Letter from Andrew and Helen McCornack

Dear Friends,                                                              Elgin 17th. Feb'y 1841

We received your letter of the 7th. of April and were happy to hear that you were all in good health and comfortable.  We also have enjoyed pretty good health for the most part excepting Janet.

She has been rather delicate since she came to this country but is getting better than she was for which this and every blessing that we enjoy we have great grounds of thankfulness to the Most High who is God of our Health and of all our Mercies.  We hope these lines will find you in health and comfort.

We saw in your letter the mournful tidings of the death of our friend Alex McKie.  These things speak loud lessons and if we could hear and learn them aright and so spend our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  We have also heard of the death of your friend William Milligan in May.  But did not hear the time nor circumstances of his death.

We also heard of the death of two of our neighbors John Dongan Kennuir and James Hannah Mandock.  The language of these things to us and to all is watch and be ye ready for ye know not the Day nor the Hour when the Son of Man cometh.  We had a letter from Mr. Kevan in Borland about 2 weeks ago which we were happy to see as it left him in good health.  Be so good as to give our respects to him and let him know that we intend to write him before long.  We also had a letter from Micheal McKie which gave great satisfaction to hear that they were all in good health and comfortable.  I have sent him an answer some time ago.

With respect to the Seasons we had rather a cold and wet Spring and Summer but we had a fine harvest and a good crop of wheat, corn, potatoes and oats.  There was an early frost which hurt some of the roots, such as beets and turnips and pumpkins and different other vegetables which are not common in Scotland.  The Winter has been moderate for the most part with the exception of a few days which were extremely cold.  There was one day that the thermometer was 32 degrees below zero.  We have had little snow this Winter which has been rather a hindrance to the work of the Season, such as drawing the logs to the saw-mill and rail timber.  But we have nearly as much as we need this season.  We are still increasing our stock.  We have 10 cows, two of them are calved and the rest are in calf.  We have a yoke of oxen 6 years old, a bull and a pair of horses for which we paid $150.

William and Andrew have got 5 cows and 5 year-olds and a pair of horses, George McQueen has three cows and 3 year-olds and a yoke of cattle.

There is a prospect of a school within about a mile from George McQueens.  There is as much money subscribed among the farmers around as will build the house.

With respect to markets—  Farm produce is generally low priced.  Wheat is from 40 to 50 cents, Corn from 25 to 30 cents, oats from 18 to 20 cents, Potatoes from 12 to 15 cents per bushel, beef and pork about $3 per 100 wt.  Dairy products and butter is from 12 to 15 cents, cheese from 7 to 8 cents per pound.  We made considerable quantity of both last season.

You will be ready to say, "How can farmers live with these prices?"  I answer, "There are two things that help the farmer.  The land produces abundant crops without manure and he has no rent to pay and the poor are not oppressed with a Corn Bill.

You wished to know how we lived with respect to vitualing.  To gratify your curiosity, I shall state a few things in common use.  But I have neither time nor paper to give you a full detail of the different Dishes that are used in this Country.  Commonly at Breakfast there are coffee, flour bread, cakes of different kinds, some potatoes and meat, both salt and fresh.

For dinner there is salt and fresh meat and Tea.  There are puddings and pies of various kinds.  There are no expenses on any of these things except tea and coffee.  Sugar we can make.  Also molasses and Vinegar.  The women can do all the cooking.  There is no oatmeal in this country.  The Indian Meal supplies its place.

We have little of note to write you.  We have not enjoyed the publick ordinances of the Gospel from any belonging to the Reformed Synod.  There are no ministers belonging to that body in this place as yet but we are still living in the hope that our eyes shall yet behold our Teachers and we are endeavoring to attend to the Duty of holding a fellowship meeting at our house where all the Different members belonging to the Family and a few Christian neighbors gather.

We wish you to write us as soon as possible.  Give us all the news and information you can about our old neighbors as we still love to hear of our native Country.  Give our respects to the family of May, William Bradshaws and all inquiring friends.

