Letter from Thomas Tudor Tucker, treasurer of the United States: transmitting his accounts for 1816, February 25, 1817

Bound with: Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury transmitting statements of the importations of goods, wares and merchandise... (60 p.).

Hansler Indenture Daniel Robins to George Hansil, 1814

Indenture of property in Wainfleet between Daniel Robins of Township of Thorold and George Hansel of the township of Pelham. The cost to Hansel for the purchase was 40 pounds.

Proposal for Construction of Brock’s Monument, Queenston, newspaper fragment, 1824

Brock’s Monument is owned by Parks Canada and maintained by the Niagara Parks Commission in collaboration with the Friends of Fort George and Niagara National Historic Sites. It is located in Queenston Heights Park atop the Niagara Escarpment. On March 14, 1815, Parliament passed an act to erect a monument to the memory of General Isaac Brock. A design by engineer Francis Hall was selected. He envisioned a 135 ft. tall Tuscan column, made out of stone with a winding staircase inside. By the spring of 1824, work had begun on the monument. In June of that year, the cornerstone was laid and William Lyon Mackenzie was in attendance at the ceremony. It was on October 13th, 1824 (the anniversary of Brock’s death) that 6000 people traveled to Queenston to inter the remains of Brock and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell. This was the second burial for both. After 3 years the tower had reached 135 feet, but there was no inscription at the base, the fence around the observation deck had not been installed and there was no statue of Brock. Hall submitted a plan to finish the statue, but he was turned down and a simple ornament was placed where the Brock statue should have been. A massive blast of gunpowder destroyed the monument in 1840. It is alleged that an American sympathizer with the Upper Canada Rebellion set off the blast. Brock and Macdonell’s bodies were reburied in the Hamilton Family Cemetery in Queenston. The present monument was rebuilt in 1853. William Thomas (designer of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto) was the architect. Brock and Macdonell were once again laid to rest in separate vaults at the statue. In 1968, Brock’s Monument was declared a national historical site. In 2005, it was closed to the public due to safety concerns, but it reopened in 2010. Source: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/brocks-monument-queenston-heights

George Upper collection, 1989, 1995, undated

George Upper is a Niagara area artist. His limited edition prints feature local scenes, many from Port Dalhousie, Ontario.

Report on the Expenditure of the Welland and Burlington Canals, 1830

This copy is signed in the upper left hand corner by Mr. Dickson. Mr. Robert Dickson was one of the directors of the Welland Canal Office. The report covers meetings which were held: January 15-16, and 19 of 1830. The meetings were attended by Messrs. Blacklock, Mackenzie, Woodruff, Longley and Hopkins. Balance sheets are also included within the report. The report of the Welland Canal Company for 1829 is also included within this document, and this is dated December 31, 1829. Names at the end of the 1929 report are members of the Welland Canal Office and they include: John Henry Dunn, president; Henry J. Boulton, vice-president and William Allan, George Keefer, John J. Lefferty and Robert Dickson who were directors The report is dated January 26, 1830, and submitted by Thomas Horner, chairman of the Commons House of Assembly.

Certificate of Acceptance and Initiation to Canadian Order Chosen Friends - Thomas Cowan

A certificate of initiation and acceptance to the Canadian Order Chosen Friends, Thomas Cowan. The certificate reads "This certifies that evidence has been received that Thomas Cowan has been accepted and initiated by the Council name below, and has thus become a member of the Canadian Order of Chosen Friends, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership and a benefit of not exceeding one thousand dollars from the relief fund of said order, which shall in case of death be paid to Annie Cowan his wife in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in the laws governing said relief fund and in the application for membership. This certificate to be in force and binding when accepted in writing by the said member, with the acceptance attested by the Councilor and Recorder and the seal of the Subordinate Council affixed, so long as said member shall comply with the requirements of the Constitution, Laws and Regulations now in force or hereafter adopted for the government of the Order: otherwise, and also in the case of granting of a new certificate, to be null and void. In witness whereof, we have hereunto attached our signatures, and affixed the seal of the Grand Council of the Canadian Order of Chosen Friends. Dated the Twenty Seventh day of July, A.D. 1891." The front and back of the certificate are available for viewing.

