Title: (Transcribed letter from Ida Miskelly to Jerry & Jeannette McDonald, Lummi Is
Author: T1742
Company: Home

(Transcribed letter from Ida Miskelly to Jerry & Jeannette McDonald, Lummi Is., WA)

									Sunday - May 21, 1944

Dear “Children”,
	
	When you have been here we always seem so hurried and I’ve forgotten to give you the enclosed envelope with its contents. Read it all carefully on outside of envelope too.

	Please keep that old Bible as carefully as you can. It is so loose - or pages are - and so easily rumpled as not to be easily read. Better to keep it wrapped in paper and in a safe place - no telling when or in what way those old records may be useful. Put this old bill of sale and the note signed ‘Terresa” between the leaves of “the records”. This Terresa was my father’s sister - your great great aunt on your father’s side, thru the Miskellys.

	The “Sale Notice” by William A. (Ashley) Johnson was when they lived in Virginia I’m pretty sure. When they lived in Virginia they had a plantation and kept slaves - from there they moved to Ohio (1830s) - where my mother, your great grandmother was born. Trace the records.

	The Jacksons of New Jersey & N.Y. were my father’s people and it was there the name of Seward began. As you read in Aunt Terresa’s note she wrote of visiting “Seward”- he was my father’s brother. (she could have meant cousin)

	William Henry Seward, my father’s cousin - ”thru the Jacksons” - he was Secretary of State under Lincoln, it was thru him that Alaska was bought, Seward Peninsula is named, and his statue in Volunteer Park, Seattle. This is all sort of jumbled up, but guess you two can figure out what I am trying to tell you.

	I don’t think Fannie’s death has been recorded. I’ll write the notice, and please copy in the proper place in Old Bible.

	Please attend to these things children. Love, Aunt Ida

Italics are my notes, Pat Loughlin