2/26/1808, p. 1 |
Stephentown or Muhheconnuh 26 February 1808
My friend
I take this opportunity to inform you that we have left our hunting camp near White River and arrived here on the 16 Inst. will remain here until the latter end of next month, then we shall move back again to White River to attend a council with Delawares & other tribes of Indians.- We heartily thank you for the kindness which you had shown towards us in complying with my request.- I received your letter by my young men- the contents of it lays in my heart.- I will at this time say something- with regard of the Shawanoe prophet. On the 30. day of Nover last while we were at Waupekommoguah- in council house- Behold seven of the Socks- & Fox Indians arrived, from the Prophets Village- after they seated themselves- then the chief Warrior that was with them began to rehearse what the Prophet had said to them: It made my heart ache to see these ignorant Indians taking such pains- with engagedness in repeating every particular of the doctrine of the impostor to which they strongly believe- After the speaker made an end of speaking- I and the head Warriors of the Delawares who were then present made a short reply- contradicting the aforesaid doctrine- let the socks know that the prophet is a mere Liar & that in future day they shall find our word to be true &c.
Now my friend, In order to cut off the Emissaries influence from among the different tribes of Indians- I had taken pains while I was with the Delawares to convine them thoroughly of his errors- I explain to them the nature of the Devil- & relate some instances what his false prophets & teachers have done from all ages- And even what Mahomet had done, how he gave a sword to his followers to destroy all those who have refused to follow his word- that they consequently, destroyed Thousands,- And in plain words I told them that the Shawanoe Prophet is (in my belief) detuated by the same Malicious, Revengful, Envious- devilish spirit, that he will of course give a Tomhawk to his followers to destroy all those who have shut their Ears against his Relegion- even the Delawares as well as others- Then I cautioned them, & they agree with me, on this subject- I firmly believe they will co-opperate with me, when I come to execute my plan for the same-
2/26/1808, p. 2 |
and I hope by the help of the Great & Good Spirit, we may do good to the
ignorant Tribes, in opening, the right path for them-
Just before we started from our hunting Camp, one of the Chief Warriors of the Delawares, came to see us- among other things he told us that Captain Beaver had been to visit the prophet a few days since- That he heard the Prophet declaring his intentions of moving to Wabash early next spring- That after he should seat himself there- Then he shall turn his eyes towards shawanoe-Town & Waupekommequah &c (then Beaver remembers the caution which I give them) Then the Prophet told him he was displeased with the conduct of Capt. Wells- in stretching his arms so wide, to stop many of the Indians that would come to worship the great Spirit with their brother at Green Ville- Therefore a rope should be fixed on his neck for the great wickedness in so doing- and further he told Beavor that he had been to white peoples settlement to see a great man and request him to write to the Quakers, that Capt. Wells should be put out of his office- I told my informer the prophet would breath out threatenings as long as he can, he had laid a foundation to do mischief.-
My friend it is very hard living here where I and companions have not raised any thing, depending up on our guns for our sustenance & the game is so much thine'd by the many constant hunters we could scarsely kill enough to support our daily wants- I may yet be induced again to look to you as a friend for some relief- I think I shall come to see you first before we go to White River- in the mean time I wish you would send a few lines of information to me with regard of war affairs &c- and some new papers if you can spare them- and further I would be glad if you would speak to our grand Children the Miamies to our favour as you may have an opportunity to see them- because it would be very hard if they should try to with hold the Land from us- which their fore-Fathers have firmly & legally granted to our Ancestors,- and my nation have- claimed the same ever since, and their bones testify the truth of this to this day. They & we have chosen this tract along this River- we do not ask any new thing- Just only to have our covenant with them renovated- which on our part was done in the year 1803- legally & openly according to the customs of the Indians.-
2/26/1808, p. 3 |
My friend I mingle my tears of condolence with yours in meeting great
afflictions of late- I know what it is.- for I likewise had the experience of
loseing dear Sons & Daughters by death- I will tell as a dear friend, that
you & I ought never to murmur or repine when we are chastened by our God,
who hath given all & can take away and we ought to learn the lesson from
such afflictions.- and in plain word if we should despise his Rod we may be
hardened into sin, and finally be lost forever.-
May the God of heaven give you grace to exercise patiences & to have much consolations.-
|
From your friend
|
Capt. William Wells
2/24/1820, p. 1 |
A Bill
Confirming the title of the Mohiccan or Stockbridge nation of Indians to certain lands
_____
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled That the title of the Mohiccan or
Stockbridge nation of Indians in and to one equal and undivided third part of
the lands situate on White River which were heretofore granted by the Miami
nation to the Delawares, Mohiccan, and Munsee tribes be and the same is hereby
confirmed by the United States to the said Mohiccan nation and their
Descendants forever. Dec. 2d And be it further enacted That
the President of the Untied States be and is hereby authorized to appoint one
or more commissioners in behalf of the United States who shall be empowered to
adjust and settle with the Mohiccan nation the boundaries of the tract of land
so granted and to set off to the said nation in severalty to them one equal
third part thereof so as to include their improvements on such other portion of
the said tract as they may consent to receive as an equivalent for their claim
to the lands included in the said grant.
