Title and statement of responsibility area
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Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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[ca. 1754]-[ca. 1955], predominant 1826-1897 (Creation)
- Creator
- Lesslie (family)
Physical description area
Physical description
97.5 cm of textual records
43 photographs
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Lesslie family originated in Dundee, Scotland, where Edward Lesslie was born in May 1765. He married Grace (Grizel) Watson on August 13, 1798 in Dundee. Although his father was a sailor, Edward Lesslie established himself as a bookseller and printers ink maker in Dundee. He is described in the Scottish Book Trade Index as a leader of the advanced radicals who narrowly escaped prosecution for sedition. Further details about this part of his life are unknown. What is known is that by 1819 he decided to emigrate to Canada with his family. He sent his son John in 1820 with a supply of goods to open a store. Upon arrival, John chose York (Toronto) and, together with his travelling companion, William Lyon Mackenzie, established a business in the book and drug trade. They later opened a store in Dundas, which, in addition to drugs and books, dealt in a variety of other merchandise. In 1822, ill health prevented the emigration of the remaining family so Edward sent his sons James and Charles, and daughter Grace on a chartered brig loaded with supplies for the stores. James ended up in Kingston, operating a store there for the next four years. In the meantime, Edward and Grace and their remaining children finally arrived in Upper Canada and settled in Dundas where they operated the store now named Lesslie and Sons. The Lesslie family played an important role in early life in Dundas. They operated a thriving business and owned considerable land in the area. Edward Lesslie was instrumental in establishing the Free Church in Dundas, which offered meeting space to a variety of denominations. John Lesslie would continue to manage the store in Dundas, become the postmaster, and purchase a brewery. He and three of his sisters remained in Dundas. Edward Lesslie died in 1828 and management of the business fell to the sons, John, James, Charles, and William. John remained in charge of the Dundas branch while James operated the York store with the help of their youngest brother, Joseph. William operated the store in Kingston. Charles emigrated to Davenport, Iowa, disillusioned after the rebellion of 1837. He would remain there for the rest of his life. Joseph Lesslie eventually became postmaster of Toronto. He and his wife, Sarah Graham, had seven children, of which two were doctors: Rolph Bidwell Lesslie and Joseph Walter Lesslie. Rolph Lesslie led an adventurous life, acting as surgeon to African expeditions and in the Turko-Russian war. One of Joseph and Sarah’s granddaughters, Constance Grace Lesslie Harding, daughter of their daughter Grace, led an equally adventurous life. She rebelled against her upbringing and lived a Bohemian life in Europe. Of the remaining Lesslie family, the eldest son, Edward, was written out of the will, his father disagreeing with his life choices. He died in Hamilton in 1875.
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Scope and content
The fonds consists of correspondence, diaries, wills, memo books, scrapbooks, memoirs, certificates, bibles, books, property and financial records, and photographs documenting the Lesslie family members’ personal, professional, and political lives in Dundas, Toronto, and outside of Canada. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Series 1: Edward Lesslie family Series 2: John Lesslie Series 3: Joseph Lesslie family Sub-series 3.1: Rolph Bidwell Lesslie Series 4: Photographs
Notes area
Physical condition
Some material is fragile.
Immediate source of acquisition
Most of the fonds were donated by Mrs. Muriel Cameron and Miss Lesslie Bell of Montreal, daughters of Mary Graham Lesslie Bell, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Some of the photographs in Series 4 can be found in the Gallery on the Museum's website here http://dundasmuseum.ca/gallery/photos/
The Lesslie Family online exhibit featuring transcripts, scanned original documents, and photographs is here: http://dundasmuseumandarchives.wordpress.com/
Restrictions on access
Open.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
An inventory is available at the Dundas Museum and Archives and here http://www.dundasmuseum.ca/pdf/Lesslie%20family%20fonds%20inventory.pdf
Associated materials
James Lesslie fonds
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Edward Lesslie and Sons (Subject)
- Lesslie, James (Subject)
- Mackenzie, William Lyon, 1795-1861 (Subject)