Petition of James McPhelim, 15 March 1847, Kent County. Transcription.
Digital facsimile of "Petition of James McPhelim, 15 March 1847, Kent County," Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108, reel F4232, 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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Mar 15/47
Fredericton 15th March 1847
Sir
The object of my taking the liberty of now
addressing you is in consequence of having twice petitioned
the Government (without effect) for a Lease or Grant
of a piece of Indian Reserve Land in the Co of Kent in the
Mill Creek. Buctouche River. My desire to obtain this piece
of ground is for the purpose of erecting thereon an extensive
sawmill, which it would be an object of great imp
- ortance to me to commence as early as possible and
being informed that the Executive is vested with full
power to dispose of those Lands, I beg leave to solicit
a further consideration of the matter as early as
possible as the last Council was ordered that "it stand
over" I have presumed that the Petition is not al
- together rejected.
I have also filed in the office Two other
Petitions to the Executive, the circumstances of which
appear - at least to me - extremely hard indeed
Thus our praying for a return of at least the
actual expenses incurred in getting Survey & Returns
made of Licences on the N Br of Nw Cocagne River
Fredericton 15th March 1847
Sir
The object of my taking the liberty of now
addressing you is in consequence of having twice petitioned
the Government (without effect) for a Lease or Grant
of a piece of Indian Reserve Land in the Co of Kent in the
Mill Creek. Buctouche River. My desire to obtain this piece
of ground is for the purpose of erecting thereon an extensive
sawmill, which it would be an object of great imp
- ortance to me to commence as early as possible and
being informed that the Executive is vested with full
power to dispose of those Lands, I beg leave to solicit
a further consideration of the matter as early as
possible as the last Council was ordered that "it stand
over" I have presumed that the Petition is not al
- together rejected.
I have also filed in the office Two other
Petitions to the Executive, the circumstances of which
appear - at least to me - extremely hard indeed
Thus our praying for a return of at least the
actual expenses incurred in getting Survey & Returns
made of Licences on the N Br of Nw Cocagne River
— 2 —
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last year from the sum of Forty two pounds
paid by Mr. Scoval to Government pursuant to
an Order in Council for a trespass made by
him upon said ground, after it had become mine
by right of License, Exclusive of loss sustained by
being deprived of the lumber, the actual cost
of Survey &c was something over Fifteen pounds
for which I received no remuneration.
My next and last Petition is of a Similar nature
the principal points are as follows ie License to
Benjamin Wolhampton Esqr on N Br Buctouche River
transferred to Petitioner Mr Jno Coates Trespasser, Expence
say Survey, Labour & Returns £10 Milage £3.10.0 (I
got nothing off this ground in consequence of the trespass)
paid seizing officer for Seizure £3 - Total Exclusive of
loss of lumber £16.10 - Prayer of Petitioner. That Mr
Coates be ordered to arrange with complainant within
a given time, in both cases the trespass was made after
the ground became mine. I have consequently in those
two instances sustained a nett loss of upwards of
Twenty five pounds in endeavouring to protect
my right to work upon grounds of which I
held licenses. Comment upon the matter is of
paid by Mr. Scoval to Government pursuant to
an Order in Council for a trespass made by
him upon said ground, after it had become mine
by right of License, Exclusive of loss sustained by
being deprived of the lumber, the actual cost
of Survey &c was something over Fifteen pounds
for which I received no remuneration.
My next and last Petition is of a Similar nature
the principal points are as follows ie License to
Benjamin Wolhampton Esqr on N Br Buctouche River
transferred to Petitioner Mr Jno Coates Trespasser, Expence
say Survey, Labour & Returns £10 Milage £3.10.0 (I
got nothing off this ground in consequence of the trespass)
paid seizing officer for Seizure £3 - Total Exclusive of
loss of lumber £16.10 - Prayer of Petitioner. That Mr
Coates be ordered to arrange with complainant within
a given time, in both cases the trespass was made after
the ground became mine. I have consequently in those
two instances sustained a nett loss of upwards of
Twenty five pounds in endeavouring to protect
my right to work upon grounds of which I
held licenses. Comment upon the matter is of
— 3 —
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course unnecessary to you Sir, and would be
improper in me.
I have visited Fredericton for the
sole purposes of trying to get something done in
matter, and can plead no apology for addressing
myself to You Sir, further than the confidence
which Your Public Character encourages me to
repose in Your high sense of Justice
improper in me.
I have visited Fredericton for the
sole purposes of trying to get something done in
matter, and can plead no apology for addressing
myself to You Sir, further than the confidence
which Your Public Character encourages me to
repose in Your high sense of Justice
I have the Honour to be with most
profound respect
Your Mo. Obn. Srvt
profound respect
Your Mo. Obn. Srvt
James
McPhelim
To
The Honourable Surveyor General
Fredericton NB
To
The Honourable Surveyor General
Fredericton NB
— 4 —
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The Honourable Surveyor General
Fredericton
NB
{Note Upside down} 15th March / 1847
Jas McPhelim
Fredericton
NB
{Note Upside down} 15th March / 1847
Jas McPhelim