Fonds - W.D. Lawrence fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

W.D. Lawrence fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title is based on the creator of the fonds
  • Variations in title: Previously known as W.D. Lawrence Papers

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

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Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Physical description area

Physical description

2 microfilm reels

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Archival description area

Name of creator

Biographical history

William Dawson Lawrence (1817-1886) was a shipbuilder, shipowner, and politician of Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia. He was born at Gilford, Northern Ireland in 1817 and moved to Nova Scotia with his parents when he was an infant.

In 1838, Lawrence apprenticed in the shipyards of Alexander Lyle and John Chappell. In 1847, he designed the 568 ton barque Wanderer which was launched in 1849. He then became involved in the design, construction, ownership and operation of his own vessels, deep sea barques and ships which carried general cargoes to all parts of the world. The construction of the 2,459 ton ship William D. Lawrence, registered in 1874, put Lawrence in debt for $27,000. However, over the next eight years the vessel not only cleared the debt, but made a profit for its owners of over $140,000.

Lawrence was active in politics throughout the 1860s. In 1859, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Hants County, and, in 1863, he was elected as the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Hants County where he supported free education and adamantly opposed confederation with the Canadas (1867). In the election of 1871, he campaigned as an anti-confederate but was defeated by William Henry Allison. He retained an active interest in politics until his death in 1886.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of microfilmed account books (1859-1902, 1861-62); a logbook of the brig Aeolus; a book containing newspaper clippings; and loose documents, including indentures, bills of sale and petitions (1835-1908).

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Microfilmed in 1963 by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Location of originals

Original papers are held by Miss Abbie Lawrence, granddaughter of W.D. Lawrence.

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no restrictions on access to the material.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Copyright is held by the owner Miss Abbie Lawrence, Maitland, Hants County, N.S.

Finding aids

List of files on the microfilm box.

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Status

Draft

Level of detail

Partial

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Created - May 6, 2013

Language of description

  • English

Script of description

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