Transcription of letter from Alexander MacKean to John MacKean. Aug 20, 1918. Unfortunately, I’m not sure who has the original of this letter now. [Try Judy Power].

172, Stamford Street
Stalybridge,
Aug. 20, 1918

My dear John
I was glad to get your letter, and to see from it that you are both well, and that your mother is in good spirits; also that Biggs is in fairly good health, having got rid of throat trouble.   I knew that he had joint the Army, and naturally felt concerned about the risks inseparable from his creditable action.  Let us earnestly wish him a safe return!

Now, about your intended visit to Scotland, making Rothesay your headquarters, I consulted some natives of that place who keep a restaurant in Manchester, but they could not help me at all, and I [page 2] should advise you to put up at a hotel or hydro [?] for a day (unless you arrive in the morning) until you have found suitable rooms.

Your father would have been much better able to tell you about the original native place–Inchinnan.  It is situated on the way between Renfrew and Erskine ferry–a walk of four or five miles, I think; both of these latter places on the Clyde, and on the way to Rothesay, as Dumbarton (the place we are rather supposed to belong to) also is, and the house, called “Glenfield House” nearly facing the Castle, can, I have no doubt, still be seen.  From Glasgow, people used to go by rail to Grennock and thence by steamer to Rothesay.

You can arrange your own itinerary.–

As to the genealogical question, our [page 3] family did trace its descent back to the massacre of Glencoe.  The enclosed, copied from a Manchester daily paper some years ago gives a clue to our authority.

The best place to get all available information on the subject is [missing]  The rough sketch, herewith enclosed also [also missing!], will give you an idea of our crest and motto “J’ai bon esperance”. I believe they were got from the Edinburgh Office of Heraldry.

I should have been very glad to meet you at some point of your journey north in normal times but the nearest stations are Crewe and Preston, and they are rather [page 4] far away, and they are on the L&Nth Western Rly.  The Mild. Is decidedly the most interesting route as regards scenery.   However the choice of route rests with yourselves.

If I made an appointment to meet you I might find myself at the last moment unable to keep it.  This is owing to “the unexpected” being the general rule and the difficulties surrounding overseas trade at all hands too numerous to mention, the chief difficulty being connected with shipping everything being under the control of the M. Of S.   Export Licences are required for nearly every article of commerce, and depend upon the Admiralty or Minister of Munitions, altho issued by the W. T. Dept.

I hope you will have an enjoyable holiday, and a health-giving one for both of you.

Remember me to your Mother, and to Biggs when you are writing to him.

Your affect. Uncle

Alexr MacKean

The best