Mary McCorkindale

 

MARY MCCORKINDALE

1 May 2015

 

14 March 1860, Mary McCorkindale to Kate Forbes, Sinquassi Manor, NAD Forbes

My dear Kate

…when you pay us your first visit you can select from our Books any you have not read & think will be useful to you, as regards the Copy books, I should not like to try the angular hand writing, it would spoil your present writing which is much ?more to my taste

The large washing business my dear Kate I was very sorry to hear of & think you should have waited until a Kafir could have done them a few at a time, I fancy Davie will have been pained at seeing you suffer so much from it, you must not do these things, you have not strength for such work & should not overtax yourself…

…do not trouble yourself if the Misses Forbes never call upon you if they come make them welcome to your heart ^if you can^ as well as home, their influences cannot prevent so very many from wishing to make your acquaintance…

I am pleased to hear David is particular about your personal appearance and hope you will take some pains yourself to please him

This is waiting for George coming out of the Zola land before he comes to you…

Your Mother was talking the other day of buying a pair of spectacles… Vin will insist after a pair being bought for you

Your Uncle McC is gone to Maritzburg he intends to call upon you on his way home…

David’s cousin Alick called on your Mother he was very friendly indeed she told ^me^ & said he shall go to see you expressed himself pleased that Davie had got you for a wife …Your Mother has ?pined for my letter so much send it in all haste for her to read…

Your affecte Aunt

M.A. McCorkindale

 

12 March 1865, Mary McCorkindale to Anne Purcocks, Mrs Hoack’s Boarding House, In the Gardens, Cape Town, NAD Forbes

My dear sister Anne

Here I am safely located at the most comfortable house in Cape Town we had a very quick passage from Natal…

I found the “Athens” a comfortable ship with a well provided Table & Cow on board plenty of milk…

I was sick and ill the first day but soon…

We leave here on Wednesday the 15th in the “Cambrian” steam ship I am told there will be near 50 first class passengers…

I was so amused with the gossip about different people from Natal who had been passengers

I am sure you will want to know about my dress I am wearing Black Satin & yesterday I bought some pretty black lace… but I have not bought a crinoline

…in some fine old gardens a little on the ascent of Table Mountain

This morning I went to hear the service at St George’s Cathedral

Yesterday I went to the Govts Gardens every thing here shows the want of rain. Monday I am going to the Museum it is a handsome building & one of the principal sights of Cape Town

[end missing]

 

24 December 1868, Mary McCorkindale to Kate Forbes, Rotherfield Street, Islington, London, NAD Forbes

My dear Kate

I received your letter sent by Hampson and hope David has been able to manage to sell his farm and get the Title deed to it from the Volksraad. When we left Natal our Titles were in the hands of Mr ?Lys he has sent them here, that was the reason my husband sent David the bill of sale, ?tho’ that foolish article in the Transvaal “Argus” that the Raad meant to cancel my husband’s right to the last eighty farms…

David will see at once what a fix it has placed my husband in – he has written to the President and the Raad and is waiting their reply… this will cause us to be absent longer than expected

Mr ?Marks has not been able to do anything from the same cause people here think there is no security in the Givt to invest their money…

My husband expects you to get all you want from one store and has written Walsh to that effect, and it will not be good for Walsh’s future if he does not let you and your father and Mother have what you want as long as there is anything to be had…

My dear Kate take all the care you can of your health for very precious are you to us all I dont like to think of you being ^ill^ with such a family of little children and the difficulty of getting Kafirs I am sure you will have too much to do Tell David he must do the best he can for his own interest in everythibg until we return when my husband will put him in possession of his Title and everything else he can to help him, have no nonsense with ?Alnaswazis in telling Kafirs such bad things of you but thrash him if you think right to do so – but I hope he will not come near you and that Charles will be there to see he is well employed

If you want goats and Charles has any I will write him to let you have some for killing…

Tell dear Nelly if I was to bring all the pretty things I should like for her and the coat for you I should want her Papa’s waggon to bring them from Natal

[end missing]

 

8 August 1875, Mary McCorkindale to Kate Forbes, Pretoria, NAD Forbes

My dear Kate

My letters sent by Mr Hale… I wrote and explained everything… not always allowing wood to be cut on any of the bushes … hope all has now been done according to my wishes.

I think it likely Mr Evans may come down by post cart… I shall not be done before Xmas but if Vincent fetch me we will eat our Xmas dinner with you…

Mr Evans got the Interdict for the Lydenberg farms entirely removed but not one was sold… the offers made was not more than £100 per farm – in every thing else the affairs are quite at a standstill nothing can be done…

…the President’s views may be ???attend about wishing to take the lands of New Scotland

Mr Platt wants to say he can form a company of the Lydenberg Farms but nothing is decided. Mr Evans thinks we may perhaps get offers here privately.

My love to Kitty Jemima Baby

Your loving Aunt

M.A. McCorkindale

 

10 August 1877, Mary McCorkindale to David Forbes snr, Pretoria, NAD Forbes

Dear David

Thanks for all the trouble you have taken about the Beacons… Mr Evans has sent Mr Erskine a tracing I think from the Office of the Registrar which agrees with yours so there can be no doubt

Mr Evans said he wanted Straker & Vin to go with him on the survey of course that would be a serious expense so I write to them not to go… if any dispute arose from the owners of adjoining farms…

…we must sell some farms to pay a good Dividend as soon as possible

Sir T Shepstone & Staff leave today or Monday & they go to Lydenberg, Gold Fields, N Scotland, Swazi land, also I hear to Cetywayo in Zola land… I hear they will go to the Swazi King I don’t think they will allow him to sell land… Mr Rudolph will show him all the lower part of the land…

Mr Eva your house also to Mr Kriecks & see you all when you can tell him everything he ought to know…

Your loving Aunt

M.A. McCorkindale

 

23 October 1878, Mary McCorkindale to Kate Forbes, Pretoria, NAD Forbes

My dear Kate

…or Kitty & Maggie… Miss C has two holland dresses

They will prevent Kafirs going about in large bodies stealing cattle &c

…the Indian contingent from Malta

Tom Emerson called to see me

I asked Sir T Shepstone about the Zulus he does not think they will break out

Mr Evans called

Your loving Aunt

M.A. McCorkindale

 

7 February 1879 Mary McCorkindale to Sarah Purcocks, Pretoria, NAD Forbes

My dear Sara

…enclosing a note from Vin Sara what a Jew you are to charge the soldiers 6/- for Unreadable of course they can’t often taste it at any price

…James Forbes was quite right not to be mixed up with such scoundrels as ?Farrell & Dupont…

We had a grand Wedding ?Emils Mr Johanter of the Medical Unreadable to Miss Jeppe

The Weatherby case decided no divorce

Many people have made £90 a month upon their Wagons all expenses paid by the Govt no doubt Straker & David will make a good deal of money never have such chances again…

Your Affecte Aunt

M.A. McCorkindale

 

Last updated: 1 May 2015


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