Post-Loyalist Settlement II (1830 - 1867)

Information for the use of Military and Naval Officers proposing to settle in the British Colonies, 1834

Document Summary:

This document is a copy of an advertisement circular handed out in 1834 to British military and naval officers interested in settling in British North America. It says that military personnel can no longer receive free land in the colony, but they can qualify for a partial refund on their land purchases based on a scale according to their rank (either officer, captain or subaltern) and the number of years they have spent in service (between seven and 25 years or above).

This offer, however, does not extend to military chaplains, midshipmen, warrant officers and other minor ranking officers. Retired officers having left the military service for over a year are also excluded. Those who want to retire from military service in order to settle in the colonies need a special certificate.

The circular also notes that military officers cannot take land in the colonies without settling on it first. To prevent infractions of this rule, land titles are to be withheld from officers for a period of two years.