Canada-Widder/Collins Letters 1840/1844

Here is a small group of stampless letters I picked up a little while ago, with an interesting story.
All were written by Frederick Widder who was the land commissioner for the Canada Company.
His bio can be found here...

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/widd...rick_9E.html

They are all written to Charles Collins of Napean, near Ottawa.



In the first three, written in February, May and June of 1840, Mr Collins has purchased a piece of land on the Rideau River, Lot 27 BF.
In the first letter dated Feb 21, Widder writes that they are willing to sell the lot to Mr Collins for 70£ Cy. Collins has already sent 20£ and Widder is going to send him 5 promissory notes for the remaining instalments.

The second letter, dated May 9. Apparently other letters have been passed back and forth. It's come to their attention that someone named Fitzgerald has been squatting on the lot. Widder states that it's up to Collins to take care of the squatter, and that the Canada Company will 'not by any means undertake to commence law proceedings against' him. The Canada Company is not taking the blame for this.



By the third letter of 1840, dated June 1, Mr Widder seems at his wits end. He's received contradictory letters from Fitzgerald and Collins, and has sent one more letter for Collins to give to the squatter, which will be the Canada Company's last involvement.
Who knows how this ended up? Did Collins get the squatter out? Has Widder had enough of Collins and his difficulties, so far away?



I believe the first letter was written by a someone other than Widder, probably a secretary. The handwriting in the second two letter match Widder's signature. A note at the bottom of the first letter also matches this handwriting, but the rest is obviously different.

The fourth letter was written in 1844. I guess the squatter problem was resolved, or at least forgotten, because Mssrs Widder and Collins are corresponding about a different piece of land, Lot 3721 D.



This letter also included a promissory note. This one was a cancelled note for 10£ toward their debt. The balance on the mortgage is 14/4.

Very interesting letters you have there jamesw...Real keepers.

Robert