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.

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).

Letter [to S.D. Woodruff] from John I. Mackenzie

Letter [to S.D. Woodruff] from John I. Mackenzie. Mr. Mackenzie is thanking Mr. Woodruff for ordering 3 dozen decoys (3 pages, handwritten), Aug. 11, 1881.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie which accompanied a cheque to pay for the decoys

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie which accompanied a cheque to pay for the decoys, Aug. 29, 1881.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie saying that he is closing up the commissariat accounts at Long Point

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie saying that he is closing up the commissariat accounts at Long Point. There is still an amount outstanding and he asks Mr. Woodruff to send a cheque. He hopes that Mr. Woodruff had a good time at Long Point (2 pages, handwritten), Nov. 23, 1881.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie thanking him for the favour of his cheque and statement of account (2 ½ pages, handwritten), Nov. 30, 1881.

Rough draft of a letter to John I. Mackenzie [from S.D. Woodruff]

Rough draft of a letter to John I. Mackenzie [from S.D. Woodruff]. The letter is illegible (1 doublesided page, handwritten), Dec. 6, 1881.

Letter to John I. Mackenzie from S.D, Woodruff regarding a transfer of Long Point shooting shares

Letter to John I. Mackenzie from S.D, Woodruff regarding a transfer of Long Point shooting shares, Dec. 13, 1881.

Registered letter and envelope addressed to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie

Registered letter and envelope addressed to S.D. Woodruff from John I. Mackenzie regarding the 5 shares that have been held in trust for Mr. Woodruff (1 ½ pages, handwritten), Dec. 15, 1881.

John Kaethler

International Student Advisor John Kaethler at his desk.

Dr. John Lye

Professor of English, John Lye, walking through Mackenzie Chown A Block.

Dr. John Jackson

Professor of Geography.

John Marchese

John Marchese was an arts student and was the first Manager of the Brock Student Pub operated out of Alfie's Trough which was our first student center paid for by the students and built in 1969. It had its grand opening in 1970.