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]

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

Townfoot, 31 May 1882

A quick letter of thanks for a much-welcomed gift of money from America.  Marion Brown's religious resignation and Aunt's love of mail from abroad (and hope for a visit) are repeated here; but there's a bit of optimism, as the weather has been warm and the crops look good.  (But Marion Bryden and the boys didn't ever make that "trip across the sea.")

Townfoot
Sanquhar
31st May 1882

Dear Friends

I received your very kind letter on Saturday and received the money all right on Monday.  Dear friends I cannot express how thankful I am to you for it and may God give you a blessing for your kindness to me.  I have been a long time helpless and does not know how long I may be in the same state nor has no right to know. God's ways are not as our ways and we ought to be as content as we can with our lot in whatever state we may be placed.  

Aunt joins me in many thanks to Uncle John for his kindness to us and hopes he will always have plenty for it has given us great relief in the meantime. Aunt is wonderful in her health but her strength is failing her very much Aunt has her kind regards to you all and says if you could get Marion to set out both her and the boys might be the better of a trip across the sea. 

Robert McWhir sends his kind regards to uncle John and says he would like to have one day with him now.  Tam and his wife and two boys are all well.  I saw uncle William last night and his family are all well.  They tell me that crops of all kinds are looking well this year as yet the weather has been warm in this last two weeks.  Provision of all kinds is very dear. 

I must stop for I am tired excuse all the blunders and be sure and write soon you would not believe how Aunt talks on about letters from America with kind regards to you all I am your affectionate friend Marion Brown

Townfoot, 16 January 1882

A six-page letter in pencil, from the winter of 1882.  No mention of weather or crops or neighbors--Marion's confined to bed, in pain.  Her "stupid fits" kept her from writing; but she expresses the same religious resignation as ever.  Aunt is "failed" but still asking for news from America; she cannot promise swine curds to any visitors nowadays, but would still enjoy a visit.  Marion starts the letter thanking her cousin for a cash gift which has "relieved [her] mind greatly."  (Considering the content of the previous surviving letter in this collection, it's likely that Robina Boyle Scott's nasty accusations have left Marion feeling insecure in Tam's household.)

Townfoot

Sanquhar
16th January 1882

Dear Friends

I write you in answer to your very kind and welcome letter which I received all right for which except my most sincere thanks and I hope you will always have plenty and good health to enjoy it. when a person is in need it makes them feel the more thankful for such a present as you have just sent me for I can asure you it has relieved my mind greatly in the meantime and I hope you will not feel the want of it as much as the good it has done me

I am not getting any stronger as yet the Doctor has to come to me every day and is still close confined to bed.  If it is God's will for me to be as I am why should I grumble but be content in whatever condition I may be sometimes I suffer a great deal of pain and sometimes not so much and I ought to be thankful when I am moderate. 

Tam and his wife and two boys are all well Aunt sends her kind compliments to you all and you are not to be long in writing to let us know how you are all getting on some times she takes such wearing fits she just talks on about you all and sometimes wonders if James Bryden will not take it into his head to take a trip over again and see us all but she will not can give him any swine curds this time. 

You are to be sure and send us word what the two boys are like and what uncle John is like for if he is like her he will be very much failed. Excuse me for being so long in writing I meant to write last week but I had one of my stupid fits and knew nothing for most of the week so I could not write. with kind regards to you all in which all here joins and hoping to hear from you soon I am your affectionate cousin Marion Brown

Townfoot, 5 November 1880

This letter seems to be addressed to a different "uncle" in Pennsylvania--not to John Glencross, but to his brother.  

Another pencilled letter, and a two-writer letter again--the first half is harder to read, by Tam Scott, mostly reporting on market prices and bad weather and his Irish horse.  I can't promise I've got all the words right in that section--his handwriting isn't as smooth or legible as Marion Brown's, and his spelling is especially non-standard.  But one certainly gets the sense that he's in good spirits for the cold winter, happy to be working and happy to have a fast, spirited horse.  Marion's half of the letter reports that her health is still poor, with gravel (kidney stones, usually), and that she has been unwell for seventeen years now (so that takes us back to 1863, when she was in an infirmary apparently). 

The winter 1880-81 was one of the most severe in North America also--with deep snows in October, just as Tam describes--interesting to consider now, in the middle of another severe winter with terrible weather affecting much of North America and also the British Isles.  "Heavy mortality among sheep stocks" related to the 1880-81 winter storms is mentioned in a Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland from the era.

Townfoot 
Sanquhar 
Nov 5th 1880

Dear Uncle

I drop you a few lines to let you know that I am still to the fore hopping this will find you well and all the rest of my friends we have the affliction of a very sever winter hear we have had some very sever snows on the 27th of last month the snow was so heavy the Mennock house was Blocked up and out By Moffit the Pearnes[?] was so large that over one score of sheep was smothered and the continued casting for several dayes the Market is very high hear just now it is a real Extortion Sanquhar is Mad up at a lot of Bogues Butter her is 9s chese 10 cence per Pound and all the market is on advance I do not know what the men at all as the niver has been such good crops this year before I am still with William Slimmons It is steady but long hours and Wet and dry I have to be on the Road and from 5 in the morning till 7 and 9 at night and I have got the Best flinging horse that is in DumfriesShire a 'amserting' he is an Irish horse and has Irish Temper I do ashure you an Monday night he kicked himself out of the long cart with Tom on him he will kick for a day long and get leg in every side of the shaft and kick on and he is the best runer out of the cart I ever saw and when he hs mastered with the whip he squels and pushes you are not safe of your life with him there is scarce one in Sanquhar will cum near him and me the Laghear cumes Scotland Pady he can send his heels as high as the Shafts of the cart when he runs but we have had the largest potato crop that has been for 40 years I supose.  the are 3/per hunderwight I have not much more to say but that we have got a 3 year old horse and had him at Wanlockhead you might tell Tam to write to me I am yours T. G. Scott

