Saturday, September 5, 2020

Two Letters From Famine Ravaged Ireland


Anne Robinson (1815-1893), one of my 3rd great grandmothers, was an early settler in Canada. 
Anne Robinson

Arriving sometime before 1834, she subsequently married Edward Morgan (1807-1893) in March Township near Ottawa where other Morgan members had previously settled.  The couple later moved to McGillivray Township in southwestern Ontario where they would raise their eleven children.

The reasons for and circumstances of Anne’s emigration from Ireland are unknown.  In doing so, she left behind in Borrisokane, North Tipperary, Ireland, four brothers and one sister, all apparently envious of her new life in a land with opportunities far beyond the hard scrabble existence facing them in Ireland. This would be particularly so during the Great Famine of 1845-1852 — a period of mass starvation, disease and further emigration.

Still surviving are two semi-literate letters written to Anne during the height of the famine.  One, dated April 14, 1848, is from her brother Joshua Robinson while the other, a fragment of an undated 1851 letter, is from her brother George Robinson.  The letters, each markedly different in style, are a poignant testament to the difficult times in which the brothers lived and their aspirations for a better life.

Joshua’s letter (transcription follows), apart being helpful in piecing together some of the Robinson family genealogy, underscores the plight of the Irish people. Joshua’s agony in writing the letter is palpable, particularly when speaking of his heart filling with grief when taking pen to paper to write to his “deare sister”.  His reference to the possibility of war is apparently an acknowledgment of heightened Irish Republicanism which arose as a result of the famine, a movement which would fully come of age the next century.  With escape from his present hardship no doubt clearly on his mind, asks his sister about opportunities in Canada.   The quaint expression “kiss and shake hands”, when referencing the possibility of being united with most of the family again, underscores Joshua’s hopes for a new life in a new country.

Joshua eventually immigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the Oliver Lang out of Liverpool in October of 1857.  Accompanied on the journey by his wife and then six children, two more children would be born in Australia. Joshua died in 1901 in Hotham, Victoria, Australia after, one would hope, having found that better life for himself and family that he longed for in his 1848 letter to his sister.

TRANSCRIPT OF APRIL 14, 1848 LETTER (AS WRITTEN) FROM JOSHUA ROBINSON OF IRELAND TO HIS SISTER ANNE (ROBINSON) MORGAN OF MCGILLIVRAY TOWNSHIP

Greyforth, Aprile 14, 1848
My Deare Sister
            I once more wright to you hoping to find you and Edward and all the children in good health as I and my family are at present.
            Deare Sister, this is the 4th letter that I written to ye and got no answer to Any of them.
            Deare Sister, Ireland is in a very bad state at present.  All the locality of peple is just old and starved with hunger.
            Theire is grate agitation with us at present for the repaile of the union --- which I think the answer to this letter will hardly be back to me before the ware is going on in Ireland.
            Deare Sister, the falier of the crops of potatoes heare sent many a one to beg on the road and all that I have to tell you about Ireland that it is in a most mealoncolley state at this present.
            My Deare Sister, I have to tell you that I have got 3 sons and am living at Greyforth Gate againe where you and we were all born and bred.  Your Dear Brother John and Thomas and George and your sister Catherine all sends theire most kind and affectionate love to you and Edward and all the children and expects that ye is all in good helth as we are all in at present.  Thanks be to God for it.
            Thomas is got married to his first cousin Sally Ritshardson and has 2 sons.  John has one son and 4 daughters.  George has got married leatley.
            On account of the failer of the crops it gave us all a great sheaking and mad us very poore ware what we are.
            There is no employment in Ireland and the poore is starving and provisions is very reasonable whiche is 2d per stone, Oates is only 8d per stone, Beef is 6d per lb., mutton is 6 1/2d per lb. and pig meat is 10d per lb.  Indian Meal is 1s 3d per stone.
            Deare Sister, I expect you will send me all the perticulers about America and how a labourer has to live in it and what way grounde listes in there.
            Deare Sister, youre aunt Betty Ritshardson and your uncle Thomas Stanley and all your couzins is in good helth.  Send me word about poore Elizas Robert as if a live and Matt Louglan and how they are going.
            Deare Sister, send me the rates of your listing and the state of them.  So I expect as soon as you receive this letter and send me answer for God only knows the state of us and we don’t know whether ye are ded or a live.
            Deare Sister, I and Maria my wife and my 3 little sons send you and Edward and all the children a kiss and shake hands ---- expecting to see you all once more if the ware dos not kill us all.
            Deare Sister, John and Anne and all the children send you and Edward and your children a kiss and shake hands --- never expect to see ye.
            Deare Sister, Thomas, George and Catherine sends you and Edward a kiss and shake hands --- expects to see ye all againe.
            Deare Anne I expect you will excuse this wrighting for when I sat down to right this letter my heart filled up with grief and my hand began to shake.
            No more at present --- from youre
                                                            Affectionate Brother,
                                                            Joshua Robinson
P.S.
Direct your letter to Joshua Robinson,
Greyforth, Borrisakane,
County Tipperary, Ireland

