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Letters to Neil Macgregor.
We have some from the 1830s on up. Eventually I shall post scans as well as
transcripts.
March 18, 1831 letters of reference
for Niel MacGregor
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| TRANSCRIPT
That the Bearer Niel McGregor is a Native of this
part of the Parish of
Fortingall, in which he resided for the most part
from his infancy: is about
fifteen years of age; is well known to us; is
inoffensive and obliging
in his manners and has always maintained an excellent
moral
character free of every scandal and ground of Church
Censure so
far as is known to us, is Certified at Kinloch
Rannoch this
18th. March 1831 by
John McDonald Minr [Minister]
John Forbes Elder [I.e. a Church Elder]
John Cumming Elder
D Campbell SepClk [? Clk = Clerk?]
Original letter owned by Dr. Estelle Stevens,
Vancouver, BC 2005 |
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March 18, 1831 letter of reference from Niel McGregor's Schoolteacher,
Dun(can) Campbell.
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The bearer Niel McGregor received his education in
the school under my
Charge in this place, and it affords me much sincere
pleasure in being able to testify that
He is a young boy of excellent natural parts, of
quick capacity, of amiable disposition,
Always obedient to his teacher, agreeable and
obliging towards his Schoolmates, and
Guided in his whole Conduct by principles strictly
honest, upright and honourable.
Kinloch 18th
March 1831 ~ Dun. [Duncan?] Campbell,
SocGSchoolmr. [?]
[CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THE ABBREVIATED TITLE OF MR.
CAMPBELL - is is perhaps for Session Clerk? - AND CONFIRM HIS FIRST NAME?]
Ref: The Old Church of Rannoch - a short
history by Duncan McDonald Sinclair (1990) states in the
Foreword "The suspension in 1838 of the Session Clerk (local
Schoolmaster Duncan Campbell) pending a paternity claim promised to be a
little more intriguing - but nothing was ever proved, so far as I could
see."
When I visited in 2005, I found a grave for a Duncan Campbell,
Schoolteacher. See below. Is it the same man?
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"In memory of Duncan CAMPBELL Schoolmaster Auchtarsin
Public School Died 18th April 1908.
Also his wife Jane Forbes died August 1907."
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"In loving memory of JOHN MACGREGOR who died
at Dall Rannoch 11th Decr. 1912, aged 86 years
and CHRISTIAN STEWART his wife who died at Dall Rannoch 5th
April 1920, aged 91 years.
Also of DUNCAN his son who died in Washington U.S.A. 7th
July 1905, aged 49 years.
And of JESSIE their daughter who died at Kinloch Rannoch 7th
March 1942 aged 79 years
And
their son CHARLES who died at Kinloch Rannoch 22nd
Decr. 1952 aged 84 years."
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"In loving memory of DONALD MACGREGOR died 2nd
July 1928 aged 82
His wife EUPHEMIA SIMPSON died 26th June 1906
aged 33
Their
infant son IAN DONALD died 5th Sept. 1906"
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In
loving memory
of
JOHN MACGREGOR
who died 3rd June 1938
aged 80 years
And JEAN FERGUSSON
his wife
who died 18th October 1960
aged 90 years
And their daughters
CHRISTIAN STEWART
Who died 11th June 1971
Aged 72 years
KATHERINE JEAN who died 4th January 1981
Aged 86 years
And JOAN ALEXANDRA
Who died 13th November 1988
Aged 86 years
And their son
JOHN FERGUSSON
Who died 9th July 1999
Aged 93 years
DIR (?) IS CRADH DIA"
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NO PICTURE |
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Centre stone of three:
In Loving Memory
Of
MY DEAR MOTHER
MARGARET McGREGOR
KINLOCH RANNOCH
WHO DIED 6th NOVEMBER 1948
AGED 70 YEARS
ANNE
30TH MAY
1974
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Stone (no photo)
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
DONALD STEWART
FARMER, TULOCHCROSK
DIED AUGt 22nd 1901
AND OF HIS SON JOHN MACGREGOR
WHO FELL
IN ACTION NEAR LEVAL, FRANCE 6th NOVr 1918
ALSO HIS WIFE
ELIZABETH MACGREGOR WHO DIED AT
CRAIGROYSTON PITLOCHRY 14th NOVr 1930
AND THEIR SECOND DAUGHTER CHRISTINA
WHO DIED AT PITLOCHRY 23rd JUNE 1935
ALSO THEIR DAUGHTER JANET MACGREGOR
