We were originally of Scottish Blood

Last Update 11 June 2011

Letters sent to Eleanor McIlwrath nee Wallace wife of William McIlwrath

Wallace, Eleanor - 8th. April 1843 - Date of a letter sent by her brother John Moore of Augusta, Georgia USA - Letter below
     Dear Sister,
            I have a letter of yours a long time on hand unanswered, owing to my natural indolence
and a particular dislike I have to writing I am now a very indifferent correspondent the opportunity
now presented however is so favourable that I cannot let it pass. My Brotherinlaw [Brother-in-law?] and his family (Mr. &
Mrs John Bones and their Niece Miss Longstreet) intending to visit their friends in the north of Ireland
have prevailed on Mrs Moore and Myself to permit our eldest Daughter Elizabeth to accompany them
Mr. & Mrs. Bones intend spending about two months with their friends near Randlestown [Randalstown?]
aportion [a portion?] at least of which time I wish Elizabeth to spend with Brother James's family in Newton Ards [Newtownards?]
Mr. & Mrs. B [Bones?] intend visiting Glascow [Glasgow?], Edinboro [Edinburgh?] and London and from thence
to cross over to the continent the [they?] will therefore not return by the way of Dublin. I have written Brother James to
arrange this matter with Mr. Bones and to give Elizabeth some time to spend with you before they finally [quit?]
Ireland. Elizabeth is about sixteen years of Age. She has grown up very rapidly within the last two or three years and
that together with her close attention to her studies has I think in some degree impaired her health. The voyage
across the Atalantic [Atlantic?] will I hope improve it, Make her more familiar with the forms of Society and give her an
oppertunity [opportunity?] of becoming acquainted with her relations in Ireland, She only left school about ten days
ago to prepare for this Journey. Henry is still at Princeton College, he expects to Graduate next fall and will I expect
take a very fair if not high grade he spent the vacation with us last summer, I wrote for him to come home as the
confinement or the Northern climate had made him assume the aspect of a student __ he looked pale, he however gained ten
pounds in weight during his five weeks soujourn [sojourn?] at home, and left in good spirits__ but why should I enter into details
with regard to family matters, I refer you to Elizabeth for every information you require with regard to your friends
here. Mr. & Mrs. Clarke & Mrs Moore are in the enjoyment of their usual health. Mrs M [Moore?] and all our little family
join in kind and affectionate regards to yourself Sister Fanny, Mr Wallace and your Daughter Eleanor with Dr [Dear?] Sister
                        Your Affectionate Brother
                                 John Moore

Wallace, Eleanor - 5th. June 1843 - Date of a letter sent by her brother James Moore - Letter below

From:      Jas [James?] Moore,
      Dublin
      [Ireland?]
      5th June 1843

                              SCOTTISH UNION
                         Fire & Life Assurance Office
                              Dublin 52 Dame St
                              Dublin 5th June 1843

My dear sister

           I forwarded two letters from Brother John to you, his daughter Elizabeth was the bearer of them
she arrived in Liverpool on the 15th of last month in thirty one days from Charleston accompanied
by her uncle, and aunt, Bones, and her cousin Miss Longstreet, Mr & Mrs Bones
have left this (sic) for the, for the County Antrim, on a visit to their relations, and the two young
ladies remain with me, where I desire to shew [show?] them what is worthy of their notice, here,
if the weather would permit, but I regret to say, we have had constant rain since
their arrival, Brother John who possesses all that affectionate regard for his relations,
so creditable to our family, wishes, as he has expressed to you, in his letters, that
Elizabeth should visit your family, I shall therefore accompany her, Miss Longstreet, and
one, or two of my daughters, on a visit to you, of which I shall give you due notice, as
as (sic) soon as the weather will permit and the time of their departure arrive,
        Elizabeth is about sixteen years of age, well educated, and very intellectual
you will be greatly pleased with her__ Miss Longstreet, has evidently had equal
advantages in point of education, greater experience, exceedingly talented, and
well informed; I had a letter by Elizabeth from our niece, our late Thomas's
daughter, Mrs Clarke, who together with her mother is anxious to gain every information
respecting our family, Mrs Clarke, has six children living, her eldest son
is about sixteen years of age is at business, and I am gratified to be able to report
to you, that all our relations in Augusta are healthy, influential, and highly
respectable __ Make my affectionate regards acceptable to Mr Wallace, to
Fanny, and Elinor, and believe to be, your sincerely attached Brother
                  Jas [James?] Moore

Wallace, Eleanor - 6th. June 1849 - Date of a letter sent by her cousin Mrs. Adeline Clarke of Sandhills, USA - Letter below
My Dearest Cousin
              It would be useless for me to attempt to Describe to you my feelings on the Reception of your most affectionate letter. I felt that I was not left altogether desolate and alone in the World that there was still some near and Dear Relatives left Who sometimes thought of me For you are aware My Dear Cousin I Was an only child of A Widowed Mother who doated [doted?] on me; and Who Was almost afraid for the Winds of Heaven to blow upon me for I was asickly [a sickly?] and delicate Child from my Infancy until I was nearly gorwn [grown?] and when I Married Mr Clarke I had then two to spoil me instead of one for he was as bad in that respect as My Poor Mother but Ah if I had but known it then it was only heaping up trouble on top of the trouble for me; for when I was deprived of them both which happened 4 years ago this Month think you not I must have felt desolate indeed; and only 6 Months between their Deaths, it was a dark and terible [terrible?] day to me; When I lost my two best Friends, indeed I thought I could never live through it but the Lord is Kind and good, he has spared me until the present time: for I was left with a large Family; I have been the Mother of 12 Children; 4 of them are safely housed in their Heavenly Father's Kingdom. I will now try to give you a description of my Family as you have expressed a wish to hear particulary about them. My oldest son John Clarke will be 24 years of Age in July he is a Clerk in Mr John Bones Hardware Store and has been with him for the last 5 years. Although he is my Child I can with all truth say he is as steady as a Rock and has been so since his Childhood, My poor Mother and me used to call him the Parson when he was a little fellow just growing up; he was so sedate and quiet. My next is Fanny; She has been Married a Year this Month to a Mr. Daniel, a Planter who lives about
100 & 20 [120?] Miles by Railroad from me. I can hear every other day from her if necessary which makes it very pleasant; although I miss her very much; as she was the only Female Companion I had in the House with me. Thomas Moore is My 3rd; he is named for My Dear Father; he is 21; he is also in a Hardware Store as clerk. My 4 [4th?] is a Boy about 16 he is at school on the Sandhills where We live We call him Robert Campbell for a Friend of his Fathers. I have 4 little Girls. the oldest is only 10 years of age; We call her Mary Bones; for Mrs John Bones. The next is Eleanor Jane; who my mother named for some of her Irish Relatives. The 3d [3rd?] is Sarah Adger; and the 4 [4th?] is my Baby as I call her; her name is Adeline Samuel; for her Dear Father & Myself as we never had a child named for either of us. She was Born 5 Months after My
Dear Husband was laid in his Grave. I call her my little Child of Affliction. She is a great Pet with us all. So you see My Dear Cousin I have great Responsibilities resting on me. The charge of so large a Family; and so many young Children; But I put my trust in Him who has promised in His Holy Word that those who put their trust in Him; He will not foresake: that He Will be a Father to the Fatherless and the Widows Friend Precious Promises I cling to them. And The Death of My Dear Uncle John Moore; that was a severe trial to me; for he was all the Father I ever Knew being deprived of mine before my Eyes wer [were?] opened on the light of this World He died just 6 Months after My Dear Mother; so you can see I was deprived of all in a Short time of each other. Aunt Eliza Moore has a fine Family around her. her oldest son Henry has taken his Fathers Place in the Store and the next son John Bones is with him. Cousin Lizze [Lizzie?] is Married to a Mr William Walton; a very fine Pious young Man a Lawyer. She appears to be very happy indeed. The second Daughter Martha is als [also?] a very fine Girl. I expect she will soon be Married if a great many Beaux is any Sign; for she has a plenty of them. Her next 2 Daughters Fanny & Mary Jane are very fine Girls. Miss Hannah Longstreet is going to accompany Mr & Mrs Bones to Ireland; she has been very unwell lately, and looks very delicate. I think the trip will be of great Service to her; Oh I often wish it was only in my Power to Pay you all a Visit; but that can never be; and without some of you Visit this
part of the Country. I am afraid I shall never have that Pleasure; But Dearest Cousin if we Should never meet this side of the Grave; I trust we may all meet in that better World where parting will be no more and where all tears shall be Wiped from our Eyes. You all feel very near and Dear to me; although seperated [separated?] at such a Distance. I often think of you and feel what would I give could I but see you all; But there is one
comfort left us; we can communicate With each other by letter and I shall look forward With great Pleasure in hopes of receiving a long letter from you soon Do My Dear Cousin write me a long letter and tell me all about your own Family. it will all be interesting and gratifying to me. Do let me know if your Dear Mother was acquainted with My Mother and what relation they were to each other. You wanted to know if I could tell you anything about Uncle Isaac Moores Widow I am sorry it is not in my Power I have heard nothing about her of late years. And Now My Dear Cousin I must bid you Farewell. hoping that our Correspondence will be continued. My Family all join me in Love to you and your Parents
      I remain your Affectionate Cousin A [Adeline?] E Clarke

