Il y a copie de la lettre écrite par Félicité Dugas a son beau- père lors du décès de son mari John Clapperton, celui qui est arrivé le premier au Canada. Je ne sais pas qui à écrit cette copie à la machine originalement. Peut-être l'oncle George Clapperton? Donc, voici je la retape telle quelle;
This is a copy of a letter written by Félicité Dugas to her father-in-law in Scotland after the death of her husband John. I do not know who wrote (typed) that letter originaly, it must have been uncle George C.,but I retyped it exactly as it was written. The copy that I had was too dark to scan.
CARLETON CHALEUR BAY October 16 .1839
My Dear Father,
It is with with the utmost grief I have to announce to you the melancholy news of the unfortunate and untimely death of my dear Husband,and your affectionate Son, John Clapperton, who was drowned at this place on the Eleventh of last Month, oposite our own House and in the presence of a number of his Friends who could render him no assistance, he embarqued about Two oclock in the afternoon on Board of a Boat on his way to Ristyaneke(Ristigouche), and having wet his feet, was leaning over the side of the Boat in the act of wringing his stockings, when he fell overboard, and before the Boat could be put about he sunk to rise no more and altho it is now upwards of a month the Body has not yet been found, words cannot paint to you my distress, being left with my two dear little Boys, who are still continually calling for their dead Father,poor dear Children they may well lament for him for never was there a more affectionate Father or a more tender Husband, he was just about building a Small House and had already purchased a small piece of land. I am now left in a manner destitute, having been obliged to heave myself upon the protection of my Brother, who has a very large family to maintain, having my Mother and two Sisters living with him, had he lived it was his intention to have made a quantity of Timber during the Winter to send to you in the Spring. I wrote my Sister Margarett in August last I trust she has received my letter, I hope she will not forget me in my distress. I hope to receive a Letter from her, shortly,and fondly trust you will be pleased to write and as soon as you receive this advising me how to act pardon me my dear Father if I have to request you would send me in the Spring a few articles of Clothing for my dear little Boys. I am still in hopes we may the satisfaction of finding the Body when I will immediately inform you trusting to hear from you soon,and with kind love to all your worthy family believe me My Dear Father Your Most Affectionate Daughter Felicite Clappertonne Mr James Clapperton.
Transcrit sur "Word" par Charles Mill le 18 Octobre 1999.
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