The Letters |
November 8, 1932 Ivy Cot, St. Fillans Peter William Carmichael Dear Peter William, I hope you can make all this out and write it out better yourself and give a copy to the cousins, they might like these few news of our fore folk. My Greatgrandfather (Finlay Carmichael) came from Ardtalnaig, Locktayside, and took the farm of Glenmaik in Glen Lednock in company with a man named Cameron. (The Carmichaels he belonged to were a Sept of the Stewards of Appin, where he was born) he took contracts for building dry stone dykes for all around the district and employed several men with him, he was married three times. His second wife, my Grandfather's (John's) mother was Christian Cameron, one of the Camerons who were at Glenmaik, the third wife was Katie McLaren, who was a widow with one son James MacWhannel, she was our Grand Uncle Finlay's mother, who went to Australia and died there some years later. My Uncle Finlay who also went there to the gold diggings. My Grandfather had one one sister, Christian, who married Ferguson of Conichan farm in Glen Almond, she was Miss (?) Ferguson's mother. The Ferguson's were tenants of that farm from father to son for 500 years. The last of them went out to the United States, their descendants are somewhere there yet. My Great, Great Grandfather was named Gilbert, and my Great Grandfather Finlay. My Grandfather John Carmichael's Great Uncle on his mother's side (Christian Cameron) was the Hugh Cameron who invented the spinning wheel, he was a famous millwright in his day. (Hugh Cameron died in 1817 at the age of 112, was a known builder of mills in the area). Grandfather worked with him at the time when there was such a scarcity of food in this country that they had to bleed the living cattle and cook the blood for food, he lived at Lawers Lochtayside, and died at the age of 111. My Grandfather had Wester Dundurn farm along with his cousins Hugh and John Cameron and their sisters Betty and Kate, they lived where the gamekeeper's house now stands and my Grandfather had the present old farm house, he looked after the sheep and they did the field work, but they lost on it as the Cameron's had not pushed enough in working the land and also at this election time Hugh Cameron was told by the Factor to vote on the Tory side and refused to do so as he was a Whig, so they were put out of the farm on the first opportunity. My Grandmother's (Ann Comrie) Great Uncle was a Dr. Robert Comrie, he was a Dr. in the Navy and practiced in Comrie after his retiral, he had a daughter Lydia and our Grandmother's brother William (Comrie) who was a joiner at Dunira married her, that was how the Comries got his house property. Dr. Comrie married his housekeeper and died soon after, leaving her property in Spain he had got during the Peninsular wars and shares in the Arizona Copper mines, as they failed to see about them at her death it was all lost to them. The following extract is from a memoir of the late Robert Findlater who was minister at Ardeonaig, Lochtayside, ordained there 16th of April 1800. It was said his ministry was blessed from the beginning. A remarkable instance of God's love was manifested in the conversion of Mrs. Carmichael from Glenlednock in the Parish of Comrie, who was by divine providence brought in the following manner to hear the truth as it is in Jesus. Her husbands first wife had been buried in Ardeonaig churchyard, by his second wife he had several children, a favorite child died and the father was for burying her in his first wife's grave, the mother was for burying her with her own kindred in the Parish of Comrie. The husband however prevailed and the girl was buried at Ardeonaig. The first Sabbath after the funeral the mother resolved to visit the grave of her beloved daughter, left early in the morning without (?) of her design, she walked alone over the hill, arrived at her journey's end sometime before the people were assembled to hear the sermon, and lay for a long time on her dear daughters grave watering it with her tears before she was aware however of being absorbed by grief, the people began to assemble for public worship which was at that time performed in the churchyard, against her inclination and intention she had to sit down with the rest of the people. The minister entered the tent and before he had got half through his discourse Mrs. Carmichael's attention was so much arrested by his manner and doctrine that for a time she forgot the object of her visit and before he was done she was so overcome by a conviction of her own condition as a lost sinner, that sorrow for the daughter gave way to concern for salvation of her own soul, she came to weep over the grave of her beloved child but ere she returned, she heard of a living Saviour who is the Resurrection and the Life and her heart was opened to hear glad tidings of great joy. He who began the good work in her soul carried