Descendants of Andrew Gawn, Halftown, Co. Antrim:
Born 1777
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Liverpool September 12th 1805 Dear Brother, I take this opportunity of sending you these few lines hoping that they will find you all in good health, as I think that it is my duty to inform you of my intention as perhaps I may not have it in my power to inform you at a future time as I think that providence has destined me for some other shore. Please God to spare me I have taken my passage in an American vessel bound to Petersburg in Virginia. The Captains name is Marmaduke Wynell, the ship is the Matthew Bland. You may think that it was in my power to inform you of my destination before I left Ireland but I do assure you that it was not in my hand. My passage to Petersburg in Virginia is to be £15 9s. There is not a passenger going in said ship but me and another man. I am getting my provisions from the Captain, and the other man is to find his own. I therefore beg that you will sell anything that you know to be my property and give it to Henry Adair or Mr. Stevenson. The Bleaching comes to £14 16s and then two pieces for own use comes to 12 s. You can give them what you can. My heifer grazing cost me £5 13s 9d. You can sell the loom and jacklins to £2 16s 10d. My brother Andrew owes me £2 5s 6d. George John Johnston of Connor £0 11s 4 1/2d.Which amounts to ------ 10 It may be that there is a second page to this letter which would have had a signature but it is not now exist. The letter was addressed to Andrew Gawn, Halftown, care of Stuart B. Craig, Butter Merchant, Belfast, Ireland.
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