Anita Mae Draper
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WW1 Letters Home - Apr 3, 1917

5/22/2022

 
Picture
Veda Josie Perrault, 17 or 18 yrs old. Courtesy of Doreen Proctor Burnett.

​Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old 
Dated:  April 3. 1917
Mailed from:  H.M.S. Bacchante 
Attached to: HMS Bacchante 
Profession:  Farmer, Temporary Sailor 
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve 
Addressed to:  Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont
Relationship: Wife 
Writing instrument:  Fountain Pen with Black Ink 
Writing Paper: 1 sheet 9" x 6" medium weight, smooth, linen-look, folded into a 4-page booklet form with the inside page written across the short width and then down the length like foolscap. The pages are not numbered. 
​

People mentioned in this letter: 
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs 
Mother - Sarah Sophia Deverell* Draper, Noah's widowed mother 
​
Eva - Eva Amelia Draper Perrault*, 40 yrs old, one of Noah's sisters  
Veda Josie Perrault** 21 yrs old, daughter of Eva and Joseph Perrault

Percy* - Percy Roy Draper, 33 yrs old, Noah's older brother 
Kiddies - JD* and Mildred/Midge* - Noah and Ethel's children
Sadie* -  Sadie Eliza Nelson* Prosser* is Ethel's 21 yr old sister

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
African Church Service
Fruits and Flowers 
Birkenhead - Across the River Mersey from Liverpool, England 


Word or Phrase Use:  
darky** - common usage at the time of these letters (see Historical note below)
​
Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
** see History Notes below

​
Picture
H.M.S. Bacchante,
April 3. 1917.
Mrs. N.C. Draper,
     Keswick, Ont.
My Dear wife
     Well I suppose you 
will be wondering where 
I am, I am still in the 
same port. as when I 
wrote the last letter 
but expect to move out 
soon.
     I was ashore to church 
last Sunday & it was 
the first time I ever 
was at church where 
there was not a white 
​
Picture
preacher, there was about thirty 
sailors there & we were the only 
white people there. & you would 
laugh to see the style of our 
darky friends. there was a 
choir of men & boys & they are 
very good singers.
     I have not been ashore only to 
church but would like to go 
ashore for a couple of hours 
to see the fruits & flowers 
growing in their natural 
surroundings. 
     Say when did you send 
that parcel I have not got 
it yet so mabey it is in the 
bottom of the sea, eh, We 
have not had any mail since 
we left Birkenhead but expect 
some in a day or so. say did 
you send them snapshots I 
have not got them so you had 
better send some more.
​
Picture
I have only had 1 letter 
from Mother 1 from Eva & 
one from Percy since I came 
over to England so it is 
certain that we do not 
receive all our mail but 
it is a wonder we get as much 
as we do when you think of
what they have to handle.
     I hope you are all well 
as this leaves me, I suppose 
your father is buisy sowing 
by the time you get this. 
Well I guess I will close 
for this time, so ByeBy. 
kiss the kiddies for 
me, & tell Sadie I am 
going to write her that 
letter some time. Bye Bye Love (?)
​                                 N.C. Draper
​

​History Notes​
​

There is one History note for this letter of April 3, 1917

History Note 1 - Use of words to describe Africans

Although we don't know exactly where Noah is in early April 1917, we know he's aboard the HMS Bacchante on convoy escort duties with the 9th Cruiser Squadron which is headquartered on the African coast at Sierra Leone. 

In this letter, Noah gets leave to attend the local church. As a Methodist, he is used to a service that is more spontaneous and lively than others, such as the RC or Anglican services, however this is his first attendance at the wonderful uplifting of voices and spirits of an African service. If you've ever seen and heard a Southern Gospel Choir, or listened to a Southern Baptist minister preach to his congregation, then you've only seen and heard a small portion of what Noah probably saw and heard that day.

