The SIlver Bowl: 1874 October letter

I was glad to learn from Mary [2] & [M???] that your father was keeping so much better. I hope he continues to improve.

I suppose Minn [3] has written you since she went on her travels. I believe they are now at Kilarney [4] at least the last intimation I had of their proceedings they had settled a start for that place yesterday morg. I believe they enjoyed Dublin & its vicinity & the company very much.

Have you heard from Andy [5] lately. I wrote him soon after Aunt's death [6] telling him of her [lying] & saying, if it would be of use to him he would pay it as soon as possible & that Tom Jackson [7] would be happy to do anything he could for him. I have not had a reply & I think he cant have received my letter.

Would you look about the house & see if there is such a thing as an over coat of Andy Jackson's [8] there, he has lost a [????] [????] one. I know Jack [9] had the loan of one at one time from him but I think it came back, should it be there would you kindly pack it in a small hamper that went to Mary Reid [10] & send it to [Muirkin] & let me know.

Bessie [11] wants Mary [12] down to Kilynure [13] if she can so Thompson [14] will be up on Saturday for her.

The children here are well. Amy [15] is growing a dear little thing, & Kathleen [16] & Mary [17] [Menary] have [some ????].

Give my love to father & James [18] with a double portion for yourself. I am dear Sarah

[1] Sarah McCULLAGH, later WHITESIDE (1852-1939)

[2] Possibly Mary (née JACKSON) MENARY later GRIFFIN. She would have been widowed some six months earlier and she and her two year old daughter seem to be visiting Cavananore.

[3] probably Amelia Lydia (née Dare) JACKSON (1851-1844), wife of Sir Thomas JACKSON (1841-1915)

[4] The JACKSONs had a connection to Killarny that I have yet to learn about. Given that is is in Co. Kerry on the southwest coast of Ireland and their daughter Edith died in September at Cavananore, this is confusing to say the least.

[5] At first I thought this was probably Andrew Bradford McCullagh, future husband of Margaret Jackson and brother of Sarah McCULLAGH. Now I suspect it is Andrew Bradford OLIVER - brother of Mary Jane OLIVER.

[6] Would this be Mary (Bradford) McCullagh – wife of Thomas McCullagh? I don’t know when she died. On the other hand, it could be Margaret BRADFORD (1786-Aug 17, 1874) who died unmarried.

[7] Sir Thomas Jackson

[8] Andrew Coulter Bradford JACKSON (1846-1929), brother of Sir Thomas JACKSON

[9] John “Jack” McCullagh (brother of Sarah (McCullagh) Whiteside)

[10] Mary (née McCullagh) REID (?-1919), wife of William REID and sister of Sarah McCULLAGH

[11] Elizabeth “Bessie” (Jackson) Brown, wife of Thompson Brown

[12] possibly Mary (née JACKSON) MENARY, sister of Elizabeth (née JACKSON) BROWN(E)

[13] Killynure, Co. Armagh, family home of the BROWN(E)s and before that OLIVERs.

[14] Thompson Brown, husband of Elizabeth “Bessie” (Jackson) Brown

[15] possibly Amy Oliver JACKSON, daughter of Sir Thomas JACKSON and Amelia Lydia DARE. The puzzling this is that if the dating of this letter is accurate (and it may not be) then why is there no mention of the death of Amy’s twin sister a month earlier? It is also interesting that the parents are holidaying in Dublin And Kilarny without the children.

[16] possibly Kathleen McCullagh JACKSON, daughter of Sir Thomas JACKSON and Amelia Lydia DARE

[17] Mary Menary, daughter of Mary (Jackson ) Menary

[18] James McCullagh (brother of Sarah (McCullagh) Whiteside)

[19] Mary Jane OLIVER (1821-1875), aunt of Sir Thomas JACKSON and resident at Cavananore.