A gentleman named Payzant came to Halifax in 1754, with a recommendation to Lawrence, then president, from Mr. Pownal, secretary to the lords of trade. (I find in the London magazine for 1757, among the deaths, 'July 23. James Payzant, esq : a clerk in the secretary of. state's office, aged 100.) Mr. Payzant decided on settling with his family in the vicinity of the new German town of Lunenburg, and Lawrence gave him a letter to colonel Sutherland, who commanded there, requesting that he should be favored and protected in his design. Payzant established his residence, building a house on an island in Mahone bay, a delightful region, not far from another island then called Rous island, on which there was also a settlement belonging to Capt. Rous. A party of Indians went to Rous's island — took off a boy, whose hands they tied, and forced him to guide them to Payzant's place, the islands being numerous, and then probably all covered with wood. They killed and scalped Payzant himself, a woman servant and a child—carried off Mrs. Payzant and four children, and also killed and scalped the boy guide. The man who lived on Rous's island was also found scalped. It was the practice of the Indians then to carry any prisoners whose lives they spared to Canada, where they were disposed of for a money ransom, which the humanity of the French inhabitants or the policy of the Quebec rulers provided; and after years of exile, the survivors got back to the British colonies, on exchange of prisoners, re-payment of ransom, or at a general peace. In this instance, one, if not more, of the four children of Payzant were, after a long time, restored to Nova Scotia. A son of this family got back from Canada, and in after life was a religious teacher of great piety and virtue at Liverpool, Nova Scotia, and the name is still found in the province, growing in esteem.—On friday, 14 May, the lieutenant governor assembled his council at his own house, in Halifax, at which messrs. Green, Cotterel, Rous, Collier, Monckton and Wilmot, met him. He laid before them the letters he had received from Scott and Sutherland, detailing the circumstances of the Indian warfare, and they resolved to offer bounties for Indian prisoners and scalps.
The following is re-printed from one of the placards then issued:
[royal Arms.]
BY
CHARLES LAWRENCE, Esq;
Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Province of Nova-Scotia, or Accodie.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas notwithstanding the gracious Offers of Friendship and Protection made by us, in his Majesty's Name, to the Indians inhabiting this Province, and the Treaty of Peace coneluded with a Tribe of the Mickmacks, bearing Date the 22d November, 1752, the Indians have of late, in a most treacherous and cr-ael Manner, killed and carried away divers of his Majesty's Subjects in different Parts of the Province.
For these Causes We (by and with the Advice and Consent of His Majesty's Council) do hereby authorize and command all Officers, civil and military, and all His Majesty's Subjects, to annoy, distress, take and destroy the Indians inhabiting different Parts of this Province, wherever they are found ; and all such as may be aiding or assisting to them, notwithstanding the Proclamation of the 4th of November, 1752, or any former Proclamation to the contrary.
And We do hereby promise (by and with the Advice and Consent of His Majesty's Council) a Reward of Thirty Pounds for every male Indian Prisoner, above the Age of Sixteen Years, brought in alive ; for a Scalp of such Male Indian Twenty-Jive Pounds, and Twenty-five Pounds for every Indian Woman or Child brought in alive : Such Rewards to be paid by the Officer commanding at any of His Majesty's Forts in this Province, immediately on receiving the Prisoners or Scalps above mentioned, according to the Intent and Meaning of this Proclamation.
Given at Halifax, this \tfh Day of May, 1756, in the igtA year of His Majestyi
Reign.
By His Excellency's Command,
Cha- Lawrence.
Wm. Cotterell, Seer.
GOD save the KING.
Halifax : Printed by J. Bushell, Printer to the Government . 1756.
Showing posts with label Payzant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Payzant. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Payzant Family in Nova Scotia
PAYZANT
by Bernice Frizzle, 1985
Louis Payzant, founder of the Payzant family in North America, was a French Huguenot of the landed gentry in Caen, Normandy, France, who, after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, received his English citizenship on the Isle of Jersey and came with his family, servants and worldly goods to establish himself in the New World.
Upon his arrival in Halifax, he was directed to the new Foreign Protestant settlement at Lunenburg, where he arrived prior to July 15, 1753. By the spring of 1756 Louis had established a well-stocked trading post on Covey's Island in Mahone Bay, had partly completed his permanent dwelling, and was living there with his household.
