Richard Golden's Letter October 1850
Mr. Jasper Golden
care of Mr. Anthony Pettypiece,
Anderdon,
Amhertsburg
America Canada West
Rathscanlon October the 22nd 1850
Dear Brother & Sisters
I now take pen in hand to answer the long looked, long wished for letter we rec'd on the 16th of October. We rec'd paper on the 23rd of July that you sent from Kingston which very much comforted us. We rec'd 3 papers up to the Letter & 2 with the Letter. One of Maria's writing & one of yours Jasper. Dear Jasper I cannot express to you how I felt on the night I parted ye. I slept that night in John Blacks & came home next morn. You may imagine how I joined the family & my Mother far better than I expected, the Lord strengthening her. We were then uneasy to know the certainty of your sailing. If we knew ye were so long in the pool I certainly would be down. perhaps as well not. We got your note from Oyster Island on the 22nd of May which settled us. John took sick of Scarlet fever on the 16th of May, was ill for 14 days, and then got well & remained so for a week when he took a relapse & swelled all over particularly his face & head & chest. Ye would be surprised to see him on the 11th of June, he took such a change that we thought he was dying. Mr. Hamilton said so too. We sent twice for the Doctor but he was not at home that day. So the next day John was getting better thank God & recovered ahead & now as well as ever and growing wonderfully since. From the 8th to the 12th of June we were very uneasy about the sailing on account of a great wind as we thought was ahead. My Mother could not rest those nights. We see now that ye were in the gulf. Again we felt very uneasy on receipt of 2nd paper from you, you said hardly anything in it & we were thinking ye were sorry for going. We were also in doubt where ye were til we rec's a paper from Sarah about William Dukes' death for which we were very sorry.
We then knew ye were well off where ye were. in Aunt Sallies. My Mother was heartily thankful then. The first Sunday after ye Setting Sail Mr. Hamilton appointed me clerk in Church place of Bartley but the Dean opposed him & kept in Bartley. Mr H would give a thief s penny worth of him. Our Sunday School is doing well. We have an Adult class in Church on Sunday morn. Mr. H. has a young heir and he is doing well. I spent a pleasant night after receiving your letter with him & Lady. Both were thankful to hear from ye. He has no day school as yet. Our crops are middling good. 4 stacks of oats & 1 of wheat. The wheat was good and our crop of turnips is very good. Our potatoes are better than we expected. We commenced digging them as early as the 15th of July. They were then very good. We expect when collected to have about 5 barrels of eating potatoes. The foal is doing very well and we expect to exchange him soon. We kept the cows all the year but sold all other stock, 1 year old heifer calf. Rich Phillips got a letter from William. Mr Cooper did not speak of any rent of your farm. We did not pay the rent called in September nor any in Town except Clarke. They were all noticed to quit, we as well. We expect to sell one of the cows soon to pay rent, in that country there is no such work. Let us know in your next how soon you think we may be going out. All is well if my Mother be able then but as for that who can promise themselves any time, but it is very encouraging to us all that my Mother was not well from her stomach she says these 17 years past. but she is very subject to headaches. She thinks Jasper's medicine is doing very well with her. Jack Benson returned from America. He is no in Sligo, he and wife and father-in-law. John Golan wrote twice home to Clonacurrow from that country. He says they were almost wrecked by floating ice coming down. John Walker is married to Betty Black & doing very badly & Eliza, his sister married. Rebecca Connor teaching for Mr Armstong. I cannot say what salary. John Morrison struck his sister that was married to Hugh Lougheed with tongs and broke her scull. The Doctor says she will not recover. All other friends are well & remain as they were when ye were here. Pat Dolden says he will go to America. I slept in Richard Phibbs' on Sunday night last. They are still grieved. Mr. Phibba is very much discouraged in going. They think waiting til they take off another crop. They expect we might be going and he told me he would post a letter this day. The Dukes are very grieved particularly the Mother John would like to know if Sarah has his little Book. We are surprised you said nothing about Fanny at all. Let me know if your crops are heavy & how heavy. I wrote to Mr Potter when I got your Letter & to Mr. Frazier. Both requested me to do so a long time ago. Clonacurrow people are all well. I was in it yesterday. Let us know what is Sarah's employment in the Doctors. My Mother sends her sincere and hearty thanks to her Sister Sally for her great kindness to us. She expects to express her thanks face to face at the request of ye one day. Since we all had that pleasure which Christian Brethren feel on their fellowship with each other. but now though absent in body yet present with each other & the Lord we hope that each of ye not forget the goodness of God both in his providence & Grace towards ye & also towards us and that he may prolong his many mercies til we see each other face to face. My Mother can eat the potatoes this year every day to dinner & sleeps well at night & she does not forget your last words, nor will she til she sees ye again. My Father expects to be footing the stools in that place yet. We sent ye 3 papers. We sent on to Toronto in care of Aunt Fanny thinking we were there. First let me know if ye got them. My Mother often says she misses you, Jasper.
