McElderry

Until recently, Ballymoney's local economy relied heavily on agriculture. Markets were held regularly in the town and neighbouring villages. They were an opportunity to buy or sell any surplus produce from a farm and also brought a regular boost in trade for the local merchants. In the 17th & 18th centuries, all the trade at Ballymoney markets took place on High Street (then called Market Street) and in the old Town Hall (now the Masonic Hall).

Then, in 1835, Thomas McElderry established his market yard, bringing everything to a single site in the town. To supplement this, in 1864 a regular cattle market was started at the 'Fair Hill'

Ballymoney.gov

Lynchburg 16th Oct 1854

Dear Bertha I am sure you will be looking out for this letter long before I Commenced to write but the truth is I hurried to write some time ago but had nothing to fill up the letter with and I hope you will not think it is neglect in me for not writing sooner I know I will surprise you when I tell you this since you heard from me I have changed my situation I was well placed with the place that I was in but did not like the way I was treated and Robert advised me to quit if the [they?] would not change there [their?] way of getting on and on that account I left and since that I have been told that I was doing right to leave even the priest that lives here agrees with me He is the first priest that ever I was acquainted with and I find him to be a friendly man you would perhaps like to know how I got acquainted it was in the store he often came came in to Mr Hutch and me would all gather round him he used to tell Mr Hurt that this this was his class. I was some time left before it was knowing (and doing that time stayed with Robert) and as soon as Mr Langhome knew that I was left he sent for me and I commenced work with him. His business is a miller he has the only flour mill that is in this place it makes about 200 Lbs. every day and all the work that I have to do is not much just going about suing [seeing?] the work done and attending to the shipping of the flour as it is all sent to Richmond and sold there I have no doubt but you may see some of our flour with you it is bound City Mills and if you do any of it you may depend on it for being no1 When I came to see W Langhome he told me that he had been observing me for some time and always found me attentive to my work and he said that M Hurst spoke very Highley of me I do not regret having left the other place I have more salery and less work I am as white now as I was when I was in Coleraine I was the green grocer then but I am a miller now M Matthews has returned from the Springs this some time there is no change on him that I can see he looks as well as ever he done he always stays above the store with Robert and in the Bank with Mr Peters and paying attention to what is going on He works some himself but he is as anxious to see business done as ever he was He will stay here untill [until?] sometime in november and there he leaves for Baltimore I have not heard the particular day he leaves but he could have told you that when he came for the day and the day of the month that he intends leaving I am glad you have received the likeness safe I want to know [which?] you thought of the pictures but you were all silent on that subject I told Robert when I received Elizabeths letter that she said I was the best like but he did not agree with her on that and when he read it he told me he knew I was not right for she said nothing about them he thinks that when you write you might use more paper and not write cross it again he said he could make nothing out of the last at all so when you write be sure and have it all right for he is going on to be an old Bachelor I received a letter this morning from Thomas Nevin dated 21st Sept [September?] he informs me that you are all well and also of the Death of Uncle James little Daughter I was sorry to hear of it Thomas is anxious to here [hear?] from me and to know if there is any word of Robert or I getting married I should like to hear if there is any word of some of his friends on that road and I think before he would begin to enquire he ought to let me know what is going on at home Robert is doing a good business They have got home there Fall - goods and I believe they are doing a large trade this season Mr Peters is always staying in the Bank and Mr Stephen and Robert attends to the store I suppose the young men that went home from this has left to come back again before this I have not heard any word from him since I received the last letter from home I think that my not writing is no excuse for you not writing at home there are so many of you there that it would not be hard for to write time out David Boyds letter is long of getting this length I thought to have gotten one from him before this but I know it is always before me. Let my Mother Know that I am on the look out for a wife but have not one yet I would like to have her here to pick out one for me but I will have that to do for myself We are both well here and hope that you all are enjoying the same blessing Your affectionate P S Brother I [r---ved?] the guard W [William?] McElderry for which I am obliged to you Excuse this Scribble W M'E [William McElderry?]

