PQ US

For these offences they were tried before Justice Philipe de Jean, and were convicted of the theft, but the other crime was not proven. They might just as well, however, have been convicted of both offences, for Justice de Jean sentenced th«m both to be hanged, which sentence was promptly executed, Our worthy judicial dignitary was evidentiy not addicted to “hair spiitting,” so far as related to the powers of minor judicial officers. It is a bies<el thing for certain purties that Detroit justices of the present day are not duly vested with the power of drawing upon Kentucky hemp in the same way. If such were the case it would be found in due time that if they had “ no friends to reward ” they had at least “ enemies to punish” The most salient point connected with the affair was that in this case the punishm nt harmonized with English criminal practice, and that was the end of it. It was certainly the end of M. Contencineau and Miss Wylie.

The younger James Abbott derived his judicial title from his appointment as one of the “ lay ” judges technically so called. In the op'nion of some of our most eminent judicial experts, one of the very best Supreme Court Judges that Michigan ever had upon her bench, graduated as one of these lay judges.

Judge Abbott had, at one time, considerable interest in the lake marine and owned a warehouse on the present site of that of Brady & Co. He was the first postmaster of Detroit, nnd was in office when the Jackson administration came to the front, when he was removed to make way for the Hon. John Norvell, subsequently United States Senator. The colloquy between the outgoing and incoming Knights of the Mail was both laconic and classic, exemplifying the good humor and bonhomie of both gentlemen.Mr. Norvell, upon entering the office to make known his mission, said :

‘My name is Norvell,” To this the Judge instantly replied :

“ I regret that you did not remain on the Grampian Hills.”

The Post Office was then located upon the present site of the store of H : P. Baldwin & Co.

Robert Abbott was the first Auditor-General of the State of Michigan, which office he held from 1836 to 1839. The fact is not universally known that the State government of Michigan really dates from Novemb:r, 1835 although not formally recognized by Congress until 1837. This proposition is based upon the original compact, which Congress did not possess the power to override in case of the necessary steps being taken to form a State government. In this connection may be appropriately given one of the most interesting examples, in a legal or constitutional point of view, ever known in our history as to the complex nature of our government, so far as concerns the relation to each other of the powers of the State and Federal authorities. The State Legislature of Michigan, in March, 1836, incorporated the Detroit Young Men's

MER à net

Society. The Judges of the Territory of Michigan, on July 1, 1836, granted a lot of land to that corporation which had thus been chartered by the State. A question as to the validity of the title having arisen, the gordian knot was severed in a way that might have cnused n decided sensation if powerful conflicting elements had been at issue. The grant was held valid on the ground that Michigan was a Territory de jure so long as any “ part or parcel ” of the Territorial status continued, which it did until the Territory of Wisconsin was set apart, which was on July 4, 1836, just three days after the making of the grant, Thus the anomaly was presented of a State and Territory exiting-in law-—-at one and the same time.

Rotert Abbott died in 1852. Samuel, the third of the brothers, resided in Mackinac, and was for a time collector of that district,

Judge James Abbott was happy in all the relations of life and notably so in the enjoyment of the respect and confidence of the community in which he so long had moved. He passed quietiy away, as above stated, in 1858 at the good old age of 83. Although his corporeal part had become too weak to contend with the Paule Genius to whom all must yield, he was well equipped for the voyage to the LU’nknown Shore.

So fades the summer cloud away, So sinks the gale when storms are o'’er, So gently shuts the eye of day, So dies the wave along the shore.”’

Reference has been made, at least inferentially, to the Abbotts as the possessors of good qualities. Tried by the old principle of judging men by the company they kcep, thrir standing would seen to be very high Wih the single exception of the immortal Washington, there were no worthier names in our history than those of some of the men who have had business connections with the Abbotts, especialiy Cols. Hamtramek and Francis Vigo, in conjunction with whom the famous Burnet family, of Ohio, may appropriately be placed. The elder Abbott was in partnership with Messrs. Vigo and Burnct in a number of important enterprises. For the information of those who may not have been close students of our frontier annals, it may be stated thai it was Col. Vigo who planned the capture of Vincennes in the revolutionary war, an achievement that was executed by the famous George Rogers Clark, and that it was the same Ool. Vigo who also furnished Gen, Clark with the money and supplies necessary to keep his army tog:ther. There is à reverse, and

- hardly so bright a side, to the picture. Col, Vigo's heirs petitioned for reimbursement, of the money thus paid out by their immortal ane:stor, and it was just ninety-nine years from the date of the capture referred to when they received their award, the result being finally reached through the action of the Supreme Court, It is such performances as these that keep the aphorism of the ingratitude of republics from dyÿing out.

