(Eigg Mountain Settlement History)

 

Petition of "Laughlan Gillis of Arisaig Gulf Shore in the upper district of the County of Sydney, farmer; humbly herewith that your petitioner is a native of this province aged 25 years and unmarried; your petitioner does not own any land by purchase or otherwise that there is a lot of ungranted land in the Rear Settlement of Arisaig aforesaid adjoining lands of one Peter Gillis containing about 100 acres on which one Donald McDonald has resided for several years and on which he the said McDonald has made some improvements but which the said McDonald as your petitioner is informed intends to abandon for the purpose of settling further in the interior your petitioner therefore prays that your Excellency would be pleased order a warrant of survey in his favor for the aforesaid lot of land; that your petitioner has made his applications solely for the purpose of obtaining a piece of land on which he intends to settle and cultivate; your petitioner has in duty bound will ever pray [...] 1826, signed Laughlan Gillis” [apparently in his own hand]

 

1827 "the petition of Donald MacDougall Alexander MacDonald, Donald MacDonald, Peter Gillis and Laughlan Gillis all of the rear settlement of the Gulf shore humbly herewith that your petitioners except Laughlan Gillis were among the first settlers of the Gulf, have large families have improved, built and resided upon their respective lots upwards of 30 years that your petitioner Laughlan Gillis received a warrant of survey dated August 8, 1826 and immediately built and resided on the lot since; the warrants for the four first were given the deputy surveyor William Fraser laid off their lots and should new warrants he required your petitioners pray they may be granted; your petitioners also pray that your Excellency will be pleased to order their grant accomplished be completed in their favor for the lots marked them on the annexed plan" [signed with marks by all]

[see resulting grant]