(This first letter was written from Archibald McFadyen/Mary Carmichael to her sister and brother in law John Campbell/Christian Carmichael at Mulindry on Islay in 1841. Christian kept the letter, took it with her when she emigrated to Candada and it has been handed down from generation to generation in Canada.)

Go to Archibald McFadyen Letters

Township Eldon Colborne District April 25, 1843
Our very Dear Brother and Sister
Your kind letter per Neil Sinclair has been received and perused with pleasure and that token of affection toward your only sister in existence accepted with filial gratitude. Our lot has been so ordered that we are separated a great ways from one another but we are not prevented from communicating our minds in writing to each other as far as we deem necessary while our lives are spared, wherever we look over your letter convinces me that you remember that your Redeemer loveth you both forever interceding for poor unworthy sinners, not within the veil in the temple below but in the highest heavens before the Father of all mercies whose will is from sinners May all of us be enabled to accept that righteousness into which proper and openly offered in the gospel by the Jesus of heaven to all true believers. Probably we may not see each other's faces in this life but we shall in that which is to come when and where brothers and sisters in Christ shall never be separated and enjoy together future happenings through the ages of eternity. My dear sister you are made aware that I am laboring under a certain disease the nature of which you know not but I will endeavor to describe it to you. About 12 years since we came to this township in the latter part of October the snow then a foot deep we got in a hurry, a house up, and in cutting out a door it was left rather low with the view that the house would be warmer. I happened to strike my head more than once to the lintel piece which bruised a spot in the crown of my head which attracted some matter from other parts of my body which made it spread in spots all over my head and ears and some about my mouth and nose it is no deeper than the skin it looks red in the skin and small white scales growing on it. The hair fell off every spot infected. Medical men call it a kind of dry scurvy. I applied lately to a Scotch north highlander Doctor who resides about fifty miles from here. I am using his medicine now he is of opinion to affect a final cure. I shall communicate the results to you in due time. With reference to what Margaret Brown reported there we never got a horse nor an ox from her father. We had no need of them our own horses are worth more than a hundred pounds so that you are not to be uneasy about Margaret's stories. It is almost three months since I heard from Angus Ray and Effy. He is teaching school at Niagara. They have three fine boys. Isabella is along with them since June last they were quite well when I heard from them. Christy married Dugal Baxter from Earybols last summer. Hugh married about the same time in Toronto a Canadian young maid named Jane Ovens. We are making arrangements for him to commence business at home. Catherine, Colin, Duncan and John are at home all enjoying good health. The letter you mentioned sent by Arch'd Currie from Barr was never received but we have received the one sent by John McLucash's wife. Produce sold very low here this winter. Wheat from 2 pd 6 to 3 pd 1, Barley 1 pd 8 and oats 7 ½ per bushel. Potatoes 1 pd per bushel, pork from 7 pd 6 to 15 and beef 12 pd 6. per 100lbs.We had a long and tedious winter in this last such as we never experienced before the snow began to fall early in November. and it is at the least calculation three feet deep at present all over the country, fodder and hay are truly scarce a large portion of stock cows and sheep have already starved and many more must die before the fields which are so deep covered with snow can bring them any relief. Brother Donald and family enjoy good health. They lost a heavy portion of their stock. Dougald is troubled with his old complaint. His family is well and they also lost some cattle. Arch'd and family are well. The cough troubles himself sometimes. Neil in mending and his family is quite well. Arch'd McMillan and family are well. Hugh, Arch'd, Alexander and Catherine McMillan are putting up together. Angus Gillespie and family are well and his son Malcolm is in a store these two years back. James Sutherland and his family are well. William Duncan and family were well when we last heard from them. Brother Colin Campbell and family were well. Duncan George and Nancy are at home, Mary is hired out. Lizzie and her family are well. They live in Toronto. Christian and family moved farther from us and we did not hear from them this long while. Your brother Duncan and John Mathieson are well Betsy McEwen is here. Her chief employment is of spinning wool whenever she gets it. We give our complements to brother Charles and brother John McLauchlan and family. Tell sister Isabella that sister Ann is still with Colin McCuaig. We are to build her a house this coming summer on brother James farm. She is to keep the youngest of Mary's daughters with her. She enjoys her health reasonably well. James McLaughlan and family are well. Catherine married her cousin Colin Ray last spring brother Ray's family are well. He himself is troubled with the Rheumaticks. William McLauchlan and family are well. Ronald McKay and family are well. I had a letter from brother Dougald from the State of Alabama last June. His son Hugh Departed this life. Colin follows the tayloring trade they had a sore spell of sickness since they moved to that State. Aunt Nancy is alive her sons Arch'd and Gilbert and families were then well. I had no letter from brother John of Carolina this long while. I must conclude the family Join us in love and respect to to you and yours.
Arch'd and Mary McFadyen

