The Glebe

                                                                                                Lewisburg

                                                                                                  Co: Mayo

                                                                                                July 13^th 1876

My Dear Jasper

                          I think it is high time that you were getting a letter from me if only to confirm you that I am still on the land of the living.

                        I am not sure whether I wrote to you since I came to this ( I don’t know what this word is,, “Beuofice ….. “ I entered upon 1^st …/79. I resigned the Parish I had in Essis after having held it about 6 years where I lost two of my five boys. Rob & Theo, one 14 other 17 years – I  “compounded”? for that Parish & got 1700L. which put a “home”? in me. I have a very nice Glibe House here & Land both at a rent now. This Parish is worth 200 L per acre but private means brings it up to 300 L, I have now 5 sons & 5 daughters, my oldest son whom you must remember is the Dispensary Doctor of the District. His salary is as good as my own & he is thought very clever in his profession. He lives with us here as yet & is helping to put forward some of the  “juniors’?

  The second son John is nearly finished as a Medical man & third son William (5^th by birth) is to be a Clergyman. He will enter College next Nov. My two eldest daughters are at School in Dublin – My church here is small Congregation  about 45. The country is exceed ling  popular – we live now new the sea. I consider this  the nicest place I have in yet. As   for Tubbercarry John Brett s dead. His sons turned out bankrupt – so a  blast came on that family. & we wonder for John Brett after the death of his wife gave himself up to bad unclean living.

  The Curate who succeeded me was named Jackson  who died here at …… He left some short time ago though a man Collar? But I am sorry  I cannot give you any tidings of the Parishioners for I am long removed from it.

Geo Rogers grandson of old Mr. Conner? Is a great ….. there being Petty Lessons Clerk. A  pope? Of the first water – I fear that John & Lewis Golden are in great poverty. They have  banks in Tubberarry now & telegraphs wires. The last time I passed your old mansion it retained all its old features, no change perceptible.--- I will never pass that way again I fear --- I am getting pretty old now but am wonderfully strong & active but I would be glad to know if grandfathers iron  constitution still defies the raffages of time.

Hope your brother Richard & all your sisters are not forgetting John who is a Doctor by this time. You live very near the States. So your climate could not be too severe in winter. How is your own health holding out.  Leroy? Is still at HeathfordI have two Churches to attend in this Parish & two services every Sunday. – The Churches are 4 miles apart. We are 10 miles from Westport. This town is not so large as Tubberarry – I have on a few yards to go to the Church of this Town.

  Old …..Bournes is dead he left nearly all his money to the younger son – he is buried very near my Children. When I visited the Church some years ago no change in appearance had taken place except that the trees had grown very much.. – Mrs. Armstrong is dead so is her son Geo & the Navy? Man has the place now. What changes take place in the dying world.  I suppose your father if alive is able to Contemplate a numerous progressing of grandchildren by this time.

The Potato blight still affects this unfortunate Country. The people are very  poor. How well for your family to have escaped  from it for  a curse is over it. All the murders committed yearly call for vengeance . 

Mrs. Hamilton is in very good health & desires to be kindly remembered. 

Yours Sincerely & attached

John Hamilton