St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Civil History, 1881 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 10: Civil History

|0 all persons to whom these presents shall come Greeting : Whereas, by the ordinance of Congress of the 13th of July, 1787, for the government of the territory of the United States, North-west of the River Ohio, it is directed that for the due execution of process, civil and criminal, the governor shall make proper divisions of the said territory, and proceed from time to time as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the same, where the Indian titles shall have been extinguished into counties and townships, subject to future alterations as therein specified. Now Know ye, that, it appearing to me to b3 necessary for the purposes above mentioned, a county should be immediately laid out, I have ordained and ordered, and by these presents do ordain and order that all and singular the lands lying and being within the following boundaries, viz. : " Beginning at the mouth of the little Michilliakinack river, running thence southerly in a direct line to the mouth of the little river above Fort Massac upon the Ohio river ; thence with the said river to its junction with the Mississippi ; thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois river, and so up Illinois river to the place of beginning, with all the adjacent islands of said rivers, Illinois and Mississippi " - shall bs a county, and the same is hereby erected into a county, named and hereafter to be called the County of St. Clair, and the said county of St. Clair shall have and enjoy all and singular the jurisdiction, rights, liberties, privileges and immunities whatsoever to a county belonging and appertaining, and which any other county that may hereafter be erected and laid out shall or ought to enjoy conformably to the Ordinance of Congress before mentioned.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the territory to be affixed this 27th day of April in the 14th year of the Independence of the United States, and in the year of our Lord 1790. AR: ST. CLAIR.

Before proceeding with the recital of subsequent events in the civil history of the county, it may be permitted to cast a glance at previous events.

The then boundaries of St. Clair county comprise two-thirds of the state of Illinois ; but when we here speak of previous events, we mean to confine them to the present limits of the county. The first settlement of CahSs or Cahokia was made by Canadian missionaries, about the year 1680, where father Pinet founded a church in 1682. The Catholic church obtained a grant of land from King Louis XIV. of France about the year 1722, which grant comprised four French leagues square, - located from the mouth of the little Cahokia, one-fourth of a league north, and thence east to make the quantity. The church granted to each bona fide settler a houselot in the village, as well as a barn-lot, and besides an arpent of land in the common fields. The lands not occupied in this manner are known under the name of Commons, that is, the inhabitants of a village had a common right to the forest, the pasturage, the chase and the fisheries on these commons.

The settlement of Cahokia, as well as others, being separated by thousands of miles of forests from the more populous parts of the continent give the historian but little material to record. The participation of these settlers in the combats with their savage foes is mentioned in another chapter of this work. Father Charlevoix visited Cahokia in October, 1721, and writes to a lady friend in France as follows : " We lay last night in a village of Caoquiaa and the Tamaroas, two Illinois tribes, which have been united, and together compose a canton. This village is situated on a very small river, which runs from the east, and has no water except in the spring season, so that we were obliged to walk half a league before we could get to our cabins. I was astonished that they had pitched upon so inconvenient a situation, especially, as they had so many better in their choice.

" I passed the night in the missionaries' house, who are two ecclesiastics from the Seminary of Quebec, formerly my disciples, but they must uow be my masters. M. Taumur, the oldest of the two, was absent, but I found the youngest, M. Le Meriier, such as he had been represented to me, rigid to himself, full of charity to

Three years before Charlevoix's visit M. Boisbriant had erected Fort Chartres, near the mouth of the Kaskaskia river. In speaking of him Charlevoix calls him Boisbrilliard.

The peace of Paris, February 10, 1763, had made an end of the French control of the territory, -which was then ceded to England. The latter took possession in 1764. General Gage, Commanderin-chief of the English troops in North America, and governor, issued his proclamation on the 30th of December, 1764, granting, by order of his majesty, the king of England, to the inhabitants of Illinois the liberty of the Catholic religion ; - allowing those that wished to do so to emigrate - even to New Orleans or any part of Louisiana ; and permitting them to sell their estates, provided it be to subjects of his majesty ; commanding further, that those who remained take oath of fidelity and obedience to his majesty in presence of Sieur Stirling, captain of the Highland regiment, the bearer of said proclamation. Captain Stirling remained but a short time in Illinois, d,nd was succeeded by Major Farmer. The next in office was Col. Reed, a martinet and very unpopular. He was succeeded by Col. AVilkins, who arrived at Kaskaskia, Sept. 5th, 1768. As military commandant hs appointed seven judges, who met and held their first Court at Fort Chartres, on the 6th of December, 1768, and from that regular sessions were held every month. This court never become popular, as trial by jury was sternly denied. When Col. Clark in 1778 took possession of the territory, Rochblave, a Frenchman, was commandant. The successful destruction of archives of the court, mentioned in another chapter, has made the civil history of that period a matter of impossibility. Circumstances, hereafter to be mentioned, however, seem to indicate, that the inhabitants of this Illinois country were highly dissatisfied with the change of masters. A great number took advantage of the permission to emigrate, and crossed the river to the then Spanish side.

Captain PhiHp Pitman, author of " The Present State of European Settlements on the Mississippi, London, 1770," came to Illinois as military engineer of the British army about the year 1766. He describes the country of Illinois as bounded by the Mississippi in the west, by the Illinois in the North, by the Ouabash and Miami in the east, and the Ohio in the south. In mentioning Cahokia (then Kaoquias) he says : " It is situated six leagues below the mouth of the Missouri. The village is long and straggling, being three-fourths of a mile from north to south ; it contains fortyfive dwelling-houses. It was the first settlement on the Mississippi. The laud was purchased of the savages by a few Canadians, some of whom intermarried with Indians. The inhabitants of this place depend more on hunting and their Indian trade than on agriculture ; yet they have plenty of poultry, and a good stock of horned cattle." Captain Pitman may do the inhabitants of Cahokia an injustice, for he contradicts this assertion of their indolence himself by stating in his same work the following : " In the late wars. New Orleans and the lower parts of Louisiana were supplied with flour, beef, wines, hams and other provisions from these settlements." It may here be briefly stated that the register books of Kaskaskias, turned over by Francois Caboneaux to AVilliam St. Clair, on the 12th day of June, 1790, contain 1309 sale bills, the first of which date back to 1722, the last to 1790. The bulk of those sales is made up by agricultural products ; corn, wheat, pork, cattle, hogs, and farming implements ; chase-accoutrements and fishing-tackle are mentioned too, but are not of frequent occurrence. These sales indicate the growing of the settlements most accurately, and are an interesting study. In 1722 we find but one, in 1763 - 49 sales. The taking possession of by the English government marks a sudden falling-off in the year 1768, recording one sale only. The ten years preceding that period recorded 838, and the ten years succeeding it, only 102 transactions of that kind. These sales amount to 300 francs in some instances, and to over 16.000 in others.

Courts And Laws

These laws found no application in these western regions, although their own laws were rigid enough, Capital crimes were treason, murder, arson, rape and horse-stealing on second conviction.

Perjury, and Larceny - for the latter also a fine of four-fold the amount stolen. If the culprit was not able to pay, the sheriflT had to bind him to servitude under the direction of the court, not exceeding seven years.

Altering or defacing marks of caitle or horses by a fine of five dollars. Second ofiense same fine, two hours pillory, and branded on left hand with the letter T.

The writer has not been able to find any complete judicial records prior to the organization of the county, and will here introduce some fragments which may be of iuterest :

Baptiste Bastieu, negro of M. Saucier, called and examined touching his poisoning the negro of Marie Laurent, of St. Louis as said negro had declared. '

. . . After which said negro said he had a pain in his breast. I asked him if he had overstrained himself; he said not, unless it was by carrying thirty bushels of corn that day into the garret ; and that he neither ate or drank with him, nor even gave him a pipe of tobacco."

The other negro, Levellier, examined ; says he was at no place with the negro of M. Laurent, except at his master's house, where he gave him a glass of wine as he was going off, and that he did not see Bastieu with him.

Plaintiff demands proof of what he has advanced to M. Langlois; that he, M. Beaulieu, said to his negro, " Take care, don't confess anything, or you will be hanged." Defendant says he heard it from Jean Eacette, who says he heard it at the court-house the day the negroes were punished, but of whom, or from whom he don't know.

Louis Louisgout, sworn, says that M. La Croix told him in the street, after the negro of Le Compte was whipped, that M. Beaulieu stayed in the court-house with him, and that La Croix said, " I believe Beaulieu tells his negro not to ' confess or you will be hanged.' "

Another fragment, without date, speaks of a court of committees at Cahos, with Lieutenant Perrault as president, and M. Graciot, (probably Gratiot), Girardin and Trotier as members. This session may have been held about the year 1780, as will appear from the following fragmentary record :

M. Martin complains that he has sold several articles to M. Wells, a trader, and that he received continental money in payment thereof, but as the money is now cried down in the village, he demands additional pay. - The records do not show whether his demand was made good.

This court of committees of Cahos, sometimes called court of common pleas of Cahokia, was superseded in 1795. The last president of this court was Jean Baptiste Barbeau.

Arthur St. Clair, governor of the territory of the North-west of the Ohio river. To William St. Clair, John Dumoulin, James Piggott, Shadrach Bond, Jean Baptiste Saucier, and George Atchison, of the county of St. Clair, Esquires, Greeting.

