History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 24

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952

USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

208

273 .- Nicholas Patenaude, Sr., bought twenty-four arpens fronting on Lake St. Clair, between the Robinson and Martin and the Meldrum and Park properties, in 1778, and claimed to have improved such lands so early as 1758.

276 .- Julien Forton claimed 160 arpens fronting on the lake, between the farms of Pierre Ambroise and Gabriel Reneau. Seraphin Leson testified that Forton held possession of this tract previous to 1796.

277 .- Charles Chovin claimed 220 arpens fronting on the lake between the lands of Jos. Sansfacon and J. Bte. Marsac, which he located previous to 1796 ; he also claimed a tract (278) containing 110 arpens fronting on the lake, between the farms of J. Bte. Lapierre and Etienne Sieur, also possessed by him previous to 1796.

316 .- Louis Leduc claimed 120 arpens fronting on the lake between the claim of Panacha and that of Francois Duchesne at L'ance Crense, in possession of one Champagne previous to 1796, transferred to Jean Sunare, and by him to Le Duc.

389 .- Joseph Campeau claimed, as the grantee of Louis Maure, a tract of land fronting on the Huron, extending to Lake St. Clair, and lying between the lands of Louis Chapoton, Sr., and another claim of Joseph Campeau. Louis Maure pos- sessed those lands previous to 1796, and continued in their possession until the execution of the deed, September 10, 1808, to Joseph Campau.

320 .- Jean Bte. St. Laurent claimed 120 arpens fionting on the lake between the holdings of Baptiste A. Tremble and Francois A. Tremble. Gabriel Reneau was the possessor of these lands previous to 1796, and continued so until the transfer of the property to his brother Louis ; who sold to Bazile Crequi from whom J. B. St. Laurent purchased July 15, 1803.

343 .- Pierre Yax claimed 480 arpens at la Pointe Aux Crapaux, fronting on Lake St. Clair, in his possession previous to and since the year 1796.

502 .- Rene Marsac's title to 80 arpens, fronting on Lake St. Clair, and lying between the lands of Francois Marsac and Nicholas Patenaude, was confirmed De- cember 14, 1808.

505 .- Jean Bte. Petit claimed 160 arpens at L'ance Creuse, fronting the lake, and lying between the lands of Michel Duchesne and Mr. Bellinger. F. St. Ber- nard was the possessor of this tract in 1796 ; he sold to Louis Petit Clair, who sold in turn to Louis Maure, and he sold to J. Bte. Petit.

513 .- Louis Laforge, possessor of a tract of 150 arpens, fronting the lake at L'Ance Creuse, between the farms of J. Bte. Pare and Baptiste Dube, was con- firmed in his title. Mr. Cady states that this pioneer was a centenarian, and re- mained on his old homestead until ten or twelve years ago.

541 .- James Connor and Christian Clemens, associate owners of a tract of land situate on the north side of the river Huron, containing 640 acres, fronting on the

209

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

river, and lying between the lands of Peter Douman on the east, and John Connor on the west, claimed a title thereto on account of possession, occupancy, and im- provement, previous to and since 1796. Henry Connor testified that John Chartion was possessor of those lands for five years previous to 1796, when he sold to the claimants. They cultivated six acres of ground, built a house, and planted an or- chard previous to December, 1808. The claimants exhibited a deed made by Henry Tuckar March 4, 1808.

542 .- Christian Clemens claimed 640 acres south of and fronting on the Huron, next above the land of James Abbott. James Connor testified that a long period prior to 1796, Edward Hazel took possession of the tract, and held it until the sale to James Abbott, and he in turn was the owner until the sale to his son-James Abbott, Jr., under whom Mr. Clemens went into possession.

544 .- Joseph Campeau claimed eighty arpens fronting on the lake, between the lands of Thomas Tremble and Etienne Duchesne; at Point à Guinolette, originally in possession of Pierre Duchesne. In 1808 twenty arpens were culti- vated, and a house erected.

