USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 23
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 23
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 23
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4. That all persons may have reasonable inducements to lend, the lender shall have assurance that no greater sum shall be received than 33 3334 dollars on said fund. That government shall comply with the above enjoyment, and this Plan be recorded in the Recorder's office of Kaskaskia. JOHN TODD.
Todd's plan must have found favor with court, he ap- pointed Henry Crutcher commissioner and his record book contains the following :
COPY OF THE INSTRUCTION AND ON THE BORROWING FUND.
"SIR : You are hereby appointed a commissioner for borrow- ing money upon the Kohokia Fund. Inclosed is a copy of the Plan ; the design you'll observe is to abridge the quantity in circulation. The money paid in you will preserve until you shall be called upon for it. Let every man's money be kept apart with his name and quantity endorsed thereon. Keep a book to register the number, the person's name, the quantity of money, the dates your receipt thus :
KONOKIA FUND (NO. 1).
I do certify that I have received of the
sum of - Dollars which entitles the said to a proportionable quantity of land in the Kohokia Fund, or gold and silver, according to the Plan recorded in the Recorder's office of Kaskaskia. Witness my hand this - day of -, 1779.
HENRY CRUTCHER, Commissioner."
Mr. Crutcher's bond, in words and figures as follows is also recorded in said book, to wit :
" Know all men by these presence that we, Henry Crutcher, George Slaughter and John Boberts, are held and firmly bound unto Jno. Todd, Esq , Commander-in-Chief of the County of Illinois in the sum of thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars and one-third to be paid to the said John Todd or his successurs, to which payment
will truly be made, we do bind ourselves and each of our heirs, executors firmly by these presence. Sealed and dated this 14th day of June in the year 1779.
The condition of the above obligation is such if the above named Henry Crutcher, Commissioner of Funds, for bor- rowing certain sums of Continental and State currency shall at all times when required pay and account for all sums so received, and in all things comport himself agree- able to such rules and regulations as shall be adopted for prosecuting the same then the above obligations to be void otherwise in full force.
Test HENRY CRUTCHER.
RICH'D HARRISON. GEO. SLAUGHTER.
NEAL
RICH'D WINSTON. JOHN ROBERTS.
SEIL
From a proclamation issued by the county-lieutenant on the same day, it would appear, that a number of adventurers had made their appearance in his county for the purpose of laying claims to its most desirable lands, which Col. Todd would rather have reserved for actual settlers. The fertil- ity of his brain, backed by an uneeasing activity, is truly admirable. The proclamation read as follows :
PROCLAMATION.
" Illinois to wit :
Whereas, from the fertility and beautiful situation of the lands bordering upon the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, and Wabash rivers, the taking up the usual quantity heretofore allowed for a settlement by the Governors of Virginia would injure both the strength and commerce of this country in future :
I do, therefore, issue this proclamation, strictly enjoining all persons whatsover from making any new settlements upon the flat lands of the said rivers, or within one league of said lands, in manner and form of settlement as heretofore made by the French inhabitants, until further orders given herein.
And, in order that all the claims to lands within the said country may be fully known, and some method provided for perpetuating hy records the just claims-every inhabitant is required, as soon as conveniently may be, to lay before the persons in each district appointed for that purpose a n cmo- randum of his or her land, with copies of all their vouchers. and where vouchers have never been given or are lost, such deposition and certificate as will best tend to support their claims. Such memorandum to mention the quantity of land, to whom originally granted, or by whom settled, and where; reducing the title through the various occupants to the present proprietor. The number of adventurers who will soon overrun this country renders the above method necessary, as well as to ascertain the vacant land as to guard against trespasses which will probably be committed on land not of record.
Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia, the 14th day of June, 1779.
JOHN TODD."
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Meanwhile, the newly-elected judges of the court at Kas- kaskia and Cahokia had held sessions. The records of their proceedings are not in existence, but our commandant's record-book sheds some light on what the judges had done. The first entry on page 18 contains the following :
WARRANT FOR EXECUTION.
Illinois to wit :
To Richard Winston, Esq., Sheriff in-Chief of the District of Kaskaskia.
