miss hist society fifth report 1913

7/29/2019 Miss Hist Society Fifth Report 1913

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red fMfftffiMRMMUc LIBRARY,J1833 03286 6623Go 971 .401 M69L2aMissisquoi County HistorSociety.Report of the transactionsof the Missi ;:y


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! FIFTH REPORT I4 X14;

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Missisquoi CountyHISTORICAL SOCIETY

CONSISTING OF

Papers, Sketches, Items and Portraitsof Locat and National Interest

| TRANSACTIONS {I55 < OF THE

i 11 1913.News Print, St. Johns, P. ^.


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FIFTH REPORTOF THE

TRANSACTIONSOF THE

Missisquoi County

HISTORICAL SOCIETYCONSISTING OF

Papers, Sketches, Items and Portraitsof Local and National Interest

T1913.


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A considerable number of copies of each of the fourpreceding reports are still in possession of the societyand can be obtained from the secretary-treasurer at thenominal price of seventy-five cents per copy, unbound.A copy of each, of the four reports and of this report,with annual subscription fee, which is one dollar, willbe given forfour dollars.

Allen County Public Library900 Webster StreetP0 Box 2270Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


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INDEXREADING MATTER

PageHonorary MembersLife MembersAnnual MembersAnnual Meeting 1910 9President's Address ._ 9Address President Women's Committee . . . *3Secretary's Report gSecretary-Treasurer's Financial Statement xAddress, Hon. P. S. G. MacKenzieAddress, A A. Ayer, Esq J 9Election of Officers 2Picnic at Selby Lake 25The Seigniories of Missisquoi

:

General historical dataExplanations of the system 3 2Seigniory of Foucault :(a) Under French rule 34(b) Under British rule 39Seigniory of Noyan ,..,..... 43Parishes St. George de Clarenceville, and St. Thomas de Foucault . . 45Memorandum re Settlement of Clarenceville village 46Seigniory of St. Armand 48Seigniories of Daine and Lusignan 5 1Abolition of Seigniorial System 5 2SchedulesCadastres Abreges 59Sketches :Hon. Mr. Justice L. T. Drummond, ex-M.P 6lHon. Mr. justice Christopher Dunkin, ex-M. P. and ex-M.L.A 63Ralph Taylor, ex-M.P.P 6+Lt.-Col. Stevens Baker, ex-M.P-. P. 74Ephraim Knight, ex-M.P.P 7 6William Baker, ex-M.P.P 77Hon. Mr. Justice James Smith, ex-M.P.P 79Hannibal H. Whitney, ex-M,P 81Dr. Josiah S. Brigham, ex-M.L.A. $3Rev. Micajah Townsend ^4Hon. Mr. Justice Samuel Gale 95Rev. George Slack . . ;; T i .... ,..;.;. 9

Battle of Moore's Corner, by S. G. Taylor, Sr .. . .. ..;, .'..:., . . io2The Birth of Dunham Township, by E. L. Watson . . ." . . '-".vjrV^ ' ' I04Reminiscences of the early Settlers in Dunham, by Mrs. E.L. W^fsoh 1 '. . . 105Episodes of Rebellion days : . . ' . ' ."v ". V 'V . ' . . . i8


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INDEXContinued.ILLUSTRATIONS

PageSelby Lake 27Plan of Lake Champlain SeignioriesSeigniorial Court 57Hon. Mr. Justice L. T. Drummond, ex-M.P. . 61Hon. Mr. justice Christopher Dunkin, ex-M.P. and ex-M.L.A 63Ralph Taylor, ex-M.P.P 6|Residence of Ralph Taylor, Philipsburg 65Residence of James Taylor (his brother) 67Episcopal Church, Philipsburg 69Block House. Philipsburg 71Loving Cup, with inscription 72Enlarged inscription 73Lt.-Col. Stevens Baker, ex-M.P.P . , 74Ephraim Knight, ex-M.P.P 76William Baker, ex-M.P.P 77Hon. Mr. Justice James Smith, ex-M.P.P 79Hannibal H. Whitney, ex-M.P 81Dr. Josiah S. Brigham, ex-M.L.A 83Rev. Micajah Townsend 84Episcopal Church, Clarenceville, erected 1818 89

Interior of same .... 90Same Church (renovated) 1879 92Interior of same 93Hon. Mr. Justice Samuel Gale . 95

Rev. George Slack 98


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Members of theMissisquoi County Historical Society,

For 1913.HONORARY MEMBERS.

'Sir James MacPherson Lemoine,of Spencer Grande, Quebec.Arthur G. Doughty, M.A., C.M.G., D.C.L-, LL.D., F.R.H,S., Deputy. Minister of Archi-ves, Ottawa. 0.>-ar Russell Smith, St. Johns, Q.*Cvrus Thomas-, Toronto, 0.

Rev. E. M. Taylor, M. A., KnowT-ton, 0.* Deceased.

Dr.

Ed]

LIFE MEMBERS.Hon. W. W. Lynch, LL. D.,Knowlton, Cue.Hon. J. C. McCorkill, D.C.L-,

Quebec.Dr. George McAleer, Worcester,

Mass.Walter Lvnch, Esq., Ma.isonvJUe,

Que.Arthur Meigs, Esq., Jacksonville,Fla.

Geo. G. Foster, Esq., K.C., Mont-real.

J. J. B. Gosselin, Esq., M. L. A.Notre Dame de Sranbridge, Q.B. G. Jones, Esq., Boston, Mass.H. H. Curtis, Montreal.*Mrs. Freligh, Bedford.Miss E. L. Baker, Dunham.

\V. V. Rice, Esq., Salt Lake CityJoel H. Baker, Esq., Frelighs-

burg, Que.S. G. Taylor, Esq., Chicago, 111.*Mrs. Freligh was the first wo-

ANNUAL MEMBERS.Albee, Henry, Bedford.Ayer, H. J., Columbus, Ohio.Ayer, Wm. H., Aurora, 111.Ayer, A. A., Montreal.*Baker, Hon, George B., Senator,

Sweetsburg.Baker, Miss E. L-, Dunham.Baker, Geo. D., Dunham.Baker, G. H. s Esq., M.P., Ad-

vocate, Montreal.Baker, Martin PI, Dunham.Baker, Mrs. Stephens, CowansvilleBlanchard, Wm., Bedford.Bradley, Miss Agnes, St. Armand.Brown" W. G., Cowansville.Boright, C. S. Sweetsburg.Boright, Guy C, Farnham.Borland, Miss J. Q., St. Johns.Buzzell, Enoch, Cowansville.Buzzell, Nelson, Cowansville.Boivin, George H., PZsq., M.P.,

Sweetsburg.Brown, Nelson E., Dunham.Capsev, Geo., Advocate, Bedford.Chandler, Miss Harriet, Stan-

bridge, Que.Choquette, W. F., Farnham.Clark, Byron, E-, Y.M.C.v., Burl-

ington, Vt.Clark, Mrs. Letitia, Poquonack,

Conn.*Constantineau, S., Bedford.Cooper, George, Boston, Mass.Cotton, Mrs. Cedric L-, Cowans-

ville, Que.Cotton, Chas. M., Advocate, Mon-


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYCotton, Chas. S., Sheriff, Sweets-

burg, One.Cotton, Miss M. J. A'., Cowans-

ville, One.Cotton, Wm. S., L.D.S., Cowans-

ville, One.Curlev, T " \el, Dunham.Currie, E. F., Bedford.

D'Artois, A. E. Mayor, Farnham.Davis, X.C.. Hull, Que.Desautels, Alphonse, Farnham.Derrick, G. C, Clarenceville.*Dickinson, Mrs. R., Bedford.Farwell, J. E., Esq., K.C., Whit-

ley, Ont.Fellows, Miss Charlotte, Philips-

burg, Que.Fitehett, E. A., Cowansville.Fleurant, Edward, Franham.*Freligh, Mrs., Bedford.Fuller, Geo. F., M.D.C.M., Cow-ansville.^Fuller, H. Leroy, M. D. C. M.,Sweetsburg.Galer, J. X., Dunham.Getty, R., Dunham.Gibson, Major J. G., Cowansville.Giroux, F.X.A.,K.C, Advocate,

Sweetsburg.Gleason, Mrs. H. E., CowansvilleGovette, Ed., Cowansville.*Green, Heman, Meigs' Corner.Hauver, P. A., Cowansville.Harvey, Carl 31., Enosburg Falls,

Vt.Hatch, D. W., Bedford.Hibbard, C. II., Stanbridge.Hughes, Geo. R., Cowansville.Hunter, Thomas, Venice.Harbison. W. H., Bedford.Hart, M. 0., Cowansville.Hawley, J., Krelighsburg.Hurlburd, Geo., Cowansville.Holden, A. 11., Felighsburg.

Johnston. Geo. 31., Cowansville.J ones, C. 0., Bedford.Jones. Lafayette, Sweetsburg.

Kemp, Hon. A. E., M.P., TorontoKirk, Thos., P.L-S., Montreal.Knight, Mrs. E. C, Stanbridge.*Lambkin, Mrs., Knowlton.Lampee, Charles Irving, Chelsea,

Mass.Lambkin, E. R., Chicago.Lebeau, J. Ed-, Bedford.Lynch, W. H., Sweetsburg.Lauder, Dr. J., Cowansville.Lefebvre, J. E., Farnham.Lewis, Rev. W. P. R., CowansvilleLeonard, A. J. E., Advocate,Sweetsburg.Macfarlane, W. H., Cciwansville.McCabe, J. Irving, Cowansville.McClatchie, J as., Cowansville.McCorkill, W. S., Farnham.*McCrum, John F., Cowansville.McKeown, W. K., Advocate,

Montreal.McNamara, Mrs-. M., Bedford.McCabe, W. F., Cowansville.McAleer, Svlvester, Bedford.McCorkill, Dr. R. C, Farnham.McKenney, Mrs. K., Pigeon Hill.Miltimore, Eben S., Scottsmore,

Que."Miltimore, John C, Sweetsburg.Montgomery, Mrs. Hugh, Philips-

burg, Que.Moore, C. S., Stanbridge, Que.Moore, Willoughby, Philip sburg.Moore, Mrs, Theodora, Stanbridge

East, Que.Morehouse, Mr., Bank Manager,

Bedford, Que.Morgan, Mrs. S. A. C, Bedford.Mullin, J. J., Bedford, Que.Montgomery, Geo. H., Montreal.Moore, A. E., Ottawa"'.Muir, Miss M., Montreal.Noyes, Jno.P., K.C., CowansvilleNye, Clarence E., Cowansville.*0'Halloran, James, Esq., K.C.,

Cowansville, Que.Parker, David, W., Esq., M.A.,

Ottawa.Parsons, Mrs. L- C, Sweetsburg.C, Sweetsburg.


