These are copies of letters given to me by John Frederick Aitken in the summer of 1995.  They were all written by Capt. Louis John ‘Jack’ Westaway (Richard WESTAWAY, Roger Dart WESTAWAY) to his sister Damais (Westaway) Aitken.
 


  
 

to Mrs. George Aitken (Damaris Westaway)

                                                                                                Liverpool, England
                                                                                                Dec. 4, 1882

Dear Sister,

        We arrived on the 2nd from Holyhead (Wales)  where we put into in a gale of wind for a harour of safe refuge.
I am quite well and hope you are the same.  We are safely moored in dick and busy discharging the cargo
which shall be out on a few days.  I can not say what we shall do but I think we shall go to Cuba, W.I.  I had
a letter from Katie, she told he that the 'Liverpool' was sold.  The 'J.W.' is in Queenstown (Cork, Ireland) in a
damaged condition so I hear.  I have written to Capt. Currie.  We had a very good time across the Atlantic, but
a bad time in the St. George's Channel, but I got along all safe.  I have written several letters home and
telegraphed from Holyhead.
        I suppose you have heard of us often.  There is mail due in a day or two so I expect a letter in it.  I have
no news to write, shall write you again before long.  Please remember me to all in the house without deviation
or variation in leeway.

                                                                            From Your Loving Brother,

                                                                                    Jack
                                                                                    Plymouth



                                                                                                New York
                                                                                                April 18, 1883

Dear Sister,

        As I am once more safely in port I consider it my duty to address you a few lines to let you know we are
all well.  Hoping this will find you the same.  I had a letter from Kate, she told me that John Aitken was not
well but I hope that he is quite well again and enjoying health - one of God's best gifts to us poor human
creatures.
        We arrived here on the 5th inst. from Cuba, had a good passage, was about 12 days discharging
the cargo all in good order, and now we are about loaded for St. John's NFLD and sail in a day or two.
We are loaded chiefly with flour.  I expect that we shall go home from NFLD and go into the deal
trade again for the summer.  I only had one letter from Kate and one from McD & W.  Am expecting
a letter daily.
        The 'Alaska' Capt. young is here - they are all well.  Capt. Tom McLure is here also, their head-
quarters are at the 'Plymouth'.  Some of them keep me up 'till one or two o'clock every night.  George is
just as (?) as ever but McLure is a sensible old block just like your brother Jack.  Old Mack has went
to the devil.  I had a notion to drive him on shore here but I shall suffer him 'till I get home and then
I shall part he has to be a nuisance.  George Wolf has gotten to be a first class cook.  I tell him he is
no good but when I went aboard the 'Alaska' and seen old Jim Murphy I consider we live in a hotel
on the 'Plymouth' and so we do.  Good-bye with Love.

                                                                            Your Brother,
                                                                            Jack



Pitcain Brothers letterhead
to Mrs. George Aitken (Damaris Westaway)
                51 South John Street
                Liverpool
                July 5th 1883
Dear Sister,

        I had your kind letter yesterday.  Was glad to hear from you and to know you were all O.K.
I will not promise you that I will bring Mrs. Baine's dishes as I got your letter too late and may not have
enough money left.  I have bought a dinner set for Mrs. B. Aitken - 66 pieces, they cost one pound/2 and
sixpence and I hope they will suit her.  If she takes them I am going to bone her for a dinner.  I have got
pictures taken in Liverpool and they are first class.  I would send you one but if Maggie is going to have
it in her album with her sweet-heart (Bill Reynolds) I shall keep they myself.  We expect to sail today but
it is blowing a fresh breeze of head wind so I can not say if we shall.  We have had a lot of N.W. wind
here of late so I trust we soon shall have a change.  I have no fun to write and no time to write a long
letter.  Hoping you are all well as can be.  With kind love and respect to all at home.

                                                I remain your brother,
                                                    Jack

Since I wrote you I have bought the dishes for Mrs. Baine about what I thought she would want, white with blue rings on them, cost 1'/2'2.                                               L. J. Westaway 1