Sydney

Jany 17 / 82

Dear Mother,

We landed yesterday at 3 O clock & We had a very fair voyage of 86 days; but the food did not aggree with me — so much salt meat and poor Tea and Sugar with no milk, so that I have been very unwell the last part of the Voyage. a near escape from death, but I am now greatly improved and think I shall come all right after better food.

I wish you could see Sydney Harbour, one of the most splender you ever saw in your life. man could never make anything like it, it certainly must be the finest Harbour in the world, and just now the banks are Coverd with beautifull green. If our family ware hear and I was better and at work I think I could enjoy it.

But I am glad you did not come with me, though there was older women than you on board and got through better than me. If you came I would like for you to come in a Steamer. Her Brothers have not met us yet. if they do not come we have a thought of keeping on the ship a day or two as I cannot work yet, we can stay on the ship a month if we like, we get food from the shore.

I hope Phebe is better by this time. do write soon as one is so ancious for news. it seems like 3 months of blank time in ones life.

We had a fine Captain and crew but fore to many on board and may of them Irish full of lice. we did not get them till the last few weeks and we are doing our best to get clear of them. we are a great deal better.

Rember us to all your friends give my regards to Mrs. Watson, and all the childern. Sarah is in good health though not stout as when she left. Let John know we have landed and give our respects to Wife and family.

Isaac Dawson's & William Featherstone's used me shamfully whe I left in the snow.

Well I must Close and have another look at the splended buildings from the ship before dark. I would like to live about 2 miles from Sydney.

We remain your affectionate Son & Daught,
Stephen & Sarah Ann Watson

Queanbeyan,
New South Wales

1887, July 6th

Dear Brother,

you will think I am lost. I never was a good letter writer, and I think I get worse as I grow older.

I think I was at Broots Hill when I sent you a letter befor. we came to Queanbeyan 15 months since. I got done for the Company 8 months ago, and I have been making a few Boots for men on the line. Mr. Johnston has got a large Contract in Qictory[?], but I have never asked him for work there, as I was not content befor. I think he either wants me, or wants me to humble myself to ask him for work. but he is a man you Cannot put much Confidance in. I have a house taking of him for 5 shillings a week. I cannot tell what we shall do yet. we may start my trade in some town or large works. things are very dul in this colony at present, but are expected to get better.

We put a beautiful Bridge over the river in front of our house – one of the Best in New S. Wales – Stone, Brick & Wood.

We would be glad to see you over here, if you can make it Convenient to come: let us know a week before hand. We are both in good health. My eyes are not so good: I have to were Glasses to read at nights. I suppose you can do without them yet. I have not had many good Books to read, except one The Wesleyan Minister lent me -- The History of our own times, by Justin Mc.Carthey: it was very interesting.

I must write more another time. give our respects to Mr. & Mrs. Parker.

We both send our kind love to you and Mrs. Watson.

yours
S Watson

Mrs. Jane Watson.

Dear Mother, You would think I was going to Write no more. I never was a good Letter writer and I think I never will be. I think I was in Tarago, when I last sent you a Letter. When we left Tarago, on to the No 2 section of the new Line. I got to be store keeper, for the company for a year and half. I sent all the powder, Bolts, Paint, Iron & wood up and down the warks. A contract of £450,000 & you may think what a wark there was going on. Mr. Johnstone wanted Sarah Ann to cook for them as she had done on the other No 1 Section: but they had a bad cook house and she was not well one day and the breakfast was not as soon as he wanted. And she walked of home and he could not get her to go any more.

After we got to Queanbeyan we took a house of the Company £1-s0-d0 Month. 3 Rooms. I was done for the Com. in Nov 1886, and began my trade after not doing any thing at it for 5 years. We are now in the center of the Town, but it has got very dul since the Line was finished. We sometimes think of going to some other place though I have more work than some of the old hands that have been there for years. John is in Adelaide but I have never seen him. He might as well have been in England. He talks of coming home soon in a year if he can get. Kate, is geting on well at school. Stephen Bee has been at John's and told him of Uncle John, who is in Ballarat. Cousin John Watson is in that town as well.

We neve see any one we know but her Brothers, once in 6 months or so. We are Both in good health at Preasant. They say I am geting stout. I am 11 stone 10pounds. 1s-3p more than ever I was at home and Sarah Ann is geting far two heavy 13 stone or there abouts. She was very ill 2 years back geting up Blood; and we had to go 4 miles for a Doctor and give 1 pound befor he went out of the tent. But she was soon all right again.

We sometimes long to see the old country again but that cannot be for some years if ever though. I think we could not live in Weardale, now. It would be to quiet for us now. But I should like to live in some of the towns farther south. We had a letter from Thomas Watson, Joseph's son: the old people are dying off fast. One would feel and see a great change if one was to visit it now.

We have sent you a Photo, of Sarah Ann, taken in Queanbeyan. There is a great Exhibition, in Melbourne, and John will be there, but I think I cannot get there at present to meet him.

Write soon and let us know how you and Phebe, are geting on. I wish you had been here. I think the Climate would be better for you than England, so dry and sunny. With kind love to both. I must Close as it is after 12 O.clock.

We remain yours affectionately,
S. and S.A. Watson.

