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Two recent additions
to the Archives' collection show, through the private lives of
Ontarians, how wider military conflicts and political issues affected
Ontario (Canada West) in the 1860s.
The Darroch donation
consists of over fifty rare letters of Canadians serving in the
American Civil War . The Willson acquisition
is the unique minutes of the Committee of Safety,
formed in Welland, in response to an incursion of Fenians
near Fort Erie in 1866.
Thanks to Lois Darroch and Barbara Willson
Smith these documents are now part of the Archives of
Ontario's rich holdings. |
Click to see
a larger image (195K)
Fenian Monument, Queen's Park, Toronto, [ca. 1890]
Josiah Bruce
Black and white print
Reference Code: F 1125-1-0-0-37
Archive of Ontario, I0001819
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The Darroch Donation |
Lois Darroch’s
grandfather was Alonzo Wolverton from Wolverton,
Oxford County, Ontario. Like many other Canadians, Alonzo
and his three brothers, Alfred, Jasper
and Newton participated in the American Civil
War. They served in the Union Army, but Canadians also enlisted
in the opposing Confederate Army.
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Letter, Rose Goble, Gobles Corners to brother
Alonzo Wolverton, Nashville, Tennessee, 28 April 1865
Lois
Darroch fonds (F 4354)
Reference Code: F 4354-6
Archives of Ontario | The Darroch
donation consists of over fifty letters; the primary
correspondents are Alonzo and Newton
Wolverton, and their married sister Roseltha
(Rose) Wolverton Goble.
Lois Darroch, the donor of the records,
wrote an historical novel, Four Went to the Civil
War, based on these family letters and other materials.
Her research and writing files associated with this book and other
of her publications, as well as research materials related to
the Wolverton family and Wolverton village are included in her
recent donation to the Archives. |
Materials included in the
Darroch donation will be available to researchers in spring
2004, including microfilmed copies of the Wolverton family
letters. Materials previously donated to the Archives by Lois Darroch
are described in the Archives
Descriptive Database (F 4354). |
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The Barbara Willson
Smith Acquisition
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The Committee
of Safety minutes relate to the same time period
and similar concerns. The Committee of Safety was a local citizens’
committee formed in Welland to address the threat of a Fenian
raid at Ridgeway on June 2, 1866.
The minutes provide reports of patrols sent out by the Committee,
thus providing a rare record of a local response to a national
threat.
The Archives was able to purchase this document from Barbara
Willson Smith of New Jersey, a descendant of Isaac
Pemberton Willson, who was the secretary of this Committee
of Safety.
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Committee of Safety Minutes, 1866
Page1
Reference Code: F 4416
Archives of Ontario |
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Home | Ontario
During the American Civil War | Wolverton
Family
Examples from Darroch Donation | The
Committee of Safety and I. P. Willson |
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Feedback
Please let us know what you thought of this exhibit. We also
welcome any suggestions for ways it can be improved so please
take a few moments to send us your comments by filling in the
form below. |
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Personal information
provided to the Archives through this request will be used
only to respond to requests. This information is collected
under the authority of the Archives and Recordkeeping Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, chapter 34, Schedule A.
Questions about the collection of this information should
be directed to: Team Leader, Strategic Business Solutions,
Archives of Ontario, 77 Grenville St. Toronto, ON, M5S 1B3,
416-327-1527. |
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