George Alley was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on 22 January 1844, son of architect Thomas Charles Alley and Anne McKay. George Alley married in 1871 Mary Trew Blatch, (1843-1897). George and Mary (Blatch) Alley had the following children: Gordon Thomas Alley, MD, (1874-1925), Evelyn Trew (1873-1938), Helen Blanche (1871-1889), and George Cyril (1876-1920).
George Alley attended Central Academy, in Charlottetown. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. In 1868, Alley joined with Louis H. Davis to form the law firm Alley and Davis. Alley was appointed judge of the Queens County Court on 18 July 1874, possibly the youngest judge ever appointed in Canada. Published reports indicate that Judge Alley had been collecting historical and archival information for many years with the intention of writing a history of the early settlement of Prince Edward Island. This was never achieved due to his untimely death. Judge Alley was a member of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Societies of Canada and was an Executive Committee member and Corresponding Secretary of the Historical Society of Prince Edward Island which was in existence from September 1881 through September 1882. Alley was involved in the militia as a Lieutenant in the PEI Lighthorse. Alley was one of the founding members of the Historical Society of Prince Edward Island whose purpose was the collection and preservation of historical documents pertaining to PEI which were in private possession. Unfortunately, after several poorly attended meetings and without government support for the endeavour, the Society folded and its collection was offered for sale to its members. Judge George Alley died 6 May 1899.
Henry Smith of Charlottetown, (1851-1941), son of William Smith (1817-1897) and Elizabeth Alley (ca. 1822-1869). Henry Smith was a carpenter, and later Clerk of the Queen's County Court. He married Eliza Lawson of Charlottetown in 1887. Henry and Eliza Smith had the following children: Bertha L. (b. 1888), Marianne Grantham (1894-1918), Henry (b. 1889), Flora (b. 1893), Helen (b. 1897), and William Raynor (died in infancy). Henry Smith was a co-worker and distant relative of Judge George Alley. Smith was co-executor of George Alley's will along with John D. Reid, Manager of the Telephone Co. Smith was a Water Commissioner for the City of Charlottetown.
Published
Also known as the Judge George Alley, Henry Smith collection
Title based on the creators of the collection
This collection includes 1168 textual items, plus 235 images collected by Judge George Alley and Henry Smith pertaining largely to the early history of Prince Edward Island. A large proportion of the collection deals with the history of Charlottetown and the colony of Prince Edward Island during its early years of settlement. The collection is divided into 25 series, based on the arrangement that was imposed by the donor, and possibly earlier arrangement prior to donation to the Public Archives and Records Office. Arrangement was based on provenance, subject or contents or type of document. Series order has been rearranged to reflect government documents, family papers and miscellaneous. Many of the series include government records such as bills, acts, proclamations and petitions, Journals of the House of Assembly and Legislative Council, minutes of Council and claims, proposals and reports to the government. The collection includes several series of records pertaining to a number of families and individuals including: George Alley and the Alley family, Fanning family, Wright family, Bagnall family, Isaac Smith, James Bardin Palmer, and Edward Palmer. The collection includes lantern slides, photographs, textual materials and plans. The subject of the photographs is early Charlottetown, and its residents. Photographs include streetscapes, public buildings and private residences, and portraits of city officials and clergymen. The collection also includes records pertaining to the following subjects: inns, taverns, bridges, ferries, Loyalists, schools and education, the Land Question, military, agriculture, the administration of justice, postal service, land records, Charlottetown Market House, Court House, and Province House. A number of the documents in this collection are copies of original documents, many copied at the request of Judge George Alley in pursuit of his interest in writing a history of Prince Edward Island.
It is possible that some of the materials in this collections were purchased by Judge Alley from the holdings of the Historical Society of PEI. The materials collected by George Alley were passed to his son, Dr. Gordon Alley and/or Henry Smith, who possibly added to the collection. The collection was passed from Henry Smith to his daughter, Flora (Smith) Rogers, who passed it to her daughter, Marianne (Rogers) Morrow.
