Document #31 Page 1
Agreement between the Government of the Pro -
vince of New Brunswick, by John Bedell. Esqr. one of
his Majestys Justices of the Peace for this purpose
duly authorised on one part; and the Indians of
the River St. John commonly called and known by
the name of the Milasete Tribe represented by those
who have subscribed and sealed this Instrument and
who alledge that they are duly authorised to agree
for the whole on the other part, as follows viz..
Whereas the said Indians have stated to Government
that their Ancestors upward of two hundred years ago
cleared and cultivated a point of Land called Maductic
Point on the River St. John about fifty miles above
Fredericton that they then erected thereon a Fort to
defend themselves against their enemies, that they have
without much interuption | been in possession of the
whole or a part thereof to the present day: that they
have a place of sepu[lc]ture thereon; That the present
Indians have a strong Attachment to the said place
and are very desirous to establish a Village thereon, and
to obtain a living by cultivating the ground and to
have their children taught the Art of Agriculture:
That they consider themselves loyal subjects of his
Majesty King George and bound to aid in defend –
ing the Country against the enemies thereof – And –
whereas upon inquiry the Government has reason to
believe the that the said statement is true, and being
desirous to encourage the disposition in the said Indians
to make permanent Establishments, and to pursue the
business of Agriculture for a livelihood; and considering
their pretensions to the said Point of Land to be founded
in equity, have agreed to purchase from the present
proprietors
Page 2
proprietors or claimants thereof under Grants from the
Crown, two tracts of Land on the said Point, adjoining
to each other and measuring together in front, about two
hundred Rods (part of which is now in the possession of
one Samuel Couillard, and part thereof is generally known
by the name of Attwood Farm) and to appropriate the whole
of the same from the River to the distance of half a mile
back for the sole use of the said Indians and their Pos –
terity forever upon the following conditions _______________
First
That they the said Indians do consider the same
as full satisfaction for all claims or pretensions which
they may have heretofore had or which they may now
conceive themselves to have to the said Maductic Point
or to any other Land upon the said River ____
Second
That neither they nor their Posterity ever sell or dis
pose of the some or any part thereof without licence from
the Governor or commander in Chief of the Province —
Third
That the same shall be forfeited to the Crown for
Rebellion or Treason in the same manner as other
Lands granted to any of his Majesty’s Subjects----
And the said Indians do hereby accept of the same
upon the said conditions; and pledge themselves to make
permanent establishments thereon, and to use the same
Land in all respects for the purposes herein before ex --
pressed; and that they will conduct themselves peacably
paying due respect at all times to the Laws of the Coun
try, and the decisions of the Magistrates: And that they
will immediately withdraw from any Lands which they
now possess above or below the same Tract: confining
themselves to the bounds established by the said John
Bedell.
In Testimony whereof the said parties have
Signed and Sealed two parts of this Instrument at a
general meeting of the said Indians at Maductic
Point on the Twenty Ninth ... day of July in
the
the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and Seven and in the forty seventh Year of his
Majestys Reign one of which when ratified by
the President or Commander in Chief of the
Province to be delivered to the Chief of the said
Indians for the time being, and the other to be
lodged in the Secretarys Office there to remain
Signed and
Sealed
John Bedell
having been first
read and explained
and well understood
in presence of us.
Bejn
Peck
Griffith
his
Jacob
Smith
Joseph X Toma
George
Bull
mark
Samuel McKeen
John D.
Beardsley
his
Richard Smith
Pier X Toma
James
Upham
mark
his
[Guoa] X
[Newellis]
his
mark
Polchis X
mark
his
[Gockalesus]
X
his
mark
[Pieroch] X
mark
his
Newel X
Toma
his
mark
[Mitchel] X
mark
his
[Pieroch] X
[Junr]
his
mark
Joseph Toma X Junr
mark
his
Francis X
Galeia
his
mark
[Gervar] X Toma
mark
Agreement
between John Bedell
and the Indians
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