545 .- Joseph Campeau claimed a tract on the south side of the Huron, three arpens of which fronted on the river, extending in depth to Lac St. Clair, between the claims of Louis Campeau and Louis Maure. Michel Duchesne proved occu- pancy by the claimant previous, and siuce 1796. In 1808 thirty arpens were under cultivation.

546 .- Henry Connor claimed 640 acres on the north side of the Huron, front- ing on the river, and running up the main river sixteen acres. James Connor testified that, several years prior to 1796, he saw the claimant ploughing the land, and when returning from the Indian Country in 1804, a house was erected, and the claimant was engaged in making other improvements. Francis Guy's testimony was substantiatory.

559 -- Israel Ruland claimed 640 acres lying on the south and north sides of Salt River, of which thirty-two acres fronted on the south bank of the river, and extended backwards twenty-two acres between the lands deeded to him September 29 (also claimed by Meldrum and Park) ; while five acres fronted on the north bank, extending back twenty acres, between the lands of George Meldrum on the east, and the wild lands on the west and north. Previous to 1796, N. Petit and A. Prevot were living on those lands as tenants of Meldrum and Park. They evacu- ated the place in 1797 when John Bte. Nantay took possession for the claimant. In 1802 he saw John Lagord, Pierre Champagne and Joseph Socier on the premises. During his first stay there were old houses. He aided in building new houses, cleared three or four acres, and made and enclosed a garden. John Lagord also repaired an old house and built two new ones for the plaintiff.

J.4

210

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

564 .- Jean Baptiste Rivard claimed 240 arpens, bounded in front by the lake, northeast by Jean Crequi's former claim, southwest by the land of Joseph Socier, and in the rear by the unlocated lands.

565 .- Etienne Socier claimed 160 arpens fronting on the lake, betweenn the lands of Jean Bte. Lapeer, and J. Bte. A. Tremble. Joseph Laforet was in posses- sion of this tract previous to 1796, he sold to Bte. Cochois in July 1796, who exchanged with Ignace Sene, who in a few months after sold to Henry Campeau, who in turn sold to J. A. Tremble. Tremble sold to Amable Latour, from whom it passed into the hands of Socier in 1804.

566 .- Jean Bte. Ambroise Tremble claimed 160 arpens fronting on Lake St Clair, between claim 565 and the lands of Bte. Celleron. Ignace Sené had posses- siou previous to 1796, who sold to Cochois, who in turn sold to Tremble.

576 .- Jean Bte. Sené claimed 252 arpens fronting Lac St. Clair, between the lands of Jacques Alliard and Louis Reneau. This tract was owned by Louis Grif- fard, Jr., previous to 1796, and continued in his possession until he sold to Sené December 23, 1808.

577 .- Henry St. Bernard claimed 120 arpens fronting on the lake, between the lands of Laurent Griffard and Julian Campeau. Capt. William Fleming was the owner previous to 1796, and subsequently until he sold to Joseph Elliar, from whom the claimant purchased September 12, 1808.

584 .- Alex. Ellair's widow claimed 120 arpens fronting on the lake between the lands of George McGregor and Madame Crequi by virtue of possession, etc., previous to 1796. The widow's name was Josette Galinion.

585 .- Joseph Socier claimed 120 arpens fronting on the lake between the lands of Bte. Rivard and John Litle, by virtue of occupation and improvement since 1788.

599 .- James Abbott's legal heirs claimed 640 acres fronting on Lae Saint Clair, between Duchesne's land on the south and southwest, and the unlocated lands on the north and northwest, on account of improvements made previous to 1796.

601 .- Bte. Dubay claimed a tract of land fronting on the lake, between the claims of Louis Laforge and Simon Landri, originally settled by Joseph Garand, purchased by Seraphin Leson, who sold to the claimant in 1802.

602 .- Alexis Dubay claimed 160 arpens at L'ance Creuse, extending from the lake between the lands of Simon Landri and Michel Comparet, settled previously to 1796 by Dubay Pere, who sold to Alexis in 1802.

