THE RALSTON CORRESPONDENCE
from
Harold Ralston
Part Two
Harold wrote in the March edition:
Dear Ian,
I wonder if these copies of old letters to Illinois from Trodigle and Belfast would be of interest to
your Kintyre web page viewers. Feel free to publish them on the web page if you think it would be
of interest.
Here, now, is the second and final part of the Ralston Correspondence:
(Typed copy made June 1994 of a letter to my GGGrandfather Peter Ralston in Illinois from his nephew Andrew Ralston in Scotland. I have attempted to leave the spelling and punctuation just as in the hand written letter, however, I could not make out some of it.)
Trodigal
March 7th 1873
Dear Uncle
It is now some time since I wrote and few lines I in taking the pen at
this time I do so with a heavy heart As in letting you know of the
illnes and death of our dear Brother Peter I feel you will be sorry as
we all are. it may be you have heard already through some of the
friends but I think it proper to let you know all the more so as he was
named after you his Uncle
Dear Peter was in England in the town of Newcastle on Tyne in the
service of Steward McDonald, Glasgow he had been two years in
Newcastle and was getting on well. This last illness began with a cold
which entered his lungs he also had over all of which ended in
Pulmonary consumption. He lay but on the second of January and died on
the 19th Feb. he sent us word and my wife & sister Martha & my self
went out to see him as the journey was too long for Mother. When we
saw him he was very weak I came home but left my wife & sister with
Peter but as he was getting weaker I returned again to Newcastle.
When it became evident that death was in the cup I had the hand and
trying duty of informing him which he stood well his mind seemed to be
thinking on the surety We had several very precious conversations he
told us he was not afraid to die that the rock on which he rested was
Ye that believeth shall be saved. Several passages & hymns I quoted he
finished and was comforted by them Hard as it was to part with him we
felt we could do so in the good will of a happy & glorious meeting in a
better world where the weary are at rest, where the pilgrims that have
laid aside their soiled garments and be clothed with the glorious
apparel of the Saviours righteousness in that bright land of glory how
precious that all care shall be all yon all trouble shall cease perfect
blessedness shall be the fortune of the redeemed for ever and ever.
Dear uncle why should we grieve for friends lost in Christ they are not
lost only gone a little before. There shall be many happy meetings in
Heaven when all the children shall be brought home. our sorrow at this
painful dispensation is very much relieved by such thoughts. We took
Dear Peter’s remains home to Trodigal and buried him in his fathers
grave in Keil, Southend. His body now rests down in yon quiet resting
place we believe awaiting a glorious resurrection. Our hearts are sad
our minds are stunned we shall never more see his face or grasp his
hand. we shall miss fellowship and friendship but we hope yet to renew
it in a much more blessed place.
Mother is very much saddned by this event but she is wonderfully upheld
God’s ways are remarkable his doing often mysterious May we have
grace Still to trust through all events is a trial(?)
I hope your health is keeping good as you are now much advanced in
years. Peter was 26 years of age at his death life was short humanly
speaking Peter has left a sa?vour of good impressions behind him few
young men had got on so well in business his life was strictly correct
his life now closed here is begun we trust in the land of light I
glory to go no more? out.
Mother & wife join me in kind remembrance to all my cousins and yourself
Hoping to hear from you soon. aduie for the present.
Believe me your affectionate nephew
Andrew Ralston
(Typed copy made June 1994 of a letter to my my GGGrandfather Peter Ralston in Illinois from his grandson John Fleming in Ireland. I have attempted to leave the spelling and punctuation just as in the hand written letter however, I could not make out some.)
