and Mr. Cecire will sign it also as witness under the words in presence of. But you will sign yours opposite that of Mr. Cecire. All this is formality, but it is necessary in order to preserve to Sanscrainte a large property that the savages have, to my knowledge, given since to different persons. I know you too friendly to justice to doubt a moment that you would render justice to Sanscrainte, who appears to me to merit it. I have the honor to be, very perfectly, your very humble servant, PETER AUDRIAN. As Mr. Sanscrainte is going to the Fort at Detroit City for his business, I advise you to send me by him the title of your land, in order that I may register it immediately. This is a formality absolutely necessary in order to have the confirmation of the title and the continuation. Give the same advice to your brothers. PETER. We, belonging to the chiefs of the Pottawatomie Nation, on Raisin River, declare and assert the following: That the lands situate between Stony Creek and Sandy Creek and bordering on Lake Erie, said lands measuring to the depth of one hundred acres, have been given long ago by the elders and principal chiefs of our Nation to Francis Pepin. That the whole Nation being familiar with this fact, will protect him in the possession thereof. In consequence we entreat our American brothers to leave said Pepin in peaceable ownership. We also declare that Mr. Portier Renais, who has a contract for a large tract of land, said contract having been made by himself alone, and as soon as he tried to appropriate these lands to himself, the chiefs, then still living, have said publicly and openly that these lands were never given to him, and that they have enjoined their successors to oppose themselves to it, and to which they hereby adhere and have this protest by their names. (Signed by the Chiefs.) Done at River Raisin, 10th May, 1797. Advice to the public : DETROIT, 26th November, 1798. By these presents, advice is given to the inhabitants of Wayne county who are qualified according to the law to vote for a representative in the general assembly of this Territery, that an election for a representative for the county of Wayne in the general assembly of this Territory, in virtue of writ of election, which has been addressed to me by his Excellency, the Governor of the Territory, to this effect, will open and hold in Detroit, for the said county, in the house where the court sits, Monday, the 17th of December next, in which election will be open from 10 o'clock and will continue by regular adjournments until 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th day of the same month of December, at which hour the said election will be closed according to law. consequence of, by these presents, all the inhabitants qualified, thus included, are summoned and required to be on hand at the time and place thus designated, in order to give their voice for the person whom they deem proper for a representative in the general assembly, in conformity with said warrant of election, etc. LEWIS BOND, Sheriff County Wayne. DETROIT, May 14, 1798. In SIR: I am ordered by the court to require you to inform the inhabitants of your district that those of them who are summoned for the petit jury of the next court, will be excused (if they so desire) by paying $2.00 for a substitute; that is to say, that each person who prefers to rest or attend to his own business rather than serve on jury, can leave it entirely to his own option. I have the honor of being, respectfully, your very humble servant, PETER AUDRIAN, Clerk. DETROIT, May 22d, 1798. SIR: I have the honor of announcing to you that the Judges of the Supreme Court, whom you have seen at your house, will hold, in Detroit, a Circuit Court next Tuesday, 29th of May. It is your duty to be there, also your associate, Mr. Jobin, with the constable of your district. It is very important that Sunday next you should have announced at the church door that all persons summoned upon grand or petit jury for this Circuit Court, must be here Tuesday before 11 o'clock in the morning, because they will be fined heavily if ab OFFICE OF THE COMMISSARY GENERAL OF THE) A convention having been definitely resolved on the 16th of July, at Champlain, in the State of New York, between the agents duly authorized on the part of the United States Government and that of Great Britain, by which all prisoners of war and all other prisoners, subjects or residents of one, or citizens or residents of the other, captured by the commandant in authority, Sir George Provost, or by the forces under his orders during the present war, before the 15th day of April past, which were paroled or otherwise left for their respective countries before said day, or who were kept by the authority of the United States, or Canada or Nova Scotia, by the authority of Great Britain, were exchanged without exception. All officers and non-commissioned officers, soldiers and sailors, belonging to the forces by land or sea of the United States, regulars or militia, and all persons of all other description, who have been captured before the said 15th of April, by any of the military forces under said commander, and who were then in the United States under parole or otherwise, or who are to be released in conformity with said convention, are declared finally exchanged; and all such officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, sailors and other persons, are by these presents notified that they are at liberty to serve in any capacity as if they had never been prisoners. (Signed) T. MASON, Commissary General of the Prisoners. Translated by order of General Cass. SIR: I have the honor of transmitting to you the original orders above mentioned, which I beg you will give immediate attention, and make them public to the captains in your battalion, in order that they will furnish you with the return of their forces and ammunition without delay. I beg you to send the report the soonest possible. I have the honor of being your very humble servant, G. GODFROY, Lieut. Col. Com. 1st Reg. of M., T. M. P. S.