potatoes is very reasonable, cattle is very high prices, horses is very reasonable. Let us know how is the crop in America this year and how is the price of cattle, corn, potatoes, fruits etc. We hear of a deal of the people in America been getting on very poorly and that they would be very glad to get to the Isle of Man again.

We inform you that your brother and your sisters are all at good health and that your mother is failing a little but thanks be to God she is stoute of her age and she wants to know are you doing well and are you for coming again to the Island and she is very well place for what you have give her & to let you know of all your neighbors and that they are all going well. John Corlett wants to be remembered to you and all the family Thos Corlett your cumrade hath been thinking of you. Several times in his sickness he taught it was a severe cold he got at the strand last Christmas, which last him to summer but he is getting better which he did not think he would come through to this world, but thanks to be God for his mercy to me that he hath spared me yet in the land of the living which I suffered enough by pains in the head which the Doctor Harrison did cupt and blead me several times and I am getting better.

We did not hear of my Brother William Corlett since last year which he inform us he was sailing on the lakes at Cleveland and gets very good wages but we long to hear from him. waiting every day for a letter home to let you know that the manservants is very brisk and gets very good wages but the farmers cannot afford it for the rents is very high and the grain is very low. Wheat is 18 shilings per bol but mutton and beef is pretty high 6 per pound and the herring fishing pretty well this season some hath 25 to the mans shears the [they] say this season to let you know your old sweethearts hath got husbands but the are all going on very well. As for the cholera Morgus [sic Morbus] hath not been in the island of Man this season. Thanks be to God for his mercy to us all. So no more at presant from your dear Mother and Well wishers, Sister Ann wants you to write home as soon as you can.

Mr William Farragher State of Michigan Clinton County Rochester Colony Owosso post Office

March 15, 1841 Isle of Man Kk, Andreas Lane Moar

Elnor Farragher your kind Mother hath wrote to you these few lines once more hopeing they will find you both in a good state of health as these leaves us all at present, thanks be to God for the same.

We received your last letter in October 1839 which we are sorry that we don't hear from you. Tell us of America and your crops and prices of grain and your own farm. How are you getting on with it, are you improveing in it well and have you got a wife of your own , yet is time, Now we hast not much things to inform you of. In the Isle of Man this last season the crops was not very good last season with us the prices is very fair Wheat 30 shillings per boll Barley per boll 22, oates per boll 16, the potatoes is per boll 8 shillings and the herring fishing was slight. To tell you of the new law for the tithe done settled at so much as acre. Your place the tithe of it is 11 shillings every year now, Your Mother tells you there that she is failing in health. John and the wife and the children is at good health and stout one of the boys is so fat as you could see, and James is learning his trade for a taylor with Philip Corlett, him and they want you to tell to them is it worth. them coming to you, Tell us of the wages and is it good for girls to come to you as they are thinking of coming next year, Cathrine Corlett in four or five years.

All the family wants to be remembered to you both and hast Ann your sister got a husband yet, They are marrying in the Isle of Man now at ly [sic ?early] years, Common John Callister, your old master is thrice married now and the people of the Isle of Man hath got teetotaled from all spirits, the most of them has, ------ Tommy Marchant is total and making money.

Your Mother hath heard that Ann her daughter is failing and, she is sorry to bear of but write home as soon as possible and tell are you thinking of coming home no more as she would wish to see you once more in this world or prepare to meet in the world to come to all eternity.

So no more at presant from your deer Mother.

To Mr William Faragher and to the care of Thomas Teare Duplin Clinton County Michigan North America

January 18th 1849

We have taken the opportunity of ritting these fue lines to you hoping this will find you In a good state of health now as it tis with us all at present. Only your Mother, she hast been very ill by one of her hands, a great many bones came out of it [? arthritis], but it tis better now.

I am makeing new nets, I had a very good season this last year, I have a wife and two boys and two girls, the youngest girl is 8 years, And boys is a live yet and is makeing there home of our house, James Cain is a tailour and was learned with Phillip Corlett, Daniel Skiner is sailing with Charles Teare on the Defiance of Ramsey and is getting 25 shillings per month, Thomas Corlett is dead about 2 years ago, James Corlett is dead about 4 years, Phillip Corlett is in America and Cathrine and Margret and Edward Corlett, they are all in Cleveland, Edward Corlett wrote home and he could not give us no account of you, we were inquiring of every every letter that was coming from America for you, but could get no account of you. we were thinking that you were dead ___. We got the ticket wich was in Mr. Teares letter, Mother and I is very glad that you and Ann is yet alive, Let us know is the place you are in a good place, because if it tis, that us all will come to you.

John wife is wanton to be remembered to Ann Faragher, James Lawson is in Cleavelan. The potatos has been very bad since you left the Isle of Man by some rot that came among them, but they are getting better but they are very deare They are 17 shillings per bowl, the wheat is 20 shillings per bowl, the barley is 19 shillings per bowl, oats is fifteen shillings per bowl.

Here is a fue lines from your oldest Nephew William Faragher.

1, Death has been here and borne away
A brother from our side
Just in the morning of his day
As young as we he died,

2. We cannot tell who next may fall
Beneath thy chastening rod
One must be first put let us all
Prepare to meet our God,

3, May each attend with willing feet
The means of knowledge here,
And wait around thy mercy seat
With hope as well as fear,

4, All need full strength is thine to give
To thee our souls apply for grace
To teach us how to live,

5, Then to thy wisdom and thy care
We would resign our days
Content to live and serve thae here or die and sing His Praise,

please to rite as soon as possible.

No no more at present from yoar deare Mother an your deare brother John Faragher.

Acknowledgements

To the family for allowing me access.