ABSTRACT OF TITLE
Belle Isle, Hamtramck, Wayne County
From, "Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections
Transcribed by Midge Judith Smith
ABSTRACT OF TITLE
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.
Contributed by Linda Ball