INDIAN AFFAIRS: LAWS AND TREATIES

Vol. III, Laws     (Compiled to December 1, 1913)

Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1913.

PART IV.—

Deed to William Penn
Agreement, State of Pennsylvania with Six Nations, 1789
Deed to State of Pennsylvania, 1789
Unratified treaty with Tuscarora Nation, 1803
Unratified agreement with Gros Ventres, 1863
Unratified agreement with Shawnees, 1867
Unratified agreement with River Crows, 1868

{Page 700}

DEED FROM THE SIX NATIONS OF INDIANS TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

January—, 1789.

Know all men by these presents, that we, the undersigned chiefs, warriors, and others, representing the following-named tribes of the Six Nations, to wit: the Ondawagas, or Senecas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Onondagas and Oneidas, for, and in consideration, of the sum, of two thousand dollars, to us in hand paid, by Richard Butler and John Gibson, Esquires, Commissioners for, and in behalf of, the State of Pennsylvania, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and we, for ourselves, our tribes, our and their heirs and successors, are therewith fully paid and satisfied: have granted, bargained, sold, and assigned over, and, by these presents, do grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, quit claim, and assign over, unto the said State of Pennsylvania, all our and their right, title, claim, and interest of, in, and to, all that tract of country situate, lying, and being, within the territory of the United States, bounded on the south by the north line or boundary of the State of Pennsylvania, on the east by the western line or boundary of the State of New York, agreeably to an act of cession of the said State of New York and the State of Massachusetts, to the United States; and on the north, by the southern shore, or margin of lake Erie, including Presqu&apo#146; Isle, and all the bays and harbors along the shore or margin of the said lake Erie, from the west boundary of the said State of Pennsylvania, to where the west line, or boundary, of the State of New York, may cross or intersect the southern shore, or margin, of the said lake Erie: to have and to hold the said tract, as above described, with all its appurtenances and advantages, to the only proper use and behoof of the said State of Pennsylvania, forever, under, and subject to the provisos and reservations made and agreed upon in behalf of ourselves and our tribes, their heirs and successors, mentioned in certain articles of agreement, made and concluded with the aforesaid Richard Butler and John Gibson, Esquires, commissioners for, and in behalf of, the said State of Pennsylvania; which articles were signed by the aforesaid chiefs and commissioners interchangeably, before the executing and signing of this deed.

In testimony whereof, we, the said chiefs, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this___day of January, in the year of our Lord 1789.

Senecas	Gyantwachia, or the Corn-planter, Gyashota, or the Big Cross, Kanassee, or the New Arrow, Achiout, or the Half Town, Anachkout, or the Wasp, Chishekoa, or the Wood Bug, Sessewa, or the Big Bale of a Kettle, Sciawhowa, or the Council Keeper Tewanias, or the Broken Twig, Souachshowa, or the Full Moon, Cachunevasse, or Twenty Canoes,	+     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S.
Tuscarora Chief	Hichonquash, or Tearing Asunder,	+     L.S.
Senecas	Cageahgea, or Dogs about the Fire, Sawedowa, or the Blast, Kiondashowa, or Swimming Fish,	+     L.S. +     L.S. +     L.S.
Onandago Chief	Oncahye, or the Dancing Feather,	+     L.S.
Cayugas	Soahaes, or Falling Mauntain, Otachsaka, or Broken Tomahawk,	+     L.S. +     L.S.
Oneida Chief	Tekahiefs, or the Long Tree,	+     L.S.
Seneca Chief	Onesechter, or the Leaded Man,	+     L.S.
Munsey Chiefs	Kiatulahoh, or the Snake, Aqueia, or the Bandy Legs,	+     L.S. +     L.S.
Senecas	Kiandoch-gowa, or Big Tree, Owenewah, or Thrown-in-the-water,	+     L.S. +     L.S.

{Page 701}

N. B.—The two Munseys signed as being residenters on the land, but not owners.
R. BUTLER.

In the presence of

AR. ST. CLAIR,
JOS HARMAR, Lt. Col. Com. 1st U. S. Regt. and Brig. Gen. by brevet.
DAVID ZEIGLER, Captain 1st U. S. Regt.
WINTHROP SARGENT.
JOHN TRACEY.
N. McDOWELL, Ensign.
JACOB MELCHER, Cadet 1st U. S. Regiment.
JOSEPH NICHOLSON.

Be it remembered, that, on the 29th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1790, and in the fifteenth year of the independence of the United States of America came personally, Joseph Nicholson, one of the witnesses within named, before the Hon. Thomas McKean, Esq. Doctor of Laws, chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania, and made oath, on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that he was present, and saw the twenty-four grantors, in the within deed named, make the signatures or marks to the said deed, and seal and deliver the same, as their act and deed, voluntarily, and freely; and that the said deponent subscribed his name as a witness to the execution thereof; and that he also saw the other seven witnesses subscribe their names within written, respectively, to the same deed; and that the name, Joseph Nicholson, thereto subscribed, is of his own proper hand-writing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Philadelphia, the same day and year aforesaid.
THOMAS McKEAN.

Recorded in the office for the recording of deeds, &c. for the city and county of Philadelphia, in Deed Book, No. 31, page 184.

Witness my hand, and seal of office, the 5th day of May, 1792.
MATHEW IRWIN, Rec.

A true copy from the original.
JAMES TRIMBLE, Deputy Secretary.

Secretary’s Office, Philadelphia, June 30th, 1794.

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