Burgess, Bala, Ontario 1901 onwards - Completed but still ongoing

[JMO]

Thanks for the warm welcome cousin Gadget!

What a great moment online - especially since your 3xgr grandfather and my 2xgr grandfather seemed to have a special relationship. I'd love to get a transcript or copy of THE LETTER. Do we know if that's a possibility. I recently wrote to ancestral-tales.co.uk and am waiting for a reply.
If there's anything I can contribute - don't hesitate.

JMO

[Gadget]

Thanks for the warm welcome cousin Gadget!

What a great moment online - especially since your 3xgr grandfather and my 2xgr grandfather seemed to have a special relationship. I'd love to get a transcript or copy of THE LETTER. Do we know if that's a possibility. I recently wrote to ancestral-tales.co.uk and am waiting for a reply.
If there's anything I can contribute - don't hesitate.

JMO

Hi JMO

I can do better than that - I can give you my transcription (the one done earlier by another cousin was a bit out) - but I can also send you a copy of  the 7-8 pages of the original letter.

PM me your e-mail - click on the green scroll under my avatar at left and you'll get a PM window.


Gadget

PS - I also have a transcript of TB's letter to his cousin Jean Burgess in the 1890s - he sent her a dollar 

PPS - Just seen your message about ancestral-tales (that's me - I've not checked that e-mail address for ages  )

[Gadget]

I also have what I think is Tom Burgess's father, Samuel's death cert which I can pass on.

It seems that you, Jeff and I are direct 5th cousins. I'm not sure about Westminster because he/she seems to have dropped out of the hunt 


Gadget

[JMO]

I'd be interested in anything you'd like to pass on.

JMO

[Jeff T]

Hi all,

I would love to see the Jean Burgess letter. The other one was incredible. I loved how he mentioned missing the fireside chats with his Brother. It was very touching.

any idea where these folks are all buried etc?

I know, questions questions!!

[Gadget]

Hi Jeff

If you go through this thread, you'll find various links to burial grounds. The one in Bala is a Burgess family one.

Gadget

[Gadget]

Hi again Jeff

I have just been typing up the letter from Tom Burgess of Bala to his cousin Jeannie in Cranbrook, Kent, where she was a domestic servant. 

It is from a transcription of the original (where is that  ) that seems to have been done in the 1950s/60s. I tried to put it through an OCR but it was so bad that it was easier to re-type. 

I shall put it up here as I think all those who've helped on this thread might be interested to read it. Various family members are mentioned, mainly the children/grandchildren of James Burgess (my 3xgreat) who Tom worked for in Merionethshire and TalyCefn in Denbighshire.

Here is the family:

James BURGESS, b. circa 1779, Scotland; d. 5 December 1856, Tal y Cefn Isa, Cyffylliog, Denbighshire; buried 11  December 1856, Cyffylliog Church Yard; aged 77; cause of death: paralysis; occupation: Farmer

m. 17 November 1807, Longcroft, Kells, Kircudbrightshire

Jean  CARSON, b. c. 1786, Kirkcudbrightshire d. 25 December 1870, Craig Lelo, Gwyddelwern, Merionethshire; aged 84; cause of death: general debility; occupation: wife of James Burgess, a farmer.

Known Children
Jean, bpt. 29 October 1809, Kells Manse, New Galloway, Kells; d. 15 February 1893, Top Wharf, Chirk, Denbighshire; m. Robert Wilson
Margaret, bpt. 8 September 1811, New Galloway, Kells;  d. 16 July 1898, 56 Well Street, Llanrhydd, Denbighshire; did not marry
Male, bpt. 20 August 1813, Kells
Mary, b. c. 1813, New Galloway, Kells; d. 25 November, 1892, 26 Rhos Street, Llanrhyd, Denbighshire; did not marry
(were the above two twins or was there a recording/transcription error?)
William, b. 27 May 1815, Nether Dullarg, Parton; bpt. 9 June 1815, Parton; d. 22 October 1890, Arran Township, Bruce County, Ontario m. Ann Noble
John, b. 20 August 1817; bpt. 4 September 1817, Parton
Menie (Minnie), b. c. 1819, Nether Dullarg, Parton; d. 18 June, 1885, Bron Bannog, Clocaenog, Denbighshire; did not marry
Anne Smith, bpt. 6 October 1822,  Parton; d 25 July 1857, Cyfylliog; bur. 29 July 1857, Cyffylliog; did not marry
Helen, b. 28 April 1825, Nether Dullarg, Parton; bpt. 20 June 1825, Parton; d. after 1891 ; m. John McLellan
Johan, bpt. 7 May 1827, Parton; d. after 1901, probably Manchester, Lancs; m Robert Parry
James, bpt. 4 March 1829, Parton; d. 10 February 1900, The Cottage, Llantysilio
Agnes, b. May 1833, Troquhain, Balmaclellan; bpt. (?) 8 June 1833, Balmaclellan; d. after 1901, probably Scruton, Richmond, N Riding of Yorkshire;  m. James Cook


Jeannie was son James's daughter. Alfred and Harold are the sons of William who went to Arran County. Peggy is Margaret.  The letter was written after Mary had died. Jeannie seems to have spent a lot of time with her aunts, Mary, Peggy and Menie


I'll have to divide the letter into a few postings as it exceeds the message length.