Noah's comment that Ethel would laugh to see the style of the service and choir is based on her being a choir member and pianist/organist. In Ethel's Oct 30, 1911 Courtship Letter to Noah, they are discussing Noah's niece, Veda Josie Perrault (pictured above), who has recently entered Brandon College in Brandon, Manitoba. Ethel writes, "Is Veda's special subject at school Music. I like you do think that music is some thing worth while. I often wish that I had taken more time and so understood music better, I guess." 

Noah refers to the African people as his "darky friends" which was in common usage according to what was written in newspapers and diaries of that time. In a future letter you'll see that Noah refers to them as Negroes, the anthropology classification. However technical, it's no longer in use. Time changes people as well as their opinions, most times for the good. 

​No offense is intended in the publication of these historic letters. Please note the following image which is a permanent feature on the right sidebar of this blog. 
Picture

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 22, 1917

5/1/2022

 
Picture
Stephen Draper and Martha Elitia Rothwell Barnhart. Courtesy of Heidi Draper.

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old 
Dated:  March 22 / 17 
Mailed from: Unknown port
Attached to: HMS Bacchante 
Profession:  Farmer, Temporary Sailor 
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve 
Addressed to:  Dear Ethel 
Relationship: Wife 
Writing instrument:  Fountain Pen with Black Ink 
Writing Paper: 1 sheet 9" x 6" medium weight, smooth, linen-look, folded into a 4-page booklet form. Noah wrote on the first page, opened it flat and wrote page 2 on the right side, then turned the paper sideways and wrote page across the width, and then finally closed the letter on the final page (beside page 1). 

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Nelson, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs 
​Alice* Prosser - daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie and Cecil Prosser 
Ethel Maud* - Noah's sister who married William Albert Rigler*
​
Percy* - Noah's brother who married Parthena Fisher 
Mr Butts - Noah & Ethel's hired* man back in Saskatchewan 
George* & Eliza** - cousin George Draper & Eliza Hamilton (Sask farmers) 
JD* and Mildred aka Midge* - Noah and Ethel's children/calls babies 

​
Places/things mentioned in this letter:
Bacchante - HMS Bacchante* 
​Regina - Saskatchewan city 10 miles east of Noah & Ethel's farm 
Indian Head - Saskatchewan town east of Regina on main highway 
Winnipeg - Manitoba city east of Regina, Gateway to the West 
​
​

Word or Phrase Use: 
​

​
Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
** see History Notes below 
​
Picture
 March 22/17. 
Dear Ethel;- 
     Well we are still at sea 
but the mail closes at 
6 P.M. so the censurer 
on board will be able 
to get through them 
all before they are 
sent back. it is very 
very hot here & I am 
thousands of miles 
from England. I am 
feeling fine & hope you 
are all the same I 
suppose Alice is all 
​
Picture
right by this time.
     Say where are all the 
boys from around there 
are they in England or 
France, have not saw 
anyone from there 
yet. but there is one 
man on board here 
from Regina & one 
​from Indian Head. 
& quite a number from 
the West of Winnipeg. 
​       There may be some 
mail waiting for us 
when we reach port 
I hope so any way. 
​
Picture
Have you heard from the West 
lately & are you going out 
in the Spring. I have not 
heard from Ethel or Mr. Butts 
​but the letter I had from Percy 
he said he was getting 
along all right. I suppose 
George & Eliza have gone 
home before this. how did 
she like it in Ontario for 
​a change.
​
Picture
Well the war ​seems
​to be progressing 
very favorably for the 
allies & I hope it will 
soon be over but 
you can not tell how 
long it is going to 
last. eh. 
     Well I guess J.D. &
Mildred will be a lot 
bigger when I get back 
even if the war was 
to end at once. Well 
good bye for this time 
kiss the babies for me. 
Love to all. N.C. Draper
​
​

History Notes​

There is one History note for this letter of March 22, 1917
​​
History Note 1 - George Draper and his siblings

You'll often see the names of Noah's cousins mentioned in these WW1 letters, and the previously posted Noah and Ethel's Courtship letters, as well as other siblings in the family of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart. Stephen is the brother of Noah's father, David Draper. David moved his family out west in 1903, as soon as Noah completed his schooling. Although Stephen lived on and continued the family farm/homestead in Ontario, his children bought farms in the west, and then spent many of their winters near family back in Ontario. 

