BROTHER: It is with pain and regret we have to observe that you received, as Trustee, thirty-eight thousand dollars of our money near two years ago, and that you have not since accounted to us for principal or interest, or given us any satisfactory account of the application of the same; and we therefore are so convinced that you have forfeited our esteem and confidence, that we desire our Great Father will appoint some other person to superintend our affairs and render us that justice, which as strict adherents in loyalty and attachment to our Great Father, we have so long and faithfully deserved. (Additional Memoranda, by Captain Brant.) The Agent had deferred meeting us the three preceding days, giving for the reason, that he waited for a Mr. Selby from Detroit; but the Chiefs gaining information that this gentleman's arrival was uncertain, insisted on meeting him that day between twelve and one o'clock, he came with the commanding officer. Col. Proctor said, as he had before said, he would not meet them in Council; so he remained in resolution, and would not hear them, giving the same excuse for it; but as this had never been the case before, nor the attendance of Mr. Selby required at any former council, the chiefs resolved to deliver their sentiments in the house built by his Majesty for that purpose, where they were assembled in the presence of several officers of the garrison, of Judge Thorpe, Mr. Weeks, Mr. Addison, Mr. Edwards, and several other gentlemen of the place. Okoghsenniyonte, a Chief of the Cayugas, then rose, and expressed the general approbation of what was said, alleging it was the sentiment of the whole; that the satisfaction they had felt on having the lands granted them according to the promise of his Majesty's representatives, was greatly weakened and disappointed by the disputes raised against their title, and the right to make the use of it they desired. EXHIBIT 356. Lieutenant Governor Gore to Lord Bathurst.1 UPPER CANADA, YORK 12th January 1816. MY LORD: I have the honor to inform Your Lordship, that Mr. Claus, trustee for the Six Nation Indians, has on the 6th instant, drawn on Messrs. Thomas Coutts & Co. of London, for five hundred and fifty one pounds four shillings and ten pence, sterling being the amount of Dividends due to the Said Indians, to July 1815, which I beg to request your Lordship will cause to be duly honored. I have the honor to be, My Lord, With Great respect Your Lordships Most Obedient humble Servant, TO EARL BATHURST, &c, &c, &c. FRANCIS GORE, Lt. Governor. EXHIBIT 357. No. 51. Lieutenant Governor Gore to Lord Bathurst.2 UPPER CANADA, YORK, 27 December 1816. MY LORD: I have the honor to inform Your Lordship that Colonel Claus, The Trustee for the Six Nations of Indians residing on the Grand River in this Province, has this day drawn of Messrs. Thomas Coutts & Co. of London in favor of William Halton Esquire, for the sum of two hundred and Seventy five pounds twelve Shillings and five pence halfpenny Sterling, being the amount of Dividends due to the said Indians for the Six Months ended the 31st. of December last, and to request that Your Lordship will be pleased to give the necessary directions that the same may be duly honored. I have the honor to be, My Lord, With great respect, Your Lordship's Most Obedient humble Servant, TO EARL BATHURST, &c, &c, &c. FRANCIS GORE, Lt. Governor. (Another letter marked 51, a duplicate, is in Q 322 p. 11, dated 27th January 1817.) EXHIBIT 358. Robert Kerr and John Brant to Lord Bathurst.1 LONDON, HUNGERFORD COFFEE HOUSE, STRAND, 6th Septr. 1821. MY LORD: The Five Nations Indians feeling aggrieved by certain measures, of the Provincial Government of Upper Canada, in reference to their Lands, on the Grand River, have by a public Instrument of which we have the honour to enclose Your Lordship a Copy, fully empowered us to communicate with His Majesty's Government on the subject, Being desirous of returning to Canada, with as little delay as possible, We request Your Lordship to appoint an early day for our waiting upon you, to communicate the original, and to explain to your Lordship the object of our Mission. We have the honor to be, My Lord, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, T. HEYANDANEGED alias ROBERT J. KERR Right Honorable, EARL BATHURST K. G. &c, &c, &c. [Enclosure.] UPPER CANADA. To All to Whom these presents shall come Greeting: KNOW YE, That we the undersigned Sachems, and principal War Chiefs of the Mohawk, Oghhuaga Seneca Onandaga and Cayuga Tribes or Nations, of Indians inhabiting and owning the Lands of the Grand River or River Ouse, in the Province of Upper Canada in North America having met at the usual Council fire in the Onandaga Village on the said Grand River to take into consideration as well as the general concerns of our Confederacy, as the situation of the Land granted to and (by the Special Order of His Majesty), directed to be granted to our said Nations on the said River in consideration of their early attachment and