Treaty with The Wyandot
March 17, 1842
John Tyler, President of the United States of America, by
John Johnston, formerly agent for Indian affairs, now a citizen
of the State of Ohio, commissioner duly authorized and appointed
to treat with the Wyandott Nation of Indians for a cession
of all their lands lying and being in the States of Ohio and
Michigan; and the duly constituted chiefs, counsellors, and
head-men, of the said Wyandott Nation, in full council assembled,
on the other part, have entered into the following articles
and conditions, viz:
Article 1.
The Wyandott Nation of Indians do hereby cede to the United
States all that tract of land situate, lying, and being in
the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, commonly known as
the residue of the large reserve, being all of their remaining
lands within the State of Ohio, and containing one hundred
and nine thousand one hundred and forty-four acres, more or
less. The said nation also hereby cedes to the United States
all their right and title to the Wyan-dotte Reserve, on both
sides of the river Huron, in the State of Michigan, containing
four thousand nine hundred and ninety-six acres, be the same
more or less, being all the remaining lands claimed or set
apart for the use of the Wyandotts within the State of Michigan;
and the United States hereby promises to pay the sum of five
hundred dollars towards the expenses of removing the Indians
of the river Huron to Upper Sandusky, but before the latter
clause of this article is binding on the contracting parties,
the consent of the head-men of the river Huron Wyandotts is
to be had in writing.
Article 2.
In consideration of the foregoing cession, the United States
hereby grant to the aforesaid Wyandott Nation a tract of land
west of the Mississippi River, to contain one hundred and
forty-eight thousand acres, and to be located upon any lands
owned by the United States, now set apart, or may in future
be set apart for Indian use, and not already assigned to any
other tribe or nation.
Article 3.
The United States agree to pay the Wyandott Nation a perpetual
annuity of seventeen thousand five hundred dollars in specie,
the first payment to be made within the present year, 1842,
to enable the nation the more speedily to remove to their
new home in the West; this includes all former annuities.
Article 4.
The United States agree to make a permanent provision of
five hundred dollars per annum, for the support of a school,
to be under the direction of the chiefs, and for no other
purpose whatever, the first payment to be made three years
hence, and afterwards at the payment of the annuity in each
succeeding year.
Article 5.
The United States agree to pay the Wyandotts the full value
of their improvements in the country hereby ceded by them
in Ohio and Michigan, which valuation shall be made by two
persons to be appointed by the President of the United States,
who shall be sworn faithfully to do justice to the parties,
the amount of such valuation to be paid at any time after
the 1st day of April, 1843, as shall be acceptable to the
Wyandott chiefs, to meet their arrangements for emigrating.
Article 6.
The United States hereby agree to pay the debts due by members
of the Wyandott Nation to citizens of the United States, amounting
to twenty three thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars,
in conformity to a schedule hereto annexed.
Article 7.
The Wyandotts shall be allowed the use and occupancy of their
improvements until the 1st of April, 1844, on the condition
that they nor any persons claiming or occupying under them
by lease or otherwise shall not commit waste or damage on
the premises hereby ceded, but this is not to prevent the
United States from surveying and selling the land at any time
previous to the said 1st day of April, 1844.
Article 8.
The United States engage to provide and support a blacksmith
and an assistant blacksmith for the Wyandott Nation, and to
furnish annually a sufficient quantity of iron, steel, coal,
files, tools, and all other things necessary and proper in
such on establishment, and to erect a suitable shop and house
or houses for the residence of the blacksmith and his assistant.
Article 9.
The United States engage to maintain and support a sub-agent
and interpreter to reside among the Wyandotts to aid them
in the protection of their persons and property, and to manage
their intercourse with the Government and citizens of the
United States.
Article 10.
The buildings and farm occupied by the mission of the Methodist
Episcopal Church shall remain in possession of the present
incumbents until the 1st day of April, 1844, and permission
is hereby given to harvest and remove the crop of fall-grain
which may be then sown.
Article 11.
All persons identified as members of the Wyandott Nation,
and their heirs, and who may emigrate to the west, shall participate
equally in the benefits of the annuity, and all other national
privileges, and it is expressly understood that those who
do not emigrate, and any that may hereafter cease to remain
with the nation, will not be entitled to the benefits and
privileges aforesaid.
Article 12.
Whereas by the 8th article of the treaty of Miami Rapids
of September 29th, 1817, (proclaimed January 4, 1819,) there
was granted unto Horonu, or Cherokee Boy, a Wyandott chief,
one section of land, to contain six hundred and forty acres;
and whereas the said Horonu did during his life-time sell
and convey to James Whitaker one quarter-section of said land,
containing 160 acres, which sale was confirmed by the President
of the United States. The said Horonu died in the month of
March, 1826, having by his last will bequeathed the remaining
three quarter-sections, containing 480 acres, to Squeendehtee
and Sooharress, or Isaac Williams, they being the nearest
of kin to the deceased, now to the intent that the purposes
of the testator may be fully complied with, it is hereby agreed
the 480 acres of land, as aforesaid, shall be immediately
sold under the directions of the President of the United States,
and the net proceeds, after deducting all expenses, be paid
over to the heirs aforesaid.
Article 13.