Wallace, Eleanor - 27th. June 1849 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
Mr dearest Elinor
                              I am glad to inform you we [are?] so far on, on our long tedious journey, we are
anchored at Grose [Grosse?] Isle 36 miles below Quebec it is an Island in the St Lawrence, the quarantine
station is here and I assure you the passengers all feel very discontented at being kept here we have been
stationed since our arrival on saturday morning and it is now Wednesday, we have had fever and small pox [smallpox?] on
board so that is the reason the sick persons were taken on shore in a boat to the hospital there are a great
many sheds erected on the Island that have been very useful for sick persons. There was a doctor here on
Sunday from shore who examined the ship and was convinced there was not any sickness among the cabin
or poop cabin passengers which is a very great blesssing for us, my mammas' health is pretty good
she was very very ill since we left home greatly owing to the extremely severe heaving of the ship, no one
could have any idea of the inconvenience but those who have felt it, one is so tossed about and sometimes
cannot keep on their feet there are two families from County Antrim in the poop, besides ourselves
our room is boarded in so we are comfortable in that respect, there are two nice girls who have
kept me in company since I came here.   We have had many fearful days in our long
voyage it is 8 weeks on Saturday last since we embarked in Belfast Lough, I could not describe
to you all the points such fearful gales as we had, a constant succession of them I may say, without
erring much, one morning we had a narrow escape from being shipwrecked there was a heavy gale
set in from the north west that carried away our bulwarks, Cabin sky light etc [?] washing two
#PAGE 2
of our sailors down the main hatchway and laying our ship for a short time under water
nor was she expecting to rise, she did rise thank God, and very shortly after we picked up
a Crew of a schooner that the same gale had broken to pieces, she had her Broadside actually
driven in by the sea such gales are dreadful. Our Captain had been above 20 years at sea and
confessed we had seen as much desperate weather as he had seen in his time, but I should not
tire you with too long a description, a great number of ships have been lost in the ice here early
in the spring one was lost in the gulf of St Lawrence [here?] during the gales it
contained 4 hundred passengers who all perished except one child who was picked up by a
vessel passing the spot, I can only say Eliza Morrison has been slow but sure. The weather is very warm
here, The scenery on the banks of the river is delightful, especially at this season of the year,
hill and valley, the beautiful towns and villages sloping to the river's edge together with fertile
Islands form the most beautiful Landscape I ever saw; the houses are of wood and very white, the
inhabitants are mostly of French descent and speak the French Language. The Roman Catholic
religion is established here I saw a very pretty steam boat on Sunday afternoon last which
was St John's day, it came past here on a pleasure excursion from Quebec, full of people gaily
dressed, they stopped here and came past our ship they were accompanied by a M-sonic [Masonic?] Band
and played the Troubadour Garry Owen and other tunes, it was a very handsome sight the
day was warm and the sun bright but it showed a very bad respect for the Lord's day
they are only to be excused on account of being Papists you would be surprised to see
the number of Brigs crowded here all full of emigrants from Britain trying their fortunes
in America we are all in good health thank God I was scarcely sea sick at all but my
mamma was and Abigail was very sick the first week but is quite well now and has
had the offer of two or three places already she sends her kind regards to you and mamma
and I hope your dear mama is recovered tell her I will ever remember her kindness. Please give my kind
love to her and so miss her and if you see Miss
#PAGE 3
Harriet Dobson please tell her I am safe arrived here and please say I will write to her very shortly
and give her my very kind love, I hope I will soon be able to send you my direction and if there are
any questions you wish to ask me about the voyage do so I am writing in but a confused manner but I
hope you will excuse me as I [merely?] snatched the opportunity to Let you know I am safely Landed at Last
the land is near I was over in the Island to-day and had a nice walk through the [trees?] with my
mamma and later on [--?] two young Ladies their servant man came along with a basket so we had
a sort of picnic remember me to Miss Jane Gelston tell her I cannot give her much information about Canada yet but
the time may come. With love to you all and hoping you are all well I remain My dearest friend Yours Ever Sincerely and
Affectionately
                                    Jane White

We have had 5 deaths during the voyage four females from dysentry which was prevalent here and a child from
smallpox Mr Mawhinney a Presbyterian clergyman lost his wife and had been only two or three months married
she died as we passed the banks of Newfoundland at which place the cold became very intense I never felt the like
of it before it was strange looking to see the mountains of Newfoundland covered in many places with snow so very late
in the spring

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 18th. May 1851 - Received a letter from her cousin Adeline E. Clarke of Augusta,Georgia USA
My Beloved Cousin
                   Although just rising from a Bed of illness where I have been confined for the last 6 weeks to my bed and
room by this [sic] with a severe attack of Asthma combined with Pneumonia. Still cannot refrain from dropping you a few
lines by Mr & Mrs Bones who leaves in a few days for their own native soil. This is the 4 year that I have had an attack of
that dreadful Disease every Spring and I am beginning to feel that my Health is suffering very seriously from it; the Doct [doctor?]
has been fearing my lungs very much they have been very much affected indeed with the 2 last attacks, it leaves
me with such a dreadful cough that I do not get the better of it for several months just to give you some idea what I have
gone through in the last few weeks; I have had 5 Blisters on me besides Mustard Plasters taken 4 Emiticks [emetics?]; besides
all sorts of Nausious [nauseous?] Doses of all kinds that I really became perfectly exhausted taking the different
mixtures. I am now suffering with a dreadful pain in my lungs with a severe cough but in great hopes that as I gain my
strength I will get the better of it Ah My Dear Cousin I truly sympathize with anyone that is subject to this dreadful
Disease about 4 weeks ago I thought I should never rise from my bed again and as I would look at my 4 little girls my very
heart would sink within me as I would think if it pleased God to take me their last Parent from them what would become of
them, and then I would think of the Blessed Promises in the Bible given to the Widow and her Fatherless Children and would
feel comforted knowing that he doeth all things well it is true that there is no one that can supply the place of a
Mother nor no one that is going to put up with the little faults and Peculiarities of Children like their own Dear
Parent, so her place in my opinion can never be supplied. Should it be Gods Will to remove me from the little ones
before they have grown all I can do is give them up into his Hands having strong Faith to believe he will take care of
them. There has been nothing of much importance occured [occurred?]
#PAGE 2
in my Family since I last wrote you excepting the Death of my Daughter Fannies Youngest Child Who Died very
suddenly indeed; he was a lovely Babe about 5 months old. her oldest little Boy is still living, a very fine Child nearly 2
Years old; the only one she has. Her own Health is not good She had a very severe attack this last Winter and has not been
strong since. John my oldest Son is in Mr Bones's store at present and Thomas the next is not in any Business Just at
this time he has been in the country the Winter. seeing how he liked some of the New Settled Places. but has returned and
come to the conclusion that he likes Augusta his own Native Place better than any of them. My 3 son is still at Princeton
College Robert [sic] and has been there now going 3 years. he is now 19 years of age; and has to remain there a year and
several months longer. I have never seen him since he first left, but assure I am getting very impatient to do so. He is a
fine steady Boy, and wishes very much to devote himself to the Ministry. I wish you could see some of his Letters. they are
Regular Sermons; in fact all of them are of the Same Character My oldest little Girl Mary Bones has just entered her 14 year.
The next Eleanor Jane is 11. Those two oldest go to School. The two youngest Sarah Adger and Adeline Samuel I have not yet
sent to School but have been trying to teach them at Home myself until I was taken Sick Aunt Eliza Moores Family are all
pretty well at present but she has had quite a trying time for the last 2 months in the illness of her Daughter Fannie, the
oldest of the 2 single ones. who has had an attack of Nervous Fever. There was for several weeks [sic] her life was
dispaired [despaired?] of. They had a very anxious time indeed she is now just able to Walk about the House a little and they
have taken her out to Ride two or three times. The Physicians have every hope now that She will entirely recover. Martha Mrs
Wilkinson that is now has a fine little Daughter near 3 Weeks old. She lost her first. Mrs Walton the oldest Daughter has a
fine little boy running all about; she calls him John after her Father. She also lost her first. Henry there [their?]
oldest Son is Married I suppose you know and they also have a fine Little Boy about 3 months old. Aunt Eliza has 3 other
Sons at Home John who is in Business with his Brother Henry; James and Richard who go to School. She has a very Promising
Family indeed and they all appear to be very happy within themselves. [torn] I think the best kind of Happiness Miss
Hannah Longstreet is going along with Mr & Mrs Bones and was begging me the other day to come along and She would give me
part of her State Room. I told her I would be very glad to do So if circumstances Would Permit, as I had no doubt in the
World but that it would do my Health a great deal of good I believe if I could take a considerable change Some Place it
Would benefit my Health considerably. That is if I could go
#PAGE 3
with my Mind Perfectly easy about my children. Do beg your mother to do everything in her power to keep of the Asthma
for I believe when you have the first attack you Will be Subject to it afterwards. And now My Dear Cousin I have
written You a Long Letter lying on the sofa which I hope you will answer for I shall be delighted to hear from you and your
Dear Family. and if we should never meet in this world I trust we may in That Blessed Home where there will be no more
parting My Sons join me in Kindest Remembrance to you and all your Family. I Remain Your Affectionate Cousin
     Adeline E Clarke

P S you must excuse all mistakes
Blots etc as I did not feel able
to be very Particular
                           A E C [Adeline E Clarke?]

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 28th. May 1851 - Received a letter from her cousin Adeline E. Clarke of Augusta,Georgia USA
      My Dear Cousin
                      As Mr & Mrs John Bones leaves in a day for Ireland I hastin [hasten?] to answer your Kind
and affectionate letter of Sept th [the?] 1849 which I Received from you and which was indeed a source of great
gratification to me for in that letter you were kind enough to give me a very particular account of your
own and Uncle James's family; We are all living still on the Hill; there has been but little change in my
family since last I wrote you except the birth of a little Grandson which my Daughter calls for
her father Samuel Clarke. He is of course a great pet with us all; not only because he is the first but also
for his name; He is a very fine sprightly child and now about 7 months old. John My oldest Son is in
Business in Augusta. he goes down every morning and returns in the Evening; it is just a pleasant ride
and good exercise for him being only 3 miles from the Hill, my Second Son Thomas is with me at present
and is not engaged in any business at this time. My 3 [third?] Robert is at School about 80 Miles from Home. He
is thinking of going on to the north this summer to Princeton College. My 4 little girls are with me
Mary and Ellen the 2 oldest go to School and the 2 Youngest remain at home Sarah Adger and Adeline
Samuel the last is the little one who was born 5 Months after her fathers death and who my poor
mother named just a few weeks before her own death She said she wished it called for its father and
myself; for strange to tell this babe was the 12 [twelfth?] child; and neither of us had one ever called one of them
after us. She has always been a great pet with us all and although she is now 5 years old she is still
called the Baby. She has always been a very delicate child, but she is beginning now to look much healthier
#PAGE 2
I have commenced giving her the shower bath which I am in great hopes will bring her out. Aunt Eliza
Moores Family are all well; Mrs Walton has a fine little daughter about 9 months old which she calls
for her Mother Eliza Moore. I suppose you heard of the marriage of the oldest son Henry to a Miss Poullain
of Greensboro; a very fine girl indeed. Her second daughter is also married to a very fine man; by the
name of Wilkinson I think Aunt Eliza has cause to be thankful to the author of all good
gifts that her children has made such excellent and prudent matches; for it must be a great comfort
to a mother to see all her children happily married before she is called upon to part with them. Hannah
Longstreet is well at present; Poor thing she has been called upon to drink deep of the bitter cup of
affliction; in the death of her dear and beloved Aunt Adams who had been like a mother to her
for years; also her Uncle Doct [Doctor?] Paul Eves Wife; to whom she was much attached. But she knows to
whom to look for comfort and strength in the trying hour firmly believing that he will not put
more upon her than she is able to bear. Delightful thought to think that the hand that afflicts; can
comfort too. You asked me in Your last letter if I was a Presbyterian. Yes My Dear cousin myself family
and all my connection are real regular full blooded presbyterians and proud to own it. We have an
Episcopalian Methodist Baptist Catholick [Catholic?] and Campbellite Church in our City so you see we
are well provided for in that line. After all it is not what denomination do you belong to; but
the simple question, is the heart right. Oh you do not know how schocked [shocked?] I was to hear of my
Dear Uncle James Death. I often take his last letter out and read over and over again and think
is it Possible I shall never hear another from Him. Do write me all about them and how they got along since his Death and about your
own Family all the Particulars. You do not know how gratifying it is to me to hear from you
And now My Dear Cousin I must thank you Kindly for the little Breastpin you sent me I could not
describe to you my feelings when I looked upon it and thought it was My Dear Fathers Hair. I do
indeed Prize it. I must now bid you Farewell hoping to receive a long letter from you You must
excuse this hurried epistle not knowing Mr Bones was going to leave quite so soon. My Family
#PAGE 3
all join me in Kindest Love to your Father
Mother Self and all
              I remain Your Affectionate Cousin
                         Adeline E Clarke

