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The following letters were edited by Pam Bailey and passed to this site by Chris from Australia, they give a glimpse of how things were during the 1800s. The exchanges are between Anne who emigrated to Australia in 1850 and her brother in Scotland. Anne's GGMother was one of Irish Famine Orphan who came to Australia and is listed on the Memorial at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney Australia

Photos of Anne Brady: Anne Brady early years, Anne Brady later years

URLs for Orphan Girl Ships to Australia:

Australian Monument - Hyde Park Barracks Sydney ,
Names on Monument
Famine Orphan Girl Ships to Australia

Additional URLs - Great Irish Famine 1840s:
Views of the Famine

FOREWARD

ANNE BRADY

Anne Brady was the daughter of Hugh and Anne Brady ( nee Lynch) from Ballymachugh, County Cavan, Ireland.  According to family letters written  to her by her brother Thomas, Anne was born on a Thursday, the last week in July or the first week in August 1826.

It is known from these letters that Anne had two brothers - Terrance and Thomas. Terrance died 8 February 1841, her father died 8 March 1841 and her mother  on 9 April 1841. They are buried in the Parish of Ballymachugh.

Anne emigrated to Australia on a female ship called “Tippoo Saib” which arrived in Sydney on 29 July 1850. According to the ship’s records she was an orphan and her occupation a house servant from Killefassy, County Cavan, Ireland.

Anne married William Trigg on 25 May 1857, at Minera Creek, Brisbane Waters NSW.  They had two sons, James Ernest born 6 December 1855 in Sydney; and William Andrew, born 6 September 1857 at Wyoming NSW.

Anne’s brother Thomas corresponded with her until his death on 29 July 1888.  This booklet contains transcriptions of the original letters forwarded to Anne by Thomas during the period 28 October 1858 to 12 January 1885. There are also transcriptions of the original letters forwarded by Thomas’ children, Hugh, Thomas and Margaret, to Anne and her  children after his death.

The letters paint a picture of the hardship experienced in Ireland during this time. They also depict the anguish suffered by family members who were separated by such vast distances and unable to see each other again.

Many Irish families suffered the same fate.

Originally transcribed by The Newcastle Family History Society.

This transcription by Pam Bailey, a GG Granddaughter of Anne. 

I have kept the original spelling and punctuation.

Any corrections or queries would be welcome as would further information relating to Anne. I have more information on her and a couple of photos which I am willing to share.

Pam Bailey

Note from transcriber Pam Bailey:

 There is a place called Kilnaleck in County Cavan. Also Aughnahederna is or was in County Cavan  www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1846/MAR.html

Oldcastle is a centre for anglers and is about 6.4 kms from Lough Ramor (County Cavan) and 10 kms from Lough Sheelin. Sheelin is an excellent lake for trout and Ramor is noted for its coarse fishing.
NOTE:  There is a Baileborough a small town in County Cavan and it stands at the meeting point of regional roads R165, R191 and R178

1. Google Books website  has a book called “Glasgow- the Making of A City” by Andrew Gibb which talks of the Govan Coal Depot

1.  Ballyduff is, according to Wikipedia, short for  Ballyjamesduff (Irish: Baile Shéamais Dhuibh, meaning "Town of Black James") is a medium-sized town with a population of 2,240 in County Cavan in Ireland, located on the R194 regional road.
2.  
3. In the middle ages, Lough Sheelin was a border between the Anglo-Normans and the O'Reilly family. The remains of Crover Castle, which stands on an island on Lough Sheelin, date from this time. Crover House Hotel has been named after the castle and stands on the panoramic shores of Lough Sheelin. Source Cavan Tourism
4.  
5. CAVAN WORKHOUSE.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board of guardians of this Union was held on Tuesday, the 5th inst., at 12 o’clock, noon, G. M. KNIPE, Esq., in the chair, and the ordinary business of admission of paupers was transacted.
Remaining in the House 679
Average cost of each pauper, 1s. 9 1.2 d.
Cost of provisions and necessaries for the week, £59 4s. 11 ½ d.
A letter from the Commissioners was read, requesting that the bond entered into by Mr. George MEADE, (…..……) collector of rates, and his securities, be transmitted to them by return of post. Instructions were issued to the law agent of the board to have it forwarded.
The subject of introducing Indian corn was partially discussed.
Mr. J. E. VERNON stated for the last week, he had used Indian meal in stirabout every morning for breakfast, and approved of it very highly.
Mr. G. SHAW, on the contrary, assured the board that he had heard from a tenant of his who had been in America, where he was engaged in public works, and that the workmen there would not be allowed to use it as an article of food. The matter then dropped, and as nothing of importance presented itself for consideration, the board adjourned. Ireland Old News May 1846

1. I enclose a copy of the seventh section of the relief act, under which these appointments have been made. It runs as follows:-

""Sec. VII. - And be it enacted. That every Relieving Officer so appointed as aforesaid shall have power to give provisional relief in any case of sudden and urgent necessity, either by an order of admission to the workhouse or fever hospital of the union, provided there be room therein respectively, and by conveying any destitute poor persons thereto if necessary, or by affording such poor person immediate and temporary relief in food, lodging, medicine, or medical attendance, until the next ordinary meeting of the board of guardians, at which meeting he shall report the case, and the nature and cost of the relief so afforded, in such form and manner as the Poor Law Commissioners shall prescribe, and after such report shall give no further relief, otherwise than by direction of the board of guardians in the case so reported; and the guardians of the union shall furnish the relieving officers with the necessary funds for affording relief in manner aforesaid, and for !
the relief of those destitute poor persons to whom relief shall be granted by the board of guardians, at such times and in such manner as the Poor Law Commissioners shall determine and direct."
Relief - immediate relief - in food, lodging, medicine, or medical attendance. So says the law. There is no such thing - wretched creatures, staggering along the road - a relief (?) depot is placed miles away in fields, they cannot reach it, and on they go; and although death does not often relieve them, under the appalling circumstances which occurred in this instance, still it is daily hastening, by gnawing and emaciating hunger.
A simple (and as it were self-acting) test of "Go to the workhouse," is a very convenient sop for the consciences of some, and a very simple line of duty for inefficient officers; but I insist upon it - it is not according to law.
If hungry and destitute, every man, woman, and child, have a right to food, shelter, and medicine (if sick); and in my opinion no officer employed in the administration of that law has a liberty of interpreting it as penal against the sick, the hungry, the old, or the infirm, by saying - "You must go fifteen or sixteen miles to a poorhosue, or else you will not be relieved."  Ireland Old News October 5 1849

October the 28th 1858

Dear Sister

I now take my pen to answer the rect. Of your kind letter which came to hand on Oct. The 25 and which gives me all possible content to hear from you and to find you and family in good health as I am at present, thanks to God for all his mercies to us.  Dear sister it was painfule for me to think so often of you & could not know what come of you until informed by a letter sent by Miss Ann Daly to her Brother James Daley of Oldcastle.  Many thanks to that Human and generous hearted girl who did not forget her duty to her Brother and Nebours.
At the time you left Ireland I was a patient in the Hardwick Fever Hospital Dublin and after my recovery i went to Scotland where i remained 5 years and 8 months and am at present with my Aunt Mary under the ...Widow of William Heany of Aughnahederna.  i often wonder that you would be 10 years without writing as any letter adressed to me with the adress of your last would find me even in Scotland.  My Aunts children are all in America. Pady is at St Lewis Bridgett ,Cathrine &  Jullia is in Drayton State of Ohio & are all maried. John Gordon of Turin and wife is dead and Robert James Thomas and Jean is in Sacramento California.
Dear Sister i would be happy to go to you but i would not be fit to bear so long a sea voyage on account of the ….. State of my constitution since the fever.  i am at the shooemakeing trade which i lernd since i came from Scotland.  Dear Sister I got another large splint out of my legg last Xmass which causd me to lern the Shooemaking trade.  as i cannot go to you any thing you could send me would be most thankfully ackowledged as i believe i need not expect ever see you more. i little though the day we parted at the gate in Bally Duff that it would be our last but thank God that you are well and provided in a companion and protector. Our country ha turnd into stock land so that thee is little employ for any but servents, Boys wages are £3 to £3.10/-. Gals 30s to £2 10. Flour is 3 and 4 a hundred, oatmeal 12s, potatoes 4d per stone, butter 10 a pound, wheat from 17s to 23s per Barl. Oats…11/6?.., eggs 7s-6d a hundred no more but remain your affectionate Brother

