Jeannie Adams

Jeannie (Mary Jane) Adams was John’s sister. During the Great War she was in domestic service in Holywood, Co. Down. We think based on the letters that she worked for the Presbyterian minister for Holywood.

Jeannie migrated to Auckland, New Zealand with her husband David Russell in the early 1930s, unfortunately she died in 1936.

Thursday 25 March, 1915  by

Jeannie: “I would just love to go home for Easter”

Postmark: Holywood, Co. Down, 25 March 1915

Dear Mother,

I hope you are better, we are all as usual for so far. Isn’t it lovely weather. I would just love to go home for Easter. It’s well for J getting, but I might get later on. Tell Annie I will write to her soon if I have time. Write soon and tell me how you are. Is J [illegible] well? With best love,

Your sincerely

Jeannie

Write soon.

150315 Holywood 02

150315 Holywood 01

Postcard showing: “Kenworthy’s Hydropathic Establishment, Southport”, a grand house.

See on Google StreetView.

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Postcard 0 comments
Monday 12 July, 1915  by

Jeannie: Bangor: “I have cycled down here this evening”

Postmark: Bangor, [??] July 1915

Bangor

I have cycled down here this evening.  It is stormy but lovely.  Hoping all is well and that I will see you all soon.

Yours truly

Jeannie

Postcard shows:

“Queen’s Parade, Bangor, Co. Down”  A view along the promenade.  The sea rebounds off the sea wall while many people take the air. Google StreetView

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Postcard 0 comments
Tuesday 19 October, 1915  by

Jeannie: “Poor Johnnie, I am sure he is lonely”

Church Hill
Holywood
Co. Down

19 Oct 1915

My Dear Mother,

This is just a wee line to say I had a postcard from Johnnie this morning to say he got my parcel alright.  Yours had not arrived when he wrote.  He said he had not heard from home for a good while but I am sure he has all by now.  He got a pair of socks from Mrs Meeke.  It was very good of her sending them.  I was thinking of sending him an apple cake and some nuts [sic] for Halloweve.  Poor Johnnie, I am sure he is lonely.  I have wrote him a good long letter.  Mr Chambers says it’s wonderful how much good a letter from home does them, how it brightens them up.  I hope Johnnie will come back safe.  I hope Mother Dear you are not fretting too much.  I know it’s very hard to keep from it and I think they are in great danger sometimes but God can take care of him there as well as at home and all we can do is pray for him.

I hope you are all well.  I will write longer next time.  I had a letter from T Davidson.  He says he is coming home and he is to leave Rouen this week.  I hope Johnnie’s hands are getting better.  Tell him to be good to that stuff, there is 5 pence worth in it.

Give my love to all and write soon,

I remain your loving daughter,
Jeannie
Write soon.

 

151019 Jeannie

in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Wednesday 22 December, 1915  by

Jennie: “They say their shirts are just living and they are over run with rats”

Church Hill
Holywood
Co. Down
22 Dec. 1915

My Dear Mother

This is just a wee line to say I am sending you these things. I’m sorry I have not got more to send. I hope this wee shawl will please you. They next size was 7s6d it was too dear just now. I hope you will put it on and wear it. I will get you a new one when it’s done.

I had a long letter from Johnnie yesterday. He is well and enjoyed all in the parcels. He wrote a very nice letter to Mrs Trimble thanking her for the trench cooker. Mr Trimble said they were two of the nicest letters ever he read. They think the like of him is not living. He said he was thankful for all in the parcels but he was gladdest to see the trench ointment than all I sent. It kills the vermin and cools their skin. They say their shirts are just living and they are over run with rats. I saw in the paper where they have sent 2 thousand dogs from Paris up to the trenches. He says sometimes they sleep in haylofts, sometimes in gateways, but he says the people have been better to him since he went away than ever they were before.