PP hopping the Blessing of god will follow you and all your family and wife 

Dear uncle Tom has begun this letter but has left me to finish it so I will try to say what I can do I am still close confined to bed and the doctor has to be at me every day the gravel is a very painful complaint and other things connected with hit makes it worse I have very little power in my left arm but I ought to be very thankful as long as I have my senses but sometimes my head is very stupid.  Our heavenly Father is kind to us far above on asking and why should a living man complain but human nature is hard to bend and some times I think my lot has been a hard one somes ways it is now going on seventeen years since I was at the Infirmary and since then I have not been able to do much, now I have to tell you from Aunt that you are to tell Tom to write a long letter and tell her all the news for many a time she wonders what he is like now and he is to tell her what Willie and Samuel is like and all the rest of them.  Uncle William and his family are all well uncle is still working with Mr. Pearson at the woods my Brother James and his family are all well and still at Heucklands with Mr. [???], I was to send you McWhir's kind regards and say he was asking for you. Aunt joins me in kind regards to you and everyone John Marion & Bryden and may god be with you [?????pencil smudged] affectionate neice, Marion Brown

be sure and write soon

Townfoot, 11 October 1880

This letter is in pencil, so it's harder to read than most of Marion Brown's letters.  Maybe she lost track of her ink and pen in the move from Castle Mains?  It also features a child's scribbles, perhaps made long after Marion's pencil left the page.  It's a newsy letter:  Aunt is working as a cheesemaker at Auchengruith, at the George White farm, while the usual family member is recovering from childbirth; Tam is trying work beyond farm labour, hoping it will be steadier.  Marion isn't well, but she's expressing religious resignation, and she's glad that her right arm remains unaffected by the current version of her troubles.

(George White of Auchengruith farm was buried in Sanquhar Kirkyard, grave number 63 in Wilson.  Not clear if this is the same George White mentioned in an 1866 letter from Marion Brown, though a longtime familiarity might explain why Aunt Agnes was asked to come to his aid.)

Townfoot

Sanquhar 
11th October 1880

My Dear Friends

We was all glad to see your very welcome letter we weary to hear from you when you are so long in writing Aunt and me was talking about you all a night or two before your letter came and wondering how you was all going on and we was glad to see from your letter that you was all well when you wrote and I hope this will find you all still enjoying the same precious blessing for it is truly said that good health is nine tenths of all the Lord has ever given to any man for what is all this world to us if we have not health to enjoy it 

I am glad to be able to tell you that Aunt is in moderate health but is trubled very much with pains in her legs and back she has been at Auchengruith at George White's for six weeks making his cheese one of his daughters has a baby and he was very anxious for Aunt to go and make the cheese till she was able to work again, we are wearing to get her home again at least I am I don't like when she is away if I had not been close confined to bed, but I do feel the want of her very much for her to be away from home and making cheese now but poor body she has always the spirit and there is nothing lifts her spirits like making cheese.  

Tam and his wife and little Samuel are all well Tam has been ????? [line of penciled writing is smudged at the crease] this some time he thought it would be a more steady job than labouring for labouring work is very scarce and for myself I may say I am a poor helpless creature lying in bed and scarce able to ???? [another smudged line on the fold] self  I have very little power in my left arm but I ought to be very thankful as long as my right arm is not affected but our heavenly father has promised that he will lay no more on us than we are able to bear but human nature is hard to bend and some times I feel it very hard to look at the bright side of the dark[?] clouds that comes before me, 

Aunt bids me tell you that she is pleased to know you have such a nice cow and she hops she will do well but she is not much taken up with the turkeys, as far as I hear there has not been good crops this year and potatoes especially and they are moderate in price in the meantime two shillings and four pence per hunderweight for the best early potatoes.

Uncle William and his family are all well I must stop for it has taken me a long time to write this and I am very tired I hope you will not be long in writing give our united love to uncle Joseph and all enquiring friends and except of the same to you all every one from your affectionate cousin, Marion Brown

Castle Mains, 8 September 1879

And now, the immediate aftermath of Tam's letter (see previous post).  It seems Aunt and Marion Brown believe Tam has asked for all the Sanquhar family's passage to America (he has not, in the letter that reached America); and they are a panic that this is not what they want at all.  They need money; that much agrees with Tam's letter. But they'd rather stay in Sanquhar and pay their bills, than endure an ocean crossing.  Marion is convinced she'd risk death in the attempt; Aunt is "like a person not in her right senses" since Tam brought up the subject.  Much of this letter is at Aunt's dictation:  "Aunt has made me write to you... Aunt bids me say..." Meanwhile in Sanquhar, the local doctor is leaving, which is a major event for Marion Brown; she owes him money, and she frequently requires his attention.  (Probably Dr. W. J. Kennedy, who was provost of Sanquhar from 1872-1878).

