Ch
29
Acton
(1)
1st
June 1857
Dear
Parents (2):
I embrace the opportunity which presents itself of sending you these lines by
which you may learn that I am in my usual state of health at present, for which
I have reason to be thankful to Him who is the disposer of all blessings,
temporal and spiritual. I still hope that these lines will (find) you all
enjoying an equivalent blessing.
Duncan
(3)
arrived here on Thursday morning and indeed I was very pleased to see him, not
withstanding to hear of your welfare at home.
He
did not get into work yet. Times are very dull here at present at all kinds of
mechanical business. Duncan intends to leave Acton today for Toronto and he
doesn’t know but he may go father down and perhaps the whole way to ?????
(4)
on account of prices being so low.
As
for myself I don’t know what to do yet I expect to be through with
McGregor’s house in 10 days; and the contractors has hired their hands
(5)
for the season early in the spring. I ??? that I have not a chance of getting
work here for any length of time. I could get work for a month or 2 here till
the ???? is over but that would not suit me. So that it is likely that I’ll be
taking a tramp father west shortly not withstanding the slackness of business. I
might get work but the wages had fallen from the 1/3 to 2/6 per day. The highest
that’s going is 7/6 per day and boarding is $3 per week exclusive of washing,
so that there is no encouragement to stay here any longer. I have no idea as yet
what direction I’ll go.
You
need not be any way uneasy although I should not write for a month or so as it
will take me some time before I can get settled into work. All the friends are
well here at present. I’d like to hear from you before I leave. No more at
present but remain.
Your
Affectionate Son
Donald
Robertson (6)
Hugh
Robertson (1791-1869) and Christina MacDonald-Robertson (1789-1870) to whom this
letter was written where born in Breadalbane, Scotland. Hugh was the son of John
Robertson (b.1733) and Katherine McEwan (b.1737) and the grandson of Hugh
Robertson (b. c1700). Family oral tradition holds that Hugh Robertson the elder
“was one of the 700 Robertsons who joined the army of Prince Charlie in the
rebellion of 1745 and at the battle of Culloden escaped the fate of so many of
his clansmen … his only casualty being that of having the buckle shot off his
shoe”.
Hugh
(the younger) and Christina Robertson were married in April 1816 and a short
time later sailed for Upper Canada via the Brig Lady of the Lake arriving
at Quebec City on 07 September of that year. On the same boat were Hugh’s
sister Janet Robertson (1797-1866) and her husband Donald Campbell. A few weeks
later his wife’s brother Donald MacDonald arrived.
Hugh
Robertson and Donald MacDonald took up adjacent Conc-7 lots in Drummond
Township, Lanark County (at Drummond Center) but a few months later Donald
MacDonald moved to a location on Drummond Conc-6 near Armstrong Corners.
In
the summer of 1818 Hugh Robertson’s parents, and Hugh’s younger brothers
John (1800-1874)) and Donald (1803-????), arrived in Drummond Township. John Sr.
& Catherine settled on Conc-9. John Jr. was granted a lot beside his father.
Donald later took up land at Conc-9/Lot-13 but sold it in 1844 (to Malcolm
McNaughton) and moved to Acton in Halton County. John & Donald married
sisters, the daughters of Neil Malloch.
(1) Acton
The village of Acton in Halton County, Ontario (near Georgetown). Letter
writer Donald Robertson’s uncle and aunt … John Robertson (1757-1847) &
Janet McCallum (1759-1835) … had moved to Acton in 1844 (see above).
(2)
Parents
Hugh Robertson (1791-1869) & Christina McDonald-Robertson
(1789-1870). Hugh Robertson was well educated (a graduate of Sterling Academy)
and before emigrating to Upper Canada in 1816 was a factor on the Drummond
Estate at Strathallan. He took up a land grant on Conc-7/Lot-15(E), Drummond
Township, Lanark County, Ontario (at Drummond Center).
(3)
Duncan
Duncan Robertson (1824-1863), born at Drummond Center, Drummond Township,
Lanark County, Ontario. Son of Hugh Robertson & Christina McDonald (see #2
above). Never married.
(4)
????
Unreadable. May say Arnprior
(5)
Hands
Letter writer Donald Robertson was a carpenter and millwright and,
although he built a home for his family on Drummond Street in Perth, Ontario, in
1861 he traveled extensively all his life.
(6)
Donald Robertson
Donald Robertson (1828-1896), born at Drummond Center, Drummond Township,
Lanark County, Ontario. Son of Hugh Robertson & Christina McDonald (see # 2
above). He married Janet Shaw (1840-1919) in 1862 and fathered 13 children; Hugh
S. (1862-1956), Agnes Dunn Robertson (1864-1952), William Shaw (1865-1940),
Donald McDonald (1867-1948), Christina McDonald (1869-1895), James Wilson Shaw
(1871-1945), Jessie Catherine (1873-1906), Alexander John (1876-1952), Margaret
Jane A. (1878-1952), Duncan Peter (1880-1884), Frederick Albert (1882-1962),
Charles Robert (1884-1952), Sarah Annie (1886-1965).
Ron
W. Shaw