WHO DIED AT CRAIGROYSTON 24th MAY (?) 1948
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Right hand stone of three:
In
Sweetest remembrance of
MY BELOVED HUSBAND
AND OUR DEAR FATHER
JOHN DUNCAN MACGREGOR
KILLIECHONAN, RANNOCH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
22ND AUGUST 1946 AGED 64 YEARS
AND OUR DEAR MOTHER
CATHERINE CAMERON
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
6(?)TH JUNE 1957 AGED 81 YEARS
DONALD
28TH OCTOBER 1965
CALUM
19TH APRIL 1987
MORAG
23RD MAY 1987
JANET
18TH DECEMBER 2002
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LINKS
http://www.visitdunkeld.com/kinloch-rannoch.htm
http://www.rannoch.net/Thumbnails/Index.htm
http://www.rannoch.net/indexold.htm
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?X=266250&Y=758250&zoom=1
http://www.visitdunkeld.com/macgregor.htm
Visitors since 2005-06-19: 
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1831 March 18 - Letter of reference from Church minister and Elders
for Niel McGregor
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That the Bearer Niel McGregor is a Native of this part of the Parish of
Fortingall, in which he resided for the most part from his infancy: is
about
fifteen years of age; is well known to us; is inoffensive and obliging
in his manners and has always maintained an excellent moral
character free of every scandal and ground of Church Censure so
far as is known to us, is Certified at Kinloch Rannoch this
18th. March 1831 by John McDonald Minr [Minister]
John Forbes Elder
[I.e. a Church Elder]
John Cumming Elder
D Campbell SessClk
(=SessionClerk)
Original letter owned by Dr. Estelle Stevens, Vancouver, BC
2005
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1831 March 18 - Letter of reference from Schoolmaster Duncan Campbell
for Niel McGregor
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The bearer Niel McGregor received his education in the school under my
Charge in this place, and it affords me much sincere pleasure in being
able to testify that
He is a young boy of excellent natural parts, of quick capacity, of
amiable disposition,
Always obedient to his teacher, agreeable and obliging towards his
Schoolmates, and
Guided in his whole Conduct by principles strictly honest, upright and
honourable.
Kinloch 18th
March 1831 ~ Dun. [Duncan?] Campbell,
SocGSchoolmr. [?]
[CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THE ABBREVIATED TITLE OF MR. CAMPBELL AND CONFIRM
HIS FIRST NAME?]
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1832-03-24 Duncan Campbell, Kinloch Rannoch schoolteacher to former
student Niel McGregor in Canada
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NOTE: In 1838 Duncan Campbell, schoolteacher was suspended as Session
Clerk pending a paternity claim. Nothing was ever proved apparently. Ref.
Foreword, THE OLD CHURCH OF RANNOCH - A SHORT HISTORY by Duncam
McDonald Sinclair 1990
1832-03-27 Katherine McGregor to grandson Niel
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Letter Mrs. Catherine McGregor
Kinloch March 27th, 1832
[Label apparently added by Niel Mcgregor upon
receipt of the letter.]
=================
Kinloch March 27, 1832
My Dear Niell
After receiving your letter
I was sorry to learn that you was attacked
by the Eague [ague?] and fever although Mr McPherson
mentioned in his letter to your Uncle that you
got quite full [?] of it. Still I am uneasy
as you did not write me as your mother.
I have found the Gospel Catechism
which I am to in close [enclose] to you in hopes
that you will study it and your Bible
all the leisure hours you will have.
Especially on the Lord’s Day and I trust that
you will never forget the Rule that I
have set before you in bowing the knee
Morning and Evening to that Great God
before you must __________[?] one later give
account of all your Doings in the
next place I request you to be obedient
to your Uncle and endeavour to please
him and be advised by him as you
know that it is on him that you Depend for
be sure to avoid bad company +c [et cetera i.e. and so on]
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I have found your Black knife and
Have sent by your Uncle how [who] will
Tell you all the news of this Country
Tommy Robertson is a wonder
Full Scholar He is reading the Collaton [?]
