Petition of James Johnston, 1841, Northumberland County. Transcription.
Digital facsimile of "Petition of James Johnston, 1841, Northumberland County," Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108, reel F4255, 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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N.D
To His Excellency Sir William
Macbean George Colebrooke K H
Lieutenant Governor and Commander
in Chief of the Province of New
Brunswick and to the Honorable
the Executive Council of the
Province of New Brunswick.
Macbean George Colebrooke K H
Lieutenant Governor and Commander
in Chief of the Province of New
Brunswick and to the Honorable
the Executive Council of the
Province of New Brunswick.
The Petition of James Johnston of
the parish of Alnwick in the county of
Northumberland
the parish of Alnwick in the county of
Northumberland
Humbly sheweth
That your petitioner is a
British subject, a native of Scotland,
that he has resided in this province for
eighteen years and has never applied to
the crown for land for settlement.
That your petitioner on the 20th June
1827 purchased from the Indians of this
county a part of the Indian reserve
situate on the North side of Tabusintac river
in the parish aforesaid commencing at the
easterly line of said reserve where it meets
the said river, extending up stream 30 chains
and thence back to the rear, containing
360 acres more or less, for which Your petitioner
has paid £ 30 as will appear by reference to
sundry receipts herewith; and received the
accompanying title to said land
British subject, a native of Scotland,
that he has resided in this province for
eighteen years and has never applied to
the crown for land for settlement.
That your petitioner on the 20th June
1827 purchased from the Indians of this
county a part of the Indian reserve
situate on the North side of Tabusintac river
in the parish aforesaid commencing at the
easterly line of said reserve where it meets
the said river, extending up stream 30 chains
and thence back to the rear, containing
360 acres more or less, for which Your petitioner
has paid £ 30 as will appear by reference to
sundry receipts herewith; and received the
accompanying title to said land
That
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That at the time of said purchase, Your
petitioners sole object was to obtain a
permanent place of residence. The land
was then in a wilderness state.
That Your petitioner since completing the
purchase was not decided as to the legality
of the authority from them; yet he never
doubted the protection of the Government in
Keeping him righted in such purchase seeing
that no fraud had been practised in becoming
the possessor of said land, consequently Your
Petitioner made such arrangements for the
settlement of himself and family as were necessary.
That since that time he has improved and
cultivated the land and has now upwards of
forty acres arable, and has built a dwelling house
barn &c at an expense of Five Hundred Pounds,
and has likewise erected an extensive Lime-kiln
and imported limestone from Britain for the
agricultural purposes of himself and the
neighbouring settlers.
That at the time of such purchase, Your
petitioner was satisfied that the amount paid
was fully equal to that paid by petitioners
to the Crown Land Office for land in its vicinity.
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that a
sufficiently strong authority may be issued
by Government guaranteeing him in the
possession of said land. But should it be
petitioners sole object was to obtain a
permanent place of residence. The land
was then in a wilderness state.
That Your petitioner since completing the
purchase was not decided as to the legality
of the authority from them; yet he never
doubted the protection of the Government in
Keeping him righted in such purchase seeing
that no fraud had been practised in becoming
the possessor of said land, consequently Your
Petitioner made such arrangements for the
settlement of himself and family as were necessary.
That since that time he has improved and
cultivated the land and has now upwards of
forty acres arable, and has built a dwelling house
barn &c at an expense of Five Hundred Pounds,
and has likewise erected an extensive Lime-kiln
and imported limestone from Britain for the
agricultural purposes of himself and the
neighbouring settlers.
That at the time of such purchase, Your
petitioner was satisfied that the amount paid
was fully equal to that paid by petitioners
to the Crown Land Office for land in its vicinity.
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that a
sufficiently strong authority may be issued
by Government guaranteeing him in the
possession of said land. But should it be
deemed
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deemed proper that Your Petitioner should make
a further payment, he is assured that his
claim will meet with due consideration,
convinced of the disposition shewn by His
Excellency to protect the agricultural industry
of the province.
That should the prayer of this petition not
be complied with, it will be the means of
seriously injuring him and throwing his affairs
into a state of embarrassment from which in
all probability he could never extricate himself.
Your petitioner therefore most humbly solicits
a grant or sufficient authority for his per=
manent possession of said land and in
furtherance thereof would humbly direct your
attention to the annexed certificate from the
members of the House of Assembly for this county.
a further payment, he is assured that his
claim will meet with due consideration,
convinced of the disposition shewn by His
Excellency to protect the agricultural industry
of the province.
That should the prayer of this petition not
be complied with, it will be the means of
seriously injuring him and throwing his affairs
into a state of embarrassment from which in
all probability he could never extricate himself.
Your petitioner therefore most humbly solicits
a grant or sufficient authority for his per=
manent possession of said land and in
furtherance thereof would humbly direct your
attention to the annexed certificate from the
members of the House of Assembly for this county.
And Your petitioner as in duty bound will
ever pray
ever pray
James Johnston
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The undersigned, Members of the House of
Assembly for the County of Northumberland,
most respectfully recommend the foregoing
petition to the favorable consideration of
His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and
humbly solicit a compliance with the
prayer thereof.
Assembly for the County of Northumberland,
most respectfully recommend the foregoing
petition to the favorable consideration of
His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and
humbly solicit a compliance with the
prayer thereof.
Hue: Rankin
J.S. Street
J.S. Street
No 63
James Johnston
Tabusintac
James Johnston
Tabusintac