THE PEARCE LETTERS
These are a series of letters
between Frances (Frank) & Margaret Pearce (nee Warne) and their children,
when Frank and some of his sons were working in the Mt Eba area (see “The
Cornishman Who Went Bush”). And if you read Frank’s letters out load “as
written” you can hear his rich West Country accent coming through.
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< Frank to his daughter >
< as written >
Coondambo Aug 1 1877
My Dear Lusay
I was glad to racive your letter to know that you know you have got a fathear
I think that weas the seackent (second) letter that I ever haid from anany of
you befor. you cant think how proid (proud) I was wen I racive it I could read
your letter very well but if you tack little tim wen you heur (are) righting I
could read it much better but. I think that wes the bes letter that I hever
reaceve from my feamlay (family) sence I haid one My Dear Lusay the reaporte is
that I have nothing to do up hear but I a shour (assure) you that I hearn all
the monay that I git I have not takin of(f) my close (clothes) sence I left
port augesta that is over three month so you can guge (judge) for your selef
wot I have got to put up with wen you git this letter I a shaur (assure) you
that if I haden been blest weth good health I should been dead long ago I haid
a sad misforthing (misfortune?) the other day one of my men dide We haid to dig
a ole in the sand an binde him up in is blanckint an beary him like a black
fellea thear wes not a bord to make a box for him you can right wen you git
this letter again my adrais (address) is all the saim I harlay (hardly) expect
your letter veary quick for it is 300 miles to the poseffes (post office) thear
an back that is a long ride for mee know (now) I ham gitten rotter (rather?)
hould (old) for long jornes (journeys) on horses back an laing in the open hear
(air) an on the groun(d) after riden 40 or 50 miles in one day then tack a chop
out of my blanckit an roseat on the fieur (fire) an a then turn in my blancets
on the grain nex morining I fell veary steff I a shoure you a fou (few) years
ago I think knotting (nothing) of it but now I fils (feel) it veary much I
rought (wrote) mother a latter an sent hear twentay pound I raceve a latter
from mother saying that the balays (balance) is weating (waiting?) for mee wen
I com down but I say d‑ the balayes an al that I how (owe) monay to an as for
mother going to bagot wot wages I ham getten wot the de‑‑ he know a bout my
bisens (business) wen thear is a fou (few) more yearns (yarns) go a bout mee a
bout the weay I bean caring (carrying) on I shall never be able to haul (hold)
my head up wen I com in town if I never have the pleger (pleasure) to com down
I racive a latter from Searay (Sarah) but I think that shee wes in such a
hueary (hurry) wen she rought it for I ham blass if I can mack out one halef of
it but I ham going to right to hear (her) So I hope this letter will fine you
in good heales (health) as it leve mee at present thenk god for it my Love to
you
from your Father
F Pearce
<< same letter, re-written >>
Coondambo, Aug 1 1877
My Dear Lucy,
I was glad to receive your letter, to know that you
know you have a father. I think that was (only) the second letter that I ever
had from any of you before (and) you can’t think how proud I was when I
received it. I could read your letter very well but if you took (a) little time
when you are writing I could read it much better, but I think that was the best
letter that I ever received from my family since I had one.
My Dear Lucy, the report is that I have nothing to do
up here, but I assure you that I earn all the money that I get (as) I have not
taken off my clothes since I left Port Augusta, that is over three months, so
you can gauge for yourself what I have got to put up with when you get this
letter. I assure you that if I hadn’t been blessed with good health I should
(have) been dead long ago.
I had a sad misfortune the other day, one of my men
died. We had to dig a hole in the sand and bind him up in his blanket and bury
him like a blackfella, there was not a board to make a box for him.
You can write when you get this letter again, my
address is all the same. I hardly expect your letter very quickly for it is 300
miles to the post office there and back, (and) that is a long ride for me now.
I am getting rather old for long journeys on horseback, and laying in the open
air and on the ground after riding 40 or 50 miles in one day, then take a chop
out of my blanket and roast (it) on the fire, and then turn into my blankets on
the ground - next morning I feel very stiff. I assure you a few years ago I
thought nothing of it, but now I feel it very much.