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.Pattison, W. B., Detroit, Mich.Pearson, Mrs. Chas. E., Ottawa.Pickle, Dr. F. H., Sweetsburg.Pickle, T. R., Sweetsburg.Plaisted, Rev. H., Dunham v*Racicot, E., Esq., K.C., Sweets-

burg, Que.Racicot, Mrs. E., Sweetsburg,Rice, McD., Montreal.Rice, Mrs. W.V., Salt Lake City-Rodger, Dr. D. A., Cowansville.Ruiter, P. Arthur, Cowansville.Russell, Major Wm., Stanbridge.*Rykert, Asa, Dunham, Que.Rykert, Miss Elizabeth, Dunham.Sabine, Dr. G., Brookline, Mass.Saunders, Fred C, Bedford.Saxe, John W., Atty-at-Law,

Brookline^ Mass.Scott, James E., Farnham.Scott, Jedd E., Scottsmore,Shelters, Ashley, Bedford.Short, Geo. E., Cowansville.Smythe, Joseph, Cowansville.*Somerville, Andrew, Philipsburg,

Spencer, E. E., Frehghsburg.Stevens, Andrew, Bedford.Strange, R. A., Cowansville.Taylor, Job. W'., Cowansville.Thompson, Mrs. Harriet E., Pots-dam, N.Y.Tittemore, Miss M. A., San Fran-

cisco, Cal.Tucker, Rev. W. Bawman, Mont-

real.

Vilas, Wm. F., M.P.P., Cowans-ville, Que.

Walbridge, A. S., Jr., Mystic,Que.

Watson, E. L-, Dunham.Watson, Mrs. E. L-, Dunham.Watson, Rev. B., Ways Mills, Que.Whitcomb, Nelson, Dunham, Que.*Whitfield, Mrs. George, Cowans-

ville, Que.Wood, G. A., Santa Cruz, Cal.Yeats, Dr., Dunham, Que.^Deceased.


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Annual Meeting of theMissisquoi County Historical Society,The annual meeting of the M. C.H. Society Was held in the TownHall at Bedford, on the 27th day

of August, 1910.Among those present were: Hon.Judge McCorkill, Quebec; JohnP. Noyes, Rev. Rural DeanW. P. R. Lewis, and Mrs..Whitfield, Cowansville; Hon. P.S. G. MacKenzie, ProvincialTreasurer, Richmond ; Mr. V.Jenkins, St. Armand; Mr. Chas.S. Moore, Mrs. Theodora Moore,Miss Beatrice Blinn, W. N. Mar-tin-dale and F. Martindale, Stan-bridge East; A. A. Ayer, Mont-real; E. R. Smith, St. Johns ;Mrs. Graves, Barbadoes; Rev. H.Plaisted; Dunham; Mr. and Mrs.A. S. Walbridge, J. H. Capseyand Robert McKee, Mystic; Mr.and Mrs. R. T. Hazard, Jefferson,Texas; A. H. Holden, Frelighs-burg; Mrs, S. A. C. Morgan, Mr.and Mrs. Harbison, Rev. H. T.Duckworth, Mr. and Miss Currie,Mr. W. A. Sheltus, Mrs. McCarty,the Misses Stevens, Mr. GeorgeCapsev, Mr. J. H. Gwyn, Mr. andMrs. F. W. Jones, Mr. and Mrs.F. C. Saunders, Mr. D. W. Parker,Mrs. Butler, Mrs. S. Coslett, Mrs.Creller and Miss Harbison ofBedford; Rev. Mr. Robinson, rec-tor of Clarenceville, and manyothers.

Letters, of regret at being unableto attend were received from Hon.Judge Lynch, founder of the Soci-ety, Rev. E. M. Taylor, of theBrome Society, and F. X. A.Giroux, Esq., advocate, Vice-Pres-ident of the Society.The chair was taken by His

upon the Secretary to read theminutes of the last annual meet-ing. It was thereupon moved, sec-onded and carried, that inasmuchas the minutes of that meetinghad already been printed in theannual report, their reading bedispensed with.The President thereupon deliver-ed his annual address as follows:

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.Ladies and Gentlemen :I extend toyou a very hearty welcome to what I

believe is our seventh annual meeting,(for during three years or more the so-ciety slumbered) and I thank you sin-cerely for turning out in such numbers.At our last annual meeting I felt con-strained to humbly offer my apologies tothe friends and members who, at the an-nual meeting of 1908, had done me thehonor to elect me their president, for Ihad during my year of office, done littleto further the aims and objects of thesociety. I promised, if re-elected, and Ireally wished for re-election, that I wouldat least make an effort to retrieve my-self and do something, in co-operationwith those active spirits to whose efforts,since the society's reorganization, it hadreally justified its existence and the ap-peals which it makes for public support.Whether I have, in a measure, justifiedthe renewal of your confidence, you arein the best position to judge. I may sayfor myself that what I have done has giv-en me very great pleasure and no littleprofit ; it has aroused in me a most ac-tive and enthusiastic desire for the ful-lest knowledge possible, of the history ofthis my native countynot only of whatI may term the great events which oc-curred within its borders, but also of theminor incidents in the life of its pion-eers and their more immediate successors.I feel that my experience in this respectfully justifies Goethe's remark that "thebest thing wiiich we derive from historyis the enthusiasm that it raises in us."THE PAST YEAR.The past year has been pregnant withmost important national events and some

important local events.


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lO MISSIS0U01 COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.teemed and beloved sovereign, and theworld lost its greatest friend and peacemaker, in the passing away, alter onlya few days illness, of the great andgood King Edward VII., recognizedthroughout the world as the most potentinfluence in the preservation of peace andgood will among the civilized nations ofthe world. Could the news of the catas-trophe have reached every part of thecivilized world at the same moment (souniversal was the shock to the nations)the heart of the world would have ceas-ed, for a space, to beat. This society,composed as it is, principally, of loyalsons and daughters of Missisquoi, heardof the great loss to the Empire, when aswe know, it was passing through a greatnational political crisis, with the mostprofound sorrow and anxiety.

I venture lu say in


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY i idress giving particulars of the organiza-tion, its aims and objects, the workwhich it had thus far accomplished,an outline of further work to bedone, and called for the co-operationand support of everyone present. Shortaddresses were then given by the Hon.Mr. Justice -Lynch, the founder of the So-ciety, Mr. A. L. Watson, Rev. E. M.Taylor, Rev. W. P. R. Lewis and CharlesM. Cotton. Illness, the summer holidaysor business engagements prevented the at-tendance of the following "Missisquoi oldboys," of Montreal : Lt. Col. Hibbard,A. A. Ayer, George Montgomery and G.Harold Baker.

I trust that next summer another pic-nic may be held in some other suitablepart of the county when a special effortmust be made to procure the attendanceof "Missisquoi old boys" from Montrealand elsewhere, who were unable to bewith us this year,APPROPRIATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I wish to publicly acknowledge thegreat indebtedness of this society, duringthe past year, to the devotion and thework of Mrs. Theodora Moore of theWomen's branch, and of Mr. John P.Noyes, K. C, both ex-presidents. Tothem is principally due the credit forthe preparation of the 4th report forpublication. In the name of the Society,in the name of Missisquans whether theybelong to the society or not, I wish tothank them both, but particularly Mr.Noyes, who is a native of our sistercounty of Brome, for the zeal and enter-prise which they threw into their work. Aslong as we have the co-operation andlabor and encouragement of these twoestimable members the transactions ofthe Society will not be permitted toslumber.WHAT OF THE FUTURE?And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, what

of the future ? I feel we should not slack-en our energies until we have obtainedall the historical information possiblefrom every available source, from thearchives at Ottawa, Quebec, the CourtHouse, the registry office, the offices ofthe secretary treasurers of the countyand municipalities and school boards,and from the homes of our people. Wehave made a beginning in the reportswhich have been issued, but I assure youit is only a beginning. We should notrest satisfied until we have, besides his-torical data, as many portraits as pos-sible of the old buildings and land markswhich contributed to the life, the enter-prise and the development of each mu-nicipality and of the county. We shouldaim to have the portraits and a shortsketch of every man who represent-ed the county in parliament, from 1792to the present time, whether itslimits were as they are now, or theyformed part of a much larger unit ;of the judges who were assigned to andresided in the district, and of those who

