Letter from Andrew and William Smaill

Letter from Andrew Smaill (and William Kerr) -in Edinburgh, Scotland
to sister-in-law Agnes Archibald Kerr in Pennsylvania (USA)
26 April 1855
original letter in possession of Ida Holmgren of Idaho Falls, Idaho

*Original Transcription:* Edinr. 26 April 1855 19 Charles Street Agness Dear Sester We receved your kind letter and was Sorow to hear that you old friend had geveng you call agen thes Spring but I hope you have got quite better agin we was happy tht that Daved and the Children wer all well but Sorow to hear that he was getting So little work. I See that you are no Sooner out of one deficultay than you are Into an other but that Is just the way of that world hence the nicessay of a Cuntray that hath foundatitions hous Boulder and Macker is God we all may have a little to that Cuntray Simply through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5 & 1 We have peice with God thrugh our Lord Jesus Christ by whume we have receved recanculation.	*Corrected Transcription on above page:* Edinburgh [Scotland] 26 April 1855 19 Charles Street Dear Sister [Agness]: We received your kind letter and was sorry to hear that your old friend [some recurring illness] had given you call again this spring, but I hope you have got quite better again. We was happy that David and the children were all well, but sorry to hear that he was getting so little work. I see that you are no sooner out of one difficulty than you are into another, but that is just the way of this world; hence the necessity of a country [heaven] that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. We all may have a little of that country simply through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5 & 1. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received reconciliation.

*Original Transcription:* Janet was Saying when you get Rich enuff you meent to go to Some new State and get a piece of land and becom farmar but I woold advsse you to look before you Leepe Some things looks better at a distance then they do when you aproch neer to them. I am hapipy to Inform you that I have got another Son. he is douing well. I understand you hard about him but I never told you your Father is Veray poorly. I wish he may get over this Ilness he is longing to depart and to be with with Christ how hath redeemed his life from deth and Stablished his feet upon a rock that Can not be greatly muved your Mother is well but has wanted a deal of Sleep these las 4 weeks which your fathar has been confined to bed. we have had word from Mary thrugh a lad that lived in the Sam place her and her Husband they are both doing well and has got a Son not a black one but a pure Inglesh man thes leves me and Wm. in good helth hoping this will find you all the Sam Andw Smaill Wm. Keer	*Corrected Transcription on above page:* Janet was saying when you get rich enough, you mean to go to some new state [probably Utah] and get a piece of land and become farmers, but would advise you to look before you leap. Some things look better at a distance than they do when you approach near to them. I am happy to inform you that I have got another son. He is doing well. I understand you heard about him, but I never told you your Father is very poorly. I wish he may get over this illness. He is longing to depart and to be with Christ, who hath redeemed his life from death and established his feet upon a rock that cannot be moved. Your Mother is well but has wanted a great deal of sleep this last 4 weeks, which your father has been confined to bed. We have had word from Mary through a lad that lived in the same place. Her and her husband, they are both doing well and has got a son, not a black one but a pure English man. This leaves me and William in good health, hoping this will find you all the same. Andrew Smaill. William Kerr.
	*Historical Note:* Sister Agnes is married to David Hamilton Kerr. Sister Jessie (or Janet) is married to Robert Wood Murray. The Kerrs and the Murrays are living in Pennsylvania (USA). Apparently "Janet" is a family nickname for Jessie (Murray). Her brother Thomas also called her "Janet" on his father's death certificate (in the list of children). The Kerrs and the Murrays have joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and are living in Pennsylvania, but want to move to Utah where the main body of Saints is located. "Father" James Archibald and "Mother" Agnes are living with another daughter Christian and her husband Andrew Smaill in Edinburgh, Scotland. James has suffered for many years from Black Lung disease, which he got while working in the Scottish coal mines. In fact, most of the children also worked in the coal mines and several sons died from Black Lung disease (notably, Robert and Thomas). Father James died just a few weeks after this letter was written, on May 15, 1855. "Mary" is a younger daughter who emigrated to Australia, where she met and married George Edwards. The sentence about a son "not a black one, but a pure English man" is Andrew's humor coming through; he was referring to the indigenous black Moari people in Australia. Any other comments or changes to this historical note are welcomed. Email me lana_a2000@yahoo.com

Return to Our Family Tree Homepage