I wrote mother a letter and sent her twenty pounds. I
received a letter from mother saying that the balance is waiting for me when I
come down, but I say d‑-- the balance, and all that I owe money to, and as for
mother going to Bagot, what wages I am getting - what the de‑‑- he knows about
my business when there is a few more yarns going about me, about the way I
(have) been carrying on, I shall never be able to hold my head up when I come
to town, if I ever have the pleasure to come down.
I received a letter from Sarah, but I think that she
was in such a hurry when she wrote it for I am blessed if I can make out one
half of it, but I am going to write to her.
So I hope this letter will find you in good health as
it leaves me at present, thank God for it. My Love to you,
from your Father
F Pearce
(The following undated letter was enclosed with the letter from Coondambo on Aug
I 1877)
<< as written >>
My Dear Lusay
I ham not soray to hear that you have nock of caping compay with Charlay
an I hope that you will not pick up with anay hother on till I com down for I
think it is plantay of time yeat you have goat a good place an I would cap my
selef to my seleft an not cap companay with knowone for a wile tray an tack my
avise for once my dear Lusay I rought this an a shit of paper to it selef so
you can do wat you like with it if jim heve spake to you a bout kipen compnay
with you again tell heim to tock to mee about it if hannay on hask you to wock
with them
say on go by your self to town then a home? in the bos I will pea it for
you if you cap a count of it wen I com down
wen a young women kipe compnay with a youn man an then a nuther pepile
will tock a bout So I should sling tha
lot for a wile my Dear Lusay it would tuch mee to the quick if hanany one wes
to say any thing a bout you tho I ham rother ruff sum times wen I ham in hear‑shut
that you can loock over wen you loock on other pipls how tha sha(ll?)
Your Father
F Pearce
<< same letter, re-written >>
My Dear Lucy
I am not sorry to hear that you have knocked off
keeping company with Charley, and I hope that you will not pick up with any
other one till I come down, for I think (you have) plenty of time yet. You have
got a good place(*) and I would keep myself to myself and not keep
company with anyone for a while. Try and take my advice for once my dear Lucy.
I wrote this on a sheet of paper to itself so you can do what you like with it.
If Jim has spoken to you about keeping company with you again, tell him to talk
to me about it. If anyone asks you to walk with them say no, go by yourself to
town, then home in the bus, I will pay it for you if you keep a count of it,
when I come down. When a young woman keeps company with a young man, and then
another, people will talk about (you?) (it?). So, I should sling the lot for a
while my dear Lucy, (as) it would touch me to the quick if anyone was to say
anything about you. Though I am rather rough sometimes when I am in earshot,
this you can overlook when you look on (how) other people shout(?).
Your Father
F Pearce
(*) Lucy, aged 19, was said to have lived and worked for a rich lady in Nth
Adelaide, and used to visit her until late in life. The lady had no children of
her own and was said to have wanted to adopt Lucy
NOTES :
COONDAMBO (now an the WA rail line) about 180 WE from Pt Augusta was
adjacent to Mt Eba Station. Reference to history of Coondambo, owned originally
by Thos & Jas Moseley (early 1870s and then in conjunction with Robt Bruce
at the time Francis Pearce was there)
E.M. BAGOT, of Thebarton, fellmonger and skin & hide merchant.
Francis probably employed by Bagot. Refer biography in 'Pastoral pioneers of
SA' 1925
Francis Pearce, aged 47 had left Pt Augusta Apr/May 1877
Margaret still at Thebarton
William living at Thebarton, had been married for 2 years (Wm Chas 19mths, 1 due Feb
Sarah married for 3 & half years (Francis Alex 2yrs 9mths)
Elizabeth married for 2 years (Mgt Atkinson 14mths; 1 due)
Lucy aged 19 living Nth Adelaide
Samuel had died 18mths ago
Margaret aged 16
Tom aged 14
Francis (Fred) aged 13
Albert aged 12
Tamson aged 8
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< Son Fred, to his sister >
< as written >
Mt Eba May 12th 1879
Dear Sister,
I received your letter and was glad to hear that you
were well. I hope you will excuse my short note this time because I have got
nothing particular to tell you. I dont
know wether Father told you when he was in Town but he is just about to start
and build a stone house and then I beleive he is going to fetch Mother up here
to live. Father said that he was going
to let me and Tom start down in the middle of June with the sheep and we would
be able to go no further than Pt Augusta but will try to come right down to
Town. I think Father is going to write
down home this time.
