Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 26 July 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 discusses the various visitors they have had to the farm and the dinner she is preparing for guests that night.
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
- July
19th26th
My Dearest Boys,
Do you see that [chauped?] date? - - It means that no letter was posted to you last week -- + I am very very sorry about it - - Of course there is an explanation but that is no excuse! - - On the 19th (the day I meant to write) I had to go to [Crowgreaves?] t see Granpa Wilson who has been staying there while Granma was at the sea with Auntie Janette. - - Well Granpa wasn’t well at all (he has Shingles) + that day there was no one at [Crowgreaves?] to look after him + so I went along for a few hours - - but I wasn’t well either but I didn’t tell Granpa of course - - I had a very bad sick turn (I do sometimes) - - Anyway when I got back home + got my own chores done etc. I sat down to write to you + Daddy said “You go to bed - - that’s where you ought to be + I’ll write to
(2)
those boys” - - I knew how much you’d like that so off I went to bed thinking that I’d put in just a little note with Daddy’s - - Yes! Daddy started to write but he never finished it + posted it unfortunately so no letter was sent because the next day started one of the biggest weeks I’ve ever had - - - Visitors everyday (2 of them staying) - - that’s always a lot of work but also Sally (the land girl) was on holiday + I had some of her jobs to do (the milk, cream, hens etc.) - - then Mrs. Davies is still ill + couldn’t come to help so every day I was up at 6 o’clock + there wasn’t a free minute until nearly midnight because after supper it was “Hurry up + make up this Bridge Four” ---- ---- Yes, by Jove, you’d have had to do the washing up last week if you’d been here - - - It was quite enjoyable but
(3)
I was very tired + yesterday afternoon when everybody had gone I went to bed + slept for nearly [scratched out] hours so now today I’m ready for anything - - but I’m writing this in the morning so that no one will come interrupting me - - The Dr. + Mrs. Curtis are coming as usual today but Mrs. Davies is better + says she will come + get supper for us so that will be very nice - - We are going to have Salad (Fresh lettuce from the garden, Tomatoes from the green – house at Codsall, Peas + Potatoes cooked + cooked with Salad Dressing with a little [onion?]) - - A Tin of Spam, Apple Pie, Fresh Apricots + Cream, Biscuits, Butter (mine!) + Cheese (also home-made) - - Now I think that is quite a good supper for war-time - - but you see it is Salad + Fruit time so it is
(4)
easier just now - - I’[m?] always interested in hearing what you’ve been having to eat - -
Those wonderful snapshots have arrived - - I was so pleased + excited the day they came that I could hardly get any work done! – Also Betty’s comments on the back made them so much more interesting - - + I think I enjoy them all the more when they are not all perfect snapshots - - . The “Two Drunks” is marvelous + the one with J[illegible] + all [illegible] including Mick makes us feel happy just to look at it - - Oh dear! I’m so pleased with them - - I suppose the one taken on Mother’s Day is the best but I like them all + the ones taken “solo” are worth making into big pictures - - Thank Betty very much for taking them
(5)
I feel I want to write her right now + thank her myself + she is getting a real expert with the camera. –
We are starting to cut the Oats this week on Wednesday - - Auntie Beattie is coming that day for the day so she’ll be pleased - - that is If it is fine of course! - - Than next week-end of course is Bank Holiday again - - I wonder if there will be any chance of Fred Knight getting any leave - - We haven’t had any Canadians ^here for a while. We had 2 sailors last week for their leave + believe me my cupboards are rather empty now! –
I know Daddy wants to write to you + is always talking about you but he is so busy - - if he isn’t actually doing things all the time he is busy planning
(6)
something - - - In fact I often speak to him + he doesn’t hear me - - And he knows that I always write so you know what is going on - - And he’ll have so much to say to you when you get home again! He’s working hard to have this place nice for you + then he’ll be able to drop his war-time jobs we’ll have more time to have some real good times together –
So I think I’ll have to say bye-bye all again - - Maybe there will be a letter from you tomorrow
All my love
Mummy
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x each
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x - Date of Original
- July 26, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Knight, Fred
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.081
- 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, 26 July 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.081
- 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
