Charlotte Thackerey Musgrove
“I miss my dear Irwin so much…” Charlotte Thackerey Musgrove, New York 1907
35 Harrison St
Stapleton NY
August 24, 1907
My dear Peter
Your letter of sympathy came to hand and can’t tell you how much good it did us both. I miss my dear Irwin so much. I am so lonely for him. I find the days so long, he and I were bosom companions and went to so many places and Irwin did enjoy going so much. My best boy has left me, he thought so much of his mother and would spend his last cent on me if he thought I wanted it.
I never felt a death like Irwin’s he was with me so much and I miss him more I think because he was such a great care to me. I loved my dear Irwin. My life was given up to him to try and make it happy as he had so much sorrow in his life but he is in Heaven now. He was a good living boy. He told me he was going home to be with Jesus.
I am glad he came home from the Hospital as he had a nice time. He did enjoy it, we had prayer together so often and we went to meetings and missions and we had a nice time. I did not think that it would soon be all over and we would never go to New York again. I think of him all day long. I have a great many lonely days. He is not dead three weeks, I think it more like three years. I think of you in your loneliness. I am sure you are so lonely since your dear wife left you but she can’t come to you but you can go to her.
Last Wednesday was dear Irwin’s birthday, I wanted to go to his grave but I have been in the house with Erysipelas in my face and neck. I have had it real bad but I am better today and think I will soon be out again at least I hope so. Not nice to be in the house and can’t get out. We laid my dear boy in the Moravian’s Cemetery about four miles from here.
A Mr. Vanderbilt left a half a million to that cemetery, he has a large tomb there. I sometimes wish Irwin was in Mount Pleasant in Toronto. If we go back we will remove him. I like it here better than I did. I like the people better. I don’t go to Midland Beach now. I can’t as I went with Irwin so much there it makes me feel so bad. A living trouble is bad and so is a dead one.
I may be to see you all sometime next month. Johnnie wants me to go. I will go to Toronto first as I have a great many to see there. I have not been home for years. I wish Johnnie could come, he would like to but can’t leave just now. I will not be able to leave on the first of the month as Ruth Simpson is coming for a week so I can’t leave till she has gone. I invited her to come last winter when she would get her holidays. She is a cousin, Bram Simpson’s daughter. She is in New York learning to be a trained nurse. I would not like that myself, but she does.
Aunt Ann is living yet, ninety- five, a good old age. Do you think we will live that long? I will be so pleased to see you all once more, it has been so long since I was there. I suppose things have changed a great deal. Jimmie is not home just now gone on his holidays but I think he will be home the last of this week. He is well and fat and is doing well and has a large Motor Car. I hope he will not get killed sometime. I must close. I think a great deal of Alice. She is a smart girl and granddaughter.
I must close, write soon, love to all.
I am your loving Sister Chattie.
Letter from Charlotte Thackeray b. 1849 Alnwick Township, Northumberland Ontario to her brother Peter Thackeray in Alnwick Twp. Charlotte was married to John Musgrove. Their son Irwin had died about 3 weeks before. She mentions Ruth Simpson from Chatsworth, Ont and aunt Ann Thackeray Simpson who was born Nov 30 1811 in Rufforth, Yorkshire died Oct 23, 1907 in Chatsworth, Ont. She mentions her son James who was a dentist in New York.
Submitter Bill Smith