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Place: Toronto

From: J.B. Robinson

To: [Reverend C.E. Thomson]

Delivery: unknown

Details: 2pp

Notes: A short letter regarding the approaching Diocesan Synod and representatives from St. John’s Church in Elora.
Note on the back says “J.B. Robinson Esq. Read May 13/59.” While the recipient is not named, it is likely to be Reverend C. E. Thomson who led the Elora parish in 1859. J. B. Robinson is possibly Sir John Beverley Robinson, the noted lawyer and judge.

Reverend C.E. Thomson replaced Reverend John Smithurst at St. John’s Church in Elora, Canada West [later Ontario] after Smithurst’s dismissal by John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto. Thomson ministered in Elora from 1857-1877.

The bulk of this collection of correspondence was written between 1838 and 1862, and addressed to Reverend John Smithurst, “Indian Settlement, Red River, North America.” The “Indian Settlement” was the home of Chief Peguis and his people, the Saulteaux, located at Netley Creek, a branch of the Red River south of Lake Winnipeg. Following his resignation in 1851, Rev. Smithurst immigrated to Canada West and settled in Elora and then Minto in what is now Ontario.

Rev. Smithurst was an Anglican missionary sent by the Church Missionary Society from England to Rupert’s Land to convert the First Nations and Metis peoples of the area known broadly as the Red River Settlement; modern-day Winnipeg, Manitoba encompasses many sites that made up the settlement. Ministering to the “Indians” and “Half-Breeds,” Rev. Smithurst was one of the handful of missionaries west of Canada during a period of social and political unrest, economic upheaval, starvation, disease, racism and classism. Rev. Smithurst was in contact with many influential people of the time, including Henry Budd and James Settee, the first Indigenous men to be ordained by the Anglican church in North America; Reverend William Cockran; Reverend Ezekiel Gilbert Gear, chaplain at Fort Snelling in modern-day Minnesota; Reverend William Mason, Rossville Mission Press printer; David Anderson, first bishop of Rupert’s Land; and Duncan Finlayson, governor of Assiniboia.

In the correspondence within this collection, missionaries privately share personal frustrations with their efforts to “civilize” and convert Indigenous peoples, while struggling to survive the landscape and navigate social conflicts.

Acquired with Rev. Smithurst's letters, and included here, are several miscellaneous letters, as well as correspondence for the Reverend C.E. Thomson, who succeeded Rev. Smithurst at the Elora parish, and correspondence for the Reverend Adam Townley, step-father to Rev. Thomson. Correspondents include: John Strachan, first bishop of Toronto; Alexander Neil Bethune, second bishop of Toronto; F.D. Fauquier, first bishop of Algoma; and George Whitaker, first provost of Trinity College in Toronto.

Place: Elora

From: [Rev. C.E. Thomson]

To: Possibly addressed to Bishop of Toronto, Alexander Bethune

Delivery: unknown

Details: One sheet of paper, embossed.

Notes: A letter, marked "Copy," written July 23, 1873 in Elora. The recipient of the letter is likely the Bishop of Toronto, Alexander Neil Bethune. Although the signature is illegible, the probable author is Reverend C. E. Thomson. Various notes and numbers written on the back. Rev. Thomson writes that he would prefer Thorold, but will take Newmarket for the following Sunday. He also relates his opinion on the behaviour of Mr. Butler, who "has forgotten himself since he came to Fergus, but not at Elora so far as I know." Thomson asks that Bishop Bethune consider his remarks confidential.

Place: Cobourg

From: A.N. Toronto

To: Mr .Thomson

Details: 4pp

Notes: A letter written April 12, 1873 in Cobourg, Ontario by "A. N. Toronto," who is Alexander Neil Bethune, Bishop of Toronto. The bishop writes to Reverend C.E. Thomson to advise him on a special service for baptisms, and some other church matters. Mr. Rowsell is mentioned with regards to exposing tracts. The bishop goes on to say that he plans on traveling from Guelph by train on Monday, June 2nd for the purposes of performing confirmations and laying the cornerstone for the new church.

