Letters
from Jeanie to Adam, continued
Seaview 11th August 1846
5 o’clock Morning
My Dearest Adam,
It was just on this day twelve months I had the happiness to
witness my Dear friend Mrs Highet united to her dear John.1
And on this day last year when I left you for Glasgow. Many
are the changes that have taken place since that, yet I have
great reason for thankfulness, few of a painful nature has fallen
to my lot except your removal to Edinburgh and my dear friend
Jane Gibson’s removal to the land of spirit and I trust what
has been lost to me has been unspeakable gain to her. I think
in a temporal point of view this may be said of your removal
too.
I remember how unhappy I felt to leave Auld Ayr that morning
not having seen you before I left. You had promised to come
up either in the evening before or the morning I started but
somehow or other fell through your appointment. You were always
so punctual to your engagements before I could not divest myself
of the thought that something was wrong that morning especially
when I had the prospect of being absent for a considerable time.
I need not expect Adam up to see me before I start this time
or any other Young Gentleman. None but Maggie H. will come to
bid me good bye. Another young gent by the bye I will miss this
time when I start, for which I cannot feel too thankful that
his services is not required, viz Doctor Crawford.2
Will you believe me Dear Adam the doctor has never been in this
house since that morning nor has never seen me in an official
capacity during the whole of last year. Surely this says more
for the state of my health than any words of mine. But I will
speak to you about this when I have the unspeakable joy of seeing
you; your ocular demonstration surely will be proof.
I now must speak plainly about my entended visit. Well I have
at last received permission to visit my dearest friend for a
few days. Meantime I entend if all is well and the weather favourable
to leave this for Glasgow I think on Tuesday or Wednesday next
where I shall remain for two or three days before proceeding
to Edinburgh. You must not expect me to remain weeks. Be content
with days. Most willing would I prolong my stay but you know
the good folks will soon tire of me. Although they have kindly
invited me frequently to come and see them, yet I really know
little about them. Mrs Robertson I have never seen at all. I
am expecting much happiness at the prospect of seeing you and
spending some time with you. Perhaps I expect too much. I am
so bound up in the creator that at a time like what I anticipate
God is often to be forgot. Pray that this may not be the case
but that our meeting may redeem to his glory and our good. That
in place of being a drawback it may be the means of greatly
accelerating our speed in our journey heavenward. Oh I do hope
a blessing will flow from our meeting. We have not been privileged
to meet personally for long and if your fears really are realised,3
which I sincerely hope will not, we may not have the opportunity
of meeting again for a considerable time. What a pity if we
should allow this opportunity to pass by unimproved.
We had a dreadful thunderstorm upon Saturday. It was one o’clock
upon Sabbath morning before I was favoured with your letter,
it being so late before our people got home. The shop being
completely inundated with the heavy rain it took five of them,
two men beside themselves, to carry out the water from the cellar
which had got down the hatch. Father said he was quite sure
they had carried up beyond a hundred buckets full of water.
They were in a sore plight. They could get nothing to keep it
out. It came rolling down Sandgate like a mighty torrent gushing
straight into the shop. Father, William and Andrew were obliged
to come home after it subsided a little to get themselves changed.
All their clothes were drenched from the shirt outwards. You
may have a guess what it was like when I tell you in the confusion
Andrew had cast his coat and laid it aside in the back shop
out of sight so when he went to look for it he could not find
it and they concluded it had been carried down with the water.
I see by your last you have been visited with something similar.
I hope it will be good weather when I come.
I must now close hoping to hear from you soon. If you have
any injunctions to give me about my journey I will be happy
to hear then. Meantime I beg you to excuse this scrawl as I
have been very hurried, being busy this s… (?). We have had
visitors for the last two weeks.
I have complied with your wish to burn the letters. I am sure
did you know how grieved I was to do so you would not have asked
me. Now it is my turn to make a special request and it is just
the same as your own, viz to burn my two last for sure therein
were double the nonsense in them than in yours. So I hope you
will tell me in your next they too are counted to the flames
of oblivion.
I am in perfect health.
