Index to Sellar's Notes
1,400 pages of Robert Sellar's notes; records of his early 1880's interviews with first settlers and their families, in preparation for writing the "History of Huntingdon County and the Seigniories of Beauharnois and Chateauguay"
Source Documents
Sellar's original four volume Notes of Conversations With First Settlers of the District of Beauharnois is held at the National Archives of Canada. We and the Chateauguay Valley Historical Society each have complete copies. Photocopies are available upon request.
Example pages from the notes are linked to a few of the names in the Index below. These names are easily identified by their accompanying hyperlink.
Index - <Ctrl-F> to search
Volume 1 - Contents:
1-45. James Wright, North Georgetown, died
November 1884
14-15. Sandy Williamson
15-16. Mrs. Thompson
45-6. Richard Waller, Franklin
46-7. Edward Sadler, Ormstown
47. Fargo
48- McPhee brothers
49-73. Robert Morrison, died 1887
73-83. John McLennan, Williamstown. Died I think in Spring of 1886
84-9. Archd Cameron died August 1914, 89 years old
89-90. John Donaldson, Ormstown
90-3. Wolcot Thayer - Burke, NY
93-4. Alanson [Alonzo?] Roberts
95-7. Joseph Dumas
97-104. Mrs and John McCartney, South Georgetown; see also after Mrs Norval)
105-9. John McDougall, Ormstown
110-17. David Bryson (Stony Creek) Ormstown
118-21. Wm McNaughton, Ormstown
120. Mrs Archd McEachern, Ormstown
121-30. Mrs Norval, Beauharnoi
131-2. John McCartney
133-6. Moses Branchaud, QC, Beauharnois
136. Robt Beatty, Ormstown
137-53. James McArthur, Dewittville
153-8. John Donaldson, Ormstown
158-64. John Hunter
164-66. James Hamilton (died 1888), Hinchinbrook
166-7. Mrs Blachford, Boyd Settlement
168-90. Wm Grant (died 1885), Allan's Corners
190-91. Jas Whittal, Upper Ormstown
191-2. Robt Whittal
192-201. Wm McKell, English River. Died 1888.
202-8. David Wilson (died 1887), English River
209-12. Thomas Gebbie, Howick
212. Geo Rutherford, Tullochgorum
213-15. James Sangster, Ormstown
215. John Sadler
216. Wm Reeves
216-17. Mrs Robt Jack, Chateaugay Basin
217-21. Thomas Clark, Chateaugay Basin
221-25. Dr Muir, South Georgetown
225-30. John Younie, Tullochgorum
228. Gilbert Cook (in Younie's narrative)
229. John Symons
230-239. Mrs Younie
239-40. Wm Ogilvie, South Georgetown. Died 1885.
240-48. John Symons (see also statement by him in Younie's recollection)
249-260. Valleyfield Canal Riots
261-270. John Symons
270-71. Geo Cross, Ormstown. Died 1888.
271-72. Wm Davidson
272-73. Geo Elliot, Ormstown. Died 1887.
274-77. Duncan Cumming, Ormstown
277-78. Richd Carr, Huntingdon
278-78. James Cowan
279-80. Mrs McNee, Huntingdon
280-85. Norton Creek Road
Volume 2 Contents
1-17. John Symons, St Louis de Gonzague
11-13. The murder of John Simpson
17. John Gilmore, Huntingdon. Died 1888
26. R.B. Somerville M.P. for Huntingdon
29½-36. J.C. Fitch, Toronto, Ont.
36-7. John Symons
37-39. Dr Shirriff and Mrs, Huntingdon
39. Mrs Robb, Godmanchester
39½-42. Robt Clark, Trout River
42-3. Irwin Armstrong, Ormstown Con.
