His Excellency also communicated to the Board another Letter from Lieutenant Governor Cramahe, dated Quebec Novr 11th acquainting his Excellency that in consequence of his Letter of the 17th August,1 he ordered the public Register deposited with the Secretary of the Province to be very exactly searched, and Transmitted him by Mr Marr two Abstracts containing the Grantees Names, those of the new Proprietors that have come to their knowledge, the Dates of the Grants as well as of the Ratifications, and their extent as entered upon those Registers, as well of the Lands granted en Seigneurie as of those granted by the King en Roture-Also Copies under the Great Seal of the Province of all the Kings Edicts and Declarations relative to Grants of Lands which had Force of Law there, that his Excellency might be enabled to Judge of the Justice of such Claims-That by these it appears that the Governor and Intendant, or in Case of their Death or Absence those who executed their respective offices, had the power of granting Lands to be ratified by the King within Twelve Months, and that they likewise were the sole Judges in case of a reunion to the Demesne, where the Grantees had not complyed with the Conditions of their Grants, which however never took place till after a Solemn Hearing upon a legal Process before those Officers at the instance of the King's Attorney General-That among the Papers transmitted under the Great Seal of the Province is a Sentence of Reunion of Several Grants upon Lake Champlain dated 10th May 1741 by the then Governor Beauharnois and Intendant Hocquart, since which time there does not appear upon the Registers, altho' very complete, a single reunion of any Grant in those Parts; & therefore that all Grants precedent thereto, and not comprehended therein, are thereby confirmed-and after several observations respecting two Grants to Monsieur Foucault purchased by General Murray; On the Title of Mademoiselle de Ramzay-On the Grant of Monsieur De Beaujeu Villemonde-And the two Grants to Monsieur Hocquart, purchased by Monsieur de Lotbiniere, further acquainting his Excellency that the Canadian Grantees, Trust his Excellency will be pleased to consider the Possession of their Estates with all the Immunities thereunto annexed was secured to them by the capitulation of Montreal, and the Treaty of Paris-That the King's Old Subjects who under the Faith thereof became considerable purchasers of their Estates, Hope and doubt not his Excellency will pay a due attention to their just Rights, and that all expect so serious a matter of so much Consequence to themselves and Families, will be carefully weighed and sufficient Time given them to adduce such proofs as in Honour and Justice may be required of them. In Council; Thursday 31st day of Decemb 1771. Present His Excellency Govr Tyron and the other Members of Council as last mentioned, except Mr Apthorp absent, and Mr Wallace who is present. His Excellency laid before the Board the following Writings and Papers which had been transmitted from the Province of Quebec in pursuance of the late Proclamation relating to the French Claims to Lands within this Government, on the banks of Lake Champlain. 1st. An Exemplification under the Seal of Quebec of the Order of the French King authorizing the Grant of Lands in Canada dated 20th May 1676. 2dly. An Exemplification of his Arret in Council directing that the Lands Granted be cultivated by the Inhabitants, dated 6th July, 1711. 1 Forwarding Proclamation mentioned in the preceding entry, dated, 14 Augt. 1771. 3dly. An Exemplification of the French King's Declaration concerning the Grants in Canada, dated 17th July 1743, & an Explanatory Order dated 19th June 1748. 4thly. An Exemplification of an Arret in Council of the 15th March 1732. 5thly. Of an Ordinance of the Governor and Intendant of 10th May 1741, for a Reunion of divers Seigniories to the Demesnes of the French Crown. 6thly. Certificate from the French List of the Lands Granted en Seigneurie on Lake Champlain North of Crown Point dated Quebec 28th October 1771, and signed George Alsop Clerk of the Enrolments. 7thly. A like Certificate of the Lands granted en Roture or in Soccage to the Southward of the 45th degree of North Latitude. 8thly. Copies of the Concession and Ratification to Daniel Lienard de Beaujeu Jun1 of the 6th of March 1752 and 1st June 1763 mentioned in the said List of Seigniories & Certified under the hand of said Geo. Alsop. 