Historical Documents
The Parish of St. James
These images are of the Deed of Conveyance, 1855, and an 1851 certificate of land grant. They are in the holdings of the Archives of Manitoba, NR 0217 Parish Files, GR2671, G396 file 27, Lot 42 St. James. I have transcribed them into pdf documents; all of the names of signees but one have been confirmed through the website of the Manitoba Historical Society
Note: if you wish to use these images or documents in a school project, you must indicate where they are archived, as well as this webpage.
Because the Parish of St. James was instrumental in the growth of the town (later city, and later a part of the ‘unicity’) of St. James, giving its name as well, it has an important place in the history of Winnipeg and Manitoba.
We are attempting to create a collection of documents relating to the history of our parish.
We have received permission to publish the following images on our website.
Click on any image to view a larger version.
The Deed of Conveyance
Cadastral
The HBC Land Register
These images are from the Cadastral: Parish Plan of St. John’s, St. James, and St. Boniface in the holdings of the Archives of Manitoba, H9 614.11 gbbd Series 1 Sheet 10, Parish Plans. (A cadastral is a plan that shows land-holdings and is mainly for the purpose of taxation.)
This map is really quite beautiful, especially when you realize that it was drawn and lettered completely by hand (with a guide rule in some areas) ... no whiteout in those days! (mid 1800s). The glare (white areas) is because it is behind a protective sheet that reflects the lighting in the room.
Note: if you wish to use any of these images in a project, you must indicate where they are archived, as well as this webpage.
This is Land Register Book B (E.6/2), part of the series “Land records of the Red River Settlement sent to the Governor and Committee”. This record shows that parts of lots 1231, 1232, 1233 & rights to lot 1234 were granted to The Lord Bishop of Rupert’s Land for the Church of England by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1851. Below are pages 296 and 297 of this register; they indicate the extent of land, it’s cost (gratis: free), and who it was registered to.
This volume is in the holdings of The Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Archives of Manitoba: Red River Settlement Land Register Book B, 1830-1871: Pages 296 and 297 referencing lots 1231 and 1234, grants to St. James/Church of England
HBCA E.6/2 pages 296, 297
Note: if you wish to use any of these images in a project, you must indicate where they are archived, as well as this webpage.
Page 296, left side of ledger
Page 296, composite including right side of ledger for information purposes
Page 297, left side of ledger only
This plan of the Red River Colony shows where the lots are located: the numbers of the lots registered by HBC do not match those in the Cadastral above, although the lots themselves do.
This also is in the holdings of The Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Archives of Manitoba: Plan of Red River Colony Surveyed in 1836, 7 & 8 by George Taylor
HBCA E.6/14
Note: if you wish to use any of these images in a project, you must indicate where they are archived, as well as this webpage.
Plan of Red River Colony, indicating physical size of map.
Portion of Plan of Red River Colony, indicating location of Lots 1231 to 1233 and locations of familiar landmarks of 2010.
Portions of Cadastral, indicating location of the old St. James Church and familiar landmarks of 2010.
Full Cadastral of St. John, St. James, and St. Boniface(note fingers at top to give indication of its size).
Plan of the Red River Colony
George Taylor was the cartographer who drew the map in such fine detail.
