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The Sims family were early white settlers of what is now Hawkesville, Ontario. Members of the family are the descendants of Reverend James Sims was born ca.1812 in Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. On June 1, 1836, he married the widow Janet Harvey Robertson and in 1837 came to what is now Canada with a large party of relatives: his father and mother, his wife and step-children Alexander, John and Jane Robertson, his brothers Peter and Andrew Sims, his sister Margaret, and nephews James and Peter Sims.
In 1838 the family settled as squatters on Queen's Bush land near Hawkesville in Wellesley Township. James and Margaret Sims had four children: Janet Sims, (1838-1926), James Campbell Sims (1842-1929), Peter Harvey Sims (1844-1920) and William Andrew Sims (1846-1930). James Sims died October 31, 1880. Both he and his descendants played an active role in the the educational, religious and commercial development of what is now the Region of Waterloo.
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Letter from Peter H. Sims dated Waterloo, July 28, 1876 to his wife Jemima Sims: "I am getting along very well, have plenty to do to keep me from getting lonesome. But when night come and before I retire to rest I feel that I [am] alone and that home would be dreary enough without you . . . What do you think the town has had a visit from Mrs Von Schultis. She is dressed up in wonderful fine style. Black. Silk. Bustles and flounces. I suppose she came to see her children, and get a plan (place?) for her little girl at [B---'s?] I think she has left. She created quite a sensation in town . . . Remember me to Harvey and tell him Pa would like to see him and that I hope he is a good boy. Be careful of the water and do not let him go too close to it. I do not wish to hurry you home but I feel that I would like to see you back sometime next week. I am your loving Husband, Peter."
Letterhead is The Mercantile Fire Insurance Company, President I.E. Bowman, P.H. Sims Secretary.
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Donated in 2019 by the Sims Family.
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Hugo and Lena Von Schultis appear on the 1871 census of Canada as having only recently come to Preston from the United states. Hugo is listed as a Physician, 58 years old and Lena is listed as 28, with three children born in the United States and an 11-month old daughter born in Ontario.
Caution around water is a frequent thread in the letters from P.H. and Jemima to Harvey.
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- Sims, Jemima (Subject)
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Described July 2019 JSB
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English