USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 20
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
" That in case the St. Regis Indians may be desirous of selling the mile square of land reserved by them. at or near the village of French Mills, in the town of Constable, in the county of Franklin, or any other lands lying within this state, to which the St. Regis Indians have any title or claim, the person administering the government of the state shall be and is hereby authorized to purchase the said lands from the said Indians, in behalf of this state, and that the treasurer be and is hereby authorized on the warrant of the comptroller, to pay to the order of the governor such sum of money to defray the expense of completing the said purchase as the governor may think reasonable to give for the said lands."
The following treaty was accordingly held March 15, 1816:
" A treaty made and executed between Daniel D. Tompkins, govern- or of the state of New York, in behalf of the people of the said state, of the one part, and Peter Tarbell, Jacob Francis and Thomas Williams, for and in behalf of the nation or tribe of Indians, known and called the St. Regis Indians, of the second part (at the city of Albany, this fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen), witnesseth.
Article 1. The said tribe or nation of St. Regis Indians do hereby sell and convey to the people of the state of New York, for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, a certain piece or parcel of their reservation, called the one mile square, situated in the county of Franklin, on Sal- mon river, to have and to hold the same, to the said people of the state of New York, and their assigns for ever, and also a separate and addi- tional tract of land, of their said reservation, situate in the county afore- said, containing five thousand acres of the easterly part of their said reservation, adjoining their aforesaid mile square of land, within the territorial limits of the state of New York, to be measured from the east boundary line of said reservation, so as to make the said west boundary line of said five thousand acres to run due north and south ; to have and
160
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
to hold the said five thousand acres of land, to the said people of the state of New York, and their assigns for ever.
Article 2. The said Daniel D. Tompkins, governor, as aforesaid, for and in behalf of the people of the state of New York, covenants and agrees, with the St. Regis nation of Indians, that the said people, for the said several tracts of one mile square of land, and of five thousand acres of land hereinbefore granted and conveyed, shall pay to the said nation annually for ever hereafter, the sum of one thousand three hundred dol- lars, at French Mills, on said premises, the first payment of the said annuity to be paid on the first Tuesday of August next, and the whole annuity to be paid on the first Tuesday of August, in each year there- after.
Article 3. The said St. Regis tribe or nation of Indians also covenant and agree to depute and authorize three of the chiefs or principal men of their tribe to attend at the times and places aforesaid, to receive the said annuity. And that the receipt of the said chiefs or principal men, so deputed, shall be considered a full and satisfactory discharge of the people of the state of New York, from the annuities which may be so received."
Signed, sealed, witnessed, acknowledged and recorded.
In consequence of the great distress among the St. Regis and other Indian tribes of the state, from the short crops in the cold summer of 1816, the legislature, at the recommendation of the governor, by an act passed February 12, 1817, authorized the payment of annuities to be anticipated for that year, for the purchase of the necessaries of life.
The concessions of the last treaty being found not to cover the terri- tory that had been leased, another treaty was held on the 20th of Febru- ary, 1818, as follows:
" At a treaty held at the city of Albany, the 20th day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, between his excellency Dewitt Clinton, governor of the state of New York, on behalf of the people of the said state, and Loran Tarbell, Peter Tarbell, Jacob Francis and Thomas Williams, on behalf of the nation or tribe of Indians, known and called the St. Regis Indians, it is covenanted, agreed and concluded as follows, to wit:
The said St. Regis Indians sell and convey to the people of the state of New York, two thousand acres out of the lands reserved by the said Indians, to be bounded as follows, to wit: On the north and south by the north and south bounds of said reservation; on the east by the lands ceded by said Indians to the people of the said state, by a treaty dated 16th March, 1816, and on the west by a line running parallel thereto, and at such a distance therefrom as to contain the said two thousand acres; also, four rods wide of land through the whole length of their reservation, for a public road, to the west bounds thereof, together with four rods wide of land, for the same purpose, commencing at the bound- ary line near the village of St. Regis, to run in a direction so as to inter- sect the aforementioned road a little westerly of the place where it shall cross the St. Regis river, which will be about one mile and three-quarters in length. On condition that both the said roads be laid out by Michael Hogan, with the assistance of Loran Tarbell, and such other person as his excellency, the governor of the said state, shall appoint; and further, that in case a turnpike gate, or gates, shall be established on said road,
161
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
all the Indians of the said tribe shall be allowed to pass free of toll, and on the further condition that those on the lands they have now and heretofore sold, shall be compelled before the state gives them or any other person title thereto, to pay up the arrearages of rent due on the lands occupied by the said settlers.