Bedford and Farnham ; of the organiza-tion of our municipal system, with por-traits and sketches of the various ward-ens who presided over the county affairs;the organization, growth and develop-ment of the municipal government ofeach township or parish, with portraitsand sketches of the mayors and council-lors. The same with respect to theschool boards, both catholic and Protes-tant. An important organization in eachof the counties of the Dominion is theAgricultural Society. We must have aconcise account of the organization anddevelopment of our society, with por-traits and sketches of those who figuredmore prominently in spreading their in-fluence in the county. Besides all theseand kindred subjects, we would like tohave as complete a history of the var-ious churches and religious denominationsof the county as possible. Some of thecongregations have developed wonder-fully since the pioneer days, the mostnotable instance being the Roman Cath-olic Church of Farnham. My earliest re-collection of a Roman Catholic Churchthere was a low rough board whitewash-ed edifice. Since then, if I am not mis-taken, two or three churches have beenerected, the present one being one ofthe most magnificent churches, both withrespect to its exterior and to its inter-ior, that is to be found outside the larg-er cities of the province. On the otherhand some congregations have ceased toexist, notably at Farnham Centre. In myboyhood days there were two flourishingcongregations at Farnham Centre ; theone with a prosperous church, the otherwith a mission house supplied from WestFarnham. It is true that both of thesebuildings were situated in the county ofBrome, but they were within a stone'sthrow of the county of Missisquoi, andtheir congregations, more particularly ofthe Presbyterian Church, were composedof residents of Missisquoi. A large num-ber of them were comprised in a Scotchsettlement which has practically disap-peared and been succeeded by French-Canadians. The histories of two orthree churches are to be found in one orother of our reports. We wTould like thehistories of all our churches. I feel theday is not very far distant when thesame result will happen with respect toothers, as has happened to those of Farn-ham Centre, and now is the time to gath-er up the material necessary for compil-ation of these histories. I trust the nextreport will contain the portrait and asketch of the life and work of the lateBishop Stewart, who figured so promi-nently at one time in the social and re-ligious life of St. Armand.PROPOSED. HOME FOR THE SOCIETYShortly after I was elected president

for the first time, I received a letterfrom a native of the county, who occu-pies a prominent position in the adjoin-ing Republic, and who takes a keen andactive interest in the transactions ofthe society that I should signal my


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.ty. Our sister society of Brome has notonly been fortunate in having two suchactive executive officers as the Hon. Mr.Justice Lynch and the Rev. Ernest M.Taylor, but it also has been fortunate inhaving donated to it a very substantialand comfortable home in Knowlton, thecapital of the county. I am afraid ifMissisquoi is to have a home, it willhave to be of a more modest character,and will have to depend entirely uponthe subscriptions and the generosity ofthe sons and daughters of the countygenerally and of their friends. I havenot yet felt that I could undertake amovement towards the securing of such abuilding, but I do not look upon such aproposal as entirely hopeless. We mustin the meantime, I think, try and ex-Tend the power of the society's influence.I am of opinion we must bend our effortsfirstly to interest the general public inthe aims and objects of the society, inorder that we mav obtain through themhistorical incidents, portraits and biog-raphies relating to the various municipal-ities of the county. After that, or evenafter we make a good start in that di-rection, I think it will be quite in orderto start a movement for a museum.Of course it is well known that relicsof the farms and various activities of thecounty will be very thankfully receivedand given a temporary home by the sec-retary of the society. One has only tolook at the various reports which havebeen issued, to find lists of those whichhave already been donated to the society.Moreover, many Missisquoi relics havefound a temporary home in the museumof the Brome County Historical Society,which will restore them to us when wehave a permanent place for them.SUBJECTS FOR FUTURE REPORTS.

It is well, T think, that wTe should keepbefore us the various subjects uponwhich articles should be written for fu-ture reports. If wre keep these subjectsin mind we will find that new informa-tion upon them is constantly coming be-fore our notice. If we will make a noteof the information at the time and com-municate it to one of the officers of thesociety, it will help along the work whichwe have in hand.Some people look upon the work of thissociety as very unimportant. I remem-ber in my school days Canadian historywas looked upon " as a little valueand little time was devoted to its study.Those who had the preparation of thecurricula of our schools, were satisfied ^we knew a half dozen facts relating toCanadian historythat the Cabots dis-covered Newfoundland ; Jacques Cartierdiscovered Canada ; Champlain foundedQuebec and explored Lake Champlain andthe lake-, of the West ; the great wars

en the Iroquois and the French,followed by the great war between theFrench and the English, which culminat-ed in the battle of the Plains; the re-bellion ; confederation, etc.,a mere skele-ton of the history of Canada. Our his-torical -J ud jr-:; were devoted more par-

world's history and to the history ofEngland. A "great change has takenplace in the education of Canadians.Now the principal history which ouryouth must study is the history oftheir own country, and no greaterinterest is taken in any events of thathistory, than in those which preceded thebattle of the Plains. I venture to saythat in no historv in the world will youfind greater deeds of individual daringand heroism than we find in our Canad-ian history ; and those deeds werenot alone of the men of the country.The women played their part and showedthemselves as brave and resourceful lead-ers as the men, as witness the won-derful defence of her home during the ab-sence of her parents, by Madelaine de Ver-cheres. If we can grow enthusiastic overthe history of our Dominion, we can alsogrow enthusiastic over the historv ofour county. The narrower the limits ofour research, the nearer we come to ourown home life. There is the history ofthe Dominion, the history of the pro-vince, the history of the county and thehistory of each municipality. As we getdown to the histories of the municipali-ties we become more familiar with thosewho played their part in the developmentof the municipalities, and therefore in thedevelopment of the county. I cannot con-ceive of any person not loving and feelingan interest in his county, his municipalityand his home.CHRONICLE EVERY EVENT.

I feel, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have oc-cupied more of your time than I shouldthis afternoon, seeing that we have otherspeakers to address you, but when I getthinking of and reading historical inci-dents of Missisquoi there seems no limit tothe ideas which pass through my mind andthe practical results which I hope tofollow from them. I feel so interested inthis work, and so anxious that we shouldobtain knowledge of, and chronicle everyevent, and give a portrait and biographi-cal sketch of every citizen, who contrib-uted his part to the development of thecounty, that I wish to inoculate everyother Missisquan with the same spirit,who has not already been attacked.BROME HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I had the pleasure of attending the an-nual meeting of the Brome Historical So-ciety, held at Knowlton on the 20th in-stant. I was sorry to hear that the sis-ter society suffers from the same evi-dences of indifference on the part of thegeneral public that we do. There are sev-eral reasons why we should feel a spec-ial interest in the Brome Society, andthat I more particularly should do so.Brome and Missisquoi, in the earliest po-litical days of the province, formed partof the same county of Bedford, they havefor years formed part of the same dis-trict ; they have much in common. I ama great admirer of the scenery of Bromecounty. It is one of the most beautiful


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIKTY 13possesses some of the finest and mostluxuriant scenery that is to be foundanywhere.

OLD MISSISQUOI NOT LACKING.But we must not forget that old Mis-

sisquoi is not lacking in beautiful scen-ery, magnificent hills, fertile valleys, pro-ductive farms, with a railway system un-equalled in this part of the province. Wemust not allow the material sentimentalone to dominate our natures ; we musttry and preserve within us a certain de-gree of sentiment and affection and ad-miration for the county and for thosewho were instrumental in redeeming itfrom its primitive wild and uninhabitablecondition. I believe that the more weread of the life and work of our pion-eers and their very immediate successors,the more enthusiasm it will create in usfor our native county and the more in-tense will become our desire to obtainand to chronicle all the information thatit is possible to obtain.

I bespeak from you all, and from Missis-quans generally, for our society, whichknows neither creed, race nor politics,your generous sympathy and your sub-stantial support.

MRS. MORGAN'S ADDRESS.The President then called on

Mrs. S. A. C. Morgan for her ad-dress as President of the Women'sCommittee of the M. C. Hj: S.,which she delivered as follows:

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,My dear contemporaries of Missisquoi,"Out of the abundance of the heart themouth speaketh"the pen inditeth.Allow me, with great respect for thepresent learned and intelligent audience,to express the thoughts that come forc-ing themselves upon me.It seems a cause for thankfulness thatwe are permitted to live at a period ofthe world's history so fraught with mo-mentous discoveries and enterprises, re-

vealing the mighty forces of nature andthe power of wealth.The impressiveness of the times is al-ready touching the hearts of the peopleand . leading them bark to an attitude ofhumble receptivity before the majesty andbeneficient power of God.

W-* are not large enough to comprehendthe motive power nor the results thatare in the making. We see what our pre-decessors have contributed to the world'swork, and the thought often arises"What would our worthy ancestors saywere they to see what has transpiredsince their day ?the works of which theylaid the foundation, often all unconscious-

"peace on earth and good will towardmen" is the impulse that is gaining forceamong thoughtful people.Our late lamented King led the way inpaths of peace and pleasantness. By sim-plicity he exalted manhood. Happy arewe to have lived in his reign.Wisdom and intelligence are divine at-tributes that never fail, though men maydie.Happy are we also to have known andto have been associated with, more orless intimately, the dear departed oneswhose names have been an honor to thissociety. To those who claim close kin-ship with them, the loss seems irrepar-able. And still our beloved ones are pas-sing.

I will leave it to other members of thissociety to express our condolence withthe bereaved families.This leads us to an appreciation of theearly women of Missisquoi to whom weare so closely allied bv the ties of kin-

ship, that their personal traits of charac-ter and of feature are still observed intheir descendantsa heritage to be proudof and to be conserved as a characteris-tic of the type of women still to bemet with in the Eastern Townships.Unlike the population of our newer pro-

vinces that are constantly receiving newaccessions of adventurous peoplegoodand badfrom the older countries andso, are kept in agitation by the wavesof the 'wide world, we in Missisquoi arewedged in between an alien country onthe one side, and on the other, a con-tented Franco-Canadian peasantry, differ-ing from us in language and religion,which difference forms a regrettable bar-rier to social intercourse, though verymany of these are descended from whatSir William Dawson termed 'the refinedand polite society of New France,' andwhose innate refinement has percolateddown through successive generations tothe present day.So here we are. We seem to occupy a

sort of middle ground between the ex-tremes of highly-wrought sensibilities onthe one hand, and mental inertia on theother.It is to be hoped that 'what we havewe hold,' as a very comfortable heritagefrom circumstances and from our honored

fore-mothers who shared bravely andheartily in the stirring domestic activi-ties of life in their day.It was the industry, hopefulness andresourcefulness of the mothers that in-

spired the fathers and sons with strengthand courage to establish their pioneerhomes.The women had no expectation of beingneedlessly favored or pampered. Theirlives were not modelled after an impracti-cal romance. It was stern urgent realitythat could not be departed froma castthat enfolded the weak members till theywere strong.Let it be remembered that our ances-

tors had seen better days, the greaternumber of whom had been born and bredin competence and in the midst of the in-telligence and culture of colonial soci-