Know ye that we have assigned, constituted and appointed you, and everyone of you to be our Justices of the Common Pleas for the county of St. Clair, and have authorized and empowered, and by these presents do authorize and empower you and any three of you to hold and keep our county court of Common Pleas, for the county of St. Clair, at such times and places as are, or shall be, by law appointed, and therein to hold pleas of assizes, scire facias and replevins, and to hear and determine all and all manner of pleas, actions, suits and cases of a civil nature, real, personal and mixed, instituted or to be instituted in our said county court of Common Pleas, before you or others, late our Judges of said court and not yet determined, and thereupon to pr-oceed to judgment and execution, according to law, and the constitution of this Territory, and to make and grant replevins, writs of partition, writs of view, and all other writs and process upon actions cognizable therein, as the case may require according to law, and to do and perform all and all manner of things in the premises which to justice according to law appertaineth.

The first case disposed of was a damage suit of Augustin Choteau versus Joseph Ogle for $12.00. Case was dismissed at the request of plaintiff, and at his costs. Second case, James Henderson versus John Hoffmann, $35.00 damages, resulting also in dismissal. The first attorneys mentioned are Isaa'c Darneille and John Rice Jones. Both appear in an assault and battery and false imprisonment case, in which Joseph Marrie is plaintiff and Judge Dumoulin defendant. Dumoulin had beaten the man for contempt of court. The case was dismissed, and Marrie had to pay the costs besides.

February term, 1796, has on its docket a suit against John Dumoulin, one of the Justices, for depriving Jean Guitarre of a cow ; it was decided in the succeeding April term against Dumoulin, who had to pay $36 damages, and $14.70 costs.

The Couet Op Quaetee Sessions

The names of those jurors of Grand Inquest are : David Waddle, Leonard Harnish, Nicolas Jarrot, Abram Eyman, Joseph Carr, Camil Starr, James Garretson, Adam Strait, D. Brown, John O'Hara, Anthony Badgley, Solomon Shook, Jacob Short and Jehu Scott. They indict Denois Valentin of Cahokia for keeping a billiard table, where money or other property is played for. Fraser, a negro, for assault and battery on Therese, a free woman of Cahokia ; and Marianna Arnouse, charge not stated. She was tried by a jury of twelve : Jean Meunier, Clement Trotier, Edward Hebert, Lorenz Schoenberger, Thomas Brady, Baptiste Saucier, Ba,pt. Chartrand, Antoin Cabassier, Raphael Danlireau, Michel Chartier, Joseph Manegre and Michel Beaulieu. The witnesses examined in her case were Rose Mallet, Madam Jean Louis, Madam Delongchampts, Madam La Mai and Thomas Chartrand. The jury found her guilty, and the court sentences her to pay a fine of one dollar and ahalf, and the costs of the proceedings. From the trifling amount of the fine, it may be inferred, that her offence may have been assault and battery. In the July term, 1799, of this court the grand jury indicted one Ephraim Connor for being a nuisance " for living with Hannah Guitarre, wife of John Guitarre. "

The procsedings of this court of Common Pleas offer but few items of interest. When meeting as court of Quarter Sessions its functions were similar to those of our present circuit courts.

At the March term, 1801, Nicolas Jarrot is sworn in as a justice of the General Quarter Sessions and at the April special term, 1801 , Jean Francois Perry became a member of said court. At that session the grand jury indicted Adam Shond for Sabbath-breaking.

A special session was held May 6, 1801, for the purpose of taking measures to prevent the introduction of small-pox into the county. This terrible disease was then raging on the west or Spanish side of the Mississippi river. The court was presided over by John Dumoulin, assisted by James Lenien and Jean Francois Perry. The court ordered, that guards, taken from the ranks of militia men, be placed on the upper and lower ferries, so as to keep off the plague of small-pox, now raging on the Spanish side, that a fine of six dollars for the first offence, and of twelve dollars and imprisonment for a second ofience for crossing over to the Spanish side, be imposed, that people crossing from the Spanish side shall pay a fine of $24.00 and be imprisoned until such fine be paid; thatone-thirdofall fines be paid over to the informer, one-third to the guards and one-third to the county; that all ferrymen shall bring their canoes on theRigolet, and keep but one canoe to cross such people as wish to remain on the Spanish side; that all goods brought from the Spanish side be confiscated, sold, and proceeds distributed as above ; that all boats, canoes and other property coming from the upper part of the Mississippi be not permitted to come here without first making quarantine at the upper end of Island Cabaret.

The author cannot tell if those measures kept the calamity from this county, but as there is no evidence of any of those fines ever having been imposed, it may be taken for granted that those stalwart militia men did their duty and stopped all intercourse with the afflicted Spanish side. At the same term of court the first certificate of holding an inquest was filed, by John Whitesides, acting coroner, on the body of Daniel Lyons, who died, or was found dead in John Murdock's well, the jury pronouncing it accidental death caused by strangulation.

Imprisonment for debt in those days was not of an uncommon occurrence, but the enforcing of that law had nothing in- common with the severity of English applications of said law. We will here introduce the first case on record, June term, 1801. " On notification of Jean Francois Perrey, that Baptiste Mercier in prison takes the advantage of the law for insolvent debtors, the prisoner was called to give his oath and be examined by his creditors according to the said law. The said Mercier gives up to to his creditors the sowing of three bushels of wheat, and a bull of two going on three years old. The prisoner made the oath according to law, and by order of court is discharged.

An amusing schedule of property is made by one Pierre Petit, who had been jailed on the 8th of June, 1822. Pierre makes oath that he owes to Catherine Beauchamp $2,223.00, and to M. Marnieche $150.00, total, 2,373.00. He schedules his assets as follows : six gross brass curtain rings, fifty cents in money, one corkscrew, six bottles of water of Cologne and one bed ; the latter in the city of New Orleans ! The schedule is made under oath and properly signed in beautiful penmanship. E. P. Wilkinson, judge of probate, appointed Zachariah Stephenson assignee and Pierre is discharged.

The last imprisonment of debt is quite a sad affair, and of recent date. The capias had been issued by Edward Abend, justice of the peace, at the demand of one Dr. Meyer against F. Guerdan of St, Louis, who had no property in this state. Guerdan schedules his property, all of which is household furniture, exempt from execution under the laws of Missouri as well as of Illinois. Dr. Meyer's claim amounted to $25.00 ; it was lost, and Guerdan was released.

Ea.Ely Electioxs

Although the county was organized in 1790, and elections were doubtless held at an earlier day, we introduce here as the first elections, the oldest official records of an election held at Cahokia in January, 1799. The document reads as follows :

"At an election held at Cahokia in and for the county of St. Clair to vote for a representative for to be sent to the General Assembly of the territory. Offers as candidates, Shadrach Bond and Isaac Darneille :

Shadkach Bond Isaac Darneili

I do hereby certify that the above list of voters for the election of a representative for the county of St. Clair is true and ju»t. Cahokia, the 5th day of January, 1799.

The orthography of those. 183 names contained in the above list may guide us in determining the nationality of the said voters. 91 seem to have been French, 90 American or Eoglish, 3 German and 1 Irish. A further analyzation of the vote shows that the nationality question was wholly ignored, Bond receiving 54 American, 58 French. and 1 German votes ; while D*rneille, the defeated candidate, received 36 American, 33 French, 2 German and 1 Irish votes.

Another election was held at Cahokia on the 7 th of December, 1802, to elect three representatives to go to Vincennes, and there to meet the convention, " to be held there on the 20th of December, for the purpose of sending to congress our grievances." The officers of this election were John Hays, sheriff; Dumoulin and Atchison, judges; John Hay and L'OBval, clerks. The successful ' candidates were Shadrack Bjnd, Sr., Jean Frangois Perry and John Mordock. Biggs, Darneille, Arundel and Lemen were defeated.

May 21, 1805, Shadrack Bond and William Biggs were elected representatives to the territorial legislature. Bond becoming a member of the legislative council in 1806, resigned, when his nephew, Shadrack Bond, Jr., was elected to fill his vacancy, and was reelected together with Biggs in 1807.

Oct. 10, 1812, William Biggs was elected to the legislative council, and Jacob Short and Joshua Oglesby were elected to the house of representatives of Illinois territory. Jacob Short resigned in 1813, and John Mordock was elected to fill said vacancy, Nov. 10, 1813. All these elections were held at Cahokia. In 1814, Belleville became the county seat, and 'subsequent elections were held at this place.

Election polls begun and held at Belleville, for and within the county of St. Clair, in the Illinois territory, on Thursday, the 17th of September, 1818, to elect the following members to organize and form the. Government of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the Constitution passed in August, 1818, and by virtue of a writ of election to me directed,, to elect one Governor, one Lieutenant-Governor, one

This election closed at three o'clock on Saturday, the third day of said election, whereupon it appears that Wm. Kinney is duly elected Senator of the Assembly, John Messinger and James D. Thomas elected Representatives, Risdon Moore and Cornelius Gooding being equal on number of votes, Wm. A. Baird elected asSheriflf, and Job Badgley as Coroner.

Elections lasted from two to three days. Voting took place viva mce. County or local elections seem to have interested the people in those years much more than Federal elections. To illustrate which, we shall give here the numbers of votes polled in 1820. The local election took place in August, when 619 voters appeared at the polls, while the Presidential election, in November, brought out but 185 voters.

