Crosgrove Family Letters

Ballytrustin
Portaferry
Feb. 28, 1850

Dear Brother & Sister:

We gladly avail ourselves of the present opportunity of forwarding you these few lines (by a young man who is leaving this part of the country for America.) You no doubt have thought it strange and unaccountable and we may add ungrateful on our part in not answering your very kind and welcome letter long ere this but we hope that our reason for not replying to you on receipt of yours will in some measure plead our excuse by our disappointment in getting our farm disposed of, so that we had nothing definite to state as to our going out to America and besides we understood that Bro. Robert had written and informed you of this and also of the very unpleasant knews of Mother and Bro. Alexanders deaths who died of fever a short time previous to our being in receipt of yours. Bro. took it first and lasted 21 days, then his wife took it but got better in course of 10 days, lastly Mother took it and died 14 days afterward. I need not add any more at present respecting this melancholy bereavement as Brother Robert has already given you the particulars in his, besides it will be a painful subject for you to dwell upon.

All the rest of your friends are in the enjoyment of good health save sister Jane. You no doubt are aware that she has been weak of mind for several years past which was brought on by convulsive fits which she has long been very subject to, she is now in Belfast Lunatick Asylum. We got one or two offers last spring for the farm but they were considered to be fare below the value. Yet we fear they were fully one third more than we would get for it at present such continues to be the falling off of value of land in this country, from what you stated to us respecting the way land rated per acre in the past where you reside we are of oppinion that it is as much as could be obtained for land here at present which is for the greater part owing to the withdrawal of protection on corn in Great Britain and Ireland. This season wheat sells here from 7s to 7s/9 Barley from 4s to 5s and oats from 4s to 4s/9 these low prices together with the failure of the potatoe crop for these 5 yrs past, high rents, very heavy taxations by the way of poorerate[?] rate in aid (so called), co cess[?] etc has completely ruined the farmers in this country. It may give you some idea of the state farmers are reduced to when we tell you that there is scarsely a solvent one left about Woodgrange our neighborhood in fact the farmers that are in anything of comfortable circumstances here at present are few and far between.

We are determined to sell our farm as soon as we take this crop of c.e. agains harvest or sooner if we possible can. We think if we continue to hold by it for a year or two more that we would scarsely have what with to take us out to America nor can we bost of the circumstances that ____ ____in here at present nor will you think this strange. We presume if you have heard of the famine pestalence, plague, fevers, political commotions etc. that have prevailed for several years past in this I may say doomed country. We heard sometime since that Wm. Haslit had a thought of returning to Anadoyne. We think he would do well to stop where he is for he would find this country sadly altered for the worse since he left it. Please present our best respects to him - also be pleased to give our kind love to all our Uncles and Aunts + families and with kind regard for selve's and family we remain

Your affectionate
Bro & Sister
Rachel & James Corry

P.S. May we request a few lines from you on receipt of this.
R & J.C.

[I assume this is a letter written to John & Sarah Crossgrove by Rachel & James Corry
Rachel would be a sister to either John or Sarah Crossgrove]

[The map of Northern Ireland County Down shows the town of Portaferry 16 miles east of Ballynahinch and 22 miles southeast of Belfast. Ballynahinch was the homestead of the Mateer family. The Crosgroves from this letter came from Portaferry. I can not locate Ballytrustin or Anadoyne on the map.]

[The prices of grain 7s to 7s/9 may be 7 shillings to 7 shilling + 9 pence
1 shilling equals 12 pence]

[written by Edward Mateer]

Waupun Wis Dec 16 1860

Dear Brother John

I have to acknowledge the reciept of two letters from you since I last wrote you I will admit that I have been very negligent about writing to you more so I hope than I shall be in the future but I have been very busy this fall and winter so far While Mr. Elmore was gone to New York I had all that I could attend to and immediately after his return he was taken sick with what prooved to be the verraalaid[?] from which he recovered in about a week and did not know at the time what was the matter with him and his son was taken in the same way and then they supposed it to be Scarlet Fever about the time that his son recovered his oldest Daughter was taken in the same way and they still thought it was Scarlet Fever but it prooved to be the Small Pox in its very worst form and girl died with it the family were at the time living over the store and they remained there untill the girl was burried they had to burry her at midnight and then the family mooved they had to moove in the night so one except a very few knew what the disease was untill after she died and then I tell you the excitement was intense almost everybody in Town were scared nearly out of their senses and we had to shut up the store and keep it shut up for a whole week and whitewash and paint the building all over on the inside and a great many were so badly frightened that they did not dare to come in the store for a long while afterwards and as I did not know but I should have the Small Pox myself I thought I would not write home untill all the danger was over a good many people left town for a short time Julia's mother and sister were here at the time from Minesota and went into the Country and Julia with them and staid a week her Mother has gone back but her sister is spending the winter here and we think of going to Minesota in the spring but perhaps we may not