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14 MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY,ters and other written language amplyprove.They imbibed contentment and joy fromliving in harmony with their surround-ings ; always anticipating and striving forthe improved conditions that we have in-herited as the result of their industryand foresight.Then, as now, Nature was lavish in herfavors of soil, climate and picturesquelandscape which uplifts and brightens

the lives of those happy persons who aresusceptihle to her charms, rilling theirminds with beautiful thoughts that ban-ish wrinkles and keep the heart young.Histories, oral or written, very wisely

present for our emulation, chiefly thefairest side of their subjects, leaving usto assume that there were the defectscommon to human nature.How consoling it is to know that oursurface inequalities and obtrusive sharp

points of character will not be engravedon the memory of succeeding generations.But like the everlasting hills, only theelevation and outline of our lives willbe observed until as our day recedes, weare finally obscured in the mist of ages.Let us hope that, like the hills that in-vite mountain climbers, we may incitepresent and future generations to forsakethe lower levels of commercialism andfrivolity to seek the higher ranges andbroader view-points of life.It may be objected that this is meresentiment. Let us remember it is senti-ment that distinguishes man from the

brute."The spirit of a man goeth upward."Sentiments matured become principlesthe levers that uplift or overthrow na-tions. The finer and more exalted thesentiment, the higher is the individualor the nation in the scale of refinement,intelligence and influence.It was sentiment, chiefly, that impelledour forefathers to follow the British flag

into the wilds of Canada.It is a well known fact that seeds areborne by birds and by the winds intobarren places to make them productive.So are men carried by the impulse ofsentiment and passion into places wherethey are needed to fulfill the laws of lifeand growth.The loss to the American Union of somany determined, intelligent and honor-

able citizens was great gain to Canada.

As present conditions are evolved out ofthe past, so will future conditions beevolved out of the present, which is oursand wherein we leave our markbe it ablot, a blur, or a worthy stroke.)Let us rejoice in what is already trans-

piring within the limits of our beautifulEastern Townshipsthe active progress,material, mental and moral.Truly our wagon is hitched to a starat last. It is but justice to say that thewhole world seems to have been slowlyawakened by the influence long and per-sistently and broadly exerted by thatbrave band*, of Christian workers knownas the "W.C.T.U."Their work has included many subjects,

to all of which Missisquoi has been slowto respond.Now that the Dominion Alliance havebroken in perhaps something will happen.We'll stand back and see. We are acautious people. While we have been hesi-tating hitherto several shocking tragedieshave been enacted in this county thatmight have been averted. If moral re-form is to be attempted in Missisquoi letus strike at the root of the matter, and"Do it now."Since our last annual meeting word has

been received that the work of the Na-tional Historical Association with whichthis Society was affiliated, is discontin-ued for the present.We have often acknowledged the indebt-edness of the Missisquoi Historical So-ciety to The St. Johns News -for the gen-erous help afforded us.And again we extend our thanks to theSherbrooke Record for the interest thatpaper is awakening in matters historicaland progressive pertaining to the wholeEastern Townships in which we are proudto be included.Our newspapers may be likened to thosemusical instruments that draw their in-spiration from our invigorating atmos-phere, which they send back to us as areveille.

Wake up Missisquoi ! Wake up !Respectfully submitted,

S. A. C. MORGAN,Pres. of Women's Committee of M.H.S.


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIKTY. 15REPORT OF SECRETARYTREASURER M.C.H.S

(Aug. 27, 1910.)Mr. President, Ladies and Gen-

tlemen:Once more I have to re-port a year of prosperity for ourSociety. We can claim the interestand support of only a few of thepeople of the county, but the re-cent picnic at Selby Ivake gave evi-dence of the activity which a lewpatriots may arouse in a goodcause. The Secretary should bethe working head of such an or-ganization as ours; unfortunatelyhe is not. All success which we asa society have achieved is due tothe activities of a devoted few,chief among whom are our Honor-ary President, Mr. J. P. Noyes,and the President and Secretaryof the Women's Branch. The Sec-retary has long felt his unworthi-ness and would rejoice to see inhis position a man who could de-vote time and energy to the So-ciety. I am convinced that such aman, by going about among thepeople could collect valuable in-formation, relics and documents,and, at the same time, vastly aug-ment our membership and finan-cial standing.As most of you know, theFourth Annual Report of the Mis-sisquoi County Historical Societywas issued this summer. This re-port is fully up to the standard ofits three predecessors, and is eventhought by many to surpass themin general interest. It contains acomplete index of reading matterand illustrations of all reports is-sued, proceedings of last two an-nual meetings, illustrated bio-graphical sketches, poems, andhistorical articles of general, aswell as of local interest. Manyletters of appreciation from* thosereceiving this report have been re-ceived by the Secretary, only one

time to read. Mr. H.. J. Ayer ofColumbus, Ohio, writes as fol-lows:

Columbus, 0., Aug. 22, 1910.Mr. C. S. Moore, Secy.,My Dear Sir:The fourth an-

nual report of the M. C. H. S. isat hand, and although the threeprevious were models, this- sur-passes them all in form, arrange-ment and information concerningthe early history of MissisquoiCounty and of the energetic pion-eers who laid the foundation ofwhat their descendants (those whoremain) now enjoy.

I must here express my surprisewhen upon looking over the listof annual members to find onlyone, E. E. Spencer, from St. Ar-mand East.What has become of all the des-cendants of the early settlers, arethey all gone or have those thatremain lost the pride and energydisplayed in such a wonderful de-gree by their forefathers ?For reply I hope to see at leasttwenty-five names in the next an-nual report.

I regret that I was. noit at yourpicnic at Selby Lake, and amongthose reported present by TheNews was Thomas Shepard of St.Arinand East, who can give moreincidents o


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MISSISQTJOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYComments from the press are,

as in previous years, most com-plimentary and encouraging. TheMontreal Gazette especially, in aleading- editorial, speaks most fa-vorably of the work which is be-ing done by our society, and de-votes considerable space to a re-view of the Fourth Annual Re-port.Considerable correspondence has

passed through the Secretary'shands during the past year. Muchof this would be interesting toread, but time will not allow.Our correspondence with Mr. By-ron X. Clark, Field Secretary ofthe Young- Men's cnristianAssociation, of Vermont, des-erves special notice. Mr.Clark is interested in a planfor erecting a monument ormarker on Blockhouse Point,Xorth Hero Island, and wrote usfor information regarding a block-house said to have been erected byBurgoyne's army in 1777, on apoint of land on the west side ofXorth Hero Island in Take Cham-plain. We were unable to obtaininformation for Mr. Clark and theplan is dropped for the present,but will be carried on next sum-mer.Since writing the above in refer-ence to our correspondence withMr. Clark, we have received a let-ter from Mr. G. M. Van Vliet ofTacolle, regretting his inabilityto attend our meeting today, andenclosing a communication fromMr. Henry Harmon Noble, whohas been searching for informationconcerning the blockhouse onNorth Hero Island.The Secretary would like to sug-

gest, in passing, that inaccuraciesof statement which may. have oc-curred (through printers' errorsor otherwise) in any of the publi-cations of the Society, should becorrected before the issue of an-other report, so that these correc-tions with any additional notesthemselves to

the author of published articles,may appear in the next annualreport.He recently received a valuablepamphlet from Mr. A. H. Holden,of Frelighsburg entitled, "Tawsand Regulations of St. ArmandTibrary Society, established atFrelighsburg, County of Bedford,Tower Canada, Nov. 24, 1814."Several interesting facts may begleaned even from the title of thiscatalogue, to say nothing of itscontents. I might mention, how-ever, that in the list of books,works of fiction are rare, and au-thors of the type of Bertha M.Clay are absent altogether.We are also indebted to MayorD'Artois for the last annual re-port of the Town of Farnham, apamphlet which will prove valu-able for reference. We wish to ex-press to Mr. Holden and MayorD'Artois the thanks of the Soci-ety for these donations.As Secretary of this Society Isuppose that my report should beconfined strictly to a record ofthe business of the past year. Ishall venture, however, toi expressa thought in regard to the atti-tude of our Society toward theyounger generation of this countymen who are making the historyof the future. Can we not, bywords of encouragement, by ap-plication of our environments andby a hopeful outloo'k, use our in-fluence toward making the futureof these townships even more glor-ious than the past. Our great-grandparents strode for a merefoothold in the wilderness, lumber-ing the greater part of the year,and growing a few crops amongthe stumps and stones which sur-rounded their log houses. Thenext generation extended and im-proved the clearings, building bet-ter houses and barns, roads andbridges. Gradually conditionshave improved until we find our-selves today enjoying most, if notall, of the luxuries available to


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MIvSSlvSOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.country people. Tins has gradual-ly come about in spite of the drainwhich the citiesespecially thoseto the Southhave made upon ourpopulation, and in spite of the de-pressing ellect of low prices of allfarm produce which prevailed formany years after the opening upof that vast fertile tract in theUnited States the MississippiValleywhich poured upon themarkets of the world a volume offood produced so cheaply thatmany farms throughout New Eng-land and other eastern Stateswere abandoned in despair. Todaywe are developing and improvingour conditions in spite of the callof the Westa call wThich somemay do well to follow, but whichto many will prove the song ofthe siren, luring from a land ofwooded hill and fertile valley, aland of lakes, rivers and springs,to a "land of treeless plains andunlimited loneliness. We are chief-ly a community of farmers, so itis well to look at these mattersfrom the farmers' standpoint. Theagricultural outlook today uponthis continent is more hopefulthan ever before. Population hascaught up with production of foodand general good prices must pre-vail, mis means for the futuremore farmers, and farmers betterequipped to develop the resourcesof the land so that the people

may be fed. Our lands are not ex-hausted; far from it. Every car-load oi mill products fed out aneastern farms means so much fer-tility taken from the plains of theWest and added to our soil. Thisprocess may seem slow, but itseffect is already evident. We arein touch with the great marketsof the world, we have a soil andclimate capable of producing alarge variety of crops, and wehave picturesque and home-likesurroundings. It is true we havestony ridges and wet hillsides butthese are not unsurmountable ob-stacles. The wet places will some-times be made dry and the roughways smooth, and even greaterprosperity than w.e now enjoymust prevail.May the attitude of our Societybe one of hopefulness and encour-agement to the men of today, sothat we may not only look backto the heroic deeds of our ances-torswhose lives to* themselves nodoubt seemed commonplacebutthat we may look forward as wellto a prosperity, an intelligence,and a refinement which will makeof these townships the garden ofthe Dominion.

