Sainte-Croix, Lotbinière, Québec, Canada
1832 - STE. CROIX,

seigniory, in the co. of Lotbiniere, is bounded N.E. by Bonsecours, Desplaines and St. Giles; S.W. by the S. of Lotbiniere and its aug. and the T. of Nelson; in the rear by the T. of Leeds; in front by the St. Lawrence. - The original title of this concession has not been found; but it appears, from the registers of fealty and homage, that a declaration, exhibited by a notary, proved that the Dames Religieuses Ursulines possessed the seigniory of Ste. Croix, containing one league in front by ten in depth, which was granted to them 16th Jan. 1637, and confirmed by M. Lauzon, the governor, 6th Mar. 1652: it still remains the property of the convent. - On the high and steep bank of the St. Lawrence the soil is a light-coloured loam, greatly improved by a very superior style of cultivation. Receding thence, the land decreases in height and the soil changes to a rich dark mould, which continues for some miles and then declines into extensive swamps, covered with cedar, hemlock, black ash and spruce fir: with the exception of the wet lands, the whole seigniory is abundantly clothed with fine timber of all sorts. No stream of magnitude is to be met with throughout the whole tract. The extent of nonconceded lands susceptible of cultivation is 2 leagues by 7 1/ 2. There is no road across these lands, nor have they been surveyed. The farms granted before 1759 were 2 or 3 arpents in front by 30 or 40 in depth, paying one sol for quit-tent, with fines on alienation, according the custom of Paris, besides 20 sols and a capon for each front arpent. - A considerable number of persons are in a state to make new settlements in this S., and the quality of the lands is in general excellent. It is thought that the lumber trade retards the settlement of land in this S. No one goes to settle in the townships, there being at present an abundance of unconceded lands in the S.

Population 1,566
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Corn-mills 1
Saw-mills 1
Notaries 1
Shopkeepers 2
Taverns 1
Artisans 18

A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

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