The Bee Newspaper, Vol. I, No. 13

An original Niagara area newspaper containing an account of the Battle of Queenston Heights and the death and burial of Sir Isaac Brock. The newspaper is dated October 24, 1812, eleven days after the death of General Brock. Topics of interest include: Page 1: Sheaffe announcement regulating the sale of alcohol in Niagara; Myers announcement asking citizens for the return of American muskets recovered from the battle at Queenston; local notices on business claims and education; want ads for wood, straw, flour and pork for military use; announcement by the Prince Regent in Council putting an embargo on American ships. Page 2: release of American prisoners captured at Queenston; news of the British Navy; the security of Canadian properties in wartime; American ships leaving Britain with licenses. Page 3: American ships leaving Britain with licenses Page 4: report on the Battle of Queenston Heights and the death of Isaac Brock.

The New York Weekly Museum Newspaper, Vol. II, No.25- October 23, 1813

A weekly paper that was published from 1805 to 1814. War related news includes: Page 99 - Weekly Retrospect: American report on British naval movements near Louisiana; General William Harrison reports on: a victory at Moravian Town (Moraviantown) on October 5; Ottawas, Chippewas, Wyandots Miamies and Delaware First Nations (Indians) leaving the British side; Tecumseh remaining with the British; American army and navy attempt for a reduction of Mackinac and St. Joseph's; Colonel Chapin attacking a British picket guard near Fort George on October 6; Report that the British have abandoned the Fort George area for Kingston and is being pursued by General McClure; Forces in Sackett's Harbour ready for an attach on Canada; General Provost believed to have left Kingston for Montreal with 1000 men; Report from Burlington (Lake Champlain) of an attack on St. Armands against Colonel Clark on October 15; Report of the American's taking of the Packet Morgiana by the Schooner Saratoga under Captain Adderton by Newport; Announcement by the New York City Common Council for a celebration of Perry and Harrison's victories on the evening of October 23. The rest of the newspaper contains literary works (poems and translations), marriages, deaths and other anecdotes. The motto on the front page states: "Visiting Every Flower with Labour Meet, and Gathering all its Treasures, Sweet by Sweet."

National Intelligencer Vol. XVI, No. 2193- October 15, 1814

The Intelligencer was an American newspaper that was established, in 1800, in Washington by Samuel Harrison Smith, a young Jeffersonian- Republican from Philadelphia. War of 1812 related content includes: Page 1: Major General Winfield Scott's arrival in Washington escorted by Colonel Laval's cavalry; report from Sackett's Harbour on the American and British navies; a debate on a bill to temporarily remove the seat of government from the City of Washington due to the war; the Military Committee wishing to have the President commission gold medals for distinguished service for Major Generals Brown and Scott and silver medals to Brigadier Generals Ripley, Miller and Porter for their efforts at Chippewa, Erie and Niagara as well as gold medals to Brigadier General Gaines for efforts at Erie and Brigadier General Macomb for efforts at Plattsburg; resolutions of the House on the victory of Commodore Thomas Macdonough at the Battle on Lake Champlain; Page 2: more detail on the proposed removal of the seat of government from Washington; Page 3: a letter from Major General Andrew Jackson to the Secretary of War on repelling the British at Fort Bowyer on the Point of Mobile and naval battle reports on the vessels Hermes, Sophie, and Carron; a letter from Major William Lawrence to Andrew Jackson on the battle at Fort Bowyer; military promotions of Alexander Macomb, Roger Jones, J. Hindman; more on the removal of the seat of government; citizens of Washington offering to volunteer in defense of the city; banks willing to loan the government funds to re-build destroyed government buildings; assignments of Major General Scott, General Winder and Major General Gaines; report of 300 British prisoners from Fort Erie passed through Washington; Montreal newspaper report condemning Provost for his actions at the Battle of Lake Champlain; trouble with stage coaches traveling between New Haven and Bridgeport due to cannon fire; report of a British naval squadron appearing off New Port and by Long Island and New Bedford; report of enemy naval movements from Norfolk; announcement of a book entitled "A Narrative of the Battle of Bladensburg" by and officer of General Smith; Page 4: report on the amassing navy at Kingston under Drummond and the defenses at Sackett's Harbor; report of American and British naval news from Nova Scotia and the east coast; actions of the American sloop of war, The Peacock, in international waters; an enlistment announcement by Captain Perrin Willis of the 2nd Regiment Infantry; listing of American officers and privates released from parole on October 13; Other notices report on stray horses, properties for sale, runaway slaves, imprisonments, missing livestock, medical lectures at the University of Maryland, stage lines, auctions, etc. The paper was a supporter of the Jefferson and Madison administrations until 1810 when it was sold to Joseph Gales Jr. from North Carolina. In 1812 William Seaton joined Gales as a publishing partner. This paper made significant contributions to the nation and wielded considerable influence in political circles during its publication. It has been praised for its "high standard of journalistic excellence and high intellectual level of its contents". (William E. Ames , National Intelligencer: Washington's Leading Political Newspaper) The Intelligencer was, until 1810, named the National Intelligencer, and Washington Advertiser. It was a tri-weekly paper and had a peak circulation of 6, 000. Publication was suspended in 1869.

