hand-written Canada Company letter Dec. 21st, 1860 signed by Frederick Widder to Sheriff Robert Moderwell of County of Perth in Stratford document signed by WIDDER, Frederick (1801-1865) & MODERWELL, Robert (1805/6-1886) & GALT, John Esq. [1779-1839] (Canada Company) - 1860

Toronto: Canada Company Office, 1860. No binding. Very Good. 2pp. 8 x 10 inches with handwritten letter on one side and docketing info on reverse. A couple of very small paper tears on left side edge not affecting any writing otherwise, very good. This letter is from Frederick Widder, Canada Company to Sheriff Robert Moderwell of County of Perth in Stratford. The letter confirming a receipt in duplicate and asking Moderwell to report back on a number of land lots that are not recorded as sold but were supposed to be. Frederick Widder (1801-1865) was a Canada Company Commissioner, son of a Canada Company London director, with family connections to royalty and the right Anglican connections. His moderate approach and financial innovations for the Canada Company would give him good standing with the pioneers of the Huron Tract and the reformers of Upper Canada. Widder's administrative talents and dedication to hard work allowed him to overshadow Thomas Mercer Jones and take the lead in the Canada Company. Widder's home, Lyndhurst, became a social hub of Toronto. Widder's wife, Elizabeth, entertained in style providing upper-class residents of York with refined entertainments redolent of British aristocratic and middle-class life. Wikipedia Robert Moderwell (1805/6-1886) The Moderwells came to Canada from Letterkenny, Ireland and were granted land near Perth,in Lanark Co. Ont. However, Robert Moderwell moved to Canada West and eventually settled in Stratford, Perth Co. On the 31st December, 1852, Mr. Robert Moderwell was appointed first Sheriff of the County of Perth. Mr. Moderwell resigned on the 28th of August, 1872. He was also a director of the Stratford & Huron Railway Co. He died on the 23rd day of October, A.D. 1886. The Canada Company, a charter company established to aid in the colonization of Upper Canada. John Galt (1779-1839), the famous author and poet was the first commissioner. Galt founded the city of Guelph, Upper Canada.