Castle Mains
September 8th 1879

My Dear Uncle

I hope this will find you all in good health. you will most likely have got a letter from my cousin Tom before you get this from me asking you to pay our passage to America and Aunt has made me write to you to say that it would be much better not to go till the spring at any rate but Aunt is very sore against going she has just been like a person not in her right senses since ever her wrote the letter to you and there is another thing I am not fit for the journey at this time for I am told there is ten chances to one if ever I got to the other side of the water alive it is very hard for me to be as I am not able to do for myself and a burden to my friends and the way I have been for the last six month needing the doctor so much and Tom being so long out of work in the winter and now out of work again it has brought us to be very hard to get on at all and Aunt bids me say if you would send Tom part of the money it would take to pay our passages to help us on to see what will turn up she would be very much oblige to you, and there is another thing the doctor that has been at Sanquhar is going to leave an I will owe him two or three pounds and I was going to ask you if you could send me that much and if it is in your power to do so send what is to me in my own name it is Dr. Kennedy that is going to leave uncle Joseph will know him.  if you send me that much money at this time to pay the Dr. to all appearance I will never be able to pay you but I hope God will reward you for your kindness now I must stop hoping you will get this before you take out our passages and hoping to hear from you soon I am your affectionate Neice
Marion Brown

Castle Mains, 4 September 1879

Another letter by Tam Scott, age 25.  The spelling, capitalization, and punctuation are all far less standard than Marion Brown's, so we know this is his own writing, and the topic seems to be something Marion Brown might not have known about:  Tam is asking his uncle in America, John Glencross, for his own passage to America.  His plan is to leave the rest of the household (his mother Agnes, wife Robina, cousin Marion, and little son) in Sanquhar until he can earn their passage.  The desperation in this letter is intense--there is no work in Sanquhar, Tam has tried going to the nearest city (Dumfries), but without luck.  He's afraid to fall into debt.  He promises to work and pay John back.


In the end, Tam Scott never left Scotland. 

Castle Mains
Sanquhar

Sept 4th 1879

My Dear Uncle

I take up the Pen to write to you But I felt It rather a difficult task to write to one that I never Saw nor had any communication with But It is in a Pressing Case of Buseness that I am going to write upon I mean to Beleave that you know the way that I am Placed I have my Mother and my Cousin and my Wife and child to Mantian and I felt it rather a Difficult task to do it just now as I have Been out of work for a good while and have no prospects of getting work as it is not in the cuntry to get It has not Been so Bad in no mans Day that is living her that I can communicate with and I am consulting with rich and Poor and no Prospects of it Getting any Better for a good many years

I Even went to Dumfries and applied for a Police's Place and had Testmonials of Chacter from all my Masters that I Have iver Been with Past the Docter and all But have not Got a place as yet so you se that I would not Stick if their was any thing lick a chanch But I do ashure you that their is nothing to Be got hear In no Line of Buseness that I am going to [???] to is this If i Stop hear I will Get myself into det which will niver Be fit to Recuver my Self from and I Begg of you it it is in your Power to assist me in so far as this to take out my Passage to Sail at once to America.  My Self only and and I would stay and work till such time as I could Pay their Passage but the will not lift in the mean time till the se how I will do

I se By the account of the Papers that the are good Wadges going in america I hop you will Grant what I desire But I would rather that we had all sailled together but But it is much to ask of you I will or I ought to say that I would Be the Better of a little mony to Pay my Team's Expences and I could leave them about 3 Pounds till keep them till I could Send them more mony I fell it a very hard to ask to ask It of you But I will Pay you Back all right if I keep my helth hopping that you will Take out my Passage at once as I am Getting in a very uneasy State hear nothing to do and no prospects I fell my Place very much I beg to Remain 
Yours Truly T. G. Scott
Castle Mains
Sanquhar

To John Glencross
Dunmore 

Please if you are going to assist me By Return or I must amnegrant Try if you can have me a jobe if you take out my Passage

Castle Mains, 4 July 1879

Back to Marion now, but she's still quite unwell (see last letter).  Gravel (probably kidney stones), blood "almost water," and "other complaints" are the troubles now, and she's been confined to bed for months.  She says she's been ill for fifteen years--which carries her illness back to 1864, when she was 21--but there are other references to her being ill in childhood as well, so it's not clear what changed in 1864.  The rest of the household fares little better--Aunt has very bad "rheumatisms," and Tam Scott has been off work with smashed ribs.  Meanwhile in America, there's another Bryden boy born (and Aunt demands to know the child's name--he was called James, by the way). 

Castle Mains
July 4th 1879

Dear Uncle

We have been expecting a letter from either you or James Bryden this some time and none has come and Aunt is got out of patience and just made me start today to write and ask if you are all about your useal in health or what is come over you at all  the truth is she takes fits of wearing and thinks the time longer than it is but it is five months since we had a letter from you now.  I hope this will find you all well how is Marion and her two boys getting on Aunt says you have to send her word what the youngest ones name is.  Aunt is wonderful well but very bad with rheumatisms sometimes. 

Tom & his wife and his son is well Tom was of work for ten days he got his ribs smashed one of the planks of the gang sliped at the top and he happened just to be half way up so he was tiped right over and got sore ribs over it but he is better and able to work again the baby is a fine Healthy boy and his name is Samuel.  trade is very dull around here just now and wages is down and provision still keeps high but I hope things will soon take a turn.  we have had no summer weather yet it has been both cold and wet.*  I hear them say that the hay crop is looking well and that is so far good 

I have not seen any of the crops this year for I have been nearly close confined to bed for four months my complaint was gravel and brought on other complaints throughout all the time I have been ill I was never so bad as this time for two months the doctor was at me every day and very often twice a day, some times i cannot but think that I have been born to troubles but I may be thankful that I can sit up for an hour every day now and if the weather would turn more settled may be I would get stronger the doctor tells me my blood is almost water and that is how I am so long in gathering strength and there is no doubt but the blood is the strength of the whole body. 

dear uncle it is fifteen years since I turned ill and I have always lived in the hope that I may get strong sometimes I wonder if ever I will get that hope realised but us poor sinful creatures has no right to grumble and if God sees fit he will raise me up at his own good time, and if not I hope I may be content what ever my lot may be. 

