Lazarus Bourassa collection
Collection — Folder: S2458
Identifier: S2458
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photostatic copies of two deeds related to Lazarus Bourassa's land grant in St. Joseph County, Indiana. The first deed conveying the property to Richard R. Carlisle was signed by Bourassa and acknowledged by Israel H. Rush, justice of the peace of St. Joseph County, on June 24, 1835; was certified and signed by Indian agent Abel C. Pepper on July 13, 1836; and was approved and signed by President Andrew Jackson on October 4, 1836. The second deed released the property to John Egbert and was signed by Bourassa on September 19, 1839 and witnessed by Schuyler Colfax and John Wells, justice of the peace of LaPorte County. The originals were in the possession of Mrs. Rumley of New York City when copied by the Indiana State Library in March of 1945.
Dates
- 1835-1839
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Lazarus Bourassa was born in 1816 in Michigan, one of 12 children of Daniel II and Theotis Pisange Bourassa. He attended the Carey Mission School and was granted all the north east quarter of section 34, township 38 north, of range number 1 west containing 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana following the signing of a treaty between the United States and the Potowatomi people in October 1826. Bourassa sold his property to Richard R. Carlisle in 1835 and the town of New Carlisle was established on the land grant. Several of his family members were forcibly removed from Indiana on the "Trail of Death" in 1838. In 1839, Bourassa was living in White County, Indiana when he signed a deed of release for the St. Joseph County property. He relocated to Kansas sometime before his death in 1844 and was buried in Saint Mary's Mission Cemetery near Mound City in Linn County.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation. "Bourassa Family History." Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2020/09/16/bourassa-family-history.
FindaGrave.com. "Lazarus Bourassa." Find a Grave Memorial ID. Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36903994/lazarus-bourassa.
Mainlymichigan.com. "1826 Treaty with the Potawatami - Carey Mission." Native Americans of Michigan. Accessed December 7, 2022. http://www.mainlymichigan.com/Native%20Americans.1826-Treaty-with-The-Potawatami-Carey-Mission.ashx.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation. "Bourassa Family History." Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.potawatomi.org/blog/2020/09/16/bourassa-family-history.
FindaGrave.com. "Lazarus Bourassa." Find a Grave Memorial ID. Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36903994/lazarus-bourassa.
Mainlymichigan.com. "1826 Treaty with the Potawatami - Carey Mission." Native Americans of Michigan. Accessed December 7, 2022. http://www.mainlymichigan.com/Native%20Americans.1826-Treaty-with-The-Potawatami-Carey-Mission.ashx.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from a Mrs. Rumley on March 16, 1945.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2022/12/07 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2022/12/07 by Laura Eliason.
- Title
- Lazarus Bourassa collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671