One postcard, mailed more than 100 years ago, has led to an amazing turn of luck. The program has allowed it to reconnect a family separated by time and distance. Ewart first sent this postcard home in 1903, to his sister Lydia. Once it did reach its destination, it was only a spectacular 121 years overdue—reuniting long-separated branches of the same family tree in the process.
Ewart’s postcard featured that bold black-and-white print. It was based on an oil painting by Edwin Landseer, depicting a proud stag in the stunning Scottish Highlands. It was the other half of a set of postcards that Ewart had wished Lydia to gather. In his passionate postcard, Ewart apologised for being unable to send both postcards. He typed, “Dear L, I wasn’t able to find you 2 of these. I’m super sorry! I hope you’re having a fun time at home.”
The imminent arrival of the card has generated a lot of interest and excitement. Though Lydia was a well-known collector of postcards, she never received this one while she was alive. The postcard there languished undelivered for an incredible fourteen months. We may never get to the bottom of why it came so late. Its ultimate delivery has unlocked an exciting new chapter in the family’s history.
When we told her about the postcard’s arrival, Faith, Lydia’s great-granddaughter, immediately resolved to make the journey from Devon. Plus, she was looking forward to seeing her family for the first time. This trip proved to be an emotional turning point for Faith and her family. They met up with cousins they’d never seen before, and those memories will be unforgettable. Among those cousins were Margaret and Helen, granddaughters of Lydia’s brother, Stanley.
Margaret and Helen are Ewart and Lydia’s great-nieces, and were overjoyed to make the connection with Faith. The family reunion revealed the powerful, enduring ties of family. It also showed us how these connections can be reestablished in unexpected ways, even after 30 years apart.
The postcard’s journey brought Faith not only to her immediate family. Then a great-great-great-great-grandnephew from Canada heard the news and came forward. This connection stretched the family’s network and unveiled long-forgotten arms of their shared ancestry.