(Along the side of the page)

Although my health is impaired I am always able to look after the affairs of the family
Mary McFadyen

(This next letter was written by Neil Carmichael/Ann McArthur to his sister and brother in law John Campbell/Christian Carmichael at Mulindry on Islay in 1841. He wrote from Mariposa Township, Victoria County)

Go to the Neil Carmichael Letters

Mariposa, April 29th, 1841
Dear Brother and Sister:
I embraced these few lines to let you know that we are all in middling state of health at present. Hoping this will find you all in the same. We received you letter sent by Alexander McDougall which give us great pleasure to hear of your well being in health at that time. My cause of not writing to you sooner that I happen to meet with an accident nine months before this date at a rising of a house with a neighbor which crushed me mostly to death but I have reason to praise the almighty for his mercy and goodness that I am yet spared in the land of the living. A log fell from the upper arches of the building and before I saw the danger I was dead under it. There was no expectation that I would come to life any more. All of the sinews or cords of the leg from the hunch were broken and bruised also somehow. The most of my friends were coming their own right to watch me for a month of time and during that time there was no hope that I would get over it. I could not go out to see any of the crops gathered in the harvest time but still I am getting better and in hope to get near my former state. Nancy is not so firm in her health these five years past. She got some cold in child bed when she had the youngest of the children, Isabella. Christy is more likely in shape of her person o you than some of your own daughters. Margaret is growing stout and strong since we left Islay. Duncan is growing taller and is well looking. Dear beloved sister of if I could have the pleasure of being along with you and all the family for some days and tell all my news since you and I departed and be back here again. That's all I would want of Islay. I was informed by the minister who left Bowmore that you was afraid for your brother and all your friends here to be in poverty of which you are very much mistaken if you believe that. If you would be situated there as well a the most of your friends here you might be well satisfied in you mind without coming to Canada but the most of your friends is here I would think of yourself and your family would be better coming here than remaining there. By all account we are getting from Islay that times are getting very hard on the most of you there owing to the high rent and failing of your crops. Keeps you under a burden which you can hardly carry but the most of us here who left Islay are very thankful that they have come to this place. Although they had some hardship at first they are thriving from year to year. In some addition to their property there are some families that came here from Islay who are not able to pay their passage to the land that now have a good stock of every kind and their land nearly paid what they would never have although they would remain in Islay. All your friends in general are getting in good circumstances of every kind of stock and large clearance the most of them are getting a barrel of whisky at the time of putting their produce to market for the use of the house and treating their friends when they will come to visit them. Sure enough we got some hardship clearing of the wood but we have now up to 50 acres arable land and larger part of it cleared of stumps and a stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs and even to the gees and hens. Rather to the years and have it as well as ever we had in Islay and more satisfaction and easier in our minds. Our land is free for ourselves and to our children after us. Except for some taxes according to their property one penny per acre yearly, six pence for each horse, four pence for aged cattle. We are situated in the middle of the settlement. The high road passing our house 20 miles on each land and the post office of Eldon is opposite to our house on the other side of the road. Therefore you will address my letter Neil Carmichael, Township of Eldon, Upper Canada, North America. The season of sugar is over at this time. Some families that are strong and well prepared for the season are making up to eight hundred pounds. Our settlement is mostly as Scotch as Islay and among good neighbors situated. Brother Archibald is only a mile from us. He is well in health and his family and have a good a stock as ever he had in Islay of all kinds. His three sons are very well stout looking and told me to send their kind complements to all branches of the family. I have to let you know the grievous news of the death of your sister Ann who departed this life the last of November 1841. I have no certainty whether you heard it or not. She is buried beside sister Isabelle in brother Colin's place. Her daughter Catherine is along with Hugh and Alexander both unmarried and doing very well. Their brother Archibald McMillan have six of a young family three sons and three daughters and prospering well in the world. Angus Gillespie gets big nine of young family 4 sons and 5 daughters. James Sutherland and Christy McMillan have 3 sons and 2 daughters. Brother Colin and Mary have ___sons and 1 daughter. Christy and Leasy are married 2 years to two young men from the lowland of Scotland. They are some distance from their father. Leasy has two children. Christy had two but not alive. The rest of the brother and sister is still with their father. Archibald McFadyen and sister Mary are in health themselves and this family they are all together at present except Effy who married Angus Darroch, her own cousin. They have two little boys they are a hundred miles from this place settlement teaching school. Mr. Duncan McMillan have left the place where he was formerly about the distance of three hundred miles from here. He is married to a young woman of the lowlands of Scotland and they have two sons and one daughter. You was wishing to know about your nephew George. He married in the month of March a daughter of John McDougall who left Bowmore. Archibald Sinclair and his family are well. Effy married lately, John Campbell who left Lurabus. Brother Donald and his family are well in health. Duncan and Donald are still with their father. Hugh is in a house by himself. He has 2 sons and 2 daughters. John and his family are well in health. Brother Dugald and his family are well in health. Tell me in your next letter if ever we shall expect you to Canada. If you are able to manage your progress on that. We add no more at present but we all join in complements and love to you brother and sister and all branches of the family and all enquiring friends. I am your trusty brother.
Neil Carmichael

