[27] Megantic, by Dugald Mackenzie Mackillop.
Once upon a time--and the time was 1828--Alexander, tenth Duke of
Hamilton, decided that he would make large farms on his estate, and,
of course, the will and wish of a duke in his own domains must
be respected, even though--as in one instance--the land rented by
twenty-seven families was converted into one farm.
For various reasons, the islanders had for many years been
discontented, and there seemed no hope of a change for the better. If a
man worked his place in a progressive way and made improvements on the
farm, the benefit accrued solely to the landed proprietor, who thanked
the good tenant by promptly raising his rent. If the farmer objected
to paying more rent, his only alternative was to submit to be turned
off his holding at the expiration of his lease; then the landlord would
collect the increased rent from the new tenant.
So when the duke made overtures to a large number of his tenants to the
effect that if they would make room for him by getting away from their
ancestral moorings in Arran, he would see that they were well provided
for in the new world, it is not to be wondered at that they accepted
his proposition. It is so nice when you are cast out to be told where
you can go, and be directed what to do. The Duke promised to secure for
each family a grant of 100 acres of land in Canada, and the same amount
of land for each son in each family who at that time had reached the
age of 21.
Arrived at their destination at Johnston Ford, province of Quebec, each
family constructed a tent by stretching blankets, quilts, etc., over
poles suitably disposed and tied together at the top with withes and
ropes. Fortunately the season was favourable and fires were needed only
for cooking. As just stated, the Duke of Hamilton had promised that
each family and each young man who had attained his majority should
receive a grant of 100 acres of land; but, when the colony was actually
on the scene, the Government officials refused to give a grant except
to the heads of the families.
The matter of grants has been so variously stated that it is difficult
to determine what the conditions were, but it appears that the actual
agreement of the Duke of Hamilton was that grants should be given for
two years only. Those who came out in 1829 and 1830 secured certain
grants after a delay. Those, however, who did not arrive till 1831 were
told by the agents that grants were no longer to be had.
_PERTHSHIRE._