I've gathered all partial transcripts and suggestions and made a full transcript.
Thank you Sparrett, maddys52, Wexflyer & horselydown86.
I've also added and changed things when I thought them necessary. Luckily some lovely fairies came along and left some punctuation
I didn't change the spelling, because that's what makes this letter authentic.
September 3rd 1849
Dear Father, I now write to you for the first
time. I may let you know something of the pass-
age. We left Derry on 16th July at one o’clock and
was at Movill half past 3; left Movill on the 18th at 10
o'clock and at 12 turned the head and at 2 o'clock put out to sea
to the noreast Drumore Bay. It was cold and wet and
all were sick for 2 days. I could done any thing I had
need of but Mister Patton cooked for many a ons.
We were sick only for 2 days but some was sick all the time.
The first meat gave him charge of all the low
deck. He had to get it cleaned out every morning,
and he had to serve out the watter every day. We
got more than the allowance. We were never in want
of watter. We got provison but 3 times and all the
gave was meal, rice and biscet. The meal was good,
the rice was midling and the biscot was bad. We
took the meal. I could tell what every day was like,
but I think I need not be so verry particular. I expect
you heard of the captins death, which alarmed us a little
when we were but 4 days out, but the first meat took
his place. He was a captin once himself and we got on
very well. The cause of his death, as I was told by
+++++
the ship carpenter, was drink. He said he knew him for
17 days; that he never was on deck and that there was no vess-
el had a better name and none deserved a worse. The
first meat would take drink from any person. He got
some from Thomas Reed that was in the first birth and ma..
and he was kind enough to us. He came to us every mor-
ning when the captin was living, but when dead he
never came to us till the pilot came on board at the
mouth of the river going up to Philadelphia and he
came to us that morning for some. He done his dutty as captin
verry well. It was allowed. If the captin had been living,
we would been 8 days longer at sea. The first 2 weeks
the wind was against us and it was cold wether all the time.
The wind changed in our favour and we went at the rate
of 9 mils per hour for many a day. It was 28 days from
we left sight of land to we saw it again. We were 5 weekes
in the vessel. We were 4 days getting up the river. We were
lying out in the river on the sabath and Thomas Reed was going
out in a small boat to find some of his friends and I went
with him, and on our way we came to John Renolds store
and I spoke and saw Samuel K..patrick. He was for going to
the ship but we told him she was not in and we went on
+++++
to see Reeds friends. We saw some of them and came
back to the vessel, and Samuel and William Martin had
been in her and away and the came back in the
evening and took us to William Martins, and we were there all
night and Sam alowed me to take the boxes to his store.
I got them up on monday and he told me to go back
with William next morning, and he would find me
something to keep me from thinking beng. I saw
William McHotin and Bidy and Margret Reed and William
Borland and David Jameson and Thomas McQuiston. I saw
them all in the Citty. The are all in good health. I posted
all the letters. John Carr and Hanna was in
our house but I was not in. He wonders if Ax
Fullertin has no thoughts of coming. I saw
the porpoise or sea hog. It was all the fish I
saw, save some small ons that the were trying to catch
with lins. The largest was like hogs of from 2 till
3 weight. I have little more to say but hops these
lins will find you all in good health. As the
now leave us we cannot be thankful enough to
God for his mercies to us. The are more than we deserve
and I hope, as he has brought us here in safty, that
he will be with us still and that he will allways
be before our eyes.
Your affectionate son John Wilson
[I hope all the friends are well.]
