The Canadian and Nova Scotia Refugee Tract was created in 1783 by the New York Legislature to provide lands for the Canadian refugees who had sided with the colonies during the American Revolution. After proving that they had lived in New York for at least two years before November 1, 1782, these 252 refugees were granted lots of various sizes. The entire tract, which comprised 231,540 acres, lies in Clinton County. Although those of us who live in the county find it beautiful, many refugees opted either not to claim their lot or to sell it on after claiming it. 

Benjamin Mooers, however, was eligible to receive four of these lots after serving under his uncle, Moses Hazen, during the Revolution. Over time, while serving as the power of attorney for other grantees and inhabiting the lands, he bought many additional lots. By the time he was finished purchasing land, he owned 49,400 acres of the Canadian and Nova Scotia Refugee Tract, including a large portion of the town of Mooers, whose name honors him. 

Pliny Moore also bought many lots from the Tract. These lands, in combination with the 11,600 acres along the Big Chazy River granted to Moore for his service in the Revolutionary War, became the town of Champlain. 

See a map of the tract at the New York State Archives Digital Collections. 

Other sources related to this tract of land may be found at:

• "An Act further to provide for the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, and for other purposes"
• Biography of Moses Hazen
• "The Canadians After the War"
• "The Canadians of Clinton County: The First Franco-Americans"
• "Diverse North Country: Canadians of Clinton County," by Patrick Lacroix
• "First Town Meeting"
• "The Old Stone Store"
• "Refugee Soldiers, American Patriots: Canadians in the Quest for Independence," by Patrick Lacroix

Research by Logan M. Lavallee, as part of the Gardiner Foundation Semiquincentennial Summer Fellowship