Time Period

When we read about the history of an area, we often do so to the exclusion of the rest of the world, as though that area is all the mattered.  When I took at course on the Bronte sisters back in 1980, after a visit to England, I realized that I was sharing literature that my great-great grandmother could quite possible have read, not to mention all the generations since.  How she interpreted the Brontes' works I will never know, but I am sure that my century has tainted the true visuals of the books, compared to Maria Josephine's view, after all she was born long before the Brontes started writing.

Well this brings me to another of my musings...What was going on when Donald Manson left Scotland and travelled to Canada to take up a post with the Hudson Bay Company.  I keep seeing this six foot man (he may have been taller) striding away from his home, south of Thurso in Caithness Scotland.  What was he thinking of?  He would return home only twice after making his home on the westcoast of North America. Was he excited about the new voyage ahead, or was he sad at leaving his home?  I'm wondering, if there might be diaries of others who left their homes in the early 1800's that would provide some insight.  But it is also the little things, that have me musing, about what he packed.  So I am off to take up my favourite pastime of researching.  I'll let you know what I find.