An authentic and comprehensive History of Buffalo, with some account of its early inhabitants, etc

Front matter

AN AUTHENTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF BUFFALO, WITH SOME .tCCOUNT OF ITS EARLY INHABITANTS. BOTH SAVAGE AND CIVILIZED, COMFItISING HISTORIC NOTICES OP THE SIX NATIONS OR IROQUOIS INDIANS, INCLUDING A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, AND OF OTHER PROMINENT WHITE MEN, LONG RESIDENT AMONG THE SENECAS. ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, IN TWO VOLUMES. BY WILLIAM KETCHUM. VOL. II. BUFFALO, N. Y. ROCKWELL, BAKER & HILL, PRINTERS. 1865. Entered according to Act o-s Congress of the United States of America, in the year 1864, by WILLI AM K E T C H TJ M , in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court, for the Northern District of New York. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

History of the Seneeas brought down lo the close of Sullivan's Campaign— The ■winter of 1770-SO the most severe ever known— Multitudes of animals perish— Great sufferings of the Indians — Other means of support became necessary by the scarcity of provisons at Niagara— Indians settled at Buffalo Creek— Mohawks de cline a" settlement at the Bay of t^uinte— Senecas decline a settlement in Canada — Prefer to remain in their own country— Continue their depredations upon the frontier settlements— Negotiations with the Indians by the State Government— Peter Kyckman visits Niagara — His instructions— The United States propose to hold a treaty with the Six Nations— Treaty at Fort Stanwix in 1784 Page 1 .

Chapter II

Treaty at Fort Stanwix— Speech of Cornplanter— United States Commissioners' reply— Articles of the Treaty of Fort Stanwix— Doubts as to the presence of Red Jacket at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix— Letter of General La Fayette to General Washington— United States Commissioners proceed to the West— Lands opened for sale and settlement in Ohio — British authority supreme in all Western New York until about 11%— William Johnston aud Cornelius Winney at Buffalo Creek- Fort Erie occupied by a British garrison— Cornelius Winney the first white resident of Buffalo— Joseph Brant corresponds with Governor Clinton Page 18.

Chapter III

Deputation of Senecas visit Albany— Address the State Commissioners—Com missioners'reply — Land companies formed — Conflict between the land companies and the State authorities— Letter of the Six Nations to Governor Clinton—Kanade saega becomes the seat of trade with the Indians — Phelps and Gorham make an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate for the puichaae of Indian lands— Other parties unite with them— Influence of the lessees with the Indians— Phelps and Gorham compromise with the lessees— A treaty held at Buffalo Creek— Phelps and Gorham with their associates make a successful arrangement with the Indians— Ask a release from a part of their engagement with Massachusetts— Robt, Morris purchases all the lands relinquished by Phelps and Gorham— Sells to the Holland Land Com pany—Joseph Ellicott appointed principal surveyor of the Holland Land Company —Negotiation with Wm. Johnston at the mouth of Buffalo Creek.... Page 40.

Chapter IV

Origin of the name of Buffalo— Called "New Amsterdam,'1 by the Holland Land Company— Visit of the buffalo to the Salt or Sulphhr Spring on Buffalo Creek — In dian name of the buffalo— Indian name of Buffalo Creek — La Salle's journey in 1680 — LaHontan's account of Lake Erie— Thomas Ashe's travels in Western Pennsyl vania and Eastern Ohio— Dr. Ilildreth's letter— Albert Gallatin's statement— John II. James's letter— Extract from Thomas Morton— Extracts from Doctor Richard son Page 63. HISTORY OF BUFFALO. IV

Chapter V

Letter of Miss Powell— ller visit to the Seneca village at Buffalo Creek— Journal. of liev. Samuel Kirklaiul— llis visit to Kanadesagea, Genesec and Buffalo Creek— His address to the Indians— Address of Farmers Brother— Big-Tree's address— Kirkland's reply - - Page 00.

