444 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



About two years ago Lewis Mitchell [an old settler] brought a suit of 

 ejectment against them, when it was determined by the jury, which tried the 

 cause, that he had no right or title to the land they occupy. Thus circumstanced 

 the memorialists with the other French Inhabitants living on the north side 

 of the River St. John made application to his Excellency for grants of their 

 present possessions, to which they received the most favourable and satisfactory 



They conceive it a very great hardship to be put to the expence of sending 

 such a distance to support their claims to said lands. They pray that Mitchell 1 

 shall pay them for their trouble and expence provided it appears to your Excel- 

 lency that his claim is groundless and vexatious. 



Dated at Parr Town, 5th April, 1785. 



(Signed) AMAND CORMIER, 

 FRANCOIS CORMIER. 



The Cormiers lived at this time on the north (or east) side of 

 the Saint John, two or three miles above St. Anne's Point. Two of 

 the lots improved by them were purchased in 1786 by the Rev. 

 Samuel Cooke, rector of Fredericton, and Lieutenant Anthony Allaire 

 of the Loyal American Regiment. Two other lots were sold to 

 Lieutenant George Lambert of the 3d New Jersey Volunteers. 



Another member of the Cormier family sold his improvements 

 to one Zachariah Sickles. The method employed, where the Acadian 

 settler had not obtained from government a title to his land, appears 

 in the memorial which follows: — 



"To His Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esquire, Governor, Commander in 

 Chief, &c, &c, &c. 



We the subsciibers having sold our land and all our right, title and property 

 therein for a certain consideration, wherewith we are fully satisfied , contented 

 and paid, Pray your Excellency will be pleased to grant the same in the name 

 of Mr. Zachariah Sickells to whom we have sold as it now lies, being number 

 thirty at the entrance of the Madamkeswicke river. 



(Signed) JOSEPH CORMIER, 

 MARY CORMIER. 

 Witness, Monson Hayt. 



Fredericton, June 30, 1787." 



Memo. Zachariah Sickles asks a grant of Lot No. 30 at the mouth of the 

 Madamkiswic 2 which he has purchased of Joseph Cormier. 



1 Lewis Mitchell was well known on the St. John River, and during the Revolu- 

 tionary War had rendered important service to the British. He claimed possession 

 of 250 acres "near the French Chappie on the West Side of the River and 400 acres 

 on the East Side near St. Anns, also an Island called St. Donns (or Sandon) near 

 Oak Park (Aukpaque)." 



2 The Keswick stream is meant. Its Indian name is Noo-kam-keech-wnk, of 

 which Madamkiswic ia a corruption. 



