USA > Kentucky > Madison County > Boonesborough > Boonesborough; its founding, pioneer struggles, Indian experiences, Transylvania days, and revolutionary annals; > Part 10
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About midnight it was discovered that the Indians were stealthily approaching the camp, and the riflemen were soon ready
" The initial " M" of this name is incorrectly given as " W " on page 38.
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for them. They waited till the Indians got in range, when they suddenly fired on them. The Indians were not expecting this, and hastily fell back. The next morning Boone and his men followed their trail down the creek. They saw traces of blood, and it was evident that some of the Indians had been killed or wounded. The pioneers advanced cautiously until they came to the mouth of the creek, where it empties into Powell River. On a bluff or spur on the opposite side of the river they saw the Indians hovering over a fire. Boone's party shot at them with no apparent result, but the savages scampered away. The pioneers, believing that the Indians had collected a large force in their front to oppose their further advance, fell back to Snoddy's Fort. After resting there a few days, the entire party except Boone and his family returned to North Carolina.
D
PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR MARTIN OF NORTH CAROLINA (FEBRUARY 10, 1775) AGAINST "RICHARD HENDERSON AND HIS CONFEDERATES."
(From Volume IX, Colonial Records of North Carolina.)
Whereas his Majesty by his Royal Proclamation bearing Date at St. James's the seventh day of October 1763, did among other Regulations thereby made, declare his Royal Will and Pleasure with respect to his Territory claimed by the Indian Nations in North America in the following words: "And Whereas great Frauds and Abuses have been committed in the purchasing of Lands of the Indians to the great Prejudice of our Interests and to the great Dissatisfaction of the said Indians. In order to prevent such Irregularities for the future and to the end that the
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Indians may be convinced of our justice and determined Resolu- tion to remove all reasonable cause of Discontent, we do with the advice of our Privy Council strictly enjoin and require that no private person do presume to make any purchase from the said Indians of any Lands reserved to the said Indians within those parts of our Colonies where we have thought proper to allow Settlement ; but that if at any time any of the said Indians should be inclined to dispose of the said Lands the same shall be purchased only for us in our name at some public Meeting Assembly of the said Indians, to be held for that purpose by the Governor or Commander in Chief of our Colony respectively within which they shall be: And in case they shall be within the limits of any Proprietary Government they shall be pur- chased only for the Use and in the Name of such Proprietaries conformable to such Directions or Instructions as we or they shall think proper to give for that Purpose."
And Whereas in and by an Act of the General Assembly of this Province entitled "An Act for restraining the Indians from molesting or injuring the Inhabitants of this Government and for securing to the Indians the Right and Property of their own Lands;" it is, among other things, "Enacted, That no white Man shall, for any consideration whatsoever, purchase or buy any Tract or Parcel of Land claimed or actually in possession of any Indian without Liberty for so doing from the Governor and Council first had and obtained under the Penalty of Twenty pounds for every hundred Acres of Land so bargained for and purchased ; one half to the Informer, and the other Half to him or them that shall sue for the same."
And Whereas I have information that a certain Richard Hen- derson, late of the County of Granville in this Province, con- federating with divers other Persons, hath, in open violation of his Majesty's said Royal Proclamation and of the said act of the
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General Assembly of this Province, entered into Treaty with certain Indians of the Cherokee Nation for the Purchase and Cession of a very large Tract of Country, by some reported to be Two Hundred Miles Square, by others Three Hundred Miles Square, and said to be part of the hunting Grounds of the Cherokee Nation, and actually comprized within the limits of the Colony of Virginia and the Royal Grant to the Right Honorable the Earl Granville.
And whereas, this daring, unjust and unwarrantable Proceed- ing is of a most alarming and dangerous Tendency to the Peace and Welfare of this and the neighboring Colony inasmuch as it is represented to me that the said Richard Henderson and his Confederates have conditioned to pay the Indians for the Ces- sion of Land before mentioned a considerable quantity of Gun- powder, whereby they will be furnished with the means of annoying his Majesty's subjects in this and the neighboring Colonies ; and that he hath also invited many Debtors, and other persons in desperate circumstances, to desert this Province and become Settlers on the said Lands, to the great injury of Creditors.
