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James Cameron Island

28th. Dec 1901 Holy Innocents Day a Fine Morning Randolph came had 2 packages which Gordon Brought coat Boots Jacket. Ties 2 cups and saucers, 2 Lemons, Candies in a Box and in Paper. Randolph and Leander went to hunt this Morning. Baking today. The letter to Dan would go off this morning. Concerning Leander, name him who swam the Hellespont {Dardanelles in Turkey}. Began fishing perch and pike in the Back Bay. Leander and Randolph down to Rofs's and Charlie's Island. Stanley cutting wood for the sugar bush and cutting stove wood at the door. Leander went across bought 25 cent sugar, 1 bag of salt. Got a large pike. Returned tonight.

29th Angus Cameron Birthday Uncle Angus. Rainning today. Last Sunday in the year.

30th Fine, calm. Stanley drawing old wood and sticks from the fence and the barn. Fixing something on the Thrashing mill. Billy and Uncle George came, went to fish EEls. Captain Billy came with papers concerning Fernandez's military stand in the regiment. Got 30 EEls. Billy told us of Margaret Cameron, now Mrs. Millar’s death last week a near friend of ours.

31st Fine some windy. Billy filed the crosscut saw. Fernandez went to Lancaster. Very squally with drifting and wind. Perch and pike. Fernandez came to Frasher's Point. very high wind.Freezing hard tonight stopt up till 1 oclock.

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James Cameron Island

1st Jan 1902 New years Day, a Fortunate Day. Fine, fair and frosty, some wind freezing. Hard ice making. Ice going down the Bay. Boys crofsed to the Little Island north side, anchor ice going down. Making across in some places ice taken by Charlie’s Island and up to Hopkin's Point. Diggin baits to fish. Fishing perch and pike. Freezing hard tonight. Ice jamming some.

2nd A Fortunate Day East wind, fine. Ice did not take in the channel outside.Last night boys fishing perch and pike got an EEl Fixing the Mud Spears 2 of them went to fish EEls 4 of them of them22 got to Day

3rd Allen's Birthday Unfortunate Day, some cold wind. Fernandez, Billy and George went off took their fish 50 EEls, lots of perch, some pike. Made a small sleigh to draw their fish. Fernandez started for to go to the St. John's Training School. to start from Dundee on the 5th of January. Leander went part of the way with them on the ice. The ice taken on the south side not taken on the north side yet. But freezing hard tonight 4th Unfortunate Day the ice taken across here not altogether above here. Began boarding the inside of the kitchen the east end. The ice is taken to night.

Sunday the 5th, Leander crossed, got the mail.Gordon came, showed the presents he got from Mrs Locia and the fine time he had at their Place. Randolph here Dan Spink fishing.

James Cameron Island 6th January

Unfortunate day, Gordon crossed laying the floor in the kitchen loft. Banned some council in Williams Town. Sacrament yesterday in Salem Church. Fernandez and Captain. Morris took the train for St John's Military school 2nd R.B. 50th Regiment. Laid the floor as far as the pipe from the north side. 7th & wind some frosty. Some logs Leander crowd got 25 cents for tea. Got a letter from Dan sending a box. I can't read the letter as I am bad with my sight. Got a package of writing paper from John Cameron of the rough ugly paper I sent him in my last letter. Got the mail. Sent 2 papers to Fernandez at St. John's. 8th January Annie Birthday 1866 Mrs. George Creamer of Dundee age 36. William S. Morris and 2 young boys came to fish perch in the Bay. First horse to cross from the south side. Jim and Angus Mayville here with Bell left minnows here. Got eels. Leander to Summerstown took the Hand-Sleigh got the star. 9th very fine not so windy today nor so frosty. The 2 boys in the bush sowing. Leander crossed to Summerstown. Put out some bushes. Got the box. Benny Nyland's boy died on the 8th as I heard. Frank Laplant crossed with a horse. 10th wind. Stanley and Leander in bush shot a white owl on the {?}

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James Cameron Island 26th January

