Sanquhar knitting news

 Sanquhar knitting news from the BBC this weekend.

Happy 180th, Marion Brown?

 I think today is Marion Brown's 180th birthday; my first post here says she was born July 2, 1843.  Iain Hutchison's 2002 article says 1844, and I forget why we don't use the same birthdate, but he's probably right. So maybe it's really her 179th birthday. Nonetheless, I will try to mark the occasion somehow. (Not with swine curds.) Maybe I should transcribe another letter here, though! I know it's long overdue, and I still believe it's worth continuing.

Townfoot, 5 December 1883: "the reason I have been so long in writing"

Well hello again! I've had a few inquiries about when this blog is going to get going again, so here we are.... with scarlet fever in Tam Scott's family, and Marion unable to walk or stand, and Aunt increasingly frail. 

 

Townfoot

Sanquhar

5th Dec. 1883

Dear Uncle

You may well think me long in writing this time but I am not run away yet I am still lying in bed and not much hope of being able to run far. but I hope when this reaches you that it will find you all well. the reason I have been so long in writing is one of Tam's boys had Scarlet fever and I thought it better not to write till he was better. I am glad to be able to say that he is almost well again and neither of the other two has taken it yet. 

we was all very much surprised when Bell Williamson landed home again we could scarce beleive it the first time we was told but she is looking very healthy I think she is the better of her trip we did not see her for a short time after she came and only for a few minutes 

Dear Uncle I hope you will again execpt my best thanks for your kindness to me a helpless creature that can neither walk a step nor even stand on my feet I have so little power of my limbs. some times I cannot help feeling my lot a hard one and again when I know it is God's doings why should I grumble but be content. I hope it will all turn out for my good in the end, I have to give you Aunt's kind regards and many thanks and bids me say that she hope you will always have plenty she sometimes says how I would like to have an hour or two beside John poor body she is not so much failed to look at but her strength is failed very much and she is very much troubled [ends without signature, maybe missing a page]

Happy 175th to Marion Brown!

July 2. 2018, is the 175th birthday of Marion Brown. So happy birthday to her! And maybe that's a sign that I should resume posting at this blog. I've been rather taken over by writing women's biographies at Wikipedia. Which isn't completely unrelated work, but there are still so many Marion letters left to share!

New exhibit, Sanquhar Gloves

Was looking for something completely different when I came across a detailed and beautiful new online exhibit at the Library Company of Philadelphia, by their Center for Knit and Crochet, on Sanquhar Gloves. If you're one of Marion Brown's knitting fans, it's definitely worth a visit. (Image: photograph of hands wearing Sanquhar Gloves in various states of progress, with the title "Sanquhar Gloves: A Living Scottish Tradition" superimposed.)

Townfoot, 17 May 1883

A long newsy letter about health, mainly, and the wearying wait for letters from America.  In two places Marion is writing Aunt Agnes's messages for her.

Townfoot
Sanquhar
17th May 1883

My Dear Friends

It is now a long time since I wrote to you or got a letter from you. Aunt has been talking about you all so often this some time past that she told me just to write to you and say that she takes such wearing fits that she would be so pleased to get a letter often some times she says she is sure Uncle John would not know me now. 

I hope this will find you all in good health. Aunt has been wonderful well in health but she is failing she went away to Hawcleughside to help them to set potatoes and she is come home quite done out poor body she is so willing to work but she cannot Tam did not want her to go but she would go and try Tam & his wife and family are all well they have another addition to their family on the 17th of March they have two sons and a daughter now, Samuel, Tam, and Mary. I am not getting any better the doctor says I am weaker this last two or three weeks I feel it myself. Aunt tells me she thinks me more helpless every time she lifts me to get the bed made, but it is God's will and I hope he  will give me grace to be content with my lot whatever way I may be 

I may also tell you that my sister Sarah died on the 18th of April and has left three little ones which is likly to feel the want of their mother very much she has been ill for a long time her trouble was consumption there is many a different trouble we are afflicted with and all our afflictions are sent for some end if only we can see what for my brother James has had a sore time with typhus fever among his family his wife was worse than any of the children she was not thought to get better but God has his own ways of working she is getting better but very slowly she is able to sit up but can walk none yet James was nurse himself for two months but it was a blessing. He kept well himself for with eight children and their mother lying he would have plenty to do.