-I pray you present my compliments. to Captain Lacroix and urge him to aid you to make the returns required on the other side, because the governor expects the reports immediately, and see that you neglect nothing, G. GODFROY. fearing the consequences. IN OFFICE OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE MILITIA The commissary general of the prisoners having declared that a convention has been concluded between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, by which all persons, however taken, by either side since the declaration of war, and before the 15th day of April last, were exchanged without exception, the commander-in-chief is gratified to be able to announce to the militia the glad tidings. They are at present as free to serve as if never taken prisoners. This situation requires imperiously that the entire corps of militia are placed in the most efficacious state for immediate service. The Adjutant-General will announce the appointments and promotions of officers which have taken place. The Second Regiment of Infantry will be consolidated with and form a part of First Regiment, but remain a distinct battalion. The Lieutenant-Colonel Navarre will retain his rank and command, but will make his report direct to Lieutenant-Colonel Godfroy. Lieutenant-Colonel Godfroy and LieutenantColonel Smyth will make their reports (the soonest possible to the Adjutant-General) of the forces and situation of their respective commands. By order of his Excellency, the Commanderin-Chief. GEO. MCDOUGALL, Adjutant-General T. M. Copy of General Proctor's order: To Thomas Caldwell, River Raisin, Mich. : Mr. Thomas Caldwell, or any other person acting under him, is hereby authorized and directed to impress for his Majesty's service in the Territory of Michigan, twelve horses and eight yoke or pairs of oxen, with their yokes and chains, and such other articles as may be requisite to work the said horses and oxen. Dated at Detroit this 16th day of April, 1813. (Signed) HENRY PROCTOR, Brig. Gen'l Commanding. In perusing the correspondence and files of Colonel Francis Navarre, I am impressed with the belief that he was a very devout and exemplary member of the Catholic church, and that no man outside of the priesthood has contributed more time, labor and means in laying the foundation thereof in the Northwest. His patriotism, energy and worth were appreciated and held in high esteem by the territorial governors and officers of the American forces, as it is evident the greater part of orders and correspondence from them to the River Raisin settlement before and during the war were addressed to him. His power and influence were well known by officers of the British Government, and for years a standing offer of a reward of $500 was proclaimed for his capture or scalp. He was hunted as a spy; was twice taken prisoner by the British, but escaped. The last escape savored of the miraculous, for he was captured by a British officer and delivered into the hands of infuriated and brutal Indians, and tied to a stake prepared for burning, at Sandwich; but the barbarians to whom he was delivered went out to welcome about 500 Indians who were invited to the great sacrifice and feast, and on their return found their victim gone. Their fury knew no bounds; torches. were lighted, and their yells and whoops filled the air. The colonel, knowing their manner of hunting their victims, took advantage thereof by creeping into a hollow log a short distance from where he had made his escape. They hunted for him for days, houses were burned, feather-beds ripped open, and one day entered a barn where he was concealed under the hay three feet under the surface. They thrust their bayonets through the hay, one just grazing his backbone. On leaving the barn they set fire thereto, but fortunately it did not burn. He loved his church and country, and for his Christian and civil virtues and sacrifices on the battle field, his memory deserves grateful remembrance. At the close of the war he returned to his home to find none of its former comforts, but instead desolation and devastation. Courageous in his declining years, he gathered around him the semblance of what had been the ambition of his early years, "A Home," the hospitality of which was proverbial. JOHN ANDERSON Was born in Scotland, and emigrated to Canada when a boy. From Montreal he came to Michigan to trade with the Indians. He established himself upon the River Raisin in the year 1805, where he successfully prosecuted his affairs until the War of 1812. His residence and store were on the site on the north side of the river where T. E. Wing now resides. During the war he was captured by the British and Indians, but soon escaped and fled to Dayton, Ohio, where he remained until peace was restored. On returning to Monroe he found his property had not escaped the ravages of war, for his house and store were burned to the ground and his goods confiscated; but his energy and perseverance soon restored in part what he had lost. His influence among the early settlers and Indians did much to mitigate their hardships. He found homes for those left orphans and unprotected by the war, and sought at Washington a redress for their wrongs. His thorough knowledge of the Indian character rendered him efficient in restoring peace among the various tribes of Michigan, and as he was fluent in eleven Indian dialects, he was welcomed at all times by the Indians as an interpreter. He filled with credit many local offices of honor and trust, and his habitual kindness and ingenuousness carried him safely through many trying scenes in his career. He died at his home in Monroe in 1841, leaving two sons, John and Alexander, and a daughter, the wife of Judge Warner Wing, of Monroe. COLONEL HUBERT LACROIX Was a native of Montreal, of highly respectable parentage. He came to the River Raisin in the year 1800, where he lived to the time of his |