603 .- Cecille Campeau's heirs claimed 640 acres fronting on the Huron, be- tween the lands of Joseph Campeau and Michel Comparet, extending to the lake front. Cecille was the widow of Thomas Williams, and at the period immediately preceding her demise was the wife of Jacques Leson.

211

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

604 .- Joseph Campeau claimed the land fronting on the Huron, between his own lands above and those of F. Saint Obin below, by virtue of possession, occu- pancy and improvement made by Thomas Edwards and Jacques Leson previous to 1796. Leson sold this tract to Joseph Campeau, but Mrs. Leson refused to sign the deed. In this state the claim was allowed to rest for some time until finally ad- justed.

605 .- Pierre Mayet's heirs claimed 160 arpens fronting on Lake Saint Clair, between the lands of Bte. Chovin and Jean Louis Tremble, settled previous to 1796 by the deceased Pierre.

610 .- John Connor claimed 640 acres on the North Branch of the Huron, ex- tending from the north bank of the river along the James Connor claim on the east, and bounded by unlocated lands on the north and rear. Henry Connor proved possession previous to 1796. In 1797 John Connor went into the Indian country, leaving the land and improvements in care of the witness.

Julian Campeau claimed (611) 120 arpens fronting on Lake Saint Clair, be- tween the lands of Henry Saint Bernard and Jean Baptiste Marsac, of which Capt. William Fleming was the first owner. He sold to Joseph Elliar, and he, in turn, to Julian Campeau, Sept. 10, 1808.

613 .- Francois Marsac claimed a tract on Tremble's Creek, bounded in front by the creek, originally settled by Andrew Baker, who sold it to John Litle May 7, 1796, from whom it was purchased in 1801, by Marsac, was allowed,

614-granted to Capt. Marsac. This land was in possession of Pierre Yax, pre- vious to 1796, and until he sold it to his son Francois Yax, who disposed of it to Marsac Feb. 18, 1808. This claim was bounded in front by Swan Creek, and on all other sides by wild land.

616 .- Nicholas Campeau claimed three tracts in one farm fronting on the Huron and extending to Lake Saint Clair, between the claims of Joseph Campeau. John Tuckar proved that those lands were in possession of N. Valne, Augustin Charon and A. Leboeuf previous to and after the year 1796.

624 .- Gaget Tremble claimed a tract of land, possessed previous to 1796 by Maison and Antoine Larabelle, who sold to the claimant Feb. 4, 1801, their in- terests therein. The tract comprises 600 arpens fronting Lake Saint Clair, and extend- ing northwards to Milk River, between the Joseph Campeau claim and the wild lands. In 1808, 200 arpens were under cultivation.

625 .- Pierre Duchesne claimed a tract of land southwest of L'ance Creuse, bounded on the northeast by Jacques Allierd's former claim, on the southwest by the Long Meadow, in front by Lac Saint Clair, and in rear by unlocated lands, in virtue of his possession thereof, before July, 1796.

626 .- Christian Clemens claimed 280 arpens fronting on the Huron, between

212

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

unlocated lands in rear, the claim of John Askin, Jr., on one side, and claimant's land on the other. John Askin, Jr., was the owner of the land in 1796.

627 .- Pierre Yax claimed 480 arpens fronting on Lake St. Clair, extending back to the unlocated lands along Francois Marsac's claim on the south, at the wild lands on the north, which he continued to cultivate from 1796 down to 1808.

628 .- Margaret Conner, widow of Richard Connor, claimed for herself and children, a tract one mile south of the River Huron fronting on a small creek called Big Run, which for several years prior to 1796 was improved annually by the de- ceased Richard Connor and herself.

630 .- Baptiste Socier claimed 240 arpens fronting on Lake St. Clair above the lands of Nicholas Patenaude, belonging to Jos. Garand in 1796 and subsequently sold to Socier.

