William Barry, White Plains, New York, to his parents, County Cork, 2 September 1866
Description
According to information received by Schrier, William Barry returned to Ireland with arms for the Fenian rising of March, 1867, was smuggled back in a boat from Cobh to Queenstown, but arrived sometime after the rising. He subsequently married and settled down in County Cork and died young, leaving a widow and five children. How typical was Barry as a young Fenian recruit? He seems to have had the "exile mentality," although he seemed happy in America and doing well. He was working as a farm laborer in an orchard in White Plains. When he wrote, he was a little short of cash and needed some new clothes, but he wrote thatt "I am sure in about five weeks more I will be able to put 65 dollers in the Bank now for money here the man I am with is very rich there is no fear of him he would pay me every day or week or month if I like so he says he will give me a present too for he likes me well there is all kinds of fruit in abundance here apples Pear Cherries Currants and all kinds of Berries he has four large orchards so I can eat plenty of fruit without any cost and the best of Board for nothing and nothing to do in Sunday. "I am very glad you to give up the house and shop as I did not dream of going home for two years more if I do not go home before Christmas if I get the chance to do some good for Old Ireland at all events I am not sorry or do not blame you the least to give it up .... I do not think of ever making a home here but to same as much money as I can for a few years and go home Please God .... "
Date
02/09/1866
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/60/33
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
4pp
Topic
Barry Letter
Geographic
White Plains (city),Westchester (county),New York (state),United States,Cork (county),Ireland
Temporal
Nineteenth century,Eighteen sixties
Genre
Letter,Transcription
Note
Transcript text, title and description by Professor Kerby Miller.