Independent Chronicle Vol. XLVI No. 3470- July 14, 1814

A semi-weekly paper that was published from 1801 to 1817. It was previously called the Independent chronicle and the universal advertiser, and was later the Independent chronicle and Boston patriot (Semiweekly). Publishers were Abijah Adams and Ebenezer Rhoades. Topics of interest in this issue include: Page 1: report of Independence Day celebration including multiple toasts to the military; Page 2: report of South Carolina militia marching home; report of U.S. schooner Alligator being lost to a tornado in Port Royal; report of 10,000 militia and 2,000 regular Army troops to be used in defense of the District of Columbia and vicinity; report U.S. is to try to raise 100,000 militia for defense; news of British deserters providing information to the U.S.; report of skirmishes along the U.S. coast; statement from U.S. Navy Capt. David Porter stating he had taken possession of Sir Henry Martin's Island; report of British troops burning a militia barracks in Lewiston, N.Y.; 4 accounts of the battle of Chippewa and the taking of Fort Erie; statement from Maj. Gen. Brown in praise of his troops in the battle of Chippewa; copy of General Brown's orders to attack at Fort Erie; essay arguing against U.S. citizens boarding enemy ships; report of peace treaty rumours; Page 3: account of Capt. Porter's capture and subsequent escape from the British; list of American prisoners held on the British ship Nymph; report of British cargo ship captured by U.S. war ship; Proclamation from James Madison pardoning military deserters if they return to military service; announcement to officers and soldiers in the military offering reward for the return of military deserters; Page 4: 2 reward advertisements for return of military deserters;

In Senate of the United States: February 27, 1816

Caption title: [U.S. 14th Congress, 1st session. Senate Doc. 55].

Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry 1811

Full Title:Proceedings of a court of inquiry, convened on board the United States frigate the President, in the harbour of New York, on the thirteenth day of August, 1811, pursuant to the following warrant : To Stephen Decatur, esquire, a captain in the Navy of the United States.

John Adams Smith letter, Jan. 14, 1813

Transcript: New York Jan. 14. 1813. My dear uncle, I had nearly concluded to have made my [jaunt?] earlier than I had mentioned in my last letter to you, for Swartout had intended to have written by me to Father & yourself; having [Louisa?] concluded not so soon to depart he sends me his letters which I forward in mail, I shall hope to have letters from home soon, it is a great pleasure to hear from any of you. I said last week in Hollands letter mentioning [bladeworth?] account, I have explained to him. It is a mistake about me agreeing to pay Mr. [Dening?] [their?] account. Caroline mentions to me your jaunt to [Sophia?], but I regret our friend there should be unpleasantly situated. I have not yet seen Col. Willett but will see him as mentioned. I have neglected to go there for some time which has been remiss in me. We have nothing new I believe unless it be that Armstrong & Jones of Philadelphia have been nominated as Secretarys of War & the Navy & [cer?] this in all probability may be appointed. There may be room for speculation, but perhaps it is not probable that Canada will be ceded to American Valor in the year 1813. There is a Bill before congress by which it may be made penal to enter on board American vessels, either British subjects or naturalized Americans, which it is presoomed by many will [spon?] the accommodation of Peace – may be yes may be no – the proof of the pudding is in the eating of it. I imagine pacification is not so near at hand although it is much to be desired. Whatever might be for the honor & prosperity of the Country I would strenuously advocate, aloof from partial & party considerations. We have not a word as yet what the Council at Albany may be thinking of as yet. I suppose these things will come in time, perhaps untimely to many. I desire for the present not to be found among the untimely. I am your sincerely, with love to all. John Adams Smith

William B. Rollason fonds, 1930-1934, 1936, 1941-1947, 1950-1952, 1956-1958.

William B. Rollason was a businessman from St. Catharines. His business interests included insurance sales, real estate and housing development. He was an active Rotarian, serving as president from 1945 to 1946. He served on the Niagara Parks Commission Board from 1944 until his death in 1959. Mr. Rollason was the president of the St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lincoln County Conservative Association, a member of the Navy Island Peace Capital Group, vice chairman of the War Savings Committee and part owner of the Welland House Hotel in St. Catharines.

Martin Walsh fonds

Martin “Bud” Walsh served in the Canadian Merchant Navy during the Second World War as a fireman stoking boilers. He continued to serve in the Navy after the war, until December 1948. In 1949, he joined the Crowland Police Department as a constable. He subsequently worked as a constable with the Welland Police Department and was promoted several times, eventually to deputy chief in 1969. In 1971, he became superintendent of the St. Catharines detachment of the regional force. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards honouring his contributions to his country, including the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Schooner Ranger document

A page of entries detailing the financial history of the Schooner Ranger, a Great Lakes cargo ship, from 1810-1815. The ship sustained damage in 1811 on its journey from Detroit to Black Rock, in which 3 people drowned. The ship was subsequently “destroyed by the enemy in January 1813”. In August 1815, the ship’s account was settled. The settlement acknowledged that the ship was “taken by the U.S. Navy Officers for the use of the Government”, and is signed by Porter, Barton & Co., and George Kibbe.

Commemorative Medals of the War of 1812, 1963

In the original set, there were 10 medals with inventory numbers 1740-1749. This included Tecumseh, Chief of the Shawnees and construction in 1812 of Fort Prescott in Upper Niagara. These are not included in this collection. The Franklin Mint purchased the Wellings Mint in 1973.

A review of the case of Alexander McLeod: recently determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the state of New York (1841)

Alexander McLeod, a British subject, was tried for the murder of Amos Durfee and as an accomplice in the burning of the steamer Caroline, in the Niagara River, during the Canadian rebellion in 1837-1838.

Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a letter from the Marshall of the Northern District of the State of New York, respecting disturbances on the Canadian frontier (1838)

Message from the President of the United States transmitting a letter from the Marshal of the Northern District of the State of New York, respecting Disturbances on the Canadian Frontier.

Steamboat Caroline (1838)

Message from the President of the United States transmitting the information required by a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st ultimo, respecting the Capture and Destruction of the Steamboat Caroline, on the night of the 29th December last.