The land grant registration books accumulated from 1719 to 1851 document the granting and licencing of Crown lands to early settlers in Nova Scotia. Included among these records are various descriptions of land licenced to individual Mi'kmaq persons and families, warrants authorizing such occupation, and original petitions by Mi'kmaq illustrating the conflict of inherent Mi'kmaq aboriginal title with the British system of freehold tenure. — archival description
Lots 31 and 32 (120 acres) in the township of Chester, are reserved for the aforementioned Mi'kmaq.
Date: 1793
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Baul John Thomas & Joseph
Memorial of Solomon Geremy, a Mi'kmaq of the La Have tribe. Was settled with his family on an ungranted and uninhabited spot of land to the rear of the English settlement at La Have. Had made improvements. Memorial for a grant or a licence to the land. Noted: "Mr. Bulkeley: A Licence of Occupation."
Date: 1784
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Geremy Solomon
Order from Surveyor General C. Morris to Charles Alexis. "Be so good to accommodate the Bearers for Grants near Cape Sable agreeable to their wishes." Granted "a licence for the Indian Bearers to occupy their lands and usual hunting grounds unmolested."
Date: 1786
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Indians at Cape Sable
Memorial for land next to Paul the Indian on the River Stewiacke on a small brook called 'Mors an fultin's brook.'
Date: 1785
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - McCurdy William
Regarding the land of Barnie McGie of the East River of Merigomish, some of which has been occupied by a Mi'kmaq clearing.
Date: 1784
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - McGie Barney
Regarding two tracts of land at Goose River (1720 acres), 970 acres of which the Seamans purchased from the Mi'kmaq at the mouth of River Philip. Both tracts are in the County of Cumberland.
Date: 1797
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Seaman Jaramiah & Seaman Stephen
Memorial of Tony and Nanny Vry, a Mi'kmaq family on behalf of themselves and ten children, and also on behalf of Captain Tony Vry Company, consisting of fifteen in number. They wish to have laid out to them 600 acres of land at or near Remsheg. On behalf of the company, they wish to have 4500 acres laid out at Merigomish in lieu of lands at or near Pictou. Noted by C.M.: "If His Excellency approves of it, I will write to one of my deputies to make the survey and on the return of it, His Excellency may grant what he sees fit."
Date: 1793
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Vry Tony & Others
Memorial of a family of Mi'kmaq of eleven persons. They obtained with several other Mi'kmaq an order of survey for lands at the North Cape of the River Philip. They improved the land and it is now claimed by Mr. Stephen Seaman, but they did not sell it to him. They request a grant of 150 acres of land at this place. Noted: "The petitioners obtained the written order of survey by the authority of His Excellency the Governor - a return thereof should be made for His Excellency's final consideration and determination."
Date: 1809
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Argimeau Lewis & Argimeau Nowel
Warrant to survey Little Bras d'Or for Benwa [Benoit?] the Indian.
Date: 1809
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Benwa the Indian
Petition of Pierre Bernard asking for land for himself and his two nephews. He has lived by hunting and fishing along the Sissiboo River. Game is now scarce; he would like to 'plant.' A note by Abbe' Sigogne suggests that the grant be made restrictive so that the petitioners may not sell or part with the land, or that it may be given to some trusty person in the vicinity. Left to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Date: 1813
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Bernard Pierre
Request by Bonnell for confirmation of 100 acres of land purchased in the Indian Grant. He was recommended for 350 acres but warned not to interfere in any way with the lands promised or licenced to the Mi'kmaq.
Date: 1815
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Bonnell John
Petition of Francis Coop, a 66 year old Mi'kmaq man with a wife and seven children. His principal residence has been at the head of Ship Harbour River, where he has cleared about five acres. He asks for this land. The magistrate states that Coop is a very industrious and peacable man and has preserved order and loyalty among the other Mi'kmaq, and is well deserving to have land given to him to settle on in his old age. Recommended 200 acres that cannot be transferred to any other than his children.
Date: 1813
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Coop Francis
Petition of Crandal for a grant of land as he relinquished a valuable part of his own land to the government for the use of the Mi'kmaq. Asks for land at Gold River and Oak Island. Granted: 500 acres at Gold River, Chester and Oak Island in lieu of land relinquished.
Date: 1818
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Crandal David W.
Regarding Stephen Seaman's purchase from the Mi'kmaq any claim they had to a tract of land at the Pugwash River in 1802.
Date: 1809
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Crane James Noble & Crane William
Petition for a licence of occupation by Crane and others. Some years ago the petitioners obtained leave to occupy a point of land at the northeast side of the mouth of the River Pugwash. People have protected it on behalf of the Mi'kmaq but the petitioners maintain they wish the Mi'kmaq there to cut lumber for them in exchange for rum. Request a more ample licence of occupation than that originally given them by Gov. John Wentworth. Noted: "The land applied for was by the appropriation of Sir John Wentworth reserved for the petitioners - but Jonathan Crane had received 1000 acres on River Philip. If the land be granted, the instructions within prevent dispute."
Date: 1810
Reference: Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests - Land grant registration books series Nova Scotia Archives RG 20 Ser. A - Crane Jonathon & Others
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