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 1st. January 1853 - Sent a letter to her cousin Adeline E. Clarke of Augusta,Georgia USA
My dear Mrs Clarke
        You will by this time think I have forgotten you but I assure you that [though occ---?] may [will?] between my
friends are still remembered by me I recd [received?] your kind letter of [May 53?] by Mr & Mrs Bones it was posted in
[Liverpool?] I would like much they had favoured us with a visit I [----sly ----?] Miss Longstreet and [-------?] was
so [young?] during her [first?] visit to Ireland remember me affectionately to Miss Longstreet and tell her I [wish?]
[--------?] is never been in our power to [renew?] [our acquaintance?] I Hope your health is better than when
you last wrote I feel interested to here [hear?] all about our American friends
I hope cousin [Fannies?] health is stronger she must have felt greatly the death of her Baby but it is a better [power?] had
where the [treasure?] is there will the heart be also I suppose your two eldest sons are at business Robert your
youngest son I suppose is by this time returned from Princeton College you will I am sure be glad to see him after such a
long absence Mary and Eleanor will be quite companions for you not the others [----- -----?] It is pleasant for Aunt
Moore all her family are all doing so well and so happy we never hear from any of them give my kindest regards to Mrs
Walton and John [in?] which Mamma joins I spent a few weeks with our Dublin friends last summer during the exhibition I
stopped with Mrs [--w?] our youngest cousin she has a fine little daughter Eliza lives with her the others are all
married Mr & Mrs Bolton and their family consisting of two girls and a boy called James for Uncle have gone to America
this is the third they have gone they are just lately arrived at Milwaukie [Milwaukee?] after a [pr-----?] journey they
went by the steamer City of Philadelphia and were [wrecked?] on the banks of Newfoundland you have likely seen an account
of it in the papers there was a young [minister the?] [Rev J. W.?] Hanson from near Colrane [Coleraine?]
[Ireland?] to the charge of the [congregation?] of only a [----?] about two miles from [---- ----- ------?]
connection yours Mamma says your mother had some brothers but
#PAGE 2
from all we [can hear?] from our friends the [Torbitts?] we think he must be a son of theirs who used to [join?]
I was at the ordination but have not met him yet he has a brother and a cousin in the Ministry of the general Assembly
I forwarded an Illustrated London News to you a few weeks ago I then thought why should I not write I hear from cousin
[Lily Eliza?] every week but hear how all our Dublin friends are getting on you will see from the papers the
[--------?] was with Russia which is going on at present many of our soldiers are meeting with a sad death and many many
famely's [families?] [----- -----?] in Britain are called upon to mourn the loss of sons large subscriptions are making
for the widows and orphins [orphans?] and [--?] but what can recompence the loss how melancholy the thought that so many on
both sides are so suddenly cut off war is a dreadful calamity and we must all wish that the time will soon come when the
Nations will not [unleash?] war any more

Wallace, Eleanor - 31st. October 1855 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor
                     I received your kind and welcome letter a few days ago. I thought or imagined you gave me a [---?]
[up?] about not writing if so, I think you were justified in doing so. I was too long from writing to you I always like to
hear [unreadable] My regards to Mrs Harrison. you will be surprised to hear Mr White as I write is in Goderich at present I never was
more surprised in my life than when he knocked at the hall door my father opened it and bowed stiffly to the strange
gentleman as he thought, not expecting him to be in the country he did not recognise him, it was great amusement was
it not! Mr White gave us great news from home that followed by your letter was the means of telling us much as if we were
still in Newtownards with queer changes a few years makes in any neighbourhood, I was delighted to hear you were quite well
and enjoying yourself [----?] by a pleasant walk often with your cousin. I suppose the Revd I K [---?] will
get a very rich wife this time, I think it was a strange whim of Mrs [Croker?] to go to Australia but she knows best, if I
thought I was to go there it would nearly break my heart I detest that country so much from all I have heard about it, I
hear Miss Letitia Alworthy went out to Melbourne. You can tell Miss E White her brother was present when I read your letter,
he laughed heartily when I came to the part about her saying Mrs McCracken was going to live for ever she must be old now
I think. Do not forget to give my love to your cousin. I have been coaxing my mamma to write a few lines to Mrs Hill, she
promised to do so but is so lazy at writing that I have to write all myself even to my Aunt Mrs Orr, my Aunt is not
pleased about it, tell Mrs Hill my mother is very well, so well that she was told the other day she was getting younger
looking, so I need not say more only she is fatter and [stouter?] than I have seen her for a long time, she says she
thinks Mr Hill must be a very nice person when Miss Kennedy [accepted?] of him after refusing so many. We had great
#PAGE 2
rejoicing here when the news came of the fall of Sebastopol, the townspeople kept on cannonading all night, the bells
rung and the Bands played through town it was certainly a great blessing, but it is feared the war has only begun, it
will cause a great change in the different countries near the scene of action, Poland will likely have a chance of regaining
freedom. It will be nice for you to have Miss Dobson for a neighbour she is such a nice girl please remember me to them
I am the newsroom & Library will be an advantage to N T Ards [Newtownards?] there is no doubt that the present Marquis will
improve the estate more than the last his father was richer and did not take the same interest in it he will do. Do tell
me all about your mamma when you write, I often think of the pleasant evenings I used to spend beside her, give my best
regards to her, not forgetting your dada I suppose you often see Miss Jane Gelston, remember me to her and all enquiring
friends. I suppose you practise a great deal I do not often get now music except a waltz or polka, I only learned one
overture since I came to Canada. There are great improvements going on in Goderich at present so many buildings going up the
navigation is nearly closed for the season the steam boats will soon cease running we had a momentous storm on Monday
morning about 4 o'clock the steamboat [Sarmatian?] had great difficulty making her way into the harbour, at the same time
the saw mill close to the wharf took fire the fire bell and steam boat bell ringing and the rain pelting in torrents was
a very wild scene, I got up out of bed but was too far from the wharf to see [any?] of it fortunately there was not much
mischief done, my father and mother send their kindest regards to you all, I need not say how heartily I join them I remain
your friend       Jane

Wallace, Eleanor - 1st. April 1856 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor,
                         I received your kind letter of January 16th I was glad to find you were all in the land of
the living we have had a tremendous winter of it, but I hope it is nearly gone we had no January thaw this year but a close
constant winter all the time, we may reasonably hope for an early spring after such weather, I suppose we will have a hot
summer after so much cold, so many persons have been frozen to death this winter, if they fell down in the snow they never
rose again, I fancy there is a great likeness between the winters of Canada and Russia, we had great talk of war with
the United States, but it is no doubt nonsense, I hope it is a false report a large military force will likely be kept in
Canada for some time, I think surely the Americans would not be so mad as to make any fuss at present How do you enjoy your
health, I feel quite sickly at present, but I suppose I will get strong again when the weather gets good, so as I can go
out and have a walk. I wish I had you to walk beside, I would like one of those long walks with you up the Belfast road,
sometimes when alone and I begin to think, I often wish for my old home and then change again in my notion and try to fancy
myself happier here, we are never contented in this world it would seem, I do not have much society with the exception of
some young ladies, of course that is quite enough my former acquaintance, Miss Parke returned from New York last summer
that pleased me very much she is the one who supplied your place to me since I came here though I like you better, now do
not suppose I am [rubbing?] you with soft soap for indeed I'm sincere my dear Eleanor. I received a newspaper from you this
morning containing an account of the reception of three young persons at a concert in Belfast, such a scene is something new
in that Protestant town, but still one does not like to condemn it though I would rather keep my liberty either as a
married or unmarried person, the scene must have been very grand and imposing, The Roman Catholics seem an enthusiastic
people I never liked any I knew, I was slightly acquainted
#PAGE 2
with a Lady here of that persuasion, my mother advised me to drop the acquaintance, I did so and do not regret it, they are
so bigoted and uncharitable _ If you could conveniently enclose me a little migionette [mignonette?] seed and a little wallflower
seed you will do me a great favour it will be time enough to sow it about the middle of May or even later, in this place.
Mr Fred White is in Goderich still, he comes to see us sometimes I told him I was going to write to you, he sends his
respects and begs of you to let his sisters know he received a letter from them and intends to answer it. Do you often see
Mrs Hill, I suppose she is as pleasant as ever please remember us to her. I think you never saw such a fuss as is made here
about learning to play on the piano every one [everyone?] who can manage it is getting pianos and such great instruments too, I fancy
few of them will be of any use to them as the difficulty is to find teachers, the only one competent is a Mrs Charlesworth (I
mentioned her name to you before) but she charges four pounds per quarter this some people think too much I never would give
any instructions of the kind to anyone, I could do it just as well as her I soon snapped any one [anyone?] who asked me for lessons,
any person knows I have no occasion, but I suppose they would give me the trouble for nothing, but I give Miss Clarke a
lesson sometimes merely for friendship's sake, Remember me to Mrs Harrison tell her I don't know when I am going to get
married, I am always expecting to hear of your's you never tell me anything about it I suppose you intend to do it
quietly, but do not be in a hurry, you and I have both plenty of time to wait, and should not let ourselves be blind to our
own interests, but I do not say this to prevent you from marrying any time. How is Mrs Andrew Moore, remember me to
her. The railway is further awy from us than we thought it has passed into the hands of an English company, so we will
not have it for two years it seems, but it is bound to come now, the Canadian Company who had it before did not give any
satisfaction as usual. I hope your mamma is quite well, give my kindest love to her not forgetting your dada. How is
Anne Dobson does she go to your house now at all, I suppose she is the same looking girl as ever, I never hear how Abigail
does, but she lives in a wild far-away place but the places in this part of the country are improving very much, she lives
about thirty miles away I think. I will hope soon to hear from you, I am sorry I cannot send you a more interesting Letter,
but trust you will take the will for the deed, with kindest love, I remain My dear Eleanor your ever sincere friend
        Jane

