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These were transcribed by Rosie Dodd, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude, the originals owned by Glen Paterson (Glenys Ratcliffe) are almost illegible. I’ve made a few minor changes.
I just want to point out a few things:
· Isabel was the second wife of Aubrey Paterson
· One page is not listed here, but was copied onto the second last page of the Family Register (Appendix 1)
· The “discovery of that obituary notice of Charles Horsfall in that old Illustrated Annual” explains the cryptic note on the first page of the Family Register.
David Paterson
Square brackets are used for words that I am unsure of; blank spaces are for words that I have been unable to work out.
I have been as accurate as possible with regard to the punctuation used but occasionally have made changes to allow it to read better, in particular inserting apostrophes and full stops where Jessie has written in such a hurry that she has left these out. I have not corrected spelling mistakes such as 'scool', 'lonliness' etc.
Rosie Dodd
Cluster Cottage
Warwick East
Bermuda
July 18th 1924
My dear Isabel
You do not know what a very great pleasure you have given me!! Your most welcome letter came this afternoon & though I cannot post for two or three days, I feel so glad that I will begin to answer your letter at once. It was a very kind thought to send me that half sheet of my dear mother's letter to “Aunt Pet” as we were taught to call her. I was only 5 years old when that letter was written but I have seen my mother's writing many times and I recognised it at once. I was not quite 10 years old when she died but there is no face so clear in my memory as hers. She was very proud of her people, & we were all taught to think a lot of those people. I can well remember how she never heard from them or wrote them without tears. Jean Darrell who is a cousin, not very near, but very dear, sent me a lovely [budget] she enclosed letters from Aubrey & Stewart to her & told me of the pleasant visits to you & the Adamsons & Aubrey's mother & sisters. She said you would write me so I waited & in the meantime I wrote Lillian Adamson & I've written Stewart & [London] & in future when I write my letter will be to the “family”. You all are my nearest relatives, (after my mother's people) & I always think first cousins come next to brothers & sisters. I never knew my uncle Duncan had left a family or that his wife my Aunt was still with you. Oh I [wish] I could only see you all! Eddie has had his life long wish to get in touch gratified & but for dear Jean Darrell's
Page 2/ going to Australia [he] never would have! Of course it brought us nearer to you all, to meet & later [with time] one who knew us well! You say Aubrey is Uncle Duncan's “eldest son” - is there [ ] another son? I am so keenly interested in every detail about my mother's dear people that you could not “weary” me! All my life I have just been crazy to get into touch with you all. When my sister Fannie Alma died my brother-in-law sent me Aunt Dora's last letters to her & photos of the boys & girls (except Stewart's) & I at once wrote her & asked her to put me in Fannie's place & correspond with me. I used the address on her letter but she did not reply - & so being hurt I did not write again - but I often think I was wrong. [believe] my letter may have gone astray or [hers] answer did not reach me.
Twenty two years ago after many attempts I again wrote & that time I got a reply from Fred & Mary wrote too - but in a little while I got no replies to my letters & so I stopped again. I fear my letters were not [interesting] - at that time I was suffering from the shock of a much beloved brother's death (George Ernest Darrell Astwood) - he was killed in an explosion & was buried at sea. I was all broken up, & in my sorrow I turned to my own people - but I should not have written then. My letters were no doubt self-centered & full of my troubles. At all events Mary gave me a good scolding & then wrote no more - but I can do better now though as I said my letters will be for My family, as I am the only one & there are so many to write to. You know the saying “The brook sees only moon, but the moon sees many brooks” - besides I have eye trouble & have to go slow. I've had to give up my fancy work
Page 3/ which I loved & which I specialised but I can still read & write & sew a little bit but I can do nothing except in good lights, & never when the electric lights are on.
Sunday 20th
My brother's name is Edward William & always called Eddie except by his wife & Jean Darrell. He likes “Eddie” & always signs it to me & old friends. Jean wrote me of the visit you mention out to the country - she says you were all charming to her. I wrote her that I felt sure we could have had no more attractive & charming an ambasadress! Don't you agree with me? We think a lot of her. She suggested my writing Lillian Adamson! I know Aunt [Jessie] had daughters, but not how many nor that she had two sons. “Jim & Les”. I fancy the latter is Leslie. Am I right? When I saw Aubrey's signature I knew he was [Duncan] too.