Now I have to tell you again from Aunt that you are to be sure and write soon some of you she says as many of you might have a letter here every month you would not beleive how she wearies to hear from you and how often she talks about you. Uncle William and his family are all well and all other friends as far as I know now I must stop for I am tired with kind love to you and all other friends in which Aunt joins I am your affectionate Neice Marion Brown

be sure and write soon

*The mention of a cold wet summer is confirmed by this historical record of Scottish weather, which describes the summer of 1879 as "notably and persistently cold...also very wet, particularly in June, July & August; loss of bee colonies reported widely & great loss of harvest." 

Castle Mains, 4 June 1879

This is not a letter by Marion Brown.  She is referred to as "May" in this letter, and has apparently "had a very bad turn."  So her cousin, Tam Scott, is writing instead.  Tam's handwriting is fairly legible for a man's hand, but his spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation are less standard than Marion's, and quite a few words are hard to work out.  Nonetheless, it's a newsy partial letter that gives a glimpse of Tam's personality, and shows Marion Brown's situation from another perspective.

Tam is a new father, it seems, with young Samuel Glencross Scott already 9 weeks old.  We know from other letters that Robina moved into the Castle Mains residence as Tam's wife at the end of January; she must have been quite pregnant at the time, if their son was born in early April.  His mother (Aunt Agnes Scott) is "fair daft" about her first grandchild, but at the time of this letter's writing, she was away from the home, teaching cheesemaking at dairies near Auchengruick (not sure where that is on current maps).  That leaves Marion at home, too ill even to write; a newborn, Samuel; a new mother, Robina; and Tam, who is unable to work from having "smashed ribs."  And, apparently, chickens. Sounds stressful!

Tam says work is scarce, very scarce, especially since the "Duck" (the local landowner; Tam misspells "Duke," or does he?) isn't hiring at the moment.  But Tam is making some money with his prize poultry.  He's obviously proud of his Hamburgs, and travels to various shows to compete with other breeders.  But rats (or "rates") ate a bunch of his best chickens, which made a significant dent in his prospects for earning. 

There's also mention of Robert McWhir, who has turned up in at least two past letters.

Castle Mains
Sanquhar
June 4th 1879

Dear Uncle I take the pleasure of droping you a few lines to let you know how we are all getting on  hopping this will find you all well I may say that May is getting a little better But has had a very bad turn and my mother is well but Bothered with Rehumatism  She is at Auchengruick just now larning them to make the chease she has both the dairs to lairn  She is standing her age well i do not know much els of her but scarce so fast as in formar days I may say that the Wife is well and the Son he is 9 weeks old today and a fine Strong Healthy Boy but i dout he will get too much of his one [own?] will with them.  Mother is fair daft about him and May not much Better I will depart from this topic But first i will give you the Son's name I call him Samuel Glencross Scott 

I may say that Robert McWhir is cum hear for man [men?].  I am of work just now with Smashed Ribs which i got at my work but work hear is very scarce and will be scarcer before it is mor plentful.  the Duck is stoped puting on his repairs sing[?] to his son standing for Mid Lothian and it is a grate pity if he would get on for he is puting this place in a pitful state we are just finishing up old jobs that we had not done it is sed that it will be 3 years before it is any better as the Duck is deep in det their is nothing going on at nothing it dos not mater what it is their is 100 on the Road that cannot get work no place.

Every part is alick their is no use leaving one place and going to another for all is alick bad and markets high you sed I had shurly a good stock of Poultry I have the best Stock of Hamburgs I think in Scottland the have to cum from York and Leads Lincolnshire the best Breeders in England the do nothing else but attend Shows and make their living of them and a good one to I sold eggs of my Birds this year at 6 shillings and 6 pence a dozen their were 2 settings sent to Nottingham and i am going to have a Draw for 4 Pair of my Prize Birds I am getting them Printed at Dumfries i intend to make a little mony of it in this dull tumes I will not stick at nothing I had 44 chickins some 10 weeks old and on Monday night the Rates found them and thought they would make a good supper and killed 6 of them and the Best to I could have got 1 pound a peace for them It will tell hard against me this year for the Shows as you can Scarce get them to run[?], the Shows too years althoe I have an old cock this year has only been shown two times took 1 at Sanquhar and First and Special at New Cumnock show the judge told me he was the Best Cock that he had seen and he put it in the Papers to and I took 2 to at New Cumnock my next hshow will be Dumfries Union Show which is in August i mean to take First at it to if i am well 

I was to give you Robert McWhir's kind love you and Uncle John and you have to send word what sort of a country you are in I could fill the letter about my Birds with Prizes and Remarks at Shows but i will let them drop I hop trade is getting better with you Tom will be a man by this time His cousin Tam is 6 feet and Built from the ground he was home hear at the Saison [?] he always calls it his Home you know he never knew anything els you might tell him to write a letter to me as i fell as  [rest of letter is missing]

Castle Mains, 24 February 1879

 A month has passed; still no work for Tam, Marion's ill in bed with "gravel" (kidney or gall stones--from the mention of back pain, probably the former), and the snow keeps coming.  In the US, James Bryden has broken his collar bone, but uncle John Glencross has sent some money to the Sanquhar household to help during this hard season.  (The younger son of James and Marion Bryden has a name (James), but the American cousins have neglected to mention that in letters so far.  "Aunt thinks you are all turned doiled" --"doiled" in this context means foolish, daft.)

