Papers : 1766-1854.

            Andrew Rainsford (1734-1820) was receiver-general of His Majesty's Quit Rents in West Florida from 1774 until the capture of Pensacola in May of 1781. As a result of this event, he lost his position, his residence, and all means of support for his family, which consisted of his wife and seven children. After the Revolution, he came as a Loyalist to New Brunswick and became barrack master at Fredericton, and the first receiver-general of the colony. He received 500 acres of land at Kingsclear, a few miles west of Fredericton on the St. John River, and died in Fredericton at the age of 84 years in 1820.
 Andrew Rainsford's sons, Charles, Andrew and Bradshaw, all served during the War of 1812, enlisting with the 104th Regiment of Foot (The New Brunswick Regiment). Charles rose to the rank of captain and would later become receiver-general of New Brunswick. In return for his military services, and in particular for his remarkable feat of courage and endurance during the march of the 104th Regiment from Fredericton to Québec in the winter of 1813 when he led a rescue party 90 miles in two days during a blizzard at Lake Temiscouata to obtain food for two companies of starving soldiers, the Legislative Assembly made a special grant to enable him to purchase 500 acres of land at Springhill (near Fredericton). Later, the British government granted him a life pension. He died in 1882. Andrew, Jr. became a captain in the 104th Regiment and appears to have settled in Upper Canada some time after the war. He became a major in the Glengarry militia and saw action in the Rebellion of 1837-38. Bradshaw joined the 104th Regiment and served as an ensign for one year, later joining the New Brunswick Fencibles. He became deputy receiver-general of New Brunswick, c.1818. Another son, Henry Bartlett (1798-1881), married Jane Wetmore and became deputy commissioner of crown lands under Thomas Baillie.             

            The collection consists of accounts and correspondence:  personal, business and official, 1786-1840. They concern Andrew Rainsford (1734-1820), his son Andrew Rainsford, Jr. and Henry Bartlett Rainsford, with some material pertaining  to other family members such as Andrew's sons, Bradshaw and Charles.  Also included are legal documents such as indentures and bonds; documents concerning the estates of Alex Black, Andrew Rainsford and Judge [Jonathan] Bliss; extracts of letters of H. Northcoke; documents concerning the new Brunswick Regiment of Fencibles, 1813 - letter to Rainsford from Colonel John Coffin authorising the raising of a company in the newly raised corps of Fencibles, includes conditions for raising a corps; hand drawn maps illustrating mill reserves and granted lands; and a map containing the County of Northumberland, Bay of Chaleur, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Westmorland and Kings Counties and surrounding districts; as well as personal correspondence, 1766-1854.            

            A microfilm shelf list has been prepared for the Inventory to the Loyalist Collection and is available in print.
A list of maps in the Rainsford Papers is available in print and electronically; see Electronic Finding Aids.