Life History

Other facts

Notes

• [Good Robinson Ritchie Lee et al.FTW]
  
  Letter written by James Ritchie to his son (Hugh Ritchie??), his mother Nancy, a friend John Johnston, and his brother Robert Ritchie, prior to his emigration to Canada. Envelope addressed "to the care of John Stewart Litchfield Lower canad for Robert Ritchey upper canad township of ross North America" (sic).
  The original letter is on file with the National Archives of Canada in the "James Ritchie Fonds" Ref. #R3203-0-0-E (new) or MG24-I199(former). Copies have been obtained and are in the possesion of David James Lee. A transcription of said letter follows, and the spelling and grammar are exact copies.
  
  "Blackstown, sept the 19th 1848
  
  Dear son I take this oppertunity of writing these few lines to you to let you Know that we are both in good health at present thanks be to God for his Kind Mercies to us in hops that this May find you all in the same. Dear son I wish to let you Know that I got the Money I got the chack on the 2 day of sept so I left it in Ballymena on the 4th and I went to Belfast on the 5th for to see if I could get a vessel going out but I could find none neither in Belfast nor liverpool for the last ship that left these ports was  on the 22 of August for queaBeck so if I had got the Money one Month sooner I would have been with you as soon as this letter but I Must make Myself contented and submit to the will of God and if it is his will that we shall meet I hope that it will be Early in the spring so Dr son write soon and let me Know if you are haired at presant and let me Know what wages you have or was it or if you get money or grain and also let me Know if you will have to hire this ensuing winter or what way you are intend to pass the winter as I canot come to you before the spring and let me know if you have Ever seen Elisa since you left her or if she is dead or alive as you never mentioned her in your letters and also if Robert is still his Grand Mother.
  
  Dear Mother I canot at presant Explain my affection to you for what you have done for
  me and my family and being the means of bringing me out of this land of bondage as I may call it so but I hope you will be ahead over my famly untill
  I come and if it pleaseth God that may come I hope the God will reward you for what you have done for me and famly.  Nancy and rosey is both well so if you could asist them in coming with me th would be content as the would not like to part with me
  
  Dear friend John Johston I hope that you will look into my famly and see that the may be fixed in there to you(r) mind untill I come as I would like to be a neighbour of yours you have acted as a father to them since you went away and I hope you will do so untill I come to be with them my self your sister
  Jane is determined to come with me your father would be very glad to come to you as he is very lonsom here and has behaved well since you went away and had nothing to do with the wife since Dr. Jon.
  I would be very glad you if if was in your powar that you would pay your sister Nanceys passage to come With me as you are about to take up house I think she would fit you well as it is not in my power to do anything for her so all the articles that you mentionated in your letter I will bring them for us both so Dr. friend if you can posable let me know how far you are from Samuel Semple or if ever you see him no more but remains your affectionated father James Ritchey
  
  Dear brother Robert I hope that you will for give me for the truble that my family has put you to So if are never able I hope the Lord will reward you so I have not room to rite any more but I Send my love to sister in law
  
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  Also part of the James Ritchie Fonds is a letter of reference, transcribed as follows:
  "The bearer James Ritchie his wife & family go to America to seek a livelihood by honest industry. I believe him to be an honest industrious man, and he bears a good character among his neighbors.
  Colin (Evers?) Rector of Tickmacrevan Co. Antrim
  Glenarm (Glebe?)
  April 29, 1847
  ________________________________________________________________________________
  
  With reference to John Johnstone in the foregoing letter we note that Robert Ritchie, James Ritchie's brother married an Ellen Johnstone also born in Antrim, Ireland.
  ___________________________________________________________________________
  See Notes for James Ritchie's wife, Mary McCambridge and for James' brother, Robert Ritchie.
  
  Surname is also spelled "Richey" on LDS IGI record and "Richie" on 1871 census
  
  Barbara Neville (<email address>) shows him born 1811 in Ballymina, Ireland....no source given.