Letters Of Langford Selly Cranstoun,
Antigua, British West Indies 1918-1920

Letters Of Langford Selly Cranstoun - Letter Dated December 29, 1918 (the war has ended)

My Dear Son,

Well 1918 is all but gone but it will leave a crowd of suffering throughout the known world, God grant that such another war as this recent one may never happen again. I am so glad to know that you have been spared to us, although you did not actually go to the front - you left home fully prepared to do so, and you were all serious about War matters, but you were just to do other work which was in a measure just as much as if you had gone, and you have been mercifully spared to your family perhaps to do some good in the world.

Poor IM Bryson lost his only son just a few days before the armistice was signed, he is mourning his death. I called in to see him a few days after the news arrived and after speaking for some time he told me I was a lucky father to have my son left and I will in turn say Ada is a lucky wife and Duer a lucky son.

Have you struck a job yet? Alice had her pay raised a little and she says I am glad to hear of such news of Duer, it shows she must be giving satisfaction and I hope she will continue.

Now for a little news, I have arranged for the purchase of Thomas’s and Cochrane’s for £4,000 as it stands with 80 acres PL (plantable) 62 acres B (barron) land 500 acres pasture land 48 animals, including 4 horses, the works are in order for grinding but I am to pay him 8 per cent interest and £1500 to Mrs. Dobson at 6 per cent interest for 4 years the price is £4,000. After her husbands death she wanted £7,000 for it but it was out of the question it is 11
miles from town and just south of Blakes and near Bethesda. I sold Potter’s at Public Auction without the livestock and carts for £570. Dunbar is the purchaser, John Sutherland was very near, his bid was £560 but he did not have faith enough to go a little higher, it would have suited him well as he is still weighing canes at the Factory for all the estates and it would have been quite near at hand. The livestock that were at Potter’s I brought up here (to
Cassada Gardens) so I hope to make a good lot of manure, we are badly in need of some rain here, I mean in the island.

I estimated the crop here at 12 tons per acre Joc plants and --- for a total of 1878 ---- when I cut the first field in February it was very green and light and it only gave 10 tons but the field I am now reaping is giving 21 1/4 tons per acre and all told I think I ought to get my estimate.

The Abbott’s family is having a hard time of it with sickness, Madge recently got married to George Sutherland (road overseer) she had a boil on her face scratched it with soiled fingers just from type sorting got blood poison and had to be taken to hospital and is now a little better, her brother Fred (Robert Alfred Abbott) is Overseer with Dyett at Fitches Creek turned the corner too short with a two wheeler got it turned over on him and had to be taken to hospital the same day his sister went the same time their mother was ill with flu but they are all slightly on the improve.

The weather has been very cold for the last four days with a fairly strong northerly wind, but no rain, we are getting very dry.

I am sending you a few local papers when you have looked through them please pass them on to Alice. As soon as it is convenient you might send us a picture of the you and the family, when last heard from Alice she mentioned that your eyes were troubling you I hope by this they are quite better, a very good remedy for the eye trouble is Boracic Acid Lotion applied frequently. I have very often given it to persons and used it myself to great advantage, all you do is take all possible care of your eyes do not strain them, you must write soon and let us know how you are getting on.

Have you heard from Artie lately, he tells me he has written you frequently and has never had a reply. I have told him perhaps his letters may have been lost or remain in transit.

Bud Symons will be leaving here for England on the 25th of April and Bud Byves from St. Kitts will take his place. Lawyer Martin Camacho died in Dominca last month he has been in failing health for some time in fact he had a very bad leg which was eventually amputated and he was never himself again, his elder brother E G Camcho is now very ill. I have sent you all the little news I can think of at present.

With love to all. Write soon and let me know about self and family.

I remain
Your affectionate Father

The war has ended and my grandfather has safely returned home to his family. I mentioned earlier that my grandfather got very sick, my father told me he had Malaria and was actually sent back to Canada to recover and then returned to his unit. Through documents my cousin Pat had, I found that my grandfather had taken shorthand in school and with this letter from his father I believe his duties when he returned may have been in the clerical area. We also know that Alice, his sister is safely in Canada as she arrived on May 29,1918.

Letters Of Langford Selly Cranstoun - Letter Dated February, 1920 (eight months before his death)

My Dear Son,

I am pleased to hear the arrival of the little one and that Ada is getting on well have you all decided her name yet. Alice writes to say she is a lovely baby but she could, not quite decide who she resembles. Little Duer looks so very natural in the photo you sent of the house there he is sitting on the step. I actually wished when I saw him that I could see him in the flesh but that looks like an impossibility - however we must bend to the inevitable. You did not
say what you paid for the house etc., it looks like a nice place, I suppose you have land enough to add to it later or if you so desire, Ada looks quite alone standing without you near her.

Alice wrote to say her salary has been raised to $15.00 per week. I am glad she is giving her employer satisfaction and do hope she will continue to do so. Irenie, Walter and the two children were up here for a week in January.

They came over the Saturday returned to home the next Sunday. Walter was very busy and had to get back sooner. Many thanks for the papers, they are sent regularly to me. I could not at first find out who was sending these to me until you wrote. The world is in an unsettled condition I suppose it will be a long time before things will settle down, the cost of living is something since every article is up I am afraid the dry goods merchants are laying it on pretty thick. The government appointed a food committee to control the prices of foodstuffs. The invoices are looked into and prices fixed accordingly but the dry goods merchants have not been taken in hand yet. The price of labour on the Estates has gone up in some instances twice the amount paid in pre war days every time the price of flour goes up they expect the Estate to pay higher wages but where the trouble comes in they are not inclined to work from Monday nor do they... (can't decifer due to fold)

The Factory has started reaping I expect to reap 339 tons more canes this season than last which was 1535 tons. They are going to pay 41/6 per ton for the canes this season had there been another Factory we would have a better price but there is no competition. The works here are in order only requiring a little priming here and there but the drawback is the distance from home and the road from here to the shipping bay which belongs here is very bad when the tide is high.

