Contract between John Cronyn and Nelson Forsyth, December 16, 1854.

John Cronyn (1827-1898) emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1837. He studied medicine at the University of Toronto, but was not granted his degree upon completion of the requirements. He refused to take the test oaths meant to exclude Catholics from the profession and was not granted his degree until several years later, when the discriminatory laws were rescinded. In 1850, he married Elizabeth Willoughby of Toronto. They settled in Fort Erie and he established a successful medical practice there. He was active in the community, serving as Superintendent of schools and one term as Reeve. In 1859 he relocated to Buffalo and continued to practice medicine there. Cronyn was instrumental in the establishment of a medical department at Niagara University, where he was a professor and president of faculty. Nelson Forsyth was the son of William Forsyth (1771-1841), a prominent businessman in Niagara who owned and operated the Pavilion Hotel (later known as Forsyth’s Inn). Nelson was also a businessman and lived in Fort Erie with his wife Archange Warren.

A contract between John Cronyn of the Village of Fort Erie in the County of Welland, and Nelson Forsyth of Fort Erie, Township of Bertie, County of Welland. The contract stipulates the terms of repayment for £200 that Nelson Forsyth lent to John Cronyn. The contract is dated December 16, 1854. There is writing on the reverse side of the contract that reads “Bond £100 by John Cronyn, January 7, 1856. Paid the full claim of this Bond.”