The Oldest Item in the Archives Collection
AN 1823 LETTER TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Comments by: Joan Hyslop, Transcribed by Joan Hyslop and Nancy Seiler
William Douglas (b. 1799) attended Scotland’s Edinburgh University as a student in the Faculty of Arts for three years (1816-1818). He became a schoolmaster in Edinburgh and lived in the parish of St. George. He married Miss Margaret Usher [eldest daughter of John Usher] in 1819. Their first child was James Douglas [b. Aug. 27, 1820, at Edinburgh]. Another son, John Douglas, was born shortly after.
For some unknown reason, William had to leave Scotland. In 1823, he was in America, working as a schoolteacher at Lexington, and wrote home to Edinburgh, missing his wife and young sons and friends. The letter reminds us of how difficult it was for emigrants to keep in communication with their loved ones “at Home.” The letter is addressed to Mrs. William Douglas, who was staying at the home of her brother, Mr. James Usher, Esquire, at Edinburgh.
Lexington, May 30th 1823
It was not always thus with my adored Margaret that I had always to write without having the inexpressible pleasure of an answer. Can it be possible that after withstanding an unnecessary tide of misfortune which could not even shake the sincerity of your affection – you can now forget to love him whom in every circumstance of fortune you have known to love? Are not the two dear pledges of our mutual love a bond of union which no power can ever dissolve & which external circumstances should never actuate. It is true, that our morn arose with that cloudless luster [lustre] which promised more, than it is generally the lot of mortals to enjoy, and that that bright day was soon enveloped in the darkest Cloud. That, however, you endured with a fortitude and fidelity which have few examples, but now that I am gone perhaps the inveteracy of malice may have instigated your naturally unsuspecting heart that a sinister motive influenced me to the connexion but surely you know better. Are you unconvinced that the most inspired love was the mutual feeling in my mind as it was in yours. Alas! how oft [often] does goodness wound itself & sweet affection prove the spring of woe. The faith I had in the honour of a villain from the romantic & sanguine hopes of a youth of 21 were the unfortunate causes of all the misery we have been doomed to suffer. But now is it time to despair when better things have … and when we are not past that age when it may be said saving knowledge begins to operate? You will wonder why all these complainings but think, only think that of all my letters which I have sent to you, not one has been answered but one, which was dated 1st January 1823. We agreed that we should write every month whether the receipt of letters, regularly, took place or not. I have fulfilled my engagement but assuredly you have not yours, otherwise I should have received more than I have received.
June 1st 1823. This my dear dear [he writes dear twice] wife is Sabbath morning & I have spent much of it, since recommending myself to god [he doesn’t capitalize] on thinking of you & our dear children. I have tried to conjecture what you are doing & I have had the picture of the beloved group before my mind for a long while.
The silent thought gives me pleasure, I may say my only pleasure; but in silence too must I endure the heartrending thought that you are distant 4000 Miles for I do not complain Telling all my misery could not awake sympathy in others unless they love as I do & had experienced all the misery which a separation from the most beloved, produces. The moaning which no ear hears & the tears which no eye sees are the greatest sources of relief to my gloomy mind. How unlike ourselves four years ago all was gay & pleasure & joy –never met but with transports [?] and only parted with hope that we would in a few weeks from this time, meet to part no more till the cold grave should part us for a little season. O god what a romantic dream--what a delusive hope. I know you cannot read these reflections
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without weeping well whether or not we meet any more on earth our tears may not be … when you receive this & O if the tears of the most devoted love would return us [or could restore us] to each other soon, soon, [he writes soon twice] should we meet. But I must stope [stop] for my head aches so that I am not able to write & it must be near the time when I must go to church. I shall finish this in the afternoon. I have just returned from Church but my wicked wandering thoughts have been in Edinburgh all day. I thought in going to meeting how lifeless all seems to me without the chime of Edina’s Bells [does he mean Edinburgh’s bells?] It is true we have had an excellent Sermon, but associations which are linked with all the sacrid [sacred] impressions of early years strike us forcibly that something is awanting. When I hear the deep toned bell of St. George’s, with what delight have I hurried along and even anticipated the pleasure I should experience on hear [hearing] the word of truth dispensed. Nor the renewed heart & eloquent language of Mr. Thompson I fear I shall never again enjoy. But though every thing here is attended with less show, there is a chaste solemnity which is well calculated to awaken devotional feelings. Within these last 40 years this was the aboade [abode] of nothing but beasts of prey: & for many years after it was first settled neither the fear of god or love of Christ existed in one mind; but now glorious to tell, the wilderness has blossomed like the rose & the love of god rules & reigns in many hearts. I do sometimes, my dear Margaret, hope that I have experienced a new heart & past from death onto life; but o I am afraid my hope is the offspring of a wish, not a reality. There is such a manifest contradiction in my feelings that I have still reason to doubt, but I have not yet been renewed I pray god I shall not be left to final impenitence. O how important it is for parents to live not only a godly life, but at all times to live near to christ [doesn’t capitalize]. How must a parent feel when his child stands forth at the awful tribunal of god and manifests to all the world that by his sinfulness, they shall forever perish. Say, what can be a stronger motive to a parent who has any natural affection for the dear children that have sprung from him. Nor is the duty less imperative upon the mother, indeed on many accounts the obligation in this respect is stronger upon her. She is constantly with her children when their minds are the most easily susceptible of impressions & impressions when once formed have a chance to be permanent. The obligations that lie upon parents are manifold Solumn [solemn] for with them, to a great degree, rests the power of forming their dispositions as well as habits: & if the disposition of children be not fostered both with care & wisdom, a disposition naturally amiable might so be perverted as to become the source of unhappiness through life. But I need not inform one of her duty who both knows & loves it.
