Fonds consists of research materials and notes, modern correspondence, photocopies of historical documentation, and genealogical resources for the Need family as well as other people living in both England and Newcastle District. The historical documentation includes wills, gravesite information, lot and concession records, military records, correspondence. As well as the Need family, there is also biographical information on other families, including the Dunsfords, Langtons, Campbells, and Sawers.

These research materials were accumulated by Dawn Bell Logan and used to write books, articles, and biographical entries about Thomas Need, including Thomas Need : settler in the backwoods of Upper Canada (self published, 2022), and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry for Thomas Need (V. 12). Photographs are of some sites in Lincolnshire, U.K, Peterborough, Canada, the Trent Severn Waterway, Thomas Need’s descendants, and gravestones of Need family members.

Fonds is organized into four series: Thomas Need journals and correspondence; Research materials and manuscripts; Dawn Logan correspondence; and Files on Dawn Logan’s publications.

Thomas Need Biography

Thomas Need (1808-1895) emigrated from Nottingham, England to Upper Canada in May 1832 and settled in Verulam Township in Victoria County in 1833 around Sturgeon Lake. He had graduated from University College, London, in 1830 and rejected the idea of becoming a member of the clergy. This contributed to his decision to leave England.

While in Upper Canada, Need was a member of the government commission that oversaw the construction of what became the first lock of the Trent-Severn Waterway, founded the Village of Bobcaygeon in 1834, and served as a magistrate for the Court of Requests from 1835 to 1837.

Need anonymously published his book Six years in the bush or extracts from the journal of a settler in Upper Canada (London, 1838) on his experiences in Upper Canada. The book was based on his journal entries he made in his personal journal which he called the “Woodhouse Journal.” Need returned to Nottingham, England permanently in 1847 and died in 1895. His authorship was confirmed with the publication of John Langton’s letters in 1926 and he was subsequently recognized as a contributor to early Canadian literature.

Source: Biography – NEED, THOMAS – Volume XII (1891-1900) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/need_thomas_12E.html. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.

Collection consists of several Cobourg, Ontario commemorative ribbons that celebrate or observe such events as "Hearts of Oak, L.T.B.", Cobourg Old Boys' reunions, the Cobourg Regatta, the Diamond Jubilee, the Civic Tournament, and the Veteran Firemen Semi-Centennial. Numerous other ribbons depict the 207th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, world flags, various sports, Canadian provinces, months of the year, Canadian educational institutions, names of countries, etc.

This collection consists of assorted documents relating to Cobourg and vicinity. It includes marriage certificates, correspondence, indentures, opera house programmes, choral and church programmes, an oil sketch by Alice M. Duncan, and photographs and postcards. It also includes a copy of the "Cobourg World", April 8, 1898 Volume 25, and No. 43.

This fonds consists of two colour prints of Cobourg. One is of the lighthouse, entitled "Light Tower, near Coburg", by W.H. Bartlett and C. Cousen and the other is of Cobourg Harbour, entitled "Coburg", by W.H. Bartlett and R. Wallis.

This collection consists of an undated broadside of furniture and house furnishings of Disney Bros., Bowmanville, and an undated broadside of ladies' and children's clothing, Hardy's: The Hewson store in Cobourg, Ontario. It also contains a broadside detailing conditions of sale of the Innes Mill near Grafton dated 1876. With this broadside is an original bill of sale, signed by purchaser George Fowler and dated December 12, 1876.