July 21. 38
Slieveroe
[Stranoden]
Monaghan
My dearest Sallie[1],
I think its about time you
were getting some news from the old country.
One of the cheeriest items is that Jack[2]
& family are home. We had him here
for five weeks. He left May[3]
& Terence[4] & his
amah with her mother in London so we had him all to ourselves. His little girl[5]
is in school in England, and when her holidays start, all are going to the sea
side. I really did not feel equal to
having the whole family here besides I feel May would be happier in or near
London, which is the headquarters of her mother & two widowed sisters. Jack looks real well & hardly a day
older for the last five years. He is
just the same loving home bird - never happier than when he is going about with
Tom[6]. Unfortunately the weather was not kind to
him. It rained almost all the
time. Indeed we are having a most
depressing wet cold summer, & a poor prospect of crops. We have fires still in the sitting rooms
fancy such a thing in July!! I am much better than I was, but I can't boast of
my walking achievements, but I have a wheeled chair, which the girls take me
out in[7],
when there is a glimpse of sunshine.
Otherwise I am really very well but I do miss not being able to fly
about as formerly. Sallie Gilmore[8],
though four years older than I am, is quite active but is very thin, while I
keep my condition wonderfully. She
lives principally with Eily[9]
her married daughter, in Dublin. She is quite happy there but is greatly
distressed over the long & seemingly hopeless illness of her youngest son
Tommy[10]. I
fear his is a case of T.B. He
and his wife[11] have been
in Switzerland for months, for the sunshine treatment, but so far no
improvement. Brownie[12]
& her flock are well. We see them
generally every week. Margaret[13]
has passed her entrance exam in Trinity & will be going to Dublin in Oct.
& George[14] has won a
£30 scholarship in the Royal School Armagh and is to go there after the summer
holidays. Samuel[15]
keeps well but is not allowed to study yet.
Thompson[16] & Blin[17]
"Hold the Fort" in Killynure.
Its a big change since the big houseful of long ago. Davy Gilmore[18],
his wife & 2 children are in Liscalgot & Urker belongs to Jim &
Molly Wright[19]. They bought it when Tommy Jackson[20]
sold it. Molly loves it for old times
sake. I have not been there since poor
Aunt Mary[21] died. How few of the old folk remain!
I had
a visit from Martha Carson[22]
last week. She was enquiring
particularly for you. I hope you keep
well also Clair[23] & Mary[24]
& their respective families. Love to them all including your dear old self.
Ever dearest
Your fond sister
Maggie[25]
[1] Sarah (McCullagh) Whiteside
[2] There are a bunch of assumption here that may or may not be right. I started with the thought that this is John McCullagh, son of Andrew Bradford McCullagh & Margaret (Jackson) (Reed) McCullagh. It could also be John Stephenson Reed WRIGHT (1877-1941) who had worked for HSBC as did his son Terence WRIGHT. If this is so, then the assumptions about “May” and “Terence” in the footnotes beneath are inaccurate.
[3] May Coltman
[4] John Terrence McCullagh
[5] Eileen McCullagh
[6] probably Thomas Jackson Reed, son of Robert Hamilton Reed & Margaret (Jackson) (Reed) McCullagh
[7] NOTE: unless I am mistaken, she is only 58 at this stage of her life
[8] Sarah (Jackson) Gilmore, wife of Eliezer Gilmore, sister of Sir Thomas JACKSON
[9] Edith Eileen (née GILMORE) RYDER (1890-1977)
[10] Thomas Jackson Gilmore, who died about 1939
[11] Marion Elizabeth ARKCOLL
[12] Alice Margaret (McCullagh) Alexander, wife of Andrew Alexander
[13] Margaret Rankin Alexander, daughter of Alice Margaret (McCullagh) Alexander
[14] George Alexander, son of Alice Margaret (McCullagh) Alexande
[15] Samuel Alexander (three years older than his brother, George, but seemingly in need of shelter)
[16] Thompson Brown jr.
[17] Sarah “Blin” Brown
[18] David Gilmore, son of Eliezer Gilmore & Sarah Jackson, husband of Elsie Muriel Coulter
[19] James Wright & Mary (Menary Wright (daughter of Mary Griffin)
[20] probably Thomas Dare JACKSON, so of Sir Thomas JACKSON
[21] Mary (Jackson) GRIFFIN, sister of Sir Thomas JACKSON
[22] Martha CARSON?
[23] Thomas Clair WHITESIDE, son of Sarah
[24] Mary Ione WHITESDIE, daughter of Sarah
[25] Margaret (née JACKSON) (REED) McCULLAGH, sister-in-law of Sarah WHITESIDE