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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM) Pat Purcell Papers By kind permission of Mr Michael Purcell 2013 |
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Letter from 1912.
Dated
1912 it is addressed to Fielding Lecky Watson, father of Diana Curtis
and Corona North.
The
writer of the letter Mary Matilda Manley was born M.M. Watson in 1848.
Her
mother died in 1850, her father John Watson of Carlow was a brother of
Thomas (Arkansas) Joseph (Oregon) and William (Canada). Thomas went to
Arkansas circa 1850 and William went to Meaford, Canada circa 1830s,
he died there in 1888, he was married to Jane Speer, they had no
children. M.M. Manley joined her uncle William in Canada and died
there in 1930 , she did not have any children. We know Mary visited
Ireland in 1915 and carried out research in the Public Record Office
on the Watson family at that time.
I
have a lot of data on William and Matilda but for now I share this
letter. Meaford, Canada,
April 20th 1912.
Dear
cousin Fielding,
The
sinking of the Titanic has caused great shock it is the worst event
ever in our memory. Were you -- with any of the victims I am unwell
since the news, my friend Ann pens this letter. I was looking through
old maps and papers of Carlow belonging to Uncle William. Looking at
the maps my mind went back to the happy days my brothers and I spent
in Carlow in Ballintrane, Kilconner Lumclone and with the Master in
Ballydarton,
Ballydarton
became our home after my mother died (I was two years old) .All
of
us attended Friends (Quakers) meetings in Kilconner.
I
recollect the elders M. Lecky and Mr Watsons sitting on the high
benches. I am now a member of the English church. But I reserve the
greatest veneration for the Quakers. I remain in contact with cousin
Joseph Watson family in Oregan and family of Sam Watson. I would
dearly love to return to see the old homes for I love the Irish and
the curious stories of dear old Ireland related by the peasants.
Every
place begins with "Bally" and "Kil".
Thomas
Churchill Watson grandson of Uncle Thomas now owns the home and the
land in Carlow.
I
have not met him but I have been to visit his sister Mary and the
Stalling family. T.C.W. was to accompany me to Ireland this year but
with the "Titanic" accident we are isolated. I send you a photo sent
to me by Thomas Churchill I was struck by the likeness to my brother
Fred and to you. The split in our family changed everything if only
the elders were sitting it would never have happened and now
Ballydarton is no longer in the Watson family. I was only two years
old when my mother died and was brought to Ballydarton --on the map I
have marked a cross where my brother Manly is buried in Quakers burial
ground at Ballybromhill.
I
wonder is his grave attended. On your travels you are welcome to stay
here .I hope we meet again soon .I will say goodbye for the present.
CARLOW 1913
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