I remain
Your affectionate Father

We now know that my grandfathers parents knew of the birth of his daughter Vivian Eunice Cranstoun born December 8, 1919 and that Alice is a regular visitor at her brothers home.

Letters Of Langford Selly Cranstoun - Letter Dated March 31, 1920 (seven months before his death)

My Dear Duer,

The postman has just brought the Toronto papers for which I must thank you very much indeed. Your Mama heard from Ada a couple of weeks ago and were glad to hear you were all well, as soon as possible you might try and send us a photo of the little girl by all account she is a fine baby.

With reference to that matter of your homecoming you never sent me any reply my reason of writing you is there have been several vacancies with fairly remunerative salaries and I thought perhaps you would have got on better here than in Canada although provisions and clothing are pretty stiff prices just now, but I think you can better get two ends to meet here.

The price of sugar is up just now but we are not getting a good price for our canes from the factory they are paying us little per ton and in Barbados they are paying $23.00 per ton they have more than one factory there but here it is only the Gunthorpes and they take the advantage as Bendals is not connected by the lines, another point against us is the Gunthorpe factory sold their sugar before the crops started at £37.10.0 and the muscovado is now locally worth over £40.0.0 per ton and molasses up at 84 cents per gallon but at the same time the price of Labour is up high the cutters are leaving for Cuba, Puerto Rico and other parts of the world where they are not likely to do any better than at home here.

We heard from Alice quite recently she says she has gone to keep the books she wrote to say that all things considered she would not like to leave just now, that being the case and other matters in connection we have not pressed her to when just now. Edith is engaged to Percy Kelsick and they are to be married next month he has a job at the Bendals Factory your Mama and I were not-at-all keen on the match but Edith was determined so she will take her own chance.

Love to all. Hoping to hear from you soon write fully on the subject I have mentioned.

I remain,
Your Affectionate Father

We now know that my grandfather was seriously considering going back to Antigua, perhaps his desire to return
accounts for the constant fighting between him and Ada. Ada is writing to Evelina. Alice is not wanting to return home as yet. We learn that his sister Edith Eliza Maud Cranstoun is to be married and his parents were not pleased about it. We know there is a real family here.

Letters Of Langford Selly Cranstoun - Letter Dated June 20, 1920 (four months before his death)

My Dear Son,

Yours of April 22 came to hand but as it so important a matter I did not hurry to reply but gave the matter grave consideration, to begin with I would not advise you to part with your house as you have worked so hard to get it and you might not be able to procure a good reliable agent to take charge of it during your absence. The salaries paid here at present are far better than when you left here, for instance Overseers were paid £4 to £5 per month at 2s per week servants wages managers were paid £140 to £150 per month. Now Overseers are paid £7 to £8 per month and 3s to 4s per week servants wages. Managers were paid £180 to £200 per month and servants wages the government has not raised their wage quit in proportion.

New jobs I had my eye on for you was the Telephone Super the salary was £150 but they have sent to Barbados to inquire for a man but up to a few days ago they had not succeeded in getting a man, do you sufficient of that branch of work to enable you to take it in hand now of the instruments are rather old and --- but at the same time probably today they have heard favourably from Barbados, the wages paid to servants here runs from 3s per week and their food and runs from 4s to 6s per week without food, furniture here can be had fairly reasonable, but clothing is very high indeed, food stuffs are very scarce there is only a small quantity of baking flour but not an ounce corn meal to be had the people are having a very hard time of it, a steamer is expected in a couple of days time, we are hoping to get some food stuffs by her. The strike on the other side affects us a great deal, another local trouble is this, in consequence of the day weather we have not been able to plant any ground provisions so you can imagine how hard it is for all parties especially the labourers. I am however glad to say we had a light shower last night and I planted some yams this morning, the factory intends on closing down on the 15th of July it is thought that some of the estates will not get through by that date, it is such a pity - I hope such a thing will not happen again, I have more canes here than I can manage to deliver to the factory by the 15th and I am going to grind next week here and make muscovado sugar, this is being locally bought at £58 per ton and molasses at 4/2 per gallon but on the other hand expenses are very high indeed.

Mrs. Hall's mother Mrs. Heagan was buried on the 10th she was ill for some little time, we heard from Alice by then - last boat - and she wrote to say she intends returning about November & your aunt Mary has not been feeling well but she has been out and around, how are the children getting on, I hope Ada is quite well.

With love from all to all.
I remain,
Your loving father.

This letter is significant as it suggests that my grandfather was seriously considering going back to Antigua and Alice his sister had finally decided to go home, unfortunately Langford Selly Cranstoun died suddenly on October 10, 1920 from appendix abscess and nephritis. We now know for certain from my grandfather’s passport as it confirms his passage to Antigua in 1920 and that all the children in Canada at the time Langford Duer, Alice and Arthur “Artie” returned home in October 1920 for their father’s funeral. Aunt Mary outlived her brother by thirteen years, she spent the last seven years of her life in bed with a broken hip.

What is significant about the mentioning of the Hall’s is that Robert Langford Hall was named after my great grandfather Langford Selly Cranstoun and he was his godfather. His father was Henry John Hall, friend of my great grandfather and he was married to Marie Victorie Heagan and her mother was Marie Coralie Blanc married to Robert Sproule Heagen.

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