Petition to Congress by Pre-1803 Inhabitants of the Louisiana-Missouri Territory, 25 Dec 1805 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Jerry Morrison Email: LWM@genesisnetwork.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the books "Territorial Papers - Louisiana-Missouri Territory" 1803-1806, Volume XIII pages 327-328 PETITION TO CONGRESS BY INHABITANTS OF THE TERRITORY [DECEMBER 25,1805] To the Senate and house of representatives of the Congress of the United States in session convened. The Petition of the subscribers humbly sheweth. . . That they were inhabitants or heads of families in the Province of Upper Louisiana on the twentieth day of December one thousand eight hundred and three and many of them for a long time before some of whom were born in the said Province and according to the Spanish rules and regulations entitled to land as well by the proclamation of his Catholic Magesty as by becoming actual householders and resident within the said Territory.-Your petitioners state with regret that whilst some of them procured concessions from the Spanish Lieut't Governor & Commandants that they were not enabled to cultivate and actually To improve by reason that they were Mechanics by trade which required The irresidence in the settlements thickly inhabited or in the Villages, others were not enabled to procure any concessions either because they were not in favor or because they had at no time a sufficiency to purchase it altho they were justly entitled to concessions without the payment of any fees than those due to the surveyor whilst others of your petitioners were emigrating at considerable expence to this Country with an expectation to draw Land upon their arrival but before they could procure any or were enabled to settle upon the places they had located the Cession of the Country was made to the United States-your petitioners find by the act of Congress for ascertaining and adjusting claims to land within the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana no provisions has been made for them. They therefore pray your honorable body to take their case under your wise consideration and to grant to each head of a family and actual inhabitants in Louisiana on and before the twentyeth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred and three six hundred and forty acres of Land or one mile square together with the usual allowance to the wife and family of each settler according to the customs and usages of Spain or otherwise as may seem just to Congress to provide for them. As in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray. St Louis the 25 day December 1805.- Transcribers Note: The numbers preceding the subscriber's name is the Sequential location of that signature on the list. Any notations of (X) signifies that the signature was by the Signator's "mark". Signatures (49) 10 Calvin Adams 31 Antoine Bacane 8 Vital Beaujenous (X) 7 Nicolas Beaujenous fils (X) 21 F. M. Benoit 24 Loui Boisie (X) 6 Nicola Bojeneau pere (X) 19 Charles Bosserone 45 V. Bouix 18 Joseph Brazeaux 17 L. Brazeaux fis 16 L. J. Brazeaux per 43 Franc Brichenel 35 Jh Charleville 12 Frans Chatio (X) 20 Bte Dechouquit- 9 Jean Bte Domine (X) 38 Frs Duchouquette fils 3 Peter Guerit Dumond (X) alias 44 [blank] Gravare 2 Allexander Grimeau (X) 27 Paschal Guerit 25 Louis Guitar 47 Paul Guitard 30 Joseph F. Hiteler 39 Josph Huno 36 Bte Juare 13 Joseph Labady 41 Frances LaCombe 26 Charles Laidoise 11 Jospf Lairain (X) 22 Joseph Lapriz (X) 40 [blank] Lardois 34 Francois Layon 33 Bartui Leé. 14 Joseph Lubross 42 Paul Menard 37 Allexander Morrin 32 Michel Morrin 29 J. Bte Ortes fs 4 James Rankin 49 Joseph Robidoux Fils 48 Jph Robidoux pere 23 Joseph Salway (X) 1 Samuel Solomon 5 Francois Valois 28 Rigest Vasseau 15 Loui Verdon 46 F. Vinsent