Letter 7th June 1897 - written by Rose to Herbert. (Copy of original on file)
‘Mr Duckering, 1 Osborne Terrace, Brandon Hill, Clifton. Panton Rd., Wragby, June 7th 1897. My own dearest Herbert, I am wondering how you are getting on & where you are this afternoon, I should very much like to have gone with you this morning to Lynmouth, it would be nice going on the steamer, it made me feel quite unsettled when I read the latter past of your P.S., & knew that I had to content myself to stay here alone, it just seemed to bad, & you having to be alone too, I hope you enjoyed yourself however. I was very glad that I did not promise to come last Saturday, for I should not have been able to keep it if I had, as I was not at all well that day, & so you would have been disapointed after all, & I think that would have been worse, than if you had not expected me coming, so I think it was all for the best after all, that I was prevented from coming. Florence has not come back yet, but I think she returns tomorrow, I saw Sydney yesterday when I was going to Church he is looking very well, he reminded me so much of the time when you used to come home from Louth. My Uncle & Aunt from Bradford went home this morning after a fortnights visit, the house seems very quiet now, Florie did not get to see me this time, but she is coming after a while. I almost think you will be glad when Mr Watson goes by the way you ask, I don’t quite know when he goes, July or august I think. You will be surprised to get my letter on Tuesday, but I feel so lonely somehow this afternoon so thought I would write to you, but must close now with very much love to you dear Herbert from your own loving Rose X X XX.’

Letter posted 14th February 1898 to Mr Duckering 104 Oxford Street, Totterdown, Bristol.
Panton Road, Near Wragby, Feb: 14th 1898.
My own dearest Herbert, Very many thanks for your kind sympathy & full detailed description of the arrangements you have made & the things you have bought, you have been very busy indeed, & fancy taking a house too, & what a large one, first fancy forever expected to have one half that size, it will be delightfull really dear Herbert I am more than satisfied, how very good you are, it will be a beautiful home, you are so kind, but I am sorry that you have had to take it so long before Easter as it will make it very expensive for you dear one, have you all the rent to pay now with exception of 6d the same as if you were living in it, it is a lot to pay a week for we two, although it is cheap for the size of the house, I am very glad you have been fortunate enough to meet with one that seems so entirely to your satisfaction dear one, I am sure I shall like it very much, & with these people living there it will make it very nice indeed & be such nice company, it will not be so far for you to go to work either as if it was in the past where you first thought of living for which I am very glad for your sake dear one it will be easier for you not having so much walking to do but of course you will have your machine to go on. I am glad to think you will be satisfied with my company dear Herbert, I feel sure I shall be happy with you, as I always am when in your company. What a lot of things you have been buying You will soon have it all furnished. I think I can imagine you busy often going down to look at it & should just like to see you, it will be delightful having it all cleaned & made so comfortable for us, it is most kind of you having everything done in this way. I am sure I ought to be the happiest girl in the world. I do wish it was nearer so that I could come & see it & help you with arranging the furniture, but I know you will have every thing done nice, I suppose your friend Mr Davis will often go with you & help you. I can scarcely realise that our courtship as so nearly come to an end & that you are really preparing our long looked for happy home. I am very glad to hear that you are keeping so well in health dear Herbert & hope you will continue to do so. You have missed some of of your practise I think with having these sales to attend too, but that I suppose you will not mind, please tell me in your next letter what you are doing each evening dear one, I am so glad that you find so much pleasure in getting our home ready, I hope all your anticipation will be fully realised.
I must now close with all my heart best & fondest love from your own everloving & faithful Rose XXX Please excuse writing letter.