Lynchburg 11th March 1852 Dear Brother I received your kind letter of the 26th Feby [February?], yesterday and was very glad to hear that you were all well at home and that you had recovered from your sickness We had here an unusally cold winter colder than any winter for more than thirty years and there has been a great deal of sickness and many deaths two of Mr Liggats grandchildren died this winter of scarlet fever they have been all very much afflicted by the death of these children it was a very heavy blow on their Mother (Mrs Tunstall) to see her two daughters cut off one about two weeks after the other they have two little boys still living they were both sick but are now recovering Mr Liggat told me the other day when I would write home to be sure and send his respects to my father and all of you I told him I should certainly do so Mr Peters' brother Stephen T. Peters started yesterday for Europe on bussiness [business?] he is going to see after a large estate in Scotland which has been for some tine without an heir and the heir to this estate is living in this place and if Mr Peters can establish his claims to it he will gain for him a good deal of property The mans name is Reid his father came from Scotland to County Down in Ireland and then came to this country To trace up his desent [descent?] from the original owner of this property Mr Peters will have to go to Ireland and he promised to call on you and if convenient stop with you for a short time I gave him a letter of introduction to my father You will find him a very well informed Gentleman, he will be able to give you as much information respecting this country as any man I know When he was getting ready to start I should have liked very much to have been able to go along with him and have seen you all once more I feel some curiosity to see the juvenile members of the family who have come into existance since I left home But I may be able to go at some future time and then I will be able to tell you a great many long yarns about old Virginia the place where you all seem to think one can hear nothing but the slave driver cracking his whip and in every way one can imagine torturing human beings because the [they?] happen to be of a different color from their masters. Now people who tell such stories as these are the greatest liars in the world for if you only want to see a happy and contented lot of creatures you should see a number of slaves meet together after their days work is done and hear them play the banjo and see them dance I think Mr Rintoul when he wanted to have that motion carried which went to pledge all parties going to the United States to have no connection with slave [hating?] Churches was a little beside himself [as?] he very often is (and I would have no hesitation in telling him so) People

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will keep talking about things which they know nothing of It would be foolish for a any one [anyone?] to pledge himself to any thing [anything?] of this Kind how much better would it be for a man to come hear & see if there was any thing [anything?] wrong every man ought to see for himself and judge accordingly Mr Peters went to New York about ten days ago and I have not yet heard whether he got the shirt or not if he cannot get them he will be paid whatever they were worth The gun I left with cusin [cousin?] Mr Borland I only lent to him and if you want to use it you ought to get it I receive the papers from you very regularly and I like very much to see them I get a good deal of interesting news from them I will send papers to you more regularly after this take care of those you get untill [until?] Mr Peters goes to BMoney [Ballymoney?] as he would be very much pleased to see them I am very sorry to hear that those wise men of BMoney [Ballymoney?] still continue to trouble my Father about the market but I suppose they are now like they used to be can not [cannot?] do any thing [anything?] but talk a little and that never could do much harm I will write again in short time to David Boyd I Remain Your affectionate brother Robert McElderry [addressed to:] Mr Thomas McElderry Jr Ballymoney Ireland [postmarked:] LYNCHBURG AMERICAN MAR 12 LIVERPOOL MR 52

On the 29th May, in the state of Maryland, America, Thomas McElderry, Esq., [Esquire?] a native of Ireland, having been born near Ballymoney, county Antrim. The following extract from and American paper proves him to have been one of the best of men. Baltimore May 30. "Died - on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Thomas McElderry, Esq., [Esquire?] a member of the Senate of Maryland and one of the best beloved and most useful of our citizens. The records of mortality in this community we believe, never embraced a character more truly loved and respected, or one so valuable to the interest of this city. In his death society sustains no common loss, to his family it is irreparable. As a husband and parent he was affectionate, as a friend firm and sincere, to his enterprising spirit is this city indebted for some of it's most important improvements, and the high estimation in which he was held by all classes of citizens was strongly evinced by the immense concourse of our fellow citizens who attended his interment yesterday. Perhaps no eulogy on the virtues or his public and private characters could be better attested than by the deep regret manifested at his loss. To the endearing simplicity of a child Mr.McElderry united all the virtues which adorn or make the man. Whether pouring wine or oil on the wounds of the afflicted - whether adminstering to the wants of the needy - whether employed in the busy scenes of public life or performing the duties of a private citizen, Mr.McElderry, always aimable and respectable, made himself beloved. His benevolence was general, party distinctions never controlled the dictates of humanity, and though a warm, active and influential republican, all men esteemed him. Easy of access and of the most pleasing manners, those who sought favours at his hand, or partook of his hospitalities, equally admired the goodness of his heart and socialities of his disposition. His situation as a Director in the Union Bank of Maryland, gave him an opportunity of frequently conferring unsolicited favours - wealthy and independent; the accommodation to which he was entitled was liberally used for the benefit of many mechanics offering their notes for discount. His name has often been found endorsed on the notes of persons with whom he did not even have a speaking acquaintance. Such were among his practical benevolencies. Ireland was the country which gave birth to this excellent man. Mr McElderry died suddenly - being in his usual health on Saturday morning, but little affected.

