This letter is an unsigned copy, but I believe it was written by Laura Cordes. To clarify some of the first names that are mentioned:
Blanche: Blanche Luverne Archer (daughter of Ralph David Archer, granddaughter of Agnes Isles Duncan, great-granddaughter of Lewis Thomas Duncan & Barbara Brodie, great-great-granddaughter of David Brodie & Agnes Isles).
Grandfather Peter: Peter Brodie, born abt 1760 (father of David Brodie, grandfather of Barbara Brodie)
Uncle William: William Brodie, 1790-1854 (son of Peter Brodie)
Peggy: Margaret Scouller of Edinburgh, Scotland (daughter of Christina Brodie, granddaughter of James Brodie II, great-granddaughter of James Brodie, great-great-granddaughter of David Brodie & Agnes Isles)
Peter Brodie & Isabelle Isles Descendant Chart
Alexandria, Minn.
February 9, 1978
Dear Patricia,
Blanche dropped in the afternoon that your letter came and we had an interesting afternoon discussing [your son’s] trip and discoveries and your projected trips.
[Your son] has done what I have always wanted to do, since that early family history came to light. I am disappointed that he was unable to find Grandfather Peter’s grave. I did hope it could be found. It must be there some where, either unmarked or the marker fallen or eroded by the years. I wonder about his two wives. Where are they buried?
The names on the gravestones do not mean anything to me. However I think there was quite a large group of Brodies who settled in this particular area. These people may have belonged to the families of Grandfather Peter’s brothers or cousins who might have lived in the same community. I quote from a book which I have; “The Brodies of Lethen and the Brodies of Sussex, England are the principal cadets of the clan.”
I find Kinross located south of Perth on or near Lake Levin. I believe Scotland Well is located in that general area. I have never been able to find Burrelton on any map and had the mistaken idea that it is located near Scotland Well, associating the two places perhaps because Christy Duncan served as postmistress at each place at different times. Your letter locates it for me near Cargill in the midst of Brodie country north of Perth.
Since Cargill is so near by, and many Brodies are buried there, isn’t it likely that the William Duncan family are buried in the Cargill Cemetery. Might the cemetery records shed some light on this question? Uncle William died in Burrelton, in 1929. Do you know when Isabelle and Christy died? Where was Christy living when she died?
Your visit to Aberfeldy may shed some light on the Isles family. They are a connection of Clan MacDonald and originally came from the islands off the west coast of Scotland. We are doubly descended from the Isles family, including Great Grandmother (3 greats) Isabelle Isles Brodie and Great Grandfather (3 greats) John Isles, father of Agnes Isles Brodie. My grandmother Agnes Isles Duncan was named after her.
At Blair Gowrie you will be near the Clunie Estate which I think is the birth place of Uncle William Duncan. And Coupar-Angus is named on one of the Lethendy tombstones, according to your memorandum.
Now I have some questions.
Catcholm–Location of the residence of Peter Brodie. Birthplace of David Brodie.
Craigie–Location of residence of David Brodie.
Gourdie–Birthplace of Agnes Isles Brodie.
What are these names? villages–counties–estates–communities? Where are they? Perhaps you will be able to find out in your travels.
Your trip to New York interests me very much. In your search for the graves of Lewis Thomas and Barbara Brodie Duncan, be sure to check Riga, New York. My grandmother Agnes Isles Duncan was born there six weeks after the family arrived in America. The family could have moved to some other place later on but on the other hand, they may have remained there.
All these trips sound wonderful.
I believe Blanche told you about my surgery. Then when I got home I sprained my ankle which has inconvenienced me a great deal. Especially with the icy streets. However I am gaining right along and my doctors assure me that my operation was a complete success. I surely hope so. I walked six blocks today–stiff-legged all the way. So icy.
I, too, wish we lived nearer to each other. Wouldn’t we have a lot to talk about.
A couple of distant Cordes cousins have been researching the Cordes family tree and we have been sharing information and trying to collect more. It’s fun but a lot of work.
This letter is getting terribly long. I got a nice card and letter from Peggy a little after Christmas. It really takes a long time for mail to come from there to here.
So much for now. Don’t work so hard.
This map of Cargill in Perthshire, Scotland was published in 1887.