I have to run into the kitchen so often. I have a dish baking on the stove, getting dinner ready that I am afraid my letter is full of mistakes & repetitions but [ ] it do - I am a “new hand” at all these culinery & domestic matters & have only had to take them up for the last 18 months. The servant question is very acute here too. Residents will not pay the extortionate demands of the “coloured people”. The tourists don’t mind as they come for a short time & prefer to pay & have freedom!! But we will not & in many cases like ourselves can not afford such prices.
My cousin Thomas Astwood Smith my father's nephew with whom I make my home is an old man of 74 - wiry & strong & active. Rides his bike, does a
Page 4/ a lot of gardening & walking & swimming - he is just Emmie’s age (Emily Handasyde) having been born like her in 1850 she should read a lot & make interest in herself that way. I did not know there was a Hall left in Australia till Jean told me so. I suffer from rheumatism in my feet & so do very little exercise. In Bermuda unless you walk a lot you stay at home!! & I am afraid I do that more than I should but I was never a good walker. In Jamaica we had a fine tram service - here we have very poor transportation.
I was not a little bit “confused” over the family information. I have a copy of the family records the Halls in Jamaica have & I am constantly [ ] for it. I call it my “family bible” & I know all about my Grandparents & their children my Mother's brothers & sisters - but it is the next generation that I know so little of. My first cousins. Did Aunt Ruby (a Mrs Harp I think) have no children? I knew all about Aunt Pet (Dorothy Raleigh) & Uncle William Bryan Hall & their 3 daughters but my records (the family tree) were not properly kept & there are many omissions. Eddie tells me Stewart has given him a copy of the one Aubrey has & between the two I will be able to make a fuller copy. I wonder if you & Aubrey would care to [have] a note of any omissions. For instance in the one Eddie got from Stewart there is no entry of his & Ernest's births. The [ ] Edward William was born Feb 8th 1858 & George Ernest Darrell in Sept 17th 1859. Eddie wrote me that in his copy there is a lot about our
Page 5/ Jackson forbears - lately I have been able to find out many interesting details about that branch of the family - our Great Grandmother Dorothy Gray, wife of William Hall was the daughter of Robert Jackson & his wife Mary (Raleigh) of Mahogany Vale. Eddie tells me in Stewart's copy the name Raleigh is spelt Rawleigh - this is of course as it is pronounced - but in the old deeds & registers it is Raleigh. Eddie says there is no mention of Robert Jackson's second marriage to Susan Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell of [Auchindred] . We knew the descendants of that marriage well & have often stayed at Mahogany Vale & all the time I never knew it was the home of my G. G. Grandparents & Dorothy Gray my Great Grandmother. I imagine there was a rift in the lull between these two marriages. I've often wondered why the old property was left to the second family!! I rem'ber[1] Uncle Duncan's picture in my Mother's album - such a nice looking man with a lot of pretty hair - we thought hair like my mothers. I knew my grandmother's [name] was [Ann] (Allegonda!) I wonder to what address Aubrey wrote Eddie. At present he is in Jamaica - G. W. Astwood, c/o Dr Rerrie, Cross Roads P.O., Jamaica - he will visit Bermuda & us on his way home. Jean Darrell tells me Aubrey is in the choir & you play the organ of your church. The gift of song is in the family. My Mother was a grand singer - a contralto - & all of us sang. Fannie - soprano, I - mezzo soprano, Eddie - baritone & [Ernest] tenor
