Christmas 1821: Bright with Promise

by Mary Ducharme  (December 2012)

Letters provide windows to the past that history books cannot. An example is written by James and Margaret Brownlee dated February 23, 1821, to their brother-in-law Archibald Stewart in Scotland.

After the Brownlees arrived from Carluke, Scotland, their crude log cabin was located on 200 acres, 4th Conces- sion, Lot 142. Their first child, John, was just beginning to walk and speak. Prospects were good: there was an orchard, pine timber for potash, and good soil for grain. Margaret was as excited as any woman in planning her new house: it was to be “40 x 26 feet with 3 rooms and a kitchen downstairs and a garret above, and a chimney at each end.”

Archibald was expected to arrive in the next year to build the chimneys, and purchase part of the Brownlee property. (The present road, Brownlee North, ends at the intersection of 202 on a lot once known as Stewart’s Corner). Because deer hunting was a privilege of the rich in Scotland, and poaching was punishable by hanging, James knew that Archibald would be interested in a company of 25 men freely organizing a winter deer hunt. James also described the process of maple sugaring which produced molasses, vinegar, and lump sugar. Completely new to them were Indian corn and “pumcans . . . excellent for cattle, for bread, pyes and sauce.”

The Brownlees were glowing in their description of the Christmas fare that year, suggesting strongly that such bounty was unknown to them in Carluke.

“We dined at Mr. Lavison’s on Christmas Day. We had for dinner roast beef, roast pork, roast turkey, pyes, raspberry, cranberry, apple sauce, butter and bread and all kinds of vegetables.” This fare was similar to what they enjoyed that season at Mr. Norman’s, an old Englishman, with some variation including “roast racoon, ham, Indian pudding, hon- ey, pickled cucumbers, pickled beets, nut cake, sweet cakes, and tea, buttered potatoes. As John Scriver’s guests they enjoyed tea, bread, pancakes, “mincht pyes” (mince pies) and cheese.

James and Margaret end their letter with “give our kindest loves to all enquiring friends. May the blessings of God abide with you.”