You can find posts on the history of these cousins through these links:

- History of Stewart Draper and Bertha Hamilton 
- History of Edith Draper and Frank Kavanagh
- History of, and Letter from, George Draper and Eliza Hamilton 
- History of George and Stewart's wives (Hamilton family)

These are the other children of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart:
- Charles Joel - History note of next week's WW1 Letter
- Almeda Roscilla - Post coming soon
- Lena Marie 1890-1900
- Ernest Emery 1892-1893


The links above discuss many relatives and friends in the lives of Noah and Ethel. For more information on a certain person, use the search box at the top of the page, or the category list on the right. 

On a final note, I'd like to send a huge thank you to Heidi Draper for corroborating our family history and sharing a plethora of photographs, including many of the Barnhart family. 


WW1 Letters Home - Mar 1, 1917

3/20/2022

 
Picture
HMS Achilles ca 1905-1920. Public Domain
Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated:  Mar 1, 1917 (shows Feb ?, but should be March based on content)
Mailed from:  London
Attached to: HMS Bacchante 
Profession:  Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to:  Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont. 
Relationship: Wife
Writing instrument:  Pen, black ink
Writing Paper: 1 sheet with The King George and Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club 1915 letterhead. Paper is ivory-coloured, thin and feels like newsprint, but pen strokes easily bleed through.

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel** - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, (Noah's wife of 6 yrs) 
the kiddies: 
    - Mildred
* - Noah's daughter, 3 yrs old, aka Midge  ​
    - J.D.* - Noah's son, James David*, 9 months old aka Jay in early months 
Percy - Percy Roy Draper*, 33 yrs old, Noah's brother, lives in Sask 
Katie - unknown at this time 

Alice - Alice Alma Prosser*, born June 1915, daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie  

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
- in dry dock after being rammed by another boat (HMS Achilles)** 
​- Tower of London** 

Word or Phrase Use: 
"laying in the basin" 
"I am glad I can say I am a Canadian" 
kiddies 

Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
** see History Notes below


Picture
 February 6, 1917
Mrs. N.C. Draper,
   Keswick, Ont.
​
My Dear Ethel;-

   Well I am in London on 3 days leave
expected to be at sea before this but
we were laying in the basin ready
to make the trial trip when one night
another boat ramed us & put a hole
in our side, (I was asleep & did not know
about it untill the next morning) so
we had to go back into dry dock & may
be there a week or two. one half of the
crew was given 3 days leave on Monday 
& the other half today & given free tickets
so I came up here,
   Have not heard from Percy yet so can not see
Katie, Ha Ha. but I want to see the tower
of London, West Minister Abbey & several
other places tomorrow. there is a party
leaving here at 9 30 am. tomorrow & returning
at 5 p.m. costs $1. Well I have not received that

​
Picture
​parcel yet, mabey it will be ready waiting
for me when I get back, say Ethel have you
​not got that letter where I told you I had
got the Photos I sent it nearly a month
ago. I got a letter from you yesteraday
tell Mildred that I have had milk
to drink since I wrote that other letter
altho I would like to have a drink from her
cow, & when her daddy gets back from this
war he will not leave again in a hurry
unless he has to. Ha Ha.
   Well I hope Alice is better before this
I know how they would feel if they lost
her but we must hope for the best, eh.
   There is quite a few Canadians here
at the club no one else is allowed here
& it makes one feel good to be among
the Canadians again for when all is
said & done they are hard people to beat
& I am glad I can say I am a Canadian.
   Say dont make any mistakes about 1/2 sheets
of paper, see they are whole & then fill
2 or 3 for I like to get long letters.
   Well I guess I will close for this time
as it is getting late will write
again on Sunday. Bye Bye.
   Love to all kiss the kiddies for me. 

   x x x x                               N.C.D.