In consideration of which cession or grant, it is hereby covenanted, on the part of the said people, to pay to the said Indians, annually, for ever hereafter, on the first Tuesday of August, at Plattsburgh, an annuity of two hundred dollars. And it is further covenanted by and between the said parties, that the annuities payable to the said Indians, in consequence of the former treaties between them and the said state, shall hereafter be paid them on the said first Tuesday of August, at Plattsburgh, instead of the places where they are made payable by such treaties. In testi- mony whereof, the said governor, on the part of the people of the said state, and the said Loran Tarbell, Peter Tarbell, Jacob Francis, and Thomas Williams have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and year first above mentioned."
Signed, sealed, acknowledged and recorded.
The lands ceded by the treaty of 1818 were by an act of April 20th, of that year directed to be laid out into lots and farms and sold.
The report of the commissioners appointed by the governor to per- form this duty, will be given in our account of Fort Covington.
The commissioners were to receive $4 per day for their services.
. The following memorial explains itself, and indicates the necessity of the course which was subsequently to be pursued.
ALBANY 16, February, 1818.
"To his Excellency, Governor Clinton, of the state of New York:
The chiefs of the St. Regis Indians, by their petition, most respect- fully approach your excellency, to shew, that in March 1802, a law was passed for the benefit of our tribe, appointing the trustees, namely : William Gray, Louis Cook, and Loren Tarbell, to manage and improve their affairs. From that period until the late war, they continued happy amongst themselves, but the war having produced a feeling of opposite interests in the tribe, they became divided almost equally in number, of young men, having your old chiefs, with their adherents steady in the cause and interests of the United States. In course of the war, their trustee, William Gray, was taken prisoner at St. Regis, and carried to Quebec, where he died a prisoner of war. Their other trustee, Colonel Louis Cook, after being actively engaged with General Brown, near Buffalo, died at that place. Since his death, your excellency's petitioner, Loren Tarbell, the surviving trustee, taking to his private council Peter Tarbell, and Jacob Francis, old chiefs, in whom the tribe have full faith, has continued to act as for the whole, and has the satisfaction of assuring your excellency, that the trust reposed in him, has been discharged con- scientiously, and with full regard to justice.
-
Now your excellency's petitioner, growing old, and desirous to be re- lieved in part from the responsibility which he has felt in the discharge of his duties, humbly prays your excellency to get a law passed, appoint- ing the above mentioned Peter Tarbell and Jacob Francis, to his aid, to fill the vacancies occasioned by the death of the former trustees, and confirming the acts of your petitioner done in conjunction with the lat- ter, since the death of the former trustees.
1
162
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
And your petitioner will as in duty bound ever pray &c."
LOREN TARBELL, (signed by his mark.)
WILLIAM L. GRAY, Interpreter.
In consequence of the foregoing petition and memorial, an act was passed on the 3d of April, 1818, appointing Peter Tarbell and Jacob Francis, chiefs of the said tribe, to be trustees in place of Colonel Louis and William Gray, deceased, and to act with the surviving trustee Loren Tarbell.
Much difficulty arose between the Indians and their former tenants, in relation to their arrearges of rent, concerning which they memorialized the legislature, and on the 10th of March 1824, procured an act directing the Comptroller, to draw his warrant on the treasury, for the payment of any sum not exceeding $735.07 in favor of Asa Hascall, district at- torney, for the county of Franklin, upon his certificate or certificates of the amount of rents due to the said St. Regis Indians, from settlers on certain lands ceded to them, by the people of this state, by treaty dated Feb 29, 1818, and it was made the duty of the said district attorney, on receiving the said money, to pay it over to the Indians as a full satisfac- tion and discharge of their claims.
On the 10th of April, 1824, the foregoing act was extended to include the lands ceded March 15, 1816.
