Shep's Place Family Tree

64 Canal Street,
Paisley,
21st. June 1870

Dear Aunt,

Your very welcome letter came duly to hand and with interest we note its contents. We would have written to you sooner but we delayed till the Australian mail for June had come in to see if there were any letters from either Malcolm or Robert, but alas we were doomed to disappointment as no letters have come by it.

We cannot as yet give you any advice whether to come to Scotland or not, but as you say New York is a very wicked place I think the sooner you are out of it for the sake of your children the better. You make suggestion about coming to Glasgow and to keep boarders there. The only information I can give you relative to rate per week that is charged is about 2/6 a week for a gentleman, but it depends a great deal on the style that is kept up, but we leave it now in your hands whether to come or not.

While I write my Aunt Janet Gray reminds me that it will be a full year yet before we can expect a letter from Robert. You say if you knew any person coming to this neighbourhood you would send us the rocking chair you spoke of but we would far rather see you coming yourself and bringing the chair with you, however it is for you to judge.

I may inform you that your brother William's daughter is stopping with us just now. We have received all the papers you sent. Mother and Father & Friends send their kind love and hope to see you soon. Give my cousins my best love,
I am your affectionate nephew,

James Clark, jnr.
Write SOON.

The 1871 letter to "Dear, Dear Aunt" from James Clark was partly given on pages 12 and 13 ‎[EMS original page numbering]‎ and in it was further talk of Margaret returning to Scotland, that at last there was news of Robert who had "built himself a neat little cottage in Austrailla" and was still a bachelor, and bluntly the death of Malcolm on 13 Dec 1870 in the "noble discharge of his duties" as well as the death of Margaret's sister Janet Gray on 22 Nov 1370 and that her son Alex. wrote to RRS about it. This he did not receive, and the letter continued:

.......You asked after Uncle William's family. John and Jessie are both married and are getting on very nicely, while the youngest, Willie, is still with Uncle William Gray and Alex. and Maggie and Annie all send their kind love to you all and hope that you may be spared to come home if you think fit. Uncle William Gray is not very well, indeed he is now turning old and infirm, but we hope he may be spared long in our midst. Aunt Mary ‎(Millar)‎ and family are all quite well. Mother and Father send their kind love. No more at present but remain, my dear aunt, your affectionate Cousin ‎(should be nephew!)‎

Jas.Clark.
Do not forget to write me back early. I got your paper - be sure and write

The next letter from nephew James Clark was one he wrote almost 12 months after receipt of hers.

64 Canal Street
Paisley
18th. December 1873

My dear Aunt,

Your very welcome letter arrived here just before the New Year and as I was enjoying myself during the holidays I have just got time to reply. I was very sorry to hear from you that times were so bad in New York but they have also been bad here. Coals have been selling as dear as 40/- per ton and all other provisions are at an equally high price. My dear Aunt, I thought when I wrote you the last letter that I would have to write no more as we all expected to have seen you before this but I suppose we must wait patiently and be ready to receive you when you come.

You tell us that you wrote to Robert about 9 months ago and where you wrote as you got no answer back. We have got no letter from Robert either since we wrote you last and the only address we know is the one we sent you. We asked Mrs. Morrison if she knew any address but she has no correspondence with Austraillia since her husband died. We are all very happy to hear that your family are all working and getting along nicely, long may they enjoy good health to work is the earnest prayer of their affectionate cousin.

My dear aunt, I don't know how to thank you for your promise of a gold dollar to hang on my watch but perhaps I should not thank you until I get it as you might disappoint me, but I will wait and watch patiently for your next letter and if you do send me one there will not be a prouder young man in Paisley, for as often as I look at it, it will always remind me that even across the deep blue sea there is one who has a respect and love for her nephew James Clark. My aunt Mary and family are quite well and all working away the best way they can and Aunt Mary bids me tell you that she will write you when she can get an opportunity to do so. Tell my cousins that I received the paper they sent and I love to read them.

We would have written sooner but Aunt Janet's daughter ‎(Mrs. Risk)‎ was very bad and mother had to go down to see her often. I will now conclude this letter with the compliments of all our friends also Father and Mother send their kind love to you and hope to hear from you soon again.
I now beg to remain your affectionate nephew,

James Clark.