it on., she was not only reproved of sin but also of righteousness, the above interesting circumstances occurred before I became acquainted either with Mr. Findlater or Mrs. Carmichael, yet I heard of it from both, Mrs. Carmichael uniformly maintained a holy and consistent profession and was distinguished as one of the most pious and zealous for the glory of God in her day in that part of the country. For Mr. Findlater she ever felt if I so may express her feelings a truly filial affection,she could never speak of him by his own proper name, but always Himself. I always called on her when passing that way and was honored, as she considered it by drinking out of the cup from which Himself drank "Olidh sibh deoch as an t-Soitheach as an d'ol e fein" (You will drink a drink from the vessel from which he himself drank) this Soitheach she kept as a token as a remberance of his visit till the day of her death. I copied the above extract from a memoir of the Rev. Robert Findlater which was sent to me to read by his grand nieces Misses Mary and Jane Findlater whose father was Free Church minister at Lochearnhead when I was a girl. (Mary and Jane Findlater were Victorian novelists. They are buried in Comrie.) My Grandfather John Carmichael and his father get the feud at Oakbank and where our house is here, because he had been a tenant of Wester Dundurn when Lady Willoughby de Eresby had the village of St. Fillans laid out. He joined the Perthshire Fencibles as a young lad at the time of the Napoleon wars when he was planning to invade Britain, later on when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were at Drummond Castle, he was a member of the tenantry in uniform of Drummond tartan who attended as a body guard. My Grandmother's great grandfather was out in the 1715 rebellion under the Earl of Perth of that time and fought in the Battle of Sheriffmuir and later on in 1745, after Prince Charlie was defeated he had to hide in the Dunira woods till there was peace again, he had a croft behind Tynreoch at this end of Dunira woods and was called John o' the Woodend after he was converted, he led a very pious life and it was a great grief to him to have been out in battles and taking other men's lives. He used to be sent for, to pray beside the dying all around the district. His musket used to be in the old house at Oakbank but when they got the house built up Uncle Archie broke it up and burned it. My Grandfather on my mother's side was named Robert MacDonald. He belonged to a Dale near Aberfeldy and was a real kindly man, your father was real like him in his way as I can remember him. He and his father and Grandfather were employed as overseers with Sir Robert Menzies and his fore folk at Castle Menzies. My Grandmother's father (John McNab) was a rich sheep farmer in a place called Lochs at the head of Glen Lyon, he had planned a marriage for her with a great friend of his who was very rich but she made a runaway marriage with my Grandfather when she was 17 and her father disowned her, but he made firends with them later on and set them up in a farm near Killin, but he lost all his money through going surety for a friend and died soon after. So they had to give up the farm he had put them in and they took a croft at Lochearnhead, they had a hard struggle as they had 14 of a family. My grannie's father was named John McNab. She thought there was no clan like the MacNabs. Her father's people were in a far named Innishewan, in Glen Dochart for 500 years from father to son but he was the last of them. An Uncle of his was out in the Prince Charlie's rebellion and had to fly to France after Culloden and married a French woman and joined the French army and rose to high rank. One of his descendants was an officer in the Louaves in the last war, they are called the Tigers of the French army and he was called the Tiger of the Tigers because he was so brave. John MacNab of the lochs was near related to the Chief of the MacNabs who lived at Kinnel House outside Killin. He got so deep in debt that he had to sell his estate to the Marquis of Breadalbane and went out to Western Canada with his family, they got on very well where they settled there and called their house Dundurn Castle. One of them was Sir Alan MacNab who helped to put down a rebellion at the beginning of the last century. He was made Premier of Canada. I am afraid I made a mistake there, he was not of the Chief's family but of a branch of them who had lived at Easter Dundurn here at one time he and his family went out to Canada about the same time as the Chief and his family. Your Aunt, Annie Carmichael |
