Niagara South estate and legal documents collection, 1752-1937, n.d. [non-inclusive]

The documents in the collection include the names of families residing in Stamford Township, Welland County, which today is considered Niagara Falls. Some names are: Allan, Barnett, Brokenshaw, Buchanan, Cadham, Clark, Dalton, Dell, Fell, Garner, Hemmings, Kent, Lightbody, Orchard, Perry, Pew, Ross, Street, Thompson, Willox, Willson, Wright. For a more complete list of names consult the finding aid.

William Van Every fonds, 1784, 1804-1806, 1815-1816, 1828, 1832, n.d.

William Van Every, son of McGregory and Mary Wilcox (Jaycocks) Van Every, was born in New York state in 1765. During the Revolutionary War he joined Butler’s Rangers and served under Captain John McDonnell. He was granted three lots of land in the Township of Niagara, with additional lands granted at later dates. William married Elizabeth, daughter of George Young. Elizabeth was the widow of Col. Frederick Dochstader and mother of Catherine Dochstader, b. 1781. William Van Every died in 1832, his wife Elizabeth in 1851. Both are buried in the Warner Cemetery, in present day Niagara Falls. The children of William Van Every and Elizabeth Young were Mary, Elizabeth, Phoebe, John, Peter, William, Rebecca, Samuel and Joseph. Source: Mary Blackadar Piersol, The Records of the Van Every Family, Toronto : Best Printing, 1947. And, Patricia M. Orr, Historic Woodend, sponsored by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, 1980?

Irish John Willson United Empire Loyalist Family Fonds

John Willson first came to Upper Canada along with his friend Nathaniel Pettit in the late 1700s. They both moved with their families from New Jersey where they had both been imprisioned for not siding with the rebels and maintaining Loyalist allegiences. Pettit arrived with his four daughters, leaving his son behind. Willson came with his wife and nine children. Willson received 1200 acres of land as well as 200 per child. He settled at the corner of Dorchester road and Thorold Stone Road, where he and his family did very well for themselves. Willson as well as his son Thomas ran ox-teams on the portage. His son John became the proprietor of the Exchange hotel at Niagara, and Charles operated at the Pavilion hotel at Falls View. Shortly after his arrival in Upper Canada John Willson changed his name to “Irish” John Willson, as there were 5 other “John Willsons” which appeared on the Loyalists lists. Irish John drowned in the Niagara River in 1798, and his family continued to thrive in Niagara after his death. His second son Thomas Willson, married Abigail Pettit, daughter of his Father’s friend Nathaniel. Thomas was awarded 250 acres of land as a Loyalist and 200 for Abigail, as she was the daughter of a loyalist. He became a blacksmith and also operated ox-teams along the portage. He was Assessor for Stamford Township for 1800, 1807, 1820 and 1829. During the years 1808, 1822, 1825, 1826 and 1831 he was a tax collector and overseer of Statute of Labour. Thomas and Abigail Willson had nine children together. Francis Bond Head Willson of Beaverdams (mentioned throughout the collection) was a great grandson of Thomas and Abigail. Thomas and his wife are both buried beside the Lundy’s Lane United Church. *for more information on the remaining Willson family please refer to box #1, folders 1-3. * Genealogical information from a paper prepared by Pearl Wilson and given before the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, May 1945, by Hazel Culp Ferris. Box 1 Folder 1.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 1 - Entrance, Lock 1 and Port Dalhousie

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the areas in and around Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Lock 1, Lighthouse, Lighthouse Keeper's House, East and West Piers, Harbour, Waste Weir, Store House, Collector's Office, Collector Assistant Office, Lock Tender's House and the new towing path. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and includes the old Harbour, old Lock 1, old towing path and the original bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks and businesses are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Lock Street and Colonel Clark's Cattle Road), Alex Muir's Dry Dock, RandJ Laurie Flouring Mill, R. Laurie and Company Grist Mill, A. Morrison Saw Mill, Johnson's Tavern, a store and a church. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 1 Lots 21 and 22, John Christie, John Clark, N. Pawling, William Pawling, W. Carter, G.A. Clark, J. Maven, Mrs. Wood, James Drabble and J. Woodall.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 2 - Lock 1 and Port Dalhousie

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the areas in and around Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Lock 1, East and West Piers, Collector's Office, Lock Tender's House and the new towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks and businesses are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Road to St. Catharines, Side Line, Old Road to Port Dalhousie, Road to Niagara), the Welland Railway and its structures (ex. freight sheds, wood shed, raised platform, elevator, cranes, water tank, turn table, and passenger station), G. A. Clark's Wood Yard, Clark's Wood Office, Alex Muir's Dry Dock, Donald, Andrews and Ross' Dry Dock, RandJ Laurie Flouring Mill, R. Laurie and Company Grist Mill and A. Morrison Saw Mill. A New Road to St. Catharines is featured in red ink. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 1 Lots 19, 20 and 21, John Christie, and John Clark.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 6 - Through Grantham and Louth Townships

