As I was researching information for the article that I was writing about the General Land Office surveys of Town and Village Lots (see post of April 10, 2012), I came across an interesting deposition given by Robert McCay of the Town of New Madrid, Missouri, and recorded by Theodore Hunt, the U. S. Recorder of Land Titles in Missouri, while hearing claims and testimony pertaining to Town and Village Lots in 1825. Spelling is as it appears in the minutes of Recorder Hunt. Source reference: Hunt's Minute Book #2, pages 154 and 155 (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Land Survey Repository microfiche location: 720/3198A1).
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John La Valleé’s legal representatives claim a square in the Village of New Madrid containing Lots No. 98, 99, 100 & 101. Bounded South by St. Margarette Street, West by St. Pie Street, North by Street St. Joseph & East by St. Laurent Street, containing about three hundred & Sixty feet in front by three hundred and Sixty feet in depth.
Robert McCay, being duly sworn, says He knows the lot and square claimed, this deponent says that AD Seventeen hundred Eighty Six, He this deponent was on his way to New Orleans from Post St. Vincennes, and in the month of December of that year he stopped at the place where the village of New Madrid now stands, at which time, there was not any persons living there, it being a perfect wilderson. This deponent further says, that in the Spring of the following year, being AD One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty seven, when He returned there was about twelve persons living on the spot where the village now stands, being employed in trading with the Indians. Among the number was Joseph Lesieur, this deponent further says that in seventeen hundred and Eighty nine, He was again at New Orleans, when the then Governor sent for Him & made enquirys as to the situation of the Place &c, and in the year of AD seventeen Hundred and ninety, Pierre Fouché arrived at this place and took command of the same, and named the village New Madrid, and then Built Fort Celeste, which was named thus, in compliment to the wife of Don Stephen Miro the Govr of Louisiana. From this time, this deponent has made the village of New Madrid his place of residence. This deponent further says that the place where Gov Morgan located himself AD Seventeen hundred and Eighty Eight, was below lake St. Ann being about One Mile below the sight of the present village of New Madrid and this deponent further says, that AD seventeen hundred and ninty four or five, the village of Little Prairie was settled by Francis Lesieur. AD 1793 Don Pierre Fouché was relieved by Don Thomas Portell as Commandant, AD 1796 Don T Portell was relieved as commandant by Don Carlos De hault Delassus, and AD 1798 Don C. D H Delassus was made Lieut Govr of Upper Louisiana and this deponent who commanded in the Spanish Naval service, remained in command of the Village until the arrival of Don _dré Pereux, who remained in command until a short time before the Country was ceded, when John B. La Valleé had command. And to the knowledge of this deponent, the Regulations of Moralles whas published about AD Eighteen hundred by the beat of the drum, reading it at the corners of the Streets, and afterwards putting up the order at some Public Place, as was allways done when Royal Orders where made public. This deponent furthers says that on the Morning of the seventeenth of December AD One thousand Eight hundred and Eleven the first Earthquake was felt, which was the one that destroyed the little prairie, but the one that did the material injury to the Village of New Madrid was not until the seventh of February following. This Deponent says that Earthquakes have continued from that time to this time, during the fall & winter. This deponent further says, that prior to, and on the twentieth of December Eighteen hundred & three, this square was possessed and occupied by John La Valleé, and that He occupied this same square until his death AD Eighteen hundred & nineteen.
Robert McCay
Sworn to before me
August 15, 1825
Theodore Hunt
Recorder L T
[Remark in Exhibit Private Claims for claim of John La Valleé, Hunt’s number 659 in the Surveyor General’s office: "In 1845 the Deputy Surveyor reported that this ground had been washed away by the Mississippi river."]
[For a copy of the Regulations of Morales referred to in this deposition, see American State Papers, Public Lands, Volume 3, page 432, No. 330. The American State Papers can be found by following the link to "U. S. Congressional Documents" under "Favorite Links" at right.]
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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible
