Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 7 May 1943
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A three-page (front and back) handwritten letter by Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In her letter, she attempts to describe the boys’ future home, saying that the house is “high” and “rather bleak” but that there is a “delightful outlook” from every window. She also mentions that a man from Toronto named Harold Young had been staying upon the farm and discusses the difficulty she has been having stretching the rations to feed everyone. She ends the letter by wondering if Mr. Pate is well enough to work again, and tells the boys’ that with the “heartening” war news brings them a step closer to coming home.
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
- 7th May
My Dearest Boys –
First of all an apology - - Last week I said we had got the letter with the cutting of Bob Gillin’s letter enclosed, but I didn’t answer your question about the picture at the top – No, No! That isn’t our farm - - I expect it was just a picture the newspaper people had by then – I don’t think we could take a picture to give a real good idea of what Copley is like - - Films are difficult to get + I’m not good with the camera
(2)
If I get a film I’ll try to get Daddy to try something. Before the war we could have got a photographer to get several views but I suppose that no matter how many views we sent the real thing would be quite different from the impression you would create. The house is high + rather bleak looking but from every window there is a delightful outlook ----- Everybody remarks on that - - in fact how [Honest?] it is “Our house is lovely from the inside looking out” - -
(3)
Well this has been quite a busy week - - Harold Young from Toronto (Air Force) came in the week-end + stayed until Tuesday - - I met him in Toronto but had no idea he had joined up - - I hope he’ll visit us again – Wed. + Thurs. I was very busy in the house making up for lost time + I also managed to get the lawn cut (that’ll be a nice job for you when you come home, it’s a pretty long law) + now today (Friday) I’m in Wolverhampton - - save shopping + also heaving my
(4)
hair washed - - I’m drying it at this very moment. (Is Betty still practicing her hair dressing art?) – I shall go out to Codsall when I have finished + get home with Daddy. One thing, though, I simply must not forget to [try?] Rennet. - - I intend to make 2 cheeses next week just to help the rations - - With all our visitors (+ there can never be too many Canadians) it takes some effort to make the food go round.
Ruth + David Burton went back to school
(5)
yesterday + last evening Mr. Burton happened to call round (I always enjoy when he comes) - - And what do you think we have [arranged?] with him? On June 7th, 8th + 9th when Daddy has his special meetings in London + when I am going with him, Mr. + Mrs. Burton are coming too - - - Don’t you think that is a good idea? I’m sure we shall get on very well. ----
I ought to have told you that David got over his measles all right + also Mr. Burton brought me into town today because he happened to be coming in.
(6)
Well all the sugar beet is in + the first [sown?] lot will be ready for hoeing next week if we just get a shower or [2?] of rain. --- The women + Land girl are all busy hoeing weeds which are growing fast now - - actually they are weeding in the Beans today.
Ben the dog is nearly himself again except his eyes are little sore – I was sorry to hear that Barry had a cold + I’m always wondering if Mr. Pate is able to work again. –
It’ll be real summer when you get this - - + the war news is heartening - - A step nearer your coming home I hope! ---
Lots + Lots of Love
from Mummy
xxx O xxx - Date of Original
- May 6, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Gillin, Bob ; Young, Harold ; Pate, Wilson
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.074
- 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
-
- 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, 7 May 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.074
- 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
