JAMES FORBES SNR
1 May 2015
5 December 1882, James Forbes snr to David Forbes snr, no place given, NAD Forbes
Dear David
I heard from a Westoe Kaffir today that Straker is not back yet so suppose Dunford has not come either but send the cart out to be ready for him
I hope Dunford comes soon with the money for the King send it on here at once of he comes…
The first week I got 22 unreadable out of a small bit of the creek…
This week I am also going to start a Cradle on one of the Leaders that Swears found I think it will pay well…
We put up two new Kaffir Huts and got our mealies carted and the Garden planted so I start working again tomorrow We want to get Calico enough to make some small tents for Swears to go out prospecting I am just going over to load up your things and start the cart…
Jardine is in with two wagons and some Boys of Wilsons also it would be a good idea to cut a lot while they are to be got…
I send you ?200 shot and cartridges and our Butter tin if Kate has none to send try Kok for 20lb or so as we have nothing but dry Porrige and Bread…
Love to all your affect brother
J Forbes
Send also the dynamite and our unreadable send we forgot to take them
15 September [1887], James Forbes snr to David Forbes snr, Ingwenia, Swaziland, NAD Forbes
Ingwenia
Sept 15th
Dear David
Mr Burgers is going out to get coal he goes to you to see about it – There is nothing new here I did not go to get the paper for the place as the King is not back from hunting yet I expect he will be back soon now Did you get me a pair of trousers in Barberton if so send them as I am getting short
Love to all
Your affect Brother
James
14 June 1888, James Forbes snr to David Forbes snr, Bedford Hotel, 93&95 Southampton Row, Russell Square, London W.C., NAD Forbes
Dear David
There was nothing done in the Coal or Henderson concession when I saw ?Farrant last but he thought that both would be taken up the Delagoa by Railway… Farrant also said that the Henderson was a question of what cartage we would give he spoke of 10% I told him I could not say… & only that I thought it very high on ?cash and shares that ?Sheparton offered to do it for 5% so he said no more only that he had to give Mr Beeton half for that and the coal also you did not send me the Copley concession yet if Shepstone has signed it send it & I think I can float it. I have not seen Albu & Davis yet they may be at Kimberley still.
I saw Albrecht once and ?Sewel several times he was here yesterday…
Nelly has gone to Swears today she was here the last few days I go there Saturday for a week – as far as I can find out shares are worth here about £3 – Polson spoke to me about the Henderson concession and asked why we did not give them the chance of it…
I have been seedy the last few days with the liver … I knew that I would get ill I got so fat on the way home… have dropped even claret now never take any thing but Blue Poll
…Albrecht is going to select the horse for Davie he ought to know more about them than I do
I hope Kate is keeping well
Your affect Brother
James Forbes
29 December 1890, James Forbes snr to Dave Forbes jnr, Edinburgh, NAD Forbes
Dear Davie
I only got back from Argyllshire for Christmas and Aunt Lizzy gave me your letter – I don’t see what right Steyn has to bother about that bit of Ground at present… as long as the country belonged to the Swazis I would not sell it… and the piece of ground was pointed out by me to the two Steyns Jacob & Henderick it was to be from Jacob Steyns Beacon on top of the hill to a small stone koppie on the left of the Road…
I think about 600 yards from his Stream… but I will give you a sketch of it
I would like to hear all about the Swazis how have they done with the concessions or are they all arranged yet?
Will you tell Father nothing more can be done on the coal till a sample comes home as what we have is not good enough to float it
I will not write to the others this week so tell them that we are all well
Mrs Baillie is looking better tell Nellie
Love to all at Athole
Your affect Uncle
James Forbes
[last sheet is a sketch of the ‘piece of ground’ referred to]
26 February 1892, James Forbes snr to Nellie Forbes, 42 Duke Street, London, W., NAD Forbes
Dear Nelly
I came here to stay a while and see how the Share Market is to go on there is no change as yet at least not for a month now. They keep about 7/6 and 7/8 but all the People here that ought to know about it are hopeful
I hear Jack is selling at the present prices but he is the only one except people that bought for 3 and 4 shillings…
I called on Mrs Smith (Gerty) yesterday… The Baby has not been very well so she is going to stay with her mother in the country…
I think the Millers are expected from Australia in June then I suppose Charlie will get married
Jack is getting married also soon to a Miss Ross she is the daughter of an Engineer I hear she is nice looking and has lots of money…
They were all well in Edinburgh when I left Mrs Baillie is looking well… but Baillie is looking very old now the Morrisons are well…
I only saw Farrant once and that only for a few moments but I am doing to have dinner with him tonight and will hear his opinion of things… I wish the shares could go to a fair price so I could sell out I am tired of them
I hope you will write at times and tell Madge to write it is not pleasant to think one is forgotten
Love to all
your affect Uncle
James Forbes
12 January 1895, James Forbes snr to David Forbes snr, Darkton, Swaziland, NAD Forbes
Dear David
I had a letter from John Taylor last mail they talk of reconstructing the company by us paying up 2/6 per share I dont like the idea I think it would be better to sell the Tin part Cooper still says his syndicate will give the £2000 for it I dont think many of the shareholders will agree to pay…
I had to leave the Tin again for want of water but I am keeping a ?party on the place that the Pullin people claim…
I was over at the Reef last Monday Allright heard nothing of getting a Drill yet they were there putting up the Electric plant…
With love to all at Athole
Your affect Brother
James Forbes
27 July 1895, James Forbes snr to David Forbes snr, Southern Forbes Reef Company, Swaziland via Steynsdorp, Transvaal, NAD Forbes]
Dear David
I was very pleased to hear that Davie found coal none of the Kaffirs that I saw would own to having seen any I told them to look for it and that I would pay them if they could show it when I came back I had a letter from Baylis a few days ago saying that he had a letter from Shepstone wanting to buy his share of the Coal…
Drilling is not satisfactory till we get the Tubes not much can be done as we have 80 feet of soft stuff to go through
I have paid off all my people except 6 Boys that all work on the Henderson & Forbes I find good Gold in the Stream there but I am not working it only prospecting it to see what can be done with it
We have had our share of influenza here… Kaffirs here & also Macapan lost his Wife and two Children with it but with them Dysentery set it … he is also very ill I took the Dr to him…
Swears says on June 27th the Shares went up 1/3 from 8/9 to 10/-…
I hope you have all got rid of your colds
your affect Brother
James Forbes
26 February 1896, Kate Forbes to James Forbes snr, Athole, New Scotland, NAD Forbes
My dear James
We are all very sorry to hear you have been ill we only got Mr Evans and Daves telegrams yesterday saying you had fever… it would been as well if you had come home instead of going to Pretoria for then you were going into the fever… he will look after you Davie is a good fever doctor…
Every thing very quiet here… the present generation of young Boers are bad shots in fact no shots at all Doornkop showed that by the ammunition expended so the Government is giving out guns and ammunition so the young Boers can practice and the monthly shootings are to be increased…
We have been losing sheep again… the herds left them at the black stones and on counting them two days after found 90 gone out of two flocks. I suppose some of the Tosen crowd must have been passing and thought it a good opportunity to annex some sheep…
I send this to Esselens Dispansary I wrote Dave & you last week and addressed it “Gold Field Hotel Johannesburg” tell Dave to get it…
We shall expect to see you when Dave comes
Love from all
Your affectionate Sister
C A Forbes
Last updated: 1 May 2015
