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[photocopied 197-? – 2003 (originally created 1800 – 2003)] (Creation)
- Creator
- Belcher, Robert Digby
Physical description area
Physical description
123 cm of textual records 1.8 GB of textual records 112 photographs 5.5 GB of photographs 11 post cards 0.5 GB of post cards Some photographs are torn and in poor condition.
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Digby Belcher was born on March 22, 1951 in Virden, Manitoba and was raised in Brandon, Manitoba. Robert moved to London, Ontario in 1967, and later to Toronto, Ontario. By 2002, he was residing in Perkinsfield, Ontario. He worked as a professional musician, photographer and artist. Over the course of several decades, Robert conducted genealogy research related to his ancestors, being the descendants of John Belcher, born 1775, culminating the creation of a family history booklet. Robert Belcher was the great-great-grandson of Elizabeth Furey (nee: Grafton) and John Belcher (1800-1882), who worked as a blacksmith, bell-maker and businessman in Southampton, Bruce County, Ontario. Robert Belcher was the great-grandson of Augusta Lucinda Barnes (1843-1905) and Col. Alexander Emerson Belcher (1844-1926). A.E. Belcher was a soldier, businessman, politician and public servant. He served in the Fenian Raids and eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He engaged in banking and commercial activities, being a commercial traveler, one of the founders of the Commercial Travellers' Association, and a private banker through Belcher & Co. Bankers in Southampton, Ontario. He was elected as councilor for the Village of Southampton for two years in 1864. He served as Reeve of Southampton from 1894-1896 and 1898, and as Mayor from 1905-1908. He was also active in Conservative politics in Bruce County. He also wrote poetry and was active in fraternal organizations. Robert Belcher was the grandson of Eva Ann Danard (1876-1910) and Emerson McKenzie Digby Belcher (1877-1931). Emerson was born in Brantford, Ontario and later worked in Southampton, Ontario at Knechtel Furniture Factory as a cabinet maker and furniture finisher. Robert Belcher was the son of Doris Edna (Kritzer) Belcher (1907-1988) and Thomas Digby Belcher (1909-2001). Thomas Digby was raised in Kemble, Ontario by Louis and Ada Danard. In 1934, Thomas Digby moved to Manitoba where he practiced as a chiropractor.
Custodial history
Scope and content
This fonds consists chiefly of records created and collected by Robert Digby Belcher, in paper and digital form, during the course of his Belcher family genealogy research, which included research concerning the Grafton, Danard, Barnes, and Downing families. Such records include notes, family trees/charts, reference resources, correspondence, newspaper clippings, reproduced maps, reproduced vital statistic and land records, A.E. Belcher poetry, Southampton postcards and records reflecting Southampton history. Family photographs, in paper and digital form, including photographs of the families of Col. A.E. Belcher, Emerson Belcher, Brit Belcher, and Thomas Digby Belcher and the Danard family also form part of this fonds. Included in the fonds are original personal records collected by Robert Digby Belcher as part of his genealogical research, including: correspondence by A.E. Belcher to P.J. Scott, (1900, 1902), tax notices to E.D. Belcher (1911-1916, 1918), Traders Fire Insurance certificates (1910, 1911), draft will of Eva Ann Belcher (1907), Adoption/custody Agreement (1911), Dr. T.D. Belcher stationary, T.D. Belcher and Doris Kritzer vital statistic certificates, sheet music, and a “The Empire” portfolio. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Numbered genealogy research files and records Belcher genealogy research records Belcher-related families genealogy research records Belcher family personal records Genealogy correspondence Genealogy reference materials Photographs Sketches "The John Belcher Family: A Canadian Family History" book Belcher family genealogy computer disks
Notes area
Physical condition
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Estate of Robert Digby Belcher
Arrangement
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Availability of other formats
Many of the records are available on computer disk (see the final series)
Restrictions on access
Some items in the Belcher family personal records, such as S.I.N. cards and death certificates, may be restricted. The Archivist will provide details upon inquiry.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Associated materials
Additional information about Robert Belcher's great-grandfather, Alexander Emerson Belcher, can be found in the A.E. Belcher fonds/collection.
Accruals
General note
All of the research documents were received by the Archives in labelled files in no discernable order. Some files were labelled with a number as well as a title. The numbered files were arranged in numerical order. All research files have maintained their original titles.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Access points
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Name access points
- Belcher, Alexander Emerson, 1844-1926 (Subject)
- Belcher, Thomas Digby (Subject)
- Barnes, Augusta Lucinda (Subject)
- Danard, Eva Ann (Subject)
- Belcher, Emerson McKenzie Digby, 1877-1931 (Subject)
- Belcher, Doris Edna (Subject)