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Emdale Nesbitt Letters

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Note: the following was written in 1861 so how much is true and how much is thought to be true is questionable:

  • About the year 1600 or earlier, a number of the Nesbitts of these connections came from a place called Fifeshire in Scotland. The cause of their coming from Scotland was to establish the protestant and Presbyterian religion in this part of Ireland of which our connection stood the presentation for Scotland, and for which our forefathers suffered under Charles the First and Second, who wanted to put down Protestant and Presbyterian religion. The north part of Ireland was peopled from Scotland and England. [1]


Letters

Emdale Nesbitt Letters Image 1.


Note I suspect maybe there should be different dates on these letters or maybe some were enclosed in same with different writers?


Rathfriland June 25th 1861 Dear Sir: I do join with my friends, Nesbitts, in sending you a few lines to let you that you have such friends as us still on the land of the living. We got a letter from your hand a length of time ago. Our delay has been long, please excuse. I have kept a Public House in Rathfriland for the last 20 years, and is hinging by the old wals yet, although the business keeping a Public House is near over, however for these 9 years past I had another situation that helped bad times as foreman over a Corn and Flax Mills called Glasker Mills, long side of these old Gentlemen called Nesbitts, whom I believe to be your Father in laws full cousins. I do any writings that they have to do, as well as possible us finding in a newspaper the neardest of kin a wanting to a Joseph Nesbitt, who emigrated from the North of Ireland to American 1770. We agreed that we would write and that we might have a chance of a legacy now in our old days. We certainly had great jokes about it, out of the first part, I was to get a first rate silver watch, with Guard and Key however we found friends instead of a legacy which realy the are glad to find, same time I lost my watch, however I have a good Watch and will have to call on you for one of the American guards & Key, to make up my wants and will be in duty bound to pray, also give the news of the day otherwise send me a sample of finest Brandy so as I can treat your friends, and we will have a merry day drinking your health in Brandy, as its my choise drink. Dear friend I hope you will excuse the liberty and jokes made to you. We would wrote to you long since but really it was not in my power to get writing on account of the throng of business in they mills this Spring season. However I hope you will forgive the delay. We must do better for the time to come. Also I hope these lines will reach your length in safety and find you and all friends in good health. We would fondly hope that the talk of wars in your kingdom may all end in peace, peace is the best in almost all cases, but if not settled that your states may come of victorious. The Battle's not to the Strong, nor the race to the Swift. I must acknowledge that I have a good many friends in different parts of America. My Motherinlaw and family lives a place called Royal Oak, Oakland Co. State Michigan, and an Uncle of mine called David Lawson lives at Ohiah. Also an Uncle Joseph Cantly who lives in New York Lancaster Street No. 29 South Ward. I think that he is Clerk in a Bank, he is altogether a smart man, and a kind hearted one as lives. He is one of the first rate surveyors, he is fit for any situation. Also I have another old faithful friend a School Master, he lives in Milwaukee, State Wisconsin, His name is Patrick Ross Megarrigle last account he was teaching school, he gave me all the learning. If ever you be in that part I would be glad you would give him and Mrs. A call. He is able to give you history of the whole clan of us. Also of this part of Ireland. He is a first rate Protestant, he was a faithful friend to me Lord grant him long and happy days, and days of peach is the desire of his old scholar till death James McMahon Rathfriland, Ireland. Now my dear friend I hope you will forgive my uselessly talk, to you a stranger. I must conclude with best wishes to you, and Mrs. And family Also Fatherinlaw and family and all enquiring friends with hopes of soon hearing from you. James McMahon Rathfriland, Co. Down Ireland


