Petition to the Governor, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Midge Judith Smith. This copy contributed for use in the 
USGenWeb Archives.  

 



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ABSTRACT OF TITLE
Belle Isle, Hamtramck, Wayne County

>From Volume II, Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections.

Transcribed by Midge Judith Smith.

The names borne by this island are: Wah-nah-be-zee - the swan; Isle au St. Clair; 
'Isle a 'Cochon - or Hog Island; Belle Island, since July 4th, 1845.

The island was subject to the government of France from the first settlement to 
the treaty of Paris, February 10th, 1763. 
   
The island was subject to the English government till November 30th, 1782, and 
still occupied by them till after the Jay treaty of November 19, 1784 - the 
regular government of the United States not being organized till July 2, 1805.

American State Papers
Robert Navarre{ American State Papers, Vol. 16, p. 280. Sworn to June 2, 1770

Affidavit of occupation of Hog Island from 1730 to 1770.
   
"Hog Island was then considered as commons, where each individual had the right 
(that is to say, the liberty, for the undersigned having never seen any title of 
concession, cannot say that the inhabitant had a right), to put in their cattle; 
but be it liberty, privilege, or right, he has seen the inhabitants put their 
cattle upon that island. Some of the inhabitants have even been obliged and 
compelled, by order of the commandant, to put on the island certain animals which 
committed waste in the grains or wild fields.

"Sworn to as above by Robert Navarre, ancient receiver of the domain, before T. 
B. Brice, Major Sixtieth regiment, commanding at Detroit."

Abstract from the report of Judge A.B. Woodward, communicated to the House of 
Representatives March 18th, 1806, as to the land titles in Michigan, American 
State Papers, vol. 16, p., 263. 
   "In 1786 William McComb acquired L'isle a "Cochon, in the strait, by a 
purchase from George McDougall, whose right is not fully understood, as up to the 
year 1764 it had been held by the French as an appendage to the garrison at 
Detroit."
   
The Ottawa and Chippeway}   United States Land Records, Detroit, March 5th, 1769, 
Liber H, p. 309 Nation of Indians}
 
To George McDougall}

By an order of his majesty and counsel, dated at St. James, May the 4th, 1768, 
transmitted to the Honorable Thomas Gage, Major General and taken by a Capias 
like a criminal and execution follows immediately, whilst by the law made by our 
representative at Cincinnati, the 2nd, December, 1799, we were always summoned, 
and execution could not ensue, but three or six months after judgment.

That the material of the oath of the Grand Jurors to keep the Secrets of the 
United States and of their brother jurors being abolished and omitted by Mr. 
Woodward in order to exercise his vengeance of those who should dare to present 
the whole truth agreeable to their oath, in a case where he should be himself the 
guilty person; and the injustice of keeping the Grand Jury in Session the whole 
year, as now does Mr. Woodward, is just as tyrannical as it is unjust; for in 
all Governments in the United States, each Citizen is not obliged to serve but on 
his turn. That agreeable to the sentence rendered in the Supreme Court in 
September last, it has been decided that the Indians laws were in force in the 
Territory; that being the case, we lament very much that the present Government 
has abridged our liberties by their new laws, instead of perpetuating them at 
least.

Resolved, that if we cannot get an immediate and complete redress from our 
Legislature on the aforesaid Subjects, we shall address the President of the 
United States and the two houses of Congress now assembled in the City of 
Washington.

A true Copy from the Minutes
(Signed)                                                        
Geo. Mcdougall

                        LETTER FROM JAMES MADISON
                                                                                                                 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
                                                                                                                              
NOV'R 28, 1806

Sir, I enclose herewith a number of printed copies of a proclamation issued 
yesterday by the President in order to arrest an Enterprise represented to be in 
preparation against the possessions of Spain.

You will be pleased to make the disposition of them, which you may judge the most 
suitable for the occasion.  I have the honor etc, etc,

(Signed)                                                        
JAMES MADISON
His Excellency, the Governor of the Territory of Michigan.


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