"Adam Spears, Care of Mr. Robert Spears, Farmer, No. 34, 3rd Concession - Whitby, Upper Camada""immediate"
"Received 4th Nov."
Ontario was known as Upper Canada from 10 Jun 1791 - 10 Feb 1841.
The letter is from John Dunn and Robert Spears in Edinburgh, Scotland. Marion Murray first married Alexander Spears in 1812 and they had Adam, John, Robert, Alexander, and James. Marion remarried in 1829 to John Dunn after Alexander Spears died, so John Dunn is the step-father of Robert Spears and Adam Spears (and also of their brothers John, Alexander, and James). Robert Spears is the middle brother, 17 years old when the letter is written. The letter is written just over seven months before Robert married Elizabeth Blackie, and is addressed to Adam Spears in care of Mr. Robert Spears. Adam is the oldest brother, 23 years old when the letter is written. Mr. Robert Spears is an uncle, the younger brother of Alexander Spears.
"Edinb. 20 August, 1837Dear Adam:
We had all much pleasure in the receipt of your letter and not the least cause of that pleasure was the intelligence of your marriage to Euphemia. Believe me that we all most cordially join in sincerest wishes for your happinees and prosperity. I confess that you had much cause to be uneasy at our long continued silence."
The above passage seems to hint at concerns over Adam marrying his first cousin, Euphemia Spears, who is the daughter of Adam's Uncle Robert Spears, to whose care the letter was sent.
"I am afraid that as I have no apology to offer to excuse the neglect it would be best not to attempt making one. I am glad you are so far independent as to be able to call the ground you live on your own and that you are free of Debt. This, in itself is to be rich, to be happy you only have to be contented. That you may be both is the sincere wish of my heart. When you talk of your log house amid the wilds of America and the rustic furniture of your own framing, I admit that our English notions of comfort are somewhat disappointed. But I know and have cause to know that the comforts of life do not so much depend on external causes and outward coneniences, but in the frame of mind which limits its desires to the necessities of nature, and depends for comfort on itself and the proper regulation of its will and desires. You have adopted a Country which promises to rise to the highest in the scale of Nations, and you have adopted it at a period of life when it is easy to habituate yourself to its usages and habits. By industry and perserverance you may lay a broad and lasting basis for future independence, if not for yourself personally, at least for the posterity with which I hope your union will be blest. And altho' this may appear to be an object too distance to excite your emulation, it is one nevertheless which every well regulated mind will acknowledge to be possessed of much weight and entitled to your important consideration.
With regard to our own concerns I can state that..."
"...we are all of us in the enjoyment of good health. I may expect however, my Father who has been rather complaining and I am afraid that he is not likely to stand out long against his complaint as he has had now several attacks of it. It is an inflamation of the lungs or wind pipe. Robert is to write you at the end of this sheet and will explain his new concerns and prospects. Alexander is with a Wright at Juniper Green and is doing well. "Alexander is the fourth brother, 15 years old when the letter is written. Juniper Green was a village a few miles west of Edinburgh, next to Colinton. Alexander is still living in Edinburgh with his mother and step-father in the 1841 census, listed as age 19 and a Journeyman Wright.
"James is not at School and is on the eve of going into business so soon as a master casts up for him."
James is the youngest brother, 11 years old when the letter is written. James is still living in Edinburgh with his mother and step-father in the 1841 census, listed as age 15 and a Clothier's apprentice.
"Tom and Mary are at School, but this is their vacation time & Ian is living with his Grandfather."
Tom and Mary Bell are two children of John Dunn and Marion Murray. It is not known who Ian is, perhaps another child of John Dunn and Marion Murray or a child of John Dunn from a previous marriage. Ian's grandfather is not Marion Murray's father, as he died before 1829, so would then perhaps be either John Dunn's sick father or the father of a prior wife of John Dunn.
"Robert sent a copy of your Letter to John who with Margaret are at present in Dunbar where John is working as a cooper with a Mr. Dicksin a fish curer. We have a letter from him and Margaret which desires us to remember him and Margaret kindly to you and your spouse. He tells one also to inform you that the cause of his leaving the Mount was "that the World went against him," which was certainly in some sense the case. I think he will do better as a Servant than a Master. Since his leaving the Mount and about five months ago, old Mr. Henderson died and John & Margaret would get about L100 which ought to be a great help to them. By this time you will have got Margaret's letter, for she wrote to you, and you will also get news of Euphemia's Grandmother's death."