Negro Mannel, a slave in your custody, is condemned by the court of Kaskaskia, after having made honorable fine at the door of the church, to be chained to a post at the water- side, and there to be burnt alive and his ashes scattered, as appears to me by record. This sentence you are hereby required to put iuto execution on Tuesday next at 9 o'clock in the morning, and this shall be your warrant. Given uuder my hand and seal at Kaskaskia, the 13th day of June, in the 3d year of the Commonwealth.
There is no record of the crime which was to be atoned for by the wretch Mannel, nor can it be told if this awful sentence was put in execution. Some person having access to the record-book, has drawn heavy lines across the lieu- tenant's order, so as to efface it forever. There is no doubt, however, that the court had fixed the inhuman penalty, for the order to execute it is certainly in Todd's handwriting, who, under the law of Virginia, mentioned above, was de- prived of the power to pardou in such cases. It is therefore very probable that the sentence was duly executed.
The following order bears witness that the court at Caho- kia had also been at work :
" To Capt. Nicholas Janis :
You are hereby required to call upon a party of your militia to guard " Moreau," a slave condemned to execution up to the town of Kokas-put them under an officer. They shall be entitled to pay, rations and refreshments during the time they shall be upon duty to be certified hereafter by you.
I am, sir, yr IIble servant, JNO. TODD "
15th June, 1779. I recommend 4 or 5 from your compy, and as many from Capt. Placey's, and consult Mr. Lacroix about the time necessary. J. T.
It is not unlikely that both of these negroes had been tried on a charge of Voudouism, or Witchcraft, and found or even pleaded guilty of an imagined crime. Reynolds, in his Pioneer History says : " In Cahokia ABOUT the year 1790, this superstition got the upper hand of reason, and several poor African slaves were immolated at the shrine of ignorance for this imaginary offense. An African slave, called Moreau, was huug for this crime on a tree not far south east of Cahokia. It is stated that he had said he poisoned his master, but his mistress was too strong for his necromancy."
There canuot be any doubt that the " Moreau " of Todd is .identical with Gov. Reynolds' man "Moreau." Rey- nolds, who writes from tradition, is not correct in his dates.
It would seem that " Moreau " had been kept confined at Kaskaskia, as there was not any prison at Cahokia (Kahos)
prior to 1791, aud as Captain Jauis was instructed to confer with Mr. Le Croix (sheriff of the district of Cahokia as statel above) we may infer, that Croix huug said negro.
The county-lieutenant, after his labors of 4 or 5 weeks at the settlements on the Mississippi, now prepared to enter upon his duties in other parts of his " empire county." Be- fore leaving, he addressed the following letter to his sheriff, to wit :
" Sir: During my absence the command will devolve upon you as commander of Kaskaskia -- if Col. Clark should want anything more for his expedition, consult the members of the Court upon the best mode of proceeding. If the people will not spare willingly, if in their power, you must press it, valuing the property by two men upon oath-let the mil- itary have no pretext for forciug property. When you order it and the people will not find it, then it will be time for them to interfere. By all means keep up a good under- standing with Col. Clark and the officers. If this is not the case you will be unhappy. I am, sir,
Yr. hble. servt, JOHN TODD."
To RICH'D WINSTON, ESQR. June 13, 1779.
The expedition of Col. Clark referred to in this letter, was the one planned against the English at Detroit, but was never carried ont. Todd was back at Kaskaskia on the 27th of July, 1779, on which day the following proclama- tion in reference to the continental currency was inserted into his record book.
" Illinois to wit :
Whereas the emissions of continental money, dated the 20th May, 1777, and April 11th, 1778, were required to be paid into some continental treasury by the first of June, which was a day impossible to the people of Illinois :
I do therefore notify all persons who have mouey of the said emission, that unless they shall as soon as possible com- ply with the said resolution of Congress and produce vouch- ers of such, their impossibility, the money must sink in their hands. The vouchers must be certifyed by myself or some deputy commandant of this county, and have reference to the bundle of moucy numbered and sealed.
Signed by order of the commaudant-in-chief at Kaskaskia July 27th, 1779.
(Copy.) HY. CRUTCHER.
JOHN TODD."