Marriage Certificate - Thomas Cowan & Annie Easling, 1884

A marriage certificate for Thomas Cowan of Thorold and Annie Easling of St. Catharines. The certificate is dated October 8, 1884 and is witnessed by W. Ross and Jennie McElroy.

Last will and testament - Peter Wright

The last will and testament of Peter Wright, dated December 18th, 1812. He was the father of Mary Wright, the first wife of Thomas Wilson (third generation). In the will, Peter states his executors as Lawrence Lemon, George Garner, and his wife Susannah Wright. There is also a transcript of the handwritten will.

Advertisement - Thomas Cowan

An advertisement for Thomas Cowan, dealers in boots, shoes, trunks & valises. The ad is bright in colour and shows a shoe sitting on a shell with a fan and dragonfly and flower. It reads "compliments of the season" in the top corner.

Orderly book, Second Regiment of U.S. Dragoons, New York, 1812-1813

The Second U.S. Regiment of Light Dragoons was formed in January 1812. In March of 1814, it merged with the First U.S. Regiment of Light Dragoons to form the Regiment of Light Dragoons.

Letter written by Mahlon Taylor to Samuel Clarke commenting on US troops during Fort George occupation, July 26, 1813

Fort George, situated on the west side of the Niagara River in Niagara-on-the-Lake, served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army during the War of 1812. On May 25, 1813, the Americans launched an artillery attack on the Fort, destroying most of the buildings. Two days later, the Americans invaded the Town of Niagara and occupied Fort George. They remained in the Fort for almost seven months, but suffered defeats at the Battle of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. Only a small number of militia remained stationed at the Fort. Fearing an attack by the British, the Americans retreated back across the Niagara River in December, 1813. The Fort remained in British possession for the rest of the War.

Thomas Young reward claim, October 30, 1875

Transcript: Sir I understand that a reward of fifty dollars has been offered by the County of Haldimand for the arrest of any person convicted of horse stealing. I beg to state that I arrested Albert Hucker charged with having stolen a bay mare the property of Eward Hodges in the Township of Walpole Co. of Haldimand and that the said Albert Hucker has been convicted of the offence by A.G. Hill, Esq. police magistrate of the Town of Clifton County of Welland, and sentenced to three years servitude in the provincial penitentiary. I beg therefore to ask of I am entitled to the aforesaid reward and if so what steps are necessary to procure it. I am Sir, Yours respectfully, Thomas H. Young Ontario Police Clifton

Admiralty Commissioner's Orders - October 13, 1812

Admiralty Commissioner's Orders sent to Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Newfoundland, informing him of America's declaration of war against Great Britain and instructing him to seize and destroy all ships belonging to the United States of America which he may encounter. The document is dated October 13, 1812, and is signed by William Domett, Joseph Sydney Yorke, George Warrender, and John Barrow. The paper is marked "duplicate". It is likely that several copies were issued and sent via different ships to ensure that at least one made it to Admiral Duckworth.

Letter written by Mahlon Taylor to Samuel Clarke commenting on US troops during Fort George occupation - July 26, 1813

A letter written by Mahlon Taylor to his uncle, Samuel Clarke, dated at Marcellus [New York], July 26, 1813. Mahlon Taylor writes that he believes the mail he has sent out is not making it past Princeton, as he has not had a reply to any of his sent correspondence. He also writes that he has heard there are 3500 men at Fort George, 1000 are unfit for duty, and that there is skirmishing daily. He comments that the general opinion is that the troops will withdraw from Canada entirely. The letter is signed Mahlon C Taylor and is addressed to Mr. Samuel Clarke, no. 227 South Front Street, Philadelphia.