Chapter VI

Notice of Farmers Brother, or Ilo-na ye-was— Hi-* speeches— His execution of an Indian spy— Letter to Wm. Eustis, Secretary of War— Origin of his name— His death and burial— Captain Pollard— Notice of— His parentage— Mr. Edward Pollard —Extracts from letters to and from Edward Pollard ..Page 111.

Chapter VII

Early visitors at Buffalo Creek— Mr. Hinds Chamberlin— Oliver Culver— John Pal mer, the first innkeeper in Buffalo— Notice of John Palmer— Letter of Joseph R. Palmer— First movement in regard to schools— Joseph Ellicott's letter to John Pal mer—Duke de KochefocauJd Laineoun.'s visit to Buffalo— Augustus Porter's notice of Buffalo— Michael Middaugh and his sou-in-law, EzekialLane settled in Buffalo— Sylvanus Maybee, an Indian trader— Black Jo«- Col. Asa Ransom— Notice of Asa Ransom — Elins Ransom— Amasa Ransom — William Robbins — Wm. Peacock's no tice of Buffrtlo-^urveyors of the Holland Land Compnny — Geo . Eggleaton's letter — Willian Johnston— His son John Johnston— Black Kock Ferry— Doctor Chapin — John Crow _ Page 128. CHATTER VIII. Joseph Ellicott's journal— His opinion of Black Rock— First murder in Buffalo — Hostile feelings of the Indians — Sale of lands in the vicinity of Buffalo — Notice of Doctor Cyrcnius Chapin— Gen. Drummond's letter in relation lo Doctor Chapin Page 116.

Chapter IX

, Mr. Erastus Granger— Notice of— Rev. Timothy Dwight's remarks on a visit to Buffalo— Capt. Samuel Pratt settled in Buffalo— Notice of— Mr William Hall's visit to Buffalo— Mr. Louis Stephen Le Couteulx— Notice of— Mr. David Mather's account of Buffalo— Notice ot David Reese Page 168. CH \PTER X- Early American commerce on Lake Eric— Mr Weld's account of a sojourn at Fort Erie— Judge Porter's paper on the Origin of American commerce on the lakes—No tice of— John Despar— Judge Samuel Tupper— Vincent Grant— Notice of Judge Zenas Barker— Notice of Judge Ebenezer Walden— Elijah Leech - Page 187.

Chapter XI

First school house— School teachers— First, preacher in Buffalo— Letter nf John A Vincent— Missions to the Indians at Buffalo Creek— Notice of Rev. Elkanah Holmes— Rev John Alexander— Mr Jabez B Hyde— Indians reject the Missionary but accept a schoolmaster— Reasons for fo doing— First church organized in Buffalo —Rev. Miles P. Squier installed as pastor— Subsequent pastors— Oth*r churches or. ganized— Notice of Gen. Elijah nolt— Buffalo Moral Society organized— Notice Or Deacon Amos Callender— Notice of Dccon Jabez Goodell Page CONTENTS. V

Chapter XII

Lots sold in Buffalo in 1808-Notice of Mr. Joseph Landon— Joseph Wells— Cant Rowland Cotton-Mr. Hem-y Ketchum-Notice of Mr Jesse Kpttam-Nottoof Ben amta CaA? *J&*g£?1& °l "£'• J°3hL,a Lovejoy-Juba 8tS™& Co -M°r .. £ "J2 } *,y'~Tr- Isaac Havis— Niagara county organized— Countv seat at •Buffao, or New Amsterdam ''-First court held in i tho county-Court-Luse and Notice of Mr. Gamaliel St. John-Mr. Eli Hart-Mr. John Lay-Notice of Mr Fred enck Miller-Notice of Mr, Ralph M. Pomeroy-Mob destroy his tavern .Page Sao.