And the Galek [Gaelic?] Testament you ave [have?] as
faith in his memory as Mrs Day you
_____ will miss and when ever you
write be sure to remember that family
above all others
I wish to hear [?] from [?]
you and ____{account?] of this I must conclud [sic]
wish all the happiness that ____[these?]
words ________[?] Duncan Robertson [?]
his wife and Johnny joins me
in love to you.
I remain your Affet [Affectionate?] Grand
Mother Katherine McGregor
[Note she spells her name with a K whereas Niel
(?) titles letter with a C for Catherine.
Note also that this is Niel’s GRANDMOTHER McGregor, so she would
be Duncan MacGregor’s mother and he, Duncan, died 1852. Duncan’s son Niel was born 1816.
Katherine McGregor was likely born about 1760-1770]
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Duncan MacGregor to son Niel in Canada, March 30, 1835
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Paisley 30 March 1835
My Dear Son
On the 2d current your Uncle Gregor
received a letter from our friend Patrick dated
Kingston
3 Febry. Communicating the Death of
my Brother James which has grieved our friends
here + in Perthshire very much. Sometime ago
we heard that he intended coming home +
we were all in hopes of again seeing him
but in this we have been disappointed.
His mother in particular has been much
distressed since she heard of his Death. I wrote
her a few days after the sect. (?) of Patrick’s
letter
but she has not yet been able to write me
She however caused John to write me + he stated
that he had a letter from Mr. Donald Stewart
announcing Jamess death. +
further adds that
Mr. S. stated in his
letter, that you were in his
service, + that he had taken the premises at
Napanee lately by James. + that
Mr. Stewart + Mr. Ramsey had entered into
partnership. My Dear Neill. Now that you
are deprived of your Uncle + I presume the
__________________________ (scan is cropped)
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1837 March 24 Duncan MacGregor in Paisley, Scotland writing to son
Niel in Canada.
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[1837 March 24]
Letter
My Father
Paisley 24th March
1837
[Note: It was written on Niel’s birthday]
SHIP (stamped ink)
Per
Canada
Recd
18th May (?)
Mr. Niel McGregor
Care of Wm. Duff Esqr.
Chippawa
Upper Canada
Postal mark, round
MONTREAL
MY (i.e. MAY) 10 1837
(red wax seal)
I have wrote Patrick by this Conveyance
also Say the
Canada
.
Annexed is an order for five pounds Sterling pay=
=able to your order. I have thought it better to send
this rather as a watch being afraid the Watch might
be lost or damaged . Seeing it would have to be sent
so very far + very likely by various conveyances.
five
pounds should be sufficient to purchase a tolerable
good watch. I wrote my Mother sometime ago for an
extract of your Age but it has not yet come to
to (sic) hand. I may however state that you were born
on the 24th March 1816. I had a letter
from
My Mother a few weeks ago She still lives
at Kinlock [i.e. Kinloch Rannoch]. She had an attack
of her
old disorder lately that of excessive bleeding at
the nose which left her weak, She is very angry
at you for not writing her. Do so soon as she will
be very glad indeed to hear from you.
The whole of the Glengow (?) [this last word crossed
out] Lockhgarry (?) Estate +
Kinlock
+ were to be let this spring but have
not heard the parties who have taken them.
Innerhadden is also to let the old Laird died
in January last. Mother _+ the children are all well
+ join me in Kind love to you also Gregor + his
family. Dont neglect to write on rect (i.e. receipt
of this money order and letter) to your
Affectionate father D. Macgregor
NOTES:
Innerhaddon means Beginning of the Fight. Located
near Kinloch Rannoch.
Dalchosnie means Field of Victory. Located near
Kinloch Rannoch. |
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1837 August 24 Duncan MacGregor to son Niel MacGregor in Canada
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Paisley
, 24 Augt. 1837
My Dear Son
On the 24th
March last I wrote you
+ inclosed (sic) a draft for Five pounds Sterling
which I hope you are in possession of, long
ere this time. I had expected to have heard
from you acknowledging receipt of the same
before before this time. + if you have not done so
I trust you will do so on receipt of this
I saw a person yesterday who saw my
Mother last week
She was in her usual
health.
I should have stated that my letter of 24th
March referred to above was sent by the ship
Canada
+ I wrote Patrick by the same conveyance
Uncle John and his family were all well five
weeks ago. This you can communicate to
Patrick as I do not write him at this time.
Uncle Gregor + his family are well + also
my own all of whom join me in
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[Page 2]
in s (?) and kind love to Patrick + yourself.
