Eighteen Thirty-Four

Thomas Neff Junior, Alexander Warrack, Alexander Duncan, Mr. John Daniel, Dr. William Craigie, Thomas Daniel, Duncan Craigie your cousin from Aberdeen, Captain Duthie, old Matron Downie, John at Badenyon, James Begg Junior Blackhillock, Morris Forsyth at Turriff, James Forbes in Baltimore, George Forbes, Reverend Adam Smith Towie, Mr. McHaidy Deldergie, Mr. Tawse, who dropped down dead in the pulpit, Reverend William Rede in Milltown of Glenbucket, Reverend Mr. Lawblatt minister of Teig, Reverend James Cordiner schoolmaster -- Tartly is minister of Forgue, Minister Scotie, Brody, James Roy, Mr. Cordiner at Gartly,

Letter says Harry has a youngest boy and a daughter Jean and that James was teaching school in Canada.

Name of a ship going to Canada: Molson of Dundee

George, five of my youngest children at the school of Towie (five children all in the same school in 1834) Charles began Grammar school in August 1834. Charles would be about 14 when this letter was written (Charles was born in 1820)

Mr. Harry Begg
Southwold County of Middlesex
London District, Talbot Street
St. Thomas
Upper Canada

Milltown of Towie 25th June 1834

Dear Brother & Sister

I embrace the opportunity of Thomas Neff Junior or Alexander Warrack Mains of Towie or perhaps Alexander Duncan Fawls who emigrates from this country with the Molson of Dundee for Upper Canada, Neff and Duncan goes out to Mr. John Daniel & Warrack to Dr. William Craigie late of Belnaboth Towie & Mr. Daniel went out to his brother Thomas at Albany, this time last year, Dr. Craigie went only out this year, he sailed from Greenock upon 20th June Current, with his wife & family & the above named three young men goes out with his logage (luggage Scottish) per the Molson, I wrote you in March last year per Duncan Craigie your cousin from Aberdeen who emigrated with the brilliant Captain Duthie Commander & I have no doubt that you will be in possession of it long before this leaves us, I was glad to hear that you were all in good health, although much hurt at your being so faint hearted, In my former letter I endeavored to arouse you & I have little doubt but that you will see it your own advantage by this time, I cannot think that all the value of the concern need make you be much alarmed, I can honestly tell you that I have had much greater difficulties to surmount and never allowed my spirits to be cast down. I told you that I was sorry so far distant from you or else I would do my best to assist you by word and deed, & I will certainly give you some help by way of accommodation, to enable you once to clear up your engagement. But you must write me some time previous so as to enable me to be prepared to lend you some cash as I have none past me in the mean time, and with regard to my Father giving you some assistance, I can assure you that by his present appearance he has every probability of living to require his all; between himself and old Matron Downie, you are well aware that they are living purely with the intention of spending what was formerly won – adopting no plan whatever to gain one shilling more. I expect by the time that this reaches you, you will be reaping a rich harvest, and indeed there is every appearance that our will be very early this year, I suppose that if the weather continues favorable we will be able to commence harvest about the same time that we did so in 1828 – my corn is in full ear, & pretty fair crop of straw, the hay crop is very deficient this year, & is likely to be dear, I spoke to some people who require a good deal of hay for their coach horses – they seem to think that this will be a ruinous season they suppose hay will cost 1/3 to 1/6 [one and three to one and six] per stone & oats 16/” to 20/” per boll, farm produce for three years was unprecedently low
be able in course to inform you – John at Badenyon has not settled with his farm and if he does not get a good bargain you have every chance to have him for a neighbour, James Begg Junior Blackhillock speaks of emigrating next year a great number of your old acquaintances is on the eve of going across the Atlantic, all your friends in

