Fonds 17 - Peter Jones fonds

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Peter Jones fonds

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Fonds

Reference code

CA ON00399 17

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Date(s)

  • 1807 – 1902 (Creation)

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Physical description

91 cm of textual records
3 photographs: b&w
2 small oil paintings
4 reels of 35 mm microfilm

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Name of creator

(1802-1856)

Biographical history

Peter Jones, known in Ojibwa as Kahkewaquonaby, meaning “sacred feathers” or “sacred waving feathers”; also known as Desagondensta, in Mohawk, signifying “he stands people on their feet”, was a Mississauga Ojibwa chief, a member of the eagle totem, a farmer, a Methodist minister, an author, and a translator. He was born at Burlington Heights (Hamilton), Upper Canada, the son of Augustus Jones and Tuhbenahneequay. He married Eliza Field in 1833, and they had five sons, four of whom survived infancy. He died near Brantford, Upper Canada.

Jones lived among the Mississauga people, then among the Mohawk on the Grand River. At the age of fourteen his father sent him to school in a Saltfleet township, where he became known as Peter Jones. He was baptized at the age of eighteen, but by his own account, not converted until 1823. He taught Sunday School and preached occasionally. In 1825 he was invited by William Case to work as a Methodist, and was asked to keep a journal of his travels. He became the first Canadian native to keep a journal, the first native missionary to be appointed to serve the Ojibwa and, with his brother John, the first translator of Biblical literature into such native tongues as Ojibwa and Chippewa. He was responsible for the establishment of a native mission on the Credit River in 1825. He was received on trial for ministry in 1827, became a deacon in 1830, and an elder in 1833. He was elected chief of two Ojibwa bands. In 1831, Jones traveled to England on behalf of the Methodist Conference to raise funds for Indian missions, and also to represent native causes to British authorities. He preached in Methodist churches throughout Britain, arranged to have translations of the New Testament published, and was presented to King William IV. He was received by Queen Victoria in 1837 and delivered a petition from the Ojibwa requesting the title to Indian lands. In 1844 he was compelled to accept supernumerary status due to poor health. He continued to travel in Britain and France gathering funds for Indian missions. He also worked among the native people at Muncey and New Credit. After 1850 he was forced to retire by poor health. He built a home in Brantford with his wife, where he lived until his death. Eliza Jones later married again and was known as Eliza Carey.

Jones’ publications include: Removal of the River Credit Indians, an article in the Christian Guardian, concerning the relocation of his tribe (1848), The sermon and Speeches of the Rev. Peter Jones, alias, Kah-ke-wa-quon-a-by, the Converted Indian Chief, delivered on the occasion of the eighteenth anniversary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, for the Leeds District (1831). His translations include: The First Book of Moses, called Genesis (1835) and A Collection of Chippeway and English hymns, for the use of the native Indians (1840). His Life and Journals of Kah-ke-wa-quo-nā-by (Rev. Peter Jones), Wesleyan Missionary (1860), and History of the Ojibway Indians: with especial reference to their conversion to Christianity (1861, editor: Eliza Jones) were published posthumously.

Source: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. VIII, 1851 to 1860 / Francess G. Halpenny. – / Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985.

Custodial history

A photograph of John Wesley and letters written by John Wesley were presented to Peter Jones by James Everett. The letterbook acquired from George Laidler was transferred with the consent of members of the family of the late Col. C.R. McCullogh. The remaining custodial history is unknown.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of Peter Jones’s records pertaining to his activities as a minister, author and translator, and to his personal life. Records include correspondence; autobiographical material; hymns in translation (1877); histories of the Ojibwa Indians; (notes for) sermons and other professional material; diaries (1829), journals, photographs and other personal material; miniature portraits of Peter Jones and Eliza Field (by Matilda Jones); material about Jones including leaflets and clippings; and other material including petitions from Natives (1826–1844). Materials relating to Eliza Jones (née Field) include correspondence, primarily with members of her family; personal material including notes on sermons, 20 diaries/notebooks (1823–1883) and photographs; and other material. Also included in the collection are materials relating to John Sunday, including a photograph, a clipping, the record of his ordination as a minister and a bible.

Notes area

Physical condition

Part of the material is available on microfilm which researchers are requested to use unless an enquiry can be satisfied only by consulting original documents. For further information contact the Chief Librarian. See file list available on Victoria University website.

Immediate source of acquisition

Part of the fonds was acquired from Mrs. P.C. Jones prior to 1952. A photograph of a portrait of Jones held elsewhere and a letterbook containing holograph copies made by Eliza Jones of letters from Peter Jones to Eliza Jones were acquired from George Laidler. A portrait of Peter Jones was acquired in 1907. In 1956 the Library purchased additional correspondence of Peter Jones, two miniature oil portraits of Peter Jones and Eliza Field, and a watercolour painting of the Credit Mission. The material held in Box 8 was acquired from Victoria University Archives in 1988. The letter in Box 3 File 11 was purchased by the Library in 2017.

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No restrictions on access.

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Associated materials

Additional monographs on and by Jones are also held in the Victoria University Library collections.

A transcribed version of the anecdote book in Box 1, File 5 is available through the Digital Collections website. It was generously given to E.J. Pratt Library by Peter Davis, a member of the Champlain Society Council who is currently living in Penetanguishene, Ont. Davis completed the transcription in 2022 and offered it to the Library in January 2023.

In Hindsight Episode 5: Peter and Eliza Jones -https://ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/podcast/in-hindsight-episode-05/
Episode 5 of In Hindsight, a podcast series presented by Donald B. Smith and produced by the Ontario Historical Society.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected.

General note

Title based on contents of the fonds.

General note

The fonds is stored in 9 boxes.

Alternative identifier(s)

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Canadiana

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Religious Studies

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