A tenth year in the bush - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

December 10, 1864
Wawanosh Township
United Counties of Huron and Bruce

 

Dearest Mother,
I am so sorry to hear of Father’s passing. Your letter was dated Oct. 30, but we have only just received it. I wish that I could be there to help you at this sad time. Father was such a gentle soul and he will be missed by all, but especially you after your 43 years together. 

 

It is hard to believe that we have been here for 10 years now. We are fortunate to have 41 acres cleared on which to plant our crops. We grow wheat, some oats, potatoes, mangles and hay. I had a good garden this year. The frost kept away until mid-October, which was a real blessing.

 

A huge undertaking was the building of a barn to shelter the two cows, three pigs and two horses. The neighbours came to help, not only the men to do the construction, but also the women to help me feed the workers. I saw one 16-year-old lad eating six pieces of pie. What an appetite! 

 

The barn isn’t the only building to receive attention recently. We have been able to save enough money to buy mortar to chink between the logs and thus find the house much warmer. My neighbour, Mrs. Currey, has taught me how to braid rugs that are made of rags for the floors. Robert has added another room to the north of the cabin. We were running out of space when the twins arrived and now that little Rebecca, aged two, has joined the clan, we now number nine in the household. Martha at seven is a middle child who alternates between acting babyish and being quite mature for her age. Robbie, at almost 17, is able to match his father step by step in the work of our farm. Mary, who is 15, has excelled in her studies at Young’s school and will soon be teaching at a school in Manchester. Tillie, our first-born Canadian at nine years, is a great help to me with the younger children, James and John, five-year-old twins, and, of course, little Becky.

 

Last year I was invited to a quilting bee. I did not know what to expect when Elizabeth Shannon of Shannon’s Hill asked me to help make a quilt for her daughter Martha who was about to wed James Sanderson. Although I make all of our own clothes, I didn’t know how to quilt. 

 

The ladies of the neighbourhood gathered together on a Wednesday. All the younger children came with their mothers and played and napped. Oh what fun there was! We heard all the latest news (and perhaps some gossip as well) as the experienced quilters gave us newcomers hints on how to make small, even stitches. I am proud of my improvements in this craft and hope that when my four girls decide to marry I too can host quilting bees to help them start their own households.

 

No longer do we have to wind our way through the forest. Instead, there is a roadway on our concession. Robert is a pathmaster, a foreman who looks after a certain section of the road near our farm. Each neighbour is expected to donate several days’ labour and the use of a team of horses and wagon to keep the road in passable condition. This involves digging ditches along the sides of the road, as well as filling in potholes with gravel. In the wintertime, everyone uses sleighs to travel over the snow. Spring is a different matter, however, when the snow starts melting and low areas of the road become real bog holes. 

 

The roadways have helped us to be less isolated than when we first arrived. There are more and more settlers taking up land and it is nice to have neighbours. We are able to attend church in Nile now that a regular preacher comes there every Sunday. 
One of our neighbours subscribes to the Goderich Signal Semi-Weekly newspaper and we receive it second-hand to catch up on what is going on around here and in the world too. There is much concern in the neighbourhood about the American war. We have heard of at least one area young man who has headed south to join the fighting.

 

Also in that newspaper are many advertisements about farms up for sale because of non-payment of back taxes. So far, we have been able to keep up with our taxes and the payments on the farm. It is hard work, but we believe this is the best place to raise our children. 

 

Through the newspaper, we learned of the annual exhibition of the County of Huron’s Agricultural Society last September. Robert was determined to win the $40 prize offered by the Canada Company for the best 10 bushels of fall wheat. He placed third and as result received $10, a real windfall for our family.

 

I must close now, Mother. If only we were closer to help you during this sad time. Perhaps, one day soon, you might consider coming to see us. Is it possible that you would consider coming to Canada to make your home with us? I understand that it only takes eight to nine days to cross the Atlantic in the newer steam boats. They would give you much better accommodation than what we had. 

 

With much love, your daughter, Nancy