Lednock Kilbride Crescent Dunblane April 23rd, 1906 My Dear Aunt Margaret, I was delighted to get your last kind letter with all the news about all of you-we are always so pleased to hear from our friends abroad that I hope we shall be long able to keep up a pleasant correspondance with each of you-Father likes so much to hear about "Willies buddies" as he says. It will be nice and cheery for you I should think to be with Christina and her girls. When you are writing to me again-and let it be soon-you might get one of them to write to me so that I might send a letter or postcard to her-I should like to know them very much. What sort of time are you having in Canada? Is it seed time yet? Most of the sowing here is done-I have been kept busy in the garden lately-father not being able to do anything in it now, we have to get a man to delve it we have such a big piece to go over-I have got most of the plants in and a good quantity of seeds. I expect John will soon be coming home at night again so he will help to look after it-It isn't very pleasant for him travelling when the weather is so cold but the end of next week we will expect it to be warmer. Father is very feeble getting he is quite unable to walk at all now and requires a great deal of care and attention. Mother I am happy to say is very much better now and when we heard from John the other day he was well. We have heard nothing of the friends at St. Fillans since I wrote you last-I had a letter from Aunt Grace a fortnight ago. She and Uncle Alexander were pretty well altho they had been bad with colds all winter-- I am sure you would be sorry to leave the old homestead but it is nice to see it is still in the family--you would have felt it more to have left it for a stranger, You will miss little Willie coming to see you very much and I have no doubt he will miss seeing his grandmother too. I will be very pleased to have a California post card from you. We are all very much horrified to read the accounts of this terrible disaster at San Francisco and trust none of your family were near it. Now my dear Aunt I hope this will find you well also all my cousins give them all my kindest regards-Father wishes me to convey to you his best wishes. With warmest love I remain, Your affectionate niece, Jean E. Carmichael |
Ivy Cot St. Fillans 4 December 1914 Dear Cousin, Morrow, Katie, Little Janet and I join in wishing you and all your family a very happy and prosperous New Year and hope you are keeping stronger now and all of you well. We expect Robert would have sent you an intimation of Uncle Archie's death. Morrow and Katie sat up beside him by turns at the end. Robert and his wife have got the property and everything Uncle Archie had left to them. Uncle Sandy was up at the funeral, he is getting on as usual, he is the last of them now, his sons from Derculion and cousin John from Dunblane were at the funeral. Cousin John at Glasgow couldn't come as he was ill at the time, but is keeping better now. Your Ruthie is a very pretty little girl, Nellie (Hutchison) sent us a little photo of her and our Finlay's little boy taken together. We suppose your girls will be leaving you too by and bye like Mrs. Chatwin's, we heard Annie was married lately. Have any men from your part gone to the war? It is very good of so many Canadians going to help, it is such a terrible war and every man who can go is needed, we feel very sad about it but trust the Lord may give our side a great victory soon, and trust the Germans may never manage to get over here, or it would be worse for us than the Belgians, it is so sad the aweful loss of life through the ambition and greed of one man and his followers. We are all busy knitting here for the soldiers and sailors poor men it is hard for them now the winter is on. We have a big snowstorm here today. We hope it may be a good winter with you in Canada and that you may have abundant crops in the coming year. We all join in kindest regards to you and all the cousins, we would like fine to have a letter from you when you have time. Your affectionate cousin, Annie Carmichael |
This letter dated December 4, 1914 was written by Annie Carmichael of St. Fillans, Scotland to her cousin Mrs. Mary Esplin. Mrs. Esplin's maiden name was Carmichael. The original copy of this letter was given to my grandfather Peter William Carmichael by Mrs. Ruth Fair, Mrs. Esplin's youngest daughter, at the time she sold the Esplin farm near Dauphin, Manitoba which had been awarded to her father, Archibald Esplin, for having fought in the Riel Rebellion. It had been in the Esplin name for 98 years. |
Annie Carmichael, the writer of this letter was the daughter of Peter Carmichael (b. 22 Sep 1822 Dunira, Perth, SCT) and Catherine McDonald (b. 25 Feb. 1833 Weem, Perth, SCT). Annie was born 24 Aug 1857 in St. Fillans, Scotland. She died 13 Sep 1943 in St. Fillans. |
Jean E. Carmichael was the daughter of Duncan (b. 22 Oct 1820 Cluain, Perth, SCT. .) Jean E. lived at Lednock, Kilbride Crescent, Dunblane, Perth, SCT. in 1906. |