Give my kind love and best respects to Willie Dear as
you call him. I hope you will enjoy your married and if I get a chance to come
to Town for a week or two I will give you a call an see how you are geting
on. Give my kind love to Sarah &
Edward and all the rest.
I must now conclude with kindest love and best
respects too you Both
Your Affectionate Brother
F. Pearce
N0TES :
Francis snr, now had his sons Tom (16 & half) and Fred (Francis jnr,
15) with him at Mt Eba.
A stone house to he built and Mother to join them.
Tom and Fred to take sheep to Pt Augusta. (check newspapers stock news,
June‑July 1879)
William was a labourer living at Brompton, witnessed Lucy's wedding.
Sarah living at Yatala, witnessed Lucy's wedding.
Elizabeth had 2 chn and next due August.
Lucy had been married 1 month, first child due October; Father probably
in Town for the wedding at home in Thebarton.
Margaret aged 18
Albert aged 14
Tam aged 10.
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< Margaret to the children >
< as written >
Mt Eba Nov 9 1879
My Dear Children,
I received your letter last mail, and I am very
thankful to hear, that the Lord has brought you safely threw with your first
trouble. I suppose Willie dosn't think no little bit of himself by this time. I
hope he is satisfied. I suppose you was serprised when you received my last
letter and found that I new all about you going to Wites Rooms, I hope you are
still a good girl take care of your cloose and do has your told. I hope you
have not lost your locket. We do not want lockets nor flash dresses. It is now
Sunday morning and it is quiet and lonly. Father and Fred went away yesterday
to one of the wells about 34 miles their and back, and weare expecting tham
back come time to day. We often talked when were at home of the children
learning bad language up hear we are not near enough by anyone to learn good or
bad our house is a good bit from the station; has it is acastom to build
goverment houses by themselves never mind it is very ccmfortable now it is finished. We have plenty of evering for our
comfortable. The flies have found out father and mothers eyes for they both
goth bung eyes has for fleas I have never seen one. We have some native peaches and they make good pies but t nothing
to be compared with the froot of Adelaide.
Now I am going to tell you a little about that box oranges. When our ludge (luggage) arrived arived we
were very ancious to get the case opened hoping to have some of this beautiful
fruit that we put in, there was not one left not as much has a bit of peal,
there was a find mess. They got into
the cloose and there were compleatly rotton.
The looking glas is all to pieces and Freds case is nearly in harves. Before I left home they drove 6 large nails
through the big picture, Ah there was a find smash between glasses and vawes
(vases). I had a letter from William
last mail he says no one ever gous to see him.
He wrote and asked father for a few pounds has his in det and his child
not expeting to live. I doent no
whether he will get it or not. How did you get on with your 1Os a week a
fair. Tom is a way for a mounth or six
weeks he was quiet well when he left home
he has a dray and five horses to take of, we are all quite well Thank the Lord and send our kindest to you
all love one a nother kiss the babies
for me
good by
NOTES :
Mother now at Mt Eba.
The house must have been completed between May and Oct 1879, isolated
from the main station.
Birth of Lucy's first child, Oct 1879
Whites Rooms (check newspaper May‑Nov 1879)
Locket ‑ Tam's or Lucy's?
Francis & Fred (15) at one of the wells, a two day journey, 34 miles
return
'Bung eyes' for Margaret & Francis, flies blamed.
Tom away 4‑6 weeks, with dray & 5 horses.
‘Babies’ now 7 possibly 8
William in debt; a sick child not expected to live, Wm jr aged 4,
Florence 2yrs 9mths, possibly another child born between Nov 1878 Nov 1879. (11
possibilities!!)