Notes for a sermon given at St. John's church in Elora (Canada West, later Ontario). Identified on the back as "September Notes."

The Reverend C.E. Thomson served at St. John's from 1857-1877, and is the likely author of this sermon.

The sermon begins with Luke XII.21 "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Place: [Grand River]

From: A. Nelles

To: Townley

Details: 2pp

Notes: Reverend Abraham Nelles of the Mohawk Chapel for the Six Nations on Grand River writes to Reverend Adam Townley, thanking him for offering to give an account of the bishop's recent visit to the Mohawk. Rev. Nelles then relates some details of the visit and names some of the people who participated, including students of the Mohawk Institute school.

The letter is undated, but certain assumptions can be made.

• Reverend Abraham Nelles refers to Reverend Adam Elliot, who took the position of missionary in the Grand River area in 1838.
• Rev. Nelles then refers to the "young man Peter Martin who interpreted some of the speeches . . . & is now studying for ordination" which seems to be a reference to Oronhyatekha, the famous leader of the Independent Order of Foresters, who was baptized Peter Martin and attended the Mohawk Institute industrial school near the Grand River reserve from 1846–54.
• "The chief who first addressed the Bishop is a Mohawk by name Johnson." This may be a reference to Chief John “Smoke” Johnson, who was well known for his oratorial gifts in the English and Mohawk languages. Smoke Johnson's son, George Henry Martin Johnson, served as interpreter for Rev. Elliot and lived with the missionary's family during the 1840s. Given the close relationship George Johnson had with the missionaries, it seems unlikely that he was the chief Rev. Nelles referred to by surname only.
  From these references, it appears this letter was written in the late 1840s.

Place: Collingwood

From: A.N. Toronto

To: Mr. Thomson

Details: 2pp

Notes: A letter written July 29, 1873 in Collingwood, Ontario by "A. N. Toronto," which is the signature used by Alexander Neil Bethune, Bishop of Toronto. While the recipient is not named, this letter appears to be in response to "1873 - Letter to Bishop," a letter dated July 23 and which is attributable to Rev. C. E. Thomson.

Place: Toronto

From: John Toronto

To: Rev Adam Townley

Details: 2pp

Notes: A letter marked private, written by John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto. It is addressed to Reverend Adam Townley who was rector in Dunnville at the time, serving the parishes of Dunnville, Port Maitland, and South Cayuga in the Niagara District. Strachan discusses land titles in relation to a new church, and asks several questions to arrange travel. St. John the Evangelist church was built in South Cayuga and consecrated by Strachan in June 1846.

An Anglican minister and missionary in Canada, Rev. Adam Townley was also co-editor of the "Churchman's Friend," a 16-page monthly publication that sought to promote and defend high church theology. With his colleague and co-editor Reverend Edward H. Dewar, Rev. Townley released the first issue in October 1855 from Paris, Canada West. Production soon moved to Windsor, Canada West. Publication ceased in 1857, after a short and controversial run. Rev. Townley was also step-father to Rev. C.E. Thomson, himself the successor to Rev. John Smithurst at St. John the Evangelist church in Elora. It is presumably this relationship that led to his correspondence being included in the Rev. Smithurst collection acquired by Bruce Peel Special Collections at the University of Alberta.

Place: Priory Place, New Ross [Ireland]

From: John and Annie Corbett

To: Adam Townley

Details: 8 pp.

Notes: The first sheet of paper is a letter to Adam Townley from his brother-in-law, John Corbett. His letter continues onto the second sheet of paper, on the third and fourth pages. John is the husband of Townley's sister Annie, whose letter makes up the first and second pages on the second sheet of paper.

John Corbett relates how Annie is in fact just recovering from a five-week-long illness after a carriage accident. He comments on the rivalry between the Church Missionary Society and the newer Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. John is very concerned at the unrest in Ireland and within the Anglican church. He also mentions the alarming rise of "the principles called 'Puseyism'."

Annie addresses her brother as "Dearest Addie." She gives news about family members and many acquaintances.

