Transcription

I regret to learn by your letter that your prospects still look somewhat gloomy but I do hope the
new year has brought more cheerful news for you. I never got the letter you mention as having
written me telling me of your dear wife's confinement, and the death of her baby, I do most
sincerely hope her health is now quite restored and that all of you are strong and well.

I am thankful to say all here are well. Lucy had a very serious illness a short time ago, but she is now
quite well again. She was with us three days ago quite herself again. I think you know that Edith
Haughton was engaged to be married to a Mr. Fortescue. The wedding day was fixed for the
10th of this month, and on the 13th of last month the poor young man was buried in Falmouth
Churchyard. Poor fellow, he has so endeared himself to all of us, that we all felt much grieved at
his premature death, but poor dear Edith of course is quite prostrated by the sudden blow.

I am anxiously looking out for the promised letter from your son. I long to get a letter from my
unknown Grandson, tell him so with my fond love. I have been staying ever since Octbr here
with dear Liz and her good husband, and my health has improved very much, the air here is so
cool and pure, such a change from the hot and dusty town of Falmouth, but I shall have to go
back there in about a month or six weeks, or dear Lucy will be quite jealous. We have had very
wet weather here since the commencement of the new year, and Augustus writes me they had
a fearful gale in the 5th inst. which blew down several large trees, drove 3 vessels ashore in
Port Antonio, two of them are total wrecks but one was got off and the rivers were higher than
they had been for the last ten years.

What about my poor Kissy and her Fatherless ones? I am longing to hear from her poor thing.
God help her in her trouble, oh! if I had but the means of helping her how gladly would do so, but
alas! I am too poor I can only pray for her, for I am dependent on my children for the clothes I
wear and the food I eat. Your old friend Mr. Prendergast is still living at ____ ____ of which
place he is now Proprietor, his eldest daughter "Lily" is just returned from England and is I hear
a very pretty and nice girl. Henry Westmoreland is proprietor of Ballard's Valley Estate, of
which place Wm. Braham is overseer, he lives at Eshes, which is also his and he has made it
into a penn. Wilmot Westmoreland is overseer of Fort Stewart Estate. Mr. Barker is still at
Agualta Vale Estate. H. Westmoreland is the attorney. I think these are almost all the Planters
you would recollect.

Lizzie intends writing you herself so of course she will give you a full account of herself so I shall
conclude with fond love for your self dear Anna and all the Children and believe me dear Phil
always

Your loving old Mother
F. L. Swire

Notes:

Liz/Lizzie is Elizabeth Anne Coy (Swire) Page Rutty, seventh sister to Philip.

Philip's wife was Anna C. Kean.

The name of Philip and Anna's stillborn child is not known.

Lucy is Lucy Albertina Sarah Martha Toogood (Swire) Littlejohn, sixth sister of Philip Swire.

Edith Haughton is Edith Anne Haughton, second daughter of Philip's oldest sister, Hannah Jane (Swire) Haughton.

Mr. Fortescue's full identity is not yet known.

Philip's son is likely his oldest son Walter, who would have been 12 at the time of the letter.

Liz/Lizzie's husband was Joseph Waterhouse "Joe" Rutty.

Augustus was Philip's fourth brother.

Kissy was Christina Octavia (Swire) Seymour Woods, Philip's fifth sister.

Mr. Prendergast's full identity is not yet known.

Lily Prendergast's full name is not yet known.

Henry Westmoreland's relationship, if any, to the Swire family, is not yet known.

Wm. Braham's relationship, if any, to the Swire family, is not yet known.

Wilmot Westmoreland's relationship, if any, to the Swire family, is not yet known.

Mr. Barker is believed to be Frederick H. "Fred" Barker, a prominent individual in the Port Antonio area. He is mentioned in other letters written by Frances Lydia (Cox) Swire as "our true friend".

H. Westmoreland's relationship, if any, to the Swire family, is not yet known.