Up to the date of this election the county had had but one place of election, or poll-Cahokia, from 1790 to 1814, when, on the removal of the county-seat to Belleville, the poll was also located there.

ship of Cahokia, poll to be at the house of AugustePensoneau - on the 14th of September, 1821. For Chamber township and parts of Ogle snd Silvercreek, townships, poll at the house of William Talbott, at Lebanon - December 1821. For Manville and Silvercreek June 4, 1822, poll at the house of Joshua Perkins, at New Athens. And for Spring township, with poll at Columbia, May 8, 1824.

The boundaries of these precincts were not accurately defined and we find that in June, 1826, the following order was issued : Chamber township, and parts of Ogle and Silvercreek townships place at the house of Nic- Boismenne, in Cahokia. Belleville township to be the 4th precinct, with poll at the courthouse. From this day on, various changes have been made, whenever the county authorities saw proper so to do. We forbear to give the details of those changes, and will merely state that at present the county is divided into sixteen political townships, and that each of these townships forms an election precinct. Oiir readers will find a more detailed account of these townships or precincts in another chapter of this work, and we shall confine ourselves merely to a recital of their names, their population in 1880, and the number of votes cast at the general election of said year, to wit :

Inhabitants. Votes Oast

We have heretofore made the assertion that the population of the county about the year 1800, was larger than the figures given by former authors; the non-voting population of Indians and Negroes are of course not included.

The election of 1802 was ordered by the then Governor of the Indiana Territory; the original proclamation is on file in the court-house, in words and figures as follows :

Whereas by my proclamation of the 23d inst. an election for representatives to a general convention was directed to be holden ; In compliance with the wishes of the good people of thu Territory, expressed to me in sundry petitions, -

And wuereas it is expedient that the said convention should be assembled as soon as possible, - I have thought proper to appoint, and do by these presents appoint Monday, the 20th of December next ensuing for that purpose, and each and every person who shall be duly returned as a represantative to the said convention is required to give his attendance at the Town of Vincennes on the said 20th of December.

Done at Vincennes the 24th of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two, and of the Independence of the United States the twenty-seventh.

" Whereas by a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th of February last, the election held on the 8d day of January preceding, for a representative to the General Assembly of the Territory from the county of St. Clair, was declared null and void, and whereas by an act of Congress, passed at their last session, the county of Wayne is from and after the 30th of June next ensuing to be formed into a separate Territory. Now therefore to the end that the said county of St. Clair may have the proportion of representatives in the Legislature to which its population entitles it, and that the number of members composing the House of Representatives after the 30th day of June next, may be made conformable to the law creating the Indiana Territory, I have thought proper to issue this my proclamation, hereby making known that an electioij will be held in the county of St. Clair on Monday, the 20th day of May next, for two persons to represent the said county in the House of Representatives for two years, from and after the said 3Qth of June next, and I do further make known and declare, that from and after the said 30th of June next, the House of Representatives of the said Territory shall consist of seven members."

Whereas by my proclamation of the 14th of March last, elections were directed to be held in the several counties, in order to give the freeholders thereof an opportunity of expressing their wishes relative to the organization of a General Assembly in the Territory.

And whereas it appears to my satisfaction that a majority of them were in favor thereof, I do hereby order that elections be held in the several counties of this Territory, on the 8th, 9ih and 10th days of October next, for the purpose of electing a delegate to Congress, members of Council, and Representatives in the Assembly ; the election to be held for the county of Madison at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick ; for the county of St. Clair at the courthouse, in the town of Cahokia ; for the county of Randolph at the court-house, in the town of Kaskaskia ; for the county^ of Gallatin at Shawneetown ; and for the county of Johnston at the house of John Bradshaw

And I do hereby assign to the county of Madison one. Representative, to the county of St. Clair two, to the county of Randolph one, to the county of Gallatin two, and to the county of Johnston one.

The governors of those days used plain coarse paper, no printed forms whatever. The papers had as water mark the name of C. Patch, and the year 1799.

The bishop of Quebec, in Canada, then New France, in July 1698, granted letters patent to the Seminary of Foreign Missions, at Quebec, for the establishment of a mission for the Tamarois and Kahokias, two Indian tribes in S. W. Illinois. In pursuance of this authority the mission of St. Sulpice was established among said tribes, and a village grew up, called the Holy Family of Caoquias. The missionaries seem to have enjoyed and executed a full control of affairs subject to no power other than their superiors of ths Sem inary of Quebec. La Salle, after descending the Mississippi river to its mouth in 1682, had given to the vast valley the name of Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV. of France. The first ofiBcial mentioning of the name, however, occurred thirty years later, when on the 14th of September, 1712, the king of France granted to Antoiue Crozat, letters patent to the whole commerce of the country. Disappointed in his expectations of finding precious metals, Crozat surrendered his patent to the crown in 17 1 7. The Duke of Orleans, then regent of France during the minority of Louis XV. established the Company of the Indies, to whom was granted all Louisiana, with power to grant away the royal domain. The early records of this state show numerous grants made by this company, and among them one of particular interest for this county; we give its contents in full.

We, Pierre Duguet de Boisbriant, first lieutenant of the king in the province of Louisiana, Commandant in the Illinois, and Marc Antoine de la Loire des Ursins, principal commissary of the Royal company of the Indies.

On the demand of the missionaries of the Caoquias and Tamarois, to grant them a tract of four leagues squares, in fee simple, with the neighboring island, to be taken a quarter of a league above the small river of Caokias, situated above the Indian village, and in going up following the course of the Mississippi and in returning towards the fort of Chartres, running in depth to the north, east and south for quantity. We, in consequence of our powers, have granted the said land to the missionaries of Caokias and Tamarois in fee simple, over which they can, from the present, work, clear and plant the land, awaiting a formal concession which will be sent from France by the directors general of the Royal company of the Indies. At Fort Chartres, this 22d of June, 1722. Signed,

This grant was recognized by the French government in August 1743, acting through Mons. Vaudrieul, then governor, and Jalmon, commissary, of the province of L)uisiana. Upon this grant the missiouariiis established their church and village, granting in their turn portions of this large tract of land to settlers. From 1763 to 1778 the territory was under the control of England, then it was occupied by the State of Virginia, which, in its turn ceded the territory to the United States by deed, March 1st, 1784. Neither England nor Virginia interfered with those French grants made to individuals. An act of Congress October 20, 1783, provides for the confirming of all these grants, and instructs the governor of the Western Territory to proceed to the French settlements on the Mississippi to examine the titles of those settlers. Thus originated a class of titles, known as Governor's confirmations. The laws of Virginia granted so-called improvement rights, of 400 acres each, to actual settlers. The Cahokia head of family rights also of 400 acres each, were granted by Congress to every head of family having resided at Cahokia in the year 1783.

We find in the records of the county a power of attorney given by the inhabitants of the French settlements on the Wabash, to Bartholomew Tardiveau, then judge of the common pleas court at Cahokia, to act as their agent at Congress for the purpose to demand and obtain for them the confirmation of their ancient rights and further grants.

The power of attorney is dated October 7, 1787, signed by 51 inhabitants and the following magistrates: Pierre Gamelin, M. Perrot, G. Gibault, pr6tre ; P. Gruerre, Paul Gamelin, Jean Tonga, Joseph St. Marie, Antoine Doriette, J. E. Deline, Michel Broulut, Jean Hunot and J. M. P. Legras, first magistrate.

Tardiveau must have been successful. He remained at the seat of government several years, as appears from the records of that period. Congress, on the 3d of March, 1791, made provision for further land grants to settlers at Vincennes and in the Illinois country.

Another land title originated from the so-called militia rights, of 100 acres each, for services rendered as militia men prior to 1790, of which rights not less than 255 were claimed before the clerk of the county in November, 1798.

The records of the county show, that besides those 225 militia rights, there were claimants for 43 Virginia improvement and for about 160 Cahokia head rights, governor's confirmations and Cahokia court rights. Sjme individuals were entitled to head and militia rights at the same time, so that there were no more than about 400 individual grantees within the present limits of the county.

These numerous grants, hovf ever, did not benefit the many ; they became the source of wealth to a few, who had the means to buy the claims and the foresight to appreciate their value.

dum book, in the handwriting of a most accurate clerk - John Hay, which gives an almost complete account of those grants, by whom originally owned and to whom subsequently conveyed. The chapter, on " Pioneers and Early Settlers," recites the names of parties who entitled to head rights, improvement rights, etc., each of 400 acres of first quality land, and the chapter on " Patriotism," gives the muster roll of our militia men, to whom the militia rights, each 1 00 acres of second quality land, were granted. Mr. John Hay's little memorandum book, commenced November 5th, and closed November 30, 1798, gives the names of the few parties, who kept their claims, and also the names of those, who had purchased the rights of others. The lands, which had been granted to about four hundred individuals, had passed in less than seven years into the hands of 89 persons, whose names will here appear, as also the quality of lands claimed by them and upon what grounds, on the following :

Table

A glance at this list of names will show to the reader which nationality had the means to purchase and the foresight to appreciate the values alluded to above. Fully four-fifths of the original grantees were French. Of their three hundred names we find twelve on our list.

The first sale of farm land within the present limits of St. Clair county, made a matter of record, took place on the 5th of February, 1793. Previous transactions have reference to buying and selling of homesteads and dwelling-houses in the villages, and ihe prices paid are regulated by the value of those houses and improvements. As an illustration of this it may suffice to state that Thomas Brady and Marie Joseph L'Archeveque sold a house and lot in Cahokia, on the 16th of March, 1793, for 825.00, while the house of Joseph Marie sold to Nic. Jarrot on the 30th of March, brought $200.