Only three of James Clark's letters to his cousin RRS remain, the first was dated 1876. ‎(Kept by Blaine Stevenson.)‎

64 Canal Street,
Paisley,
January 14th. 1876.

My Dear, Dear Cousin,

Your very welcome letter bearing date July 15th. 1875 arrived here in due course and gladly did we note its contents. You must bear with me a little in not replying to your letter a little sooner but my time being very much taken up it is only in spare times I can think of taking up the pen to write a few lines to any of my friends. But I will console myself with thinking I hear you say "Better late than never". I take particular notice of the remark you make that many and varied must have been the changes I have witnessed since I shook hands and parted with you some 14 years ago on Glasgow quay. Old faces have passed away and many new faces are grown up amongst us making good that ever true scriptural text "One goeth and another cometh." I notice with pleasure that remark that oft in Fancy's dream you see some well known scene about your native town.

But if you could see it in reality how changed it would seem to you, what with its "Public Library", its Public Parks and its very great increase of Public Works you would be forced to exclaim "How changed! how changed!", even Gleniffer of which you so kindly speak would assume for you a new and changed aspect could you but go back in imagination to the 3rd. of June 1874 and see Paisley as it looked that morning, had you seen your native town decked with arches and every house decorated with flowers and flags of every conceivable size and colour, you but fancy the thousands of your townsfolk all dressed in their holiday attire marching in gay procession with countless brass bands, could you but march with them up street after street, and at last find yourself standing above Glenfield Works at Tannahills Well, methinks as you would have listened to the many speeches in praise of your native Bard, you would also have raised your voice in hearty cheer to commemorate the centenary of Tannahill's birthday.

And even now far away from this bright picture you will admire your countrymen for acting as they did and say in Thought if not in Words "Honour to him whom Honour is due - I say Tommahills, what say you?"
And now for a word connected with family matters which may perhaps interest you. To begin with ourselves. Father, Mother, and myself are still living in the old house in Canal Street and it seems as if we are afraid to leave it, and I can assure you that it has considerable interest to us for many and varied incidents that have happened during the lifetime we have been it. And now to your cousins.

Cousin Jessie Millar has been married for some time, has three children living. She married Andrew Whitelaw, foreman baker and now that Andrew Millar has retired she and her husband have the shop he was in and are doing a good business and seem to be in a fair way of making themselves a comfortable home. Cousin Jessie Robertson is also staying in Glasgow so as to be convenient for her husband who is an engineer in a steamboat running between Glasgow and Spain, and the last time she was at our house they were all well. Cousin John Robertson is also married, to an English girl, has three of a family. He has given up his trade of a Joiner and is at present one of the Sanitary Inspectors of the city of Glasgow, and I believe is getting on well, but it is not often we see him unless when business calls him out to Paisley.

Cousin Willie Robertson was at Craigielea up to the beginning of June last, but left, he was a while working with Mr. Risk but again has gone back to the country life and is at present with some farmer about old Kirkpvitrick. He was up here at the "New Year" and is enjoying good health. Cousin Maggie Gray is permanently staying at the shop in Causeyside Street since her father's death, is in good health, and seemingly doing a fair business. Cousin Annie as I told you in my last letter is staying at Craigielea, has one little boy and she and her husband are doing very well. Cousin Alexander Gray is still staying the West End, and is still toiling away as hard as ever and his wife and family are in good health, he particularly sends his kind regards to you.

Mr. and Mrs. Risk are also doing well and they have six of a family living. Mr. Risk is still in the Coal Trade, has a very good business being able to employ three horses every day. And now for a word about Aunt Mary Millar, she is still out in the country and enjoying good health, she comes into our house every Saturday. Her youngest son Willie is in H.M.S. Resistance and is doing well, he was as here and stopped with us a fortnight at the end of last year. He is at present cruising about the coast of Spain which is the winter quarters of all man-of-war ships.

Her other son, Andrew, is at Wolverhampton, England, and is doing well. We have occasionally a letter from him. And now, methinks, I have given you a report on all your relatives and friends and one and all join me in wishing you better health and every prosperity. In reference to the request you make about cards ‎(photos)‎ I am sorry that I am not able to send you any with this letter but trust the next time I write to be able to send some. And now allow me to close this long epistle and trust when it reaches you, you will be enjoying good health and able to work away.

