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Archiver > QUEBEC > 1999-03 > 0922843963


From: <>
Subject: Re: [QUEBEC-L] Translation Re Guilliaume Fraser
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 20:32:43 -0500 (EST)


On Tue, 30 Mar 1999, Suzanne B Sommerville <> wrote:
>Message text written by INTERNET:
>>Notes from F. Watters:
>
>I presume that Dame Allaire is Fraser's wife;
>
>There appears to be something missing in front of the sentence
>"allant du fleuve la profondeur". I've translated it to the
>best of my knowledge (from the river to the depth!!), but I'm
>not sure it makes sense;
>The word "retrait" appears to be an old word not in use to-day.
>It may have something to do with some legal action taken
>by Malcolm Fraser against Grant, or perhaps some estate
>settlement. In any case, we know that Grant owned the property
>before Malcolm Fraser.
>
>Hope this helps
>
>Frank Watters<
>
>Hi Frank
>Re: "allant du fleuve la profondeur" Early concessions of land were
>laid out in long but narrow ribbons of land, often measured from a river.
>That way each settlement had access to the river, which was the primary
>means of transportation in a time when there were few if any roads, thus "
>la profondeur" would refer to the inland boundary of the property.
>
>As for "retrait": I believe it refers to the fact that a person who was
>granted a Seigneury would or could lose it if it was not developed. It may
>be that Grant did not see to it that the area was settled and put to use
>and therefore withdrew or forfeited the land to Fraser. This was the case
>for several seigneuries. Some were sold at auction. The seigneur was the
>primary "owner" and granted land to those who then paid him "cens et rents"
>(often in the products of the land rather than in money) and were required
>to perform certain "corves", work parties for the common good. The
>seigneur also had responsibilities to his "censitaires" or tenants.
>
>The French seigneurial system continued after British rule began but was
>abolished by Minister Mac Nab-Morin in 1854.
>
>Suzanne Boivin Sommerville
>In Michigan, USA

Hello to Suzanne;

Yes, that would make sense. Therefore from the river to the
end of the concession i.e. 42 arpents deep. As for "retrait"
your guess is as good as mine, but as I mentioned, the only thing
we can say for sure is that Malcolm Fraser was the owner after
Grant.

Thanks for the interpretation.

Frank

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