Correction to Series 23 (Photographs) item list, items 106 and 126, by J. Toms, 7 August 2007.
Correction to to Series 23 (Photographs) item list, item 136 (info provided by great grandson of L. C. Owen), by J. Toms, 12 July 2011.
Revision of Series 20 (History Survey) item list to identify item previous not listed (item 317a - Circular accomanying questions for information about local history of the Island, 1876), by J. Toms, 5 March 2013.
See also: Acc2541/75 and 76 transcripts of Judge Alley’s 1883 lecture “P.E. Island one hundred years ago”; Acc1002 minutes and roll of members of the Historical Society of Prince Edward Island, 1881-1882; Acc2825/34 transcribed newspaper items re the Historical Society of PEI; Acc4289 The descendants of Christopher Smith of Harome, England compiled by William M. Smith, 1993; Dictionary of Canadian Biography articles for Thomas Wright, Charles Wright, George Wright, Edmund Fanning, James Bardin Palmer, and James Bagnall
NO RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS
PERMISSION FOR USE AND REPRODUCTION IS REQUIRED FROM THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OFFICE; QUESTIONS REGARDING COPYRIGHT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS AND ITEM LISTING ARE AVAILABLE
Items 23, 24, 35, 40, 41 are oversize
Series includes bills and acts of the House of Assembly, minutes and rough minutes of the Council, proclamations, and a petition of the House of Assembly to the King for an allowance to PEI from the Quit Rent Fund.
See also RG2, Legislative Council fonds, and RG3 House of Assembly fonds
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 1-47":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s1.pdf
Items 48-52, 54-57, 59-64, 66-69 are oversize
Series includes proclamations by the Lieutenant Governor on various subjects, petitions to the Lieutenant Governor and proclamations regarding embargoes on imports and exports. Series also includes some correspondence of the Lieutenant Governor regarding imports and exports of goods.
See also RG1, Lieutenant Governor fonds, Series5, Proclamations
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 48-90":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s2.pdf
Item 922 is oversize
Series includes Journals of the House of Assembly 1780-1818, and the Journal of the Legislative Council for 1818. Also included in the series are some acts, minutes of the Legislative Council for 1815 and the 1795 Speech from the Throne.
See also RG2 Legislative Council fonds and RG3 House of Assembly fonds
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE- ITEMS 922-940":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s3.pdf
Items 585, 586, 589, 595, 600, 614, 615, 617, 619, 627, 629, 630, 633-635 are oversize
Series includes documents pertaining to land transactions on PEI such as land grants, petitions for land, leases, assignments, quit rent accounts and minutes of the proceedings of the proprietors and petitions of proprietors regarding quit rents.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 573-636":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s4.pdf
Items 695 and 738 are oversize
Series includes documents pertaining to the administration of justice in colonial Prince Edward Island. Series includes petitions for positions and claims for payment for services, petitions and reports regarding the state of the jail, correspondence, petitions and reports regarding court cases and legal opinions.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 685-749":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s5.pdf
Items 438-441, 446 and 462 are oversize
Series includes muster rolls of Loyalist regiments, petitions of Loyalists for land grants, biographical information for some Loyalists, lists of Loyalists, an act to empower the Lieutenant Governor to grant lands to Loyalists and a publication re the Loyalists in Prince Edward Island.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 425-465":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s6.pdf
Items 327 and 350 are oversize
Series includes memorials, petitions, claims for payments, tenders and estimates regarding the establishment of inns and taverns in Prince Edward Island. The series also includes similar documents pertaining to work on bridges, ferries and roads in PEI.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 318-350":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s7.pdf
Items 475, 476, 514, 515, 520, and 521 are oversize
Series includes act of legislature pertaining to schools and education, lists of students of various schools, certification of qualifications of teachers, claims for payment from teachers, schedules of schools, return or report of school visitor and some documents regarding the building of individual schools.