Castle Mains
Feb 24th 1879

Dear Uncle

I write to let you know I received your kind letter on the 18th all right and I was able to go up to the bank and get the money and I got it all right and I have to say from Aunt that she was very thankful to see it for it has been a very hard winter here on all classes and you must execpt of my best thanks as well and I hope our heavenly Father will give you a blessing for your kindness to us. 

I was sorry to see from James Bryden's letter that he had got his collar bone broken but I hope before this time that he is quite better it has been bad weather this some time for broken bones I hope Marion and the two boys are well, you have never sent us word what the name of her youngest boy is Aunt says she thinks you are all turned doiled when you have forgot to send us the name of the boy.

I am writing this lying in bed so you must excuse blunders I have had a bad turn with gravel and my back is so sore that I have had to keep my bed for two days.  We have still very stormy weather the ground is white with snow and there has been a good deal more last night and still falling more today.  I hope the storm will soon go away now for I think every working man and farmers as well will be wearing for fresh weather for nobody can get working the frost has been so hard.

Tom has not been working for three months and he is getting very impatient now. Uncle William and his family are all well and all other friends as far as I know I must stop for I am getting tired.  Aunt sends her kind regards to you all and you are not to be so long in writing for we weary to hear from you all execpt of my kind regards to you hoping to hear from you before long and that this will find you all well and may God guide you all is the desire of your affectionate Neice

Marion Brown

Castle Mains, 11 February 1878

A new year and a new return address for Marion Brown, Aunt and Tam Scott:  Castle Mains by Sanquhar.  This is the only surviving 1878 letter, but it's a long chatty one that shows how precarious the health of all three Sanquhar family members has been--Tam Scott with his ongoing lung issues, Aunt with her bad chest cold, and Marion unable to walk, barely able to speak.  Perhaps in response to the financial straits that prompted their move, James Bryden has sent the household a gift of (presumably) money.   The spurs a reflection on dependence and gratitude from Marion, and lavish thanks and well wishes for the American kin.  There's still mention of trying to get Aunt to emigrate; and further mention of Aunt's cheesemaking skills.  The Americans are instructed to get photos taken, so that Aunt can consider who young John Bryden resembles most. 

Castle Mains

By Sanquhar

Feb 11th 1878

Dear Friends

We was all very glad to see your kind and very welcome letter for we was wearing very much to hear from you.  I hope this will find you all well when it reaches you and I am glad to be able to say that Aunt is just about her useal way again she got a bad cold when we flitted but I think has got clear of it now  Tam was off work for a fortnight with a bad cold to his chest is not very strong and when he has a cold it always takes hold of his lungs but he is a good deal better and able to work but he is drinking cod liver oil and the doctor says he has to drink it always to keep his lungs soft.

I am glad to be able to tell you that I feel no worse this two or three weeks I can speak a little but not much I have to do the most of my talking in writting yet and I am very bad at walking but it is my back  that makes me so bad at walking it takes the power from my legs altogether at times.

Now James you must give uncle our very best thanks for his kindness in sending us such a present.  The truth is this if it was not the kindness of my friends to me I dont know how I would do for I have never been able to work for myself and seems to be as unfit for work as ever but our heavenly Father is always kind to us and gives us far more than we deserve and I ought to be very thankful that I have always had kind friends to take care of me for Aunt has been a Mother to me and I have to tell you from her that she hopes you will always have plenty and she would be very glad to see you come steping in.  in summer and perhaps she would not be so hard to advise to go over with you this time and she thinks altho the cows is not her own she could get you some curds when you come and she says you are to be sure and get your son's likeness taken uncle Marion you and John altogether  and then she will see who he is like.

Uncle William and all his family is well in the meantime my Brother and his wife and family is all well but the youngest one that is my namesake Marion she has had a very bad turn with Bronchitis but is a little better if she continues and I hope she will.  You must give uncle Joseph and them all our best respects we have had a very mild winter and I hope the spring will continue as mild.  

Now I have to tell you from Aunt you are not to be so long in writting for she says if you had not been so far away she would have tried to have gone to see what was keeping you from writting now I will stop hopping this will find you all well and also hopping you will writing sooner and with kind love to you all and all friends I am your affectionate Cousin Marion Brown

Tower Cottages, 2 July 1877

This letter is somewhat damaged (in its current existence it's in four pieces), but full of news. Aunt's been unwell, Marion's lost her voice, Tam's okay, weather is hot; there's a crop report, a wages report, and the terrible news that Marion's sister Sarah in London is sick in a hospital with smallpox, leaving two little children in danger of losing their mother. Marion Brown is moved to an extended paragraph on religious resignation to God's will by this news.

What she is not moved to mention: this letter was written on Marion Brown's 33rd birthday.

