Old Harney Letters

HARNEY LETTER #25

LETTER FROM WILL
Rediscovered February 1986 in box of papers from the attic of an old Harney home in Cambridge, MA. [Some spelling has been corrected to make it easier to read, but care was taken not to change the meaning.]

April 1846
Dieppe

My dear Parents,

All is well. We delivered the "packages" as addressed and came away without harm. Weather worked for us, rain and fog, gale winds and hail, it couldn't have been better. At Dursey Is. [south Ireland, County Cork, W.R.] found Falvey and Barnwall. They know Bantry Bay, Sheepshead, and on to Castletown and Kenmare River to Kenmare. Then on to Kilgarvan and then Killarney to the Paps. We got Brennan and Hussey. Then on to Ballyvourney and Macroom down river Lee to Cork with all safe.

Donal went up Shannon R. to Banaher and Athlone, Lough Ree, to the Inny [River], Ballymahon. He got Daltons and O'Hanrahans, Flemings, Nonans, and 4 of the MacConways.

Oweny [Harney] did Shannon to Fergus and then Limerick. He got Kean, Dwyer, & Kean and then down to Pallas Grean and Tipperary and Galty Hills near Cahir and then Clonmel to the Sewer [Suir] River past Waterford to Duncannon and over to Ballyteige Bay near Fethard. He got Wadding, Redmond, and Fitzgerald, then More and Cantwell. Near Waterford he got Gould and O'Looney, Doody, and DeCarew. Mullaney and Brady were took for poachers in the hills [Galty's]. We come away with 28 in the small schooner and felt very crowded. We was hailed in the Channel by a slaver out for Mobile and the Louisiana Plantations and our "cargo" thought that treachery was affoot. When it passed out of range they all prayed out loud at being delivered from such a fate. When we come ashore they all thanked us hearty, women and girls expesully.

Oweny come up the bay with the gunnels awash and the "cargo" in rigging and hold, like smelt in a barrel. He had 59 in the old coaster! They all said they would do it again to excape the poverty. Donal's "cargo" come over near Dunkirk and Philip took them. We careened the coaster and fixed the plank and Owen went back for more. Donal, Neal, and the Clancy's have gone also. We will go in another day or so when we get your next papers.

Mother is right. Mary Dyer is a lovely girl and I'm hoping to see her again. She writes and ciphers and keeps her father's accounts and even does some of his tinker work. Although she baths herself every fortnight, she could get over that habit with age, but she smell like a rose garden and bay leaves. I like her. Isn't Owen a great hulk? He must weigh a full twenty stone. Rinty carries this to you.

Your admiring son,
Will [Harney]