Recently while researching the Indian Lands of Glengarry , I stumbled upon a super little article , that you can find online by typing the Subject Headline in the search box of your computer browser .
It explains why the St Regis Indians commissioned a re-survey of their then lands in Glengarry , and most interestingly to me is a transcription of the names of the various tenants who held the numbered Lots in each of the twenty Concessions of these Indian Lands .
In my particular case it cleared up a puzzle which has eluded me for fifty years . My Robert Young Queen's Ranger had come to Glengarry circa 1790 , where his wife Flora McDonell family had resettled after the Rev War 1784 . By chance or design [who knows] Robert Young settled on the east half Lot 12 Con 2 [from Front] [now known as Airport Road South Glengarry] which was originally drawn by an Alexander McDonell , which name is on said Lot on McNiff's Map 1786 . Robert Young received a certificate for said Lot from the Land Board Cornwall , and spent the next fifteen years farming his land . In the meantime the Big Bishop McDonell arrived in 1804 and encouraged his parishioners to put in a claim on any land that they might hope to obtain .
In 1806 an Alexander McDonell filed claim on this east half Lot 12 Con 2 saying his father , also named Alexander McDonell , name appeared on said Lot on McNiff's Map 1786 . A simple presentation of his Land Board Certificate should have supported Robert Young's counter claim to the said Lot , but unfortunately for him the governmental decision making now resided in the Executive Council Toronto [set up by Robert Young's former commanding Officer of the Queen's Rangers --- Sir John Graves Simcoe ] .The legal system was rudimentary at best , and by another twist of fate , both Alexander McDonell Jr. AND Robert Young chose one D'Arcy Boulton to represent their case before the Executive Council in Toronto . Boulton made the case for McDonell , but apparently forgot that he was to act for Young on this matter . Hearing no opposition to McDonell's claim , he was awarded said Lot , and Robert Young was evicted without compensation for improvements . What follows are a frantic string of letters [all on file at the National Archives] in which Robert Young appeals for redress of his loss by asking one of his former Captains in the Queen's Rangers named John McGill who has followed Simcoe onto the Executive Council , to intercede on his behalf . Long story short , Robert Young is awarded 700 acres as compensation . Where these 700 acres are located is still a mystery to me . Other of my Ancestors had received land grants in the previous decade , located in Carlton and Montague , so Robert Young's 700 acres were probably farther afield , and probably as useful , to him , as being on the Moon , as he was an old soldier nearing death .
That was the end of my paper trail on this Robert Young as I did not know where he resettled , or for that matter is buried , and have not located his Will either . The Beldan Atlas Map circa 1870 shows a sprinkling of this Robert's sons and/or grandsons on the Indian Lands Con 4 & 5 . I have long suspected that this Robert Young chose to be a tenant of the St Regis Indians , rather then start anew in some unfamiliar far off place . Bingo . In the above mentioned transcribed list of tenants , Robert Young is located on Lot 2 Con 5 Indian Lands , two farms north of my other Ancestor named John Duldreggan Grant Lots 25 & 26 Street Road at Cashion's Glen . I am confident this is my Robert Young because both his son and grandson named Allen Young held this farm [they are named after Flora McDonell Young's father Allen Bhuide McDonell KRRNY Lot 23 Con 9 Charlottenburg , where he settled with Flora's brother also named Alexander McDonell .
Some of my cousins have speculated that Robert Young [and Flora McDonell Young for that matter] may have been buried at home [though they , nor I , knew where that home was located until this week] . That Lot 2 Con 5 Indian Lands is now part of a large Solar Farm located at Cashion's Glen , and an extensive Archaeological Study of the property was commissioned before construction started , with no human bones found . He may yet be found at the Presbyterian Church in either Martintown or Williamstown , or possibly he and Flora are buried with her father Allen McDonell Lot 23 Con 9 at St Raphael's .
As for which Alexander McDonell acquired Robert Young's farm on Lot 12 Con 2 ; I am currently leaning on he being Alexander Bane McDonell son of Alexander Bane McDonell younger brother of above mentioned Allen Bhuide McDonell ; thus making Jr. and Flora McDonell Young 1st cousins .