Lynchburgh Octo [October?] 1852 Dear Sister I intended when I last wrote to David Boyd to have written to you long before this time but I kept putting it off from one time to another until I cannot wait any longer or you will begin to think that I have left the land of the living W Peters arrived home safe and sound some time ago and I was very much disapointed to find that he did not go to Ireland and pay you a visit he said he would have gone there but when he came to Liverpool he was so anxious to get home that he gave out the notion of going to Ireland he had not heard from home only once since he left and that made him long to be home again In his first letters he spoke freely of the French government and after that they intercepted all letters for and from him I have received the news papers from home regularly and I am much obliged to you for sending them I have not sent many to you for some time as I can not get them at all times they are so full of Politics that you would not care much for them. The presidential elections will come off on the 2nd day of Nov. [November?] and then they [the?] papers will have something more interesting in them after that time I see in the last paper that I received from home that James Perry has got married I am always glad to hear of any one doing well but I am always more than glad when it is such an old friend as James Perry I hope he has made a good selection and that he and his lady may enjoy many happy years When you see him give my respects and tell him that I congratulate him on his exit from a state of single blessedness I think I told you some time ago that we kept bachelors [?] and boarded at home that plan I did not much like as we had to depend entirely on [on?] the negro and none of the young men in the store ever paid any attention to how things were done we did not fare some times as well as we all would have liked to have done but things have made a turn for the better and we now board at the different hotels and we fair at this time about as well as we could possibly do. Trade has been unusally good this fall we have sold more goods than we have at any time since I have been here we have sold this present month about 10.000 Dollars worth of goods Talking about boarding makes me think off how many people board at hotels in this place very few when they get married here ever think of going to housekeeping it is not as troublesome they say to board and some say it is cheaper too but I think I would not like the plan it is not natural. it is intended by our Creator that we should be settled in families and besides this it makes their ladies lazy and when they go to housekeeping they do not know how to manage I have been looking for a letter from home for some pass by every steamer that comes I hope I will not have to wait much longer it does me as much good to have good news from home and to hear that you are all well I have always since I left home enjoyed good health and never have more than a slight cold or headache I am growing heavier every year since I have been here W Matthews has been here most of the summer he is well and looks like he did when he was in Ballymoney he is the most inquisitive old man you ever have seen I should like you would in your next letter tell me all about how the two Johns, Elizabeth, Thomas Lyle, Samuel Boyd, and his little sister come on and what they are all doing Give my respect to all old friends and aquaintances and I must bid you good bye for the present I will write to David Boyd as soon as I receive a letter from him I remain ever your affectionate Brother Robert McElderry Envelope: Postmarked Miss Anne McElderry Lynchburgh Va. Nov. 2 Ballymoney

Liverpool 14th April 1853 Dear Brother I had a very pleasant trip to Fleetwood and then a long time in the road to Liverpool I was not sick coming and I think I will not be sick going over We did not get in the vessel that we intended to go in as she was full of Passengers and we had to look out for another and could not get one for Philadelphia and had to take one for Quebec her name is Sarah Lands it sails on tomorrow the 15th There will not be much difference in going that way as we will get from Quebec to Philadelphia in about one day I thought it better to do this rather than stay here any longer The vessel that Hugh Conn went out in arrived here last evening I need not give you any adress as we will be away before you get this Hoping you are all well and not uneasy about me as I did not think long before I left you I Remain Your Affectionate Brother Wm [William?] McElderry

