well then I was determined to without fail I went to tell Mr Scott I woul [d] the loom
but to my grief it was engaged. ...ever & was determind the very first thing I could meet
[with] to accept of it for I was reduc to the last extremity, I applied once more among the
merchts. where I met with Mr Broaddus. I went up to him with my hat in hand as humble
as any Irishman and ask him if he wanted a person of my description (put on yr hat
Said he. we are all a free people here
we all enjoy equal freedom & privilages) ---he
hesitated a little and said, I believe I do -- he ask o me where I was from and how long
since I landed & Some other Questions and we closed out bargain I told him if he
wanted any recomendation I could satisfy him in that, no he said my looks was suggicient
he would take me upon honour and he likewise advanced me some money which I stood
in need of & he said he would neither take writing nor any thing else that if I was
satisfied SO was he.
& since I came home he has treated me more like a brother than I
stranger & I can say I am better content that ever I was in my life & thank god has my
health fully as well. The[re] are but fiew Methodists in this part of the country
I
generally go to hear preaching about once mile of[f] at a Presbeterian meeting house, that
is the only one of the kind there is in this part of the country. I wrote to Counsin
Elisabeth Whaly shortly after I came here but she never answerd it SO we have had but
little correspondence. I would be glad this Letter would be the means of encouraging any
of my acquaintances over for I can assure them it is the best & pleasantest country ever
was whether the[y] have friends or not to come to. & I would feel very happy if I thought
you had the most distant idea of it Tell Thos Waugh Uncle Thompson & Henry
Megarry that by no means to let hte thoughts of coming over out of their hearts for I
James Richey, Trenton, Kentucky, to his parents, Ireland, 13 August 1819
Description
James Richey relates to his parents of news of mutual acquaintance in the Montreal, but James wants him to quit the "British Settlements" which he despises and come to America. Richey wants his brother William to make the journey to the United States as he knows that 'an English teacher here is worth £80 a year and a classical Teacher about Twice the sume if he is approvd. of". He also asks his father to consider emigrating there also with his family and 'enjoy the privilages of a free people [...] fradulently taken from us by force and arms'. Richey advises him of the benefits of America for farming considering that "the longer you stay where you are the worse" and that single people who can afford the passage should not be afraid of travelling with 'not more than a Dollar [...] as a fellow will put his hand to anything he can get work if he will do it". Richey gives news of 'some of his adventures" after he landed in Philadelphia, finding work with a merchant Mr Broaddus, who treated him as a brother, "I went up to him with my hat in his hand as humble as any Irishman [...] put on yr hat said he. we are all a free people here". Richey noted that "There are but few Methodists in this part of the country" so he instead went to a "Presbeterian meeting house" and hoped that this letter would be used as a means of encouraging his acquaintances to emigrate. He concludes by again recommending his family leave Ireland noting that two families could travel together nearly as cheap as one.
