Sad ending to a young life

A letter from Susan Hall to her daughter, Mary Nevard in Canada.
Grove Farm
Saxmundham
Nov. 13th, 1910
My Dear Mary
I thought you would like to hear from me again as soon as I could write. You asked me about things
that you couldn't understand. I will try to explain everything. I may have told the same before.
I received a letter from dear Annie the Thursday after the baby was born, it was born the Tuesday night.
In it, it said Annie was going on alright and I needn't worry but I still felt bad when I found the dear little
baby was dead. I wrote back directly and she received my letter that same night and she was very
pleased to receive it. Then I had a postcard on the Saturday morning to say she was going on nicely.
The next monday morning there was a letter to say that poor Annie was suddenly taken worse the
Saturday night. I said well I must go and see by the next train, so Alice and I both went. We couldn't
have both went and left Louie but Mrs. Nevard came here the Friday before.
We sent a telegram to Herbert to say what train we would be going by. He met us at Liverpool street
and told us poor Annie had passed away. We wanted to go and see her but he said he couldn't take us
it would be too much for us coming so sudden and he couldn't bear it. But he said he had sent a telegram
for Father to go up but we were got to the station before it came. He kept saying he wanted Father to
come so he sent a telegram to Father to say we were coming home, would he go. So Father went by the
five train. Alice and I were very much upset. We felt it terribly to think we couldn't see her. Alice took her
night dress and other things, I though she could stop with Annie a few days.
When Father went he cheered Herbert all he could. He said he had nothing to live for in this world. He
seemed as if he didn't know what he was doing. They all told Father he had done him a world of good.
Father said he done the right thing not having us go to see dear Annie. If I had known I would have left
anything to have gone and see her before she died.
Dick and Maude had been waiting to come when Annie and Herbert came for their holiday. I am sending
you a memorial card of dear Annie. They were not done when I wrote to you.
Herbert's sister, Susie, thats living in London used to go and see Annie very often. She was there the
Thursday before she died. She said she worried so about losing the baby. I wish they had wrote and told
me then. I should have gone but I didn't know it.
We shall send you some of dear Annie's clothes later on. We thought of sending her wedding coat and shirt
and white silk blouse as I should like to send something good. We were glad to hear you had got the threshing
over. I hope you will be able to make a good price. I will answer Ernie's nice letter another time
Hoping this will meet you all quite well.
With love to all I remain your everloving Mother.
Susan Hall

Silver Birches

Silver Birches
No, those are just common Poplar or Trembling Aspen trees in the picture behind me. But they have the similar white bark that might fool some on first appearance. I wonder if these are the type of trees my grandfather, Horace Nevard saw back in 1906 when he first came to homestead this farm. It was not uncommon in those days to have a farm name for the homestead and the three Nevard brothers were no exception. Ernest named his "The Poplars". Brother Arthur named his "Winstanley Grove" no doubt inspired by his wife's maiden name of Winstanley. Horace chose "Silver Birches". In the many acres of native bush land on that farm I have yet to find a single Birch tree although I have not seen it all. My Uncle always claimed there were a few left but never got around to showing me where. The search continues.

Alice's trip to London

Letter from Alice to Horace on New Year Eve 1909
Grove Farm
Saxmundham
Dec. 31st, 1909
My Dear Horrie
I was very pleased to receive your nice letter. Mother sent it on to me because it came while I was
staying with Annie and Herbert. I had such a nice time at Christmas. I hope you all had a happy Christmas. I should
like to have seen you. I went to London last Friday and there was such a lot of people went by that train but I managed
to keep a seat for Cecil at Colchester. When we got to Liverpool St. we did not see Annie and Herbert for twenty minutes
as they were on another platform so I was very glad that Cecil was with me or I should have felt quite lost. I stood and
waited with our luggage while Cecil went and had a good look all around the different platforms so he found them up.
We went by tram part of the way to Annie's home. Cecil came with us and had tea and then he went on to Victoria to
meet his young lady. I did not go about London very much as Herbert was on duty all night and Annie does not know
very much about yet to go with me alone without Herbert. We went to Victoria Park on Christmas day. It is lovely in the
summer. Annie and I went to Stepney Church on Sunday morning and we stayed indoors the rest of the day. Herbert's
sister came in the evening and stayed to supper.
On Monday we went and saw Herbert on parade with the other policemen but we did not stay out only about half an hour as
we liked to be at home best in the evening and then on the Tuesday Annie took me to see the tunnel which goes under the
Thames and it is two miles long and lit up by electric light. It looked very pretty but I think it would make anyone deaf to stay
there long for it is one continual noise all day long. Herbert went with Annie and I to see some moving pictures one evening
and they were very good. I had never seen anything like it before. I think it is wonderful how it is done.
It is a nice quiet street where Annie and Herbert live only the trains run quite near by the house all night long and I could feel
the bed shake when they went past. There is some rope works at the back of the house which commence work at 6 o'clock
a:m and they make rather a noise. I like Annie's little home very much. It is very nice and cozy and they have furnished it nicely
and they are very happy. Herbert told me I could stay a month if I liked but I thought I had better come home as there is a lot of
work for Mother to do here alone so I came home by the next and reached Saxmundham about six o'clock. Father was at the
station to meet me. Mother was rather worried about me as I wrote and told her I was coming by an earlier train so she was afraid
I was gone on to Yarmouth but I am got home safe and sound.
You said in your letter that I must tell you all about my visit to London and I expect you will think after reading all this that I have
done so. I would like you to have been with me, it would have been so nice. Cecil wrote to Louie and told her that he had enjoyed his
holiday very much. I have been to Saxmundham this afternoon and I feel rather tired today, but Louie says it was riding in the train
yesterday for such a long while which made me tired. Dick and Maude and the two little girls came here on Christmas day and went
home on Sunday evening. I expect you have finished threshing. This is New Years Eve but I don't think I shall sit up to watch the old
year out and the new year in. It is past ten o'clock now and they are all gone to bed except me so I think I shall soon go too as I don't
like to be here alone. Louie sends her love to you and best wishes for a happy new year.
And now dearest I think I will conclude hoping you are all well. With love to all and my best, truest love to you dear I remain,
Your everloving Alice XXXXXXXXXXXX

