Dear Listers; In February 1881, two elderly members of our family died within a week of each other. When word reached John B. Murray in New Albin, Iowa on St. Patrick's Day, 1881, John sat down and wept. He was reading of the death of his mother Mary (O'Brien) Murray and his uncle James Murray, both of Clondulane, near Fermoy, Co. Cork. Four days later, John sat down and penned a letter to his father Michael Murray, who was a steward at the Carey estate known as Careysville, along the Blackwater River in Clondulane. The Careys owned the "big house" and most of the land in the area. The Murrays were resident caretakers on this estate from the early 1800s until the 1920s. The text of John's letter is transcribed below, with bracketed comments . John erected two beautiful 6 foot marble headstones in Clondulane that are still standing. I hope you enjoy our letter. The letter is a genealogist's dream - one that has led to the connection of hundreds (perhaps in the thousand range) of descendants. The misspellings have been retained to maintain accuracy. Happy St. Patrick's Day. David Murray ============== New Albin March 21st /81 Dear Father Your sorrowfull letter of this month relateing the death of my poor mother and Uncle James has been received on St. Patricks' Day March 17th/". You may imagine what a lonesome Patrick's Day I spent as its' many a handkerchief I wet with my tears on that day and sien'ce When I think of my fond mother and of her infinite goodness and kindness in the days of the past. hoping now that all her goodness is recorded with an indellable mark and receive her reward beyond the grave as also that of my dear Uncle James. I am entirely dissatisfied at myself on account of not sending those pictures at an earlier day but I had not the least idea of her dying So Soon and besides knowing that there were some of them at home before There is Nothing that I would or could deny of her that she wanted and will always feell ungreatfull at myself for not seeing her before her death, with strong hopes that I may see their graves before I die and plant an ornimental tree on My Mothers grave. I am so glad that you have buried them in Clondulane as I always considered Coole Abbey so dreary and lonesome looking besides so inconvenient-in many instances. I am greatly astonished at Uncle Tom [O'Brien] wanting to have my mother buried in Kilworth [Macroney Upper] and don't or cannot understand his reasons for it. I consider it the Most Profound ignorance. Or a strong feeling of insanity, to even attempt to separate the wife from husband dead or alive And if it happened that his inclinations had been fulfilled and mother buried in Kilworth I do be strongly tempted to go right over to ireland and have her taken up and put where she is now and where she naturally belongs Its bad enough to have her die and not to be taking her all around the world for sport to bury her May she rest in Peace Dear Father I am so thankfull to you for paying and showing So Much respect to mother at the time of her death and [I am] extremely obliged to Aunt Kate [O'Brien] for her kind attentance during her long Sickness as I Know it must put my aunt to a great deal of inconvenience being away and Neglecting her own family So long, If my intellectual ability could only enable me to express in plain words the sentiments and expressions and feelings of my mind towards your dear Master [George Montgomery of Careysville] and his loveing wife [name unknown] for their kind generocity and benevolance to the poor. I would feel so happy. Consequently in order to correspond with my simple ability [I] shall only say that every success may attend both themselves and their family both in this world and in the next one. I send your letter to Uncle John in Milwaukee [son of Patrick] the next day after I red it. I wrote to Cousin Pat in Virginia [son of James] and send h im your feelings and my own for his Kindness to you. When next you write - let me know what was the cause of my uncles death the day of month he died his age and [2 words untelligible due to a paper fold] mothers as near as possible about what the experiences were Connected with mothers funeral. Send me the name of the Priest who attended mother in her last moment her last words and [unintelligible] Send me the name of the firm or man who keep the marble shop in Fermoy=or in City Corke. Thankfull to one and all whose sympathy was extended in the hours of affliction I remain her devoted son and yours also. J B Murray =================