Letter from the parish priest in Pictou (possibly named Mclean) that outlines a shortage of blankets that was to be distributed to the Mi'kmaq in Pictou. Letter also contains a census of all male heads of family and their immediate family.
Form
text
Note
“Pictou Jan’y 11th 1862
To the Honorable the Provincial Secretary of Nova Scotia
Sir,
I received some time ago a supply of blankets for the poor Indians of this county which I distributed amongst them as far as they went. I am sorry to say that the supply was this year so very small that I could not even give one blanket to each family, and what is one blanket for a family of seven or eight? I hope the finances of the Province have not just fallen so low as not to afford a few blankets to keep the poor creatures warm at this inclement season of the year. I only gave a list of the Indian families in this quarter with the number of souls in each,
I am sir,
Your most obdt. And humble servant,
Alexr. [] P.P., Pictou
[Pg. 2]
Number of Indian Families in Pictou and Merigomish
Nathan Paul Chief… 8x (No. in family)
Joe Toney…8x
Capt. Tonnie…3x
Francis Paul…4x
Peter Paul…4x
Peter Paul…2x
John []…4x
Gregor Paul…6x
Michael Francis…2x
Noel Francis…4x
Peter Paul…4
Matthew Paul…5x
Frances []…8x
Widow James Prosper…6x
Abram Kettle…7
[] [] Widow…2x
Thomas Wilmot….9
Kepham Noel…4
John Beetle…3x
John Cape Breton…3
Joe Phillip…4x
Michael Phillip…6x
Joseph Phillip…5
[] []…1
[Pg. 3]
Sapier Paul…3
Harry Mahone…3x
Peter James widow…3x
Louis Tom Louis…2x
Louis Tom…6x
Peter Sapier…3x
Widow [] []…1x
Simon Sapier…3x
Noel Joe…6
Anapauline [?] Sapier widow…1x
Joseph Labob…5
John []…2
Peter Tom very []…1
Frances Paul Fraser…2
John Toney…3x
[] Wilmot…3x
N.B. Those marked with a cross [x] have got a blanket, and those with no mark after their names got nothing. I trust in God these poor creatures will be [] to further delay for they are really in a state of suffering.
J. Mclean, P.P.
Note
Public Archives of Nova Scotia, RG1, Vol. 431 (Indian Commissioner Series), file 133