Bradt Family fonds RG 580
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The Bradt family came to the Niagara peninsula from Schenectady, New York as United Empire Loyalists. Arent A. Bradt (1732-1796) and his wife Eva Van Antwerp came to Canada with their children, settling in present-day Niagara-on-the-Lake around 1784. This move coincided with the disbandment of Butler’s Rangers, a Loyalist military unit founded by John Butler during the American Revolutionary War. The Butler and Bradt families both came to Canada from Schenectady. John Butler was married to Arent Bradt’s sister Catherine. Both families were granted land in the Niagara peninsula by the Crown for their loyalty.
Arent and Eva Bradt brought their five children with them, including Andrew (1755-1830), Margaret (b. 1758), John (1761-1828), Roger (b. 1765) and Peter (1767-1824). Andrew and John Bradt both served in Butler’s Rangers, Andrew as a Captain and John as a Lieutenant. Peter Bradt was the youngest member of the family, being 18 when his family came to Niagara. In 1792 he married Mercy Burtch. They remained in the area and had 12 children, including Peter II (1800- 1870). Peter married Jane Clark in 1827. Jane was the daughter of James Clark, clerk of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada from 1793-1806. Peter and Jane had four children who survived to adulthood, Peter III, Martha Jane, George and James.
Peter II built a family home around 1842-43 in Clinton Township. Peter III was born in this house in 1844 and spent his entire life there working on the farm. He married Nancy Page sometime between 1881 and 1891. They had no known children, but fostered five boys from the Barnardo Home in London, England. The Barnardo Home was founded by Thomas Barnardo, who worked in the slums of East London with orphaned children. Over 25,000 of these boys and girls came to Canada as immigrants between 1882 and 1939. Many farmers took in the children to work on their farms. In 1898, Peter and Nancy brought David McNaney from the Barnardo Home into their house. When Peter died in 1940, David inherited Peter’s estate.
Fonds contains material about the Bradt family. Material concerning the Clark family, including James Clark (clerk of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada from 1793-1806) and his children Jane and James are also included. The Bradt and Clark families were related by marriage. Peter Bradt II married Jane Clark in 1827.
Click here to view Bradt family fonds finding aid: https://dr.library.brocku.ca/bitstream/handle/10464/10892/Bradt%20family%20fonds%20RG%20580.pdf?Current copyright applies. In some instances, researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Brock University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the Library’s usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Recent Submissions
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Photograph of writing desk that belonged to James Clark and Newspaper clipping about Peter Bradt III1937Black and white photograph of a writing desk that once belonged to James Clark, secretary to Governor Simcoe. There is a corresponding news clipping (ca. 1937) about Peter H.L. Bradt III(born in 1844) that mentions the desk and has a picture of the Bradt family home, built by Peter’s father.
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Photograph of a man and woman standing next to a building with a dogn.d.Photograph of a man and woman standing next to a building with a dog, n.d. The photo is blurred on one side.
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Black and white family photograph in front of the family homesteadn.d.Black and white family photograph in front of the family homestead, n.d. The photograph pictures 3 women, 2 men and a dog.
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Post card of an older woman standing near flowersn.d.Post card of an older woman standing near flowers, n.d.
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Carte-de-visite of an older woman, possibly Jane Bradtn.d.Carte-de-visite of an older woman, possibly Jane Bradt, n.d. In small print beneath the photograph “Allen & Bro., King St., St. Catharines”. Handwritten on the corresponding envelope Mrs. Jane J. Bradt, Clinton.
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Calling cards of Peter H.L. Bradtn.d.Calling cards of Peter H.L. Bradt, n.d. Calling card of James J. Bradt, Canadian Literary Institute, Woodstock C.W., n.d. Handwritten on the back is Home Address Jordan C.W. Calling card of Mr. Orin C. Lamb, n.d. In small print at the bottom left To Miss Almedia C. Farr. Small card, handwritten on the back Presented to James Bradt by his friend… Brown, Jany. 1st 1850.
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Broadside, Important to Bee KeepersBroadside, Important to Bee Keepers. Bradt’s improved Patent Bee-hive Is the Best Hive now in Use…. Leavenworte’s Power Press. Clarke Snure, Agent, Jordan, Ont., n.d.
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Printed agreement between Alfred B. Owen, agent of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, and Peter H.L. Bradt of the Township of Clinton1898-05-19Printed agreement between Alfred B. Owen, agent of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, and Peter H.L. Bradt of the Township of Clinton, re: David McNaney (14 years old), 19 May 1898.
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Printed funeral notice for William Bradt1875-04-09Printed funeral notice for William Bradt, 9 April 1875.
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Essay on Bee KeepingEssay on Bee Keeping or an easy method of managing bees in the most profitable manner to their owner with infallible rules to prevent their destruction by the moth, or otherwise. Published by Joseph Bradt. St. Catharines: E.S. Leavenworth’s Power Press, St. Paul Street, 1869. A small booklet with 22 pages.
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Printed notice re: Corporal George C. Bradt’s admission to the School of Cavalry1867-03-10Printed notice re: Corporal George C. Bradt’s admission to the School of Cavalry in Toronto, 10 March 1867. It is signed by Lt. Col. Durie.
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Printed promissory note to George Bradt endorsed by Clark Snure1866-10-19Printed promissory note to George Bradt endorsed by Clark Snure, dated at St. Catharines, 19 October 1866, for $110.00.
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Fourth Annual Report of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of ClintonH.F. Leavensworth's "Herald" Power Press, 1862-06-02Fourth Annual Report of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Clinton, June 2, 1862. St. Catharines: H.F. Leavenworth’s “Herald” Power Press, 1862. The booklet is addressed to Peter Bradt, Jordan and postmarked Beamsville, 3 September 1862.
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Broadside Notice of Public AuctionBroadside, Notice! Is hereby given to the Creditors of Adam Auld, that the said Adam Auld has assigned his Goods and Chattles unto the Subscriber…and that unless they come and subscribe their names respectfully to the Deed of Assignment and take the property at private Sale…it will be sold at Public Auction on Saturday Jan. 22, 1859. The broadside is dated at Pelham, 27 December 1858. Peter Bradt’s name appears at the bottom of the document.
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Printed note to Peter Bradt issued by Thomas TowersPrinted note to Peter Bradt issued by Thomas Towers, dated at St. Catharines, 19 January, 1849 concerning the collection of a debt.
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Niagara District Temperance Convention ConstitutionNiagara District Temperance Convention Constitution, St. Catharines, 9 March 1842. The names W.T. Cameron, Secretary, and Oliver Phelps, President, appear on the document. There are 8 articles listed.
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Marriage licence, Peter Bradt and Jane Jeminah ClarkMarriage licence, Peter Bradt and Jane Jeminah Clark, dated at Niagara, 24 January 1827. The licence is signed by Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.
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Receipt to Peter Bradt from Johnson ButlerReceipt to Peter Bradt from Johnson Butler (grandson of John Butler, Butler’s Rangers), dated at St. Catharines, 17 September 1834, for £10.
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Certificate excusing Peter Bradt from military serviceCertificate excusing Peter Bradt from military service, dated at Niagara, 15 February 1833. It is signed by J. Muirhead, Surgeon, Provincial Militia.
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Invoice, Peter Bradt to Oliver Graham for work carried outInvoice, Peter Bradt to Oliver Graham for work carried out, 21 May 1832.