Ever your own, Jeanie
Isaiah 25 – 8_9 verses
I have no time to read it over so do excuse the blunders. Yours
Jeanie
[Glasgow] 1 Richmond Street, 14th October 1846
My Dearest Adam,
I duly received your note last night when I came in from drinking
tea in one of our Glasgow counsellor’s houses. I am glad that
I have the prospect of seeing you so soon. I sincerely hope
Friday or Saturday will be good days so that we may have our
time as pleasantly occupied as circumstances will admit. I hope
we will get a long walk together but the thought that it is
to be the last 4 will throw
a shade around the otherwise unclouded sky. If the morning is
good I will have much pleasure in meeting you at the railway,
should nothing come in my way to prevent me, but on account
of my having the charge at present sometimes I don’t get my
ententions carried out. So that if I don’t come to the station
you will know the reason and just come straight up to Richmond
Street.
I had Provost McIndue of Bute with me on Monday night and had
to entertain him the greater part of the evening myself. He
slept all night in the house and left next morning for the North.
I expect him back tonight again. Also the Rev. John Allan and
his Lady. So you see I will have quantity to entertain the best
way I can.
Glasgow people seem to sympathise with me in my loneliness
in the absence of the family for I have been invited to tea
for every evening this week and for the greater part of the
next. Of course I will not get availing myself of them all although
I was willing. Friday night will be a happy reprieve at any
rate I hope. I don’t see, my dear, how I can get down to Ayr
with you as you know Mrs Black returns not until the end of
next week. Sabbath is the Sacraments and she wishes me to remain
at all events until it is over. I would be so happy to have
spent a few days with you before you left if it could have been
judiciously accomplished. We will see when you come. I think
it is likely you will see Mrs Black yourself as I expect her
up from the Bridge of Allan tonight.5
She entends remaining a day or two.
Your devoted Jennie
Adam’s diary
17th October to 5th November Nearly 3 weeks spent in Ayr previous
to my going to London. Parents not very willing to let me go,
especially my mother. However by the time I left Ayr I got them
tolerably reconciled. I could not see any reason why I should
not be in London as well as in Edinburgh, as safe there as here.
It matters not where we go if God be with us, or it matter not
where we be if God be not with us. If God be with me then I
am safe anywhere and if God be not with me I am lost anywhere.
7th November Intended sailing this day but Mr Fraser being
anxious I should stop a few days longer I resolved to do so.
21st November Sailed from Granton and arrived in London on
the 23rd after a very rough but pleasant passage. I felt very
sorry at leaving so many kind friends in Edinburgh. I have no
doubt but this change will prove beneficial to me in worldly
circumstances. If I have no reason to fear that my soul’s well
being will suffer therefrom. I am still under the protection
of the same kind father who has guided me heretofore and I have
God’s promise for it that all things work together for good
to those who love God.
25th November Got lodgings in a quiet Scotch family for which
I was very thankful.
From Jeanie to Adam
Glasgow, 26th November 1846
My ever Dearest Adam,
It is with joy unbounded that I take up the pen this morning
to address you. I received your welcome letter a few minutes
ago and I hasten to reply. Oh how happy I was yesterday morning
to learn that you had reached your destined haven in safety.
I had considerable fears concerning you. The weather with us
was so boisterous on Saturday night it blew a hurricane which
created much uneasiness. Indeed I went to bed but not to sleep.
Sleeping was out of the question when Adam was tossing upon
the stormy billows. But thank God you are now safe. Oh how good
the Lord is to me. Why so much ingratitude? Why so much rejoicing
in the gifts and so little confidence and glorying in the giver?
I am not the only one who feels happy at the safe arrival of
my Adam. Everyone in No. 1 shares of the general joy, from the
master to the servant all feel happy as well as me though of
course to a less degree.
You and I appear to hold a very prominent place in the hearts
of the good folks here. Many a time Agnes (that is the servant
who remands(?)) asks for you. She appeared almost as happy yesterday
morning when she brought up the letter to me as if it was from
her own sweetheart. She asked me yesterday quite seriously the
following question, “Miss Ingram, I am going to ask you something
which I hope you will not take amiss. If you go to London next
summer will you take me for a servant and I will keep myself
free as there is no person I would so gladly engage with as
with you. I have been thinking about asking you for some days
past but never could muster sufficient courage.” I could not
help laughing at her. I told her she need not keep herself free
on my account as there was no saying when I would be in London,
perhaps never. She looked very disappointed like when I said
so.
Mr Black was in the room when I received your letter this morning
and appeared quite delighted. I read him the bit concerning
the cabman. He laughed heartily and said, “He is a noble fellow
Jeanie lass. There is no fear of the cockneys getting the better
of him. He acted nobly. Better indeed than I would have done.”
He said, “I am sure you will be wearying every day till you
go to London”. I told him I was dreaming about being there last
night so he wished me to relate my dream to him, which I did.
