Dugald C. (Campbell) McNab was the author of “The Last Laird of McNab”, which was published first in serial form by the Perth Courier / Bathurst Courier in Perth under the title "History of the Settlement of the Township of McNab". In 1899, Alexander Fraser (the first Ontario Archivist) took this material and published it as a book, using only his own name as the “editor and publisher”, and not revealing the author’s name (which he probably did not know). A new edition of the book under the proper author’s name was published in the 1990's by Waba Cottage Museum, with a foreword by Peter Hessel.
Scope and Content
The file consists of:
1. Photocopies of pages 313 to 322, McNab — The Township, re Dugald C. McNab.
2. Photocopy of clipping from Renfrew Mercury of Sep. 10, 1909 with article “The Late J.D.C. McNab” (born in 1822 in Malta, Clerk of McNab Township for half a century), in which it is stated that Dugald C. McNab [spelled here Dougald] was the “only full brother” of the deceased John D.C. McNab. Both Dugald C. and John D.C. McNab were the sons of Duncan McNab, who had been an officer in the British Army, while their mother was “the daughter of the sheriff of Argyllshire ... who died six years later ... en route to Scotland”. The father remarried; the family first lived in Miramichi, New Brunswick, then in March Township in Carleton County. Attached to the clipping is a 2-page handwritten letter by Neil Stewart (then of Nepean), to Peter Hessel, dated January 20, 1993. Neil corrected information on page 308 of McNab — The Township: “Plug” Duncan C. McNab was NOT the son of Duncan McNab (Isla).
3. Handwritten reference card (researched by Kirstin Jeffery in 1987/88) indicating that Dugald C. McNab and his wife Beatrice had a daughter Katherine E.C. McNab, who at the age of 27 married David Camelon, 26, of Cedar Hill, farmer.
4. Photocopy of (land registry?) form, pages 284/285, with the following information: In 1873, Dugald C. McNab (hand-written into the document by unknown) granted land to Charles D. McNab in Braeside.
5. Photocopy of a letter to the editor to the Arnprior Watchman, written by Colin C. McNab of Braeside on Jan. 9, 1917, quoting a letter to him by author Percival J. Cooney of Los Angeles, dated Dec. 28, 1916. Colin C. McNab refers to Dugald C. McNab as his father and author of “Memories of the Township of McNab”.
6. Photocopy of an article in the Ottawa Journal by Harry Walker, entitled “Famous District Dominie Demanded Satisfaction for Alleged Insult . . .”, referring to Dugald C. McNab. This was found in the Perth Museum files.
7. Handwritten note by unknown, undated, re Dugald C. McNab: “Charles D. McNab, Dugald’s second son, born about 1863, was a long-time log foreman for Gillies Brothers (reference from Charlotte Whitton’s book, “A Hundred Years A-Fellin’”. page 169). Francis Peter (Frank) McNab, born in 1867, was a timber cruiser for Gillies (ibid.).
8. Photocopy of a two-page letter by author Glenn Lockwood of Ottawa to Gerald White of the Arnprior and District Historical Society, dated Oct. 28, 1985, in which Lockwood states that he is writing a biography of Dugald C. McNab
9. Photocopy of a letter by author Glenn Lockwood of Ottawa to Edna Carey of the Arnprior and District Historical Society, dated June 16, 1987, in which he again states that he is working on a biography of Dugald C. McNab.
10. Handwritten note by unknown, re Dugald C. McNab, quoting an editorial obituary from the Renfrew Mercury, Jan. 17, 1873. Dugald C. McNab died (in January) 1873 from “congestion of the lungs”.
11. Handwritten note by Jim Cherry of unknown date, re Dugald C. McNab’s son Colin C. McNab. In 1923, Thomas H. Johnston purchased the home of Colin C. McNab in Braeside which today is Audrey’s Boutique (Audrey Leitch). Also mentioned: Robert A. Carswell of Glasgow. Colin C. McNab taught telegraphy classes at his home and worked for the C.P.R.
12. Copy of letter by Peter Hessel to Andrew McNab in Saginaw. MI, dated April 10, 1987 asking for family information re Dugald C. McNab. Handwritten notes attached.
13. Three-page typewritten letter from Andrew R. McNab in Saginaw, MI, dated April 18, 1987, in reply to Peter Hessel’s letter of April 10, 1987 confirming that Dugald C. McNab was NOT the son of Duncan McNab (Isla). Attached are some handwritten notes by Janet Carmichael, on which Peter Hessel’s letter was based.
14. Two-page handwritten notes by Peter Hessel (1987) regarding a letter to the editor of the Bathurst Courier by “Monitor”, dated June 10, 1847, published on June 15, 1847, regarding Dugald C. McNab, who is called “notorious swindler and rogue . . . tricked employers . . . diddled £25 out of the Tories . . .”, and other derogatory remarks. Also: “. . . Dugald C. McNab, late editor of the Prince Edward Gazette is now in Montreal jail for forgery . . .”
15. Clipping from Chronicle-Guide of July 1988, article Wade Raley: “Local author needs info”. Peter Hessel was seeking more information about Dugald C. McNab, specifically also about the “Annals of Trumpington”, or “Struggletown Annals”.
16. Photocopy of an article by Harry J. Walker (no date, in the Ottawa Journal), entitled “Arnprior Hoax Brings Jitters to Ottawa and Washington”. With cartoon. Regarding a prank played by Dugald C. McNab in 1865 (just after the American Civil War). He started a rumour that Indians from the Upper Ottawa were planning a raid on New York State. Dugald C. was dismissed as principal of the Arnprior Grammar School for “severely birching” the son of The Rev. Otis Hackett. McNab wrote to someone in Washington that Hackett was organizing an Indian raid! A confidential agent was sent to Arnprior from Washington to investigate. Also, Canadian troops were called out in Perth. Reference to an article in the Ottawa Daily Union of April 14, 1865 (editorial) which stated that McNab was in jail in Perth for stealing firewood meant for the school (later acquitted).
17. Printed copy of the obituary for Dugald C. McNab which was published in the Perth Courier 1873-01-17. It was presumably written by George Walker, proprietor of the newspaper at that time and former employer of McNab who was the correspondant for the "Upper Ottawa Country".
Related Material
See also file ”Trumpington, Annals of” (by Dugald C. McNab).
See also red subject file in Reading Room for Dugald C. McNab.