The mill on Grass river, and one mile square reservation, continued to be the property of these people, until March 16, 1824, when at a treaty held at Albany between Joseph C. Yates, Governor, and Thomas Williams, Michael Cook, Lewis Doublehouse and Peter Tarbell, at which they sold and conveyed for the sum of $1,920, this property.
The following is a copy of the power of attorney, under which the deputies of the foregoing treaty acted:
" Know all men by thsse presents, that we, the undersigned, chief warriors of the tribe called St. Regis Indians, constitute and appoint Thomas Williams, Lewis Doublehouse, and Peter Tarbell, as our true and lawful attornies, to go to Albany, and sell such a quantity of our lands, to the people of this state, as they may think proper, and to transact all other business which shall be thought best for the welfare of our nation, and whatsoever our attornies shall lawfully act or do, we will ratify and confirm. Done at St. Regis in general council, this eighth day of March 1821."
Eleazer Skarestogowa, Charles Sagahawita,
Peter Trewesti, Ignace Gareweas,
Loran Cook, Joseph Bern,
Evrer Gagagen,
Charles Williams, Thomas Turble, Baptiste Satchweies,
Lewey Sabonrani.
(signed mostly by their marks.)
163
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
The appointment made by the legislature in 1818 of trustees to fill the vacancy made by the death of Cook and Gray, appears to have been unsatisfactory to the tribe, as is seen from the following petition that was signed by the same parties as those who furnished the credentials of the deputies at the previous treaty.
" To the honorable the Legislature of the state of New York, in senate and assembly convened.
We the undersigned, chiefs and warriors of the St. Regis tribe of In- dians, humbly represent to your honorable body, that our old chiefs that were appointed as trustees are all dead, except one, who is old and una- ble to transact public business. We therefore earnestly pray that your honorable body, will appoint Thomas Williams, Mitchel Cook, Lewis Doublehouse, and Peter Tarbell, as trustees to oversee and control the affairs of the St. Regis Indians.
Done in general council at St. Regis, this ninth day of March, 1824.
The following memorial was also prepared to be forwarded to the legislature :
" At a public council or town meeting, of the chiefs, head men, and warriors, of that part of the St. Regis nation, or tribe of Indians, which claim the protection and countenance of the state of New York, and which receive annuities from, and held lands under the authority of the said state; assembled on this 31st day of May, 1824, on their reser- vation lands, in the said state, it is unanimously resolved, that in order to put an end to all quarrels for power, we will not henceforth encour- age any other individuals to be chiefs, or trustees, except Thomas Wil- liams, Mitchel Cook, Lewis Doublehouse, Peter Tarbell, and Charles Cook; and we do hereby fully authorize, and empower them to transact for, and on behalf of our said tribe of American St. Regis Indians, all manner of business which they may deem for the general good.
We authorize them, especially, to receive all annuities, payable to us by virtue of any bargains or treaties, made, or to be made, by the state of New York, or of individuals under the sanction of law, and others, and to distribute all money or property, as received amongst the said tribe of American St. Regis Indians, according to our claims. We also author- ize and require them, to execute to the governor of the said state, or other proper authority, all necessary grants, conveyances, releases, or re- ceipts, which may be required, in consequence of any bargain or treaty heretofore made, or hereafter in their discretion to be made on our be- half, and for our benefit, with the governor of the said state.
We do further authorize and require them, to endeavor to make such a bargain with the governor, as that all the moneys which we are now, or shall be entitled unto, shall in future be paid on our reservation lands, to our said chiefs, and trustees, and not elsewhere. We also author- ize them to make such arrangements with the governor, that some indi- vidual in whom the governor, as well as our said chiefs, can place confi- dence, may hereafter be considered the only proper channel of mutual communication between the governor and our said chiefs, on behalf of our said tribe, excepting all occasions in which our said chiefs may be at Albany. We fully approve all that was done by our deputies, and chiefs, Thomas Williams, Michael Cook, Louis Doublehouse, and Peter Tarbell, in the bargain or treaty made at Albany, on the 16th March last. We earnestly request that the governor will bear in mind, these resolutions
11
164
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
of the American St. Regis Indians, and that our minds may be known, we have each of us caused our several names and seals to be affixed to this paper, and another like it , and ordered one copy to be delivered to the governor, and one to be kept by our said chiefs."
