John Gemmill Born: March 07, 1776 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: October 16, 1847 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, married Anna Weir Born: August 04, 1781 in Blackfall, Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: March 16, 1848 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada Married: April 02, 1799 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland. They had 12 children:

1. Margaret Gemmill Born: October 15, 1797 in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, Scotland
2. Jean Gemmill Born: January 14, 1800
3. James Gemmill Born: August 08, 1801 in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Scotland Died: August 28, 1802 .
4. Andrew Gemmill Born: April 30, 1803 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland Died: July 07, 1872 in Brandon House, Ibrox Park, near Glasgow, Scotland ..... +Ann Lennox Born: May 03, 1805 in Dumbarton, Scotland Married: March 08, 1825
5. Janet Gemmill Born: January 22, 1805 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: September 18, 1879 in Lanark, Lanark County, Ontario ..... +Adam Craig Born: May 24, 1802 in Lanarkshire, Scotland Married: May 28, 1823 in Lanark County, Ontario
6. Ann Norris Weir Gemmill Born: April 18, 1807 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: January 08, 1878 ..... +Graham Forgie Born: 1803 in Scotland Died: November 22, 1881
7. Mary Gemmill Born: June 22, 1809 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: October 07, 1852 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada, married John Dick Born: September 25, 1803 in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland Died: March 17, 1862 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada Married: August 04, 1826
8. Elspeath Gemmill Born: April 13, 1811 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: May 11, 1812 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland
9. John Gemmill Born: March 28, 1813 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: 1882 ..... +Isabella Muir Born: 1816
10. Marion Gemmill Born: March 08, 1815 in New Cummock, Ayrshire, Scotland Died: September 25, 1887 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada ..... +Archibald Campbell Born: 1807 Died: September 28, 1877 in Rosetta, Lanark Township, Lanark, Ontario, Canada
11. Elizabeth Gemmill Born: February 14, 1817
12. David Gemmill Born: May 10, 1819 in Gorbal, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland ..... +Ann McNicol Born: November 06, 1821 in Lanark, Lanark County, Ontario Married: December 31, 1840 in Lanark County, Ontario

    When John Gemmill emigrated to new Lanark in 1820-21 his son Andrew was denied passage because he had a club foot. These letters show his affection and longing John maintained for his son. The Doctor referred to in the letter was Dr. John Gemmill who lived in Lanark seven miles from Rosetta where John's farm was located.

    A letter from Mr. John Gemmill of Rosetta : 30 April, 1824 The envelope: To Mr. Andrew Gemmill on the reverse care of John Gemmill No. 19 Portugal Street, Lauriston, Glasgow (across the end Received Saturday 11th September 1824 A. G.)

    The letter: Dear Son
    
    We had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you dated 3rd Sept. about the 10th December and another dated 31st January on the 23 of this month.
    
    We are all very happy to hear of your welfare and the welfare of all our relations, but truly sorry to hear of the accident which happened Uncle Andrew but happy to hear how he is in a mending way. We would have written you sooner had we thought you were not coming on the testimony of the last letter you received, but now you require a more explicit statement.
    
    We shall proceed to answer your numerous budget of queries just as they stand and leave you to judge in some measure for yourself. First then we have got one hundred acres English, the soil is in general very good, the surface partly level partly diversified with little hills or we may say hillocks for there is not many hills in this country like the hills in Scotland.
    
    There is a good deal of stones in these hillocks and sometimes rock. The soil approaches some times nearly to sand and sometimes there's a clay bottom. It is all very free to work but for the roots, these in a short time will decay. We believe that an acre of land here will produce, bear as much crop as the land at home if the same pains is bestowed on it may with even less attention, however all that is done to new land is to remove the timber by fire, sow the grain drag it with a harrow, two and often three crops are put in this way then sow it down in grass in which state it may remain for six or seven years a good crop of hay taken off each year without further sowing.
    
    The land produces all the different kinds of crops of the old country and some others that cannot be produced at home without the aid of hot houses and timothy, potatoes, turnips, pumpkins, squashes, water melons, sugar melons and cucumber are what we sow and plant and they all grow to perfection with a variety of other smaller seeds too tedious to mention.
    
    In new settlements the land is mostly wrought with the hoe and the harrow , but in old settlements when the stumps are out the same as at home. We have four seasons here as distinct as at home. Some snow falls in November but the severity of the winter does not come on in general until January this month and the next are the two severest in the season then she wears more mitts as the season advances and the snow disappears about the middle of April sometimes sooner sometimes later. The winter is a little colder and the summer is a little hotter than at home.
    
    It is a very healthy country a doctor is not much required. We are 7 miles from Dr. Gemmill. Every settler has just such a house as he pleases to put up. They are however all of wood as being most readily put up.
    
    We have two cows, one yearling, one yoke of oxen, a cock and seven hens, three swine by the time you arrive these we expect will have brought a great many more. We are not far from neighbours every hundred has generally a family on it. Pigeons and partridges abound in old settlements. Deer are very plentiful and sometimes she hear he is not ferocious unless he be roughly handled. Wild ducks and geese are plenty about lakes and rivers of trees we have the maple which produces sugar in spring as much as we want. Birch from which we may have beer if we take (?) the trouble to make it. Beach, Basswood, ash Black and white rock and swamp elm, pine, hemlock, pine tree makes beautiful furniture I had almost forgot the Royal Oak . Some are very large some are very small. There may be some four feet through they are pretty close This depends much on their size, where the trees are large, the space between them is greater than when they are small. Our lands are not named they are numbered. A concession is ten miles long, on this concession there are twenty seven lots Nos. 2 , 3 , etc. ours is No. 13. Our market is new settlers coming into the country at present and there is a canal arriving through the country that will be a means of conveyance after a few years. New settlers cannot dispose of much for a while. Men's wages may be averaged at three shillings per day throughout the year serving women from four to six dollars a month, remember that both have their board included .
    