Fortunate day. Gordon came. Randy and Stanley came for Elm Bark for Lady Renshaw. Wrote a letter for Randy for Toronto. Maple hills rained tonight. Fine windy. Rained tonight. Made loads to the Wood and Banks as the crust is bad. Gordon not well. Sent 3 letters and 2 papers. Windy night. Getting ice at to Douguette today. 28th cold wind. Fine day. Drew loads today to Douguette. Cold tonight. 29th Mr. Kinley's Birthday. They are keeping it today in the stables. Fine, cold and frosty. Drew 2 loads today to Douguette. Bought 50 cents of sugar. Meeting at Salem Church. Cool. 30th fine day. Leander went for oil. Frosty tonight. 31st fine, fair, frosty. Shot an owl last night in the Grove. Letter from Fernandez and Minnie. Letters sent off to Doumachell about the scrims. Borrowed 25 cents from Sonia. 1st of February 1902 The Black Month, St. Bridget's Day. It used to be called East Wind {?} Drifting fox passed here. Randolph. 2nd Candlemas. The Sun did not shine today, so the Bear and the Badger will not see. Wind blowing drifting. Gates through a Minister's

James Cameron Island 3rd Feb. 1902

Unfortunate day. Windy changed to west. Drifting, blowing and ugly time. Not very well tonight. 4th, fine mild wind. Misty. Leander went to the hill, seen the fox running right up to him. Put out pills and they eat them. 5th, a very fine day. Leander to the poison, they eat it but none of them. Raised the horses to break the road to the river. This is St. Agartha's Day. Grey bird not seen since the storm. This storm was awful bad. Most every place had to turn without the men. In Summerstown Montreal, had a big storm and lots of other places. 6th, fine day. Randolph here, Leander and him went fishing perch in the bay, got none. No foxes. Gordon came, had his axe not very well. Shot an owl in the grove. 7th, unfortunate day. fine. Leander got a fox. a dog. Pill the measles in Summerstown. Gordon chopping stove wood at the door. Snowing, kind of soft, took over the wheat from the old house. Skinned the fox. 8th, Gordon's Birthday. 39 years old today. Drifting, blowing. Leander for the mail, got 4 papers. Sunday, unfortunate day.

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James Cameron Island 10th Feb 1902 West wind fine, fair, frosty. Gordon at stove wood. Leander got a fox. 11th, fortunate day. Fine, drifting, windy. Snowed tonight, cold. 12th, Wednesday. Unfortunate day. I eat no meat today. Wrote a letter to Winners Magazine. Winners Magazine 122 B. St. Louis, Mo. USA Put in 16 cents in the letter. Leander and Gordon crossed to Summertown. Brought 5 lbs of sugar, 25 cents. Ugly going on the ice. Water on the ice. The election for Mayor in Cornwall is going on today. Mr. Lamoureux and Delisle. Heard Lamoureux got in majority. 14th, Valentine’s Day. Leander and Gordon crossed to Summertown. Bought a stove pipe with a keg in it for the stove. Fine day, sunshine. Got the cleaner and forthcoming. Run one half of the month’s post. 15th Very fine day. Gordon ran the post. Leander went to Cornwall to Mill with 20 bushels of wheat, got a good return of flour from Mack’s Mill. Bought some — 6 pounds, 90 cents. Shovel for snow, 50 cents. Gordon bought boots, 2 pair. Shirt and a bag of good stuff. Hope the cow not ... Seen flocks of ducks pass.

James Cameron Island 6th Feb 1902

Sunday, unfortunate day, fine day. George came on snow {?} had a pair of mitts come in to from his place. Randolph here. Stanley came home from Renshaws all had a jollification on Gordon's. Food stuff 3 of them went tonight church. The cow laid out and skinned. 17th, unfortunate day. Fine, fair and frosty. Began using this flour. Randolph here, gave him the 2 papers to put in the P.O. to Fernandez and Billy. Stanley not here, I don't know where he went and if they know they will not tell put some of the wheat and flour up in the east end. Snowed through the night. Another of the white owls flying around cool fine. 18th, James Hugh's Birthday. 1855, 47 years old today. Fine day, snowing some, windy. Snowing, drifting. An ugly day, doing a little or nothing. Snowing tonight. 19th, Fine, fair and frosty. Snowing some at the door. It's drifting today to beat. Sun shining, cut a lunch board to make snow {?} Made a {?} tonight. 20th, this is called the Steel Days till the 28th. Fine, drifting sunshiny day. Boarding from the north west wind. Gordon and Leander at South today. Gordon went to the Salem Church social.

