4
last Summer I had to work again for another now Six months past from
Six untill eight oclock
this day we Setled accounts and the Scanty Sum
of £6-3-0 is coming to me (I may Say my hearts blood) and is now out of
work again [Still?] half the Sum---my God only Knows how much
your State grieves me and the State of my Dr Country at large not
Knowing perhaps but ye might be Some of the victims that has often
Caused my tears freely to flow on reading the publick paper o may the great
God Deliver ye my friend[s] my naighbours and my Dr Country at large
from that lawfull visitation
is it the prayer of yours my ever Drs if in my
Power faithful Son loveing father and affectionate brother
Daniel T. Shahan
P.S. I have written a few lines in memory of my uncle Henny breen
if his
Son Thoms wishes to have them let me Know his address in Tralee
ye will find
Them worth yr notice
they begin with the words mount earl end with the
word holy mount
the last word of each verse begins the next verse a part
of the poem on erin I will Send in the Said letter the rest Some time after the
Har[ ? ] / In grave deep in [aDorney?] my Dr Henny lies at rest / occured which
reluctantly extracted from me the encloased lines on [aDorney?] abbey and
are not at a great [
torn
]
My muse was rather dull between the hours of nine and ten
To any other attempt I bid adieu
Dr Brother I look to you
Another letter follows this under a black Seal
likewise I feel glad
To let ye Know the inside Contradicts the outside
I have taken this precation
Knowing the horable State of times at home for fear of a disappointment
N.B. I have directed ye in one of my former letter[s] how to proceed in the voyge
and when ye would Come to Quebec in case ye wer to Come out
further I
would expect ye would bring the books I remarked
Ketins1 history can be found
in limerick
I
have three [of] his [tomes?] of Ireland at present and lot[s] of fine religious
Book[s] besides among which are Doway Bible illustrated
I
wish for to
remark to you that I mean to Send a copy of the Same Guilt cover and
edges to my former parish priest the revd Dan Mcarty [i.e., McCarthy] if I meet
with any oppertunity on whom I can rely Yours D.T.S.
Keating's
Daniel T. Shehan [and Margaret Shehan], Stony Creek, near Hamilton, Canada West, to his mother, Mary Shehan, Ballylongford, Co. Kerry, 15 April 1847
Description
Daniel T. Shehan notes the "awfull picture" of Ireland which his family must bear at home, while he also laboured in severe weather and poor health. He reports of the birth of his son, named Thomas, in memory of his late father and late brother. He strongly advises that his Irish family sell up and come to Canada as "ye could not be worse of hear [off here]". Shehan offers to help them settle in and suggests his brother John could finish his three years in college in Canada and perhaps administer to the natives [as an ordained priest]. He then recommends they go to the States if possible. Shehan also mentions he has written lines in memory of his uncle Henny Breen, his son Thomas in Tralee. Appended to the end of the letter are some lines from Margret Shehan (Daniel's sister) to their mother advising her she had a son the previous January and advising her brothers, James or Daniel to "come to this country".