Dear Cousin William Nesbitt - Our new friend Mr. Jones Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) says that you were an infant when your Father died, and that he was Buried in York District South Carolina. In what year, year did he die, and what country woman was Uncle Joseph's wife. Dear Cousin is your Mrs. Living, or dead, and of what country woman, and how many children, and how many living and their names and ages, us old people are rather curious, it belongs to our clan. We all were softhearted and clannish, Dear Cousin you will please accept of these few lines and believe us & Brothers to be your real cousins and acknowledge us to be so Robt. Jno. & Saml. Nesbitt now living on earth. Lord grant that we may live long to hear from each other. Although far distant at present. Should none of us old people never live to meet on this world Lord grant that we may all meet in that happy and everlasting kingdom never more to part, and that we all may be able to sing tht new and heavenly song. Please write as soon as this our first letter reaches you, asking any questions you wish, give us your address so that we can write at every opportunity back and forward as long as spared on this land of Bondage, as our days will be short. We would wrote you long time, only for the hurry of getting the crops all settled, Then we thought well of waiting to see how they would get on with us. They are doing first rate. We have a great appearance of all kinds of crops this Season, very warm weather and some heavy showers. Most Powerful growing. Our Markets are Reasonable, Oat meal 14ยข per cwt. Eggs 6 to 7 pr. Dozen. Butter 9 to 10 pr lb. Beef 6 to 7 per lb. Mutton 7 to 8 pr lb. Bacon 8 to 9 pr lb. The above prices for goods sold in Market are correct, however trade is bad and money scarce.


Dear Cousin when you write direct to our dear and worthy friend Jas. McMahon Publican Rathfriland Co. Down Ireland. He was the only person that found you out for us. He is a man of principle and esteem. We hope the Lord will pay him for what he has done for us at many times. May the Lord bless one and all of you our dear Cousin & children, not forgetting our new made Son Mr. Jones Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) that your days may be long and peaceful. Our Children do join with us in sending their kindest love to you all. Farewell dear friends. May the Lord bless and protect you all from danger is the prayer of your cousins, Robt. Jno & Saml. Nesbitt


Emdale, Rathfriland Co. Down Ireland June 25/61 Dear Sir: This time twelve months, we saw an advertisement in a Paper called the Morning News Wanted the neardest of kin to Joseph Nesbitt who emigrated from the North of Ireland to America about the year 1770 Published by a Willm Mehary Belfast, we being like many other fools thanking that there was a great legacy going to turn up and that we might try as well as others knowing that we had a friend of that name that emigrated to some part of America but did not know where we three Brothers wrote to this Willm Mehary of Belfast different letters and for him to give us the address. He would not but said that he would send off our letters with others to the proper quarter in America and see who was the neardest of kin. We then through our particular friend James McMahon, Rathfriland, got a Gentlemans address - James Adger & Co. Charleston S.C. We wrote to him. He being a gentlemen wrote by return but could give no information, but was really very kind and referred our letter to a Lawyer whom he put great confidence in. We think his name is Lemonton. However, shortly came a letter from Mr. Jones Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) saying that he was son-in-law to an old Gentleman the name of Willm Nesbitt, and from what he had gathered up that he believed us to be the cousins of his father-in-law W. Nesbitt. We certainly are according to the will of your and our