HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-09-25, Page 142A ODDERICH S,I;GNAL-STAR, THURSDAY. SRI:EMBER 2
THE SLUE THUMP
BY G. MacLEOD ROSS
It is over 142 years since John
Galt and Tiger Dunlop together,
felled a "superb maple" on a site
to become Guelph. It Was the
beginning of the hard road to
what became Goderich and the
day was St. George's Day, April
rd, 1827. Thereafter Dunlop,
wi h John MacDonald as his
eyor and chief architect,
together with 4 band of
Woodsmen, including John
Brant, the Mohawk Chief,
hacked their way laboriously
through the forest wilderness to
the mouth of a river on Lake
Huron known as the
Menesetung. But a " few years
later, scores of settlers were to
follow this trail and gradually to -
populate what ' is now 'Huron
County.
Today with our superb train
service, augmented by a bus
service to London, not to
mention that from the Ontario
Hospital to Goderich, ingress
and exit to and from Goderich
are almost as fraught with grief
and pain as was the case 140 odd
years ago, save only that today
the individual has armed himself
with a weapon, known generally
as the automobile. Nevertheless
the axe which Dunlop and Galt
wielded with such enthusiasm
has been replaced by the buzz
saw, wielded today with even
greater enthusiasm by the
Ontario Highway Department,
so thatthe highway, once so
beautifully lined with maples, is
now denuded of many of the
trees which . escaped Dr.
Dunlop's axe.
It may therefore be of interest
to . publish for the first time
sone extracts from`a letter from
a husband in Goderich to his
wife in Edinburgh, apprising her
of- the many pitfalls which
would beset her journey to join
him. This immensely long (3,500
words) letter is dated - from
Goderich on the 8th of 1 ebruary
1833, from ' what the husband'
has called • euphemistically:
"Margaret's Cottage." His own
unbiassed description of this
cottage which forms the first
part of his letter, has been
interrupted- to ;' •insert his
daughter's versioh of what she
found, when she joined 'him. It
makes one • appreciate the
women pioneers of the
nineteenth centum. He writes as
follows:
"Dear Maggy,
You will perceive from the
above date that we have taken
possession of our estates and as I
have no person on this earth that
I can have such a sincere and
everlasting regard for as your
dear pretty self, I cannot do less
than dedicate it to you, our first
possession in our • adopted
country. Accept it as proof of
my sincere love and regard for,
my best and .dearest friend and
her bonny barns.
"it is a :log house of theworst
description, being made of
patches as the possessor
required, to suit his family and if
I was to touch any part of the
outside walls, the whole would
come down about my ears, buti
trust before you arrive here that
I shall .have- it made as
comfortable as it will admit for
your.corhfort and Our bairns and
long live to enjoy the ,comforts
of Peace and Happines rn 'each
others society. I really Io like
the place and only'want you and
the bairns to be comfoiitable. In
1969
the course of another year -we
may be able to pitch another
tent and convert the present into
a byre or stable. I shall meetyou
at Hamilton and bring you and
your little one here to peace. and
plenty.
"I shall now give you a little
of ourselves. In the midst of the
woods our house, as I said -
before, is none of the best, being
built by the man I bought it
from to suit his fancy, I should
have wished it had been better
built, as it will admit of •no
repair, however I shall endeavour
to make the most of it. We took
possession of our house last.
Saturday. We had to make a
bedstead in the primitive style,
with all the bark on the posts for
ornament. We had to make a
table also. On Sunday we had
our first dinner. party. For want
of a head cook and a number of
kitchen articles we were obliged
to give th' m Irish Stew, which
made us ° all lick our ' lips. The
keen air of the bush makes you
eat anything and I gave them
Adam's wine .from the stream,
not having the' money to buy
whisky. We have had none for
some time. There is a great
scarcity of Ladies here but there
are no gentlemen, only stout
working men, who require
nothing but a ,bucksome servant
maid and are not over nice with
.or without s maid."
['It is hard to believe that even
in 1833 this parody of "Peace
and Plenty' in their "adopted
country" could have enticed any
woman to leave her snug home
in Scotland, but she did. In
confirmation of what her father
said about "Maggy's Cottage",
here is how the daughter saw it.]
"Dear Grandmother, I write
to let you know we are now
settled at the farm which I shall
endeavour to describe. Our land
is excellent and there is a part'of
it that is situated on the lake
where father intends to build his
house next year, as the house vre
are in at present is a perfect
hovel. • My father had pulled
down the partitions and one_of
the chimneys in order to make it
more habitable---and..__..when. we
arrived the chimney was in the
middle..of the floor•and half the
gable end was down and I am
sorry to say ,it is not much better
yet in consequence of the
harvest, but he intends to
resurface it for the winter.
