William Moodie - Letters 7,8 - from Alexandria, Scotland, 1856

These are the first 2 letters of 1856 written to William's friend Alex Dick (jnr) in the goldfields of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. They have quite a few pages (so a bit rambling to fill the pages) but they are quite legible.

Wm Moodie Letter  7  - Jan 1-4, 1856 - 6 pages

Jan 1, 1856   - North St, Alexandria, Scotland

William waxes philosophical for a few pages to fill up this letter, but finally gives a bit of local gossip and comments on Alex’s life in Australia. At the end he even hints at a possible romantic interest.

He mentions:

• Alex’s ‘measure of success’ at digging for gold
• J. Leckie and family – are doing well in Australia
• J. McIntyre – may not be tough/young enough for the hardships and dangers of a (gold) digger’s life in Australia
• J. Buchanan – a “rolling stone” travelling “North and South” through Australia; possible farm in New Zealand

Local Alexandria/Busby news:

• the calico printing business has been very bad for a long time
• the “Literary” group – may be dissolved, but planned soiree for about 80 people; he is to play the organ to lead the glee party (and to take a lady as partner…).
• his father (William snr) – “has not wrought any for nearly two years” but has the possible prospect of a position in an engineering business at “Constinople” Turkey.
• Peter Robertson – still dithering about emigrating… a rather scathing account…

Other local people briefly mentioned:

• Brother John (in Glasgow – saw Alex’s brother John & father – all well)
• David Alexander (had a letter from Alex)
• Mr Maxwell Mr & Mrs Stevens (send best wishes etc.)

Wm Moodie Letter  8  - Apr 27-28, 1856 - 10 pages

Apr 27, 1856   - North St, Alexandria, Scotland

William was a bit anxious as he hadn’t heard from Alex for a while, and he had read in the newspapers of “destructions of life and property by fire & water at the goldfields”; however a letter from Alex arrived as William was writing the second part of the letter. Alex’s hard labours at ‘digging’ were proving fruitless, and he was considering giving up prospecting. William would have liked to support his friend with more than just words, but his own family were suffering from lack of work and are only able to keep “floating at starvation point”.

He talks of the local social life –

• There is much marrying etc. going on, though none of “Alex’s” seem to be “in apparent danger” (though later in the letter Wm describes a fanciful scene where he is married, and names his wife as Mary Rankin, whom he actually married in 1861);
• the Teetotalers had a soiree, and are to have Musical meetings once a week (Wm plays the harmonium); he gives a humorous description of some of the more rabid Teetotalers’ delusional ravings
• the “Literary” meetings are going well.

Other news -

• John (brother) and he are still working, though orders have fallen off and the introduction of new processes (described) are threatening the traditional methods.
• the Ferry field  Machine printing shop burned down on 18th
• William snr sailed on the 9^th in the ‘Taurus S.S.’ to Constantinople, to work in an engineering factory; if successful, he may send for others in the family to follow. His passage to Turkey cost £20, and he will get £4-5 a week at the start.
• The war has ended, and William talks about it briefly.

Other people he mentions are-

• Willie Steven – at the goldfields with Alex; may lose his hearing
• A Stevens – out of work due to the fire at the printing shop
• P. McNichol – Alex met his friend (probably named Macklin) at Ballarat
• ‘Old’ Macklin – retired Sgt Major, lived in Bonhill
• ’tilda Moore (who emigrated with her husband James Murdoch in 1853 and whose sister Isabella Muir later married Alex’s brother John; Isabella and John were my grandmother’s parents)
• John Dickson – who Alex may have met at Ballarat; comes from Leven and is acquainted with the Rankins, friends of Wm’s (and his future in-laws)

William Moodie - Letters from Bonhill, Scotland, 1855

There are 3 letters from 1855; the first 2 are full of news.

Wm Moodie Letter  4

Jany 2^nd, 1855   - Bonhill, Scotland

William writes of local news & Busby people, including:

• John Nimmo (met in the Glagow Music shop of Messrs Muir, Wood & co)
• John Waddell – met in the city hall
• Bella Munn & Hugh Arbuckle – married (note- record found of  marriage 14 July 1854, Mearns); Bella died of cholera 3 months later (no record found)
• Miss B. Semple - died of cholera 3 days after Bella Munn (no record found)
• Mrs. Semple – moved to Paisley, then returned
• Hugh McLechtie – married “a few weeks since” to Miss Cathrine White (no record found)
• Miss Margaret Anderson – married “some months since” …. then left home…;
• ‘Old’ Anderson & a daughter (Elizabeth?) died of Cholera 2 or 3 days before Margaret left
• Andrew Waddell – married “some months since” to a lass in Campsie (note- probably Marion Malcolm, m. 14 July 1854, Campsie)
• The Total Abstinence Society – lacklustre meetings; speakers W. Stewert, John McCubbin (who has sail’d for Australia)
• W. Wilson and his sister Agnes - sail’d for Australia

Also briefly mentioned by name: McIndoe, Barr’s turnip field; Mr. & Mrs. Steven; the Maxwells, including Joe; W. Smith; the Mises Scobie; P. Robertson

Wm Moodie Letter 5

Apr 15, 1855 - Bonhill, Scotland

This newsy and entertaining letter was written after Alex had gone to Ballarat to look for gold as a ‘digger’, and had written back home to William with his account of the Eureka rebellion (and also with a specimen of gold, evidently).