And may every blessing, temporal and spiritual be yours, and leaving you in the hands of a Higher than us, Who is able to keep you in good health, is the prayer of all your dear friends and especially,
Your affectionate and loving cousin,

James Clark, jnr.

It was believed by the S.A. Stevenson family that Margaret Burns kept a boarding house in New York as her source of income, but included with the letters are receipts for rent paid for living quarters by Margaret. Even if she sublet a room or two, it still remains something of a mystery how she accumulated over $5000 by the time of her death in 1888.

1 Oct 1880 - received from Mrs. Margrethe Burns - $6 - being one months rent in advance for apartment on the 5th. floor rear in house no. 546 W.47 St. signed Henry Ronner.

1 Sep 1881 - it was to Mrs. Mag. Burns - $6.50 ‎[- the same address]‎
and again on

1 Mar 1882, and to Henry Ronner ‎[obviously a German gent.]‎

1 May 1885 - Mrs.Burns - $13 for one months rent - a flat at 217 East 107th Street and signed John Brady.

1 Feb 1886 - $14 - for the top floor apartment at 244 East 106th. Street and signed by Daniel Miller.
1 Mar 1888 - Mrs. Margret Burns $9 - for 3 R.E. in no. 106 East 113th. Street and signed by Walker & Armstrong, agents on Third Avenue, New York.

Again from James Clark to R.R.Stevenson - the surprising news was possibly of the legacy from Walter's estate ‎("Glen-Darrick")‎ dated about 1881.

64 Canal Street,
Paisley.
June 26th.1882.

My dear Cousin,

Your letter of date 22 April 1882 reached us safely and can assure you that its contents surprise us very much. I answered your last letter and also sent you a paper and enclosed a photograph of your cousin Willian Robertson. And it is also strange that Alexnnder wrote you also and sent you two papers and still you have not received them either. The reason of this we cannot account for, but hope and trust that this note will reach you. And now allow me to thank you heartily for the photo of your little Maggie which has been placed in my album along with many other friends. I would have forwarded you our Maggie's photo but have not got them yet taken, and circumstances are not very favourable in the meantime for me to get them done, but rest assured that when we get them we will forward you one. You wish to know very much if we forwarded those photos of your little lassies to your mother. This I did, and have not received any reply yet, and as for sending you a photo of your mother, we have not got one ourselves, and do not think she has got them taken, but when we next write we will see if we can get it and it will be sent to you.

Dear cousin, are you getting homesick that you wish to see your native land once more? No, I think it is the wish of all people who are far from home that they would like to see it once more again before they die. And if you are fortunate enough to save the five hundred pounds and I hope with all my heart you will, and come home. What changes will be yours to see, old landmarks removed, old faces passed away never to return. You will be inclined to say, to quote from scripture, "old things have passed away and all things have become new"

The last paper I sent you about three months ago contained a large and full account of the opening of the New Town Hall, the gift of the Clarks of thread fame at a cost of one hundred thousand pounds. In fact it is the finest hall in Scotland, and I am sure that if your wife saw Paisley and its neighbourhood she would be delighted.

In reference to your enquiry anent the "Glen-Darrick" property,my Father has repeatedly enquired after it and I am sorry to inform you that there is no foundation in your having any legal claim to it. Since starting this Mother has got a photo of your mother which your mother sent her and she ‎(your mother)‎ wanted it sent to you, and she now encloses it to you. Your mother wanted to know if the photo you sent was sent direct to her and we told her it was. Your Cousin John Robertson purposes writing you, if you get this letter first be sure and call back at the post office and see if there is one from him.

And now you must allow me to conclude, and trusting this will reach you, Your cousins Alexander, Maggie and Annie Gray, Father, Mother and all friends send their kindest love, especially my wife and Myself and little Maggie and James send their Best Love to your wife and Self and little ones and trusting to hear from you soon again,
Your affectionate cousin,

James Clark.

The above was the second of the three letters to RRS from James Clark which Blaine Stevenson preserved. There is a correction on the remark of EMS concerning the RRS legacy and "Glen-Darrick" property made above this last letter and therefore was not the "surprising news, but we have seen in the RRS history that he did benefit.

