Fonds
John Robson was born in the county of Northumberland, England, where he worked as a cobbler. In 1819 he emigrated to Canada, intending to settle and earn his living. His ship probably arrived in Quebec City sometime in September, as we know that he took passage on the Malsham bound for Montreal on September 26 of that same year.
He settled in Montreal at 60 Notre Dame Street and worked as a "shoe and boot maker". In the early 1840s, he moved to St. Lawrence Street, near De La Gauchetière, and later to 43 McGill Street. We know from his archived papers that in 1838 he enrolled in the Loyal Volunteers, a militia raised by the British authorities in Canada. Sometime after 1825, he married Hannah Ranson, who was also born in England. They had children, one of whom was a daughter, Elizabeth. Letters received by his wife, Hannah, indicate that John Robson died around 1846.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of material relating to John and Hannah Robson, especially John's emigration to Canada and their relationships with the members of their family. Some financial documents are also included.
The fonds contains letters to Hannah Robson from various family members, including her niece Elizabeth, Mr. Hudson (Elizabeth's husband), a nephew named Halliday and his brother John who lived in Hull, England. The fonds also contains a promissory note to Mrs. Robson for the use of a house. Also included are various documents regarding John Robson: a certificate issued in his name before his departure for Canada, a letter he sent to his sister, a record of an account with a certain Mr. Boston and a receipt for military equipment from the Loyal Volunteers. Three letters between members of the Bell family, including two from Francis Bell, a farmer in Berthier, and one from James Bell to his sister, are also in the fonds.
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This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation and Canadian Heritage.