Description:

Hugh Falconer, Murder Victim, Wife and Son of Scottish Hotelkeeper Writes to Him in NYC, Where They Move Two Years Later

The wife and the son of Inverness hotelkeeper Hugh Falconer write to him in New York City about their situation in Scotland. The Falconer family immigrated to the United States in August 1836, shortly after Hugh Falconer died in New York City. The coroner's jury ruled his death a case of apoplexy (a nineteenth-century term for a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke), but a correspondent to a friend in Scotland insisted that he was murdered.

[SCOTLAND; IMMIGRATION.] Catherine Falconer, Autograph Letter Signed, to Hugh Falconer, June 15, 1834, Inverness, Scotland; with John Falconer, Autograph Letter Signed, to Hugh Falconer, 4 pp., 8" x 10". Tear on fold, affecting one line of text; tear of seal on initial opening, affecting two lines of text; some contemporary ink stains; very good.

Complete Transcript
Inverness Royal Hotel
15th June 1834
My dearest Hugh
I received your
[?] letter [?] last night and although at such a distance am happy to hear that you reached there in safety and that you enjoyed good health by the way I trust god will provide for you in spite of your power and that by this time that you have got something to do that will make you feel more comfortable as you should not be particular about your employment for some time you will have time to see what you see to suite you I feare that you will be much disapointed in not receiving money from us but my Dearest Hugh that is a thing that I cannot do as I have to give account of every penny that is drawn in the house and there has been no business paid [down?] not which could keep them that is about due and had not the Almighty been so kind as to turn the hearts of our kind friends we would have been without house or home to but have a head in to had not Miss Rose and McGregor been so good as to act as they have what could I have don but to Beg for my poor helpless family it is hard for me but much more so for the number that I have I trust that god in his goodness will provide for them and I and for you for all that is been don to you by man but you trust in him and not in men. you wish to have Peter and Hugh but what could they do there untill you know what you are to be about and I could not furnish them with their wants at this time whatever may hereafter this I do not know how the Rent is to be made up and the other Claims are to be Settled I fear there will be little left for any of us I trust you will not think of anything that will keep you as you have been for some time back I had a letter from my dear friend Miss G some short time ago and what was my astonishment to hear from her that she is to follow you to the new world what she means I cannot think could I avoid it I never would She dos not go to New York I canot think how she thinks of the those I feare that we will not see her before she gos
I do not know how we are to gett on this summer the Cook is gone to Wilson as I could not fix with her before the term the 2 Hellens is with me still but Deane is gone as she give up her pleas before she went to Edinburgh I did not ask her to stop and she was offend at that
you wish the covers to be sent you I would have set them to Night by the Boat but find that I cannot have them packed so as to be safe but will send them by the next time addrest as your letters his ben but find that Johny is but to the care of Mr Gramh so that you had better ask for the papers the too Mr Mompee from Dearth is in New York I wished to have the address from their uncle but he forgot Mr Al Camron Gnosses left here 2 weeks ago for the same land as he got no settlement with his creditters so he road off Miss McKinze
 [?] is in [Pearl?] for some time for the Benefit of her health as she has not been well'the children is very well thank god for it but Peter dos not attend to Schole for 2 Months it is now late or rather early and I must conclude with may god bless you and all of us and I am my Dearest Hugh yours ever aff
Cathrin Falconer

[John Falconer:]
Inverness Royal Hotel
Sunday
[E?] 10 oclock 15 June 1834
Dear Father
I doubt not but you will be very much put about at not having got any of the needful but had it not been for our very kind friend Mr C Rosa I question much if we had had a house to stop in as Miss Ettles told some people that she was determined to put us out 4 days before the 26th She has taken her right of Hypothee &inventoried the premises & we have to give account for every penny that is drawn. James is with us still but William is gone to Wilsons who has still the same feeling towards us as regards opposition sending out strangers to Lodgs at every hit Mr. Jas Patterson of Forres carries this to you who goes over the Atlantic with Mr Brand & Family. Wilsons house is finished & he is terribly disappointed at ours being still open. There is tremendous opposition on the canal steamboats viz Inverness against Maid of Morven on Thursday & the Staffa against the 'Rob Roy' The Brilliants is still our old friends regards the House Miss Geddes & Miss Cant send their Regards to you & all you other friends but as I am in Haste I must now wishing you every success I must Remain
Dear Father
Your Most affectionate Son
John Falconer
I sent you 2 o 3 Inverness Papers which I hope you have received. J W F

Historical Background
John Falconer mentions several steamboats on the canal. The sixty-mile-long Caledonian Canal, built between 1803 and 1822, connects the east coast of Scotland at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. Falconer mentions several steamboats, including the Inverness, the Rob Roy (42 tons), the Maid of Morven (52.5 tons), and the Staffa (46 tons).

According to a report in the Inverness Courier and reprinted in other newspapers, Hugh Falconer was murdered in New York City: "New York, June 24. 'I took a walk and sail to the place occupied by Hugh Falconer, formerly of the Royal Hotel, Inverness, and saw him; but, poor man, his earthly troubles are at an end. I heard this evening of a person having been found murdered, and it was Falconer. He was taken up in the Park, his body much bruised, and his clothes nearly torn off. He was quite insensible, and died in a few minutes; there is every reason to believe he was murdered. He had a letter from his wife last week, and seemed happy to learn she was coming out to him. What the poor widow will do when she arrives is difficult to say, and most painful to dwell upon.'"

A coroner's inquest reported that "a well-dressed man, about 35 years old, was found lying in the street with his head and arms cut and bruised. Some of the passers by procured a cart and brought him to the police office, and he was sent over to bridewell, where he expired about twelve o'clock. The coroner soon after held an inquest on the body, and the jury found a verdict of death by apoplexy. It was subsequently ascertained that the name of the deceased is Hugh McFarlane, and that he was formerly bar keeper at the United States Hotel, and latterly resided at Williamsburg."

Hugh M. Falconer (d. 1836) was born in Scotland and operated the Royal Hotel in Inverness, Scotland, in the early 1830s. He migrated to New York City about 1834 and by 1836 began organizing dinner parties, balls, and other private events. He was mugged and murdered in or near New York City in the summer of 1836.

John Mackie Falconer (1820-1903) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Hugh Falconer and Catherine Stuart Falconer (1801-1877). In 1836, he and his family moved to the United States and settled in New York City. He was a merchant in 1855. He became a famous artist, remembered mostly as an etcher and a painter of historic buildings.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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