DAVID FORBES SNR
1 May 2015
23 June 1865, David Forbes snr to Alexander Forbes snr, Noodsberg, Natal, NAD Forbes
Dear Alick
The wagon has come from the Sinquassi to fetch us to the ?Shostung we start tomorrow I leave Mr Partridge in charge of the house the few cattle here are over at Dicks the remainder are down at Doornkloof A I took them down for sale I sold about 50 head…
I got McCall & Leslie to take up that bill of ?Thrucks but after the Sherrifs sale was advertised in the Gazette If you have any good oxen with you I can sell them at the coast also cows if there is no sickness about them..
We will be back in about 12 days – I get £6 & £7 for cows now Amaponda cows will sell to Kafirs just as well as Zulas…
Mick’s cattle are at the ‘Mapamala’ at the Kafirs crawl he has been here asking after Mick
Jamie is at Doonkloof sawing wood
Send at ?note per post when you come
Your affect Brother
D Forbes
16 December 1866, David Forbes snr to Kate Forbes, Petermaritzburg, Natal, NAD Forbes
My dear Kate
George & I got here last night with the wagon we found all the wagons gone excepting Mr Napiers which is just out of Town and Mr McCorkindale’s but they all start in the morning Mrs McTavish goes in Mr Mc’s wagon, Mr & Mrs Mc go in the spider…
Mrs M’Corkindale says that she has not written as she has written so often to say they were starting that she will not write again until they do start…
I hope you are getting strong Kitty you must be careful of yourself for you know the little ones and I cannot do without you I have been always thinking about you and hope to get a letter at Ladysmith to say you are all right again…
George and I went to hear the bishop this morning and Mr Campbell in the evening…
Mrs McCorkindale left a parcel for you at Norderberg & one for Sarah and a handkerchief or two for Nelly I opened them and found yours was a dress piece…
The horse that we got from ?Stewart is very ill we noticed him panting and breathing very heavily yesterday… I don’t think he has any chance of getting over it Dear Kitty you must not fret too much about little Georgie he is in better hands than ours now all we can do is to pray we may go where he has gone dont forget to hear the children say their prayers ?nightly I went to the burying ground today and found poor Alicks grave just as they left it only there is one along side of it now I will finish this in the morning perhaps I may remember something else I want to tell you
Monday morning
…There is a person going about here calling himself Charles Purcocks brother to Mrs Forbes Nordesberg… and told them he was a great friend of Charlie Bott &c &c… I think he is the same as your mother spoke of for he knows Jack McDonald I am giving Carr a bill of 4 ?pounds Mr Mc says he will be able to give it ?through…
love to yourself & the children
from your affectionate husband
David Forbes
21 December 1866, Kate Forbes to David Forbes snr, no place given but Athole, New Scotland, NAD Forbes
My dear Davie
I got your letter last night it had been opened it was quite wet when it came Charlie wrote a few lines to Sarah and Aunt ?checked it that was opened too… Straker saw it as well as ourselves and felt how wet it was we left the envelope and in about half an hour they were quite dry & hard…
I am getting stronger I can eat my meals all right but cant get my tongue clear. I have taken to cold baths in the morning I think they will do me good I have one glass of wine a day that is at night I am all right during the day as Mother keeps me busy but at night I think of my ^our^ little boy I do not grieve for him but I cant help thinking of his winning ways
You must be careful of yourself, but do all your business before you return I will be careful of the children & myself Mother says she will not tire of us
Nelly was very poorly yesterday… I think she had taken too many bananas…
You didnt tell me what this new brother of mine said to George Mother says she does not remember speaking about any one what she did say about for I cant remember too did he tell Charlie himself she was a friend of his Sarah has had a bad face Ackie is well so is Davie he is quite a pet makes great work of Sarah & Mother He is so pleased with the pocket handkerchief that he say Aunt Lizzie give him I send this to James to post as I dont want it opened either send your letters to Miss Hampson or to James…
I cant tell you about Garlands bill till I get home to get the invoice did you leave the power of attorney for us to sell the Umgenie ?place Father has gone to DUrban to fetch Vin Sarah is not going down till after Christmas Mother is wondering why George does not write…
Aunty Straker says ?Uncle is going to have a weekly post from Newcastle and that letters are to be directed there…
Be sure and take care of yourself I am so dreadfully nervous about you
I am sorry about “Blackie” I suppose it is the same as Vilikins you wont get much for him dont you think it is the grass that makes him pant so James said he always like that after he had been out I was just thinking you would be in Ladysmith before this would reach you…
I shall write you once a fortnight and direct to Newcastle Tell Mrs ?Napier I will write by next post…
love to you & George the children send you lots of kisses and accept the same from your affectionate Wife
Kate –
26 December 1866, David Forbes snr to Kate Forbes, Ladysmith, Natal, NAD Forbes
My dear Kitty
