| Title: | Alexander [?], St. John's to "My very Dear Sister" |
|---|---|
| ID | 2272 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Rev. Alexander/22 |
| Year | 1873 |
| Sender | Rev Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | Presbyterian minister |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | St John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Destination | Ireland? |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D 1792/E: Deposited By the Late Rev. J.C.K. Armour & the Rev.J.S.S. Armour |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9909300 |
| Date | 09/07/1873 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 05:10:99. |
| Word Count | 1101 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | St. John NB [New Brunswick?] Wednesday July 9. 1873 My very Dear Sister, I was so pressed with business after writing the enclosed note that I could not possibly get time to finish it as I intended for the Quebec mail last week. On Thursday mor. [morning?] the 6th Margaret left for Higby. Through the day the Sommervilles came down from Barnsville. I saw them off by the Empress for Nova Scotia on Friday morning. On Saturday morning I myself left for Queensville on the [Mills train?], where I finished three times on last Sabbath. Their evening service was at the house of our "Heacon" Mr. Grindew. He & his wife are members of that society and had twin children to baptize. Mrs. G's extremely delicate state of health rendered it altogether unpracticable for her to attempt [coming?] out to the church through the day. This Mr. Grindew is a most worthy man and a very [learned?] Covenantor. His history is rather interesting had I time to speak of it His Father who died two or three years ago was for 50 years Coroner of Bristol England, and a man of high social position. The newspapers which came out here after his death were filled with his praise His son Hamilton G. to whom I have referred took to teaching shortly after his arrival in this [province?] He was then a member of the Church of England. Now he has a brother-in-law a Rector in New Brunswick - a brother a Rector in [-----?] Section, and other Brothers distinguished lecturing men. One Leopold is a well known author, and Lecturer on Botany at Manchester Engd. [England?] not very long before my last visit to Ireland I married Hamilton G. to a daughter of one of our families at Queensville, and he has since resided there Having a meat farm and a little store, with the addition of frequent remittances from the proceeds of his fathers estate at home he lives very comfortably. Mrs. Grindews first birth was three boys. They were beautiful infants but only one lived a day or two. I know that they have had several children. Now I am sorry to say Mrs. G. has got into a very delicate state of health, and her recovery from what the doctor says is a liver disease is very doubtful. Mr. G. is a little eccentric but wonderfully neat & orderly in all his arrangements and a most devoted adminr. [administer?] of the Doctrine [His?] and God! of the [Covenanter?] Church. The twins I baptized on Sabbath evening are named Thos. [Thomas?] Edward Hartley and Edward Harvey Hartley. The names of the other children are Jessie Maria - Annie Eliza - Joseph Thos. [Thomas?] Hamilton - Arthur William Russel - (the 8th) Octavius John Harvey - Leopold James [Skelso?] - When recording such long names I am reminded that last Sabbath week I baptized in our own church Alex. McLeod Staveley (Morrison). So your good son will see that some other parents give their children quite as many letters, as he has got to distinguish him from his fellow men. I had a note a few days ago from Mrs. White, Halifax saying that she would visit St. John this week Mrs. R. Stewart I have heard from another source is to accompany her. Mr. Houston Mrs. H. and self went down to the Empress Wharf and awaited their arrival last evening, but they did not come. Our city has a good many strangers in it at present from every part of the Provinces and the Untied States. Our cool fogs are liked at this season when there is so much hot weather elsewhere. We have heard twice from Margaret since she left. She and Mrs. M. were to leave Higby to-day for Beau river which is between that place and Annapolis. They will likely call at Mr. Stewarts, and W Sommervilles. [----?] as these places are on the railway route to Halifax. Doctor Millar was our family physician and we could never forget his devoted attention to our darling little daughter Mary Annie Boyd. His fine residence was nearly opposite to us. He was about my own age and got his death by having his blood poisoned on a surgical operation. He left no family [faded] will feel lonely during Margarets long absence, although it is likely that we will be much of the time without some visitor. I shall likely to go soon for two Sabbaths to Littleton, Maine. W Robt. [Robert?] Sommerville has engaged to come over and present for me on the last Sabbath of this month Our communion will be, [D.V.?], on the first Sabbath of September, and Presbytery will meet again here on the Tuesday following. I have written this much very hurriedly, and fear that you will be but little interested in such a wordy epistle. However I will let it go for what it is worth, without adding anything more that would subject you to a fine and double postage. I think that next time I must write one of my other dear sisters Elizabeth or Anne. None of my relatives however are so attentive as yourself and therefore you get my longest letters. I expect that by this time your Alexander is home, if so I know that you will feel happy. [Jane A?] wish a few lines to him enclosed in letter to Mr. Brown. Give my love to Mrs. Woodside (Marg. [Margaret?] Moor). I would like much to see her. I almost regret now that I did not approve of my daughters wish to cross the Atlantic, as she would likely have enjoyed herself so much. I thought it a pity to take her from school, but now she has not returned since Mr. Harts death, and will not likely for some weeks, if then. I will keep this note open as the mail does not close till tomorrow, till I see if there is anything else to write before posting it .... Latest Wed. night 10.06 An English mail via Quebec has come today and brought Mr. Browns note &C a paper from him and one from you. So Alex is home and all well on the 21d. Glad to hear it & thanks to Mr. Brown for his valuable favour of 23d. Inst. Had not from M. by Eleanor tonight from Higby She does not think the Bay of Naples could be prettier than Higby Basin &c. Intends leaving that for Beau river tomorrow. Mrs White not come yet. Many kind regards to you and all. Write soon your aff [affectionate?] Bro [brother?] Alexander |