He had a long letter from Mr Tovie [?] and Cissie Morton sent him a parcel but it was lost on the way. He will be very lonely this Christmas. He says Jack and J McCullough [?] and he are together all the time. He says they all had this tea together as soon as my parcels arrived. I am glad I can help to ease their burden a wee bit.

I had a letter from wee John Mateer on Sunday. He says he’s going to write to his Granny again for she is lonely. I sent him a nice book. I hope he won’t tear it. I gave Minnie Crozier a nice wee pair of shoes and socks for the baby and a big ball for Samuel. She was awfully pleased. She was not bad to Johnnie. She is always glad to see me. She’s never long in getting a drop of tea ready anyway.

Now I think this is all. I hope you are better. Johnnie says if anything was to happen to you he does not know what we would do. I must tell you I hear today that Mr Chambers and Mr Archer [?] are both leaving their churches. I heard they were going to America to start Business [sic]. If it is true I think it is a shame.

Tell Annie I am sorry I have not much for her. She might be able to wear this blouse if they were washed. Would the coloured one be any good to you? I hope she will like the wee handkerchief. I hope Jimmie will like the cigarettes. I am sorry I have nothing better, but I have put nearly all the money I had in Johnnie’s parcel. I think he needs all we can give him.

I hope you will excuse this [scribble]. I hope you will be able to read this but I am in a hurry. It will be a lonely Christmas for us all this time, but God has been good to Johnnie for so far and I hope he will bring him home safe. I wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope the New Year will be brighter than last year’s.

With best love
I remain
Your loving daughter
Jeannie

Write soon.

in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Wednesday 15 March, 1916  by

Jeannie: “I was dreaming Johnnie was wounded the other night.”

Church Hill

Holywood

Co. Down

 

15 Mar 1916

 

My Dear Mother,

 

This is just a line to say I got your letter alright.  I hope you are better.  Do you still feel the pains?  Had you any more word from Johnnie since I had a PC from Jack, but Johnnie had not got his length when it was written.  I have written to them both and sent Johnnie his paper.  They were lucky boys got home the time they did.  All leave is stopped.

 

Mrs Caughry [?] was telling me on Sunday that Jim told her to tell me he heard he was getting home and he enquired till he found out where the Fusiliers were and tried to find Johnnie.  They told him in Johnnie’s Company that he had just left for his leave the night before, so Jim said before he comes he will try and find him.  I thought it was awfully good of him.  The young fellow next door has enlisted in the Dublin Fusiliers.  He went away this morning.  He is a minister’s son and he is just a Private.  The other boy is away about Warrenpoint in a sanatorium.  He is away since the first of the month.  I don’t know whether it’s doing him any good.

 

Did you hear from Lizzie lately?  I wrote to her but I got no reply.  I cut this wee bit out of the paper.  I was dreaming Johnnie was wounded the other night.  I hope you are not listening to anything anyone tells you about Johnnie being wounded as anything else.  Let them talk away, don’t you worrie [sic].  He has been very good at writing.

 

There is a whole lot of visitors in now.  They say there’s going to be an air raid over Belfast tonight.  Isn’t it well we don’t live in Town?  I don’t think there is a thing of it.

 

I hope Annie and Jimmie are both well.  Write me a long letter soon and excuse this horrid scrawl as I have had to get up so often.  Don’t be in a bit of a hurry with those things.  The weather still keeps cold.  Try and keep yourself warm.  Write soon.

 

Give my love to all.

I remain your

Loving Daughter

J. Adams

 

16 03 15 Jeannie Adams letter 15.03.16 a

16 03 15 Jeannie Adams letter 15.03.16 b

in 1916 - France / France 1915-1916 0 comments
Sunday 16 April, 1916  by

Jeannie: “Holywood is all darkened now the street lamps are not lit”

Church Hill

Holywood

Co. Down

 

16th April 1916

 

My Dear Mother

I am very sorry I have been such a time in writing but I could not help it. I have been so busy. I think I never did as much work in my life. As I have done this last week. We have got all the cleaning done. We just got done last night, and I am tired. There was a woman in only three days. I did the rest myself. I was down in Holywood last night after I got finished. I met the Croziers. The first thing Sara asked me was I sick. She said I never looked as sick looking. But I am glad to get finished.