Uncle William and his wife and family are all well uncle is still working in the woods now I think I have told you about all our friends. We have had very cold weather this spring till this week it has been a little warmer they tell me that grass is far back yet. Tam is still with Mrs. Slimmon work about here is very dull and provision is very high. How are you getting on with your new business I hope you are doing well Aunt bids me say if she was only within reach she would go to th [torn paper] with you and she would keep you from wearing for altho her legs and arms are failing her tongue can wag yet and tell John if I had him between me and the door when I take a wearing fit for a letter he would think me as good at speaking as ever now I have written her story as near the way she has told me as I can now I am getting tired but hoping to hear from you soon and with kind regards to you all every one and all other friends I am your Affectionate friend Marion Brown

Townfoot, 17 January 1883

 Marion Brown, "helpless as ever," and four years into a phase of not being able to walk, reports on the winter weather in Sanquhar.*  She's also very grateful for a gift from America, and concerned about Aunt's ever declining health. (Spoiler alert: Aunt Agnes will live almost another twenty years from when this letter was written.) Mention of the men in the family knitting socks around the fire, in the old days; and the mention of swine curds, of course.

*Given the date, I was kind of hoping this extreme weather might be an echo of Krakatoa, which created worldwide weather havoc when it exploded in 1883--but that wouldn't happen for another few months after Marion's letter was written.  Nope, just the usual rotten winter along the Nith.

Townfoot
Sanquhar
17th January 1883

My Dear Friends

I write to let you know that I received your very welcome letter all right give Uncle John my kind regards and say to execpt my best thanks for the present he sent me I can not write in words the gratitude I feel in my heart for his kindness to me as the saying goes a friend in need is a friend indeed, and I hope you will always have plenty and may God give you a blessing and good health for what in this world can we enjoy if we have not health.

I was glad to see from your letter that you was all well when you wrote and I hope this will find you still enjoying the same precious blessing. Aunt sends her kind regards to you all and many thanks for your kindness you are to tell uncle John that she has got a pair of new clogs of the money he sent but she can not get them so neat now as when uncle Joseph and him used to be knitting stockings at the Bogg fire for she is bothered with corns. She was just telling me she thinks she sees them and hears them talking, poor body there is not so much difference of her to look at but her strength is failing and she is much stifer, I have to tell you she would not join the waggon with you but she could milk the cow and make you swine curds yet but she is a little slower in the step now as when you saw her. 

I hope you will get on well with your market but you must have patience and give it a fair trial a person cannot get on all at once, you have pretty long hours but there is always a something so we must just put up. We had a very severe snow storm here Aunt saw Mr. Kennedy of Brandley one day and he told her he had never seen so much snow it was three days before they could get a cart from Brandleys to William Halberts and there was four men working all the time it was not on that road alone but round the whole district there was a complete block up Tam could not get to Wanlockhead with the carts for more than a week and two days there was more than fifty men from Wanlockhead working on Mennock road to get it cleared but the thaw came very mildly which was a good thing if it had come quickly the melting of so much snow might have done great damage. 

I am glad to be able to tell you that Tam and his wife and two boys are all well in the meantime. Uncle William and his wife & family are all well my Sister Sarah is very poorly from what accounts I get there is no hope of her geting better her youngest child died on Christmas morning. I don't feel any better as yet I am lying in bed as helpless as ever but I am very thankful I have the use of my hands it is four years next month since I could walk any and I have suffered a good deal in that time and God alone knows how long I have to lie but I must just hope for the best and leave the result in God's hands he knows what is best for us. 

now I must stop with kind regards to you all in which Aunt and all the rest joins Aunt says you are to write sooner hoping this will find you all well I am your affectionate friend Marion Brown