Explanation of the Land Surrendered to the Crown by the Six Nations Indians for Mr. Dickson

Explanation of the Land Surrendered to the Crown by the Six Nations Indians for Mr. Dickson: 1 handwritten page explaining the Six Nations surrender of land to the Crown in order to allow the Crown to transfer the land to Mr. Dickson to compensate him for legal fees. [This is not an older document. It was possibly written by the Niagara Historical Society], n.d.

Proceedings of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York, 1823

Seven pages of proceedings of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York dated February 27, March 1 and March 6, 1823. Proceedings include a report of the Committee of the Canal System , Memorial of Samuel Wilkeson on the subject of Black Rock and Buffalo Harbors, a report from the Surveyor General of the land reserved to the state at Black Rock, and an Act to incorporate the Niagara Canal Company.

Report of the committee appointed to inquire what amendments are necessary to the Act granting bounties in land and extra pay to certain Canadian volunteers: January 11, 1817, read, and, together with the bill herewith reported, ordered to be printed. (1817)

Includes (p. 3-4) a letter from the Acting Secretary of War to the chairman of the committee dated Department of War, December 26th, 1816.

Plan of levels of marsh land on the line of the proposed ditch from Lyons Creek Culvert on the Welland Canal to lot no. 32 in the 2nd concession of Wainfleet

Plan of levels of marsh land on the line of the proposed ditch from Lyons Creek Culvert on the Welland Canal to lot no. 32 in the 2nd concession of Wainfleet (1 page, hand drawn), n.d.

Indenture of Land between Joseph Kingsmill, sheriff and Joseph Augustus Woodruff of the Town of Clifton

Indenture of between Joseph Kingsmill, sheriff and Joseph Augustus Woodruff of the Town of Clifton for 4 acres of land in part of Lot no. 12 in the 5th Concession of Wainfleet – instrument no. 9998, May 23, 1857.

Indenture of transfer of parcels of land purchased at sales of land for taxes to Joseph A. Woodruff of the Town of Clifton

Indenture of transfer of parcels of land purchased at sales of land for taxes to Joseph A. Woodruff of the Town of Clifton. Transferred by The Honourable Walter Hamilton Dickson of the Town of Niagara. These lands are located in Caistor, Wainfleet, Humberstone, Crowland, Grimsby, Gainsboro and Pelham, Nov. 1, 1861.

Office of the City Clerk, St. Catharines Records, 1928-1974, n.d.

The site of present-day St. Catharines was settled by 3000 United Empire Loyalists at the end of the 18th century. From 1790, the settlement (then known as "The Twelve") grew as an agricultural community. St. Catharines was once referred to Shipman's Corners after Paul Shipman, owner of a tavern that was an important stagecoach transfer point. In 1815, leading businessman William Hamilton Merritt abandoned his wharf at Queenston and set up another at Shipman's Corners. He became involved in the construction and operation of several lumber and gristmills along Twelve Mile Creek. Shipman's Corners soon became the principal milling site of the eastern Niagara Peninsula. At about the same time, Merritt began to develop the salt springs that were discovered along the river which subsequently gave the village a reputation as a health resort. By this time St. Catharines was the official name of the village; the origin of the name remains obscure, but is thought to be named after Catharine Askin Robertson Hamilton, wife of the Hon. Robert Hamilton, a prominent businessman. Merritt devised a canal scheme from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario that would provide a more reliable water supply for the mills while at the same time function as a canal. He formed the Welland Canal Company, and construction took place from 1824 to 1829. The canal and the mills made St. Catharines the most important industrial centre in Niagara. By 1845, St. Catharines was incorporated as a town, with the town limits extending in 1854. Administrative and political functions were added to St. Catharines in 1862 when it became the county seat of Lincoln. In 1871, construction began on the third Welland Canal, which attracted additional population to the town. As a consequence of continual growth, the town limits were again extended. St. Catharines attained city status in 1876 with its larger population and area. Manufacturing became increasingly important in St. Catharines in the early 1900s with the abundance of hydro-electric power, and its location on important land and water routes. The large increase in population after the 1900s was mainly due to the continued industrialization and urbanization of the northern part of the city and the related expansion of business activity. The fourth Welland Canal was opened in 1932 as the third canal could no longer accommodate the larger ships. The post war years and the automobile brought great change to the urban form of St. Catharines. St. Catharines began to spread its boundaries in all directions with land being added five times during the 1950s. The Town of Merritton, Village of Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township were all incorporated as part of St. Catharines in 1961. In 1970 the Province of Ontario implemented a regional approach to deal with such issues as planning, pollution, transportation and services. As a result, Louth Township on the west side of the city was amalgamated, extending the city's boundary to Fifteen Mile Creek. With its current population of 131,989, St. Catharines has become the dominant centre of the Niagara region. Source: City of St. Catharines website http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/governin/HistoryOfTheCity.asp (January 27, 2011)

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Robert Brown 1827, land description #2

Survey map and description of Robert Brown's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a two page written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; line between Grantham and Louth townships, bed of the 12 mile creek. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map, including notes about the deed to the land.

Welland Canal survey of the property of Jacob I. Ball in 1826

A detailed description of land purchased by the Welland Canal Company from Jacob I. Ball for the construction of the first Welland Canal. Noteable features include; line between Ker and Shaver properties, canal, road. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Company Land in Dunnville, 1834

Survey map and description of the land belonging to the Welland Canal Company at Dunnville. Created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. There are two seperate surveys done for the lands: Survey #1 (Pp. 148-149) noteable features include; the Grand River, the original boundry of the Grand River, marsh overflow, marsh, feeder river, bridge, Broad street, Lock street, Main street, embankment, dam (600 ft.), lines between lots, reserve for the ships yard, reserve for lock and dry dock, lands occupied by the canal and towpath to guard gate. The land totals 9 acres, and 3 roads, including the street. Survey #2 (Pp. 150-151) completed by George Keefer noteable features include; embankment, marsh overflow, original channel of the Grand River, salt spring, bridges, wier, proposed waste wier, Van Riper's home, proposed bridge, sulphur spring, road, Sulphur Creek, division between lots 12-17. The land totals 27 acres, and 2 perches. Surveyors notes can be seen in pencil and red ink on the survey.See also Pp. 148-151

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Plan of a cut at the mouth of Chippewa or Welland River, n.d.