John is the second brother, age 21 when the letter was written. He married Margaret Henderson in Edinburgh in 1834. It is not known what the reference to "the Mount" means. There is a reference to "the Mount" in Robert Spears' letter, but that seems to be in Canada. Perhaps John had been in Canada and returned to Scotland. Mr. Henderson is Margaret's father, Richard Henderson. Euphemia's grandmother is more likely to refer to her Ainsley grandmother than to Alexander Spears' mother, Isobel Lockie.
"Business here is very dull in consequence to the money panic which spread itself from America to this Country -- but things are rather improving. My own business is keeping stationary but a great want of money from the difficulty of getting to accounts. As I have left the other page for Robert I must now take my leave of you with telling you that your mother is quite well and delighted with your union, & joins me in wishing every blessing to you & Euphemia & to your Uncle & Aunt & Cousins. I am Dear [?] am Yours very truly,
John Dunn"
"Dear Brother:I now sit down to write to you a few lines to let you know that I am quite well and is liking my Trade very well. You write that you would like to see some of us come to America. I am thinking of coming out this spring if I can get the money to carry me there. But I would like for you to write first how I might do in America and how Trade is and also if you would ascertain what wages I would get, for I would not like to come out and not be able to work for myself, but I think there is no fears in that as I am taking up my Trade very well. I will be able to tell you in our next Letter, "which we will not write till you write us." wheather I am coming or not."
Robert was a cabinet maker and married Elizabeth Blackie in April of the following year (1838). They emigrated through the port at Greenock, Scotland, arriving on the ship "New York" into New York City on 17 May 1838. They were traveling with Robert's brother John, his wife Margaret, and their child Christina. Robert & Elizabeth's first child, Helen, was born in Ontario about 1839.
"John mentioned there is nothing will stop him from coming out when he gets Margaret's consent, but she will not give her consent to go. You are also to write how he might do there. Christina is quite well and is keeping her health. James Henderson has got married about 10 months ago. He & his wife are both well."
Brother John is apparently anxious to emigrate. There doesn't seem to be any hint here that John had previously been in Canada, so the references to "the Mount" are even more curious. Christina is a daughter of John and Margaret. James Henderson is likely a brother to Margaret.
"Thomas Murray is with a Gentleman in Collington, about 5 miles west of Edin'r. I have not seen him to tell him of your Letter, but he is always talking of coming to America."
Thomas Murray is likely a cousin (a nephew of Marion Murray), possibly an uncle. "Collington" (Colinton) is a village west of Edinburgh.
"I went down to Mr. Wallace to tell him of your welfare. He is also happy to hear of you doing so well. The reason he did not come to America was that he heard so many reports coming from it and he was afraid to venture. He is always in Bonnington and is doing quite well. He expects a Letter from you soon and to let him hear how you are coming on with the Mount. Mr. Pentland has his kind compliments to you."
Probably friends or neighbors in Scotland.
"There is none of us had an opportunity of seeing Aunt Betsy of Loanhead but my mother saw Aunt Bell and she told her Aunt Betsy had received Uncle's Letter and has sent another to him, since he will likely have gotten by this time. I may mention Uncle Stevenson's death if he has not received the Letter. Mr. & Mrs. Patterson is quite well and she has gotten another little one. We had a visit from Aunt Betty from Fife this week. Their family is quite well and James is always in London yet."
Unknown whether these aunts and uncles are on the Spears side or Murray side. Robert and Adam's father Alexander had sisters named Elizabeth and Isobel (and Helen, Margaret, and Mary), and Marion Murray had an older sister Elizabeth. Loanhead is a mining village in Midlothian, a few miles south of Edinburgh. The Pattersons are probably friends or neighbors in Scotland.
"Give my compliments to Euphemia, to Uncle, Aunt & cousins. I now come to close my few lines and my sincere wish is that the Lord be pleased to keep you both comfortable and agreeable together and that you may thrive and do well in the wild woods of America. I remain, Your affectionate Brother,
Robert Spears
P.S. You will receive the Scots thistle seed under the Seal..."
The significance of the Scots thistle seed under the seal is unknown.
"...We have heard no word from Uncle Richard since we had your Last Letter, except we heard that he was well, from a man that had come from Quebec."
There isn't an Uncle Richard known on the Spears side, so this is probably Marion Murray's younger brother Richard. No records have been found for Richard after his birth, but Marion's oldest brother John emigrated with his family to Quebec in the early-1830s.
More information on this family is at:
Very fun and exciting to read. Thank-You for posting
ReplyDeleteAaron Spears
what a fascinating look back
ReplyDelete