Page 6/ inherited from our Mother. My Father could not carry a tune & it was all he could do to distinguish between “Yankee Doodle” & God Save the Queen! You ask if there are many relations left in Jamaica. Yes heaps - second cousins - Halls, McPhails & Campbells. Frank Hall, son of Francis Robert Paterson Hall has a son, & a daughter (the latter married) & seven sisters. Two married - one in USA the others who married a 1st cousin Digby McPhail) in the Island of St Lucia - two in Jamaica (one a nurse) & three others (unmarried) in USA one a governess & the others in jobs of different kinds. All fine capable women. Frank Hall is the direct representative of the Hall family. One of Francis Robert Paterson Hall's sisters married John McPhail (she was Ella McFadyen Hall) & left 4 daughters & 4 sons. The eldest John Herman McPhail is at present in Paris where his invalid wife is in a nursing home. I will write him & give him Stewart's London address so that if opportunity presents they may meet. John's eldest sister Lily married his Father's nephew Dugald Campbell & had 10 children. 8 survived to grow up - [ ] died of enteric at [Salonica] & the others some married are all in Jamaica except one. Belle - she is in Australia!! At a place called Parrawatta, N.S. Wales - 100 George St c/o Mrs Pringle. She is a dear little soul (Belle McPhail). A second cousin - Jean tells me Fred went to the war. Well done Fred! Eddie has two sons in the war - one in the Royal Fusiliers, was killed at [Flers] on the Somme - he was Stuart. The other, Lloyd, was & still is in the navy stationed at Hong Kong. Now Isabel, I've written a volume. I hope in your turn you will not be weary!! When you next write give me Fred's address please & now I must only add love to you all - from your affectionate cousin
Jessie Astwood
There is a Riversdale Rail way station in Jamaica about 40 or 50 years ago. It was a [sugar] estate belonging to a Mr William Carr [ ] of whose sons went to Australia – the property is now cut-up and changed & all the Carr family scattered – they were a wild [ ] boys [ ] [ ] & not properly educated but Mr W Carr was a gentleman.
Cluster Cottage
Warwick East
Bermuda
Feb 28th 1925
My dear Isabel
In a letter I've just written to [Jeannie] I was wondering whether I owed you a letter but even if I do not here goes. I was so glad & thankful to know that you & Aubrey had found dear little Belle McPhail & that you were all so good to her & that she met so many of her relations. I had not heard from Belle for so long, that I was not even sure that she was still with the Pringles but I thought I'd mention that you all had a cousin in Australia & send the only address I knew & it turned up trumps. Dear little Belle is very sorry she did not have your addresses before. She said in a letter to me “what a difference it would have made to me, to know of my relations” & in a letter to my sister-in-law she says “The pity is I did not have their addresses or knew about them”. Well, I am really sorry Isabel but I still think I did the best to give you, her address. She will be in Jamaica long before you get this - but doubtless you will hear from her. I had a letter from her written at sea before she got to Italy. Her brother John has it in his power to make her very comfortable & as he is a good generous fellow I am quite sure he will do all he can. You see he turned to her in his lonliness. I wish I could see her again - she used to be so fond of me & I of her. Poor dear little soul, her whole
Page 2/ life was upset by her devotion to my brother Ernest who died. He had no idea of it - he was always jolly & kind to all his cousins that he knew but there was no special affection for one more than another but she was built so that she could never think of any one else. I used to tell her that no man was worth a woman's life being ruined like that & the other way round - no woman is worth the ruin of a man's life's happiness - don't you agree with me?
Eddie & my old Cousin Tom Smith have just come in - they went out calling & they took the ferry boat across the harbour to the town of Hamilton. They had a nice jaunt over the new Hotels & gardens. Tom never goes anywhere on his own of that kind so Eddie just pulled him out. Tom is a Sunday scool teacher. A good [Templar]!! Thinks cards the Devils works etc. that will give you an idea of the good old soul - kind & generous & charitable by word & deed - but oh! So narrow & [groovy]. Fault of living all his youth in a little remote island Inagua one of the Bahamas - where he just vegitated. The only dissipation being Church going & Sunday School. Old as I am, I am a wretch about Church going. Mind you I think it the right and proper thing to do - but I only go when I am inclined!!! Tom never says a little word of reproof or censure on the matter, but I know he thinks volumes. You see I am so rheumatic that walking is not a joy & the roads to the church which is quite near so steep &
Page 3/ rough till you get to the main road that I don't go as often as I should.
