Letter: `My dear husband ...', Janet Kincaid Stage 2 - British Colonisation of Australia
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Miscellaneous letters written to Maryborough
My Dear Husband.
I got your address from your Father you sent him a letter, to let him know that you was quite well, and that you left the ship to better your Family, you don't need to write that any more we have had enough of that talk, you had better do something for them you left the ship to better your self and to get your own money to your self you never cared much for your Family, far less for your Wife. You sent five Pounds two years and a half ago, did five Pounds keep you since you left the ship, you mention in a letter to me that you made more money at the digging than ever you made at home you might have sent us the half of what you made you are a hard hearted Father when you could sit down and eat up your Childrens meat your self. I was a poor unfortunate Wretch little did I think when I was young, what I had to come through, without your conduct we might have been the happiest couple in Greenock you got a good Wife and many a good job at home if you had been inclined to do well but folks that can't do well at home is not to be trusted Abroad. You complain of me not writing you, I wish I had all the sixpences and shillings I paid for letters it would get some meat for the Boys Breakfast. I answered all your letters by return of post, you ought to have sent me a proper address at the first where to write and keep by the one place where you could send and get them every letter I sent was to a different place + before it reached you were of to another place you ought to have sent a letter every month at least and money every three months ... let me know what you intend to do for the Boys we are still in the same House 15 West Stewart street where you left us. I was asking the Boys if they had any word to send to their Father. Henry says he hopes you are well + all your friends are well, Bob says you owe him a sixpence he sent you to go to Port Glasgow, John wants a pair of new Boots if you can spare as much, James is content with a cocker nut, poor Duncan does not know what sort of a thing a Father is he thinks it is something for eating, if you wish to correspond with us find out a proper place where I can send my letters.
No more at present from your deserted Wife,
Janet Kincaid
Reproduced courtesy La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria.