Descendents of Andrew Mowatt (1776 - 28 May 1862)
and wife Margaret (1779 - 17 Oct 1867)

Return to Genealogical Entry for Rev. Dr. Andrew Mowatt
Born 11 Feb 1838 - Died 19 Feb 1911

Below is a transcript of a six page 11 Aug 1902 Letter written by Rev. Dr. Andrew Mowatt from Middleton Hall, Northumberland to his daughter Alice. During this visit Rev. Mowatt provides an interesting travelogue of Wooler and vicinity describing various landmarks, trips to cemeteries and visits with relatives in the area. This letter provides evidence that at least some families maintained contact with their Borders relatives through to the end of the 19th century. Scans of original letter at bottom of page. (Source JSH, 25 Jul 2006 who obtained copy of letter from descendant Melinda Anderson; Transcription Linda Harris, 29 Mar 2007).

_____________________________________________

                                    Middleton Hall,

                                    Wooler, Aug. 11/02

My Dear Alice,

              We came here a week ago today, and we move on this afternoon.   We go as far as Shoreswood, near Berwick.   There we stay till Thursday.   Another on to Edinburgh.   Cousin James Mowatt is at Shoreswood.   Why it is called Shoreswood it is hard to say, for there is neither shore nor wood.   Still it is a beautiful (farm?) place, in full view of the Cheviots, and near an old castle.   Duddo Keep, an ancient ruin, is in view.   Also Norham Castle, grown all over with (?). That is the station we go to.   And then go to the (?) Lite house, and then is the North Sea.

              Last Monday we drove to Ford. That is where Grandfather Mowatt lived, and Father was born and brought up.   The village is on a hill.   There is a fine castle in good condition, and the grounds are beautiful.   The house where father was born still stands, and the old stone Ruoelling-Trough is still by the door.   It was there thiry years ago and it is still there.   The house is small, and thatched, and out front is a green lawn.

              We went to the graveyard and hunted many of the tombs tilled we found Grandfather's and Uncle Andrew's.   I copied the inscription from Grandfather's, and here it is:   "Erected in memory of Andrew Mowett, who died at Ford, May 28 th , 1862, aged 86 years.   Also, Margaret, wife of the above who died, Oct. 17 th , 1867, age 85 years."

cont...

 

St. Michael's Church, Ford where the Mowatt grave stones below are located. Source of this image and the graves below. Melinda Anderson,1996. Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 366 jpeg; 95 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1756 X 917 jpeg; 1112 k; 180 dpi

 

Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 464 jpeg; 153 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1650 X 1093 jpeg; 1377 k; 180 dpi

Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 1022 jpeg; 236 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1133 X 1654 jpeg; 1325 k; 180 dpi The grave of Uncle Andrew referred to in the letter by Rev Dr Andrew Mowatt above. Inscription on grave is only partially legible in even an enlargement of the photograph. Sacred to the Memory of Alice wife of Andrew Mowatt Who Died at Ford 11 Jan 188(?) Aged 72 Years Also of the Above Andrew Mowatt Who died at Ford 29 June 188(?) Aged 71 Years

The grave of grandfather "Andrew" Mowatt referred to in the letter by Rev Dr Andrew Mowatt above. Inscription on grave reads: Erected in memory of Andrew Mowett, who died at Ford, May 28 th , 1862, aged 86 years.   Also, Margaret, wife of the above who died, Oct. 17 th , 1867, age 85 years Transcription Source: Rev. Dr. A. Mowatt, 11 Aug 1902.

 

...cont.

              Keep it.   You see that his name is spelled with 'e'. Uncle Andrew's is spelled with 'a'.   The Mowitts here spell it with 'i '.   We went into the church and found something to interest us.   The Bible is almost too heavy for your mother to lift.   Its (?) are real boards, an inch thick and covered with leather, with heavy brass clasps.   It is sixteen inches long and a foot broad.

              We were at Etal too where there is an old ruin.   We walked through the gateway (?). The pride and pomp and (?) of other days passed out (?) all is some and only a (?)                                                 

                  On Thursday afternoon we visited a cousin on my mother's side, called George Moffatt, a jolly good-natured man.   We had tea with him.   He lives in Lanton, at the foot of a hill, on the top of which is a monument.   On Friday, we went to Cornhill on the banks of the Tweed.   We walked to Coldstream -- a mile and half, crossing the Tweed by a beautiful bridge.   Your mother hurried on ahead of me singing that "I will be in Scotland afore ye".

              On the Scottish side are three old houses.   One of them was where runaway marriages were celebrated by the inn keeper.   There were three such places -- Gretna Green, in the west, Coldstream Bridge, and Laupmer (Toil ?) in the East.   Many an elopement from England was legalized at these places, for the laws of Scotland condoned such clandestine marriages.   But all that is gone.

              Coldstream is an old village where my mother used to walk and drive in other days.   We visited an old aunt there who is eighty. She was glad to see us and gave us something to eat.   Mother was born a few miles from Coldstream near Kilso at a place called (?)   We walked through the village and across The Last.   Then we (?) train, and came back to (?).

           Yesterday we worshipped.

                                                                                    Good bye.   A. J. Mowatt

                                           

 

 

Page 1 Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 880 jpeg; 193 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1594 X 2004 jpeg; 2403 k; 150 dpi	Page 2 Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 919 jpeg; 223 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1746 X 2292 jpeg; 3099 k; 150 dpi	Page 3 Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 1156 jpeg; 223 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1124 X 1856 jpeg; 1630 k; 150 dpi

Page 4	Page 5	Page 6
Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 1294 jpeg; 249 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1080 X 1996 jpeg; 1705 k; 150 dpi	Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 909 jpeg; 229 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1784 X 2316 jpeg; 3214 k; 150 dpi	Medium Sized Pop-up Image 540 X 1143 jpeg; 248 k; 72 dpi Full Sized Pop-up Image for Printing 1132 X 1848 jpeg; 1745 k; 150 dpi

Return to Genealogical Entry for Rev. Dr. Andrew Mowatt