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Catherine Morton Austen near Alton England To Isabella Robertson South Australia. My Dear Cousin,
I have long and ardently wished to commence a correspondence with you, but was at a loss how to do so on account of never having any personal intercourse with you. But after reading your kind and affectionate letter to my brother John (Blelloch) which I got hold of when I visited the camp. I began to think that a few lines from me will be accepted and perhaps prove an introduction to a closer intimacy than what has passed between us for these some years back. My dear cousin, how I can feel for you in a far distant land away from all your youthful companions for I have been situated the same myself, and have undergone many hard trials since I left our dear old native land. And I suppose like me you have experienced some of the difficulty and hardships which generally attend those who like us leave their native for a foreign one. But I hope that your lots have fallen in pleasant places. I should like very much to see you as you are at present, and then I could think of you with more familiarity. I can remember your father and your mother and your brother Alexander very well. But any of the others I have not seen. When I visited John in Stirling Castle last November, I could not help wishing that you were there. My dear cousin my visit back to Scotland was not as pleasant as it would have been had all my dear old friends been spared. I was scarcely aware of the many painful feelings which arise from the changes that take place in a few years absence. Our Culross friends did not seem the same for dear Aunt Christian Bennett (nee Blelloch) was not there with her hearty welcome that I always liked so much. Cousin Betsy Bennett is very much like her mother in her manners. Dear cousin, I have no news to send you for I suppose John has told you all about the camp and about my visit to England. I may tell you that I had a letter from America a few days ago. By mother and uncle and all were well and doing well. My dear cousin, by the time that you receive this I will be on my way to America and when you write to me, direct to the care of Messrs J & H Messengers, 161 Maiden Lane, New York, America. And now my dear cousin, goodbye and be sure and remember me kindly to your father and mother and all your brothers and sisters, and believe that I am with much love your loving and affectionate cousin, Catherine Morton. Norwood by Adelaide South Australia Dear Son and Daughter, This will let you know that we are both in ordinary health at present thank God for it. Hoping this will find you all enjoying the same blessing. We have been thinking you have not been well, you have been so long in writing. I am happy you have got your church ready. What a blessing! I hope you have got a good minister for we have not got a settled one yet since the Rev. John Gardener left. There is one sent home for, I hope we will get a good one. We have had a very nice day of rain, a great blessing. I have a fine rest in the old big chair. I never like to sit out of it. How is your pigs getting on?. We killed one 2 weeks ago above 14 score. I am busy with the garden and I am very tired at night. I have taken this wet day to write you a few lines as my fingers is getting stiff now. Hoping that you will write soon. Mother has promised to write you a few lines. Love to all friends and wishing you all health and prosperity, and beleive me you loving and affectionate father. I hope you will write soon, farewell, Alexander Robertson Dear Daughter, Don't be long in writing as if you just send the heart your dear mother has for you. I sit and think about your kind heart to me, God bless you. And I am getting old. My days are for you. How is your back, now let me know. I am for father to sell off and come to see you. ......left for a large house. Sally? is going to get married. We have had bad luck, we lost 3. Mr Constable has her kind love to you. Goodnight my dearest daughter. Lord bless you is the prayers of mother. ( Elizabeth Robertson ) Norwood by Adelaide South Australia Dear Son and Daughter, As I am writing to Catherine I will also write you a few lines to let you know that we are both in ordinary health, thank God for all his mercies towards us. Hoping you are all enjoying the same blessing. Things are very dull here at present. Men are working at the railway at 3 shillings per day. I have had no work for 5 weeks, but have got a job for a week or two. A great many men are idle. If spared I would like very much to come over and see you all and try if I can to get any gold in your creek to take me home again. We have got a new minister at last, and he appears to be a faithfull servant of God. There is above 60 more seats taken since he arrived. I hope he will prove a blessing to the congregation. It is now within 3 days of 19 years (since arrival in Australia), and it appears but as yesterday. But O' what changes! We have not one of you in the Colony, and never no word of poor Peter. If you could get his address? If spared I would like to call on him. Mother has promised to write you a few lines. Give our love and respects to David and all the family. Mr & Mrs Scathaway bids me send there kind love to you all. Now wishing you all health, peace, grace and prosperity,will ever be the desire of us, your affectionate father and mother. A & B Robertson. *** Sep 8th*** Mother has been very poorly this week and I had to come home