We got here yesterday afternoon and being Christmas day we gave ourselves a half holy day that is to say we stayed for the night here but we might as well be anywhere for we out-spanned outside the town and were very quiet we had a very poor X mass (as Sarah calls it) but we had to wait for one of the wagons that Mr Downing is with it stuck and only got here after dark…
Mr Napier’s wagon is with us and a wagon with Mr & Mrs McTavish…
I don’t know where Mr & Mrs Mc are but we hear they are at “Wakerstrom”…
Mr Bell and Mr Bott are with the wagons in front…
George & Mr Napier went to the post office yesterday but no letters I was very much disappointed as I have been very anxious about you we are waiting till today…
We find this to be a very bad road not nearly as good as the Grey Town road… Ladysmith is on a flat surrounded by hills and very warm in the summer…
I have not sent a power of attorney to sell the land at the ?Ingenia as James will have to sign it too so if any person buys it the deed of sale can be written out and signed by James and you. Sign my name as executor of the late Alexr Forbes just sign my name as if I signed it myself I think I would not refuse £100 for the place as we want money and it is scarce – the purchaser has to pay all expenses…
The post is in and no letter for me My dear Kitty I hope there is noting the matter with you I feel almost inclined to turn back but cannot think of anything to prevent your writing…if you were too ill to write Sarah would write to let me know…
Love to yourself tell Nelly to kiss you for me remember me to all
Your affectionate husband
David
7 June 1871, David Forbes snr to Kate Forbes, Hebron, Diamond Fields, NAD Forbes
My dear Kate
I wrote to ^you^ about ten days ago but in case the letter may have gone astray I now write again and I think this letter will about catch the New Scotland post from Newcastle which I suppose is still running…
I often regret coming away at all but it was for the best and I hope will turn out so but as yet we have found nothing and we have been hard at work since the 22nd May but there are people here that have been working for seven months and only got half a carat but not many such cases they generally say about one every ten days…
George and a Kafir has been digging two Kafirs washing with the craddle and Vin and I searching… We have made up our minds to go to “Du toits pan” on Monday from all we hear it is a better place than this… about thirty miles from here and in the free state the expenses are a little more than here but a one carat diamond would cover all for two months…
Buchanan has found nothing either…
I have got the £10 from Erskine and Hampson is to pay me before I leave so I will have some money to buy some things for you. We have very cold nights now frost every night. Dr Eadie is at the place we are going to I will consult him about your case
…I hope Mrs Clark has got there long ago it will make your mind easy about your little business but above everything dont fret yourself Kitty about any thing James and Watson are at Du Toits Span McFarlane and ?Howman are there I hear…
Kiss all the little ones for me also Aunt Sarah and remember me to your father and mother &c…
I will enclose a note to Nelly so I will finish with sincere love my dear Kate from
your affectionate husband
David Forbes
18 June 1871, David Forbes snr to Kate Forbes, Du Toits Pan, Diamond Fields, NAD Forbes
My dear Kitty
As Geo is writing home I enclose a note just to let you know what we are doing…
We have got to Du Toits pan diggings and I have more hope here than where we were before there is said to be about 20,000 people here… The diamonds are found here in a sort of lime or something like lime mixed with ashes… we have as good a claim as any and I expect to get another tomorrow two Kafirs and I will work together George Vin and one Kafir are working one claim and one Kafir with the oxen…
James and ?Watson have got ?10 diamonds but they are all small… I expect to be able to tell you next week that we have found…
James has told me of ?Mackays letter he must just do as he likes James told him that we would make the place over to him…
Heinman told me yesterday that he heard that Mr McCorkindale was dead that he had died down at the Bomba but as he was all right when Erskine wrote on the 26th April and as I have had no word from you yet I dont know how the news could get here so fast and it is said to have come by Pretoria so I conclude and hope it is only one of those reports that people are so fond of spreading I have not had a letter from you yet but it may be at Pniel… I was glad when I heard Mrs Clark had gone back but I hear that they went to Natal…
Mr & Mrs Shires are here also old Mrs Shires and Mr and Mrs Wood and ?McLauchlans three girls…
…so tell Sarah she may hope for her diamonds now but she must write to me…
I enclosed letter to Nelly last week she must write to me too tell Ackie Davie Jamie and Kenneth that I have not forgotten them nor my little girls…
Sincere love to yourself my Dear Kitty from your
affectionate husband
David Forbes
1 July 1871, Kate Forbes to David Forbes snr, Apsley, Natal, NAD Forbes
My dear Davie
I came here last Monday and that same day had arrived your first letter from the Fields you cannot tell how glad I was to get it it was almost the first thing I got on my arrival here Sarah also got one from you I came here to make arrangements for next month… Mrs ?J Arthur is I believe going to Mr Wells who has engaged James Arthur so she cannot come to me and as I have to get some Dutch woman I think it better to be at home.
