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Letters and papers of the Anderson & Gilmour Families
16.
J & M Anderson to James
Anderson Skellyhill
November 9th, 1849
He 2
weeks ago got through all his trial discourses for License, which he got Tuesday
was a fortnight. The first Sabbath
after license he preached to us in
Newmilns.
Tho’s Young gives you in note referred to an outline of the 2
discourses most masterly delivered but I leave this to T. Y. note to you.
I formerly mentioned to you that in our Church a scarcity of Ministers
compelled them to employ Students of Divinity who were tallented to officiate in
vacant congregations; this is the reason you will recollect why George
has preached before he got licensed. I
am happy to state there is no danger of him not getting a charge as I understand
several applications have been made to him that is trying to bespeak him in
time. He must serve a year as a
probationer before he can be ordained with freedom.
I write to you he is much sought after in the popular churches of Glasgow
& Paisley and in
country charges where he has officiated, he is very much esteemed in fine as a
theologian and orator.
He has
thrown himself upon the home department, that is in place of being placed upon
the roll of the Presbytery’s probationers, as this would cause him frequently
and far from home, where as the other way he can in the City and for 30 miles or
more, by steam he can be transported forward and backward on Saturdays afternoon
and Mondays forenoon. Thus in mean
time he intends to pursue as by doing this he can still retain the school, and
since he has had daily work in preaching he has had 3 assistants.
His school last accounts when here numbered upward of 300 scholars.
William Young was one of the assistants for 4 weeks when he
got the offer of a school in Camlachie,
which accepted and is now at Colidge.
Also be assured George has had hard work of it this long time and
will for some time to come yet.
Hareshaw
folk are much the same as when I wrote you last, no prominant signs yet of our
Cousins of the feminine gender mingling with the sons of men for the laudable
purpose of enlarging the number of the tribe.
Uncle George and James folk are also ordinary as when I
last wrote, Cousin John Donald <Coupland>
has taken to himself a wife of the name Miss Morrison Daughter of Cornygroats
and has taken her into the Room and as yet works away as formerly.
Our Cousin James Findlay I am glad to say is making it better.
He has a good crop this year and his cows has done well too.
You may let Cousin William Mitchell know I was at Mauchlan
[=Mauchline] Fair yesterday
and that I saw some of his Uncles and that his Brothers and sisters are all
well. I stopped a night and that
was with John Breckinridge. I
was to be sure to send you his best respects and good wishes.
He still speaks a little of going to America.
He told me he had lately received a letter from his son John who
was in good health - he had traveled away about 200 miles I think to Torronta
[?Toronto] but he had
returned to his old place. I had
also when over at Mauchline Fair the pleasure of visiting with Margret
Manson. She is healthy but
greatly changed, wants most of her teeth, lives all alone in a house about 1
mile from Tarbolton.
She kindly enquired for you. All
Beasts sold very cheap - good farrow [=open] cows £4 to 6, stock cows much the
same.
I now
come to your old Neighbourhood Loudon
moor.
So far as I recolect there has been no deaths nor maredges since I wrote
you, neither births except Mist’r Tho’s Watson of a son.
Things are not drawing so well about
Langmuir as could have been
wished. George & Gavin
leaves at Martinmas and the old woman as soon after that as they can get
arrangements. Robert is
tacking in Allenton [beside
Darvel] and she speaks of
going there to keep his house or retire to
Darvel to stop with her
Mother. Griefs seem to multiply
upon her. Did Mist’r Nesbit
always use old granny with a motherly affection.
Lochfield
has got a splendid steading of new houses.
Broadley’s
is complete but John Wilson’s is still more splendid.
The new steading is just on the west end of the old one.
Winshall
[=Windshields] has also got
mostly new houses, also And’r Smith <Carlinscraig>
and And’r Gilchrist additions.