​

 History Notes 
​

There are 2 History notes for this letter of Feb 1 (Mar 1), 1917:

History Note 1 -  HMS Bacchante & HMS Achilles Mishap

Although Noah has dated this letter at the beginning of February, we know it had to have been March because the HMS Achilles' ship's log shows the mishap happened at just after midnight on February 22, 1917: 
Picture
22 February 1917
Liverpool
Lat 53.40, Long -3.00
12.07am: HMS Bacchante swung to ebb and fouled Achilles' stern, engines worked as required.
 to It is interesting to note that Noah writes that another boat rammed them, while the Achilles' log states that another boat swung into them.

​With the Bacchante back in dry dock, the crew has been given 3 days leave and so we find Noah in London. As for the wrong date, it's interesting to note that Noah's next letter shows February 4, 1917 where he is still in London, and attends church. Along with that letter tp Ethel, he included an Order of Service which is dated March 4, 1917. It's the confirmation that the letters were actually written in March vs February and will be included in the next post.


History Note 2 -  Noah's London Postcards

Noah mentions wanting to see the Tower of London in this letter and either brought back or sent to Ethel the following series of postcards about his explorations while in London.
​
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. Byward Tower and Outer Ward. On the right is the flank of St. Thomas' Tower, and on the left the Beauchamp Tower of the Inner Ward.
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. Gateway of Bloody Tower. Above the gateway of the Bloody Tower is seen the portculis, which is still in working order. This tower fully deserves the name of "bloody." for it has been the scene of death in all its forms.
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. The White Tower. This massive Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and is the oldest portion of the Tower. Its walls are immensely thick, from 12 to 15 feet at the base, and rise to a height of 90 feet. The turrets that surmount each corner are a striking feature, and at one time cannons were mounted on the roof.
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. St. John's Chapel in the White Tower. One of the earliest Norman Churches in England.
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. In the Beauchamp Tower. Many of the stones bear inscriptions engraved by prisoners in former ages.
Picture
TOWER OF LONDON. Chapel of St. Peter-ad-Vincula. Beneath the altar lie the remains of Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, the Duke of Monmouth, and many others beheaded in the Tower.

Noah's next letter will show more sights of his London adventure.

WW1 Letters Home - Feb 26, 1917

3/13/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Advertisement in Brassey's Naval Annual 1915

​Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated:  Feb 26 (1917)
Mailed from:  HMS Bacchante
Attached to: HMS Bacchante 
Profession:  Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to:  Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont. 
Relationship: Wife
Writing instrument:  Pencil
Writing Paper: 1 sheet 9" x 6" medium weight, smooth, linen-look, folded into 3 page booklet form, with the inside page written across and then down the length like foolscap. The pages are not numbered. 

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Nelson Draper, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs 
Percy - Percy Roy Draper*, 33 yrs old, Noah's brother, lives in Sask
Ethel - Ethel Maud Draper Rigler*, 36  yrs old, Noah's sister, lives in Sask
George - George Draper*, 37, yrs old, cousin, lives near Battleford, Sask



Places/things mentioned in this letter:
​dry dock** See History Note 2
Chatham - city of Noah's previous posting while attached to HMS Pembroke
Liverpool - maritime city in northwest England across from HMS Bacchante
Regina - capital of Saskatchewan, 10 miles west of Noah's farm