(Signed)C. S. MOORE,

Sec. Treas.


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i8 MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.Financial Statement for Year Ending Aug. 26th, 1910.

Receipts. Expenses.Balance from 1909 $10.50 Paid C. 0. Jones on account,Membership fees [annual] - 76.00 for cash advanced $25.501 Life Member - 5.00 Postage - 7.25Reports sold 26.50 Stationery .609 copies "Voice of River"' sold 2.25 Sundries -'.-.-,-

Total expenses*-35

Total receipts 120.25 $34.7oBalanceCash on hand - $85-55Present from Hon. Justice Lynch $ 5.00

$90-55

Finanoial Statement from Aug. 26th, 1910, to July 1st, 1913.Receipts.

19 [OAug. 26 Cash on hand

Reports sold to date$9o.55

(July 1st, 1913) 11.50!9!3 1 Life Membership 5.00Mar. 4 Sold 7 copies "Voice

of the River." i-75Cash from Mr. J.W. Saxe i .001910 Check from Treasury

Dec. 16 Department 100.00Membership fees 24.00

$233-80

1910Sept. 17

Expenditure.Paid E. R. SmithPrinting bill - $2Stamps used -Framing pictureExchange on checksTo balance

3-853-751. 00.20

15.00

$233-8

It was then moved by Mr. Noycesseconded by Mr. Capsey, that thereport of the Secretary be adopt-ed. Carried.

The President then introducedthe Hon. P. S. Cx. MacKenzie,Provincial Treasurer. In the courseof his remarks, Mr. MacKenziegave expression to the gratifica-tion it afforded him to make hisfirst visit to the flourishing townof Bedford on such an auspiciousoccasion. Then he paid tribute tothe excellent address delivered byhis esteemed friend, Judge McCor-kill, although he was impelled to

the meeting, the chairman in oneparticular was inaccurate. Hisbirthplace was not in RichmondCounty. Unfortunately for himor otherwise, he first saw the lightof day in far distant Saskatche-wannow coming into so muchprominenceand forty years ago,when he came east he had totravel 1,000 miles in an ox cartto reach the confines of civiliza-tion. Mr. MacKenzie expressed theconviction that the MissisquoiHistorical Society was admirablydischarging an important duty,and so impressed was he with theutility of the association that heshould endeavor to promote theformation of a- similar organiza-County of Richmond.


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 19He extolled the resolute characterof the early self-sacrificing pion-eers of the Kastern Townships,who left the United States in or.der to live under the protectingfolds of the Union Jack, and whowere themselves descendants ofthat noble band of self-sacrificingmen, who had come to Americayears before in that historic craftthe Mayflower. Then in an elo-quent peroration he dwelt uponthe natural beauty and fertility ofthe Eastern Townships spokewith feelings of pride of our goodlyheritage, and referred with muchsatisfaction to the happy condi-tion which prevails today, whentwo formerly hostile races wereliving side by side on terms of theutmost amity and good will. Inconclusion he urged all to be trueto their traditions and make themost of the great opportunitieswdiich were still open to them. Onresuming his seat the ProvincialTreasurer received an ovation.

A. A. Aver, Esq., a leading pro-duce merchant of Montreal, a na-tive of St. Armand East, followedwith an interesting address on"The Good Old Times." He spokeas follows:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:It affords me great pleasure to join myfellow citizens of the good old County ofMissisquoi in the search of interestingitems of its history. It is a good work,if for no other reason, in order that theresidents of today may learn valuablelessons from the events, and even fromthe mistakes, of the past, just as theartisan learns to be skilful in his tradefrom long practice and even from hisfaulty work.

It was with the utmost satisfactionthat I listened to the splendid addressof your President. It was a treat to lis-ten to the address of the President ofthe Ladies' Societyan address of liter-ary merit and noble ideas, worthy of thefirst lady of the land.In my family history I look back tomy greatgrandfather, who came to this

country in about the year 1790, and

hope will continue to retain an interestin Missisquoi County.Some sections of Canada appear tohave been settled almost entirely by U.E. Loyalists. Missisquoi has the distinc-tion of being settled by both parties,and it is interesting to note that thosethat fought on the U. S. side were goodneighbors and friends with those whowere loyal to the British Empire.

I shall never cease to love the place, ofmy birth, the dear old farm house. WhenI get weary and worried with the caresof a somewhat busy life, until I feel Imust have a little rest, there is no piacelike the front verandah of the old tome,where I can see the hills and the Pin-nacle Mountain and the places where Ihad the good times I love to think about.

A REMINISCENCE.Some twenty odd years ago I crossed

the Atlantic with the celebrated PierpontMorgan, and afterwards spent a day to-gether with his daughter in a railroadtrain on the Continent. I met him againgoing to the Mediterranean the past win-ter. He is now an old man, giving lit-tle attention to business, but trying toenjoy life. To my surprise he recognisedme, and speaking of our trip remarked:"That was in the good old times."The grey and white haired boys (andlassies) assembled here today, remindeach of us (1st) of "the good old times"and (2nd) that "time flies."Many years have passed until that oldphrase has become trite, and today thechildren actually see men flylike butter-flies. Does that help us to better under-stand that time flies ? Do we yet rea-lize that we measure time by a differentstandard today from that which ourforefathers usedthat a daya yearlifetime means vastly more than in theolden time ? Why is it so ?Marvellous changes, discoveries and

progress have taken place in the lasthundred yearsgreater far than in theprevious thousand years. What did peo-ple know about China, Japan, India andAfrica, and how almost impossible itwas to reach these countries a hundredyears ago.One century ago the world knew no-thing about the use of steam or steam-ships, railroads and telegraphing, noreven about kerosene oil. Fifty years agonothing was known of electricity in itsvarious practical uses, nor of telephonesor wireless messages, not to speak offlying machines and innumerable inven-tions. Wonderful advances have been madein education, especially in the sciences,medicine, surgery, sanitation and techni-cal matters. A revolution has takenplace in manufacturing, transportation,construction, commerce, administration,


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20 MISSISOTJOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYing in an enormous accumulation ofwealth.Let us turn for a moment's contrast

to the olden times.I visited Madeira and Italy last win-

ter. There one sees the world as it was2,000 years ago. Men were in no hurrythen. The streets of Madeira are pavedwith stones not much larger than pen-nies and placed on edge. It probablytook fifteen years to do this work, whichin these days would he done in a fewmonths. Ox teams were in use, drawingrudely made conveyances in the place ofhorses. This helped to make us feel thatwe were in a land whose customs datedback many centuries. In Rome the greataqueducts, Coliseum, Tombs and churchestook one or two lifetimes to build, whichtoday would be erected in twro or threeyears.Even in these latter days our greatgrandfathers did in six months less thanwe do in a week. Our fathers were bornon the edge of the years when men firstbegan to hurry.How then shall we measure time, so asto realize what has taken place duringthe history of this county ?

If we go back far enough to the be-ginning of days, we find that men hadlittle idea of time or numbers; and sowe may well ask, as we pinch ourselves,to see where we are at, are we reallyold men or only old boys ? These com-parisons may help us to realize how muchwe owe to our forefathers, who were menof courage and strong of arm, 'and whocut down the trees and forced MotherEarth to give them a living.

I suppose you know that the bird manmust commence his flight by strugglingagainst the wind and not rising with it.So our forefathers had the early struggle,and we ought to show our colors and beproud to hold the family names that theygave us.

I do not propose to go into the detailsof the hardships and struggles of thefirst inhabitants of this County, but aninteresting paper could be written solelyon that subject.

"It is great to be out where the fightis strong,To be where the heaviest troops be-long,

And to fight, for man and God.It seams the face, and it tires the

brain,It strains the, arm, till one's friend is

painIn the Cighi for man and God.[1 is great to be here, where the fight

is strong,To be where the heaviest troops belongAnd here to Kght for man and God."

I would like, while, we trace the eventsof past years, to use its history to sti-mulate the residents of Missisquoi Countyto make this the banner dairy county ofthe Dominion. This is pre-eminently afarming countya dairy farming county.The people who first came here and thosewho followed were among the best whocame to Canada.In the flight of the past century, while

improvements in nearly everything havetaken place and have been developed asfast as men were ready to use them, theagricultural portion of Mother Earthseems to have been neglected. Men seemto have forgotten that the real wealth ofthe world is obtained from the soil andhave sought to make wealth in otherways. Indeed, in these Eastern Town-ships, it has gone backward, until inthose parts of the world, where progresshas been made, crops per acre and milkper cow double ours.

If tracing the history of this countryis to be of practical benefit, we mustnot shut our eyes to the fact that farmsin general here will not sell for asmuch today as they did forty years ago.It is well for us to look backward, tofoster pleasant memories, to keep alivethe sentiment of home, to gather andkeep historical records, and to tracewith some minuteness the footprints ofthe early settlers.Men may come and men may go, butthe farms remain, and the history of anold farm is the history of generations.The Chandler farm near my old home-stead was settled upon more than 110years ago. It became one of the best160 acre farms in that township. Fortyodd years ago it was sold for $9,000 andpassed out of the family. About 15years ago, it had so run down that itpassed into other hands for $3,400, itsfull value then. The barn, 50x50 with anL, constructed sixty years ago, and withsome changes in the stables, is a fairlyup-to-date barn today. It is only withinthe past few years that the crops onthat farm equal those produced 45 yearsago, and there is room for much im-provement yet. Our farmers seem tohave been working like the crazy manwith the wheelbarrow, viz., bottom sideupgoing through the motions but carry-ing no effective load.

HISTORY OF A DECADENCE.What is the history of this decadence

in farms and the few instances of recov-ery ?The civil war of the sixties in the U.

