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The following Bill was ordered to be print- ed by the Legislative Council. previous to its being taken into consideration at the next sitting of the Legislature.

Jams ONANTES, ﬂat". Clerk, Leg. 0.

.8 Bill intituled an cht for the relief of the #- merica-n Loyal Emigrants, and disband- ed Troops in this Colony.

W“ in the lyear Seventeen Hundred and

i hty‘l'hrce. a iiuiiibero Proprietors of Land in this

Coionymilling to promote the settlement of the Island. to procure an abatement of Quit Rent.and to encourage the American Lo al Emigrants. did engage With His Majesty by memorial to Lord North, one of His Ma- 'esty's Ministers. to grant to the Loyalists. as the said

' Proprietors held of the Crown, and in the same pro- portion as the Loyal Emigrants received in Nova Sco- tia one fourth part of said Proprietors' Land, which engagement being accepted of by His Majesty‘s Go- vernment. an additional royal instruction was sent to this Island. ofwhich the following is a copy.

George Box.

(1.8.) “Additional instructions to our trusty and well- beloved Walter Patterson. Esq. our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our Island of St John, in America. or to the Commander in Chief of the said Island for the time being. Given at our Court at St. James” the Twenty-fourth day ofJuly. Sevnnteen hun- dred and eighty-three, in the Twenty-third year of our reign.

"Whereas it has been represented unto us that cer- tain ofour loving subjects. Proprietors of Land in our Island of St. John. in commiscration of the distress to which many of our faithful subjects [heretofore inhabi- tants of the Provinces anti Colonies. now the United States of America,] are reduced. in consequence ofthe loyalty and adherence to their allegiance to us. have agreed to transfer and convey certain proportions of the Lands by them respectfully held by grant from us, to such of our said faithful subjects who may be incli- ned to settle thereupon and their Heirs and Assigns for ever in fee. In order therefore to promote such the laudable intentions of our said loving subjects under the description aforesaid. who may be inclined to avail themselves of those intentions. It is our will and pleasure that you do give directiOns that all convey- ances and other Deeds necessary for transferring such parts of the lands as shall be agreed to. be conveyed to our faithful subjects aforesaid, be pre sred by our Attorney General of the said Island ofSt John; and when executed.be duly recorded in the Secretary’s Of- ﬁce ofthe same. and that our Secretary of the said Island shall make out a docquet ofall deeds so record- ed, specifying the name of the proprietor conveying. of the person towhom the land is conveyed, the quan- tity of land conveyed, and the number of the Lot of which the same was a part. which docquet shall from time to time he delivered by him to the Receive: Gene- ral of our Quit Rents, who shall discharge in the Rent Roll, such Proprietors from any future Quit Rent upon the Land so conveyed,for which the person to whom the same is conveyed, his Heirs or Assigns,shall there- after stand chargeable in the said Rent Roll. It is nevertheless our will and pleasure that no Land con- veyed as aforesaid. shall be liable to the payment of any Quit Rent. to us our Heirs and Successors. till ten years after the date ofthe respective conveyances.

"And in order to relieve our subjects who have a-

rsed to convey apart of the Lands held by them as a-

oretaid : it is our will and pleasure that any Arrears onuit Rent that may have been due and unpaid. up- on the quantities ofland which they may convey, shall be remitted, and they discharged therefrom; or in case such arrears shall have been paid, our Receiver Genr- ral of the Quill Rents, shall repay to the person or per. sons so conveying. so much of the last payment made as shall have been paid for the part of the lands an conveyed; you are, however. to take. especial care that under color ofeomplying with this our instruction. no collusive conveyances are made in order to obtain a remission of arrears of Quit Rent. but that in every instance the indulgence and encouragement hereby ranted be conﬁned to actual and bonalide conveyances or the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and no other.

