Tubbercurry

Mch 14^th 1856

My dear Jasper

            I have been for a long time meditating the writing of a Note to you.  The press of business & the considerable number of Sick in the Parish have prevented me.  I hope this will find you & all the Family in good health – I do not cease to cherish a fond remembrance of you all & you cannot possibly fare better than I wish you – We are all well here – I have five sons all fine lads – The Congregation much as usual.  I am the only Teacher in the Sunday School.  They all got tired & withdrew.  If I have any assistance it proceeds from Richard Golden Son to Willy Who is a very fine stout young man – Rebecca Rogers got married to a Shop boy in Sligo & went off to Australia.  The rest of that family are all well – we have got the Church painted & garnished internally in proud style.  We have also got a stove for it –

Old Hugh Gray of Toomore? has died at last – He leaves nearly all his wealth to his needy relatives to my wife he left l00 pounds to myself nothing – He left 50 pounds to the poor of the Parish to be distributed by myself –

I am one of the Executors of His Will – I cannot say how he died tho I was with him all that day – I never Could make out whether he was a true Christian or not – He prayed most punctually in his home all his life.  Was just & honest in all his dealings & yet I fear all was not right in the Light of God – God above knows what we are & what our final destiny –

John Gray of Carnaleek? Goes now to Mass – that was the conversion that young Cowley the blacksmith was talking of to your brother Richard –

I hope your poor Mother is still spared.  Though in Lazing? So I may well have doubts so fragile was her Constitution.  There is our Grand Comfort that “She will die in the Lord”.  As for your Father.  I have no fears for him please God for many years he was hardy & hale – Poor Richard will be Killed with hard work & felling trees – If he takes my advice he will never lean too much upon his health & Strength – I hope your Sisters married & single are all well & prospering.

Old Mr. Parke, my fatherinlaw died last Sunday – he had dropsy of the lungs & went off very Suddenly – He was extremely fond of my little fellows & they have lost a good friend –

His Son had got married since before Christmas last & got 2,000 pounds fortune –

I have some very near friends in that part of America called Nova Scotia – My Father & his family are there since 1832.  I had a letter from them lately.  They are all well & prospering.

I hope you are getting on well with your school & Sunday School “What thou doest – do faithfully” as looking for your reward hereafter.  To instruct the rising generation in the Saving truths of God’s Holy Word is a more statted? Calling & privilege, than to be the temporal Ruler of a Kingdom.  The Seed you sow will blossom in the Eternal World & great shall be your joy to witness it –

Let your hands then be strong & proceed Joyfully & prayerfully with your works –

I have not been able to get up a School here since –

The want of a House & family to pay the Teacher is the cause. Old Mr. Garrett of Ballymote is dead & a young man named Moore has got that Parish. My time for promotion will come I hope Sometime –
I am not tired of this Parish yet. Though I can do little good among them – They hear me most attentively but no father. I trust we Shall all meet in a better world as we have no Chance of meeting hear. God bless you all.
Thank you for the many newspapers.

Yours most Sincerely John Hamilton