Post mark reveals the letter took 5 months to arrive

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In Marmora, Fidlar’s Glen is well known to have been the homestead of seaman, John Fidlar and his wife, Elizabeth Harvey. He and all his siblings were born in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland and some emigrated to Upper Canada, settling in our area. But this story is about John’s brother, David. He too was a sailor, but he never made it here to join his family.

We were lucky to receive from Janet Miller of Sidney, B.C., a letter written by David to his sister, Marjory, who was still in Scotland at the time, 1839. David writes from Port Louis, Ile de France, now known as Mauritius. where it seems he had just finished working for a Mr. Dickson, and was about to board a schooner, the Mezeppa , with Captain John Tait headed for the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. With a foreboding sign off, he writes “But remaining yours ‘till death “

David drowned in Capetown , South Africa, sometime after 1841.

With such bad news, Marjory made her mind up to join the family in the new world at the age of 38 By age 47 she was married to widower Robert Parker, whose son Francis was married to her niece, Sarah Fidlar, daughter of John Fidlar! (Interestingly, Robert Parker’s father was an ironmaster at the Marmora Ironworks)

Marjory lived in Rawdon Township, where she died in 1893, at the age of 90. She is buried in Stirling.

The following is a transcription of David’s letter as written. Some words, spelled phonetically, reveal his Scottish brogue

DAVID FIDLAR WRITING TO HIS SISTER MARJORY

January the 3, 1839 Isle of France, Port Louis

Dear Sister, I now take up my pen to let you know that I am in good health at present, thanks be to God, for it and I hoop and earnestly wish that this will find you in the same my Dear sisiter. I have left Dickson and joined a schooner called the Mezeppa. Cap't John Tait and mate were going from here to the Cape of Good Hoop and perhaps we may come home but it is not sairton when we may go but if we go any where I shal wright you. I don't know whether you will receive 16 pounds from Dickson is he is spared to return. I have not quite quit with him yet and cannot tell whether there will be any more or not. him and I part good friends, it was him that got me this ship. I shall write you from the cape and tell you how I find her. I have 10 pounds per month and if agree he is to advance my wages. he apears to be fine felloy so far. I send this by the Gazzet of Leith Bound to Leith so that I hope you will get it Post free. I have not time to say more at present as the ship is just going to start to move at Present. from your affectionate Brother David Fidlar. Be so kind as remember me to all inquiring Friends and relations. Remember me to Nichol and Cecilia and all the children not forgetting Old Mr. Mannow and the family. But Remaining yours 'till Death D. Fidlar

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