Belfast
1st Dec 1876
Dear Grandfather
As it is now some time since I wrote you last. I think you will be
glad to hear from us again- I got your last letter some time ago and
was glad to hear that you were in good health as also the rest of our
friends- I was in Campbeltown this last Summer during my holidays- We
were a long time stoped this season 3 months- of course I got my pay
for all that time but it is a loss keeping horses so long doing nothing
I put them on grass which is the cheapest way of keeping them it also
improves them- during my stay in Campbeltown I called on the Sunday to
see Mrs. Ralston at her house in town I also saw her son Andrew at the
same time She seems to be very content in her retirement it was during
the harvest that I was their so they were very buisey—they speek well
of all the crops this year except turnips they are but mideling- I was
in the Longrow Church when I was there They have got a very fine new
Church buklt a few years ago, I did not hear Dr. Boyd I am told he
hase got very frail and not able to preach now- he hase an assistant
who pleases them very well My sisters are all in good health and
getting on in the usual way- I supose just now you will have a very
considerable comotion in Politics I see by the papers that the
Democratic candidate is expected to come very close on the Republican if
not beet him- I dersay the present government hase been guilty of some
not very creditable proceedings which will tend to damage the Republican
cause at present- But I supose it will not make very much diferance to
the general public which party gains the day. Something like us hear
although we have a conservitave Goverment at present I see no diferance
from when we had a Liberal Goverment This country hase been
considerably agitated this some time conserning the Eastern Question It
is the general impresion if the Conferance that is about to meet does
not satisfactorly settle the dispute this country will be obliged to
take side with Turkey- The people hear have no liking for the Turk or
Russian but as England’s highway to India hase to be looked to she is
bound to assist the Turk against Russian conquest which it is feared
Russia is hunkering after- it would be a grate mercy if the matter
could be settled withought going to war- Crops this year in the North
of Ireland are generaly good so that farm produce is reasonable in
price. There is a new branch of business comence latley between Canada
and this country that of shiping live cattle from there to hear the
cattle arive in good condition wan sell well the people are well
satisfied as they consider that beef is reasonabler on that account I
think that I have little more news of any importance we all hope this
letter will find yourself and all our Uncles & Aunts in good health.
Janet is often saying that she should write her cousans She will write
them some time shortly- we will be glad to hear from you when you have
leasure
I remain
your grandson
John Fleming
(Typed copy made June 1994 of a letter to my Grandfather Peter Ralston in Illinois from his cousin
John Fleming in Ireland. I have attempted to leave the spelling and punctuation just as in the hand
written letter
however, I could not make out some.)
Belfast
19th May 1881
Dear Cousin
I received your kind letter a short time ago, and was glad to see by it
that you are all in good health- I notice that you were not very well
yourself some time since but that you and your sisters are now quite
recovered is a grate blessing
I received your packet of photographs of yourself and sisters and
brothers we are certainly very much obliged to you for your attention
The photographs are all very nice and you are all very comfortable
looking. we think there is a resemblance between Martha & our Grace. I
am quite ashamed at myself in not being more puctual in getting our
liknesses taken before this as I promised you- however I give my
promises that we will have them taken soon and one of each forwarded to
you at an early date- I also got your Iasher & Moihirs bituensor??