My mamma sends her love

Wallace, Eleanor - 21st. June 1856 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor
                  I heard with deep regret of the loss you have sustained I heard three or four weeks ago by a
letter from my cousin Jane Bowman, I felt quite thunderstuck I attempted to write two or three times and could
not, I felt so vexed, but we must endeavour to to [sic] bear up against troubles while here, how often we are made
to feel this is not our home, we must look for strength where it is only to be found, I think there is nothing
but time will mould down grief caused by heavy bereavements, and a firm trust in the Almighty, you
cannot think how much I have been thinking about you lately, this is but a dull letter, I hope you will answer
it and let me know how you are, My mother sends her love to you, the weather is so hot I have quite
a head-ache I think we will soon have thunder and rain, that would cool the air nicely, we have the
prettiest garden we have had since we came here, but time will roll on, the wild winter will come and wither everything, so is this bleak
world a few short years, and we will be mouldering in the clods of the valley, we vex and grieve about
the passing events of life and often feel miserable when we should not, but it will be so to the end of
time, could we sometimes see into futurety [futurity?] we would not be anxious sometimes, but it is best it is hidden
#PAGE 2
from us, if some knew the future they would be miserable, how little one thinks of this world the longer
they [have?], but we must all keep our hearts up, and do our duties as far as we can, it does not seem likely that you and I will
see each other again, but let us hope to meet where parting is unknown, I will always love you while I live, and always think
of the pleasant hours we have passed together, now do try to get your spirits up and write to me, I remain, dear Eleanor
              Your sincere friend
                         Jane

Wallace, Eleanor - 22nd. September 1856 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My ever dear Eleanor
                          I received your kind letter, I would have answered it sooner, but I thought I would
wait a little as I know your loss was fresh in your memory, at such a time a long worldly letter would
only be an intrusion, only time, dear Eleanor heals our griefs, the greatest comforts in this passing world,
often are only the forerunners of truths still greater but there is nothing but trouble promised to us, I
have not the same light heart I used to have, I do not know how it is, I just feel like an old woman,
there is only happiness in childhood. My mother was very poorly during the hot weather I was quite
alarmed, she has quite recovered, it is amazing how well she looks, but I am afraid the winter will make her
suffer from rheumatism. The railway is progressing rapidly there will soon be one line of railway through
the whole of Canada, British-America is said to be more improved in the last seven years that it ever
was before, especially Upper Canada, I expect seven more years will make Goderich a fine city, some of
the inhabitants will be very rich, my father is just as keen for the world as ever, we are all fond of gathering
but do not know who will enjoy it in this changing world. I was reading a part of the remarks of a
French gentleman M [Monsieur?] de Beloize who has been visiting Canada a short time since and made a tour in the
two provinces, he likes Lower Canada very much likely because it copies the manners and professes the
religion of the land of their forefathers France, he says in steady habits and quiet unassuming manners
they are antipodes to the United States, but he thinks differently of Upper Canada, he says there is exactly a
restless changing spirit as in the States, indeed I must say Goderich is as much changed lately as
could well be imagined, it is becoming an abominally
#PAGE 2
Yankeefied place, being so near the States, and such a remote place in Canada, all the correspondence of
any importance is with the States, the more we approach the manners of the old country, either British or
continental, it is the more conciliating mild, and gentle, whereas the other is the reverse, I used to hear
the Yankees were nice people, but I don't think so now, this proud, mean aristocracy of money is very revolting
especially when they do not care how or in what low way it is obtained so as the steam is kept up, down about
Hamilton, Toronto and further down, the manners of the people are quieter and more polished. It is amusing to
walk up near the Lake and see the Indian huts and wigwams down in the flats below, I suppose they will soon
be moving them all away on the approach of winter the air is getting occasionally frosty already, I do not like
the thought of winter. Rents of houses in business places here are rising greatly, one hundred pounds a year is
considered not too much, I dont see how money is to be made to meet all this, my father says if it was not
that he is totally independent of business, he would not stand such work, he would just walk off to Ireland
again, but he reaps the benefit of all this being the owner of property. I often wonder to see persons coming
out to Canada so many times, I know one young man who has come out from England this summer for the
third time, all he has to do is a little in the lawyers offices or some other trifling matters, there seems
a fascination in it, but I somehow think everyone is compelled to follow their destiny, I saw Elizabeth McMordie
once this summer, I suppose you remember seeing her in N.T. Ards [Newtownards?] she is a great stout, immense woman,
I would not have known her, she did not know me, but I dont wonder as we never were much acquainted, she stays
with her parents in the country, she seems to have given up dressmaking altogether. Do you ever touch the piano now?
there was a tuner up from London this summer who pronounced my old piano the most substantial one he
had seen, it seems the pianos they make in this country are flimsy in comparison, you know how old mine is _
do you ever see Mrs Hill, please remember us affectionately to her, and to Mr & Mrs Waugh, tell Mrs Waugh I
am acquainted here with a lady I am very fond of she resembles her so much in manner, I hope she is better
you mentioned she was sick, I am sorry this letter is so uninteresting, but I do hope, dear Eleanor you will take
the will for the deed, and believe me there is no one who thinks more about you or feels more anxious
for your welfare than I do, my letters to you never can be
#PAGE 3
so interesting to you, as yours to me, because this being a strange place to you, the news of it or the
people in it could not interest you much to hear of. My mother sends her kindest regards to you, and your
father and cousins in which I join her, and believe me to remain ever your dear friend
                                   Jane

I will anxiously expect a letter from you do you ever see Anne Dickson now, I hope she is
quite well, will you ask her if she knows anthing of our old [great Nanny Paisley?], I often thought of
asking through curiosity, and still forgot until just now.

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 9th. January 1857 - Received a letter from Jane White of Goderich, Ontario, Canada - letter below

                   Goderich 9th Jany 1857

My dear Eleanor
                 I received your kind letter this morning, I received your other one, and had a piece of a letter written
in answer to it, if it had been written a little sooner our letters would have crossed again. I hope you had a pleasant
Christmas, Christmas here was cold as usual but we still went to church, I dont like to be absent on that time if I can
help it. I was startled out of sleep on new year's eve at midnight by the roaring of a steam whistle at one of the founderies [foundries?]
announcing the new year it just sounded at the very door of the house. The weather is cold at present, but was
not so very until two or three days ago but I am so used to this climate now the ---ts [heats?] and colds never trouble me
as they used to, but I like the summer best, this is a mild winter I think, the snow is very deep at present,
we had a regular snow-storm yesterday, the drift that met one at opening an outside door was sufficient to coax one
to shut it again, our house is very warm it is queer how little heat fire places give this weather the heat seems to go all
up the chimney, stoves are very comfortable, those grated stoves are very pretty for [rooms?] for either coals or wood. Many thanks
dear Eleanor for the music. I saw Miss Gelston's marriage in a paper you sent me. I expect Goderich will be gay this
ensuing summer, the opening of the [Is?] [---?] G. Railway will be a great affair in
#PAGE 2
the progress of our town, it seems we are to be a city in five years, I'm sure I have been hearing of this since
ever I pushed my nose into the place the e---- [event?] has usually been kept 5 years ahead, but I think there is some truth
in the report this time. The s-g-naw [saganaw?] people will likely come down for a visit next summer, that will make a commotion
for two or three days, then we'll the Yankee dames with their best feet foremost, they bring such beautiful
steamboats from the other side. I am very sorry to hear about the accident Wm [William?] Moore met
with, I hope he is getting better, please remember us to him and Mrs Moore. So the Marquis and Marchioness are
astonishing the natives, they are surely a weak-minded couple, and might be better employed, I saw something about
them in the "Nation" some time ago It mentioned Lady Castlereagh (now Lady Londonderry) had become a Roman
Catholic and the Lord C [Castlereagh?] was about to follow her pious example, I thought it all nonsense, it is well they have no
family, so that the evil may cease in this generation, our Rector [was?] staunch following of Labour but does not often
preach that doctrine as he received [an?] intimation of he would be he would be [sic] deprived of [some?] families so he [----?]
to her cousin Joseph Cooke, who was formerly in partnership with their uncle down here but in business alone now since his
marriage their uncle Miss Parkes's father has taken charge of the whole family some time since, there are three left, they
are smart lively girls with a great quantity of the Irish brogue I like it, it sounds musical in my ears then there is
my old acquaintance Miss [Seegweillar?], there is little or no change in that family, her father is retired from business
lately he is a stout old German, talks so loud, then there is the Weatherealds, I mentioned them so often any more would be needless, they are a kind family, a little
too bombastic and consequential, I am quite matter-of-fact myself, their mother is a nice motherly old dame they seem quite comfortable and keep a great appearance
I expected they are all depending upon the fortune of the latest daughter Mrs Marwood as Mr M [Marwood?] was reputed rich when died, I met with a Miss Caldwell lately
#PAGE 3
over there, she teaches music to Lucy Weather---- [Weathersald?], she is come out from Ireland some months ago, from Coleraine.
She is a fat stout old country girl so [rosy?] and clear coloured innocent and Irish looking it is a long time since I
heard such a strong Northern Irish accent before, the common accent here is a half English half American [born?] the
[-----?] learn it from habit when they have been long here, Miss [C?] [Caldwell?] is a governess to a family living about
a mile out, she has -50 [£50?] per annum and board but I fear they will not be able to keep a governess all the time, but
I'm not [sure?] Dancing seems to be rather wearing away in this place you will recollect me writing to you about so many
balls, I scarcely hear of one now, I think it is a change for the better, where dancing predominates in a community there
is not much solidity I think, a little of it is well enough. Now please give our regards to Mrs Hill, and [note?] to Mrs
Milliken. I thought it strange the death of Mrs Gelston (late Miss Davidson) those stomach complaints are sad things,
I [firmly?] it is worms that prey upon the stomach I know it from experience so if ever you are afflicted
this way just think of what I said, and take medicine for it, being so long in this climate I should know such
complaints is prevalent here, the impression is there is none but children so afflicted which is a hurtful mistake
Now dear Eleanor I must conclude or I'll certainly tire you, I will hope to hear often from you, my mother sends her love and
hoping you and your father are quite well I remain
   Your attached friend
Jane