Oakbank St. Fillans May 11th 1914 My Dear Mrs. Esplin, It was with much regret that we received the paper containing the news of your dear mothers death, and your Uncle Archie asks me to write to say how much he feels for you all as a family in the loss of one who was so (__?) worthy of your love and care. We often wished to know how she was after hearing through Annie of her illness; but I am sure you had a lot to do with all your other cousins, and yet you would be glad that the end came while she was with you. We hope your husband and family are all well, and that you may have a good seed time in Canada, and a food harvest when the season comes round. You will miss your mother in many ways. She was one who knew what it was to fight the battle of life bravely, and she was (__?) to see you all getting on, and to have an interest in all your affairs. Your Uncle keeps much the same. He is not able to walk or stand; but otherwise his health is good. Robert has had a sharp attack of rheumatics in his legs and is not yet able to be at work, but is improving. The sisters are well, and busy wih lodgers in the house for three months. I won't write more at present, but am sending the paper as usual. With love and sympathy, I am (__?) very sincerely, Tina Carmichael |
This letter was written by Tina Carmichael (nee: Anderson b. 3 Dec 1865 Comrie, Perth) Tina was married to Robert Carmichael (b. 19 Sep 1865 St. Fillans). Tina wrote this letter to her cousin, Mrs. Mary Esplin (nee: Carmichael b. 28 Nov 1864) Mary was the daughter of William Carmichael (b. 1 Nov. 1830 St. Fillans, Perth) and Margaret Henderson (b. Comrie, Perth) Mary was married to Archie Esplin. The letter was written upon hearing of the death of Mary's mother (Margaret Henderson). |
Ivy Cot, St. Fillans 1908 |
Nov. 21, 1906 Oakbank, St. Fillans, Perthshire To Mrs. Archibald Carmichael Mountain View, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada My Dear niece and nephew, I duly received your letter and was very happy to receive it and happy to hear about all the friends. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to get a letter from friends. I was glad to hear that you were, all well which leaves me well, and my brother John, he is well, he is staying with me. His oldest son is in Glasgow and the other son is in Nova Scotia. He is one of the staff where the cable lands. They are both married so they are not able to keep their father. I was in Dunblane about a month ago seeing Duncan. He is pretty well but getting frail. He is very old, he is 86 past. And Alex is well, we have a visit from him now. His son Alex is a game keeping in Strathtay. He and his wife and family are well. Robert, that is Peter's son, that was so long in Africa. He got married last December, his wife is my housekeeper. They are staying with me and her mother, her father was a gamekeeper until he died and Robert is working on the road. The rest of his brothers and sisters are well. I would be obliged to you if you would give me Tina, Mrs. Chatwin's address now, when you have commenced to write. I hope you will continue, it gives me great pleasure to get your letters and photos. I am sorry that there is none of the rest writing. I am surprised at William and Maryanne, for both of them were some years with us in St. Fillans going to school. I hope they are well and their families as all our friends here about are well. Remember me to them all and not forgetting your dear husband, my namesake and his mother. I hope she is keeping well. It is 12 month past in October since Christy, my sister died. What part of Scotland did your parents went from? There was a great many, went to Canada from this quarter a good number ago. I hope that you and Archie will get on well and things succeed with you and if you take a trip to Scotland, I will be very happy to see you both. It would give me great pleasure to see you. I must draw to a close hoping to hear soon from you and hear about them all. I remain your uncle, Archibald Carmichael |
Oakbank, St. Fillans 30 Nov. 1914 Dear Mrs. Archibald Carmichael, Mountain View, Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada I hope before this reaches you, that you have received the paper with the notice of Uncle Archie's release from his long time of suffering. He passed away on Nov. 15th Sabbath at 8:15 in the morning, quietly with no struggle. His general health was very good til' about 10 days before the end when he took a stroke. Entirely helpless after that, could not speak or function properly. He knew all of us __? However, til' two days before he died. Then he became unconscience and did not move til the end. My husband happened to be beside him, alone at the last and Archie just opened his eyes, looked at him quite clearly and passed away with no struggle. He was layed __? His father's grave in our little village churchyard here on Wednesday the 18th of November. He had a large funeral, we have had a great many kind letters since he died from old friends who knew him in his active days. We miss him