Our compliments to Alexander Currie, Donald McLugash and their families Also Donald McEachern our old servant and his family. Tell him if he would come here that I shall give him land free til he be rich enough to by land. Mrs Colin Campbell and her family to be minded for complements also Catherine McFayden who was in Congary. Not forgetting you and my dear beloved sister which I love. Our complements to Angus McEachern and Leasy and their family.

(Written up the side of the pages)

I wrote to Flory McCaig and another of the same date. My complements to Dougald and John McDougall to John McFadyen and his family, to your brother Alexander, not forgetting your old father is he is yet alive. My complements to Arch'd Brown and his family and Alexander McNeil and Mary Brown and brothers and sisters are well. My complements to Neil and Mary Currie and to Hugh C. and family.

(This next letter was written by Archibald Carmichael to his sister and brother in law John Campbell/Christian Carmichael at Mulindry on Islay in 1841. Some of the writing on this letter was very hard to read so it tends to look mixed up at times)

Go to the Archibald Carmichael Letter

Eldon, July 11, 1841
Dear Brother and Sister:
I have taken this opportunity to state unto you concerning my situation and Circumstance. I have received by Arch McDougall your letter by reading it give me and the rest of the concern great pleasure to of your well being you and your family. I only tell you that I am through several trials in since I departed from you which nobody could avoid that left in my situation by the help of the Lord that kept to us a portion of health after coming here we practice for all kind it must be clear and all the ___ money I had put it out in the land which I now reside appears the first cattle I bought and lost them about twenty found
(couple bad lines)
Arch McFadyen did not forget his friendship to me but for the rest I could not blame them because they wait not able at the time but now the most of them are well in circumstance and health except poor Neil he met with a misfortunate accident rising a house with one of the neighbors. One of the logs fell from the peak of the house and crushed him down to the ground and left him breathless but soon after he recovered so that he could speak. He was bruised the whole of him but chiefly his hentch and ___ Was more so he got himself hurt about this time last year and are still unable to walk without a still but I expect that he will recover through time yet but after all I got coming here and after I am glad that the Lord tempted me to leave my native country because if I had stay in Islay I would have no heritage in this life but the case is ____ I was for a while paying rent and last year I bought my land and got it with much trouble the land was leased by another man who note his right to me but at last he attempt to break my bargain on me but after his false behavior to me he was beat and I got my land from the ___ office for the payment of the near payment I put out part and the rest I expect to pay the year if all things may prove as it appears Lord be praised I have an abundance of all sort that is reassuring for the kind of country housing. I have plenty of wheat in the ground about 16 acres under wheat and the best appearance that ever I had if frost or roast will keep from it. Plenty of oats, barley, potatoes and peas. I have of clear land better than 50 acres of which I have under crop about forty for manure I did not drive any upon the land and yet it is lying about the door still as yet. I have plenty of all sort of cattle First I have a hors meat and a colt of black cattle I have what would stock eight pence land of Mulindry and a beautiful flock of sheep The new sheep will have twins and double lambs every year of eat and in a two year old weather _____ in general he will make nearly 20 pounds weight of tallow from the inside. I need not speak about hogs. I have too many of them. For fowls we have all sort. We have three geese, ducks and hens. Market is not very convenient for us in these back townships for either cattle of grain. I have to send my grain 45 or 50 miles in order to make any money on it and my pork also. The price of pork and beef was very low in the past year concerning cattle it is uncertain to get sale of them without giving