Letter from Rosetta Stephenson to Herbert Duckering 8th March 1898. (Copy of original on file)
Mr Duckering, 104, Oxford Street, Totterdown, Bristol.
21 Broadgate, Lincoln, March 8th 1898
My own dearest Herbert, You will be surprised to see the above address on my letter. I came to Lincoln with my Aunt Pollie – she came down to see us at Panton last Friday night & invited me to come back with her to Lincoln as she wished to make me a present of a Wedding dress & have it made at her dress makers. I have been this morning to take it. I have sent patterns to Amy & Katie. I was surprised when you said you had not heard from Hannah, but she has been very busy getting ready for her marriage you see. It makes it so bad to arrange with us leaving Panton & going away you see. It is a very good suggestion of yours to have my luggage sent on to you it would make it much better than having them to take to Buslingthorpe. I think you seem as if you would like to have the wedding put off, but wouldn’t it make it very bad for you to manage after you have made the preparations & taken a house & besides being such a disappointment after looking forward to it so long it would seem most cruel. Your mother has kindly promised to provide the Wedding breakfast at your house for the two, which I think is exceedingly kind of her to do. You see we shall move to our new house the week before Easter & shall not have much time to get settled there. What day do you think you will come home on. Shall you do the same as last year, come on the Good Friday. It would not make me happy to have the wedding put off now that we have looked forward to it so much, for such a long time, it would seem a cruel disappointment to have it put off now after all this time. I am longing to see this home which you have been working at so hard, having you been doing anymore this last week, I think it would be nice if you could arrange to come over to our house on your machine after you get home. I should like to see you, I am sorry you feel so unhappy I know it is very cruel you do not say what you would like best to do. Will you tell me what you would like to do. You see I cannot send my thing to you now as I am not at home, but it would be nice to send them on first. I think it will be nice to be asked in Church the same time as Hannah & Jim, & then drive over from our house that morning ready prepared for the wedding, Annie ? to ask me if we would go to Laceby for a few days after the wedding, but I don’t think I should like to go there unless you would - how long holiday do you think you will have dear Herbert. I wish we could go to Willingham again to hear Miss Hunter the same as we did last year – wasn’t that a happy time. Will you write to me while I am herea & tell me what you think to this letter & also what you would like best to do. (?)& will you please tell me how many pairs of curtains we shall want for the windows, as I could get some in Lincoln. With my best & fondest love to your dearself from your own everloving & faithful. Rose.

