On August 2, 1794, the British authorities in New Brunswick granted nine tracts of land and three small islands, containing 5,253 acres, within "the county of York, on the River Saint John, between the Great Falls of that river and the entrance of the River Verte [Green River]," to twenty-seven people, mostly of Acadian descent.
Below is a list of persons receiving grants, the lot number and/or tract number, in some cases the number of acres, and other information. In exchange for these grants, the grantees promised to "yield and pay" unto King George III, his heirs, successors, or to his Receiver-General, 2 shillings for every 100 acres, starting ten years from the date of the grant. The grant was also made conditional upon the grantees improving the land, clearing it and either planting on it or grazing cattle upon it, or building a home on it. (For the text of the conditions of the grant see here.)
The land is divided into nine tracts on both sides of the St.John, between Grand Falls and the Green River:
Following the list of grantees is the detailed description of these tracts from the grant document.
First name |Last Name |Lot#|Tract#|Acres|Other information ===============|==========|====|======|=====|================= Joseph, junior Souci 1 200 Aaron Cire 2 200 Augustin Violette 1 3 Francis Violette 2 3 Joseph Cire 3 3 Fierement Cire 4 3 Joseph, junior Cire 5 3 François Cormier 1 4 Baptiste Cormier 2 4 Alexis Cormier 3 4 Pierre Cormier 4 4 Louis Le Blond 5 4 Gregoire Tibideau 6 4 Fierement Tibideau 1 5 Oliver, junior Tibideau 2 5 Jean Tibideau 3 5 Joseph, junior Terrio 4 5 Joseph Terrio 5 5 Baptiste Tibideau 6 5 Oliver Tibideau 7 5 Germain Souci 6 200 Louison Willet 7 lot #9, 2nd division, in 1790 grant to Muzeroll and others Baptiste Sherrit 8 lot #10, 1st division, in 1790 grant to Muzeroll and others Joseph Micheau 9 lot #14, 1st division, in 1790 grant to Muzeroll and others Aaron Cire } Augustin Violette } Francis Violette } Joseph Cire } the three islands Fierement Cire } Joseph, junior Cire }
The Grants can be found in the Provincial Grantbook, Volume B, page 421, Grant number 292. Much of this information is available in the on-line searchable database of land grants maintained by the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick at http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/RS686/Default.aspx?culture=en-CAl
Description of the nine tracts included in this grant:
The first tract (being a lot of two hundred acres) beginning
on the north-easterly bank or shore of the said River Saint John,
about twelve miles above the Great Falls aforesaid, and nearly
opposite the mouth or discharge of the stream or rivulet, commonly
called Nisouguantique, thence running north sixty degrees east
by the magnet, one hundred and forty-eight chains, four poles
each; thence north thirty degrees west, fifteen chains; thence
south sixty degrees west, until it meets the said northeasterly
bank or shore of the said River Saint John; thence following the
several courses of the said bank or shore, down stream, to the
bounds first mentioned.
The second tract being a lot of two hundred acres beginning
on the north-easterly bank or shore of the River St. John aforesaid,
about 15 chains above the mouth or entrance of Grande Rivière
which discharges into the River St.John, about 15 miles above
the Great Falls. Thence running north sixty degrees east by the
magnet, one hundred and fifty chains, of four poles each; thence
north thirty degrees west, fifteen chains; thence south sixty
degrees west, unitl it meets the said north-easterly bank or shore
of the River St.John; thence following the several courses of
the said bank or shore down stream to the first-mentioned bounds
of this second tract.
The third tract beginning at a cedar post, on or near
the south-westerly bank or shore of the River Saint John aforesaid,
nearly opposite to the second tract above described; thence running
south sixty degrees west by the magnet, one hundred and forty-eight
chains, of four poles each; thence north thirty degrees west,
seventy-five chains, or to meet the upper or north-western line
of lot number five in this tract; thence south sixty degrees east,
along the said line of lot number five, until it meets the south-westerly
bank or shore of the River Saint John aforesaid; thence along
the said bank or shore, following the several courses thereof,
down stream, until it meets the first-mentioned bounds of this
third tract, or a line running north sixty degrees east therefrom,
containing in the whole thereof one thousand and twenty-five acres,
more or less, with the usual allowance of ten per cent for roads
and waste, and being divided into five lots, or plantations, numbered
from number one to number five, both inclusive, whose respective
numbers, fronts, marks, contents and division lines are expressed
and described on the plan hereunto annexed
The fourth tract beginning at a cedar post, placed on
or near the south-westerly bank or shore of the River Saint John,
nearly opposite to the middle of the island, commonly called Grand
Isle, and about six miles and one half mile below the mouth of
the River Verte above described; thence running south sixty degrees
west by the magnet, one hundred and forty-eight chains, of four
poles each; thence north thirty degrees west, ninety chains, or
until it meets the upper or north-westerly line of the lot number
six in this tract; thence north sixty degrees east along the said
line of lot number six, until it meets the said southwesterly
bank or shore of the River Saint John; thence along the said bank
or shore following the several courses thereof, down stream, until
it meets the first-mentioned bounds of this fourth tract, or a
line running north sixty degrees east therefrom, containing in
the whole thereof one thousand two hundred and sixty acres, more
or less, with the usual allowance of ten per cent for roads and
waste, and being divided into six lots or plantations, numbered
from number one to number six, both inclusive, whose respective
numbers, marks, fronts, or breadths, contents in acres and division
lines, are expressed and described on the plan hereunto annexed.
