Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians

Read the petition of a number of colored people settled at Preston praying to be confirmed by grants in the possession of the lands they now occupy under tickets of location in order that those who may wish to remove elsewhere may be able to dispose of their lands and improvements; and praying further that for such of them as are willing to remove larger and better lots may be laid off "upon such terms of settlement as will enable them to acquire a freehold by patient industry and frugality." Ordered that with a view to the passing of a General Grant to these poor people of the lands long occupied by them the Surveyor General be directed to ascertain and report what changes in the ownership thereof have taken place since the same were surveyed about five years since,—. and that the Deputy Surveyor to be employed on this service be required to ascertain and report the names of such as are desirous to obtain farm lots in some more favorable situation.

Date: 11 March 1841

Reference: Commissioner of Public Records Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 197 page 486