[Signed by about sixty Indians.]
Copied from the duplicate at St. Regis.
As a further evidence of authenticity, the foregoing was accompanied by a declaration of allegiance, a copy of which is here given :
"Know all whom it may concern. that we, whose names are hereto annexed, do solemnly declare ourselves, to belong to the American Tribe of St. Regis Indians, that we owe no fealty to the British government, nor receive any annuities or benefits from the same ; that we were friendly to the United States during the late war, and have continued to be so since, and that it is our fixed determination, to establish and continue our residence within the limits of the said United States, the protection and countenance, and especially of the state of New York, we hereby claim for said tribe. In witness of all which we have hereto caused our names and seals to be affixed this 31st day of May, in the year 1824, within our reservation lands, in the state of New York, done in duplicate one copy to be kept by our chiefs, and one copy to be delivered to the governor of the state of New York.".
[Signed by about sixty Indians.]
The author has been unable to ascertain what action, if any, was taken on this subject by the legislature, further than in a treaty, held on the 29th of June, 1824, between Governor Yates, and Thomas Williams, Mitchel Cook, Louis Doublehouse, Peter Tarbell, and Charles Cook, the latter are recognized as trustees.
By this treaty, they ceded in consideration of $1,750 down, and an annuity of $60, payable on the 1st Tuesday in August, at the village of Plattsburgh, to the said chiefs and trustees, a tract of 1000 acres of land bounded as follows: .
"On the northeast, by a line commencing on the easterly side of St. Regis river, at the termination of the roll way, so called, about four or five chains northerly from the mast road, and running thence southeast to the south bounds of the said reserved lands; on the south by the said south bouuds; on the northwest by the said St. Regis river, and the land leased by the said Indians, to Michael Hogan, and on the southwest by a line to be run southeast, from the said St. Regis river, to the south bounds of said reserved lands."
On the 14th of December, 1824, the same Indians, who are styled, " Principal Chiefs and head men," confirmed to the people of the state of New York, for a payment of $1, and an annuity of $305, a certain tract of land which their predecessors had " in two certain indentures of lease, or instruments in writing, under seal, bearing date respectively, on the 20th and 23d days of October, in the year of our Lord 1817, and made and executed by and between their predecessors in office, and Michael Hogan, and subsequently confirmed by an act of the legislature."
165
AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
On the 20th of April, 1825, the legislature confirmed this cession by an act, the preamble and body of which set forth the causes that led to the measure.
" Whereas the Indians of the St. Regis tribe did, by two certain inden tures of lease bearing date the 20th of October, and the 23d of October respectively, in the year 1817, (which leases were sanctioned and con- firmed by the Legislature of this state,) convey certain premises therein described in consideration of a certain annuity or rent annually to be paid for a term of years, with the condition for the renewal of the said leases as often as the same might expire, and upon the same terms; And whereas, by the subdivision of said premises among a number of occu- pants, or by the removal of the said Indians from their present posses- sions, they may experience difficulty and loss in collecting and receiving the rents, reserved and annually due, by virtue of the conveyances afore- said; Therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York, That it shall and may be lawful for the grantee, in the said conveyances named, or his assigns, to convey the premises therein described to the people of this state; and whenever the said grantee or his assigns shall have paid or secured to be paid into the treasury of the state a sum equal to the prin- cipal of the annuity yearly payable to the said Indians by virtue of the conveyances aforesaid, at the rate of six per cent. per annum, it shall be the duty of the commissioners of the land office, to reconvey by letters patent to the said grantee or his assigns so paying or securing the pay- ment of the sum above mentioned, and forever thereafter the annuity reserved in the conveyances aforesaid, shall annually be paid to the said Indians, in like manner as their other annuities from the state are now payable."
A treaty was held Sept. 23, 1825, between Governor De Witt Clinton and Thomas Williams, Mitchel Cook, Louis Doublehouse, Peter Tar- bell, Charles Cook, Thomas Tarbell, Mitchel Tarbell, Louis Tarbell, Battice Tarbell, Jarvis Williams and William L. Gray, by which the lat- ter as chiefs and trustees for the tribe, sold a tract of land, of 840 acres, on the east side of the St. Regis river, which is now the site of a part of the village of Hogansburgh. For this they received $1100 down, in full of all demands.
