Alison Kilpatrick wrote: > Transcribed from the 2 July 1822 edition of The Strabane Morning > Post, by permission of The British Library: > > A Convict[']s Letter to his Wife. > The following is an authentic copy of a genuine letter sent by a > convict to his wife, now a prisoner in Armagh:-- > > June the 2d, 1822. > Dear Elonir--I received your last letter, dated the 21st of March, > and my reason for not answering it was wating to I would have a full > account of what would happen to me; but now I can inform you that I am > on board the convict ship in the Cove of Cork, bound for Botany Bay, > which I am not sorry at; all that grieves me is the parting of you, and > I would give all ever I seen to have you transported along with me. When > your time is up, my advise to you is to not leave the town of Armagh to > you will do something that will have you sent after me; you will have my > blessing night and morning if yo do that--and as Ireland has turned out > so bad, and nothing but hunger and hardship to it, you need not be sorry > to lave it. Thanks be to God, my mind was never contenter in my life, > for my hart is broke with confinement, and I have every promise to do > well when I reach the other side. The ship I am in has the best > comendations for pashaners, and is kept so clane that is a pleasure to > be in her; and the different officers on board gives every well behaved > man heer every indulgence. We are trated very well in regard of > alowance, and will be better when we set out to sail. I dont expect to > get as much hardship to I gow to Botney Bay as I get coming from Dublin > heer. Dont be afraid of not seeing me when you reach the other side; but > if you wish to come, mind the ship's name, and the time that I was sent > away, and the Governor, when you reach the other side, will have you > sent to me. There is one hundred and ninety convicts to gow over in this > ship, forby sum gentlemen and ladys that is paying there passage, and is > in a part of the ship buy themselves. Write to me as fast as you get > this, for I think that we will not sail to there will be an answer back; > and give my love to Robert Boulter, and send an other letter with him to > the other side. Give me all you know. No more from your loving husband > to death. > Direct your letter as followes: To the care of Mr. Sargent, bord of > the Mangles, Cove of Cork for ---, convict from the county Tyrone. > My blessing and God's blessing be with you and remain with you to I > have the pleasure of seeing you in the other side. I will direct all my > letters that I will send to you to the care of Jas. Robison, Monaghan. > > ===================== > Alison - Fascinated by the convict letter you posted, can you give me a few more details - did the convict "make good" here in Australia? Since my son wrote "Notorious Strumpets" about female convicts transported to Tasmania 1803-1829 I am always interested in anything to do with convicts. Patricia