How are times with you down there they are awful Light here     Money is very scarce and wheat is low 50 to 55 per bushel and all kinds of produce in the same proportion and easter exchange can not be had at any price the Banks are asking ten per cen but have none to sell    Gold and silver is worth ten per cent one of our heaviest dry goods men made an assignment the other day and it is said that he can not pay over 30 on the Dollar    I tell you the present prospect of things is pretty blue and the bankers here say that the prospect is worse now than it was in 1857 & 58

More information about Rev. Anson GLEASON

Rochester Nov. 16th 1861

My dear Mrs. Crossgrove

I have just received a letter from our daughter Mary, who tells us of her pleasant visit in Westfield & that she spent an evening at your house, & that your dear son John has buckled on the armery of war & gone among many others to bear arms for the defence of our dear Country. God bless the dear boy & all his felow soldiers. That John I believe is a dear good son & and honest & sincere Christian & of course will also make a good & faithful soldier. I hope you knit him a good warm pair of Mittins - Military Mittens, with one fore finger to them. I love that dear boy John & I love his dear good mother & the more so for the love of our Country. And as you may be often thinking of him I thought I would write you a few lines of sympathy assuring you that I often pray for our beloved boys who have so bravely gone to assist in putting down the great & daring rebellion which seems to call for the indignation of heaven & earth. Could I have known of that regiment coming this way, how gladly would I have been at the Depot & shaken hands with them. The Westfield folks are very dear to me & I am grateful for their kind feelings. There choice meetings we had there during that revival are a cordial every time I call them up. That morning meeting we had at Br. Halls when do many tears were shed & so many hearts went off to the throne of grace - God grant that such seasons may return upon the [page 2] ____ again. Last Tuesday eve they carried me up to Camp hill where our soldiers are quartered for preperations to go into the army & and we had a prayer meeting that did me much good. The Col. Babbit introduced me as being known all over the field as "Father Gleason" who he said would take charge of the meeting. After singing & prayer (several hundreds being present) I told them I would read them a text which I would give out to them as a good motto - King Davids parting words to his beloved son Solomon who was to succeed him on the throne of Israel - and the young man was but about 19 - his words were "My son be strong. & show thyself a Man". In a few words I told them that manliness did not consist in drinking & swearing & ridiculing religion - but in a love for our country, our friends & our God. It was manly & noble to see a young man equipt for a struggle to save our country & our benevolent institutions, & it was the more noble & manly to see them obey the calls of Christ & be faithful soldiers of the cross. I told them they are just on the eve of going to face the enemy - but that they would have to go soon or they would not get a chance to help achieve the victory for the enemy was already reeling under our strong raking fires on the land & on the sea - but if they did go, be sure to bring home something to their mothers, wives or sisters as tokens of their manliness. Be sure & bring home some thing of conquest, if this no more than a button from a rebel's coat! To this the hundreds brought down the camp with clapping of hands & tramping of feet & again I told them I would go someways to see that button & the old camp rang with applause again. after my speech many good soldiers spoke heartily for King Jesus. & I thought surely if such [page 3] men went forth to contend for our rights we might feel sure that our glorious union has life. The late news from the Card___ is very cheering. The skies are brightening over our heads - must be man's ____. & I think that you will soon be cheered by the return of your dear son & be grateful that you have a share in the spoils that are to be won. And yet if the contest is to be long & ____ & your dear boy should be called away among many others to seal the ___ of his country with his warm youthful blood - you would even then be proud to feel that you have done what you could in so glorious a cause. I have felt my dear Sister, that rather than have a defeat that should drive us back from a conquest ___ with my present age & infirmity I would buckle on my napsack & march if needs be to the Potomac a ___ where to cheer the soldiers and to comfort them in their wounds & troubles. Your son will doubtless often think of his dear old home & his kind mother & his family & he would barely be fit to fire a gun at an enemy if he did not feel this. Again dear sister do I say & say it sister an empathis - God bless the dear young man & his precious Mother! Like many other dear mothers you will not sleep nights without commending him to the protection of his heavenly father. that will be your strong hold in the day of darkness and trouble. Keep near to Jesus. You know how peaceful & quiet good Mary of old felt when she fell at Jesus feet & the beloved John when he leaned on Jesus bosom. [page 4] You can ask at the same feet & lean by faith on the same blessed bosom. O that blessed saviour! Can we do anything or suffer anything too much for him who died for us! Well, dear good woman, the time is short - our acquaintances are _____ - the graves will soon be really for us. May we be ready for them. Please give my love to all our dear good friends to all the dear ones in your family. Our dear Montgomerys here passed away, after a good long & useful lives - May all these be fully prepared to follow them to the shades of bliss.