43½-46. Arthur Herdman, Hinchinbrook
46-49. Geo Sayer, Elgin
49-50. John Symons
50-1. John Gilmore
51-3. John Symons
53-4. Alex McNaughton
54-7. Dr. Shirriff
58-9. David Elder
59a-60. Miscellaneous memoranda - Orange lodge
60. Alex Currie
60-2. J.C.Wilson, Franklin
64-5. Robt Stevenson, Havelock
67-8. Thos Blair, Franklin
68-9. John March
70-2. John Younie
72-3. John McFee, Russeltown
73. Robt Elliot, Fertile Creek
74-5. Peter Reid, Jamestown
75. Robt Smaill, Elgin
75. S.H. Schuyler
76. James McWilliams
76-8. Rev A. Colquhoun's Register
78-9. Robt Bennie, English River
79-84. Rev A. McWattie's Register
84-6. Georgetown churchyard
86. An old store bill
86-103. Extracts from life of Bishop Mountain,
104-6. An old process verbal and Deed (Seigniorial)
106. John Craig, English River
107-10. Peter Caldwell, Godmanchester
110-15. Hugh Cameron, Hinchinbrook
115. Wm McIntosh, Elgin
116-18. Mrs Wm Cunningham, Plank road
119-26. James Hamilton, Hinchinbrook
126-33. Hiram Gentle, Franklin, died 1889
133-38. Wm Cunningham
136. Mr and Mrs Andrew Oliver in body of
Cunningham's statement
138-40. Dr Shirriff
140-2. Peter Caldwell
142.-5 John Gilmore
145. James Hamilton
150-1. Miss Biggar, Wm Henderson
151. Mrs Palmer
152-7. Joseph Scriver and Mrs (Elgin)
157-61. Elias Wallis
161-77. Hiram Gentle
178-9. Rev A. McWattie (marriages)
180. Wm Begg, English River
181. Jas Carruthers
181-2.
John Carr
182. Wm Caldwell
183-84. Thus Cooper
184-94. Nelson Manning, Franklin
194. Mrs Haire (Dean[?] Fulton), Franklin, Wislons's Tavern, Mr. Craik's
death.
195-201. Fisher Ames, Franklin
201-3. Mrs Moe, Franklin
203-4. H. Gentle, Franklin
204-5. Joseph Scriver
205-6. Daniel Black, Godmanchester
206-8. James Fortune, Huntingdon
208. Messrs Gregory Dunning & Co[?]
208-13. Colonel Rogers, Franklin
215-20. James O'Neill, Hemmingford, Wm O'Neill, Covey Hill
220-1. Luke DeWolfe, Covey Hill
221-8. Wm Barr, Hemmingford
229. Wm Rea, Port Lewis; Wm Ross, Dewittville
229-30. Wm Smellie
230. Thos Smith
230-1. James Clelland, Hemmingford
231-8. Richard Sweet, Hemmingford
240-1. Thomas Robson, Hemmingford
241-3. James Brownlee, Hemmingford
244-52. Humpbreys Nesbitt, Hemmingford D.
252-4. Nelson Proper, Hemmingford
254-5. James Merlin, Hemmingford
255-7. Daniel Dunlop, Hemmingford
258-9. Wm Reay, Hemmingford
259-60. Julius Scriver M.P., Hemmingford
260-61. Ernest Ames - the Cantwell tragedy
262. Geo McIver, Hemmingford
263-8. John (Squire) Manning's Papers, Frankin Road
268-71. Wm Cantwell, Franklin
274-77a. Fisher Ames, Franklin
278. Wm Chalmers, Huntingdon
279. John Craik, Franklin
280-1. Robinson, Postmaster - memo
281-3. Colonel Rogers, Franklin
284-90. Alex Lunan, Godmanchester
290-1. Mrs Peter McFarlane, Elgin
Volume 3 Contents
1-12. Chas McClatchie, Hinchinbrook
13-26. Wm Taylor, Hinchinbrook
26-30. John Anderson, South Georgetown
30-7. James McDonald, Godmanchester
39-40. James Fenny, bailiff, Huntingdon
40-1. Academy Essays on History of Huntingdon
42-5. Archd Adams, Hinchinbrook
46-8. Extracts from Belden's Atlas
49-50. Wm. H. Taylor, Hinchinbrook
51-2. Richard Sweet, Hemmingford
52-4. Rob't McNarland, New Ireland
54-8. Edward [Edouard] Dupuis, St Anicet
58-9. David Sandilands, Athelstan
59-60. Isaac Gardner, Hinchinbrook
60-2. Mrs Wilkinson (nee Best), Ormstown
63-4. Richard Carruthers, Ormstown
65-7. Nicholas Smith, Ormstown
67-70. John Anderson
70-1. Militia Service 1837 etc[?]
72. Robt Clark, Trout River
73-4. Capt John Rankin, St Anicet
74. Wm Anderson, Hinchinbrook
75-6. Robert Mills, Jamestown
76-9. John Parnby [Parnly, Parntry?]