Rich Golden
At this point the writer resorts to writing across the pages to get more limited space.
We send our best respects to Aunt Sally, Sarah & Anthony, William and his wife & family. I hope my Aunt will stand my place. I answered for Anthony but it is impossible for me to answer hor him in America. Margaret Golden says Sarah promised to send some account to her. We did not laugh so much at any time since we went then soon reading the enclosure of the Girls; ye will laugh too. The next Letter we will be expecting an account of Aunt Fanny. Ned Jenkins was happy to hear from his friend. My Mother is uneasy about Aunt Fanny as ye said not one word about her. William West, George's son, sent home 3 newspapers unopened til we read them. The ink you had in Kingston was far better than any since e could read par of them. Some of them we could hardly read. Anyway as soon as you get a Situation let us know. We would be tter pleased if you could get a Clerkship than a School. John Brett did not speak about any money. Since our rates are stuck at 3 pence your papers comfort us very much. All friends and neighbours are thankful for your account of America. There is a female Teacher wanting in Balisodare. Frissle is falling into decline. I wish I could send you one of Connel Track, the School Master that wa in Mr. Hamilton when you were hers is a Bible reader in Ballinasloe. We are still in good health & hope this will find ye in the same. We have nothing more in particular to say, so I must conclude in saying we are happy for ye going , for so far. We all send our Love to ye & the above people which we hold most Dear to heart.
From your affectionate Parents, Sisters and Brother
Rich Golden
My Mother would like to let ye know the Tobacco is rising and let us know the reason thereof.
RG
Send us more account of the Country in your next Letter
I remain yours Rich Golden
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Richard Golden's letter to Jasper Golden May 19 1851
Thanks
(Anything in the [ ] brackets are my notes. Jan)
Rathscanlon, May 19th 1851
My Dear brother and sisters.....
That cheering and encouraging letter which we were looking for arrived on the 6th of May. I need not be describing the comfort it brought, particularly to my poor mother. [ANN BLACK GOLDEN]. She is in a middling state of health at present, thanks to Almighty God for that and all other Mercies to us unworthy creatures. & O, what a privilege to hear from our most beloved friends who are always on our minds, almost taking the place of Him who requires our first and best thoughts. But God Almighty grant of His goodness for Christ's sake , for any anxiety or suffering we not fall from Him with whom we have to do.
We were also happy to hear how well my Aunt Sarah [SARAH BLACK GOLDEN] and cousins [William, John, Anthony and Sarah [PETTYPIECE] are. May God bless them for their kindness to you. You would be comfortless dear Jasper, only for them. We hope the Lord will prolong our lives another twelve months to see ye, also to thank our beloved Aunt and cousins for all their acts of kindness. You have still to admire the goodness of God in supporting us on the little means we have, as you and I often did.
Our stock is as good as when ye went. We sold the mare and foal at November and bought £/5.7.6 worth of hon. (sic). I have the most of that money earned in plowing. Mr. H., [probably referring to his Landlord, O'HARA], the same kind man still. He got the Dean's plowing for me which came to 1.10.0.
We joined Mrs. BEATTY of Rue. We bought an iron plow for £2.1.6, a very nice but a light one. Let us know if you will encourage us to bring it with us, if so, we would keep it. We have only our potatoes set. We have some over.
We have had a very late spring but this month is coming on very favorably. We have about an acre and a half planted and intend to plant 3 more of turnips. We have half an acre of wheat sown. It did not make much progress yet. Have two acres of oats. It appears well. We had not enough grass of our own. We bought Roger GOLDEN's grass for £4.0.0. You know there is a good piece of meadow on it which will draw half of that money.
Now I must let you know about the friends. Mr. HAMILTON and lady and baby are all well and very happy to hear from ye. My Uncle Dick and his family are well. John is still unmarried. Mrs. EERAUS house-keeps for him.
Aunt Mary HENDERSON is well. She is in Sligo yet and all the family. Eccles was home on a visit from the Army. They are gate-keeps of the old Abbey.
