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DENONVILLE’s EXPEDITION TO THE GENESEE COUNTRY AND NIAGARA.

ACTE OF THE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS , CALLED

SENECAS, 19 JULY 1687.

[ Paris Doc. III. ]

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On the nineteenth of July, One thousand six hundred and eighty seven, the troops commanded byMessire Jacques Rene de Brisay Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Gover-nor and Lieutenant General for the King throughout the whole of Canada and country of NewFrance, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Calliere, Governor of Montreal in said country, Com-mandant of the camp under his orders,and of Philip de Rigaud,Chevalier de Vaudreuil,Commandantof the King’s troops, which being drawn up in the order of battle, Charles Aubert Sieur de la Che-nays citizen of Quebec , deputed by Messire Jean Bochart, Chevalier, Seigneur de Champigny, Norvy,Verneuil and other places, Privy Councilor to the King, Intendant of Justice, Police and Finance, inall Northern France, presented himself at the head of the army, who stated and declared that on therequisition of the said Seigneur de Champigny, he took possession of the village of Totiakton, as hehas done of the other three villages of Gannagaro, Gannondata and Gannongarae, and of a Fort halfa league distant from the said village of Gannagaro, together with all the lands in their vicinity asmany and how far soever they may extend, conquered in His Majesty’s name, and to that end hasplanted in all the said Villages and Forts His said Majesty’s Arms and has caused to be proclaimedin loud voice, Vive le Roi ,after the said troops had beaten and routed eight hundred Iroquois Senecas,and laid waste, burnt and destroyed their provisions and cabins. Whereof and of what precedes,the said Sieur de la Chenays Aubert has required an Acte; granted to him by me Paul Dupuy Esq.Councilor of the King and his Attorney at the Provost’s Court of Quebec: Done at the said Villageof Totiakton, the largest of the Seneca Villages in presence of the Rev d Father Vaillant, Jesuit , andof the Officers of the Troops and of the Militia Witnesses with me, the said King’s Attorney under-signed, the day and year above mentioned, and have signed the Minute, Charles Aubert de la Che-nays, J. Rene de Brisay Monsieur de Denonville, Chevalier de Calliere, Fleutelot de Romprey, deDesmeloizes, de Ramezay; Francois Vaillant of the Society of Jesus , de Grandville, de Longueil, SaintPaul and Dupuy.

TAKING POSSESSION OF NIAGARA BY MONSIEUR DE DENONVILLE.

[ Paris Doc. III.]

Jacques Rene de Rrissay Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Governorand Lieutenant General for the King in the whole extent of Canada and Country of New France.

This day, the last of July of the year One Thousand Six hundred and Eighty seven, We declareto all whom it may concern, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Calibres, Governor of Montreal inthe said Country and Commandant of the Camp under our orders, and of Philippe Derigaud, Che-valier de Vaudreuil, Commanding the King’s troops, being encamped with all the army at the post ofNiagara, returning from our expedition against the Seneca villages, that being come to the camp ofNiagara situate south of Lake Ontario west of the Senecas, twenty-five leagues above them, inthe angle of land East of the mouth of the River of the same name, which is the outlet of Lake