credit for them. They are not transported from the place back to Scotland or England. For my part I tell you only that we have more pleasure in one year than we had the twelve years that we reside in Philbranon although we had consideration among us we had very little pleasure we could have had of it but now we have the pleasure that we can take every male in the day plenty of potatoes plus bread and oat bread bitter chese and pork and a piece of mutton and a dish of grad fray we called young highs on which would be very dear there but we pay 5 shillings currency for the pound of it. Whiskey is very plentiful here at the rate of two shillings and 6 pence currency a gallon but when I came here there was none to be gotten here. The boys are still along with me as yet except John he is away with a steamboat a little while ago and I don't expect him home until winter. The three boys are about one size for height but Hugh is not so heavy as the rest. They are strong men but they are ___ to me as yet. I do expect that if they will stay along with me as usual we will soon buy land for each of them but good land is getting scarce about us here and dearer. The lasses are growing like rashes. The boys and Margaret were in school last winter with my brother Neil as he was unable for other work and rest of the children are going now to school. You were wishing to know how my wife was standing. I do certify you that she is nearly so good looking now and so fat as when she left Islay. I am ___ ___ ___curves my confusion that body did not
(down to next fold)
Til I would be able to keep you and your family but to give ___ mail I do though it will be in vain as long as you will be able to stay in Mulindry. I am failing very much in strength but for my health I cannot say but I am fully so good as it was there and at this I am turning work the family are growing strong. This place is so wholesome as any place on earth. Your brothers and sisters and their families are in good health. Donald and family, Dugald and family, Neil and family, Archibald McFadyen and family, Duncan Campbell, Collin and family and the McMillans, Angus Gillespie and the whole are well. We jointly with greatest love send our compliments to you both and family to Lessy and husband also the old elder Alex your brother. My complements to John McFadyen and finally to all inquiries of my old acquaintances. I am your affectionate brother. Arch Carmichael My wifes complements to ____ and Mary McCoag.

(This apparently was something for the eyes of his sister only. It is in bad enough shape to be partially illegible) (Pages 5 and 6)

You wished to let you know secretly who would be good or bad to me at the time of my arrival of which I will tell you plenty. They was good all time except one but Brother Arch'd McFayden and his wife was better to me than the whole of my friends. They helped me with all------would request the half year. I remain aside them and----- am pleased---- to my own place. I could tell you some things that would make you astonished------- --if ever I will see you again I would give------- now to give the whole for fear of too much weight, but for one thing my Mary turn unwell with a sore belly which made her weak and when we arrived at Gros Island where we were 12 days --she was observed by the doctor and was putting in the hospital where I had to go along.-- When she got the first medison she turned very bad and the second time the doctor came what she got I (I spil it secretly?) and as the third day I got-free with her (?)and got away to Quebec and from thence -to Montreal in the course? of two or 3 days Mary turn sick again with the smallpocks. Then we have to drive on night and day with corse waither thunder and rain for fear of being taken into the hospital again .At last made out Donald Calder place at Lake Simcoe within six or 7 miles to my friend?- then I could not get any (quarter?) to let me in but I stay out all night. Then my friends would not come to see me. After that I was three weeks before some of them came to see us. Isibal took the small packs also. Margaret want to show you my son Arch'd hair. Give my love and compliments to my dear Leasey and husband. We join in love and blessing both to you and the children. I am dear Brother and Sister your duty full brother till death.
Arch'd Carmichael