Trusting to hear from you in reply
to this if not sooner
I am Dear Neill
Your Affectionate father
D. Macgregor
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[Page 3 – outside addressed portion]
pr. Sophia
[Probably the ship’s name]
1/6/D (?)
[1 shilling and sixpence?]
[Postage cancellation stampings: “??????? LETTER
MONTREAL
” and “
MONTREAL
??? 28 1837 LC
[for Lower Canada, now
Quebec
].
Mr.
Neil McGregor
Care of
Wm. Duff Esqr.
Chippawa
Upper Canada
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1841 December 30 Duncan MacGregor to son Neill
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26 Orchard Street
Paisley 30 Decemr. 1841
Dear Neill,
The last letter I had from you,
Is dated, Chippawa 9th March 1838. + on
That letter, I have two Memorandums, stating
That I had written you, on the 3d August 1838.
+ the 28th March 1839. I would have written
you, again had I known your address but
the Conclusion I came to, was, that you
had either, left that place, or have gone
“to that land from whence no traveller
returns.” Seeing that you did not, answer either
of my letters refered (sic) to above.
I was delighted a few days Since, in
Receiving a Note, Dated Edin. 18th cert. [?] from
A Mr. Thomas C. MacKland Stating that he
Knew you, that you were in the employ of
A brother of his, at Niagara + that he had a
Letter from you, that day, in which you stated
Your wish, that he should call upon me,
+which he states, he would have done before now
(page 2)
but that he, was under the Necessity, of going
to Dublin but on his return, I expect to have
a call from him, he gave me his address in
Dublin, + I have written to him there.
I can assure you, My Dear Son, that it
Has given me, a great deal of pleasure thus, to
Hear of you, + as one of the American Steam
Packets, is to sail from Liverpool on the 4th proxmo
I cannot delay writing you, before I have the
pleasure of seeing Mr. MacKland
You may perhaps expect, that I should com-
=municate, some Rannoch News to you, but I
at present recollect of very little in Connection
with that quarter, that can be at all interesting
to you. Did you hear that My Mother Died
in Novr. 1839. She was complaining , + was weakly
for sometime, before her death but was able to be
out of bed, a little every day. The very day she died,
she was down stairs. + the immediate cause of her
death was an overflowing of Blood to the Head.
Your uncle Johns family live in Lesegan (?) his
Son Patrick has been attending the College
at Edinr every Season, since he returned from
Canada + sailed from this for New York in August
Last, + there has been a letter from him announc-
cing his arrival there. He has gone to the States with
(page 3)
the intention of pushing his fortune, as a Learned Man,
before he left this, he promised to me, that he would
write, to some of his old acquaintances, in Kingston,
in order to get, information respecting you + I have
no doubt, but he has done so _ so soon as he gets
your address, he will also write you.
Have
you seen in the Newspaper, or heard otherwise,
Of the great distress, which (?) has prevailed here, for the last
4 months, amongst our working population. We have
had upwards of forty failures, in that time, amongst
our Merchants, + Manufacturers the consequence of
this has been, the throwing idle of many
Thousands of our artisans + they have for
Sometime past, been wholly dependant upon
The “cold Hand of charity” for support great exertions,
Have been made, throughout the country, to rise (sic) money, for
Their relief by preaching Sermons, lectures, Balls, Concerts + ___?
+ upwards of [Pounds Stirling symbol] has been raised, in this way + by
subscriptions, here in London here in London, Edinr + other places but
this
affords, but a scanty relief to 12,000 individuals who are
depending upon this fund for a subsistence.
From the State that business, has been in her___
=time part, I have thought more, or Emigrating to
America, than I ever did before + if I were free of bus=
=iness, + had a few hundred pounds left. I do believe
that I would go, either to the Canadas or the States +
turn farmer. I intend giving up my present business + will
be clear of it by next May. Now would you advise me
to go to Canada. What would a farm of 30 acres with 10 clear
___? Of it + a House upon it. Cost in a good situation + not
(page 4)
very remote, what part of Upper Canada, do you think the
most healthy. Or would you advise, an Emigrant to Settle
in, + what is the best Season, of the year for arriving
there. I mean for one who is to be a farmer. I believe that
climate there, differs a good deal, from what it is here,
that it is a great deal Colder, in Winter + that in Summer
the Heat is oppressive.
