Letter from David Leighton to Millicent Tate, 27 September, 1916 Letters 1916-1923 David Leighton

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Letter from David Leighton to Millicent Tate regarding the death of a mutual friend, Jim Roche. Leighton writes of issues surrounding the wills of Roche and others, including who was due funds from various estates. Leighton wishes good health for Millicent's husband, Alec, and her baby and concludes that he and Millicent are unlikely to meet due to distance. Alec C Tate served with British army in India before he married Millicent Farren and started a family in Whiteabbey Co. Antrim. Their sons, James and William, continued the military tradition and enlisted with the British army with James serving as a Second Lieutenant with the Indian Expeditionary Force. James spent the majority of the war in India during which time the Indian Expeditionary Force was dispatched to Mesopotamia.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Tate Papers, D2859/3A/4 https://letters1916.ie/item/668 English David Leighton 1916-09-27 Ravenswood, Co Antrim, Ireland Millicent Tate Glenluce, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, Ireland Male World War I (1914-1918) Industry and Public Administration Personal Relations Personal Relations

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 27th.Sept.'16. Dear Mr. Tate, Thanks for your kind letter of 24th. I wish I had been at the funeral, if only to show my regard and respect for the brave and kind old man. It was however almost impossible for me to make the journey. As regards his affairs, I have no status whatever, and I have no knowledge. The only time that he ever took me into his confidence was at my last visit to him in August '06. All he said was that Scottie would, at his death, come on the S.M.T. fund for £200 a year, and that he had, on Jim Roche's death, fixed her allowance at that figure, but that she had always exceeded it. That did not surprise me because I had some experiences of Scottie in India. I went on to Cork, and was so much dissatisfied with what I saw there, that I wrote to him, rather forcibly, about the children 8th. In his reply he gave me some figures of Scottie's expenditure, which did as tonish me. Naturally I surmise, from your reference to Scottie's debts, that the sublime in (?) 1913, was due to further calls upon him. With what her second husband left, with the children's allowance from the Queen's fund, and with the £200 from the S.M.B. fund, we may feel confident that Scottie is well provided for, and that she will go on piling up debts for the rest of her life. I'm sorry I cannot help you in regard to the name of W. Robertson's mother. Louie told me the little I know about her family. The paucity of her relations was due, I believe, to the fact that her father, and his father were only children, and her mother one of two. She would be pleased that the Johnston family get so little. You may be quite sure that the will will not be disputed. It was just to leave most to Mabel. I cannot clearly recollect Ballycastle I sincerely hope that the change has done your baby good, and that she will soon be quite well. Also that Alec will soon be fit again. She and I have reached an age. My trouble is stomachic. I cannot sufficiently praise you for sacrificing yourself as you have done, and returning to Abbotsleigh, to help Mabel. Now, I conclude, the executors will attend to every matter. Yes, I fear that we are too far apart geographically, to be likely to meet. If- as seems possible, my interest in Rubber and coconuts turns out well, we would let our house for a while - but our sojourn would be in Italy. Nevertheless we shall continue to hope for a visit from you & the girls. With very kind regards, Yours sincerely, David Leighton. Mr Tate Glenluce Ballycastle Co Antrim Ireland. David Leighton Letter from David Leighton to Millicent Tate, 27 September, 1916 Ravenswood, Co Antrim, Ireland Letter from David Leighton to Millicent Tate, 27 September, 1916 Glenluce, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, Ireland Letter from David Leighton to Millicent Tate, 27 September, 1916