Thomas Brady

P.S. Pleas to write as soon as possible and direct to the care of Mr Matthew Boylan Junr, Killnalick for Thomas Brady Aughnahiderna Parish of Killaside County Cavan

Glasgow August 11th 1862

Dear Brother and Sister

I now embrace the present opprtunity of answering the Rect. Of your kind and welcome letter bearing the date the 27th April which came to hand on the 21 of July and a paper on the 22 the Day following  I feel happy to hear of you all being in good health as this leaves me in at present thanks to God for his great mercies to us all.
I hope that no circumstance will detain me so long from writing in future as it has done before
My courage to go out to you would be good enough and it would be hapiness to me to be near you But perhaps you will be surprised when i tell you that I am married it being the main thing that would delay me but if Government Emigration now ixisted that would not prevent me.
I was marrid on the 28 of August 1858 my wifes name is Mary McIntier a native of Balieboroghe we have had 3 children 2 sons 1 daughter my oldest is cald Hugh after my Father the 2 Bernard calld after my Father in law my daughter is cald for you my 2nd child died at the age of 5 weeks and 3 days,
Hugh is 3 years and 2 months and as stout as any of John Gordons family at that age my Daughter is 4 weeks old we are all in perfect health  My health was not as good this 25 years as at present my head is quite well and my foot is the same since i got a splint of a bone out of it 5 years ago last winter
Dear sister it grives me so that the tears are trinkling down while i am writing the date of my parents death & the many sore trials i underwent since that time my Brother Terrence died on the 8th of February 1841 Mother on the 8th of March and my Father on the 9th of Aprile the same year my Brother was 31 years mother about 52 and father 61 years when they died
You were Born on the last thursday of July or the first thursday of August 1826 and Baptised on the first Sunday of of harvest that year being comonly called the year of the Short corn in Ireland My present employment is a generall labourer in the employment of Govan Coaliery & Iron Works Company comonly known by the name of Dixons works My pay is 12 shillings per week my work is not permanent owing to the dullness of trade in this country by reason of the war in America which has ruined the trade of this country my rent is £3 10s paid at 5 & 7 per month which leaves very little or nothing to spare after our suport there are about 5 or 6 million of inemployd in England and Scotland of both sexes liveing in a state of starvation.
Ireland Got its share in 45 but this country is no beter now than Ireland was then and to add to every other misery there never was a season like this in this country with cold and want of vegitation so that there is nothing but famine expected. Dear Sister you now know my means and circumstance and cannot but judge how remote must be my expectation to Emigrate. I hope you will not trouble yourself about your Cousens in America as i made it my Buisness to read every letter they sent home since they went there and never as much as mentioned your name or mine except in contempt. The Gordons are in Auburn City State of California South America.
Dear  Brother & Sister it would be to much to expect you to take me out there and to part with my family is a thing I could not Do but if free Imigration now existed I would embrace the oportunity of leaveing a country that is clean done and to the Work Man is no better than a wilderness. Any donation forwarded by you will be most thankfully acknowledged.

Nomore at present but remain your affectionate Brother and Sister

Thomas & Mary Brady Upper Faulds Place Chain Road Hutchessontown
Glassgow
Scotland
Pleas to write as soon as this comes to hand
P.S. pleas to direct to the care of Mr Alexander McLean as Before
Dear Sister I mean to send  you a brief account of my past life in my next letter Beginning from the time that I was in Spinkss Fever Hospital in Turin to the present which no doubt will be as affecting to you as it will be curious.

Glasgow November 11th 1866

Dear Sister

I now embrace the opportunity of answering your kind letter of the 2 July 66 which came to hand on the 23 of September  I am happy to lern by it that you & family are in the enjoyment of good health except your Husband but I hope in Gods mercy that it may not prove injurious to him in the general exercise of his ordinary employment  Since my last letter to you this country has underwent a great change in the Labour department not for the better as I am sory to state as little that is good seldom occurse here for the benefit of the poor  The change aluded to being caused by the master Boat builders in Society refunding to the amt of 48 Thousand pounds to resist the demands of the employd which caused all hands to be locked out by the employers on the 29 of May and causd large amount of missery here since and no sign of its termination and provisions bordering on famine prices
this is only a birds eye glance for you of the state of affairs in this so calld Mother Country  Ireland is still labouring under the nightmare of dreded invasion and I would not be much surprised were she to awaken in the throes of revolution ere these lines reach you Dear Ann the papers you mentioned in your last letter or the letter before it has not come to hand and I supose the papers I sent you shared the same fate as your letter does not acknoledge them the photograph I promised you I will send as soon as possible after this letter
I have deferd for the present sending any newspapers to you untill I am better apprised of their safe delivery please to give my love to your kind husband and rest asured that you have all reason to be thankfull for the enjoyment of the freedom you all possefs an enjoyment quite forreign to the people of this Country nowadays that is to say the labouring Clafses
We are all in ordinary good health at present thank God for it and I am in the one employment this 5 years myself and join in sending our kind love to you  to William and to the children

