To George Washington from Clement Gosselin, 18 September 1789
From Clement Gosselin
Le 18 7bre 1789
Du Lac Champlain petitte Riviere Chazy.
J’offre a votre Excellence La situation peauvre, et triste D’une personne Languissante avec toutte sa famille, Qui ne sauroit Dans Cette Occasion, pouvoir vous assurer de ses Respest. Luy même est obligé, d’avoir Recour a la voies Littéral, pour se Dédommager de Ce quil seroit Charmé De faire Luy même, s’il n’etoit Empéché par La maladie, Qui L’accable Annuellement.
Votre Excellence N’est pas En doute, de Ce que L’etat De nouvelle york nous ont Reçus Comme Citoyens Dans Cette province, et quil nous ont Donnée Charitablement Certaine quantité de Tere pour nous y établir, et Que Tous Les frais tant Que De L’arpentage et Des patentes signé par Le Gouverneur De Cette province seroit payée par nous Refugiers Canadiens.
J’ose Représenter a votre Excellence Qu’une partie des Dittes Terres ont Eté mesurée et payée par nous, aux arpenteur, et, Comme il s’en trouve qui sont occupé par L’ennemis, Cela est Cause Que nous N’en pouvont pas jouir, Entendue Quil nous En est Empechée par L’Ennemis Commun du Canada.
Nous avont Ensuitte été averti qu’il nous falloit au premier de Novembre prochain, aller Chercher nos patentes Chez le Gouverneur Clinton ou a faute De Quoy si nous n’avions pas De Quoy Les Payer, Que Les Terres Qui nous ont Eté promises Nous seroit ôtée.
J’ose dire Quapres avoir vue De meilleur jour que Cela est Tres sensible faute De moyens, et apres avoir perdue moi même mes Biens Du Canada pour Le soutiens Commun Des Etats, helas je ne Demende pas De si grand Biens Que L’on me Lesse La ou je suis avec seuretée, et Que L’on me Lesse Au moins finir En paix, un Restant De Misérable vie, Que jai Toujour Treinée De puis Que jai Eté Blessé a york town En Virginie.
J’ose prier votre Excellence, Comme Connoissant Quil a pour Les affligée un Coeur Remplié De Charitée, De vouloir Dire un mot a mon Egar Au Gouverneur Clinton votre Excellence Connoit Tres Bien Toutte Les peinnes Que jai Essuyée pendant La Guerre pour Donner Les jntelligences Du Canada avec La plus Grande exactitude et fidelité possible je ne Demande Qu’un peu D’Egar pour ma situation présente.
Pour moi qui est Dans une perpetuelle admiration De vos Bontée, je ne sçai aussi Que Garder Le silence Respectueux si Ce n’est que vous me permettiez de Le Rompre pour vous assurer par trois fois trois De La plus profonde soumission avec Laquel je suis De votre Excellence Votre Tres Humble et Tres obéissant Serviteur
Clement Gosselin
ALS, DNA:PCC, item 78.
During the Revolution a number of Canadians, in response to American circulars and appeals to the local inhabitants for aid, supported the Americans with supplies and important military information. When the Canadian expedition failed, many of these residents accompanied the retreating American army from Canada. Some joined the American forces, often serving in James Livingston’s 1st Canadian Regiment or, as did Clement Gosselin (1747–1816), in Moses Hazen’s 2d Canadian Regiment. During the Canadian campaign Gosselin joined Hazen’s regiment with the rank of captain and, in addition to acting as recruiting officer at Ste. Anne de la Pocatière, performed valuable service as a spy. He served with the army until 1783. After the war many of the Canadian expatriates settled with their families in various sections of New York State. Most were impoverished and all expected recompense for their efforts on behalf of the United States during the war. As early as August 1783 Congress voted subsistence for a number of the Canadians and recommended that they be given citizenship in New York State ( 24:496–98). Although a committee, ordered to look into the increasing number of petitions for aid, reported to Congress in June 1784 that the United States was not legally obliged to compensate the Canadians for their losses, it suggested that their services “entitle them to the gratitude and attention of these States and that from motives of humanity as well as policy it is advisable to give them such compensation as will relieve their distress” (ibid., 26:75). In October 1788 a committee reporting to Congress on the state of the War Department noted that “It appears by information from the Secretary at War who has directed the business since the year 1785 that the United States for Several years past have been at a great expence in supporting many Canadian families who had taken refuge within the state of New york when the American troops abandoned Canada in the year 1776. That the remnants of the people of this description were transported in 1786 by order of Congress at the public expence to certain lands on Lake Champlain granted to them by the state of New York and there supported with rations of provisions at the expence of the United States until the first September 1787” (ibid., 34:591–92). By mid–1787 Gosselin had settled on the Lake Champlain lands. For a description of the settlement, see Gosselin and others to Congress, 13 Aug. 1787 (DNA:PCC, item 42). On 23 Dec. GW wrote to Gosselin, mistakenly acknowledging his letter of “7th of September, in which you request my interference or assistance to obtain for you a title to Land ceded by the State of New York to the Canadian Refugees. Notwithstanding it is my sincere wish that all those who suffered losses, or rendered services to the American cause, in the late war, should be suitably recompensed & rewarded—yet my present situation forbids any interference, on my part, with the doings of an individual State, unless called thereto by my official duty; I have therefore directed a copy of your letter to be given to Governor Clinton who is undoubtedly acquainted with the circumstances of the case which you have stated” (copy, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters). The 130,000–acre tract intended for Canadian and Nova Scotian refugees, located east of New York State’s Old Military Tract, later “reverted to the state by reason of nonoccupation” ( 5:189). A “Map of the State of New York Showing . . . Land Grants[,] Patents and Purchases” indicating the location of the grant is at the end of Flick, History. Gosselin returned to Canada in 1802, but from 1815 until his death he was living in Clinton County, N.Y. ( 121–22).