Survey map and description of the land at the cut of the Chippewa or Welland River. Created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a drawing of the land along with brief surveyors notes. Noteable features include; bridge, Welland River, road, Stone house, J. Cummings Esq. house, military line, military land, Old Fort, old military draw bridge. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Office of the University President Sous fonds: Dr. James A. Gibson

Dr. James A. Gibson was born in Ottawa on January 29, 1912 to John W. and Belle Gibson. At an early age the family moved to Victoria, B.C. where John W. Gibson was a director of the Elementary Agricultural Education Branch, Department of Education. Gibson received his early education in Victoria, receiving a B.A. (honours) at UBC in 1931. In 1931 he was awarded the Rhodes scholarship and received his B.A., M.A., B.Litt and D. Phil at New College, Oxford. This was to be the beginning of a long and dedicated relationship with the Rhodes Scholar Association. Upon his return to Canada, Dr. Gibson lectured in Economics and Government at the University of British Columbia. In 1938 he was married to Caroline Stein in Philadelphia, and the same year joined the staff of the Department of External Affairs as a Foreign Service officer. Within twenty minutes of his arrival he was seconded to the Office of the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for External Affairs, W. L. Mackenzie King in charge of War Records and Liaison Officer. This was a critical time in the history of Canada, and Dr. Gibson experienced firsthand several milestones, including the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. Dr. Gibson was present at the formation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945, being part of the Prime Minister’s professional staff as well as attending conferences in Washington, Quebec and London as an advisor to the Canadian delegation. Gibson contributed many articles to the publication bout de papier about his experiences during these years. After his resignation in 1947, Gibson joined the staff of the fledgling Carleton College, as a lecturer. In 1949 he was appointed a professor and in 1951 became Dean of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Gibson acted as President from 1955 to 1956 upon the sudden death of Dr. MacOdrum. In 1963 Dr. Gibson accepted the invitation of the Brock University Founders’ Committee, chaired by Arthur Schmon, to become the founding president. Dr. Gibson guided the new University from a converted refrigeration plant, to an ever expanding University campus on the brow of the Niagara Escarpment. Dr. Gibson remained firmly “attached” to Brock University. Even after official retirement, in 1974, he retained the title President Emeritus. Gibson’s final official contribution was an unpublished ten year history of the University. In retirement Gibson remained active in scholarly pursuits. He was a visiting scholar at the Center of Canadian Studies, University of Edinburgh; continued his ongoing research activities focusing on W. L. Mackenzie King, the Office of the Governor General of Canada, and political prisoners transported to Van Dieman’s Land. He remained active in the Canadian Association of Rhodes Scholars, becoming editor from 1975 to 1994 and was appointed Editor Emeritus and Director for Life in 1995 in honour of his dedicated and outstanding service. In 1993 he was awarded one of Canada’s highest achievements, the Order of Canada. Gibson retained close ties with Brock University and many of its faculty. He maintained an office in the Politics Department where he became a vital part of the department. In 1996 Brock University honoured Gibson by naming the University Library in his honour. James A. Gibson Library staff was instrumental in celebrating the 90th birthday of Gibson in 2002, with a widely attended party in the Pond Inlet where many former students, including Silver Badgers. The attendees also included former and current colleagues from Brock University, Canadian Rhodes Scholars Association, family and friends. Gibson was later to remark that the highlight of this event was the gift of his original academic robe which he had personally designed in 1964. In 2003 Dr. Gibson moved to Ottawa to be near some of his children and the city of his birth and early career. In that year “two visits to Brock ensued: the first, to attend a special celebration of the James A. Gibson Library; his late to attend the 74th Convocation on Saturday, October 18, 2003. A week later, in Ottawa, he went for a long walk, returned to his residence, Rideau Gardens, went into the lounge area, took off his coat and folded it up, put it on the back of his chair, sat down, folded his hands in his lap, closed his eyes, and died”. With sources from: Carleton University The Charlatan, Gibson CV, and Memorial Service Programme

Official Programme of the Niagara Falls Park Opening Celebration, 1885

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States. It is also referred to as the State Reservation (this title appears on page 2 of the program). Frederick Olmstead was the landscape architect of the park and he also designed Central Park in New York City. In July 1885, the state of New York passed laws to issue bonds for the establishment of the Niagara Reservation. This park is a National Historic Landmark and covers over 400 acres. Close to 140 acres of that land is under water. In attendance at the opening were: the Governor of the State of New York, the officers of the State, members of the Niagara Falls Association of New York City and civil and military personnel. The commissioners at the time of the opening were: William Dorsheimer, Andrew H. Green, Martin B. Anderson, T. Hampden Robb and Sherman S. Rogers.

City of Hamilton land abstracts (lots 93-203), 1865

An abstract of title for multiple lots in Peter H. Hamilton’s survey, south of Hunter Street, in the City of Hamilton. The lots involved range from lots 93-203 (non-inclusive). The document is dated November 10, 1865. The entries are dated from 1798 to 1865 and include the grantor, grantee, lands and instrument. The name Geo. S. Papps, Esq. appears centred at the top of the page. The document is signed at the bottom by John H. Greer, Registrar. A note on the reverse side of the document reads “Re Angus Abstract”.