Queen Anne Petition 1708/9

THE FIRST LEDROS IN NEWFOUNDLAND

        QUEEN ANN PETITION 1709: The period 1689 to 1713 was one of great insecurity for the inhabitants of Newfoundland. The almost constant state of war between England and France in these years was reflected in French raids on St. John’s and the other English colonies, especially in Conception Bay and English retaliation in the form of attacks on St. Pierre, and French fishing stations on the southern Avalon and along the northern coast. The English outpost of Carbonear Island in Conception Bay resisted repeated attacks and capture by French forces. In December 1708/9 the French had captured St. John’s, and on January 6th the following petition was prepared for submission to the government in London by the inhabitants of Conception Bay who expected another attack from the French at any time.The gap in time between William LE DROS in 1708/9 and the next reference to a LEDROS - Mary LE DROS in the Plantation Book who cleared a plantation in Cupids in 1762 gives us a gap of fifty three years. This may be considered as two generations, the average duration of a generation is accepted as twenty five years. It would be most convenient if proof could be found showing that Mary LE DROS was married to William LE DROS’ grandson. Sadly, this link has not been found.

                CARBONEAR ISLAND IN NEWFOUNDLAND

           May it please our Gracious Queen Ann of Great Britain,
           France and Irland and Defender of ye faith

            We your Majesties most Loyall Subjects with humble Submission do send this express to give intelligence to your Gracious Majestie of ye unfortunate newes of the taking of your Majesties Fort at St. John’s the 21st of December anno Domini 1708/9 and your Castle surrounded ye next day following the Enemy where in number about one Hundred and Sixty, they received Little or none resistance and your majesties subjects are in a Deplorable Condition under Great Confinement in St. John’s, we your majesties Loyal! subjects that resides on this Island with by God's assistance Depend our selves from this party of french till your majestie will send us relief, which we humbly beg, to be with all expedition, for we understand by our spy’s that we have sent, that they are fortifying the fort now and that they have sent and express to france by a ship that they have in ye Country for more succor, we Humbly beg of your majestie to take it into Consideration to grant us relief with expedition, or else the french ships will be here to ye eternal! ruin of us your majesties subjects, and ye Loss of this little part of this province we possess.

            God preserve Queen Ann January ye sixth 1708/9

            (signed)

            WilIiam Boyes, George Davies

            Nick Guy,  Thomas Williams

            John Pike,  Thomas Pike

            Amary Chicke, William LeDros

            Samuel Hamon, Petter Brock

            Tho Rows, Thomas Whetdless

            Andrew Merken, Thomas Moorers

FOOTNOTES:

1 Source: Colonial Records, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador.

2. Provincial Archivist, David DAVIS, published an article on the Petition in The Newfoundland Ancestor, Volume 3, Number 4, Fall 1987, of the Newfoundland and Labrador Genealogical Society.

3.The Carbonear Historical Society,P.Q. Box 170, Carbonear, Nfld. ACA iTO. has reproductions of the Petition in their museum.20 The LeDrew Family History