William Gowdey of Ballymacash Lisburn provides local news to a Dublin landlord Thomas Johnson 1847

 

William Gowdey (sometimes Gowdy) is probably land steward, perhaps informally, to Thomas Johnson now living in Dublin and a son of the Reverend Philip Johnson (1748-1833), vicar of Ballymacash who employed another Gowdey as land steward. The vicar was also District Master of the Orange Association which would explain references in the text. Ballymacash is now absorbed into the Lisburn area but at this period was a village outside the town; the letter has a Lisburn despatch postmark. 

The letter’s recipient would have grown up in Ballymacash and the existence of a long connection between the two families would explain the informal tone of the letter transcribed below which contains local news as well as an informal report on agricultural matters, local conditions, etc. There was a local school which the writer may have attended; it was through the school that a schoolmaster Workman met a pupil Gowdey who emigrated together to Canada and produced a notable family line.

 

Transcription

Addressed to: Thomas H Johnson Esqr    No 6 Linster Street    Dublin

Postmarked: LISBURN JU 21

Docketing note: June 1847 Mr Gowdy

Datelined: Ballymacash June the 20^th 1847

Sir

I duly Received your kind Letter you were pleased to send me and Ever since that time I have tooke a walk now and then through the Plantings to see if aney more harm had been done to them mostly twice a week and I find on Exammination that there is nothing done lately and I hope the two Boards offering a Reward of three pounds for the prosecution to Conviction of any Depreators found Injureing the Plantings will have the desired Effect. poore  Panto I hear is Going to leave Robert or Misses Forsythes I should say for to go to Mr Clearks I will be sorry parting him for he was verry fond of me but I hope it is all for the better I have had him out  several times since I recived your letter and I was glad to see him behave so steady, he in fact seems not have forgotten the little lessons I taught him I hope he will be well taken care of where he is Going to as I have a regard for him and was no foe to him through the whole this is all I can say if he Continues here any longer I will take him out and Exercise him so long as he stays here, in reguard of the dog or the Care I intend to take of the plantings I want no Remuneration what ever. Except if Convenient and not taking to mutch liberty with my superior you would be so kind as to send me a Newspaper now and then as I am not in the habbit of seeing any this some time back as my sister that I went to see in sussex is dead she died on the 18^th of last March she used to send me one once a fortnight you need not put your self to the trouble of covring the papers but just tie a thread round them or small string and direct them and they will come safe I have pretty good health at present thank God my wife is Got better again nor when you were here it was a cold she Got the rest of my Famley are pretty well Except my Eldest daughter Catherine who has been Ill this twelve months past with a throwing of her vituels or vomiting soon after taking them. I Informed  that Mrs Johnson is in the north this some time past she has been in Mrs Forsythes once or twice but I have not seen her times are pretty tight here at present and work verry scarce I have not been Employed at a singel days work this fortnight past had I not found a found work in the land I might have walked about idle as manny are doing both in town and Country still we require meat when idle as well as when at work but I hope better times will come soone there is some news of the Indian Meat falling in price as this is all we get and I feel verry thankfull for it if we Could only Earn money to buy Enough my son William who has been working for Dean Stanners [?] this some time back but that is verry uncertain as he is in the habbit turning them of when anything displeases him then they have to apply to him to get on again the lower orders of the people have a Great deal to stand here at present which the are doing with great forbearance and propper behavour

I have  44 drills of potatoes in the Ground some of them up and looking well others coming through the Ground there is but few set here this year but a good maney turnips sown I have Eleven drills of turnips in of the yellow Aberdeen kind the wer only just in last Friday my wheat looks pretty well oat verry light and weadey there was some oat fields missed this spring the big wood had to be sown over a Gain a Great part of it Mr Endsor has sown the stoney field in turnips again wher Mr Bell shot the woodcocks in I hear his Goods has been under sesure this few days back I believe for Rent this is all I know of the matter the schools I think are both doing well at present the seem to have a Good maney schollars old Mr Bradey is well and goes to bead Every night at 8 o’clock old Misses Jones is pretty well and Mrs Forsythe is well should you think of coming down this summer you may let me know if not making to free the orange men or for Going out on the 12^th I am not shure whether to Glenavy or Ballylesson it is not rightly fixed which place the will go the Revd Mr Smyth is going to the salt water soon he is well and famley

Sir I hope you will forgive the liberty I take in sending you this few lines as I have no Motive for writing to you but Respect and as you were so kind as to send me a few lines some time back this is in answer to them

I remain your must humble and obedient servant    William Gowdey

Thomas H Johnson Esqr