P.S I forgot to say we got all letters safe my father
generally gets them from the [------?] himself in the
[forenoons?] [--?] there is [----- ---?]
we still live in the same place. I will write all the news I
can next time

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 1st. August 1857 - Received a letter from Jane White of Goderich, Ontario, Canada - letter below
  Accept my dear thanks for your kind letter, the letters I receive from Ireland seem to come from
some land of dreams, it is so long since I left. The winter was very tedious in going way this time, it broke first of
all in February, this did not answer very well, because after open weather for three or four weeks about that time of year,
the winter sets in bitterly afterwards, May was a cold, snowy month this time, and June was cold, such a rainy season as it
has been, I suppose one great Comet was the cause, I do not hear anything about it now, it was supposed it did strike
about the 13th of June, there was so much loss of life in different places in the States, Canada has been visited by sad
calamities in the Railway accident at Hamilton in March last, and the burning of the steamboat "Montreal" off Cape Rouge
somewhere between Quebec & Montreal, you will see the particulars in a Signal I sent you, the sufferers were mostly
Dutch emigrants just come out from Glasgow, I believe when the steamboat reached Montreal they were all taken under the
protection of the St Andrews' Society, the Captain and others of the "Montreal" have been tried and found guilty of
manslaughter, they surely deserve it for not paying proper attention.  I have been very sickly all spring and summer, I
got a cold in my head, it has brought on rheumatism, it makes me feel dull and uncomfortable, sometimes I say to my mother,
now if I could get rid of this, there is nothing in the world to make me unhappy, she laughs at me, and tells me I'll always
have trouble while I live in this world, she is no doubt right, in our position here, I take fits of deafness sometimes
but still I fancy, I am recovering, my mother throws cold water over my head at night before going to bed, I feel great
benefit from it, I thought at first of blistering my neck but I changed my mind, the pain puts such a flush in my face
sometimes, any one would think me the picture of health, but I
#PAGE 2
must not be complaining, it is not fair to send dull news so far, I have not much news, I think I mentioned a Miss Caldwell
in my last letter, she went to Philadelphia a little after I wrote, she is expected back, she is a very nice girl, she has
a sister married to a Baptist clergyman over there, there was another sister stopping with her brother in law [brother-in-law?] and sister
she was killed accidentally last winter by her sleeve catching on the trigger of a loaded gun on the mantle piece [mantelpiece?], this Miss
Caldwell went over to comfort her sister for her loss I think, I met Mrs [Butler?]

[this part of the letter is missing]

notion, if not I will hope to hear from you, with very best wishes to you and your father in which my father and
mother join me, I remain your sincere friend
                                               Jane

N.B. Please to remember us to Mr & Mrs Waugh & Mrs Hill and all enquiring friends I would take it as a very great favour
if when you are out for a walk you would pick me three or four haw [hawthornes?] you could send them in a paper, I dont see any
of the same kind of blossoms here, I just want to see if I can get them to grow, I'll put them down just when I get them.

Wallace, Eleanor - 1st. January 1858 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
[first part of the letter missing]

this seems to be a nice mild winter, we have snow at present pretty deep but not much cold, in answer to your kind enquiries about my health, I feel much better, sometimes the deafness comes back, mostly after being excited, or walking much and when I sit down quietly for a while, my hearing comes back, I think it is a sort of rheumatism in the head, when it comes down into my teeth the pain is excruciating I have lost
sleep many a night with it, but on the whole I feel much better. The railroad is finished to Stratford, it was to have been finished this Christmas to Goderich, when it comes next summer if it comes I am in expectation of getting a while to amuse myself with an acquaintance down at Paris, I hope I will not be disappointed in it. To give you an idea of the mildness of the winter, the Lake was frozen over every winter since we
came until this one it is not frozen at all it looks almost as nice (the waves) as in the month of July, but we must not boast between this and May the cold might be dreadful, I never felt so pleased to get rid of a summer as this last one. I felt so ill, some of the holidays I could scarcely raise my head. Another of the Miss Cauldwell's is come out from Coleraine, she and her sister intend beginning a school here,
I hear, if they would have not have been as well as in Goderich, they must be poor indeed, I mean at present, for I do not see how school teachers would be paid, the schools here at present there's no fear of, because the taxation keeps them up, but private schools have no chance, times are the worst I ever saw we ought to feel thankful that have a sufficiency without going in debt, chisseling, cheating and roguery are the order of the day so many business people making assignments of their affairs to escape their creditors, there's scarcely a person one could mention solvent, one the sheriff is after another pounced upon for a few hundreds of bailed money, the plan of endorsing for each other kept up the Dream for years, but the crisis will ruin some of them, they
#PAGE 2
were just cutting a figure all the time on nothing at all, and now the shouting out, one person told my father he expected he would have to go to jail soon, one who seems rich to outward appearance, but of course, matters will get right by degrees, I never could imagine a place in such a state as Goderich is, the Newtownards people would not many of them allow themselvesto get into such a state I think. my father could not be induced to endorse for any one I think after this he will be stiffer than ever, our tenant Mr De---r [Dellor?] seems to still do
well, but we cannot tell how long he may stand, this is such a queer time _ I hope your father is quite strong, and well again, I ask it as much as on your account as his, you would be so vexed, it is amazing what good health my mother has, she ought to feel thankful, for my father he is very strong. please remember us to Mr & Mrs Waugh, If you should ever accidentally hear any one mention about the Mr Walker who came out on the ship with us, would you let my father know where he is, and how employed. he feels anxious, you will recollect he was clerk in the English Church formerly. My father and mother send their kindest love, I will hope soon to hear from you, and allow me again to express my thanks for your un------- [unwearied?] kindness and attention, and wishing you and your father and cousin a happy new year
                                          I remain
                                            Your sincere friend
                                                     Jane

I hope you will excuse the length of this letter,
when I begin I generally write too much.

Wallace, Eleanor - 27th. August 1858 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor
                    I think it was more than time a month ago to reply to your kindest of letters, I was very glad to hear you were living and well, I received another letter at the same time that surprised me __ announcing the death of my aunt, poor Catherine is in great trouble, she was so fond of her mother, I really thought my aunt was getting better, I thought perhaps I might see her sometime but perhaps we'll meet in a better home, where I hope we will all meet, I was sorry to hear of Mrs Waugh's death, I'm sure Mr W [Waugh?] will feel it severely, she was a very nice person. I did not like to write to you on indifferent subjects until your grief was mellowed down a little. I was thinking lately of what your mamma said to me one day she was sitting beside me when she used to take me over to Bangor, she said for me always to rest
upon the merits of our Saviour and give my thoughts wholly to him for everything earthly would pass from me, how truly we
find it so. I was surprised to hear of the death of Dr Whitlaw, perhaps you could tell me something about them when you write. I never hear any thing [anything?] about N T Ards [Newtownards?] except what you write unless when Mr Milliken favours us with a letter, I hope he and Mrs M [Milliken?] and family are quite well. The railway is completed about months ago or more, there were great excursions to Goderich both Yankees and Canadians on the Celebration on the 8th July at the opening of the line the town was so thronged many had to leave same day because they could not be accommodated with lodgings so many thousands persons. There were two brass bands up from Stratford and Brantford, the fireman's torch-light procession was pretty, the fire-works were very inferior to expectations, the Governor General Sir Edmund Head was up there was a dinner and ball, the town was decorated with with [sic] flags, such a number I have never seen before, there were triumphal arches decorated with green, mottoes such as
#PAGE 2
"Success To the Railway", "Welcome American Friends" "Reciprocity" &c, the plank sidewalks were finished for the
occasion, there was a flag to be hoisted in the court house a dangerous place from its great height and did it for the sum
of £[3?]-15-0 so that money was no object that day, the Sig-iaw [Saganaw?] people came by the Lake, Goderich is bound to be a
stirring place being a terminus, but I hear the towns down along the line are nearly ruined, the trains passing through
spoils business, but strangers coming here would find this the poorest, coldest, most profitless place they could come to,
unless some person particularly fortunate, a family arrived the other day from Westmoreland Street Dublin, they talk of
school teaching, I hear, a number of music teachers keep coming up, all females, the Miss Caldwell I mentioned to you
and her sister left for Philadelphia more than a week ago she is married by this time to some person from Coleraine, I hear
they intend settling in Goderich, I dont know whether she has married well, but I hope so, she is a nice person. I suppose
you heard the telegraph (the sub-marine) is completed, it is surely a wonderful invention, scarcely credible.  This has been
the queerest summer I have ever seen, no rain scarcely, no thunder, the ground parched and crops scanty, I fear there will be a
hard winter upon poor people, the mechanics and labourers are badly off here at present. There is to be another Election
next month, this is the country for elections, this is for the Upper House they have made it elective, now it is for eight
years, with a large income for that time, there are four candidates in the field but it is expected the run will be
between Ex commissioner Jones and Donald McDonald of Toronto I suppose Donald will walk in by a sweeping majority because
the voting is in Huron and Perth much as the old election some years ago Between C-yley [Cayley?] and Malcolm Cameron, Perth put in
Cameron being a Liberal, the same persons will likely put in McDonald for the same reason, Mr Jones is a High tory I
believe, but I do not think it is any matter which goes in no one hereabout seems to care about it they are tired fussing
about elections, they are so expensive Dr Hamilton of this town died lately suddenly in Toronto from the effects
of a sunstroke, it is melancholy how many have died from the same cause this summer. it has been the hottest in memory
of the oldest inhabitants. How is Mrs Hill? please remember us to her, and all enquiring friends, but we have been so long
away now I suppose we will soon be forgotten, but I'm not the least afraid of you forgetting me. I received two papers from
you yesterday, but is Miss Bingham dead? I am anxious to know My father and mother join me in kindest love to you, I hope
you will soon write, and pardon me for being so long from writing, my mind was depressed mostly from thinking of my
Aunts death and my cousins left orphans, but I feel easier now
#PAGE 3
with kindest regards I remain
                Your sincere friend
                        Jane

