Fonds 86-004 - Cameron family fonds. 1986 additions

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Cameron family fonds. 1986 additions

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    Fonds

    Reference code

    86-004

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    Edition statement

    Edition statement of responsibility

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    Statement of scale (cartographic)

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    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

    Dates of creation area

    Date(s)

    • 1862-1936 (Creation)
      Creator
      Cameron family

    Physical description area

    Physical description

    19.5 cm of textual records
    5 prints : postcards
    28 photographs
    8 negatives
    1 map

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    Name of creator

    Biographical history

    Charles Cameron was born July 29, 1830 at Lossiemouth, Scotland. In 1856 he emigrated to Canada West and opened a business in the town of Peterborough. Three years later, Sophia Barron, also of Lossiemouth, followed Charles Cameron to Canada West, and they were married at Kingston, February 22, 1859. Together they raised four children: Annie Walker, b. 1859; Alfred and Albert, twins, b. 1864, and Sophia, b. 1868. Two other children, Clara, b. 1861 and William, b. 1866, died in infancy. In 1860, Cameron formed a business partnership with Donald McKellar, and as the firm of McKellar and Cameron, they opened a general store at the corner of George and Hunter Streets, Peterborough. They sold groceries and hardware, and acted as commission merchants. On December 8, 1869, the store was destroyed by fire. In 1869, Sophia and the three youngest children went on a visit to Scotland. Charles and Annie later joined them for Christmas in the same year. In the new year Charles returned to Peterborough and became an insurance and steamboat ticket agent. He continued in this line of work until 1903. He died a year later on February 25, 1904. His wife Sophia never returned to Peterborough; she died in Elgin, Scotland, April 29, 1873. It is unknown as to when the children returned to Canada. Albert Cameron went into a curtain and draperies business called Rumsey and Cameron. His twin brother Alfred became a Provincial Land Surveyor. Alfred married Jennie Rose on November 2, 1895 and together they had 8 children. Their first born died at the age of two. Three of their daughters, Jessie, Margaret and Jean remained in Peterborough throughout their lives, and they are responsible for the donation of this fonds to the Trent University Archives. The Cameron home on Chemong Road was dedicated as a women's shelter in 1996.

    Custodial history

    This fonds was in the custody of Marjorie Sonley before being donated to the Trent University Archives.

    Scope and content

    This addition to the fonds consists of family correspondence relating to the land surveyor, Alfred Cameron.

    Notes area

    Physical condition

    Some of the materials are fragile. Handle with care.

    Immediate source of acquisition

    This fonds was donated by Marjorie Sonley.

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      Script of material

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        None.

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        Finding aids

        Associated materials

        For related records see John Huston fonds (71-006), John Reid fonds (77-012) and G.M. Roche fonds (77-1016).

        Accruals

        This fonds along with 84-010 is an addition to 78-010.

        General note

        Box 1

        Folder

        1: John Rose Family -correspondence
        2: John Rose Family -medical bills
        3: John Rose Family -mortgages and receipts, Assurance Company policies, tax receipts 1895 and Income Tax (John Rose) 1918 -correspondence concerning legal matters between Donald Rose and his wife 1924 -marriage certificate (John and Mary) also John Rose's will
        4: Miscellaneous -contains seven unidentified photographs, diagrams and instructions for a bell? -Education Department, Ontario Examinations June/July 1885 -Christmas cards, business cards and miscellaneous poetry
        5: tax bills and miscellaneous receipts (John Rose and Donald Cameron)
        6: Municipal Tax receipts for Mrs. A.J. Cameron (Jennie) -various properties 1897-1929 -also A.J. Cameron (Fred) -708 Stewart Street and others Marjorie Cameron 738 Stewart Street
        7: Miscellaneous receipts for Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Cameron (Fred and Jennie) some medical bills 1926-1928 - Jennie
        8: Miscellaneous photos and negatives Aunt Maria Quilt Club clippings from newspaper c. 1931
        9: Charles Cameron correspondence and diary 1872 -also will of Donald Stewart naming Charles Cameron and Donald MacKellar executors
        10: Miscellaneous receipts for Marjorie and Jean (A.W.) Cameron -also income tax deduction form for Jean Cameron 1934

