1. May 1st 1873
1910 Henrietta St
London, England

2. Dear Mum,
We arrived in Saint John New Brunswick an hour ago, the boat ride was cold and windy. This colony, well I guess it’s a country now is less busy than it is back home. It took longer to get here from England than we had originally expected. We are currently looking for somewhere to stay. Will is applying for the North-West Mounted Police as soon as he can, coming along with my brother is a decision I’m hoping I don’t regret. If he can’t make it into the North-West Mounted Police we plan on purchasing a plot of land in the new settlement in the west, the red river settlement. Apparently in that land there are more Indian people than Europeans, it would be an odd adjustment. I will write back again with an address you can send letters to.
Much Love,
Alexa

3. May 7th 1873
1910 Henrietta St
London, England

4. Dear Mum, Will didn’t make it into the Northwest Mounted Police, though he is an Englishman they wanted people who knew the land more than him, seeing as we arrived here just a week ago. Because of this we are planning on staying in New Brunswick for another few weeks and then moving to the Red River Settlement. We have been staying with great aunt Lynn, she likes to tell us stories about Canada from before confederation. Her house is in the outer edge of Saint John. There are lots of other people here from Ireland, Scotland and England, so it isn’t too much of an adjustment, but going west there are more Indian land French speaking people, though there are French people here. The food here is different than at home, they eat a lot of Pemmican, which is buffalo meat, dried berries and fat. It’s as weird as it seems but it isn’t awful. We are going to start preparing ourselves for the months journey on foot to the Red River Settlement soon. I will write to you again once we make it there. Wish us luck, Alexa

5. June 14th 1873
1910 Henrietta St
London, England

6. Dear mum, We’re 15 days into our journey to the Red River Settlement, halfway there! This trip has been very draining. We are setting up camp in what is now a part of the Northwest Territories, it was Rupert’s Land until the Canada’s bought it from them. We are hoping the money we brought over from England is enough to keep us standing until we begin making money of our own from the farm in Red River. We’ve seen some Indian people on the journey here. We don’t understand their language or their culture but I’m hoping that it doesn’t impact us greatly in our future endeavors, though there are more of them in the red river area then there are European’s. I’m not enjoying this trip but seeing all of the scenery here is refreshing. Did you know that the Canadian government is planning to build a railway across Canada? Just like the steam trains back home. Apparently the idea has been around for a while but I’m just now hearing about it. Hopefully it will make travel easier in the future. The next letter I send to you will be in our new home in the Red River Settlement. Until next time, Alexa

7. July 1st 1873
1910 Henrietta St
London, England

8. Dear Mum, We just arrived at the Red River Settlement, we purchased one of the lands from the Metis people, they’re Indian people mixed with French. Our plot of land is narrow but 3 kilometres long, with access to the water for our future crops and animals. We plan on purchasing some animals tomorrow. We are running out of money so we hope that we begin to make money soon. Will plans on hiring some men to help on the farm and I will tend to the work in our home, cooking and cleaning. The weather here is very extreme, with cold winters and warm summers, or so I’ve been told. But people have been able to survive here since 1812 so I can’t see it being that difficult. Our house is small but liveable. Will is more respected than me here because he is a man, so when we are buying and selling items Will has to do everything, so there is nothing unfair. I may not write for a while seeing as we are setting everything up here. Hopefully everything is well at home. Write back soon! Missing you, Alexa