Drumlinney

Latinamard

Newbliss

Co. Monaghan

1/2/53

Dear Clair[1],

What a pleasant surprise it was getting a letter from you some time ago. I intended writing to you at once but as usual put it off from day to day.

I'm a married woman now Clair [???] got married in October 1945[2] to a man named Wilson Graham[3]. This place is only about two miles from Slieveroe so I go over there fairly often. Its a small farm my husband has, only about 25 acres, and although we both work hard its not easy to make ends meet. I would love to sell out & buy a farm in the North as farmers there get a better price for everything.

I was at Slieveroe the day Mary[4], George[5] & Peg[6] were there. We did enjoy their visit, but it was far too short.

There are very few at Slieveroe now only Tom[7], Sallie[8] & wee John[9]. The latter is Mollie's[10] youngest child, he is over 6ft but I still call him wee John. Slieveroe is not the same since darling Mother[11] left it. She will be 9 years dead on the 27th of this month.

So sorry to hear you suffer so much with arthritis Its well you have children to look after you and do the work.

Tom[12] has got very old & stiff just able to potter about. Sallie[13] too has let herself get old before time. I'm the only energetic member of the family. I still go to dances, in fact I was at one last Friday night, danced all night getting home at 4 a.m[14].

We had a lovely summer last year, and good crops. Wilson is taking his flax to the mill tomorrow, so we are hoping it will do well.

I have not seen Alic Alexander[15] for some time. George[16] the youngest boy was at Slieveroe for a few hours on Boxing day. He is working in London at present. He hopes to get married in April[17]. Samuel[18] works with his uncle[19] in Donegal, on a farm. Sam does the tractor work. Alic has no maid, so he has the cooking & house work to do himself.

With love and all the best for 1953.

Your affect coz

Lizaba Graham[20]

Its a long time since I wrote this, but quite forgot to post it.

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[1] Thomas Clair Whiteside

[2] Married at age 53, no children.

[3] Wilson GRAHAM (1900-1986)

[4] Mary

[5] George

[6] Peg

[7] “Tom” Thomas Jackson REED (1881-1956), unmarried son of Margaret (née JACKSON) and Robert Hamilton REED, half brother of “Lizaba”, writer of the letter.

[8] “Sallie” Sarah McCULLAGH (1889-1965) daughter of Margaret (née JACKSON) McCULLAGH and Andrew Bradford McCULLAGH, sister of “Lizaba”.

[9] John McCullagh JACKSON (1932-1995), son of Thomas Dare Jackson & “Molly” Mary McCullagh

[10] Mary “Mollie” (McCullagh) JACKSON (1890-1932) who died in childbirth

[11] Margaret (Jackson) Reed) McCullagh (1853-1944), sister of Sir Thomas JACKSON

[12] Thomas Jackson REED (1881-1956), unmarried son of Margaret (née JACKSON) and Robert Hamilton REED.

[13] “Sallie” Sarah McCULLAGH (1889-1965) daughter of Margaret (née JACKSON) McCULLAGH and Andrew Bradford McCULLAGH.

[14] At age 61 – not bad!

[15] Andrew ALEXANDER (1885-1975)

[16] George ALEXANDER (1925-1995)

[17] He married Sarah Kerr MITCHELL on April 29, 1953 in Co. Armagh

[18] Samuel ALEXANDER (1922-)

[19] Uncle?

[20] Elizabeth McCULLAGH (1892-1972)