Title: Archer Family Fonds

Creator: John Archer and members of his family

Dates of Material: 1793-1936

Physical Description:
Letters, receipts, copybooks, songbooks and various ephemera relating to John Archer and his family. 16cm.

Scope and Contents:
The papers consist of four series.

Series A: Archer family letters, most with stamped envelopes (1833-1856), Confederate money (1864) Files 1-17.

Series B: Philatelic collection, originals and xerox. (1884-1930). Many local businesses represented on envelope covers. Files 18-19B.

Series C: Receipts, invoices and deeds relating to the Archer and Breckenridge families. (1839-1930). Files 20-31.

Series D: Poetry and various other ephemera. (1793-1936). Songbooks and copybooks being the oldest in this series (1793-1837). Files 32-46.

Access Conditions:
Open to researchers.

Finding Aids:
Available on site.

Accruals:
None expected.

Custodial History: Donated by Stan McBride Jr, Peterborough, 2008. The Stan McBride fonds should be consulted.

Biographical Sketch/ Administrative History
The papers in this collection seem to have been received by Thomas Archer (1781- xx) who was born in Cumberland England and emigrated to Canada in 1831 and married to Elizabeth Mason Archer. In the next generations the letters were received by John Archer ( 1815-1884) and Joseph Archer (1861-1931). Joseph Archer was the grandfather of Bertha McBride (1924- ) and great-grandfather of Stan McBride Jr, the donor of this collection.

File listing

A      Archer family letters
Descendancy Narrative of Thomas Archer Typed family history
1      A      1 Confederate Money $20 bill; together with newspaper article on Confederate money 1864 Original
1      A      2 Letter to Thomas Archer from Nancy and Christopher Moffat, Slaggyburn 7 September 1833 Original; philatelic.
1      A      3 Letter to Thomas Archer from John Archer, Loninghead 10 September 1833 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      4 Letter to Alexander W. Buchanan, Sandy Lake Harvey, from unknown 31 December 1835 Original letter and stampless cover; philatelic marks, two segments missing.
1      A      5 Letter to Mrs. Elizabeth Archer from An and Christ Moffat, Hart Sick Plains 21 September 1839 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      6 Isaac Archer to John Archer 12 August 1840 Original. two documents. Bond from Isaac Archer to John Archer, 12 August 1840. Arbitration Award, same date. Signatures of Joseph Lee, John Walton, Thomas Milburn, Nicholas Walton and Isaac Archer.
1      A      7 Letter to Isaac Nicholson from his nephew John Nicholson of Arthur township near Fergus 15 July 1842 Original stampless cover.
1      A      8 Letter to John Archer from Thomas Archer, Garrigill Gate 20 May 1845 Original letter and stampless cover. Philatelic interest.
1      A      9 Letter to John Archer from Isaac Archer 3 June 1847 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      10 Letter to John Archer from Isaac Archer 6 April 1849 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      11 Letter to John Archer from William Archer. Includes a letter to his mother. 8 December 1849 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      12 Letter to John Archer from William and Clarissa Archer 19 July 1850 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      13 Letter to John Archer from John and Nancy Moor 28 August 1851 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      14 Letter to John Archer from William and Clarissa Archer 3 February 1852 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      15 Letter to John Archer from John and Nancy Moor 11 April 1852 Original letter and stampless cover.
1      A      16 Letter to John Archer from John and Ann Moor 17 July 1852 Original letter and stampless cover.
1 A 17 Letter to William Richardson from G. O. Medd 8 February 1856 Original letter and stampless cover.

B      Philatelic collection
1      B      18 Canada Postcard 27 December 1886 Original. From George Howey to Dr. Sinclair in Tilsonburg. Includes empty envelope addressed to John Moloney Esq Local Registrar, Peterborough
1      B      19a Album of stamped covers album pages have notations
                 1 To Mr Hugh Waddell
                 2 To Hon G. N. Gordon 1931 Admiral Beatty Hotel litho
                 3 To Miss Mildred Mellick 1922 Peterboro Bread Co litho
                 4 To Messrs Bank of Nova Scotia 1931 Dunlop Tire; George & McDonnell, Johnston Tire
                 5 To Dominion woollens & Worsteds Ltd 1930 Canadian Aladdin
                 6 To Dominion woollens & Worsteds Ltd 1930 G. Whitaker & Co. Ltd, Barrie Building
                 7 To Dominion woollens & Worsteds Ltd 1930 Peterborough Hardware
                 8 To Mr Bull 1930 Grant & Thorpe Electrical Supplies
                 9 To Miss Marie O’Donnell 1930 J. J. Duffus
                 10 To Commissioner of Crown Lands 1891 E. Pearse, County Treasurer, Peterboro’
                 11 To R. C. Steele, Toronto 1893 F. J. Hall, Sheriff; note card with cancellations
                 12 To C. A. Weller 1895
                 13 To A. White 1890 J. R. Stratton
                 14 To Mrs Foley 1908
                 15 To R. C. Steele, Steele, Briggs & Co, Toronto
                 16 To R. C. Steele, Steele, Briggs & Co, Toronto 1899 Central Canada Loan and Savings Company
                 17 To R. C. Steele, Steele, Briggs & Co, Toronto 1899 Central Canada Loan and Savings Company
                 18 To R. C. Steele, Steele, Briggs & Co, Toronto 1898 Canadian Bank of Commerce
                 19 To R. C. Steele, Steele, Briggs & Co, Toronto 1899 Canadian Bank of Commerce
                 20 Postal card, Eden Ontario MISSING
                 21 To Commissioner of Crown Lands
                 22 To Catharine M. Beach, Auburn NY
                 23 To Hon E. W. Saunders US House of Representatives
                 24 To Rt Rev T. A. Jaggar D.D. Digby NS 1888
                 25 To Rt Rev Thos A. Jaggar, D.D. Atlantic City NJ 1884
                 26 To Sawyer Publishing Company, Waterville ME 1897
1      B      19b Album of stamped covers Xerox copy