In the first of the above-mentioned transactions, Joseph Lambert conveyed a 400 acre tract near Sugar-loaf mound, three miles southwest of Cahokia, to Philip Engel for $120. Engel sold this tract, to Nicolas Jarrot on the 12th of March, 1795, for $200. Is is now subdivided into 7 tracts, containing from 8 acres to 131 J each, owned by Aggie Lunceford, Anthony Volk, Johanna Miller, Philip Ensminger, Sebastian Maurer, Frank Horiue and Jacob Jung, and is estimated to be worth at least $22,000.

The transactions in farm lands were by no means numerous. Lands could be had for the asking of them, as more fully appears from the remarks herein made about land-grants, head-rights, donations, improvement-rights and militia rights.

The first recorded sale of a militia right 100 acre claim of second quality land took place on the 7th of January, 1796, sold by Joseph Chennie of Cahokia, to William Arundel for $17.00. John Brady sells his militi^ right for $16.00. Joseph La Plant for $15 50, Augustin Clermont for $12.00, from which it would appear that second quality lands, unimproved, were worth about 15 cents per acre at the close of the last century.

The two mentioned above, and another one sold by M. Lambert for $170 seem to have brought the best prices. Thomas Brady sells his head-right to AV. Arundel in 1794 for $45.00, and William St. Clair bought the head-rights from Joseph Boisvenne and Mary Mooney for $20 each. These are the only original claims conveyed by formal deeds, and they seem to have had at the time mentioned an average value of 20 cents per acre.

The organization of Kandolph county in 1795, of Madison, Gallatin, and" Johnson, in 1812, and of Monroe in 1816, reduced the county of St. Clair to its present boundaries, containing six hundred and sixty-five square miles, bounded on the north by Madison, on the east by Clinton and Washington, on the south by Eandolph and Monroe, and on the west by the Mississippi river.

Cahokia

Beginning at the bluff on the Madison county line, thence west on the said line to the Mississippi, thence southwardly with said river to the boundary line of Monroe county, thence east to the bluff, thence northward with the bluffs to the place of beginning.

Beginning on llie bluff on the Madison line, thence east on said line to Silver creek, thence down Silver creek to the mouth of Hays' creek, thence in a direct line to Jacob Ogle Esquire, so as to include Ogle in said township, thence in a direct line to Hendricks, so as to include Hendrick in said township.

Tuekey Hill Townsbip

Beginning at the mouth of Hazel creek, thence down Silver creek to AViliiam Rittenhouse, thence in a direct line to Turkey Hill near William Scott, Sr., thence with the Meridian line to Jacob Ogle, Esquire.

Beginning at the Bluff, thence with the bluff to Monroe line, thence with said line to the waters of Prairie du Long, thence down Prairie du Long to the mouth of Richland creek, thence up the Richland to the Base line, thence with the Base Hue to the beginning.

Beginning at W. Rittenhouse on Silver creek to the mouth of said creek and down Kaskaskia river to Randolph line, thence with said line to Spring township line, thence with said line to the mouth of Richland creek, thence up Richland creek to the base line, thence Avith the base line to Turkey Hill, thence with the Turkey Hill township line to the beginning.

Bsginning at Ead's old mill on Silver creek, thence down Silver creek to the mouth and down Kaskaskia river to the county line so as to include all the inhabitants east of the Kaskaskia river within the line of the county, following said line to the south-east corner of Chamber township to the place of beginning.

After the organization of the State of Illinois, another subdivision of the county into political townships was had on the 20th of June, 1820, with the following result : - Cahokia, Illinois, Ogle, Belleville, Spring, Turkey Hill, Scott, Manville, Silver Creek and Chamber townships.

At a later period these political townships became election precincts. The reader will find a full description of these townships, or election precincts, under the heading "Elections," in this

County Officers

The civil governmentof the county since its organization, April 14, 1790, was entrusted to Jean Baptists Barbeau, John Dumoulin> James Piggott, Shadrach Bond, Philip Engel, Jean Baptiste Saucier and George Atchison, Esquires and Justices, and as such, members of the court of common pleas. On the 28th of September, 1795, Governor Arthur St. Clair appointed William St. Clair in the place of Jean Baptiste Barbeau. William St. Clair oflnciated also as probate judge, and Dumoulin usually presided at the sittings of those justices, until 1802, when his name ceases to appear. Dumoulin died in 1805.

The county government was conducted in this manner until October, 1813. During this period of time, 1795 to 1813, the county records mention also the names of James Lemen, William Biggs, Jean F. Perrey, Nicolas Jarrot, William Whitesides, Uel. Whitesides, David Badgely, James Bankson, Samuel S. Kennedy, John Finley, Jacob A. Boyes, George Caldwell, John G. Loften, AVilliam Scott, Enoch Moore, William Gillham, in connection with conducting the county government. They were all justices.

By act of the territorial legislature, January 12, 1818, this court goes out of existence, a court of justices is re-established and remains in power until the state organization takes place. The officers of this justice's court were : John Hay, Peter Mitchel, Henry Walker, Jacob Ogle, Jr., Thomas Cohen, Abel Fike and Thomas Gillham.

This brings us up to the state organizat'on, which gives the county a board of commissioners as administrative authority. The governor appointed, June 17, 1819, the first board, viz :

The board of county commissioners was abolished by the constitution of 1848, and the administration of county affairs placed in the hands of a county court, composed of a county judge and two associate justices. (See Probate Judges)

This court conducted the affairs of the county to January 24, 1874, when the system of county commissioners was re-established as provided by the constitution of 1870.

The commissioners were elected in November, 1873, but owing to an imperfection in the law, could' not take charge of their offices until a special act of the legislature had corrected said imperfections.

Officers Of The Circuit Court

Our chapter on Bench and Bar will treat this subject more elaborately. We will here merely introduce the names of the Hon. Judges who held court, and also the names of prosecuting attorneys, and masters in chancery.

Prosecuting Attorneys Masters In Chancery

The records mention the following as sheriffs, irrespective of time of appointment: - William Biggs in 1795; George Blair in 1799 ; and John Hays in 1802.

The sheriffs of the county were ex-offioio collectors of revenue. The amounts of revenue collected, though insignificant amounts in the beginning, viz., 8917.78 in 1810, have gradually assumed huge dimensions, $354, 114.34 in 1880. The whole amount of revenue collected by county officers in the county exceeds twelve millions of dollars. Let it be said here that these vast sums have all been accounted for. True, there were a few instances, where the collectors could not pay up promptly, but the amounts wanting were comparatively small, and were in every instance restored to the county.

Ciecuit Clerks

The first circuit court for St. Glair county was held at Belleville on the twelfth day of June, 1815. Its first order was to appoint a clerk, whose name was John Hay, July 12th, 1815, who held the office for twenty-six years. W. C. Kinney was appointed in 1841, and resigned April 1st, 1845.

W. S. Thomas was elected. in 1852, and remained in office until 1864. In the election of 1864 F. Karsch had been chosen clerk, but he died before qualifying, and Thomas held over. Benjamin Boneau was elected in 1861 for the balance of the term, and received a commiseion from the the governor ; but Thomas refused to vacate the office. Boneau brought suit, but the court decided in favor of the incumbent, who served until 1864.

Henry A. Kircher was clerk from 1864 to 1868. G M. Boeder from 1868 to 1872. Charles Becker from 1872 to 1880. G. H. Stolberg, the present incumbent, succeeded Becker December Ist, 1880.

The circuit clerk has thus far been ex-officio recorder of deeds. The population of the county had now increased to over sixty thousand, when, under the statutes of the State, the office of recorder was separated from that of circuit clerk.

Probate Judges

The officers or judges of the court of common pleas first, and the court of county commissioners next, transacted the probate busiiress of the county up to May 7th, 1821, when judges of probate took charge of that branch of the public business.

Edmund P. Wilkinson occupied the position from said date, August 4th, to May term, 1823. He was then succeeded by John Hay, who officiates as such to August 12th, 1842. His records are most accurately kept, carefully indexed, and all proceedings signed by himself. The last record so signed was dated August 12th, 1842. Probate record C, page 89, contains, however, an entry of proceedings had before him, the minutes of which are not in Mr. Hay's handwriting, nor do they bear his signature ; they are dated

In 1848 the new constitution created a county court, with one judge, having probate jurisdiction and providing for two associate justices, all to hold office for four years. Under this law there were elected : -

The constitution of 1870 created a county board of three members, to be elected for three years, leaving the probate business to be transacted by the county judge, as heretofore. F. H. Pieper was re-elected in 1873, and in 1877. His present term will expire in 1881.

John Hay, whose name the reader has met on these pages before as that of a most accurate, diligent and faithful officer, appears as clerk of the county in the last decade of the eighteenth century, and received his commission as such July, 1809.

The county records of the fifty years following its organization are, so to say, his work, and an admirable one, indeed ! John Hay resigned the office of clerk on the 22d of August, 1836. Of him Governor Reynolds says: "He worked while life lasted, and died praising God."

James M. Charles, elected in 1837, resigned on the fifth of September, 1838, " for reasons too well known to your honorable body to need further explanation." Lewis Morris was appointed clerk, pro tem.

J. M. Reynolds was elected in 1838 to fill the balance of Charles' term of office, was re-elected in 1839, and died in his office, June, 1843.