The peace and blefsing of Allmighty God be with you all and guard you in your works is the ardent prayer of your ever devoted and affectionate Brother

Thomas Brady
Rufsells Lane South
Cathcart Road Gorbalstoll
Glasgow

Glasgow July 15 1878

Dear Sister

Haveing recd your kind letter of the 21 of May which came to hand on the 9th inst I am glad to find that you are still in life though not without a share of the troubles so comon in lifes stormy ocean from which none are free.  With Brotherly feelings I simpathise with you for the troubles and loss you have come to but trusting in God that the worst is by and that health & peace may in future cheer you on to the end
Dear Sister  I beg leave to give you a narative of some of my trials since I last wrote to you about 10 years ago and will be interesting to you to know and show plainly that whoever is to be poor Will never be ritch
Having for the last 10 years with the help of my wife saved £60 and borrowed £15 more in all £75 pounds I started shop Buisness in the Butter Ham & Egg trade but the change not agreeing with my health I was confined to bed during the Winter up to April last the buisness being in charge of Hugh & Margarettt  But to my mortification on recovering I was clean shorn of Capital stock and profit with £41.3 shillings of debt which I can never pay so I am now a poorer man than when I came first to Scotland  Dear Sister my leg still troubles me and is allways runing being now in my sixtieth year I cannot expect to live very long  Being home in Killefassy at May last for the good of my health I was speaking to Ann Gordon Jemima & her husband is dead about 7 years leaveing 2 sons 1 Daughter they are at age and doing well
Robert Gordon is dead in California leaving a Wife & 2 Children  Mick Monaghan is died last year & John Maguiness The changes in that place is beyond my description Loch Sheelan is drained that you could walk over near to the old castle of Crover without weting your feet there are but fiew of the old neighbours liveing there now & both them and their growing up families are strangers to those who are so long absent from that Country as we I beg leave to add that I was when in Ireland on Sunday the 5th of May last on your Fathers & Mothers grave in Ballymacugh there is no great change in the appearance of the Fathers grave but the others are quite sunk livel with the surface you will bear in mind that you are 52 years this July being born in 1826 Wishing you and Husband & children health peace & prosperity I remain your Affecionat Brother Thomas Brady
P.S. Mary and children join with me in kind love to you Husband & children
When writing direct to Mr Alexander Jack Govan Colliery Depot Crown Street
Glasgow for Thomas Brady
Though my health is better at present than it has been for a long time yet those who read this will see the effect on my sistem caused by my late troubles as I can scarsely hold the pen to write my name.
Hugh Brady 19 Yrs
Mary Ann Brady 16
Margaret Brady 13
Thomas Brady 11
John Brady 7
The above are their respective ages
Along the side of the page is written ” In their own handwriting”

