Item FC 3216.3 P63 R64 1.1.4.25 - Loose item from 1886 scrapbook: letter to mother (17 August 1886)

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Loose item from 1886 scrapbook: letter to mother (17 August 1886)

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  • Textual record

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FC 3216.3 P63 R64 1.1.4.25

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Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 17 August 1886 (Creation)
    Creator
    Pocock, Roger

Physical description area

Physical description

1 folded sheet (4 pages) of textual material ; 19.6 x 12.7 cm

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Name of creator

(1865-1941)

Biographical history

Henry Roger Ashewell Pocock was born November 9, 1865 at Cookham, Berkshire, England. He came to Canada with his father in 1882, and settled in Brockville, Ontario. In 1882 and 1883, he attended the Guelph Agricultural College, and subsequently took a job as a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Pocock enlisted with the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Osborne in 1884. When the North-West Resistance broke out, Pocock marched with Colonel Irvine's relief force from Regina to Prince Albert in the winter weather, freezing his feet during the trek. As a result of the advanced frostbite to his feet, Pocock had to have several toes amputated, rendering him an invalid constable. He kept a diary/scrapbook for each year he was with the N.W.M.P., and later used the collections to write and publish a series of fictional books based on his experiences, the first successful of which was a biographical work titled "Following the Frontier" (N.Y., 1903) also published as "A Frontiersman" (London, 1903). According to Watters (A Check List of Canadian Literature, 1628-1950), Pocock published at least 15 titles between 1888 and 1931. In 1905, Pocock went on to found "The Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth." He died November 12, 1941.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Letter from Pocock to his mother dated 17 August 1886. Pocock anticipates that he will go with a party of about 30 men to Battleford on 25 August 1886. Pocock describes four men from Montana who were falsely arrested and have been staying in their camp. He ends the letter with a description and sketches of 'Mexican type' spurs.

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  • English

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    All researchers (including students, faculty, visiting scholars, and members of the general public) must submit a Retrieval Request Form at least 24 hours before their visit to Bruce Peel Special Collections in order to be sure that library materials have been retrieved from storage and are available for their use.

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    Finding aids

    Associated materials

    The letter is a loose item from the 1886 Pocock Scrapbook.

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