Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 15 April 1943
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 by Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In her letter, she mentions that she is feeling much better (see [2017AM001.072]) and was pleased to hear that Mr. Pate was getting “better + better” as well. She also describes the recent weather and tasks she and her husband are completing around the farm.
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
- Wed 15th April 1943
Copley
Pattingham
My Dearest Boys,
Another letter this week - - that is 2 last week + one this week. No wonder I’m feeling fine again (Last week In Stewart’s letter this week he says that you have been writing regularly so it seems that some of your precious letters have got lost - - but we are hoping very much that the one with “pictures” enclosed turns up – The letters don’t always arrive in the order of posting, so we have every night to hope! –
It is good to hear that Mr. Pate is getting “better + better” – I haven’t heard that Granpa Wilson received Mr. Pate’s letter, but when he does we’ll get any news from him – Granma Wilson has just been up to Scotland visiting Malcom’s Granma who has been very very ill – Mrs. [Fennier?] is a little better now + I do hope Malcom is writing to her sometimes. ---
I told you last week that we’d heard from Fred Knight (a charming letter) so we may be lucky enough to have a visit from him fairly soon – maybe he’ll get some leave about Easter Time.---
Daddy says to tell you that we have
(2)
planted some of our Sugar Beet but it is very very dry + rain is needed badly. Daddy was very tired in the week-end + I was afraid he was going to have ‘flu but he went off to London on Monday all night + he says he feels all right but he has a bit of cold - -
And I don’t seem to have any very exciting news for you this week have I? – I’ve been doing some painting today (in the Dairy) Well, I’m really trying to finish off my interrupted Spring Cleaning - - what isn’t in [shed?] by Easter will just be left I’m afraid. – Too much to be done outside in the garden etc. after that. ------
Thurs. evening.
Daddy came home early yesterday + I got no more writing done. He is going to have a few days round the farm because the weather is so lovely + he hopes to get rid of his cold if he doesn’t go to the Office. – And guess again! The pictures arrived this morning + we are fair thrilled I’m just going over to Codsall now (to get the wages) + I’ll show them to Granma – I’ll write more about them next week but in the meantime thank Betty very very much for taking them –
Lots + Lots of Love
Mummy. - Date of Original
- April 15, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Pate, Andrew
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.073
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.1334 Longitude: -80.26636 -
England, United Kingdom
Latitude: 54.61667 Longitude: -1.86667
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- 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, 15 April 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.073
- 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