Soon after his return, the county-lieutenant issued a per- emptory order to the judges of the Kaskaskia district to hold court, any adjournment to the contrary notwithstand- ing. The easy going of his French judges seems to have irritated the restless and ever working spirit of Todd, who " slightly interfered with the court's prerogative" by issuing this order :
" To Gabriel Cerre & Co., E-qs., Judges of the Court for the District of Kaskaskia.
You are hereby authorized and required to hold and con- stitute a court on Saturday, the 21st of July, at the usual
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
place of holding court within your district, any adjournment to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided that no suitor or party be compelled to answer any process upon said day unless properly summoned by the clerk and sheriff
Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia, 1779.
JOHN TODD."
It is to be presumed that Monsieur Gabriel and his " con- freres" took the hint and held court on the 21st of July (August is meant), no matter how much they disliked to sit in court during the reign of the dog-star ; but it would be a treat to be allowed to read the minutes of that court. Old Gabriel and his clerk Carboneau bave certainly given the lieutenant a model cudgeling in grand French eloquence.
In the month of August, 1779, the commandant addressed himself, in obedience to Patrick Henry's wise suggestions, to Monsieur Cartabonne, commanding at St. Genevieve, and also to Monsieur Leyba at St. Louis. These letters, originally in French, were copied by parties not conversant with that language, and are therefore not very intelligible. It will be remembered that all the region west of the Mississippi then belonged to Spain, at that time at war with England. In these letters Todd proposes an arrangement concerning the commerce of the Illinois country, for the mutual advantage of their respective governments,-his Catholic majesty on the one hand and the State of Virginia on the other, and for the disadvantage of the British, their common enemy, promis- ing at the same time to aid his neighbors by sending troops at his (Todd's disposition, if the Spaniards were attacked and needed help.
These troops were then on their march to Illinois. Todd had to overcome many difficulties in procuring the necessary supplies for those troops, even in this most fertile region of the continent, but less on account of seareity of the neces- saries of life, than on account of the sluggishness of the newly-made " freemen " of French descent, who still pre- ferred the Royal Louis d'or to the Republican "promise to pay."
The record-book is again referred to for explanation (see page 22 ), to wit :
The inhabitants of Kaskaskia are for the last time invited to contract with the persons appointed, for provisions espe- cially " flower," for the troops who will shortly be here. I hope they'll use properly the indulgence of a mild govern- ment. If I shall be obliged to give the military permission to press it will be a disadvantage and what ought more to influence free men, it will be a dishonor to the people.
Published by order of the Commander in Chief at Kas- kaskia, 11th Aug. 1779.
In order to facilitate matters the contracting officers were instrneted to file vouchers with the county lieutenant and obtain orders on the governor of Virginia in payment of supplies thus furnished. The record book contains only one such order, to wit :
To his excelleney the Governor of Virginia please to pay to J. B. La Croix or order the sum of 78 dollars which is
due to him from the state of Virginia for sundries furnished the militia and Indians as appears by vouchers to me rendered. Given under my hand at Kaskaskia, the 11th of August, 1779.
Being convinced that this appeal met with but indifferent responses, a harsher measure was tried.
TODD'S EMBARGO.
Illinois to wit : Whereas the demands of the State require that a stock of Provisions be immediately laid for the use of the troops of the Commonwealth and that an embargo be laid upon such provisions for a limited time. I do there- fore issue this Proclamation strictly enjoining all inhabitants and others in the county of Illinois from exporting either by land or water any provisions whatsoever for the space of sixty days unless I shall have assurance before that time that a sufficient stock is laid up for the troops or sufficient security is given to the contractors for its delivery whenever required. The offender herein shall be subjected to imprison- ment for one month and morever forfeit the value of such exported provision.
Given under my haud and seal at Kaskaskia August 22nd, 1779.
This order is also recorded in French, apparently because the French were so very reluctant in aiding the struggling state, and becoming weary at the delay of the people as to the voluntary surrender of continental money he gave the following notice, in both languages.
Illinois to wit : The Public are notified that after to mor- row no more certificates will be granted at Kaskaskia to per- sons producing the ealled in emissions.
Published by order August 22nd 1779.
It is very questionable, whether the French in the settle- ments in Illinois had large amounts of continental money. They were a careful race, and from the numerous sale bills on file it would appear that they did not sell anything for any other curreney than coined money, except on compul- sion. Now they were called on to deposit their money in the public treasury, for no other purpose than to drive it out of circulation. They could not understand the benefit to be derived from such an arrangement, and consequently pre- ferred to keep in their own cash box the little stock of con- tinental serip they had hoarded up.
