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Land owners names are those of 1862.To His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Charles Theophilus Metcalfe Governor General of British North America et cetera, et cetera...
The Humble Petition of Jean Baptist Handfield, of the Parish of Verchères District of Montréal Respectfully sheweth that your petitioner is the oldest son of the late Captain Handfield who served in His Majesty's 40th Regiment from 1750 to 1783.
That his late father received a grant of land in the Upper Province being lots No. 9 and 10 in the first range, 9 and 10 in the second range and 3/4 of lot No. 9 in third range of the Township of Cumberland.
That your petitioner's father died soon after leaving his family settled in the Parish of Verchères, and that when your Petitioner went up last summer in order to settle his children on said lots, he was there and then informed that said lots had been sold for taxes and improvements.
Your petitioner humbly prays that Your Excellency may be graciously pleased to order that Script may issue in his favour in lieu of said land and in order to enable him to obtain some of the Crown lands for his numerous family.
And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray
(Signed) Jean Baptist Handfield,
Montréal, 16 January 1845
Answer from the Committee for lands:
In Committee, 02 October 1846
The petitioner would seem to have no claim to land which his father sold to the late John McKinlay and in whose favour a Patent issued by Order of the Eastern Commission in 1803 for 950 acres. The Committee recommend that Scrip be issued to Petitioner for the residue of the Grant, that is to say 50 acres.
Approved in Council, 3rd October 1846
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Land owners names are those of 1862.