The John Gemmill Letters

When John Gemmill emigrated to new Lanark in 1820-21 his son Andrew was denied passage because he had a club foot. These letters from John to his son shows his affection and longing John maintained for his son. The Doctor referred to in the letter was Dr. John Gemmill who lived in Lanark seven miles from Rosetta where John's farm was located.  

A letter from Mr. John Gemmill of Rosetta : 30 April, 1824

The envelope: To  Mr.  Andrew Gemmill on the reverse care of John Gemmill No. 19 Portugal Street, Lauriston, Glasgow

(across the end Received Saturday 11th September  1824   A. G.)

The letter:

Dear Son

We had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you dated 3rd Sept. about the 10th December and another dated 31st January on the 23 of this month. We are all very happy to hear of your welfare and the welfare of all our relations, but truly sorry to hear of the accident which happened Uncle Andrew but happy to hear how he is in a mending way. We would have written you sooner had we thought  you were not coming on the testimony of the last letter you received, but now you require a more explicit statement. We shall proceed to answer your numerous budget of queries just as they stand and leave you to judge in some measure for yourself. First  then we have got one hundred acres English, the soil is in general very good, the surface partly level partly diversified with little hills or we may say hillocks for there is not many hills in this country  like the hills in Scotland. There is a good deal of stones in these hillocks and sometimes rock. The soil approaches some times nearly to sand and sometimes there's a clay bottom. It is all very free to work but for the roots, these in a short time will decay. We believe that an acre of land here will produce, bear as much crop as the land at home if the same pains is bestowed on it  may with even less attention, however all that is done to new land is to remove the timber by fire, sow the grain drag it with a harrow, two and often three crops are put in this way then sow it down in grass in which state it may remain for six or seven years a good crop of hay taken off each year without further sowing. The land produces all the different kinds of crops of the old country and some others that cannot be produced at home without the aid of hot houses and timothy, potatoes, turnips, pumpkins, squashes, water melons, sugar melons and cucumber are what we sow and plant and they all grow to perfection with a variety of other smaller seeds too tedious to mention. In new settlements the land is mostly wrought with the hoe and the harrow , but in old settlements when the stumps are out the same as at home. We have four seasons here as distinct as at home. Some snow falls in November  but the severity of the winter does not come on in general until January  this month and the next are the two severest  in the season then she wears more mitts as the season advances and the snow disappears about the middle of April sometimes sooner sometimes later. The winter is a little colder and the summer is a little hotter than at home. It is a very healthy country a doctor is not  much required. We are 7 miles from Dr. Gemmill. Every settler has just such a house as he pleases to put up. They are however all of wood as being most readily put up.

We have two cows, one yearling, one yoke of oxen, a cock and seven hens, three swine by the time you arrive these we expect will have brought a great many more.  We are not far from neighbours every hundred has generally a family on it. Pigeons and partridges abound in old settlements. Deer are very plentiful and sometimes she hear he is not ferocious unless he be roughly handled. Wild ducks and geese are plenty about lakes and rivers of trees we have the maple which produces sugar in spring as much as we want. Birch from which we may have beer if we take (?) the trouble to make it. Beach, Basswood, ash Black and white rock and swamp elm, pine, hemlock, pine tree makes beautiful furniture I had almost forgot the Royal Oak . Some are very large some are very small. There may be some four feet through they are pretty close  This depends much on their size, where the trees are large, the space between them is greater  than when they are small. Our lands are not named they are numbered. A concession is ten miles long, on this concession there are twenty seven lots Nos. 2 , 3 , etc.  ours is No. 13. Our market is new settlers coming into the country at present  and there is a canal arriving through the country that will be a means of conveyance after a few years. New settlers cannot dispose of much for a while. Men's wages may be averaged at  three shillings per day throughout the year serving women from four to six dollars a month, remember that both have their board included .

The best implements you can bring to this country is a piece of very strong cloth, plaiding, harren (?)  for shirts. Bring some files, I want some. I need good sole leather.  Other implements can be had here better adapted to the country .

Respecting your coming to the country we feel most desirous you should.  We have twice had an opportunity of a good situation for you had you been here and likely we may fall in with a third. If your uncle Andrew intends coming here I propose getting other two hundred acres. John McFarlane desires to be remembered to your uncle and neighbour and all enquiring friends. Our best respects to Jean &  Marg, all Uncles and aunts and if you come bring Jean and Marg with you. All your sisters and brothers join us in kind love to you.

We are Dear  Son, Your Loving Affect , Father  &  Mother - John Gemmill

Along the edge a P.S.    Janet will be married before you can get here though you put on spurt .

A letter from John Gemmill to his son Andrew dated,   4 October 1824.

The envelope :   Mr. Andrew Gemmill, at Peter Adams Esq. Augusta Place seems to be crossed out                                                               Writer Augusta Place Nelson Street Glasgow North Britain

  The letter :

            My Dear Son.

            We received your letter the first inst. and having considered the contents now proceed to answer it as we can - We are all well and everything is going on prosperously.  We have an excellent crop of everything we put into the ground. Janet has not waited upon the fine match she might have got at home. She married upon a young man, a cooper of the name of Adam Craig from Old Lanark  and she has also got home her old son upon the 14th Sept. last.  Ann is in the mind rather to take chance of some Canadian Laird where she is  Rather than to come to the Old Country again.

            I approve of your plan of taking the advice of an Advocate respecting the business as without that you could not have walked upon sound ground and herein enclosed remits you as you desire us a Letter in the Maintenance Assigning you into full right of the subjects conform to bargain with a pound to act as our Mandatory as you shall see proper. We think unreal John's conduct very improper and the sooner you set about getting the business put to rights the better - That I was to get the plot of ground at the end of the house was an undoubted fact & he refuses to show you your grandfathers Testament you can force him to put it upon record if that is not already done and then you can usually have access to it.

            With respect to Uncle William uplifting the rents of the house I think he will mean nothing else than fair dealing you will easily deal with him about that matter.

            Your mother signed no receipt or dealing excepting for the L40 her father left if anything else  was included it was without her knowledge or mine when we signed it .

            If it so happened in the course of Providence that Jean was coming to America we would be very happy to see her and Aunty Margaret's welfare.

            You will please give Janet and Ann's kind compliments to Miss Douglas.

            Miss Lauder and Miss Hill tell them that Janet is married as above and she has got her old son..

            I am glad to hear that my friends and Acquaintances are all well give my kind compliments to all that  inquire for us and write your Aunt Mary in Irvine  as soon as I have opportunity I will write her a letter.  I remain

                                                Dear Son Your Loving father till Death

                                                John Gemmill

N. B.   I take your kind advice with kind and I hope the advice you are so kind to give me you will daily and hourly  take to yourself the uncertainty of time and the precarious nature of all its enjoyments ought never to be forgot and our preparation for our eternal state ought to be our daily and hourly our constant  study and employ as the very basis of our Eternal felicity.    

                                                                          J.  G.  

A letter  :    The envelope inscribed:  To:  Mr. Andrew Gemmill care of Mr. Andrew Gemmill No. 19  Portugal Street Laurrieston, Glasgow

(Across the end in a different hand received:  Friday 17th Feb 1826 - on the reverse:  21 November 1825 , letter from Mr. John Gemmill, Canada.)

Lanark , U. C. 21st Nov  1825

Dear Son,

A few days ago I received yours of the 19th August and before that one of the 11th of May , both of which gave us great satisfaction to hear that you still enjoying good health , and this at present leaves us all in the full enjoyment of that valuable blessing for which we have great reason to praise God. Before I say any more I shall first comply with your request with respect to the statement of Marriages, Births and Deaths of the family, which is as follows;

                John Gemmill                        born 15th of August  1774 married 2nd April 1799 , New Cumnock

                Ann Weir                             born  4th of August  1781          

                Margrate (?) Gemmill           born 15th October 1797 at Neilston

                Jean Gemmill                        born 14th January 1800

                James Gemmill                      born 8th August  1801at Glasgow and Died 28th August  1802

                Andrew Gemmill                   born 30th April 1803 at Glasgow

                Jannet Gemmill                      born  22nd January  1805 at Cumnock

                Ann Gemmill                         born  18th April  1807 at Cumnock

                Mary Gemmill                       born  22nd June  1809 at Cumnock

                Elspeath Gemmill                  born  13th April   1811at Cumnock and Died 11th May  1812

                John Gemmill                        born 28th March  1813 at Cumnock

                Marion Gemmill                    born  8th March   1815 at Cumnock

                Elizabeth Gemmill                 born 14th Feby    1817 at Cumnock

                David Gemmill                       born 10th May     1819 at Gorbal Glasgow

Janet Gemmill married to Adam Craig 28th May 1824 at Lanark, U. C. their son John , born 14th September 1824 as for Margrate and yourself I daresay you can find the dates of marriages yourself. We have been very much disappointed with your not coming to this place as there have been several vacant situations which you might have had with very genteel salaries, there is one at present were you here of L150 per annum which you could have at Kingston -- Mary and Ann are gone to service  during the winter season and the little ones are attending school.