Mrs. POWELL and family are much the same way in health, but not the same respect. Elicia got married to Robt. IRWIN about a half year ago and lives in the big house with Robert. Mr. FRAZER and family are well. Mrs. GOLDEN is well. Mrs. FRIZZEL is well but Miss FRIZZEL gave up teaching on account of bad health. She is not very bad now. Miss BLACK teaches in her place. I wrote you about the death of Mr. POTTER. You never spoke about him so I doubt if you got that paper. I also sent two papers written with ink. I think ye ought to have them before ye wrote. Benson is in Tubbercurry dealing as before. The reason of his return, I think no person knows. Ellen stopped in New York and the rest of them came back. All in this town. John MULLARKEY came home too and is in this town. He left the two eldest sons in America. Tommy CONNOLY is home.
Margaret GOLDEN is married to James CARROLL. Both go to church. They are living in Mathew GORE's house. Our cousins the BRETT's are well in America. George, their brother went at Christmas. He brought a wife with him by the name of Emily GUFF. I think ye know her (big George's sister). George got hurt on the vessel and he is in hospital in America. The girls sent their mother home £5.00 They are well at home. The MORRISON's are all gone to America. LOUGHEEDs except Jane that married Hugh LOUGHEED. Dick McGee's family are all gone to America. Mrs. FERGUSON's widower Clifford is married to Miss O'CONNOR, James GOLDEN's sister-in-law. Miss FERGUSIN, Robert BLACK's sweetheart is also married to a young man near Ballymote. Bessie WEST has gone to America. She went with the MORRISON's. Miss WALLIS is gone also. Pat GOLDEN is about going to America. There came no letter to Cloonacurrow from America, but what Willis sent. We hear Rich. PHIBBS got one lately. The old Uncle is well, at least he was well a month ago. I was down then. John BLACK, wife and child are well. Katherine FERGUSON's husband and daughter are well and doing well. Henry CONNOR is well and all the family.
Mrs. ROGERS was teaching school in Chafpool and the priest opposed it and Mrs. ARMSTRONG gave it up. Her son is well. John MORRISON, Bob's son died last Christmas. I was sorry for him. Old Jack POWELL is dead. He left his carriage and all to Pat COAN. Old Jack YOUNG in Ballisadare is married.
Wm. GOLDEN, Mrs. GOLDEN's brother in Ballisadare came in to Tubbercurry and stopped half a year and then to Sligo to the poorhouse and two of his children are dead since he went. Jane WALKER of Carrane is gone to America.
Wm. WEST (George's son) sent home £6.0.0 to his father. His sister Jane went to America. Wm. WEST (Tom's son) is still in the Police. I sent you a paper that he sent me.
The toothache pays me a visit betimes. My mother [Ann BLACK GOLDEN] hopes to see ye in America, God willing. My father [Richard Jasper GOLDEN] does be often thinking and planning how we will leave a row of trees behind the house. Then he says from all the ground William has [William PETTYPIECE, who had immigrated the year before], if we have to go back farther in the bush, God help us. I hope Jasper [GOLDEN, his brother] will choose a good farm. It is very particular you ought to be in choosing a spot where we expect to live on earth. Anthony and John [PETTYPIECE] will assist you in making a choice. We are very happy Sarah [GOLDEN, his sister] is in a religious family, and that she is content, and I hope she will see my father's house surrounded by a good number of hens.
Let us know as soon as possible how Maria [GOLDEN his sister] is situated and if content. It is lawful now to write in a paper if a person pay one penny for stamping it anywhere through the British Settlements.
We expect that you will not forget to send us papers at least every fortnight or sooner. I wonder at Cousin Sarah's [PETTYPIECE] patience in waiting to get married till we go over. [She shouldn't of waited, as she never did marry!] I wonder how I forgot to mention and speak of John and family [PETTYPIECE] in our last letter but as I did I hope he will excuse me for I often prove awkward in many things. I hope my son Anthony [PETTYPIECE --referring to Godson, son of William PETTYPIECE, who was only a few days old when he sailed for Canada] is doing well and that William [PETTYPIECE] would bring him up in the fear of the Lord. I promised since for a son of Louis's a namesake of my own. I do not intend to promise for any other child in this country.
Our Sunday school is doing well. Henry CONNER still attends it. We do have good congregations [this would most likely be St.George's Church of Ireland, in Tubbercurry]. We had on the 5th of May 105 people at Church.
Dean HARE went to Waterford. He is replaced by a Lord MONTMORREY. I fear an exchange for the worse. Mr. O'BRIEN will get an atlas for you. Do not forget to remember us to William [PETTYPIECE] and his kind wife, John [PETTYPIECE] and family and also Thomas PETTYPIECE [? cousin of other Pettypiece's mentioned]. If the bush is a lonely place he must be very lonely. It is my mother's wish she was there, then her wish would be fulfilled, but she says she will venture, at any rate, this year will be the longest passed for many years. Winny would wish when you would be writing to Aunt Fanny to inquire about his brother James' family. Do not forget to let us know in your next what requisites will be necessary to bring with us and if farming implements are cheap and easy to get.
