Petition of Louis Joseph, 28 July 1821, York County. Transcription.
Digital facsimile of "Petition of Louis Joseph, 28 July 1821, York County," Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108, reel F4190, 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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1011
To His Excellency, the Lieutenant
Governor and Commander in Chief of
the Province of New Brunswick
Governor and Commander in Chief of
the Province of New Brunswick
The Petition of Louis Joseph commonly
called Big Louis an Indian of the St
John or Milacete Tribe
called Big Louis an Indian of the St
John or Milacete Tribe
Most Humbly Sheweth
That he is now about Sixty-two Years of
age That he resided for the last 23 Years on the
Grand Lake and being desirous to cultivate the
ground for a subsistence for himself and Family
he sat down on some Land at the Little Key
Hole near the Grand Point on the Lake then
in a Wilderness State and built a Small House
and has cleared upwards of twenty acres which
he has had under cultivation That when he sat
down on that Land he was told it was King's
Land and he thought he did no harm in
clearing some of it to raise his Bread on
That about three Years ago he was told by
General Coffin that he might Stay there as
long as he pleased; but since then and only
a few months ago he was told by the people
that he must not stay there any more, for
the Land was not his, and they were going to
put the Church where his House stood - and
age That he resided for the last 23 Years on the
Grand Lake and being desirous to cultivate the
ground for a subsistence for himself and Family
he sat down on some Land at the Little Key
Hole near the Grand Point on the Lake then
in a Wilderness State and built a Small House
and has cleared upwards of twenty acres which
he has had under cultivation That when he sat
down on that Land he was told it was King's
Land and he thought he did no harm in
clearing some of it to raise his Bread on
That about three Years ago he was told by
General Coffin that he might Stay there as
long as he pleased; but since then and only
a few months ago he was told by the people
that he must not stay there any more, for
the Land was not his, and they were going to
put the Church where his House stood - and
Your
— 2 —
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Your Petitioner left it about six weeks ago and
now stays at the Village above Fredericton -
Your Excellency's Petitioner is a loyal
Subject of King George and wishes to see Churches
built but is very sorry to have his House and
cleared Land taken from him now he is growing
old and unable to clear more and he does not
know how to get a living That he always
heard his good King would be glad to see the
Indians clear wild Land and till it, and did
not know he was trespassing or doing wrong
and he therefore most humbly prays Your Excel-
-lency will be so good as to look into his case and
in pity to his distress do some thing to help
him and he will always be very thankful to Your
Excellency and pray for Your Prosperity and
Happiness
now stays at the Village above Fredericton -
Your Excellency's Petitioner is a loyal
Subject of King George and wishes to see Churches
built but is very sorry to have his House and
cleared Land taken from him now he is growing
old and unable to clear more and he does not
know how to get a living That he always
heard his good King would be glad to see the
Indians clear wild Land and till it, and did
not know he was trespassing or doing wrong
and he therefore most humbly prays Your Excel-
-lency will be so good as to look into his case and
in pity to his distress do some thing to help
him and he will always be very thankful to Your
Excellency and pray for Your Prosperity and
Happiness
Louis his x markJoseph
French Village
York County
28 th July 1821
York County
28 th July 1821
Witness
Susanna Mary Wetmore
Susanna Mary Wetmore
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Steam Boat 30
th
July 1821.
In answer to Questions put to me
by Colonel the Honble Sir Robert
LePoer Trench I beg leave to state
that I have known the Petitioner
Big Louis for many Years, and
always considered him to be an
industrious honest Man. It
was, many Years ago, represented
to me that he was cultivating
a Farm on the Grand Lake, which
I supposed he had purchased, as
he was formerly employed in
navigating a small vessel between
the Lake and S t John in conveying
coals & other articles to and from
those places, and appeared to be
getting a comfortable living. -
by Colonel the Honble Sir Robert
LePoer Trench I beg leave to state
that I have known the Petitioner
Big Louis for many Years, and
always considered him to be an
industrious honest Man. It
was, many Years ago, represented
to me that he was cultivating
a Farm on the Grand Lake, which
I supposed he had purchased, as
he was formerly employed in
navigating a small vessel between
the Lake and S t John in conveying
coals & other articles to and from
those places, and appeared to be
getting a comfortable living. -
T. Wetmore
The Situation herein described
is part of a Public Reserve. In May 1799 the Applicant
received a Grant of Eighty Acres on the opposite
point of Land that formed a Part of the original
Reserve.
is part of a Public Reserve. In May 1799 the Applicant
received a Grant of Eighty Acres on the opposite
point of Land that formed a Part of the original
Reserve.
S. Lockwood SurGen
l
August 7
th
1821
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Louis Joseph's
Petition
Petition
May have a licence
of Occupation during
life
of Occupation during
life
In Council
12 Jan y 1822
12 Jan y 1822
14
th
August 1821-
Paid -
Paid -
59xx