Bowslaugh Family fonds, 1860-1861, 1868, 1876-1877, 1880-1882, 1886-1890, 1892-1893, 1895, 1898-1899, n.d.

Edward W. Bowslaugh (1843-1923) was the son of Jacob and Anna (Beamer) Bowslaugh. Edward Bowslaugh married Mary Southward, and the couple had six children, Edgar Morley, Edward Freeman, twins Alfred Malcolm and Alice Mary, Annie Olivia, John Jacob and Mabel Florence. Edward W. Bowslaugh was a farmer, contractor and owner of the Grimsby Planing Mills in Grimsby, Ont. and Bowslaugh’s Planing Mill in Kingsville, Ont. The mills manufactured door and sash trim and other wood related products. Some customers contracted the firm to provide wood products for cottages being built at Grimsby Park, the Methodist camp ground. Some time before 1885 Edward Bowslaugh and his family moved to Kingsville, Ont. to open up a new planing mill and door and sash manufactory. He later sold the Grimsby Planing Mills to Daniel Marsh. The diaries and account books include many names of workers as well as friends and family members residing in the Grimsby and Kingsville areas. James M. Bowslaugh (1841-1882) was the son of Jacob and Anna (Beamer) Bowslaugh. James married first Anna Catharine Merritt and after her death in 1875 he married Mary Gee in 1877. James and Anna had three children, Eliza, James Herbert, George Hiram, all died very young. James and Mary Gee had one son, Charles Leopold Kenneth Frederich Bowslaugh, b. 1881. James Bowslaugh was a farmer and lumberman, much like his younger brother Edward. James’ early diaries often note the activities of himself and his brother Edward. Both Edward and James were heavily involved in the Methodist church, teaching or leading Sunday school and attending prayer meetings. Alfred M. Bowslaugh b. 1873 was the son of Edward W. Bowslaugh and his wife Mary Southward. The school notebook is from his days as a student in Kingsville, Ont.

City of Niagara Falls Plans, 1846, 1877, 1884, 1886, 1889-1890, 1892-1894, 1903-1905, 1910, 1914, 1919, 1925, 1927-1928, n.d.

The collection consists of 37 plans, surveys or maps of the City of Niagara Falls beginning in 1846 until 1928. Some of the plans were created for the Falls Company, a group of land speculators that included Buchanan, Murray, Street, Allen, Robinson and others. Other plans relate to the building of the suspension bridge and the railway. Some plans and drawing may refer to estate documents in RG 167 Niagara South estate and legal documents collection. Item 22 has been scanned for preservation purposes.

Draft Mechanics Resolution, ca. 1836

An unsigned, undated draft of a resolution by Mechanics in the Kingston, Ont. area responding to the availability of cheap convict labour. The resolution proposes to shift convict labour to the Marmora, Ont. iron fields.

Gainsborough [Presbyterian] Church records, 1833-1836, 1841-1846, 1855-1857, 1860-1864, 1866 [photocopy]

The Gainsborough Presbyterian Church was organized prior to 1833, but no records were kept until this date. In 1809, the church was lead by Rev. Daniel Ward Eastman. In 1833 the church became part of the Niagara Presbytery of the American Presbyterian Church. The records include transfer of membership, records of marriages, lists of subscribers and session minutes. Photocopies from originals were made in 1977 by E. Phelps, University of Western Ontario, prior to their deposit with the United Church of Canada Archives, Toronto, Ont.

Proceedings : Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - 1892

On spine : The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Adam Gould 1827

Survey map and description of Adam Gould'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; allowance between 4th and 5th concession, line of Northrup's land. Total land mass is 6 acres and 6 perches. The deed for the land is dated May 7th, 1827. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands William Chisholm 1836

Survey map and description of William Chisholm'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 Elias Adams and Chisholm's land, line between Chisholm and Shipman's land, canal. The land is a total of 1 acre and 2 perches. The deed for the land is dated August 23, 1836. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Abraham Neff, 1836

Survey map and description of Abraham Neff'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 A. Neff and Jacob Neffs land, line between lots, canal, bridge. The land totals 7 acres The deed for the land is dated October 25, 1836. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

J.G. Cadham account book, 1892-1895.

Joseph Cadham was born in Lodon, Ont. in 1853. He worked as a clerk for the Fourth Divisional Court for Welland County in Niagara Falls. He was married to Mary Willox and had a daughter, Margaret. Joseph Cadham died in 1942 and is buried in Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls.

Letter to Mr. Walsh, Registrar Office, 1836

The man to whom the letter is addressed is Francis Leigh Walsh who was a land surveyor and registrar. Mr. Walsh was born on March 12, 1789 in Harford County, Maryland to Thomas Welsh, a United Empire Loyalist. In 1793, his family moved to Norfolk County and in 1810, Francis succeeded his father as registrar for Norfolk County. During the War of 1812 he served in the local militia and became a captain in 1824. He was the representative for Norfolk in the legislative assembly of Upper Canada from 1820 to 1828 and 1834 to 1836. He became justice of the peace in the London district in 1821 and 1838 in the Talbot district. He died in Simcoe on Oct. 14th, 1884. His son, Aquila Walsh served in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and in the Canadian House of Commons. Benjamin Hardison was born in Berwick in the Thirteen Colonies (British colonies on the Atlantic Coast of North America) on April 2, 1757 to Thomas Hardison and Mary Chadbourne. He was a farmer, miller and political figure. He was the representative for 4th Lincoln and Norfolk in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1797-1800. On January 21, 1800 he married Jane Warren. He served with the American forces during the American Revolution at which time he was taken prisoner and sent to Canada. Later, he settled in Fort Erie where he was a captain in the militia and a justice of the peace for the Niagara district. He operated mills and a distillery in Fort Erie and died there on July 26, 1823. Source: http://en.vionto.com/show/me/Francis+Leigh+Walsh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Hardison

Letter - Colonel Albert D. Shaw to Francis Lynde Stetson, 31 March 1892

A letter from Colonel Albert D. Shaw to Francis Lynde Stetson dated March 31, 1892. The letter is in regards to correspondence with the Attorney General in efforts to expedite the passing of an Act through Ontario Parliament. The act was introduced a week later (April 6, 1892) confirming the agreement between the Queen Vctoria Niagara Falls Park and the Canadian Niagara Power Company.

Letter - James Wilson to Colonel Albert D. Shaw, 29 February 1892

A letter from James Wilson, Park Superintendent to Albert D. Shaw in the year 1892. Wilson describes plans to produce hydroelectric power using Niagara Falls. He details advantages to the plan in this five page correspondence with Shaw.

Bill - No. 177 1892

The Act confirming agreement between the Canadian Niagara Power Company and the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park Commission. 2nd Session, 7th Legislature, 55 Vict., 1892.

Photograph - Male Portrait 1892

A photograph of a male taken in October 1892 by Poole photography, St. Catharines.