Letter: Thomas Hamilton to his sister in Belfast Ireland, 1786

Letter: Thomas Hamilton to his sister in Belfast Ireland, 1786¹

This is the first of three letters from Thomas Hamilton, a nineteen-year-old young man from Belfast, Ireland who has come America to settle. He is writing to his sister in Ireland to tell her the news of her their brother, attorney James Hamilton of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, (1752-1819) and his new bride, as well as his experiences while surveying in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, etc.

Carlisle, August 21st 1786
Dear Sister
As you are pleased to remark that nothing is more satisfactory then the frequent hearing from me or my brother, and as I’m well aware of the truth of it, I’m determined to omit no opportunity of informing you of our health and other occurrences.

In my last, I acquainted you, in a kind of postscript of my brothers matrimonial connexions [sic]. He was married in May last to a Miss Thompson in Maryland; a niece of the late General Thompson.² She is handsome and an agreeable young lady. I’ve since dined with her and her sister at my brother’s.

About six weeks after his marriage, he was confined a month by the Rheumatism but is long since perfectly recovered the attending the different courts. I should think is very fatiguing. He cannot ride less than one thousand miles in the year. His business continue extensive. In the course of a few years he cannot fail to make a large fortune clear of all demands.

I was lately back at Bedford, a few miles in [sic] Carlisle side of it. I was attempting to survey some lands which my brother had Warrants for. I met with some difficulties in being early in July, heat excessive and the people employed at their harvest. However, I surveyed three tracts—one I fear I shall have to survey again. I had warrants for two more tracts, but the chain carriers would not be detained from their harvest longer—soon after which I returned. I have seen a large tract of woodland country and some small towns as well as Bedford in this excursion. I suppose as I was obliged to go a circuitous way to Bedford I have rode going and returning two hundred miles; a wonderful long voyage for me!

I suppose as my brother has more warrants to fill, I shall return there in September or October. Perhaps when there I shall go to Northumberland, which is part of what is called the New Purchase made from the Indians; these when at peace as at present, are good friends, but when at war are truly devils.

Once I received a letter from you and my sisters since my arrival, a wonderful space intervened when a few weeks ago I was favored with a packet brought per a Mr. Morrison, known to my brother. Your letter corroborated by Mother and sister inform me of my new title-Uncle—happy was I to hear of your safe recovery. I suppose in the course of a few months you and my sisters will receive the appellation of Aunt; this however but conjecture.

My sister’s letter informs me of Miss Bryson and Miss Milford’s nuptials. I beg leave if not too late to congratulate them; my best respects to Miss Scott and them.

Mr. Milford’s letter informs me of the improved state of Belfast—and of his intention in remaining in his present office. I very much esteem his letter. I beg he may continue his correspondence and every succeeding letter I shall not fail to answer. I had also the pleasure of receiving one from my old friend Randolph Hutton. I was well pleased to see a strain of friendly sincerity run through his letter. He hopes to see better times which I sincerely wish he may. I shall assuredly write to him the next time I write home.

I am informed in some of your letters of my old acquaintances Messrs. Park and Wilson having sailed for the West Indies. I must here inform you I have lately forwarded a packet for Ireland among which was one for Messrs. Park, I wish he may receive it. I heartily wish them both their desired success.

My mother’s letter most near, most dear, and forever esteemed. I at present cannot answer it. I have lately wrote to my father and her. I wish it was in my power to make them spend their days in ease. Remember me to all the neighbors and enquiring friends. My love to my sisters, best wishes to my brother-in-law, young fiends etc. And am with true sincerity Dear sister, your very affectionate brother, Thomas Hamilton

NB [Nota bene means note well or take notice.] A day or two after I wrote the foregoing I received my brother-in-law’s letter which had been neglected to be given to me with the rest. I was happy to hear of you and the child being in a good state of health.

I have received the half pence sent per Mr. Morrison. I observe there are some Lady half-pence or coppers among them. I could wish they were all so as they are double the value and much easier passed then the others. I shall endeavor to dispose of them all to the best advantage. The last [?] season and the present I have passed a few dollars of them for which I have become your debtor.

I beg leave to thank Mr. McConnell for his newspapers; they are very entertaining. I leave some of them at my brother’s [James Hamilton’s in Carlisle] by times for his amusement. I mentioned in a former letter if you or my brother-in-law thought proper I would endeavor to procure one or two hundred acres of land for these coppers and [?)] when I had them converted. This I conceive would be much more to your advantage than flax seed as land is rising in value very fast. The land along the creeks and navigable rivers is I believe nearly all taken up. The people are now satisfied to take up good or even middling land wherever it can be had. There are some lands taken up some ten or twenty years ago perhaps one hundred miles from Carlisle that would now sell for three or four pounds per acre; this has been of the first quality.

There are some good, improved lands to be sold for three or four pounds per acre of which a good farmer could raise as much wheat etc. as would clear the purchase money in three or four years and then hold the land to him and his heirs forever.

The mode of obtaining a good tract of land about Bedford where I was, and in many other distant places is to give the man who knows of a good vacant tract, one half for his discovery and yourself the other half in consideration of your warranty and patenting and some other small expenses attending the same. My brother has taken up some tracts of land this way, and perhaps afterwards purchase their half if he understands the land is good. He has one third of a tract of 370 acres for which he gave near one hundred pounds. He has two or three other tracts for which he has given fifty and sixty pounds a tract. He has a thousand acres in Virginia besides warrants for twice as much in this State. He has six hundred acres of middling land within thirty miles of Carlisle. If a man had a quantity of ready cash here he might (unreadable.) Land is the grand speculation object for men of ability in this country.

The foregoing has been written these few weeks past—detained for an opportunity of forwarding. I set off tomorrow for Bedford in this side considerably I am to make some surveys for my brother and others. From Bedford I proceed to visit Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington Counties. I am well recommended to the surveyors of these counties and to some of the Prothonotaries. It will be some months its probable before I return here. It will be out of my power, I fear, to write home until I return. My brother has been at uncommon pains and expense with me, which he submits to cheerfully, happy to serve me. When it will be in my power to make a recompense for the many favours rendered me by my friends, I cannot even conceive. How does Nancy and Jane manage the shop, are they expert in their calculations? How does my mother and father continue in health [and] how have you all been? How do you all continue? Dear sister I shall receive pleasing and satisfactory answers to these queries, I hope.

That our conduct and demeanour [sic] may be mutually agreeable to each other is the sincere wish of Dear sister, Yours most affectionately Thomas Hamilton.