Indenture between William Dickson [Jr.] and Robert M. Wilson, February 7, 1859.

William Dickson (1799-1877) was the son of the prominent Niagara businessman and politician William Dickson (1769-1846). William was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and settled in Galt, Ontario, upon his return to Canada. His father had business affairs in Dumfries and Galt, which he left in his sons charge when he retired to Niagara in 1837. William had an older brother, Robert, and younger brother, Walter, both of whom served in the Militia and became involved in politics.

Contract between John Cronyn and Nelson Forsyth, December 16, 1854.

John Cronyn (1827-1898) emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1837. He studied medicine at the University of Toronto, but was not granted his degree upon completion of the requirements. He refused to take the test oaths meant to exclude Catholics from the profession and was not granted his degree until several years later, when the discriminatory laws were rescinded. In 1850, he married Elizabeth Willoughby of Toronto. They settled in Fort Erie and he established a successful medical practice there. He was active in the community, serving as Superintendent of schools and one term as Reeve. In 1859 he relocated to Buffalo and continued to practice medicine there. Cronyn was instrumental in the establishment of a medical department at Niagara University, where he was a professor and president of faculty. Nelson Forsyth was the son of William Forsyth (1771-1841), a prominent businessman in Niagara who owned and operated the Pavilion Hotel (later known as Forsyth’s Inn). Nelson was also a businessman and lived in Fort Erie with his wife Archange Warren.

Photograph - William Woodruff (1783-1860) and Margaret Clement Woodruff (1794-1882)

Pair of photographs, 17 ½ cm x 12 cm of William Woodruff, son of Ezekiel and a 17 ½ cm x 12 cm photograph of Margaret Clement Woodruff in a folding silver frame. These photographs were described by R. Band in 1990 – description is included.

Indenture between Abraham Cook and Thomas Sheppard Smyth

Indenture of bargain and sale between Abraham Cook, son of the late Michael Cook of the Township of Williamsburgh in the County of Dundas and Thomas Sheppard Smyth of Drummondville regarding Lot no. 23 in the 3rd Concession in the Township of Nottawasaga. This is listed in folio 213, memorial no. 11365, August 17, 1852.

Indenture between William Dickson and Thomas Clark

Indenture between William Dickson and Thomas Clark (as per the Last Will and Testament of Robert Hamilton) of Niagara to Joseph Gatehill of Grimsby for the Lot lettered G in the Town of Grimsby. The document is torn and slightly stained. This does not affect the text, Aug. 19, 1819.

Copy of page 141 of Confederation by Joseph Pope annotated by John A. Macdonald, 1867

Joseph Pope was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in 1854. He was the private secretary to Sir John A. Macdonald from 1882-1891. He worked as the assistant clerk to the Privy Council and undersecretary of state for Canada from 1896-1909. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1901. He was later knighted as a Knight Commander of the same order. Joseph Pope was the first permanent head of the Department of External Affairs (now Foreign Affairs and Internal Trade) 1909-1925. He was an advisor to Prime Ministers from Macdonald to King. He died in Ottawa, in 1926. As well as Confederation, Pope also penned: Memoirs of Sir John A. Macdonald : A Chronicle of the First Prime Minister of the Dominion; The Day of Sir John Macdonald; Jacques Cartier, his life and voyages; Traditions and Sir John A. MacDonald vindicated : a review of the Right Honourable Sir Richard Cartwright's reminiscences as well as other books Pope’s son, Maurice Arthur Pope wrote a book about Joseph entitled Public Servant: the Memoirs of Sir Joseph Pope”.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Joseph Burger, n.d.

Survey map and description of Joseph Burger'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 Silverthorn and Burger's land, line between Burger and Shotwell's land. The land totals 15 acres, 1 road and 15 perches. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Michael and Jacob Silverthorn, 1834

Survey map and description of Michael and Jacob Silverthorn'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 Burger and Silverthorn's land, reservoir, wood land, road leading to Quaker settlement, line between Jacob and Michael Silverthorn's land. The deeds for both lands are dated September 25, 1834. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Indenture of Land Sold by Jacob Cochanour to Adam Hutt

Indenture regarding land sold by Jacob Cochanour of Flamborough West to Adam Hutt of Stamford Township. This land included 100 acres in Lot. no. 11, Stamford - instrument no. 5057, July 9, 1816.

Indenture of Sale Between David Secord to Jacob Lutz

Indenture of sale between David Secord of Niagara Township to Jacob Lutz of Thorold Township regarding part of Lot no. 90 in the Township of Niagara. Registered for the County of Lincoln and Haldimand in Book J, Folio 817. This was registered July 12, 1825. The instrument no. is 6659, June 30, 1825.

Indenture of Conveyance between Her Majesty the Queen and Joseph A. Woodruff

Indenture of conveyance between Her Majesty the Queen and Joseph A. Woodruff of St. Catharines regarding 100 acres more or less in part of Lot no. 5 in the 2nd Concession in the 34 Township of Lobo in the County of Middlesex. This was registered in the County of Middlesex Register on Oct. 20, 1873. This is a duplicate of the original executed on Oct. 15, 1875.

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.

Report by Jacob Misner on setting contracts for deepening and clearing ditches and estimates of quantities and costs of marsh drainage

Report by Jacob Misner on setting contracts for deepening and clearing ditches and estimates of quantities and costs of marsh drainage (3 ½ pages, handwritten). This is marked as a copy, July 14, 1855.

Time on marsh lands for the months of January, February, March and April for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson, Duncan Davidson, Rose Osborne, Henry Wilson and William Baird

Time on marsh lands for the months of January, February, March and April for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson, Duncan Davidson, Rose Osborne, Henry Wilson and William Baird. This is signed by Fred Holmes, April 28, 1857.

Time on the marsh lands for the months of May, June, July and August, 1857 for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson and William Baird

Time on the marsh lands for the months of May, June, July and August, 1857 for Fred Holmes, Joseph Simpson and William Baird. This was sent to S.D. Woodruff by Fred Holmes, Aug. 28, 1857.