How slow the residents were to furnish the authorities with the so much needed supplies is made apparent from the fact, that the following or record order on the governor to wit :
"October 7. 1779. Order given Pat McCrosky on the Governor for 140 dollars dated at Kaskaskia October 7., 17,9, [No. 2. 140] by certificate from M. Helm," was issued nearly two months since Croix had drawn his order for $78 00.
A short and simple method of forfeiting realty is illus- trated in the proceedings set forth on pages 25 and 26 to wit : "Advertised by notifying at the door of the church of Kaskaskia the half a lot above the church, joining Picard on the east, and Langlois on the west, that unless some per- son should appear and support their elaitu to the said lot within three days it should be condemned to the use of the
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
commonwealth. Said notification was dated October 4th, 1779."
This advertisement is succeeded ten days later by the following, to wit :
" Illinois, to wit : Whereas, after publicly calling upon any person or persons to show and make appear any elaim which they might have to a certain lot of land containing one half-acre, be the same more or less, lying in the town of Kaskaskia, near the church adjoining Mons" Piekard on the east, and Mons' Langlois on the west, and after delaying and waiting the appointed time, and no person yet appear- ing to claim the same against the commonwealth of Vir- ginia, I do declare and adjudge the said lot to the said commonwealth, and that all persons whatever be thenee- forth debarred and precluded forever from any elaim thereto. Given under my hand at Kaskaskia, the 13th of October, in the fourth year of this Commonwealth, A. D. 1779.
JOHN TODD.
And thus the commonwealth of Virginia became the owner of said traet.
The last entry in Todd's handwriting has reference to a land grant to Col. Montgomery, but the pages are torn out of the book and nothing is left but the words : "Copy of a grant of land to Col. Montgomery."
Some other entries were made by others in Col. Todd's record book during his term of office 1778 to 1782. (Todd fell in the celebrated battle with the Indians at the Blue Licks, Kentucky, August 18, 1782). On two pages, near the end of the book, is kept his "peltry account," which is charged with his drafts on the governor of Virginia, in favor of Mons' Beauregarde, to the amount of $30,000, dated at St. Louis, September 14, 1779, the value thereof having been received, one-third in paper currency and two-thirds in peltries. The account is credited with payments made for supplies for the garrison at Kaskaskia, purchased by Col. John Montgomery, and for the garrison at Cahokia, purchased by Capt. McCarthy. Taffia * seems to have been the most desired article of supplies bought, for it was laid in by the hogshead.
On page 25 is an oath of allegiance taken by James Moore at Kaskaskia, to the United States of America.
James Moore's Naturalization.
I do swear on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that I renounce all fidelity to George the Third, King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and that I will bear true allegiance to the United States of America, as free and inde- pendent, as declared by Congress, and that I will not do or cause to be done any matter or thing that may be injurious or prejudicial to the independence of said States, and that I will make known to some one justice of the peace for the United States all treasonous, all treacherous conspiracies
which may come to my knowledge, to be formed against said United States or any one of them. So help me God. Sworn at Kaskaskia, July 10th, 1782.
JAMES MOORE *
During the frequent absences from his " county," Todd seems to have been represented by Monsieur De Montbrun, his deputy and acting commandant, who, a little vain per- haps, took pains to have posterity learn his temporary dignity, for he wrote on the inside of the covers of this book the following words : " Nota bene, Mons. Thimothe De Mont Brun Lt. Comd't par interim." This mixture of Latin and French (Take notice, We, De Mont Brun, Lt. Comd't for the time being) is written in a bold beautiful hand.
On the last page are two memoranda iu the same hand- writing. They read :
February, 1782. Arrived, a small tribe of- the Wabash Indians, imploring the paternal succor of their father, the Bostonians having their patent from Major Linetot. In consequence, I did, on behalf of the Commonwealth, give them six bushels Indian corn, fifty pounds of bread, four pounds of gunpowder, ten pounds of ball, and one gallon of taffia from Carbonneaux.
