Burrows Working Tree....Jane White Writes to Her Brother Alexander Burrows on the 6th of August, 1890 from WhiteHall

A Victorian writing box/Pinterest.  I can imagine Jane sitting down with her writing box or at her writing table to quickly pen this short letter....

    "I write in reply of yours which I got this morning.  In three days time Father will be 12 months dead......."

Page 1  front.  Jane's letter begins on the right hand side.
 

Page 1 back.  

  This is a short note written from Jane Burrows White to her brother Alexander Burrows on August the 6th, 1890.  We can extrapolate the date as she describes the moment she sat down and wrote this letter..."In three days time Father will be 12 months dead".....Alexander Burrows of Drum passed away on the 9th of August, a year earlier, in 1889.  This letter is one in a series of letters written to Alexander by his sisters Jane and Emy after the death of their father. Jane was 52 years old when she wrote this letter.  She enclosed it with the letter written by Emy (see last post).  The letter was written from her home in WhiteHall, County Leitrim, near Tullycooley. 

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  (Page 1 front, right hand side)

                                                WhiteHall

                                                 Aug 6th

Dear Alex,

   I write in [reply or receipt?] of yours which I got this morning[.]  In three days time Father will be 12 months dead[.] poor man did not [get?] much care in his last sickness[.]  I am not very well myself although [in?] good health

(Page 1 back, left side)

at the sea[.]  I enclose this letter in Emys[.] she says She will [get?] a copy of the will from Mousdale[.]  if so, I'll send it to you[.]  she [places?] great confidence in Moulsdale[.]  a great many people do not like him[.] now dear Alex I often

(Page 1 back, right side)

think of your features but cant call to mind what or who you are like[.]   please send me your photograph[.] I can send you one of Fathers if you like when I am writing again[.]  I,ll send you a copy of the will the day I get it[.]  Mousdale is away[.]

(Page 1 front, left side)

tom is coming home[.] I think Ill send you his letter[.]  [if?] you like to get the Independent paper if so I could send it to you often[.] you know Drum House is greatly [tossed?] up[.] Emy was saying she would go up and fix it or clean it for Tom[.] ever your fond sister Jane White

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  Jane spent a few weeks at Rosses Point at the end of June that summer.  It seems her visit to the sea did her some good, but she pointed out that she was still not well on her return. 

  Again, we get a picture of the circumstances at Drum House.  Tom was away in America, but expected back soon to take over his responsibilities. Adam was left alone and taking his meals at William Crawford's neighboring farm.  In Emy's last letter she described taking an account of the table linens.  Was she possibly taking care of the chaos and disorder at Drum House?  I can only imagine what the state of the house and lands were after a year with only Adam at home.  The house and land were eventually sold out of the Burrows family, and remained in the Craig family until 1986. 

  

Irish Eyebrights bloom between July and September on the grasslands and cliffs of Ireland. Perhaps Jane had the chance to see these blooming around her home at WhiteHall that summer. 

Photo via http://ow.ly/KajlA