“ And in order to prevent any Persons disaffected to us and our Government from becoming settlers in our said Islsnd. \ It is our will and pleasure that all per- who shall be desirous, of availing themselves of

THE BRITISH AMERICAN.

the good intentions of our said loving subjects. and to become settlers upon the Lands to be conveyed to them as aforesaid, shall,before the execution of the conveyance by them to be made.besides taking the usual oaths directed by law. also make and subscribe the following declaration in the presence of you or our Commander in Chieffor the time being. or of such Person or persons as by you or him shall be appoint- ed for that purpose. viz: “ I. A . do promise and “declaie that 1 will maintain and defend to the utmost “of my p0wer the authority of the King in his Parlia- “ment as the supreme Legislature of this Island "

And it is ourfurther will and pleasure that the follow- ing conditions and exceptions be inserted in and made a part of every conveyance which shall be made oflatids within the meaning of this our Instruction. that is to sit : “ It is hereby further covenatited and agreed by “and between the parties above-mentioned. that if the “Lands hereby granted and conveyed by the said A.B. uto the said C D. and his heirs as aforesaid. shall at «any time or times hereafter come into the tenure or t.possession ofany person or persons whatever.inliabit- “ants ofour saidProviiice. either by virtue of any deed ..ofSale, Conveyance. Eiifeoﬂinetit. or Exchange, or by ..Gift. Inheritance, Descent Devise, or Marriage, such ..pcrson or persons being inhabitants as aforesaid ,shall. “within Twelve months after his. her, or their entry

and possession ofthe same. take the oaths appomted "by Law. and make and subscribe the following decla- “ration. viz: ‘l. A. B. do promise and declare that I will “maintain and defend to the utmost of my power. the "authority ofthe King in liisl’arliamcut as the supreme “Legislature of this Island. before some one of the said "Magistrates ofthe. said lslztndt' anti such declaration “and certiﬁcate of the Magistratedhat such oaths have “been taken shall be recorded in the. Secretary's Oﬂire "of the said Island. within two months after takingmnd “making, and subscribing the same. In tit-fault ofwhich. "this present conveyetice,and every part and condition “therein, sixil be void to all intents an I purposes; and “it shall and may be lawful to and forthe said A. 8. “his Heirs orAssigns again to enter upon and repossess ‘the Latidsztnd premises hei'cbygrauled and conveyed. “and every part and parcel thereof. any thing herein “contained to the contrary notwithstanding." 'And it is our lurther will and pleasure that ourSurvry or Gene- ral of Lands for the said Island. or his Lawful Deput for the time being. shall lay out and survey the seve- ral parts and portions of Lands which shall be convey- ed to our faithful subjects aforesaid, and shall enter the several surveys or plots thereof of record in his office, and you or our Commander in Chief for the time being, with the consent of our Council. shall grant a Certiﬁcate to the said Surveyor General. for the ac- tual expencc attending such survey. to be ascertained upon oath, together with one half the usual and accus- tomed Fees of Office upon the same. directed to the Receiver General of our Quit Rents for our said Is- land. who shall pay and discharge the same out of any monies belonging to us which shall be in his hands -. and you shall also grant Certiﬁcates from time to time to our Attorney ‘General, for his pains in preparing the [)ceds of Conveyance liereinbefore mentioned. pro- vided the same shall not exceed Ten shillings for each Deed; and also to our Secretary for one half the usual and accustomed Fees of Ofﬁte , for recording such Deeds ofConveyance, directed to our Receiver Gene- ral of Quit thints. who shall pay and discharge the. same in like manner. and you shall transmit to us through one ofoui Principal Secretaries of State, a distinct account of what conveyances shall be made, and certiﬁcates given as herein directed. and also transmit a duplicate thereof to our High Treasurer, or the Commissioners of our 'l‘reasury for the time being.’ And thereupon a Proclamation was issued dated the l‘hirteenth day of October. One. thousand Seven hun- dred and Eighty three. as follows:

By His Excellency. Walter Patterson. Esq. Captain General. Governor in Chief, in and over His Majes- ty's Island of St. John and the territories tliereuuto adjacent, Vice Admiral ofthe same. kc. &c. &c.

A. PROOLAMATION-

“ Whereas a number of Pro- prietors of this Island. have. very generously giveh up considerable portions of their Estates. to the amount in the whole of Two Hundred Thousand Acres, to be distri- buted among such of the Refugees. Provincial Troops. or Other American Emigrants, as are desirous to be-

(Ii- 3)

Walter Patterson.