 20 Calder St Glasgow
 Decr 1st 1878

Dear Sister

Your kind letter to hand of September the 24th & the papers I recd all right on the 25 of November  Dear Sister haveing read the details of your Husbands death & the accident to William I now heartily simpathise with you for the troubles you have met but I am thankful to God that your 2 children is spard to you to comfort you in old age now so fast aproaching you being now in you 53 year Pleas to tell James to boil salt and sap as much flanel in it as will cover the parts most affected and put it on as hot as he can bear going to bed at night & if it suceeds to get a fiew hot Saltwater baths before going to bed as soon as convenient as Doctors medicine is next to worthless for that complaint
Dear Sister I cannot describe to you the State of this Country at present with poverty and want the failure of Banks & large Firms & stopage of almost all kinds of trade leaves this Country as bad as Ireland was in 1848 & 49  I send you the Glasgow weekly mail containing the list of failures for the month of October you will see when one month gave such a crop what what must be the yield of 12 months and its effect on the people
A year and a half since I could have removed with my Family to Austrilia  or any where else but now I have not a shilling left such being the overwhelming disaster of my buisnefs to me so we must take our chance in the present strugle Hugh will be 20 years at May next he is about the size of Johny Mulligan who lived beside us in Turien and Mary Ann is as stout as Susen Fareley of Turien
Dear Sister when I was in Ireland I walked along Loch Sheelin to Mount Nugent and a man could nearly walk to the old Castle of Crover there being 14 feet watter drained of it there is not a trace of Crover Mill or a Telford there but a wood in the place of House & Mill
Dear Sister it is now 31 years since our last meeting on the 25 May next and many are the ups and downs of life since then you are mindful that I was then recovering from the fever but the following tear I had 9 weeks of fever in the city of Dublin which changed my personal aperance so that  am now black haired instead if fair ever since so that when I went to Ireland in 56 fiew of the neighbours knew me  if you saw me you would be puzled also my apearnce is so far changed
I am now in my 60 year and though my health is as  good as might be expected my leg still keeps running and my right breast troubles me for the last 14 years
Please to give my best respects to your present Husband Mr  Pratt and joining my family we present our kind love to you to James and William wishing you all the blefsing of God on Earth and in Heaven

Affectionately yours

Thomas Brady

Please direct to Mr A Jack
Govan Coal Depot
Upper Cown Street

P.S. Having such a tremor in my hands I can scarsely hold the pen to write                                                         

 20 Calder Street
 December 1st 1878

Dear James

Haveing read your kind leter Which gave me to understand the low state of your health I am heartily sorry to find you so but through the Mercy of God I hope you will yiet recover to be a guardian & comfort to Mother in old age
This being my first letter to you I hope it find you in a more improved state of health I am hapy to have the pleasure of reading your first letter and am proud of your abilities
I see you did not waste your School hours but has put the chances oferd you by your parents to good use which will prove a benefit to you and your mother hereafter. I wrote to your mother that you should use saltwater bathing as often as posible at going to bed but to have it warm also take a glassful of lime water & cream of tartar twice a day it is better than Docters drugs
Hopeing that when you write you may my Dear boy be on the Strait road of good and uninterupted health is the wish and prayer of your
 Affectionate Uncle
Thomas Brady

P.S. Give my love to your Mother and William and Gods Blessing with you all

Owing to the state of this country at present it is hard to say where I may be writeing to you from the next time

Glasgow April 21 1879

Dear Sister

Haveing recd your kind letter on Easter Monday I am glad your health is so improved and your children as well as you describe
It is certainly a comfort to you now together with your family to be far from these famine stricken Isles Isles of Britian  A land of poverty in the face of plenty but no money to purchase with All Trade at a dead lock and the workers dieing of starvation as in Ireland in 46
You will remember our last meeting the 25 May 48 that I was going from Spinks Hospital after 8 weeks of Fever when we met at Ballyduff on the 19 of October following I got a severe hurt  and lay in Navan Infirmary for 3 months & on the 17 March 49 I retired to Dublin where I was again confined of Fever for 9 9 weeks on recovery I was seasd with Cholera so I came to Scotland on the 5 May 1850 and was a year here before I could run a step you now see that I had some hard trials but this time is the worst of all as my Family and I are not agreeing by means of our recent losses.
Dear Sister haveing as to your Aunt Kate she died also her husband about 2 years after you left Ireland Frank the oldest son is dead 6 years Terence & James is in America and Thomas is in the Fiarm and Barny is in Finea  I never corespond with them you mind after our parents died they passed by to and from Ballyduff not careing whether we were dead or liveing I met Bernard in Killnaleck but never spoke to him When I went to Ireland from Scotland in 56 they gatherd to me inviteing me to visit them on an appointed day I refused for some months but after I consented I acordingly went one day in the month of June on comeing into the fields near the house there were two halfbreds ½ Bulldog and terrier to welcome me but haveing cut a good thorn stick returned them their conpliments & 10 per cent to Boot which was not to mistress pleasment I went to where Frank was mowing & we sat down to smoak soThomas came but did not know me by reason of my long absenc While talking I asked him a question which I knew would tickle him so his reply was as I expected & I departed acordingly never to meet them more
As to any of my Children going to the Colonies it maters but little to me as they are allready resolvd to please themselfs in all things so they can pleas themselves in that as well  The papers stated in your letter has not come to hand but inform the postoffice
let me know if you recd the papers I sent from Glasgow to you last Decr
Wishing yourself and Family every posible blessing I remain Dear Sister your affectionate Brother
                                     Thomas Brady
                                     20 Calder Street SS
direct as before