(The letter was not in an envelope but was folded and secured with sealing wax and addressed to:  Mrs. Edward Morgan, McGillevry, Canada West, America.  In each paragraph where the expression “kiss and shake hands” is used, Joshua has drawn two hands reaching out to each other.)




By contrast, the surviving portion of George Robinson’s 1851 letter to his sister (transcription follows) evokes less sympathy than that of Joshua.  It instead is marked by an absence of familial affection and is blunt in tone.  Although one learns that George is likely a tailor anxious for a more prosperous life abroad, there is none of the warmth and family remembrances evident in Joshua’s letter.  George, all business, on four separate occasions asks for financial aid both for himself and his sister Catherine.  He clearly is of the view that Anne (despite raising eleven children) has the means and perhaps even the obligation to assist both him and Catherine with passage to Canada.  His entreaties are as presumptuous as they are annoying.  One wonders if Anne ever responded to her importuning brother.

TRANSCRIPT OF FRAGMENT OF UNDATED 1851 LETTER (AS WRITTEN) FROM GEORGE ROBINSON OF IRELAND TO HIS SISTER, ANNE (ROBINSON) MORGAN OF MCGILLIVRAY TOWNSHIP

….have answered it on receipt but the assizes was going on and we were obliged to take up additional duty.  I am most happy to hear that you and all the family are in good health and doing well.  Dear Anne I expected better encouragement but as you did not give what might be expected I have only to say that if you send me any assistance Catherine will go forthwith and go respectable.  As for my part, I would not be able under present circumstances to undertake so long a passage with my little family on the strength of what I could put together, that is to go in a form such as I would wish to meet a sister.  The situation I hold is a very nice one certainly but the salary is not adequate to support a family on that     .  I consider from what you have stated with regard to the prices paid for making clothes I have a particular wish to go to a foreign country where I would be paid for my labour.  I sent word to Jos (?) about what you said with regard to the letter you sent them so long since.  I must say he has acted very ungrateful.  All friends in Ireland are in good health.  Now my dear Anne if you wish to confer an everlasting favour on a brother and sister, send some assistance and have us both going together.  I need not say that it would be the greatest pleasure I could expect    …. since I was able to work and before it to maintain    that I have done up to the present and I trust in God I shall be always able to do the same.  I never got a pound or a shilling from any one but what I earned hard and it is not for my own part altogether I have said so much but I feel it my duty to leave no stone unturned to forward a person that is worthy of anything could be done for her and that is Catherine.  If she was in a country where she would get paid for her labour like myself she would not be a burthen to you or any one belonging to her.  She is well able to undertake any situation a female would be capable of filling.  On that acct. I think it a pity to see her left in a misfortunate country where there is nothing to be accumulated but hardship and misery.  If you consider on sending the needful she will go without delay and if possible I will go along with her and then you may be perfectly satisfied that you need not be ashamed to say that there is a brother and sister of yours coming from old Ireland.  When I go, I will go, and go.  Respectable that you may    for the present   with    love to you and the family

                                                                   I am my dear Anne
                                                                   Your affectionate brother.
                                                                    George Robinson

Dear Anne
          If you hear any account of Robert Coghlan let me know Anne how he is situated.  Give my best respects to Edward
                                              Yours truly  GR

Common to both letters, however, despite differences in tone, is the fervent wish for a better life in a new country after years of poverty and starvation.  Joshua may have realized that dream in Australia.  George’s fate remains unknown.

                                                                                                                                   David Arntfield 

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