79-83. Mrs Robson, Boyd Settlement
84-95. Alex Johnston, Hinchinbrook
96-98. Mrs Peak
99-102. J.C. Fitch, Toronto, Ont
103-115. Lewis McKay, Hinchinbrook
115-120. James Rennie
118-19. Extracts from records of burials in Rennie graveyard
120-2. Mrs Barrett, Huntingdon
123-5. John White, Godmanchester
126. John Sullivan P.L.S., Valleyfleld
126-7. Walter Patton, Godmanchester
127. Letter of Major McGibbon 1838, Memo of Rebellion
128-9. Notes explanatory of Map of encounter at Chateaugay.
The map is copied from one at Ottawa and is inaccurate
as to scale.
129-30. Extract about Raid in Malone; Parishes, Dates of Erection of
131-2. Andrew Oliver, Rockburn
133-5. Letter of Capt Archainbault, War of 1812
135-7. Memo obtained from Nuns about Seigniory of Chateauguay
137. Younie's estimate of yield of grain
138-42. Wm Edwards P.L.S., Franklin
142-3. Geo Sayer, Elgin
143. Wm Miller, English River
144-5. John Crichton, Valleyfleld
145. Archd Johnston, Hinchinbrook
146-7. Benj Bachaud, St Anicet
148. John Hyde, Hinchinbrook
148-9. Alex McNee, Huntingdon
149-50. John Fee, Hinchinbrook
151-3. Mrs Gilmore, Huntingdon
153-7. John Gilmore, Huntingdon
157-9. Robt Cowan, Godmanchester
159-60. Donald McNicol, Glengarry Co.
160-4. Duncan McMillan, St Anicet
165-9. John Ferns, Godmanchester
169-70. Elias Wallis, Elgin
171-2. Proces verbal of Athelstan road
172-3. John White, Godmanchestere
174. Prescription of Spectacles, Dr Buller
174-80. James Brown, Chateaugay N.Y.
180-1. John Anderson
181-4. Mrs Peter Caldwell, Godmanchester
184. James Curran, Covey Hill
186-90. John Gilmore, Huntingdon
190-2. Beechridge churchyard
192-5. Rev J. Crombie, Smith's Falls
195-6. James Brown, Port Lewis
196-8. Peter Outterson, Hinchinbrook
198-201. James Sadler Ormstown
202-12. Mrs Geo Pringle and Geo Pringle, Godmanchester
213-14. Mrs R.N. Walsh
215-17. Mrs Archd Henderson
218-19. Hiram Seely
220-1. James Gillies, Elgin
221-2. James McCrackin, Boyd Settlement
222-3. Josiah Black, English River
223-230c. R.B. Somerville M.P.P.
230c-231 John Clark
232-5. Mrs (Laird) Anderson d/o James Tully
235-7. Alex Ogilvie, St Anicet
237-40. John Muir, Hinchinbrook (see 246-7, below)
240-1. Danl M'farlane, Elgin
241-43. Geo Pringle
243-5. John Hunter
245-6. Patrick Talon, Godmanchester
246. Rev Mr Johnson, Westville N.Y
246-7 Muir continues
247-58. Mrs Chas Lanktree, Elgin
258-9 Unidentified, probably more Lanktree; refs Perrigo, Reeves
259-60. Mrs. Norman McDonald nee Stewart
260-61. Alex McCaig
262-5. Mrs Thos Lanktree, nee Johns
266-9. James Pringle, Huntingdon
269-70. Thos Burrows, Huntingdon
271-4. David Elder
275-81. Mrs Burnside, (nee Shields) Trout River
281. Geo Burnside
282-7. James Hamilton
287. Miss Biggar
288-95. Wm CaIdwell, Godmanchester
295-336. James Marshall, Trout River
335. Mrs. Marxhall
337. Hugh Wilson, Valleyfield
338. W M Watson, Hinchinbrook
339. Robt Wilson, English River
340-7. Mrs Merril Cooper, Valleyfield
348. M[N,U?].J. Robillard
349-62. David Elder
362. Seigniory Dues
363-4. Memo Thos Brown[?], St Timothy parish wolves
364. Wm Allan, Allan's Corners
365. Wm Brown, Godmanchester
365. Thos Bigger, Godmanchester
366. John H. Brown, Elgin
366. Jas Baird
367-70. David Lamb, Trout River[?]