1/16/1821, p. 1 |
Know all Men by these Presents. That we the chief principal men and Warriors of
the Muhheconnuk or Stockbridge Indians, in behalf of ourselves and Tribe, have
made, ordained, constituted and appointed: And, do, by these presents, make,
ordain, constitute and appoint Jacob Konkapot and Solomon U. Hendrick, our true
and lawfull attornies, for us and in our names to go and hold a treaty with his
Excellency, the President, of the United States with regard of our lands on the
White River, in the State of Indiana. And to sell all our right title or claim
which we have in sd State of Indiana to the United States only
reserving such quantity of land, if possible, for our Tribe, as shall be agreed
upon by His excellency, the President and our said attornies
And we hereby give and grant to our said attornies our whole and full power, in and concerning the premises, and will ratify and confirm any treaty which they may make with His excellency the President of the United States. And on such terms as shall be agreed upon by our said attornies with His Excellency the President.-
In witness where of we have hereunto set our hands at New Stockbridge, in a council, this 16th day of January In the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred & twenty one years-
Signed and delivered in presence of
|
John Mohawk [?] |
Sachem |
Hendrick Aupaumut |
|
|
In behalf of the whole Tribe. |
2/12/1821, p. 1 |
|
Washington Feby 12th 1821 |
Sir
A deputation of the Mohiccan or Stockbridge nation of Indians residing in the State of New York have arrived in this city for the purpose of treating with the United States relative to their claim to a part of the country (situate on White River in the State of Indiana) ceded to the United States by the Delaware nation of Indians on the 3d day of October 1818 at a treaty held at Saint Mary's.
The grounds on which the Mohiccans believe their claim to be well founded for some indemnity from the United States are detailed in the enclosed papers. The Bill reported in the House of Representatives was lost. The proceedings on the Subject are to be found in the Journal H. R. 1st session of the 16. Cong. page 126. The deputation have requested me to lay the subject on their behalf before the Executive Department
|
I am, Sir, with great Respt |
The President of
the United States
2/27/1821, p. 1 |
To the Honb J. C. Calhoun Secy of War.
Sir.
We will once address you again on the subject of our claims which we have always considered were just, and inform you that as Congress will probably rise in the course of a few days, there is no likelihood of accomplishing any thing before that honb Body. And it would be useless to attempt any thing in Congress, at this time, not that we consider our claims to be unjust. And, moreover, will inform you, (which you probably know already,) that last year, the Committee to whom our petition was refer'd reported to restore twenty five miles square of land to our Nation; but as the House was divided about the Missouri Bill, they had no time to consider our case, and the bill in our favor was finally rejected at the third reading 52 to 90-
Our Nation were in hopes that at this session of Congress, the House would be more united and consequently they would probably have better opportunity to ascertain our rights or claims &c. But since our arrival here we have found to our great regret. That Congress were again much divided about the same Missouri. And now since there things are in this situation. We wanted once more ask you whether you or the Goverment will not allow us some compensation in money for our claims. It is not-probable that we ever will trouble the Goverment about these claims any more. And we now desire to know whether you & the great President of the United States do not think we are entitled at least to a small compensation. Will you not even give our Nation something to dry up their tears for their lost inheritance?
We think since the goverment Will not let us have at least small quantity of land that, if justice take place we ought receive some renumeration in money. You may recollect, sir, you desired us to state our proposition to you what we would take in order to relinquish our claims. And we then understood you that we would be allowed something for our claims- We accordingly stated our proposals, in writing, to you. But now we are assured nothing can be done. That it was for Con-
2/27/1821, p. 2 |
gress to settle with us. And they also say that it was for the President to
settle with us-
We have now one more proposition to offer. We think, since you told us, you have given full compensation to the Delawares for those lands, we ought at least have half of the yearly annuity paid forever to our tribe: As our tribe have never received any share of their Money Besides the Delawares had already received large sums of money for those very lands.
It is now our earnest desire that arrangements might be made by, our father, the President and you. So that we may receive so much of the yearly annuity allowed the Delaware at the last treaty. as is already stated by us that is, at least, one half. The Delawares are furnished with land, on the West of the Mississippi, but we are not.
|
Washington City. |
Jacob. Kunkapot |
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