Word or Phrase Use: 
​snapshot - photograph

Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
** see History Notes below
​
Picture
16 Mess   Feb. 26 
H.M.S. Bacchante 
​G.P.O. London, Eng.
Mrs. N.C Draper 
     Keswick, Ont. 
Dear Ethel:- 
      Well we are in dry dock 
and may be here some 
time but will be glad 
to get to sea altho I 
will likely be sea 
sick again. HaHa.
     Well Ethel I hope you 
are all as well as this 
leaves me at present 
never felt better in 
my life. have not 
had any mail 
​
Picture
​since I left Chatham but am 
expecting it every day and 
looking for the box. HaHa. 
     Say I think we have a 
very fine Captain he said 
Sunday morning at prayers 
that he did not want any 
man to work under him 
on Sunday only what was 
absolutely necessary. 
     I was over to Liverpool last 
night and had my Photo 
taken am to get them tomorrow 
night am sending one in 
this letter I had taken in 
Chatham. it looks like 
H--l eh what? have not 
received them snapshots 
yet. have you sent them 
and when. 
     Well I guess I will get out 
tomorrow night to post this.
have not heard anymore 
​​
Picture
about our leave so dont 
know wheather we will 
get it or not. 
     I have not heard from 
​Percy or Ethel yet so will 
have mail from them 
soon I expect suppose 
George will soon be 
going home that would 
be a good chance for 
you to go if you are 
thinking of going. & 
if I get to Canada I will 
try to get leave & get 
out to Regina & see them 
​all. Well I guess I will 
close so Bye Bye Love to All 
                  XXX  N.C Draper 


History Notes
​

There are 2 History notes for this letter of February 26, 1917:

History Note 1 -  Percy, Ethel, and George 

​Noah asks Ethel if she's heard from Percy, Ethel, or George yet. 

Percy and Ethel are 2 of Noah's living siblings. Percy married Parthena Fisher and live on the section east to Noah and Ethel (NE 
29-17-21-W2) at Adams, Saskatchewan.

Ethel Maud married William Rigler and live on the NW part of section 31, beside Noah and Ethel, who live on the NE part of the same section (31-17-21 W2), a half mile west of Percy's land. The Adams CNR siding is also on Noah's land. (See my post on C.N.R. at Adams, Saskatchewan)

A third sibling, Eva Amelia, married Andrew Perrault and live on land that adjoins the town of Grand Coulee, 3.5 miles southeast of Adams as the crow flies.

George Draper is Noah's 1st cousin, brother of Stewart Draper who is often mentioned in Noah's letters. George married Eliza Alberta Hamilton and farmed land in the District of Battleford, Saskatchewan during the time of these letters.

When Noah says that George will be going home soon, he is referring to the fact that George and Eliza are spending the winter months in Ontario with family, just like Ethel is doing while Noah is away. Noah and Ethel did the same for years and Noah is using this as a prod to get her to go back to their own farm in Saskatchewan now that winter is almost over.
​
Picture
Draper sisters (L to R) Sarah Louisa, Eva Amelia, Ethel Maud, and Jennie (sitting), about 1910
 
History Note 2 - Dry Dock 

In this letter, Noah says he is dry dock and might be there for some time, but doesn't say why. Dry docks, also called graving docks, are used when a ship needs to clean or repair the hull. Over time, sea-going vessels suffer a buildup of marine life such as barnacles that can damage the hull if not cleaned off on a regular basis. This can be done in or out of water, but a dry dock makes the job easier. Same for repairs. A dry dock allows the ship to sail into a box-like structure where a door, such as a canal lock, can close behind it creating a seal between the dry dock and the sea water. The dry dock is then drained of water leaving the ship on a support system which stops the vessel from toppling over. The poster at the top of this post shows a drained dry dock system, while the photograph below shows a dry dock on the Birkenhead side of the River Mersey which may even have been the one that repaired the Bacchante in 1917. (More of that in a future letter.)

Picture
Graving dock NO 4, Cammell Laird Shipbuilding Yard, 2019. Courtesy of Phil Nash, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 & GFDL
0 Comments

WW1 Letters - Mr Butts to Ethel Feb 11, 1917

2/13/2022

 
Picture
Ethel Draper with 5 working horses, spring of 1912. From Noah & Ethel's Album

On Feb 11, 1917, the same day that Noah was writing his letter to Ethel who was staying with family in Ontario, John Butts, their hired man back in Saskatchewan, was also writing a letter to Ethel:

Author of Letter: John Butts, 60 yrs old according to the 1916 census record
Dated: Feb 11th, 1917
Mailed from:  Grand Coulee, Saskatchewan
Profession:  Hired Man/Stockman
Rank:  N/A
Addressed to:  Dear friend (Ethel Draper)
Relationship: Ethel is the wife of Noah Draper, the farm owner
Writing instrument:  Pencil
Writing Paper: 2 pages,  5" x 8" lightweight writing paper with faint blue lines and light texture. John Butts has written on the front of both pages, but left the backs empty. 

