This fonds consists of typescript and photocopies of the report and diary of the survey of the Burleigh Road performed by James W. Fitzgerald, Provincial Land Surveyor, during the winter of 1860-1861.
Report and diary of Burleigh Road survey / performed by James W. Fitzgerald P.L.S.This item is a notebook containing orders and correspondence of Lieutenant Colonel J. Deacon, commanding officer of the Midland Regiment, during the Riel Rebellion of 1885. Also included in the notebook are telegrams and copies of Deacon's own correspondence to General Middleton.
The Northwest Rebellion was provoked by the militant push across western Canada by agents of the Canadian Pacific Railway supported by the Government of Canada and white settlers disturbing Metis homesteads and their way of life in Manitoba and the Northwest territories on the Saskatchewan River . Louis Riel was persuaded to return to Canada, though he had been in virtual exile in Montana since the Red River Uprising of 1869-1870, to assist the Metis and their native allies in the struggle against encroachment on lands and bureaucratic interference with Metis organization and self-determination. On 19 March 1885 ,Riel declared the establishment of the provisional government of Saskatchewan .
Command of the Canadian government troops was given to Frederick D. Middleton (1825-1898 ) The first skirmish is at Duck Lake, 26 March 1885 . The combatants were mostly North West Mounted Police and volunteers from Prince Albert . Soon after the battle, a Canadian Militia Force is raised as a Northwest Field Force. The Cree were at this time in a state of famine and Poundmaker decided to take advantage of the situation to try (unsuccessfully)to negotiate supplies and moved on to the deserted post of Battleford and thence to Cutknife Creek. Riel moved his Metis forces to Batoche and set up a defended position there.
By April 1, the Midland Battalion has been raised in Kingston, Ontario .Soldiers from Lindsay, Bowmanville, Peterborough, Millbrook, Port Hope, Hastings and Cobourg are among the volunteers under the command of Lt. Col. Arthur T.H. Williams(18---1885). The situation with the Metis is clear, but the native bands were now in some disarray and Indian Agent Thomas Quinn was killed by a member of Big Bear's band setting off the Frog Lake massacre. The Midland soldiers arrived in the west on April 10 and set up tents at Swift Current. Meanwhile, Middleton was heading for Batoche and Big bear had surrounded Fort Pitt which was immediately abandoned by Francis Dickens and the N.W.M.P. Two columns from the Midland ( E Coy. and F Coy)headed north from Swift Current towards Battleford under the command of William Otter.
On April 23, as Deacon's correspondence notes, the steamer “Northcote” left Saskatchewan Ferry north of Swift Current. She was carrying good, oats, hay part of a field hospital, Gatling gun etc. They were headed for Clarke's Crossing. Middle to and Dumont clashed the next day at Fish Creek. The force ledby Otter met Poundmaker on May 2 and was beaten badly at Cutknife Hill and had to retreat to Battleford. Poundmaker's band then moved forward to join Riel at Batoche in spite of Poundmaker's decision to set up camp elsewhere. On May 5,part of the Midland met Boulton's Horse at Clarke's Crossing and moved up to Fish Creek Camp. Middleton was now ready to move on Batoche.
Deacon, J.This item is a copy of an autobiography of Hon. Sir William Howland as dictated by him in 1906, with 12 appendices and a family tree. Topics covered include Confederation, Red River Colony 1857-58, militia matters, Reciprocity Treaty negotiations of 1865, Reform party politics and separate schools.
Howland, William P.This fonds consists of photocopies of letters relating to the survey of Verulam Township including a letter of complaint from John Langton to Thomas Parkes regarding errors that were made in the survey; and letters from Huston to Peter Robinson and John Macaulay explaining how the errors were made. There is also a letter of recommendation from G. Boulton to Thomas Ridout recommending John Huston for his surveyor's licence on October 23, 1820.
Huston, JohnThis item is a register of registered mail delivered to Cobourg Post Office between 1865 and 1868 showing where mail was mailed from, to whom it was addressed and the date it was delivered.
Cobourg Post OfficeThis item is a spiral bound, privately printed genealogy of the McIntyre family of Otonabee.
McIntyre familyThis item is a bound, unpublished manuscript containing 7 photographs and 2 coloured post cards of Silver Islet. The manuscript contains the reminiscences of Ross Munroe Matthews about his family and friends.
Matthews, Ross MunroeThis item is a booklet published by Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, containing The Old Doctor written by Catharine Parr Traill and introduced by Jean Murray Cole. "The Old Doctor" (1985) was probably written between 1835 and 1840 when John Hutchison, a native of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, was practising medicine in Peterborough, Upper Canada.
These items are copies of the exhibit catalogue for The Birdsall Collection of Bookbinders' Finishing Tools by Emrys Evans and Rachel Grover of the University of Toronto, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, 1972. One copy is signed by the authors.
Birdsall Collection of Bookbinders' Finishing Tools / Emrys Evans & Rachel GroverThis collection consists of two legal documents. One is written on parchment, dated 6 May 1647 and written in German. The second document is dated 11 December 1806 and appoints 16 men as Justices of the Peace for the District of Newcastle. It is signed by Francis Gore, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada at York.
This item is an autograph book belonging to (Mrs.) Letitia Matchett Johnstone, inscribed by various friends and relatives between 1883 and 1893.
Johnstone, Letitia MatchettThis item is a notebook which belonged to Roy H. Parsons. It contains notes on surveying lectures given by Professor J.B. Davis in the autumn of 1895.
Parsons, Roy H.This item is a student notebook of mathematical problems. Inside the cover is written 'Rowland Tivey 1850'. This item is remarkable for its beautiful calligraphy.
Tivey, RowlandThis item is an account book, covering the period from 1885 to 1894 which belonged to Dr. M.S. Boyle of Bowmanville, Ontario.
Boyle, M.S.This item is a notebook which belonged to F.W. Hilshaw, Churchfield House, Halton, near Runcorn in Cheshire. It contains schoolwork, newspaper clippings, accounts and recipes.
Hilshaw, F.W.This item is a typescript of an autobiography written by Captain Charles Rubidge and published in 1870.
Rubidge, CharlesThis item is a household day book of W.B. Northrup for the years 1907-1908.
Northrup, William BartonThis item is a book of deposit slips for W.F. McMahon's trust account at the Bank of Montreal in Port Hope, Ontario.
McMahon, W.F.This item is a ledger used by John Bertram & Sons to keep track of daily transactions and orders.
John Bertram & SonsThis item is a letter book containing copies of letters from Arthur T. Ogilvy, a Toronto businessman, to businessmen in the Port Hope and Peterborough area, as well as family. Most of the correspondence concerns properties, deeds and mortgages in those areas
Ogilvy, Arthur T.This item is a notebook written by William Howden and kept between 1860 and 1903 on the subject of animal husbandry. It contains various recipes for horse medicine and newspaper articles on stallions available for stud.
Howden, WilliamThis item contains the minutes of Brighton Women's Auxiliary monthly meetings from 1895 to 1901.
Brighton Women's AuxiliaryThis item is a certificate from the St. John's Church of England in Port Hope to Doris M. Hancock for completing part one of the first year of the standard teacher training course.
Hancock, Doris M.This item is a contract between Thomas Watson, teacher, and the Trustees of the Joint Board Grammar and Common School, Port Hope. The contract is for 1 year at a salary of one hundred and twenty pounds.
Watson, ThomasThis item is an account book of Alvin Bee, Concession 1, Lots 26, 27, 28 of Hope Township, relating to expenditures for his farm. Also included is a 1907 tax notice.
Bee, Alvin