(This next letter was written by Elizabeth (Licy) (Campbell)McEachern to her mother and father John Campbell/Christian Carmichael at Mulindry on Islay in 1850. This was in a different hand from her first letter.)

The envelope is addressed

-Mr.John Campbell
Mulindry Parish of Bowmore
Island of Islay Argyll
Shire North Brittain

Erin April 5th 1850
Dear Father and Mother
I write these few lines to let you know that we are all in good health at present hopping will find you and your family in the state I received your letter on the 1 first of January which give me a great pleasure I have to let you know I stick to the land this year yet I got three acres chopped in the winter our crop was tolerable good this year. I sold 31 bushel of wheat the year .I hope in the lord we got the hardest triel by I never rise all of my bread before I been always bying my wheat till this year I never feeled bad nor hongry Dear father and mother dont you take sorry for me I cannot keep a hired man there wages so high not easy being made three pounds sterling in a month from small clearance the provision is shape the fall wheat from three shillings and 6pence to 4 shillings per bushel oats 150 pence per bushel potatoes 150 pences per bushel pees 2 shiling and 6 pences per bushel catles and horses going old prices I am very sorry for you father and mother and brother for keeping so wake and seeking all the time I cannot let you out of my mind neither day or night if I being so near is I can see you now and there I know I will be better pleased I am very uneasy about you I got your news with the Rev John Campbell he come to see me and stop one night and he told me about your seekness he told my mother smoking tobaco and I tooked very sorry I never courage one of my brothers to come here I know they doing here better nor there I dont like they give you Father and mother any more broken heart I think I give you too much I dont be looking for this year yet is not for the charge of my children but for myself and for yourself I want to keep single to try you ever come I hope Ill ever do bad falling I will be looking for my brother Colin at the next summer if he come he will be a great comfort to me I am very lonesome here my Dear Father and Mother brothers and sisters I think if you both together to canada and work so hard here is you doing there it will be better prophet to you I think is foolish to you be killing your family doing dreins there dont you be so frighty for the sea many one so wake is you getting over without no much trial people getting good passage I hope your getting your health better I am not going to promise a great help to you I can give you a comfortable house and meat and drink as long is you like I have to let you know all my friends in Eldon keeping there health I never got a letter from any of them but my uncle Archibald McFadyen his writing to me once every year and I do the same to him he says in his last letter you not write to him this year at all Cousin Colin Mc Nab got married with Nancy Campbell uncle Colin's daughter. my uncle sandy in the same way I am sorry about cousin Christy McMillian she unsteady in her mind they send her to Toronto in winter we have very good winter no much snow nor frost till February we had deep snow and frost and he not away yet I have to let you know I can make my sope and my sugar since I come here. I made last year one hundred and twenty pound of sugar I am go to begin to make sugar now I made the year 29 yards of wollin and cottin for myself and for my children but I will take your present I don't like trouble strenge people I conclude with love and my thousand complement to father mother brothers and sisters all my children send there complements to you all Cousin Rhodhous wife and family send there complement to you Cousin Duncan McMillian wife and family send there compliments to you my father mother brothers sisters inlaw send there thousand compliment to you sister Mary still in toronto Ronald wife send there complement to you he never had no family but one girl serve my complement to John MvFadyen wife and family serve my complment to Mistres large----to Alexander ferguson wife and family - to john McAffer shew maker wife and family john Sinclair wife and family send there compliment to you let me no in your next letter how my brother John getting on in Jura. I am glad Peter McEacern getting so rich he going to send money to take home Angus if he want to go home Angus Mc Eachern he bought 50 acres of land with some clear I had no more to say I am your dutifully
Daughter to death
Elizabeth Campbell