after 3 days with the wet weather. It has been a lot of rain here as well as in other places. I hope you are all safe. Many a time we are thinking about your creek, if you are all safe. I have no news worth, but I will send a paper with this, and I hope you will not be long in writing of your welfare. O' may we all be bearing in mind our latter end. We have had 2 very sudden deaths in the papers this very night. Write soon, farewell. Norwood by Adelaide South Australia Dear Son and Daughter, We received your letter the 18th Sept, on Saturday last, and we were sorry to hear you had been so ill. We both feel for you in all your trials and troubles. I hope it will be sanctified unto all of us, may we all be thankfull to God for his sparing mercy towards us. We can't be half thankfull to our maker for all by past goodness towards us, I for one can't be. We were very happy that every one was so kind to you. It is a blessing to have good neighbours near you when friends is far away.And your minister so attentive to you and all your friends. What can we render to the Lord for all his goodness towards us. We would all be happy if you and David would come over and see us. We would make you as comfortable as we could. I hope you will send us word soon if you are to come. I have been at Mr Fergusons this 5 weeks digging in his garden. But my working days is near done. Everything here is very dull, but the crops are looking well, and why should a living man complain you say?. I should sell one of the houses, but what would we get for them? At present I would not get my own money for this 2 years past. They have cost more than 20 but there is not a penny of debt on them since Mrs Ferret left 5 years ago. We have lost a good bit of rent with bad tenants, and only 6 instead of 10. Mother is still but poorly, but she is to try and write a few lines to you. Give our kind love to David and all the family. Wishing you better health and grace and peace and prosperity will ever be the prayer of your affectionate father.I hope to hear better accounts of you, be sure to write soon. Farewell. Alexander Robertson Dear Daughter, I was sorry to hear of you being so ill and I with a sore heart and tears write this to you. I was sitting, thinking about you the other day. When you went to the church with me. So happy I was to see you when I was lacking. My Dear Isabella, I auld like to see you but I think I never shall. I am getting wore down. I can see to old age ... good if I was ready. I trust in God send. Him can save all that can't be in the ill. Jesus Christ the hope of Glory. I am afraid you can't read this scrawl. I hope you are getting better. Come if you can, we shall be happy. Bless you all my dearest daughter, God bless you all. Elizabeth Robertson THE GEELQNG ADVERTISER AUGUST 31st, 1886 At about 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, an aged lady Mrs Isabella Allan was missed by Mr J Wilson of Dean Cottage, Pevensey Cres, with whom she was temp. residing. A vigorous search was made on Sunday evening and yesterday. Up to a late hour last evening, no information to her whereabouts could be obtained. She is the wife of David Allan, a farmer near Creswick, and was on a visit to Mr Wilson's family. The matter was reported to police as soon as Mrs Allan's absence had aroused in her friends fear for her safety. Mounted Constable McGuigan was dispatched to assist searching for her. It's supposed she made her way to the rear of the botanical gardens and entered the scrub in that locality. But those in quest of her are at a loss to surmise where she has hidden herself. Fears are being entertained that she has come to some harm. It's stated that she had been of late suffering from melancholy, the result of the recent death of her daughter. At 2.30 p.m. yesterday a boy reported to Mr. Wilson that he'd seen a woman proceeding in a strange way along Point Henry Rd, 3 miles from Geelong, and it's probable its the missing lady. Black trackers will be called for, and they will most likely arrive by midday.
THE BALLARAT STAR. SEPTEMBER 2nd. 1886 The Geelong Advertiser reports that early on Tuesday afternoon, the dead body of Mrs. Isabella Allan, wife of Mr David Allan of Dean, who was missed on Sunday evening from the residence of Mr Wi1son of Dean Cottage, Pevensey Cres - was discovered about 500 yards of Buttons Wharf, Western Beach. It was first noticed by a son of Mr. Sidney Austin, who proceeded to the watchouse and informed the police of the matter. Sen.Constable McGreal, accompanied by Constable Curran, at once proceeded to the spot indicated by the lad. The body in the meantime been brought ashore by Pat Logan, a groom in the employ of Mr Austin. A van was procured, and the remains conveyed to the morgue, where they were afterwards identified by Mr Allan, husband of the deceased, and her friends , as those of the unfortunate lady who had so strangely disappeared from their care. It's difficult to surm1se whether death had been the result of suicide, or of Mr Allan losing her way and accidentally falling into the water; however the body had apparently not been immersed for more that 24 hours, and an examination showed that there were no marks of violence upon the remains. Mr Tully J.P., subsequently held a Magisterial enquiry, when Dr.Croker testified that the cause of death was asphyxia from drowning, and the Magistrate found that the deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.
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