Dorcus Freeman

     Dorcus Freeman was the daughter of John Freeman. Dorcus Freeman married John Scott, son of Walter Scott and Mary (?), on 28 August 1784 at Christ Church Anglican, Montreal, Montreal Co, Quebec.¹ Dorcus Freeman married Joseph Higgins on 21 February 1799 at St Gabriel's Presbyterian, Montreal, Montreal Co, Quebec.
     On 11 October 1796, Dorcus Freeman, widow of John Scott, appealed to the court to appoint a tutor for her children by that marriage. She names Jane Scott, aged 8, John Scott, aged 6, Richard, aged 2 1/2. The notary appears to be P.L. Panet, but this document was located within the Tutelles et Curatelles for that time period.
On 21 February 1799, there was a marriage contract drawn before notary, Louis Chaboillez, between Joseph Higgins and Dorcus Scott.
Dorcus and her second husband, Joseph Higgins, petitioned the court regarding land previously owned by the late John Scott in 1801. These three tracts of land were all about four acres wide by 28 acres deep in the second concession of the seigniory of Noyan [Lots 1, 5 and 7]. There were about 60 acres cleared and fenced and a wooden house and barn situated on Lot #1. Joseph and Dorcus Higgins "find the rent of the said land so high as they pay at the rate of nine dollars and a half per hundred acres and the expenses of clearing, cultivating and keeping in repair the fences and buildings thereon so heavy that they greatly exceed the revenue therefrom". The petitioners stated that it was beyond them to hold the land any longer and in the best interest of Dorcus's minor children to sell this land. After friends and relatives deliberated over the situation they agreed it would be best to sell the land and the court granted permission to Dorcus as tutrix of her minor children. Among those who agreed were Calvin May subguardian to the children and Thomas Scott, their paternal uncle.