Series MS-0741 - Forin family papers

Diary of John Forin, Belleville, Ont., 1897. Diaries of John Andrew Forin, 1882-1940; diplomas, appointments, personal documents, etc., 1875-1942; transcript of 1885 diary which describes service during Riel Rebellion copied from original at Queen's Own Rifles Museum in Calgary. Certificates, diplomas, etc., of Peter McLaren Forin, 1885-1914. John Forin, an architect, lived in Belleville, Ontario. His son, John Andrew Forin, was born in Belleville, Ontario on July 20, 1861. He went to high school in Belleville and then attended Albert University and Osgoode Hall. He was called to the Ontario bar in 1885 and practiced law in Belleville until 1889. He was a member of the volunteer militia and served with the Queen's Own Rifles during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. He moved to British Columbia where he was admitted to the bar in 1890. From 1891 to 1895 he practiced law in New Westminster. In 1896, he was appointed County Court judge for the Kootenay/West Kootenay District. He served as a judge until 1928 when he retired from the bench. He then moved to Vancouver where he lived on Granville St. in a home known as "The Bunkers". He died on September 14, 1957. John Andrew Forin married Mary Dunn in 1896. Mary Dunn was born in Kincardine, Ontario and lived in Vancouver. She moved with her husband, first to Rossland, then to Nelson, BC, and finally to Vancouver. The couple had two sons and three daughters, Isabel, Jean, Mollie, Douglas and Peter. Mary Forin died in 1955. Peter McLaren Forin, brother of John Andrew, attended the University of Toronto. He graduated in 1891 and then clerked with John Andrew Forin in New Westminster. He was admitted to the bar in British Columbia in 1895. He was also active in the volunteer militia and served in several companies including: the 15th Battalion Argyle Light Infantry (1884-1885), Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (1886-1888), 5th Regiment Canadian Artillery (1896) and the 34th Battery C. F. A. (ca 1914). He returned to Ontario where he was entered on the Solicitors' Roll in 1908. He died on April 19, 1915. Records include diaries of John Andrew Forin, 1882-1940, diplomas, appointments, personal documents, etc. , 1875-1942, and a transcript of an 1885 diary which describes service during the Riel Rebellion. The original diary is included on microfilm [A00878]. There is one diary of John Forin 1897, John Andrew's father. Also includes certificates, diplomas, etc. , of Peter McLaren Forin, 1885-1914.