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We have several original letters written by family members to the Canon's youngest son, William, in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. They are in a collection belonging to the Canon's granddaughter, Sheila Dwyer. The letters were written by:
Bedford Villa My dear Willie
One is in mining and has worked in the Cornish tin mines and in a copper mine and met a son of Bobby Studdert by Miss Punely who belonged to the family owning the Berehaven Copper mine. But the other son is thinking of going to the North West to do Cowboy. I don't think him very fit for this rough life as he ahs been reared tenderly by a fond mother. There is little use in advising such a tenderfoot. He will have to find his own level. He says he likes riding and expects lots of bear and buffalo shooting and a life of sport. I am afraid to advise him. But said I would mention his case to you as one who went through the mill. He does not drink. But a word on gambling might do him good. He will have some money. May I ask you to suggest to me for him what is the best way to deal with this. If he gets all his little stock in hand, he may be drugged and fleeced at poker or the like. Could he put his money on loan under security of some rancher. But the danger here is that the place might be made disagreeable to hurt him and (unreadable) his money. He is a nice lad and I hope he may do well. But he has much to unlearn and more then to learn. We have the Bethunes with us for the last few weeks, until Harry gets some work in the Naval Volunteers, he hopes at Bristol -- Selwyn seems to have dried up the wellsprings of his liberality since "the Dot" backed out of the mill, as his wife, once a Massinsse, thinks milling "in fra dig". Your mother is getting over a cold, but otherwise in her usual health. Mable had an escape. She was getting teeth out, and the Dentist used cocaine which acted on her heart and only for a Doctor to hand, there was great danger. She is well now. She will write to Mary. I call her "Molly". But she is overdriven, as we have but one servant, and a large house. I am in great fear of loss from the new Bill which is to disestablish the Irish Landlords and my little share may go to nothing or next to it. Your mother and Mabel join me in love to yourself and your "Mollie" I am as ever your affectionate father Philip Dwyer Did you ever meet "Moll"
Dysart, My dear Wy.
He is absolutely free from pain, but cannot speak a word, & we have been expecting the end for some days, in fact 3 or 4 times we have said all would be over in a few minutes. He has a most extraordinary constitution, & at 7:30 yesterday evening I wrote telegrams to a lot of relatives saying all was over, as he seemed to have come to the end, so far was he gone, & of course I did not send them, & they are still in my pocket. All day yesterday, & in fact for the last 4 or 5 days, he has been quite unconscious, but has had lucid intervals, of a few minutes at a time, & recognized all of us, and shook hands, but he can't speak. Yesterday, the doctor & both nurses (there are 2, one for night & 1 for day) said he could not live until midnight, & it looked very like it at the time, but at 2a.m. he knew us all & since about 8:30 he has been quite clear & conscious, & is even taking Champagne, Jelly, Brandy etc, but I am afraid it is only a rally, marvelous as it is, & it is no use disguising the fact that there is really no hope of ultimate recovery. Cha. is here but Annie did not come with me as she was here last week & thought she could not be of any use. I shall stay here probably until things take a turn, one way or the other, as your mother & Mabel are pretty well done up. I have been up with the Canon for the last three nights, & you must excuse this scrawl, as I feel a trifle flatly myself, not having had my clothes off since Tuesday, & having had 8 hours sleep since Monday night, altogether. I will write you next mail unless someone else does, and let you know how things are going, but I am afraid the worst will have to be told. The rest of the family are all well. Fred is at Harrow, where I shall try & leave him for a couple of years, & then I don't know what he will have to turn to. We have commenced wintry weather already, & tho there has not been any snow in Yorkshire, there has been plenty in Scotland, & we have had some hard frosts. Yours affly. J. Selwyn Rawson
The Haugh End Dear W.
