Fonds MG 1, vol. 880-881 - William Stairs fonds

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William Stairs fonds

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    Fonds

    Reference code

    MG 1, vol. 880-881

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    Statement of scale (cartographic)

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    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

    Dates of creation area

    Date(s)

    • 1771-1916, predominant 1828-1865 (Creation)
      Creator
      Stairs, William, 1789-1865

    Physical description area

    Physical description

    21 cm of textual records

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    Name of creator

    (1789-1865)

    Biographical history

    William Machin Stairs, third child of John and Joanna (Stayner) Stairs, was born at Halifax on 21 January 1789 and lived at Philadelphia until the death of his mother in 1793. He returned to Halifax with his siblings where they were raised by their uncle, John Stayner. William attended the Halifax Grammar School and shortly after worked as a clerk for merchant William Kidston. In 1810 he formed a partnership with Henry Austen under the name Austen and Stairs, hardware merchants. The firm was dissolved in 1816. Stairs continued the business without a partner until 1841 when he and his son formed a partnership under the name William Stairs and Son (later William Stairs, Son and Morrow when his son-in-law, Robert Morrow joined the firm in 1854). William served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1840-1843, mayor of Halifax, 1847-1848, and member of the Legislative Council, 1850-1854. He co-founded the Union Bank and served as its first president until his death on 25 November 1865. He married Margaret Wiseman (1793-1851) on 23 May 1814. They had nine children: Catherine Mary, Joanna Stayner, William James, John George, John, Margaret Wiseman, Helen Sophia, Frances Mary, and Anna Marshall.

    Custodial history

    Scope and content

    Fonds consists of deeds, indentures, accounts, receipts, and letters primarily documenting the business transactions of William Stairs. Most of the material relates to the sale and purchase of property involving Stairs and the Stayner family. Includes several letters written by T.A. Stayner, as well as letters from William Kidston and Sons of Glasgow, Scotland. Letters also include mention of financial affairs, the Grand Trunk railway, economic depression, Confederation, and the Civil War.

    Notes area

    Physical condition

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Donated by Arthur D. Stairs in 1961.

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        Finding aids

        Item list available.

        Associated materials

        Other records relating to the business activities of William Stairs and the Stairs family are found in the Stairs family fonds and Wm. Stairs Son and Morrow fonds.

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