£20. 40

come its inhabitants. the Lands to be granted b Governor and Council. in the same proportion the same terms as are offered in Nova Scoria be given out of the different Townships by L6: fairest and most equitable manner, aceording to th quantity signed for by each proprietor. And wher e as His Majesty has been graciously pleased to exteneri his Royal Bounties and Gratuities to all persons ofrh. above, descriptions. in every respect. and iii like man- ner as to those who settle in Nova-Scotia. I do u, m fore. by and with the advice of His Majesty's Conic“ issue this Proclamation— hereby givintr notice to n such ofthe Refugees. Provincial 'I'roopz. or 0.1,"; merir:ati Emigrants. as wish to become semen in u” Colony. that, in a few days after their arrival at Chsx lotte-Town. ‘hey shall be put in possession ofsu r}; Lands as they shall be entitled to. free of ever cc pence—that they may depend on the Land being’iroo: neither mountanious,i‘ocky. nor swarmpy, contiguoaus i' navigable harbours. many parts convenient for tho Fishery. antl in every respect preferable to any .1: me time unoccupied throughout His Majesty's Amerit u Domiiiions. And that. as a further ciicnuraucmem they will meet with a Government very warmi’v inclii ned to give them every assistance and protection in their power, and with loyal fellow subjects from whom they will receive a tnost cordial and hesr‘ty wel- come.

" Given under my hand and, Seal at Charlotte-Town Island ofSt. John. this Thirteenth day of October. One thousand seven hundred and eighty three and in the ttveiity third year of His Majesty's reign'.

“ By his Excellency's command. lioitins Desbrisay. Pro.Secy."

And whereas a number of Loyal Emigrants and dis. handed Troops, who at the publication of said Pro- clamation were at Yew York or other parts of Ameri. ca Within the British Lines, confidihg iii the promise offer. and description stated iii the said Proclamation. made choice of and came to settle in this Colony iii preference to Nova Scotia, and such persons have. by their laborious iudustry contributed greatly towards the advancement of the Colony. iti agricultural and other beneficial pursuits. but from want ofinlbruiation on the part of said emigrants, and from the. irregularity and confusion which at that time prevailed in some of the public departments in this Island. many ofthe said emigrants accepted of Grants with conditions absolute- ly impracticable, and by no means similar to the con- ditions of the grants of Townships from the Crown. and have not strictly complied therewith. many of them have not yet procured Grants or Title Deeds, al- though their locations of Land were made in manner prescribed and directed by the Governor and Council; atid others have not been able to procure Locations. notwnhstanding various applications have been made on their part to the proper authority. and although such Loyalists have perfectly conformed to the spirit ofthe said Proclamation: and the intent of the same has been fully attained and complied with on their psrt; yet certain Proprietors who have purchased Townships of Land in the Colony from the original grantees. [the said Grantees anti purchasers having absolutely neg- lected to perform the conditions of their grants from his Majeﬂy.] seek to evict and disturb the possessions and destroy the claims of those Loyalists, and their Heirs and Representatives. and have actually prosecuted tnany Loyalists both at Law and in Equity. with that intent. Wherefore, for the relief of the American loyal Emigrants and disbanded troops who came to this Colony. at the time before mentioned. and the heirs and representatives of such persons. and forthe purpose of preserving the conﬁdence of such persons in His Majesty‘s Government. and of promoting theirloyo al and active exertions in support thereof.

Be itenacted b the Lieutenant Governor. Council and Assembly. that all loyal Eiiiigreiits and disbanded Troops, who have heretofme come to reside iii this Co- lony. in consequence and under the. terms of the shore recited Proclamation, and have obtained grants from any of his Majesty's former Governors or Lieutenant Governors of this Colony. or deeds from the Proprie- tors aforesaid. of parts of such resigned Lands: and a" persons claiming from, by. through. or under such It“ mentioned rantees, be. and each and every of 5th persons are hereby confirmed in their Estates and '_II' tles. in and to the Lands so granted, tiotwithstcnding such Grantees may not have strictly complied ivith all the terms and conditions of their respective GrantS-

Atid be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. that all such of the said Emigrants an disbanded

in the

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