Annie and Cha. went to see him only a few days before the stroke, in fact A. only got home again the day before, and Cha. was still there. The funeral was on Wednesday afternoon last, at Weston S. Mare Cemetery, and Annie wend down to it, but thought it much the best for your Mother & Mabel not to go, as your Mother was very much upset, for the time being, so there were present Harry & Mary Bethune; Cha; (Frank could not come, being poorly), Annie and I; Fenella; Dr. Jem. Crowe; Dr. George Crowe; and a few friends living in Weston. We came back here yesterday (Thursday), and I believe Cha. was going back to Bedford to-day. I am sending you a copy of the Clare Journal, with a short paragraph about the Canon, which you may like to have, and I will also send a copy of the Hx. Guardian next week, if there is anything in it. I may say he left Dr. Geo. Crowe and I the Executors, and the will which was entirely in his own handwriting, is briefly that the head rents of some property in Uskane, and which amount to about 72 pounds per ann. are to go to Mabel, so long as she may be unmarried, but that on her marriage, they are to be divided equally into three parts, one of which is to go to Mabel, one to Fenella, and one to Cha.; Your mother is made residuary legatee and gets everything else. There is a clause in the will leaving to John one undivided third share belonging to the Canon, of land at Quamichan, but I understand this was sold out some years ago, so of course the clause is null and void. Perhaps when writing, you will let me know the facts as to this land being disposed of, as I am not quite clear about it. There are insurance policies which will bring in about 900 to 1000 pounds I think - probably about 950 pounds - and you mother also has some slight income from her marriage settlements, so that altogether the joint income of you mother & Mabel, will I think come to a trifle over 100 pounds per ann. They are going to stay at Dysart, at any rate for the present, and will I think try & let the house furnished for the summer months. I was with the Canon to the last, in fact I never had my clothes off from Tuesday morn. until Sunday morning, as he was so heavy that one nurse was quite powerless, and I was up both night and day helping the nurses to move him, etc. It was only a matter of time from the very commencement, and perhaps it was a blessing that it was so, as had he recovered, he would never have been able to speak again, so the doctor said, and he worked nearly to the last, and died in harness. I think there is nothing more to tell you, but if I think of anything, I will write you again. Yours Affly. J. Selwyn Rawson
The Haugh End My dearest Willie
Fred is home for the holidays. He is at Harrow. He is a very nice boy and has grown very tall. I think he will be taller than Selwyn. Annie is looking very well and is very pleasant. Mary Bethune and Fenella are very delicate. Their hearts are very weak. They have been in bed for some weeks. The Malachis have had a nurse for 4 weeks and Harry Bethune and Selwyn are paying for her. Willie Malachi must have a nurse when Fenella is ill as he can do nothing for himself. Cha has asked us to go to her when we leave this and perhaps we shall. Your aunts Nell and Fanny Brakey are very well. Nell often writes to me. Franny Brakey has been over in Dublin with the Crowes. Old Isabella was supposed to be (unreadable) for a week unconscious but she has recovered and is down in the drawing room. She is 89. I am delighted to have the photos of your sweet little girls. They all admire them greatly here. I am (unreadable) Nora calls me Mingie. I had a very nice letter from that wretched Harry. He is in Seattle and he seems very poor and says his lodgings are dreadful. I suppose it would be no good sending him any money as he says they steal his letters. Mabel will write to Mollie soon. I wish I would see you all over here but I suppose I never shall. It costs so much travelling such a journey and we are all except the Rawsons so poor. Mabel sends you and Mollie and the children her love and with much from myself Your fond motherA.S. Dwyer
Stolford Lodge, Dearest Willie
I have to write in pencil as I am in bed and not allowed to sit up. I have been in bed for 5 weeks. I was down every day helping (unreadable) & his Dr says I did too much as I have not a very strong heart. I hope to be up for Xmas as the family will be home, I wish you could see them. Charlie looks quite a man. He is 16 ½ and very big and broad and has taken to shaving. He is at Kelly College, Tavistock. He goes up for the (unreadable) in 18 months. Our youngest boy Rupert is a day boarder at St Peter's School here. He is to go up for the navy in two years. He is a very clever boy and a great pet. Harry says I spoil him. I am sure you would love Dorothy. She is so full of fun & so gay & witty she is at the Royal Naval School at Twickenham where Cha.'s girls are. She is very musical, plays the violin & piano and I think (unreadable) sing well. She is 14 ½ now. She says she considers herself quite a woman of the world. Harry is quite well & being little changed he looks as young as ever in his face but is getting a bit grey. He is finding the education of his family a terrible expense now all three are at school. We have got a pretty cottage up on the hill with a very nice garden. Harry is a great gardener & has lovely flowers most of the year. Love to yourself, Mollie & the children. Yr loving sister Mary Bethune We have (unreadable) half sheets of paper. My mistakes please excuse.
Haugh End My dear Mollie & Wam.
Jack sent us a new photo of himself, he looks very nice in it. Has he sent one to Wam. It would be nice if you & Wam & the little family could come over to see us. Mingy would be so delighted to see her Wam once more. I hope some day that you'll be able to get so far. Mary & Fenella have been ill for some time. Their hearts have been very bad but they are better now but only able to be up for a few hours every day. I hope Wam will write to Mingy whenever he has time. She loves getting his letters & very little seems to cheer her now. She is so depressed at times her heart is rather weak & she often gets faint & so low I am quite anxious about her but I hope she will be better when the fair weather comes. Annie wished me to ask you if you had received a little white coat or frock (I forget which she said) She posted them to you early in December. (Unreadable) children are so nice. Primrose is a sweet girl & so useful she can do anything in a house, and can play & sing also. Her voice is very sweet & will be very good in a few years. The youngest boy is a dear little fellow & so pretty. He is nearly 4 years old. He is with me a good deal as I don't go out much. Mingy doesn't like me away from her for a minute. Selwyn is very busy over the Election at present & can talk of nothing else & is all over the place at meetings. I'll write again as soon as ever we know what we are going to do & where we are moving to - but just now I haven't much to tell you but I know you & dear old Wam like to hear from us. Jack Crowe is at Bradford now & comes over every week to tea & supper. With much love from us both and hoping to hear again soon. Ever your loving sister Mabel Dwyer
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