Chapter XIII

Wounds hv??£mnfta "vhed '".Buffalo-Notice of Mr. Abel M. Grosvenor cock Not yr SW/K01 s bouse-His death-Notice of Mr. R. B. Hea- VnW?^ ? p £ V Hn \ Potto'-Notice of Stocking & Bull-Mr. Daniel Bristol -Noharboi at Buffalo Creek- Office of Collector of Onstoms authorized to beie. S I ini ieSSCl r,eSls'eretl 1U, the District of Buffalo Creek-Raphael -ThoBoffaio Gazette0™11 " S h Trowbri(1ge-H. & H. A.Salisbury

Chapter XIV

■ of.Mr-.Job Hoysington-Killed at Black Rock-John Root, Kso., settled 1 tbe object of war-Mr. Granger holds^councH nL?r J.na'aDs-Irritable state of the public mind-Articles in the Buffalo Gazette n"p« nf ™?S S°S5H.e^-A?>erlCa5? in Canada compelled to sly or become priso ™? ?LiT„ nr °!'!lcred out-Rumored capture of Grand Island by the British and lndians-Our Indians propose to expel the enemy-County meeting— Seneca warriors arrive from Alleghany-porform a war dance in the streets of Buffalo-two i r ,' r w s caPtured !rP™ unaor the guns of Fort Erie-Death of Col. Howe Cuyler- War events at Black Rock-Capt. Elliott's official report. Pa»e 201

Chapter XV

Battle of Queenston-Col. Solomon an Rensselaer-Drafted militia-Gen. Amos i iZ o " llllam ? aslsworth-Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer-Gen. Alexander Smyth—Smyth 3 proelamations-From the Buffalo Gazette— Gen. Peter B. Porter's Tu i \1 ? llenSf<1 byGen. Smyth-They have a hostile meeting upon Grand island— Statement of tbe seconds-Failure of Smyth's expedition— Tne General be "°™es the object of general ridicule-Doctor Chapin's and other articles in the Luffalo i Gazette- -Unfavorable condition of military affairs upon the Niagara frontier at the close of the year 1812—Capture of Fort George-Disasters to the Ameri cans at Stony Creek— Fort George evacuated— Newark burned— British capture Niagara— Buffalo burned __ Pa<4> 2S5 AUTHOR'S NOTICE TO VOL. II. For the purpose of preservation, the author has embodied in the Appendix a mass of papers not absolutely necessary to the elucidation .of the History included in the body of the work.

Most of these consist ■of original papers, and letters never before published, and which are now for the first time placed in an accessible and permanent form, and may prove valuable additions to the scanty records of the early history of our city and its vicinity, particularly in regard to the history of the War of 1812, and the transactions upon the Niagara frontier. These papers and letters have been copied with great care from the originals, many of which are in a dilapidated condition, now scarcely legible, and "would soon be beyond recovery. Buffalo, August, 1865.

Chapter I

The history of the Senecas is now brought down to the period of their settlement at Buffalo Creek. The expedition under the command of Gen. Sullivan* had driven them from their homes ; and the destruction of their crops, their provisions, their cattle, and every thing they possessed, threw them upon the hands of their British allies for subsistence. The winter of 1779-80 was the most severe ever known. The snow lay upon the ground five feet deep, extending over the entire western portion of the State. Multitudes of animals perished from starvation. The destruction of the deer was extraordinary. The forests were filled with their dead carcasses when the snow dissolved in the spring. The country was nearly depopulated of domestic cattle; even horses perished from want of food and shelter from the excessive cold.

But the animals were not the only sufferers. The Indians, on the destruction of their towns by the advancing enemy, which swept through their country like an irresistible tornado, fled before them and sought safety in the inac cessible depths of the forest, or under the guns of Fort Niagara, where they received a scanty subsistence during the terrible winter which followed their defeat and dispersion. *For account of this expedition see Appendix No. 2. It became a necessity on the part of their protectors, to provide some other means of support than what could be furnished at Niagara. The Indians rejected a proposition to send a part of their number to Carleton, or Buck Island, in the St. Lawrence river, where it was thought they might be fed at less expense and trouble ; preferring to run the chances of a precarious subsistence in their own country.

As soon as the spring opened, measures were adopted to provide for their settlement at some place where they might support themselves by hunting and raising corn, beans, and such other vegetables as their rude mode of culture might enable them to produce. To this end, Capts. Powell, Johnson and others, came up to Buffalo Creek, bringing hoes, axes, seeds, &c, &c, and by their advice and assistance encouraged them to establish themselves in their new homes. The Oneidas, who had, through the influence of the missionary, Kirkland, adhered to, or rather espoused the American cause, had not been molested by Sullivan's expedition ; but the Onondagas and Cayugas were compelled to abandon their settlements, and became residents on Buffalo Creek, with the Senecas. The Tuscaroras were settled at the same time upon the Tonawanda Creek ; but the Mohawks, adhering to the British interest, were settled in Canada.

They were at first offered a piece of land upon the Bay of Quinte, near Kingston, (formerly called Cataraqui) but were subsequently provided for upon the Grand (or Ouse) River. This was done under the administration of Gov. Haldimand, probably at the instigation of Brant, who w7as a pet of the British government. It is not unlikely that Brant, even at this time, entertained ambitious views similar to those of THE SENECAS REFUSE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. 3 Pontiac at an earlier period ; for the objection of the Mohawks to being located at the Bay of Quinte was that they would be too far from their brethren who were located at Buffalo Creek, etc. ; whereas, at the Grand River, communication was easy and direct. The Senecas were invited and urged to settle in Cana da ; but they preferred to remain in their own beautiful country — a country for which they had fought, and which their own valor had won — whose beautiful lakes and rivers, whose mountains and valleys, had become dear to them by the historic legends of their own tra ditions ; and almost every square mile of which had been pressed by the foot of their own hunters, and moistened by the blood of their bravest warriors ; where they and their children were born ; where their fathers and mothers were buried ; where everything was in stinct with memories of the past, and around which clustered all their hopes for the future.

They felt bound as with hooks of steel to the soil of their " own, their native land;" they could not leave it, but chose rather to endure affliction with their own people for a season, than to abandon their country to seek security and safety elsewhere. They still expected the arms of their Great Father over the water to triumph, notwithstanding their own reverses and sufferings. They still reposed entire confidence in their " officers," — as the Johnsons, the But lers and other British agents were called — the seat of whose power was at Niagara. These agents owed their continuance in the enjoyment of place and perquisites to the influence they could or were supposed to exercise over the Indians. Hitherto, so far as the interior of the State, and, indeed, of the United States, was concerned, the Indians had been the superior element of military power in the hands of the English to suppress the revo lution, or, as it was then termed, the rebellion.

Now, however, the Indians 'had become so reduced and weak ened that they no longer formed a majority of the Brit ish forces in their expeditions against the frontier settlements. But the Indians, exasperated to the last degree by the terrible punishment inflicted on them by Gen. Sullivan, sought revenge by the only means known to them — that of murdering and capturing defenceless men, women and children — and all accounts agree that more murders were committed, more prisoners captured and more dwellings burned in the valley of the Mohawk, and upon the frontiers of New York, Pennsylvania, Mary land and Virginia, from 1783 to 1789, than during the whole period of the revolutionary war. " It appears, by respectable evidence, (says the Rev. Mr. Harris) that from 1783 to 1790, the time that the United States com menced hostilities against the Indians, that on the Ohio, and the frontiers on the south side of that river, they (the Indians) killed, wounded and took prisoners about 1,500 men, women and children, besides carrying off up wards of 2,000 horses and other property, to the amount of fifty thousand dollars.'' These depredations, for the most part, were carried on by the Indians alone, in small detached parties, and were in all respects conducted after their own peculiar mode of warfare, encouraged, but not restrained, by British agents and officers at Niag ara, Detroit and elsewhere.

Before the Indians had got fairly settled at Buffalo Creek, we have already seen that these little war parties were sent out to execute the dia bolical purposes of their instigators upon the heads of INDIANS NOT PEOVIDED FOE IN THE TEEATY OF PEACE. 5 the defenceless settlers on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and New York. It was in one of these expeditions that Rowland Montour was wounded, of which wound he died ; and, it is said, the " Painted Post " marks the spot where he was buried. The peace which was agreed upon between the Amer icans and English, by which our Independence was acknowledged, made no provision for the Indians arrayed in hostility against the United States. The military expeditions into the Indian country, par ticularly that of Gen. Sullivan, had brought to notice the beauty and fertility ot the " Senecas country," as it had been termed, and it is no wonder the occupation of these beautiful, broad acres, became a strong temptation to multitudes of young, enterprising men in all the New England States, to form plans for possessing themselves of 60 tempting a prize.

The new government, however, was not prepared to repudiate, at once, the Indian claim to these lands, as established under the government of the King. And as all the Six Nations, with the single exception of the Mohawks, remained in this State, it became an early object of the State government to negotiate a peace with the Six Nations, (who still claimed to be a sovereign and independent people) and at the same time to obtain a cession of their right to some portion of the territory claimed by them, as recognized by former treaties. According to these treaties, a line known as the "property line," extending along the eastern boundary of Broome county and up the Unadilla to its source, thence in a direct line to a point on Wood creek, about seven miles west of Rome, had been established as the boundary, beyond which no settlement of the whites should be made without a formal cession by its acknowledged owners.

Notwithstanding that the Six Nations, with the exception of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, had been in open and active hostility against the United States, it was thought to be the true policy of the government of the State to still treat them all as friends, and procure by negotiation and purchase what many supposed might rightfully have been claimed by con quest.* In pursuance of this policy, an act was passed by the Legislature of New York, in March, 17S3, author zing the appointment of a Board of Commissioners of Indian Affairs, with full powers to conduct all the nego tiations with the Indians ; the Governor of the State to be ex-officio the President of the Board. Abraham Cuyler, Peter Schuyler and Henry Glen, were appointed Commissioners, Gov. George Clinton being President of the Board.

By an act of April 6th, 17SA, the Governor and these Commissioners were " authorized to associate with them such other persons as might be deemed expedient, and to enter into such compacts and agreements with the Indians within the State as might be for the public interest, and to stipulate the ratification of such agreements by law." The Governor, by advice of the Commissioners, addressed a message to the Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayuga and Seneca nations, and despatched Peter Ryckman to Niagara with it. The following is his letter of instructions : " INSTEUCTIONS FOE ME. PETEE EYOKAIAN. "Sie: You will convey the message herewith deliv- * See Appendix No. 3. PETEE EYCKMAN's INSTEUCTIONS. 7 ered to you to the Indians to whom it is directed, and take with you two or three Oneidas or Tuscaroras, and if any accident should prevent you from proceeding, either in going or returning, you will forward the dispatches by those who may accompany you.

" Whilst at Niagara you will mix as much as possible with the Indians, and try to discover their intentions as minutely as may be, and make notes of every informa tion you may obtain. You will easily find who are the leading characters in each nation. Their names you will write down, and try to learn their temper with respect to us. If you find any who have influence, and whose inclinations are not friendly, you will note their names and the nations they belong to. To Capt. Brandt you will hint that our people in general are pleased with his generosity to the prisoners he took during the war, and that he may become a great man if he conducts himself in such a manner as will give the Commissioners occasion to believe that he means to be a sincere friend. Peter, the Oneida, you must also pay attention to, and flatter him on account of his good sense and friendship to us.

