Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 3 September 1942
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A single-page (front and back) handwritten letter from Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart Jones. In her letter, she mentions sending photographs of themselves and the farm and inquires how their piano lessons are proceeding. This letter was likely sent along with a letter written by her husband.
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
- Copley
Pattingham
N. Wolverhampton
3rd Sept. 1942
My Dear Barry + Stewart,
At last we have a few snapshots - - I’ve meant to [to send?] in other letters about Bob Gillin taking them. – I have to admit that I’m disappointed that there isn’t a really good one of Daddy - - The 2 that he is on were taken just as he was leaving for London - - I was really [illegible] from rushing to get an early lunch for all the men (Uncle John, Bob G., Sydney Sharpley + Daddy) + it was a very hot morning, so that there is some excuse for me looking rather untidy, but Daddy wasn’t rushed at all but he looks quite worried. - - I think he looks quite pathetic on the one where he has his hand on my shoulder, don’t you? I’ve put little notes on the snapshots as explanation so I’ll say no more about them here + save my paper!
Daddy is writing in this letter so I needn’t attempt to give you any farm news – he’ll do all that!
Auntie [Beattie?] came over on Monday + I sent back some of your letters + the snapshots for Auntie Lily to see! – They returned them this morning + Auntie Lily was most impressed with Stewart’s letter about your Toronto visit. – It really was a splendid letter Stewart!! – The last one of Barry’s was very interesting too – but I better mention again here that your school reports must have got lost! – Try to remember to tell us something about them -- + about your new teacher – Do you like her? –
Anyway we must be thankful that your photograph wasn’t lost. It arrived 2 days ago + we’re just too delighted to
(2)
say much. We keep having another look you know. Incidentally though, we are having a picture made from one of the other proofs that we thought was very good It is your heads + shoulders only - - so of course the heads are bigger + I’m sure it’ll make a splendid picture. –
I had a letter from Uncle Ted yesterday. He is going around all the time isn’t he? – I don’t know how he ever spares the time to write much less take you out! You do realise that he is very kind + that you are very lucky don’t you? –
And how is the music getting on - - Rather I should the piano lessons - - . I’ve told you how thrilled I was to hear about them + I’m writing a letter to Mrs Edmundson + Eleanor. I wish you’d ring them up to tell them I have written just in case it doesn’t get there. I mean this being Air Mail is fairly certain of arriving. ---
Yes, + another summer nearly over. What about Marion? - - I she deciding to stay at home a bit long - - for she will be married I know. And is Betty going back to school. – I shall write to Mrs Pate very soon in reply to her letter, but in the meantime give ^all of them my love. –
I hope most of the harvest will be [canned?] before I write again – of course I hope yo hear from one or both very soon! –
We're all very well.
Lots of love
Mummy - Date of Original
- September 3, 1942
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Gillin, Bob ; Pate, Marion
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.061
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
-
Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.1334 Longitude: -80.26636 -
England, United Kingdom
Latitude: 54.61667 Longitude: -1.86667
-
- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 3 September 1942. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.061
- 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:
Agency street/mail address:County of Brant Public Library (Paris Branch)
12 William Street
Paris, ON
N3L 1K7 | @brantlibrary
