A deed of assignment prepared for the firm Patterson and Co. (represented in Montreal by William Walker, in Quebec by Samuel Hopkins, and in Liverpool by Andrew Todd Patterson and John Michael Malonek). The deed of assignment transfers the ownership of several plots of land in Montreal and Trois-Rivières (including a lumberyard, house, and windmill), a partially-built ship under construction in Trois-Rivières, a quantity of goods and wares (primarily timber, alcohol, and food), and some furniture and property from William Walker, Samuel Hopkins, Andrew Todd Patterson and John Michael Malonek to their attorneys, James McGill, John Richardson, and William Hallowell on behalf of their creditors. The agreement also includes an allowance for William Walker and Samuel Hopkins, as well as funding for a counting house in Montreal. The original agreement is dated 17 April 1811 and was notarized by Jonathan Abraham Gray and Thomas Barron.

Patterson and Co.’s creditors include McVickar & Stewart (James McVickar and William Stewart of New York, with their attorney John Richardson), McTavish, McGillivray & Co (William McGillivray, William Hallowell, Roderick McKenzie, Angus Shaw, Archibald Norman McLeod), Thomas W. Storrow & Co (Thomas W. Storrow, John C. Brown, Samuel A. Storrow, James Jones), and Lot & Asa Elmore.

A renewal of the contract from 10 March 1812 include new creditors: Douglas Reid & Co, McVickar & Stewart, Broker Darling & Co (by substitution from George Hamilton of Quebec), Alex Allison, Romeo Wotsworth, David David, Richard Seeds & Campbell Graham (power of substitution from Irvin Macnought & Co), Tappan & Sewall, Johnston & McQaid, Fred W. Ermatinger, Anthony Hood & Co., James McGill, John Morrall & Co, Esra Meach, Wright Bourlin & Wright, William Bowdin, and Joseph Hilson.

Additional signatories were added on 5 and 6 October 1812 (notarized by Henry Griffin): James McGill, John Richardson, William Hallowell, Henry Griffin, Thomas Barron, N.P. as well as the following creditors: George Sellers (represented by his attorney G. Garden, by power of substitution from John Salmon) and Thomas Clark (represented by his attorney Robert Frost per power of substitution from Sam. Hopkins).

Further signatories were added on 11 February 1814 and 22 June 1814 (notarized by E.H. Griffin): William Thompson (represented by his attorney Robert Frost, by power of substitution from William Mager), and M.C. Cowilling (attorneys by substitution to George Srymes attorney to the assignees of Carson, Parry & Co).

Fonds consists of primarily financial and legal records related to property transfers and the estates of members of the Dawes and Leishman families. It includes land sale deeds, court documents, invoices, receipts, and wills. Business and legal affairs of James P. Dawes, his wife Elizabeth Leishman, and their son Albert F. Dawes are represented in the fonds. Business deals associated with James P. Dawes include with Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada. Many legal documents in the fonds are related to land holdings and property in Lachine, Quebec.

These are various business papers of Simon McTavish and include partnership agreements with William and Duncan McGillivray, William Hallowell, Roderick McKenzie, Angus Shaw and James Hallowell, 1806 and drafts of agreement for seven years between McTavish, Frobisher and Company and John Fraser of London, Simon McGillivray and John Tullon, 1805.

This material comprises a group of official documents, and correspondence among various partners. The official documents include four articles of agreement for partnership between various Montréal companies, largely with McTavish, Frobisher and Co., 1790-1802, and a memorandum on the effect of exchange differences on the partners' shares (approximately 1826). The partners' correspondence, approximately 1792-1808, contains letters from Simon McTavish, Isaac Todd, and Alexander Mackenzie concerning provisions, business agreements and loans. A letter from William McGillivray to Mr Justice Reid discusses family matters. One financial ledger for the North West Company contains business accounts and records transactions. The bulk of entries are dated from January 1810 to November 1825, with some entries dated 1861.

The fonds consist of copies of deeds, some of which concern the British-American Land Co., that were executed by Torrance for the period 1856 to 1861, and a notebook of opinions on Québec legal questions, including copies of letters from the firm Torrance & Morris (1857-1859).