Mr, E. V. Sicotte saw Col, Vigo in Vincennes as late as 1839.

A fur-trading company called the “ Miami Company ” was for a time in existence managed by James Abbott, Col. Vigo, a Mr. Park, and Mr. Meldrum, of Detroit.

A liberal share of the material of which this brief sketch is framed has been kindly supplied by the Hon. James V. Campbell. It seems somewhat strange that with so inviting a field as that offered by Detroit for the presentation of historical reminiscences, up to this time so little has been matured beyond the rich stores supplied by Judge C. and one or two other eminent citizens during their brief respites from judicial or professional labors. The traditions that have come down to us from the dim past ; the stirring events, the perils aud triumphs of grim-visaged war ; the supremest peril of the Pontiac era ; the surrender of 1812, a disgrace only to him who disgraced himself ; the squadrons of Harrison, Shelby and Johnson forming in hot haste to seek the flying foe and wipe out the stain ; the Detroit memories of all these and hundreds of other things, ought, ere this, to have been properly en<hrined under the patronage of the Historic Muse. But, most happily, the neglect will early be atoned for. It is known that in a few days there wili be issuel from the Detroit press, from the pen of a Detroit lady and embellished by a Detroit artist, a collection of beautiful legends molded, as it were, by Roniance’s weird incantations, yet all glowing and fresh as dripping with Castalia’s chastest dews. Ju a short time anoter work will be brought out comprising a complete history of the City of the Straits, the work of one whose untiring industry and conscientious appreciation of the nature of his almost herculean task would richly deserve recognition, even if his aftectionate enthusiasm for his themes did not. Truly, between these two works Detroiters have much in store for them.

Ci-suit le tableau généalogique de eette famille,

JAMES I, born about 1725, at Dublin, Ireland ; settled at Detroit 1764 ; married 1769-70, Baroness Van Brocklowe, of Dutch desceut (Mohawk Dutch), died 1800, issue :-—

1. Many, born, dec. 1770; married, Dec. 10th, 1789, to Win. Hands, born at Bethnal-Green, near London, England, August 10th, 1756; Sheriff and Registrar of Essex, Kent and Lambton, who died at Sandwich, February 20, 1836; She died there, December 22nd, 1860.—A:n, their daughter, born May 24th, 1793, macried Jenn-Bte, Bâby, May 5th, 1817.—Frances, born, April 18th, 1795, murried Lieut. John Alexander Wilkinson, May 5th, 1815, and died, May 10th, 1S4S — Julia, born, December 9th, 1805, married Charles Bâby, barrister, and died, September 19th, 1843.

2. JAMES IT (Judge Abbott) born 1772, married Sarah Whistler, from Fort- Wayne, Indiana, and died 1558, aged 86.

3 Ronert, born 1773, married Miss Audrain, of Detroit, ani died 1852, One of their daughters married E lward V, Sicotte, ex-Shoritf, Dotroit,

. SAMUEL, born 1775, married Miss. Ste-Croix, of St. Louis, and settled at

Mackinaw, she still living, 1888, at Green Bay, Wis.

5. FRANCES, born 1776, married François Bâby, of Windsor, 6. ELIZABETH, born 1777, married Hon. James Bâby, of Sandwich, and died,

The issue of James Abbott II.

. JAMES III, married to Miss. Ermatinger, of Windsor, still living at Windsor,

. Mapison, died of Cholera when young.

. WILLIAM, married Miss. Macomb ; he died and she imarried General Broad-

head, of Gross-Isle, CAROLINE, died at 18, SARAH, died at 10,