Letters to the Honourable John H. Dunn, 1837-1838

The recipient of the letters is John Henry Dunn who was born on St. Helena (a British territory island of volcanic origin located in the South Atlantic Ocean) in 1792 to John Charles Dunn and Elizabeth Bazette. He was married to Charlotte Roberts on May 4th, 1820 and they had 6 sons and 2 daughters. He came to Canada in 1820 in which year he became the Receiver General for Canada. He held this position until 1841.Charlotte died in 1835. In 1822 he was named to the Province’s Legislative Council. He was president of the Welland Canal Company from 1825-1833. In 1836 he was named to the executive council of Upper Canada but resigned 3 weeks later with fellow counselors when lieutenant governor Sir Francis Bond refused the advice of the council. Dunn was made the Receiver General for the newly formed Province of Canada in 1841, and was elected to represent Toronto in the legislative assembly that year. He married his second wife on March 9th, 1842. Her name was Sophie-Louise Juchereau Duchsnay. They had a son and a daughter. In 1843 he resigned, and was not re-elected in 1844. He returned to England with his family and died in London on April 21, 1854. Dunn was a supporter of the Welland Canal, St. Lawrence Canals and other public improvements. Between the passage of the Canada Trade Act and the Act of the Union he had tried to insure that projects received funding despite financial constraints. He claimed that he has saved Upper Canada from bankruptcy. His son, Alexander Roberts Dunn received the Victoria Cross for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Dunn Street in Niagara Falls is named after John Henry Dunn. The town and township of Dunnville were also named for him. Sources: http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=3889 http://www.niagarafrontier.com/cityfalls.html

Wakeman Burritt fonds, 1807-1814

Wakeman Burritt (1785-1847) was a merchant and ship owner who conducted his business in New York, New Orleans, LA, Charleston, SC, and the West Indies. Despite the difficulties that the Embargo Act of 1807 and the War of 1812 posed to trade and commerce, Burritt managed to run a successful business, dealing in commodities such as foodstuffs, cloth, cotton, and soap. He owned three ships, the Brig Cannon, Brig Eunice and Brig Sampson. In 1809, he married Grace Burr (1787-1874). Together they had at least one child, Francis Burritt (1811-1861).

Portsmouth Oracle, 15 January 1814 (vol. 25, no. 17) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812. Issue for July 16, 1814 includes a long report on the capture of Fort Erie on the Canadian-U.S. frontier, also a prominent front page headline and a very long and detailed report of the capture of the U.S. frigate USS Essex.

Portsmouth Oracle, 29 January 1814 (vol. 25, no. 19) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 12 February 1814 (vol. 25, no. 21) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 19 February 1814 (vol. 25, no. 22) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 23 April 1814 (vol. 25, no. 31) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 7 May 1814 (vol. 25, no. 33) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 28 May 1814 (vol. 25, no. 36) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 18 June 1814 (vol. 25, no. 39) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 16 July 1814 (vol. 25, no. 43) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 3 December 1814 (vol. 25, no. 63) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 17 December 1814 (vol. 25, no. 65) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 24 December 1814 (vol. 25, no. 66) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.

Portsmouth Oracle, 31 December 1814 (vol. 25, no. 67) - Newspaper

Volumes of interest were published between 1812 and 1815 with articles about the War of 1812.