Gadget

[Gadget]

Page 1:

Bala 5th May 1893

My Dear Cousin Jeannie
Yours of the ? reached me last week and I was more than pleased to hear from you (not knowing whether Peggy would forward my few lines to you or not, as she had said in her letter she had kept the papers). My letter had not left Ruthin when she went. Likely you have seen my letter to your aunt so hardly know what to say myself. Just let me say, any questions you may ask, I will answer truthfully, if possible. And for Mary’s sake, if I can befriend you in any way at any time just let me know. Mary was a great favourite of mine; when she was learning her trade in Scotland we were together, and it was her got me to go to Wales. Then she kept house for me at Tal y Cefn till she took sick. Then Peggy came. Peggy got along very well but she was not like Mary, and I think I was about the only one of the hired men that ever did get along smoothly with Peggy. It is 48 years since I left Wales and I am now in my 70th year, but up to four years ago when I got badly hurt I was quite smart on my feet. My right foot is fairly well but the left one bothers me quite a bit yet.

 Now Jeannie, you tell me to ask questions. How does Peggy manage? What has she to live on? She said in her letter J. Mclellan was going to give up the farm but she did not know what they would do. I know nothing of him, but his father was not a good manager. Who are the London friends you mention? Had I stayed in Wales I might have had less hard work than I have had in Canada having raised 10 of a (family- line obliterated by fold. I assume by what follows that he would have told her that his eldest son, Alexander, was a doctor) The second son has the saw mill, the third has gone to the old home to sell the stock, it was rented for shares and now we are renting it for cash but it is not very easy to get good tenants in Canada. We have but a small clearance here but I am renting it in shares. The fourth son is doing joiner work, and the sixth and youngest keeps a store. And I have a Post Office in the store. The Post Office does not bring in much, but I have to watch government work for which I get 300 dollars i.e. £40 per annum. I have three girls at home, the youngest is going 15, the next has learned dressmaking but takes a turn at all sorts of house work.


contd.............

[Gadget]

Page 2


You speak about me going to England. I do not fear the journey, but  I fear I would offend, as it is evident that there is bad feeling between Johan and Peggy for Peggy thought I was going home to marry Johan, and she said something I would rather she had not, and I am just as outspoken , so might offend. Then the trip would cost me at least £40 as I could not walk much. I have one cousin in Scotland about the same age as your Aunt Mary was: I would dearly like to see her. I have one more reason why I do not care to go home, but I will not give it in this, perhaps I will in my next if you care to know.

You speak of your Uncle William, while he lived we were like brothers and wrote to each other every week alternately. Your cousin the lawyer writes regularly; I heard from him last week. He did not mention Alfred or Harold so I take it they are well.

You do not say how many cows you keep. I would think the baking for such a house would be enough without the dairy. How far are you from London and what is your nearest town? I note what you say about service, well it would not suit me. Still you are better at service that you would be to be married unless you found a suitable companion. My first wife was all I could have asked for, but the second the less said the better. I have a distant recollection of Llangollen, I often passed through it.

Now my dear Cousin Jeannie I really do not know what to say to you, not knowing you well enough to say what I would like to say, but by and by I hope we will get better acquainted, so that after exchanging a few letters we will have entire confidence in each other. Here let me say I have a very high opinion of Cousin Jeannie. Peggy speaks highly of you and I fancy you must be a shade extra to serve praise from her. I would very much like your photo i.e. if you have a spare one and would be so obliging, you see how impudent I am. I have not had mine taken for 27 years. We have just passed through a severe winter, extra cold and high winds. Have not had your papers yet ? one last week as soon as I get your address on your letter.

I hope you will be able to read this and I further hope you will find time to write soon. When I tell you I had written to your cousin Willy asking for your address he did not know I, but he thought he could get it from Alfred. You will see I was determined not to lose sight of you. Now Jeannie I hope you will not think I want to intrude but I do want you to look and think of me as a friend. You speak of emigrating. If you ever do I hope you will make my home your home.


contd..............