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veral tracts of land and premises, and every part and parcel thereof, against them the said several abovenamed chiefs and sachems, and the said Piankashaw Indians, and their tributaries and dependants, and all and every of their posterities unto all the severally. above named grantees, their heirs, and assigns, in severalty, or unto his said majesty, his heirs, and successors to and for the only use benefit and behoof of the said grantees, their heirs, and assigns, in severalty as aforesaid, shall and will warrant, and forever defend, by these presents.

In witness whereof, we the said chiefs and sachems, on behalf of ourselves respectively, and on behalf of all the other natives of the several tribes of the Piankashaw nation of Indians as aforesaid, have hereunto set our hands and seals, in the presence of the persons subscribing as witnesses hereunto, at a public council held at Post St. Vincent aforesaid, this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventyfive.

No. 11.

PROCLAMATIONS &c.-Of General Gage, respecting lands at the Illinois and Vincennes.

BY his excellency Thomas Gage, major general of the king's armies, colonel of the 22d regiment, general commanding in chief all the forces of his majesty in North America, &c. &c. &c.

Whereas, by the peace concluded at Paris, the 10th of February, 1763, the country of the Illinois has been ceded to his Britannic majesty, and the taking possession of the said country of the Illinois, by the troops of his majesty, though delayed, has been determined upon, we have found it good to make known to the inhabitants:

That his majesty grants to the inhabitants of the Illinois the liberty of the Catholic religion, as it has already been granted to his subjects in Canada: He has consequently given the most precise and effective orders, to the end that his new Roman Catholic subjects of the Illinois, may exercise the worship of their religion according to the rites of the Roman Church, in the same manner as in Canada.

That his majesty moreover agrees, that the French inhabitants, or others who have been subjects of the most christian king, may retire in full safety and freedom, wherever they please, even to New Orleans or any other part of Louisiana, although it should happen that the Spaniards take possession of it in the name of his Catholic majesty; and they may sell their estates, provided it be

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to subjects of his majesty, and transport their effects as well as their persons, without restraint upon their emigration, under any pretence whatever, except in consequence of debts or of crimi nal process.

That those who choose to retain their lands, and become subjects of his majesty, shall enjoy the same rights and privileges, the same security for their persons and effects, and liberty of trade, as the old subjects of the king.

That they are commanded by these presents to take the oath of fidelity and obedience to his majesty, in presence of Sieur Sterling, captain of the Highland regiment, the bearer hereof, and furnished with our full powers for this purpose.

That we recommend forcibly to the inhabitants, to conduct themselves like good and faithful subjects, avoiding, by a wise and prudent demeanor, all cause of complaint against them.

That they act in concert with his majesty's officers, so that his troops may take peaceable possession of all the posts, and order be kept in the country; by this means alone, they will spare his majesty the necessity of recurring to force of arms, and will find themselves saved from the scourge of a bloody war, and of all the evils which the march of an army into their country would draw after it.

We direct that these presents be read, published and posted up in the usual places.

Done, and given at head-quarters, New-York. Signed with our hand, sealed with our seal at arms, and countersigned by our secretary, this 30th December, 1764.

By his Excellency,

G. MATURIN.

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THOMAS GAGE, (SEAL.)

BY his excellency Thomas Gage, lieutenant general of the king's armies, colonel of the 22d regiment, general commanding in chief all the forces of his majesty in North America, &c. &c. &c.

Whereas, many persons, contrary to the positive orders of the king upon this subject, have undertaken to make settlements beyond the boundaries fixed by the treaties made with the Indian nations, which boundaries ought to serve as a barrier between the whites and the said nations: And a great number of persons have established themselves particularly upon the river Ouabache, where they lead a wandering life, without government and without laws, interrupting the free course of trade, destroying the game, and causing infinite disturbances in the country, which oc casions a considerable injury to the affairs of the king, as well as to those of the Indians:

His majesty has been pleased to order, and by these presents orders are given in the name of the king, to all those who have established themselves on the lands upon the Ouabache, whether at St. Vincent or elsewhere, to quit those countries instantly and without delay, and to retire, at their choice, into some one of the colonies of his majesty, where they will be received and treated as the other subjects of his majesty.

Done, and given at head quarters New-York. Signed with our hand, sealed with our seal at arms, and countersigned by our se cretary this 8th of April, 1772.

By order of the king,

By his Excellency,
G. MATURIN, Sec.

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THOMAS GAGE.

New-York, April 2d, 1773.

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GENTLEMEN,

I have received your letter of the 14th of September last, with the representations annexed, which I intend to cause, in a few days, to be transported to the feet of his majesty.

As you claim your possessions by sacred titles, insinuating that your settlement is of seventy years standing, and that the lands have been granted, by order and under the protection of his most Christian majesty, it is necessary that his majesty should be informed very particularly upon these points; and it is important to you, to give convincing proofs of all that you alledge in this respect.

