Letter, Thomas Pate to James Pate, 5 May 1944
Description
- Creators
- Pate, Thomas, Author
- Pate, James, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A two-page handwritten letter from Thomas Pate to his nephew James Pate regarding the death of James’ father Andrew Pate. In it, Thomas states that he had received two letters from Andrew, one in pencil from the hospital and one in pen from home, and had assumed he was getting better. He states that at 18, James will remember his father’s ways of cropping the farm and that his uncles are not far away and should help him. He looks forward to when the war ends and he can take a trip to Canada to see them. On the back of the second page, Thomas writes that he has copied the newspaper clipping about Andrew Pate’s death and placed it in the local paper. He has included a copy from their paper.
The letter was provided by E. Ann McRae. - Notes
- The Pate-Jones Collection consists of some photographs of the family members and a large group of letters. The majority of the letters are written by Margaret nee Wilson, and some by her husband Howard Jones, to their sons Barry and Stewart Jones, or to Mr. and Mrs. Pate. From 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, Barry and Stewart lived with Margaret’s second cousin Andrew Wilson Pate and his wife Mary Herron nee McClure at the Brantwood Farm. The original farm was founded by Andrew’s father James Pate, and was situated on the south side of Powerline Road and Gretzky Parkway, which at that time, was considered part of the County of Brant.
The correspondences cover from detail Margaret Jones’ dilemma in settling her boys with virtual strangers, her return trip to England to rejoin the war effort there, news of farm life in England, the concern that England might lose the war, and the anguish of both families when Andrew Pate died in 1944, leaving his teenage son to run Brantwood Farms. These letters are therefore a fascinating way to conceptualize how the war affected daily life in Canada locally, and in England.
In recent decades, the original Brantwood Farm that was situated on the south side of Powerline Road was sold by the Pate family for development. The farms are now located on the north side of Powerline Road, and consist of several farms belonging to several Pate families, mostly within the County of Brant, remaining a thriving local establishment to this day. - Inscriptions
- Hopefield
Milnathort
Scotland
5th May – 1944
Mr. James Pate
Dear Nephew.
I was pleased to get your letter telling me about the illness and death of your dear father. Letters take sometimes a month to come but I got one earlier from John Wilson in Shropshire Eng. letting me know. I had a letter from your father during the summer written with pencil from the hospital and one written with ink after he got home. I thought from it that he was getting better. You will miss him very much but at 18 you will know and remember his ways of [cropping?] the farm. Your uncles not far away should help you. And you will learn further by going to the [illegible] College.
I have been looking forward when this war is finished of having a nice trip to Canada to see you all. Although now is my 83 year
(2)
I feel wonderfully fit and glad that I can still use my bicycle as my ration of Petrol is only 16 gals every 4 months. We have had a very nice mild winter. The plough was seldom stopped. Potato farming is the chief work at present. We grow in S[illegible] land a great acreage of these both for [illegible] of seed. Scotch-seed Potatoes are in great demand and for England I fetch a higher price [illegible] the eating ones. Weather at present is very un-settled + wet but oat + grass look well and cattle are now out all night. I called last week on Aunt Agnes in Perth. She was in bed but looking wonderfully well but poor eye-sight + rather frail but with help alike to get out on fine days. She told me to be sure to write to you. The Weekly Star is coming regular it is well liked here. It was very kind of your father ^to pay it to Jan. next from The Office.
I think your Aunt Agnes would appreciate a little letter when you find time.
King regards to all from your Nephew –
Thomas Pate
Address – Miss Agnes D. Pate
M[illegible] Royal
Perth
Scotland
Over –
(3)
Thanks for sending the newspaper clipping about your father. I have got it copied into our little local paper and will [mail?] those who remember your grandpa [illegible] + also your father who I look [illegible] round his friends when he was over here in The Spring of 1912.
I enclose the copy from our paper.
T. P. - Date of Original
- May 5, 1944
- Subject(s)
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.246
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Letter, Thomas Pate to James Pate, 5 May 1944. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.246
- Terms of Use
- The information and images provided are for personal research only and are not to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this information should include the credit "provided by Ann McRae"
- Contact
- County of Brant Public LibraryEmail:digitalhistory@brant.ca
Website:
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Paris, ON
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