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.

Some Incidents and Circumstances Written by William F. Haile in the Course of his Life, 1859

William Frederick Haile was born in Putney, Windham County, Vermont on November 4th, 1791. He was raised in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York. At the age of 21 he entered the United States Army. He served in the War of 1812 as a lieutenant in the 11th United States Infantry. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane [not mentioned in this memoir]. After the war he settled in Plattsburgh, New York and became a lawyer. He was a judge from April 1837 to March of 1843. He was also the fifth collector of customs for the District of Champlain. He died on October 1861 at the age of 69. This document was written for the children of William Frederick Haile in January of 1859 [as noted on p.23]. The memoir ends in July of 1814 before the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Haile’s memoir is laced with names of military personnel and he expresses his opinions freely.

Copy of a report of a Committee of the Honorable and Executive Council dated May 6, 1859 approved by His Excellency the Governor General in Council

Copy of a report of a Committee of the Honorable and Executive Council dated May 6, 1859 approved by His Excellency the Governor General in Council. This is in regard to charges made by Joshua Manly of Port Colborne against Mr. Woodruff, the superintendent and other persons connected with the Welland Canal. The accusations have been substantiated by the committee. This is accompanied by a petition accusing Mr. Woodruff of gross corruption and jobbery [the practice of using a public office or position of trust for one's own advantage]. This was signed by a number of petitioners on July 2, 1858 (2 pages, handwritten), 1859.

Returns (copy) showing the quantities of each article transported on the Welland Canal during the year 1859-1861 and the amount of tolls collected thereon for each year

Returns (copy) showing the quantities of each article transported on the Welland Canal during the year 1859-1861 and the amount of tolls collected thereon for each year. The title on this document is General Return 1859, but this has been crossed out in pencil within the document and the years have been changed (Port Robinson), 1859-1861.

Statement of vessels and merchandise passed downward through the Welland Canal at Port Colborne during the year 1859

Statement of vessels and merchandise passed downward through the Welland Canal at Port Colborne during the year 1859 showing nationalities of ports of clearance and discharge, June 29, 1862.

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 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Nelles of the 4th Lincoln Militia from his daughter Mary Pilkington

Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Nelles of the 4th Lincoln Militia from his daughter Mary Pilkington regarding family matters (1 page, double-sided, handwritten), Feb. 3, 1824.

American Messenger, April 1859

American Messenger published by the American Tract Society. The name Alex Stobo is written on the front page. The newspaper is torn in half and torn again, but it is legible when pieced together, April 1859.

Mackenzie’s Toronto Weekly Message, July 16, 1859

Mackenzie’s Toronto Weekly Message, July 16, 1859.

Mackenzie’s Toronto Weekly Message, July 30, 1859

Mackenzie’s Toronto Weekly Message, July 30, 1859.