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the area between the Townships of Grantham and Louth. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the floating tow path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and include the old towing path, and the original bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. New Road, 1st Concession Road, and an unnamed road in the top right corner), an unnamed bridge along New Road, J. Martindale's House, an Old Saw Mill, Richardsons Creek, Georges Point, and an oak tree at Georges Point. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 2 Lot 23 and Concession 3 Lot 23 in the Grantham Township, Concession 2 Lots 1 and 2, and Concession 3 Lots 1 and 2 in the Louth Township, Peter Weaver, J. Martindale, and John Bonner. A property belonging to the Board of Works is outlined in red at Georges Point.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 8 - Through Grantham and Louth Townships

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the area between the Townships of Louth and Grantham. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the floating tow path. It is not labelled, but runs along the bottom of the map. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks that are identified include streets and roads (ex. New Road, and Road to Port Dalhousie), and an unnamed bridge along New Road. Richardson's Creek is identified in pencil. Properties and property owners of note are: Lot 23 in Grantham Township, Lots 1 and 2 in Louth Township, John Bonner, John Martindale, Geo. E. Read, Thomas Read, N. Pawling, and the Board of Works.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 1 - Locks 5, 6 and 7 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township just southeast of the Town of St. Catharines. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 5, 6, and 7, two Lock House Lots, Small Lock House, waste weir, and the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include roads (ex. Road to Thorold), Dicks Creek, R. Collier's Saw Mill, a gate yard, paper mill, grist mill, store house, and a barn. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 7 Lots 13, 14, and 15, R. Collier, Orson Phelps, and a Mill Lot leased to Richard Collier.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 2 - Locks 9 and 10 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township between the Town of St. Catharines and Merritton. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 9 and 10, waste weirs, the towing path, a 2nd towing path, and the Canal waterway itself. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include roads (ex. Road to Centreville), hydraulic race, and the Centreville Mill. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 8 Lots 12 and 12, Lewis Traver, Richard Ash, John Bradley, Owen Clifford, Orson Phelps, C. Bradley, the W. C. Loan Company, and T. Towers Mill Lot.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 3 - Locks 8, 9 and 10 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township between the Town of St. Catharines and Merritton. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 8, 9, and 10, waste weirs, the towing path, and several floating bridges. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Several stones and tree stumps likely used in the measurements are identified on the map. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads(ex. Macadamized Road to Thorold), J. Hamilton's Hotel, a school house, McCoy's Farm House, Bradley's House, O. Phelps Saw Mill, Disher and Hait's Woolen Mill, Centreville Mills, a bridge, several barns, and a number of structures (possibly houses, cabins, or shops) belonging to: P. McCoy, E. McLachlan, T. Wilson, W. Wilson, M. Bradley, S. Bradley, P. Boyle, J. Bradley, E. Grant, and W. Church. Lock 12 and 15 of the original canal are also identified. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 8 Lots 12, 13 and 14, O. J. Phelps, P. McCoy, A. Bradley, C. Bradley, T. Reed, O. Clifford, J. Bradley, W. C. Loan Company, Duffin, and T. Towers Mill Lot.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 4 - Locks 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township along the outskirts of Merritton. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, Lock House Lot, and the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Several stones likely used in the measurements are identified on the map. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads(ex. Hartzel Road and Macadamized Road), the Great Western Railroad, Swing Bridge, Thorold Station and its structures (ex. freight house, office, water tank, and wood house), Gordon and Mackay Houses, Gordon and Mackay's Cotton Mill, hydraulic race, a wharf, pond, and an unnamed bridge. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 9 Lots 12 and 13, A. Bradley, John O'Coner, G. Grant, J. Bradley, J. Vanderburgh, O. Clifford and a parcel of land leased Gordon and Mackay.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 5 - Locks 16, 17 and 18 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township at Merritton. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 15, 16, 17, and 18, and the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Hartzel Road and Macadamized Road), Lybster Cotton Mill, St. Catharines Paper Mill, J. Brown Cotton Mills, hydraulic race, a pond, several barns, and a number of structures (likely houses or cabins) belonging to: J. McNamara, M. Moran, A. Delany, T. Joyce, J. Delany, C. Blake, F. Weaver, W. Leeson, and Mrs. Aikins. Properties of note are: Concession 10 Lots 11 and 12. A number of reserved properties exist and are outlined in blue. They include three reserved properties for lock lots, and one large property reserved for a quarry.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 9 - Back Water Bodies in Thorold

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Back Water bodies in Thorold Township. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. A number of trees along the shores presumably used in the measurements are labelled. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads(ex. Road to Beaverdams), Shriner's Dwelling Home, a barn, and the Back Water bodies. Properties and property owners of note are: Lots 27, 28, and 29, W. Bouck, D. Shriner, and Rev. T. B. Fuller.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 10 - Through Thorold

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the canal in Thorold Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Road to Allanburgh), an unnamed bridege, several barns, a structure labelled Bridge Tender, and a dwelling. Properties and property owners of note are: Lots 30, 31, 32, 48, 49, and 50, Robert Booth, Hiram Marlatt, George Keefer, John Kelly, Isaac Kelly, John Brown, Thomas Lee, and the Board of Works.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 11 - Marlatts Bridge in Thorold

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the canal in Thorold Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads(ex. Road to Allanburgh), Marlatt's Bridge, Marlatt's Culvert, Marlatt's Dwelling House, Willson's Dwelling House, Willson's Tannery, a flume, a bridge house, a covered drain, and a creek. Properties and property owners of note are: Lots 49, 50, and 51, Hiram Marlatt, Willson, John Kelley, and E. Hopkins.