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James Cameron Island 21st Feb, 1902. A fortunate day, a very fine day, the sun is warm. Randolph here brought the mail. A letter from John Cameron, Junction City. Leander boarding the west side north up stairs. Gordon came tonight had 2 letters from {?} and one from Mr. John McBain, my old friend and schoolmate. He was always a good churchman and a good Christian and an excellent scholar and a good teacher. I am awful about my sight. Those letters I got I cannot read and the mistress has to make them out the best she can. I am thinking my sight will get better, still I am doubtful. I will be glad to get the book as they will read it to me and I used to be so used that route from Martintown to the Scotch River, McSavers Mills, Riceville and other places. We had lots of friends out there, the Campbells in the 19th and 20th. Malcom Campbell, MacKercher on Mr.Heracher, The Buffalo. His mother was a near relation of ours. The McDermids and the Camerons.

James Cameron Island 22nd Feb 1902

Washington's Birthday. Very very fine day, sunshine and hot. Boarding home upstairs. West side of the chimney north end. 23rd, Sunday. Unfortunate day. Very very fine day. D. Smith and Randolph here. Tried for perch, got none. Brought the mail. 24th, Matthias Day. Very fine day, kind of warm, foggy or cloudy or misty. Snowed some. Stove wood. Boarding upstairs north at the chimney. Wrote 2 letters, one to John McBain. Esq. Maxville one to James Burton. Maxville shot at an owl down on the ice. Sugar-bird coming around. Snowed this afternoon. Kind of soft working upstairs tonight at the West Window. Wrote. 25th, A fortunate day. Wrote my letter for the continuance of the star. My time to begin is 26th of February. Put in a dollar. Leander and Gordon crossed with the Team. Sent the 3 letters, registered and hostage 11 cents and 2 papers to Fernandez. 2 letters to Maxville, 1 to the {?}. Bought sugar 25 {?} sugar 25 Got letter from Dumoshel and Fernandez.

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James Cameron Island 26th 1902 Fortunate day, The Star begins today. Paid for this year. Fine, few drops of hail, foggy not only wind, kind of fast and cold. Leander and Gordon went to Fort {Covington?} with 3 bags of corn to mill. Brought 2 hides and 2 fox skins. Got a good return of corn meal this year. Usual thawed some today. Bought 20 lb of sugar, tea, soap, tobacco, whiskey, files, some crows and blackbirds out, Owl at the barn. Got the star and envelope to get 3 pictures of the royal family. 27th, a very fine morning. Randolph here. Winds. Working upstairs overhead and under the north windows. Chic-a-dees or Tomlet and sugar-bird or chirping bird around the door. Leander went off a letter to Messers Moody and Co. with 11 dollars in it for the first payment of the raking machine and Randolph takes it to the P.O. today and to register it. Leander crossed himself. Stanley came from Kenshaw's, had the saw and songs for the ice. Brought the book the man from Glengarry sent to me from Maxville by my niece Mils Daisy Burton which I appreciate very much with many kind wishes to the one who sent.

James Cameron Island 28th, Feb 1902

Last day of February, a fine day. Gordon and Leander went to mill to Cornwall Summerstown to {?} East wind poured nearly all night. They came had then great a good return of flour. Bought a cropcut. Saw the saucet axe-handle. Sonia bought 2 lamp chimneys and sugar. 1st of March, St. David's Day. {?} the Welshmans Day, The Seek. Came on raining daytime fine. The sun shone bright. Unfortunate day, fixing the place for the ice. Gordon sawing with the new crosscut saw the saucet rows. Windy. {?} free for a drink. First eggs came in today. Sun was awful hot, rained hard tonight. 2nd, unfortunate day. Sunday rain pouring rain all day. Rained tonight and very windy tonight. 3rd, fine cool windy. Gordon and Stanley sawing the Elm but above the house. Stanley got sawdust in one of his eyes. Wrote a letter today to Miss. Daisy Burton. Maxville thanks for the book, those came tonight. Windy north, {?} one soad to Jos on 6th.

