John O. McKellar (ship) certificates, 1952-1983.

The John O. McKellar was a ship that belonged to the Scott Misener fleet. The first ship named after McKellar was launched on Januaray 25, 1929, from Wallsend, England, and was bound for Sault St. Marie, Ontario. This ship became part of the Colonial Steamship Company in 1950, and in 1952 was renamed the J.G. Irwin when construction of a new John O. McKellar was completed. John Oscar McKellar was born on June 28, 1878 in Lobo Township, Middlesex County, west of London, Ont. He worked as a marine engineer, and became acquainted with Robert Scott Misener when the two were shipmates serving with the Algoma central fleet. In 1919, the two men joined forces to run a shipping company. Together, they purchased the wooden steamer "Simon Langell", and worked together on the ship for the next three years. Throughout his career with Misener's company, John McKellar served as Chief Engineer, then Marine Superintendent, and finally Secretary-Treasurer. He died on September 19, 1951.

Consists of four certificates for the ship John O. McKellar. One is a Certificate of Class, Lloyd's Register of Shipping, issued January 15, 1954. The second is a Certificate for Machinery, Lloyd's Register of Shipping, also issued on January 15, 1954. The third is a Certificate of British Registry, Canada, Registry of Shipping, Dept. of Transport, dated July 18, 1952. The last is a Certificate of Registry, Canada, Dept. of Transport, dated at Quebec, May 10, 1982. The Certificates of Registry contain stamps from different customs offices in Canada, and indicate who was Master of the ship on various dates. The names of the Masters of the ship are J.E.F. Misener, A.R. Rafuse, W.J. Lemke, J.W. Sullivan, T.D. Allison, W.E. Guy, H.A. Edwards, Ross McColeman, Chas. Cole, Edmond Shanlay Langstaff, Ivan Randall Burns, Francis R. Scatney, J.E. Hartley, J. Thorpe, N. MacDonald, Percy Cutler, Sanford Colquhoun, Morrey Armstrong, Herbert Loovere, W. Donald Ashley, Michael Scott Dixon and Edward Charles Grieve.