Our Climie Ancestors

As you know (see Corry Book) our ancestor, Andrew Climie, (my 3rd great grandfather), his wife, Janet Turnbull, and their children emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1821. Their ninth child, Elizabeth, was born right after they landed in Quebec (literally--they arrived June 20, and she was born June 27, 1821).
Andrew's younger brother, John, and his family also emigrated the year earlier, 1820. John wrote back to his relatives in Scotland telling of their journey and adventures in the new country. Since his account is likely similar to the experiences of our Andrew (and also to our George and Margaret Corry and their children), I will share them here. (The Brother referred to below was likely Andrew since he and his family left Scotland May 11 and arrived June 20, 1820--three months after the date of the letter).

"From John Climie, to his Brother and Sister.--Dalhousie, Upper Canada, 8th February, 1821
"Although it is but about six months since we had the pleasure of seeing one another, and enjoying one another's conversation, spiritual and temporal, I trust to our mutual benefit, and although at the distance of about 5000 miles, we rejoice to know, that we can meet, day by day, at a throne of grace, and also in our night visions, and almost every day you form a part of our conversation.
"The vast vicissitudes that we have gone through since parting, we can hardly with pen and ink relate. All has been new, and all has been a wonder. . . .I do not know whether you are in the same mind as you were when we were together, or not, about this country; but I can safely say, that I have seen nothing contrary to what we anticipated, save that the winter is far milder than we imagined. All the Emigrants agree with us, that winter is pleasanter here than at home. . . .I can say that I bless the Lord that I have come here, and am obliged to those who were the means in his hand to the obtaining of it. May they find mercy of the Lord in that day.
". . . .it is very expensive coming from Quebec to this place [they landed in Quebec and then traveled to Lanark County, Ontario, and settled], and maintaining a family, until a crop is got off the land.
"Indeed, there are a good deal of hardships to overcome, before obtaining the prize; such as selling our articles for half-nothing--leaving our country and friends we held so dear--crossing the Atlantic--meeting with gales of wind--sometimes sea-sick--too much - choked up in our berths--sometimes loathing our food, though good and wholesome--wearying for a sight of land, but, with bad navigators and contrary winds, going faster back than forward--and, to crown all, associating with profane swearers and Sabbath-breakers--then landing in a strange country; and if you are not on your guard, you will be taken in, in making merchandise--
". . . .jogging in wagons--going up the river in small boats--landing at night at the side of a wood--kindling a fire--cooking our victuals--making our beds--every one running faster than another, to find the lownmost spot--then hurried up by the break of day, by the conductor crying, 'get into the boats,' scarcely giving us as much time as to collect our children and bed-clothes (for there is no casting off body-clothes on these occasions) together, till the boats are off--
". . . .then plying and rowing with oars, till coming to the strict running of the rivers, which they call rapids, on which poles and oars have no effect--then the male passengers, with all the sailors but one who is left to guide the boat through, whilst we are pulling with ropes, till we get it through the stream, which is sore work; indeed, you must understand, that the boats sail by the sides of the river, so as that we are on land, while pulling the same.
"Then, after water-passage, the land-carriage, which is about 60 miles, which they accomplish in about two days, with four-wheeled carriages with two horses. . . .The road is very rough, and they go with such fury, that sometimes, going down a hill, all is upset. . . .The families are left in a village, while the husbands are sent away to view their land, at a distance of 15 or 30 miles farther up the country. . . ."

(To Be Continued tomorrow, I hope---------Sue Anne)