From
the above you will perceive the proprietors are not going to let their tenantry
be at a loss for accommodations, to enjoy them though means there must be short
from from heretofore as we do not look for markets to rise but rather decline,
and the pith for asking long rents is not weakened in the least but still on the
increase. Robert smith <Hole>
gave up his Farm as being too dear, being by the laird sequestrated for
backgaves, but John Stewart <Overmuir>
has taken it at a little reduction in rent and Robert Smith has commenced
briskly to work preparitory to a crop. Should
not be surprised if he should get one of said John Stewart’s daughters
to make the cheese. Robert
Findlay <Bankhead>
could not take a renewal of the lease but And’r Dunning has taken it at
a higher figure. Robert has
not succeeded yet in getting a place and knows not yet of any.
We had
a very cold spring and now & then on cold side all summer, but we had a very
dry frosty Harvest. I commenced
harvest upon the 18th of Sept, and got all finnished the 8th of Oct, a tolerable
good crop but on the moor edges owing to the frost there will be but little meal
and no seed corn amongst a great number of them.
Markets are at present Oat Meal £1/7 per load, cheese 8/ and 8/3, beef
8/ to 9/ per stone [=14 lb], potatoes 5d per lb imperial.
There is not the amount of disease this year as formerly which is a great
blessing. Our cows have milked very
well this year. I expect a larger
produce than any year since I came here. You
wished to know if the old man’s death would make any alteration with regard to
the farm: there is no difference yet as I have taken it for two or three years
at the old rent. Indeed there is no
set time for a lease; I did not know till yesterday old Mist’r James Steel
died about a year since.
I may
have mentioned the decease of John Campbell’s Bachelorship which took
place nearly 2 years since he got some how - as often I cannot say how -
entangled with a decent braw soncy fair dame.
She first blinded and then led him off as a captive.
They live in Glasgow
happy and content - as far as I know she has given him one proof of their
conjugal affections. M &
Mist’r Young send their warmest regards to all.
The
Doctor says it is her teeth. As for
your sister, as she is going to write herself I forbear mention anything about
them as when she writes she will give you all information herself, how they are
getting on. I would be glad to see
a letter from you when convient as it is the only way we can speak to each other
now. I have said nothing of your
brother George but you see by what is written within that he is
persevering and doing well, gave very kind compliment to Mother and all
inquiring friends. I expect you
will write as soon as you receive this and let me know how you are all getting
along and of course if James has got a wife yet.
I think brother John might write me a letter soon, and may the
Lord bless you all is the earnest wish of your affectionate son & daughter, J.
& M. Anderson.
17.
from John MacKendzie,
Craghall
12 May, 1851
Dear
Friend: I now after long delay sit down to write you a few lines to let you know
how we are all since I last wrote to you. We
have had a very sore turn of trobble: my daughter Grace took the
influency about 12 months ago, and she fell into a dropsy, and was unable for
work all summer, and the whole family had the influenca but got all soon better
again except Mathew who was unable for work all summer till harvest, but
he got well then, and Agnes took the fever about the 1 of September, and
one after another till the whole family has had it.
We had 7 months of the fever, one taking it and and another getting
better, but there was for 6 weeks that there was six of them lying close and
there was for 5 months that the wife never had of her clothes except when she
changed her shirt. But things are
all better now, except Agnes, and she has been close confined to the bed
for 33 weeks without being able to sit 5 minutes out of it at any time without
fainting, but she is a great deal better than she was, for she was 12 weeks that
she could not lift her head of the bolster, but she can sit up a little in the
bed now, and Grace is not very strong for any work yet, but she is still
able to go about and do some little work. So
you see that we have had a very sore chastisement but still it is the will of
the Almighty and why should we repine at it for it is very seldom that a family
has all the fever so long and as large a family and comes all through with it
but I still have little thoughts of Agnes getting better for I much doubt
that she is falling in to a consumtion, as she is gradually making it weaker
every day.
