01/25/07

Mémorial en faveur du capitaine Isaac Attwood, Kings American Regiment, concernant les titres pour une îles entre les terres des soldats du Bloc 4 et 5 (à Canterbury, près de Woodstock, Nouveau-Brunswick).

Source: Ghislain Long. Retranscription et traduction: Benoît Long.

Memorial by Captain Isaac Attwood, Kings American Regiment, to Governor Thomas Carleton, about the grant of Fall Island that lief between Block 4 and 5 in the middle of the lands granted to the soldiers of the Kings American Regiment, at Canterbury, near Woodstock, New Brunswick.  The Memorial is dated March 16, 1786.

Source: Ghislain Long.  Transcription of original text: Benoît Long.  

This record is really fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it shows that there were still very direct links between the men of the various Companies under the former KAR, particularly between the men who would receive land grants adjacent to each other. Second, this memorial is dated July 12, 1786 and it is written in a tense which seems to indicate that the men, including Philip Long, had already been made aware, or had visited, their future lots of land in the vicinity of Canterbury (Woodstock), New Brunswick. As we will see later, the official grant of Lot 49 to Philip Long did not take place until 1787. Third, the memorial shows clearly how important the process was to obtaining leave or permission to acquire grants on particularly important or strategic lands or access to strategic resources such as rivers, creeks or islands. Finally, to obtain a copy of each man’s signature means that Attwood had access to them, and this should prove quite helpful in narrowing the search for the whereabouts of Philip Long in this period. It is quite likely that the men stayed together and probably in Fredericton since they had all been allowed to keep two acres for their use.

This record contains a signature of Philip Long.

Memorial in favour of Captain Attwood for an Island at Woodstock

There is the one record that involves Philip Long directly for this year and it shows that he was still very closely associated with Captain Attwood. The record is a memorial which has a good sample of Philip Long’s signature. Here is the complete record:

Memorial Captain Atwood

Kings American Regiment

After Fall Island, containing about Thirty Acres – near his Settlement in this regimental Block

In Council 19^th March, 1785

Island belong to the Corps on each side the River approfits to them

Received 16^th March 1785.

“To His Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esquire

Captain General and Governor in chief

Of the Province of New Brunswick

The Memorial of Captain Isaac Attwood

Humbly showeth

That you Memorialist, as early last spring as the Season would admit, proceeded up the River, forty Miles above St. anns, and settled on the Lands allotted him in the Regimental Block where he has since been improving, to a very great expense; and encountered every difficulty, to promote the Settlement of the Country – That the land of your Memorialist is extremely Rough, and Mountainous and it would be much to his interest, to accept of your Excellencys permission to tak Land nearer St. Anns, even if it were at a distance from the River; had he not bestowed too much Labour on his present prosession to exchange it for a better situation.

Fall Island lying near his Settlement consisting of about thirty Acres, would prove a very great object to your memorialist, and no prejudice to the Public, as it is too small for a Division and no improvement of consequence has been made within fifiteen miles of memorialist, who was the first settler so far up the River, and although his land is indiffierent has bestowed more Laobout in Building, and clearing, than any settler above St. Anns.

Wherefore memorialist, from a Confidence of your Excellency’s readings to give every encouragement to persons who have exerted themselves to promote the Settlement fo the Country intreats your will be pleased to confirm the said Fall Island to your memorialist whose gratitude will be lasting.

 I. Attwood, Capt

Kings Amercian Regiment

St John River

16^th March 1785

Block No. 4 and 5

18^th March, 1786

Captain Attwood, respecting Fall Island.

In Council 14^th July, 1785

To be registered for Fall Island by the Consent of the Settlers in the vicinity.

12^th July 1786