These McGill papers are entirely concerned with his property and estate. They comprise legal documents and copies of letters (some in McGill's hand) concerning his land holdings on St. Paul St., Montréal, in Stanbridge, and in Detroit. McGill's cash book, 1809-1815, and copy by W.D. Lighthall of a deed of conveyance to McGill of some land formerly occupied by the city fortifications, 1805, are also included, as is a blue-print and sketch by W.D. Lighthall of the site of McGill's St. Paul St. house. Estate papers comprise a probate of McGill's will, copied by Alice Lighthall, and his executor's cash book.
File contains 2 items which are copies of legal documents. One is an extract of the creation of the Seigneurie de La Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine. The other is an account written over many month of the transfer of lands and moneys involving James McGill.
File contains handwritten copies of the marriage and death entries of James McGill from Montreal's Christ Church Cathedral registry and the first marriage (1763) and death certificates of Marie-Charlotte Guillimin from the Montreal Superior Court records.
File contains 2 copies of the Desrivières family genealogy (family tree) from 1764 to the 20th century, including a list of sources, prepared by the McGill University Archives.
File contains a typed manuscript of 'The Family History of James McGill, University Founder' by J. M. McGill as well as family trees and a sheet of transcript additions.
File contains a typed copy of correspondence from James McGill to Isaac Todd (17 Oct 1805) and handwritten copies of James McGill's business letters 1802-1807.
File contains 10 items which are copies of legal documents from the life James McGill. 1 indenture contract between James McGill and Edward William Gray, 1795; 1 indenture contract between Andrew Turner and Alexander Allison, 1817; 5 contracts of the selling of real estate for a property on St. Paul St ., Montreal once owned by McGill (1774-1822); 1 document on the removing of the old wall and fortifications of Montreal; 1 document on the bankruptcy and sale of Hoyle, Henderson and Gibb Co.; 1 document, an obligation of the estate of James Caldwell.