631 .- Francois Ambroise Tremble claimed 120 arpens at Pointe Guinolet fronting on the lake between the lands at Benj. Marsac and Francis Forton, in his possession previous to and since 1796.

633. - Joseph Campeau (8th) claimed a tract fronting on the Huron, between the claims of Pierre Phenix by virtue of possession and improvement previous to 1796.

650 .- Pierre Tremble claimed a tract of land at Pointe Guinolet, fronting on the lake, and running along the northeast side of Antoine Reneau's claim, bounded on the southwest by Julian Forton's farm.

656 .- Nicholas Rivard claimed a tract fronting the lake between Bte. Celleron and Louis Tremble's land.

657 .- Gabriel Reneau claimed one arpen fronting on the lake at Point Guino- let, running back forty arpens, between the lands of Julian Forton and Nicholas Rivard, transferred from Colos Rivard, the owner in 1796.

692 .- Abraham Fournier claimed a tract bounded on the northeast by Widow Ambroise Tremble's land, on the southwest by Rene Marsac's, in front by the lake, running back forty arpens, to the nou-ceded lands, all in possession of the deceased husband previous to 1796.

693 .- William Connor claimed 600 acres on the north side of the Huron, bounded on the upper side by John Askin, Jr.'s, claim, on the other by that of John Connor, in front by the river, and in rear by the unlocated lands, which tract was taken possession of two years before the Americans took possession of the country.

695 .- Ambroise Tremble's widow aud heirs claimed the homestead on which the husband and father lived since 1774, until he died in 1805.

668 .- John Askin, for Wm. Ancram, claimed a tract of land on the Huron, which claim was supported by Robert Dowler, who said that in the year 1786, he

213

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

rented from Askin a part of this tract, and cultivated near sixteen acres thereof during the succeeding two years. John Cornwall lived there sometime before 1788 as agent for Askin. Forty acres were under cultivation by tenants of Askin, and there were a number of cabins erected on the lands by the Moravian ministers and Indians.

736 .- Was granted to Joseph Laurent, 1810, by a certificate of the Board of Land Commissioners.

Aaron Greely surveyed all those claims, reported to the U. S. Land Depart- ment, and the General Government issued patents, in 1912, on the strength of certificates of title issued by the Land Board of Detroit 1808-1810.

INDIAN RESERVATIONS.

The following review refers to the patentees of lands reserved to the Indians in the treaties, and held by them until their purchase immediately after the treaty of Detroit. A few hundred acres of those lands are outside the county line, yet considered in the county records.

LA RIVIERE AU VASES AND MACONEE RESERVES.

Francis Yax

59.79 acres, Sec. 13, T. 3 north, R. 14 east ; May 13, 1839.

William Darrell,

5.33

Sec. 14, T. 3 north, R. 14 east ;

Leon C. Rivard,

74.30

Sec. 23,

James H. Cook,

79.40

יו

Jonathan Kearsley,

65.35

Paul cir. Cayen,

20.13

55.26

Jonathan Kearsley,

17.90

Joseph Socier,

78.32

Sec. 24,

William Darrell,

56.60

Lanring B. Migner,

31.64

Sec. 26,

Francois Yax,

30.61

Sec. 28,

Lansing B. Migner,

88.70

Sec. 29,

Jonathan Kearsley,

33.35

John B. Socier,

Jonathan Kearsley,

7.06

Sec. 32,

May 14, 1839.

38.07

66 Sec. 33, T. 3, west, R. 14, east ;

James H. Cook,

48.00

Francis Yax,

13.80

Oct. 18, 1841.

56.00

Jan. 2, 1844.

The patentees of the United States lands of this county, who were settlers here or became settlers here after purchase, will be regarded in the pages devoted to township history.

214

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MORAVIANS.