S. drew from these Eastern Townshipsmany of our young men. The years ofprosperity that followed in the U. S.were years of very low prices for ourdairy products, largely on account of


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MIvSvSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL vSOCIKTY 21the duty of four cents per pound on but-ter imposed by our U. S. neighbors.For years Boston had been our prin-

cipal market. Then for the first timeMontreal became our market for butter,and slowly a trade was built up withEngland. In many respects the EasternTownships suffered more than any otherpart of Canada because of the abroga-tion of the Reciprocity treaty in 1867the year when I commenced business onmy own account in Montreal.The result was that many of our youngmen left Missisquoi and other counties,

and the decadence of farming commenced.It is only in the recent years that mod-ern systematic farming has, to a smallextent, been inaugurated; though as yetthere are few cows in the country thatcan be called up-to-date.Meanwhile our fellow citizens of another

nationality and religion have come amongus, bought or rented our farms and arefast outnumbering the English-speakingpeopleMy object in mentioning this phase ofthe history of our fertile county is, thatwhatever our prejudices may be, we areup against the fact. The only solution Isee is, to work for one common schoolwhere French and English may be taughtand our youth educated together.DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY SETTLERSAmong the many difficulties', encounter-

ed by the early settlers, not the leastwere the construction of roads andbridges. The changes in location of theseare to me both peculiar and interesting.Mr. Ayer then proceeded to describe andfurther illustrates with a map the firstzig-zag road from Frelighsburg to Dun-ham. With the exception of the shortbit from the old mill to the CatholicChurch in Frelighsburg not a foot ofthis original road is used today.The. site of an old mill is still visible

on the Lee farm where the lumber wascut for some of the first houses in thatneighborhood. Those built by my greatgrandfather and by Daniel Chandler, whoboth came to the country in about theyear 1790, were burned some years ago;but a house built in 1801 and occupiedby one of the latter's sons, HarlowChandler, is yet in existence and is to-day one of the finest farm houses in St.Armand East. Our difficulty seems tobe to trace the history from 1743, whenthe seigniory of St. Armand was setapart, up to the year '1800; after thatdate the items are much more easilygathered

.

The excellent reports of your Society(four in number) contain much valuablehistorical information, but as Mr. Jonessaid, ' I am afraid the true history ofMissisquoi will never be written."

DR. McALEKR'S CONTRIBUTION.Dr. George McAloer has furnished us

with an interesting set of data and dates,but even this needs some corrections.For instance, p. 78in report of 1909referring to the division of BedfordCounty in 1829, says: "In MissisquoiCounty there was a population of 7,766,3 Episcopal and 1 Methodist Church, 5villages, etc."The Baptist Church at Abbotts Corner

had an organization in 1809 and wor-shipped in a respectable building erectednear the corner of the road then leadingto Frelighsburg. Mrs. Ayer's greatgrandfather was the first minister andone of my forebears one of the first mem-bers of that church. The building wasremoved about the year 1840, after theroads were changed. My mother oftensaid that her earliest remembrance wasattending that church with her father.There were no convenient schools ; mymother and her brothers were taught Inthe winter evenings by the light from avery large open fireplace; it was at alater date 'when candles were introduced.My grandfather was a lumberman andmy father commenced teaming to andfrom Montreal a good many years beforethe first railroad was built in Canada.That road from St. Johns to Laprairiehad wooden strips for rails with an ironband or top piece, and the cars weremore like the small street cars withsmall seats first used in Montreal.

It was necessary to go through intoLachine, where the Hudson Bay and oth-er stores kept provisions. The wagonswere put on a ferry boat, but the horsesswam across the St. Lawrence River,from the present Custom house to St.Helen's Island.

HAPPIER DAYS.My own lot fell in those happier days

when schools were plentiful and whensuch splendid born teachers as HobartButler of Stanbridge Academy made theway easy for every willing mind.

It was my good fortune for several ses-sions to have the Hon. Justice. Lynch asmy seat mate. I believe I was slightlyhis senior in years, but his seniority overme was that of a great grandfather inlanguages, literature and all such thingsas have made him the great orator, andgiven him that judicial mind which hasenabled htim to fill the honorable posi-tion which he holds with the highestrespect of all his fellow citizens. To mefell the easier and more simple mathe-matical position of finding out thattwice five makes ten.In 1856 my father took me to Mon-real. It was the time to market the

first load of cheese for that season. We


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYwent from Frelighsburg to Notre Damede Stanbridge whore the old plank roadhad been built to St. Johns. From therethe railroad had been diverted to St.Laambert's and we crossed the St. Law-rence River in the terry boat called the"Iron Duke.*'

( Occasionally the sons of the old set-tlers are coming back to the farm, andI hope to see more of them, as the bestsystem of farming is adopted, includingthe rotation of crops, the selection ofseeds, and the much needed improvementin the herds of cows.Xo life can be made more enjoyable,

especially when the best modern methodsof farming are adopted, and I wouldcome back to the old farm tomorrow,were it not for the business, social andchurch associations that bind me to Mon-treal, where I have lived for forty-fiveyears.

I thank you for your kind attention,and for this opportunity of meeting withyou.

Short speeches were delivered byRev. Mr. Plaisted, rector of Dun-ham; J no. P. Noyes, Esq., ex-President of the Society; Mr. Nel-son Brown of Dunham; Geo. Cap-sev, Esq., advocate of Bedford,and Mr. C. O. Jones of Bedford,also ex-President of the Society.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.It was moved by Mr. iNoyes, sec-

onded by Mr. Jones that the Hon.J. C. McCorkill be re-elected Pres-

ident of the Society. Carried un-animously.On motion of Mr. Noyes, sec-

onded by Mr. Aver that Messrs.E. E. Spencer and F. X. A. Gir-oux be re-elected Vice-Presidents.Carried.Moved by Mr. Saunders, second-ed by Mr. Capsey that C. S.Moore, Esq., be re-elected Secre-tary Treasurer. Carried.On motion of Mr. Jones second-

ed by Mr. Noyes, George Capseywas re-elected Auditor.On motion of Mr. E. R. Smith,seconded by Mr. SVitus., Hon. W,W. Lynch and Messrs. J no. P.Noyes and C. O. Jones were re-

elected Honorary Presidents ofthe Society.

It was also moved by Mr. Smithseconded by Mr. Sheltus that thePresident be authorized to fill allvacant offices, select local officersand name Executive Committees.There being no further business,

the meeting then adjourned.(Signed)

C. S. MOORE,Sec. Treas.


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY


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24 MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A Unique Event.PICNIC MISSISQUOI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

LARGE AND DISTINGUISHED GATHERING AT THE BEAUTI-FUL SELBY LAKE, DUNHAM.Hon. Judge McCorkill is to becongratulated on his latest ac-

hievement. For two years past hehas been President of the Missis-quoi Historical Society and byhis intelligence and assiduity haselevated the status of the asso-ciation of which he is chief execu-tive officer. This year, not con-tent with the annual meeting,which is generally slimly attendedhe conceived the idea of a publicpicnic, to which the friends of lo-cal historical research should beespecially invited. The picnic washeld on Thursday, August nth,1910, at Selbv Lake, in DunhamTownship, one of the most pictur-esque spots in the Eastern Town-ships, and in spite of a heavydownpour of rain during the pre-ceding twenty-four hours, therewas a large gathering of leadingcitizens from the .neighborhood in-terspersed with a few devotedfriends from a wider circuit ofterritory. Among those present,the writer's vision came in con-tact with the Hon. Judge McCor-kill (president) and Mrs. McCor-kill. Hon. Justice Lynch (ex-presi-dent). Mr. J. P. Noyes (ex-presi-dent;, Mr. E. L. Watson, Rev. HyPlaisted, Mr. Selby, Dunham;Rev. Inspector E. M. Taylor,Know.lton; Dr. and Mrs. RobertC. McCorkill of Farnham; Mrs.Moore and Air. Chas. S. Moore,Secretary; Registrar E. F. Cur-rie and Air. Henry Connor of Bed-

E. E. Spencer and A. H. Holdenof Frelighsburg; R. P. Duboyce,N.P., A. R. B. Lockhart, Princi-pal of Huntingdon Academy; N.C.Davies, Principal of Hull Acad-emy; Mr. Chas. M. Cotton, Mon-treal; Mr. Stevens Baker, Cowans-ville; Rev. C. P. England, Dix-ville; Rev. W. P. Lewis, Cowans-ville; Miss Muir and Miss BerthaNoyes, Cowansville, and a largenumber of others whose names un-fortunately we did not learn.A capital lunch was served atabout midday, which was thor-oughly enjoyed. This importantfeature of the programme beingconcluded the assembly gatheredround the pavillion of the LakeView House, and the meeting wascalled to order by the President ofthe Association.president McCorkill.Judge McCorkill is an exceed-

ingly pleasing speaker. He rarelygives way to aerial flights orclassically rounded periods, but herivets attention by the directnessand simplicity of his manner, andin this particular is more in touchwith the popular style of Eng-land than that which usually pre-vails on this continent. He spokefor about 20 minutes and in thatlimited time, reviewed the historyof the vSociety, explained its. pres-ent status and pleaded with al-most irresistible force for itsmore generous and more general