W. W. Roman was elected in 1857, but died before the expiration of his term, in Septembe^, 1861. Bernhard Wick succeeded him, by being appointed and by election to two successive terms, 1861 to 1865, and 1865 to 1869.

Sebastian Fietsam was clerk from 1869 to 1873, when he was succeeded by L. C. Starkel, who was re-elected in 1877, and is the present incumbent.

The functions of coroners prior to the organization of the State were performed, as circumstances required it, by the then justices; their reports were duly filed and recorded, as hereintofore mentioned. We will here briefly state the names of county coroners, and their respective terms of office ; -

School Commissionees Or Superintendents County Surveyors

A list of the names of persons who have represented St. Clair County in the General Assembly, of the State of Illinois, and the yiar when elected.

Sometimes St. Clair County was a district by itself, sometimes it was associa ted with other counties to form a district ; we have given the names of all persons who have ever represented it.

Public Buildings

Court-Houses. The first proceedings of the county officials of the new county of St. Clair were held in a private dwelling-house at Cahokia. The grounds on which said house was erected were purchased by Antoine Girardin, John Dumoulin and Philip Engel, then acting as judges of the common pleas court, from Francois Saucier on the 8th day of October, 1793. "The deed of conveyance describes the property as follows : " All that certain messuage or dwelling-house, (now converted into a prison and court-house) and lot of land thereto belonging, situate in the village of Cahokia, bounded in front by the street next to the river, on the east by a vacant lot, commonly known by the name of the " Parade," on the south by a lot now belonging to

* Elected to flit a vacancy occasioned b.v resignation of Adam W. Snyder, Elected to fill vacancy on death of Omelveny. X Elected on adoption of the New Cunstitation. g Present incumbent.

John Dumoulin, Esquire, and on the west by a street running between the said lot and the lot of the widow Boilieu." The purchase price was one thousand dollars. On the 12th of December, 1794, the above mentioned judges caused the following declaration to be put on record :

" Now, know ye, that the said Antoine Girardin, John Dumoulin and Philip Engel do hereby declare that their names were and are and made use of in the said above recited indenture in trust only for the public uses of the county of St. Clair, in pursuance of, and according to, the. true intent and meaning of a Territorial Law, made and passed at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton on the l3t day of August, in the year 1792, entitled ; An Act, directing the building and establishing of a court-house, county jail, pillory, . whipping-post and stocks in every county." The building here mentioned and described is still in existence, and the reader is referred to the history of Cahokia precinct for particulars.

Cahokia remained the capital of St. Clair county for about Li4 years. An agitation to remove the county-seat to a more central part of the county had commenced early in 1813. At the December term, 1813, the court of common pleas, composed of John Thomas, Jr., William Biggs and Caldwell Cairns, ordered the clerk to notify John Hay, James Lemen, Isaac Enochs, William Scott, Jr., Nathan Chambers, JacobShort and Caldwell Cairns, commissioners appointed by the legislature to fix upon a place for the seat of justice of this county, to meet at the house of Col. Whiteside, on the 25th of January, 1814, and to make return at the next February term, under their hands and seals.

These commissioners reported in April, 1814, as follows : " In pursuance of a law passed by the legislature of Illinois Territory, on the 10th of December, 1813, at the village of Kaskaskia, for the purpose of fixing on the place of holding courts in the counties of Madison, St. Clair and Johnson, and by .«rtue of a written order issued from the court of common pleas, directed to us. Commissioners for the county of St. Clair, to meet on the 25th of January, 1814, at the dwelling-house of Col. William Whitesides, for the purpose of fixing the seat of justice for the said county of St. Clair, we, the commissioners, met, agreeable to order, all being present, and made no decision for the want of the law, and the proper officer to administer the oath required in that case. We then adjourned, and appointed to meet on Monday, the 14th of February, at the village of Cahokia, and we met accordingly, and postponed our decision for further consideration and view of situation and plac3. Then appointed to meet at the dwelling-house of George Blair, and met accordingly, all being present. A majority could not agree, then we again postponed our decision, and appointed to meet on Thursday, the 10th of March, at the said dwelling-house of George Blair, and we, a majority of said commissioners, have agreed, and fixed the countyseat of St. Clair county on the land of George Blair, and have marked a place for that purpose, about 25 rods north-east from the dwelling-house of the said George Blair, in his corn-field, and we, a majority of said commissioners, further report, that the said George Blair has proposed and agreed to give a donation for the use and benefit of said county of St. Clair, of a public sqifare containing one acre of land, for the purpose of erecting public buildings thereon, and to relinquish twenty-five acres of laud, adjoining next around the public square, and he also proposes to give every fifth lot of land of the twenty-five acres, exclusive of the streets, a donation for the use and benefit of the county.

This report was accepted by the court, who, at the same term, ordered that a court-house and jail be erected at the new county-seat. The erection of the new court-house at the site thus selected, laid the foundation of the city of Belleville, until then known under the name of Clinton Hill, or, as other writers say, Compton Hill. George Blair came into court at the said April term, and promised to have conveniences made by next June term to hold the court at his place. He received six dollars for hauling benches and tables from the court-house at Cahokia.

Second Court House

In September term, 1815, of the court of common pleas, an order was made for the building of this court-house. The contract was let to Etienne Pensoneau. The court-house, a frame building, was completed and received on the 10th of September, 1817. The contract price of $1,525.00 was but partly paid, and the county remained in debt to Etienne Pensoneau about 81200. In June, 1819, the sheriff" was ordered to sell so many lots in Belleville as would bring money enough to pay Mr. Pensoneau this balance still due and unpaid. The site of this court-house was on the public square in Belleville.

Thikd Court-House

In September, 1827, the court had to make arrangement for building a new court-house, as the Etienne building was altogether too small for the county business. This building was erected under the superintendency of William Fowler, who had a final settlement in December, 1831, from which it appears that the building had been completed in the month of June in said year. This court-house stood fronting the north side of the public square.

The cost of this building cannot be accurately stated. The county drew the necessary funds from Gov. Edwards. The money used was principally so-called " State paper," worth at the time from 76 to 80 cents per one dollar. Fowler seems to have drawn $3,189.85 ; the building was of brick. It was sold, after the erection of the present court-house, on the 29th of March, 1861, to AV. Friedlander, for $106.00.

Fourth Court-House

The building of the present court-house was commenced in 1859, and completed in 1861. The erection of this court-house was superintended by the members of the county court. The funds to defray the expenses of the work were borrowed and disbursed by members of said court direct, without first paying them into the treasury and drawing them out on warrants based on vouchers. The building materials were bought and labor was hired by said members. The court contracted various loans, amounting in the aggregate to $85,- 5:0. Besides this, the court issued $18,666.00 in county warrants, made payable to its members, and used them also to raise the necessary funds. In 1861 there was a further issue of county orders, amounting to $11,445.08 in direct payment for work on the new building, so that the whole amount expended seems to have been $115,111.08. Of this amount the members of the court disbursed $103,666.00. On the 2d of January, 1862, John Thomas filed an account of his receipts and disbursements in the matter, from which it appears that he had charged himself * ith $17,613.45, all of which is properly accounted for by vouchers on file. Nathaniel Niles had filed his accounts of the new court-house on the 13th of December, 1861, when they were laid over for further examination. They were finally disposed of, March 9, 1864, by allowing to Mr. Niles on voucher number 3933 the sum of .$365 69 - a balance found to be due to him. The court-house, although completed in 1861, seems to have needed various finishing touches, and the sums appropriated for that purpose in 1832 and 1833 amount to $4,334.98.

The first court-house, mentioned heretofore, was also used as a jail. On the 28th of April, 1812, however, the court of Common Pleas contracted with Francois Turcott, Stephen Peuseneau and Augustine Penseneau for the building of a new jail or goal. Contract and specifications are on file, the latter being as follows :

A jail to be built, logs to be 18 and 14 feet long and wide, a partition in it so as to make a room of seven feet on the west, hewed logs, 8 inches thick for the floor, seven feet between the floors, 2 rounds of logs above the upper floor, to be covered with clapboards, cabin fashion, done well, the logs to be 12 inches in diameter at the small end, if hewed to be ten inches thick, all to be done of good oak timber ; the outer door hung as the old door and hinges will do ; the roof to be weighted with heavy logs. Bid off by Francois Turcott, Stephen Pensineau and Augustine Pensineau, March 25, 1812, at $200,00.

The second jail was erected in Belleville ; it was built by Henry Sharp, in February, 1816. The contract price was $360.00. It stood near the first court-house on the public square.

The present jail was erected in 1848, on the north-west lot in the south-east block in Belleville, sold to the county by Antoine Lobsinger for $312.00, April 5, 1848.

Simon Eiraer contracted for the building on the same day, and had it completed by the 1st of March, 1849. He received $7,977.70 for his work, which was $22.30 less than the contract called for.

Pooe-Iiotjse

The poor-house grounds, 40 acres in section 16, 1 - 8 N., were bought of Henry C. Million March 23d, 1844, for $450.00. Simon Stookey conducted and superintended the construction of this county Asylum. The buildings were erected in 1844, at a cost of $1149.40. The county continued to add to those buildings as urgent necessity demanded. The buildings now are estimated to be worth over ten thousand dollars ; - and yet not sufficiently large enough for the desired purposes.

The first superintendent of the poor-house was John Wright ; his salary for himself and wife was fixed at $150.00 per annum. The expenses of the institution for the first year (1844), the above salary included, amounted to $47710. The expenses for 1880 amounted to $10,190.19.

