The Islands: Letter: William Rattray to Catherine Farr 1853

Letter: William Rattray to Catherine Farr 1853

Submitted by Jen Wylie

This is a letter from William Rattray(1829-1906)
to his sweetheart or wife Catherine Farr(1836-1900).
Their marriage date is not known, their first known
child was born in Oct of 1855. As seen from the letter,
he was working on a boat at the time.

(spelling and grammar as written)
words in [] are correct spelling

Chicago october: 16th 1853
My dear Catharine I take this opertunit [opportunity]
to write A few lins [lines] to you and in form
you that I am well at present and I hope
that thes [these] few tins [lines?] will find you the same
way we are gone from here to asweg [Oswego] we will
be there About the 10 of November: I think
I think I have ben [been] up to the (??) post offes [office] but all in
Van [vain] it is very lonsom [lonesome] here to day I wold [would]
like to here [hear] from you to day and then I cold [could]
writ [write] more to you I cant writ A letter when
I don�t git [get] Anases [answers] for I cant find any thing to
say we have had very disagreble [disagreeable] wether [weather] up
this way we had cold rain and som[some] snow
this is the 2 letter that I have sent to you
and one book(?) and I havt[havent�t] herd [heard] (mrom?)[from] you sense[since]
I left the island you must be shure [sure] and anser [answer]
this one as soon as you git[get] this and send it to
Portdalhousie [Port Dalhouse] now you must be shure to anser
this so that I can git it when we ar [are] gone down
to oswego we will be thare [there] by the 10 of November
the day have got dark and I have got to stop
writting no more at present from your
most sincere and affectionat [affectionate] true love yours
I remain until death Wmrattray
William Rattray

The Islands: Letter: William Rattray to Catherine Farr 1853