(Written by Rosetta, taken from 'Pionering the Parklands' page74/75 transcript supplied by Shirley Hutzkal, 24.1.96)
'My husband, Herbert and I were born in Lincolnshire, England.In April 1888 my husband was apprenticed to the ironmonger trade at the age of 13 years. He worked there until May 1903 when the Barr Colonist pamphlets were circulated all over England with very exciting prospects of life in Canada. Herbert always been fascinated by Canadian stories. The indoor confinement with long hours of work was telling on his health. This seemed the very chance he wanted to make a new start in life. His employer made every effort to persuade him to stay with him, and both our families tried to persuade him to give up the idea of such an undertaking with a wife and three small children, the baby five months old and rather delicate. His father assured us we would never get the baby across the ocean alive. However, nothing would change his mind, so we sold our nice home in Bristol where we had lived happily for five years, paid ten dollars to the Rev. Barr for a homestead in the 'Saskatchewan Valley', and also paid for three tents to be held in Saskatoon for us on arrival there.
On May 12, 1903 we sailed from Liverpool on the Mount Temple, after bidding a sorrowful good-bye to our parents. My husband's three brothers came with us. The voyage seemed long and sometimes rough. I was the only one who was not sea sick.
We landed at Quebec early in the morning of May 24, and I shall always remember the beautiful sunrise. It took us several days to reach Saskatoon, and I found the train journey more trying than the ship. To our great dismay on arrival at Saskatoon, no one knew anything about the three tents for which we had paid. It was nine p.m., and while my husband inquired for accommodation, we sat on our luggage on the platform. He was told of the Immigration Hall, but the whooping cough was bad among the children so we couldn't go there. Finally an agent told him of a large tent used as a restaurant by the first Barr Colonists who had now gone on to Lloydminster. There was one other family using the tent and I was very glad to meet them. There was a cookstove and double-deck wooden bedstead. We were very thankful for this shelter.
We lived there until September while my husband got a house built. In the meantime he and his brothers bought a team of oxen and a wagon, a plough and some supplies and went out east to hunt for land. In three weeks they returned, unshaven. I was alarmed when they came to the tent door one evening, as I did not recognise them. Herbert got work hauling lumber for a new Methodist Church until freeze up and then was fortunate to get a job in Pete Currie's general storefor the winter. Mr Frank Lusty who had helped to build our house told us of land near Lloydminster so Herbert decided to go on. He never saw the land Mr Barr had chosen for him. He bought a team of mules which suited him better than oxen and made many trips between Saskatoon and Lloydminster, often fourteen days on a trip. One time his mules broke loose at night and it was two days before he found them. Finally he chose a homestead NW 28-51-2-W4 and bached for two six month periods while he cut and hauled logs and built a two-storey house. It had lumber siding and gables and a shingleroof. This house was still standing and was in use a few years ago.
He returned to Saskatoon and again worked in Mr Currie's store. While my husband was away at the homestead, I helped to support myself by doing laundry and house work for people in Saskatoon. In November 1906 we moved on the newly built C.N.R. line to Kitscoty. Here we had to jump out into a snow bank as there was no platform yet built. It was three o'clock in the afternoon and we were told the small cafe would not give meals at that hour. However, my husband's persuasive powers worked and we were given warm refreshments. I was glad to leave Saskatoon because due to unsanitary conditions or water, we had lost two babies. We were soon settled on our homestead. There was a new church four miles away where the Rev. Smyth preached each Sunday. I was pleased to meet his kind wife, my husband had spoken so often of her and told me how she always put a lamp in the window to guide him, or anyone returning on their long trips to Lloydminster. Our children too, soon became friends with the Smyth children and many happy birthday parties were held at both homes.
The new school was opened in 1907 and our children drove or walked three miles across country to attend. The post office was at the home of Mr Frank Weir, about four miles from our homestead.
In the early days, buffalo trails and great quantities of bleached bones were to be seen on most early homesteads.
The wild flowers were beautiful and grew in masses everywhere, especially crocus, lilies, gaillardias (brown-eyed susans), sunflowers and fireweed. The wild birds especially owls, hawks, crows, blackbirds, meadow larks and partridge, ducks and prairie chickens were always a source of interest to all of us and the game birds gave us many a good meal. There were no magpies then. There were plenty of badgers, cayotes, skunks and rabbits, also a few lynx, foxes and muskrats. My husband added more land to his homestead, planted mant trees and beautified the farmstead with shrubs and roses. We lived there until 1947 when we retired to Wellington, Vancouver Island, B.C.. Here Mr Duckering passed away December 8, 1951 but was buried at Streamstown cemetery. After this I stayed in Alberta with my son Clarence for a time, then Red Deer to keephouse for Howard who was a bachelor.
Mrs Duckering died in Edmonton August 8, 1965, and was also buried in the family plot in Streamstown cemetery.
Clarence farmed the home place for a number of years but finally sold and moved to Red Deer too. Arthur and Winnie returned to England during the second World War and Kathleen and her family live in Edmonton. Keichingers own this land now.' (Article by Rosetta Stephenson Duckering, sent to me by Shirley Hutzkal 17.3.96)

There is a copy of a letter written by Rosetta 12th January 1934 to her daughter Kathleen on file - this letter also has attached the obituary for Roy Duckering, her son who died 1933.

Copy of Herbert & Rosetta’s family bible on Rosetta’s file.

See copy on file Herbert’s Wesleyan Methodist Society quarterley membership tickets for June & December 1893 both signed by him. Originals with Beverely Carley.

Part letter from Herbert to Rose 9th May 1897. (See copy of original on file)
‘1 Osborne Terrace, Brandon Hill, Clifton, May 9th 1897. My own most precious Rose, I do indeed feel satisfied now, & your sweet loving letter has made me feel very happy. I have not at all changed my mind my dearest one with regard to next Easter, so we may now consider it settled that our union is to take place on the Tuesday after next Easter Sunday. The thought of it is so very sweey to me, & it would indeed be a very bitter disappointment if it were to..’