The chiefs of the Wyandott Nation hereby agree to remove
their whole people to the west of the Mississippi River with
out any other cost to the United States than the sum of ten
thousand dollars; five thousand dollars of which is to be
paid the said chiefs when the first detachment of their people
sets out on their journey to the west, and the remaining five
thousand dollars on the arrival of the whole nation at the
place of their destination in the west.
Article 14.
The United States agree to grant by patent in fee simple
to each of the following-named persons, and their heirs all
of whom are Wyandotts by blood or adoption, one section of
land of six hundred and forty acres each, out of any lands
west of the Missouri River set apart for Indian use, not already
claimed or occupied by any person or tribe, viz: Silas Armstrong,
John M. Armstrong, Matthew R. Walker, William Walker, Joel
Walker, Charles B. Garrett, George Garrett, George J. Clark,
Irwin P. Long, Ethan A. Long, Joseph L. Tennery, Robert Robertaile,
Jared S. Dawson, Joseph Newell, John T. Walker, Peter D. Clark,
James Rankin, Samuel McCulloch, Elliot McCulloch, Isaiah Walker,
William M. Tennery, Henry Clay Walker, Ebenezer Z. Reed, and
Joel Walker Garrett, and to the following chiefs and councillors
one section each: Francis A. Hicks, James Washington, Squeendehtee,
Henry Jaques, Tauroonee, Doctor Grey Eyes, George Armstrong,
Warpole, John Hicks, Peacock, and George Punch. The lands
hereby granted to be selected by the grantees, surveyed and
patented at the expense of the United States, but never to
be conveyed by them or their heirs without the permission
of the President of the United States.
Article 15.
The United States agree to pay to William Walker and Joel
Walker, each, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, and
to John M. Armstrong the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars,
for services rendered as interpreters in the progress of the
negotiation; and to Warpole, a former chief of the Wyandott
Nation, one hundred and fifty dollars, money expended by him
as one of the party who accompanied Joseph McCutchen, a former
commissioner of the United States, to the city of Washington
in September, 1839.
Article 16.
In the year 1812 the houses, barns, stables, fences, horses,
cattle, and hogs, with farming utensils and household furniture,
to a large amount, the property of the late William Walker,
of Brownstown, in the Territory of Michigan, was destroyed
by the enemy while in the occupancy of the United States forces;
and by reason of his attachment to the cause of his country,
being a native citizen, taken prisoner in early life by the
Wyandott Indians, intermarried, and ever afterward living
among them, the evidence of all which is ample and conclusive.
There is therefore granted unto Catharine Walker, widow of
the said William Walker, and to his heirs, the sum of three
thousand dollars, in full satisfaction of their claim, to
be paid by the United States to her or them after the ratification
of this treaty.
Article 17.
There shall be reserved from sale, and forever devoted to
public use, two acres of ground as near as can be in a square
form, to include the stone meeting-house and burying-ground
near to and north of Upper Sandusky, one acre to include the
burying-ground on the bank near the council-house at Upper
Sandusky, and one-half acre to include the burying-ground
on the farm of Silas Armstrong, which several lots of ground
shall forever remain open and free to all persons for the
purpose of interment and houses of worship, and for no other
purposes whatever.
Article 18.
This treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the contracting
parties as soon as the same shall be ratified by the President
of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate thereof.
In testimony whereof the said John Johnston, commissioner
as afore-said, and the chiefs and councillors and headmen
of the Wyandott nation in open council, at the council-house
at Upper Sandusky in the county of Crawford, and the State
of Ohio, on the seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, have set their
names.
- [SEAL] John Johnston.
- Fran. A. Hicks, Principal Chief.
- James Washington (x)
- Squeendehtee (x)
- Henry Jaquis (x)
- Tauroone (x)
- George Armstrong (x)
- Doctor Grey Eyes (x)
Signed in the presence of -
- John W. Bear, Sub. Indian Agent
- James Rankin, U. S. Interpreter
- G. C. Worth
- John Cary
- Samuel Newell
- Stephen Fowler
- Charles Graham
- John Walker
- Chester Wells
- I. Duddleson
- Andrew Gardner, jur.,
- John Justus
We, the undersigned, chiefs and counsellors of the Wyandott
nation of Indians, residing in the State of Ohio, and representing
also the Wyandotts of the River Huron, in Michigan, do hereby
give our free and voluntary assent to the amendments made
by the Senate of the United States on the 17th day of August,
one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, to the treaty concluded
by us with the United States on the 17th day of March, 1842,
the same having been submitted and fully explained to us by
John Johnston, commissioner on the part of the United States
for that purppose, in full council assembled.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed our seals, respectively, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio,
the sixteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred
and forty-two, 1842.
- Henry Jacques, Principal Chief this year, his x mark, [L. S.]
- James Washington, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Doctor Grey Eyes, his x mark, [L. S.]
- George Punch, sen., his x mark, [L. S.]
- Tauroomee, his x mark, [L. S.]
- James Big Tree, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Franccis A. Hicks, [L. S.]
In the presence of -
- John Johnston, U. S. Commissioner
- James Rankin, U. S. Interpreter
- John Cary
- Joseph Chaffee
- James Wheeler, Missionary to the Methodist
- Episcopal Church, Wyandotts.
- William M. Buell
- Chas. Graham
- H. J. Starr
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