Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1981.33.03 |
Object Name |
Purse |
Date |
1804 |
Features |
Very finely beaded and embroidered pocketbook, mauve silk interior with three compartments, outer is beaded with the name "Mary Fisher" and the date 1804. |
Object Story |
Stitched into the front of this wallet is the name "Mary Fisher" and the date "1804". Mary Fisher's family was originally from Scotland. Her grandparents John and Mary Campbell immigrated to Canada from Pertshire Scotland, now known as the County of Perth. The couple left from the port of Greenock and arrived in Salem, U.S.A. April 14, 1775. Mary's grandparents had several children, one of which was Judge Alexander Fisher, a United Empire Loyalist (U.E.L.). Mary Fisher was his only child with his first wife (Mary). Mary Fisher was born March 8, 1792. She would have been about 12 or 13 when she made the wallet. She was educated in Montreal. In 1817, Mary petitioned a judge for a lot of land as a descendant of a U.E.L. She received lot 7 Concession 6 in Cramahe Township Northumberland, though it is unclear what she did with the land if anything. On October 15, 1818 Mary married an entrepreneur from Napanee; Allan Macpherson, who managed the grist and saw mill at Napanee falls, and would later be the Postmaster of Napanee. He was also Sir John A. MacDonald's half cousin. Mary and Allan had 7 children, and would have a family house built before 1830 along the edge of the Napanee River. Macpherson house still stands today. Within Napanee she was known as "Angel Mary" for all of the charitable work she did within the town. One such task that her and her daughters completed was the sewing, mending, and knitting of clothes for the unfortunate within Napanee. They would likely have spent several hours each week completing projects for people as well as their family. Fredrick Hesford of Richmond Township, was one of Mary's uncles. In his will, Fredrick had left her all of his lands, and tenements, and ensured that upon her death they would further be inherited by Mary's daughters/ female heirs. This was not a common practice for the time period, as usually inheritances would either go to the sons, or be taken over by husbands. This inheritance allowed Mary to be a very independent women for her day. |
People |
Fisher, Mary Macpherson, Mary Macpherson, Allan, 1785-1875 Hesford, Fredrick |
Subjects |
Domestic life Loyalist |
Search Terms |
Macpherson House Napanee River Napanee River, at Napanee Napanee, Clarkville |