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Archiver > AUS-Tasmania > 2004-12 > 1101946383


From: "Yvonne" <>
Subject: Letter to a convict
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:13:03 +1100


The following letter was posted on the Co.Tipperary List. I am posting a copy with the permission of the original lister.

For Mary Walsh, Convict
in care of ( ? possibly Brooks)
Elizabeth St.
Hobart Town
Vandiemansland
(?)

Clonmel July 16, 1843

My dear wife, I have received your kind and welcome letter of 20th March which is the greatest happiness I have enjoyed ever since he day I have parted my dearest Mary. It gives consolation to my troubled mind to know that you are comfortably situated in your exile and that you have the great pleasure of seeing your sweet child at times.
It would be the only wish of my heart, Dear Mary, to go to you on my knees, but I have not the means at present for I have to pay so much a year for services out of my wages, and as there is no emigration nor any provision made by government for that country renders my state unable to go out to my lovely aand dearest Mary. Therefore if you could by any means make interest to bring me out would be the only happiness in this life which I could desire. So if you can learn any way let me know of it in your letter for you are in my thoughts by day and night. When you left Dublin, I sent Maurice to the County Cork, to my sister Mary, and have not seen him these twelve months past but intend on tomorrow the 17 July to go to see him.He is in good health as I receive letters from him. I have a new suit of clothes for him. Sonny Hays is in good health along with the Prendergasts near your Uncle Jack in service. I see him oftener than Maurice for I do not leave Sonny Hays out of my mem!
ory at all, but give him every little thing that he wants.
I am employed ever since you left home at Thomas Kennedys at ( ? ) and at Thomas Rourks. My dearest Mary there is not a moment that I am thinking of you day and night aand will be always so til it please God to restore you once more to my arms for you are my only thoughts by day and my dreams at night. I am sorry my dear wife, that I did not leave my children to go out with you for I could be able to follow you in a short time if people were carried out free as they were before. I would go out to you when I received your letter, but they are not without a great deal of money. If I lived for 100 years you would be as fresh in my heart as you were the day you left me. I expect a letter from you at every opportunity as it is the only pleasure I can enjoy since my loving wife is so far, far away from me. It is in my prayer morning and night to bring you safe to my bosom. I am glad to hear that my sweet little Mary is so well - my dear Mary this is a broken-hearted letter I am s!
ending you as I cannot bring it myself. Send me word in your next letter if you intend to come home to me when your time is out for I could not live at home without being in the same place where my poor Mary used to be. I would send you another letter in a short time after this but hearing that you would remove from the place where you are at present, let me know how long you are to remain where you are at present. Think of your broken-hearted husband and children as long as you live.
I am very well in health as also are your children. All your friends are well. (?) the neighbours are very sorry for you but hope God will restore you once more to me and be happy forever again. I will keep your letter next to my heart until I receive another from you, my darling wife. My dear Mary when I used to go to work every Monday morning from you, I would feel the week a year long until I could see you on Saturday evening, but what must my heart feel now when I cannot see you at all for when I am at work my labour companions give me any concern but thinking of you. My brother Jack and Maurice and families are well in health. My brother Jack lives now in the county Cork in Macroom. It troubles me very much to have my child so far from me as it would be great comfort to my mind to see him once a week. I received your kind letter on 11th July which removed a mountain from my heart. Whenever you write direct your letter to Thomas Kennedy. All your friends and
neighbours send you (?). I know my dear loving Mary that you will deserve the love and esteem of those with whom you live, as you merited the goodwill of all who know you at home. Now my dear wife I am at the point of finishing my letter. Farewell, farewell and Mary receive much consolation at the reading of this as I have at the reading of yours. May your rest be ? and your dreams sweet always thinking of him who thinks of you. Again farewell until I can shake hands wwith my darling Mary, until death do us part.

I remain your loving and affectionate husband

James Walsh

I have offered a Pound to Hennessy (?) to write if he could do anything for me by writing to the Lord Lieutenant,

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