Petition of John Francis, 10 December 1861, Northumberland County. Transcription.
Digital facsimile of "Petition of John Francis, 10 December 1861, Northumberland County," Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108, reel F9024, Fredericton, New Brunswick. In "Contested Terrain: Aboriginal Land Petitions in New Brunswick, 1786-1878," Atlantic Canada Virtual Archives, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
This version published online 25 March 2010.
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Andover, Victoria County
Dec r . 10th 1861 ----
Dec r . 10th 1861 ----
Sir,
Your Communication of 7th Inst. was
duly received including a copy of the Indians Petition
dated 8 th Aug t last.
duly received including a copy of the Indians Petition
dated 8 th Aug t last.
For the information of His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor, I beg to state that I have thoroughly
inspected the Land embodied in the Indian Petition
You will please find in my report of 10 th Inst to the
Assistant Secretary - that the point or Flat (so called)
does not now cut above fifteen tons of Hay and that of
poor quality. The Flat is growing over fast with
bushes, and to my certain knowledge for the last thirty
years, the Indians have not as much as planted one
hill of Potatoes on it. Twenty years ago when the Flat
was rented and care taken of it, it produced from thirty
to forty tons of Hay. It now has no fence on it - It is one
hundred rods from the Flat down to the Dyer Brook
along the bank of the River St. John - grown over with Woods
and bushes - and with a very high Bank.
Lieutenant Governor, I beg to state that I have thoroughly
inspected the Land embodied in the Indian Petition
You will please find in my report of 10 th Inst to the
Assistant Secretary - that the point or Flat (so called)
does not now cut above fifteen tons of Hay and that of
poor quality. The Flat is growing over fast with
bushes, and to my certain knowledge for the last thirty
years, the Indians have not as much as planted one
hill of Potatoes on it. Twenty years ago when the Flat
was rented and care taken of it, it produced from thirty
to forty tons of Hay. It now has no fence on it - It is one
hundred rods from the Flat down to the Dyer Brook
along the bank of the River St. John - grown over with Woods
and bushes - and with a very high Bank.
From the Flat along the Tobique River to the
foot of the Narrows is, (with the exception of a narrow flat
about from two to three rods wide), a high rocky bank
The Woods have been burnt over years ago and grown over
with brush &c. and occasionaly fires run over it in the
head of the Narrows is nearly all green Woods.
I think that East of the Flat there is from one to
two hundred Acres of Land that has been burnt over
years ago, and has since been run over by fire several
times - bushes have grown over it in many places -
foot of the Narrows is, (with the exception of a narrow flat
about from two to three rods wide), a high rocky bank
The Woods have been burnt over years ago and grown over
with brush &c. and occasionaly fires run over it in the
Spring
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Spring of the Year. From the foot to thehead of the Narrows is nearly all green Woods.
I think that East of the Flat there is from one to
two hundred Acres of Land that has been burnt over
years ago, and has since been run over by fire several
times - bushes have grown over it in many places -
All this Land the Indians have not occupied by
planting or cutting hay (except the Flat) to my
certain knowledge for Thirty Years.
planting or cutting hay (except the Flat) to my
certain knowledge for Thirty Years.
I beg to state that I think it will
be to the advantage of the Indians interest as well as
to the advancement of this place to sell all of the Reserve
South of the Tobique River or at most to reserve two
hundred acres including the flat - and a large part
of the Reserve on the North side of the Tobique River
for the use of the Indians.
be to the advantage of the Indians interest as well as
to the advancement of this place to sell all of the Reserve
South of the Tobique River or at most to reserve two
hundred acres including the flat - and a large part
of the Reserve on the North side of the Tobique River
for the use of the Indians.
There are names to the Petition that I
do not know. The Indians, John Francis, Enos Sebatis
Noel Molton (an American half bred) Ambrose Bear
John Solis Sen r are the persons that are making all
the trouble about the Sale of the Reserve. I have had
much trouble with them in local matters.
do not know. The Indians, John Francis, Enos Sebatis
Noel Molton (an American half bred) Ambrose Bear
John Solis Sen r are the persons that are making all
the trouble about the Sale of the Reserve. I have had
much trouble with them in local matters.
All of which I beg to submit to His
Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and any further
information in my power will be promptly attended to.
Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and any further
information in my power will be promptly attended to.
I am Sir
Your Obd t . Serv t
Your Obd t . Serv t
A.C. Hammond
C.I. Reserve, Victoria.
C.I. Reserve, Victoria.
R. Gowan Esqr
Crown Land Office
Fredericton
Crown Land Office
Fredericton
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10 Decr 1861
A.C. Hammond Esr
Ind. Commissioner
Tobique
Ind. Commissioner
Tobique
Report on the Reserve