Original Transcription:
Edinburgh 19 Charls St 22 Octbr 1852
My Dear Children we Recived your Litter this Day and we was happy to
her that you was all will, o may it please God to keep you all in good
halth and enibel you all for your long and Dengres undertaken jurnay o
louk to Juses in all your ways ask hes councel ask hes halp in all things
o may Juse be formed in all our harts the hop of Glory. O when I think
we will niver mor meet in this world how my hart eaks but when I think
that all is douing for good and that I hop to her good accounts yet from
you all thes is hop. Jassae you Say that the Ship is to Sall on the
25 Thursday is the 25 Curnt it must other be at might or on th. 26.
I have Red your litter to Robert Murray and he will be in Roberts on Sabeth
day
[margin:] Andrew and Christon [Smaill] has sent 2 pounds
- “ – “ one to each of your [accounts?]
Corrected Transcript:
Edinburgh [Scotland]
19 Charles Street
22 October 1852
My Dear Children:
We received your letter this day and we was happy to hear that you
was all well. Oh, may it please God to keep you all in good health
and enable you all for your long and dangerous undertaken journey.
Oh, look to Jesus. In all your ways ask his counsel. Ask his
help in all things. Oh, may Jesus be formed in all our hearts, the
hope of Glory. Oh, when I think we will never more meet in this world,
how my heart aches, but when I think that all is doing for good and that
I hope to hear good accounts yet from you all, this is hope. Jesse,
you say that the ship is to sail on the 25th. Thursday is the 25th
current [next week]. It must either be at night or on the 26th.
I have read your letter to Robert Murray and he will be in Roberts on Sabbath
Day. margin: Andrew and Christian [Smaill] has
sent 2 pounds " - " one to each of your [accounts].
Historical Note:
James' daughter Agnes and her husband David Hamilton Kerr, along
with James' daughter Jessie and her husband Robert Murray, were preparing
to emigrate to America. They left in November 1852 and landed in
New Orleans 1 January 1853. Andrew Smaill (married to Agnes and Jessie's
sister Christian) owned a grocer and mercantile. Apparently he was sending
them supplies, and perhaps money, for which they later repaid him.
James and Agnes Archibald, the parents, were living with Andrew and Christian
Smaill in Edinburgh.
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Page 2
Original Transcript:
and o my Der Children if we are all Belivers in Christ then I have
good nous to till yuou all we will all meet in Juses and to part no mor
no mor Sen nor Sorrow all our Sorrows will be suilled up in joy and regoysen
in God our Savear and whel I have a Brath in thes world I troust God will
give Me Grice to enibel me to bear you all in my hart before God in praer
for your Spiretwill and Timprel good. So fer will at thes time and
God be with you all and I hop Sum kind hand will be held out to help you
in a Strangland. your Mother is bering her burden and Sain lettel
but I know her hart is Sor Sor. I have Sant Both your accounts and
if it plaes to Spaer you and enible you to pay it you will know how much
you both oey [three x’s drawn over] to Andrew and Christon.
We Remain your Loving Father and Mother Sister and Brother James and Agnes
Archibald.
Corrected Transcript:
And, oh my dear children, if we are all believers in Christ, then I
have good news to tell you all. We will all meet in Jesus and to
part no more. Nor more sin nor sorrow. All our sorrows will
be swallowed up in joy and rejoicing in God our Savior, and while I have
a breath in this world, I trust God will give me grace to enable me to
bear you all in my heart before God in prayer for your spiritual and temporal
good. So farewell at this time and God be with you all. And
I hope some kind hand will be held out to help you in a strange land.
You mother is bearing her burden and saying little, but I know her heart
is sore, sore. I have sent you both your accounts and if it please
to spare you and enable you to pay it, you will know how much you both
owe [3 x’s]
to Andrew and Christian [Smaill]. We remain your loving
Father and Mother, Sister and Brother. James and Agnes Archibald. |
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