Glasgow October 17 1880

Dear Sister

Haveing recd your kind letter of the 24 June which came to hand the 13 Sept after 14 days tosing from post to post by not being adressed Correct the name Govan Coal Depot being omited on adress
Being happy to find yourself and family in good health a Blessing we at present enjoy thanks to God for his mercies to us all
Dear Sister I see by your letter that you have had your share of trouble as well as myself I believe it is common to most people in after years when youth desart us and life bloom is nomore, then there remain nothing to us but the thorns of care & age. I am happy that James is geting on so well & I wish him long life & hapiness in his new sphere of life please give my love to him & to his Mrs & may kind fortune prove favourable to them through lifes tempestous passage
You will please convey to William my kind love and best respects as I am hapy he is doing so well. please to give my respects to your kind husband and also to Mr Anthony let Anthony know there is as good fish in the Sea as ever was caught.  I have flited the 28 of last May to 490 Crown Street please adress your letters accordingly
Dear Sister Ireland is in a very disturbed state oweing to the import of American stock and produce into this Country which has ruined the Tenant Farmers & causing Land Lords to evict them wholesale out of their homes. the Tenants have formed a League against them and are holding large meetings  so that Government is sending the army to Ireland rebelion being daily expected Lord Mountmorris being shot three weeks since so that matters are growing disperate there just now.
This has been the best season as regards weather and crop has been in Scotland this 50 years & last year one of the worst during the same period Dear Sister I understand that your adopted country offers great facilities for Highwaymen known there by the name of Bushrangers the Kelly gang being the most darring though your Government have captured them others as daring will take their place by reason of the country being so large & population so small
I was thinking after I got your letter of an act hapened when we lived in Turin when you got the Eggs from Mrs Spinks to sett and the ducks when they grew to maturity were coveted by Mrs Gordon and shamelessly kept by her as her own when they strayd to their yard but Mrs Gordon is no more and her husband was killed in Cavan Goal after becomeing lunatic. So much for greed and Covetousness
Rest of letter missing

Glasgow
Sept. 2nd 1883

Dear Sister

         It is now almost a year since I received your last kind letter and as you know I cannot write I had to wait until some of my children would do it for me.
The reason I did not write sooner is because the works are very busy just now and my children are kept working till late at night.
I am very glad to inform you that my health is a great deal better, my leg is almost healed, and I have been at work all the preceeding week.
My son Hugh has changed his employment and has got a better place; he is working with a Cement Merchant named Currie and has constant employment. My son Thomas has sat for three examinations since my last letter and I happy to state he has passed in two the report of the third has not come out yet. The first examination was a drawing examination and he passed in all the subjects he sat for, the second was a Pupil Teachers Examination & he passed in it also, the third was a Drawing examination the report of which has not come out yet. He is preparing for another which will come off before this letter reaches you and, with the help of God, I hope he will pass it.
It gives me great pleasure also to state that John, who is not out of school yet, has sat for three examinations two of which he has passed & the report of the other has not come out yet. Two years more and he will be out of school.  Then, thank God, I shall have all my family able to do for themselves.
My two daughters, Mary & Margaret are still working under the same Manager, Mary is a Machinist and Margaret a shirt cutter. During the recent busy season both have been working till 9 pm at Night.  There are none of my family married yet.
I am glad to hear that you & your family are all in good health except James; but I hope his health as also his business may improve.  I may also inform you that if you sent the Sydney News & your likeness neither of them has arrived here yet.
We are all enjoying good health at present, and join in affectionate love to yourself & family;

