WALLACE HAVELOCK ROBB 1888 - 1976
Poet, author, abbé of Abbey Dawn (Kingston, Ontario, Canada), naturalist, scholar; protege of the late Duke of
Windsor
Born: May 19, 1888 Belleville ON CAN - Died: Jan 29, 1976
Married: Edna Ilene Burrows of Belleville ON (3 children)
Upon his death he left behind, his wife, Edna, Sons Joseph and Clifford, daughter Miriam and grandchildren, as
well as many friends. He was the inspiration for Dawn Cove Abbey.
Publications: (many out of print) - this is not an inclusive, exhaustive list:
The failure of the Sulpician Mission to the Kente, 1681, by Wallace Havelock Robb (Kingston Hist. Soc. address)
Poet, author, abbé of Abbey Dawn (Kingston, Ontario, Canada), naturalist, scholar; protege of the late Duke of
Windsor
Born: May 19, 1888 Belleville ON CAN - Died: Jan 29, 1976
Married: Edna Ilene Burrows of Belleville ON (3 children)
Upon his death he left behind, his wife, Edna, Sons Joseph and Clifford, daughter Miriam and grandchildren, as
well as many friends. He was the inspiration for Dawn Cove Abbey.
Publications: (many out of print) - this is not an inclusive, exhaustive list:
The failure of the Sulpician Mission to the Kente, 1681, by Wallace Havelock Robb (Kingston Hist. Soc. address)
- The Quill And The Candle [p|1927]
- The Door Of Dawn [p|1937]
- Indian Christmas Carol [p|1940]
- Thunderbird [f|1949]
- A Day At Abbey Dawn (w Charles HONCE) [p|?]
- Hail Canada!: Seven poems for the Canadian Centennial, 1967
- Arrayed-in-Wampum
- Mentor Of My Youth (Circa 1905) (Broadsheet four)
- The bell of St. Basile-Le-Grand (Technical translation)
- Owl in a baneful tower (Books of the Bible series)
- Lorne Pierce, D.D., Litt. D. 1890-1961 (Broadsheet four)
- Kayonakonte,: "Daughter of the Gods" (The Manitoanna legend) (Carillon poetry chap-books)
- Tecumtha: Shawnee chieftain, astral avatar (Sir Surendra Singh Majithia Study Series) Revelation Of The True Shawano Tecumtha ; Dreamer Of
Amity; Lonely Redman, monarch and mighty mentor of the forest ; leaping panther frustrated and shooting star betrayed ; gigantic genius and
magnificent mystic among the gods; illustrated by Adrian Dingle c. 1958 - Said John Macdonald: "That's the law"; or, Ballad of the high-stepping bays (circa 1842) (Carillon poetry chap-books)
- In memoriam. The Hon. William Folger Nickle, Q.C. 1869-1957 (English bulletin).
POEMS:
- Glenora: Poem by Wallace Havelock Robb; history of Glenora United Church
- An Abbey Dawn Poem 1944. Matte black card wraps with 8 pages of a cream coloured paper in a single stapled gathering. Silver gilt lettering on
front cover. No published noted. Signed in purple marker on 1st (title) page. From that page: "Poem by Wallace Havelock Robb at the reopening of the
old and historic church, near Lake-on-the-Mountain Ontario, which has dominated that part of Kente, since pioneer times. The occasion was a Special
Evening Service which was organized and led by the student minister, Mr. George Tesky, United Church of Canada. June 18th, 1944." - The Tyrian Quill - Abbey Dawn Press, 1969
NATURALIST:
Lecturing in Brooklyn's Institute of Arts & Sciences, Wallace Havelock Robb, poet and ornithologist of Ontario, who likes to call himself "the St. Francis
of Canada, the poet of birdland," showed stereopticon pictures of his conquests over birds. Of a mother plover with her brood of four sitting on his hand, he
said: "There is perfect faith there. Don't ask me how I do it. I don't know, and I can't explain. In my sanctuary all the birds . . . know me now, but that
plover didn't know me. She just trusted me. My theory is that there is a human aureola"....
Honorary Pine Tree Chief (6 Nations)
Wallace worked with Tessa Brant (born Aug 7, 1889) the daughter of Joseph Seth Brant and Mary Ann Brant, on the Tyendinaga Reserve near Deseronto,
Ontario, Canada.
Her family was a direct descendant of Captain Joseph Brant. They were the children of Joseph Seth Brant, son of Seth Brant, whose father, Chief Jacob
Brant, was the son of Thayendanegea, or Captain Joseph. On October 3rd, 1906, Teressa married Henry Alexander Brant, a direct lineal descendant of
Peter Brant, a brother of Thayendanegea.
