Two weeks ago, I posted about a box of letters and photos my husband inherited and that we've had in the house for several years - just sitting there. We've decided to share them online so all members of the family and anyone interested in history can read and enjoy them.
That first post was Noah & Ethel 1887 - 1911 where I showed early memorabilia of Noah (1887-1953) and Ethel (1890-1974). 1911 is when Noah and Ethel start exchanging letters upon their engagement, but there are several letters written to each of them prior to that which I wanted to share. This is the first.
In order to maintain historical accuracy, this letter and others to follow will show the actual spelling and punctuation of the original letter. If there were only a few instances of misspelling, I would use [sic] after the incorrect word. However, that would take away from the authenticity of the letter as well as distract you from the letter's intent.
So, I will display the original letter, then follow it with the transcription verbatim - as it was written.
That first post was Noah & Ethel 1887 - 1911 where I showed early memorabilia of Noah (1887-1953) and Ethel (1890-1974). 1911 is when Noah and Ethel start exchanging letters upon their engagement, but there are several letters written to each of them prior to that which I wanted to share. This is the first.
In order to maintain historical accuracy, this letter and others to follow will show the actual spelling and punctuation of the original letter. If there were only a few instances of misspelling, I would use [sic] after the incorrect word. However, that would take away from the authenticity of the letter as well as distract you from the letter's intent.
So, I will display the original letter, then follow it with the transcription verbatim - as it was written.
Author of letter: David Draper, 1842-1909
Date of letter: Feb 21, 1909
Addressed to: Noah Draper, 22 yrs old, Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan, Canada
Mailed from: North Gwillimbury, York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Relationship: Noah is David's youngest child
Profession: Farmer (David's father's profession is listed as a yeoman (British farmer) although he was born in Canada.
Level of Education: Unknown. Usually, farmer's sons attended school for a very short time, if at all, as they were needed on the family farm.
Writing instrument: Blue Ink, but it looks like pencil marks that have been rubbed by age
Mentioned in letter: Persey aka Percy Roy Draper, 1883-1939, David's son, Noah's brother
Date of letter: Feb 21, 1909
Addressed to: Noah Draper, 22 yrs old, Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan, Canada
Mailed from: North Gwillimbury, York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Relationship: Noah is David's youngest child
Profession: Farmer (David's father's profession is listed as a yeoman (British farmer) although he was born in Canada.
Level of Education: Unknown. Usually, farmer's sons attended school for a very short time, if at all, as they were needed on the family farm.
Writing instrument: Blue Ink, but it looks like pencil marks that have been rubbed by age
Mentioned in letter: Persey aka Percy Roy Draper, 1883-1939, David's son, Noah's brother
| Grand Coulee Feb the 21 1909 Well Noah I thought I would write you and let you now how things is hear We are all well except My Self I am mending Slowly am only able to git to the barn once and a while and as been is going a way on the first of the month I would like you to come home and look after the things hear and if you do not wanto let me now at once for I will have to doo Something With the place for I can not doo much my Self So let me now at once I think it would bee beter for you to come home at once the Wether is fine hear now and looks lile Spring the horses is looking very well for the care they have got I wrote to Persey and told him to bee Shure to have you to come home with him but he's Staying longer than I thought they would So you had not beter wait for them. I remain you D Draper |
The letter is written on slightly thick, textured linen-like paper. Each page is 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches like you see above, but when opened, the 2 pages of the above letter are actually the front and back covers as seen below. When opened, the size is 9 inches wide by 6.5 inches long.
Since Noah's father, David Draper wrote on the front and back cover, that left room on the inside for a few words by Noah's mom, Sarah, who started the letter, but only wrote one paragraph. The rest of the letter is written by Louie, Noah's sister...
Part-Author of letter: Sarah Sophia Deverall, 1846-1930
Relationship: Sarah is Noah's mother
Profession: Farmer's Wife (as listed in the 1901 census)
Level of Education: Unknown
Writing Instrument: Black ink, looks like Fountain Pen or possibly inkwell
Part-Author of letter: Louie aka Sarah Louisa Draper, 1879-1920
Relationship: Louie is David's older sister
Profession: Farmer's Daughter (as listed in the 1901 census)
Level of Education: Unknown
Writing Instrument: Black ink, looks like Fountain Pen or possibly Inkwell
Part-Author of letter: Sarah Sophia Deverall, 1846-1930
Relationship: Sarah is Noah's mother
Profession: Farmer's Wife (as listed in the 1901 census)
Level of Education: Unknown
Writing Instrument: Black ink, looks like Fountain Pen or possibly inkwell
Part-Author of letter: Louie aka Sarah Louisa Draper, 1879-1920
Relationship: Louie is David's older sister
Profession: Farmer's Daughter (as listed in the 1901 census)
Level of Education: Unknown
Writing Instrument: Black ink, looks like Fountain Pen or possibly Inkwell
| This 1st paragraph written by Noah's mom, Sarah | well Noah as your pa is wrightin I will try and doe some to tho you have not sen fit to answer my last |
| The rest of letter written by Noah's sister, Louie | Ma has not time to write as Pa wants to send this with Charley who is going to the Coulee. They are going over to Taylors this after -noon the first either of them have been out since pa came from the hospital. We were down to church last night Mr Ross certainly gives us some fine sermons. I expect Mr & Mrs Valence up tomorrow Mr Harvey died a week ago Friday his family are left inather hard up I hear. Well I can think of no more news so will close with love from all to all. Lovingly Louie |
David Draper passed away on June 21st, 1909 in Saskatchewan - 4 months to the day after he wrote this letter. He is buried in the family plot in Regina's oldest cemetary in the middle of the city.
Headstone for David Draper, his wife Sarah, and Noah's wife Ethel. One side reads Jennie F Draper, and the back reads Percy Roy Draper and his wife, Parthena. Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
We don't know if Noah ever made it back to Gwillimbury, Ontario after receiving his father's letter (above). Perhaps David realized that at 22 yrs, Noah wouldn't be back because he was working on his own land. And we don't know why David and Sarah uprooted their family and moved to Saskatchewan, or when they did it during those 4 months. With the survey work done, the new province of Saskatchewan was looking for settlers to work the wide expanse of prairie suitable for agriculture. David relied on Noah's help since the older boys had already left home to start families of their own. Perhaps David and Sarah left the family farm to one of them and decided to follow Noah out west.
I wish I knew.
The bright spot is that I have many more of Ethel's letters to go through and the answer may well lie in one of those. I also have the internet to help with research. In the coming weeks and months, I'll bring more of Noah and Ethel's story. As I mentioned previously, the letters are simple missives about your average early 20th century Canadian family. I think. We shall see.
I wish I knew.
The bright spot is that I have many more of Ethel's letters to go through and the answer may well lie in one of those. I also have the internet to help with research. In the coming weeks and months, I'll bring more of Noah and Ethel's story. As I mentioned previously, the letters are simple missives about your average early 20th century Canadian family. I think. We shall see.
Are you familiar with genealogical research?
Would you like me to explain how I go about researching this family?
How I find the citations to prove dates, etc?
I am an amateur and learning as I go, but I'm willing to pass on what I discover as I work my way through the letters. If there's interest, I'll add a Genealogical postcript box to these posts specifically for this purpose.
Would you like me to explain how I go about researching this family?
How I find the citations to prove dates, etc?
I am an amateur and learning as I go, but I'm willing to pass on what I discover as I work my way through the letters. If there's interest, I'll add a Genealogical postcript box to these posts specifically for this purpose.