William has now finished his ’prenticeship with his uncle James and has had irregular work with Mr Brown (engraving); business is poor due to the depressed money market – a result of the war.

He describes the poor management of the war with Russia and the dreadful conditions and heavy losses suffered on the British forces in the disastrous winter siege at Sebastapol; the disaster was lessened by the help of the French. He goes into some detail, as he suspects that the Government may be intercepting newspapers sent out to the colonies, “to prevent the Government being brought into contempt among the colonists. He is sending newspapers (generally the ‘Glasgow Sentinel’) fortnightly in the hope that they may reach Alex.

The Militia that has been raised is so far only voluntary, so Wm is not intending to join.

People he mentions:

• John (= John Dick, Alex’s younger brother, still in Scotland) – working at Govan – more pay, better work; “would like very well to go out to ‘Austriel’”
• W. Stevens – sail’d for Australia, no word heard yet
• William’s father (William Moodie snr)– no employment since (selling his shares and) leaving James (his bother’s? engraving shop)
• William’s brother John – still working with Mr Glen at Millburn; John and Wm are to move to a house in North St, Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, in May, as they are both “being employed on the other side of the water”
• Louis napoleon – to be made a Knight of the garter, much to Wm’s disgust
• The Duke of Grafton – proposed “a day of humiliation & prayer” and fasting “to see if God forgive the sin which was the cause of our disasters in the Crimea” (W.M. Reynolds proposed that the sin had caused the curse of the Duke of Grafton etc.)

He also briefly mentions: Mr Maxwell (& etc.); Messrs Smith and McNicol; Mr & Mrs Stevens.

Wm Moodie Letter 6

July 28, 1855 - Bonhill, Scotland

Wm has little to say here and struggles to fill the pages. He mentions the war; also that he and brother John have plenty of work at present, “John at the steel now too, at Milburn” and Wm at Brown’s; neither have any prospect or intention of marriage or militia.

Wm misses having a close friend, as he finds there is a division between ‘Old’ and ‘Free’ church people, so it is difficult to talk freely without being judged.

He talks about Dan’l McKean, a local ‘poet’, who works at sketchmaking with Wm at Brown’s, and is working on a poem of 5-6,000 lines.

He also describes the Local Literary society which has started in Alexandria - Bonhill,  involving essays and debates on various topics….

William Moodie Letters - 1854 update

As I am going through the letters sent from Scotland by William Moodie to Alex Dick in Australia, I am trying to publish them in chronological order.

However, I am not always sure of the date of a letter until I scan it and enlarge/edit the image, so I may have to edit previous posts.

I have amended my last post as I found a 'June 1854' letter, so I have added it in as Letter #2 instead of the August 1854 letter, now #3).

The next letters I publish will be from 1855, when I get them scanned, etc.

William Moodie - Letters from Bonhill, Scotland, 1854

I am digressing from the transcriptions of Alexander Dick snr's letters to his son/s in Australia, as I have a pile of original letters from a friend back in Scotland who corresponded with Alex jnr.

I won't transcribe these letters - it is way beyond my limited time and typing skills - but I will publish scans of some of them as I go, with maybe some notes of their contents as they relate to the Dick family and friends. Some are easier to read than others; William's writing is neat but small, and the paper in some of the letters is very thin so the ink writing shows through from the reverse side. However, I'll doctor the images to make them as clear as I can. If you click on the images, they will enlarge.

I'm returning to 1854, when Alex first received the letters from William Moodie (it appears he did not receive the previous ones).

Letter #1 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr. in Australia

Jany 24, 1854                                                                                                       Bonhill, Scotland 

This letter refers to previous letters sent to and from Alex; also to Alex’s poor living conditions and unskilled ‘slating’ job at Kyneton, Vict. and to local news in Scotland including the conditions in his family trade of engraving (for fabric printing?) and the marriage of Alpine McGregor.

                   

Letter #2 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr. in Australia

June 10, 1854                                                                                                         Bonhill, Scotland     

William refers to Alex’s having bettered himself (having given up the ‘roofing and daubing’ work). He talks about his job - he earns £1.4s per week and will be a journeyman in August, so no longer planning to go to Australia at present.