Glenbucket, Huntly, Spey Side are in good health, Morris Forsyth at Turriff is very anxious of getting a letter from and indeed so are all your friends in the quarter but I told them that it was not a mere trifle to keep up a correspondence on a large scale, as every letter costs you nearly one dollar (unreadable), & as you have not been long in the place you could not give them a very brief account of the country, that I had no doubt that your attachment to one and all of them was as strong as ever & however soon as you had it in your power you would write them individually – the real news in this quarter are not good, James Forbes in Baltimore, was both poisoned & murdered by his brother George, the enmity arose about a servant lass which was about their house It is reported that both were attached towards her & of course it ended in the death of the eldest, An inquest was held & George did not appear, the Officers have been searching after him but he has as yet eluded them, the Reverend Adam Smith Towie has lost his wife – Mr. McHaidy Deldergie is now minister of Coldstone in room of the deceased Mr. Tawse, who dropped down dead in the pulpit about Christmas last, Reverend William Rede in Milltown of Glenbucket is now minister of Auchendoir, Reverend Mr. Lawblatt is minister of Teig & another reverend Sir (which I do not recollect his name) is appointed minister Lough, the Reverend James Cordiner schoolmaster -- Tartly is minister of Forgue – Minister Scotie Glenbucket was to be transferred but the Brody concern put a stop to that, & Scot’s son in law nearly murdered James Roy in the spring for to obtain part of the Tail Siller, he has his trial to stand before the high court of justiciary in September or October, he is one of the four in Baltimore – that family is rapidly drawing to a close, our winter was uncommonly fine hardly any snow & the spring very dry &until lately we felt very much the want of rain, however we have got a very seasonable relief & corn & grass is making great progress, corn and meal rose in a few weeks to 2 of per boll at Aberdeen but since the rain commenced it is rather cheaper, we have a very fine appearance of a crop & should the same favorable weather continue we will get harvest by the first of August, Cattle is still in good demand & has been the only commodity that has paid us this three years passed, horses a high price & sheep is considerably dearer this year nor last, grass is uncommonly dear rented this year & cattle was put on the grass at high prices, therefore it is much doubted that is will be a bad year for grasiers, I have no grass this year & I consider myself happily delivered. There is five of my youngest children at the school of Towie – Charles has been at home this few weeks past but I intend sending him to Aberdeen in the first of August in the Grammar school & if possible to the college, He completed last year at the Old Town College and gained a five pound burse, but I have no sanguine hopes of his success as it is a mere chance to come in for a burse, the slightest mistake will cut one out of it, There was none fewer nor 116 competitors last year, a very great number of full grown lads and also a

July 14th 1834

Dear Brother

Since I wrote the foregoing there has been a considerable lapse of time, the ship which this is going with has lawing detained past the usual time that she went away last year, the news here is that fine weather continues along with frequent showers & very warm – the crope has made rapid progress, there is some fields of barley out & the near Dalkeith was cut upon the 27th June & several more ased quite ready – their is no barley ready in our neighbourhood but plenty of it nearly full – all kinds of grain crops, Hay, pasture has made an almost unprecedented rapid improvement, we are very busy at present, Hay, Fire, Lime & Turnip is pressing us at the same time & before we get them finished our corn will be ready for cutting – I am going to Huntly to Peter fair upon Wednesday when I shall acquaint Robert Forsyth & and your sister in law that I have wrote you & I would not wonder but you may receive a letter per the same opportunity from them & Morris at Turriff – There is more emigrating from this country this year nor has been in any three former years, we are all in expectation of a very rich early crope & were we to receive a good price this season a very considerable relief would be felt all over the country & Your friends in Glenbucket\ are all well, The Factor & a Planer is in it at present but when their farms may be let I know not, I will be able to acquaint you in my next, John is likely to settle with his place – write me upon receipt of this & mention particularly how your are in you bodily health & if all of you has enjoyed good health since you have been in Canada – My Father, wife & all my family cordially join our kindest & most affectionate good wishes to you all remaining, Dear Brother & Sister
Yours ever truly
Charles Begg
Sent per Alex Warrack
Mains of Towie