On January 15, 1917 Ben S Mellott claimed a patent for his homestead at NW Quarter Section of Section number 10, in Township 64, Range 21 West of the 4 Meridian.
Transcription of Homestead Patent:
1st Page - See original at:
https://archive.org/stream/albertahomestead2401cana#page/n274/mode/1up
2nd page - See original at:
https://archive.org/stream/albertahomestead2401cana#page/n277/mode/1up
B.B
30-3-17
Sworn Statement of Ben S. Mellotte in support of his application for Homestead Patent for the N. W. Quarter of Section 15 Township 64 Range 21 W of the 4 Meridian.
1. What is your name in full, age, occupation and Post Office address?
Ben Smith Mellotte 27 Farmer Colinton
2. (1) Are you a British subject at the present time and (2) have you always been one (3) are you a British subject by Birth, Naturalization or Repatriation?
Note: If by naturalization or repatriation certificate must be furnished. If through parents, certified copy certificate required or description of land homesteaded by Father or Mother.
(1) Yes (2) No born in U.S.A. (3) By naturalization
3. (a) When did you obtain homestead entry (b) when did you build your house thereon, and (c) when did you commence actual residence thereon?
505233 (a) November 24th 1913 (b) December 1913 (c) March 15th 1914
Residence on Homestead
4. What portion of each year since commencement of residence have you lived upon the land, giving actual dates?
March 15th 1914 to May 15th 1914
July 1st 1914 to October 8th 1915
November 20th 1915 to December 14th 1915
June 20th 1916 to present time
5. When absent from your homestead, where have you resided and what has been your occupation?
1914 at Athabaska working for H. B. Co
1915 + 16 farming at Killam
6. Of whom do your family consist? When did they first commence residence upon the homestead, and for what portion of each year since that date have they resided upon it?
Wife + two children
Same dates as myself
Vicinity Residence
7. If residence has been performed on land owned by yourself or duly authorized relative, describe such land.
CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION 12-2-1
RECEIVED AND RETURNED TO HOMESTEADER
8-5 17 Ref 3895660
Homestead Inspector’s report asked for an account of heavy clearing
8. How much breaking have you done upon your homestead in each year since you obtained entry, and how many acres have you cultivated each year?
Year 1914 Broke 1 ¼ acres, nil cropped acres
Year 1915 “ 12 “ 7 “ “
Year 1916 “ 3 ½ “ 9 “ “
Year 19 “ “ “ “
Year 19 “ “ “ “
9. What stock of which you are the owner have you had on your homestead each year since date of perfecting entry?
Year 1914 Cattle 1 Horses Sheep Hogs
Year 1915 “ 2 “ “ “
Year 1916 “ 2 “ “ 1 “
10. What is the size of your house on your homestead, of what material, and what is its present cash value?
Log house 14 x 26 value $200
11. What other building have you erected on your homestead? What other improvements have you made thereon, and what is the cash value of the same?
Log barn 11 x 26 value $45.00
Well $20.00
12. What extent of fencing have you made on your homestead, and what is the present cash value thereof?
250 rods value $50.00
13. Are there any indications of minerals or quarries on your homestead? If so, state nature of same and whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than any other purpose.
No Agricultural land
14. Have you had any other homestead entry? If so, describe it and say what became of it.
Yes for N.W. of 21. 64. 20 W of 4M - Abandoned
15. Have your mortgaged, assigned, or transferred, or agreed to mortgage, assign or transfer your present homestead or any part thereof? If so, when and to whom?
No except to Dominion Government for relief
Dominion of Canada
Province of Alberta
To Wit: see anty
I, Ben S Mellotte, do solemnly swear that the answers to the foregoing questions are true and correct in every particular. That I claim a Patent for the Homestead under the provisions of The Dominion Lands Act.
That I obtained an entry, and claim a Patent for the same for my own benefit, and not in the interest or for the benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever. SO HELP ME GOD.
SWORN before me at Athabaska
in the Province of Alberta
this 15th day of January A.D. 1917 Ben S. Mellott
having been first read over and explained to the said applicant.
Gertrude M. Rennison
Sub-Agent of Dominion Lands
Homestead Inspector for the Edmonton District
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I recommend the forgoing application for Patent, believing that the homestead requirements of The Dominion Lands Act have, in this case, been complied with.
Dated at Edmonton, March 13th A.D. 1917 Local Agent of Dominion Lands for Edmonton District. (scribbled signature)
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Accepted as sufficient Ottawa May 7 1917
(scribbled signature)
A letter dated July 27, 1917 and addressed to: Ben Smith Mellott, Esq, Colinton, Alberta; stated that: "I beg to inform you that a patent for N.W. 1/4 of Section 15 in Township 64 Range 21 West of the 4th Meridian, bearing date 12th June 1917 has been issued in your name, and that it has been forwarded to the Registrar of the Land Registration District of North Alberta who will issue the certificate of title upon receipt of your application to him therefor, and upon payment of proper fees, if any." That letter can be seen here: https://archive.org/stream/albertahomestead2401cana#page/n279/mode/1up
Sources & References
1 - Film # 2401 in Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta (pages 273 to 280)