This letter is is shared thanks to Mim Moorhead, daughter in law of the late Jeannie Moorhead (JACKSON). Any errors in transcription or footnoting are mine alone. Sharon Oddie Brown, January 12, 2005.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

Hong Kong 27^th Feby 1915

ALL LETTERS TO BE ADDRESSED
AND REMITTANCES MADE PAYABLE TO THE
“HONGKING SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION”
NOT TO INDIVIDUALS
P.O. BOX N^O 41

 

My Dear Mother [1]

            I believe I have not written to you for about a fortnight and now send you a few lines to say that we are both alive and kicking. Tandy [2] informs me that he has not written for some time. As a matter of fact he is not feeling quite himself and is suffering from an attack of nerves. There is however no cause for concern as he will be all right shortly.

            You need not worry about his position as regards occupation as the other man [3] is very young and in comparison is not known in Hong Kong, and moreover I do not think that the principals have any such object in view. Tandy has asked me to enlighten you on this matter as he thinks you are unnecessarily worrying yourself.

            Well! I received the coat all right but have had no occasion to use it so if it not been for your letter I should not have discovered that the “young fellow” had the sleeves lengthened. I have not put it on yet so do not know how much to fine you for the alteration.

            I was sorry to learn from your last letter that you had not been feeling very well but by the time this reaches you the Spring weather ought to be about setting in and I hope you will be able to get out and about. I do not believe there will be any necessity for a shift to Oldcastle [4] ; better in case of danger try “Tippcurraghwaddeen [5] ”.

            The races are over and sad to relate I lost money, but that is offset by the bonus of 10% which we received the other day.

            Jeannie [6] must be with you now so you will have a little distraction in nursing Joan [7] and the gent who knows a Grannie that lives in Tom’s house.

            You did not tell me how the stallfeds did this year. I hope better than last although I did not notice any appreciable rise in price in the market reports of the Drogheda which you sent me.

            How are Eilie [8] & Doodle Doodle [9] going on?

            I have had a very busy day and am weary so will close.

Hoping to hear from you soon again,

Your loving son,
David [10]

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[1] Eliza Emily JACKSON née GILMORE (1846-1938). Age 69 at time of letter

[2] Andrew Hugh Gilmore JACKSON (1881-1918), brother of the letter writer David JACKSON. In a letter from Mary Griffin to Sally Whiteside, dated 27 Jan 1917, a reference is made to Andrew suffering badly from rheumatism. A year later, he was dead at age 37.

[3] I don’t know who they may be referring to.

[4] Oldcastle?

[5] Tippcurraghwaddeen?

[6] Jeannie Coulter Moorhead née JACKSON, older sister of David & Andrew. She had returned from her home in Victoria, BC, Canada to be closer to the front when her husband was in France and England during WWI.

[7] Joan Moorhead (1913-1931)who seems to have had some cognitive deficits as a result of a high fever as an infant.

[8] Elizabeth Oliver Muriel HOUSTON née JACKSON, sister of Andrew and David.

[9] This may be the infant son of Elizabeth HOUSTON. I don’t have a birth date for him, but she was married 8 June 1812, so it could be a fit.

[10] David JACKSON. Youngest son Of Andrew Coulter Bradford JACKSON (who was the brother of Sir Thomas JACKSON). He worked for the HSBC from 1904-1921 and died 12 Sept 1924 in a nursing home in London. He is mentioned as being in Calcutta in a letter from Mary Griffin to Sally Whiteside, dated 27 Jan 1917.