" Cayenquerachta, (Sayenqueraghta) the Seneca Sach em, must have particular attention paid him, and you must privately promise him that you will recommend him to the notice of the Commissioners. " There are reasons of State why the object of your journey should be kept a profound secret ; you are, there fore, on no account to mention it to any person whomso ever. As you have traded to Niagara, you must give out that you are going there to collect some debts from persons who are leaving that place. Should it be discovered what your business is before you reach Niagara, the State might sustain great injury, as the disaffected in the country (some of whom are emissaries from the British) might, by their machinations, prove obstacles in the way which it would be difficult to surmount. You will therefore take the utmost precaution to prevent any person whatever so much as suspecting that you are em ployed by the State.

" I forgot to mention Teoquanda, the Cayuga Chief, as a person of influence. He must also have attention paid to him, lest a neglect should offend him. " The Indians named herein are those who are represented to me as the principal men ; you will, however, be the best able to judge who are the persons of influ ence among them, and pay them that attention which may be necessary to promote the business of the treaty. " I am, Sir, your humble servant, « GEORGE CLINTON. " City of New Yoek, April 12th, 1781." The purport of the message of which Mr. Ryckman was the bearer was to invite the nations to whom it was addressed to meet the Commissioners in council, at a time which they were desired to fix, at as early a day as possible, for the purpose of accommodating all the differ ences which had arisen between them during1 the recent "war between Great Britain and America."

Nothing farther was said in the message as to the objects of the council. The answer of the Six Nations to this message was returned by Mr. Ryckman, and contained a promise to attend a council, as desired, expressing a willing ness to treat with their ancient friends, but asked a little EEPLY OF THE INDIANS TO THE N. Y. COMMISSIONERS. delay, in order that they might have time to hear from their southern friends, on the Ohio river, to whom the}7 had dispatched runners ; and upon the return of those runners, they promised to inform the Commissioners of the time when they would meet them, but requested that the council might be held at Fort Stanwix, as being more convenient for them. The Indians informed Mr. Ryckman that they would be ready to set out for Fort Stanwix within a month from the time he left them.

The delegation, however, did not arrive at Fort Stanwix until the latter end of August. During the pendency of negotiations for a treaty between the Indians and the State Commissioners, a letter was received by Gov. Clinton from Arthur Lee and Richard Butler, informing him that they had been appointed Commissioners, by Congress, to negotiate treaties with the Indians, requesting the Governor to furnish the necessary armed force to protect them in the discharge of their duty.* These Commissioners also sent a message to the Six Nations, notifying them of their appointment and their purpose to negotiate a treaty of peace between them and the United States. Gov. Clinton foresaw that there might be a conflict of interests, if not of authority, between the two classes of Commissioners, and although it was arranged that the meeting of both commissions with the Indians should be simultaneous, at Fort Stanwix, no concert of action had been agreed upon.

The New York Commissioners, together with seven other gentlemen, whom, under the authority vested in them by law, they had associated with them, convened at Fort Stanwix on See Appendix, No. I. HISTORY OF BUFFALO. the last day of August, 1784. The names of these gen tlemen were as follows : Robert Yates, Abraham Ten'Broeck, Peter W. Yates, Mathew Visscher, J. J. Beekman and Gen. Gansevoort. Deputies from the Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, only7, were present. A message was sent to the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, and they were present in the afternoon. The speech of the Governor on behalf of the Commissioners was addressed to the Mohawks, Ononda gas, Cayugas and Senecas, setting forth, in the most kind and conciliatory manner, the objects of the council and the desire entertained to renew the friendship formerly subsisting between the Six Nations and the late colony, now State of New York, " and settling those differences and animosities which have arisen between us during the late war," * * * and to " establish boundary lines between you and us, on such just and equitable terms as will be satisfactory." * * * After considering the Governor's address for two days, the Indians replied, through their speaker, Capt. Brant, that they felt some embarrassment in being called to treat with two separate bodies at the same time, expressing a desire and determination to make a final settlement of all matters of a public nature between them.