Tower Cottages
July 2nd 1877

My Dear Friends

We are always very glad to see a letter from any of you and I hope this will find you all in the enjoyment of good health which is the best earthly blessing we can have I am sorry to [have to?] tell you that Aunt has been very poorly it was like bilious fever she had and she was very sick for a week but is now on the way of improveing if she could take more food I think she would soon get stronger but she can take almost nothing However we must hope for the best and look to our Father in heaven for the blessing on the means that is used.

the weather is come in very warm and it is very trying at least I feel it very much my voice is entirely [failing?] me again you could scarce know a word I say. Tam is keeping wonderful well this some time which is a good thing when both aunt & me has been complaining. I was sorry to see from your letter that uncle Joseph had been so long bad but I hope he is still keeping better & all the rest well,

you want to know what kind of crops we have here abouts well as far as I have seen corn hay potatoes and turnips is all looking very well at the season. [unreadable section lost in a torn fold] country is dull as well as with you at Thornhill hay and harvest fair the masters tried hard to bring down the wages but in general the servants got about last years wages I have very little new to tell you this time I had such bad news from London [unreadable section] my sister Sarah is very bad with smallpox they are not qute sure how it will stand with her yet her husband tried hard to get keeping her at home I mean in their own house [unreadable section] knew it was small pox he made her be taken away to the hospital, we must just wait with patience and hope for the best. she had two little boys and if she is taken from them they will miss a mothers care which is a great want, but God knows best what way is the best and what he sees fit to do we have no right to say a word but human nature is hard to bend and we feel the afflicting rod hard to bear but we have great promises to cheer us in affliciton as well as in health for whom God loveth he chasteneth and he is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother

now I must draw to a close uncle William and his family is all well at present and all friends here as far as I know and hopping to hear from you soon and with kind love to you all every one in which Aunt and Tam joins I remain your affectionate cousin

Marion Brown

PS tell uncle John that we have a great time here with hens instead of singing birds M. B.

Tower Cottages, 16 April 1877

As I type in this letter, much of mid-Scotland is under hurricane conditions--so maybe it's appropriate that Marion Brown is writing about the weather--in her case, cold and snow. (The winter-spring of 1877 was "notably wet" in Scotland, according to weather historians.) The cold is affecting Aunt's rheumatism, and Tam's work schedule. Marion Brown, meanwhile, is confined to bed with sore eyes and a cold. She was recently, temporarily blind, and apologizes that she cannot write more. The doctor blames Marion Brown's sewing and knitting for straining her eyes. Aunt is wistful; she expects she will never get a chance to see John Bryden, the new son of James Bryden and Marion Glencross. (And as far as I can tell, she never did see him.)

Tower Cottages
April 16th 1877

My Dear Friends,

In answer to your last which I received in due time I write a few lines to let you know how we are getting on. Aunt has been wonderful in her health but very bad with rheumatisms in her legs and arms the weather is so cold that there is little wonder that we are not all bad with pains the snow is lying white on the hills around us today we may say that we have never had winter till the spring is nearly past only we hope the weather will soon take a change.

Tam is still working with masons when the weather will allow and has been in pretty good health this some time past now James I will not promise to write you a long letter this time for I have had very sore eyes for a week I was nearly blind and since my eyes turned a little better I have had a bad cold and has been confined to bed but I may be very thankful that I am on the way of getting better if I continue if it is Gods will. the doctor blames me looking so steady at my work for my eyes turning sore. be that as it may I must just submit to whatever God sees fit to lay upon me and be glad it is no worse. I hope this will find you all in good health when it reaches you. Aunt sends her kind love to you and she says she would like very well to see your son but she thinks that will likely never take place. you are to give Aunts kind love to all friends and execpt [sic] the same to you all every one from your affectionate Cousin Marion Brown

I hope you will not be long in writting for I cannot write more at this time M. B.

Tower Cottages, 8 January 1877

An eventful letter--or rather, a reply to an eventful letter. Marion Glencross and James Bryden have a new baby son, John Glencross Bryden, who would be called "Jake" in later life. Marion Brown is excited for her cousin, and offers half-jokingly to come help with him, saying that she's good with children, and that, if she can't walk around with him, at least she can sit in a corner and sing, as "bairns all like noise." (She will feel somewhat differently when she's sharing quarters with Tam's children, later in the correspondence.) Marion Brown mentions that her brother James has five children, the youngest named for her.

This letter also gives evidence that John Glencross has sent money ("kindness") for his sister's household; especially handy in the stormy depth of winter, when Aunt's rheumatism is worse, and Tam has been out of work for weeks. Marion acts as conduit for messages from Aunt and Tam in this letter ("Aunt bids me say that..."), and scolds more than once that the American cousins should write more often (though surely there might be some excuse for less-frequent writing, in a household with a newborn baby).

Tower Cottages
8 January 1877

Dear Cousin

I received your very welcome letter in due time and was very glad to see it for Aunt was wearing so much to hear from you. We are all very pleased to see from your letter that you are all well and that you have got such a fine little boy to nurse. Aunt says that she dreamed about uncle John holding a baby on his knee about the very time he would come among you and James if I was near you I would nurse some times for you for I am very fond of children and I am Aunt to all the children that know me.

The new year is begun very stormy with us while I am writting the window is just as if it was going to be blown in. I am very glad to be able to tell you that we are all wonderful in the meantime Aunt is bad with rheumatisms but if there is a weak part in the body the stormy weather is sure to make one feel it and Aunt is not so young now and she must fail but has always the brave spirit to go through her if strength would stand

You are to tell uncle from her that she is very much obliged to him for his kindness and she hopes both you and him will always have plenty and never want for anything. but there is one thing I have to tell you that you are never to be so long in writting for she does weary to hear from you.

Uncle William and his family is all well in the meantime. my Brother and his family is all well he has five children and the youngest is named for me. Now James I am going to tell you that if you are all spared and well you are not to be very long till you send me the likeness of your son to let us see what he is like I have to tell you from Aunt that she is very pleased that his name is John Glencross. tell Marion from me that I think she would be nothing the worse of a useless body like me to sit in a corner and nurse her son some times if I could not walk about much with him I would sing to him and bairns all like noise.