more than I can say. He was always so __? sensible and gave us many a good advice. He was always a most patient sufferer all the three and a half years that he was confined to his room. Dear Mrs. Carmichael, we have to thank you for taking time in your busy life to write a kind letter to him, in his loneliness and I'm sure you would have been pleased to see how he enjoyed hearing from any of you. He told me to thank you for your last kind letter and to tell you, we would like to see the laddies. He had their photos beside him all the time and used to show them to his visitors. He was very sorry to hear about Mrs. Carmichael's death. They had always been good friends and there was not long between their deaths. I do hope that you are keeping quite strong, now after your little girl has come. She will be much thought of among her brothers. I hope __? from up to be a help to you both, the friends here are all well, there were three nephews and a brother at the funeral and several other relatives. We were very tired out afterwards as there as been little rest for many days. But the house was very quite and empty now _? is gone. I have still my mother, who is in her 90th year, she is wonderfully well but getting feable of course. We were glad to hear the young folks there are all doing well and Amelia Chatwin will be in her own house too now. She is very young but I think the people marry in earlier age in your country than in Old Scotland. I'm sure you are all interested in this terrible war. How good all the Canadians have been in sending help to Britain but it has been a grim struggle and does not seem to be nearly over yet. My husband __?__?, for he would get his old rank as Sargeant while his uncle was so helpless and he suffers a great deal from rheumatism which is not very suitable for military work, but he will see. There are Belgium refugees, they are very __? and nice. Now I must say goodbye at present but if you ever have time to write us a few lines, we will be very pleased to hear from you. With love to the children and kindest regards to yourselves from both of us, Yours very sincerely, Tina B. Carmichael |
Mr. John Carmichael Lednock, Dunblane, Scotland Hillbride Lednock, Dunblane 18 Dec. 1908 My Dear Cousins, This is just to wish you a bright and prosperous New Year. I am afraid, you will think me a very poor letter writer, as I am. I have been remembering for a long time that I ought' to be writing you and have just put it off til' now. There is a chance of missing the last mail for Canada this year. You will perhaps excuse me however, as I have had a fairly busy Winter. We have had no news from Canada for a long time but this is probably our fault-not answering previous letters. I hope you are getting on well and keeping good health. This has been an exceptionally mild Winter with us. Indead, we are hoping to get frost soon for various reasons. Some for the ice sports, curling and skating and others, the farmers to kill weeds and break up stiff land. My sister, is still in France so we are a very quite household, just our mother and myself. I am going to write the little Chatwin's so will not have more to write at present. We will not forget you although it may seem like it. When you have time, we shall be pleased to hear from you. With kind regards to you both, I remain, Your affectionate cousin, John C. Carmichael |
To Mrs. Archibald Carmichael Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada Lednock, Dunblane 10/10/1906 Dear Cousins, Your Uncle Archie was here last Saturday and showed us your good letter. Accept our wishes for your happiness and prosperity. Uncle Archie is not so able to write as he used to be but I daresay he will manage to answer you. We are all very much interested in our Canadian friends and will be very pleased to hear from you. Please send us the number or numbers of your allotments and those of our other friends if you know them. We have large maps of Manitoba and would like to know where you are. Love, to___? From, Cousin John |
Lednock, Dunblane 20/12/1907 Mrs. Archibald Carmichael Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada Just to wish you a Happy New Year. I have been long intending to write but have had very little leasure of late. My sister is in the south of France as a governess for a year. As far as we know all the friends are well. We hope you are all in good health and spirits. Your Cousin, John |
Christian Carmichael To Master Carmichael, Care of Mr. Archie Carmichael Hillview, Dauphin 19/12/1911 With Uncle Archie's wishes to Hillview hoping they are well. He is about as usual in health but not to get about yet. All other friends here are well. C. Carmichael |
23/03/1912 Master Hillview, Dauphin J.A. Carmichael, This is a card for James Archibald and his new brother, from Uncle Archie, He wishes they both pay him a visit at St. Fillan's. Love to all, C. Carmichael |