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 27th. January 1859 - Received a letter from Jane White of Goderich, Ontario, Canada - letter below
    My dear Eleanor
                     I was delighted to receive your kind letter, I can perfectly understand what you mean by household
duties taking up so much of your time, I feel just the same for all my mother one might suppose would take all the
trouble,  it is wonderful what one gets to do if they feel inclined, I'm sure in a house where there are six or ten
children the work must be no little, sewing alone considered, We felt very sorry to hear about Mrs Hill being poorly, I
hope she is better, do let us know particularly in your next letter, and I will feel much obliged, I always was so fond of
Mrs Hill, do you know where her sister Mrs McConnell is, we often speak of her, is she still in Montreal?  So Miss
Bingham is living and well, how silly the person must have been to tell she was dead, and they from Mewtownards too, do
you know how she is getting on?  What a mild winter we have here for so far with the exception of one night and morning
when the thermometer was 20 below zero, above a week ago, there is a thaw at present.   I heard of the marriage of Dr
Jamison but heard it was the youngest and only remaining Miss Ferguson of Castleleavery, your letter contradicts this. The
young folks are certainly leaving us alone they are marrying off so fast, I suppose you will be following their example
some of these days, but I do declare Eleanor if I were in your place I would scarcely be induced to give up my liberty
few ladies are as abundantly blessed as you in this world's wealth and comforts with a blessing attending it, you have
been brought up in a good, religious, proper manner, and have profited by it, but married or single there is no doubt the
Almighty will watch over your welfare because you trust in Him.  I hope when you marry you will get a good kind husband.
my mother was greatly taken with S[p]urgeon's sermons, you
#PAGE 2
will remember you sent them to me, he is certainly a very clever man but has a queer way of expressing himself, my
father was talking to Revd [Reverend?] Mr McKidd here about him, he called him a queer con [concern?], I suppose he thinks
he can preach better himself.  The new bishop was up early in winter and held a confirmation, there is now the bishopric
of Huron so old Dr Strachan of Toronto is not our bishop any longer, we have lost the old Scotsman and got a very clever
Irishman in his place Mr Cronyn of Dublin formerly, he got in by only one vote, he is a very strong opponent of Cardinal
Wiseman's I see, his address to the young  people was that of a staunch Protestant.   There was some amusement at the
Election of our Mayor this time it was done by all the Electors of the town according to the new act, the
candidates were Dr McDougall and a Mr Johnston, I think Johnston was brought up near Lurgan, Ireland, my father was
proposed as a third, but he declined the honour, Dr McDougall begged of him to take his place and he would turn his votes
over to him as he is tired of being Mayor, he has had it so long, but he was determined to oppose Johnston as he is a
great fellow among the Orange men, I believe the master of the [lodge?] here, and the other is a Roman Catholic, the
people who would be supposed to vote for Johnston [----?] their votes and let McDougall in by a [-?ar?]thing majority,
the other person was so unpopular owing to some affair that took place many years ago long before we came here, it is
strange how one false step sticks in the public mind so long but the situation is one of trouble and expense not worth
having, it is said one of the sons of Queen Victoria is to visit Canada next summer of course he will be here in
Goderich.  It is said the railway is to run through the town to the wharf, I do not think the people at home would put up
with this in a town.   I hope you will excuse such an uninteresting letter, I feel very much obliged at your
constant kindness in writing to me, being so long parted from you, it is so pleasant to think you have not forgotten me, my
father and mother join me in kindest love to you, not forgetting your cousin, please remember us to Mr and Mrs
Milliken, we were anxious to hear from them, my father wrote last, I hope they are quite well, hoping soon to hear from
you, I remain
  Yours Most Sincerely
      Jane

My father would like to know where the person is who used to be organist in N.T.Ards [Newtownards?] church, a Mr Walker,
if you know any thing of him or where he is, what part of
#PAGE 3
Canada, my father would like to hear, he told me about twenty times, I should think to ask you, I think, I always forgot,
he came out in the ship with us. my father would like to hear of him being well fixed.

Wallace, Eleanor - 19th. July 1859 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
     My dear Eleanor
                      I am late in replying to your kind letter the weather is and has been so dreadfully hot one could scarcely walk, I do not know how people manage who have to work hard, it must be hard suffering, I never felt so knocked up with the heat any summer, perhaps it is weakness of body, my mother complains dreadfully, I wish some cool weather would come and that would make us feel well again, the cool evenings are a great relief, we have beautiful moonlight nights, I think it can scarcely be better in Spain than here though the Spaniards go to bed in the heat of the day, I think the Canadians might do the same, the twelfth of the month was dreadfully hot, the Orangemen went down to
Clinton and came home in the evening looking dreadful scarcrows [scarecrows?] with heat and dust, I hear in some towns below they celebrated the day with great spirit, but they have lost their prompter in this place, since the death of Dr [Doctor?] Hamilton, so I suppose they will dwindle away, the rector is showing them such a cold shoulder it used to be the reverse, he is so much in debt now, and acts so queerly,
the people do not think so much of him as they did, he has a very large and extravagant family, who are forever showing off their aristocratic origin, and looking down on the congregation, this is quite hurtful to the cause of Christ, one does not like to be too tight upon their clergyman he is a kind pleasant man withal, if they were an English family I would have no mercy for them, but seeing they are Irish I would put up with their every fault, because there will always be a kind feeling remaining, but I declare the English here would have no objection to [bore?] the ears of the Irish through, like the bold servants of old, but they are too
#PAGE 2
numerous for them, the Scotch too lean to Ireland most.  I suppose you were alarmed some days ago to hear about a French invasion of Ireland, the same stories were flying about here, and that the lower Canadians were going to join the French in an invasion of Canada, but both Canada and Ireland are safe. Louis Napoleon has his hands full, and by the time his hands are clear of the Austrians his friends will be too low for any more capers.  We have got six Clergymen out from Dublin lately, some of them very talented men, one who is placed at Clinton comes up to preach sometimes, the Revd. James Carmichael, he is very young and very enthusiastic, he seems completely devoted, a little too theatrical but a most [attractive?] preacher, he carries the mind away until you would think you actually saw what he describes, his Good Friday's sermon on the crucifixion was [startlingly?] vivid, he drew crowds from other churches, but they are more taken
with a Mr Sullivan who has been once or twice here, indeed I think they are [fidgetty?] I have not heard Sullivan yet, the name has a popish sound with it, I join with you in not thinking much of Roman Catholics, I have known some of them here and think them deceitful I would be neighbourly with them but would not take them for companions, their bigotry is too much.
     Those revival meetings at home will surely do good, an impression in the mind is often retained and [recurs?] to the memory even after being forgotten for a time.  The person I enquired about Mr Walker came to see us one day, he came up to Goderich on some errand and enquired for us, he has a farm about thirty miles away, I did not know him at first, I wonder if you and I would know each other if we met in the
street, you would find me [darker?] in the complexion I think.  The United States Day is kept by some persons here, some left for Buffalo for the 4th July and it was celebrated here by a kind of a street masquerade.  How is Mrs Hill please remember us to her do you know where her sister Mrs McConnell is? would you ask her what part of Canada she is in, if still in Montreal.   I suppose your garden looks well now, ours is rather fading at present the frosts that came about the 8th June did great injury, it killed our grapes & melons and cucumbers and a number of our annuals the potatoes through the country were as totally withered as the time of the potatoe [potato?] rot at home, but they are all sprung again the bulbs throw up new shoots just the same with the dahlias in our garden would you take the trouble of sending me a few withered flowers of fuschias perhaps I could get some seed out of them I cannot get any here, it is a hardy plant I think it would grow here, I thought of begging a slip
#PAGE 3
from you, but I fear it would die before getting this length. the crops last year were a failure owing to the dryness of the summer the people in Huron and Bruce are starving in hundreds, Bruce is worst being a new settlement some of the Highland Scotch up at Kinloss who depended on the cultivation of the new farms, are subsisting of [--?] roots, gathered in the bush, they could hardly be more at home [than?] this, a good deal of money has been raised I hear for them, some of them furnished with [work?] it is said down in London times are if possible worse than here, but there is no loss without some gain, it has ruined the cheats and rascals, honest good people do not feel the time so seriously.   I was surprised to hear of Mr Bells death, he must have suffered severely poor man, he was a strong looking man, quite like long life when I saw him last, I thought I had furnished you with a nice story in the Signal in "One eyed Saul" but it turned out a very poor affair such humbug about [Ishmael?] the wolf.  Please remember me to your cousin.  My mother is anxious to know if the Revd H Moore is still in Newtownards we heard there was another clergyman in his place, is it so?  we were pleased to see the address to Mr Price in the paper you sent, we received another paper the same from Mr Milliken.  My father and mother send their kindest regards to you please to accept the same from your much attached friend and hoping soon to hear from you
                                  I remain
                                      Yours most sincerely
                                             Jane

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - circa 1860 - Received a letter from Jane White of Goderich, Ontario, Canada - letter below
[first part of letter is missing]

to the conclusion of being cautious, he is certainly a very clever man he has an income of over three
hundred [per annum?], there seems to be great many Unitarians in our congregation, the Episcopal
church in the States seems tinged with this doctrine, they omit the creed of Athanasias [Athanasius?] in their
prayer books, I admire the service of the church more than anything of the kind next to the Scriptures
and do not put so much dependence in preaching on that account, I do not think religion confined to
any [sort?] of Christians but that whoever believes truly in Christ will be saved. The Methodists are making
great progress here, I rather like their doctrine, but I think they are a troublesome people to belong to
a great deal of hypocrisy among them, the Miss Del--rs [Dellors?] I am acquainted with belong to them,
their father is as pleased as a [dog?] with two pockets that he has been made a member of the town council this time, by the
time he puts in a year and knows the trouble and difficulties of it, he will not be so anxious another year, the Mayor for the
this (sic) year will likely be Dr [Doctor?] McDougale the last one, the one of last year I mean, it seems queer he is a
Papist and a Jesuit, but being a steady, quiet and rather clever person, he is liked by the council, Mr James Watson
is in a tremendous flurry to be made Mayor, but being of a haughty, overbearing turn of mind he never gets a
sufficient number of votes, he is a laughing stock about once every year, he is so anxious to be highly honoured
My father could be Mayor any or every year if he chose easily, but he never accepts it, the Doctor seems tired of it
already, it is troublesome, one Member of the council last year wanted to get a sewer made to drain his own
private property [that?] would have cost £1000 and the town of course would have been taxed to by for this, I
hope the majority of the Councillors will be wiser this year again than to vote with him, it would cause
a scarcity of water and all the wells would about town would (sic) be nearly dry. The English Company
who purchased the Railway concern are said to have bought the harbour area here for 17 thousand pounds are
going to expend 70 thousand more on repairing it. I suppose it is time. You asked me about my
acquaintances, I have not many intimate ones, there is Miss Parke and her three cousins the Misses
Williams, one of them is married up at [Pennetangor?]

