"If you wish to have any purchased I will do it for you, only let me know the quantity you wish to have.Cattle have been as low as 4 pence or 5 pence in the spring.It is uncertain what the price may be, but Isee no prospect of them being very high, as there is great plenty of cattle in the country.Should you want any in the spring you can rely on my doing the best in my power to serve you.
"Remain your most humble servant, "WM.TRUEMAN."Mr.Bryne had been in Westmoreland that summer and purchased a drove of cattle and sheep, which were shipped on June 28th, as noted previously.
On April 25th, 1811, Mrs.Keillor, Mrs.Trueman's mother, who had been living at Prospect since 1806, died.Her husband, Thomas Keillor, a stonemason by trade, died some years earlier.There is at Prospect a copy of a power of attorney given by Mrs.Keillor to her "trusty friend," Stephen Emmerson, to act for her in collecting rents and selling claims in Skelton, England, in connection with the property owned by her late husband.
This document was copied by Amos Botsford and witnessed by Wm.Botsford and Henry Chapman, jun., and dated Oct.30th, 1810.
Mrs.Keillor was buried on the old farm at Fowler's Hill beside her husband in a small burying-ground that was formerly surrounded by a stone wall, part of which is still standing.
Mrs.Keillor's maiden name was Mary Thomson.She and two other married sisters--Jane, the wife of John Carter, and Ann, the wife of William Trueman--came with the Yorkshire emigration.These sisters left one brother at least in England, as the letter following, in reply to one received from George Thomson, will show:
"PROSPECT, March 29th, 1811.
"DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT,--Received your welcome letter of March 29th, and was glad to hear from you and of your wellfare, and hoping these lines will find you and yours enjoying the same blessings of health and happiness.
"I have to tell you of the death of my mother-in-law.She departed this life April 22nd.Your sister Jane is very well at present.
"The rest of your family are all well.If you see fit to come out in the spring your friends will be glad to see you.It will be best for you to get a lumber vessel if you can.There hath been two vessels from Hull and one from Newcastle this summer.Respecting goods and merchandise, lay in well for common clothing.Bring some home-made linens and checks.Ox-chains and horse-traces and bridles.Everything in wood will be expensive.
"You ask what bills I propose.Good bills on Halifax answer, but nothing will answer like cash here, as it may be some trouble to get them cashed.Mechanics of all kinds are wanted.Carpenters, 7 shillings 6 pence per day.We pay 4s.and 4s.6d.for making a pair of shoes.Agood tailor is much wanted.We pay 6s.for shoeing a horse.Bring a few scythes of the best quality.Baie Verte is the best place to land at;if you cannot make that out, St.John or Halifax.There may be some difficulty in getting a passage from Halifax by water.Shall look out for a place for you with a house on it.
"May the Lord direct you and prosper your undertaking.Give my best respects to George Swinburne and wife.Let him know my wife and my ten children and myself are well.
"I have nothing more at present to write.May the Lord direct you in all your ways, so prays your affectionate nephew and niece, "WM.AND ELIZABETH TRUEMAN."Mr.George Thompson did not emigrate to Nova Scotia as he expected when he wrote to his uncle and aunt.The following letter, written by his son five years later, explains why:
"DURHAM, Sept., 1816.
"DEAR COUSINS,--You probably would think it very strange our not writing to you for so long a time, but I can assure you it was not for want of affection or respect, but merely inadvertence; and no doubt you would think it strange, after my father wrote to inform you he intended setting out for America, that he never went, but the principal reason was that on second consideration he thought himself too far advanced in years to undertake so long a voyage, and the rest of the family except myself were not very willing.Consequently he immediately after that took a large farm, which I had principally to manage, otherwise I would have gone at that time.However, it is my wish to set out next spring, and have not written to inform you it, in order that I may have your answer before that, stating all particulars of the country, and if there be a good prospect for me.There is also an acquaintance of mine, a threshing machine maker and cartwright, has a desire to accompany me;therefore be so good as to say what prospect there is for such a man as he is.
"All my brothers and sisters are married and settled, and my father and mother are very well and now live by themselves, retired from farming.
"Hoping you and all friends are well, I shall conclude with kindest love to all, "And remain, dear cousin, "Yours affectionately, "GEORGE THOMPSON.
"P.S.--Have the goodness to write the first opportunity, and direct to me at "Harbour House, "Durham."It is quite possible the above letter did not receive a reply.A good deal of trouble had been taken to send full information to the father, and five years were allowed to pass before any acknowledgement was made.At all events, there is no record of a letter being sent to the son, and it is certain he did not come to this country.
The subjoined communication helps to show the depressed condition in England at that period, and that many were looking to America in the hope of bettering their condition:
"May 14th, 1819.
"DEAR COUSIN,--I hope these lines will find you all well, as they us at present.We thank God for it.
"I intend to come over to America this spring If it should please God, For the state of England are very bad, Land has got so very dear that a livelihood cannot be got in England, and the taxes that Government lays on are very heavy, till they reduce so many to a lower class that the land will hardly support the poor.I hope you are in a better situation in America.
