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This letter was transcribed thanks to the considerable efforts of Wendy Jack. The footnotes were prepared by myself and then verified (and corrected or amplified) by Wendy. Many of the letters are the property of Betty Whiteside and/or Wendy Jack. Any researchers who wish to make further use of them should check with them first.
Sharon Oddie Brown, modified June 8, 2005

 

Kingsden Park
Knock
Belfast
Aug 11th/06

My dear Sally [1] ,

             Thank you for your very kind letter.  I cannot begin to tell you about my dear old man [2] , only he was so ill at last, we were thankful to see him at rest.  We were 42 years together all but a month.  I send you P.O. for £7. Six is yours and the other will you send to Tom [3] from me.  I would like to do more but cannot at present.  I did not send Ellen McMahon [4] any money.  James [5] was here and advised me not, that if you had any to spare it would be better to give it to Tom [6] .

    I was very glad to hear you were so much better.  Take good care of yourself and do not do so much.  Have you heard of Mr. McKean's [7] death.  I wrote to Annie [8] . They only sent a card so I have not heard any particulars.  Andy [9] leaves us on the 21st of this month.  We will miss him greatly.  Jim [10] has not got his length yet.  Willie [11] writes that he hopes to get home next spring.  Only think, he gives me £144 yearly now.  Is he not good - and the other boys have been very good also.  We have a very snug wee house here and a good garden.  Cis [12] was at Slieveroe for a week, at the ordination of a new minister, a Mr. Montgomery. She brought Mollie [13] back with her.  They were all well in Slieveroe [14] .

    I have no news.  Cis [15] will write you soon.  I have been very poorly however I think I am improving.  I hope Mr. Whiteside [16] and the children are well.  Give my love to them.  I forgot to say the property at Dromault [17] is yours and Cis's [18] now and she has put it in Mr. Martin's [19] hands to collect the rents and send you your share as we were afraid we could not manage it.  I can not give you any statement of A/Cs  I just send you half of what came.  Now dear I must stop.

Good bye and God bless you all,  Your loving sister

                                             Mary Reid [20]


[1] Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside b. 1852

[2] William Reid, husband of Mary Reid, d. 26 May, 1906 – a little over two months before this letter

[3] Thomas McCullagh, brother of  Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside

[4] Ellen McMahon (?)

[5] James McCullagh, brother of  Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside

[6] Thomas McCullagh, brother of  Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside

[7] William McKEAN (1822-Aug 6, 1906) of Millmount, Keady. I believe he owned mills at Laragh.

[8] Annie McKEAN, daughter of William MCKEAN & Mary Anne Jane BARTLEY.

[9] Andrew Reid, son of  William & Mary Reid

[10] possibly a son of the sender, James McCullagh REID

[11] William Reid 1866-1923 – NOTE in other correspondence, he is noted as being in Yokohama  Could it be HSBC?

[12] Sally McCullagh Reid, daughter of  William and Mary Reid b. 1870, age 36 at time of letter

[13] probably Mary McCullagh, age 16, daughter of Andrew Bradford McCullagh & Margaret (Jackson) McCullagh

[14] Slieveroe, Co. Monaghan where Margaret McCULLAGH née JACKSON lived.

[15] Sally McCullagh Reid, daughter of  William and Mary Reid b. 1870, age 36 at time of letter

[16] William Sherlock Whiteside

[17] Dromault – I need to check this. Probably an alternative spelling.

[18] Sally McCullagh Reid, daughter of  William and Mary Reid b. 1870, age 36 at time of letter

[19] William MARTIN, land agent handling accounts in Ballybay.

[20] Mary (McCullagh) Reid, sister of Sarah “Sallie” (McCullagh) Whiteside

 

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