[remainder of letter is missing]

Wallace, Eleanor - 28th. May 1860 - Date of a letter sent by her cousin Mrs. Adeline Clarke of Sandhills, USA - Letter below
        My Dear Cousin
                      I have been confined the last two months to my Bed and Room with my same dreadful Disease the Asthma My attack this time was lighter but the cough it left me with and the effects of it has been very severe on me indeed I have been obliged to be Blistered and am now so weak that I cannot get up more than part of each day. I became very much depressed about a Week ago I nearly gave up hope of ever getting up again and when I looked around on my Family 4 Daughters and 2 Sons you may Judge Something of My Feelings. I
wished it had been so that I could have went across with Mr & Mrs Bones and paid you all a Visit I think the Sea Voyage would do me a great deal of good and I know I would enjoy it so much Oh My friend since I was called upon to Bury my two grown Children in one day I have never been the same since. My Dear John and Fannie were such Comforts to me. He tried to take his Fathers place in every Respect he could and do everything he could to comfort me and make me feel my loss as little as Possible. He fell a victim to that dreadful Disease The Yellow Fever. he only lived 8 Days from the time he was taken. My Dear Fannie at the time her Brother was taken was in a Dying Condition She had taken a violent cold and was confined before she got better of it and only lived about 8 or 9 Weeks after its Birth. She went off with what is called Galloping Consumption. So you see my Dear Cousin My Trials have been great but I try to bear them with as much Christian
Resignation as I possibly can. Knowing that it comes from the hand of the Heavenly Father. and that he doeth all things Well. I really do not remember whether I wrote you anything about their Deaths or not. My 4 Daughters Mary Bones, Ellen, Sarah and Ady are all at home with me and also my Youngest Son Robert Campbell who is still in Mr Bones store. My son Thomas lives in Atlanta a very thriving place in the upper part of Georgia. He got Married last Nov to a Young ---- Rest under research

Wallace, Eleanor - 28th. December 1860 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor
                     I suppose you will think I am dead by this time, I often thought of writing, and fully intended it when I received your kind letter, I could not expect to hear from you sooner, as you had not time to settle down before that, I sincerely hope the step you have taken will always be a happy one, I fully agree with you in saying matrimony is fate, so is a single life too, everyone has their vocation marked out, so if we do our duty well, and choose the one thing needful, it is the all that is required, my friend Eleanor has done well, and if anyone chooses to do better, why let them try. Christmas is far away now, we have had some very severe weather lately, but it seems more like a moderate winter now, my mother complains of the cold, but she is amazingly healthy, I often think what a kindness the Almighty confers on me by sparing my mother to me, particulary in this strange country, where I do not feel disposed for society as I would be at home the people are not so good or simple in their habits as in Ireland, not the same humility. I suppose you often heard me mention a Miss Parke to you, she has left her
home, and stops a week here or there as she finds convenient, she complains of ill usage from her father if she means stinginess [?] of habit, her father is unbearable in that way, my father confesses he never saw a more queer character, and he puffs so much about his possessions she is the only child he has though there may be faults on both sides, still it is a pity of the poor thing, if she had a mother living, or even a step mother she would have been better [hearted?] because females are generally thoughtful whatever their faults may be,
it is strange how [unfortunate?] some are, nothing ever seems to go as they likesome [like some?] expect too much of course I hear Mr
Parke is going to [pay?] for his daughters [hand?] I am sure you would enjoy the trip to Edinburgh very much, there is a neighbour of ours, a Mrs Ferguson from Glasgow, entertained me
#PAGE 2
with a description, she saw all you mentioned, another Lady Mrs [Sherlock?] too from Dublin described it to me [I'm?] [in Mary's?] bed will crumble away to nothing I think soon what melancholy accounts there are from Syria I now think those who spoke against the English and French for taking the part of the Turks in the Crimean War were quite right, and the Czar wasnt far wrong, the Turks have shown themselves perfect monsters, I do not suppose the Turkish government would take the part of the Christians if they could decently help it, I saw the death of a Mr Graham a Presbyterian Missionary killed in the [streets?] was he the Dundonald minister? if you recollect would you just mention it to your father. The town is scarce of news at present. The editor of the "Signal" has been stirring the people up with an article upon the soul-sleeping question setting forth that we all sleep soul and body and soul until the resurrection [--?] after death sounds queer to think of this after death but he will not make any converts to his opinion I think The Prince of Wales had a great time of it in America he did not come this far you will likely see him in Ireland next summer The Kingston orangemen acted very foolishly [pushing?] their company on him in spite of him, he did not land at their city, nor at Belleville because both places were decorated with orange, I sometimes think if the Irish Orangemen would only think how little they were thought of it should make them abolish the society altogether and let the Government just
manage as they like, and of all things not to affront the Roman Catholics unless they cannot help it in some awkward ways.
Now dear allow to (sic) conclude with kindest regards to you and Mr McIlwrath and sincerely wishing you every happiness in which my parents join me. I feel much obliged for your great kindness in writing to me so constantly. Please remember me affectionately to Mr and Mrs Milliken and family, I hope Mrs M[Milliken?] is quite well again. Wishing you a happy new year
I remain
                                         Yours very sincerely
                                             Jane White

I cannot close this without mentioning a strange circumstance, I heard since writing this letter, you will remember I wrote some years ago about a little girl who ran away and got married to an Irish boy called Ferguson, she and her husband are back and stopping with his parents she has laid claim to the whole property that was in the possession of her mother [&?] step-father, I hear she will succeed, as it was left by
her own father for when she was of age [Ths?] bought the large farm from her step-father Mr Montgomery and the house was burned down shortly after, he then erected a beautiful house
#PAGE 3
and outhouses, thinking the title of the property was secure, so she can claim house and all according to law. Montgomery really ought to be punished for swindling. Is the direction right or is there any other Mrs McIlwrath lives in your street?

Wallace, Eleanor - 4th. January 1864 - Date of a letter sent by her friend Jane White of Goderich - Letter below
My dear Eleanor
               I have been long thinking of writing to you, I thought of writing before I received your last letter, I was
much pleased to see your likeness, I recollected your face in a moment, the expression seemed so familiar to me, but I feel satisfied you
are handsome, because they seldom succeed in making anyone as well-looking as they really are, but it is a wonderful discovery
of the age, Mr McIlwrath is greatly admired too, he is considered a handsome man by everyone who saw his likeness.
I do not know that you will know my likeness, let me know if you do, my cheeks have fallen in rather, I fretted
about that complaint in my throat, but I feel much better [torn] the cause of making me thinner I am glad you are better, I hope
you are quite strong again, your little boy must be a great amusement & comfort to you. I suppose you are
tired of hearing about the American War, it is a pity of both sides, how the South succeeds of course we do not well know, but
I think they will soon be exhausted now surely, the Northerns [Northeners?] are very much amazed at being beat so often, a number of young
men from Canada are in the Federal army a poor deserter from it was round begging here one day lately. he was an Irishman, a Yankee
sharper ran away from this town lately, he passed off here for a respectable person, some
#PAGE 2
of the townsmen were so so foolish as to lend him large sums of money, he cleared off with his spoils over to the American [side?]
[torn] after him with the [intention?] of giving him up as a deserter if he deserted from the Federal Army before he came
here, I felt pleased they could not find him when they went over, because if he had been found he would likely have been shot
though he rather deserved it. This town is a great Confederate place, a friend of ours called in lately, he was speaking of a Captain of
a steamboat on this line, he has come from the States for the winter with his wife & family, they live next door to us in one of
my father's houses this friend said to my father, you will find Captain Travers a quiet decent man but a stiff Federalist
I laughed and said my mother and him would be company for each other, because she is an unflinching Northern in her sympathies, she
always expresses herself sorry when she hears of any new victory won by the South, the Northerns [Northerners?]
somehow are too ready to dismiss their Generals after being defeated and appoint others, a person
formerly of Goderich Mr [J. Keays?] a merchant who went to reside in Buffalo, about 2 or 3 years ago, who was appointed to command
a company of men was defeated by the Southerns [Southerners?], he was tried by a Court Martial for allowing himself to be beat, I did not
hear how he managed to get off the South must be in a bad state, prices of everything so dear, they must be perfectly desperate,
I hear if anyone tries to resist the Conscription, they hunt their bloodhounds after them, the dogs they keep to hunt their slaves,
the South is surely an outlandish place, the climate must be nice, this is fearful winter here, last week the weather commencing
early on new years morning was tremendous I think there is no doubt but the succeeding three days it was 20 degrees
below zero at times, over in Milwaukee is [it?] was "40 degrees below zero" now my dear Eleanor I just leave you to [judge?]
what the sufferings of poor people must have been, actually it is almost enough to [kill?] any one [anyone?]. the rail cars over somewhere
#PAGE 3
on a railroad crossing over a part of the prairies, [were?] frozen up on one of the three bad days, & refused to stir, the
fuel inside was soon consumed in the stoves by the freezing passengers, and three or four of them were actually frozen to
death, the weather has moderated greatly and the wind abated, it is the storms that cause the cold to be so dreadful, I felt
a terror those 3 nights at the sound of the storm, though there was a fire in the stove in the bedroom I could not get
myself warmed, it was prophesyed this winter would be unusually severe from some of the wild animals taking
precautions against it, I heard some of them were making double linings for their houses The Volunteers are raised all over Canada, we had a review
here in the fall. Miss McMordie was married about three months ago to a farmer & mill owner, I believe, they live at
M--chest-- [Manchester?] a village about ten miles above this town, I hear she has married tolerably well, you will recollect at
Miss Kingham's school, her mother kept a shop behind the Market [House?], there was a niece of Mr- [Mrs?] Halliday's,
(late of Square Newtownards) in this town a Mrs Saunders a very nice young person, her husband is a Scotchman, there are
two children, my father would like to know if Mr Kennedy is living & well, Mr & Mrs Kennedy lived beside Mr Powell's, I
cannot recollect you mentioning them in any of your letters. we had a stirring contest here last Monday & Tuesday for the
Election of Mayor, I could not describe to you the one hundredth part of the fiery excitement there was. Mr Watson
and Mr Dell-- [Dellor?] the [pious?] Methodist who formerly tried it, he is again defeated by a majority of 28. on Tuesday evening
the Watson party made the usual parade of victory carrying brooms sweeping part upward in the sleighs as much as to say
they had swept Mr D [Dellor?] off the course. some persons objected to Mr Dellor because they thought he might not be so
worldly minded, and he such a professing Christian, but rather be visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction and
carry out the scriptural injunction. I think there is reality and truth in the idea. This election costs both the Candidates
upwards of one hundred pounds, and the honour lasts only one year.
Please remember me affectionately to Mr & Mrs Milliken [torn]
& family. Wishing you and Mr McIlwrath a happy new year and
many happy returns of the season
                                    I remain
                                           your sincere friend
                                                    Jane White

My Father & Mother send their
best regards

#PAGE 4
I have just heard the Election is to be overturned upon some error the lawyers in the Dellor vote
have found out, this is the ground for lawsuits, there are more than fourteen lawyers in Goderich all ready to pounce upon anything that
goes wrong.

