A G3; A H2; A H6
Date of the items: 1850-1950
Physical description: 0.15 m
Title: Brackenridge Family Fonds
Creator: Brackenridge Family
Repository: Trent Valley Archives
Reference number: TVA Fonds 288
Scope and contents: Fonds consists of genealogical notes and photographs, including historical notes on Westwood, Ontario; an 1850 ALS holograph letter from John and Margaret Brackenridge to their son John; a certificate for J.P. for R. C. Brackenridge, 1930; professional photographs for a 1904 golden wedding anniversary and a 1949 wedding, both with excellent identifications; a business account book, 1931-1933, for a grinding business; record books for Life Saver Teas, 1950; monthly report forms, never filled in, from the Dominion Bureau of Statistics; a scrapbook of clippings pasted into a 1931 furniture catalogue for McLagen Furniture, Stratford, Ontario; together with several photographs. Of particular note is an 1860 off print of a poem by A. B. Todd as a tribute to Robert Burns: Burns: or the Ploughman Bard, that was dedicated to John Brackenridge in 1874 by the author who was his uncle. The photos include two tintypes and an ambrotype.
Access Conditions: No Restrictions
Finding aid: See separate file listing in Excel
Accruals: No further accruals are expected
Custodial history: Donated by Stan McBride Jr, Peterborough in 2008 and 2009. The interconnected family papers in the Trent Valley Archives include the Stan McBride fonds, the Berta McBride fonds, and the Archer family fonds. The materials were brought in at different times and, where possible, arranged in fonds according to the creator. However, the McBrides were also collectors and were astute family genealogists, and records that were created for such purposes were assigned, on the basis of internal evidence and deduction, to the fonds of the likely creator. We recommend that researchers check all four fonds. As well, there is information about the family in other collections fonds at the Trent Valley Archives.
Biographical sketch: John Brackenridge was born in Mauchline, Scotland in 1794. He married Margaret Todd, also from Mauchline, on July 1, 1825. The couple had nine children Janet, John, Matthew, Grace, Agnes, William, Margaret and James. Of the nine, four decided to immigrate to Canada: John, Matthew, Agnes and William, marking the beginning of this line of the Brackenridge family in Canada.
John, the oldest son who came to Canada, became known as ‘Squire’ Brackenridge. Born on January 21, 1829, he had a long career as a farmer and lumberman, and was also appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1857. He settled in Asphodel Township, marrying Agnes Stephenson on July 7, 1854 and having 15 children with her: John, Matthew, Marion, Margaret, Thomas, David, William, Agnes, Mary, Janet, Jane, James, Norman, Annie and Hugh. He passed away on November 9, 1919 at the age of 90. Some of his children stayed in the area, and others moved to other parts of the country and to the United States. For more information on the history of the family, see the family trees in early files. There is also a family history in Graham, Asphodel, pp 71-74.
Related Fonds at TVA: See F538 McBride Family for more materials related to the Brackenridge family.
Access Points:
McBride family
Westwood, Ontario
Community Nursing Registry
Robert Burns (Robbie)