Fonds MC64 - James Hannay

Title proper

James Hannay

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  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the collection.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA PANB MC64

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Physical description

75 cm of textual records

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Name of creator

(1842-1910)

Biographical history

Journalist and historian, James Hannay was born 22 April 1842 in Richibucto, Kent County, New Brunswick. His father, the Reverend James Hannay, was a Presbyterian minister; his mother, Jane Salter Hannay, was from Hants County, Nova Scotia. James was educated in Kilpatrick parish school in Scotland and at the Saint John Grammar School. In 1864 he married Margaret Ross, daughter of Elias Ross of St. John's, Newfoundland.

Although called to the bar in 1867, he left the practice of law to pursue a career in journalism. In March 1867, he became the official reporter of the New Brunswick Supreme Court, a position he held until 1873. During these years he compiled two large volumes of court decisions. In 1872 Hannay began an association with William Elder, editor of the Saint John "Telegraph". He then moved to Montréal where he served as editor of the "Herald" for one and a half years. He later held the posts of general writer, literary editor, and associate editor at the "Brooklyn Eagle". By 1888, Hannay had returned to Saint John where he took up the position as editor for the "Gazette". In 1893 he became chief editor of the Saint John "Telegraph".

In addition to his newspaper writing, James Hannay produced poems, sketches, stories, and ballads, including a number of ballads relating to Acadian history. Some of his works of fiction were published in "Stewart's Quarterly". He is perhaps best known for his historical writing, which included articles entitled "The Captivity of John Gyles among the Malicetes from 1689-1698," "The History of the Queen's Rangers", "History of the Loyalists" (1894), and "The Township of Maugerville". He also produced a history of Saint John, N.B., a history of Acadia (1879), "The Life and Times of Sir Leonard Tilley," and "History of New Brunswick" (1909). James Hannay died in 1910.

Custodial history

Beginning about 1906 James Hannay was preparing written reports on the nature of extant historical documents in the Canadian provinces. To create an inventory of documents in the Maritimes, he examined government records of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island as well as correspondence with clergy of various denominations. Some of his listings of extant documents are included in this collection.

Scope and content

This collection contains some of the listings of historical materials compiled by James Hannay in the first decade of the 20th century. It includes handwritten and typescript lists of documents of government offices and government bodies in New Brunswick -- Auditor General's office, the Crown Lands office, the Executive Council, the House of Assembly, the Legislative Library, the Lieutenant-Governor, and the Provincial Secretary.

It also includes listings of records of the Clerk of the Peace, Registrar of Deeds, Registrar of Probate, and other administrators of the counties of Albert, Carleton, Charlotte, Gloucester, Kent, Kings, Madawaska, Northumberland, Queens, Restigouche, Saint John, Sunbury, Victoria, Westmorland, and York in New Brunswick.

The collection also includes similar listings of records of civil administrators of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island as well as Hannay's working notes, copies of his correspondence with the Dominion Archivist (1909), a sketch of the career of L. A. Wilmot, and copies of "Journal of Acadia, 1694-1695" by M. de Villebon and "La Mothe Cadillac," a memoir relating to Acadia and New England.

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The material was collected and transferred to the Provincial Archives by the New Brunswick Legislative Library in 1974.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

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No restrictions

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An inventory is available.

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