This tract was bounded as follows:
" Beginning on the easterly side of the St. Regis river, at the most westerly corner of the lands ceded by said Indians to the people of said state, on the 12th day of June, in the year 1824, and running thence along the last mention lands, S. 45° E., to the south bounds of the said reserved lands; then along the same, westerly to the said St. Regis river, and then along the same to the place of beginning."
The foregoing are believed to be all the negotiations that have taken place between these people and the state in relation to their lands. There remains to be mentioned some notices on the personal history and present condition and habits of these Indians.
-
166
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
In 1826, a young Frenchman, by the name of Fovel, who had been for some time at Montreal, visited St. Regis, and induced one Joseph Tora- karon, (sometimes known by his English name of Tarbell,) to consent to accompany him to Europe. Torakaron was to travel in the character of an Indian chief, (which office he then held at St. Regis,) and his com- panion in that of interpreter, solicitor, treasurer and agent. The motives held out to the chief were, that they should be able to obtain donations for the endowment of their church, and doubtless large sums as presents to themselves. Having made all necessary arrangements, and being fur- nished with letters from St. Regis, Montreal and Quebec, certifying the standing of Torakaron at home, the two proceeded by way of New York and Havre, to Paris. The conductor here obtained an interview with Charles X, and so favorable an impression was made upon the mind of the king, that he presented them with three fine paintings, and a large sum in money, and other valuable articles.
Thence they proceeded by way of Marseilles, to Rome, and obtained an interview with the pope.
During a conversation, the pope asked the Indian if he could con- verse in another language than his own, and finding him able to use the English and French to some degree, he invited him to a second interview alone. The result was, that a set of books and silver plate, for the ser- vice of the church, a rosary of jewels and gold, worth it is said $1400, and other articles of value, were given him. They thence returned to Marseilles, where they spent the winter, and in 1828 returned by way of Paris and Havre to New York. Here the treasurer, or interpreter, or whatever else he might be called, evinced his true character by abscond- ing with every article of value, except the rosary and paintings, leaving Torakaron without means even to return home. He was enabled to do so through the charity of friends, and the paintings were soon after deposited in their destined place. Two are now at St. Regis, and the third at the church in Caughnawaga. 'Of the former, those who visit the church will recognise in a painting over the altar, the portrait of St. Regis, and in the one to the left, near the pulpit, that of St. François Xavier.
They are both evidently by the same hand, of the size of life, and very well executed. The third is the portrait of St. Louis, and is in the church dedicated to that saint in the Indian village near Montreal.
St. Regis is represented in the attitude of preaching; St. François as reclining on a bank, with a book before him and pointing to a cross, and St. Louis as a king, in royal robes, bowed in the attitude of the deepest humility, in prayer.
Fovel subsequently visited the Iroquois settlements of New York, as a
167
'AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
priest, and occasioned much trouble, which rendered it necessary for Bishop Dubois to visit those places.
He afterwards went to Detroit, and appeared as a priest among the French at that city.
In the spring of 1829, the small pox appeared at the village of St. Regis, and swept off great numbers. All the tribe were then vaccinated, by direction of the British government.
In 1832, the Asiatic cholera broke out at this place, on the 20th of June, at first appearing in a mild form, for which the priest prescribed suc- cessfully for a short time, by administering large doses of laudanum and hot brandy. Of the first sixty cases thus dealt with, there are said to have been but two that were fatal.
Dr. McAuley, of Cornwall, was sent over by government, to attend the sick, and Dr. Bates, of Fort Covington, was also employed. The latter has remarked, that two in fifteen of those remaining in the village, died of this pestilence, and that when the east wind blowed, there were sure to be new cases. In one instance, a family of eleven were attacked, and but one survived. About 340 persons had the disease, some two or three times, making in all perhaps 500 cases. Friends became frightened, and fled away, leaving the sick, in some instances, to die unattended, and all mourning for the dead ceased.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.