9thly. Copies certified in like manner of the Concession and Ratification to Antoine Bedout mentioned in said List of Seigneuries. 10thly. Copies under a like Certificate of the Concession and Ratification in the said List to Nicholas Berré Le Vasseur. 11th. Copies Certified in like manner of the Concession and Ratification in the said List to Francis Daine. 12th. Copies of a Concession by the King to Monsieur Giles Hoquart Intendant, dated 20th April 1743, and of a like Concession to the same on 1st April 1745, and of a Contract and Sale thereof certified by Pierre Meziere and Pierre Panet, Notaries, who are Certified to be Notaries at Quebec by John Collins a Justice of the Peace 21st September, 1771. 13th. Copy of a Memorial to the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec by Lewis Lienard de Beaujeu de Villemonde dated 15th October 1771. representing that he had a Grant of a Seigneurie dated 20th July 1755 but that the Ratification was lost in 1756 and praying his Intercession with the Governor of New-York for further Time to produce it than is prescribed by the New York Proclamation of August last. 14th. A Copy of a Notarial Certificate of the Sale of the Seigneurie mentioned in the said List to be Granted to Pierre Raimbault made by his heirs to Benjamin Price and others Certified by the said George Alsop 15 August 1771. 15th. A Map of the French Grants on Lake Champlain from Fort Chambly to Crown Point Surveyed by Mr Anger dated 10th October 1748 and signed de Lery. 16th. Mr. Cramahe's Letter to His Excellency dated 11th Dec 1771. Upon which his Excellency desired the opinion of the Council on the Measures proper to be pursued as well with Respect to the Lands granted upon Lake Champlain, as to the new applications for Patents in that part of the Country, and it was thereupon Ordered that the said Writings be referred to the Gentlemen of the Council, or any five of them. ORDINANCE OF THE GOVERNOR AND INTENDANT OF NEW FRANCE REUNITING TO HIS MAJESTY'S LOMAIN ALL SEIGNIORIES NOT IMPROVED. 10 MAY 1741. [ MSS. relating to French Claims, &c., in Sec's Off. ] Charles Marquis de Beauharnois &c. At the Superior Council of Quebec, Between the King's Attorney General. Pltff in his suit of the 20 Feby last on the one side; St Vincent Ensign of Foot, De Beauvais Junr., De Contrecour All the above named Grantees of Lands on Pean, Major of the town and Castle of Quebec Roebert Kings Store Keeper at Montreal Lake Champlain Defts and cited the sixth and eleventh of March last and the ninth of the present month: and Sieurs Douville and De la Gauchetiere Defts and defaulters through lack of appearance either personally or by attorney on the summons which was served on them the eleventh of said Month of March by the Huissier Decoste, on the other side.1 Having seen the suit of the King's Attorney General demanding for reasons therein contained, that We would be pleased to permit him to cause to be summoned the said Sieurs above mentioned to be and appear before us at the Castle St Louis of Quebec within the delays of the ordonnance to direct and order, that they having failed to have cultivated & improved the lands granted to them in Seigniory and to have placed and settled inhabitants thereon according to the terms of the Arrets of the King's Council of State of sixth July 1711. and fifteenth of March 1732 and within the time specified therein, they shall remain and be reunited to His Majesty's Domain in this country; The answers of the said Defendts. present by which Sieur Pean states that he could not find any farmer, up to this time, to place on his Seigniory, that if he should find any he is ready to furnish them with axes and picks, for clearing, with one year's provisions; that he will continue to look for them; that he will do his best to find some and that he intends to form a demesne there. Another answer of Sieur Estebe appearing as above, by which he says that Sieur St. Vincent is actually detached as Commander of the post of Ouyatanois, that he already made several grants on his Seigniory, namely to a habitant of the Cote de Beaupré ; that the said Sieur St. Vincent told him before his departure that he intended immediately establishing a demesne there, the said Sieur Estebe requesting moreover in his name, that a sufficient delay be granted him, in consequence of said Sieur St Vincent's absence on the King's service. A writing without date intituled a Summary Remonstrance furnished