I hope you are all well. Had you any word from Johnnie lately. I had none all week. I wrote to him last Sunday. I told him I was going to send him a parcel but I had not time to do it. Would you send him one for Easter? I am sure he will be lonely. I hope we will hear from him soon.

Has Sammy Moffatt been home yet? I forgot to tell you that last week the Lough was full of ships. Mr Trimble said he counted 19. There was German submarines in the Channel. These ships were guarded by a warship. I think the[y] have caught one of the submarines. I wish it was all over. It seems to get worse. Holywood is all darkened now the street lamps are not lit and any that are are covered halfway down. The shopkeepers are not allowed to put lights in their windows. The times are getting worse.

Well, Bangor Rd Church has got settled. Mr Woodburn is to be installed in Bangor Rd on Thursday. First everyone seems to like him. The service is at 12 o’clock on Thursday. I am going to it. There is a social at night.

You wanted to know could I get home for Easter. I would just love to go, but there is no use trying. It would only start a row. I might get later on. I hope you are all well. Write me a long letter soon. I think this is all now. Excuse this scrawl. Any more word from Lizzie? She is a cool one.

Give my best love to all.

I remain

Your loving daughter

Jeannie Adams

Write soon to me.

 

 

16 04 16 Church Hill Jeannie letter 01

 

16 04 16 Church Hill Jeannie letter 02

in 1916 - France / France 1915-1916 / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Friday 21 April, 1916  by

Jeannie: “Yous will be lonely without Johnnie, poor fellow he’ll be lonely too”

Church Hill

Holywood

Co. Down

 

21 April 1916

 

My Dear Mother

 

This is just a wee line to say I got your letter alright.  I am very sorry I can’t get home for Easter.  I would have liked to get, but it can’t be helped now.  Yous will be lonely without Johnnie, poor fellow he’ll be lonely too.  Mr Hunter told me the other day that the Ulster Division are fighting now.  His son’s a sergt.  He has never been home yet.  I hope God will take care of Johnnie and bring him back safe.  I had a PC from him yesterday.  It was only a field one.

 

I hope you are all well.  Are your pains better?  I hope Annie’s cold is better by now.  I have got alright again.  I had a very sore pain in my back but it’s away too, I am glad to say.

 

Well, we have got our new minister settled yesterday.  It was very good.  I was at the service in the morning and at the social at night.  It was all very good and as Mr Woodburn said himself he got a royal welcome.  It was very nice.  He seems a very nice man.  He stood at the church door and shook hands with everyone as they came out, and Mrs Woodburn is Mrs Chambers over the world [?].  Everyone said how like each other they were.  They presented Mrs W with a new gown and a little girl all in white presented Mrs W with flowers. I am sending the papers with the installation in it.  I will send one with the social if it’s in the paper.  It was good.

 

Do you know that Herron [?] is out of jail?  He has got off free.  Had you any word from Lizzie lately?  I was up in Minnie Crozier’s one evening.  She told me to tell you if you would like to come down to Belfast for a change she would be very glad to have you.

 

I think this is all now.  You will not get this till Monday as the post went out early today.  I hope you will write me a good long letter soon.  I hope Annie and Jimmie are both well.

 

With best love,

I remain your

Loving daughter

 

Jeannie Adams

 

Write soon to me.

 

Do you remember the coin Johnnie gave me?  I got it put on a pin.  It’s very nice.

 

16 04 21 Jeannie Adams letter 21.04.16 a

 

16 04 21 Jeannie Adams letter 21.04.16 b

in 1916 - France / France 1915-1916 0 comments
Thursday 27 April, 1916  by

Jennie: “I was thinking of poor Johnnie. He was here this time last year.”

