[RayMoND] PRE-LOYALIST SETTLEMENTS OF NOVA SCOTIA 105 
Proposals will be received by Mr. Hancock of Boston, and by Messrs Delancie 
& Watts of New York, to be transmitted to the Governor, or President of the 
Council at Halifax. 
III. 
Lawrence's Second Proclamation respecting Vacant Lands in Nova Scotia; 
January 11th, 1759. 
“By His Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq., Captain General and Governor- 
in-Chief in and over His Majesty’s Province of Nova Scotia, or Acadia, in America, 
Vice Admiral of the same, etc., ete. 
A PROCLAMATION. 
WHEREAS since the issuing of the proclamation dated the 12th day of October, 
1758, relative to the settling the vacated lands in this Province, I have been informed 
by Thomas Hancock, Esq., Agent for the affairs of Nova-Scotia at Boston, that 
sundry applications have been made to him in consequence thereof by persons who 
are desirous of settling the said lands, and who are solicitous to know what particular 
encouragement the Government will give them—whether any allowance of Provisions 
will be granted at their first settlement, what quantity of land will be alloted to each 
person, what quit rents they are to pay, what the constitution of the Government 
is, whether any taxes and of what kind will be levied, whether they will be allowed 
the free exercise of their religion? 
I have therefore thought fit, with the advice of His Majesty’s Council to issue 
this proclamation, hereby declaring, in answer to the said enquiries, that by His 
Majesty’s Royal Instructions I am empowered to make grants in the following 
proportions :— 
That Townships are to consist of 100,000 acres of land—or about twelve miles 
square—that they do include the best and most profitable lands, and also that they 
do comprehend such rivers as may be at or near such settlements, and do extend 
as far up into the country as conveniently may be, taking in a necessary part of the 
sea coast. 
That the quantities of land granted will be in proportion to the abilities of the 
settlers to plant, cultivate and enclose the same. 
That one hundred acres of wild woodland will be allowed to every person being 
master or mistress of a family, for himself or herself, and fifty acres for every white 
or black man, woman or child of which such person’s family shall consist at the 
actual time of making the grant, subject to the payment of a quit rent of one shilling 
sterling per annum for every fifty acres; such quit rent to commence at the expira- 
tion of ten years from the date of each grant, and to be paid for His Majesty’s use 
to his Receiver General at Halifax, or to his deputy on the spot. 
#That the grantees will be obliged by their said grants to plant, cultivate, im- 
prove, or enclose one third part of their lands within the space of ten years, another 
third part within the space of twenty years, and the remaining third part within 
the space of thirty years from the date of their grants. 
That no one person can possess more than one thousand acres by grant in his 
or her own name. 
That every grantee, upon giving proof that he or she has fulfilled the terms and 
conditions of his or her grant shall be entitled to another grant in the proportion 
and upon the conditions above mentioned. 