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* 
- Ethel Isabel Nelson, 26 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs 
Mildred* - aka Midge, Noah & Ethel's daughter, 3 yrs old 
Baby -  James David Draper*, 9 months old, aka Jay in early months
Percy* - Percy Roy Draper, 33 yrs old, Noah's older brother, lives nearby
​
​Places/things mentioned in this letter:
- Keswick - where Ethel is staying with family

Word or Phrase Use: 
John Butts is articulate, but has a habit of not using punctuation at the end of sentences.
​​
Legend: 
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this 
  person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
​** See History Note below
​
Picture
Grand Coulee. Sask
​Feb 11th 1917
     Dear friend
                    Just a few lines to let you
know I have not forgotten you. I received
a few lines from you when you sent the
Photos and thanks for the same I received
a letter from Noah and was much
pleased to read it He got away sooner
than I expected I'm glad he arrived safely
and hope he will return all right. but (my)
it is an awful war, but I think this sum-
mer will finish it How are you enjoying
yourself down there Hope you are all
well I did feel lonesome for a time after
​you left I didn't know I thought so
much of Mildred until she left I did
miss her Hope she is getting along all
​right also Baby Their Photos are good
You are all nicely taken I often take 
a look at them

Picture
​Percy told me you wrote as you would
probably come back in the spring Well I
must tell you there is no person would
be more pleased than I to see you come
Remember it is your home and I feel sure
every person that knows you would be glad
to see you back You were better there perhaps
the last three weeks for it has been desperate
cold here just as bad or worse than last 
winter and as you know it started before
the summer was over so we are in for
a long winter but it will soon be all over
You mentioned in your few lines about
your Brooch It was here all right after 
you left but dissapeared mysteriously
That is all, until I see you, I shall 
say about it Tell Mildred I often think
her she must come back as quick as she
can to get my meals Hoping you will come
soon                 I remain your friend John
                                                           Butts


Written sideways across top of page 2:
excuse
pencil
I have
no ink

The stock
all look
well
and I did
not tell
you but
I am well
myself

Hope you
will come
​soon

​

​History Notes

There is 1 History note for this letter:

History Note - Hired Man, Stockman

When the Province of Saskatchewan came into being in 1905, many of the settlers were from the eastern and southern parts of the Province of Ontario and not used to the months of harsh winter winds that blew unceasingly across the prairies. Like many others, Noah and Ethel spent the winter months with family and friends "back home." Soon after harvest, they would head east by train and not return to the west until it was time to get ready for spring seeding.

All the fieldwork was done with horses. Each farm would have had a cow for milk (shown as a milch cow on census records), or at least access to a family or neighbour's milk supply. The farms would have had poultry for eating and egg production, and other livestock for food and work. 


Unfortunately, the 1916 agricultural census records (schedules) have not been preserved, however, on the 1916 Census of Prairie Provinces cumulative report, it shows that the average Saskatchewan livestock amounts per farm were:
Horses 3 yrs and older - 6-9
Horses under 3 yrs - 1-3
Cows Milch - 1-3
Other cattle (oxen, maybe beef cows) - 6
Sheep - 1-2
Swine - 5
Hens & Chickens - 44
Turkeys - 1
Geese - 4
Ducks - 6

Although we don't know how much livestock Noah and Ethel owned when they left Saskatchewan in Oct/Nov 1916, we know they had enough to keep John Butts employed as their hired man. In the post, WW1 Letters - Percy to Ethel Jan 1, 1917, Noah's brother, Percy, wants Ethel to confirm that Mr Butts is to receive $20 per month, because Mr Butts has said he's been reckless with his money and is owed forty dollars. Percy's letter is interesting as it mentions that Mr Butts was out 'celebrating' and talking about quitting.

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