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MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 25Judge McCorkill among other

things, claimed that Missisquoiwas the most historical County ofthe Eastern Townships, inasmuchas it bordered IvaRe Uhamplain,Richelieu River and the United{States, which were conducive tothe recollection of scenes in his-tory that had great and import-ant interest for all residents. Thepeople early settled here, as itwas the water-way from theUnited States, and not onlyshould residents from Missisquoi,but all the people of the Districtof Bedford, take a profound inter-est in treasuring the history oithis noble old county. His Uord-ship urged everybody to rally andsupport the Society. Ine Societyhas published four reports, whichwere a credit alike to the compil-ers and the publishers. His Honoralso paid a warm tribute to thepublishers of The News, forthe" cordial interest it hadalways taken in the pro-gress of the Society. Refer-ing to the last report published hecharacterized it as a valuabledocument which one can get (in-cluding membership) for $1. Ref-erence was also made to severalarticles in the report. The Societyhad obtained fronr the Govern-ment a grant for a monument,which had been erected at EcclesHill, and unveiled on the 2nd ofJuly, 1902. The Society had suf-fered a severe blow in 1904, whenits President, Dr. C. U. Cotton,and the Secretary, Dr. N. A.Smith had died, but on the call ofJudge Lynch it had been reorgan-ized with J. P. Noyes, Esq., K.C.of Sweetsburg, as President, sincewhich time it has been very activein s.pite of poor general supportreceived, as evidenced by the factthat its membership at the pres-ent time was only 113 instead offrom 500 to 1,000 as it ought tobe.The chairman read letters of re-

gret from a number of gentlemen

from a distance who were unableto be present. it seemed to usthat some of those letters need nothave been writtenthe responseshould have been 111 person.JUDGE LYNCH.Judge Lynch being called uponfollowed the President. As HisLordship was one of the founders

of the M.C.H.S., and as he is anhonored son of the soil, it wouldbe a matter of much historical in-terest to learn, even approximate-ly, on howr many dilierent occa-sions since he graduated a goldmedalist at McGill, he has ad-dressed public meetings. We donot mean inclusive of his legal orjudicial public utterances. The in-quiry, would be positively hopelesswith these included, but aside al-together from his distinguishedprofessional career it would be in-teresting to know how manytimes Judge Lynch has lifted hiseloquent voice in public in theDistrict of Bedford on philanthro-pic, religious, educational or poli-tical topics. The first time thewriter recollects hearing JudgeLynch speak wTas at Eccles Hiiiwhen he was a private member ofCol. Westower's redoubtable HomeGuards. That was in 1870 or1871sa}7- 40 years ago. Sincethat exciting epoch on how manyoccasions has His Lordship ad-dressed his fellow citizens and fel-low laborers in some good cause iA conservative estimate we shouldsay would be fifty times a year,or a total of two thousandspeeches pro bono publico, and 011matters in which he had no directpersonal interest. The record maybe equalled, possibly surpassed,but in any event it is a mosthonorable one.But we are wandering from ourreport of the historical picnic,vludge Lynch spoke in his usualheartv, enthusiastic manner, inhis clear and sonorous voice with


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26 MISSISQTJOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYwhich so many are familiar, andwithout a moment's loss of timefor an idea or a word. He en-dorsed the aims and objects oithe Society, applauded the men,and the women also, closely con-nected with it and pleaded elo-quently for its more liberal sup-port. He showed how a thousanddollars had been raised throughthe initiation of Mr. Geo. G. Fos-ter, as a capital fund for theBrome ' Historical Society andclearly demonstrated that Missis-quoi County should not do lessthan this. He also pleaded for therescue from oblivion of ancientdeeds and other documents thatindirectly at least bore upon theearly history of our county. JudgeLynch was loudly cheered when heresumed his seat.MR. E. L. WATSON.Mr. E. L. Watson of Dunham, a

scholarly historical student ofmore than local reputation, inresponse to a call from the chair,delivered a pleasing address onthe origin or derivation of thenames of many places in the coun-tv of Missisquoi, which was list-ened to writh every indication ofgratification.REV. E. M. TAYLOR.The Rev.E. M.Taylor of Brome,

the first and only Secretary-Treasurer of the sister historicalsociety of Brome, needed no in-troduction to a Missisquoi audi-ence. He has for years been a fa-miliar figure on tne public plat-lorm (A this part of the province,and in addition to historical re-search has established a reputa-tion for religious and educationalwork alike in country and city,which redounds to his credit. Heand Judge Lynch were pioneers inthe work of establishing theBrome Historical Society in 1897,

or they have since labored, liketwin brothers, in the upbuildingof the organization, the latter asPresident and the former as Sec-retary. Mr. Taylor's address wasmainly reminiscences of incidentsconnected with the Brome Society,but before he concluded his re-marks he made it clear that theboundary line between the UnitedStates and Canada had been di-verted north of 45, so that theAmericans had appropriated partof Highgate and some other landnow in Vermont, which shouldhave been in Canada. The U. E.Loyalists in Highgate, St. Albansand Alburgh expected they weresettling in Canada, and lost theirland, later on by confiscation.Stepping still further beyond theconfines of his adopted county Mr.Taylor showed that Vermont wasnot one of the rebelling coloniesin 1 775-1 781. Vermont, which af-filiated with the union at a laterdate, claimed to be one of the in-dependent states, and sent Ira andWilliam Allen to England to getbetter terms and remain under theBritish flag, but Fay and Chitten-den Allen secured better tradewith the United States, sort ofpreferential trade as it were, andMr. Vermont became a Yankee.REV. RURAL DEAN LEWIS.Mr. Taylor was warmly ap-

plauded at the conclusion of hisremarks. He was followed by theRev. Rural Dean Lewis, Rector ofCow.ansville, in an impromptu ad-dress notable for its elegance ofdiction and impressiveness of de-livery. Mr. Lewis cast histhoughts somewhat further afieldthan the preceding speakers. Hedealt with the migration of thesons of the Eastern Townships tothe provinces of the west and de-clared unhesitatingly that theywere leaving a heritage here theequal of which they would find no-


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.were many people in Western Ca-nada who wished themselves backin Quebec. Neither the C. P. KCompany, nor the Stock Exchangenor the big markets told him so,but he knew.it was true. No peo-ple can be better oil than the Eng-lish in the Province of Ouebec. Itwould not be good for the worldto be filled with one nationality,or one religion. Here, we have acosmopolitan people, with broadersympathies than would be thecase with only one race or one re-ligion. The day will come, thelearned Rector added in conclu-sion, when the more permanentbenefits of the old eastern civiliza-tion of Ouebec will be longed forby those persons who were leav-ing for the so-called golden wTest.

27

Mr. Ivewis' speech had the desiredeffect. It set people a thinking.MR. C. M. Lui'iON.Mr. C. M. Cotton, advocate of

Montreal, commenced what prom-ised to be a gifted speech, but aheavv shower suddenly sprung upand the people hurriedly made forcover, and thus rne formal pro-ceedings w.ere abruptly terminatedHowever, word was passed aroundthat the annual meeting of theSociety would be held at Bedfordon Saturday, the 27th inst, whena large attendance of all interest-ed is earnestly desired. The an-nual membership fee is only $1,which includes a copy of the an-nual report.(Bedford News andAdvocate, Aug. 13, 1910.)


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MISSIvSOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 29

The Seigniories of MissisquoiThe feudal or seigniorial system

of land tenure, which -xisted inFrance, was introduced into Can-ada in the sixteenth century, whenit was a colony of uie Jing(lomof France.Missisquoi has the distinction, 1believe, of being the only ounty

of the Eastern Xowaships, inwhich land was held unctei tlr.&system, during the French regimeAlthough this article Joes notaim at an exposition of this com-plex system of land tenure gener-ally, vet' a few historical 11 >tes olthe various attempts to encour-age colonization under it, i>nd theplans resorted to by the King toaccomplish this end, with txoian-ations of its principal features, asit existed at the time it took rootin what is now the County ofMissisquoi, seem necessary.

In 1598, the Marquis de laRoche, a nobleman of Britany,was appointed to the post of Lieu-tenant-general and Governor ofCanada.He was invested witn most ex-tensive powers. Parkman, in his"Pioneers of France in the JNewWorld," says his commission gavehim power "to grant lands"in the form of fiefs, seigniories,"chatellenies, countships, vice-"countships, baronets, and otner"dignities, to be held in suchman-"ner as he shall cteem in keeping"with their services, and on sucli"terms and conditions as shall"conduce to the defence of the"said countries."De La Roche's attempt at colo-nization was a most completefailure. Other attempts weremade by ambitious and adven-

Champlain himself, who foundedQuebec in 1608, and acted asLieutenant-General of the colony,until he was appointed Governorin 1629.Up to 1626, only three seig-niorial grants had been made; allwithin easy distance 01 Quebec.The first grant was to Louis He-bert, who is termed the firstfarmer of New France; he wasgranted the seigniory, of Sault auMatelot, near Quebec.On May 6th, 1628, the Kingsigned the charter incorpor-ating "The Company of the Hun-dred Associates," with the hopeof putting new life x^loi the workof colonization.By the terms of its charter, thiscompany received all the terri-tories, claimed by France in NorthAmerica, "in full property, juris-diction and seigniory, suDject to"the conditions of feaity and ho-"mage, and the payment to the"King of a gold crown weighing"eight marks.Champlain was appointed uov-ernor of the colony, oy 'cms com-pany, 16th of March, 1629, andwas granted extensive military,administrative and jua^^a!powers.The first seigniorial grant under

these new Lords of the colony wasmade on the 15th of January,1634, of the seigniory of Beauport,below. Ouebec City, to Robert Gii-fard.During its existence this com-panv made about sixty seigniorial

grants. (Moore 25, note 5).Owing to the liquor traffic inwhich it embarked, it was violent-ly attacked by the . esuit mis-sionaries, who complained to the


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3c MISSISQUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYabout the surrender of its eharteron the 24th 01 February, 1663,about 33 rears hitler its incorpor-ation.The officers of tue crown ad-

ministered the a Hairs of the col-ony until the organization of anew company, May, 1664, knownas "The Company oif the West In-dies ( La Compagne des Indes Oc-cidentales) which, we are told, wasspecially organized with the hopeand expectation ol gaining farFrance, a share of the growingcommerce, which other Europeannations were developing with theWest Indies.Although this company was giv-

en absolute jurisdiction over thewhole territory., with the right tomake seigniorial grants to colon-ists, history records that theKing, bv the Governor and Inten-dant, really exercised all adminis-trative rights in the colony, (re-covering with one hand what hegranted with the other, as onehistorian characterizes it). Thusalthough the power was grantedto the company, to make conces-sions of land, they were actuallymade by the Governor and Intend-ant, as officers of the King.This condition of affairs lasted

from 1664 to 1674, when theKing summarily revoKed me com-pany's charLer and granted xree-dom of trade to all his colonialsubjects.