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James Cameron Island 4th of March 1902 William Henry Shad date Cameron's birthday. Uncle John's eldest son. Born in Quebec. Randolph and Leander after the time in Francis. Leander shot him cutting ice on the south side of the island. Gordon bad with the toothack. Sunshiny day, north wind. I can hardly see this what I am writing, I sent a letter with Randolph to put in the P.O. to Maxville filing the other saw for the ice cut 40 squares of ice. Gordon and Leander went down to the Kit Hill see if their was any foxes. {?} River is open, down to the distillery. 5th, unfortunate day. Gordon, Stanley, Leander at the ice. Randolph came had the Kansas paper went to the ice with them. A very fine day. I can hardly see what I am writing, my sight is getting worse every day. The east wind boys at the ice. 6th, a very very fine day. Randolph came, had a letter with receipt of the 11 dollars for the raking machine. Taking up ice {?} Renshaw forsaw ice to Lancaster. A social in Summerstown tonight. Gordon crossed to the social and came down for wood. Soad to ice all in.

James Cameron Island 7th of 1902 Froze last night. Gordon came from the social last night. Got the paper, pets and animals. Leander and Gordon took up a load this morning and last night a team went down the ice, likely for sawdust. Stanley went to fort Covington to get his boots monded gave him a dollar bill to get some eye-water and RRR for my sight is awful. Din took 2 loads this forenoon. Black dead luite smart, night dead this morning it must be heart disease or horn distemper. Bill Billy and Fernandez came took the 2 boats up with them Tyo's boat and bills. Bill Billy took his sword here so I would see it and its a beauty. They are after coming from the military school at St. Johns. Some rain snow {?}. Randolph sold his {?}. 8th, unfortunate day, fine east wind. Sold Randolph brought the man. Shot a rabbit in the bush with saw and axe.

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James Cameron Island 9th of March 1902 Sunday, Gordon to church then went to the Counsellor to chat. Took his saw and axe. Snowing some, he took a letter to put in the paper to who I dont know, everything is secret it seems. Stanley came, no one knew where he went, they knew they didint seem that I should know where he came to stay. I did not ask him where he was, as I would be told. Snowed some tonight. 10th, a fortunate day, very fine, hot out. They grind stone, 3 of them went to the bush took saw and fences. Very fine, went over to the old house. The first time I was this winter packing the owls send to Dumochel and Bromontreal. Heard George Spetzinger died at the Clifton House, Cornwall. Very much respected by all who called on him. 11th, went up to the bush. Randolph down with a team. Stanley very sick. Fine rained hard tonight. Leander went to Lancaster medicine. Seen wild geese chicken hawk today. Renshaw here went with the owls. Barry here yesterday wood.

James Cameron Island 2nd of March 1902 Rain, very foggy, blackbirds came. Unfortunate day, some few men working at the pier yesterday. The 11th water on the ice. Bought 3 sheets of thread, 15 cents. Stanley not very well on this day of the of the month. D Mr.Master senior first came to the island and the ice opened this day. Very very foggy, calm. I had to make this big I cant make out this again the next day. Rained hard tonight, lots of water in the ice. Cut a hole for perch. 13th, raining, snowed some. Randolph here took down the star east and north month. The Boers beating the British in the East Route. They had by having the British cloths. Stanley in bed. The ice men boring on the ice. 14th, Stanley's birthday 1880 June. Fine day, went to the lower-point. Made shafts for the old bobsleigh. Stanley not well, took over the park. Very fine today, drew 4 logs of wood to the bank. Randolph and Rossie amongst the shore. Leander, Fernandez to Summerstown.

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James Cameron Island 5th March 1902. East wind, fine sunshiny day. Cool a sale at Mr Chisholm today. Stanley very unwell. Don't take any nourishment at all, his head is what he complains of. Drawing those bridges sticks bank then to Summerstown. 2 of them drew on the south side from Wharf Whistlers. Trying a lot of shooting on the south side. Thawing this afternoon. Gordon came tonight. Renshaw sale put of the 19th. 16th Sunday, unfortunate day, fine day. Randolph and D {?} came Stanley very unwell today and tonight he is very bad very bad. Slept well. The boys making at the air-hole set decoys shot 6 ducks, 2 a piece. Rained hard tonight, some wind. 17th, This is the {?} St. Patrick's Day. Fine, cool, pleasant after ducks at the air-hole. Stanley no better, don't take any nourishment at all. Basins and shoals to the bush. Froze tonight, Stanley poorly. 18th, St. Joseph Day. Fine on this day of the month. {?} departed 1887 Rowena. Randolph here, Fernandez went to Lancaster, sent for Randolph. Essence of Peppermint eye water, gave him a dollar, continued over.

