Indenture (vellum) of mortgage between the Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway Company and Joseph Augustus Woodruff of Niagara and Gilbert McMicken of the Village of Elgin in Welland

Indenture (vellum) of mortgage between the Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway Company and Joseph Augustus Woodruff of Niagara and Gilbert McMicken of the Village of Elgin in Welland. This document was registered Jan.4, 1856 – instrument no. 586, Dec. 29, 1855.

Brock Pitcher Jamaal Joseph

Mr. Joseph signed a professional contract with the Florida Marlins in 2003.

Gilbert Field House research collection, 1823, 1966, 1968, n.d.

In 1968 the National Historic Sites, Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development undertook to learn more about its recent acquisition, the Gilbert Field House. The house is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. along the Niagara Parkway, on what was part of the original land grant to Gilbert Field, a United Empire Loyalist. The house and contents were severely damaged during the War of 1812. After the war Gilbert’s widow, Eleanor, submitted claims for war losses.

Gilbert McMicken document, n.d.

Gilbert McMicken emigrated to Upper Canada in 1832 and settled in Chippawa. In 1835 he was married to Ann Theresa Duff. In 1837 the family moved to Queenston where he was directly involved in the Kingston-Queenston trade endeavours begun by Robert Hamilton. He had a variety of interests, including a partnership with James Hamilton, son of Robert Hamilton. He was also a collector of customs in Queenston and operated the Niagara Suspension Bridge Bank for a time. He entered politics and represented Niagara as well as becoming mayor of Clifton, now part of Niagara Falls, Ont., in 1856. McMicken went on to have an illustrious career, serving as land agent and leader of Canada’s first undercover agency. McMicken moved to Manitoba and was active in business and politics. He died in Winnipeg in 1891. Source: Dictionary of Canadian Biography – Gilbert McMicken website (March 22, 2010)

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.

J.W. Spencer fonds, 1866, 1881-1921

Joseph William Winthrop Spencer (commonly known as J.W. Spencer) was a geologist and geomorphologist best known for his work on the geology of southern Ontario and the Great Lakes. He was born in Dundas, Upper Canada in 1851, but moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1867. In 1871, he began studies in geology at McGill College in Montreal. In 1875 he worked in the Michigan copper mines and shortly afterwards prepared a thesis on the copper deposits. He submitted this thesis to the University of Gottingen in Germany in 1877 and was awarded a doctorate in geology, the second Canadian to earn a doctorate in this field. In 1880, he became a professor of geology and chemistry at King’s College in Windsor, N.S. Subsequently, he taught at the University of Missouri, and then the University of Georgia, but moved to Washington, D.C. in 1894, where he worked as a consultant geologist. Spencer spent much of his life studying preglacial river valleys in Ontario and the origins of the Great Lakes, as well as the Niagara River and Falls. In 1907, he published a book titled The Falls of Niagara: their evolution and varying relations to the Great Lakes. His opinions in these areas differed from some of his contemporaries, namely the American geologist Grove Karl Gilbert. Gilbert published a review of the The Falls of Niagara that exposed some flaws and inaccuracies in Spencer’s estimate of the age of the falls. Spencer’s studies also took him to the Caribbean and Central America. In 1920 he moved back to Canada, but died the following year.

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”.

Niagara Suspension Bridge Bank note, 1841

The Niagara Suspension Bridge Bank operated in Queenston in 1840. The bank issued notes in denominations of ten dollars, five dollars and one dollar, and featured a drawing of the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, ten years prior to its construction. The notes are signed by the bank’s Cashier, Gilbert McMicken, and President, Joseph Hamilton. The bank failed a year after its establishment.

Daguerreotype - Joseph Woodruff

Daguerreotype, 12 cm x 9 cm of Joseph Woodruff. The daguerreotype is slightly pitted and it is enclosed in a frame. This is accompanied by a note written by R. W. Band.

Marriage Certificate - Joseph Clement and Margaret Duffet

A marriage certificate stating that Joseph Clement and Margaret Duffet were lawfully married according to the Church of England in Montreal, May 9, 1784. The name on the paper appears to be "Margaret Dusalle" and the date appears as "May 7th".

Indenture between Joseph Hamilton to Jonathan Hart and Thomas Hart

Indenture between Joseph Hamilton of late of Queenston by his attorney Samuel Street to Jonathan Hart and Thomas Hart of Queenston for the sale of land in the township of Saltfleet, Lot no. 8 in the 6th Concession. There are holes in the document and the back is stained, but this does not affect the text, November 9, 1829.

Indenture between Joseph Hamilton and Joseph Hart

Indenture of sale between Joseph Hamilton of London and Joseph Hart of Montgomery County. This is regarding Lot no. 25 in the 5th concession in the Township of Norwich in the County of Oxford, May 11, 1833.

Indenture between William Kingsmill and Joseph Hamilton

Indenture (sheriff's deed) (vellum) between William Kingsmill, Sheriff of the District of Niagara to Joseph Hamilton regarding part of Lot no. 19 in the Township of Stamford, August 26, 1841.

Indenture between Joseph Jackson and William Woodruff (B)

Indenture of bargain and sale between Joseph Jackson of Buffalo, New York and William Woodruff of St. Davids regarding Lot no. 90 in Niagara Township. This was registered in the County of Lincoln on April 30, 1842 in Book B, folio 299. The instrument no. is 732. It was written 17 March 1842.

Indenture between Joseph Jackson and William Woodruff (A)

Indenture of bargain and sale between Joseph Jackson of Buffalo, New York and William Woodruff of St. Davids regarding Lot no. 90 in St. Davids. This was registered in the County of Lincoln on April 30, 1842 in book B, folio 300. The instrument no. is 733. It was written 17 march 1842.