Land Grants: August 1794

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 source of this information is: "Appendix No.37, Grant to Joseph Souci and twenty-six others. Dated 2nd August 1794." in First Statement on the part of Great Britain, according to the Provisions of The Convention Concluded Between Great Britain and the United States, on the 29th September, 1827 for Regulating the Reference to Arbitration of the Disputed Points of Boundary under the Fifth Article of the Treaty of Ghent (1829), pp.260-265.

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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