James Cameron Island 18th March 1902 St Joseph Day, I heard Mrs Annie and Mr Donald in the cove departed. Court in Lancaster today. Doctor Harkness in Cornwall today. Brought 100 hays, buckets for Sah. The bush sent for hooks and eyes got the RRR 2 bottles of peppermint and my change. 19th, Mr. Chisholm's Sale today. Fine, froze last night and today cool wind. Stanley very unwell, the other 2 went to the sale. A team went down the channel and came up. My sight is awful bad today, I cant read what I wrote. Sah not running today, rigs going on the Sower Road today. Bought at the sale. Cultivator began to snow. Few drops of rain. Paid a ____ the sale went on good. Got a bottle of ____ for Stanley. 20th, a nice little lot of snow fell. Fine this morning {?), melting. This is the last day of winter. Stanley came down for 5 minutes for 9 days in bed. This is the {?} some trees. Fernandez went across to go to the Meeling in Alexander on the 21 at the Chisholm sale. They sold for 1036 dollars and 36 cents. Rained some tonight. Short went upstairs to see Stanley in bed.

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James Cameron Island 26th March 1902 Froze some last night, Randolph here. Last night brought the mail. Ice going down, jamming some. Jah runs well. 27th, a very fine day. Telegraphed to Dr Harkness on Stanley's account of being unwell. The Dr came _____________________________________ of shooting today. Rained this evening, ice jamming on the south side. Put the {?} to Summerstown and to meet him at Sovat Saturday. 28th, Good Friday, I eat no meat today. Unfortunate day, kind of foggy sunshines. A lot of shooting this morning. Stanley rested well last night and today Randolph here & Renshaw to see Stanley and in the sugar bush east and north. East wind took to the house tonight. About 70 gallons of syrup in jars. Raining hard all night.

James Cameron Island 29th 1902 March. Raining, very foggy, misty, cloudy. East change to west. Leander to Point Sovat to meet the doctor. Gave medicine to Livinia Senior. Miss Harkness sent a lovely box of precious value to Livinia Junior which she was quite proud of. Bad roads, Gordon came tonight. 30th, {?}. Rained east wind. Easter Sunday, the sun did not show himself this morning. Lots of eggs, killed a hen for Stanley. Seen a crane yesterday. Sat, not running, my sight is very bad. My hearing is not much better My {?} not any better. Better health good otherwise. Rained through hard the night. I make some mistakes and crooked writing. 31st of March, fine in the sugar bush, skimming rats. Mr Duncan and Ms Gillis here and went away without his dinner, too bad. Why didn't he come? Snowed through the night or near morning, swallows came. Frogs began their {?} Canadian Nightingale as they are called.

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James Cameron Island 17th of May 1902. Unfortunate day, Fernandez went across, took dozed of eggs. Took a can of syrup. Planting, planted potatoes. Let the horses out to pasture. Squashes planted. Very fine fishing, got 2 do not bite. Planted squashes at Stonecrock. 2 of them went to Lancaster to meeting Billy Morris and John Bodiva came. The boys came tonight from Lancaster. 18th, Whit Sunday. Mr, Ms. McLaughlin and Napoleon here. Boys fishing for perch. Frank Lemay and wife here. Randolph and Stanley came. I think I make mistakes as I cannot read what I wrote. Yesterday, a very fine day. 19th, Monday, my sight is very dim as I write this. Killed one of the calves, east wind. You can see for yourself, what a mean set of folks I have. Just look how they destroyed my writings.

James Cameron Island 19th, May 1902. Told notice this day (?) the one who done it done it last night and I know who he is, no one would do it but a very guilty person and a rodier or thy. I know the guilty person but I will chose this to everyone. Rained tonight, a dust arid day. 20th, a very fine day. Leander took his boots from the shore. I suppose going some place to get it. Fine eat, don't tell me any they do the Redcoat ploughing in an easy place, taking and pulling anything I have out of my way, so I will have to look for there. Wind. The soger crossed Leander to Je Lemay with his boat Girls working in the garden. La Bullernux tree cut down at Point, had no business to cut it.