In 1676 a royal enactment de-clared that, for tiie future, allland grants, in the colony shouldbe made by the Governor and In-tendant, jointly, subject, howeveron pain of nullity, to the approvalof the King, within one year.The ordinance issue.- lo the Gov-ernor and Inlendanl, dated the15th of April, 1676, is as follows:'Louis, by the Grace of God,'King of France and iNavarre."To our beloved the bieurs

"Count de Frontenac, our Lieu-"tenant-Governor in Canada, or

"tendant of Justice, police and"finance in the said country,"greeting.

ll lt being necessary to provide"for the concession of wild lands"to the inhabitants actuallv liv-"ing in the said country, or to"those which mav be sent there-"to by us for the purpose of set-"tling, we have given and do here-by give you, jointly, our power,"signed with our hand, to grant"concessions of lands, as well to"the old inhabitants as to those"who will come to the countrv,"for the purpose of set clement,"provided, however, that the"deeds of such concessions be sub-"mitted for approval, within one"year from the day of their ex-ecution, in default of which the"same are declared null and void."And it is our will, that the said"concessions be onlv given upon"the condition of clearing the"lands, and of bringing them into"value within six immediate and"consecutive years, otherwise the"said concessions to be null; and"provided that all such grants"shall be made contiguous to one"another. And to uus effect we"hereby specially authorize and"command you; and in order to"give authenticity to these pres-ents for ever, we have caused our"seal to be hereunto annexed."Made at the camp of Huertu-"bise near Valenciennes, the 20th"day of May, 1674, and in the"34th year of our reign."

(Signed)LOUIS.

"Registered, to be executed ac-cording to a decree of this day,"at Quebec, the nineteenth day of"October, one thousand six hun-"dred and seventy-six."Although many enactments were

passed between 1676 and 171 1, inthe interest of and for the develop-ment of the colony, they requireno special attention here.


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MISS1SQU0I COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 3 1most important enactments, af-fecting the colonial land tenuresystem, were passed, known as,lThe Arrets (decrees) of Marley,"this being the name of uie placewhere the King allixed his signa-ture thereto.The first of these decrees relatesto seigniories, and to the obliga-tion of the seigniors to sub-granttheir lands. The ouject was. tocompel the seigniors uo settle tiieirseigniories, by the granting oflands to settlers, within a limiteddelav. The time j.ixed was oneyear, and the penalty of failure,was the forfeiture of the grant.Another provision forbade tneexacting, by the seigniors, fromthe settlers, of anything morethan the customary dues and ser-vices provided by the custom ofParis," that is, of one sou (cent;for each "arpent" of frontage, byforty "arpents" in depth, anathat this charge should be uniformthroughout the colony.The second decree required thatupon pain of foritiaire the seig-niors and inhabitants should cul-tivate and live upon their hold-ings "tenir feu et lieu" within oneyear from the date of being put inpossession, on tne order of tneGovernor and Intendant. (Therewas to be no more absentee land-lordism).The following is a translanonof the decrees of Marley:"From the King, commanding"that conceded lands be fortnwith"put in cultivation and occupied"with inhabitants."WHEREAS, it hath been made"known to His Majesty the King

"that, of the lands which His Ma-"jesty hath been pleased to grant"in seigniory to His Majesty's"subjects in New France, there"are parts as yet but partially"inhabited, and otners altogether"uninhabited, and whereon even"those to whom they have been

'clearance in furtherance of their'establishment."And whereas, it is made'known to His Majesty that there'are seigniors who refuse, for'various pretences, to grant their'lands to such as ask them, re-' serving to themselves the sale'thereof, and imposing on such'inhabitants the same rental dues'as are imposed on those already'settled, violating His Majesty's'will, and the conditions ol the'deeds, by which they can merely'grant the said lands tl a titre de'redevance," and also to the'great prejudice of tne new in-'habitants, by withholding from'them such lands as are best sit-'uated for trade. Against which'providingHis Majesty in Coun-'cil hath declared, that within one'year from the publication of this'decree, and not after, the inhabi-tants of New France, to whom'His Majesty hath granted lands'in seigniory, shall be held to put'the same in cui^vanon and set-'tled with inhabitants, in default'of which, the said time being ex-'pired, His Majesty ordains tha'such seigniories be rejoined to'His "Demesnes" at the suit ol'the Attorney-General of tne'Superior Council of Quebec, upon'the ordinances of His Majesty's'Governor, Lieutenant-General'and Intendant of the said coun-'try of New France."His Majesty further decrees,'that all seigniors of said New'France shall grant the lands of'their seigniories to such of the'inhabitants, as shall ask them "a'titre de redevance," (an'annual quit rent) and failing to'do so, the said inhabitants are'authorized to ask the said lands'by simple summons, to which'refusing, the said inhabitants'are directed to apply to the'Governor, lyieutenant-General'and Intendant of the said coun-'try of New France, to whom it


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY,"grant the lands asked lor in the"said seigniories, by the inhabi-tants aforesaid, at the same rate"of dues as- are imposed on ether"lands granted within such seig-niories, such dues to be paid into"the hands of the receiver of His"Majesty's "demesnes" at the city"of Quebec, which said seigniors"shall have no power over such"lands whatever."And this decree shall be en-rolled at the office of the Super-ior Council of Ouebec, and read"and published wherever neces-"sarv."Given before His Majesty in

"His Council of otate at Marley,"the sixth of July, 171 1."The seigniors were thereby rend-ered mere trustees of tne Crown,with respect to their holdings.(Doutre & Lareau, Droit Civil Ca-nadien, page 244.)From 1711 to 1727, only fiveseigniories wTere conceded; in fact,none at all were made from 17 17to 1727, as the officers of theCrown had come to the conclusionthat the granting of so manyseigniories had been prejudicial tothe settlement of the colony.The granting of seigniories wasresumed in 1727, but to a limited

extent only. It was about 'thisperiod that Sieurs Foucault andXovan made application for vSeig-niories on the Richelieu River, aswill appear hereafter.

It will have been observed thatgrants of land to seigniors weremade, at this time, "a titre deredevances," that is, subject tothe condition that they were tobe regranted, at an annual rental,called "cens et rentes," to ten-ant proprietors, called "censit-aires"the rental not to exceedone or two "sous" or "sols" (oneor two cents) per annum, for eachsuperficial arpent.This does not seem to

have been an excessive

considers the time at which thegrants were made, and the diffi-culties which the settlers had tocontend with, it was more or lessof a burden upon them. But theseigniors are said to have foundways, and means of violating theterms of their grants, ana 01 im-posing other and more onerouscharges upon their tenants.One of the heaviest ana most op-pressive legal charges upon the"eensitaire" was the 'Tods etventes," a monev tax, payable tothe seignior, or one-twelfth of theprice of everv sale of land made byhim. As this tax covered du....-ings as well as land, it will beunderstood that it greatlv hind-ered improvements.

If the seignior had reason to be-lieve the price of sale, mentionedin the contract, was less than thatactually agreed upon between theparties, he had the right to redeemthe property, himself, under wrhatis- known as the "droit de re-traite," (right to withdraw),within fortv days of the date ofthe sale, upon payment to the "cen-sitaire" of the price mentioned inthe deed.Among the obligations which theseignior was held to by the Crownwas the erection of a grist-mill

on his property (decree oi 1686).For his protection, the tenants or"eonsitaires" were obliged tohave all their grain ground intheir seignior's, mill, and to payhim a tell of one fourteenth ofthe grain sent to be ground. Thiswas known as the banality, "ledriot de banalite," known in theKn^lish law as "doing suit to themill."The seignior owed fealty andhomage, (foi et honnmage) to theCrown. Within a reasonable timeafter receiving his grant, whetherdirectly from the Crown, by pur-chase, or by succession, he mustappear at the Chateau of St.Louis, in Quebec and there, with


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MISSISOUOI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 33knee, render his fealty and homagebefore the representatives of theKing. This must have been re-newed with the ascendency of eachnew Sovereign

.

This obligation was continuedin force after the country hadpassed over to the British. It willbe seen that after the seigniory ofFoucault had been acquired byJohn Donega'ni, he rendered fealtyand homage to the British King.The last act of fealty and hom-age in the province, was perform-ed by the late Judge Wftirtele, onthe 3rd of February, 1854, short-ly before the abolition of seignior-ial tenure.Another obligation of seigniorstowards the Crown, was the pay-ment to it of the "quint," a taxupon each mutation or change ofownership of the seigniory, wheth-er by sale, gift, exchange, inheri-tance, except in the direct line ofsuccession, and fixed by the "Cus-tom of Paris," at one-fifth of themutation value of the seigniory.The practice in New France, how-ever, was to make a rebate of onethird of the amount paid.Among the honorary privilegesof the seignior was the right toexact and receive the fealty a 1homage of each of his "cen-sitaires" or tenants. The cere-tncmy took place at the "ManorHouse," and was performed insomewhat the saine submissivemanner, as that of his seignior to-wards the King's representatives,but with less ceremony.All these respective rights andobligations of the seignior and his

"censitaires" continued in active

operation after the colony wasceded to Great Britainuntil thesystem was finally abolis^- ashereinafter explained.

It was not expressly exacted, asa condition for land grants, thatmilitary duty was to be renderedby the seigniors and their "cen-sitaires," as it does not appearthat any of the seigniorial docu-ments contain any mention 01military service. It was well un-derstood in the colony, however,that the ^ing counted on, and ex-pected, every colonist, w.ho wasphysically able, whether seignioiror not, to assist in the defence ofthe colony. The part the coloniststook in the various wars of thecolony shows he did not count invain

.

This was in marked contrastwith the law and custom of theparent country. There the seig-niors and their dependents were,by lawr , held for such service.Louis XIV, by an edict of 1674,made it obligatory that persons,nobles, barons, etc., and theirvassals, holding lands in "fief" or"arriere-fief," should be presenton days and places fixed, in arms,mounted

miss hist society fifth report 1913

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