Copy of letter sent to me (Robin) by Clarence Duckering Christmas 2018. Letter is from Herbert in Bristol to Rose in Panton 3rd April 1898. (See copy on file). ‘Totterdown, Bristol April 3rd 1898. My own dearest Rose, I am glad you were able to find the right size among the selection of rings I sent you, I thought it would be best to have you try the ring on beforehand, as I should not like to have to change it afterwards or to have it made smaller in order to make it fit, as I want you to keep the ring you are married with intact & the same as it was at the ceremony, & not to have it changed or altered in any way, so I hope you will forgive me acting contrary to your wishes in sending them. Thank you for return … (line missing on photocopy)…. as I wanted to send them back as soon as possible, those that are not required. I am glad that the wedding is going to be quiet, & only amongst our own families, I think it is much … & jollies than having a lot of people outside our own immediate circle & of course more select. I hope my dearest one you are not worrying over it at all, & that all the arrangements are to your satisfaction. I too feel rather disappointed that you are not going to be married from your home at Panton, as I have looked forward to it being from there, but as you say, we cannot always have our own way. I think either of the times you … (line missing on photocopy)…. very convenient, to have the ceremony the earlier one being the most preferable of the two. I told Mr Bailey about my going to be married this Easter last Friday night & he said he thought it was the best thing a young fellow could do, & has promised to let me have the holiday I wanted viz. from next Thursday night until the Monday week following, so that we shall have a nice time at home before coming to Bristol. I am very glad indeed my dearest one, that you are going to bring your organ, as it will be so nice to be able to have some music & singing, & I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to the happy time when I shall be able to call you my wife, … (line missing on photocopy)…. realise that it is so near. I hope to get finished at the house this week before coming to Barkwith. The furniture for the front room was sent in yesterday, & I had our man from the shop to help me to get my things across from here, & it took us from 8.30 until after eleven. Mr Davies helped me to lay the linoleum & carpet which we did last Monday, Tuesday & Thursday nights, & I fixed the blinds up last night. I shall leave here by the 1.3 train next Saturday morning & hope reach home by the 11.30 same day, what time shall you get to Barkwith & how are you going to travel dearest. I must now close, hoping so soon to see you, with all my hearts’ fondest & best love to my own most dearly beloved one, from always her own ever loving & true Herbert xxx
P.S. Will you please let me know what colour gloves & tie you would like me to wear dearest?’


The 1891 Census records Herbert C. aged 16 boarding and working as an a apprentice ironmonger in Louth. (Mark 8.97)

Herbert's initial trade was as a hardware man, which heinitially started in Bristol, before moving to Canada. (K. Boyce 1995)

Moved to Canada 1903 from Lincolnshire, England with his wife, his daughter Winnie and two sons Howard and Arthur, plus his three younger brothers Ernest, Percy and Walter. The reason for moving was they had read a pamphlet by a Rev Barr who was trying to form a colony. The story was that a 160 acres could be had for $10, but attached was an agreement to improve and break the sod of 30 acres within a year and build a house. The journey took three weeks. Initially they settled in the tent town of Saskatoon, Sask, since the railway had not got further west than that point. Herbert moved out in 1906 and sort out some other land to settle for himself, this was near Lloydminster. Eventually he became a successful farmer. Herbert and Emily were married in East Barwith on 11th April 1898, in a double wedding ceremony. Herbert's sister Hannah married Rossetta's brother James (Jim) Stephenson. Witnesses were Alfred and Amy Duckering (K. Boyce 95)

INTERIM HOMESTEAD RECEIPT - See copy on file
'Dominion Lands Interim Homestead Receipt, no. 30222, (stamped) Dominion Lands Office, Jul 8 1903, Regina, Assa, N.W.T.
I certify that I have received from Herbert Cade DUCKERING, Saskatoon, being the office fee for Homestead Entry for S.W.Quarter of section 36 township 37 range 21 West of 2 Meridan and that the said H.C.DUCKERING is, in consequence of such entry and payment, vested with the rights conferred in such cases by the provisions of "The Dominion Lands Act," respecting Homestead Rights. (Signed) Local Agent. Note. -This entry is granted under and subject to the provisions of the Dominion Lands Act and its amendments governing Homestead Entry for Dominion Lands.

(Printed vertically across the above text it says:) The holder of this receipt is required to give six months' notice in writing to the Commissioner of Dominion Lands, Ottawa, before making application for patent. Note.- All minerals existing on or under the lands here in described, are reserved to His Majesty.'

(Foot note to the receipt says as follows:) Homestead entry fee was issued to Herbert Cade DUCKERING in 1903 for a designated 160 acres in Lloydminster settlement. However on arrival at the homestead, Mr DUCKERING didn't like the land as outlined in thea bove Homestead assigned, so moved north and chose another quarter section in the Streamstown district, where the family farmed until selling out to the Keicnhinger family in recent years.'