Alice, letter from Grove Farm

Alice Hall wrote this letter to Horace Nevard in October of 1909 describing the wedding of her sister, Annie, to Herbert Button.

Grove Farm
Saxmundham
Oct. 15th, 1909
My dearest Horrie
I hope this will find you quite well as it leaves me. It is nearly a month since I heard from you so I'm beginning to
long for one to come as it seem such a long time. I thought I would write to you so it should not be quite so long
before you got my letter. I should have written to you before but we have been so busy lately that there has not
been much time to spare and I expect you have been busy too Dear as Arthur said in his letter that you were gone
away threshing. So I expect that is the reason why I have not heard from you but I hope I shall hear soon (all the same).
It was four years ago yesterday since you came with Willie in the van. I expect you have finished the harvest long
before this time and I hope the crops are good this year.
We are feeling very dull as Annie and Herbert went to London this morning. I expect you will like to hear about the
wedding so I will try and tell you all I can remember.
They were married at Carlton Church at quarter to twelve. We were going to walk across the fields but it was a wet
morning so Father went and ordered two carriages as it would have been too muddy to walk after the rain. It was nice
and fine when we went to the Church and the sun shined a little while. There was eight of us went to Church.
Herbert and his brother, Philip, and Louie and I went in the first carriage. The Church was trimmed up for the harvest
festival so it was rather nice.Herbert's brother, Philip, was the best man and father gave Annie away and I was
bridesmaid. There was 14 of us to dinner and tea. My Aunt and Uncle from Leiston came and Dick and Maude and the
children.
I wish you could have been there Dear, it would have been lovely. Herbert's father brought his gramaphone and melodian
so we had some music and we didn't go to bed much before the morning. On Tuesday morning Annie and Herbert
went to Leiston to Haylings to dinner and then to Theberton and came back here on Wednesday. Annie asked at the
Post Office about sending wedding cake to Canada so I expect that Mother will send some in a box when she write
to Mary.
Annie went to London for a week to get the house ready and furnish it and then she came home with Herbert on the
Sunday October 10th. I forget if I told you that Annie and I went to Rushmere one Sunday. We went by train in the
morning and came home at night. Emily came here for the week end a fortnight ago, just from Saturday to Monday
so it was a very short stay. Annie says I must go and see her at Christmas but I don't know whether I shall yet. We
miss her very much. When you come home Annie say we can both go and see them. And now my dearest I will
close my letter with my very best and truest love to you hoping all are well, with love to all I remain
Your everloving Alice
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annie's Letter

