The benevolent disposition your Excellence provides emboldens me to lay before him a few facts for your Excellency's consideration. The negroes have been in a very unsettled state at their place, until last summer having built Hutts at some expense on one McKennys land, not having until the above time lands assigned them. Several of these people have now built themselves comfortable Hutts in which they live. Cleared, joined land and made themselves gardens and of suffered to enjoy the lands they are now in possession and may be in a likely way with industry to make themselves a comfortable living. Their Town is about a mile from the upper part of the Town of Digby adjoining what is called the little Joggin; a place convenient to keep small fishing craft in, it being of great importance that these people have access to the water for fishing. I have surveyed to each of these Negroes lots of land about one acre each, a Map or Plan thereof is delivered to the Surveyor General, having understood from them that it was your Excellency's intention that in their town they should have lots of that quantity.

The lands for the Black Pioneers will be surveyed as soon as the snow admits of traveling to do it and I wish that their land also might be as contagious {??? - illegible for about one line}

There is talk in this place that wishes to remove these people to some other place; in that case they must begin anew, with much cost and expense, which they are not able to undergo. I do not believe they have Five Pounds to move with; if they are obliged to move nothing but the utmost distress will be the consequence. On the other hand if they are suffered to enjoy the lands are now in possession of there is a probability of their doing well. As the Negroes are now in this country the principles of Humanity dictate that to make them useful to themselves as well as Society is to give them a good chance to live, and not to destroy them.

Thus I have endeavoured to give your Excellency a true state of the case of those Negroes amongst us and should it meet your approbation to continue them where they are, I should think my time well spent. I am actuated by no other motive than that of Humanity.

I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect
a true copy from the one in my hand

Thomas Millidge

the above letter was sent
to His Excellency Governor
Parr about mid March 1785

Thomas Millidge

Record from PANS, Vol 19 #38