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James Cameron Island 21st May 1902. First day of spring, Randolph here after ducks in airhole. Some rain, a few drops this morning. Sun crosses the line. Equinoxical sales begins on land and sea. Ice must be nearing under. Stanley not much better, I cannot see right what I am writing took some of the barrels to the river to soak. Sapping today, took some buckets to the bay. Took over the snow or metal barrel to the house for the sugar bush. A fine day for the conservative meeting in Alexandria or the Priest Mills as I’ve used to call it in days of yore. Every hot sun came out, all out 4 on ½ past 4. Gathered 6 barrels this afternoon about 270 Jaht now. This is the first gathering, no fine made yet. Sap run well all night. 22nd, Suvenia Senior Birthday and a very fine day it is. 1840. Fernandez came, got a letter him. I don’t know its contents, sap runs well today. Stanley not well, sapping gathered to barrels

James Cameron Island 23rd of March. Ice opened today at Fran Island. The old mark for there to go. Randolph here, had to stop night and go across with the in the morning. Fernandez went to Lancaster to see and get some medicine from Dr. Harkness got it. Ice bad near shore, made syrup for the first had many 7 gallons, a very good sap. Stanley taken medicine today. A very very fine day, sap running well, ice opening slowly. Lots of shooting away down east and south east. Cleaned my gun and oiled it, 10 gallons in the house today. 25th, Lady Day annunciation. Very mary a very fine day. Went to the old house, took over an axe. Took a lot of cans today, sap run well. ___________________________. Randolph Cameron Birthday, 1876, 26 years old today. East wind, a very very fine day. Ice jamming on the channel going down. Went to upper point, lots of shooting.

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James Cameron Island 1st Apr. All Fools Day, rained. Leander went to meet. Randolph here, shot 2 bla. Made a cake of sugar. Lots some ice close to shave. Had some snow on the floor. Stanley some better, my is no better. Sheep grazing on hill here, they took about 10 gallons. 2nd, froze some last night, fine some wind. 3rd, Leander to. Windy, sun shining. Saw sla 4 up a little. Randolph here, the dr. here for the last. A very fine day, hut a hand in an axe in the bay yet win. Frost tonight, lots of shooting at Na-Houtas or Gaunt Island or Hawk Island, Snake Island no nothing take it. This is the St. Ambrose day. 5th, very fine, Mr Arthur Hun and 2 boys of Lemays ho. Bought a gallon of syrup, 6th, fortunate day. Adelaide, James R. and Randolph here for today. The boys in the bush. Jabby & Wind, Gordon crossed to Bakers (?)

James Cameron Island 7th of March, 1902 On this day of the month, Uncle John departed 1893 in New York. Very fine day. Boys in sugar bush. I went over to the other house round to the Soven Point the back bay. Ice moved out a little but the east wind moves it back. Made blund on the bay to have in the boat & the wind cool. 2 of the boys out in the back bay after the blue bills got in for part of the day afternoon in the bush training. Stanley finding the lines. Bob took Sonia a bad bite. Took home about 16 gallons of syrup today. Eclipse today & some say their heard loons. Very windy tonight, east north. On this day of the month I was married in 1862, 46 years married today. East wind, rained some. Ice jamming, rats, windy tonight. A fortunate day, Randolph here. Away the banking, took 10 ducks, took some of the sugar bush. Things some bottling syrup. He and Miss, M Lean departed.

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James Cameron Island 11th of April. Fine, went over to the old house. Stanley went out for the time since the 11th of March a month. Leander went with a steamer, went down today. The first made a hail of the mill from the east, cleaning. 12th, buckets rained tonight & east wind. 3 laps of (?), rained, hailing. Randolph here. 13th Sunday, 2 went hunting, got 6 ducks. Gordon came, north winds, kind of squall. Randolph brought the (?). 14th Monday, killed about 90 at the barn and stacks 2 stack not thrashed. Fine feed for the fowls of the air and the mice vermin went in the camp. Lots of syrup, lots in a barrel to make V. Fixed my powder shot and a yacht passed close in back bay. Loading shell, but the buckets in the sap. Lots sowed turnip seed. Lilly Renshaw and Poorly Lincoln.