My grandmother's older sister, Annie Hall would have been 24 years old when she wrote this letter in October of 1906.
Annie had gone out to work in the town of Ipswich for the Turners. Not too many miles from her parents farm at Saxmundham.
The Herbert referred to in the letter is her fiancee and they would eventually marry in 1909 but that is another story for another
day.
9 St. Edmunds Road
Ipswich, Essex
Oct. 1st, 1906
My Dear Alice
As I have a little spare time I thought you might like to hear I have reached here in saftey. The young person in the train
conversed with me all the way so we had the carriage to ourselves all the way. She had been after a situation as cook
at Mrs. Frank Garret's. Her home was at Bury. She seemed rather lost at Ipswich station so I saw her right and then
went on my way rejoicing. It was half past one when I reached Ipswich as we stopped at every station with the exception
of Westerfield. You did not stop to see me out of sight. I hope you got home alright and did not feel lonely going back
because as Horrie says, " I will be back again one day".
Ethel had got a beef pudding to welcome me back. Then this afternoon she has been baking so I have been having tidbits.
The Turnerites have returned with rather ruffled tempers so we very thankfully saw them take their departure out to bridge.
I am by myself as usual as Ethel and Annie have gone out (to see if it is a nice evening I expect).
I found my letter awaiting me. Herbert's brother, Fred, is getting married at Christmas and I do not think there was any more
news in it that would interest you . When you think of coming to Ipswich again beware of the Aldeburgh train. I wish I could
have had a little longer stay with you. I hope Mother's lip is better, also her cold. I expect you will be going to the Harvest
Thanksgiving service at Saxmundham Church on Thursday. You must tell me all about it when you write.
I daresay you are gone to bed as it is just on ten so I shall have to post this in the morning. Now I do not think I have any
more to tell you this time, (only to be sure and not forget which corner the bicycles come around and that Annie has had
her photo taken, I hope she did not crack the glass). So will close with love to all and to yourself.
I remain your loving sister,
Annie
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx

Leaving Essex

No date on this letter but it would have been spring of 1906 when Horace was preparing to leave for Canada to join brothers Arthur and Ernest.
My dear Alice
I am just writing you a few lines hoping you are quite well as I am up to the present. It is getting rather close now for me to be off.
I should like to have seen you once again before I went but suppose I cannot, but cheer up, there will come a time some day.
I went last night to see my friend off. I expect you will not know who I mean but Louie does. H. Buck. It was not a very nice night
but he seemed cheerful.
I am just having a look now to see what I want to take with me and the others are sticking away and Cecil is writing labels and
marking my things. I went to town today and bought a few more things and had a good look round. I have just been to choir
practice for the last time. I expect you have gone to bed by this time. It is about 11 o'clock and I don't think I shall be about much
longer so goodnight and God bless you.
Friday afternoon
We have just finished dinner and Mary is washing up. Who do you get to help you wash up now have lost the butler? I daresay he
will come and help you again some day. Don't you think so?.
Of course you will not be able to answer this letter as you will not know my address, but I shall let you know it as soon as possible.
I daresay you will think it a curious letter and written rather funny but I thought it would be easier with a pencil. We had a letter from
Arthur yesterday and he said that Ernest was at Indian Head so it wiill be better for me won't it? I will write and let you know what
sort of a voyage I have. Louie said in her letter that you got home alright. You must not worry you know or you will get thin and
worry killed the cat. And every cloud has a silver lining.
Saturday afternoon
I have been packing my box and have just been to Pickfords office with it. We had rather a heavy load so Mr. Beaumont took it
Wednesday
I had a day yesterday of saying goodbye, a job that I did not care about but I have got it over at last and I am just going to have
my dinner and then off. So goodbye and cheer up. May I always remain your ever loving boy
Horace

This month in history

Just past a family history milestone here on Jan. 15. It marked the date of the funeral in 1942 for my Dad's Uncle Alf. He would have been 71 give or take a year or so. Just about 39 years earlier he had come to homestead in Sask. on this location with his brother and cousin.
Alf was born in Chetnole Dorset, U.K., the son of an agricultural labourer. In his early twenties he travelled by sailing ship to Queensland Australia. A voyage that took well over a month .Living conditions were not the greatest in Dorset at the time with little chance for improving your lot in life. Although why he went so far as Australia is not known. He did have a cousin living there at the time so this may have been a factor He worked on a sheep ranch near Graceville, Queensland for several years before returning to England. Then he and his brother Tom (my grandfather) sailed for Canada. Few details remain of this adventure but it is known that they worked on the railroad construction crews through the Canadian Rockies.
Continueing on their way south into the U.S. they worked on threshing crews eastward eventually arriving at New York harbour to return to England. This would have been in the early 1900s as by 1903, Alf, Tom, and cousin Jack all left Dorset again and sailed for Canada to homestead farms in what was at that time the Northwest Territories, later known as Saskatchewan.
The rest of his life Alf lived alone in his log cabin, never travelling any further than the 11 miles to the village of Lipton for his mail and other supplies. It must have been a quiet life especially in the winter. No tv, radio or telephone. Long cold nights with only the light of a coal oil lantern or the flames of poplar blocks burning in the wood stove. No sounds other than the howling of coyotes or the wind swaying the trees outside his log cabin.
This photo was taken of Alf in the early 1930s just in front of the door of his cabin.