Our old relative Mrs Prideaux - the daughter of Gen. Charles Forbes Jackson who was a half brother of our Great Grandmother Dorothy Gray Jackson who married John Hall's son William - has just died aged 84. She was such a dear old lady, so clever & so bright & intellectual. I am grieved to think she has gone. I was the last person she wrote to - in December & before that letter reached me - she had passed away (on the 1st Jan). Her Father Charles Forbes was a son of Robert Jackson by his 2nd marriage to Susan Campbell. There is no mention of the 2nd marriage either in the Family Tree Aubrey has, or the notes I have but I've found out this & many other interesting facts about the Jacksons. I am going to send Dora all that I can find to fill up gaps re the Family & you’ll see them & maybe will add them to the Tree. I wonder if you would give me Aubrey's marriage & children with the dates. I am keen on dates & have them all from Christian & Dorothy Boom down but when it comes to Aunt Dora's & Aunt Jessie's & Uncle Duncan's I had no dates. [Now] Aunt Ellen has sent me these of her marriage & children which I had to put in a separate part of my book where I'll place all the others when I can get them. Now Isabel I must “pack up” as my nephew Lloyd would say & with love to you & Aubrey remain yours always
Very affectionately
Jessie E. Astwood
I sent a little snap for you through Aunt Ellen. Excuse all mistakes. I'm nearly asleep - long past bed-time.
Cluster Cottage
Warwick East
Bermuda
March 22nd 1925
My dear Isabel
How can I tell you how pleased I am with the most interesting little Booklet of Family Register? It was splendid of you, to do it for me especially when you've had so much trouble & anxiety over your nephews accident & you not feeling well yourself. I just pore over my little book I think I told you I had some family notes - principally of the Hall's after my Grandparents & their family & Uncle & Aunt Wm Bryan Hall & theirs left Jamaica. I just had the births & deaths of some from Christian Boom and Dorothy his wife down but your notes are so full & so interesting. For instance I never knew where my Mother was born. I thought it was at Collin's Green where so many of the family were born & died. That old house I never went into but I passed & repassed it often all my life. It is now burnt down. Monaltrie which my Grandfather built & from which my Mother was married - the [next] Penn as all those old residences (with several acres of land belonging to them) were called in those days - was Trevannion - where the first child Anne Euphemia Darrell died. I know all those old houses, or most of them well. Others have either been pulled down & rebuilt, or destroyed. The house “two doors below the kirk” in Duke St Kingston - I've often been in & never knew it was my mother's birthplace
Page 2/ then all these Godparents & the clergymen who married & christened the different members of the family their names are quite familiar in this connection. I will suggest that the name as you have it of one of my Grandmother's godmothers is not Mrs Grosicard. I thought to be Mrs Geo. Sicard. She was Godmother to several of the family & I will tell you how I know that it is Geo. Sicard. My Grandmother & Aunt “Pet” had a dear friend some of whose letters Stewart gave Eddie in England, signed “M. Mais” - she was a Mrs Henry Mais, née Matilda Sicard & she had a sister Jane who married the Father fo the Curtis who went to Australia, married Bessie Handasyde & for whom Stewart is named & they also had a brother George who was married & whose wife was with Mrs H Mais friends of our Grandparents. There are grandsons (our contemporaries) in Jamaica today & so I think it must be Mrs Geo Sicard & perhaps the writing was misleading! The “old time” writing & spelling was, in many instances quite different to that of now a days. My Grandmother wrote such a pretty hand - quite different to my Mothers which was full of long loops (I am afraid mine is somewhat of that discipline. It was not so when I was young, but I see very badly for one thing & [next] am always in a rush!) So many of these old names, like Shroeter, McGeachy, Arboin & Colthirst etc have come down in my remembrance & that
Page 3/ J. R. Jackson who was Godfather to John Herman Hall in 1805 was brother of D. G. Jackson John Herman's mother & lately I've been trying to find out who J. R. Jackson was. I know that Dorothy Gray had a brother of that name & it is only a few weeks ago that through correspondance with his Great Grand daughter I could place him as that brother of D. Gray Hall & my Great Grand uncle!! I am immensely keen on family pedigree & astonish Eddie by my memory of who's who in the family!
