Anyone who has used the incredible genealogical resource FamilySearch also knows that it has some drawbacks--some of its billions of pages of documents have yet to be indexed, which is an expensive and time-consuming process. I recently learned, when listening to the podcast Ancestors and Algorithms, that FamilySearch has been using AI experimentally to transcribe these records and allow us to search across the transcriptions. It's not perfect -- but even at this early stage I'm seeing records I would never have found on my own. One of them is a letter written by Josiah Elliot, son of Charles Elliot and Lydia Bailey, and brother of my immigrant ancestor Robert Elliot. It's the kind of document that is rich in detail and tells a story I would never have been able to guess at from the usual immigration paperwork. It's got a tear in it but I'm going to transcribe what I can here.
District of Gore
Dundas Upper Canada
Janry 5,1829
To His Excellency,
Sir John Colborne, York, Upper Canada
Your Excellency will I trust excuse the Liberty I take in addressing you as the situation of my family humbly inspires me with hopes that something may be done by your Interest to save us from actual want--I arriv'd with my wife and eight children at York on the fourth of June last and Presented my Letter of recommendation to Sir P. Maitland from R.H. Gore Esq. (of the firm of Gore and Greenwood army agents): Mr Chief Justice Sewell and Sir Noel Hill & etc. From whence we proceeded to this place in hopes of something occuring during the summer by the interest of the Governor to give me employment in some way for the benefit of my dear family having his assurance to that Effect in the first vacancy that occured -- when my humble abilities might be employed. Unfortunately, on our arrival in Dundas, we were attacked with ague -- Fever -- and Dystentry -- which has lasted thru the summer and autumn - and altho it Pleased God to spare our Lives, yet the effects in our constitutions, will I fear be long felt -- being all ill we had not the power of assisting each other -- and the expense of procuring medical assistance with necessarys -- has exhausted my little capital -- before I can engage in anything for the support of my family -- I have a perfect knowledge of the Malting and Brewing business, Gardening and English Agriculture - and being a good accountant. Sh'd be happy to get into any office or Situation to save my family from want. Major Hillyer informed me of the late Governor's Intention to assist me as soon as he could. But his removal has now put it out of his power, and I hope and trust your being Plac'd in his situation will enable you to ...(piece torn out of paper) I came from Hayes in Middlesex, London and was well known to Mr. Gore many years. I was recommended to the brewing here but have not the means of Pursuing it. Pray forgive this intrusion on your time and patience and let my dear family plead my excuse. I am in the greatest humility your Excellency's servant at Command. (signed) Josiah Elliot P.S. Mssrs. Jos. & Geo. Rolphe M.P. living here are acquainted with my Situation.
Citation: "Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3WG-Z88V?view=fullText : Jul 16, 2026), image 1267 of 1611; Upper Canada. Provincial Secretary's Office. Image Group Number: 008600088
I find this so culturally interesting -- apparently this is how some people found work in the connected world of the "family compact". In case you are wondering who the people in his letter are, he is writing to Sir John Colborne was the new Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, having stepped into the position in August 1828. Sir P. Maitland was Sir Peregrine Maitland, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada before Colborne's taking over the position. Chief Justice Sewell was Jonathan Sewell, who was Chief Justice of Lower Canada (Quebec) from 1808 to 1838. I don't know who R.H. Gore was, but perhaps related to Sir Francis Gore, who was no longer in Upper Canada by that time but had been Lieutenant Governor from 1806-1817. Sir Noel Hill was Sir Thomas Noel Hill who was deputy adjutant-general in Canada from 1827-1830.
Josiah is basically presenting his resume here to the highest government official he can find in the hopes of saving his family from ruin after a disastrous introduction to Upper Canada. It's a miracle that his family all survived. The timing catches my eye-- he arrived in Dundas shortly after June 1827. His brother Robert Elliot brought his family over and arrived in Quebec in September 1827 and made their way to Dundas from Quebec sometime in the fall. For some reason I had always assumed that Josiah had joined Robert in Canada, but it looks like Robert was joining Josiah.
I don't know if this letter helped Josiah in any way. I know he eventually became a merchant in Woodstock, Ontario, and his family did not become destitute.