"To • give you some
description' of the floor; if we
put our foot on one -end, it is p
positioned as to rise and make a
bow to you at the other. We
have made a great many
alterations, such as putting a bit
of carpet on the floor. Since we
came to ,Goderich we have lived
sometimes on pork, at,. other
times on Indian corn and for a
while there was neither coffee,
nor flour, in the whole place, so
we had potatoes for breakfast
with tea and the same at every
other meal. We had a small hand
mill in which we, ground some
rye and it made nice scones, buto
something ' went wrong with it,
and instead of -it being like
oatmeal, it came out whole rye,
so you may conceive what a sort
of "peace and plenty" we had.
WORK
v
A pioneer's Ietter tells of ...
The road
We are now, I am hapy to say,
better provided and my father
intends buying a cow, oxen and
pigs, which ' will ' make us
so!newhat more comfortable.
Father continues in 3500 words,
with instructions as to how the
journey was to be undertaken./
"I should like you to come by
the cheapest • and easiest
conveyance 1 have no hesitation
in saying that a Yankee vessel to
New York from Livexppool will
be a cleaner vessel gird would
likely make the voyage sooner
than either from Greenock or
Leith and although you may
have quicker voyage across the
Atlantif, it will cost you
considerable ' to take you to •
Greenock and if the vessel does
not sail on the day proposed, the
expense . will be "greater 'by
stopping at all inn. In deference
to all,' I should advise you to
take Leith to Quebec as the
most economical and just as safe
as the other passage. If you
come by Quebec you will meet a
sincere friend who will pay you
every attention in the persons of
Mr. and Mrs, Lyon at Montreal.
"Resting a few days with them
will recruit you.
"I ;advise you to take your
luggage on board the steamer on
your arrival, as there is nothing
to be seen at Quebec, except the.
Garrison and there I do not
think you will go without a
protector. The- steamboat sails
every evening and the vessel you
arrive in will lay at the. same
'wharf the steamboat sails from.
When you arrive at Quebec I
advise you to go to the Neptune
Inn and order a fresh meal. You
will enjoy it very much.
Remember there is no charge
made by waiters, chathber
maids, or servants of any
description in America, nor any
douceur whatever . in the
steamboats or' taverns, so
never pay more than they ask. On
your arrival at Montreal you had
better get a porter to conduct
you to Mr. Lyon, but you must
leave the children to watch the
luggage. (I may here give'you an
advice: Have all your eyes about
your luggage in the steamboats,
especially at all stopping places,
that none may 'be taken away.) I
must also caution you against
the coach I took. It goes to
Ogden -burgh in the United. States
and across to Prescot. ' Do not
-take -it., --as you -ha' to cross -the
St. Lawrence in a small boat,
and the river being so.rapid, and
the men being all drunk; Ireally
expected to be upset and 'they
landed us about half a mile from
where the coach, was standing.
They left us to find ourway to
. the coach,- and be sure and keep
the Montreal side of the water.
From Prescot you will find a
steamboat that will . carry` you.
without any further trouble to
the top of Lake Ontario. It calls
at . Kingston', Brockville, Port
Hope, York, Hamilton to
Niagara . and._.returns _the,next
day. I wish you to stp at
Hamilton, as we will have less
land carriage than from York. If
you will get one of those little
maps published by the Canada
Company and look' into it, you
will find"that at Hamilton we are
• .Industria
• Farm -
• Factory
Plain or safety toe. Choice of
seven sole materials.
ROSS
SHOE SHOP
142 The Square
Goderich, Qr„t.
17tf
ne?
WO?
Three?
---You meed Th Savi'gs Acenvunts.
To provide you with the greatest amount of
interest on your savings and, at the same time,.
assure you maximum money flexibility,
Victoria and Grey urges you to adopt our
"Three -Account" Plan.
With our "Three -Account" Plan, you"get
4% on your regular savings account and
you may issue cheques on it .
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may not write cheques hut from \' hich you may
make �vithdTawals at any time.
81/21, on Guaranteed Investment"Certificates. A
,Start Saving today at Victoria 4jnd Grey.
The senior Trust Company
devoted entirely to serving
the people of Ontario.
VICTORIA and GREY
TRUST Ce5MPANY SINCE .•1889
W. R. Curry, Manager R44381
Elgin and Kingston Streets, Goderich
in .the direct line for this place.
In coming here from York we
have to call at Dundas, which is
only a few miles from Hamilton.
If you put a letter into the post
office im.Xnediately you arrive at
Quebec, directed to me, to the
care of Mr. Brewster, Goderich,
Huron Tract, Upper Canada, he
will forward it -to me and I shall
meet you at Hamilton and bring
you here to enjoy peace and
plenty.
"You must also be on your
guard about your money.
Sovereigns, I got 23s 9d
Currency, (23 shillings and nine
pence. Ed.) but as they are sold
to more advantage in Montreal,
you had better convert them
into Upper Canada dollar notes.
Remember in Upper Canada the
shilling is always meant to be the
New York shilling, which is 71/2d
of our money: eight of these
shillings are in a dollar. Currency
always means a Halifax shilling,
the same as our shilling. An
English shilling goes for 1s 2d
here. As we are up on money
matters here, bring with you all
the old halfpence you have as
they go current here, but a'
penny piece goes for no more
than a halfpenny, as they are not
known. You should collect all
the old pence you can get;
White, the pewterer, in the
Cowgate,' may collect a few for
you and give them for old brass.