People/businesses he mentions are:    

• Sandbank Engraving Company (where he works)
• His father (who sold his share in the company)
• Fenton (put out of the company by his father, may go to Australia to his brother James)
• Other engraving works in Dalmonach and Ferry Field (James Black & co); Busbyfield – business is at a 10-year low, affected by the war with Russia
• Peter Robertson – toying with the idea of going to Australia
• Misses Janet and Isabella Scobie (met in Glasgow; where they work; they send their regards)
• Miss Margaret MacPherson – married John Horner a mechanic from “Thornie” (Thornhill?)
• Miss M. Gray & James Hunter (the drawer) – practically betrothed
• Miss Isabella Wilson married to Norman McLeod, steward in the “Glasgow S.S.” (steamship?)

Letter #3 from Wm Moodie to Alex Dick jnr. in Australia

August 26, 1854                                               

“from Wm Moodie, engraver, Sunnyside Cottage, Bonhill”

This letter mentions:

• Peter Robertson (thinking of going to Australia);
• Saturday evening meetings “a great source of amusement to ‘young Busby’ – John McCubbin the principal speaker (about making whiskey- a contentious subject with the teetotallers)
• Thos McKay who ‘holds faith with the great edification no doubt’
• John Fenton – has sail’d for Australia
• William’s father – details of the ‘limited duties’ he had to perform in the engraving works, before quitting after disagreements about management; it seems he may have been in partnership with his brother JameS, and that Wm was an apprentice there
• a strike at Dalmonach; managers ended up with a 25% pay cut
• Donald Brown – killed in an accident at the Levenbank (?) Print works… details…
•  the war with Russia; ‘Militia Rolls’ being prepared for Scotland
• Alex has mentioned rifle clubs being formed in Australia “for the purpose of defending the country”

Alexr Dick _Letter No. 28_ from Belfast, Victoria, Australia, 1856

This is the second letter sent to son Alex after Alexr and his younger two sons, William and John, arrived in Western Victoria at 'Belfast' (now Port Fairy). He notes the jobs that some of the 'Euphrates' passengers have been able to obtain. William has a job on a bridge on Yuille's Creek, which I cannot find on any maps; the only reference I can find is a goldfield of the time at Buninyong, a little south of Ballarat.

I have marked the 3 main places mentioned (Belfast/Port Fairy, Ballarat and Geelong) on these maps - one from 1860, the other recent:

Here is the letter:

Letter #28 to son Alex in Ballarat                 

                             Belfast, Victoria, 4th.Dec'r 1856

My Dear Son,

We received yours from Geelong. We were right after all expecting there was a letter for us in the post office here. We enquired several times but he had no letter. I showed the post office keeper your letter stating there was a registered letter lying here for us. He then looked about and got it and I have got the ten pounds. I expect Alex'r Wilson will make all right with the £50 sent to Busby. I spoke to him before I came away and gave him sixpence to pay the postage and he promised to see all made right.

William had engaged for a month at £2 per week and rations at the building of a bridge at Yuille's Creek, I set out Monday morning to see if he could get away. It is to be a good stone bridge, but there is no joiner there but himself. He is making the centreing for throwing up the arch and he will get away as soon as that is done. Yuille's Creek is 28 miles from Belfast so I saw a small bit of Australia.

We would have gone on to Geelong when we arrived here but that we were assured this was a better part of the country for work & wages than Geelong. So we thought it better to wait for advice from Geelong before we were at the expense of going thither and so we have been rather put about. John will get away as soon as William comes down and I expect we will sail on either Tuesday or Friday next week.

I need not say that I share in your disappointment at missing the meeting at Geelong. We all feel it as a common calamity. We can only indulge the hope that there is a good time coming. I am very proud that you have been so successful as to be able to remit us £60 and I trust you have a good sum over for yourself as it would not do well for a digger to be bare of cash. We can only express our thankfulness for your generous conduct, and indulge the hope we may all be worthy of being so generously treated.

The young girls that came in the ship have been mostly engaged by families in Belfast, £25 per annum was the highest wages. One ploughman that went to Warrnambool got 70£. Here 52 & 54 and so on. Another printer that came out in the 'Euphrates' went as shepherd at £35.

Mr. Leckie gave me a very flattering and pressing invitation to come over and be his guest in Geelong till Jack &. William got clear. I am very proud of the honour thereby conferred on me and I feel some inclination to accept too. But I resolved to tarry until we all sail and I hope your brothers will find satisfactory employment in Geelong. The demand for fronting (?) at Ballarat will not last long I doubt and I hope I will in with a suitable job that we may soon be able to purchase the ground J. Leckie has laid out for us. We will likely have matters turned over face to face by & by.

I am, Your Affectionate Father,

Alex'r Dick.

Names & Notes on Letter #28

Alex'r Wilson

Ship 'Euphrates'

J. Leckie

- transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989