THE GRAND RIVER LANDS.

EXHIBIT 327.

The Iroquois on Grand River.1

The Iroquois on the Grand river in Canada did not altogether escape land troubles, and Brant even proposed ro remove to the United States. Some Iroquois from New York claimed that the Grand river lands belonged to them as well as the Mohawks. A council at Buffalo under Red Jacket and Farmer's Brother, deposed Brant, but he was restored. According to Stone, the council was illegal, the council fire having been regularly removed from Buffalo to the Onondaga village on Grand river. It is certain, however, that legal councils were held at Buffalo, where the official Onondaga wampum keeper long resided. The wampum was restored to old Onondaga in 1847, but since 1812 there have been two confederacies of the Six Nations, respectively in Canada and New York, and exactly corresponding.

EXHIBIT 328.

Governor Haldimand to Lord Sydney.2

CURZON STREET, 21st June, 1785.

MY LORD: Inclosed I have the Honor to transmit to your Lordship two Accounts containing the Amount of Losses sustained by the Mohawks and others of the Six united Nations, in consequence of the late Rebellion, and Their Attachment to the King and His Government, as given in to me by Sir John Johnson, Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs, and certified by Him, Colonel Claus, and Colonel Butler, deputy Superintendents. These Claims were laid before me at Quebec

New York State Museum, Bulletin 78, Archeology 9, W. M. Beauchamp, “A History of the New York Iroquois," p. 379.

Canadian Archives, Q. 24, p. 297.

by Captain Joseph Brant, and two others chiefs deputed from the Six Nations for that purpose, whose Intention it was to come over to England to solicit Payment thereof-Thinking it necessary for the King's Service, and the Interest of the Indians Themselves, that Joseph should not leave His Country at so critical a Period, and also for other Reasons, I did not encourage this intended Visit, but undertook Myself to give in Their Claims to the King's Minister, and as well to Conciliate Their Minds under Their apprehensions of having been neglected in the Treaty of Peace, as to enable Them to begin Their new Settlements upon Lake Ontario, I directed the Superintendent General to advance Them £1500. New York Currency upon Account, which seemed to have the desired Effect.

I hope, My Lord, that if these Claims have not appeared in Time and Form as required of the Loyalists by the Act of Parliament, the Impossibility of conforming therewith, and our peculiar Situation with our Indians Allies, who have deserved so well of Government, may be considered so as to procure for them a Payment in part, as early as any shall be made to the Loyalists, which will prevent discontents, now artfully promoting amongst Them by the French, the Americans, and I fear I may add, by many who style themselves faithful Subjects of the King.

I have the Honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordships most obedient and most Humble Servant

Right Honble Lord Sydney.

FRED HALDIMAND.

Endorsed: Curzon Street, 21st June 1785.

GOVERNOR HALDIMAND.

(2 Inclosures)

[Enclosure.]

ENDORSED.

Estimate of the Losses sustained by the Mohawk Indians & others of the Six Nations in their Real & Personal Estate as Valued in the year 1775.-£9108.14.4. N. Y. C

In Govr. Haldimand's of 21st June 1785.

£9154. 6. 4.

EXHIBIT 329.

David Hill and Aron Hill to Sir John Johnson.1

NASSAU, 15th April, 1790.

SIR: Having been informed by Colonel Butler of the receipt of a Letter from You, mentioning His Lordship's wish to know, when we would choose to have our Deed for the Lands, granted us on the Grand River, it being the wish of the Six Nations in general we have to request the Deed as soon as possible, being informed the Americans are Raising Troops and Ignorant of what their intentions may be, think the sooner our Boundaries are pointed out the greater will be our Satisfaction, and wish to know how much of the Land to the South of the Grand River we may Expect will be reserved, for our Hunting, and further request His Lordship will order a Surveyor, to survey the Tract granted us, that in future we may be certain as to our Boundaries.

There being a number of the Six Nations who mean to move over to the Grand River and the season being considerably advanced a number of them nearly destitute of Provision, request His Lordship will allow them Provision in order to Enable them to move, and until such time as they may be able to support themselves, we are in Behalf of the Six Nations.

Your most humble Servants

Signed

DAVID HILL

ARON HILL

SIR JOHN JOHNSON, Baronet

Superintendent Genl. & Inspectr. General

of Indian Affairs

Montreal.

Montreal 24th May 1790.

A True Copy

(Signed)

JOSEPH D. CHEW, Secry.

ENDORSED

In Lord Dorchester's to Mr. Greenville No. 56. dated 17th Oct. 1790.

1Canadian Archives, Q. 46, p. 438.

EXHIBIT 330.

Extract of a letter from Capt. Brant dated Grand River 24th March 1791.1

Copy.

"I have lately received a letter from the Revd. Mr. Kirtland that deep dark Presbiterian who have been at Philadelphia lately, you will see here of what he says as follows.”

"The unhappy and unfortunate expedition to Miamie I am fearful will finally prove fatal to many Indians unless a speedy accomodation should take place-do you think this practical on the part of the Indians? Please to suggest your Ideas on the subject, You would also gratify some of your friends to give a particular and impartial account of the Engagement-He also desired me to write him a long Letter-which I did to Gratify him and gave him his Bellyful of it-I also received another letter, from Ebenezer Allen from Genesee who likewise just arrived from Philadelphia and tells me much the same Story that of Kirtland's-Congress seems wishes to be friends with the Indians, Allen tells me further that some of those Gentlemen even wanted to employ me with high wages and to send me among the Indians, whilst our Young Men will be gone to Detroit, I mean to go to Buffaloe Creek with some of the Chiefs here to sound also the minds of the five Nations about the present affairs that I may know how to act if I should go to the Southward-I am sorry to inform you that the packet was coming here not less than 14 days from Bay of Quinta, Captain McKee will receive the packet in seven days time for certain from thisAbout the Lands at the Mouth of the Grand River you seem much to wish that we should spare you at least Six Miles up the River in order to have your New Settlement to be in one String along the Lake up, the Sentiments of the Indians here on this head seems to thought rather hard that they should give it back after its given to them. However they have agreed to give it up five miles & a half up the River, because Six Miles, it would take in a Seneca Settlement who we could not think to remove them as they are fond of their Place and half a Mile cannot make any odds with you.

The Deed or Grant for the Lands here which you are going to give us, we hope you will make the Deed or Grant near the same 'Canadian Archives, Q. 50, p. 153.