During the French and Indian war, in a struggle for control of North America, Indians from the St. John River area were ordered to attack the English settlers and destroy their homes. Perhaps learning of the booty at Covey's Island the post became a prime target.
On the fearful night of May 8th hearing sounds outside his home and thinking the disturbance might be caused by revellers from Lunenburg, Mr. Payzant opened the door to investigate. He raised his gun and gave a warning shot. Light from the room behind revealed a company of grim, howling savages with upraised tomahawks ready to perform their horrendous deed. Before the eyes of his horrified wife and children not only did they massacre Louis but they killed several male servants, a serving woman and child, and also a young boy from nearby Rous's Island whom they had used as a guide.
After plundering, pillaging and burning the buildings, they carried Mrs. Payzant, who was pregnant with Lisette, and her four fatherless children by canoe on a 900 mile trip to the French fortified city of Quebec.
With hope of a reward, the Indians stopped on their journey at St. Anne’s, a Jesuit mission station (now Fredericton), on the St. John's River. Here in exchange for the children they received a generous ransom in beads. Mrs. Payzant was taken to Quebec.
Traditional stories claim that she implored General Montcalm to find her children and return them safely to her, and it was through her efforts that her wishes were granted. Several months later all members of the reunited family were treated kindly by both the military and civic leaders. The Jesuits supervised the education of the three boys, John received instruction in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and was presented with a small revolving study table capable of holding three text books. Still in existence, it is owned by one of his descendants.
The Payzant family were held prisoners until the city fell to the English at the historic Battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 Sept 1759. Although General Wolfe was the victor, both he and General Montcalm lost their lives in the conflict that gave North America to British rule.
When Marie with her family returned to Nova Scotia she received in 1760 a 500-acre grant from the Crown at the time of the founding of the township of Falmouth, Hants County.
by Bernice Frizzle, 1985
Louis Payzant, founder of the Payzant family in North America, was a French Huguenot of the landed gentry in Caen, Normandy, France, who, after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, received his English citizenship on the Isle of Jersey and came with his family, servants and worldly goods to establish himself in the New World.
Upon his arrival in Halifax, he was directed to the new Foreign Protestant settlement at Lunenburg, where he arrived prior to July 15, 1753. By the spring of 1756 Louis had established a well-stocked trading post on Covey's Island in Mahone Bay, had partly completed his permanent dwelling, and was living there with his household.
During the French and Indian war, in a struggle for control of North America, Indians from the St. John River area were ordered to attack the English settlers and destroy their homes. Perhaps learning of the booty at Covey's Island the post became a prime target.
On the fearful night of May 8th hearing sounds outside his home and thinking the disturbance might be caused by revellers from Lunenburg, Mr. Payzant opened the door to investigate. He raised his gun and gave a warning shot. Light from the room behind revealed a company of grim, howling savages with upraised tomahawks ready to perform their horrendous deed. Before the eyes of his horrified wife and children not only did they massacre Louis but they killed several male servants, a serving woman and child, and also a young boy from nearby Rous's Island whom they had used as a guide.
After plundering, pillaging and burning the buildings, they carried Mrs. Payzant, who was pregnant with Lisette, and her four fatherless children by canoe on a 900 mile trip to the French fortified city of Quebec.
With hope of a reward, the Indians stopped on their journey at St. Anne’s, a Jesuit mission station (now Fredericton), on the St. John's River. Here in exchange for the children they received a generous ransom in beads. Mrs. Payzant was taken to Quebec.
Traditional stories claim that she implored General Montcalm to find her children and return them safely to her, and it was through her efforts that her wishes were granted. Several months later all members of the reunited family were treated kindly by both the military and civic leaders. The Jesuits supervised the education of the three boys, John received instruction in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and was presented with a small revolving study table capable of holding three text books. Still in existence, it is owned by one of his descendants.
The Payzant family were held prisoners until the city fell to the English at the historic Battle of the Plains of Abraham on 13 Sept 1759. Although General Wolfe was the victor, both he and General Montcalm lost their lives in the conflict that gave North America to British rule.
When Marie with her family returned to Nova Scotia she received in 1760 a 500-acre grant from the Crown at the time of the founding of the township of Falmouth, Hants County.
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