1854 Passamaquoddy Petition Encroachment and Land Theft Indian Point, Qonasqamku

To the Honorable House of
Assembly of the Province of
New Brunswick

 

The petition of the Indians and descendants of Indians residing in Saint Andrews on Indian point at the time of the landing of the American Loyalists. Humbly showeth that some time in or near the fall of the year 1785 a ship or vessel carrying American Loyalists came into Passamaquoddy Bay that the weather becoming cold an Officer of the English Army named Major Wallace came to the Indians then living on Indian point (Where they had permanently resided for many years and where their dead are now buried) and requested leave to be allowed to land saying that they would pay £25 for license to remain until the Spring when he said that they would leave that there was some document written of which the said Major Wallace possessed himself subsequently, that the said Loyalists did land and built huts on Indian point and never paid the said sum of twenty five pounds and never left the said point but remained and continued in possession thereof and that the same is now in possession of their descendents contrary to good faith.

 Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honorable House would cause an investigation and enquire who made as to the above facts and if true cause some satisfaction and amends to be made to them for such of the land where their fathers houses were built a great part of which was granted by the King to the Town of Saint Andrews and is used as a common and as in duty bound will ever pray

 Saint Andrews  1 Feb 1854

 Jo Lola Selmore
Joe Francis
John Benawit
Captn. Mitchel
Soctomah Selmore
Louis Benawit
Peter Denny
Joseph Newall
Francis Denny
Louis SocBasen
Peter Police
Socabasin Nicolar
Joseph Newall
John Police
Nicolar Denis
Thomas Denny
Peol Mitchel Neptun
Thom Newel
Sopiel Francis
Newel Thomas
Capt. Selmore
Lola SocBasin
Peter Benawit
Nicholas Nicola

By___________/s/__________
Their Agent

 

Called in English Francis Acquin

(A transcription of a document tabled by the New Brunswick House of Assembly on February 14, 1854 and held by the New Brunswick Archives, Fredericton, New Brunswick.)