Title
Dalton, Eliza
Description
Bibliographic Dictionary Entry
Date
1796-1874
Creator
O'Toole, Tina
Source
Munster Women Writers Project, University College Cork
Publisher
Women in Irish Society Project, University College Cork
Rights
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Coverage
Munster, Ireland, 1800-2000
Format
Text
Language
en
Type
Text
Subject
Munster, Women, Writers
Contributor
O'Toole, Tina
Birth Date
1796
Death Date
1874
Place of Association
Athassel Abbey, Co Tipperary
Biographical Text
Dalton was a prosperous farmer's wife living at Athassel Abbey, Co. Tipperary in the mid-19th century. She wrote, with her husband William, a number of letters to emigrants in the period which are included in Fitzpatrick’s 1994 study of migration to Australia, Oceans of Consolation. In 1853, Dalton wrote a letter to emigrants Ned and Johanna Hogan who had worked for the Daltons, and had emigrated to New South Wales the previous year (Flanagan, 117-118). Like many other letters of the period, this letter reflects the number of people from all classes from the region emigrating in the post-famine years, she writes:<br><br>Mr.John [Dalton] is at home Since last April you never saw him looking better. He does not like the climate of America. Mr.Willy was well when last I heard from him. Father Matthew saw him and Said he is a credit to his country” [...] You can also say that two of James Ryans Sisters left Abbey for Melbourn last June. James Magrath, the Coopers daughter is also in Melbourn. Julia Kennedy left for America her Sister has an excellent situation in England. The Turners who lived with Mr.Wayland are in your old habitation. Mr.Wayland gone to Austrilia his family in Dublin [...] Mart [Margaret] Dwyers best wishes to you all. She is sorry that those of her family who went to America Are not in your Country” (sic) (Fitzpatrick, 290-291).
Writing Genre
Letters
Social History