The Mrs Sara Jackson who was my Grandmothers Godmother must have been J. R. Jackson's wife!! John Raleigh is supposed to have fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 when he was a very young man & he must have been a good bit older than his sister Dorothy as in 1797 when she married Wm Hall she was only 15!!
I asked the Patersons for their dates & I asked you for yours & I meant to ask [Jeannie] for [hers] but you have given them all to me. I've copied [in] your additions to your notes. My Mothers children & their marriages two of John Herman Halls children's marriages & their children. It is rough & crude I know but you will see it clearly I think. I hope dear Isabel that when this reaches you your nephew will be well on the way to complete recovery & that you will be feeling better than when you wrote. Dear little Belle MacPhail is now at home with her brother. She will be well taken care of. John is an affectionate good sort & I know he will not
Page 4/ let Belle lack for anything. It's a shame she should ever have had to work at all!!! Her Father left a home & 100 acres round the house & money to the two un-married daughters, Belle & Maggie but alas! Mr McPhail's nephew Dugald Campbell was executor & he did just as he liked with the result that now they have nothing. Agnes, Eddie's wife saw her in England & wrote that she looked so young & was such a dear little thing. I am glad all her hard work to which she ought not to have been subjected, has not seemed to break her down! It does seem a pity for you to give up the organ but there comes a time when we have to give up everything we like to do, & gives us satisfaction from one cause or another. But you will find soemthing to take its place no doubt - don't worry Isabel. There is a law of compensating. It's a pity you loathe writing when you do it so well & have so much of it to do. Now I love writing! (I admit I rarely hear anyone else say that) & my worry is that I have so little time for it now, that I write at express speed with the consequence that I write vilely, make mistakes & leave out letters & even words sometimes - so that when I read over a letter, I am ashamed to send it, & would do it all over again but I cannot spare the time.
Eddie sends you, all kind & affectionate messages. He will make a point on his return to England of sending you a joint letter. He is leaving us on the 4th May.
Page 5/ I have found another old photo of myself & one of Eddie. I will put them in - they are better than none. In mine you'll see how slight I was in those days, (not so now though). Unfortunately I wore a hat & these old fashioned hats look like the dickens when their time has passed. The photo I think is [best of my Irish] crochet the first piece I ever did.
My brother does not like the chilly winds of Bermuda in a Bermudian house. As there are few fire places except in the modern houses & sometimes he (& I too) will go to bed early for the same reason to get warm & comfortable. Poor Emmie Hall - fancy her being so helpless & broken at her age & here is my old cousin Tom Smith the same age vigorous & supple & active - walks & gardening & rides a bike etc. I am [6] years younger & I though not mentally weak (I hope) am most inactive!! I walk if I have to, but I detest it however I have to sometimes - 2 miles or more & I can do it.
I hope poor dear [Nesta] Adamson will soon be relieved of her sufferings. [Emmie] Hall is the best of her contemporaries. All her 1st cousins (Halls) are gone. Another thing I did not know till I read it in the booklet you sent me, is that my Grandfather's Father was William Paterson , or what part of Scotland he came from!! Now Isabel, I hope you like reading letters better than you say you do writing them.
with love to Aubrey & yourself I am
Yours V. Affectionately
Jessie Astwood
When Eddie had the photo I send taken he was a nice looking chap - he's a grizzly old fellow now but he is nice & very popular & so handy & thoughtful. I hate to even think of the time when he will go away. Is all Australia mad on cross word puzzles like the rest of the world.