McIlwrath, Eleanor nee Wallace - 8th. June 1865 - Received a letter from Jane White of Goderich, Ontario, Canada - letter below
My dear Eleanor
                 I have been long in answering your kind letter, it was not want of thought I assure you, I am daily thinking of you, and anxious to know of your welfare, I kept putting off in a procrastinating manner, nor has there been wanting a certain share of wordly [worldly?] trouble to damp the mind to a certain carelessness, but of that you do not have a share I am happy to know, this War on the other side has affected this side too
very much, but it is over now, so I suppose we may look for good prospects now, Goderich was so much deserted, there was no letting property for anything like value, this town was troubled greatly the shipping interest is so knocked up, but still the town will recover, in the midst of difficulties we do not owe one penny, so that is fortunate. I suppose you are surprised at the Assassination of President Lincoln, the news arrived here next day, he should not have entered a theatre on the night of Good Friday, but he was a person greatly respected and regretted, Booth was surely a very outlandish brutal character. We had a steady cold winter, but not such cold as the winter before, the weather is warm and pleasant now the Queen's Birthday was rather
#PAGE 2
a failure, it rained from about 11 o'clock in the forenoon until the evening, it cleared up then, and the people came driving in from the country
and making a stir, some fireworks were let off, the -allithumpians [Callithumpians?] enlivened the scene in the forenoon before the rain came.
There was a great panic here about Christmas last the time the raiders came across, it was supposed all or nearly all the able-bodied men would be marched off to the frontier to meet the American invasion, this would not have suited their wives and families, but none were taken from this town for that purpose, the Volunteers are still drilling yet, I never care for looking at them, as I do not understand military movements, but my father knows every movement. This is still a Southern place, there was no public sympathy for the assassination of the President, but a number of other towns sympathised greatly, the new President seems to be harder, stiffer character not so aimiable [amiable?] as Lincoln, but a firm, honest man, I am afraid they will hang Jeff Davis. the Fenians are making a fuss now-a-days, the Canadiansare afraid of them last winter I,
[Remainder of letter is missing]

Wallace, Eleanor - 5th. February 1867 - Date of a letter sent by William M. White of Sandhills, USA - Letter below
My esteemed friend Mrs McIlwrath
                          With heartfelt sorrow I beg leave to mention that we have lost our beloved daughter Jane after a long illness she departed this life upon the 23rd January 1867 about one o'clock P.M. consumption she was then aged thirty six years two months and twenty six days she died with her head resting upon my breast, she was frequently speaking of you and requested me to send her last Love to dear Mrs McIlwrath, although we expected her death long since, still it came sudden at last, a man called upon me requiring me to exercise my jurisdiction as a magistrate by granting him a warrant against another party, having heard his statement and found sufficient cause I granted the warrant, during the time I was writing the weather being cold she was placed near the stove in the dining room and all the time I was writing
she was keeping up a conversation with the man upon different matters, the man was a merchant living up in the next street just as the man closed the hall door going out she said to me, pa dear I want to rise for a little, she then went by herself into a small bedroom off the dining room she had not been in the bedroom more than half a minute when she gave a groan followed by one more loud I jumped in and just caught her in the act of falling she only breathed twice when all was over the young man had not arrived at his own door before she was
with her saviour, My dear wife is as well as can be expected her health is good but for a long time she could not get a sufficient quantity of sleep owing to the noise that poor Jane made whilst she was sleep have the kindness to let Mr Milliken know and Miss [Lana?] White if you will do my dear wife and myself the honor of dropping us a few lines we will feel thankful hope it will not be too much to request you to let us know as to the health of Revd [Reverend?] [Hugh?] [stained] John McKitterick Esq., Thomas Rogers Esq., John Taylor Esq., not forgetting your own dear self and Husband & Children My Dear Wife joins in [stained] respects to yourself & Husband
Mrs McIlwrath                       William M. White J.P. [Justice of the Peace?]
High Street                                Goderich
    Newtownards                                C.[N?] [Canada?]

McIlwrath, William - 15th. August 1892 - Received a letter from A.E.Clark PA. USA - Letter below
To: [Mr?] McIlwrath  [Conway Square?]  [Newtownards?]  [County Down?]  [Ireland?]

From:  S. Dempster  The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company,   Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  U.S.A.
      September 15 1891

     The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company
     And Lessee Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny, R.R. [Railroad?]
     Office of General Passenger and Ticket Agent


  A. E. Clark                          Pittsburgh, Pa [Pennsylvania?]
  General Passengers Ticket Agent    Sept 15/91 [1891?]

Dear [Mr?] McIlwrath
  Your kind favor of recent date would have been answered earlier but I have been absent from the city on
business. Receive my thanks for all your own and your family's kindness. I enclose you herewith Two pounds to cover the debt
spoken of by you in the shop, which I send to you as I do not know the address of the party to whom it is owing. The first
time it is convinient [convenient?] would be very much obliged if you would settle the debt.
I was very sorry indeed to learn of her death, but I had been expecting the news, and therefore was
not surprised when your letter came. I am very glad indeed to learn that she was buried recently and that everything went
off nicely
  I am at present in good health, and hope yourself and family are enjoying the same great blessing.
Accept again my sincere thanks for all your kindness to the [dead?] and ourselves. Remember us kindly to [Mrs?] McIlwrath
and your family and believe me to be
              Yours Sincerely
                     S Dempster

McIlwrath, William - 15th. August 1892 - Received a letter from his friend James Carson of Rochester, PA. USA - Letter below
My dear old Friend
    Are you still alive it is so long since I had a letter or paper from you that I think you must have forgotten me entirely I hope not as I have not forgotten you by accident some time since I saw in a Belfast paper an item in the Assembly news relating to the death of Revd [Reverend?]
Hanna of St Enochs and I thought sure you would have sent me a paper giving an acct [account?] of it perhaps you did and it went astray will you be so kind as to send me one and also write and let us know the particulars of his death as Mrs Carson is most anxious to get it. I am sorry to say that Mrs Carson has had very poor health for a long time she has been suffering from a complication of diseases and has been confined to bed for a long time but thank God she is a deal better now only she is greatly annoyed with the Rheumatism which I fear will never leave her till God takes her to her eternal home well as for me I am much about the same only a good deal older and frailer but my heart is just as big as
ever it was I had a severe attack of the Gri- [Gripe?] last winter but got over it all right [alright?] Mrs C [Carson?] had it but it did not get over it as easily as I did If you saw her now you would not know her she weighs about 90 pounds and I only weigh 120 pounds light [----?] [it?]
I trust you Mrs McIlwrath Miss Rhoda J and Mr Thomas are in good health I suppose Thorn is preaching now is Mrs McKissick still living and John give our love to them all and with Kindest Love to you Mrs McIlwrath Eliza the children and all inquiring friends from Mrs Carson and myself I remain
     Your true friend
        James Carson

McIlwrath, William - 18th. August 1893 - Received a letter from his friend William Boyd of New York - Letter below
To:   Rev. W. [William?] Mc Ilwrath
      Newtownards,
      County Down,
      Ireland.

BROKAW BROTHERS               New York Aug. [August?] 1893

Dear Sir
        Your letter of the 5 inst [instant?] recd
[received?] and in answer would beg leave to state that we
cannot possibly settle for the sum [received?] would you
therefore kindly send me [Be?]lls address by return post
and we will open a correspondence with him Thanking you
most kindly for the interest you have taken in our case &
looking for a speedy answer to this communication
                I remain
                   Most Respectfully
                           W [William?] Boyd
P.S. Will you kindly address all Letters Hereafter as
follows
               W. [William?] Boyd
                        c/o [care of?] Brokaw Brothers
                                 34__ 4th Avenue
                                  N.Y. [New York?] City

Wallace, Eleanor - 13th. September 1893 - Date of a letter sent by Eliza Marshall of Iowa USA - Letter below
To: Eleanor McIlwrath (nee Wallace)
    Newtownards,
    County Down
    Ireland
From: Eliza Marshall
      Roscoe,
      Iowa,
      U.S.A.
      September 13, 1893

                       Roscoe Iowa
                 Sept. 13 1893

Dear Mrs McIlwrath
             It is now a long time since I heard from you I have thought of writing many times, but still put it off until today.
but now our work is ahead some. and the cool wind is blowing. but the sun is very hot in daytime we have very pleasant weather (sic) at
present we had no rain to speak of in 3 months It makes it very dusty to drive out on the road. Crops are pretty fair (sic) dry weather
and all. I think the [there?] will be plenty for man and beast in this part. a great many have died since i [I?] wrote last. some young.
some old people over 80 yrs [years?] (sic)we all in usual health. hoping this will find you all enjoying the same (sic) we did not go
to see the fair at Chicago although it was pretty near (sic). the [there?] are a lot of sabbath breakers and the [they?] sell Liquor
on the ground so I think we are better out of bad company. we go to church every sabbath we have bible classes [a?] half hour in the
middle of the day we use the international lessons (sic) we have prayer meetings 1st thursday [Thursday?] of every month it goes
from house to house sometimes there is extra meetings at the Church after night but never go out after dark I let the rest go as I am
afraid of Accidents. how is the health of your town Ill [I'll?] be glad to hear all or any news you may think fit to write me tell
#PAGE 2
your daughter I have got her picture nicely framed It looks very well. I have lots of pictures and lots of books and 3 Commentarys
Scotts and Henerys and Clarks so it our own fault if we dont [don't?] search the scriptures. but i [I?] think Ill [I'll?]
tire you with my letter. Remember me to your husband and family hoping to hear from you soon I remain your loving Friend
                       Eliza Marshall

P.S.
   I forgot to ask you how James Ferguson is getting along or if he went back to S. [South?] America or how is E. McCausland
and all Friends Excuse this letter as my handis tired