And whereas, it is to be apprehended that if the said Richard Henderson is suffered to proceed in this his unwarrantable and lawless undertaking, a settlement may be formed that will become an Asylum to the most abandoned Fugitives from the several Colonies, to the great Molestation and Injury of his Majesty's subjects in this Province in particular and to the manifest Detriment of the Interest of Earl Granville, within whose proprietary District the Lands treated for as aforesaid by the said Richard Henderson with the Cherokee Indians are deemed and reported to be in part comprehended : I have thought proper to issue this Proclamation hereby in his Majesty's Name and also in Behalf of the Earl Granville, as his Agent and Attorney strictly to forbid the said Richard Henderson and
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his Confederates, on pain of his Majesty's highest displeasure, and of suffering the most rigorous Penalties of the Law, to prosecute so unlawful an Undertaking, as also to enjoin all his Majesty's liege subjects to use all lawful means in their Power to obstruct, hinder and prevent the Execution of his Design of settlement, so contrary to Law and Justice and so pregnant with ill consequences. And I do hereby forewarn all, and all manner of persons against taking any part or having any concern or deal- ings with the said Richard Henderson, touching the Lands for which he is said to have entered into Treaty with the Indians as aforesaid or with any other Person or Persons who have engaged or may engage in Projects of the like Nature, contrary to the Tenor of his Majesty's Royal Proclamation aforesaid, as every Treaty, Bargain and Agreement with the Indians repug- nant thereto is illegal, null and void, to all Intents and Purposes, and that all partakers therein will expose themselves to the severest Penalties. And as it is necessary for the more effectual Prevention of such illicit and fraudulent dealings with the Indians, to advertise them of the Rules and Regulations established by his Majesty's Proclamation ; it is hereby required of his Majesty's subjects having intercourse with the Indians and particularly of the Officers appointed to superintend Indian Affairs, that they do fully explain to them the beneficial Nature and Design of the said Royal Proclamation to themselves and that they do make the Indians sensible of the High Offence they commit against his Majesty in doing any thing contrary to the directions thereof.
Given under my Hand, and the Great Seal of the said Prov- ince, at Newbern, the roth day of February, Anno Dom 1775, and in the 15th year of his Majesty's Reign.
God save the King. Jo. MARTIN.
By His Excellency's command.
JAMES PARRATT, D. Sec.
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E
TREATY OF WATAUGA.
COPY OF THE DEED FROM THE CHEROKEES TO HENDERSON & Co. MARCH 17, 1775.
(Furnished by James Alves for Butler's History of Kentucky, 2d Edition.)
This indenture made this seventeenth day of March in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and seventy- five between Oconistoto chief warrior and first representative of the Cherokee Nation or tribe of Indians and Attacullacullah and Savanooko otherwise Coronoh for themselves and in behalf of the whole nation. Being the aborigines and sole owners by occupancy from the beginning of time of the lands on the waters of Ohio River from the mouth of the Tennessee River up the said Ohio to the mouth or emptying of the Great Canaway or New River and so across by a Southward line to the Virginia line by a direction that shall strike or hit the Holston River six English miles above or Eastward of the Long Island therein and other lands and territories thereunto adjoining, of the one part and Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock of the province of North Carolina of the other part; witnesseth that the said Oconistoto for himself and the rest of the said nation of Indians, for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, to them in hand paid by the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock, the receipt whereof the said Oconistoto
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and his said whole nation, do and for themselves and their whole tribe of people have granted, bargained and sold, aliened, enfeoffed released and confirmed, by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff, release and confirm unto them the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, David Hart, James Hogg, and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns forever all that tract, territory or parcel of land, situate lying and being in North America on the Ohio River, one of the eastern branches of the Mississippi beginning on the said Ohio River at the mouth of Kentucky, Chenoca, or what by the English is called Louisa River, from thence running up the said River and the most northwardly branch of the same to the head spring thereof, thence a southeast course to the top ridge of Powel's Mountain, thence westwardly along the ridge of said mountain unto a point from which a northwest course will hit or strike the head spring of the most southwardly branch of Cumberland River thence down the said River including all its waters to the Ohio River, thence up the said River as it meanders to the beginning, &c.