The photo of Margaret Burns passed on from the Clarks to RRS shows her in a bonnet, but the one sent by Frances Ryan shows her hatless and in both although aged only 57 she looks much older.

Margaret Stevenson Burns could not have been living with either of the two sons resident in New York when she died as can be seen from an account dated October 1st. 1888. James Burns debtor to William James Matthews, Undertaker & Embalmer of 661 Ninth Avenue, New York for:

On September 30,

Removing body from 537 West 49th. Street to 741 10th. Avenue $5.00
Coffin and Trimmings $25.00
Nameplate $2.00
Hearse $10.00
Shroud$8.00
Six mourning carriages $36.00
New Grave $12.00
For funeral of Mrs. Margaret Burns. Received Payment of $98.00
.
The sons' addresses were:
John at 560 Lexington Avenue. James and David both at 213 East 102nd. Street, New York. A citation - dated February 14 1890 from Robert Auld the Executor of Margaret's Will - required them, together with Robert R. Stevenson of "Borden" Town, Australia, to appear in person at the Surrogate of the County of New York on February 27 for the judicial settlement. As was seen in the history of RRS he was satisfactorarily represented and the estate was duly settled. James Clark in his usual inimitable style wrote:

14 Canal Street,
Paisley,
25th. May,1889.

My Dear Cousin,

I duly received your letters of May 1887 as also yours of February 1889 which were truly welcomed. I wrote to you in August last but am sorry you did not receive it. In that letter I acknowledged receipt of the photo of your little Maggie which has an honoured place in my album. In the same letter I enclosed a card of the death of your Uncle which took place on the 27th. January 1885. I may state that father, before his death was for six months in a very poor state of health and his death did not take us much by surprise. He was buried on Saturday 31st, a large party of about 130 following his remains to the place of burial in the West Relief Church Yard, and on the Sunday following his funeral service was preached before a large congregation in the Old High Church ‎(of which he was an Elder)‎, the text being taken from Numbers, 23rd. Chapter, 10th. verse, and you will allow me to say that he now enjoys the rest that is for the people of God. Mother is still stopping herself in the old house and still is enjoying fairly good health.

Aunt Mary is keeping fairly well ‎(Mrs. Millar)‎ and is stopping with me for sometime back. I am also sorry to inform you of Maggie Gray's death which took place on the 11th. of October 1882 after a short illness. ‎(Note: RRS had then received no communication from James Clark since his letter of June 1882 until this present one)‎. Annie Gray is well and has a large family. Sandy Gray is also in good health and still going with the baker's van. Willie Robertson is married and has two children and seems doing well. Willie Robertson is still one of the Sanitary Inspectors of Glasgow and is also doing well. Jessie Millar ‎(Mrs. Whitelaw)‎ is now the mother of a large family. Her husband has three large businesses in Glasgow, and I believe that if they wished it, are in a position to retire and live on their money.

Mr. Risk and family are all well. Mr. Risk has given up the Coal Trade and has been appointed Chaplain of the Abbey Poorhouse, Paisley. And now to finish. I, along with all your friends condole with you on the death of your mother of which we have had notice, but why let me dwell on this as this letter contains two notices of death besides your mother, but let us cherish the hope, that a blessed reunion awaits us all, in that brighter land where "death divideth - friends meet to part no more". Before I finish I may note that Mr. Risk sent to me for your address at the time of your mother's death, which I gave him, and he sent it on to the solicitor in New York.
And now I must finish, and the whole crowd of friends wish you every success, and this includes your wife and family, and hope to hear from you soon. My little Maggie wishes your little Maggie to kindly remember her and trusts to meet her some day,
And believe me, your affectionate cousin,

James Clark.

James may or may not have been telling the truth in saying his mother ‎(as well as Aunt Mary Millar)‎ was "stopping" with him, as Mr. Risk had said Jane Clark had been living with her niece Ann Watson ‎(nee Gray)‎ ever since 1885 when her husband James senior died. James junior's good opinion of himself does not appear to have been shared by Paisley kinsfolk. There are no further letters either to or from James in the collection. The youngest Burns son, David, and his wife Mary Jane, went on a visit to Scotland during 1890, in all probability their honeymoon. Did they, one wonders, make use of that ticket Margaret purchased but could not use.