Mrs Walsh recommend him to get if she could Mrs Feltman from ?Slangapurberg so David has gone to see if she will come I expect to hear tonight If I cannot get her I must tell the blacksmith he must fetch is wife…
Piet Joubert came to near the old house after David left Atholl he has about eighty head of cattle beside over two hundred sheep & goats I sent word by Villiam that he must go and if he is there when I go home on Monday will insist of him going…
Aunt is waiting for your return to go over all Uncles papers with her Mr Gunn leaves on Monday for Natal he is going to open a store at Lake Chrissy in conjunction with Mr Walsh and I believe Mr Erskine is in the affair…
Mr Gunn was telling me he had a letter from Watson in this mail wanting him to come & join them (W & James) but he is going off for goods for this store Mr ?Tell came down last week he was very kind and gave some good advice to Aunt she was for starting off for Pretoria…. And if she went what could she say to the Raad until she had heard from England better wait until she could make some definite proposal…
Mr Erkines brother St Vincent is at “?Tryack” and Mr Evans went down to meet him but as changed his mind and sent a Kafir instead…
The next thing we hear Mr St V Erskine Capt ?Elton & Dr Wilson are at ?Tryack on an exploring expedition…
Sarah will write every month until we hear you are likely to leave…
I am quite contented and feel whatever happens it will be all for the best I have Nelly, Ackie, Kenneth down with me of course Kitty is here I leave here tomorrow for Atholl…
Directly I go home I am going to send to ?Clarry telling him he must either take the cattle away or send someone to look after them as I want my Kafir to finish our house for really Davie when they ?compare the children to Sandy McG it is time to try to change I have been terribly annoyed with remarks so much so that I have made up my mind to entertain no one at the house until it is finished…
I must finish as the Kafir is leaving All send you lots of love and soon after you get this you will be for coming home dont let things here influence your starting before you are ready
Believe me my dear David
Your affectionate wife
Kate Forbes
Feb 3rd Sarah wrote you last week…
13 July 1871, Kate Forbes to David Forbes snr, Lionsglen, New Scotland, NAD Forbes
My dear Davie
David has just come and brought two letters from you June 8th & 18th I am so pleased to hear from you
I went to ?Derby to see Aunt and to see about who I was to get I wrote you from there but after my letter was sent I heard Mrs Feltman would come and I must pay her £2 but if she did any washing £3 and £1 to Feltman for bringing her if I would allow him to shoot while they were there…
Father Mother the three little ones & I are going down in about ?ten days as I am afraid to travel after then…
Aunt… she is waiting till you come before she examines Uncles private papers…
I will tell Villiam he may come now… the fellow has come three times to me & Villiam to get to come and every one knows I am doing it without consulting you as the time is so short… only give him liberty until his crops are ripe…
I have had no letter from Lizzie since you left but she sent two March papers…
Villiam is still bad with his leg it is just like “?Skits” “?Consarpic” has his feet ? and cant walk so Villiam has to limp after the cattle…
“?Kigsaru” has been to me to ask you to let him come and live at our place he thinks you might not be angry now for he was with you a long time…
I have been thinking that as we are generally without Kafirs…
I have also given the woman at Macfarlanes liberty to come and plant at our place She says she does not see a place at John McF to plant beside she does not like being there without there is a mistress…
…the 23 Sabi farms are bonded for the benefit of all Uncles South African creditors for the sum of £3000 Mr G has taken the title deeds of the farms with him to Natal
[end missing]
6 July 1902, David Forbes snr to Kate Forbes, Johannesburg, NAD Forbes
My dear Kate
We got here all right last night I drove to the Godfields hotel but it was full… I asked if Dave was there but he left on Friday… I drove from Hotel to Hotel but all were full… at last we came to the Masonic opposite Heaths there they said… we can give you a place to lie down… in the evening I was shown into a nice room…
…does not know where Cohen lives I then went to the Cub and there they knew as little only he comes there every day I went to the telegraph office to wire to Dave but they can only send military wires till 5 p.m.
…I have not seen any one I know we had windy day coming the country looks miserable the grass all black or bare brown… I cannot give you my idea of what is doing till I see Dave or Cohen – possibly Dave may have gone back to Barberton.
…I hope you people are getting on all right do the best you can till I get back
I hear them in the Hotel talking of ‘Lace Diamonds’ being down to four pounds odd and when they were called in the Exchange they were “hooted” I dont know what it means
Much love to all and yourself fro your
Affectionate husband
David Forbes
2 September 1903 David Forbes snr to Kitty Forbes, NAD Forbes
Dear Kitty
I received your letter there was from each of you we were glad to hear you are getting on so well
You say you cannot find the Gum seed I got from Mr Thomas… I thought with the others in that big case in the dining room it is marked Gum seed from Mr Thomas I will get the fairy shoes you want I see them everywhere here…
We intended to come home but I had a letter from dave in which he says that Grosvenor will be awfully disappointed if I leave so don’t know what to do, but yesterday I said that I thought we had arrived at the stage that we ought to reject all evidence except any official evidence and the secretary was instructed not to ask any more witnrsses to send statements.
…I hope the horses you are having from Grimes will please you – I am glad the fruit trees are looking so well – have you grasshoppers like we had last season… the Japanese Plums… If those grasshoppers attack them I would wash them with ?Littles dip say 1 to 50 or even weaker – I cannot get a spraying nozzle here but your syringe will do
…I notice that we are to send the thirty ^five^ pounds that is here to Dave and Jim. I will attend to it
Dave wrote that he was starting for the coal concession I see in the paper that the surveyors are in the Bremersdorp looking out the best route for the railway…
Where the tank was may be the pipe if you have [not] got bottom yet
Last updated: 1 May 2015
