The transcription of the letter written by Moses Dill is at the bottom of this page, and is titled, 1st Generation. This was actually the 2nd generation of this Dill family in Ireland.

Moses Dill wrote about the Dill family history in a letter. Moses was a son of John Dill and Susan McClure. Moses was born 1782 in the of Springfield, County , Ireland. Moses had a residence in all of his life. He wrote the letter to his cousin, Jane Gordon Dill, who was born 3 Aug 1833 in Ireland. Jane Gordon Dill had a residence in Belfast, Northern Ireland all of her life. The letter was written between 1848 and 1864.

Nancy Kinghan was a granddaughter of Jane Gordon Dill. Nancy Kinghan had possession of the letter written by Moses Dill. The letter was gifted by the late Nancy Kinghan to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in 1979. The letter is in the D3434 - Dill Papers. As I am writing this information in 2015, the Deputy Keeper of the Records at P.R.O.N.I. is Maggie Smith.

Moses first wrote in the letter about David Dill and his wife, Catherine. David and his wife lived in the parish of Clondavaddog. Moses next wrote about John Dill who was a brother of David Dill. John Dill also lived in the parish of Clondavaddog, but later moved to the parish of Allsaints. John Dill lived in the townland of Corry near Ballymastocker Bay in County Donegal. He later moved to a location near Newtown Cunningham in County Donegal. Most of the descendants of John Dill emigrated to North America. Moses also wrote about Caleb Dill who was a great-grandson of John Dill. Caleb was baptised as an infant in 1771 in what is now known as Orange County, New York. Caleb went to Ireland to visit relatives. While Caleb was in Ireland, he met many people including Moses Dill and Catherine Dill. Caleb Dill fell in love with Catharine Dill who was born in Springfield. Catharine was of the same generation as Caleb Dill and Moses Dill. She was a first cousin of Moses. Catharine was the eldest daughter of Marcus Dill and Mary McClure. Caleb wanted to marry Catharine, but it was decided that he would first go to America and return to Ireland at a later date to marry Catharine. While Caleb was traveling to America, he died of fever in the West Indies. His death letter was sent to Catharine.

Below is a transcription of the letter written by Moses Dill. I corrected punctuation and spelling. There were no changes made to the words. Moses misspelled the word, generation, in the title. He spelled generation with a J instead of a G. This is why there has been some confusion with the last name of Catherine Jordan. Her last name was not Gordon.

1st Generation

David Dill: His wife, Catherine Jordan, a native of Drogheda. At the time of Phelim's-Roe's war, fled from Drogheda in the middle of the night. At the report of his army advancing to take the town, got out of a window in her night-dress. Made her course to the north knowing that she had relatives in the neighborhood of . Lived with them until she got married to David Dill. Till lately, lived in the bottom of near Magheradrumman Lake. The wallstead of this house there. Had his land from a Mr. Betson who lived in Ballyhiernan and was the landlord of the bottom of Fanad whose wife died having an infant son. Mr. Betson applied to Mrs. Dill to nurse the child promising to give them a perpetuity of all they possessed. Her reply was that her mother did not nurse one of her children and she would not nurse his. Some time after, they moved to Glenalla and there near to Mr. Hart's house there is a place called the Dill's Byre to this day and will continue a lasting memorial of the name. From that, they removed to Aghadreenan. The late Moses Dill told me that his flock of cattle were so many when leaving Glenalla that when the first of the flock were going into Aghadreenan last of them were at Drumfad a mile after.

2nd: John Dill, David's brother, lived in Corry near Ballymastocker. Did not thrive there. Moved to the Laggan. Lived near Newtown Cunningham. A granddaughter of his married a Montgomery in the neighborhood. The Late Francis Dill lodged in Montgomerys whose mother was Dill. That family, the Dill, emigrated to America. A grandson of John Dill's came on a visit from America to see his relatives, the Montgomerys. The Rev. Fras Dill brought this young man, Caleb Dill, to Springfield to introduce him there to his friends. He became fond of Catherine Dill and settled that after going to America he would return at an appointed time get married. After that, he went to the West Indians then died of fever. His dead letter was sent to Catherine, Springfield.

My father had two sisters. Mary was married to a Mr. Cathers near the Faughan, Co. . Husband died. Was brought to Springfield. Died there. The other sister, Peggy, married a Campbell near . After getting married, in some days went to his own place. Took fever. Sent word to his bride. She went up to attend him. He recovered. She took the infection. Was brought back to Aghadreenan to her father's and died. My dear Miss Dill, "Please, my God!", I will answer your loving kind letter in a few days The above from my father who had a good knowledge of our forefathers. Love to all.

Your Very Best Cousin,

M. Dill