Letter to Isabel Walsh from J. M. Crysler regarding family history

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AFTER TEN DAYS RETURN TO
J. M. CRYSLER
CLERK & TREASUREER, TOWNSHIP OF NIAGARA
R, R. NO. 4 ST. CATHARINES, ONT.

Mrs. Isabel M. Walsh
Care of Mr. W. Armstrong
R. R. /. Niagara on the Lake
Ont

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     The earliest available record of he Durham family ^ coming to Canada is that of July 8th 1794 when James, Edward and Isaac Durham appeared before the Land Board at Niagara praying for a location of land. Following are the Board minutes "Petitioners are the sons of the late James Durham, deceased, that their father suffered imprisonment and loss of property in the colonies on account of his loyalty. Six years since he came out this Province and attained a location of 200 acres of land but never located for his sons. Pray for a location of land and that Cab no. 3 and no. 4 he assigned them on the Township of Flamborough, first concession. Ordered that the petitioners shall have a grant of a Cab each."
     From other sources we learn that the mothers name was Eve^. May 116th 1797 she petitioned for ^ and was granted 250 acres family land and 200 acres as a seller. Later she received a Land grant in the Township of Burford.
     Joseph and Jeremiah, also sons of James and Eve, petitioned for a gran of land. Joseph stating he had "served a regular apprenticeship to the [something] of a wheel tonight." John Durham also applied for land but does not state he was a son. He probably was and was granted 200 acres but we have no record of the [transaction].
     James and Eve Durham lived in the state of New Jersey previous to coming to Niagara. They also bought three daughters with them, Catherine, Lois and Sarah. The last married Haggai Cook. The three daughters were buried at Lundy's Land and all have grave markers.
     The five sons of James and Eve all received grants of Land, as follows:
James a grant ^ in Barton ^ twp and also one [word] adjacent] township, County of Helton.
Isaac, a grant in Flamboro twp. and one in Stanford Twp
Jospeh and Jeremiah each received a grant in White [deer?] twp.
Edward received a grant in Barton township
Mary, the wife of James, received a grant in Burford twp.
     The evidence given by James, Edward and Isaac, while short ^ contains a lot of information. The father came to Niagara in 1788. He was imprisoned and suffered loss of property in the Colonies. Had died since coming here. Had obtained 200 acres of land for himself but more for his children.
     The deed from the Crown was probably in the name of the father of these men, the son James we presume was the eldest and as such inherited the estate of his father by the law of inheritance at that time.
     In order to have the family history as nearly correct as possible is as often

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necessary to break away from the traditional. Something I have had to do many times in our family history and it often was a bitter pill to swallow. We had it that our fathers came from the Mohawk but this had to be altered. Most of the people in the Mohawk Valley were Dutch. The English settled in New Jersey and it would look as though the Durham's came from there.
     Your records from Vol XXV. are quite reliable but I think the corrections marked should be made.
     The history given by yourself, sheets 1,203, are quickly (?) prepared and you have some interesting history to give but I think here to corrections should be made, so that whatever we hand down to others we can at least say "it is reliable."
     Your Bible records are very complete, as good if not the best I have found. I think they should be prefaced by the records I have attached to them.
     If my suggestions meet with your approval and you wish to follow them return the papers and I will do the best I can. At the same time I think it would be quite in keeping if you felt so disposed to rewrite your history (not the Bible Records) using any additional information I have given. This would give the history of a personal family touch that should be worth something to your family later on. Mrs Harry Vrooman did some typing for me and I think she would be pleased to do the same for you if you cared to ask her.
     I have my work, such as it is, near an End and an [desire] to be through with it, after spending 25 years picking up a itch(?) here and there, spending the few spare moments that come, at this work. It consists of a family history, genealogy and copies of old family papers in connection with the Crysler family. Also short histories and genealogies of some keep [word] families with which intermarriages took place. It is purely family history but there are mentions (?) and documents of more or less value as applying to the early history of Niagara Township.
     Please let me have the papers at your earliest convenience by the 12th of April if possible, as we are about ready for the printer.
To Mrs Isabel Walsh
Yours Truly
J. M. Crysler