Summons for Court Upper Canada - 1841

A summons "in the court of Requests - Upper Canada" Niagara District Division for a debt of three pounds, one shillings and six pence. Summons to appear before the Court of Requests, Robert Osborn vs. John Shadwick, signed by Walter Sumner, clerk of the court, 1841.

Entrance Examination Certificate Collegiate Institutes and High Schools of Ontario - Mary Willson

A certificate from the Collegiate Institutes and High Schools of Ontario of the Education Department of Ontario stating: "It is hereby certified that Mary Willson has passed the entrance examination required by the Education Department for admission to a Collegiate Institute or High School. Dated at Welland August 1st, 1908. Signed John W. Marshall, B.A. Inspector of Public Schools.

Photograph - Mary Jane (Dolly) Cowan

A photograph of Mary Jane (Dolly) Cowan, date unknown. She is the correspondent for many letters in the collection. James Ware writes several letters and postcards to "Dolly" during his time in the military (World War I).

Laura Dexter letter, commenting on the McLeod murder trial, October 5, 1841

Alexander McLeod was Deputy Sheriff of the Niagara District during the Rebellion of 1837-38 in Upper Canada. On December 24, 1837, he became aware of a scheme by the rebels to use the American steamboat Caroline to provide supplies to William Lyon Mackenzie and his followers on Navy Island in the Niagara River. McLeod notified the authorities in Upper Canada about the situation. A few days later, on December 29, Commodore Andrew Drew led a band of men, including McLeod, to the American side, where the Caroline was moored at Schlosser’s Wharf. A scuffle ensued, in which American Amos Durfee was killed. The Caroline was then released from its moorings, set on fire, and drifted downstream before sinking. Many Americans viewed the incident as a violation of their sovereignty. Tensions between the United States and England were already strained over a boundary dispute between Maine and New Brunswick, and the situation with the Caroline further escalated the tension. McLeod was subsequently arrested in November, 1840 in Lewiston, NY and indicted for arson and murder. The British foreign secretary, Lord Palmerston, insisted that McLeod be released and could not be held personally responsible for the incident, as he was acting on orders from authorities in Canada. Eventually, McLeod was acquitted.

Letter - Andrew Cowan to William Cowan

A letter from Andrew Cowan to his son William Cowan 29 Septemer 1841. The letter reads "Dear William, I have taken my pen the third time since I have received any word from you, my first letter was about the beginning of the year, and the second in the month of April with John Armstrong of Northhouse, he sailed from Liverpool the fifteen of that month with his sisters Jane and Jenny and their two children. I received a letter from him dated Cleavland in the State of Ohio the 6 of June. He did not intend stopping in that place. The leaves us all well for any thing that I know, but I have not heard from Andrew since March altho I have writen to him three months since your Mother and I are both sore faild altho we have tolerable good health for which we desire to be thankfull to the giver of all our mercies, which are new every day, that we may be found in Christs and clothed in his imputed righteousness at the last, for in him is only found true happyness. We have had another cold wet Summer and the crops is far back ------ not light, the price of -----is high and trade bad, but sheep and cattle are high. Cattle have not been higher since the French war, but the cattle trade is very bad at present and the opperatives out of imployment and consequently verrry badly of. If none of my former letters have reached you this will inform you that James is at Lanshawburn, and gets imployment all the year, he keeps a cow and five or six sheep, they have three children, Mary, Hannah, and Andrew; I was there after clipping time seeing them, they seem to be verry happy. James Lamb is well he was here the other night, he has got two letters from his son Adam this Summer; they are still in the same place and will finish their job this fall, and seem to be doing well, your Uncle Adam Scott and family are well. John was there lately there is little prospect of his getting to America as the money that was left him is not got yet and will not for some time, If ever this reach you, you must let us know how all the Scotch people that are near you, that went from this place of the Country are doing, as their freinds are anxious to hear from them, perticularly if you know what is becomed of Alexander Hoggs widow and family of ------hill, as I was desired to write to you about them - I got a letter from John Miller dated Gatt but I understand it is a long way from your place he was a gentleman and had the charge of a farm and seems verry ----- Now William if this ever reach you, you must excuse me for not filling this letter up, but if I receive an answer I promise to fill the next better, We all join in our love and respect to you and family. From your loving Father Andrew Cowan