Tam bids me tell you that he is wearing his very life out for he has had nothing to do for three weeks he is going to set out a second time to see if he can get any thing to do work is very scarce here just now. please to give Uncle Joseph & Aunt Marion your kind regards and I hope Aunt is keeping better and all the rest well. I can think of very little more to say at this time I have no news all is very quite. hopping you will not be so long in writting next time with kind love to you all every one in which Aunt and Tam joins and may God be your guide is the desire of your affectionate cousin, Marion Brown

PS Many thanks to uncle John for his kindness MB

Tower Cottages, 24 January 1876

Long time since the last surviving letter, but in the interim, James Bryden and Marion Glencross have married (almost four years after he emigrated, apparently for that purpose). Marion jokes "long looked for come at last,"* and suggests that if they have twins, she'll come over to help--but she has obviously not attended their wedding, as hoped in previous letters. Nonetheless, she has an opinion about the bride's dress, as it was described to her. Marion Brown has been ill with infected ears and throat in the winter; Tam Scott has also been quite ill and unable to work, and Aunt is "failing." There's some dispute about whether Marion Brown was writing letters back in the recent months--James and Marion Bryden didn't receive them, and indeed they are not in the surviving set. But she says she wrote.

*Here's another 19c. letter between women that uses the same phrase. It also turns up in song lyrics, which makes sense for the sentiment. There's even a "Long Looked For, Come At Last" Vineyard, in Maryland.

Tower Cottages
January 26th 1876

Dear Cousin,

I received your very welcome letter last week and was glad to see from it that you and all other friends was well when you wrote and I hope this will still find you all enjoying the same precious blessing for which we cannot be to thankful for. I am very glad to be able to tell you that we are all better than we have been for some time back Tam has been very poorly he has had inflmation and a bad cold and he has not been able to do much since Martinmas I have had a sore throat and bealing ears and Aunt is the only one that kept pretty strong among us but poor body she is failing altho she has still the spirit. However I hope we will all keep better now when we have got the turn we are looking forward to better weather and surely that will recruit us.

I will claim the old saying over your marriage long looked for come at last so I wish you long life and much happiness and a big family and if you should have twins the first time as Mrs. Johnston had I will come over and help you nurse them. Well Marion I think your dresses would look very well and it is very fashionable to have a dress made in two shades now so I think the two browns would look very well and James I have a word for you to you have no excuse for not writting because you are married you must write oftener and surely when there is two of you as one we will get a letter oftener. you say you have wrote me two letters and got no answer but I have never got any but I have sent away an answer to them whither you got it or not.

Aunt sends her kind regards to you both and wishes much happiness in your married life and long spared to each other, and also to all other friends and she was wondering what was come over uncle John when you wrote last for you never mentioned his name and you are to give Tom Glencross Aunt's kind regards and say she would like to see him now and he is to write a letter himself now I think I have little more worth writting at this time so I will say goodbye with kind love to you all every one from your affectionate cousin, Marion Brown

Tower Cottages, 14 June 1875

Here we learn about Marion's turn of health--she cannot speak and is "dull" company for her Aunt; she had had twelve teeth removed to date, and is receiving "galvanic shooks" (galvanism, or electrotherapy, was a popular treatment for many conditions in Marion Brown's day). She also continues her vaguely suggestive/flirtatious tone with James Bryden, hoping that he might come and cheer her up, and wishing "I was beside you to get a ride on your fine horse."

Tower Cottages
June 14th 1875

My Dear Friend

I have no doubt you will be thinking me as long in writting to you as ever but I have put of from day to day for a week thinking I would could say that I was better but it will not do yet for I can speak none at all now I have to write everything I want to say I am getting galvanic shooks every day the Doctor say they are they only thing that will do me good so I must just wait with patience and see what turns up for me. I hope this will find you and all friends well when it reaches you I am glad to be able to say that Tam has had pretty good health this some time and Aunt is wonderful but has never been so strong since she had a bad cold about the new year she bids me tell you that if you was to come in some day before she knew you would give her a surprise but she would be very happy to see you and she thinks I would be so much the better of you to cheer me up as she would for since I could not speak she thinks me very dull. I was sorry to see from your letter that you had been so bad with toothach it is a very annoying disease and some has very little pity for it but I am sorry to see any one bad with it for I have had my share of it I have got twelve taken out, I could like very well if I was beside you to get a ride on your fine horse many a canter I have had on Miss Kennedys pony when I was at the Bogg. give my kind regards to Marion and tell her I am wearing for her letter and she is to be sure and send me Sarah Johnstone's address for her Grandmother is wearing for it. The gardens will be in full bloom now I hope you will have a good crop of everything the crops here is looking very well as yet. now I can think of nothing else worth writting at this time with kind love to you and all friends in which Aunt and Tam joins I remain your affectionate Friend
Marion Brown
Be sure and write soon

Tower Cottages, 5 April 1875

In this letter, Marion Brown scolds Marion Glencross for not writing a letter--by writing a brief letter that's mostly about letterwriting. But she also talks about the hard winter--snow still on the hills in April--and Tam's health and work, and Aunt's health (which has been bad), and the Johnstones, and William Glencross and family. This is another instance of Marion Brown taking on the role of news conduit between Scottish and American kin--she also kept John Glencross and his son connected, and kept Marion Glencross's maternal grandmother apprised of her well-being (and vice versa). In a time and place where epistolary literacy could not be taken for granted, her ability and willingness to write letters gave her a chance to be helpful to a range of acquaintances.