Place: Sandwich [now Windsor, ON]

From: Edward H. Dewar

To: Townley

Details: 3pp

Notes: Rev. Dewar and Rev. Adam Townley were co-editors of the “Churchman’s Friend” magazine. In this letter, Rev. Dewar writes about editorial matters, including the bursting of an envelope bound for Toronto, the decision to not include several articles in the coming issue, and the first complaint letter.

Place: Sandwich [now Windsor, ON]

From: Edward H. Dewar

To: Townley

Details: 3 pp

Notes: Rev. Dewar and Rev. Adam Townley were the editors of the "Churchman's Friend" magazine. In this letter, Rev. Dewar writes about editorial business, including subscribers, plans for articles, and printing.

Place: Windsor

From: Edward H. Dewar

To: Townley

Details: 4 pp

Notes: Rev. Dewar and Rev. Adam Townley were the editors of the "Churchman's Friend" magazine. In this letter, Rev. Dewar scolds Rev. Townley for not submitting an article for the coming issue. Rev. Dewar points out that he has more than enough trouble from his church, where roof repairs cannot continue due to lack of money. He then relates how dismayed he is at the behaviour of two young women in his congregation who tried to run off to a Catholic convent. Rev. Dewar interfered and the ladies will no longer speak to him. He discusses strategy surrounding the upcoming Synod, criticizing the bishop's plans. In a postscript, he refers to two upcoming articles, one on "Spirit-rapping & Popery" and another which he intends to write as the start of a series about missionary life in Canada.

Place: Munsee Town, Ekfrid P.O. [Ontario]

From: Henry C. Hogg

To: The Editors of the Churchman’s Friend

Details: 1pp. Someone has written in ink on the outside “Henry C. Hogg Esq. Dec/55” signed? underneath with the initials “AM” or “OM”

Notes: Edward Dewar and Adam Townley were the editors of the "Churchman's Friend" magazine. Mr. Hogg writes to them requesting a replacement copy as his subscription copy did not reach him.

Date: January 1863, Epiphany

Place: Paris, C.W. [Canada West]

From: Adam Townley

To: The Honble and Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Toronto

Details: 4 pp

Notes: The rough draft of a letter written by Reverend Townley to John Strachan, Bishop of Toronto. In the letter, Rev. Townley respectfully asks for a promotion.

Thirteen (13) envelopes and paper enclosures, & two (2) prayer cards, similar in size to playing cards.

Eleven (11) of the envelopes and paper enclosures are addressed to Reverend John Smithurst at Indian Settlement, Red River. Most are undated.

Of these eleven, one (1) features a black wax seal, a hexagon border surrounding two (2) initials, possibly “K” and “R.”
Two (2) envelopes are embossed, one with an oblong border around the initials “CMS” and the other embossed with “Etches & Wilson, Manufacturers, 32 Hatton Garden, London."

One (1) paper enclosure is sealed with five (5) wax drops in different colours.

Seven (7) have red wax seals:

• Design obscured
• bearded man’s profile in a rounded rectangle,
• tiny rounded border surrounding script “Theo” (?)
• the initials “S” and “C” in a circular border,
• the initials “J” and “H” in gothic script inside a rounded rectangular border,
• an oblong shape filled with a hatched design,
• a large red wax seal with most of the design obscured except for the tiny letters “Pro P Elle” along the border.

Two (2) envelopes are addressed to Reverend Smithurst via Church Mission House, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London, England. Bear postal markings for Wirksworth in England for the years 1848 and 1849. Both are sealed with red wax, imprinted with a left-facing lion rampant design.

Two (2) prayer cards. Both are printed. The first one is printed in black and red with a prayer beginning “Create in me a Clean Heart." Text in the border reads, "Teach me thy way o lord and lead me in a plain path.” Handwriting in ink on the blank back reads “Master Henry W. Erwin.” The second one is printed in black with purple and green colour with an image of Eve with the serpent. "The entrance of thy word giveth light. Ps 119.130.” Handwriting in ink on the blank back reads “Henry Walter Erwin.”

