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Archiver > IA-IRISH > 2001-09 > 0999382201


From: Jack & Bev <>
Subject: Re: [IA-IRISH] A Visit to Ireland by Michael Miller -1919
Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 17:11:32 -0500
References: <063d01c1328d$ba8a7c20$a347450c@4ladz>


I really enjoyed this article about Michael Millers visit. I have a copy of
a very interesting letter my Great Grandmother, Isabel Matilda Abbott Wilson
Toovey sent to her children--my Grandfather, George Wilson and his sister
Amy my great aunt (both born in Davenport Ia.), . My GGGrandmother went
back to Ireland in 1896 to visit the land of her birth and to show her 2nd
husband where she came from. Following is the text of her 1896 letter:
Dublin July 21, 1896

My Dear Children,

We arrived here yesterday after a pleasant visit with Caroline Abbott, now
Mrs. Fiseer. Also Bob Thompson, grandson of Marmaduke Thompson of
Ballingarry House, a fine old place which has been in the family for
generations and generations past--I must first tell you of tthe house and
how memories crowded upon me of my early youth. There stood the old mansion
just as I remembered it--forty years ago only of course not in the same good
condition. There was the same old kitchen with its seven fireplaces where I
had seen many a fine turkey and leg of mutton roast--There the liuttle
larder off that, then the servents hall, bedrooms and dining room. Then the
store room with places cut in the wall where barrels of whiskey, rum, gin
and c__? were kept by the dozen. Then the sculery? and pantry. Then you
enter the front hall with its tile floor different colors just as good as
ever, this hall is fully as wide as our sitting room if not wider and fully
as long, the doors in perfect preservation-fine solid wood. The parlor and
drawing room llibrary and schoolroom fine spacious rooms in good
preservation also but locked. We then assended the large stairway and took
Pa? to what I always called the shop--a store room where boxes of saisons,
sugar by the barrel and everything like that were kept--the nursery is also
on this floor and the governess' room and the bedrooms in front--are
enormous--how I wish you could have seen the grandness of the old place.
Then across the road is the old castle and enormous old fortification. In
times gone by and with in those walls our forefathers lived but is now
turned into a garden with pears (?) and ivey clinging to its walls. We
climed the steps which were used to assend the tower, and the man who now
takes care of it could tell me my family history better than I know it
myself and maybe you think it did not make the proud blood rise in my veins
to hear him say they are one of the oldest and best families in Ireland but
English decent,--The old dog yard is still there where Ben the butler and
the Coaches took me many times to see the hounds--packs of them and they
tell me the butlers son still lives near here--that is something they
haven't in America. We took a very old friend with us out to my uncles
places-three peautiful properties with their little storn lodges covered
with roses and ivy at the gate and when told that I was one of the ABBOTTS
you ought to see the warmth of feeoling and respect shown me each one could
site the family from beginning to end and I indeed thought these three was
enough left to left to show what I was.

Caroline has seven children--4 sons and three daughtersat home--the eldest a
very nice girl well educated and a lady. We were quite taken with her
beautiful complexion and rosy cheelks. One of the little girls and her
brother go to boarding school but are now home on vacation. They are very
nice children-so modest and retiring yet if you ask them to do anything they
go at once but so shy. They danced for us and do it well. One of their
brothers is here in Dublin, went through Trinity College ------a full
fledged M.D. They had a nice piano and all play . Had the Folkners over for
tea when they had a fine old time dancing--every one young and old. One of
the little girls is about Bessies size. Their father, Mr Fiseer--a fine
portly gentleman gave us an Irish jug most gracefully. I felt I was back
again in older times. I also went to the house where your Grandfather
WILLSON lived "Geren (Gesen)Falla" and the Mill which stands by it--where
your father was head book keeper so long. Then we came over to Thompsons a
second cousin, he and his sister live alone, have a nice little property.
The sister had gone into Nenah sic. so there was no one there but himself
and servants. Mind you these people never lay their hands to anything--he
has his fast horses and hounds one hound now in his possession won fifteen
hundred pounds for him--whatdo you think of that? You see sporting runs in
the veins. I like him very much and consider him good looking. Another
Cousin lives within a few miles in the town of Maryborough. He is a
solicitor which is a very high office here. Bob didn't get in in time or we
would have called on him and another who is a physician in the Asylum at the
same place but the lower order--oh my the way they live, no wonder they
feel their' someone when they get to America, I think had Bud taken a trip
here it would have cured him from ever marrying into them. The very man who
drove us and one of them himself, said to us an M and an O, common
Irish--you may know, I never heard it before. Dublin is a nice city and of
a different class generally from the other places. I was glad to get out of
Cork, and Limerick very little better although the town itself is. We saw
them making lace--you know the lace is all made by hand--takes a very long
time and is very expensive.

Lillie Abbott, Mrs Col Hewitt, both my fathers brothers children are here
and three of Carolyns sons,--Caroline is sister to Lillie--and her daughter
is coming next week so you see there will be a lot of us together. I
haven't found anything very cheap yet--I think gloves are about the lowest.
I bought a pair of walking shoes today--good ones of course, for 12 .60,
that is $3.12 in our money so you see nothing is very cheap in that. I was
looking at goods and tomake a fashionable dress Le.6 to L3.10 but a pretty
good dress maker private will make a dress for 10 shillings.

Its very wet today. I'm afraid we can't go out again today but we've had
delightful weather so far so cool and the air so balmy its most
delightful.....I feel very much disappointed not having heard from either of
you. We wrote to Cork and Limerick to forward. I want to hear so much how
you and the children are and all other news. I can scarcely realize there
is such distance between us and I assure you you are both very often in my
thoughts. I often think of the little folks when I see a little donkey or
ass as they are called here with a car full of little ones sometimes a
governess too and often ???????? so amusing to us.

Ireland is more ??????????this year but the land league played smash with
it--Soon there will be no gentry--then things will be in a nice state.

I will have lots to tell you when we come home. It would take volumns to
write it all. I will now send love to all my children hoping sincerely that
you are all well also, Bessie and Polly.

Direct to Belfast Ireland. We may stay here a week or so.

with a kiss
Lovingly Mother

We went to the church yard--Episcopalian of course or Church of England as
it is called here and found Uncle Thompsons grave, his fathers and his sons,
the man that drove us to a very pretty place belonging to two old maids, the
sister is married to George Thompson of Ballingy ( sp?) Nothing would do
but we must stay for Tea. So they sent the man and car back. The sister
was in Britt and when she returned said would not hear of us going back
until Monday. They were so hospitable and pressing that we acquiesced and
spent a most enjoyable time. Went to church twice in the morning ??, to
Borrisokane in the afternoon.

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