The writer of this chapter has taken great pains to make a succinct and complete statement of the county expenditures at the time of the organization of the county, but owing to omissions of dates and other inaccuracies, he has not been able to arrive at a result, which could give satisfaction. In 1809, however, papers were found to be complete, and we can here state to the reader, the entire cost of the county government for that year :

The population of the county in 1810 was 5007, that of 1880 is known to be over 60,000, while the expenditures have increased 141 fold. Pauperism in 1809 absorbed 17 per cent, of the revenue and in 1880 not quite 18 per cent, a satisfactory showing.

Pauperism is a bad sore on the body politic, and a growing evil. It is remarkable, however, that in this county there is no increase of pauperism, while general statistics exhibit a constant growth of it iu other communities. The writer has examined the official records of all county expenditures for a period of ten years preceding 1880, and found, that the county expended during all those years not quite 18 per cent, of the county revenue in support of paupers.

We shall here introduce a statement of the expenditures of St. Clair county on account of pauperism for the seven years succeeding the commercial coUaps ; :

Peksonal Pkopeety. Number. Value Heal Estate. No. Acres. Value

Orphans' (^Probate) Court. - Pages 1 to 6 of records, Book A, embracing a recital of transactions of the Orphans' Court from. August 5, 1796 to April 13, 1798 are missing. From an old Index found in the present office of the Co. Board of St. Clair Co-, we find that these six missing pages contained the following : Page 1. Au order, that administrators should give security, and an

Judge of Probate. Page 3. Antoine Girardin appointed guardian for Antoine and Victoire Girardin ; Michael Squires appointed guardian for the children of Benjamin Byram Perry J. Francis is ordered to sell the property of Jean Antoine E. Claudius. Page 4. Jean Damoulin's report of sale of house is approved and administrator of the estate of Joseph Boisard is cited to render an account. Page 5. Jean Dumoulin renders accounts of the estates of Frederic Obirer and Antoine Boyer. S. Bond renders an account of the estate of Thomas Whitesides. The sale of two arpents of land to N. Jarrot is confirmed. Page 6. John Mordock makes settlement of the estate of Michael Hufi!". From page 7 the records are complete and well-preserved. We give our readers a copy - verbatim et literatim - of the proceedings of said Orphans' Court, had on Saturday, 14th April, 1798, page 7, Book A. " Orphans' Court opened from adjournment. Present : John Dumoulin, ") Shadeack Bond, V Esqes. Justices. Geoege Atchison, J

William St. Clair, Esquire, Judge of Probate - on motion of Judge of Probate - Adelaide Alexander, an orphan girl at Matthieu Saucier's, that a guardian be appointed for her, the Court names Michael L'Onval on furnishing security according to law.

Arthur McLaughlin came into court with his father and mutually chose George Atchison, Esq., as guardian. Arthur's age of sixteen and a half years.

On motion of Joseph Le Page's to have the lands in the common field, the property of the estate of Xavier Lipanse, deceased, ordered to be sold at public sale to the highest bidder.

On motion of Nicholas Boisminue to sell the militia right of Alexis Courtpis, deceased, ordered that the said militia right be sold at the next coui;t.

On motion of Mr. Dumoulin ordered that the militia right of Pierre Henry, deceased, be sold at public auction, and the militia right of Louis Buisson, deceased, be sold as above.

William Arundel produced the account of the estate of the late Bernard Gagnon, wherein there appears a balance due said estate of five hundred and forty-one livres in produce and that the same remain in the said Arundel's hands till legally called for.

Fiest Will On Eecoed

mil of Michael Huff - noncupative. Territory northwest of Ohio, St. Clair County, the 10th of March, 1794. We the subscribers being personally present in company with Captain Michael Huff, when he received a mortal wound, and within about three or four hours after, called us to witness his last will and testaflaent, and he appearing to us of sound memory and in his right mind, proceed as follows :

First let all my debts be paid out of my moveable estate, and let my well beloved wife have the half of all my goods, real and personal, and the other half to be equally divided between John Moredock and Barnaba Moredock, her two sons, and let Barnaba Moredock have my rifle gun, and further this testator sayeth not. This was on the 3d day of March, 1794.

James A. Espy. Thomas Todd. Geoege Robeets. James A. Espy, Thomas Todd and George Roberts made oath in court at Cahokia the first day of April, 1794, that the above will is the words repeated by Michael Huff before he died.

Will of William St. Clair. - In the name of God, Amen. I William St. Clair, of St. Clair county and township of Cahokia, younger son of Captain James St. Clair, of Glara, in the shire of Teudal, in the kingdom of North Briton, make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: Before any estimation may be made of my estate, that my sister-in 1 iw, Hellen McNabb, shall have all my household furniture and linen, plate, jewels and bedding, and that a just inventory and amount may be made of the residue of my personal estate consisting of cattle and debts, and from thence be paid my just debts. My lands I bequeath to Arthur St. Clair, for him and his heirs for ever, and the remaining residue shall be divided between Hellen McNabb and her sister Elizabeth

McXabb, recommended to their attention the boya if they want anything, and it is my intent the last shall be general, as I make them general legatees for that purpose. The best horse, Hellen will take him, and the other one to be given to her brother, Alexander McNabb, saving to myself to make any bequest I may think proper before my death.

Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said William St. Clair, at Cahokia, this 12th day of January, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-nine. In presence of us.

Personally came before me, the subscriber, Jean F. Perry, who made oath he verily believed the name of Isidor Lacroix, one of the subscribing witnesses to be the hand-writing and signing of the said witnesses in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, Aug. Idth, 1800. Perry sworn to before me.

Personally came before the subscriber, John Hay, who made oath, that he was one of the subscribing witnesses to a will made by William St. Clair, Esq., deceased, and that said VVm. St. Clair did in his presence acknowledge the same to be his last Will and Testament and revoking all other wills he might have made.

After my will being made, I have bequeathed to my friends John Hay, of Cahokia, two oxen and a cart and two cows, ordaining the said John Hay and James Tate to be the executors of this and my former will, signed, sealed, published and declared at Cahokia this 12th day of January, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-nine. In Presence of us.

Personally came before me, the subscriber, Jean T. Perry, who made oath, that he verily believed the names, Isidor Lacroix one of the subscribing witnesses to be his hand-writing and signature in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, sworn before me

October term, 1811. Divorce granted on account of cruelty. William Lemen to pay to Kezia Lemen ten dollars annually on the 2d day of December, and said Kezia to have charge of child.

Thomas Brady, one of the husbands of the celebrated Le Compte, died in 1794, his personal property amounted to $911.00. James Piggott died in 1801, leaving $409 in personal property. Antoine Girardin, 1802, with $2,003.50. William Cairns in 1803, $391.3.5, and John Dumoulin in 1805, $7,307.67. Shadrack Bond, Sr., died in 1812, his personal estate was worth $2,879.

The first licenses granted by the Court of Common Pleas of St. Clair county are dated February 14, 1793, and in order to point out to the reader the commercial importance of the county at that remote period of time, we shall here introduce a full list of merchants licensed on that date and during the year. These licenses were issued by John Edgar, or by Antoine Girardin, the former apparently for Kaskaskia, the latter for Cahokia.

Licenses granted by John Edgar : - to William Arundel, William Morrison, John Rice Jones, Ebenezer Eyers, Marie Ruy6, Pierre Menard, and John Edgar, merchants ; seven merchant licenses for Kaskaskia.

Buron, Jean Marie Coursol, J. B. Defend, Fran9ois Duquet, Antoine Grandebois, Louis Buisson, Jacques Roland, Beaubien De Eivierre, Pierre Durebois and Josiah Bleakly ; twenty-three merchant licenses for Cahokia. Besides these licenses, Girardin granted at the same time retailers' licenses to Joseph Grondines, Frangois Tuergeon and Louis Robert ; a store-keeper's license to Frangois Lapanse and lately a tavern license to Joseph Mendoza.

The price charged for these licenses is not stated ; it was probably aperquisite of the office. At any rate it must have been very trifling, for the county collected in 1810, only $95.00 from this source of revenue.

Those twenty-three merchants of Cahokia could certainly not be confined to St. Glair county for custom ; their business must have been up and down the rivers, to the various and numerous tribes of Indians. The home trade was transacted by those four retailers and storekeepers. Cahokia contained in 1783, about one hundred families, and had scarcely increased this number to more than one hundred and ten or fifteen in 1793.

William St. Clair, whose name has been mentioned heretofore as recorder and judge of probate, had been authorized ky the governor to take prcof as to who was " head of a family " at Cahokia in 1783. Jean Baptiste Dubuque, Jean Baptiste Tamier and Charles Ducharm, appeared before him at Cahokia on the 30th of September, 1797, and made oath to a list containing ninety-nine nalnes, which names may be found in our chapter " Pioneers and Early Settlers." These names are French, with- a few exceptions, viz. : Thomas Brady, William Biggs and Joseph Andrews, who seem to have been Americans or Britons, and Philip Engel, apparently a German.

The first ferry license was granted by the court to Captain James Piggott, in the year 1795. The Captain also received a license for a ferry and p rmission to land on the west bank of the river at St. Louis, by Governor Tradeau, of Louisiana - thus began what is now known as Wiggin's Ferry Company.

The crime, like many similar ones, originated in a drunken brawl. On the 8lh of February, 1819, these two men had a personal quarrel. It seemed to be impossible to reconcile them, and their friends determined to get up a sham duel; hoping that the ridiculous issue of the affair would bring them to their senses.

