The story that follows has ‘come down’ in the family for several generations, since it occurred on June 14, 1864, as you will see. It is held by Bruce and Barbara Reid in Marlo, as a part of the Scotsburn Estate. It’s creepy.
The story tells of a dream Charlotte (McCoy) Soutter had, when she was about 11 or 12 years old, about her father (James McCoy) and her younger sister Mary McCoy. Given the circumstances of the dream and this story, Mary would have been around 1 year old as she was born on 11 September 1863. Their mother was Charlotte McCoy.
Her father ….. well, you will understand that in a minute.
This story is being told to a grandchild of Charlotte Soutter and begins…
“When your grandmother was a child (probably about 11 or 12 years) one night she became very distressed and cried. When her mother went in to her she said she had had a dream, and in the dream her father (who was actually absent from home at the time – being away with men working with timber) had returned home and as he came in the door, he looked at Mary (who i imagine was 3 or 4 years) and said – “My little Mary looks pale. Is she ill?” And then her father died.
The mother (Charlotte McCoy) apparently comforted the child as well as she could, and as she was so upset went to bed with her.
They both fell asleep, but both wakened distressed, for each had had that same earlier dream.
Then the mother, feeling disturbed, sent a couple of the boys to where the father (James McCoy) was working, to find out if he were well. He was well, but realising their distress, decided to go home to see the family and so silence their fears.
He went home and as he entered the house, little Mary was being bathed, and his first words were : ‘My little Mary looks pale. Is she ill?”
The remark was noticed but I guess not dwelt on. I’m not sure if the father stayed the night at home or returned to his work – but then word arrived that he had died suddenly. I think a heart attack!
[ James McCoy died suddenly at Woodside on 15 June 1864].
I know psychic ability runs in this family. Although the gift has by-passed this writer, the story sends a chill down one’s spine.
James & Charlotte McCoid 