 I remain

 Your affectionate Brother
 Thomas Brady

203 Thistle Street
Glasgow
June 27th 1884

My Dear Sister

I received your letter of December 5th 1883 and was very glad to hear that you and your family are enjoying good health and in so prosperous circumstances. I have not been enjoying good health of late, I have been off my work twice since I received your letter, and my eldest daughter, Margaret has also been ill. She took the Scarlet Fever off one who is employed in the same establishment as she is and lay for six weeks.  Happily she he has now recovered is quite well and has resumed her work again.
All the rest of my family have been in perfect health.
My eldest son, Hugh,been married, and is living in Glasgow. He is employed with the same firm.  My second son Thomas, is still teaching at St Francis School. He has completed his second year there.  I enclose with this letter his Photograph which he got taken recently and also that of my eldest daughter. My two daughters are still working in the same place as I have already mentioned. My youngest son is still at school and is in the highest standard.  I would have replied to your letter sooner but I was hindered owing to my own and my daughters illness, as during my daughters sickness all of my children had to leave the house for more than six weeks according to the strict laws of this country.
As you may have noticed at the beginning of this we have changed our residence. We are now living at 203 Thistle Street, South Side, Glasgow, to which you will please address your future letters.  You will require to be very careful in addressing them as a very small mistake might cause the letter to be delayed and it might not be delivered at all.
You have promised in the last two or three letters that you would send me your likeness but it has never arrived yet. You also said that you would send a Town and Country Journal by the next mail after your last letter, but that also has not arrived. I enclos two likenesses with this letter. My wife and children all join with  me in sending you our best wishes and Hoping that you are still in good health,


I Remain

Your Affectionate Brother
Thomas Brady

203 Thistle St
Glasgow SS

January 12th 1885

Dear Sister

I write in answer to your kind letter of the 5th November, which came to hand on January 6th with your Photograph, the Christmas Cards, Papers and also the Photograph of your sons establishment.
My family and I all join in returning you thanks for your wishes and gifts, particularly your likeness which lets me see that time has made its mark on you as well as me.
We are happy to hear that your family are enjoying health and prosperity, blessings which bring happiness to a home, and are a sure sign of happiness beyond the grave.
Dear Sister, in reference to your own health, I am very sorry to hear that it is not the best but we hope that by the time this letter reaches you it will find you well.
We are all very happy to hear that James and William are getting on so well as also your husband, Robert and Anthony and we wish that they may always continue to thrive.
You promised in one of your former letters that you would send the Photographs of your grandchildren which I would be very glad to receive. As I was not very well pleased with my likeness which I sent you a few years ago, I intend to send another by this or next mail.  I intend to send by this mail & with this letter, a Weekly Paper, and an Illustrated London News. I would also be well pleased if you would send the Photograph of your husband and that of William & Robert soon.
By this mail I send my daughters (Margaret) likeness and by the next or the succeeding mail, I will send Johns.
Trade in this country is very bad but I am glad to be able to say that it has not

(Rest of letter missing )

203 Thistle Street Glasgow
January 11th 1885

Dear Aunt

                   I have much pleasure in writing to you for the first time and I beg to thank you for the beautiful……………

Dear Aunt it is a great pleasure to have your likeness to look at it always lets us know what your are like it is a pleasure to say this is my Aunt who is so far away……………………

……….
So that we will be able to write to them.
By this letter I send my likeness I had not got mine when the last letter was sent
My brothers and sister join with me in love for you and cousins My brother Thomas will write an answer to your last letter
This is one from youre affectionate neice
Margaret Josephine Brady
(Pleas write soon)

NOTE; THE ABOVE ARE FROM REMNANTS OF A LETTER   

My address in London is :-
Thomas J Brady
St Mary’s College
Brook Green
Hammersmith
London W

Please write soon & let us know how you are coming on in the world as also your family

                            Your Affectionate
                            Brother
                            Thos Brady
Dear Coussen

I am sorry that your first communications with me leavs you in bad health But I hope through Gods help you will soon be well again I am hapy Dear  Coussen the first letter I ever wrote in my life is to you and though a wide Ocean sipparate us I hope I may yet have the pleasure of meeting you and Coussen William Andrew  Dear Coussen this country is a very cold country the poor are very poor here and the rich are very rich the City of Glasgow is a very large place it is about 15 miles in circumferance or better and divided by the River Clyde which is Navigable and crawded with Shiping the Houses are 4 and 5 story high and crawded with people the streets are crowded from morn till night with coaches carts and waggans and people When I come from school I get my spelling task and run messages for mother that is my work. Dear James my Father and Mother and Sisters join me in love to you and Uncle Aunt and Coussen William Andrew and God be with you all is the prayer of your fond Coussen

Hugh Brady

PS Please to write as soon as possible for to let me know if you are recoverd from your illness.

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