Grandfather, Caleb Nesbitt made in the year 1769 - your Father, our Uncle, Joseph went off in a huff 1770. Our Father in his lifetime got letters from your father J. Nesbitt but none of them are thefore, now we as Brothers and our familys do unanimously join and do call you our dear cousin. Oh how happy we are, and how we rejoice when looking over your soninlaws letter as he informs us that he is married to your Daughter. He tells her good qualifications, we hope they are all true dear Cousin we as a family do mingle our tears together and rests satisfied fully that we have found you our near and dear cousin, and we hope you will accept us so. But we are really sorry to think that you are going to have a long and bloody war. Now in your old age, Lord grant them all to end in peace, is the prayer of your dear and affectionate cousins, Robt. Jno. & Saml. Nesbitt. Dear Cousin about the year 1600 or earlier a number of the Nesbitts, of these connections came from a place called Fifeshire in Scotland. They cause of them coming from Scotland was to Establish the Protestant and Presbyterian Religion in this part of Ireland of which our connexion forefathers suffered from the Presbyterrian Religion under Charles the first and second, who wanted to put down Protestant & Presbyterrian Religion. Our great-Grandfather's name was Caleb Nesbitt. The fourth part of Ireland was peopled from Scotland and part of England. Now Dear Cousin we have given you an outline of our forefathers and about the time they came to Ireland. Now we confine ourselves to your and our Grandfather's Caleb Nesbitt to whom was one of four brothers, Allen, Saml Jethro and Caleb was your and our Grandfather's name. He had four sons and four Daughters. His sons names was Caleb, Jno. Joseph and Robert. So Joseph was your Father's name -the other three your Uncles-Grandfather Caleb died 1769 next year your father Joseph Nesbitt Emigrated to America. Your Uncle Caleb was not married. He died in the year of the Rebellion 1798 age 73 years. Next Uncle was Jno. He was our Father and had born to him 6 sons and two Daughters - Three of said sons dead. Their names were Caleb, Joseph & James. Now three Brothers of us still living Robt. Jno. & Saml. Robt. 84 years of age and can read the New Testament without specks. He lives with his son-in-law in McKee and eight Grandchildren. Two of them, Sons, and 6 Daughters, all of them living and a stout family they are. Now Jno. 72 years of age and was the Father of 7 children, 3 sons and 4 Daughters. Now living Jno., Saml. Mary Jane, & Betty Sally. Betty Sally now married. Samuel never was married, now ages 70 years. He lives with Brother Jno. And family. These are the names of us three Brothers that is still on the land of the living, belonging to the offspring of our Grandfather Caleb Nesbitt. Dear Cousin our Father Jno. Nesbitt died in the year 1812. We Jno. & Saml. Is still living in the same House, only repaired, and on part of the same land that formerly belonged to our Grandfather Caleb Nesbitt, however it's a small part now of said old farm. Dear cousin we are glad to hear and know that we have found out our near and dear cousin William Nesbitt, and family. We really thought once that we would never be able to find them out, Should the Lord not spare any of us to meet on this world of sorrow, we hope to meet in that Heavenly Kingdom among they Blessed Saints, never more to part. Dear Cousin should you and us not meet as wee are fast hastening to the Tomb perhaps some of our children might, however if this long letter of information agrees with your minds, as it does with us all, The communication can be continued although far distant at present. We hope the Lord will give you contentment and peace of mind now in your old days and sheath the sword of Anger Between your Nations. Lord grant them all to end in peace is the prayer of your dear and affectionate Cousins Robt. Jno & Saml. Nesbitt.