Letter to Mr H. C. Duckering, Streamstown, Alberta, Saskachewan Valley, Canada, Bristol 17 Jul ’12.
Bristol, July 17th 1912, Mr H. C. Duckering, Streamstown, Alberta, Saskatchewan Valley.
Dear Sir, I hope you will excuse me that I take the liberty to write to you. In the last time I think always and always to Canada. I dream to be there farmer and than I see the splendid fields with the gold corn, fruit, a a cattle and all other things that can be nice.
Know I have taken tickets to that lovely country and the 25 of this month, I come with a friend of me, a young strong Englishman of 18 years, with the steamer Ionian from the Allan line from London to Montreal. We know nothing from the country-life and we know nobody in Canada but we will work any thing.
I am 42 years, have always intellectual work and was also never workman, so I have not very much strength but my young friend is a strong fellow.
Now we have here in Bristol the pleasure to take every day the dinner in company with Mr Fred. Smith from the Metal Agencies Co.. He is a good chap, kind, obliging and helpful. He is the chief of the ?, social, knows all things and known to speak with every one. An he heard that we would go to Canada he told us that you, his best friend, was living there already 7 years and that you also knew all the particularities of the country.
He said we must write to you, send his best compliments to you and your family and ask you to be so kind to give us some information.
I follow thankful his advice and I hope, if we give you not to much trouble, that you will be so kind to write us in which part of Canada, to your opinion, we must try to make up our abode.
We think to arrive the 5th of August and is my address Mr. Becht Poste ? Montreal.
I will be very pleased to hear any thing of your.
I am Dutchman and I hope you will excuse therefore that I do not write quite right the English language.
Respectfully, yours truly Mr Becht.

I do hope, Herbert that you will hold out a hand to advise Becht. Fred.
From Mr Becht, Poste ? Montreal.

‘Death And Funeral Of H.C.Duckeering. Mr Herbert Cade Duckering was born at East Barkwith, Lincolnshire, England, August 2nd, 1874. After leaving school, he served an apprenticeship as an ironmonger (hardware merchant) at South Lincolnshire. He worked at this trade for 15 years, the last 7 years being spent at Bristol England. In the spring 1903, he joined the Barr Colonists and brought his wife and three children out to Saskatoon. For two winters, he worked in a general store there, and made several trips with a team of mules to Battleford and Lloydminster with freight for the stores before the railway was through. At the same time, he put in homestead duties at Streamstown, batching and building a house for his family with logs which he hauled many miles. November, 1906, he brought his wife and three children to live on the homestead on which they lived for 41 years. In April, 1944, he and his wife retired to Wellingham, B.C., where they made a comfortable home and enjoyed the lovely climate until last June when he underwent an operation from which he never recovered, but suffered a trying illness borne with great patience, and passed peacefully away on December 8th, 1951. He leaves his sorrowing wife, three sons and two daughters, namely, Howard, of Red Deer; Arthur of Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, Eng; Clarence of Steamstown; Mrs. H.H. Radford of Birmingham, Eng; and Mrs. H.N. Boyve of Edmonton; 10 grandchildren; two brothers, Ernest and Percy of Streamstown; four brother and tow sisters in England. The funeral took place in the Community Hall at Streamstown on Saturday, December 15th, 1951. There was a large gathering of sympathizers, as the deceased was well-known for miles around. The service began with the singing of the hymn, “Lead Kindly LIght”. Afterwards, the beautiful Anglican service was read by Canon Freeman, and the Rev. W.H.Peckover. Canon Freeman gave a comforting address on the word ‘Hope’. Miss Batty of Kiscoty gave an excellent rendition of “Crossing the BAr”, by Lord Tennyson. The service concluded with the singing..’ Taken from a newspaper cutting with Shirley & Ed Hutzkal July 2018.

Parish register: 1898 Marriage solemnized at the church in the parish of East Barkwith in the county of Lincoln. No 120 April 11. Herbert Cade Duckering age 23 bachelor, Ironmonger residing Knowl in Counties of Bristol & Somerset, father Alfred Duckering, seedsman. Rosetta Stephenson age 20 spinster residing East Barkwith, father William Stephenson, farmer. Both signed in the presence of Alfred Duckering, Thomas Wilson, Amy Duckering & H R Rowe.