Qecreur[?] St,
Goulburn,
N.S.W

May /92

Dear Bro.

you will think I am dead by this. I have not sent you any more letters. But I was so weak I had not heart to do it. thank God I am a great deal better now. I had six months bad time, what with sickness and freting about my work. some weeks I did nothing; athers I worked 3 hours a day. when I left the Line I was 11 stone 10 ½ pounds; when sick 8st 3lbs, and that was after I got out. I am going to get my weight this next week to see what more I am now.

I put my Books right 2 or 3 times for Sarah Ann, expecting I was going to die. There was one night I think I would have never seen morning, if I had not got rubed up and some brandy given to me, soon as ever I got into Bed. I felt as if I was going off, and some times after when tempted I almost wished I had let myself go. money going, and given Sarah so much trouble. but that was rong, you will say. well I am glad I did not now. we payed for every thing as we got it in Town, all the time I was sick. the few pounds we saved on the line a few years since came in very handy; and just when they were done, I began to mend. but I had to give the Doctors up, as it would have been done sooner. it cost me 10 shillings a week when I went to them. but I thought I would rather take my chance than run into debt. I have taken a lot of medicine: at one time, if you had cut my finger, you would have got no Blood or water, just coloured.

I now work all day, but I have to be very careful what I eat. I want you to try a recipe for a month, to keep Doctors a way. In the morning at six O.Clock take a peice of Garlic, about the half Size of a nut. peal till you come to the white: eat it, then wash all over with cold water. drink a bitter cup -- you will get one at the Chemist for 1 Shilling – fill it at 8.O Clock the night befor with water. Then walk sharp for a mile (I go 2 or 3) every morning. when you come home, get some pottage and milch and a cup of cocoa. after, about Ten O Clock, peal an apple and eat it ripe. This is what I am doing, only I have to take other things, not been quite better. I take Red woods, Tonic in the after-noon, Beaf Tea with Onions in and pea meal at 11 O Clock.

well I must Close as it is post time. tell Kate I will try

[... end of page; incomplete]

Vernon Street
Goulburn

Aug / 97

My Dear Bro.

As I am a little better I have taken this afternoon to write to you. The 3 pounds you sent did us a lot of good. Our trade is very much hurt with those fine Factures: they make Boots neat and not much money. I have sometimes only had 2 pair in the month & sometimes 3 & 2 or 3 pair sold. We have to pay Cash for every thing we get and sometimes wate 2 weeks for ours. I had to sell my watch for 15/- worth 2 pound to get a few Grocers. We have not had Coffee & Cocotina for weeks of one & months of the other. Tea every meal.

There is a lady in the Commercial Bank, very kind, sending in papers & sometimes a pudding. I am always afraid of the house been taken from us as it is sitting room only: a piece of the shop and Bedroom, an old Chaff[?], our oil Cloth in pieces of 2½ feet, and boards ½ inch apart. If I could get 5 pair in the month & a few sold ones we might do.

Mine is among the Better Class often, and they are not good to please. If you could let us have 15/- a month till things get it would be a great Blessing. This morning we cannot get a loaf of bread as we have to send to Sydney for stuff for a pair of Boots. Sarah Ann has not a hat fit to go out on Sundays and is wareing a dress with great pactches. In the day time she has a Black one she has worn above a year she [?] for nights & Sundays.

I am glad you have got to the higth of our ambition in D.D. Mother would have been past herself in joy. I am sory Kate is not so well. I am very bad in my Back. All my food goes to water. I cannot get Mother Sigal[?]. Sarah Ann is very weak and just can do her work. A party was in to get 3 Boots sold & only gave 3 hours to do them. Of corse I had to let them go as I had get the Leather.

Give our kind love to Kate, Annie & Phebe & Mrs. Watson, you will be pleased when Kate comes[?] down. Hope she will be better and do well.

The Jubliee did not do us any good as we never got from house, althoe thousands was spent her.

Dear Bro pray for me. I nearly loss faith sometimes. I am the only one in the family that has to sufer among strangers with no Chance of Anything else. I am Glad you got the College atter[?] and getting on well.

I cannot tell how it will be with us when you get this note. Hoping for better times and plenty of work, health to do it. Give our kind love to all.

Your affectionate Stephen

Vernon Street
Goulburn

July 19 / 98

My Dear Brother,

You gave us quite a surprise Last week when you told us our passages were paid. We received 13 pounds 12 shillings. Sarah Ann says she is afraid to meet you after you have been so much expence with us.

We Intend to come by the Orient on the 6th of Aug. all been well. I cannot tell you how we will ever repay you for all our kindness. Give our kind Love to Kate, Annie and Mrs. Watson who has been so very kind to us.

Our election will be on the 27th of this month but we do not take so much interest in it as I would have done if we had been staying. I think Mr. Reid will get in. There is a new man going to contest Goulburn but I have not heard him yet. They say he is an able man.

So the Old Man Gladstone has past away. It will have cast a gloom over England. But he could not live for ever.

Give our kind Love to Phebe, Mrs. Ecles and accept the same your self.

From your affectionate Brother,
Stephen Watson

P.S. We are both in good health and hope to See you all Soon. We have some very hard frosts at nights now. S.W.