The map of the Province of
Upper Canada you will find it at
James Duncan -and Co., Baillie
a.
to 0:odericki. •
Street, Leith, gratis. You will
find it of great service to you in
giving you a notion which way
you are going.
"I forgot to mention to you
while in Montreal you had better
call on Watson, Black & Co and
enquire if my boxes are
forwarded to me yet. Irnot you°
had better bring them with you.
They consist of one barrel, one
tin canister and one bag of
bedding and a box of seeds,
which, as I told Mr.' Lyon, I left
at the inn in my 'hurry in leaving,
in consequence 'in, my being
disappointed in my luggage. I
should be obliged, my dear
Maggy, you should delay your
journey as short a time after the
15th of May as possible as the
Harvestbegins on the first of
August and as I have about 6
acres' of wheat, one acre of rye
to cut and I expect to have oats,•
barley and . Indian ' corn all to
reap, I shall not get away easily
for any length of time and will
require all the assistance you and
yours can give me.
"My dear Maggy, in selecting
from they, remains , of our
furniture anything you intend
bringing out here, take nothing
that is bulky, for the expense of
carriage is more than their value.
True it is that you may pay
more here than you will receive
for them, the trouble and
expense is very great: It is
surprising to me you can
purchase Glasgow, Manchester,
Birmingltam and Sheffield goods
here so cheaply, nay Scotch
whisky better than 1 have ever
tasted at , home for 10 shillings
and 12 shillings per gallon. (It is
obvious that the Ontario Liquor
Board was still in its cradle:) On
that account I would advise you
to sell off everything, Your
bedding you will require on
board ship. I should recommend
you to provide yourself with'a
quantity of the stuff farmers
rnake their flour sacks of, to
pack up your bedding and, any
soft bundles. The stuff, after
you come here will be of use for
our grain. I should advise you to
purchase the strongest as it will
last longer; you will find it in the
Lawn Market, a little above
Bank street, in one, Ritchie's.
"Everything is no doubt
useful, but we must get it, by
degrees rather than plague you '
and lay out money for carriage
of things we do not at present
require. I trust therefore, you
will bring nothing but what is
useful and will go into little
bulk. To your own good sense
and discretion, I shall leave all
the rest. I shall be obliged if you
could bring the best Farmers'
Guide; the newest and latest
edition and see that it treats
upon bees as this -is the climate
for them. The treatment of bees
will be both profitable and
pleasant. I should like to have
the best methods of brewing and
distilling, also baking. Mary
ought • to make herself
completely mistress of it in all
its branches to be able to brew
beer for our own use, as the
English people do well here, td
makelife pass pleasantly. The
expense will be nothing when all
the materials will; in a few years,
be the cost of labor for sowing
and reaping. I recommend
bring unsay tookey dresses. The
reason is that the wood fires
here are' so large and being so
low down on the hearths,
females' clothes are very apt.to•_
take fire. In mending afire they
put on 3 or 4 logs about r ft.
long upon .iron dogs to keep
them about 6 inches from the
ground and to allow the air to
get in. It takes a man, about , 2
hours a day to supply a fire with
wood. I should recommend you
.to bring with you a few yards of
Plaiding and you ought to make
dresses for yourself and. Mary
and all the boys.
"On board ship put all your
provisions in one box or chest
and have it properly lashed
before the vessel 'leaves harbor.
In doing so you will save
yourself a great deal of trouble. I
beg you will bring some 'of the
best leek, onion and Swedish
turnip seed, also best yellow
turnip, rye grass, lucerne grass
seed and seed of the rowan as
there is not one to be seen and if
you can procure hawthorn seed,
I believe it will be the common
haw; enquire at your friend
Baillie Wright how they are sown.
and how to manage them rand
also the period I should cultivate
therm for finery,. I wish you also
to bring 6 or 7 pounds of water
of Ayr stone to sharpen our axes
on. It does not require to be in
large pieces. You will get it in
Browning's or any ironmonger.
"As the election of Members
for Parliament for Edinburgh
and Leith will create a• stir, I
should •like,. if you can, to
procure the newspapers SO that
we may have a last look at home •
polities, as papers here are not to
be got.
"And now dearest Maggy,
may God bless you and may he
keep you, and your bairns safe as
a hen does her chickens under
her wing and land you safely in or
June or July is , the nightly
prayer of your affectionate and
loving J Gudeman. To your
Mother remember me most
kindly and say if she will try a
voyage I shall make her as
comfortable as possible' and say 0
there are numerous tea parties in
the town of Goderich. I forgot
to tell you to provide yourselves
with three pairs of strong boots
. as the roads are very muddy
here, likewise ,the same for the
bairns.
April , 183"
(After3rdall3.these minute
instructions, it is interesting to
learn from the daughter's letter
to her Grandmother how the
trip turned out. Here are
excerpts from her letters.)
"We stopped on our way up 4
(from Montreal) at Prescott,
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