The duel was arranged, Jacob Short and Nathan Fike acting as second i. When the word was given and the rifles were discharged, it was proved that the "sham" duel had been fought with powder anrf lead, - at any rate Alphonso C Stewart fell to the ground, mortally wounded.

A special term of the circuit court was held on the 8th of March 1819, under a special law of the Legislature to hold said term. The officers of the court, John Reynolds, judge, John Hay, clerk, W. A. Beard, sheriff", were all appointed by the governor.

The grand jurors, - Ben Watts, foreman, Jacob Ogle, jr., Sol. Teter, Wm. Padfiald, Robert Abernathy, Robert Lemen, James Marney, Henry Uutton, Frank Swan, John Hendricks, Daniel Everett, T. M. Nicholas, John Leach, W- T. Kincade, Odian Castlebury, Joshua Oglesby, Marshal Duncan, Curtis Moore, George Prickett, Wm. Bridge, Joseph Penn, James Walker and Jeremiah Hand, found true bills of indictment for murder against Bennett and the two seconds, upon the testimony of the following witnesses : Reuben Anderson, James Parks, James Kincade, James Read,

AVhen the case was called for trial, the sheriff" reported that Bennett had broken jail, and was at large. Short and Fike had their trial in June 1819, and were both acquitted.

Bennett was captured and jailed about the 1st of July, 1821. A special term of the court was held July 26, 1821. The grand jury, composed of - Will Glasgow, foreman, John Thomas, James Cohen, Richard W. Chandler, John Rider, Archibald Allen, W.L. Whitesides, Henry Stout, Hosea Riggs, W. Leach, Thomas Gillham, David Sparks, John Scott, Jacob Whitesides, Daniel Birkey, Daniel Phelps, James Marney, Joseph Wilbanks, James Pulliam, T. West, Daniel Million, John Glass and George Harris, heard the testimony of Reuben Anderson, Rachel Tannehill, James Kincade, Thomas Hall, Wm. Hook, John Rutherford and Peter Sprinkle, and found a new indictment, in words and figures as follows :

The Bennett Indictment

At a special term of the circuit c(»ort, held for the county of St. Clair, in pursuance of the statute in such cases made and provided, on the 26th day of July, 1821.

The Grand Jurors of the people of the state of Illinois, residents of the county of St. Clair, empannelled, sworn and charged to inquire for the body of the said county, in the name and by the authority of the people of the state of Illinois, upon their oath present, that Timothy Bennett, late of Clinton Hill township now called Belleville precinct in the said county of St. Clair, laborer, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil, on the 8th day of Febiuary, 1819, with force and arms, at the said township, then called Clinton Hill, but called Belleville in the said county of St. Clair, in and upon Alphonso C. Stewart in the peace of God and of the said people of the state of Illinois then and there being, feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault ; and that the said Timothy Bennett a certain rifle gun, of the value of ten dollars, then and there loaded and charged with gunpowder and one leaden bullet, which rifle gun he the said Timothy Bennett in both his hands then and there had, and held to, against and upon the said Alphonso C Stewart, then and there feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought did shoot and discharge, and that the said Timothy Bennett with the leaden bullet aforesaid out of the rifle gun aforesaid then and there by force of the gunpowder, shot and sent forth as aforesaid the aforesaid Alphonso C Stewart in and upon the left breast of him the said Alphonso C. Stewart near the left pap of him the said Alphonso C. Stewart then and there feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought, did strike penetrate and wound, giving to the said Alphonso C. Stewart, then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid, so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth out of the rifle gun aforesaid, by the said Timothy Bennett in and upon the left breast of him the- said Alphonso C Stewart, near the left pap of him the said Alphonso C. Stewart one mortal wound, of the dd'pth of 'six inches, and of the breadth of one inch, of which said martal wound the aforesaid Alphonso C. Stewart then and there instantly died. And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do say. That the said Timothy Bennett, the said Alphonso C. Stewart then and there in manner and form aforesaid, feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder, against the form of the statute in that case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois. Samuel D. Lockwood,

A True Bill - W. Glasgow, foreman. Pleads : Not guilty. Witnesses'names: Reuben Anderson, James Kincade, Rachel Tannehill, Thomas Hale, Wm. Hook, John Rutherford, Peter Sprinkle.

The Court then preceded to pass the sentence in words following And it being demanded of him if anything for himself he had or knew to say why the court should not proceed to pass sentence upon him, he said he had nothing more than he had before said. Therefore it was considered by the court that he be hanged by the neck until he be dead, and that the sheriflf of the county do cause execution of this judgment to be done and performed on him the said Timothy Bennett on iSIonday, the 3d day of September next, between the hours of ten in the forenoon and four in the afternoon, at or near the town of Belleville.

It may here be stated, that Samuel D. Lockwood, Attorney General for the state of Illinois, came into court, when it opened, and took the following oath :

" I do solemnly swear, that I will to the best of my judgment execute the duties imposed on me by the act for suppressing dueling, so help me God."

Neither Bennett or his friends believed that this awful sentence would ever be executed. The latter made strenuous efforts to have him pardoned. Failing in this, they tried to have the sentence commuted. But the governor remained firm against all entreaty. On the day appointed for his execution, Bennett was hanged, at where now stands West Belleville, near ihe site of tlie South-east school-house.

In 1854 - Sept. 4th - ^Joseph Orban was executed for the murdering of another Frenchman in the American bottom. Sheriff Thomas Challenor employed an experienced European executioner to do the hanging.

James Piggot's remarks and observations to the Justices of the Court of General Quarter Sessions, at their sitting at Cahokia, in the County of St. Clair, the first Tuesday of October, 1791, by James Piggot, one of the Justices of said Court.

Genteel men: - It is now one year and six months since this court set under an established constitution. And as yet we have not a prison in our county, for want of which, the transgressors of our laws pass unpunished, for a small fine on a great offender is no punishment if he be rich, but rather provokes and encourages him to double crime - whereby he makes his honest neighbors afraid to prosecute him, - and if he be very poor there is nothing to be recovered of him but his ill will, which is very distressing on the honest and well meaning inhabitants of our county.

It is now about one year since I understood that there was a collection of money or property for building or repairing a house for a prison and nothing farther done in that ytt.

our county into townships, and appointing clerks and overseers of the poor to each, and nothing done in that yet. And should there be a longer omission of this duty, I fear the consequences will be evil.

A Bond given by James Moore, in January, 1786, for the sum of five hundred dollars (may be something more), payable to the heirs or successors of John Allison deceased, - James Piggot and Joseph Warley securities - is now lying in the county clerk's office, and as I have repeatedly demanded the Bond to be given up, as the same was lawfully paid and discharged in the year 1788, which is well known to the judges and justices of this court, I therefore beg that the court may at this sitting condemn the said Bond as void and of no effect, and order the same to be so entered in the county docket, that the securities may be no longer in danger by an excuse of the clerk's having overlooked, or not having time to look for it, which has been the case for more than three years since the Bond was paid.

We, the grand jury are of opinion that the streets of this village should be repaired, and all other roads leading into said village, particularly the road leading to the Mississippi.

That the millers be required and ordered to render good merchantable flour, according to the wheat they receive into their mills and the quantity, and that the millers be ordered to have sufiicient and lawful scales and weights.

That to prevent our neighbors, the Spaniards, from having all the Indian trade to themselves, that the citizens of this county be allowed to carry on their trade as usual, in this village with all the Indians who may come, in a peacsable manner, into this village to trade goods, liquors, etc.

That for the support of the laws and government of our county, the speediest means be taken to have a proper jail in th"s village, such as the state of this district may afford in its present situation, on an immediate examination.

That a county road be laid out from this village, to the end of the district, to meet the Prairie du Rocher road, and that all bridges be repaired in this district.

This indenture witnesseth that Jean de Hay and Jean Beaulieu, overseers of the poor in the township of Cahokia, in St. Clair County, by virtue of a law of this territory of Indiana, in such cases made and provided, have placed, and by these presents do place, and bind out a poor child, named Philis, aged six years, unto Joseph Buelle, for twelve years from this date, to learn the arts trade, and mystery of a spinster, etc.

The conditions are couched in the known terms, and it is to be presumed that Philis learned the arts and mysteries of a spinster. Her compensation for the twelve years was one wearing apparel, suitable for the Lord'.s day, and another for working days.

Know all mea by these presents, that I, John Elgar, of the village of Kaskaskia, merchant, for and in consideration of one Phaeton and Harness, valued at two hundred dollars, to me in hand delivered, have bargained, sold, aliened, released and confirmed, and by these presents do bargain, sell, alien, release and confirm unto John Murray St. Clair, of the County of Westmoreland, in the State of Pennsylvania, one equal and undivided half of a certain parcel of lands, lying, and being in the County of St. Clair, in the Western Territory of the United States, between the villages of Kaskaskia and Prairie du Eocher, and which were purchased by me at public sale, by order of the Syndic of Kaskaskias, as the estate of Richard Winston, deceased, to him, the said John Murray St. Clair, to have and to hold and his heirs, executors or assigns forever. In whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Kaskaskia, the 11th day of June, 1790.

