Lucknow
Lucknow, Ontario
July 1st 1923
Mrs. Joseph Reid
96 Granite Street
Pigeon Cove, Mass
My Dear Cousin;
I wrote to you June the 24th
stating that another letter would follow telling you about our cousin Angus
Murchison. In the first place I will have to tell you about our Uncle John
Murchison, Angus’s father. He was twice married., his first wife died after
giving birth to a baby boy, afterwards named Donald. Grandmother raised him. In
the course of six years uncle John married again, this Angus was the only child
from the second wife. Uncle John took the boy Donald home to live with himself .
It seems that his stepmother was cruel to him. Being attached to his
grandmother, every chance he could get he would be with her. When grandmother
and mother, Aunt Mary, Uncle Donald, & Peter were coming to America, they
were to sail from Portree. The boat was to leave Portree on a certain day.
Something happened, so she was detained three days longer. They heard it at
Uncle John’s home. The tide being out, young Donald went to the shore and
filled his bonnet with something that was good to eat. He told his father that
he was going to run down to Portree and give this to his grandmother. His father
agreed but told him to hurry back home. When he reached the boat he told the
captain about his stepmother being so cruel to him, that he would like to go to
America with his grandmother, and that his Father would be down looking for him
soon. The Captain said, I’ll put you in a place where the devil himself won’t
find you. He lifted the hatch and put him in the vessel hold. Three ropes over
the hatch. In a little while they seen Donald’s father running with his bonnet
in hand. Uncle Donald met him. He says where is my boy. Donald says that he went
home, which road did you come he said to John, I came the Short Road. Oh says
Uncle Donald he went home the long road. Before Uncle John reached his home the
boat was under way. Donald then twelve years old, this Angus would be five years
old then. Our Uncle John was born, raised and lived and died in the same place
he passed away in September 1868, he being blessed with a little money gave his
son Angus the best of Education. He taught school, they say he could speak and
was master of seven languages. When he was twelve years old his ambition was to
be a Doctor he went to College and was getting along nicely until he came to the
dissecting part his heart failed him, he threw up the job and went back teaching
school. He became Principal and Professor afterwards, He has retired many years
ago living nice and comfortable, He has a relative of his own keeping house for
him. One of our cousins Donald’s boys Jimmie is a Methodist Minister. He
enlisted the time of the war, When the war was ended he went over to Scotland to pay
a visit to his Uncle Angus or rather half-Uncle. He found Angus nicely situated.
But a very backward desolate county. No improvement for the past century.....
Angus will be within a year of your mother’s age. I could tell you some more about
our cousin Donald and his family, Will tell you later on. I will stop for this time. Hoping this will
find your husband and yourself enjoying the best of health is the wish of your
Sincere cousin
Colin MacKinnon
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