See also RG10 Department of Education fonds
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 466-524":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s8.pdf
Items 654, 659, 661, 666, 679, and 683 are oversize
Series includes reports of the Central Agricultural Society, Judge George Alley's notes regarding military regiments in PEI, newspaper clippings re militia, a return of the Duke of Kent's Volunteer Artillery Co., committee reports and proclamations regarding the militia. Series also includes muster rolls for 3rd Company, 4th Battalion, and Shuttleworth's Independent Forresters. This series also includes a number of transcripts of documents in the French Archives pertaining to Prince Edward Island. These include census returns, and Franquet's voyage and description of Prince Edward Island in 1752. Also included in the series are documents pertaining to government administrator Philips Callbeck and the will of his wife Ann Callbeck.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 637-684":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s9.pdf
Series include documents pertaining to postal service in Prince Edward Island including petitions or claims for payment for the delivery of postal services, certifications of qualifications, and proposals for postal service.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 903-921":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s10.pdf
Item 945 is oversize
Series includes lists and descriptions of photographs and images in series 23. Series also includes various documents pertaining to the Charlottetown Market House including accounts, claims for payment for services, and proposals for building the Market House. Series also includes information regarding the Court House in Charlottetown such as reports of conditions, estimates for alterations and repairs, and correspondence re the building of a new Court House. A petition for land from Governor Fanning is also included.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 941-985":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s11.pdf
Items 114, 115, 127, 142, and 174 are oversize
Series includes correspondence and agreements between members of the Fanning family including former Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning (1739-1812) land conveyances and agreements, power of attorney documents and other documents pertaining to the Fanning vs Coles case, documents relating to the Fanning vs Guerney case, and correspondence between Jonathan Shove and J. H. Peters, agents for Fanning.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 112-206":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s12.pdf
Items 240, 260, 261 are oversize
Series includes documents such as correspondence, probate records, statements, affidavits and depositions regarding the settling of the Fanning land estate. Also includes records regarding the Wood-Fanning case.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 207-295":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s13.pdf
Items 365, 377, and 385-387 are oversize
Series includes military appointments, commissions, instructions for surveyor Charles Wright (1782-1828). Also includes papers of Thomas Wright (ca. 1740-1812), Surveyor General including correspondence with Ward Chipman (1754-1824), astronomical observations and information pertaining to his work in Isle de Sainte Croix and documents regarding the settling of his estate. Also included in the series is a warrant for payment due to George Wright (1810-1887), Surveyor General.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 351-424":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s14.pdf
Items 560 and 561 are oversize
Series includes records pertaining to architect Isaac Smith (1795-1871), grandfather of Henry Smith. Included in the series are contracts, agreements, specifications, and claims for payment regarding the building of the Colonial Building (Province House), the round Market House, and St. Paul's Anglican Church in Charlottetown. Also includes Isaac Smith's diary for 1858, his obituary and a photograph of Smith. Series includes research notes and photocopies relating to Isaac Smith and the Bible Societies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 551-572, 1168":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s15.pdf
Series includes papers of James Bagnall (ca. 1783-1855) regarding his work as Government Printer, including petitions, warrants for payment for services and appointment documents. Also includes correspondence, accounts and petition of Samuel Bagnall. Series also includes a letter to Judge George Alley from J. D. Bagnall dated 1888.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 525-550":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s16.pdf
Item 860 is oversize
Series includes professional correspondence and legal documents pertaining to various court cases of lawyer and public office holder James Bardin Palmer (ca. 1771-1833).