To this end, I have to demand, without delay, the name of every inhabitant at Vincennes and its neighborhood, and by what title each one claims; if it is by a concession, the year of the concession must be added, as well as the name of the officer who made it, and the name of the governor general, who approved and confirmed it, with (word unintelligible and omitted, probably "the date" or "the page or number") also, of the records where each concession shall have been registered.

That the report which I expect may be better understood, I annex hereto a form, which I beg you to follow exactly, and to put me as early as possible in a situation to push forward your business.

I am gentlemen,

Your most humble and most obedient servant, (Signed) THOMAS GAGE.

Mr. de St. Maril, and the other inka

bitants settled at Post Vincennes.

No. 12.

Papers respecting Governor St. Clair's confirmation, in favor of J. Edgar and J. M. St. Clair, to a Tract of Land near Kaskaskia.

(L. s.)

WILKINS' GRANT.

TO all people to whom these presents shall come; John Wilkins, esquire, lieutenant colonel of his majesty's eighteenth or royal regiment of Ireland, governor and commandant throughout the Illinois country, sends greeting:

Whereas, the cultivation of lands, not yet appropriated, is essentially necessary and useful towards the better peopling and settlement of the said country, as well as highly advantageous to his majesty's service, in the raising, producing and supplying provisions for his majesty's troops, now stationed or hereafter to be stationed in the said country of the Illinois :

And whereas, John Baynton, Samuel Wharton and George Morgan, of the city of Philadelphia, in the province of Pennsylvania, merchants, trading to this country, have greatly contributed to his majesty's service, by raising, furnishing and supplying his majesty's troops in this country with provisions, and being now in want of a tract of land, for range for cattle, and for tilling for grain, as well as for other uses, and have, in order the more effectually to answer the salutary purposes aforesaid, undertaken and engaged immediately to settle and cultivate a certain quantity or portion of land, in the said country. Now know ye, that the said John Wilkins, by virtue of the power and authority to him given, by his majesty's orders, for the better settlement of the colony, and in consideration that the said John Baynton, Samuel Wharton and George Morgan, their heirs or assigns, or either of them or other persons, to be by them appointed, shall immediately settle upon, and cultivate the lands and premises, hereinafter bounded and described, or part or parcel thereof, as well as in consideration of the said John Baynton, Samuel Wharton and George Morgan, their heirs or assigns, or either of them, paying to his present majesty, his heirs and successors, such quit-rents, for the same, as shall hereafter be demanded by his majesty, his heirs or successors, for the like quantity of land that may be granted in the country afore. said, whenever civil government shall be established therein;

Hath given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant and confirm, unto the said John Baynton, Samuel Wharton and George Morgan, their heirs or assigns in severalty, as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, all that prece or parcel of

Lands, situate, lying and being on the north side of the road, between the villages of Prairie du Rocher and Kaskaskia, in the country aforesaid, beginning at the foot of a rock, on the west side of a large run or gully, issuing from the hills, and on the west side of a wood, between Prairie du Rocher village and the Grand Prairie, which prairie is parcelled out to numbers of French inhabitants, running from the foot of the aforesaid rock, eastward across the run, at the foot of and parallel to a ridge of rocks and hills, which divide the upper from of lower grounds, to a large run or gully, which issues from the aforesaid hills, on the north side of the aforesaid Grand Prairie, and at about half the distance of the road, through it from west to east; thence, up the said run or gully, north thirty degrees east, to the main or principal branch of the Kaskaskia river; thence up the several courses of the said river, until met by a right line, drawn from the first mentioned foot of a rock, at the place of beginning, running north thirty degrees east, to the said river Kaskaskia; thence, south thirty degrees west, to the aforesaid foot of a rock, at the place of beginning; together with all and singular the premises, meadows, pastures, feedings, trees, woods, underwoods, ways, paths, passages, waters, water courses, easements, profits, commodities, advantages, emoluments, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever, to the said piece or parcel of ground, belonging or in any wise appertaining.

To have and to hold the said piece of ground and premises, unto the said John Baynton, Samuel Wharton and George Morgan, their heirs and assigns forever, subject and liable to the payment of the quit-rents, that shall be demanded as aforesaid, on the part of his majesty, his heirs and successors forever.

In witness whereof, the said John Wilkins hath hereunto set his hand and seal at arms, at Fort Chartres, this twelfth day of April, in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, George the third, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, &c. &c. and in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixtynine, not to interfere with any former grants. The foregoing to be void, if disapproved of by his majesty, or the commander in chief, the whole being done with a view to benefit his majesty's service in this country as aforesaid.

JOHN WILKINS, Lt. Col.
Commanding in the Illinois country,

Release of one sixth to Wilkins, and his Declaration. Whereas, lieutenant colonel John Wilkins, hath made certain grants of land to Joseph Galloway esq. John Baynton, Samuel

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