[ADDRESS AREA OF LETTER]
I should like to have your opinion, candidly upon this subject,
+ that immediately. I have heard, that our friend Neill Stewart,
is now quite “Independent” tho I believe that he has worked (?)
very hard + been very industrious since he went to Canada
do
you ever hear from or see him. Uncle Gregor + his family
are well + so is my own. I have four children 2 Boys + 2 Girls viz
Esther + Katherine Patrick
+ James. You have seen them all except Katherine.
They are + their Mother join me in kind love to you
+ Believe me to be your affectionate Father
D. Macgregor
[ADDRESS AREA INFO]
from Liverpool pr. Mail Steamer 4th Jany. 1842
Mr. Neil MacGregor
Care of Messrs. James MacKland + Co
Niagara Falls
Upper Canada
Recd 7th July
Ansd 14th do. 1842
Wrote to him 22d. April 1842
Mail cancellation rectangle PAISLEY DE 30 1841
˝ written.
[Wax seal.]
[Round cancellation] NIAGARA FEB ?? 1842
[NO MAIL STAMP]
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1842 May 13 - Duncan MacGregor to son Neil
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Paisley 13 May 1842
My Dear Son
Your letter of the 14th feb, I received
On the 21st April, you will observe, that it had
Not reached Halifax, in time for the March
Mail Steamer.
I had a Call
from Mr. MacKlem, early in
January last, on his return from Ireland, but
Have not heard anything of him Since.
I am
obliged to you, for the information, you
Give me, respecting Canada. I Shall be happy,
To hear from you, on this subject again. I
Cannot yet say, whether, I will go there or
Not at all events I cannot go this year for
I have a Nasty Stock of Manufactured fancy
Goods, still on hand which I must get quit
Of from the State of our Markets here it is
Not easy, to accomplish this, except by sacrificing
them.
A
great many emigrants have Sailed from
the Clyde this season, both for the Canadas
+ the States + about 600 of these are from
this Town + Neighbourhood. + are Mostly of the
(Page 2)
poorer classes + Many more, would have gone
if they had the Means.
Do
you Know Anything, of my Aunt, the widow
Of the late Peter Campbell, Glenlyon, who went
To Canada, three or four years ago. Some of her
Family went there before her, I think they
Are somewhere about Perth.
The
Trade of this place has improven (sic) but
Little, Since I wrote you last. There are ____?
A great many of our Weavers, that Cannot
Get work + it is the Same in Glasgow, + in
All the other Manufacturing districts, both
In Scotland + England.
You say
you were to go to Brantford, to rent a
Mill, is this on your own account or on your
Masters.
I
understand, there have been letters, from
Our friend Patrick, lately he has got a Situation
As Teacher of one of the Public Schools, at New=
=York, with a Salary of 600 Dollars for the first
year + he expects an advance at the end of
the first year. have you had any letters from
him, before he left this, he promised to me, that
(Page 3)
he would write to some of his old friends to enquire
for you, as I could not give him your address.
I would have
written you, by the Steamer of The 4th
But was in London, for about Ten days, at that
Time.
16th May. I have this morning received,
yours of the 22 April + feel thankful for the (?) infor=
mation it contains. From what I have stated
on the otherside, you will observe, that this
year, I cannot emigrate, were I to dispose of the
Stock I hold, I would not get, one half of the
Cash price at present. I have therefore made
up my mind, to see (?) it by piecemeal (?)
rather than in lots + as there are
a good many Articles in it, in winter
Colours. These will not be Saleable for some
months to come. How far is Brantford from
Chippawa + in what Direction, does it lye (sic) from
it + in going to Brantford from Quebec what
is the proper Route.
I have a letter this Morning from your Uncle
John, in which he states that friends in the
North are well + I am happy to say that Uncle
Gregor + his family are well also my own all
Of whom join me in the kindest love to you
+ Believe me to be, dear Neil
Your affectionate father
D. Macgregor
(Page 4)
I shall be most happy, to hear from you frequently
As we must now shake up the arrears we
Fall into for the last five years.
Uncle
Gregor is one of those who thinks that they
have as good a chance in their own Country as in
America + will stick to it “to the last”
[POSTAL ADDRESS AREA]
Is Donald Stewart Dalchalloch (?) still in Napanee
I heard sometime ago that Ramsay + he had
failed + that Donald was coming home.