to Us by the Sieurs de Contrecour, Father & Son, & La Perrier covenanting by the said Sieur Pean, in which they set forth among other things that they had done everything to settle their grants; that it was impossible to find individuals willing to accept lands though they offered them some on very advantageous terms and were willing to give even Three hundred livres to engage the said individuals; that the said Contrecour, Sen". has rendered Fealty & Hommage for said Seigniory and that he, as well as said Sieurs La Perrier & Contrecoeur, Junior has been subjected to various expenses; that they intend, moreover, to do all in their power to find farmers to settle said Seigniories and they hope to succeed therein; requesting Us that we would please to grant them a delay on the offers which they make to conform themselves herein to his Majesty's intentions. Another writing of Sieur La Fontaine not dated, and signed by him whereby he offers with our permission to go this summer on the Grant with three men to build there, and begin clearances and to give to those whom we will find willing to settle there, Grain and even money, asking from them no rent, in order to obtain from them by the allurement of this gift what he cannot obtain from them by force; 1. So much of this Record only is given as applies to Grants on Lake Champlain and south of Line 45. a writing of Sieur Roebert also not dated in which he says that at the time his Grant was made him, he set M. Janvrin Dufresne, sworn Surveyor, with six men to measure, survey and define the said Grant who occupied forty days in their voyage & that this expense amounted to Seven hundred livres ten sous, according to the certificate of said Dufresne which he presents, and that he has neglected nothing to induce some young farmers to go and settle there by procuring for them great advantages and many facilities, concluding for these reasons We may grant him delay to allow him to satisfy His Majesty's intentions; Seeing likewise His Majesty ordinances dated 6 July 1711 and 15th March, 1732, and his orders addressed to Us last year wherein He orders Us very expressly to proceed with the reunion to His Domain of the Lands formerly and recently Granted in default of the proprietors thereof having fulfilled the conditions set forth in their deeds: We grounding ourselves on the requisition of the King's Attorney General HAVE REUNITED AND Do REUNITE to His Majesty's Domain the Lands following, to wit: 1 That granted on the 10th of April of the year 1733 to Sieur Pean two leagues or two leagues & a half in front by three in depth along the River Chambly and Lake Champlain together with the River Chazy included therein and Isle à la Motte; . . that granted to Sieur St. Vincent on 12th April 1733 two leagues in front by three leagues in depth on Lake Champlain ;1 Another to Sieur de Beauvais on 20th July 1734 two leagues in front by three leagues in depth on Lake Champlain together with the peninsula which is found to be in front of said land; Another conceded on 7th July of the same year 1734 to Sieur Contrecour fils, on the borders of Lake Champlain beginning at the mouth of the Riviere aux Loutres [Otter River] one league and a half above and one league and a half below, making two leagues in front by three in depth together with so much of said Riviere aux Loutres as is found included therein with three Islands or Islets which are in front of said Concession and depend thereon; another granted to Sieur de la Perriere on the border of Lake Champlain beginning at the Mouth of the River Ouynouski one league above and one league below making two leagues front by three leagues in depth with the extent of said River which will be found comprehended therein together with the Islands and Battures adjacent ; that granted the 5th April 1733 to Sieur Lafontaine being five quarters of a league in front on the River Chambly by the depth that may be found to the Bay of Missiskouy;2 that conceded on the 13th June 1737 to Sieur Roebert, three leagues front by two leagues in depth on the West side of Lake Champlain, taking, in going down, one league below the River Boquet and in going up two leagues and a half above said River 3 Wherefore We have declared all the Grantees above named deprived of all rights and property over these Lands, and yet having in no wise regard to the representations made by any of the said Defendts We reserve to Ourselves, under His Majesty's good