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MICHIGAN CHAPTER 15 Michigan Under British Rule
WHILE the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard were in a state of ferment over the question of establishing their independence of the British crown the people of the settlement at Detroit took little or no interest in the affair. Lieutenant Governor Hamilton was in command, not only at Detroit but over all the western posts, and was most arbitrary in enforcing his authority, which appears to have been unlimited. An instance in point was the case of Garret Graverat, a former Albany merchant settled at Detroit. Apparently he had expressed some outspoken opinion not pleasing to the British commander. Thereupon he was arrested, without any formal complaint, so far as appears, and was compelled to give bail in the sum of four hundred pounds sterling, conditioned "that he does not correspond with, carry intelligence to, or supply any of his majesty's enemies, nor does anything detrimental to this settlement in particular, or against any of his majesty's good subjects, during the space of one year and one day, " etc. One Philip De-jean was appointed by Hamilton a justice of the peace and to him apparently was given jurisdiction in all matters, civil and criminal. In March 1776, there were brought before him a Frenchman named Jean Conten-cinau, charged with stealing furs from Abbott & Finch-ley, a commercial firm, and Ann Wyley, a negro slave, charged with stealing a purse of six guineas from the same, found on her person. Thereupon a jury of six Englishmen and six Frenchmen was empaneled and before them the case was tried. * They returned a verdict of guilty and upon this Dejean sentenced both to be hanged. The woman was reprieved, but the man was hanged a week later. Dejean was afterward made secretary to the lieutenant governor and was also appointed king's receiver, the most lucrative position in the province, so that he enjoyed not only great official distinction, but also emoluments of the highest profit.
MICHIGAN
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