If this short ___ an excellent[?] message then burn it up & pardon the winter[?].

Your brother in Jesus
Anson Gleason

Waupun Decbr 31st 1862

Brother Eddie

It is now a long time since I recieved your last letter but I had no idea at that time that it would be so long before I should answer it and I do not know that I have any good reason for answering sooner but I have worked pretty hard this fall and winter so far Mr Hathaway and I have Bot. 3 1/2 acres of land and are intending to build on it next summer we each of us want a house and are going to build of Gravel & Lime we have got our gravel nearly all hauled and we propse to commence in the spring as soon as the ground and weather get settled we are going to build both alike 34 feet square the walls 17 ft high and 4 gable ends to the roof and if you should happen out this way about a year from this time I expect you will see two very nice looking houses the houses will cost us about $1000.00 apiece but we pay it nearly all in trade we paid $375 for 3 1/2 acres of land in the village and it was said to be very cheap we could have made $50.00 on it before we had had it two days but we wanted it for our own use as we both expect to remain here and we each of us want a home of our own

I had a letter from Hugh about 2 weeks ago and one from John last week he said they were both well and John seems to enjoy the service pretty well I should think from the way that he writes that he feels at home there and does not seem to care how long he hast to stay

Robert Johnston folks have mooved down to Beaver Dam from their farm and are talking of selling the farm the[y] will probably never go on to it to live again I guess the[y] do not like farming as well as they did once Julia says tell Sarah that she will write soon

our love to all
Your Brother & Sister
Rob. & Julia

Waupun, Wis.
Jan 7, 1864

Dear Sister,

Safe at home I sit down to write you so that you need not be a worrying about me. I got home all right and should have written before but there has been no mail so it would have done no good and I don't know as this will be started for a number of days but I thought I would have it ready when the mail does go. I stood my journey splendiedly and was not tired as I expected to be got home about six the next eve after I started from Westfield. found Rob up to the house waiting for his supper was not expecting me that night but had been the night before and went down to the Depot to meet me he has not been at all well since I came, took a severe cold that very day and has been at home with me most of the time since. I like our rooms first rate and you don't know how glad I am to think Rob got moved before I got back.

I have not been out much since I got back. Mrs. Chamberlin came up to see me just as soon as she heard I was home. She is just as sweet and agreeable as ever. I was down and sat with her a little while yesterday, and she said she was going to have me down to spend the day sometime this week.

My box came home all right there was not anything broken. The ceiling on the bottle that Jane gave me was nearly all cracked off and the juice was run out just enough to stain the cloth a little bit, but not enough so that it went through onto anything else. Rob is madder than fury because John did not come home with me. he says he might have come first as well as not.

Rob says tell mother he is ever so much obliged for the thing she sent him and also very thankfull to her for her kindness to his wife. The snow is 2 1/2 feet on a level and the weather is splendid. I came into the snow about sixty miles from here on my way home and it kept increasing until I got here. I have no idea how I should have found it if I had kept going. I rode up from Chester in a sleigh and if I had not happened to have been dressed very warm I should have almost frozen. I tell you overshoes and mittens did not come amiss. there has not been any maile here for over a week and Rob has not got the last letter that I wrote him yet.

Will you all please remember I want your Photographs for I am anxious to get my album filled. I have got eight in it already.

I don't think of any news to tell about people here that you know they are all doing about as usual I guess. Give my love to all the family and write very soon.

Your sister
Julia

[Note. This is a letter written by Robert Crosgrove's wife Julia to her sister in law Sarah Crosgrove in Westfield after her [Julia's] return to her home in Waupun, Wis. Jane referred to is my grandmother, Dad's mother. John is John Crosgrove who reinlisted Jan 1, 1864.] [written by Edward Mateer.]