pleasure, to grant new Patents of the same lands to those of the Defendants who shall prove within a year to Us, that they have seriously and by real outlays and labour improved a notable portion of said Lands, or placed Settlers thereupon during the course of this year, such time having elapsed, by virtue and Execution of these presents and without others being necessary the said Lands shall be conceded to whom and as it shall appertain: We grant default against Sieur Douville and for benefit, We have declared the present Judgment Common, for the lands equally conceded to them, to wit, to Sieur Douville, that granted to him the eighth October 1736 two leagues front by three leagues deep on the East side of Lake Champlain and finally that granted to Sieur La Gauchetiere the 20th of April of the year 1733 of two leagues front by three leagues deep on said Lake Champlain.4 We order &c. Done at the Castle of St. Louis of Quebec the tenth May 1741. Signed Beauharnois & Hocquart; Countersigned and Sealed. 1 Now the town of Champlain, Clinton Co. 2 Qu.? Town of Alburg, Vt. 3 Now the town of Essex and greater part of the town of Wellsborough, Essex county, N. Y. 4. Now the town of Chazy, Clinton county, N. Y. 362 GRANT OF THE SEIGNIORY BEDOU, ON THE RIVER CHAZY. 1 Nov. 1752. [From the same. ] The Marquis Duquesne &c. On the Petition to us presented by Sieur Bedou, Councellor in the Superior Council of Quebec to the effect that We would be pleased to grant him a Tract two leagues or two leagues and a half front by three leagues in depth along the River Chambly and Lake Champlain with the River Chazy included therein, the front of said Tract to extend from the bounds of the Seigniory recently conceded to Sieur de Beaujeau to a league from the mouth of the River Chazy on the South side, with the part of the River Chazy which will be found within the extent of said land; which will be bounded by a line North and South passing by the mouth of said River Chazy, by three leagues in depth, and besides, all the said land which will be found beyond the said line on the River Chambly and Lake Champlain and Isle a la Mothe that is opposite in the said Lake, which Tract was heretofore granted to the late M. Pean in his life time Major of Quebec and reunited to the Kings Domain by an Ordinance of Messrs de Beauharnois & Hocquart dated 10 May 1741. All by tenure of Fief and Seigniory with Right of High, Middle and low Justice, rights of Hunting, Fishing and the Indian trade as well in front of, as within said Tract. We in virtue of the power granted to us by his Majesty have given granted and conceded to said Sieur Bedou the said Tract of land as and in the manner it is above described, which shall be bounded on the North and South by two lines drawn East & West in front by the River Chambly and Lake Champlain, and in depth three leagues joining the nonconceded lands by a line drawn North & South parallel to that which shall pass the mouth of the River Chazy and, besides, the Island called a la Mothe which is opposite to the said Tract in Lake Champlain, to possess it by himself his heirs and assigns in perpetuity and for ever by the tenure of Fief & Seigniory with High Middle and Low Justice, with privileges of Fishing, Hunting and the Indian Trade throughout the whole extent of said Tract, on condition of rendering Fealty & Homage at the Castle of St Louis of Quebec from which he will hold with the usual duties and charges according to the custom of Paris followed in this Country, of preserving & causing to be preserved by his Tenants the Oak timber fit for building King's Ships, of giving His Majesty all Mines Minerals &c. [The remainder of this Patent is in terms similar to that already inserted p. 351. The grant was ratified by the King of France 18th June 1753. The Seigniory was afterward made over by the proprietor on 2d May 1754 to Daniel Lienard Sieur de Beaujeu, who had a Seigniory adjoining inmediately North.] ; TO HIS EXCELLENCY HECTOR THEOPHILE CRAMAHE ESQR. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCES OF QUEBEC, &C. &C. Respectfully Sheweth-Louis Lienard de Beaujeu de Villemonde Chevalier de St. Louis, covenanting for him & in his name Francois Joseph Cugnet Seigneur de St Etienne, who has the honour most respectfully to represent to your Excellency that there was granted to him on the 20 July 1755 by Messrs de Vaudreuil and Bigot Governor General and Intendant, in compensation of his Military |