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Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
John MacKellar Fonds
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title is based on the contents of the fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Reference code
CA OSLER P199
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
Physical description area
Physical description
0.3 cm textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
(-1854)
Biographical history
John MacKellar (d. 1854) was a British Admiral who succeeded Robert Murray as prison agent at the Office for Prisoners of War located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He held the post from 1804 until approximately 1810. He was the eldest son of General MacKellar, who was employed as chief engineer under General Wolfe.
Custodial history
Purchased from John Drury Rare Books, Strandlands, Wrabness, Manningtree, Essex CO11 2TX United Kingdom, by the Osler Library in November, 2014.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of a single 3-page manuscript letter document. Original laid paper watermarked '1805'. Letter is from John MacKellar, dated 16 June 1807. The letter is addressed to the Hon. George Cranfield Berkeley (1753-1818). MacKellar explains his strong reservations about establishing a prison hospital for sick prisoners of war. He warns of high expenses and inconvenience, using the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, hospital as an example of the expenses required.
Melville Island, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was formerly known as Kavanagh's Island and used to house French prisoners of war after 1793. The Chesapeake Affair happened six days after this letter was written in 1807 under the command of Admiral G. C. Berkeley.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script note
Documents are in English.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Items can be requested for consultation online via the Library Catalogue or by email at osler.library@mcgill.ca. Advance notice is recommended.
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Physical description
Folio, 3 written-up pages (each 32 x 20 cms), plus 3 conjugate blanks, the laid paper watermarked '1805', folded, docketed and in fine state of preservation.
Accompanying material
Typed description written by the seller of this document in accompaniment.
Alternative identifier(s)
Osler Database ID
4721
Osler Fonds ID
702