Brock St., Gananoque, Ontario. Sept 27, 1951
I’m trying to figure out who was Gilligan was and where was Gilligans Corner. Was it east of the lower side road, Walkers or west of Tim Prior’s old place? and what was the rendezvous? A tavern or just a house by the side of the road.
What do you know of soldiers Hell in Quinn’s place on the edge of the Bay? I always though it was supposed to be an Indian Burrying Ground. Do you suppose it was a Pipe Place of the French and Indian Voyagers. I’m going to keep on thinking it was, until I am contradicted. Lena
Gananoque, Ontario. Nov. 13 1951
Of course I recognized “Mateen” as Dad never called him anything else.
Billie Jack was Con’s brother.
I’ve been trying to snuffle Nelson White N.W. visits North America, so its hard to say when I’ll trip him. I want some gaf about Cassidy 1810 settler (First). His wife was a leFleur, and so was Joe Allaries grandmother, likewise another sister married old Wm. MacDonald , Wolfe Island. Ida Baileys mother was Joe Allaries aunt. So they are a very proliftic family. The Wisemans on Pat Leavis old place near the 1st Cassidy’s and Mary Jane Cassidy was our Tom’s god-mother, and the God father John Graham was later married to her.
You likely know the Wisemans, Cox’s -Leavis, Norris, Foley’s are all descended from the first John (Patrick) Cox and Mary Cowan, Ottawa to Kingston mail stage driver. Mat Cox’s grandparents. You also come in on the Kane side. Our paternal grandfatehr O’Driscoll is burried there but the moss had grown so the stone, it is not easy to read. I once washed it with lye solution and brushed it well, and it is awful again. Grandparents Wiseman are there too, but I don’t know where. Grandfather was a Bellfast Presbyterian and the French Catholic’s , especially the Marshall’s were so incensed they were going to dig him up and throw him in the river. Maybe they did.
Some old yarns stated no compass would work along that area and that is why Dad always hung a lantern on the pine tree between us and Cox’s at the river bank where the old Clixby Shanty was.
Gananoque, Ontario, Feb 26, 1952
Now where is Charcoal Creek? Immaginary?
Granddaughter of Betty Callaghan, first white woman born on Howe Island lives here. Taught here for years. No talk, in the Rubbidge survey 1833 mentions Callaghan’s shanty, midway on the North Shore.
By the way did you ever hear what Carlow’s real name was. All old people remember the stories about him, but so far can’t find out his real name. Do you have any copies of Gollogys poems? Agg Marshall Beaubian used to sing some of them, at least used to do so, but she is cranky now, and don’t ask Fanny Leavis anything or she’d bite. No one knows anythign about “Soldiers Hell” but myself apparently. Maybe I dreamed it but I don’t think so. Doy you think the envelope is the Glenora. Was that a schooner? Intriging title “Dick the Ram”. The Cory Post was a schooner too I believe and Glad Tiding, besides Startled Fawn and White Wings.
2 Brock St., Gananoque, May 10, 1952
I’m up to my ears in so many old devilish things, if I had the money to spend I’d have on little Hell right here on earth. I remember Matt Cox singing these rhymes going to the factory with the milk and bumping every spare stone along the road.
Gananoque, March 7, 1953
Dear Nellie,
Your kind and thoughtful card received yesterday with its memories of our youthful happy days. Too bad we ever left the old haunts, but that is the march of time. Some day we will all be back in our native soil at least I hope I will. I never cared for it here, but circumstances fated me to remain until I ‘m now too old to face the old regime again.
I have never seen the Francisean cards fefore, except on last week from Alice Vincent here- Marguerite White’s sister-in law. It would be nice to know of them and where to obtain them? Nelson White is staying with Marguerite and quite poorly. Her husband is also asthmatic and heart asthma. When it rains it pours.
Kate came for Lars funeral and left Sunday and Eliz Walker is here now - dreadful cold too (84 years old and frail) Kates daughter and son in law lives on concession St., Kingston. Donald came down for her Sunday.
By the way the John Cox should have been Patrick Cox, and a miss print said John Foley, which really was Richard.
Then I hear Carmel Norris’s son Kennedy, is also ordained and Jack Driscall’s granddaughter- a Miss Mallen I think, has also entered the House of Providence. Does the old blood good to give it a stir evidently.
Had a card and note yesterday from Norma Goodfriend, she has the flu or some such. She lost an eye thru a cold and cough last year, so God forbid it gets any worse. She has her own trials, but another saint of the little way. Lovely woman.
Had a note from the Beggs, Toronto. News flies evidently. Have heard before that Annie is in a wheel chair, and Walter is the lady with the lamp A Mrs Bedore here has a sister in law out in California who goes to see Bella Mae See and that B.M. is staying at Mary Beggs apartment. So then to be unrecognizable. -- - believe she is a bed case altogether, also had a note from /? M. Gurren, Bath, who has no been too well for a few years an lives with Mabel Robinson (sister) - Widow. George is busy between what he calls a heady Englishman at Mables, and a heady like Dutchman on his own farm. You would have to know George to get the pat.
Robbie Welsh improving. Barney Kane who recently married Marie Welsh is selling his farm on the Island,
Although he just recently restocked it with cattle. Vera Beseau is very poorly, say a prayer for Anne who has Mae a bed case at home.
Lena
P.S. Saw Fanny Leavis. We were over to Carmel Dorey’s wake. Francis Garrah’s oldest daughter.