To see the text of the letters, click HERE for 1857, or HERE for 1864. To see the original handwritten letters, click HERE for 1857 or HERE for 1864.

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Donald McCallum sent us these fascinating letters after reading about Lost Trails at the Gathering of the Clans.

Both letters were written by Duncan McDiarmid to Donald McKercher, the first in 1857 and the second, seven years later, in 1864. The two letters provide a fascinating glimpse into life in the mid-19th century as seen through the eyes of an immigrant who had made a new life for himself in Canada.

Donald would like to know whether there are any relatives of the people mentioned in these letters, particularly the McDiarmids and McKerchers. He feels they may be of some use to genealogists who are looking for the lost links in their family tree.

Donald explained how he came into possession of the letters:

I have the letters because Donald McKerchar had no more immediate family with which to spend his old age, than the son (Malcolm) of his cousin Donald McCallum. (McKerchar's mother had been Catharine McCallum, sister of John, my gt. gt. gt. grandfather.)

Donald McKerchar had been a soldier, like his brother Duncan, though Duncan seems to have died in service. Donald did not marry, and I believe neither did Duncan. When he was discharged from the army he returned to his home in Fortingall, Perthshire. When he was old, he did not have any children to look after him, so he moved in with Malcolm McCallum, the son of his late cousin, Donald McCallum.

I don't know when he died, but it was after my grandfather, Donald, was born (1862) since the second letter is dated 1864. The family kept several of his papers, including his certificate of discharge, which described him as worn out in 1820, after 21 years service, including, according to family tradition, in the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. Being worn out didn't stop him fron collecting the pension for 40 years and more! The pension, I suppose made him comparatively well off, and a welcome house-guest, especially on the quarterly payment dates! My grandfather was born before McKerchar died, and recalled that the pension payment date had been celebrated by the purchase of a bottle or two.

I would guess that Duncan McDiarmid's parents had been Donald McKerchar's contemporary, and may have been related. I also assume that McDiarmid senior had come from Fortingall. Since he refers to several McCallums, he clearly knew them, and he may have been related to my family. The letters are of general interest, but they will be particularly interesting to any descendants of the McDiarmids. Sadly, there are no more, and I do not know whether this is because some were not kept, but only these survived by chance. It is also a great pity that Donald McKerchar did not leave a written account of his memoirs; all we have is the tale that he served in the Scottish regiment, the Black Watch, and fought at Waterloo.
Donald McCallum, December, 1999

If you have any clues that may help Donald solve this family mystery, please write to us at editor@tartans.com and we'll forward your messages on to him immediately.

MMJ, December, 1999
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