91 | Mount Desert Island Grant

    L. S.414

    By the Govr. Council and House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusets Bay in New England in the Great and General Court Assembled.

    Whereas their late Majestys King William and Queen Mary by their Letters Patent bearing date the seventh day of October in the third Year of their Reign did give and Grant unto the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massachusets Bay (among other things) all those Lands and Hereditaments lying between the Territory of Nova Scotia and the River Sagadehock then and ever since known and distinguished by the name of the Territory of Sagadehock together with all Islands lying within ten Leagues of the Main Land within the said Bounds to have and to hold the same unto the said Inhabitants and their Successors to their own proper use and behoof forevermore Provided always that no Grant of Lands within the said Territory of Sagadehock made by the Govr. and General Assembly of the said Province should be of any force or effect until their Majesties their Heirs or Successors should signify their approbation of the same. The Govr., Council and House of Representatives of the said Province of the Massachusets Bay in the Great and General Court Assembled, have given and Granted and hereby do give and Grant unto Francis Bernard Esqr: All that Island lying North Eastward of Penobscot Bay within the bounds of the Territory of Sagadehock aforesaid, commonly called and known by the name of the Island of Mount Desart. To have and to Hold the said Island with all and every its appurtenances unto the said Francis Bernard and his Heirs, to the only use and behoofe of the said Francis Bernard his Heirs and Assigns forever Yielding and paying therefore Yearly unto His Majesty his Heirs and Successors one fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar and precious Stones which shall happen to be found and gotten in the Land of the said Island, Provided always that the present Grant shall be of no force or effect until His Majesty his Heirs or Successors shall signify His or their approbation thereof. Given in the Great and General Court and Sealed with the public Seal of the Province at Boston this twenty seventh day of February in the Second Year of the Reign of His Majesty George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith &ca. And in the Year of Our Lord 1762.415

    By the Govr.——

    Fra. Bernard

    For the Council by Order—

    A Oliver Secy.

    For the House of Representatives by Ordr:

    James Otis Speaker

    A true Copy as of Record

    Attest A. Oliver Secy.

    Ms, Copy CO 5/891, f 193.

    The province granted Mount Desert Island to FB ostensibly in respect of his “extraordinary services.” Acts and Resolves, 17: 168. FB requested Pownall to seek confirmation of the grant from the Board of Trade. The Board considered the matter on 3 Mar. 1763, but without having received an actual copy of the grant (for which see the source note to No. 193).