Lynchburg [24th?] Sept 1853 Dear Sister I have indeed been very remiss in my duty in that I have not written to you long before this time I could not nor cannot at any time write much that is to you of an interesting nature and except to say to you that I am well and in the land of the living I have not much else to say. I have as usual enjoyed good health since I last wrote to you. We have had a remarkably hot summer and a very dry one so much so that there will be a very short crop of tobacce [tobacco?] and the consequence is that it has gotten up to a very high price we had rain soon enough to make a good corn crop so there will be no scarcity of bread. Since I have been to the city of Lynchburg untill [until?] this summer I never have been out of it more than a mile on the first day of August last I took a trip to the Natural Bridge which is about thirty five miles above Lynchburg We formed a small party had some ladies along and of course enjoyed ourselves very much. The Bridge is certainly one of the greatest sights I have ever seen you can pass over the top and not know there was a bridge at the place but when you go close to the edge of the ravine and look down below it is enough to make any one shudder When we went down below and looked up it was realy [really?] a magnificant sight to see an arch so high so large and yet one solid [mass?] of rock. It is a great place for man to go and see his own nothingness man would labour for years and not produce such a work, but the great master builder had only to say let it be and it was There are a great many names cut in the rock at the bridge by people who have come to see it from all parts of the world but there is one name which stands high above all others and a name which people will ever love to remember it is that of George Washington it was cut in the rock by his own hands when he was a young man. The Bridge is so high that to throw a small stone over it requires an amount of strength which few people possess it is said that General Washington threw a silver dollar over it In going to the Bridge we took the canal boat which goes up through the mountains. along the way the seenary [scenery?] is splendid there is one place when going up where the mountains seem to stand up all round and leave no passage for the boat but after turning round a little corner a beautifull [beautiful?] flat country appears in view and after going through a narrow pass where the mountains seem to overhang the river on booth [both?] sides you leave the mountains away behind in the distance, Thomas Jefferson said that a sight of the Natural Bridge was worth a trip across the the [sic] Atlantick [Atlantic?] if it is I have been paid in one way for my trip across that place I cannot say that I am disposed to be greedy yet I should like to have a little more pay than I have yet received. Mr Peters had a very heavy affliction this summer his only

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son a boy of fourteen years died on the last day of July. Thomas said in his last letter that you looked for me home this summer and the [that?] Jane prophsied [prophesied?] I would be there at a certain time I am sorry to say that she has failed this time. I cannot go home at this time without ruining my prospects which are I might say at this time bright. I cannot tell you how it is at this time with me as I am not now at liberty to do so, I will let you know as soon as I can without violating my word. Perhaps I should not have told you even this much as it may excite your curiosity to [too?] much however I will tell you this much. I am not going to be married nor can I go home for some years to come. I think brother William ought to have gone to Austrailia [Australia?] rather than look for a situation in Belfast if times are anything like what they were when I was there it would be much better to leave home than to stay and work almost for nothing. Mr Mathews was here this summer he was well when he left for the springs he will be back again some time this month when I get a letter from home he inquires a good deal about people with whom he was acquainted he often inquires particularly after Mr Boyle. Tell me when you write how the two Johns come on what sort of a boy Thomas Lyle is and if he would be willing to come to Virginia and live with his Uncle Robert let me know how sister Jane and her young [family?] get along in the world Tell David Boyd I will write to him soon he should have written to me long ago as he is indebted to me a letter at this time I will conclude my long and dry letter by hoping that you are all well and that I will hear from you soon. Your affectionate brother Ro. [Robert?] McElderry