Many a blush he raises on my face, for everyone that comes in
he begins and praises me up to them at such a rate. I am sure
the people must think me a model of perfection, did not their
own perceptive power disclose the truth.
I am glad dearest that you have the prospect of getting a situation
with Mr Nisbet.6 I hope sincerely
your anticipation may be realised. I daresay you will know by
this time. I will be wearying until I hear from you again. Mr
Black wishes much that you may get in [touch] with him. He is
such an excellent person and takes such an enterest in the spiritual
affaires of the young. He will be of great service to you I
hope whither you are engaged with him or not. I hope you will
take good care of yourself or rather I should say, I hope you
will at all times give yourself up to the Lord that he may take
care of you, that he may guide, for of ourselves we can do nothing.
Oh how soon would we fall if the Lord was not our keeper. I
hope my Dear Adam when I come to London in reality (for I am
often there in imagination) that I will have the joy of finding
you stronger in the Lord and more zealous in his service instead
of falling off. That such may be the result is the continual
prayer of one who loves your soul as she does her own. I often
think, my Dear Adam, what a blessing it would be were we always
with one another so that we could assist one another in our
pilgrimage heavenward and then again I begin to get doubtful
of the result for I am afraid we would forget God, we are so
much taken up with one another. Does that past experience lead
to that conclusion? What a small share of our time was devoted
to the Lord when we were privileged to meet. I daily see more
and more the necessity of approaching the Lord with the petition
“If thy presence go not with me carry me not up hence”.
At the very time you were disembarking from the London steamer,
I was embarking in one of the Belfast Steamers. A young lady
from Ireland was staying here for a few days and she was again
to return to her native country upon Monday. So Mr Black kindly
desired me to take sail down the length of Greenock to cheer
me up as he said and I was either to return by one of the boats
coming up or to take the railway. He sent up a noddy 7
for us. But before the boat sailed it came on wet and I thought
it more prudent to return to Richmond Street than run the risk
of getting myself wet. So Miss Henry proceeded on her passage
alone. She was a real nice girl altho Irish.
You wished to know the news from Ayr but really I have none,
for do you know I have only had one single letter since you
and I left. I must not lead you to think however that they are
forgetting me for it is my fault. I never answered it. My mind
has been so disturbed of late that I could not muster courage
to write any one but you.
I must now draw to a close at present anxiously waiting your
next. Meantime I hope that you may be surrounded with every
comfort and blessing and believe me Dear Adam, ever to be, Your
devoted, Jeanie
Adam’s diary
28th November Engaged with Mr Nisbet, Bookseller, Berners Street
for £60 per year.
30th November Commenced my services with Mr Nisbet. The Lord
truly has been faithful to his promise. I had no prospects of
succeeding as well but God has led me in a way that I knew not
of.
13th December John McWhinnie’s eldest boy of my sister Margaret
died. Another warning. Prepare to meet thy God. This is the
fourth death in that family during the year that is now nearly
past. Little thought had the parents that during the course
of this year their family was to be so thinned. But God has
wise purposes to be fulfilled which we may not at the time see.
His ways towards man are often in the sea and his path in the
deep water and his footsteps are not known.
25th December My first Christmas spent in London. A cold frosty
day. Took a walk down to Blackwall and spent the day with Charles
Park.
27th December Commenced a class in connexion with Mr Hamilton’s
congregation.
1st January 1847 Spent New Year’s day in London and second
away from home. What a contrast in the manner in which Christmas
Day and New Year’s day are kept in the two countries.
From Jeanie to Adam
Jeanie’s next letter is dated 29 April 1847. In the meantime
Adam and Jeanie must have decided to get married.
Seaview 29th April 1847
My Dearest Adam,
I think that I promised you a long letter this week and I need
not apologise for want of matter to furnish a lengthy epistle.
On the contrary I think I have materials for two epistles in
place of one had I only the time and patience. I have nothing
very particular for all that to make known, but still I recall
to mind a number of incidents though in themselves of little
value, yet I daresay they would not be devoid of interest to
you who are so distant.
In the first place I must answer your letter of last week in
case I should be interrupted and come short of time. The first
question you ask I have already answered (viz) whether I have
spoken to any of your people. Since I came home I mentioned
in my last that I had spoken to all of them. I forgot whether
I told you that your mother sent up word with William that day
I arrived that I was to come down and see her. I have not spoken
to any of them since last week as I have not been out of the
house except upon Sabbath, the weather being very stormy.
