Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 1 August 1943
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A two-page (front and back) handwritten letter by Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In her letter, she mentions receiving two letters from the boys including their school marks, and the recent bought of hot weather and rain they have been experiencing.
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
- August 1st.
My Dearest Boys,
Another Sunday + another month! – And 2 letters yesterday, a short one from Barry written on Marion’s notepaper + a very nice little letter old man! - - The other one was from Stewart + was written a week later + gave the school marks. It looks like you’ve both done fairly well - - Is the teacher pleased with you? - - And Barry’s writing is improving a little I do believe - - We are interested to know that Mr. + Mrs. Pate have gone for a holiday - - Surely that means that Mr. Pate is definitely better.
It has been a tiring week this last one - - we have had a real heat wave - - I had to go to town on Tuesday + it was very hot - - On Wed., Auntie Beatie
(2)
came for the day - - On Thursday we were invited out to supper in Codsall (do you remember Capt. + Mrs. Trench I wonder - - they live in Lansdowne Ave.) - - + I had to cycle over - - the heat was exhausting. On Friday Granma Wilson came for the day - - Granpa came to supper + to take her home - - After supper Auntie Janette cycled over - - a little breeze had [illegible] + it was cooler - - - Yesterday the heat broke in a thunder storm in the afternoon + we were caught in the storm with Dr. Mrs. Curtis who were visiting us - - We were soaked - - so it seems as if tomorrow is to be another wet Bank Holiday Monday, because today is gusty + showery . . . Daddy + I have to
(3)
go to Codsall in the afternoon to this Garden Party - - There is one every year on Aug. Bank Holiday + we always have to help - - - After ^it is over we are going to have supper at the doctor’s. The men on the farm are all having a day’s holiday but harvest will be in full swing on Tuesday if the weather is fine. –
Ruth + David Burton are coming to tea with their Mummy this Friday - - I thought it a good time to ask them because Jean Merklejohn will be here. She is coming on Wed. for a week’s holiday - - When you come home, she’ll keep you in order when she comes for
(4)
a holiday - -
Has Marion decided about her teaching yet? - - We haven’t given up hope about Fred’s visit but really can’t understand why he hasn’t come yet - - I’ve told him just to send a telegram + came without waiting for an answer - -
I think I’ll have to go + get the supper now - - It always seems to be time to eat again + it is often such a puzzle to find something but of course we have plenty of lovely tomatoes now. ---
Bye-Bye again
+ Lots + Lots of Love
Mummy - Date of Original
- August 1, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.083
- 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
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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, 1 August 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.083
- 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