By what power tyranny is allowed to exist is one of the mysteries. Europe before the Reformation was a continent of tyrannies-since the Reformation it has changed the petty tyrant for the powerful one ; and is to-day ground down beneath a more terrible-a more exacting-a more pernicious oppression than ever existed to mark the pages of its olden history. Instead of a few hundred Moravians, a few hundred Puritans, a few hundred Catholics flying from evil laws, as in olden times, we have tens of thousands, aye hundreds of thousands, looking westward across the Atlantic to these States with longing eyes, and sending messages of hope to reach friends here before they die. Great numbers have come, are coming, and doubtless may continue to come ; but the power that drives them from their old homes is a mysterious one. Tyranny forced the Moravians to seek the encourage- ment of tyrants in 1749. . It was willingly extended, and thirty-two years later the same false friend murdered one hundred of those who sought and obtained his dangerous patronage.

SETTLEMENT OF THE MORAVIAN SUSPECTS.

The English at Detroit suspected that a certain settlement of pious Moravians on the Muskingum River were sympathizers with the Americans, called a conference of the tribes at Niagara, and urged the fierce Iroquois to destroy the Moravian Indians, the name given to the few redmen who had up to that period been con- verted by the Moravian missionaries; but the Iroquois chiefs failed to see where such a massacre would benefit themselves, and were content to send a message to the Ottawas and Otchipwes, requesting them to make a bouilli of the Moravian Indians on the Muskingum. The Moravian missionaries arrived at Detroit in 1781, when the Indians held a war council in presence of those missionaries and De Peyster, the commandant. The Indian chief, known as Capt. Pike, told De Peyster, that the English might kill the Americans if they wished-they had raised the quarrel among themselves, and they who should fight it out. The English had set him on the Americans just as the hunter sets his dog on the game; but the Indian would play the dog's part no longer.

Kishkawko and another warrior stood by the side of the British commandant. The former carried a hickory cane abont four feet long, ornamented or rather strung with the scalps of Americans, together with a tomahawk presented to him by De

215

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

Peyster some time previously. He concluded his address to the commandant thus : " Now, father, here is what has been done with the hatchet you gave me. I have made the use of it you ordered me to do, and found it sharp." A few days after this Council, the Moravians left Detroit for their new homes on the Riviere aux Hurons.

MORAVIAN INDIANS, 1781.

Jacques Leson, in his evidence before the Land Commissioners at Detroit, November 9, 1810, said, in his reference to William Ancram's claim for land in Macomb County, " To the best of my knowledge the Moravian ministers with Indians of the Delaware nation were living on these lands twenty-seven or twenty- eight years ago. I lived in the village and cultivated lands near for many years previous to July 1796, and recollect Wittuness telling me that Askin owned a large quantity of land from the Moravian village upwards. Fifteen years ago the late surveyor, McNiff, came up the Huron with Sanscrainte, the interpreter, who informed me that they had come to survey the land by order of Askins. At that time twenty or thirty arpens were under cultivation, and twenty or twenty-five cabins and houses were erected."

John Askin, Sr., related, that on April 28, 1786, he purchased for himself and William Ancram, then commandant at Detroit, sundry improvements of the Mo- ravian ministers, and others, and made by them on the river Huron, which empties into Lake St. Clair, near a place called the Moravian Village, for which he paid $200. He likewise purchased the improvements made at the same place by the Moravian or Christian Indians-sixteen in number-for $200, also $50 to one John Bull for improvements at the same place, together with furnishing the Moravians two vessels to enable them to return to Muskingum-their former mission. For all this he received the thanks of John Huckenwelder, their chief-missionary. At this time there were more than twenty houses with many out-buildings, all of which were purchased, save one occupied and claimed by the late Richard Connor, together with an Indian cornfield with a yard and garden in rear, which were pur- chased subsequently by him and Major Ancram from eleven chiefs of the Chippewa Indians. These early land buyers cut a road from Detroit through the woods to these lands-a distance of about twenty miles with a little assistance from the Mor- avian Indians. After the Moravians gave up possession John Cornwall was appointed agent, and Robert Dowlar, Ames Weston and others went on as tenants. Those men left after some time when Ancram placed the Indian chief Wittaness and his band in charge. Those Indians had much trouble with Richard Connor of whom they often complained. This Moravian village and adjacent territory became an elephant on the hands of Askin, and so he was glad to accept 1,600 pounds New York currency for the property from Isaac Todd, and James McGill, then merchants

216

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

of Montreal in Lower Canada. The deed of conveyance bears date June 28, 1796.