        Box 2

        Folder

        1: Correspondence between Alfred J. Cameron (Fred) and Jessie Rose Cameron -affectionate letters -some include weather and prices etc -most mention family members health -mostly from periods when A.J. Cameron was working away from home as an Ontario Land Surveyor
        Begins 1895
        -Nov 2, 1895 -note of Marriage A.J.B. Cameron and Jennie Rose
        -May 8, 1896 -letter from Grip printing and publishing Co. -discussing the printing of one of A.J. Cameron's maps - problems with finding sizable paper etc
        -June 27, 1897 -letter to Fred from Jennie mentions that Stricklands of Lakefield want A.J. to do some work for them on Stoney Lake
        -letter to Fred from Jennie talks of getting a girl to help her for $5.00 per month
        -Oct 23, 1897 -Jennie talks of being lonesome by herself in their house
        -Nov 1897 -letters tell of hard times financially
        -Nov 12, 1897 -letter from Bert to A.J. -states birth of Jennie's baby girl
        -Mary -Apr 12, 1898 -letter to Fred from Jennie mentions birth of William Ross Lyle Cameron April 7, 1898 -speaks also of Charlie having cold -Apr 1898 -better times financially
        -June 1898 -letters -Fred having easy time at work on line
        -June 27, 1898 -Jennie tells Fred of Sophia's birthday party
        -July 12, 1898 -letter to Fred from Jennie tells of a company "Strattan and Hall" taking an inventory of their belongings for possible sale to pay an outstanding debt
        -July 14, 1898 -Fred's reply tells Jennie they owe him money not vise versa and that they are taking advantage of her in his absence -a later letter of same day explains more fully the situation ie: that Fred did not push for payment of accounts at the time owing
        -July 24, 1898 -very hot weather Jennie to Fred "The heat here is terrible and everything is burned up." -also Bert in Newark with a Mr. Lasher travelled to New York City to see some bicycle races that a Jimmy Michler was to take part
        -July 31, 1898 -preacher by name of Peirson in the Methodist Church in Barrie, same in Peterborough George Street Church, 10 or 12 years earlier - Fred also talk of possibility of a permanent position as draughtsman
        -Aug 8, 1898 -letter to Fred from Sophia in Scotland -talks of sightseeing and weather
        -Aug 12, 1878 -no mention of Charlie only Mary and Jennie -undated -on blue paper to Jennie and Fred from Sophia lamenting Charlie's death
        -Sept 13, 1898 -Mary sick as Charlie was but doctor says she will recover
        -Oct 18, 1898 -Fred to Jennie -Jennie now ill
        -Nov 6, 1898 -Bert to Charles (father) promising to abstain from alcohol
        -Jan 31, 1899 -Sophia to Fred mentions that Fred is to be home for the winter -Sept 8, 1899 -Jennie to Fred -about Fred surveying Douro
        -Oct 10, 1899 -Charles to Fred -telling of jobs he has been requested for and warning him to be careful of his drinking water -says "trust that you may keep your health good and thus been abled to rough it in the bush"
        -Oct 22, 1899 -Fred asks Jennie for newspapers and war news and tells Jennie not to scrimp on anything to keep him happy
        -Oct 27, 1899 -Charles to Fred concerning all the business Fred is to do when he returns
        -Nov 26, 1899 -letter to Jennie from Fred in Winnipeg -sates he is making $90.00 per month
        -Dec 22, 1899 -to Fred -he won't be home for Christmas
        -Dec 1900 - to Fred from Jennie -new babies (twins) are fine -Fred sore leg - Jennie getting stronger everyday
        -Dec 5, 1900 -Charles to Fred -about business matters
        -Feb 3, 1901 -Fred mentions work for Mr Robbins of Jack Lake
        -Feb 2, 1901 -Jennie ill
        -Feb 7, 1901 -Charles to Fred -mentions that 2 surveyors have died of typhoid fever and cautions Fred about drinking water
        -Feb 12, 1901 -Jennie to Fred -Children have "La Grippe" -Oct 4 1901 -Letter from a Clarence Bell to Fred about surveying two islands on Jack's Lake
        -July 22, 1903 -Fred to Jennie from Hudson Bay Company's Post Lake Abitibi - talks of canoeing over 90 miles -June 24, 1904 -Bert to Fred -Bert talks about his new partnership with Rumsey in the drapery business in Scranton Pennsylvania
        -July 10, 1904 -Fred to Jennie from Camp in Black River -speaks of one man having to go home as he was very sick from black fly bites
        -Feb 26, 1904 -letter to Fred mentions Charles Cameron's death
        -May 13, 1909 -letter to Bert from Jessie (10 years old) -March 15, 1916 -letter to Annie from Aunt Robina

        2: Correspondence between Cameron family and John Dixon for a mortgage dated September 23, 1908
        -later a Mr J. White takes over and after he dies his sister Ella White 1896-1936
        -also contains correspondence between Ontario Land Surveyors and Mrs Cameron after A.J.'s death, concerning donations to her (Jennie)

        3: Miscellaneous correspondence
        -wedding invitations
        -souvenir brochure for "National Thanksgiving Day" Diamond Jubilee of Confederation July 3, 1927
        -Clan Cameron Association literature -obituary for John Cameron d. Dec 2, 1887 -Blueprint of survey done by A.J. Cameron 1911
        -letters of reference for Jessie Cameron 1919
        -cemetery expenses for Jessie Cameron -funeral expenses and will for Jean Ann Cameron 1930
        -reference letters for Donald M. Cameron 1923
        -notebook containing survey reports and drafts of letters of A.J. Cameron 1891- 1898
        -annual certificate from Ontario Land Surveyors

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