- Call Number:
- HIL-MICL FC LFR .O3J6P3
- Category:
- Family
- Creator:
- Odell, Jonathan, 1737-1818.
- Material Description:
- 1 microfilm textual records 35 mm
- Background:
Jonathan Odell was educated at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Later, he received medical training and served as a surgeon in the British army before becoming a priest of the Church of England in 1767. He served as a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and practiced medicine in Burlington, New Jersey, before the American Revolution. He married Anne DeCou in 1772. At the outbreak of the war, Odell felt that justice for the colonists could be obtained through peaceful means, but when his feelings of loyalty became known, he was paroled and eventually forced to flee for his life in 1776, leaving behind his wife and family. Eventually he reached the protection of the British lines in New York, but his property was confiscated and he was not reunited with his family until 1779. When the colony of Nova Scotia was divided in 1784 after the arrival of the Loyalists, Odell received the appointments of provincial secretary, registrar and clerk of the council in the new colony of New Brunswick. He held these positions for thirty years and was succeeded by his son William Franklin Odell (1774-1844) as provincial secretary.
He died in Frederickton/Frederickstown (Fredericton) in 1818, at the age of 81 years, after a long and productive life, having exerted a profound influence on the early institutions of the Province.
- Contents:
The Papers include Jonathan Odell's letter book, with correspondence relating to his financial affairs, specifically to property in Burlington, New Jersey. There are letters to his lawyer, Daniel Ellis, to the Hon. James Kinsey in Burlington, and to a family member, Nancy, in London. Also included are legal documents, and a biographical sketch of Odell, which is found at the beginning of the reel.
1. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to “My Dear Nancy” concerning conflict at the vestry; London, July 5, 1784.
2. Copy of Power of Attorney from Jonathan and Anne Odell of Saint John to Daniel Ellis, Burlington, and Isaac Delow, Trenton; September 6, 1785.
3. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis regarding property in Burlington; Fredericton, May 3, 1790.
4. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis regarding business matter mentioning Fitch and Nehemiah Rogers, Benjamin Swett and Thomas Emley; Fredericton, December 24, 1790.
5. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis regarding business matters; Fredericton, June 25, 1791.
6. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis regarding payment to Rogers Company; Fredericton, April 19,1793.
7. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis concerning the prospective sale of the farm at Schooley’s Mountain, Fredericton, June 22, 1793.
8. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Daniel Ellis regarding business matters; Fredericton, March 29, 1794.
9. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Hon. James Kinsey ccepting his offer for his house and lot in Burlington; Fredericton, March 27, 1800.
10. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to Hon. James Kinsey conveying a deed; Fredericton, July 24, 1800.
11. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to The Rev. Dr. Wharton concerning the business affairs with James Kinsey; Fredericton, April 11, 1803.
12. Copy of letter from Jonathan Odell to the Rev. Dr. Wharton regarding payments; Fredericton, August 15, 1803.
13. Copy of statement of funds due from the estate of James Kinsey to Jonathan Odell; July 13, 1803.
14. Copy of biographical sketch of Jonathan Odell written in 1929.
(Document list from the York-Sunbury Historical Society)
- Originals:
The original records were donated to the York-Sunbury Historical Society by G.W. Bartlett in 1936. Now held by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.
- Archival Ref. No.:
PANB MC300
- Notes:
The biographical sketch of Jonathan Odell's life is available in print and is shelved with the Loyalist Collection finding aids.
The material has not been microfilmed in strict chronological order. Another series of Odell Papers is available in the Loyalist Collection and is shelved at MIC-Loyalist FC LFR .O3F3P3.