The fifth tract, beginning on the north-easterly bank
or shore of the River Saint John aforesaid, at a marked white
maple tree, standing on or near the said bank or shore, a few
chains above the mouth of the River Verte before mentioned, being
the lower bounds of the lot number one, granted to Etienne Tibideau,
in the second tract or division of the grant to Joseph Mazeroll
and others; thence running north forty-five degrees east, by the
magnet, along the lower or south-easterly line of the said lot
number one, one hundred and sixty-nine chains, or four poles each;
thence south forty-five degrees east, one hundred and five chains,
or until it meets the lower or south-easterly line of the lot
number one in this fifth tract; thence along the said line of
lot number one, south forty-five degrees west, until it meets
the aforesaid north-easterly bank or shore of the River Saint
John; thence along the said bank or shore, following the several
courses thereof up stream, until it meets the first-mentioned
bounds of this fifth tract, or a line running south forty-five
degrees west therefrom, containing in the whole thereof one thousand
six hundred and five acres, more or less, with the usual allowance
of ten per cent. for roads and waste, and being divided into seven
lots or plantations, numbered from number one to number seven,
both inclusive, whose respective numbers, marks, fronts, contents,
and division lines, are expressed and described on the plan hereunto
annexed.
The sixth tract, being a lot of two hundred acres, beginning
on the south-westerly bank or shore of the said River Saint John,
nearly opposite the mouth of the River Verte aforesaid, at a marked
birch treee, standing on or near the said bank or shore, being
the lower bounds of the lot number one, granted to Joseph Mazeroll
in the first tract or division of the aforesaid grant to him and
others; thence running south forty-five degrees west, by the magnet,
along the lower line of the said Mazeroll's lot number one, one
hundred and forty-five chains, of four poles each; thence south
forty-five degrees east, fifteen chains; thence north forty-five
degrees east, until it meets the said south-westerly bank or shore
of the River Saint John; thence along the said bank or shore,
following the several courses thereof up stream, until it meets
the first-mentioned bounds of this sixth tract, or a line running
north forty-five degrees east therefrom.
The seventh tract, being the lot number nine, as described
in the second tract of division of the aforesaid grant to the
said Mazeroll and others, beginning at a stake placed on or near
the north-easterly bank or shore of the said River Saint John,
at the upper bounds of lot number eight, granted to Paul Cere
in the grant aforesaid; thence along the upper or north-westerly
line of the said lot number eight, north forty-five degrees east,
by the magnet, one hundred and forty-five chains, of four poles
each; or to meet the line bounding the said second tract or division
of the said grant in that district to the rear or north-easterly;
thence along the said rear line north forty-five degrees west,
eighteen chains and twenty-five links, or to meet the lower line
of lot number ten, in the said second division of the said grant;
thence along the said line of lot number ten south forty-five
degrees west, until it meets the said north-easterly bank or shore
of the River Saint John; thence along the said bank or shore,
following the several courses thereof down stream, until it meets
the first-mentioned bounds of this seventh tract, or a line running
south forty-five degrees west therefrom, containing in the whole
thereof two hundred and forty-seven acres more or less, with the
aforesaid usual allowance.
The eighth tract, being the lot number ten as described
in the first tract or division of the said grant to Mazeroll and
others, beginning at a marked hackmatack tree, standing on or
near the said south-westerly bank or shore of the River Saint
John, at the upper bounds of the lot number nine, granted to Accarie
Ailliot in the first division of the said grant; thence along
the upper or north-westerly line of the said lot number nine,
south forty-five degrees west, by the magnet, one hundred and
forty-three chains, of four poles each, or to meet the line bounding
the said first tract or division of the said grant in that district,
to the rear or south-westerly; thence along the said rear line
north forty-five degrees west, twenty chains, or to meet a tract
of four poles wide reserved for a road, between the lots number
ten and eleven in the said first division of the said grant; thence
along the said reserved road north forty-five degrees east, until
it meets the aforesaid south-westerly bank or shore of the River
Saint John; thence following the several courses of the said bank
or shore down stream, until it meets the first described bounds
of this eighth tract, or a line running north forty-five degrees
east therefrom, contraining in the whole thereof two hundred and
fifty-six acres, more or less, with the aforesaid usual allowance.
The ninth tract, being lot number fourteen in the said
first division of the said grant, beginning at a marked dry maple
tree, standing on or near the said south-westerly bank or shore
of the River Saint John, being the upper bounds of lot number
thirteen, granted to Joseph Cere, junior, in the said first division
of the said grant to the said Mazeroll and others; thence running
along the upper line of the said lot number thirteen south forty-five
degrees west, by the magnet, one hundred and forty-five chains,
of four poles each, or to meet the aforesaid rear line of the
said first division of the said grant in that district; thence
along the said rear line north forty-five degrees west, fourteen
chains and fifty links, or to meet the lower line of lot number
fifteen, granted to John Martin, in the said first division of
the grant aforesaid; thence along the said lower line of lot number
fifteen, north forty-five degrees east, until it meets the aforesaid
south-westerly bank or shore of the River Saint John; thence following
the several courses of the said bank or shore down stream, until
it meets the first-mentioned bounds of this ninth tract, or a
line running north forty-five degrees east therefrom, containing
in the whole thereof two hundred and twenty-four acres, more or
less, wtih the said allowance of ten percent for roads and waste.
The three islands are situate in the said River Saint John, nearly in front of the third tract herein described, being bounded by the waters of the said River Saint John, containing altogether thirty-six acres, more or less.
[...]
The letter of grant is dated 2nd August 1794. The Grant was registered as number 292, on 16th August 1794.
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Last revised 4 Jul 2015
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