This virtual archive features ten letters written by John MacDonald and his sister Helen MacDonald between 1779 and 1801. The letters have been selected from the MacDonald Family Collection of more than 500 letters, leases, accounts, and land surveys spanning several generations of the MacDonald family.
During John MacDonald’s long absences from the Island, Helen managed the family's estates, doing her best to follow her brother's wishes which were conveyed to her by letter. John was determined to be kept informed about the activities of his tenants, the state of the economy, and the affairs of the colonial government. When he received word of the decision by Island officials in 1781 to seize estates that were in arrears in the payment of quitrents, John demanded that Helen gather information on the seized lands and the actions of Island politicians so that he could build a case to present to authorities in London. John and Helen MacDonald emerged as major actors in the drama that became known as "the land question," which remained a central component of Island politics until 1875.
The correspondence between John and Helen MacDonald provides a proprietor's perspective on the land conflict that was unfolding on the Island. While rich on a number of topics, the letters are particularly revealing of the way landlords viewed tenants. Although much of the correspondence revolves around finding ways of collecting rents, John also shows evidence of being a progressive landlord, concerned, for instance, about providing educational opportunities for his tenants.
Browse the collection of MacDonald letters.
Interested in digital photography, document transcription, or markup techniques for archival documents? Read a technical summary of how this collection was digitized for online presentation.