Emdale, Rathfriland,
County Down, Ireland,
June 25, 1861.
Dear Sir:
This time twelve months ago, we saw an advertisement in a paper called the Morning News. It wanted to know the nearest of kin to a Joseph Nesbitt, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to America about the year 1770. It was published by a Wm. Meharg, Belfast. Knowing that we had a relative of that name that emigrated to some part of America, but we did not know where, we three brothers wrote to this Willm. Meharg of Belfast different letters and asked him to give us the address. He would not, but said that he would send out letters with others to the proper quarters in America.
We then, through our particular friend, James McMahon, Rathfriland, got a gentleman's address, James Adger & Co., Charleston, SC We wrote him. He being a gentleman, wrote by return, but could give no information. He was really very kind, however, and referred our letters to a lawyer in whom he put great confidence. We think his name was Limenton.
Shortly came a letter from a Mr. Jones Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) saying that he was a son-in-law to an old gentleman by the name of William Nesbitt; and from all that he had gathered up, that he believed us to be the cousins of his father-in-law, William Nesbitt. We certainly are according to the will of your and our grandfather, Caleb Nesbitt, made in the year 1769. Your father, our uncle Joseph, went off in a huff in 1770. Our father in his lifetime got letters from your father, Joseph Nesbitt, but none of them is to the fore.
Now we as brothers, and our families unanimously join, do call you our dear cousin. Oh, how happy we are and how we rejoiced when, in looking over your son- in-law's letter, we learned that he is married to your daughter. He tells of her good qualifications.
Dear cousin, we as a family do mingle our tears together and rest satisfied, - satisfied that we have found you, our near and dear cousin, and we hope you will accept us so. But we are really sorry to think that you are going to have a long and bloody war. Now in your old age, may the Lord grant that all your days end in peace, is the prayer of your dear and affectionate cousins, Robert, John and Samuel Nesbitt.
About the year 1600 or earlier, a number of the Nesbitts of these connections came from a place called Fifeshire in Scotland. The cause of their coming from Scotland was to establish the protestant and Presbyterian religion in this part of Ireland of which our connection stood the presentation for Scotland, and for which our forefathers suffered under Charles the First and Second, who wanted to put down Protestant and Presbyterian religion. The north part of Ireland was peopled from Scotland and England. Our great-grandfather's name was Caleb Nesbitt.
Now, dear cousin, we have given you an outline of our forefathers and about the time they came to Ireland, We now confine ourselves to your and our grandfather, Caleb Nesbitt, who was one of four brothers, - Allen, Samuel, Jestro and Caleb. Grandfather had four sons and four daughters. His sons' names were Caleb, Junior; John; Joseph and Robert. Joseph was your father, the other three your uncles. Grandfather Caleb died 1769. Next year your father, Joseph Nesbitt, emigrated to America. Your uncle Caleb, Junior, was not married. He died the year of the Revolution, 1798. The next uncle was John. He was our father and had born to him six sons and two daughters. Three of said sons are dead. Their names were Caleb, Joseph and James. Now three brothers are still living, - Robert, John and Samuel. Robert is 84 years of age and can read the New Testament without specks. He lives with his son-in-law, John McKee, and his eight grandchildren, - two sons and six daughters, - a stout family they are. John is now 72 years of age, and was the father of seven children, - three sons and four daughters: now living - John, Samuel, Mary Jane, and Betty Sally. Betty Sally is married. Samuel was never married and is aged 70 years. He lives with brother John and family. These are the names of us three brothers that are still on the land of the living and belonging to the offspring of our grandfather, Caleb Nesbitt. Our father, John Nesbitt, died the year 1812. John and Samuel are still living in the same house, only it is repaired, and on part of the same land that formerly belonged to our grandfather, Caleb Nesbitt. It is, however, a small part of said old farm.
We are glad to have heard from and found you, our near and dear cousin, Wm. Nesbitt and family. We really thought once that we would never be able to find you. Should the Lord not spare us to meet in this world, we hope to meet you in that Heavenly Kingdom among the blessed saints never more to part. Should you and we not meet, -we are fast hastening to the tomb, -perhaps some of our children might. However, if this long letter of information agrees with your minds, as it does with us all, the correspondence can be continued, although we are far apart. We hope the Lord will give you contentment and peace of mind in your old days and sheathe the sword of anger between your nations. Lord, grant that all their troubles may end in peace, is our prayer.
Dear cousin William, Mr. Jones Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) says that you were an infant when your father died and that he was buried York District, South Carolina. In what year did he die and of what country was Joseph's wife? Is your Mrs. living? Please tell how many you have living, their names and ages. We old people are rather curious - it belongs to our clan. We all were soft-hearted and clannish. Please accept of these lines and believe us three brothers to be your real cousins and acknowledge us to be so. Lord, grant that we may live long enough to hear from each other again. Should none of us old people live to meet on this world. Lord grant that we all may meet in that happy and everlasting Kingdom never more to part, and that we may all be able to sing that new heavenly song. Please write us as soon as this our first letter reaches you, asking any questions you wish and giving us your address so that we can write at every opportunity back and forth as long as spared. We would have written yon long since only for the hurry of getting the crops all settled. Then thought of waiting until we could see how they would get on. They are doing first rate. We have all appearances of having great crops this season. We are having warm weather and some heavy showers. Our markets are reasonable.
Dear cousin, when you write, please also direct a note of thanks to our dear and worthy friend, James McMahon, Publican, Rathfriland, Co. Down, Ireland. He was the person that found you for us. He is a man of principle and esteem. We hope the Lord will pay him many times for what he has done for us. May the Lord bless one and all you and not forget our new-made son, Mr. Jones. Benjamin Franklin Jones (1831-1912) Our children do join with us in sending their kind love to you all, and may the Lord bless and protect you all from danger, is the prayer of Your cousins,
Robert Nesbitt.
John Nesbitt.
Samuel Nesbitt.




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