MORAVIANISM.

The history of the Moravians begins in 1457, long years before Luther's Reformation. Toward the close of the fifteenth century there were over 200 Moravian churches in Moravia and Bohemia, when a Moravian Bible was published and studied. Passing over three centuries of the history of this religious society, during which time it died out in its cradle, we learn of its revival in 1749 under the auspices of the British Parliament. That body acknowledged Moravianism a part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and further enacted that every encourage- ment should be given to its followers to settle in the British colonies of Northi America. The Moravians came and established their missions along the frontier, the most important of which was that in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, at Muskingum. Here 100 missionaries and disciples were killed in 1781, under the auspices of the British Government, ostensibly on account of outrages and murders charged against them, but in reality on account of the sympathy which they exhibited towards the New Republic, and under orders of British officers. The survivors of the massacre came to Detroit in 1781, thence moved to the village on the Huron, which they named New Gnadenhutten.

MORAVIAN MARRIAGES.

While waiting for one of those most uncertain conveyances, known as a Grand Trunk Train, one morning John E. Day pointed out the site of the ancient village of New Gnadenhutten to the writer and Judge Avery, of N. Y. The latter related the story of Moravian marriages, and, in fact, had time to review the history of the United States before that Grand Trunk Train arrived. The Moravians never selected a wife-never had a chance to do so, for the reason that one of the articles of their faith pointed out distinctly that God was the great designer, and to Him the Moravian should trust the choice of a wife. The manner in which their God made the selection was crude indeed. One of the principal missionaries brought forth a cylindrical tin case, something similar to that which is used in lottery affairs at the present time. In this he placed bark or paper slips, with the names of all male candidates for matrimonial honors. Another missionary brought forth a similar tin case, in which he placed tickets each bearing the name of one marriageable girl of the settlement. Missionary No. 1 gave his lottery tickets a thorough shaking, then opened the little door and took out the ticket which he first touched, the name on which he read aloud, and then presented the ticket to the members of his audience who were thenceforth witnesses. This first act played, missionary No. 2 gave the lottery case containing the tickets bearing the female names, a shaking precisely as

217

HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.

thorough as that given in the former instance, and withdrawing a ticket, called out the name, presented it to the persons near him, and called them to witness the genuineness of the transaction. This closed the second act of the drama. The third act was the religious ceremony of matrimony and the proclamation of the nuptials ; the fourth was the wedding banquet, enlivened by hymns, gunshots, and congratulatory speeches, and the fifth and last act of the play was a quiet, evi- dently happy life until death separated the strangers who were made man and wife in the third act.

MORAVIAN MANNERS, HABITS AND CUSTOMS.

The habits of those people and even of their Indian converts were as peculiar as the manners were quiet and unassuming. Their customs were even stranger than their habits. Economy was practiced to such an extent, that even they were sparing in the use of language. In the midst of plenty they were accustomed to deny themselves food, and proclaimed many fast days throughout the year. Their tastes for agriculture were not so marked as their love for horticulture, but both gave way to the prevailing passion for mechanical work. They clothed themselves in the plainest fashion, yet seemed always at home under all circumstances. Cool and calculating, and even usurious when chance offered, they were slow to betray their feelings. They formed a community of such a peculiar character, that once seen they could never be forgotten.

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History of Macomb County, Michigan, Part 24

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co. Number of Pages: 952

Author: Leeson, Michael A., [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, M. A. Leeson & co.
Number of Pages: 952