Welland Canal Survey of Lands Peter Vanevery, 1827

Survey map and description of Peter Vanevery's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; lines between lots, L. Carrol's and E. Bouke's land. The land totals 100 acres. Deed from Jacob Stule (?) dated July 10, 1827. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Samuel Swayze, 1827

Survey map and description of Samuel Swayze's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; lot division. The land totals 65 acres and 12 perches. The deed from Hall Davis to the Welland Canal Company is dated December 1, 1827. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands John Watson, 1831

Survey map and description of John Watson's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. The land totals 2 acres, 1 road, and 21 perches. The land was surveyed on September 5th, 1831.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands John Heslop's Estate

Survey map and description of John Heslop's Estate's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; line between Heslop and Carrol's land. The land totals 11 acres, 2 roads and 36 perches. The survey contains the land on the West side of the resovoir as well as the land drowned by the resevoir. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands John Hellems, 1835

Survey map and description of John Hellem's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; W. Crooks land, concession lines, basin, bridges, guard lock, reservoir, tow path, Lyons Creek. The survey was done on three seperate ocassions by George and Samuel Keefer for Hellems lot #26 in Crowland township. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil and red pen on the map.

Two Black Gentlemen Photographed by John Cooper, London/St. Thomas, Ont. [n.d.]

An undated cabinet card of two Black men photographed by John Cooper, who operated as a photographer in London, Ont. and St. Thomas, Ont. from 1857 - 1890. The reverse of the photograph features the photographer's stamp in coloured ink. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines. The Sloman - Bell family have relatives who include former Black slaves from the United States. John Cooper is listed as a photographer and daguerrean artist in 1857 - 1890 in London, Ont. and in 1874 in St. Thomas, Ont. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990. "Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Small Cabinet Card of African American Man by John S. Thom, of Lucan, Ontario [n.d.]

A very small cabinet card type photograph of an unidentified man, possibly a relative of the Bell - Sloman family. A handwritten entry on the reverse of the photograph indicates it was taken by John S. Thom, of Lucan. No date is provided, however, John S. Thom is known to have been a photographer in Lucan from 1877-1882. This cabinet card was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell family include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.John S. Thom is listed as a photographer in Lucan, Ontario from 1877-1882. Aside from photography, he also operated a general store and sold notions. It appears he then moved to Sarnia, Ont. and is listed as a photographer there from 1882-1900. He is also recorded as being a Sarnia bicycle dealer. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Cabinet Card by John B. Cook, Photographer, Toronto [n.d.]

Two young African Canadian girls are the subject of this undated cabinet card photograph by John B. Cook, of Toronto. The address listed on the company stamp, which appears in gold lettering at the bottom of the card, is 191 and 193 Yonge [St.] Toronto. The original photo was over-exposed and faded, so image adjustments have been made for clarification purposes. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. It is possible these two girls are relatives of the Sloman and Bell families. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell families include former American slaves who settled in Canada.John B. Cook is listed as being a photographer -- and a hotelier -- in Toronto from 1879-1898. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Merrimack Intelligencer Vol. 5 No. 48

This was a weekly paper that was published every Saturday. The motto of the Merrimack was: "Not too rash--Yet not fearful--We aim to be just." It was published from 1808-1817. Topics of interest include: Page 1: State of New York Republicans published a statement arguing against the war and the policies of John Adams and James Madison; account of the capture of York by the Americans, 27 April 1813; Page 2: account of the capture of York by the Americans, 27 April 1813; letter from American Brig. Gen. Henry Miller to Sir John B. Warren warning the British not to execute captured U.S. citizen O'Neal; response from Sir John B. Warren to Brig. Gen. Henry Miller stating that O'Neal had been released; account of Stephen Girard buying back his ransomed ship from the British; Page 3: account of Stephen Girard buying back his ransomed ship from the British; U.S. General Harrison repels British and Indian forces that attack Fort Meigs; account of British forces capturing U.S. privateer ship Alexander; report of British forces near Newport, New York, the Delaware river, and the Potomac River; report of Indian attacks in Kaskaskia, Randolph County; report of a boat load of provisions attacked by Indians near Fort Harrison; Commodore Isaac Chauncey arrived at Sacket's Harbor to unload stores taken from York before leaving for Niagara to commence attack against Fort George; U.S. Army announcement recruiting men 18 to 45 years of age to enlist in the army;

Miniature Portrait of Captain John Brock

A miniature portrait of Captain John Brock, 81st Regiment of Foot. There is an inscription on parchment attached to the reverse which reads "Major Gen. Sir Isaac Brock Lieut. Govenor of Upper Canada Fell at Queenston Heights on 13th Oct 1812" "The Hero of Canada". Above this inscription is a picture of an Indian on a battlement, holding what appears to be a tomahawk. Directly below this picture is a banner with the word "Canada" on it. The entire inscription is surrounded by a braided lock of hair which is enclosed in the case. This inscription contains a number of historical inaccuracies. The portrait also shows the buttons of the 81st Regiment. Sir Isaac Brock belonged to the 49th Regiment of Foot. It has thus been determined that the portrait is not of Isaac Brock but of his brother John.

Letter from the Secretary of State to Mr. Monroe, on the subject of the attack on the Chesapeake : the correspondence of Mr. Monroe with the British Government; and also Mr. Madison's correspondence with Mr. Rose on the same subject

March 23, 1808. Printed by order of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Giles' speech, delivered in the Senate of the United States, on Thursday, 24th November, 1808, on the resolution of Mr. Hillhouse, to repeal the embargo laws

Printed by Pool and Palfray

John O. McKellar (ship) certificates, 1952-1983.

The John O. McKellar was a ship that belonged to the Scott Misener fleet. The first ship named after McKellar was launched on Januaray 25, 1929, from Wallsend, England, and was bound for Sault St. Marie, Ontario. This ship became part of the Colonial Steamship Company in 1950, and in 1952 was renamed the J.G. Irwin when construction of a new John O. McKellar was completed. John Oscar McKellar was born on June 28, 1878 in Lobo Township, Middlesex County, west of London, Ont. He worked as a marine engineer, and became acquainted with Robert Scott Misener when the two were shipmates serving with the Algoma central fleet. In 1919, the two men joined forces to run a shipping company. Together, they purchased the wooden steamer "Simon Langell", and worked together on the ship for the next three years. Throughout his career with Misener's company, John McKellar served as Chief Engineer, then Marine Superintendent, and finally Secretary-Treasurer. He died on September 19, 1951.