Fort Folly History
Short Version-
Fort Folly and its members have a long history in the Maritimes.
Although the actual reserve, Fort Folly, didn't come into existence until 1840,
the Mi'kmaq people who came to reside on this reserve were habitating the area
for many thousands of years.
It is thought that the people followed the melt of the glaciers
up to this land about 12,000 years ago.
7,000 years ago, the people in the what is now considered the
Maritimes began identifying themselves as the Ni'kmaq (my kin/friends.) This
group included what are now referred to as Mi'kmaq, Beothuk, Maliseet,
Passamaquoddy, Eastern Abenaki, Montagnais, and Inuit. These People followed the
Nikmanen Law.
The Mi'kmaq organized themselves as a distinct group about 1,000
years ago.
In 1840, the New Brunswick Indian Act began the reserve system
that is still in place today. With that reserve system, Fort Folly was
created.
The best way to learn of some of the modern Fort Folly History is
to view the land claim submission which is being used to reclaim land that
wasn't properly disposed of at Beaumont, the original site of Fort Folly. That
document can be found here.
There is a list of Micmac Burials at Beaumont from the records of
St. Thomas Parish of Memramcook found here.
A genealogy trace of Chief Joe Knockwood to Francois-Xavier
Nocout can be found
here.
There are other documents related to the history of Fort Folly.
They will be added as time permits.