OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Manx Settlers of Ohio -- Article 2 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 21, 2002 ********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And then They Went West S.L Kelly diaries Series of Articles by Darlene E. Kelley Manx Settlers of Ohio -- part 1 *********************************************** Article 2-- Manx Settlers of Ohio William Tear's letter to the Isle of Man. In 1827 there were several letters to the Isle of Man, from William Tear to his friends and relatives, reprinted in several Cleveland newspapers. In his account he relates how they had acquired the land while waiting for a canal boat. He stated that a man from Ohio came along inquiring of the passengers, if any of them wanted to buy land. This man was Ellakim Field, the builder of the old Concord Furnace. He was on his way to New York to contract pig iron, and also to engage a man to run his furnace, he had just built. He took his address, and afterwards bought the land for $325 an acre, a high price at that time. More acreage could be bought beside the property for $250, at a later date. This was his letter; Geauga County, Township Leroy State of Ohio Nov 18, 1826. Dear Friends and Relations in the Isle of Man, "We have taken this opportunity of writing to you these few lines, hoping they will find you all in good health, as we do enjoy at present; thanks be to God, for all blessings ow. We have reason to be thankful for his conveying us into good country, where his blessings do ow in such a manner that the people in the Isle of man will not believe. Provisions are cheap, and fuel is for keeping a good axe, and carrying of it to the house: and wool I count it the same price to a body that works for it as it is in the Isle of Man one pound of clean wool for one day's work, or a bushel of wheat, or lbs of butter, or lbs of cheese, or lbs of sugar, and sometimes lb, or a bushel of kidney beans, or bushels of oats, or one bushel of rye, or lbs of beef, or mutton, or pork, or a bushel and half of onions, or bushels of apples, or a dollar in money, we mean the laboring class of people; for tradesman double, and a blacksmith or a tailor, are or fold: and a man working for a day, or a month, or a year, he is counted the same as any other one of the family, for here is no parlour boarding, and there is no one called master, or mistress, or servent they will not have it said they are either master or servent, but a free people, and ready to stand to arms for freedom, and liberty, and religion. Ho! my boys, this is the place!" In his letter he goes on to speak on the church preferences that were available to all and the days where one may attend,. and the freedom of one to speak his mind on religious principals without fear of reprisal. " And you did speak to us when we were there about bears and snakes and that it would be very dismal when you arise in the morning to find a bear lying at your doorside, for the people here think a blessing or very lucky, for the skin will bring a good price, and they will dine together but we have seen none; but snakes we have seen for or five. Judy found one, and she put a foot upon each end of it to kill it they are the size of a whip lash; and if they happen to bite, it is easily cured; and people will sleep in the woods, without fear and doubt, and we are preparing to sleep in them too when the time of the trade of the sugar work will come on, for we got vessels for the sugar work; and we wish some of you would come, to be here in the beginning of February, to help us. There is mills and dryers all sorts plenty enough, but you will not venture to come to enjoy the blessings that are here; and if you engage to come, you will let us know in your answer; and we heard nothing of Philip since we left Liverpool, and if he had wrote home will you let us know all about him, and where to direct to send him. You will bring all sorts of cabbage seeds and beans and leeks; and no carpenters tools, nor saws of any kind, but bring the tools you have got; and you will bring us one of the Ranter's small hymn books. I wrote to you on the th July last, stating that we had good passage to this place. We arrived here on the 5th of July. Father and all of us endured the journey well; he is much pleased with the country, thinking it far better than ever he saw before. The gun you gave him, though formally in the English service, is now in America, almost daily killing game, that is plenty in our plantations. A lot of acres most excellent land for dollars acres of this land is improved. The gentleman of whom I purchase is Eliakim Field hath numbers of thousands of acres which he will sell at a price that is low enough. Any kind of mechanics can get for his service a dollar a day, many of them cents, and the blacksmith cents the day; coopering is a good trade; tailoring is a very good they have dollars for such a coat as James Quine made for me. Work is plenty; I got employment the next day after I arrived. Thomas Kelly do well; and in fact any person by industry and got as rich as a Lord in a few years. No mistake about the richness of the soil and healthiness of the climate as much so as the Isle of Man. I shall and recommend any person that can get away, to move to this place; there is water carriage from New York to within miles of my farm, expence only 1pd 4s. The Yankeys are as good neighbors though and not proud and haughty as has been said, as some of those we left in the Isle; they are kind and hospitable people. Cha thais diu smoinaghtyn dy vel sho breg, as nah abbyr shiu arragh dy vel screwnyn ta'd breagagh; agh ly vel ny reddyn foddy share; cha vel shiu goal array shen-y-fa tarju. So no more from your friend in Ohio. Please to direct me, Geanga County, Township Leroy, State Ohio, North America, Eliakim Field to his care; I shall continue to advise you to move to this situation of country; it makes no odds whether a man be rich or poor, if he can get here. Advise all to come, and do them a favour they will ever remember you for it. Give them directions; to go from New York to Albany to Buffaloe, and from Buffaloe to Grand River Ohio; I am 8 miles from there, the people will direct you to my house. So no more at present; and remember us to all enquiring friends " I do believe this letter says it all -- In my next article I will tell you of the journey from the Isle of Man. ********************************************************************************************** Article 3 to come --