We must conclude with uniting together in wishing you all comfort and happiness.

Andrew McCornack

Nellie M. Geoche

Dear Friends                                                               Elgin 24th December 1841

We again with pleasure Sit Down to Write you a few lines to Let you know that we are all in good health at Present for which we have the Greatest Ground for Thankfulness to the Most High Who Hath Brought us in Safety even until Now and Whose Mercies have been New Every Morning and Evening  The hope that these lines will find you in good health and Comfortable.  We received your Letter of the 25th March and were happy that you were then enjoying good health.

We saw in Mr. Keaven's letter that Mrs. Milligan had been Poorly in health for Some Time but was better again which we were very happy to hear.  We are all getting on as well as we Could expect in this New Country.  There are some changes taken place amongst us Since we wrote you last.  George McQueen has a Daughter added to his family.  Her name is Elizabeth and William has given up with Bachelor hall and is married to a young Woman from Inverness Shire.  Her name is Elizabeth Fraser.

We have the Comfort of informing you that we had a visit of a young Minister from the Reformed Presbetery of Illinois who Preached Two Sabbaths one in George McQueens house and one in ours.  There were about 40 the first Day and about 70 the Second.  Having him it was very refreshing to us in our Lonly Situation to have his Company and Conversation During a whole week and the Gospel faithfully preached to us.  He preached the first Day from Job 9th C 2 vers; the Second Day from Romans 5th C 10 vers; in the afternoon from Hebrews 2 C 3 vers.  We have hope of getting ocasional

Suplies of preaching from that Presbytery.

We had Rather a late and backward Spring Last Season but we had a fine Summer and harvest wheat in generall was a good crop.  We raised about 300 bushels and 250 of oats.  We had a very good crop of Indian Corn but we cannot State how much as we fed it out to horses and hogs off the field without any measure.  William & Andrew & George McQueen had very good Crops but I cannot give a particular Statement how much.  Markets Still Continue pretty low—little alteration from last year except in wheat of which their was an advance of one-half dollar per B.  Last fall owing to a Deficient Crop to the east we had to look for high Markets for farm produce.

So long as the Seasons are favorable and the Soile So rich and the Country So thinly inhabited, and the Country is Settling up very fast.  We have at least 3 Neighbours for one that was when we came here first.  Elgin our Nearest Market place is increasing rapidly in peopelation and Manufactories.  There are since last year a foundry, a Carding mill, a gunsmith's Shop and Several New Stores and other public improvements.  We are still Making Some little Improvements on our farm.  We have an addition of a frame room to our house about finished which is a great Convenience.  It is true we want the landlord to assist with these things but if So we have Not to atend  at Colhorn or Newton Stewart at Whitsunday and Martinmas to pay him his rent.

We have little of importance to write.  You wished to know the prices of tea and Sugar.  Sugar is from 8 to 10 lb. To the Dollar; tea is from 1/2 to 1 Dollar per lb.  You wished to know how we Make Molasses and vinegar.  The watermelon or punkin is Cut up and Stewed among a little water and Strained and the juice is boiled Down till it be the proper thickness of molasses.  The vinigar is extracted the Same way onley Not boiled so much Down and Set aside till its Sower and then put in a little Spirits into it.  There are several other things they Make Molasses of Such as Sugar beet &c.  We also make our owen Soap.  It is Made of the lee Wood ashes & grees of any kind boiled to gither.

Mrs. Milligan wished to know if her Sister was as fat as she was in Scotland.  She is Not much Leaner than when She left that Country but She is a great Deal better in health and fater in flesh than She was for some Time after She came to this Country.  Jannet is a great deal better in health than She was once but is Still trubled with a pain in her Side.  We got two Newspapers from Kilbreen that gave us a great Deal of information how publick Matters were going on in Wigtonshire.  We also had a letter from Mr. Kevan in Borland which gave us great pleasure.  We wish you to write us as Soon as this comes to your hand and be Sure to Send us all the News that you Can as we Long to hear from our Native Land.

