Transcription

Home Castle
Stewart Town PO
Jamaica

**No date given but probably 1879 since Phil's "sad bereavement" is mentioned, which likely refers to his losing three children to yellow fever in 1878**.

My very dear Philip

Very nearly 12 months have slipped by since I have heard from you though both Lizzie and myself wrote you after your sad bereavement and Emily has also written you, but neither of us here received any answer to our letters. I am most anxious to hear of you. I do hope that sickness has not been the cause of your long ______ of yourself or dear Anna.

I have been staying in Kingston for the last three months with Fashie who has come out from Scotland to try and sell some property that belonged to old Dr. Spalding. She only purposes remaining here until next Spring when she purposes returning to her daughters in Greenock. I only returned here last week, and found all well here. Dear Lizzie is expecting an addition to her family next month, she will then have six Children, and so I have always been with her at the birth of each Child. Her eldest son Robert is now in his 18th year, and can get nothing to do. His Mother has tried to get him a situation, but hitherto has not succeeded and the poor Boy is so very anxious for employment.

I suppose you know that your Brother's widow is married to a Mr. Harrison in St. Thomas in the East. Her son by her first husband was a Book keeper with his cousin Mr. Muedermil (?) who is overseer of a property in St. Mary. This young man was skylarking with a negro and suddenly shot him dead with his revolver. He has to be tried for it. I do not know what will be the result of but I fear he will be imprisoned. I am very sorry for his poor Mother for this is her only child for she had none for your Brother. The boy was for her first husband a Mr. Barclay. He is now in his 23rd year.

I can give you no good news of my dear Emily. She is still struggling to support her daughters. Her sons are both Sailors and cant give her much. The oldest son is able to assist his Mother but she is now trying to get into the tellegram office in Kingston and her eldest daughter also, I _______ they may succeed in so doing.

There is so much poverty now in this country. So many Estates abandoned and consequently so many young men thrown out of employment. It is really very sad the numbers of young men out of employment. Well I think I have given you a long history of all the trouble that surrounds us, so I will stop and hope you will write me very soon and be able to give a good account of yourself and all your dear ones. All here join me in much love for all your _____________.

Believe me dear Phil
your loving Mother
F. L. Swire

Notes:

Lizzie is Elizabeth Anne Coy (Swire) Page Rutty, Philip's youngest sister.

Emily is Emily Elizabeth (Swire) Brymer, Philip's third oldest sister.

Anna C. Kean is Philip's wife.

Fashie is Frances Anne (Swire) Spalding, Philip's second oldest sister.

Dr. Spalding is Fashie's late husband, Robert Spalding.

Greenock is the city in Scotland where Fashie lived.

Robert is Robert Andrew Page, Lizzie's eldest son by her first husband.

Mr. Harrison is James Harrison, who married Caroline (Page) Barclay Swire in 1878.

Mr. Muedermil's name was difficult to read, therefore he is not yet identified.

Mr. Barclay is Charles Barclay, the first husband of Caroline Page. Their son was named Charles Alexander Barclay.