And also the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents and services thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever of them the said Oconistoto and the aforesaid whole band or tribe of people of, in and to the same premises and of, in and to, every part thereof. To have and to hold the said messuage and territory, and all and singular the premises above mentioned, with the appurtenances unto the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns, in several and tenants in common, and not as joint tenants; that is to say, one eighth part to Richard
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Henderson his heirs and assigns forever; one eight part to Thomas Hart his heirs and assigns forever; one eighth part to Nathaniel Hart his heirs and assigns forever ; one eighth part to John Williams his heirs and assigns forever ; one eighth part to John Luttrell his heirs and assigns forever ; one eighth part to William Johnston his heirs and assigns forever ; one eighth part to James Hogg his heirs and assigns forever; one sixteenth part to David Hart his heirs and assigns forever ; and one six- teenth part to Leonard Hendley Bullock his heirs and assigns forever ; to the only proper use and behoof of them the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns that, under the yearly rent of four pence or to be holden of the chief, lord or lords of the fee of the premises by the rent and services therefore due and of right accustomed ; and the said Oconistoto and the said nation for themselves do covenant and grant to and with the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Will- iams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns that they the said Oconistoto and the rest of the said nation of people now are lawfully and rightfully siezed in their own right of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple of and in all and singular the said messuage, territory and premises above mentioned and of all and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances, without any manner or condition mortgage, limitation, of use or uses, or other matter, cause or thing to alter, change, charge or determine the same and also that the said Oconistoto and the aforesaid nation now have good right, full power, and lawful authority in their own right to grant bargain or sell and convey the said
21
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messuage territory and premises above-mentioned with the appurtenances to the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Will- iams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns according to the true intent and meaning of these presents and also that they the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter peaceably and quietly have, hold, occupy possess and enjoy all and singular the said premises above mentioned to be hereby granted with the appurtenances without the let, trouble hindrance, molestation, interruption and denial of them the said Oconistoto and the rest or any of the said nation their heirs or assigns and of all and every other person and persons whatsoever, claiming or to claim by, from or under them or any of them and further that they the said Oconistoto, Attacullacullah, and Sava- nooko, otherwise Coronoh for themselves and in behalf of their whole nation and their heirs and all and every other person and persons and his and their heirs anything having and claiming in the said messuage territory and premises above mentioned or any part thereof by, from or under them shall and will at all times hereafter at the request and costs of the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, Willian Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leon- ard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns, make, do and execute or cause or procure to be made, done and executed all
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and every further and other lawful and reasonable grants, acts and assurances in the law whatsoever for the further, better and more perfect granting, conveying and assuring of the said premises hereby granted with the appurtenances unto the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart, and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns according to the true intent and meaning of these presents and to and for none other use, intent or purpose whatsoever, and lastly the said Oconistoto, Attaculla- cullah and Savanooko otherwise Coronoh for themselves and in behalf of their whole nation have made, ordained, constituted and appointed and by these presents do make, ordain, constitute and appoint Joseph Martin and John Farrow their true and lawful attornies jointly and either of them severally, for them and in their names into the said messuage, territory and premises with the appurtenances hereby granted and conveyed or men- tioned to be granted and conveyed or into some part thereof in the name of the whole, to enter and full and peaceable posses- sion and seizure thereof for them and in their names to take and to have and after such possession and seizure so thereof taken and had the like full and peaceable possession and seizure thereof or of some part thereof in the name of the whole, unto the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock as their certain attorney or attornies in their behalf to give and deliver, to hold to them the said Richard Henderson, Thomas Hart, Nathaniel
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Hart, John Williams, John Luttrell, William Johnston, James Hogg, David Hart and Leonard Hendley Bullock their heirs and assigns forever according to the purpose and intent and meaning of these presents, ratifying, confirming, and allowing all and whatsoever their attornies or either of them shall do in the premises. In witness whereof the said Oconistoto, Attaculla- cullah and Savanooko otherwise Coronoh, the three chiefs appointed by the warriors and other head men to sign for and in behalf of the whole nation hath hereunto set their hands and seals this the day and year first above written.
OCONISTOTO, x his mark.
ATTACULLACULLAH, x his mark. SAVANOOKO, otherwise Coronoh, × his mark.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
WILLIAM BAILEY SMITH,
GEORGE LUMKIN,
THOMAS HOUGHTON, CASTLETON BROOKS,
J. P. BACON, TILMAN DIXON,
VALENTINE TUREY, THOMAS PRICE, Linguist.
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F
DEPOSITION OF CHARLES ROBERTSON, OCTOBER 3, 1777.
FROM EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY, JULY 3, 1776, TO INVESTIGATE LAND CLAIM OF HENDERSON AND COMPANY.
(Cal. Va. State Papers, Volume I, page 292.)
He the said Chas. Robertson, deposeth, and saith, That he was at the Treaty held at Watauga, between the said Richd. Henderson and Company and the Cherokee Indians, in March 1775, and believes he heard every Public Talk, that was delivered by the parties -That as to the Treaty Conferences being held fairly and openly the Deponent frequently took notice that both Col. Henderson and the Indians would always cause to be present the white men and Indian Half Breeds who understood both Lan- guages as a check upon the Chief Interpreter, lest he should mis- translate, or leave out, through Forgetfulness any Part of what either Party should speak and saith that he believes the Treaty was held fairly and openly, but does not remember the whole of the Boundary altho' he believes the Indians understood all that was said by the said Henderson -That he does not remember the Bounds of the Lands proposed to be bought, only that it joined the Ohio, and in them was mentioned something about the Head Springs of Kentuckie, and he believes of Cumberland, and that tis his opinion it was to keep the dividing Ridge between Cum- berland and Tenase. That there was eight or nine different pieces of writing signed by the Indians, who were told that the reason of their being so many, was that there was so many different
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Partners in the Company, and that each must have one for fear one should be destroyed, and that every one might know where his Land was-That none but one of them was read to the Indians. Col. Henderson told the Indians, these writings were all alike word for word ( and no one hindered from reading them but does not know that any person did read them ) and that they might have them all read if they chose it: to which they said they did not want them read:
He does not know how many Indians signed these Papers, but he understood it was done by consent of the whole, as he did not hear any Particular one make an objection.