Please give our respects to all old acquantances and friends whom you May have an oppertunity of Seeing.  Let us know how Mrs. M'Kie and Michal and her family are in health and what Michal is Doing as we had only one Letter from him Since we Came to this Country.  Also Let us know how the family of the May & William Bradshaws family are getting on; also Let us know how friends and old Neighbours on the water of the torf are Coming on and if their be any particular alterations among them Since you Wrote us Last.  Give our respects to William M'Kie and let him know that we are all well also.  Let us know how Kilbrin and his family are in health and getting along.  Let us know how Markets are rating and how the New farmers in the Baroney of Mochorom are getting on.

You wished to know how high the thermometer Stood the Warmest Day in Summer.  It Stood about 105 but in general we have very Mild Summers.  Must Conclud for want of Room.  All the family have their respects to you both.  We Remain Dear Friends yours in the bonds of affection.

Andrew McCornack

Hellen M. Geoche

You wished to know about Clothing.  Wooling Clothing  is Pretty high but we have a few sheep and intend to Make our owen.  Cotton Cloth is about the Same that it was in Scotland.

Addressed to Mr. William Milligan

Corwall Parish of Mochorum

Wigtonshire

North Britain

Via New York & Liverpool

 

Wigtown Shire, N.B. by way of Liverpool

It is with feelings of gratitude that I take my pen to inform you that we are all well at present.  Thanks be to God for it and I hope this will find you in the same state.  We left Liverpool on the 16th of June at 6 o'clock in the evening and were towed out 20 miles by a steamer and the next morning we were a little west of the Isle of Man.  They came round the west of Scotland as the wind was more favorable for the north Chanel than the South.  On the 19th we sailed past the Mull of Kintyre, the Island of Isea and other parts in the west highlands so near that we saw sheep and other cattle feeding and on the 20th we passed the North of Ireland.  The weather at that time was very cold and wet.

We were a little sick for two days and my Mother was sick for two weeks but afterward she came to her usual state of health.  We had contrary winds the most of the way but the vessel was a fine sailor and passed all that we saw going the same way.  We arrived at Staten Isle on the 18th of this month and they dropped the anchor till next day.  The surgeon came on board to examine the state of the passengers and vessel and he found them in health and the vessel clean.

Then they hoisted sail and came up to New York and we lodged in the City that night and went back to the ship next day and got our chests taken out and put them on board the steam packet and came up that night to Crotton Landing and George McQueen met us there and we put our baggage into a store and went with him that night and found them all in good health and comfort and the children are asking me a good many questions at this time.

They had a letter from John and William and they were in good health.  They are near a place they call Rochester, State of New York.  They have not found a situation for us yet but we intend going farther west if we are spared under Divine Providence and try to get a place to settle in as there is plenty of land, both to let and sell but trial goes beyond report, but Mother and Janet will stop here till we find a place, for it would trouble in vain for them to travel the woods.

Trade in this Country is good at this time and business is going on with considerable life.  Andrew is engaged with a joiner that lives 2 miles from this place for 10S per day and find himself.  New York is a fine City and a great deal of business done in it.  The land here is dry and sandy but good for rearing fruit of all kinds.  The vines are growing here as plenty as the blueberries are in Faleipper and the apple trees are growing in the corn and wheat fields.  They are reaping wheat and sowing buck wheat.  They do the most of their work with oxen and they will do more than you would imagine.

Be so good as let Gllewhalert People know that Alex Heron is in good health and looks as well as when we left Scotland and he is going to write them ere long and will give them the news better than I can do.  Give our respects to William Broadshaw and family and to all inquiring friends.  We will write you as soon as we are settled.  I must conclude at this time, but remain your sincere though distant friend.

Alexander McCornack

[Note:  The mother talked about here was Helen McGeough McCornack.  Andrew, who was employed by a joiner, is Andrew Jr., our grandfather.  The 1838 crossing was made by Andrew Sr. and his wife, Helen, and children Alexander, Andrew Jr., and Janet.  Sons John and William (mentioned in the letter) and daughter, Margaret, crossed in 1837.  George McQueen was Margaret's husband].