Indenture between Patrick and Mary Burns and Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff

Indenture of mortgage in fee with dower between Patrick and Mary Burns of the Township of Grantham and Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff of St. Catharines regarding parts of Lots no. 19 and 23 in the 5th Concession in the Town of Grantham - instrument no. 14820. Listed in Book E, folio 339, October 3, 1864.

Indenture between Henry and Mary Ellen Rogers and John Young

Indenture of bargain and sale between Henry and Mary Ellen Rogers of the Township of Niagara and John Young of the Township of Niagara regarding part of Lot no. 113 in the Township of Niagara - instrument no. 15071. Registered in the County of Lincoln on January 16, 1865 in Book C, folio 344, January 13, !865.

Indenture between Patrick and Mary Burns to Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff

Indenture of bargain and sale between Patrick and Mary Burns of Grantham to Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff of St. Catharines regarding part of Lot 23 in the 5th Concession in the Township of Grantham - instrument no. 491, December 10, 1868.

Indenture Thomas L. Helliwell and his wife Mary to Samuel D. Woodruff

Indenture between Thomas L. Helliwell and his wife Mary to Samuel D. Woodruff for pew 15 in St. George’s Church, St. Catharines (2 copies), May 7, 1880.

Statement signed by Hume Blake who has read the will of Joseph Clement and the will of Mary M. Clement

Statement signed by Hume Blake of Toronto (2 ½ pages) who has read the will of Joseph Clement dated May 14, 1810 and has also read the will of Mary M. Clement dated Sept. 10, 1842. He states that the devise to James D. Clement and Joseph Clement is void. “The executor therefore take the personal estate … and the lands devised to James and Joseph Clement descend unencumbered to the heir of the testator Joseph Clement.” This document is slightly burned on the edges but text is not affected. The outer page says “Mr. Hume Blake for Brock Woodruff, May 9, 1845.

Dennis, George W. and Mary E. Dennis, includes: Application for Loan on Real Estate, and Abstract of Title

Dennis, George W. and Mary E. Dennis, includes: Application for Loan on Real Estate, July 10, 1882; and Abstract of Title, Sept. 2, 1882.

Indenture of bargain and sale between Henry and Mary Miller of the Town of Niagara to Joseph Augustus Woodruff of the Town of Niagara

Indenture of bargain and sale between Henry and Mary Miller of the Town of Niagara to Joseph Augustus Woodruff of the Town of Niagara for 50 acres in the east half of Lot no. 15 in the 1st Concession in the Township of Southwold in Elgin County, April 2, 1853.

Letter to Mona [Foster] regarding Mary and George and life in America

Letter to Mona [Foster] (1 page, typed) regarding Mary and George and life in America. This is a partial letter and the signature is not included. The writer lives in America, Dec. 9, 1919.

Receipt from the City of St. Catharines to Robert Stanley, occupant and Mary Shickluna, owner of Lots 44 and 45 on Ontario Street

Receipt from the City of St. Catharines to Robert Stanley, occupant and Mary Shickluna, owner of Lots 44 and 45 on Ontario Street for taxes, Aug. 8, 1887.

Letter to Henry Nelles from Michael Harris of the Perth Military Settlement

Letter to Henry Nelles from Michael Harris of the Perth Military Settlement (3 pages, handwritten). He is married to Mary Fanning, sister of Henry Nelles but is having marital troubles as he says he “may have to be on the lookout for another wife”. He thinks that his wife Mary may have departed for the United States, Apr. 6, 1821.