Your old sweetheart Miss McWhinnie is quite well in body but
I doubt a little troubled in mind. I never saw her so dull.
She came up to see me on Monday night after I came home and
she was asking what news from London. I told her we had just
received “The Illustrated News” that morning but I had not got
time to read them. One question she asked struck me very much.
“Do you correspond with ‘Miss Gillespie?”. I made no illusion
to Mr Grant at all. It would have been cruel to have done so.
Miss Paton has also been up so has Miss Boyd and Miss Dalziel,
Miss Hunter etc etc. They are all well and happy. There is a
great noise at present about Mr Bain and Miss Dalziel going
to get married. It is in everybody’s mouth, but her mother told
me there is no truth in it at all.
Mrs Dalziel is still very poorly. She has had a long time of
trouble. Mr Bryden appears pretty well at present. He was in
church upon Sabbath. The first time William sees him he says
that he is going to tell him that you were wishful to know how
he is keeping his health. Your friend Mr Guthrie is well but
quite knocked(?) up with business at present. He is labouring
on from morning till night without interruption. He is for the
present Editor of the Agricultural having banished the old editor
Moor for bad conduct, keeping up money etc etc.8
Mrs Stevenson is now better. Mr Stevenson went in to Glasgow
yesterday to bring her home. Her disease turned out to be small
pox.
You were charging me with forgetting to tell you how and when
father got his leg hurt. Do you know it was nearly four months
sore before I heard a word about it and even then I had my information
from strangers. Our people never once told me there was anything
the matter. They have great respect of my feeling. Father was
coming out of the vestry one dark night in January and he tripped
over the little rail that protects the fenders(?) and hurt his
knee. The shin was not broken but he had twisted it somehow.
It has kept him a good deal at home ever since. He was not at
the shop yesterday at all. He walks with a stick and is very
lame. We are rather afraid that he will always be lame.
Mother and William entend leaving this if well for Aberdeen
in the month of June. I don’t intend visiting Aberdeen now until
I am accompanied by my own Adam. 9
I could not help laughing heartily at your proposal that I
should write out a form of application to the watchmaker.10
Really I would not know how to begin nor how to end it. I know
of none more competent than yourself. I wonder what the bailie
11 would say if I was to
go down some night and ask permission to spend the remainder
of my days with his favourite son. I would require to be very
eloquent on the occasion in order to be successful. I was telling
my father what you were saying. He had a good laugh over it.
He said “give Adam my kind regards and tell him he is more welcome
(than any young man I have ever seen) to run off with my only
daughter. She has been a great favourite in the house and I
would like her taken care of and I know of none who will be
more kind and attentive than him. None in whom I would place
more confidence.” These were his words as near as I can remember.
They were repeated with eyes filled with tears. So that is his
consent unsought. Do you think you will come as good speed with
the bailie?
Andrew is purposing going away to Glasgow next week or next
again to the engraving. He will not be very long however…
Seaview 21st May 1847
My Dearest Adam,
I am very sorry that I will not be able to give you anything
like a letter this week. I have only a few minutes to spare.
Father made up his mind last night to go into Glasgow to make
some arrangements regarding Andrew and we wish to take advantage
of his going in to send his clothes. I have some things to sew
which will occupy all my time. Father had a letter from his
master. He is highly pleased with him and he is very anxious
that he should follow it out as a business and give up the watches
altogether.12 He speaks
of his serving a six years apprenticeship but we will never
give into that more especially as Andrew has no desire to do
so himself. Father is going to see if he will not take him for
two or three months at one pound or thirty shillings a month.
It will be very expensive keeping him, say thirty shillings
a month to his master and his bill for last week’s provision
was eight shillings. It will be a goodly sum before we get him
home again.
I am exceedingly happy that you have got kind and attentive
people to live with. I must confess Dear Adam that it has removed
a considerable load from my mind. I have felt a great deal of
anxiety regarding you since you went to London. I am truly glad
you have met with people who will make you take care of yourself.
It is just such people that you require. You have so little
care over yourself. I am sorry to say I have no such power.
In no other instance would I desire to exercise the ruling power
but in this trivial matter and it will really be too bad of
you if you will still persist in denying me this privilege.
I have no news of importance this week that I remember at present.
There was a meeting in the Church on Tuesday evening. I believe
it was the winding up of the affairs for the year and one report
was very favourable.