Letter from William McCornack,

son of Andrew and Helen

November 5, 1838

Dear Uncle and Aunt

I am happy that I have got the opportunity of letting you know that we are all in good health at present for which we ought to Render thanks to Him who has preserved us through Perrels on land and Perrels on sea and I hope this will find you in the same.  You will be thinking long to know what is become of us as there has been a great alteration in our Family since I saw you last in the More of the Brae but providence has been kind in bestowing health and strength for journeying through a strange land.  My Father and Alex and Andrew left George McQueens in search after land and they called on John and I as they journeyed along and we all thought it best to go to Illinois so they went on up the Erie Canal to Buffalo, then up Lake Erie, Lake Saintclair, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and then they landed at Chicago and went a journey of 40 miles west where they saw a fine country of prairie and woodland with not more than 5 or 6 trees on the acre and that will all be needed for fencing and fire wood, as wood is all the fencing is here.  After traveling around for 1 day or 2 they found a situation containing about 500 acres of woodland with a house and some improvements on it.  It is 5-1/2 miles from a flour mill, saw mill, post office and useful shops.  The houses are about 1 mile apart.  The inhabitants are civilized and friendly.

They are settling in very quick and they are principally from the eastern states.  This section of country was bought from the Indians about 3 years ago and they went a way to the Rocky Mountains for they live principally by hunting and fishing.  The principal game here is deer, rabbit, partridge, prairie hen.  They are about the size and colour of the gray hen.  The principal serpents are the brown snake, the black snake, the rattel snake and there is no more danger of them than the adder.  The only beast of prey is the prairie wolf.

This is a level country.  Running springs are scarce but water can be got anywhere by digging a little ways.  There is a well of good water not more than 20 yards from the house and this has been the driest season that has been in this country for 20 years but there have been good crops of wheat, buck wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes.  The mills take the 8th bushel for grinding wheat, buck wheat, and Indian corn.  They have no oatmeal here but they use them for feeding horses.

There is a good market for farm produce and stock.  Wheat is 1 dollar per bushel, corn 1/2 dollar, buck wheat 1/2 dollar, potatoes 25 cents, oats 37-1/2 cents, beef 7 cents per lb., pork 10 cents, cows 18 to 30 dollars per pair, working cattle 50 to 100 dollars per pair.  Our stock is but small yet.  We have got 2 cows, 2 oxen and we intend to have another yoke of cattle as soon as we can get them to our mind as cattle are most useful in a new country.  This is a good country for grass.  It grows from 4 to 6 feet high.  We have got as much hay as will keep us from the market.

But in return they wrote to John and I when we were stopping at Rochester on the Erie Canal.  Then John went to George McQueens and found them all in good health.  Mother and Jannet hoisted sail again for Illinois on the 25th September which was a rout of 1770 miles—no small journey.  On October 9th they called on me and I joined the family there and I found my mother a long way from her native shore but still in good health and good spirits.  We came on our journey and took a steam boat at Buffalo for Chicago called Dewit Clinton 5th October.  So we set out again and had different kinds of weather.  We had some heavy gales on the lakes.  My Mother and Jannet were not sick but tossed a little with the storm.  But there was nothing befell us as we landed at Chicago on the 16th Instant.  We hired a waggon which took us and our luggage home in two days.  If there is anything that you want to know please state it in your first letter to us.  We have our respects to you as a family.  No more but remain your affectionate friend.  From

William McCornack

[A story goes along with this letter.  William mentioned that they found no oatmeal in the new country, but that they fed the oats to the horses.  William Fraser married Andrew's daughter, Janet, and about 1890 went to Scotland and enjoyed some good old-time Scotch oatmeal and decided to bring some back to Elgin.  When he opened it in Elgin he found it had been made in Dundee, Illinois, just four miles from where he was eating it.  So in the course of fifty years America had taken the business away from Scotland.]