11 December 1805

Petition of John Pryor and Rufus G. Taylor, asking for the return of duties paid under special circumstances on goods from Granada. Signed. Attached. Oath of Pryor and Taylor to the truth of the facts stated in the petition.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 27

11 December 1805

Petition of Hugh Graham and other inhabitants of Stewiacke, relating to use they have made of the two road grants already voted them, and asking for another to help them build a bridge over the river on the road leading to the main road. "The Distance between the last settler in Stewiack and the first settler in Pictou is about 10 or 12 miles – We make this Statement to show that our leading Road may in a future day accommodate a great many besides the Inhabitants of this Place. – For a Road from the Head of this Settlement on the Middle River of Pictou to the Head of this Settlement would be in a much more direct Course for Halifax than to go by Truro as is necessary in the present time"…46 names signed.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 28

11 December 1805

Petition of Samuel Hart, merchant of Halifax, asking for drawback of duties paid on rum imported from Jamaica, (see 1st petition), and explaining how he had shipped an equivalent quantity of goods on two occasions. Signed. Overleaf. Dismissed, 11 Jan.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 29

12 December 1805

Petition of J. F. T. Gschwind, Health Officer for Halifax, asking for the remaining part of his account for 1803 to be paid. Signed.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 30

12 December 1805

The petition and other documents of Alexander Mitchell, merchant of Halifax, concerning the duty on goods he has shipped to Newfoundland.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 31

12 December 1805

Petition of Henry Rutherford of Digby about a cargo of produce sent to Jamaica.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 32

12 December 1805

Petition of Andrew Murdoch and eight others, prisoners in the Halifax County jail. "That Your Petitioners have been for a long time confined in this Prison for debt some of them for near three years and the most of them have not the means of Supporting themselves with the Necessaries of life. That as there is Yet no provision made for them by the Legislature many of them are frequently in a truly deplorable Situation the county making no allowance but fuel and Water and there not being even a Physician provided for the Sick unless a Prisoner has money he may die for the want of a little medicine or nourishment perhaps a Thousand miles from a friend or relative. That during the last two year upwards of one hundred and thirty persons have been committed to this Gaol for debt, several of whom have been for three days without receiving any kind of animal or vegetable food and must have certainly perished had it not been in the Power of some others of their fellow prisoners to have afforded them a small relief from their own little stock of provisions. That the Act of the Province of the third year of His present Majesty, for relieving insolvent debtors (whose debts are under one hundred Pounds) is seldom of any benefit to Debtors in this County, as they are generally not informed that to have any relief under the said Act they must apply to swear out within fourteen days after Execution, And your Petitioners humbly beg leave to mention that since the Month of June 1803 only three or four persons have obtained the Eight pounds of Bread per Week therein Order’d." Their situation much worse than that of debtors in other colonies and Great Britain. "That in this Gaol your Petitioners are closely and rigidly confined to a Room to the great injury of their health, and they are far from experiencing that Humanity, Benevolence and Attention which so eminently distinguishes the British Character in Europe above all the civilized National of the World. That Your Petitioners humbly take the liberty to suggest…that the situation of Debtors was preferable in Ancient Rome to their present lot in Nova Scotia, for altho’ the Debtor was there liable to be sold for a term of years to satisfy his Creditor, Yet no one had the power to confine him within the Walls of a dreary prison to pine away his days under locks and Irons to the great hurt of Society and the utter ruin of himself and family, but on the Contrary the person who purchased the Debtor was compelled to furnish him with wholesome food and Clothing, and his misery or Slavery was only for a fixed and certain time. Your Petitioners therefore, with the highest Respect most fervently pray that Your Honourable House, as the Great Guardians of the distressed and unfortunate, will take their case into your Gracious Consideration and Grant them the liberty of a Yard to walk in occasionally for the free air, and an allowance of food, or such other relief as in your Great Wisdom You shall judge proper and this they Pray not only for themselves but for the good of such unfortunate prisoners as may be hereafter confined in this most dismal and Wretched Mansion." Signed. Overleaf. New Brunswick "There are Six other prisoners in this Jail who could not with propriety Sign this Petition, as they have obtained the liberty of the Yard by Security given to the Sheriff, Viz. Col. Blanchard & his Two Sons, Capt. Potts, Mr. Nathan Parker and one Adam Wamboult but they are ready to certify the Truth of our Statement if required at any time."

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 33

17 December 1805

Petition of John Solomon, Deputy Register of Deeds and Conveyances for the County of Halifax since 1763. The memorialist "begs leave to represent, that the Books of Records are now become very numerous and from many Years use some of them are much torn and defaced, and unless they are repaired and Copied, in a few Years it will be impossible to trade the Title of many Estates in this Province, and the Fees of Office being very inadequate to support an Office of so much importance to the Province in general, they not Amounting to more than Forty pounds a Year, and after paying for Books, Stationary, Fuel, and Office Rent, there can be but a very small Sum left to reward any person for doing the Business, and to pay that attention necessary to the Office. Your Memorialist therefore with great diffidence and respect begs leave to Solicit your Excellency and His Majesty’s Council with the House of Assembly to consider his Situation and from his long Services and being far advanced in Years, with a large Family to grant him some Yearly Allowance to make correct Copies of those which are torn and Mutilated, to enable him to repair the Books of Record and to preserve the whole of them in good Order, and also to keep a Book of Record for each County for the purpose of Entering the Quarterly Returns of Deeds &c. as by Law required." Signed. Recommended by the Lt.-Governor. (See Assembly Journal pp. 63, 71, 72, for further action.)

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 34

17 December 1805

Resolution for vote of compensation to two road commissioners, Fitz Randolph and Ruggles for the bridge at Hicks Ferry. Agreed to by the Council. See their petition 16 Dec. (RG 5 A Vol. 12 No 12?)

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 35

18 December 1805

Petition of John Archibald of Truro for some allowance for his time in expending the grant on the road from Fletcher’s Bridge to Truro. Overleaf. Dismissed.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 36

21 December 1805

Report of committee of House on the petition of the inhabitants of Annapolis County respecting the establishing a paper currency in the province. The committee approve the plan heartily. (See petition of Edward Whitman and others, 5 Dec.)

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 37

20 December 1805

Draft answer to the written paper received from the council. (Compare with final resolution in Assembly Journal for 1805-06). In final draft the following paragraph was omitted: "With regard to the new Government Building it is notorious that this work has been carried on while every other Branch of Publick Service has been suspended & there is every Reason to suppose that the Funds of the Province have been applied to this Purpose. The House can therefore never think of blending with Demands founded on the Principles of just Compensation for lawful Services, illegal & unconstitutional applications of the publick Money which in the opinion of the House require the most serious Investigation of both Branches of the Legislature." Several other clauses of less significance were also omitted from the final resolution.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 38

21 December 1805

Draft of resolution of this House with regard to the balance of the public monies in the Treasury. Two concluding clauses, the first marked out, the second being that which was sent to the Lt.-Governor (see Assembly Journal, 1805-6, p. 29) and more diplomatic.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 39

23 December 1805

Petition of William Winniett of Annapolis regarding payments for work he authorized as commissioner of roads and bridges.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 40

24 December 1805

Resolution of the House that notice be given to Messrs. Cochrans that their building will no longer be necessary to lease, since the old Government House can be used for the accommodation of the General Assembly and the King’s Courts. Signed.

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 12 number 41