(14)
not
old as one in Ireland at 22 and here they begin to primp and Keeps
company at IO years old, tis surprising to think of it. for my part I
seal
live single and free yet, and for all as I know my intended is not born
but I still entertain a hope of
other days such as has not come
yet. I wonder much Sister Jane & Brother Waugh never write to me.
I wish you would give them a scolding for me, Let me Know how all my
friends are separately if you have time and brothers & sisters for I
assure you it would give me a great satisfaction to have a letter
from every one of them, public papers describes the south of Ireland
to be in a desperate state of starvation please give me some particulars
of it in your next. I wish there were 20 or 30 Counties of you over here
for there are thousands of miles here the plow has never touchd nor
wont for many years. It has been extremely sickly here this fall and
many died but sickness has not took hold of me yet.I am nearly the same
as when I left you only not quite so heavy. Remember me to all friends
and write soon and I remain yr dutiful son
James Richey
Please excuse this scribble as it was done in haste when I ought to
1
have been a sleep in my bed
I2 o Clock
Hopkinsville
Nov I4 I822
Paid 25-
Mr-James-Richey
Lisburn-
For the British
Ireland.
packet
Via,
New York
James Richey, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to his parents, Ireland, 12 November 1822
Description
Writing at midnight "when I ought to have been a sleep in my bed" and with "nothing new or interesting about anybody" James Richey writes to his parents that "times [the economy] are very dull here as ever they were seen and I see by the Public prints that they are generally so all over Europe". He informs them that he is happy here "as a free born Son of America [...] where people can & makes & sanctions their own laws & government" and thus glad not to be living under "Kings and governors". He wishes his family a "merry Hollieve" which is not celebrated by Americans so he spent it in the company of the sole Irish family in town, natives of Derry. They were joined by some others and celebrated the event with "all the tricks and fortunes that are common for that day". Richey relates that according local custom, girls get married "about 14" if they can and are "called old maids" if instead "they get to the shady side of twenty". He expresses his surprise that locally girls even "begin to primp and Keeps company at 10 years old" and that a girl of fourteen here looks as old as a 22-year-old in Ireland. He concludes that the "Public Papers describes the south of Ireland to be in a desperate state of starvation" and requests further particulars of it from home.
Title and transcript by Professor Kerby Miller. This transcript includes handwritten corrections to original transcript from PRONI, made with reference to original letters. Letter description by University of Galway.
