PETERBOROUGH MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES, Fonds 71-017; formerly MG 1731

Peter Robinson fonds

1823 1844

52cm of textual records and other material; 4 boxes; 1650 pages

BIOGRAPHY / HISTORY: Between 1823 and 1825 two large groups of impoverished Irish people were brought to Upper Canada under an emigration plan proposed by the British government. The Hon. Peter Robinson (1785-1 838) was appointed to implement this experimental plan. Thousands of Irish families applied to settle in the New World, beginning in 1823. The 1823 emigrants settled in the Bathursi District, (eastern Ontario). The second group left Ireland in 1825, bound for Peterborough County (Newcastle District). Some 2000 people made the journey in 9 ships.

SCOPE AND CONTENT:

A comprehensive fonds that documents the 1823 and I 825emigration of Irish Catholic settlers to Upper Canada under Peter Robinson.

‘I’he fonds includes: original ship lists; general Robinson correspondence (1823-1843); embarkation certificates which includes names, ages. parish of each family (1825): applications and certificates of recommendation; location tickets for settlers (1823); schedule of location of the 1823-25 emigrants;

list of settlers and supplies of tools, clothing, livestock and other goods provided upon arrival (by township); ship surgeons reports (1825); account books (1825, 1844); questionnaires completed by emigrants (1828); assorted other papers; original poster announcing the Robinson emigration to Canada, dated at Cork, 1825.

The Peter Robinson Papers were originally donated to the Victoria Museum by Christopher Robinson, a nephew of Peter Robinson. Later, the Public Library Board transferred the papers to the Archives of Ontario. By 1957, the new Peterborough Historical Society was beginning to rebuild a museum collection. The Historical Society hoped to acquire the Robinson papers. After years of

negotiations, the Robinson Papers were formally “repatriated” to the Archives in 1971.

Restrictions: open access

Finding Aid: yes

Related Accession(s): 59-010

Accruals Possible: Accruals are not expected.

1971-017 Peter Robinson Papers

A) Embarkation Certificates — 1825

B) Applications & Certificates of Recommendation

C) Correspondence, 1823-43

ID) Emigrants Embarked on the Hebe and Stakesby, 1823

E) Location Tickets for Settlers, District of Bathurst, 1823

F) Emigrants Located in Townships of Ramsay, Pakenhan and Huntley, 1823

G) Schedule of Location, 1823 (Bound Volume)

H) Returns of Emigrants Embarked at Cork, 1825

J) Families according to Townships – Douro, Smith and Emily, 1825

K) List of Families according to Townships, 1825 (copy similar to Series J but with some differences)

L) Register of Goods to Settlers, 1825

M) Account Book, 1825

N) Schedule of Purchases of Lots in Peterborough County, 1844

0) Account Book, 1844

P) General Material Concerning Robinson’s

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For more information please reach out to Peterborough Museum and Archives.

Website: Peterborough Museum and Archives

Phone: 705-743-5810

Location: Museum Drive at 300 Hunter Street East, Peterborough, ON K9H 1H1

Hours (as of Sept 29, 2024):

Mon-Friday 9AM to 5PM

Weekends and (most) Holidays Noon to 5PM