This indenture made the nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, between Antoine Girardin, of the district of Kahokia, in the County of St. Clair, Territory of the United States, north-west of the river Ohio, Esquire of the one part and John Antoine Alexis Claudius of the same, merchant, of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Antoine Girardin, for, and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and eighty-four dollars and two dimes, of lawful money of the United States, to him in hand paid by the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, at, or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge, hath granted, bargained, sold, aliened, released and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, release and confirm unto the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, his heirs and assigns forever, all that messuage or dwelling-house and tract or lot of land, whereon the same is built situate, lying, and being in the village of Prairie du Pont, in the said district of Kahokia, now in the tenure and occupation of the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, the said tract or lot of land containing ten acres English measure, be the same more or less, and bounded and described as follows, to wit: Beginning at a lot of land belonging to Phillip Engel, Esquire, in the said village of Prairie du Pont, where he has a small enclosure for pasture ground for his calves, at the north-westwardly corner thereof, and opposite to the house and lot, where the said Phillip Engel now resides in, in the said village, thence along with the said fence to the eastwardly corner thereof, thence in a straight line to the river of the Prairie du Pont, thence with the said river in descending according to the courses thereof, to a post placed in the ground on the banks of said river, between two trees, the one a red oak, and the other a honey-locust, and about ten feet from the one and the other, the red oak marked with three chops of an ax, thence north 49 degrees, 20 minutes, east until it crosses the great road leading from the said village of Prairie du Pont, to the village Kahokia, thence with the said great road southwardly to the place of beginning. Together with all houses, outhouses, edifices, buildings, barns, stables, gardens, orchards, lands arable and unarable, meadows, leasows, pastures, feedings, woods, underwoods, ways, waters, watercourses, rights, members, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the same, messuage or dwelling house, tract or lot of land belonging, or in any wise appertaining. And the reversions and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, and of every part thereof with the appurtenances, and all the estate right, title, interest, property, profession, claim and demand, as well at law, or in equity, or otherwise, howsoever of him, the said Antoine Girardin, of in, or to the said messuage or dwelling-house, and tract or lot of land above bargained and sold, and every part and parcel thereof with their appurtenances to the said Johu Antoine Alexis Claudius, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, his heirs and assigns forever, and to and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever and the said Antoine Girardin for himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators and fjr every of them doth covenant, promise and agree to, and with the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, his heirs and assigns, by these presents in manner and form following, that is to say, that he, the said Antoine Girardin, and his heirs, all and singular the said messuage or dwelling-hcuse, and lot.or tract of land above bargained, and sold, and every part thereof with the appurtenances to the said John Antoine Alexis Claudius, his heirs and assigns forever, against all persons claiming or to claim by, through, from or under him or them, or either of them, shall, and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.

In witness whereof, the said parties have these presents set their hands arid seals, the day and year before written. Sealed and delivered in the "\ ^;!!=r^

Be it remembered, that on the sixth day of July, 1792, personally appeared before me, one of the Judges of the County Court of Common Pleas, of the said County of St. Clair, the within named Antoine Girardin, Esquire, who acknowledged the within instrument as his act and deed.

In testimony whereof, and to the intent that the same may be recorded as such, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year first above written.

To all to whom these presents shall come, William Biggs, Esquire, sheriff" of the couuty of St. Clair in the territory of the United States north-west of the river Ohio, sends greeting :

Whereas, in and by a certain writ of levari facias, issued out of the county court of common pleas for the district of Cahokias, in the said county, bearing date the second day of July, 1793, and to the said sheriff" directed and delivered, he was commanded that of a certain piece or lot of ground whereon was erected a dwelling-house, barn, and horse-mill, with other out-houses, with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate, lying and being in the village of Cahokia county aforesaid, bounded as follows: On the south by Walter street, on the east by vacant lots, on the north by the rivulet, on the west by the lot now or late of Jean D'Hay and Michel Lagrave, as the same was enclosed at that time, being the lands and tenements of Charles Lefevre, deceased, blacksmith, in his the said sheriff's bailiwick, he should cause to be levied the sum of eight hundred and thirty-four dollars, eight dimes and seven cents, lawful money of the United States, of debt, as well as the farther sum of two dollars, dimes costs, which Gabriel Cerre, as guardian of the minors Nickols, lately, in the said court of common pleas, before the judges at Cahokia, recovered against the executors of the said Charles- Lefevre, deceassd, for his debt and costs about his suit expended, and whereof the said executors were convict, as appeared of record, and that he should have these monies before the judges at Cahokia on the first Tuesday in October then next, to render to the said Gabriel Cerre for his debt and costs aforesaid, as well as the said writ, as in and by the same writ will more fully appear: And whereas the said sheriff had, in pursuance of the commands of the said writ, seized and taken in execution the premises in the game writ mentioned, and hath, by a public sale thereof, caused to be levied the sum of six hundred and fourteen dollars, being the highest price that could be got for the same, which were adjudged to Frederick Graeter, of Cahokia, as being the highest bidder therefor. Now, know ye, that I, the said sheriff, for and in consideration of the said sum of six hundred and fourteen dollars to him in hand paid by the said Frederick Graeter, at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, assigned and transferred and set over, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, assign, transfer, and set over unto the said Frederick Graeter, his heirs and assigns forever, all and singular, the said lot of ground and premises herein before mentioned, and in the said writ particularly described, and every part and parcel thereof, with their appurtenances, and all the estate, right, title, and interest of him the said sheriff of, in or near to the same, or any part thereof, with the appurtenances. To have and to hold all and singular the said lot of ground and premises and every part thereof to the said Frederick Graeter, his heirs and assigns to the only proper, use and behoof of the said Frederick Graeter, his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof, the said sheriff hath hereunto set his hand and seal, the thirteenth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and nine:y-three.

On the third day of April, 1794 personally canie before me a justice of the peace of the said county, the within-named William Briggs, Esquire, who acknowledged the within all as his act and deed.

In testimony whereof, and to the intent the same may be recorded as such, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year before written.

On the twentieth of October, 1791, Jean Baptist Calist (called Lachance) sells to Elijah Harrington a house and lot for and in consideration of two spinning wheels, two bread troughs, one cotton gin, one bedstead, and four hundred pounds of pork without bones.

One acre of ground, with a dwelling-house, was sold by Jacob Jady to Jacqu3 Chsnie, February 16th, 1792, for two oxen with yoke and straps, two cows, one mare of two years old, one heifer, one bull-calf of one year old, twenty boards of seven feet long, four doors, two pairs sashes and shutiers for windows with the irons thereunto blonging, all of which is valued at two hundred and twenty dollars, lawful money of the United States. This deed is the first one in which the year of independence, the 16th, is mentioned.

On the sixth of October, 1792, Benjamin Joseph Byrara, of I'Aigle, in the county of St. Clair, and Mary, his wife, sold to John Edgar certain works lately erected for the making of salt from certain mineral salt springs, together with a certain tract of land, being about one-half of a four-hundred acre tract surveyed to Byram by order of the governor, for $1204.40.

The county of St. Clair enjoys now a splendid system of public roads and it may be of interest to hear of the beginning of those most needed and most important improvements. Although the county was organized in 1790, no traces of laying out public roads are found prior to 17V)6. The first petition on file reads as follows :

That whereas the laws of our Territory providing for opening of roads, have put it in the power and made it the duty of your worshipful body to issue your order for the surveying and opening public roads when and where your worshipful body thought fit and necessary, if the inhabitants shall signify the same by Petition,

Therefore we the inhabitants of Turkey Hill, think it extremely necessary to have a road established from our said district of Turkey Hill to the village of Prairie du Pont, which we pray you to consider immediately, and grant by giving orders for surveying the same and we, your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

William Eadcliffe, John Porter, Lewis Rail, Lawrence Shookey, P. Pinsenau, Pierre Beguin, John Hays, John Domoulin and Perry There are eleven more names on the petition, but they have evidently been signed by the getter-up of the petition.

Slaves had been brought to this county not only by emigrants from Virginia and Kentucky, but also in large numbers from the West Indies by French settlers ; and the " institution'' continued for many years, in fact to a recent date. Some of the older residents of St. Clair county may even have witnessed the selling or " binding-out" of negroes. The records of the county mention these transactions repeatedly, but also the manumission of slaves. The first record in reference to this, is dated February 23, 1793, and reads as follows ;

Know all whom it may concern, that Jeanette, a negro woman, heretofore my slave, is now free and mistress of herself, she having paid to me a price for her freedom, with which I am satisfied, etc.

In order to contrast the free and easy style in which our French humanitarian writes out the freeing papers, with the careful and guarded language of the Anglo-American, we let here follow the " deed " of William Musick, to wit :

Know all men by these presents that I, William Musick, at present at Kaskaskia, in the county of St. Clair, in the territory of the United States, north-west of the river Ohio, have remised, released and forever quitted claim, and by these presents do of my own free will and accord remise, release and forever (Juit claim unto a certain negro man named George, and unto a certain negro girl named Phebe ; all, and all manner of interest, claim and demand, which I now have or hereafter shall or may pretend or claim to have of, in, or to the future services of them, the said George and Phebe, and each and every one of them. And I do hereby liberate them and each of them from any state of servitude or slavery in which according to the laws of the State of Kentucky I formerly held them, while residing in that state. And I do further declare them free and absolute masters of thtirs and each of their persons, and of all property they may hereafter acquire.

Instances of colored men selling themselves to masters are also made matters of record, for instance: County Record, A. page 180, contains such a sale, the consideration paid was two hundred dollars, John Marney being the purchaser. Nov. 28, 1794.