See also Acc2849 Palmer family fonds
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 833-865":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s17.pdf
Judge George Alley was one of the founding members of the Historical Society of PEI in 1881. He acted as corresponding secretary and as such corresponded with individuals supposed to have in their possession original documents pertaining to the history of PEI, or had some knowledge of particular events in PEI history. He also corresponded with historical societies in Nova Scotia, the United States and with the Archives Department in Ottawa. This series includes drafts or copies of out-going correspondence sent by Alley, as well as replies to his correspondence. Alley also engaged, through his friends and acquaintances, individuals to make copy transcripts of documents in libraries and archives outside of Prince Edward Island that pertained to Prince Edward Island history. Some documents were copied and sent to Alley, some originals were sent, some perhaps unsolicited. Alley was in the process of gathering materials with a view to writing a history of Prince Edward Island which he was unable to complete prior to his death.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 986-1072":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s18.pdf
Item 102 is oversize
Series includes documents pertaining to the settlement of Judge George Alley's (1844-1899) estate. Documents include land and property deeds, correspondence, bonds, and financial records. This series also includes Alley's daybook and ledger. Series includes some published materials on John Cabot and the establishment of a railroad in Prince Edward Island.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 91-111":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s19.pdf
Series includes 19 questionnaires sent to elderly residents of Prince Edward Island in June 1876, by D. Currie possibly on behalf of Judge George Alley, regarding the local history of Prince Edward Island. Questionnaires may have been sent as a prelude to the formation of the Historical Society of Prince Edward Island or as an exercise in gathering information for a PEI history. The questionnaires were on printed forms including 99 questions ranging from place and date of birth of the respondent to agriculture, education, local travel, crops, wildlife, game, amusements, religion, etc. The series also includes an account of the settlement of Prince County and a listing of documents from the collection of Judge Alley.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 296-317a":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s20.pdf
Items 1076, 1077, 1102, and 1150-1153 are oversize
Series includes some land documents, documents pertaining to 1854 assault case of McGill vs. McEachern, report of the 1847 investigation of the Immigrants' Hospital, some election materials, some petitions for payments for services provided, some correspondence between Lieutenant Governors Fanning and Patterson and Colonial Office, correspondence of Judge George Alley regarding procuring a copy of Joseph Roake journal of his 1774 journey to PEI and a copy of the journal, indenture of apprenticeship between Down and Thomas Alley, statistical information regarding PEI and its counties.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 1073-1163":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s21.pdf
Item 900 is oversize
Series includes documents pertaining to the Mi'kmaq and black population in Prince Edward Island. Includes report of clerk of St. Paul's Anglican Church and claims for payment for services. Series includes passenger lists for the Rambler, Humphreys, Spencer, Isle of Skye, and the Elizabeth and Amy. Also includes an unidentified diary and a copy of Samuel Holland's description of the Island of St. John in 1765 and other miscellaneous documents.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 866-902":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s22.pdf
Copy prints are located in photograph binders in Reading Room
Series includes 235 photographs and lantern slides of views of early Charlottetown such as streetscapes, public buildings including Province House, Fanningbank, Charlottetown City Hall, the post office, the market buildings, the court house, Central Academy, churches, and private residences including Sidmount House. The series also includes a number of portraits of prominent Charlottetown residents, public officials, clergyman, etc.
See also Series11 (items 941-943), listings and descriptions of images and 1164, 1165, 1167
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s23.pdf
Series includes unidentified balance sheets, and day books and ledgers of unidentified general merchants.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 602-609":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s24.pdf
Items 768, 773, 775, 792, 797, 799, 811, 812, 821, and 824 are oversize
Series includes some correspondence and petitions regarding the Lieutenant Governor's office, petitions, warrants and claims for payments for services provided, census returns for 1810 and 1827, 1790 petition against Governor Patterson regarding his conduct, appointment and commission documents, statements regarding conditions of the hospital, grant of land for burial ground, 1816 petition regarding restoring Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia, and copies made for Judge George Alley of correspondence between Governor Patterson and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
"ITEM LISTING AVAILABLE - ITEMS 750-832, 1166":http://www.archives.pe.ca/finding_aids/2702s25.pdf