[POSTAL INFO]
Pr. Mail Steamer via Liverpool 19 May 1842 P.P.
Mr. Neil MacGregor
Car of O.(?) T. (?) MacKlem Esqr
Chippawa
Upper Canada
N.A.
Wrote to him 14th Feby 1843
[Rectangular postal cancellation] PAISLEY
MY 16
184_
˝
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| 1842 May 17 A letter to Neil MacGregor from a
friend |
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Edinburgh –
82 George Street
May 17th 1842.
My Dear Mac –
“Crack-eye-Cob”! but you will think I
have been
Afther (sic) takin (sic) my own (and no body elses!)
time, to answer your very kind
And equally acceptable letter of October last. It is
nevertheless
Mac, as evidend (?), I hope, that I have taken every
body else’s time (and
Not my own.) to answer the purport of your
letter. If I am but
Now answering your letter, to yourself, it is as
true, that I answed (sic)
It to your Father, the day I received it, and
in such a manner too,
That if you did not immediately receive a letter from
home, there
Must be no thread to my senew (?) – and
I’m no cider-prep!
Then, this is the 4th letter that has
sprung from the rich (?) seeds of
Your tartan, of 18 hundred and no particular
time, at all – 1st ____(?),
To your Father – 2nd Your Father’s
reply – 3rd Your Father’s to yourself,
And 4th and lastly, this miserable,
writched (sic), dried-up, and hasty crop (?)
And certainly, this murder not only speaks well for
the quality of your seed, but also serves
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(page 2)
To satisfactorily prove the richness of the soil,
in which it has been
sown – not forgetting that we are chiefly indebted
to the venerable
trunk, (your kind Father.) upojn which I so
successfully engrafted (sic?)
the fruit of your seed, and which I so speedily (?)
took and so kindly
grown (?), for your comfort, the long-looked for and
much desired
production – (a letter from your Father, which you
have, long over (?) this, happily tasted.)
But to the less metaphorical, a more minute (?) – I received
Your favor in good time, i.e. in 7 weeks and 5 days
from (one)
Date – (it has some half dorycu (?) dates however
– and I have selected the eldest,
As the probable ____ to the letter.) It found me in
bed, having been confined
To the house for some time previous, and having the
day before,
(I believe) imported into the very bowels of
my constitution, for the
Well-being thereof, grains of Calomel – However I
read, marked,
Learned, and externally digested, your very amusing
letter, which
Was indeed to me a feast, a rich repast – yes! It
was to my
Happetite, (sic) a whole dinner-party,
and consequently, to my
Health, a whole grainery of calomel, or
jalop (?) either! Well, as
I above said, or tried to said, (sic) I received and
read your friendly
Lines, in bed, and before the evening of the same
day, had
Dispatched a letter to paisley, in which I said all I
could say,
(na-more!) (sic) toward the gratification of a wish,
as desirable and
Natural, in you to feel, as it certainly is sincerely
gratifying to
Me, to be able to at all assist in having granted –
Your Father immediately, and in the kindest possible manner,
Replied to my letter, and in about 3 weeks after, I
had the
Happiness of calling upon him in
Paisley
. He was very
glad to see me – was very anxious I should spend
the evening
with him – take a tumbler of Toddy (?) +c, which I
would have given
much to have done, but which I will soon do, or my
name
is not Jehosiphat! He made 10 hundred million
thousand enquiries
about you, and the country you have adopted – and I
am happy in |
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PAGE 3
The persuasion (what a pen!) that I gave liberal
and satisfactory
Replies to all these enquiries – And thus after a
shirt, but
very pleasant visit. I said goodbye, delighted to
find your
kind Father had already written to you, and very much
gratified
to see that you still possess as much of a father’s
fondness
and affection as you could have possessed, even when
highest in parental favor. You must explain all your
unkind
Canadian
Kingston
Friends ill behaviour to you, if you Father
should require it, or if you think he would like it.
For I am
not sufficiently prepared to do it properly.
I ever much regretted being obliged to leave
Canada
, without
again seeing you, Mac, but the receipt of your letter
gave
me additional cause for regrets at so unfortunate
circumstance.
But my dear Fellow, go a-head, and now tell me all.