Five miscellaneous letters and two printed prayer cards acquired with the Rev. John Smithurst Correspondence collection. Thirteen envelopes and enclosures addressed to Rev. Smithurst for which no matching letters are found in this collection.

Place: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

From: F.D. Algoma

To: Townley

Details: 4 pp

Notes: A letter from F.D. Fauquier, Bishop of Algoma, to Reverend Adam Townley. In this short note, the bishop thanks Rev. Townley for his donation to the mission fund. Bishop Fauquier also congratulates Rev. Townley on returning to a parish that he previously served.

A partially filled in printed registry receipt. Neither the date nor the post office is filled in, but the postal stamp is for Buffalo, N.Y. May 3, 1880. Rev. Adam Townley, P.S. Shenstone, Brantford Ont. Signed by Juo. M. Bedford.

Place: Guelph

From: William Reynolds

To: James Geddes Esqu, Elora

Details: One sheet of paper with integral address, and one small slip of paper

Notes: William Reynolds writes to James Geddes regarding a workman named Jones who has failed to satisfy his contract. Reynolds agrees they should enter into an agreement with Hall instead. John Marsh is living with Geddes and is anxious to move out.

The small slip of paper is a written promise from John W. Marsh to pay next time.

Place: Trinity College Toronto

From: George Whitaker

To: unknown

Details: Trinity College Toronto blue letterhead, one sheet of paper

Notes: A letter written by George Whitaker in his role as provost at Trinity College. He responds to a student who will receive his Master of Arts degree on November 12. The student also inquired about working for the college, to which Whitaker expresses interest.

Place: Newark, N.J. [New Jersey]

From: U. Goodman

To: unknown

Details: 4 pp

Notes: The unknown clergyman who received this letter ordered a bundle of 700 pamphlets of the second edition of a treatise arguing against "that evident power of the Devil, the public school system of America." The writer mentions a controversy involving the High School of Boston and another incident which he refers to as "the Denison case in the Mother Land."

Place: Ottawa

From: J.S. Lauder

To: Thompson

Details: 4pp

Notes: J.S. Lauder is likely Reverend John Strutt Lauder of Christ Church in Ottawa, and later archdeacon of Ottawa. Lauder writes in response to a letter from his friend Thompson regarding a young man, Finlayson. Lauder regrets to say that he does not know the current whereabouts of Finlayson, but his investigations suggest that Finlayson has gone off to “sow his wild oats.”

A notation reads “J.S. Lauder Rec'd Dec 12/59.”

Place: Hastenges Road Uper Canada [Hastings Road, Upper Canada]

From: William Henery Woollacott
From: Philip [surname unknown]

To: forther and Mother
To: Andrew

Notes: This sheet of paper has two letters written on it. The first letter is from a young man who signs his name "William Henery Woollacott." The second letter is from a man who signs his name "Philip."

In his letter, William writes to tell his parents that he and Mary reached Canada safely. William tells of the boat trip from Liverpool to New York and the difficult time he's had reaching Philip's home in Canada. He is very excited at the chance to buy his own farm. "P.S. we live in a plase called the shanty 16 feet square & I can tuch the ruff With my head it is bult with wood." [P.S. We live in a place called the shanty 16 feet square and I can touch the roof with my head. It is built with wood.]

In his letter, Philip is furious with Andrew for sending William to North America with no money, bedclothes, or supplies, and at the beginning of winter. They have already spent Philip's savings and they cannot find work. They have only potatoes and turnips to eat, and those will not last the winter. He tells Andrew to send money.

Place: Hudsons Bay House, London [England]

From: John Smith

To: The Revd John Smithurst, Church Missionary House, Salisbury Square [London, England]

Details: 1pp

Notes: This letter confirms a previous conversation between John Smith of Hudson's Bay House in London and Reverend John Smithurst. Rev. Smithurst is awarded the position of chaplain to the Hudson's Bay Company at Red River in Rupert's Land. He is granted passage from London to Fort Garry [modern-day Winnipeg].

