Letters 1840 & 1841: McCoy (Prescott)

Dear Wilam I take this opertunity of senden you these few lines to you to let you no that all friends are well at present. but your mother has been very bad this two weeks back on, I wod wrote sooner but thank god She has got a litle beter with a lump. and we are very sorry for you been moved for we ware in great hopes of seeing you this winter, for I think gret long to see you as we think it wod because ob posible for you to come to us. when you [w]rite to Lucy do not menchen her mother illns or her to grieve her. but let her no we wonder she dos not rite to us. give her the directions how she will direct afor to us for we would arote to her be for this only for puten Cost on her as you could send them free. {page 2} as for Josep he can do nothing for me at present to give me money on account of the potash Cetel given up. he went to boil a barel on shares for georg glancy and he only got it half don when a hole fell out of her side, and it has put him all aslrgy for gting any money at present. yet we can not Complain much of he, him has give 30 bushel of potatoes to us, and two hunder of pork. as for flour we got none as yet from him but were at no los. he is now about to make some at present and I got a chance of twenty bushel more from frances armstrong at 1- a pound to be paid at the first of february, and your mother has got a pare of gees at a dolar if you [w]ould send it soon as you Can. if you cod send a litle more it wod be [w]anted no more at present but remains your loving parents to Death

I received your Letter of the 2d November. I am glad to see that you have done so much for our Dear Parents and I trust that they will get on well yet, although no doubt they will have a good deal of difficulties to come through yet before they can enjoy much benefit from their farm. I am very sorry that you had so little to say in your letter and that you left so much white paper when you might have filled it with something both pleasing and chearful. Since my Father and Mother and Mother left this country I have been in very poor health, and very low in spirits on account of the want of them[.] I was unable to work for about 3 weeks and the Doctor thought I had gone into a decline but I have reason to be thankful that I am now enjoying good health. but had not my Parents given me to understand that I was to be taken out in Spring next I assure you that they never would have left this country without me, because it appears that I will never be able to go out to America, because my wages will never allow me they are so small {page 2} and it appears from your letter that you are not able to do any thing for me, and so I must remain here in discontentment and anxiety of mind le[s]t the time be ever so long until my Parents be able to send for me which I believe they will do as soon as they are able. Please let my Father know that he promised to write to your Uncle Robert as soon as he knew what the country was, informing him what like it was. I am still living with Mrs. Maitland and her husband says that he will send for her by the month of February next. her and I have been often wondering who would be taken out first but it appears that I am doomed to be left here alone. I hope you will tell my Father that I would like very much if he would write to me himself for which I would be very thankful. now with regard to the subject that ocupies nearly the whole of your letter namely the marriage which some of you are so {page 3} much afraid of. I must just tell you that it was only done by way of a Joke for since my Parents left this I have had something else to ocupy my attention between trouble of of Body anxiety of Mind and want of employment[.] give my kind love to my Father & Mother and my two Sisters. No more at But I Remain your

Affectionate Sister {signed} Lucinda McCoy

(John Master the man to whom you Direct my letters would take it as a favour of you if you could send him word of where the 74 Regement is at Presant)

My dear friend i take this opertunity to write a few linds to you to let you know that we are all well thank god for all his mercies to us we hope those few linds will find you and your family well. i have nothing meterial to write but we are sorry that you remained so far away. i was determined to take your father with me and go to see you this winter but we must wait wait till the apointed time you are to be freed from sojouning, and then we hope to see each other to our satisfaction. your Father and Mother am both greived much at there Childrens absence but espesily your Dear Mother, she laments much about Luci the[y] seems to be content in this place of the only how there Children with them. your father is geting on well with changing a long fallow. i think he will pay you well for your trouble of he gets on as he expects. i think he will make at least two barrels of potash besides there is a good chance for a fine crop of wheat off it. hes much thought of by his nebours. him and i cut much hay about four miles off and i beleive he had not to ask a man to draw him load on[c]e said he would fetch him a load and other said he would so that had not even to ask him. I did not get along as i expected last fall on account {page 2} of the potash cettle givein out. the first melt i made it cracked and a hole broke out in the side but it is worth the mony yet for boiling shugar. i have a mind to buy one before summer. I bought a fine young horse after you left. this be cost thirty two dollars and a half. i have just lifted the note after payingfor him. your friends here is all well and desires to send there to you. when you write let us know of there is any apearance of trouble. sometimes we hear the[y] have Drafted the Militi in differente parts of the province. the[y] have not called the men out here yet. we do not know how soon and we do not know for what. some say it is a natinl war and some others say the army is called home but we would pray for peace to still rein in our land. A soldier land thou hast me made. thou and my Captain king and head and under thee i still will fight. the fight of faith with all my might. the cross all stained with hollowed blood. the ensign of our Conquering land. the christians soldiers standard is. and i will fight for king Jesus. O make us proud and spotless too. and fit to stand the grand review. that when our general shall come. with sound of trumpet not of drum. tis then our well dressed ranks shall stand. in full review at gods right hand. and when our foes shall get the rout. and Jesus wheels them left about. then will march up the heavenly street. and ground our arms at Jesus feet.

No more but your loving friends till Death

Joseph and Susanna McCoy

{page 3} your mother sends these linds to you

My Dear Children i now embrace this opertunty to write you a few linds hoping to find you all in good health as this leaves your father and me at present. we recieved your last letter with ten Dollars in it whitch we thank you most kindly for. we wouldv wrote sooner but waiting till William and James would move. the[y] are just gone. o my dear children i am very lonesome wanting them all but espesily my Dear luci. when you get a letter from her seal it up again and send it to us so that we will have the satisfection to see it. do not grieve about Mary for i know she is well enough. my dear children i think great long to see you here. your Father and me has suffered some by afliction. i was very low but the lord has raised me up again. thanks be to his name i hope that it was good for us to be aflicted. your father is very diligent in trying to Chop. the nebours says he will clean all expencsis for the land in a short time of he has on. you may tell Mary of i[f] was near i could give her a present of eggs. i wanted to send send her a present of butter with William but he thought he could not take it. when this comes to hand write to us and let us know how little mary comes on or of she is a good girl. it is a great comfort to us to get your letters. so do not neglect writing frequently to us. if you come in any time you may get James weding yet. no more at present but your uncle and Aunt and Josef and Susanna joins your father and me in sending our love to you all. my Dear children your loving father and mother till Deat[h] to M McCoy

{page 1}Camden East march 1 1841

Dear Wilam, we received you leter and we are hapy to hear of you all being in good helth as this laves us in at present. thanks be togod for his good to us and likewise we are glad for hearing of you having astranger and that all is well with you. William has not got his money yet he wod be well plased if you wod send him 20 dolars and he wants also half adolar for intrust for the forteen and give flour or whate for the rest. I have 4 akers with the beter and uncle John is hear yet and has no thots of going yet {page 2} I have 5 bushel of oats and 2 of whate bot and paid for. Dear william if ever you don a charety strive to do something for that poor sister of yours for I think she must be ill of what was the reson that you never named Josef or Susan after them righting to you. the are all afended that you never menchened them all friends are well and sends their best respects to you all when you rite again let us no what you think about wilam and take your excuse to Josef Tomere at present but remains ever fond parents Arthur and nancy McCoy {page 4 is blank}