Tower Cottages
April 5th 1875

My Dear Cousin

I received your very welcome letter last week and we was really beginning to think that you was not going to write any more, many a time Aunt said she could not understand what neither you nor your father was writting for, since we came here she thinks the time far longer and she takes it very hard to heart when you are long in writting Aunt had a very bad cold about the new year and she has never got the better of it she had rheumatism in her back and down her leg and some times she could scarce walk across the house she has been a little better since the severe storm went away but we have very cold weather yet the hills is white with snow today

I hope this will find you & your Father both well and all the rest of our friends in moderate health when it reaches you.

Cousin Tom is working to Mr. Hyslop just now at whatever he can get to do but he is never very strong when ever he gets the least cold it fixes in his chest and he just coughes on. I have very little new to write as I am not able to go out much and we have a very quite place here. You will likely have heard from James Bryden before you get this that I would like to get Sarah Johnstones address to her Grandmother I was at Sanquhar one day and saw her and she was quite greived that Sarah never wrote to her and she asked me to send to you or some of my friends for her address for she is going to write to her altho she never gets an answer

uncle William and his family are all well and uncle is still working in the woods. It has been a very hard winter here & a great dal of trouble & death around us

Aunt sends her kind regards to you & your Father and hopes you will not be so long in writting again. now I can think of nothing else worth writting at present so with kind love to you and all friends I remain your affectionate cousin

Marion Brown

PS please send Sarah Johnstones address soon and word how she is getting on M B

Tower Cottages, 22 March 1875

And now it's 1875, and "a very severe" winter has passed in Sanquhar since the last surviving letter. She mentions that there's been a lot of "trouble and death," but doesn't say who died. Aunt has had a cold for many weeks, but takes the opportunity to send a message via Marion Brown's letter to America (her lines are in blue); another friend, Sarah Johnstone's grandmother, sends a request in this letter too (green lines). Tam is working on the surface, not in the mines, which Marion judges to be better. And Aunt half-jokes that James Bryden should return to Scotland for a visit, with Marion Glencross in tow.

Tower Cottages
March 22nd 1875

Dear Friend

I received your kind and welcome letter last week and was sorry to see from it that you had been so bad with the cold but I hope by this time that you are greatly better if not well altogether. It has been a very severe winter in this country with trouble I never remember of as much trouble and death since ever I began to take notice. I am sorry to tell you that Aunt is not at all well she took a cold at the new year and has never got quite of it she has a very bad cough and her chest and side is very sore at times but I hope if the weather would get a little warmer that she will get a little stronger for when any thing is wrong with Aunt it is not like our own house.

I have to give you her kind love and say if you would do her any good it is time you was here for she has had a very dull winter and she thinks you would be nothing the worse of a sail across to see what the old country is like once more and she says you are to bring Marion along with you this time

I am very glad to be able to tell you that Tam is keeping well this some time he is left the coals and is working farmwork this last month and surface work agrees best with him

I have very little new to write this time. I was down at Sanquhar last week and saw Sarah Johnstone's grandmother and she wanted me to ask Marion to send her address to me and then I could give it to her for she has not heard from Sarah for a long time and she is going to write to her if she know her address. please to send the address the next time you write or tell Marion to send it if she writes before you for the poor body is quite distressed over Sarah.

give my kind regards to Marion Uncle John uncle Joseph and all friends and execpt of the same to your self from your Affectionate friend, Marion Brown

write soon and perhaps i will have more news next time and be in better spirits M. B.

Tower Cottages, 25 October 1874

[Image at left: Portrait of a young woman from family albums, labeled "Jane Law" in pencil on the back; there's another photograph of Miss Jane Law posted here]

Last letter surviving from 1874. Marion Brown's health has taken a turn: she was blind for a week, and still has sore eyes; for five weeks, she has been unable to speak "any louder than a whisper." But she's writing to James Bryden anyway. Aunt is still missing her cows and the Bogg; Tam Scott is working in a coal pit now that the harvest season has ended. In Dunmore, Marion Glencross's friend Jane Law (pictured at left) is getting married--but James and Marion G still haven't got married. Marion B still hopes to attend their wedding in America, and "kick up a right spree."

Tower Cottages
25 October 1874

My Dear Friend

I received your very welcome letter this day week and was very glad to see from it that you and all friend was well when you wrote which is the greatest blessing we can enjoy in this world. I have not been so well this last five weeks I cannot speak any louder than a whisper and I have had sore eyes I was blind for a week but I am thankful that my eyes is a little better and I hope I will continue well if it is Gods will.

Aunt is about her useal way but is always the same as if she was not at home when she has no cows to work with she says that she would like to see you here she thinks you would cheer her up the time you was here. You tell me in your letter that Jane Law is going to be married about the end of this month she is going to beat you and Marion but as the saying goes there is luck in lesure I always think that I have to be over in time to get your wedding and if I should chance to be there I would kick up a right spree.

It has been very wet weather this long time if one day is dry the next is sure to be wet every body is busy here just now raiseing there potatoes and from what I hear there is a very good crop throughout the country.

Now James you see this letter is commenced on the 23rd of October and this is the eight of November and you will see by the beginning of it that I have not been so well and I can tell you that I have had very sore eyes and could scarcly see any but I am glad that they are improving now or I could not write so well.

Tam is working in a coal pit now since he came home from his harvest but he does not like it very well and the coal trade is not so brisk here as it was last year.

You may tell Marion that we are wearing very much to get a letter from her. now I must stop at this time I hope I will can write more next time if spared & well & with kind love to you and all friends and may God be your guide is the desire of your affectionate friend Marion Brown

I hope you will not be long in writting M. B.