Petition of Edward Langan, 1 May 1824, York County. Transcription.

That in March
1822 being about to leave this for the
Bay de Chaleur your Petitioner was in -
-informed that in the late Richibucto
Indian Reserve was a very good chance
for the a Settler the Same being broken
and about to be laid off into Lots -
that on his recommendation, this infor-
-mation was given him by the then
Surveyor General M ^r Lockwood, and on
his strong recommendation of that part
of the Province your Petitioner concluded
to turn his attention to that quarter
he proceeded there, Selected a Situation at
the junction of Molus River with the
Richibucto being on the upper Side of
the former on which a few broken im-
-provements had been by a person named
Sam ^l Fowler who though a Dutchman, had
become naturalized amongst the Indians
and had also married in the Richibucto
Tribe - that your Petitioner returned
to Fredericton, petitioned together with 8
or 9 others between Big Cove and Bass
River for an allotment, informed the Surv.
General of the Lot he had in view for
himself and was advised to pay the Indian
claiming the Same a consideration therefor
to prevent any difficulty about the possession

that your Petitioner then proceeded to -
Richibucto with a Letter to the Deputy
Surveyor M^r Layton, stating that such
Lot as your Petitioner should be point
out was to be laid off for him, that
on his arrival there he found out the per-
-son who had made those improvements
and though he had not been in possession
for 13 years his demand was paid him
for any claims he had on the Lot -
the Letter was given to the Deputy who
proceeded to the spot and laid off the
said Lot, after which your Petitioner
proceeded to making improvements, that
previous to making those improvements
he had inquired of the Surveyor General
and was by him informed that the
memorial had passed Council, but on
inquiring at the Secretarys office for
the am ^t of Grant fees he there found
that no record appeared of its having
passed and that the Grant fees could
not then be received, but in the course
of that Summer M ^r Layton br took
to Richibucto a list of the Memorials
on the Reserve that had passed Council
amongst which was your Petitioners
name -
Building, clearing and
other expences attending a Settlement
on Wilderness Land having completely
placed it out of your Petitioners po-
-wer before this to pay his Grant fees he inquired Since his arrival in
Fredericton on the 29^th Instant that the Am ^t
of his Grant fees intending to return

Send the Same across early in the Summer
when to your Petitioners very great Sur-
-prize and disappointment he was informed
that it would not be received as the
Situation on which he had improved
was within the bounds of a late -
Reserve made for the Richibucto Indians
Under a firm persuasion that
the Commander in Chief and his Majestys
Council would not deprive a loyal
Subject who had Settled wilderness
Land under Such Strong assurances
(from of what he looked up to as high -
authority) of protection in so doing, that
they would not deprive him of the
Situation that by laying out all his
disposable property thereon (and occupying
the whole of two years of his own
time in addition) he has rendered
from a wilderness tract, a well
cultivated farm, he now throws
himself upon their favorable con-
-sideration, and Sho humbly requests
that the former allotment be con-
-firmed to him in order to his taking
out a Grant thereof, which and
begs leave to add that unless
he receives a favourable answer the
loss of the Land, House & improve-
-ments will render him in the full

meaning of the word a ruined Man.

He therefore Submits his case
and begs leave to add that he has
not bargained for its sale or transfer
to any persons, but has his family
residing thereon

On the first day of May One thousand eight
hundred and twenty four, before me George Minchin Esq ^r
One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the County
of York, personally appeared the before named Edward
Langen, and made oath that the several matters and things
set forth in the before written petition are just and true

Edward Langen

3 ^d May 1824

1 ^st May 1824
Paid

1 May 1824

The situation herein described and on which
Edw ^d Langen has settled & improved is within
the limits reserved for the use of the Richibuctou
Indians -