[?] 2 Jan 1851
Dear Brother¹

We received your letter on the 23rd of December and was sorry to find that ours had not brought you more satisfaction for I assure you that I am unwilling to write any thing dissatisfactory to you, we could not expect it would have been much comfort to you owing to some of the news that was in it, but in the way of explaining maters [sic] I hope you will excuse me for I did not observe it. About Mary stopping in Kirkwall I did not think there was any need for telling you how with as it was not very long sinse [sic] she wrote you and I thought that she would have told you that herself. And about Jeans little Child it never came into my mind to tell you of it in the way that you have mentioned, however it is a Girl and the suposed [sic] Father is a lad the name of James Manson he is a son of Danial Manson that was stopping in Wobister when you was in Orkney and he is stopping ther [sic] yet, but I am not able to tell you the Child's name I think I have heard its mother mention something like Mary-Ann as a name to it but I could not say that is the name.

With regard to what you was asking concerning a headstone being erected to show the Graves of our parents we have not don [sic] that yet, we intended to write you about it first, but you may believe that we were never gon [sic] to forget to have that put up in memory of them. I am not a well qualifyed [sic] man and I am rather at a loss what inscription to put on it, and although you are at a distance perhaps you will be eable [sic] to asist [sic] me in doing it by telling me what to put on the head stone.

I shall tell you what way it all is as well as I can. Our Father was laid in his first wife's greave [sic] and our Mother was laid in her Fathers greave [sic], for it was considered that our Father greave [sic] would not been ripe. Now the greave [sic] that our Mother was laid in there is a head stone at in memory of her Father so that we must lay a stone over her greave [sic], now after telling you these things perhaps you will be able to asist [sic] my by telling me how to put the words on. I was intending to have it don [sic] this summer. However unabayable [sic] I might have been to my parents I will never forget them while I live, it make me think the world is different from what it was before and so it is. We received your letter some time ago that you sent us concerning money and other affect left after our parents and your favour in that way was more than we were looking for. When you wrote home to your mother for the money that you have she said we need not be afraid to of William doing us any harm, and we replyed he was a just man all his life, but we could not said there was any injustice in taking something after you parents. We wish you may allways [sic] have abundance as you have always been honourable with us but upon the whole all about the hous [sic] at present would not turn in much money oying [sic] to the rate of things in Orkney just now, I supose [sic] I gave you a hint of it before and it is lower now than it was at the time I told you of it. There is something I must mention to you yet concerning the little of money that is in Mr. Spence's Bank he will neither give us stock nor interest until James sends a line the same as you did to show whether he wants any of it or not, we told him we thought the line you sent us were the same as from you both but said he its not by word of mouth that I go its by write so James will be so kind as put a line in your letter to show what way he inclines, we would be glad to get the interest jus [sic] now as we are needful. There is been a fair crop in Orkney this year and the first of the harvest was good but the latter end was verry [sic] rainy and ingered [sic] some of the crops we have had no snow this winter as yet, there is a good many in Orkney married this winter their [sic] is two or three pair married in Faith this winter but there is none of us married yet. We would be glad to hear or you getting a good parter for life now as I hope it would be for your comfort, it is time for James to mary [sic] too, if he is thinking any thing about Margret [sic] F. she is still waiting for him yet. I was thinking if I was ordained to be in America yet that I would perhaps get clear of the rheumatism there but I am sorry that you have catched it there too fo [sic] it is not a good thing. I also mention to you that your Books are all safe and your trunk standing with them and perhaps you will be glad to have them as soon as possible, if Mary goes to America this spring perhaps she will take them with her, and if she bees [sic] there to atend [sic] you house you may think of taking a look home next winter to see Orkney yet, for if any more of us thinks of coming to America it will be year yet before we get clear of shail [sic] to win any where, when you write again be so kind as tell us what like the Country is around Hamilton if it is any thing like Orkney, tell us if there is Meadows there, and honey Bees there. I hope this will find you both in good health as it leaves us at present be so kind as write us as soon as you get this and give us all the news about America that you think will be interesting to us. I saw Mr. McFindley the other day who say he is gon [sic] to write you yet his Complements he wished me to give you. I now leave off for Mary

Your Affectionate Brother
John Pearth

Dear Brother. I am very glad to hear that you are well and I have no reason to complain thank God for it you said you would like to have a decided answer whether I was to come to America or not. I would like well to do so but without some near aquantance [sic] I never could think to come so far but perhaps I may meet with one on the train. when you write be so kind as give me all the information you can because you have sailed from St. [?] & from Kirkwall so that you well can tell which one is best & also to direct me a little through the strange country. I most safe at present. Your Affectionat [sic] Sister S.S.

¹ For more information on McQuesten family members mentioned in these letters, go to the Home Page, click on Family and then on that person's picture. For others do a search on the name to find other information.