She met Wallace Havelock Robb, a renowned Canadian poet, and both being very interested in preserving the Mohawk language decided to cooperate on
producing a dictionary.
This endeavour had been requested by the elders of the 6-Nations, who feared the old knowledge and ways would be forgotten (the youth seemed not to be
overly interested). Tessa spent time at Abbey Dawn during the project, and Wallace spent time at both the Tyendinage and Brantford reserves. For his
efforts and role in this, as well as some of his publications that provided their history in different detail, he was made an Honourary Pine Tree Chief by
the grateful 6-Nations community.
Not only was he all of the above, he was an historian as well, and established a museum of ancient aboriginal artifacts (as well as Champlain's astrolabe -
which Champlain had lost in the Kingston area and which was found in the muskeg near Abbey Dawn). As well, Wallace had a large bell (at least 5 feet high)
cast - and named it Gitchi Nagomi. It tolled every morning at daybreak, and later at sunset (dawn & dusk). As a poet, he also married many couples, and
upon the end of the ceremony, Gitchi Nagomi tolled and the sounds rolled down the St. Lawrence River in joyful celebration.
W.H. Robb and Abbey Dawn, were the inspiration for Dawn Cove Abbey) more below
which Champlain had lost in the Kingston area and which was found in the muskeg near Abbey Dawn). As well, Wallace had a large bell (at least 5 feet high)
cast - and named it Gitchi Nagomi. It tolled every morning at daybreak, and later at sunset (dawn & dusk). As a poet, he also married many couples, and
upon the end of the ceremony, Gitchi Nagomi tolled and the sounds rolled down the St. Lawrence River in joyful celebration.
W.H. Robb and Abbey Dawn, were the inspiration for Dawn Cove Abbey) more below
"Lang may your lum reek" - one of his favourite expressions upon saying farewell to visitors.
Wallace Havelock Robb was the founder of Abbey Dawn of Kingston, Ontario, Canada,
Duke of Windsor), historian and naturalist; and most importantly, my friend. Dawn Cove Abbey is modelled on that format.
Duke of Windsor), historian and naturalist; and most importantly, my friend. Dawn Cove Abbey is modelled on that format.
- Wallace Robb authored many books (see above) , poetry, as well as historical novels, featuring First Nations people (Mohawk – 6 Nations).
In fact, he was an honorary “Pine Tree Chief” with the Mohawk Nation (for having preserved their oral traditions in writing). - Abbey Dawn was a gathering place for scholars (including the Sulpicians from Montreal), artists, poets, writers & religious folk of all
kinds: creative & spiritual people.
- The entire focus was on the inherent good of people, and the true history of how we came to be, rather than the one promoted normally in
schools and in public. - As a poet, he held to the ancient tradition of the role of Abbé - more or less like a priest of ancient times. Many weddings and
christenings took place at Abbey Dawn.
- Abbey Dawn was also a sanctuary for birds: Wallace was the first to begin the nesting boxes for Eastern Bluebirds (Canada) program.
- Until 2007 Dawn Cove Abbey reflected that with its walking & Nature trails for bird and wildlife watching, as well as for retreats.
- Wallace also created a museum of aboriginal artifacts that were discovered on his property and elsewhere.
- Wallace had a huge bell made, and called it Gitchi Nagamo – it was the “Poet’s Bell”, and was rung at daybreak and nightfall, as well as for
special occasions. - It’s sound rang and rolled across the marsh and down the St. Lawrence River.
- Wallace was a deeply artistic, poetic, spiritual man, with a deep reverence for life, and a liking and love for people.
- See below for more on Wallace Havelock Robb
| Wallace Havelock Robb 1888-1976 In Memoriam |
Photo by: Klaas Tuinman circa 1973
Another site to visit to see how the legacy continues in contemporary life, is Courtney Hartwig's site
- click HERE to visit.
Courtney also did an article for the Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper that provides more details. You
can read it by clicking HERE. She writes well and you'll enjoy it.
Another excellent site, by WHR's grand-daughter now is no longer available
Thank you for stopping by.
Klaas Tuinman
Deerfield, NS, Canada Rev: 2009
- click HERE to visit.
Courtney also did an article for the Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper that provides more details. You
can read it by clicking HERE. She writes well and you'll enjoy it.
Another excellent site, by WHR's grand-daughter now is no longer available
Thank you for stopping by.
Klaas Tuinman
Deerfield, NS, Canada Rev: 2009
 |  |  |  |  |