I
should have wrote you long before tis time, for I received your very good letter
of date the 10 of November 3 weeks after date, which informed me of your welfare
and your family all being well which I was very glad to hear of, and I was very
much obliged to you for your very kind offer to us in offering to give us a cow
to commence with. You gave me a cow
to commence with when I came here, and you took no intrest for the money altho
you wanted it for more than two years; however, I hope you are none the worse of
it this day. It is said, He that
giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord. I
believe you have known in the course of your life time both was it was to have
plenty and what it was to have little. I
believe that you will as long as you live remember the years 16 and 17: the year
16 was a very hard year on you and many others, and I may say that the end of
the 50 and the beginnings of the year 51 has been the sorest year that I have
put over my head on me and us all. But
still through the long sparing hand of the Almighty we have it to say that we
are all here, altho as I have said before I do not expect that Agnes will
get better, altho the fever is left her six months ago, but she is very content,
and I think fully resigned to whatever is the will of the Almighty.
I saw
a letter that came from you to your son James, and you spoke of a young
man who called himself John MacKendzie came up on the coach from
Burlington with some of
your neighbours, and was enquiring for you and Mrs Anderson, and he told
those neighbors that his mother’s name was margaret Todd.
I had two letters from him since that, but he made no mention of being in
that quarter, but there is little doubt but it was him, for he has been
following the lummbering for two or 3 years, and last summer he came from the Clare
Lake in upper Cannada down till Quebeck with
a raft of timber. They arrived at Quebeck
in the month of September, and he wold be on his way up again when he fell in
with your neighbors comming up from Burlingtown,
altho this was not the direct road that he should have bone back, but he may
have gone that way to look after some business or other.
I cannot say what might be the cause of taking him that way, but I am
very much surprised that he did not come your way when he was so near it, but I
will write to him about it and enquire the reason that he was so near your place
and did not come to it. My oppinion
is that he might not have clothes with him that he would like to come with; if
that be not the reason or want of time, if he had to be back at a certain time,
which of those or if any other reason I cannot say, but he was back at Atonabu
by the 2 of October or rather before that.
He is employed with a Mr. thomas Short in that place, but it was a
wounderfound kindness of your son Gaven and David Cameron to go all the
way, 15 miles, to the tavern where these neighbours left him, to enquire for
him. Give these two young men both
my best respects and tell them that I am very much oblidged to them for their
kindness to him in so doing. He is
on his way this year again with another raft, and will very likely be at Quebeck
about the same time this year, and I will mention to him of the interest that
you and your family tuck in his welfare in going so far to enquire for him.
Now
sin I have told you so much about my family and I will now speak about other
things. As to my coming to America,
I cannot say anything about it at this time owing to the state of my family, but
still I have as good an intention to come as ever I had, but what we have come
through at this time has rendered us a great deal unabler for it than we were
last year, but still if our family suffers all stout, I hope that we will be all
able yet to see that land, and John our son has offered to assist us in
paying for a farm if we can have it in our power to go to America, but in the
meantime till see what comes of Agnes, I cannot say any thing further
about it but if I do ever come to that country, I will endeavour to see you and
I will never forget the kindness that you have shown to us both in past times
and at this time.
If we
had come out this year - and I will give you John’s address.
It is John MacKendzie, care of Mr. Thomas Short, Atonabu,
county of Pitintionnaw, District of Newcastle, Cannada West
+ and if you have as much time, you might drop of few lines to him and write him
to call on you when he was a Quebeck
this year if he be supposed to arrive at that destination.
Your son george Anderson was ordained, that is placed, at
New Cumnock on the 14th
May, that was Wednesday, now a 8 days. He
has got an exlent situation; it is a large congregation and the people is all
very welthy, and I saw one of his hearers last Wensday who heard him preach the
Sabbath following and he told me that he did well.
He was 3 times a little overcome in his sermon in giving an advice to his
hearers likewise his talk [appears ‘dalck’] to them, but he said that he
gave great satisfaction to the whole congregation that day.
And I am of oppinion that he has got a good situation, and they have got
a good minister, which I am certain will be a great pleashure to you to hear of.