I had a visit of your sweetheart Sally last night. She was
asking for you. I had a terrible onset with Miss McMaster the
other day. She said I had nothing to do with you. She had the
best right to your lordship. Another young lady addressed me
to say that she was going to bring an action of damage against
you for breach of promise and that she was determined to stop
the cries in October. I think I may say to you as the old wife
said to her son “You’re the boy among the lassies”.
I had nearly forgot to speak about the mark for your mother.
I could not come to a conclusion regarding what to put on it.
At last I came to the resolution of putting on “Remember me”
as very suitable. If it should not please you do not send it
but say in your next what you would like and I will sew it.
I will sew one for you too if you tell me what to put on it.
I am waiting for your epistle very much this week.
Do excuse haste Adam. Meantime, I remain ever, Your affectionate
Jeanie
Undated 13
My Dearest Adam,
I am going to give you a very wee note tonight. You must not
think however that it is with the entention of paying you back
in your own coin. Oh no, not that I am not at all displeased
that you sent me a note this week in place of a letter. I do
like a long letter from you, yet I am not so very selfish as
to expect one when you are so pressed with business.
This is the very reason that I am going to send you a short
one. I have very little time at my disposal at present too.
I have been a good time detained from my duty by callers. They
are exceedingly plenty this two, three weeks by past. Of course
they are very anxious to learn if there is any preparations
going on. I sometimes prepare something idle during these visits
in order that they may not see what I am sensing. I do all I
can to keep down rumours but really it is not an easy matter.
Your Aunt Mrs Grant14
passed the house a little ago taking a walk with a young man,
apparently a stranger. I was sitting sewing when I heard her
say to him “That’s her at the window”. Everyone appears to be
more enterested than another. I forgot to warn William to take
care and not allow Mr Grant to fish out anything but I dare
say he would be on his guard. He carried a parcel for him and
some two or three letters.
I wrote to Maggie Lawson on Monday morning and from what I
said regarding my paying them a visit at some future time, perhaps
by the end of next season if we were all spared, it will partly
set aside the notion which they have got into their heads. I
would like exceedingly if they knew nothing at all about it
until we next in upon them but I am afraid this is impossible.
Did I tell you that Miss Guthrie is really going off now? She
is to be married to Mr Thomson in a week or two.15
I wondered when I received your note upon Wednesday morning
to see the question asked “Is Andrew home yet?” being quite
sure that I had told you in my previous letter. The mystery
however was cleared up today. I found an envelope addressed
to you with these words in it, “Andrew is home and well. He
desires me to give you his kind regards”. I had forgot that
I had addressed the envelope and just addressed another to you.
See how short my memory is, I hope it will improve by and bye.
Mr Stevenson leaves upon Monday for England being one of a
deputation sent by the Assembly. I believe Bath and Bristol
and the adjoining towns are to be the scenes of his labour.
I think Mr Arnat will be sent to London. I hope he may, but
we must not be too selfish for Glasgow people and many besides
are exceedingly grieved at the prospect of his leaving. I heard
this week that Mrs Henderson was very ill. The doctor has to
give his opinion this week as to whether she was likely to stand
the journey to Scotland.
Glasgow, 18th Sept. 1847
My Dearest Adam,
I was exceedingly glad to learn from you note of last week
that you felt happy upon the communion Sabbath. I hope that
happiness continues still and that it will continue. Oh what
a blessed frame to be in; to have the heart brought into a close
contact with Jesus the Sinner’s friend. To duck under the shadow
of His wing, to have our hearts withdrawn from the world and
vanity. But oh what a miserable state to live with, without
God to be sensible of the holdings (?) of his sweet and cheering
smile. May you never experience the bitterness of such a state.
Oh it is a dreadful state of mind to one who has previously
known what it is to bask under the sunshine of his wondrous
love. What cause have I for gratitude that such a season of
misery has now passed away and former feelings of happiness
and heavenly joy again are mine. Oh thank God with me Dear Adam
for all his goodness which he is making to pass before me.
I was very sorry to learn that your dear Pastor was so ill.
I hope he is now recovered. Please to let me know when you write
again. Mr John was speaking about him the other night to me.
He said he was much afraid that his career would be a short
though bright one. He is very fond of Mr Hamilton. He was telling
me he was giving a course of lectures when he was in London
which were to be published and he desired me to enquire at you
if they were out yet.
