The Partial Diary of "Honest" John Martin, Young Irelander, 1812-1875 Co. Down, Ireland

D560/4

Journal, commencing, Sunday

September 22d 1850

Yesterday (Saturday Sept 21st) we removed from our lodgings at Mrs. Harris’ in the Township of Bothwell to this place, Fordell. After packing up and preparing our clothes and books, and the furniture and housekeeping utensils we had purchased from Mrs. Doctor Parsons, and the parcels of provisions Mitchel had received from Mr. Pooler, for removal, we both went out to make calls at Ratho. I brought over some sheets of manuscript, being copies of some of Mangon’s translations from the German Poets, to Miss Hadspeth, who with Miss Lewis had spent the night at Ratho. I then rode to Clydeville to visit Mrs. Burn. She was up and at her knitting or crotchet as usual, but looking pale and sick. She had been suffering from pain last night. Miss Patterson showed me penciled drawings of herself & by Mrs. Blackwood, & other members of the Officer family. –all very respectable. A Mr Chapman was their teacher. He draws very cleverly.—Some hours passed tediously in seeing our goods and chattels packed on Andrews’ dray. At 2 O’Clock all were disposed of and the dray was drawn away by 3 horses in "random" –By the by Mr. Patterson drove his gig, Friday evening, with 3 horses "random". Enfield being leader; and he had Miss Hadspeth for companion, who dismounted to open the gates for him, he fearing to trust the reins out of his own hands. –About half an hour after the cart started, we bid good bye to Mrs. Harris and Sarah—Mrs. H with her apron to her eyes—and mounting our mares set off at a canter for Fordell. About a mile from the Township, Mitchel thought right to lag behind, as he often does by way of establishing a charge against me of too fast riding. I was merely cantering rather slowly than otherwise. As usual in such cases I pulled up and walked my pony when I observed that he was a good way behind: but, when I found that he did not exhibit a desire to overtake me I cantered or trotted on. Just at the extremity of the Lane Mr Russell Mr White and Mitchel overtook me, and the 4 of us then rode to Dennistown. Mr. R inviting Mitchel & me to dine there before going to Fordell. While we were at our toddy a messenger arrived from Fordell to say that our luggage cart had reached its destination. So we cantered rapidly to our new house and spent then an hour or two in bringing in the various articles and arranging them. –We

2       107

decided by toss-up that the room on the right hand (as one enters the hall door) is to be our sitting room. I prefer the other room for our bed-room because I hope it will be less likely to be infested with bugs. Of which I am very apprehensive in this old wooden house & particularly in the room to the right which was till now King John’s bed-room. I have brought ½ an ounce of corrosive sublimate, for the destruction of the various vermin, should they annoy us. –After tea I lounged out in the paddock and smoked a pipe quite luxuriously, in the lovely mild warm night. It was about full of the moon. Mitchel rather silent & sullen because I rather lively. He dozed on the old sofa while I smoked and then smoked in the sitting room Then we had a long row about the important question of who should sleep on the said sofa tonight—there being but one bed, viz my mattress, till the new bed tick be filled with straw or wool or something. He was obstinate & cross, and would occupy it himself in spite of me. I proposed to abide by the solemn decision of toss-up. He would not consent. I persisted in appealing to the Court of Chance, and got a decision assigning the sofa to myself. He attempted repeatedly to force me out of the room; and in our struggles the old sofa was broken and chairs knocked down and ourselves considerably heated. He could not put me out and I would not try to force him out. I undressed and proceeded to take the blankets and place myself on the sofa for rest. He plucked away the blankets and wrapped them round himself and stretched himself on it. I seated myself on a chair, in my shirt, and declared I would remain there till he consented to fair play. He spoke no more to me all night, except something to the effect that I "was drunk" and that he "must speak to

Mr. Russell about that whiskey." After about an hour   grew chill & put on my trowsers and coat and leaning my head on the table fell into a tolerably comfortable sleep, considering the circumstances. At half past 12 I awoke and feeling myself rather uncomfortable reflected that there was no good in persisting in my resistance to him in such a matter. I therefore returned to the other room and went to bed on the mattress.

D560/4

3

This morning I arose at ¼ past 7 and feeling very dirty after the packing and unpacking of yesterday & the rowing of last night spent nearly an hour in washing myself. Mitchel arose at ¼ to 8 and went straight to the stable to attend to his mare. He and I have planned to be our own grooms while we live at Fordell. I did not think it necessary to clean my pony as I intended to turn her out for the day in the paddock. When I was dressed I went out to the stable and there found "Prince John" gently wisping my pony and the pony making lively demonstrations by way of threatening him with bites & kicks. Mitchel was rubbing away labouriously at his mare. I turned mine out immediately & Mitchel did the same with his. The poor things neighed and jumped for joy when they found themselves loose on the grassy paddock. –I took a stroll eastwards till I got a full view of Mr. G. Bisdee’s house & farm. Then after breakfast I took a stroll to the top of the rocky hill to the right of the Hutten Park road where it diverges from the outlands road. It was cloudy & warm. Wind N.W. blowing pretty briskly but itself rather warm I thought.

Fragments Journal of Sep 21 1850 D.O.D. 560/4

Explanation Relationships of John Martin D560/5

PARIS DIARY

MARY. a sister, married to: _____
TOM SIMPSON, a Professor of Chemistry & afterwards at Cork University.
Johnny, Maxwell, Lucy & Baby (Maimie) their children—
Etty their maid
ANNA, a sister who died in Paris of T.B. married to "HIRST" a Doctor (not sure whether medical)
ROBERT MARTIN, Brother, of Kilbroney, Rostrevor, married to
MILLICENT. Who both died in 1858.
       Jennie Cooley their maid at Kilbroney.
DAVID MARTIN Youngest Brother
JANE FRASER sister, married in Canada.
ELIZABETH, Sister, married to J. Ross-Todd solicitor of Dublin.
D 560/5
Dr. Nesbitt. Doctor in Rostrevor
Mr. Morgan, Presbyterian Minister in Rostrevor for over 50 years.
Mrs. Fletcher & Miss Millar, Mother & sister of Millicent Martin

**[Suzanne Ballard’s correction to the above: Mary Simpson’s husband is MAXWELL Simpson, "Hirst" is TOM, Elizabeth is married to ROBERT ROSS Todd (R.R. Todd). ]

[the next page is a fragment of the cover which includes in French the Chronology of the Kings of France. Nothing from John Martin on this cover.]

[the next page is a fragment of the cover which includes in French a picture of the Annunciation of Mary by the Angel Gabriel. Handwriting on the top says: Journal 1858, Fragment. DOD 560/5]