I intended till have been at the placing, but was inevitebly detained
from going to it so I cannot give you all the particulars of that day’s
procedings. But as your son James
and Thomas Young is going to write to you, and the were both present, they
will give you some account of it.
I may
now mention to you some of the deaths that has hapned in this neighbourhood
since I last wrote to you. Mr.
Billy Campbell of Netherplace
is dead being the last of that family. They
have all dyed without issue, so the estate goes to others.
Connell Hamilton of Cornhill
has got it and the money goes amang some of the other relitives, some of the
servants is left so much, some to friends, and some 20 and the foreman Mungo
Brown I think gets about 100, besides some of the family 20 pounds.
It is not yearly but just the sum. And
James Mann in <Parckneuk>
is dead this spring and old John Goldie <Mauchline>
and John Ladge <Friendlesshead>
died this spring. Adam Galt is
still alive yet, but is comming down very fast.
George Mitchel <Mickle
Blackdyke> is left it
this year and is gone intil the
ald manse at Mauchline, and
has taken up the flesher business. I
cannot say how he may succeed [sp. suckced].
The <Barboich> family has given up their farm this year and
has gone to America: they have gone to Upper
Cannada.
This
has been a very open winter. We
have had little or no snow, and we have had a good deal of frost, but not long
at a time, and the spring at one time appeared to be very early, but is now
farther back than was thought to be at one time, but still it is farr from being
a late one. I think according to
the hasel blossom that the harvest will commence about the 8 of September, if
the ald saying be true, the lenth that the hull blossom is.
I think if the weather be favourable now that they will be in full bloom
by the 8th of June, and as for the markets, meall is 27 shilling per load, and
best flour is from 30 to 32 shilling, and baxnell flour is 24 shilling per
barrell, and potato is 1/ per sack Kilmarnock measure.
Cows are selling from 5 to 10 pounds according to Quality.
This is a short description of the markets and chese is about 10 shilling
per stone trone weight.
And as
for my trade, I am getting along yet about the same as when you left this
country, only I have been a great deal detained with the trubble that has been
in my family this year, but I have Mathew and other two men, both working
with me, and we have yet plenty of work which is a great blessing.
I still do a good deall to the Loudoun Mains people, but I am of
oppinion that a great deal of the farmers has been for some time looking hard up
and will continue to be, for there is no appearance of the land comming down.
For if a tennant gives up his farm, another steps forward and bids more
for it and so in that way, till the whole of them be ruined, it cannot come
down. But in the end it must
inevitably come down after all is ruined - but there is always some one who
thinks that he will do more good than his neighbour and steps in and bids the
ald rent or more, and so on till they put it out of the question to make it out
of it. I think the tennants on the Sorn
Castle estate is very hard
up, and on the <Gilmerscroft>
[=Gilmilnscroft] Estate and
Auchmannoch,
but on the Duke of Portland’s they are doing better.
I cannot say how the are doing on the
Loudoun estate.
I must
now enquire and give you some account about the Mitchells.
I hear that Hugh is at the copping with James Anderson, and
Margret mist a good situation of being married.
I hear that William has sold and bought another farm, and I supose
that Robert will be with William and there friends here is all
well. You can let them Know that John
Mitchell their cousin in Knowhead
has rouped off his stock and is going out to America - he is intending to go to
Upper Cannada, and there is
a great deal of people from all quarters going away to the different parts of
America. This year I think perhaps
the greatest year for emmigration that has been since you left this country.
I need say nothing about the people in Loudoun
Mains, for I think that
your son and Thomas Young will give you all the particulars, but I
must yet in conclusion write a few lines to your beloved wife.
Ald Mety Anderson, my wife has her best respects to you all and
particularly to her new Tibby. I
just write a few lines to you, for you were always a good friend to me, and I
expected once this year till have seen you in America, but owing to the truble
that has come in our family, I cannot now say when I will see you or if ever -
for our time is short here and it is very uncertain, but if ever we do come to
that side of the Atlantic, I will come a long way to see you and your husband,
for you were the two best friends I ever had in this country, and I hope yet to
see you in that side the Atlantic. Yet
for my son Mathew is intending to go out next Spring if none of the rest
of us goes, but he has waited this year till see what comes of his sister Agnes.