I am sure you must have been greatly surprised when Mr Bonar
enquired for you. You see what an interest the father takes
in you. I daresay Mr Nisbet will be very pleased to see the
people take such an interest in you. I could not help remarking
a coincidence in this respect last Sabbath. I think I mentioned
to you before that we were to have the services of Mr Wood in
St John’s for three months. So he began his labours upon Sabbath
last. After sermons, Mr Black went into the vestry and spoke
to him and when he came home he told me he had asked Mr Wood
to call and see me. But I am sure Mr Wood will not know me he
What follows might be the continuation of the same letter as
it is written on the same paper:
good I am then sent out to walk for a couple of hours. On coming
in I again resume my work until dinner. After dinner I generally
read to Mr Black for a little so from that to ten o’clock at
night I’m as busy as possible with my sewing again. I do not
sit idle half an hour in the day. Every Saturday morning the
first question Mr Black asks is “How is Mr Reid today?”. He
never omits it. Another question he puts weekly is “Has Mr Reid
said yet how he likes London?” And the invariable answer is
“No”. Last Saturday he says, “give him my compliments and tell
him to let me know when he writes next how he likes it”. I asked
you before Adam but your did not tell me. You told me once how
you liked your situation but not how you liked London. I doubt
you don’t like it or you would have told me. You seem to think
I will not like it when I come. As for the want of company I
will not consider that my deprivation provided I am well and
in good health. I will weary for the company of my own Adam
when he is absent. Having his company I will have all that I
want in London. Had it been our fortune to be near our dear
parents it would have been a great happiness I dare say for
both of us. I am deeply attached to all of our family and the
parting then must be a severe trial to me. I feel very grateful
to you My Dearest for your candour in showing me the dark side
of the picture as well as the bright and I thank you for your
warning. I am very apt to building high castles regarding the
amount of happiness which I am to enjoy in anything which you
are to form the subject. I am aware that very many difficulties
will arise which at present I perceive not but they will [be]
lightly felt if I am blessed as I hope to be with a loving husband.
If I experience as kind a husband as I have a sweetheart I would
count it great joy to suffer many privations for his sake. I
hope we will be blessed with the protection and blessing of
the Almighty and if so all will be well.
I hope to find a loving letter upon Saturday to make up for
last Saturday’s short one. You must not look to the amount of
paper I send you but remember that one of my sheets hath as
much as two of yours on account of the closeness of which I
write no more, Dear Adam, at present but believe me ever Your
own affectionate Jeanie.
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
1 Mrs Highet, born Margaret
“Maggie” Pettigrew, married John Highet on 11 August 1845 in St.
Quivox.
2 James Lindsay Crawford,
MD (1820-1858).
3 This might mean Adam having
to leave Edinburgh to find work in London.
4 Adam was leaving for London
in November.
5 A spa town near Stirling.
6 This is with James Nisbet
& Co, 21/22 Berners Street. They were also publishers of many
religious books and tracts. The building where the bookshop was
is no longer standing.
7 A light two-wheeled hackney-carriage.
8 David Guthrie was the publisher
of the Ayrshire & Renfrewshire Agriculturist, of which John
Moore was the editor. For more on Moore see the article by Rob
Close, ‘Two Hundred Years of the Ayr Advertiser’, in Ayrshire
Notes, 26 (Winter 2003), p.14.
9 John Allan (1796-1885),
Jeanie’s uncle, was the minister of Union Church, Aberdeen from
1832. He joined the Free Church in 1843, but resigned as minister
of Union Free Church in 1846 due to a throat infection. He died
in Ayr. [Hew Scott, ed., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol. 6, Edinburgh
1926, p.41. which gives the wrong year of birth.
10 This is Jeanie’s father
who was a watchmaker.
11 Adam’s father’s will
says that he was a "Freeman and lately a Bailie of Newton-upon-Ayr"
[A person who has the right to trade in a burgh (he was a weaver)
and then a town magistrate].
12 This might be why Andrew
decided to become a photographer (dageurrotype artist) rather
than a watchmaker.
13 This letter might have
been written in July 1847 as Jeanie may be referring to the wedding
of Henrietta Guthrie and Andrew Dow Thomson who married on 4 July
1847 in the Parish of Barony.
14 This might be Marion
Reid (9.12.1792-?), one of Adam's father's sisters, who married
James Grant on 4 January 1813 in St. Quivox.
15 This might be Henrietta
Guthrie who married Andrew Dow Thomson on 4 July 1847 in the Parish
of Barony.
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