C      Receipts, invoices and deeds relating to the Archer and Breckenridge families
1      C      20 Joseph Archer Receipts 1910 to 1930 Originals. Nicholls Hospital, Ruddy Burnham, Simpson and Young Agricultural, George Mather Grain and Produce, J. Robinson Dry Goods
1      C      21 Indenture John Archer, Caleb Mallory, fragmented
1      C      22 John Archer Recipts 1848 to 1873 22 Original receipts. Dixon, Waddell, Joseph Lee bills, Examiner Office, D.G. Hatton, Agricultural Mutual Assurance Association of Canada, J.C. Turnbull,
1      C      23 William F. Clark or Clarke 1823, 1839 to 1847 6 Original receipts. Treasurer’s Office – Jefferson, Ashtabula County
1      C      24 Charles Breckenridge 8 Receipts, Lea-Trimble Manufacturing Company, Parkers Cleaning, Duffus Motor Sales, Peterborough Lumber Company, Peterborough Examiner, Nicholls Hospital
1      C      25 Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment 1925 To Robert Brackenridge, continuation of pension for $28 per month
1      C      26 Motor Vechicle Operators License 1930 R.C. Brackenridge Renewal
1      C      27 Dominion Liberal Conservative Association 1907 Handbook
1      C      28 Deed 27 February 1840 Land Deed: John Archer to Isaac Archer; left in possession of Robert Milburn
1      C      29 Mortgage 1883 John Archer to Mrs. Scott
1      C      30 Mortgage 1888 John Archer et al to A.I. Wright
1      C      31 Mortgage 1888 John Archer to A.I. Wright

D      Poetry and ephemera
1      D      32 Poetry John Archer
1      D      33 Canadian Paybook for use on Active Service 1916 Original. Robert Charles Brackenridge
1      D      34 Overseas Battalion 1936 Reunion Dinner Program. Xerox.
1      D      35 Promises 1841 to 1848 Tavern Recommendation 1841, 4 Promissory notes in the Peterborough area 1840s. Signatures of Daniel Griffith and Ephraim Sanford, JPs, Joseph and John Blizard marks; R. Chisholm, Roderick Chisholm, Edward Smith. The notes are to John Gilchrist, bearer, Richard McConkey and Francis Murphy
1      D      36 John Archer 1799 Manuscript settings for psalms 50, 90, 92, and 125. Very unusual document that also contains comments for users.
1      D      37 John Archer c 1799 Signature of manuscript settings for psalms 51, 111, 77, 106, 17, 33, 148 and 24 as well as for morning hymn; continues file 36
1      D      38 Ready Reckoner 1851 A book meant to guide user through calculations related to timber, and interest. The Ready Reckoner… by J. M. Scribner was published by Wm. Alling, Rochester NY. This copy has pencil notes indicating users.
1      D      39 Receipt Book 1850 to 1862 A notebook with notes
1      D      40 Elizabeth Archer 1774 Settings for Psalms
1      D      41 Thomas Archer 1800 Settings for Psalms
1      D      42 John Archer c 1799 Settings for Psalms
1      D      43 Copybook 1837 Thomas Archer
1      D      44 Copybook 1793 Thomas Archer
1      D      45 Copybook 1793 Thomas Archer
1      D      46 Dee Prose, George and W.J. 1926 Letter to Joe Archer, In Memoriam Card
1      D      47 Business School Certificate

New Acquisitions in 2009
2      48 Retail Druggist Diary and Want Book 1886 Used mostly as a scrap book filled with cartoons, maps, photos, captions etc.
2      49 Thomas Archer Family Bible 1819 Bible filled with family history pages, letters found will list separtely
2      50 Small Photo Album
2      51 Thomas Archer Songbook Original
2      52 Small Photo Album
2      53 Thomas Archer Letter 1874
2      54 Photos and Peterborough Fire Department Dance Card Dinsdale Aid Society, Peterborough Golf Club
2      55 Thomas Archer Land Deed 1831
2      56 T. Lannin Letterhead
2      57 James McDougall Agreement 1863
2      58 John Archer Letter 1844
OS 1 Nursing Diploma 1923 Florence Archer
OS 2 Nicholls Hospital – Nursing Diploma 1918 Florence Archer
Nicholls Hospital – Silver Spoon