The Refugee Tract
During the Revolutionary War many of the people living in Canada and other British Provinces, sym- pathized with the American patriots in their efforts to throw off the British yoke. For this "crime" of sym- pathy their presence became obnoxious to such of their neighbors as swore by the "divine right of kings." Things became so intolerable that they were obliged to abandon their homes and take refuge among their friends in the colonies. Their lands were confiscated. They were thus rendered homeless. Many of them entered the patriot army. When the war clouds had blown away and the in- dependence of the colonies was assured, it was no more than a matter of justice, that some means be inaug- urated for the reimbursement of these faithful friends. As early as April 23, 1783, and again on April 13, 1785, Congress passed resolutions, that as soon as they consistently could, ample grants of land would be made to remunerate the Refugees for their sacrifices in the cause of the colonies. Congress, however, had no land at its disposal, till after the organization of the Northwest Territory in 1787. It was not till eleven years later that final ac- tion was taken in the matter. On the 17th of April, 1798, Congress invited all "refugees" to file their claims with the Secretary of War and give a true and full account of their services and losses. Two years were given in which to file them. At the expiration of that time there were sixty-nine applicants. On the report of the Secretary of War Congress on February 18, 1801, appropriated about 100,000 acres. The land selected was a tract four and one-half miles wide, ex-77
tending from the Scioto on the west, toward the Mus- kingum on tine east, as far as necessary to contain the number of acres in the appropriation. There was some discussion in Congress as to where it should be located. It was a question whether it should be taken out of the Military Bounty or Congress Lands. It was finally compromised by taking a part out of each. The location was therefore made along the line be- tween these two tracts. The northern boundary of Perry county is that line. Two miles of the Refugee Land is in Perry and two and one-half miles in Lick- ing. On the east the Refugee Tract extended a short distance into Muskingum County. The four north- western sections of Madison township fall within the limit. As far as we are able to learn none of the patents issued to these claimants were ever located in Perry County. Only 65,280 acres were needed to sat- isfy the claims. To this must be added 5,000 acres more for school purposes. About 30,000 acres re- verted to the government.78