Mother is still in doubt about my Aunt Fanny and would like if you would be good enough to remove her doubts. Sarah GOLDEN wished to know if my mother fretted much. Not much now, it was mingled with joy ever since she heard of ye being at my Aunt's [Sarah BLACK PETTYPIECE]. She was wonderfully eased.
Jasper's [GOLDEN] medicine proved good. She uses it still. I cannot say whether any of the PHIBBS will go out or not. I saw none of them this long time.
My mother thinks John lost all his good nature since he went to America. She says he was not so before he went. She hopes she will have nothing to answer of the promise she made for him. So I must conclude. We sent our love to you dear Jasper, Maria & Sarah and Aunt and Cousins. May the Lord bless ye.
[signed] Richard GOLDEN.
PS: John is well. He sends his love to you and M & S.
Wm. REID is gone to America this season.
Waldport Oregon
pettypiece@casco.net
Richard Golden letter to Jasper 1851 I think
Dear Jasper,
W. Cooper did not speak about any of your money but we did not do anything nor even showed him the order left for fear he might sue for the remainder. We paid no rent in March if we can get time til the rent is called in harvest we will be compelled to pay a years rent it will fail us to make it on butter up to that time, we have Cess also to make up in summer and we will want a little provision. It would be also needful to buy some wool for frize you know it would be late at January when you say you would send us help so we think if ye could send about 6 pounds as fast as ye can after receiving this letter it would answer better than to wait for all to January. There is also a bill still due to John Brett about 50. We must pay it about harvest to sell any of our cattle would be breaking ourselves in many ways for two of them are sprippers (stupprs?) they will go twice as much when they are calving in winter & spring.
My Mother takes some spirits constantly to take a pain in her head now & then she acts ascending to the rule you prescribed.
We were not driven for rent since ye went and I hope will not either when W. O’Brian sends an enclosure we are still living in peace and quietness both in the family & with the neighbours.
May the Lord Bless ye & us til we meet beyond the water.
Sarah did to send us a paper of a long time. Your last words are still sounding in my Mother’s ears we still remain ye in our prayers. I suppose we cannot avoid doing so til we must if it is the will of the Lord we be. All spared til that day I must conclude.
Jasper & sisters may the Lord Bless ye,
Richard Golden
Oakville, October 19 1853
My Dear Jasper,
We got home happy & well thankful for our visit, I must say for my part I never enjoyed a visit so much as it, you always spoke well of that family but we found the truth of all, in my opinion I never saw nicer people in their circumstance, their religious manner I admire most, I believe them to be truly religious give them my best respects and all the family join me in sending our love to ye, the girls ought to be well pleased I us to be gone they had so much to do. I expect Mr. Digins met ye on Monday even according to promise and many brought to the penitent forum, if the man continues then the Devil must make a shameful back out. I never heard such a thundering preacher before.Your Sunday school I admired but it is not to be wondered at while the people are so united & while they have such a man at their head as Mr. Hooper?. I was indeed delighted with his prayer on opening school, all I saw I liked, the place, people & their manner, may they go on in the ways of wisdom. I hope many families uphold family prayer as ye do in such a humble spirit, in my opinion if our Savior was on earth & wandering from place to place he would chose that family for his residence it so much resembles the one he love & abide in at once I was struck with the feeling that God was surely there, they cannot but prosper for Godliness has the promise & my Mothers health is a little better but not much hope of it continuing. She was happy to hear from us such a favourable account of your place. I hope they will try & come up to see us.
My Father very well & so are all the family we called over to see ?? as we came up. I was not in town since to enquire about your letter let me know in your next of the boy Clarke shot died.
Clarke is very well known about him bearing the same character there. I hope they will not hang him.
Remember me to Mrs Fox & family let not Miss Coatsworth think I am forgetting her kindness. I spoke of her as a member of the family.
I need no admonish ye to be kind and affectionate to each other for more I would not wish ye than you will excuse this for indeed I am more fit for sleep than writing at this time but I could not help trespassing on my sleep to remind ye of ye the kindness doing otherwise. I would prove ungrateful.
So forward my Dear Brother yours in the bond of affection & Christeen love.
Richard Golden
Let me know how you like the name I have given to our residence if you it, I will stand.
RG
Last updated: October 11, 2024