The circumstance that these Indians called the whites " Bostonians" would indicate that said small tribe was made up of fragments of tribes of New England Indians. The second Indiau visit is reported on the next page, to wit :
March 22d. Came here deputies from the Delawares, Shawnes and Cherokee nations of Indians, begging that the Americans would grant them peace, as likewise the French and Spanish ; and after hearing their talk, smoking the pipe of peace and friendship with them, and from their conduct while here, as well as many marks they gave us of their sincerity, I could not avoid giving them, on behalf of the Americans, the following articles, viz. : 10 bushels Indian corn, 100 pounds flour and 100 pounds biseuit, 6 pounds tobacco, I gallon taffia, 5 pounds wampoon, and canoe which cost me $20.
An entry on the fly-leaf of the record-book recalls to us Todd's former deputy, Richard Winston, the sheriff; and the contents of this entry explain why Timothe had taken Dick's place. Winston must have forgotten the warning of Todd to keep on terms with the military chief, and thus was found in boudage. While imprisoned he must have found the Record Book in his prison, and in order to let future gener- ations know why he was not longer deputy and acting com- mandant, he wrote out the following statement :
" Kaskaskies in the Illinois, the 29th April, 1782. This day ten o'clock, A. M., I was taken out of my house by Israel Dodge on an order given by Jno. Dodge, in despite of the civil authority, disregardless the laws and on the malicious accusation of Jas. Williams and Michael
* Taffia is mentioned as late as 1809, when the court regulated the prices to be charged by innkeepers for commodities furnished to guests-tatfia or rum 25 cents per one half-pint. Webster allowed the word a space in his unabridged, but casts out one f, and defines the word " A variety of rum, so called by the French."
* 1782. Among the immigrants to Illinois we note the names of James Moore, Shadrach Bond, James Garrison, Robert Kidd and Larken Rutherford, the two latter having been with Clark; they were from Virginia and Maryland. James Moore, the leader, and a portion of his party, located afterwards on the hills near "Bellefontaine," while Bond and the rest settled in the American Bottom (from which circumstance the name is derived), near Carthage or Har- risonville, subsequently known as the "Block-House Fort."-(Davidson & Stuve's History of Illinois, chapter 18.)
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
l'eraule as may appear by their depositions. I was confined by Tyranniek military force without making any legal application to the civil magistrate. 30th the attorney for the state, La Buisniere, presented a petition to the court against Richard Winston, state prisoner in their custody, the contents of which he ithe attorney for the state) ought to have communicated to me or my attorney if any I had.
( The entry here ends abruptly ).
The remaining pages of this book are occupied with a brief record ( French ) of the proceedings of the court. from June 5th, 1787 to February 15th. 1758. During this period the court seems to have been pretty much in the hands of one family, as three of the five justices are named Beauvais The proceedings are void of interest.
The county " llinois" remained a part of Virginia until March 1st, 1784. when Virginia " derded " the vast domain to the United States. From 1784 to 1787. Ilinois wa- practically without a civil government. The celebrated ordinance of 1787 ( passed July 13th ), organized the north- west territory, and General Arthur St Clair was, by Con- gress elected governor of the territory, October 5th, 1787. Gov. St. Clair arrived at Kaskaskia, in February, 1790, and on the 14th of April of that year, issued his proclama- tion, organizing the county of St. Clair: "Beginning at the mouth of the little Michilliakinack (now Mackinaw creek) running thenee southerly in a direct line to the mouth of the little river above Fort Massac upon the Ohio, thence with the said river to its junction with the Mississippi, thence up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois river and up Illinois river to the place of beginning, etc.
A court of Common l'leas was established, and John Edgar of Kaskaskia, John Baptiste Barbeau of Prairie du Rocher, and John Dumoulin of Cahokia appointed judges, each of whom held court in the district where he resided. William St. Clair was appointed clerk and recorder of deeds, and William Biggs, Sheriff. Thus the interregnum of sixteen years gave way to a better order of things. Immigration had however continued uninterruptedly, as will be seen in our chapter on pioneers and early settlers. Iu 1795 the governor saw fit to form a second county. It was done by drawing a line from the Mississippi due east through New Design settlement to the Wabash. All the territory south of this line to the Ohio River was, in honor of Edmund Randolph, the Virginian statesman and philanthropist, named
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