It is my earnest desire that you will dispose of the house at whatever it may bring, and detain no longer with it but move yourself  to this country & bring your sister Jean & Margrate & her husband if they will come along with you. If you don't come soon the bottom will be out of the kettle. I wish you would bring me a good Rifle Fowling piece & I will keep you in venison. The Deer is very plentiful here. If you come Jannet wishes you would lay out a small part of your inheritance (sic) for a dress for her ald (?) son , & to tell Jean to bring her a red and white plaid. I also wish you would be good enough to bring me a few half round files & a few three square ones and also a few pounds of Spanish Brown & a line or two as I have a great deal to do amongst timber.

Should you all come you may expect enough of work for I have got another 100 acres of land, last summer I had 24 acres under crop & expects to have as much next besides hay therefore you may expect very little idle time.

It is some time since we have seen any of the Doctor's family  but as far as we know they are all in health but I expect to see them in a few days when I shall let him know respecting Mr. Lang.

Immediately on your arrival at Quebec write to us that some of us may come & conduct you up the country which you would find to be of some advantage.  You may give all our best respects to all enquiring friends and acquaintances as present I will bid you Adieu, leaving you to the Protection & Mercy of Providence who is the all wise disposer of all things & sure.

Dear Son

I Remain Your , Loving Father - John  Gemmill.

A letter from Lanark Township :

        The  envelope;

  Mr. Andrew Gemmill care of  Mr. Andrew Gemmill No. 19 Portugal Street Lauriston  By   Glasgow

  on the reverse;  Letter from John Gemmill, 2nd May, 1828 and  Received 22 July 1828

        The letter:

Township of Lanark , 2nd May 1828

          Dear Son,

                                  As we have an opportunity of a young man going from this place to Glasgow we embrace it to send  you a few lines, we are Thank God all  in good health  and doing well, hard wrought, but well paid for it last fall   I took off my farm 250 bushels of good wheat and 1000 Bushels of Potatoes besides oats, peas, and other small things ~  hay was also a large crop ~ I hope as soon as you answer this letter you will be ready to embark for this country if you can at all raise the means to enable you so to do, and I will do all that lies in my power to assist you after you arrive.

I hope I need not say any  thing to influence you to leave Scotland, here you have a fair chance to make something for old age, But I much doubt, whither, you may have the opportunity of so doing in your native Country ~  should you determine on coming and find your means enable you to lay in a stock of clothing be sure that you purchase, what will stand wearing, coarse stout cloths, for men and women wear, are the only kind that suits this place, as comfort is more studied than  fashions among us ~ I  am truly happy to know that your uncle is so fortunate as Receive the thanks of society in so marked a manner, and I wish him a long enjoyment of his silver snuff box many a comfortable pinch may he take out of it.

Your sisters and their families are all in good health Janet has no more family than when you last heard from us, Ann has got a son whose name is Gilbert and Mary a Daughter, Ann's both fine children -

We conclude by best prayers for your welfare & Compliments to all our friends and our Son    Your ever loving Parents 

John & Ann Gemmell

P.  S.  William Miller wishes  particularly that you would endeavor to find out his brother James and cause him to write as he is  anxious to know something concerning him .

                                 J.   &    A.    G.

The envelope:   Letter from John Gemmill to Mr. Andrew Gemmill care of  Mr. Andrew Gemmill seven Portugal Street Glasgow

The Letter:

Dear Son,          Lanark       8th of  June 1829

         We embrace the opportunity of Mrs. McFerson going to Glasgow to send a few lines we received yours of  the 29th of May last year in the month of December and was extremely  happy to hear of your welfare and that you had an addition to your family of a Daughter but we think you forgot to mention her name and hope you will have a better memory  when you write next .