[envelope] [postmark] LYNCHBURGE SEP [September?] 25 Miss Anne McElderry

Lynchburg 20th Oct 1853 Dear Thomas I suppose you will be thinking I have forgot to write to you as I am so long about it but I just arrived here last night and did not see Robert untill [until?] this Morning and find him well and he says he has written to you about a month ago and the reason that he was so long of letting you hear from him was that he had nothing to write about. I had a very long and rough passage we were 28 Days coming to Quebec and we had to put in to St. Johns for coal as we had run short of them and when we were there they would not let us on shore because there was some sickness on board but there was nothing but measles and only one or two children had them we had 2 deaths on board one a male and the other a female and they both died of disentry so that we had no disease among us but the Doctor when he came on board and found that there was a death he gave orders for us to keep the vessel and that prevented us from seeing St Johns I was not sea sick nor did I know what want of health was since I left home there were very few but sea sick as the weather was so rough the Captain said it was the roughest voyage he has had this long time but all went right when we arrived safe you wanted me to take some things with me and if I had I would have had to put them over board as I had no need of them I could not have been better attended than I was the time was with on board we got every thing of the best we could want and plenty to wait on us at the table and at night we three of us slept in one room so that we were very comfortable and we traveled [travelled?] together to Philadelphia we left Montreal on Saturday and stayed at Routland [Rutland?] on the Sabath [Sabbath?]and then started to New York & Philadelphia and was there that night there I started my self next morning myself and never stopped untill [until?] I arrived here last night at 10 O clock I cannot say much about the country as I had not much time to see it but one thing I know that the stage coach roads are very rough I had to come about 60 miles on the stage and I thought it bad enough I do not know what I will be doing yet but I will soon but Robert says that I was only loosing [losing?] my time staying in Ireland and ought to have been here long ago There is not much change on Robert except that he has got some whiskers what he had not when he left home he knew me as soon as he saw me and even a stranger that I met on the street I asked him where Mr Peters lived and he told me the place and asked me was I a brother of young man that was from Ireland I had almost forgot to say that Mr Mathews is living and in as good health as can be As soon as I get settled I will let you hear from me again no more at present but remain Your affectionate Brother Wm McElderry Envelope: Postmarked Lynchburgh Mr Thomas Mc Elderry Jr. Ballymoney Ireland

Bristol Dec 9th 1853 Dear Uncle You will I have no doubt some Surprise depicted on your countenance when you look at the Signiture [Signature?] attatched [attached?] to this brief epistle My Father requests me to write in his name and [I?] assure you it would give me great pleasure in doing so if it were other matter that he wished to comment upon I can say however before touching on Fathers buisness [business?] that would have been glad to have had the privelage [privilege?] of hearing from you or any of my cousins for many years past and undertaking to open a correspondance [correspondence?] I would say that I will take it as a favour if you will return an answer to this my first effort of comunicating [communicating?] with you We are all enjoying reasonable good health at this present time Father is failing gradualy [gradually?] and with conciousness [consciousness?] of that Period when we must all lay our heads low in the dust professes to be ready for that eventful day His buisness [business?] as he gives me to understand is that you be kind enough to enquire into and make a settlement of Money coming to my Mother from Ballycastle and and inform him thereof. He says that his daughter Jane had the use of the Interest for the benefit of her children as long as She remained in Ireland. And he would like to know how and how much she received, and wishes you to forward what money may be coming to him by Interest or otherwise at the same time deducting therefrom your own Expences [Expenses?] and any that may [l--gly?] incurred I had some thoughts of taking a trip Home this Winter to see my friends and have this buisness [business?] seen to through the persuasing of Father and Sisters but the buisness [business?] I am in would not allow me the time this fall. And I assured father that you could attend to it in the best possible maner [manner?] in doing so you will much oblige a [Father?] Brother and his Son

Dear Uncle I was but a boy and appearantly [apparently?] a dull one when I used to trip from home to visit you since that time I have seen a great deal and experienced some of this worlds favours good and bad and in a Country like this where virtue has a certainty of reward I have learned much and though [through?] the help of God and an upright walk I can say without boasting that I am respected though very little of this worlds treasure I possess Father and Sisters wishes to be remembered you all, ah what thrill of pleasure the rememberance of some of the bygone days call up but enough at present

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if ever I have the pleasure and gratification of writing or of visiting you I will try and collect my ideas for a better effort of letter writing No more at Present But may the Almighty ever hover around you and yours to soothe your downward steps to the grave is the sincere wish and Prayer of your affectionate Nephew John McEldery [McElderry?] [Jr?]

http://letters.nialloleary.ie/index.php?letters_function=4&letters_search_term=Lynchburg,%20Va

http://www.dippam.ac.uk/ied/records/50596