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< Margaret, to her children >
< as written >
Mt Eba Nov 1879
My Dear Children
We receive your letter and was glad to hear that you
are all well. I suppose your baby is getting on all right and I suppose William
is not proud a little bit but wait untill he gets 12 or 14 arround him he woent
be so proud over them. I will send you
a pound this mail 10s for Tam’s expences in Christmas holiday's with the
remainder I want you to buy 1 box of White hoocks, 1 Gentleman 1 vale (veil?)
and besure and look that the holes in it is not to big a 1 shirt fit a boy a
bout 15 years old and be sure and have it big enough and a card of shirt
buttons. We have plenty of milk from 2
cows we milk every morning I make
plenty of butter with the cream and we have hot scons and butter for tea. Father is going to kill one of the carves
and mother is going to make cheese and then we will have a nother tuck in at
that. Tom is gettin a big man now and
he has been away for a mounth with a team 5 horses and Albert is getting quite
fat and he can ride horses. I of‑ten wish that you was a little nearer so that
I could give you a bason of cream but 1 doent wish you hear for it is very
durty and lonely. The boys all sends
their love to you all except the same from me
I remain your loving mother
Mrs F Pearce
I want you to send me 2 or 3 yards of Elastic for the vales. Last Saturday we had such rough wether up
hear. It blew the top of our blaksmith shop. But Albert did see it because he
was at one of the wells ‑ to take some orders out. I have bung eyes regular.
Give my love to all enquire in friendes
And be sure and be kind to Tammie.
N0TES :
Tamson, now 10, living with Lucy.
Tom still away, tuning 17 in Dec.
Albert at Mt Eba, aged 14
Margaret didn't marry for another 12 months (Nov 1090). Where was she?
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< Margaret, to her children >
< as written >
Mt Eba March 6 1880
My Dear Children
I received your letter by the last mail that you was
all well. I was very very uneasy about
Tamanie's Harrissipless(*) because I was afraid it would get in her
head has for her her (hair) you can do has you like it will onley grow all the
thiker by having it cut off, now you are living at Parkside I hope you do not
think of putting tammie to the model school
If where she is, is the best I would pay her fare in the tram care
(car). When you write leave me no what
it is a quarter. My Dear Lucy I am
verry sorroy that you thought your mother so unkind is to have any dislike to
your child because I did not say any thing about her, I think if you look at
the old letters I have sent I think you will wee there kiss the Children
for me I think hat conclude all I was never uncind to you nor you to me nore I
do not think for a moment that you are to my little one then how could (I) be
so to yours. I have many times wonderd
how it was that you never said any thing about the child. We received every thing that you sent except
the yeast. Mr Sabine(*) is
hear he is well pleased with the place their gone exploring on the further part
of the run there are going to stay a fortnight ore three weeks then Tom is
going to D. them to port Agusta. I do
not no whether Albert is comming down or not, I have sent to William for a
barral of fruit. I do not no whether he
will be able to get them or not. I
often wish that we was not so far a part that I could send you a dish of butter
though it is verry little I make because feed hear not like to food down
Adelaide. Your Father and brothers are
all well and sends the kind love. X the
youngsters for me. Tell Willie Dear to
X you for me. I will give you big one
Our love to you all &
except the same your self
I want yuu to to take care ofthe bible untill I ??? , it is mine because
I have no place hear for it
N0TES :
*Harrissipless ‑ a skin condition
*Clement Sabine was general manager for Price Maurice who took up Mt Eba
in 1874. Sabine made 19 trips to Mt Eba between 1875‑1899, recorded in his
diary (in his son's - then the Adelaide Police Magistrate, Mr E. Maurice Sabine
- possession in 1925) See biography of Price Maurice.
Lucy now living Parkside. First child, May, 5mths.
Tamson, 11yrs, schooling discussed.
Sabine at Mt Eba, exploring the outer part of the station, 2‑3 weeks.
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(possibly included in March 6 1880 letter ?)
My Dear Lucy
I want you to send two pair of boots becure (be sure) and have them wide
enough thick sales 1 doent care wether they are hid (hide) or leather take them to the office because daltin(*)
is going to send some thing leave me
no if you have money enough to cloth tammie comfortable for the winter
Have loe eal (low heel) boots I
should like to have some fancy print has father has sent for a sewing
machin if you say any thing about
Tammies cloths put it on a pice of paper to its self
(*) Daltin possibly clerk in Maurice or Sabine's office in Adelaide
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