Cluster Cottage
Warwick East
Bermuda
March 24th 1930
My dear Isabel
How splendid is your discovery of that obituary notice of Charles Horsfall in that old Illustrated Annual!! I can well understand the size of it & what a burden [it was] to carry [down]! But Isabel I am just thrilled to think you should have spotted it. Mr Horsfall married the Granddaughter of John Hall & Allegonda Boom. That was the first Hall we can go back to & we have all the dates too. How lovely!! No! I do not know anything beyond the entries in the record of the Family. Some few years ago, Eddie met a Mr Horsfall & he said to him “Many years ago a member of my family married one of your name”. Eddie knew nothing then & had not seen the entry in the register & of course the son's name of Thomas Berry is most enlightening. I think in your case. (I would write & try to get in touch with some of them & I'll explain that, your husband [is] descended from a [brother] William [of] Margaret Hall's who married Thomas Berry, whose daughter married Charles Horsfall. I'd make it like this -
Christian Boom m. Dorothy Harrison
In Jamaica 1737
Allegonda Boom m. John Hall
1758
Dorothy Hall m. Thomas Berry
1779
Dorothy Hall Berry m. Chas. Horsfall
1803
Page 2/ Now I think it would be a most interesting thing to do - you'll know what to say.
Now Isabel, you are mistaken in thinking I lost all my [Xmas] gifts. No dear, only all from [ ]. I got your lovly [ ] cosy with the painting - [for writing] you about that but don't tell me you put the seal in the parcel with the cosy! Because if so, it's lost. Has slipped out. The parcel came in a most battered condition! The box broken & parts torn off. Oh! if you did put the seal in that parcel you should have pushed it into the cosy way up to the top! You wrapped the cosy so well that it came [ ] but the [string tying] it was so loose that I just pulled it in the broken corner & got the cosy out but there was no seal! & as you say it cannot be replaced but I will write Charlie & tell him all about it & send him his Aunt's marriage certificate.
I am going to make enquiries at the post office this week as I am going to Hamilton. Perhaps it may have dropped into the post bag (the mail bag) & may have been found. I will try & find out. Oh yes, we have Bananas here. We have some at Cluster Cottage. Today I peeled 1/2 a doz & put them in a frying pan with butter & sprinkled sugar over them as dessert for Tom! Quite good - fried - sometimes I bake them in the oven.
Every thing is looking a bit [tired] in the hot weather. I am longing for the hot sunny days.
much love to you & Aubrey - your loving coz, Jessie
These two additional pages do not appear to be part of any of these four letters.
Our Gt. Gt. Grandfather Robert Jackson [Also] the son of ____ Jackson of [Kelleswood] (Originally [Kellinswode]) Yorkshire England & a Miss Forbes - A descendent of Duncan Forbes of Culloden. Robert & a younger brother were left at an early age. Orphans in the guardianship of a Mr [Magoribanks] he having dissipated the boys fortune and property placed them in the Navy. The younger died & Robert while serving under Nelson M. at Jamaica - Miss Ann Teresia Hobart Raleigh, daughter & heiress of John Raleigh Coffee Planter of the Parish of Port Royal (Jamaica). Robert married and resigned from the Navy & settled in Mahogany Vale [ ] was his wife Ann's dowry & acquired much property.
Robert Jackson married Ann T. H. Raleigh March 30th 1775 and had issue -
|
1st |
John Raleigh B. March 17th 1776 M. Sara [Stronfon] & had one son John Raleigh jnr who married Miss Scotland & had many children |
|
2nd (“Dolly”) |
Dorothy Gray. M. William Hall. August 1797 & had issue. Ann Allegonda, John Herman, Dorothy Raleigh, & others who died |
|
3rd (“Peggy”) |
Margaret. M. Mr FitzWilliam both drowned at [ ]. |
Robert married for the 2nd time
m March 1805. Susannah Campbell of [Auchindred] & had issue - they [ ] Campbell Robert, Charles Forbes, Henry Stanly & Henrietta Camilla. The elder & younger son died & Charles Forbes inherited Mahogany Vale.
The daughter [Henrietta Camilla] was an Authoress having written “Cousin Stella” (a story of Jamaica) “Who breaks pays”, “Two French marriages” etc. She married Captn Charles Jenkin RN & had one son [ ] Jenkin called the “Father of [ ]” & was the intimate friend of Robert Louis Stephenson.
Tradition has it that Roberts' 1st marriage was not the first between a Jackson of that family & a Raleigh, as a Jackson of [Kellinwood Hall] married a sister of Sir Walter Raleigh of Elizabethan fame.
From Bible entries & copies of marriages in the Registrars office Spanish Town Jamaica & information handed down from generation to generation.
Jessie Astwood