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Post by jamesw on Oct 24, 2016 2:47:12 GMT
Some more stampless cover, acquired today. These four were sent by Land Commissioner Frederick Widder of the Canada Company to Charles Collins of Richmond/Nepean, two villages near Ottawa. All seem to concern land purchases and sales. Three dated 1840 and the fourth (bottom right) 1844. The later letter contains a promissory note for £10 cy  Much research ahead! |
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Post by jamesw on Oct 24, 2016 2:59:42 GMT
Two others. Sent to Barrie general store owner Angus Russel from suppliers in Toronto in 1851  |
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Post by jamesw on Oct 28, 2016 2:50:30 GMT
So, relating to the first four covers on the first post in this thread, as mentioned all were written by a gentleman named Fred Widder who was the land commissioner for the Canada Company. A thorough bio of him can be found here... www.biographi.ca/en/bio/widder_frederick_9E.htmlThey are all sent to Charles Collins in Napean UC, near Bytown (Ottawa). The first three, written in 1840, relate to property Mr Collins wished to buy, Lot 27 BF on the Rideau River (Canal). In the first letter dated Feb 21, Widder writes that they are willing to sell the lot to Mr Collins for 70£ Cy. Collins has already sent 20£ and Widder is going to send him 5 promissory notes for the remaining instalments.  The second letter, dated May 9. Apparently other letters have been passed back and forth. It's come to their attention that someone named Fitzgerald has been squatting on the lot. Widder states that it's up to Collins to take care of the squatter, and that the Canada Company will 'not by any means undertake to commence law proceedings against' him. The Canada Company is not taking the blame for this.  |
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Post by jamesw on Oct 28, 2016 3:03:41 GMT
By the third letter of 1840, dated June 1, Mr Widder seems at his wits end. He's received contradictory letters from Fitzgerald and Collins, and has sent one more letter for Collins to give to the squatter, which will be the Canada Company's last involvement. Who knows how this ended up? Did Collins get the squatter out? Has Widder had enough of Collins and his difficulties, so far away?  Apparently not because in the fourth letter, dated March 21 1844, Widder and Collins are involved in the sale of another piece of property, Lot 3721 D.  And remember the mention of promissory notes? Included in this letter was a cancelled promissory note for 10£ toward their debt. The balance on the mortgage is 14/4.  I guess business was good. |
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Post by jamesw on Oct 28, 2016 3:07:24 GMT
I think these letters were written by two different people. I think the first (Feb 21) and the 1844 letter were probably written by a secretary, and signed by Widder. There is a small note at the bottom of the Feb 21 letter, different from the rest of the hand writing, but matching the script of the other two letters, which I think Widder himself probably wrote, judging by the colour of the ink and weight the ink line.
Just my thoughts.
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Post by jamesw on Jan 5, 2017 4:24:56 GMT
Been delving into the top four letters a little more.
While the sender of these letters, Fred Widder, has an extensive bio online, the recipient is a little harder to track down. I believe I have him narrowed down to a gentleman named Charles Collins who was born in 1812 and died in 1861. He is buried with his wife, Olive Burritt (1822-1904) in the Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery, Manotick, Ottawa Municipality, Ontario, Canada.
The Collins' had at least two sons, Alfred and Alexander, according to marriage records.
I found a map dated 1879 of Gloucester, a township near Ottawa, where the property of the first letter was said to be located on the Rideau River. On that map there is a lot on the river with the name Alex Collins, which is located just north of Manotick, where the cemetery is located.
Circumstantial I know, but I think, considering how small the population of the area must have been in 1840, I think it's pretty compelling. There are other Collins' mentioned on the map - P. Collins and T. Collins down river, and a Samuel Collins across the river in Napean, where two of the letters were addressed. Relatives perhaps, though it is a common name.
I also noticed that the promissory note shown above, though it was in the 1844 letter, is actually dated February 21 1840, the date on the first letter. That letter stated it contained 5 promissory notes. This may be one of them, returned after payment four years later, but the lot number on the note is different. Perhaps Mr Collins was purchasing multiple properties that year. Certainly over the last century the note could have been placed in the wrong letter. Perhaps there was another letter sent the same day by Mr Widder's office for the second property.
Who knows the possibilities? I love this stuff!
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