Church Hill
Holywood
Co. Down

27 April 1916

My Dear Annie

Thanks very much for letter and card, which I got alright. I hope you are all quite well. I suppose Easter was very quiet. Well I was at church twice on Sunday. The soldiers were at the morning service. There was a good many. I was thinking of poor Johnnie. He was here this time last year.

I saw Lizzie Crozier and Annie and Sara on Saturday night. They asked me down to Annie’s on Monday so Sara came up for me in the afternoon and we went round the shore. The tide was full in and it was lovely. Leonard [?] Brown was down. He isn’t a bad wee chap at all. I was talking to him a good while. He was telling me all the news about home. He says his father is very ill. He was in a bad way about him. He said he wanted Jimmie and Davie Crozier to come with him. I wish Jimmie had come. They all went up to town about five. They wanted me to go with them but I did not go. I wonder did he get home. Sometimes the Croziers are not bad. They always ask me to go with them if they are for Minnie’s [?] or anywhere.

I think this is near about all as it’s near bedtime. I hope you will write me a good long letter soon. Has Jimmie the potatoes all in yet? The weather has been nice this last few days. Was Thomas Moffat home at Easter? I don’t think any of the Coy got any leave. They might later on. Write soon. Give my love to all.

I remain

Your loving Sister

Jeannie

Write soon

160427 Jeannie to Annie

in 1916 - France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Thursday 27 April, 1916  by

Jeannie: ” expect you heard all about the fighting in Dublin, wasn’t it dreadful?”

Church Hill
Holywood
Co. Down

27 April 1916

My Dear Mother,

This is just a wee line to say I am well. I hope you got my letter and paper on Monday. Wasn’t the weather very wet for Easter? This last few days has been nice. I hope you are all well. Is your pains gone yet? I hope so. Had you any word from Johnnie lately. I have had none for a long time. I hope he is well. I think they are having a very hard time. I expect you heard all about the fighting in Dublin, wasn’t it dreadful? It’s coming very near us. That was 10,000 soldiers sent from England and a lot from Belfast. I heard there was a bridge blown up so that the train can’t reach Dublin. I hope they won’t start in Belfast. I know 3 girls that went to Dublin on Monday, and they have not arrived home yet. I am glad there is no one belonging to us in it. They say there is a lot killed and wounded. I think youse are fairly safe out there. I wish it was all over. What does the Crawlies [?] say about it? Are they for it? The volunteers around here have all been called up.

We have got our new minister settled. He seems very nice. He was preaching on Sunday night himself and the church was packed. I never saw so many people in it before, and everyone seemed to like him. He has had a wedding and a funeral. He is only there a week today. He is to start visiting soon.

Had you any word from Lizzie lately? How is she getting on? It was very good of you sending me the wee card. I thank you all for it. If you get any word from Johnnie will you write soon and let me know.

Gordon Copeland was telling me he was up at Tullyhappy on Tuesday. He says when he was coming back at night he had to wait at Goraghwood from 7.30 till 9 o’clock before he could get a train. Maybe it was just as well I was not home. If you don’t hear from Johnnie don be too annoyed because there is very few boats running. They may not be abile to get the mails [sic] across.

I think this is all now. I wll send you a paper. Write me a good long letter soon. Give my best love to all. I remain your loving daughter,

Jeannie

Write soon to me.