For the purpose of removing all doubt and difficulty from the minds of the Indians, a copy of the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, and the Act of Confederation of the United States, were given them for examination, upon which the Indians expressed themselves satisfied. The principal points of settlement dwelt upon by the Commissioners were to establish a boundary line by which suitable concessions of territory should be made, to TREATY OF FOET STANWIX. indemnify the State for the losses sustained and the debts incurred during the war, and the release of all prisoners. The Commissioners also gave assurances that upon mak ing a satisfactory arrangement in respect to these two subjects, the State would guarantee the Six Nations in the peaceable possession of their lands ; they to give the State the pre-emptive right to purchase said lands when ever they wished to sell them.

In reply to the question of a cession of territory, the Indians said that they, as deputies of the several nations, had been " sent in order to make peace, and that we are not authorized to stipu late any particular cession of lands." They, however, proposed to recommend it to their respective nations, as they (the deputies) thought it reasonable, and proposed to treat more particularly on that subject as soon as the treaty with the Commissioners of Congress was ended. They also informed the Commissioners that they had al ready determined that when a general peace was con cluded, that all prisoners should be liberated and re stored. The Commissioners then informed the Indians that they intended to set out early in the morning to re turn home, and therefore now adjourned the Council Fire. The deputies of the four nations, by Capt. Abeel, then made a speech, returning the Commissioners their thanks for the candor, civility and attention with which they had been treated.

Major Philip Schuyler was deputed by the Commissioners to remain and attend the council to be held on the 20th with the Commissioners of Congress. He was instructed to " take notes of the daily proceeding ; to find ou„ the objects in view, and where he thought those objects detrimental to the inter ests of the State, to use his influence to counteract and frustrate them." After the adjournment of the council with the New York Commissioners, the Commissioners of Congress, having arrived, proceeded to hold a council with the Six Nations. The Commissioners of Congress were Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur Lee. No public or official minutes of the proceedings of this council, it was for a long time supposed, had be^en pre served, although the treaty itself became a subject of reference and remark oftener than any other treaty ever concluded with the Six Nations, and was made, a subject of complaint by the Six Nations, particularly the Sene cas, ever after, until, through the exertions of Corn planter, Big Tree and other chiefs, some modification of the terms of it was obtained from President Washington.

It is very evident that there was a little friction in the new machinery of government, so far, at least, as In dian affairs were concerned, at this time ; and there seems to have been no concert of action or unity of feel ing between the Commissioners of the State, and those of the United States. In the absence of any official record of the proceedings of the treaty at Fort Stanwix held by the Commis sioners of Congress, it is not entirely clear what chiefs or sachems of the Seneca Nation were present. It has been stated that Red Jacket was one of the representatives of the Senecas ; but his name does not appear in the record made by the New York Commissioners at the council with the Six Nations, held at the same time and with the same parties, where the names of the delegates appear in full ; but Red Jacket's name is not among them ; and, in the absence of proof on the subject, it is fair to as sume that he he was not present as one of the deputies LETTEE OF THE U. S. COMMJSSIONEES. at the treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784.

It is certain that his name does not appear on the records at that time, while that of Cornplanter and others does ; nor does the name of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, or Ska-go-y egh-wat-ha, (Red Jacket) appear upon any record, as a chief or sachem, prior to that date, nor until some years after — say 1789. LETTEE OF AETHUE LEE AND EICHAED BUTLEE, UNITED STATES COMMISSIONEES, TO THE SACHEMS AND WAERIOES, &C, OF THE ONEIDAS AND TUSCAEOEAS, ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TEIBES OF THE SIX NATIONS : Beetheen : — The late troubles in which we have been mutually involved being happily ended, Congress have thought proper to appoint us Commissioners to transact all kinds of public business between the United States and our brethren, the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, and to settle a general peace with all the Indian Nations from the Ohio to the great Lakes.