11th
July [1873][1]
New York
Dear Sister[2],
I do not kmow what you will think of me for not writing to you before
this and all the excuse I can make is the old sore "laziness". Indeed I may say that I have not had
time. N. York has been my abode now for
nearly three months and I cannot say much in its fovour as it is very difficult
to get respectable employment. I have
got into a wholesale business at ten dollars a week, but I intend to change as
soon as possible as the work is very hard and the hours long and you know very
well that it does not agree with my stomach.
I like the country very well, only I did not care so much for the Boss I
was with he and I had a falling out, indeed we were nearly coming to the
fists at all events, I told him to pull
out the cash and so goodbye to the west.
Tom[3]
knows one eyed Bill Spur[4],
it was with him I was hired.
Well
Sal, there is no use talking, a city is the place to live, by --- a person
would see more life here in a day than you would during a life time in the
country indeed I must say there is one thing not in its favour
"temptations" on all sides, some of which it is very difficult for a
youth to avoid but you know I am a very steady young man.
I
hope all are well in the old home and Drummuck[5]
and Caddagh[6], remember me
to old Mr. Breakey[7] & Tom[8]
and the rest of my well-wishers.
You
remember a woman[9] used to come
to see Nancy Rogers[10]
I wish you could get Nancy's address from her and send it in your next. I would like very much to see old Nancy.
I had
a volume more to say only I cannot remember it now, as I am very sleepy.
Ever your affectionate brother Andy[11]
address
238 West 30th Street,
N.Y.
write very soon
[1] The year of the letter is imputed from a letter July 25, 1873 where the father of Andrew Bradford JACKSON is anxious about him and there is a reference to finding an address for “Nancy JACKSON”.
[2] “Sal” or “Sallie” Sarah McCULLAGH who would marry William WHITESIDE
[3] Thomas McCULLAGH (1854-1920), brother of “Sal” and “Andy”
[4] It is most likely that Bill SPUR is known only to Andy and that he resides in America.
[5] Drummuck – another branch of the McCULLAGHs lived there.
[6] Caddagh. At a later date, Matthew McAuley RUTHERFORD lived there and it may be that RUTHERFORDs lived at Caddagh at this time.
[7] John BREAKEY (-1878) of Drumskelt.
[8] Tom Cathcart BREAKEY, the author of the Breakey Memoir that I am transcribing and footnoting and will get posted to this site in the fullness of time.
[9] “a woman” – is he being coy here?
[10] In another letter (July 25 1873 his father writing to his sister), he is said to be interested in Nancy JACKSON. CLUES? The only ROGERS that I have so far is that a James ROGERS married Mary COULTER (1759-?). Mary was a sister of the Samuel COULTER who was the father of the famous botanist, Thomas COULTER. There is a Daisy ROGERS in Jeannie MOORHEAD’s birthday book
[11] Andrew Bradford McCULLAGH ( -1897), brother of “Sallie” Sarah WHITESIDE née McCULLAGH and future husband of Margaret JACKSON (1853-1944)