From the Nova Scotia Public
Archives, the following is a copy of
Jean Goyetche's petition to the
Crown for a land grant in 1814. Note
that the petition was composed by
the local Justice of the Peace and
that Jean Goyetche signed "his
mark" with an "X".
Following is a transcript of the
petition.
To His Honor Major General Swayne,
President of His Majesty's Council
and Commanding in Cape Breton.
The Humble Petition of John
Goyache stateth that he was born in
the town of Bayonne that he now
resides in Arichat; Dependencies of
Cape Breton, that he has resided for
the last twenty two years in the
Island of Cape Breton and its
Dependencies - that he is fifty years
of age, that he hath Nine Children -
all of whom are now residing in the
Dependencies aforesaid - that he
never had any land granted or
located to him, that he now prays for
a Farm Lott to contain one hundred
and Sixty Acres, situated next and
adjoining the east line of land
granted or located to Clement
Hubert Esquire and in the Rear of
Lands granted or located to the late
Alexander Desroches, on the North
Shore of Arichat Harbour on which
he intends to settle and cultivate
immediately, which he conceives he
is well able to do, on account of the
Industry of his family, and he humbly
hopes that he is entitled to land for
his attachment to His Majesty's
Government - Petitioner humbly
hopeth that his Honor will be
pleased to take the above
circumstances into consideration,
and that the prayer of his petition
may be granted and Petitioner will as
in duty bound ever pray - Arichat
20th June 1814.
John X Goyache
Arichat. Personally appeared before
me John Jean Esquire One of His
Majesty's Justices of the Peace for
the Island of Cape Breton and its
Dependencies John Goyache and
made oath that the aforegoing
Petition is just and true to the best of
his knowledge.
June 20th, 1814 J Jean J.P.
Land Grant Petition
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