Address to Samuel Mathewson of Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland upon his Emigration to Quebec, Canada 1833
Extracted from the Strabane Morning Post, Tuesday, May 14, 1833
Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com
This file of the ADDRESS TO SAMUEL MATHEWSON OF STRABANE, COUNTY TYRONE, 1833 forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to STRABANE (CAMUS PARISH) & COUNTY TYRONE MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS on this website can be found at the foot of this file.
Tuesday, May 14, 1833
MR SAMUEL MATHEWSON of this town, having determined to emigrate with his Family to Canada, and being to sail from Derry in a few days, by the Ship Regalia, Captain Smyth, for Quebec, our Townsmen, anxious to testify their feelings of respect and esteem towards Mr Mathewson, previous to his departure, presented him, on Saturday last, with Dr. Adam Clarke’s Bible and Commentary, very handsomely bound, in Eight volumes Quarto. In each Volume is tastefully printed the following Inscription : “Presented to Mr. Samuel Mathewson, of Strabane, Ireland, by his Fellow Townsmen, on his departure from amongst them to reside in North America, in testimony of their Esteem and regard - 10th May, 1833.” This valuable gift was accompanied by the following Address :---
TO
Mr. SAMUEL MATHEWSON,
OF STRABANE
DEAR SIR, We, your neighbours and fellow townsmen, have learned with much regret, your intention of leaving your native country for America. While we appreciate your motives for taking this step, we cannot but feel sorrow at the departure of one, whose blameless life and sincere but unobtrusive piety, have secured our affection and esteem during the long period of his residence amongst us. As a slight testimony of the estimation in which your character, as a man and a christian, is deservedly held, we request your acceptance of the accompanying Copy of CLARKE’S BIBLE.--- When, in a distant land, you derive wonted consolation from its Sacred pages, we trust your satisfaction will be enhanced, by recalling the memory of those attached friends by whom it is now presented. That you may long continue to maintain that christian integrity, by which you have been hitherto so uniformly distinguished, and that you may reach, in a foreign country, that comfortable and honourable independence, which the altered circumstances of our town afford but little prospect of attaining here, is the sincere desire and earnest prayer of, Dear Sir, Your faithful Friends,
Signators John James BURGOYNE, Provost, J.P., Counties, Tyrone and Donegal James SINCLAIR, Deputy Lieutenant, County Tyrone George SMITHWICK, Clk. Rector of Camus and of Strabane Josiah CAMPTON, Clk. William ORR Samuel HUGHES James KERR Geo. McCARTER Hugh HAMILTON R. SCOTT, Clk. Urney Samuel MORTON Thos. SMITH James ADAMS Joseph McKEE David SMYTH Andrew DONNELL Walter SCOTT Thomas GRAHAM John BAIRD James GRAHAM Hamilton FOSTER James WILSON William STEVENSON Cowper WALKER William ELLIOT Nicholas SIMS Chas. McCORMICK John ANDERSON Robert HAMILTON William RAMSAY James HAMILTON Charles KELLY David MITCHELL William SMYTH Leslie GAULT Barton WHITE Isaac GRAHAM Patrick LOGUE John CARROLL Robert HANNAH John GRAY John GILL John McGUIRE John COOK Robert CAMPBELL William COOK Ephraim CAMPBELL Michael CAVANAGH John WILSON William SIGERSON Patrick BOYLE Stewart HAMILTON D. BAIRD, L’Derry Charles KNOX John BARBER, L’Derry Wm. DOHERTY
Strabane, 10th May, 1833
To which Mr. Mathewson replied :--- GENTLEMEN, It is with the deepest gratitude I thank you for the valuable mark of your regard with which you have just favoured me. I have no language to express my feelings on this occasion, so new to me, and so gratifying. I can only say, that, in whatever place my future lot may be cast, I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of your kindness, and shall hand down the Book which you have given me to my children, as a testimony of that friendship which their father received from his respected townsmen, on the eve of his departure from among them. It is my most earnest desire that the sacred truths contained in that work may be the guiding principle of your conduct and mine.
There is no inducement could cause me to emigrate to another country, and leave a town in which I have, for more than twenty years lived in peace and harmony, but the hope, under Divine Providence, of being enabled to provide for a large family better than I could do by remaining here. Wishing you, Gentlemen, every happiness and prosperity that this life can afford, and that, when the vicissitudes of this vain world are over, we may all meet again in a better country, where sorrow and affliction shall be ever done away, I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obliged and grateful servant,
SAMUEL MATHEWSON.
Further records for COUNTY TYRONE can be found at:
Camus Parish (Strabane( Records, County Tyrone
County Tyrone Addresses & Petitions
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