fidelity to His Majesty's Government, the active assistance furnished and heavy losses of Territory sustained by them during the American Rebellion, and being justly alarmed at the Encroachments upon the said Lands authorized and persisted in by the Provincial Government, and by the neglect or refusal of the said Provincial Government to pay any attention to the repeated applications for redress made by us the said Sachems and Principal War Chiefs 1Canadian Archives, Q. 330. through the medium of The Honorable William Claus, Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs to His Majesty's Government; and being sensible by long experience of the just and paternal principles which have uniformly actuated His Majesty's Conduct towards our said Nations and His ready desire to secure to us and our posterity all those rights and privileges to which we have under the sanction of His Royal Word so indubitable a claim, and being persuaded that a Deputation on behalf of our said Nations to lay at His Majesty's feet a Statement of the wrongs we have suffered and are now suffering from the unjustifiable Conduct and pretension of the Provincial Government has become necessary. Now Know Ye that we the said Sachems and principal War Chiefs duly assembled at the General Council Fire by virtue of the authority in us vested, and in conformity to the Constant usage and practice of our confederacy from time immemorial having full and perfect Confidence in the Integrity of our Beloved Brothers, T'heyandanegea alias Robert J. Kerr and A'Hyou-· waeghes alias John Brant all of them Chiefs of our said Confederacy, have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto them the said T'heyandanegea alias Robert J. Kerr and A'hyouwaeghes alias John Brant-full power and authority for us and on behalf of our respective confederated Nations to proceed from hence to Quebec and London by such routs as to them may seem expedient and on their arrival at the seat of His Majesty's Chief Government in North America as well as in Great Britain to make such communications and representations as well on our Affairs generally as on the subject of the wrongs and injuries which we have suffered, and continue to suffer from the unjustifiable conduct and pretensions of the Provincial Government, of Upper Canada, and to do such other matters and things regarding the interest of our said Confederated Nations whether in America or in England as to them shall seem meet and Expedient. And we do hereby, as well on our behalf as on the behalf of our said Confederated Nations ratify allow and confirm all and whatsoever the said T'Heyandanegea alias Robert J. Kerr, and A’hyouwaeghes alias John Brant may lawfully do, by virture of the full power and authority hereby given and granted to them. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hand and Seals (the same being first read and fully explained to us) in behalf of our said Confederated Nations at the Onandaga Village in full and EXHIBIT 358. Robert Kerr and John Brant to Lord Bathurst.1 LONDON, HUNGERFORD COFFEE HOUSE, STRAND, 6th Septr. 1821. MY LORD: The Five Nations Indians feeling aggrieved by certain measures, of the Provincial Government of Upper Canada, in reference to their Lands, on the Grand River, have by a public Instrument of which we have the honour to enclose Your Lordship a Copy, fully empowered us to communicate with His Majesty's Government on the subject, Being desirous of returning to Canada, with as little delay as possible, We request Your Lordship to appoint an early day for our waiting upon you, to communicate the original, and to explain to your Lordship the object of our Mission. We have the honor to be, My Lord, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, T. HEYANDANEGED alias ROBERT J. KERR Right Honorable, EARL BATHURST K. G. &c, &c, &c. [Enclosure.] UPPER CANADA. To All to Whom these presents shall come Greeting: KNOW YE, That we the undersigned Sachems, and principal War Chiefs of the Mohawk, Oghhuaga Seneca Onandaga and Cayuga Tribes or Nations, of Indians inhabiting and owning the Lands of the Grand River or River Ouse, in the Province of Upper Canada in North America having met at the usual Council fire in the Onandaga Village on the said Grand River to take into consideration as well as the general concerns of our Confederacy, as the situation of the Land granted to and (by the Special Order of His Majesty), directed to be granted to our said Nations on the said River in consideration of their early attachment and fidelity to His Majesty's Government, the active assistance furnished and heavy losses of Territory sustained by them during the American Rebellion, and being justly alarmed at the Encroachments upon the said Lands authorized and persisted in by the Provincial Government, and by the neglect or refusal of the said Provincial Government to pay any attention to the repeated applications for redress made by us the said Sachems and Principal War Chiefs 1Canadian Archives, Q. 330. |