    The best implements you can bring to this country is a piece of very strong cloth, plaiding, harren (?) for shirts. Bring some files, I want some. I need good sole leather. Other implements can be had here better adapted to the country .
    
    Respecting your coming to the country we feel most desirous you should. We have twice had an opportunity of a good situation for you had you been here and likely we may fall in with a third. If your uncle Andrew intends coming here I propose getting other two hundred acres. John McFarlane desires to be remembered to your uncle and neighbour and all enquiring friends. Our best respects to Jean & Marg, all Uncles and aunts and if you come bring Jean and Marg with you. All your sisters and brothers join us in kind love to you.
    
    We are Dear Son, Your Loving Affect , Father & Mother - John Gemmill
    
    Along the edge a P.S. Janet will be married before you can get here though you put on spurt . A letter from John Gemmill to his son Andrew dated, 4 October 1824.
    

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    The envelope : Mr. Andrew Gemmill, at Peter Adams Esq. Augusta Place seems to be crossed out Writer Augusta Place Nelson Street Glasgow North Britain
    
    The letter : My Dear Son.
    
    We received your letter the first inst. and having considered the contents now proceed to answer it as we can - We are all well and everything is going on prosperously. We have an excellent crop of everything we put into the ground. Janet has not waited upon the fine match she might have got at home. She married upon a young man, a cooper of the name of Adam Craig from Old Lanark and she has also got home her old son upon the 14th Sept. last. Ann is in the mind rather to take chance of some Canadian Laird where she is Rather than to come to the Old Country again.
    
    I approve of your plan of taking the advice of an Advocate respecting the business as without that you could not have walked upon sound ground and herein enclosed remits you as you desire us a Letter in the Maintenance Assigning you into full right of the subjects conform to bargain with a pound to act as our Mandatory as you shall see proper. We think unreal John's conduct very improper and the sooner you set about getting the business put to rights the better - That I was to get the plot of ground at the end of the house was an undoubted fact & he refuses to show you your grandfathers Testament you can force him to put it upon record if that is not already done and then you can usually have access to it.
    
    With respect to Uncle William uplifting the rents of the house I think he will mean nothing else than fair dealing you will easily deal with him about that matter.
    
    Your mother signed no receipt or dealing excepting for the L40 her father left if anything else was included it was without her knowledge or mine when we signed it .
    
    If it so happened in the course of Providence that Jean was coming to America we would be very happy to see her and Aunty Margaret's welfare.
    
    You will please give Janet and Ann's kind compliments to Miss Douglas. Miss Lauder and Miss Hill tell them that Janet is married as above and she has got her old son..
    
    I am glad to hear that my friends and Acquaintances are all well give my kind compliments to all that inquire for us and write your Aunt Mary in Irvine as soon as I have opportunity I will write her a letter.

    I remain
    Dear Son
    Your Loving father till Death
    John Gemmill
    
    N. B. I take your kind advice with kind and I hope the advice you are so kind to give me you will daily and hourly take to yourself the uncertainty of time and the precarious nature of all its enjoyments ought never to be forgot and our preparation for our eternal state ought to be our daily and hourly our constant study and employ as the very basis of our Eternal felicity. J. G.

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    The envelope was inscribed: To: Mr. Andrew Gemmill care of Mr. Andrew Gemmill No. 19 Portugal Street Laurrieston Glasgow - across the end in a different hand Received Friday 17th Feb 1826 - on the reverse 21 November 1825. letter from Mr. John Gemmill Canada Lanark, U. C. 21st Nov 1825

    Dear Son,
    
    A few days ago I received yours of the 19th August and before that one of the 11th of May, both of which gave us great satisfaction to hear that you still enjoying good health and this at present leaves us all in the full enjoyment of that valuable blessing for which we have a great reason to praise God.
    
    Before I say any more I shall first comply with your request with respect to the statement of Marriages, Births and Deaths of the family, which is as follows:
    John Gemmill born 15th of August 1774 married 2nd April
    Ann Weir born 4th August 1781 1799, New Cumnock
    Margrate (?) Gemmill born 15th Octber 1797 Born at Neilston
    Jean Gemmill born 14th Jany 1800
    James Gemmill born 8th August 1801 Born at Glasgow Died 28th August 1802
    Andrew Gemmill born 30th April 1803 Glasgow
    Jannet Gemmill born 22nd Jany 1805 at Cumnock
    Ann Gemmill born 18th April 1807 Cumnock
    Mary Gemmill born 22nd June 12809 at Cumnock
    Elspeath Gemmill born 13th April 1811 at Cumnock and Died 11th May 1812
    John Gemmill born 28th March 1813 Cumnock
    Marion Gemmill born 8th March 1815 at Cumnock
    Elizabeth Gemmill born 14th Feby 1817 at Cumnock
    David Gemmill born 10 May 1819 at Gorbal Glasgow
    Janet Gemmill married to Adam Craig 28th May 1824 at Lanark U. C. their son John, Born 14th September 1824 as for Margrate and Yourself I daresay you can find the dates of marriage yourself.
    
    We have been very much disappointed with your not coming to this place as there have been several vacant situations which you might have had with very genteel salaries, there is one at present were you here of L150 oer annum which you could have at Kingston ---- Mary and Ann are gone to service during the winter season and the little ones are attending school.