Travel Diaries and Journals

1

1874

==Fifty years since or My Rough Log==

My grandfather was the oldest of three sons, Robert, William + George and at their father's death the farm with everything on it was sold off and the proceeds divided amongst the children. From my Father's recollections.

Robert Suggate, of Sotherton, a country parish towards Halesworth, Suffolk, was my grandfather, a fine, hale, hearty and genial old man, famous in my boyhood's judgement for tales of flood and field, and in those days best of all, an old leathern purse out of which he has given me many a silver piece of money, a snug corner for grandfather by the fire was always kept by us youngsters whenever he visited us. My ancestors were chiefly yeomen farmers in that part of Suffolk towards Stowmarket, and in many a quiet churchyard thereabouts. Where-

"The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

-May be seen the name on the tombstones. The name is not unknown on the muster-roll of sailors and soldiers, in bygone times, but also unknown to fame. A real hard old Saxon one it is. The origin of no consequence, but without doubt was here when the conqueror came. The origin of surnames has of course

2

many sources, and has sometimes an antiquarian and historical importance, and it is very natural, that it might partake of the same hereditary character as had been annexed to the office, or lands, with which it has been associated; as Suggate might possibly come from Surrogate Latin (Surrogatus), one substituted or appointed in room of another, a deputy.

My Grandfather had two sons only, my father William the eldest, and my uncle Henry [illegible?]. My father followed the business of farming, and my uncle the profession of medicine, and after the usual and necessary course of instruction in the hospitals of London, was appointed assistant surgeon on board the old Asia man of war, at that time a vessel of some renown.

Mr. Robert Suggate.

My father purchased a little farm in the parish of Carlton Colvile, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, and I was born in 1806, and as soon as I was big enough my occupation was fetching the cows home from their grazing grounds for milking, and driving back to the same, also keeping designing pigs in authorized bounds. Eight youngsters of whom I was the eldest, left our good parents, after finding food and raiment for us, but little money to spare for our schooling, nevertheless Whenever I could be spared from the duties of the farm, I was sent either to a school

Mr Tucker was walking up and down the room apparently in great distress and unconscious of everything else but the presence of that dear one now cold in death. Little William the youngest boy, was crying for his mother when I came, his father took him up in his arms and held him over the corpse but the child turned away without out seeming to recognize it, and his father resigning him to the arms of the nurse proceeded again with his despairing walk up and down the room - I could not bear to look at him and turned and caressed the motherless child a sweet little fellow not yet three years old - while I asked the nurse a few questions as well as I could speak. She said that Mrs Tucker's danger became first evident on Thursday and that she had been in a dying state from then. She herself was convinced of it. She suffered a great deal but was conscious most of the time expressed perfect confidence in her Saviour and a willingness to depart though she regretted leaving her family. She left five children, three boys and two girls the youngest being a little more than a year old. I left with a saddened heart. Father called there in the evening Mrs Tucker was a dear and esteemed friend of his.

Edinr. to York

I must part with my mother. Oh what a trial to leave & part with her whom I loved [struck through: better than] so dearly & my father too & Jessie Mary, Robert & William I assumed composure I was far from feeling. My heart was ready to burst but I must tear myself away. the hour has come & I must go My father Robt. Wm. Taylor, Fred, James T. Banks at the station bade me good bye & off we went Left N.B. Station at 9.15 Stopped Dunbar 5 minutes Berwick 10 minutes . I went outside the station at Berwick but it being dark I could see very little, however I saw the Tweed & could make out the general appearance of the town We stopped again at Newcastle & York at the latter we had 20 minutes & I went into the refreshment rooms to have a cup of coffee for which I paid 1/ rather scalped. I saw the Cathedral A young fellow sitting opposite me in the train & I went to see it, it is a

about the 1st. of June. it is a long time for them to want a letter at home 3 months My last letter soonest arrive at home about the end of March but I hope at least there may be no anxiety on my account & they will receive a letter I hope from Cape Town sooner than expected I wonder what my Father Mother, Jessie Mary Robert|Robt.]] & Wm. & all the rest are about. it seems to bring then near to me merely to write their names. When or will I ever see them all again there are bright mo- ments when I think I shall once more meet all again & others when I think I shall never again see old Scotland & those near & dear to me. April 13th. My dear Father &Mother. On my four & twentieth birthday I commence to write this & here we are in Table Bay all safe & sound after a very pleasant voyage down. So before I do anything else I must