Archives
“Thomson, Elizabeth - V23 P-6, Thomson, Elizabeth - V23 P-6”. People. Kingston, Ontario, 1827. V23 P-6.
Queen’s University Archives. https://hdl.handle.net/1974.1/4ed16bbe-8a17-4ce0-9ce2-9fe53d9d1f9d.
Elizabeth Ruttan Thomson Townley (1786 - 1876) was the first Canadian woman to run a newspaper - The Upper Canada Herald - after her husband, Julia Hart's publisher, became involved in politics. After his passing, she married a Reverend Townley. The following letter was written during her second marriage and has been posted on this site with the permission of the Wellington Township County and Museum.
Please contact them for further use.
The original announcement for The Upper Canada Herald
by Hugh C. Thomson promising to be candid and impartial, 1819.
(University of Alberta)
The Louis Roy Press, one of the oldest surviving printing presses in the world.
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This issue speaks of coughs and consumption; land for sale; an advertisement for a new tavern and coffee house in Montreal; a frustrated subscriber wanting debts to be paid, and Elizabeth's husband being called out for having a friend who was a "silly elf."
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The cost of advertising is discussed in this issue; "6 lines and under 2s [sentences?] 6d [dollars?]" etc., and were continued until written notice, and had to be delivered the morning before the desired issue. Printing was done at the Herald's office and a book called "Albert and Eliza" could be bought there. Further advertisements included a boarding school (perhaps Julia faced competition?); a request for millinery apprentices; a chemist offering his service to brewers; a lost promise of money, and a ghost story involving a joke about shaving.
This page truly enlightens contemporary readers about what the mood was like during the Upper Canada Rebellion (1837 - 1838). Similar to today's social media, The Herald (aka The Upper Canada Herald) reprinted what other newspapers around the country and the States were commenting on such as what happened at Montgomery's Tavern (Toronto). One subscriber on page two declares "DISCIPLINE! DISCIPLINE! DISCIPLINE!!!!" More domestic affairs in this issue includes a lost leather book, popular books, and "Furs! Furs! Furs! For Sale."
Side note - A Daniel Ruttan made notices on page 4 that for two farms were for sale near Kingston. He was Elizabeth's brother and a land agent, whose office may have been on Store Street, now Princess Street.
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Letter from Addie Thomson to her grandmother, Elizabeth.
June 15th 1870
My dear Nana,
It is a long time since I have written to you. But I have been so busy with lessons, I have hardly had time to do anything but practice and learn my lessons. Queens birthday was very dull in Fergus Elora all the amusements were in Fergus + Salem. Papa drove us to Fergus in the morning, and in the afternoon Mrs Lapenotiere asked us to spend the afternoon and Evening as it was Freddy’s Birthday we had fine fun And in the evening Mr Lapenotiere set fireworks off in the evening And they wer every pretty. We had confirmation on Asencension day. There were twenty-four confirmed Grandpapa was here and he said we were to come to Paris when the fruit is ripe. The Baby was christened on sunday evening. Mamma’s was called Redginald Hugh Ruttan + Mrs Grossman’s was called Edwin Addison Mrs Hinges Howell Horace. And Miss Pagets Charles Cambell Mrs Pagets was the best of all When Mama was jogging the baby to keep it quiet she lost her cuff buttons the pearl[?] and torquoise [sic] Papa went to look for it but he could only find the gold part but could not find the other part Mrs Farrow[?] andI went to look for it but we could not find it. But Mr Shields the Sexton found it and gave it to Papa Grandpapa took Heny[?] to Paris when he went, Mrs Swerry[?] bo [-] made me such a nice little present of a purse ornamented with bead flowers and Niagara Falls worked in beads Charlie and Henry to---outs[?] to see Mr Johnstons school and next year. Will you tell me when you wright write what you had on Queens Birthday
So good bye.
Your loving Grandaughter,
Addie Thomson
Elora
"Addie Thomson to Elizabeth Ruttan Townley, 1870 June 15" Reverend Adam Townley (1808-1887), Paris, Ontario, letters, accounts, 1834-1887. https://wcma.pastperfectonline.com/Archive/B84AFC8F-3E08-4F9D-B152-426833755590