Letter from James Archibald 20 April 1852
Letter from James and Agnes Archibald in Scotland
from Edinburgh, Scotland to some of their sons and daughters [also in Scotland]
20 April 1852
original letter in possession of Ida Holmgren of Idaho Falls, Idaho
Literal Transcription (left half here, and right half below):
Dear Sons and Daughters 
we Recived your Letter just as I was gen to Send offe your Litters with a Nowspiper from Alexr Lownes from Tornento in Amirica which he Sent Last week and you will See in it what flurshing Stiet Camidea is in but we Cannot Splick about you goen out after a Nother Month you must Reman wher you are intell the Sprin of a  nother year belive Me non of you is ibel to Stand the Siveraty of an American winter to be Set for down in the midest of it So if you can not get away at thes time don not move thes yet year and you Spick about about goen to orlens it is nonsince your Mony cannot dow and Andrew Can not give Mor then he prosmed Agnes Bumes her Father and Brother are both Ingencyers and thay are goen out to Camdeay to a Ralway that is begun it is to be 700 Mills long and you will See a Nother to go from Quebick out to the Antliok See Mr. Johnston and Son we think ould be very happay to have you for ther will be many Tunnel in that Line and you might get a good Bargen if you are willing to Ecicpet of it rett Rett and let us know and we ould let his Sisters know and thay ould Rett to hem he Lives at Liverpool and her what he Saes about it.  So faer will o may The Lord be with us all

Corrected Transcription (left half here, and right half below):
Dear Sons and Daughters
We received your letter just as I was going to send off your letters with a newspaper from Alexander Lownes, from Toronto in America, which he sent last week, and you will see in it what a flourishing state Canada is in.  But we cannot [explain/understand?] about you going out [to America] after another month.  You must remain where you are until the Spring of another year.  Believe me, none of you is able to stand the severity of an American winter, to be set down in the midst of it.  So if you cannot get away at this time, do not move this year.  And you speak about going to Orleans.  It is nonsense.  Your money cannot do [won’t be enough] and Andrew cannot give more than he promised.  Agnes Bumes [?], her father and brother are both engineers and they are going out to Canada to a railway that is begun.  It is 700 miles long and you will see another to go from Quebec out to the Atlantic Sea.  Mr. Johnston and son, we would think, would be very happy to have you, for there will be many tunnels in that line, and you might get a good bargain [pay for work] if you are willing to [expect?] of it right.  Write and let us know and we would let his sisters know, and they would write to him.  He lives at Liverpool, and hear what he says about it.  So, farewell.  O, may the Lord be with us all.


Literal Transcription (right half above and left half here):
Charles St.
Edinburgh 20 April 1852
Dear Daughter Jassae I recived Just now and we are hapay to her that you are all will I am Sorrow to think that you Should be So much put about and putten others about toou Robert Murray was in her on Saterday night he Says thay are mikang very lettel and he ould live ther on the pay Day Freday first and Toy Bathgate but keep that to your Self Jassae you with to if your lins are away thay are all Sint off on Saterday and what Jassae keep up your hart Andrew and Christon will dou to ther utmost of ther power to halp you all ways So faer will.  We will Reman your Loving Father and Mother. James and Agnes Archibald

Corrected Translation (right half above and left side here):
[Letter 6 – filing note from someone else]
Edinburgh [Scotland] 20 April 1852
Dear Daughter Jesse:
I received [your letter] just now and we are happy to hear that you are all well.  I am sorry to think that you should be so much put about and putting others about you too [upset or agitated and agitating others].  Robert Murray was in here on Saturday night.  He says they are making very little [money] and he would leave there on the pay day, Friday, first [first of May?]  and  try Bathgate, but keep that to yourself Jesse [don’t tell anyone else].  You wished to [know] if your lines [papers] are away, but they are all sent off on Saturday and what/ wait …  [ there seem to be some missing pages here, which you can see showing through from the other side of the paper].  Jesse, keep up your heart [keep courage].  Andrew [Smaill] and Christian will do to their utmost of their power to help you always.  So, farewell.  We will remain your loving Father and Mother – James and Agnes Archibald


Historical Note:
Daughter Agnes and her husband David Hamilton Kerr, along with James' daughter Jessie and her husband Robert Murray are preparing to emigrate to America.  Their father and mother, James and Agnes Archibald, are elderly and ailing, and are living with their daughter Christian and her husband Andrew Smaill, who owns a grocer and mercantile store in Edinburgh. Andrew and Christian were sending supplies and money to Agnes and Jessie, to help them in their effort to emigrate (this was repaid I believe).  James is not happy about their decision to take a ship to New Orleans.  The "lines" Jessie wants her dad to send her are papers showing some legal state, such as marriage or baptism, or whatever.  It is not known exactly which papers she was requesting.  David and Agnes Kerr and Jessie and Robert Murray did emigrate, but were not able to get a ship until October 1852.  They landed in New Orleans January 1, 1853.

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