The deponent frequently tried to count the number of Indians which he could not do exactly but from his best observations, there was about one thousand in all counting big and little, and about half of them were men - He did not understand there was any more than one principal man behind called Judges Friend, who he understood had sent word that what the other Chiefs agreed to he would abide by - On the second day of the Treaty, the Dragging Canoe went out displeased on hearing the Proposals of the said Henderson as to what Lands he wanted to purchase, because (as the said Indian said ) the white people wanted too much of their Hunting Grounds.
On the first Day of the Treaty the Indians offered to give up some Lands which they said Col. Donelson had agreed to give them five hundred Pounds for, and had not paid them, but Col. Henderson said it would not be worth his while to talk about buying that only, as he had a house full of Goods for them, and should be at yet greater Expence for Beares and Rum to enter- tain them upon.
That towards the close of the Treaty, when the Indians seemed like Complying with Col. Henderson's Proposals, the said Hen-
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derson told the Indians there was Land between them and his Country-He did not love to walk upon their land. That he had more Goods, Guns and Ammunition which they had not yet seen. - After this something was said concerning Carter's Books being destroyed.
The Dragging Canoe in some part of the Treaty said there was bad People both of his Nation and the Whites-that there was a dark cloud over that Country - He could vouch that his own Countrymen would not hurt him, but was afraid the Northern Indians would -that it was good to have the path clear and clean, but on hearing what Col. Henderson said about the Land between them and his, the said Hendersons Country he (the Dragging Canoe ) said stamping his foot on the ground, we give you from this place, pointing towards the Kentuckie-at which the deponent was displeased, because he was acting as a trustee to purchase the Lands on Watauga, ( in conjunction with the said Henderson as to the Expense of the Treaty ) of the said Indians as he thought the said Company were then getting the Watauga Lands, which he then had a promise of from the Indians, and had the Goods ready to pay for it.
The Deponent saith he in no ways interfered in the said Hen- dersons Purchase - His Business at the Treaty was a Trustee from the Watauga People to buy the Country of them Indians.
When the Dragging Canoe stampt his foot on the Ground, and said he gave up all the Land from that Place, the Deponent understood that not only the Lands at Watauga which he was about purchasing, but the Lands in Carters Valley which borders on Clinch Mountain, quite to the Ohio, was then given up, and that if he ever obtained them, it must be of the said Henderson, which was the cause of his being displeased - He knew nothing of any Deed being signed for these last mentioned Lands, tho'
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he has understood since, that the said Henderson did take a Deed for the Land from Watauga quite to Ohio -The Deponent heard no discourse about a boundary for the Lands Northward of Hol- ston, and on this side Cumberland Mountain, except only what the Dragging Canoe said, when he stampt on the Ground, as he was then speaking of the Nation -The Deponent never heard Col. Henderson promise them any more goods -The Indians appeared to be satisfied with what he had given them, and that previously he told them, if they did not choose to take them they would still be friends.
The Deponent saith he saw these last mentioned Goods as well as all the others delivered and divided and saw Papers destroyed, said to be Carters Book of accounts against the Indians which he was informed by Col. Carter amounted to more than 600-The Deponent never heard there was any other bounds read to the Indians, than what was in the Deed-The Deponent heard there had been some claim to his Country, by the North- ward Indians, but that these Indians said it was their Land and what they would so sell it.
And further saith not.
Sworn to before us &C.
ARTHUR CAMPBELL. DAN SMITH.
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G
FELIX WALKER'S NARRATIVE OF HIS TRIP WITH BOONE FROM LONG ISLAND TO BOONES- BOROUGH IN MARCH, 1775.
(Written about 1824. Published in DeBow's Review of February, 1854.)
In the month of February in that year ( 1775), Captain Will- iam Twetty, Samuel Coburn, James Bridges, Thomas Johnson, John Hart, William Hicks, James Peeke, and myself, set out from Rutherford County, North Carolina, to explore a country by the name of Leowvisay, greatly renowned and highly spoken of as the best quality of land, abounding in game, now the State of Kentucky.
We placed ourselves under the care and direction of Captain Twetty, an active and enterprising woodsman, of good original mind and great benevolence, and although a light habited man, in strength and agility of bodily powers was not surpassed by any of his day and time, well calculated for the enterprise.
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