Give my best respects to David Cameron and Kate and to all
the rest of your family, and to David Gilmour, and if my son John comes
your way this fall when he is at Quebeck,
be shure and give him a good advice to do well.
Now Matie Anderson, I must bid you farewell in the present hopping
to hear from you soon. Now James,
I must conclude and when you find it convenient, you will write and let me know
how you are all, and I will again write and let you know as soon as any
alteration takes place at Agnes. I
have been a long time writring this letter.
Your tuck, John Mackendzie, Craghall,
the 25 May, 1851.
18.
Memorandum
[undated, on 9 1/2 x 15” folded pale blue bond paper embossed with
stamp “Carson’s Dalton MS” which may be predecessor to Crane Co.]
Mr.
Boardman
Glover,
March 23, 1843 -- For value received of Ziba Bliss, I promis to
pay him or his Order nineteen Dollars and fifty seven cents worth of good
marchantable sugar two years from this Date.
The
other is: Glover,
March 24th, 1843 -- For value received I promise to pay Ziba Bliss,
him or his Order nineteen Dollars and fifty eight cents two years from this
date.
The
next time I saw the notes, the concluding sentance of each was “with annual
intrest.” Well, I did not mention
unto Deacon Bliss what I swaw, and before I paid them I enquired at
Mr. Hill if he had told him any thing about the bargain, and he said he did
and likewise a nephew of mine had both the notes before I signed them.
He thus had addes “with annual intrest” unto them both after I had
signed them.
Now I
will give you a correct copy of Mr. Hill’s and my Nephew’s afadit [!
= affadavit]: “This is to certify that Mr. Bliss took me up unto his
house for to value a Kettle and sugar buckets unto Anderson, and he told
me this bargain was one half of the price was to be paid in sugar, and the other
half in money at the end of two years without interest.
Signed: John H. Hill”
My
Nephew Says: “This is to certify that I had both of the notes that my uncle
gave unto Mr. Bliss, and I am clear for to give oath before any court that the
word ‘intrest’ was not in any of them.
Signed, James Anderson.”
I knew
before I paid them that by adding these three words that he had forefeited his
claim unto payment of the notes, but I thought although he had done wrong, I was
not to follow his example, and at about the end of the two years, I paid him in
the presence of Mr. Simonds, and I held up the notes in his face and
asked him how these three words came to be there.
He said they were there when I signed them.
I told him they were not, as I would never have signed them.
He said he would [give] his oath they were.
I told him that a man that would forge would lie, and a man that would
<work such in court.> [lined through, unclear]
Then I
gave Mr. Simonds this affadavit for to read.
Then he felt warmed up and said he had made a mistake and would drop the
intrest. I would write you long
before, but Mrs. Bliss had been a number of years confined unto bed, and
I thought if it came unto her ears, it might hurt her - but now she is dead.
Sold
this day to me G. M. Jerome, by Enock Rowell of Albany & Guy
E. Rowell & J. B. Freeman of Barton.
Five Hundred Sap Buckets, three Sap Holders, & two sap pans, for the
sum of one hundred dollars, which are now in the sugar place this day conveyed
to me by Deed from sd. Enoch G.
E. Rowell & J. B. Freeman.
Said
Buckets, Holders & Pans are to be & ramian the property of said Rowells
& Freeman until the said one hundred dollars is paid in full.
James
Anderson Jr to H. M. Lellan [or H. M’Lellan?]
19.
Estate Receipt by Garvin
Anderson [at Glover, Vermont]
20.
Two Notes of Garvin Anderson
Endorsement:
received on this within note thirty dollars December 15, 1873
B. James
Ryan Note $650.00
1865
on
lined paper approximately 5” wide by 8” high
James
Ryan + his mark
and .co.uk