By mail,
that you would have told me in person, had we been so
fortunate
as to have again met in
America
before I left – and rest assured
my good Friend, that aught my present position can
enable me to
do for you, will be done, with the greatest
happiness. Then Mac, do not hesitate, if I can be of the least further use
to you – do
not delay, I say, to immediately write, and before I
leave
Scotland
, let me know if I can possibly serve you, in
Any way while here, and believe me, you have no
Friend
who were (?) happier to do all he can for you. I will
gladly
[more to follow) |
|
 |
|
|
Letter dated Nov 24, 1857, from
Patrick Macgregor to his cousin Niel Macgregor
|
 |
Toronto, 24th Nov.
1857.
Dear Cousin,
The enclosed will inform you
that I have commercial business
here
on my own account, my agreement
with
Mowat having expired in August,
when
he withdrew from office practice.
If you
can throw anything in my way I
will
feel obliged + I think you will
have
no cause to regret doing so. While
I
was Mowats’ partner I had charge
of most
of his suits + we did not lose
more than
one in twelve. I also made up many
of the opinions required, from
different
parts of the province, + they
stood the
test of subsequent lawsuits, in
many cases.
I was called to the bar “with
honors”, which
is reserved for those who show an
unusual knowledge of law, on their examinations.
I have got Augusta Christie with me, the
only surviving member of my sister
Jessie’s
family - + we are all in ordinary
good
health. Your step-mother died last
spring
|
i.e. lawsuits |
 |
Your brother Patrick was lately
married to an
English lady - + Esther was
afterwards mar
ried to a founder in paisley.
Patrick +
James have given up the commission
business at Glasgow + they now
carry
it on at Paisley exclusively
Our cousin
Patrick, Gregor’s son, has got
the whole
dyeing establishment in his own
hands
now + it is doing well.
I was in Stormont county last month,
on business + on my return I made
some
stay at Kingston, Napanee +
Sheffield.
Thomas Ramsay is now at Kingston
bursar (?)
to the new Lunatic Asylum there.
He is
the same old character he ever
was.
Donald McPherson holds on at the
old
homestead. + Parr (?) Pringle is a
slavering
idiot with drink. Niel Stewart +
his family were all well.
With best wishes to all
I remain
Yours affectionately
Patrick MacGregor
Mr. Niel MacGregor}
Beamsville}
C.W.
|
C.W. = Canada West, an old name
for what is now Ontario. |
|
Transcript
TRANSCRIPTION OF NOTE BY ONE OF MINNIE
MACGREGOR’S BROTHERS OR SISTERS after 1866, and as it was to one of
Minnie (Mary Maud Macgregor) children born 1877, 1879, 1888 and they were
likely old enough to read and understand it, this it was probably written
in the early 1900s.
 |
James Couse Macgregor d.
1908 |
|
Ann Elizabeth Macgregor
d. 1933 |
|
Duncan Moses Macgregor d. 1905
in Liverpool, England |
|
Neil Robert Macgregor d. 1929 |
|
Albert John Macgregor d. 1923 |
|
Charles Stewart Macgregor d.
1894 (NOT likely him) |
|
Archibald Macgregor d. 1865 as
an infant therefore NOT him. |
|
Colin Campbell Macgregor d.
1942 |
|
Flora Catherine Macgregor d.
1958 |
Probably to William Arnott STEVENS
from an AUNT OR UNCLE or possibly his sister Edith who died 1941. Other
sister Margaret died 1899, so not likely to her.
Transcribed by Colin Stevens.
Original note owned by Dr. Estelle Stevens
2003-04-01
q
Mary Maud (“Minnie” Macgregor who
married William STEVEN (STEVENS) was born in 1852.
q
St. C. = St. Catharines, Ontario.
q
“Riflo ???? = Probably a family name,
possibly abbreviation.
SIDE 1
Your mother was born in St.
C. 1852.
The family lived from 53 to 57 in
Beamsville, then in St. C. till
62,
then Niagara from 62 – 66. After
which St. C. again. Father was
sheriff
or something and was moved about.
When Niagara was the county seat
they
lived there, then it was moved to
St. C.
SIDE 2
...
now ...
is tough down ...
these days, and no chance (?) of
(?) ...
Had an awful time getting away
from Riflo (?) They “begged +
pleaded”
with me to stay all summer and I
know they really love having me
there. I had no definite excuse or
reason for coming away, except
that I
don’t believe in staying as (?)
long in
....(people’s?) houses. After I
got back I
... I had come, as all
... was |
|