160427 Jeannie 01

160427 Jeannie 02

in 1916 - France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Tuesday 12 September, 1916  by

Jeannie: Bangor

Postmark: Bangor, Down, Sept 13, 1916

12 Sept 1916
Mrs Adams
Lisadian
Whitecross
Co. Armagh

Dear Mother,
This is just a wee line to say I am well and got your letter alright.  I will write soon.  I had a PC from J.  He was not sick when I saw him at all, only the doctors say the hand is no good till the dirt comes out.  I am sure he is very lonely.  I had a letter from Jack.  He is a srgt now.  I wants J to write to him.  I am having a grand time down here.  We are out all the time.  This is our front, only the waves are lovely.  I hope you are all well.  I have the [].  Write soon with love from Jeanie [sic]
160913 Jeannie Bangor 01 160913 Jeannie Bangor 02
Postcard shows ‘Ballyholme, Bangor’, a view of the bay from some way behind the seafront, over a calm sea.

in 1916 - Recovery / Ireland / Postcard / Wounded and Recovery 1916 0 comments
Friday 29 September, 1916  by

Jeannie: Bangor

Postmark Sept 29, 1916

Mrs Adams
Lisadian
Whitecross
Co. Armagh

Dear [Mother]

[I] received your letter, will write soon.  We leave here on Monday.  Am writing this on the [shore?].  Hope you are not too lonely.  Have had a very good time.  [Shane?] enjoyed it very much.  The weather is lovely just now.  I tried to get some shells but there is nothing but fine sand.  A lot of people has gone away to [dog?].
Love from Jeannie
I have been to this church.
160929 Jeannie Bangor 01 160929 Jeannie Bangor 02

Postcard shows ‘[First] Presbyterian Church, Bangor, Co. Down.’
A simple view of the ivy covered front of the church, including its steepled tower.  The card has been nibbled by mice.
Google StreetView

in 1916 - Recovery / Ireland / Postcard / Wounded and Recovery 1916 0 comments
Saturday 30 September, 1916  by

Jeannie: Bangor

Postmark Sept 30 1916

Mrs Adams
Lisadian
Whitecross
Co. Armagh

Dear Mother

This is just to say we are leaving here on Monday so will write when I get to Holywood.  I am sorry going for I have had a very good time.  The weather has got cold.  This is our  part [?].  We are just in behind the houses, down this opening [marked with an X].  How is Jimmie?
Love
Jenny.

 

163009 Jennie Bangor 01 163009 Jennie Bangor 02

Postcard shows ‘Ballyholme Beach, Bangor, Co. Down’.  A busy beach, with many people strolling on the sand, sitting on the bank and paddling in the sea.
Google StreetView

in 1916 - Recovery / Ireland / Postcard / Wounded and Recovery 1916 0 comments
Saturday 7 October, 1916  by

Jeannie: “Baby was vaxinated”

Postmark: Holywood, 07 Oct 1916

Mrs Adams
Lisadian
Whitecross
Co. Armagh

Dear Mother,
Sorry I have been so long in sending those things but I will soon.  I have been so busy.  Baby was vaxinated [sic] – his arm is sore.  I will write soon.  Got your letter alright.  Glad to know about J being up.  Hope all is well.  Give my love to all.
Your loving
J Adams

161007 Jeannie Cultra 01 161007 Jeannie Cultra 02

Postcard shows: ‘Cultra Manor, Co. Down’.  A view across a mown field to a large house.  Haystacks stand in the foreground, and beyond lies Belfast Lough and the Antrim coast.

in 1916 - Recovery / Ireland / Postcard / Wounded and Recovery 1916 0 comments
Wednesday 26 September, 1917  by

Bangor: “There is a lot of Holywood people down here”

postcard showing Ward Park from Main Entrance, Bangor, Co. Down; Postmarked Bangor, 26 Sept 1917.

From Jennie, John Adams’ sister, who worked in domestic service in Holywood, Co. Down.

Dear Mother

Just a card to say I hope you are well. How is Jimmie getting along. It has seemed a very short month since we came down here. We go [here/home] on Monday. First there is a lot of Holywood people down here. I expect its well cleared. I hope you are well. Had you any word from J[ohn?] lately. Best love from Jeanie.

This is a very nice park.

Postcard from Jeannie, 26/09/1917

Postcard from Jeannie, 26/09/1917

in 1917 - France / France 1917-1918 3 comments