        We are very happy to hear that you that you have got the better of your  Uncle -

        We have reason to be very thankful that we also enjoy good health at present though sickness has prevailed very much all around us this twelve month past the general complaint has been the Fever and Ague. Jannet and her husband and family are all well and had an addition to their family on the 24th of December last of a Daughter her name is Ann.  Ann and her husband and family are all well at present and had an addition to their family also of a son on the 4th of April  his name is John. Mary is at present overcoming from the fever and ague she was very ill with it and was scarcely expected to live. She had an addition to her family on the 23rd April of a son but he only lived a few days. Her husband and her other child are in good  health .

        The crop failed greatly last year except corn and potatoes which were very good. We have had a very favourable spring and every appearance of a good this year   You mentioned  the last letter you sent  but one  that Jean and  her husband were coming out  here but we have looked in vain for their appearance and are __________ very much to see them   John and David send you their best respects and return you their thanks for the handsome present you sent them under the seal. Marion and Elisabeth and all the rest of our friends here join us in best wishes to you also .

We  are Dear Son Your Affectionate Parents

John & Ann Gemmill

The envelope:  Letter from John Gemmill 24th November 1829    Paid  6ng (a stamp) add 1/2

Mr. Andrew Gemmill  ( a rondel LANARK  No, 48, Nelson Street hand written Glasgow, N. B. 25th Nov. 1829 )

A Glasgow stamp dated 7 Jan.1830  A written note; Received on Thursday 7th January 1830 initials  A. G .

The letter :        

                    My Dear Son ,

        I received your lines of  20th May on the 14th day  just (?) last and have also to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 22nd July and also of the one you sent prior to that date. I must apologize for my apparent neglect in not having answered your letters  sooner but distance from the post office and the few opportunities that occur in this distant settlement must plead my excuse. Do not suppose it was for a want of  affection or anxiety for your welfare and do not let it prevent you from writing whenever inclination liascive (?) or a favourable opportunity offers as your letters are always welcomed with much pleasure. I am happy to hear that you have recovered from your severe indisposition let us not forget that the afflictions we suffer from the Supreme Disposer of events are generally for our good and we ought to be grateful to him that they have not been greater than our strength can bear let us kiss the rod (?)  and praise him that he has spared us a little longer. I am ( a blank)  to hear of the engagement by your wife and hope that the indisposition of Maria is removed and is equally healthy as her Mother.  I am glad to inform you of the good health of myself  your mother and the rest of the family . We have seen in the papers details of the atrocious crimes of Burke and his associates so ably  (?) by you and  we think their punishment was hardly equal to their deserts but be sufficient  to prevent such occurrences in the future. I hope that the great commercial distress that you mention has subsided. I almost despair of the realization of your wishes of ever meeting again with the rest of my family around my fireside, though that may not take place upon earth let us with the Devine assistance conduct ourselves in such a manner that we look forward to our meeting together in another and better world.  David whom you inquire after is a fine thriving boy and of much assistance to me in chopping and other labours about the farm.

        I am sorry to inform you that Mary has lost two of her children  Ann and Jannet have been ill. Suffered severely from fever and ague from which she has since recovered. I am surprised that you have not mentioned how your sisters  Jane & Margaret  my brother Andrew  and their wives and families are. I wish much you attend to this in your next. -  My stock consists at present of fourteen head of cattle & one yoke of oxen, fourteen sheep besides a considerable  number of pigs  and poultry  we have fifty acres cleared and in crop of this years crop we had  two hundred bushels of wheat, one hundred Do. of oats from sixty to seventy Do. of  Barley  eighty Do. of Indian Corn or Maize  five hundred Do. of potatoes and about sixteen tons of hay. Janet Ann their Husbands  and families are all well and desire me to give their kindest compliments to yours and all friends kind enough to inquire after them. You will be kind enough in your next to write me if yourself , your sisters and their husbands have any desire to come out to this country as I have two hundred acres and plenty of - (not visible ) can be procured for them .. I cos( not visible ) . .enjoicing with your mother In wishing you and your family health and prosperity upon Earth and that your conduct be such in passing through this state of Trial as to insure you Eternal happiness hereafter . To this sincere prayer my Dear son of your Affectionate  Father

 John Gemmill Lanark 24th Nov 1829