Absolutely Hillarious

The following land petitions were submitted by a group of settlers; some (if not all) were part of the group known as the Yorkshire Settlers. My source is the New Brunswick Land Petitions - RS108. Petitions are transcribed as written; question marks denote words which I was not able to discern.

Petition to His Excellency Gov: Carlton. Peticodiack, December 28th, 1785. "We the Subscribers beg leave to lay before your Excellency our present Sittuation, about twelve years ago we became Settlers of Nova Scotia from Yorkshire in England we have nevour had any favour from Government and have demon?? Values as Industrious and Loyal Subjects ? of ? being Tenants upon Land which we apprehend will be Escheated upon the River Peticodiack, other of us have nevour ocupied any Land but ?? as servants. And lately have Broke? In upon some vacant land and made some little Improvements and as ? ? may be ? we are discouraged from persisting in our Improvements; we ? humbly beg your Excellency will consider our Sittuation and admitt us a Small tract ? ? as we have made our Improvements or ? ? ? your Excellency ? think fitt. We are with due Esteem Your Excellency Most dutifull Subjects and Servants. Signed Robt Leaman Senior, John Geldart, William Sinten Esq, Lewis Smith, Robt Leaman Junior, Wm Willson, Jo E??es, Jas Smith Senr, Jas Smith, William Hoddins.

Petition to His Excellency the Governor and Councill and House of Assembly in the Province of New Brunswick now Assembled….. Peticodiack Jan 28th 1786. We the Subscribers Inhabitants upon the River Peticodiack in behalf of Our Selves and the seat of the Settlers upon that River beg leave to lay before you the Reciprocity of a Land Communication to the City St. John’s. Our reason for it are first of the great Utility it will be to both the Metropolis and the County of Westmoreland, and Secondly of a Land Communication is not opened the Halifax Market will course Command all the Fatt Cattle in this County which we look upon to be Prejudicial to this Province and we further beg that all the Vacant Lands may be Escheated upon this Valuable Settlement that all who want may be Supply’d therewith and your Petitioners Prays that no Large tract to ? be granted to Individuals. This is and ? a Publick Nuisance to the Settlements and we further beg that no Land may be Granted but to such as Occupy the same and that if any Land be Escheated upon which any Person or Persons may have made any Improvement and resides thereon that they might not be removed or a compensation made them for what they have done. We shall not trouble your Excellency further but refer all other Matters to the Gentlemen who Represent Us in the House of Assembly. Signed: William Sinton, Robt Colpitts, William Noddins, John Geldart, Robert Lemin, David Bleakny, James (his mark) Smith Junior, James (his mark) Smith Senr, John (his mark) Mitton, Robert (his mark) Leeman, William (his mark) Willson, Andrew Whilson.

Petition to His Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick & Territories theron depending Chancellor & Vice Admiral of the ?????. The Memorial of William SYNTON, Esq, Robert COLPITTS & others Humbly Sheweth That they have never had a Grant of any Land either under the Province of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick but have settled themselves in Hillsborough now escheated where most of them have made very considerable Improvements, and ae desirous of becoming fixed and permanent Settlers and to have a Location of Laws and Grant of such Quantity as on a Report of their Improvements to be made by the Surveyor they may be found to ?. They therefore humbly pray that your Excellency would be pleased to grant them a warrant of Survey for that Purpose and that on return thereof and Report made a grant may ? accordingly ? they as in Duty bound will ever pray for ….. Signed AA. BOTSFORD for and in behalf of: Names listed with # of acres requested: William Synton, Esq. 400, Robert Colpitts, 200, Robert Leamon 200. James Smith, James Smith Jun’r, Lewis Smith, William Wilson, James Lounsby, Partick Garland, William Noddin, John Beaty, Joseph Woodworth, Samuel Wilber, Benj Wilber, Jacob Ricker, Peter Lutz, Michael Ricker, and a group of Steeves together on a tract of land 1200 acres including John,Matthias, Henry, Jacob and Loduwik. Others George Joney, John Joney, David Rid?, Christian ?, Martin Peck, Joseph Ayles, John Cameron, Eliphet Reid? Junr, John Bay?.