Archive Record
Metadata
Accession # |
A2016.59 |
Title |
John Black account ledgers, Fergus, 1874-1942; Black family genealogy, 2016. |
Date |
1874-1892, 2016 |
Description |
John Black account ledgers, Fergus, 1874-1942; Black family genealogy, 2016. John Black was born at Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland in 1836, to Robert Black (ca. 1809-1891) and Marion Black (nee Noble, ca. 1810-1886). Members of the Black family emigrated to Canada. John Black came to Ontario around 1856, staying first with his brother James, who had earlier settled in Galt, Ontario. After hearing of the sudden death of a Fergus butcher, John Black, possibly in conjunction with his brother James, decided to purchase the deceased Mr. Drout's business. John Black then moved to Fergus and became the local butcher. Helen Foote was born at Mull Hall Farm, at Kettins, Perthshire, Scotland on 29 March 1840, the eldest daughter of James Foote and Catherine Fergusson. The Foote family emigrated to Ontario from Coupar Angus, Perthshire, in 1843 and built a small limestone house on the north bank of the Grand River at Lot 6, Concession 1, West Garafraxa Township, just outside the village of Fergus. They called their new home "Blackburn Cottage". On 03 Nov. 1857, butcher, John Black wed Helen Foote. After their marriage, the couple purchased Blackburn Cottage from Helen's half-brother, David Foote. There they raised a family, while John Black Sr. expanded his business pursuits in the livestock and grain industry. In the early 1860s, during the American Civil war, he returned to Galt in partnership with John Scott and the duo specialized in raising cattle and shipping them to the United States. The business prospered, and led Black to further pursue the cattle business in Fergus. An entrepreneur, he also engaged in a number of other ventures including dealing in grain, hogs, hay and other farm produce. In 1860 the couple began replacing their cottage with an elaborate limestone dwelling complex, a process which took a good twenty years to complete, with the last structure finished in 1879. The revamped Blackburn included the house, an enclosed high-walled garden that was terraced down to the river, a rootcellar and a stables, with a long limestone breezeway connecting them. Research by Nancy Foley [see File 2] notes that in 1875, the home was equipped with running water, a bath, and shower, and the Blacks hired "imported workmen and gardeners" on their estate. On 28 June 1892, John Black left Fergus to accompany a shipment of cattle to England. He sailed from Montreal aboard the ship the "Storm King" on 03 July 1892, and on 03 August 1892 was pronounced dead in Liverpool, England. His body was returned to Fergus where it was buried in Belsyde Cemetery. His widow, Helen Black, continued to live in Fergus until she passed away in Fergus on 04 April 1925. She is also buried in Belsyde Cemetery. File 1: Black family ledger books, 1874-1942. - item 1: Account ledger of John Black Sr. of Fergus, 1874-1880, and 1900. It lists moneys paid or owing and for what reason, and includes accounts of local men, as well as those in other parts of Ontario, and the United States. Page 269 includes list of students in attendance at Miss McConnel's "Play School", including Ermine Black and Isabelle Black and others, likely from the year 1900. Hardcover, 290 numbered pages with some not present at time of donation, 33.7 x 23 x 2.5 cm. Early writing by Ermine Black on page 272. [ MU 1303 ] - item 2: Account ledger, 1892-1942. Front part of ledger lists accounts relating to the business of John Black Sr., 1892-1896. It details cattle purchased, wages paid, and other business expenses, likely written by a son and/or employee of John Black Sr., as the main hand used to record them continues after John Black Sr.'s death in August 1892; the latter half of the book consists of household accounts for the years 1910-1912, 1916, and 1922, likely recorded by Helen Black, and includes, for example, expenses for groceries, table napkins, and underwear ordered from Eaton's. Page 362 lists students in Miss McConnel's Grade 3 class in 1942, with each student's name, age, and birth year. Various children's doodles and scribbles interspersed from page 184 onwards. Hardcover, 582 pages, 42.2 x 8.5 x 4 cm. [ MU 1139 o/s ] [for scan of this account book see ARCHIVES E BOOK] File 2: The Blacks from South of Edinburgh to Fergus Canada, a genealogy of the Black family compied by Nancy Foley of Arthur, Ontario, 2016. 8 pages, typed. [ MU 1303 ] |
Creator \ Maker |
Black, John |
Creator \ Maker |
Black, Helen Foley, Nancy |
Item Name |
Ledger Account Book Genealogy |
Person \ Organization |
Black, Erminie Black, Helen Black, Isabelle Black, John Fergusson, Catherine Foote, David Foote, Helen Foote, James McConnel Scott, John |
Place |
Albany Blackburn Fergus Galt Guelph Hamilton Midlothian Montreal New York Ontario Perthshire Scotland Toronto United States West Garafraxa Twp. |
Subject |
Agriculture Children Commercial Education Genealogy Household Accounts Immigration |
Year Range from |
1874 |
Year Range to |
2016 |
Accession # |
A2016.59 |
Containers |
MU 1303 MU 1139 o/s ARCHIVES E BOOK |