I have got the offer of a school two miles from where I am & have not yet determined whether I shall accept. Efforts are making at both places & wherever I can get the best offer I will go. I will let you know as soon as it is formally settled. I am also about to begin a course of Lectures for next winter, when I
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deliver them. It is now necessary to inform you something with regard to the place. You will see every way around you Mountains covered with wood & spots here & there cleared & under good cultivation with only a few exceptions the society you will not find very fascinating. But if there be few so very interesting you will not find any so clownish as in Scotland. They have all a decent & some an excellent education & quality [equality] that exists and destroys the sheepishness which we meet with at Home. To one no longer home, I must also be candid with regard to money afairs [affairs] You need not make your calculations above 90 £ [pounds] & afraid not more than 100 £, nor not less than 90 £.
Living[here] is much cheaper but clothes especially men’s are much higher than with you; but owing to the Local situation of the place less expence [expense] is necessary than in large Towns. Besides as a help a small farm could be purchased that would keep a cow and horse & with some sheep no one should need meat, raise a sufficient quantity of wheat and potatoes & fruit for our own use for 90 £ now as this would save us one half of living we might pay it in less than three years; & by working it myself it would enhance the value of our income. You now know what you may expect & the next enquiry must be is this enough to satisfy you. I know you will think it an insult to put such a question to you & say that you have given me sufficient satisfaction to conclude you would be willing to share my fortune with me. But you are aware how deeply one reflection or one murmur from you would wound my heart, & if you would prefer living in a city, I have no doubt such a situation may be obtained, but it might be attended with many other disadvantages. Living in cities in this country is very expensive & they are often visited with desolating distempers, whereas here it is as healthy as in any place in Scotland; & having a settled situation here there is no danger of contingencies & better situations may soon occur. Inform Mr. Wm. Scott in Leith, personally if possible that I have written to him twice & if he do [does] not answer this I shall interpret his Silence. I have also written to Mr. Knox. I am just about to write to Mr. Kennedy. I wish much to hear about Mr. Alston I wonder if ever such friendship as ours grew [so cold?] 4 years ago how apparently sincere I also want to hear from the Nichols & say it they be married. Is John Armstrong & Jess still in [favour], or has Dr. C weaned her affections. Mention the name of all old acquaintances & say any thing about them but only do mention them. Give my best wishes to all enquiring friends & kiss my dear children for their absent Father. What would I give to see them O how undescribable a parent’s love. I have written to James lately & no doubt you will see its contents. It regarded your coming here & I hope after receiving this that you will be able to
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[decide to ?] with the greater facility. I care not if you were here today it would be a joyful sight to me. I have written several letters to my Father but had no return. I have not nor will I write to any other of my relations. Put not off one minute after receiving this writing & believe me, my adored wife, your unchangeably affectionate Husband
Wm. Douglas
Postscript
PS I am engaged in writing a poem called “The Pleasure of Revenge”. Write to Mrs. Simpson’s [looks like Mrs. Thompson’s] friends that she never received any letter from them and is consequently unhappy. She is in that State which ladies wish to be who love their Lord I am determined to remain here in consequence of the urgency of my friends. WD
Another letter in the Grey Roots collection, dated Jan. 9, 1830, was sent to Margaret by her brother-in-law, John Douglas, who conducted a corn mill at Ashkirk, in the County of Selkirk, Scotland. He had received a letter about his brother and needed to inform her that her husband had died the previous November.
At the time of his death, William Douglas, had been residing at the home of a Mr. Roberts at Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont. He had been working as a schoolteacher at a town called Tinmouth since 1827, but had caught a severe cold, which apparently progressed into a deadly pneumonia. He knew he was dying, and therefore had Mr. Roberts promise to contact his family after his death.
Therefore, Margaret was left a widow in Edinburgh, with two sons to raise. She remarried, and her second husband was Mr. Thomas Lunn.
The Lunn family left Scotland in 1842 and arrived at Owen Sound, Upper Canada in May, 1843 aboard the schooner “Otter”, along with John and James Douglas. At the time, there were only three log cabins built in the settlement. The Lunns settled one mile northeast of Leith, planning to farm. Their dwelling was a log shanty, which reportedly had a passageway connection to the barn. Living in the backwoods might have been somewhat of a hardship for Mrs. Lunn, as her family, the Ushers, had been “well-to-do” in Edinburgh, and there is a hint that perhaps her family did not approve of her marrying beneath her station.
Her John Douglas had a store for some years at Guelph, but moved back to Owen Sound in the 1860s. John’s son Thomas W. Douglas (b. June 24, 1859) later had a drygoods store, which he opened in Owen Sound in 1881. T. W. Douglas’ sons, John, Wilfred & Stewart, helped keep the Douglas store in operation for a long time. Another descendent of Wm. & Margaret Douglas was John J. Douglas, who became a manufacturing jeweler in Owen Sound.
Thomas Lunn became Reeve of the Township of Sydenham and chaired the first meeting of the provisional council of Grey County. In 1852 the Lunns moved to Owen Sound when Mr. Lunn was appointed the County’s Registrar. He also was an Owen Sound councillor and was elected as Mayor in 1862.
Margaret Usher Douglas Lunn died in 1863 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Thomas Lunn died Nov. 5, 1875.
The 1823 letter from Wm. Douglas, and other information about the Douglas family, can be found in the Grey Roots Archival Collection (PF34 Corbet/Douglas Collection).