370. Alex Copeland
371-2. Andw Cunningham, Godmanchester
372-3. Beauharnois graveyard
374. Andrew Elliot describes a mob scene. possilbe lynching (incomplete)
Volume 4 Contents
1. Rev Andw Miller, Malone N.Y
7. Dr Gillis, Fort Covington N.Y.
9. Trout River N.Y churchyard
10. Extracts from old Malone Papers
11. Alex Leslie, St Anicet
12. Mrs Jas Sangster, Ormstown
13. James Caldwell, Godmanchester
16. Mrs Robt Ford, Godmanchester
23. John Ford, Godmanchester
25. James Sangster, Ormstown
27. Capt Stalker, Port Lewis
30. Robt. Kelly, Hinchinbrook
35. Michael McVea, Godmanchester
40. John Woodrow, Jamestown
46. Richard Furlong, Jamestown
47. John Finn, Jamestown
48. Elgin petition
49. Extracts War of 1812 at French Mills
52½. Notes about Dundee by John Davidson
70½. John Crookshank, Dundee
71-73. John Gray
73. Mrs Duncan Moodie, Dundee
79. Peter Gardiner, Dundee
82. Nicholas Farlinger, Dundee
86. Wm Schryer, Dundee
88. Donald McPhee, Dundee
90. John Muir, Hinchinbrooke,
Extracts from old Quebec journals
97. Prices of wheat from 1729
98. Wm Brown, Wm Reeves, Sheriff LaBerge
99-110. Beauharnois canal riots
100. Mrs. Peter Caldwell, Jas McWattie
101-4. Wm Edwards
105-6. Mrs. James Fortune
107-15 "A Glimpse of Old Huntingdon" (of 1830)
111. Judge McCord's appointment
111. Grants to schools
112. Dunscomb's election
114. Miscellaneous extracts
119-20. Statement by Bowron
123-6. "A Reminiscence of Rebellion"
128-36. "Some Recollections of Old Times"
129. Census of 1825
131. Report of Select Committee on Civil Government
136-42. John Muir
139. Militia reorganized 1827
143. Roads
150-208 Agricultural Society reports
155. Schools
165-170 Seigniory of Beauharnois
168½. Census of 1831
170. More evidence about Seigniory; Report of
Stevenson about St Louis River; Roads 1834;
Evidence of Militiamen in War of 1812; Extracts
from Blotter of William Craik; Extracts from
Trials of 1838
186. Mrs. Geo Hunter nee Cook, James Johnston--Athelstan, James Learmont--Elgin
187-8. Mrs. Parlan McFarlane, nee Marshall
188. Wm Crawford, Davic Milne, Mrs. James Marshall nee Crawford--Trout
River
189. Rev. J B Muir, Alex McEdward, St. Anicet
190. John Nesbit, Trout River
190-1. John Patterson
191. Antoine Primeau, Samuel Peckham--Hinchinbrooke, Arch Paul--Elgin
192. Samuel Peckover--Athelstan, James Terry
193-4. Col. James Reid
194-204. Trial of Cardinal; Receipts and Expenditures
of Seigniory; Claims of Rebels; Indians
204. Dunscomb Election; Beauharnois Canal
206-12. State of Agriculture; the Seigniory
215. Sheriff Hainault
216. Extracts from Hough's History
227. Extracts from Bouchette's Topographical Dictionary
239. Extracts from Lewis' History
251. Archd Muir's Estimate of Farmer's Income
252. Daniel Boyd
254. Samuel Graham
257. Mrs Chas Lanktree
263. Extracts from Wilkinson's Memoirs
267-70. Extracts from the history of the war, 1812-16
270. Extracts from Article in Quarterly about deSalaberry
273. deSalaberry letter to Maryanne, upon defeat of the Americans
275. Extracts from Anderson's Memoir about deSalaberry
277-84. deSalaberry report to the Governor
286. James Wattie
287. James Cowan
287-301. Speech of Squire Manning
301-2. Chas McDonald
302-7. John Symons, Free Church matters
308. John Muir
309-10. Daniel Shanks
310-11. Mrs John Elder nee Tully, Trout River
311-13. First Deed of Seigniory
314. Extracts from Gourlay's Statistical Account
323. Mrs. John Hastie--south Georgetwon
324-6. Mrs Chas Lanktree, nee Baker
326-7. S E Ames
327-30. John Muir, Hinchinbrooke (see Vol 3 pg 237)
330-32. John Muir, Hinchinbrooke
333. Jas Brodie
333-5. Robert Mack, Elgin