Place: Middleton [Derbyshire, England]

From: Frs Buckley

To: J. Smithurst, Church Missionary Institution, Islington [London]

Delivery: Great Britain mail

Details: 3 pp + integral address face

Notes: Reverend William Buckley is deeply disappointed to hear that John Smithurst had to cancel his planned visit to Middleton. Rev. Buckley goes on to relate news of recent marriages and clergy appointments.

Place: Grand Rapids

From: Wm Cockran

To: Rev. J. Smithurst, Indian Settlement

Details: 2pp

Notes: Rev. Cockran sends supplies with "Beary and William Thomas" and he spoke with Ferdinand regarding fat and dried meat for the children. He hopes that Rev. Smithurst is over his cold. Rev. Cockran will not be able to visit him because he has to be at the Middle Church this week.

Place: Upper Fort Garry

From: unknown

To: Rev. J. Smithurst

Details: 2pp with integral address

Notes: Copy of not guilty verdict returned by the Jury on the trial of Henry Beardie for the murder of William Washington Bird. While the jury admits that Beardie did point his bow and arrow at Bird, the fact that Beardie is only 12 years old leads the jury to acquit him of murder. The jury warns parents to abolish archery in the community to prevent future deaths.

Place: Red River Settlement, Hudson Bay, North America

From: Daniel Aillud, St. Mary Gray

To: Reverend John Smithurst

Details: 1pp with integral address

Notes: Daniel Aillud writes about going to Navigation School and preparing for an upcoming voyage.


Place: Wapashayaw

From: H. Budd

To: Revd J. Smithurst, Indian Settlement

Details: 3pp and integral address

Notes: Henry Budd writes to Rev. Smithurst with news of his trek to the Saskatchewan River from the Red River Settlement. After 17 days, Budd arrived at an area he calls “Wapaskayaw” and mentions a Mr. Turner who is farming barley and potatoes in the area. Budd has decided the area is favourable and plans to stay and begin building the school and mission.

Place: Red River Settlement

From: Joseph Bird

To: the Revende [sic] Mr Wm Cockran, Grand Rapids

Details: 1pp with integral address

Notes: Joseph Bird agrees to lend a boat to Reverend William Cockran, but wants it back in time to travel to York Factory in the fall.

Place: Sycamore Cottage [Derbyshire, England]

From: Anne Alsop & Catherine Wasse

To: The Reverend John Smithurst, Church Missionary. To be forwarded and properly directed from Islington

Delivery: Forwarded by the Church Missionary Society to Red River Settlement via Hudson's Bay Company supply ship and canoe brigade, and then by courier to the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek

Details: 4 pp (partly cross-written) + integral address face

Notes: Composite letter from friends Anne Alsop and her niece Catherine Wasse. Anne Alsop mentions Rev. Smithurst's brother George and family matters. Catherine Wasse writes about her impression of London, the renovations to Dethick Chapel, the success of her brother who is leasing Wakebridge Mine from Mr. Nightingale (the father of Florence Nightingale), Mr. Nightingale's annual visit, and the record-setting winter weather.

Place: Whitby [North Yorkshire, England]

From: Mary Hugill

To: Rev’d John Smithurst

Delivery: Forwarded by the Church Missionary Society to Red River Settlement via Hudson's Bay Company supply ship and canoe brigade, and thence by courier to the Indian Settlement at Netley Creek

Details: 3 pp + integral address face

Notes: Letter from a cousin, with family news (illnesses, etc.). She asks if she can send him a gift of pickles, preserves or cakes, and to do so.

Place: Grand Rapids [Red River Settlement]

From: William Cockran

To: Rev. J. Smithurst, Indian Settlement

Delivery: Carried by courier “James,” possibly on account of Church Missionary Society (?)

Details: 1 pp + integral address face

Notes: Cockran sends Smithurst hatchet bar and rod iron (as supplies for his smithy), and endeavors to get additional iron for him from the Fort (most likely Lower Fort Garry). He also sends barley and wheat.