I have been considerably annoyed this some time back with Rheumatism
it attacked me about last Christmas first in the back it then went to
my henches knees and ankels although I am fairley better I have not got
clear of it in my ankels yet I think it was a cold I got about last
Nov. when we comence this seasons work that was the origin of it. The
place I am in I am so much exposed to all kinds of weather I require to
take care of myself especialy when the likes of Rheumatism sets in My
sisters are all in good health and getting on in the usual way- an
uncle of ours uncle John a brother of my fathers died last Nov. of
congestion of the lungs he was a big strong man but he stood the
trouble no time he was not maried. he was a kind of caretaker of the
property uncle Alexander bought at Kilkenzie near Campbeltown some years
ago. uncle Alexander is in business in Glasgow he is one of five men
who compose the company of Baird & Garskey they are very extensive iron
merchants and employ about 11,000 men in the mines and above ground he
is not maried either a aunt of ours Aunt Florey? keeps the house he
built at Kilkenzie for him he goes down there occationaly he resides
mostly in Glasgow There is another brother of my Fathers in business in
Glasgow he is a bonded warehouse keeper he is maried and hase two
sons There is also Uncle Samuel who went to New Zeland about the time
my father came to Belfast so that I can’t remember having seen him he
is maried there and has a family the other friends living is Aunt Mary
she is maried to a schoolmaster called McDonald they live at Kilkenzie
they have no family and Aunt Elizabeth she lives in the town of Ayr
with her son he is in the iron business her man died about the time my
father died his name was John Watson I stoped with her for a time
when I was serving my apprenticeship in Glasgow she lived in Glasgow
then thought I might mention the above as possibly you are not very
well aquainted with the history of the Flemings- The only other partys
we call on when in Scotland is Mrs. Ralston late of Trodigal and her son
Andrew he has Trodigal now they are always very glad to see us and
makes us very welcome we do not go across very often perhaps once in
the two or three years
I will write uncle Charles some of these days. I ought to have answered
his letter before this In his letter he states that he hase joined the
Baptist Church I think by the tone of his letter that he is something
of a revivalist it is a good thing to see people in satisfactory tone
of mind in religious matters, it seems Uncle Peter is along with him
and hase share of the land when you are writing us again I would like
if you would let me know what she is uncle Charles wife as we do not
know anything about her people likes to hear a little of their
friends- I suspect the place they are settled in’ (Kansas) ‘is very
warm in sumer as it is much further south than you are- We had like
yourself a very severe winter the frost and snow lasted very long indeed
up till two or three weeks ago we had very keen frosts at night- the
weather however was favourable for getting in the crops. last years
crops being so abundant prices ranged very much lower than for the few
years previous- I hope this letter will find yourself your mother and
sisters as also your brothers in good health give our best respects to
any of our friends you may see
yours
Your Cousin
John Fleming
(Typed copy made June 1994 of a letter to my Grandpa Peter W. Ralston in Illinois from cousin John Fleming in Belfast. Grandpa Ralston would have been just under 24 years of age and his father had died in May of 1879. I have attempted to leave the spelling and punctuation just as in the hand written letter.)
Belfast 2nd Jany 1882
Dear Cousin
I received your letter with check and forms to be signed by us which
hase been done and in sent back. I am sure you are glad that you
have got the business wound up- all I can do is to thank you for your
trouble and attention
We are always glad to hear from the friends that they are keeping in
good health and was pleased to notice that is was so in your last
letter- We are all in good health ourselves and getting along in our
usual way- We are now in the midst of a very severe winter hardly any
snow or frost but plenty of wind and rain- There hase been a very
grate loss of life amongst shipping- wrecks hase been very numerous-
Grade hear is improving fast and people are now in much better health as
prospects are much brighter- Since I wrote you last we have had grate
comotion amongst the Farmers. Government last Sesion passed an act
for the purpose of improving the condition of Farmers- Comisioners are
now getting heavy complaints and are in at least the grate majority of
applications reducing the rents ¼ and in some cases to ½ of the former
rent I do not know whether this procedure will pasify the farmers or
not for there is a class in this country who do not wish to be satisfied
I do not know what the people about your district think of the
proceedings at the trial of President Lincoln’s assasian in this
country it is thought that the proceedings is a scandel If he had
committed the same offence in England two days trial ? mash would have
settled the case he seems to be very impudent scoundrel Give our
respects to your mother & sisters wishing you all a very Happy new
Year I will be very glad to hear from you soon again
I am
your Cousin
John Fleming
Page 2: Eighteenth Century Church Letters from Southend Parish
Page 3: The Ralston Correspondence - Part Two
Page 4: The Lowland Church of Campbeltown from its Foundation in 1654 till the Disruption. - Part One
Page 5: Heather McFarlane's Page - Dalintober
Page 6: HMS Campbeltown // Genealogy of Peter Johnson
Page 7: Betty McNiven and 'The Flight'.
Page 8: By Hill and Shore - Part Two