Post by blackcrowheart on Dec 16, 2005 0:06:13 GMT -5
Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary Land Claims to Congress
Mazipskwik or Missisquoi as it later became known as, is historically
documented by early Vermont historians as the main village of the
Western Abenakis. According to an 1842 publication prepared by
Zaddock Thompson for the Clerk's office in the District Court for the
District of Vermont entitled "History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and
Statistical, in Three Parts:"
When Mrs. Howe and others were taken at Bridgeman's fort and carried
into captivity, in 1755, the northern parts of Lake Champlain were in
possession of the St. Francis Indians, who wintered there in large
numbers and subsisted by hunting and fishing; and as late as the time
of the revolutionary war, a branch of this tribe had a village at
Swanton, consisting of about 50 huts with a church, jesuit
missionary, and some lands under cultivation.
Assuming that each hut was inhabited by a family of four, Mazipskwik
had an Abenaki population of at least 200 prior to the American
Revolution. The following Memorials to Congress by Captain Joseph
Traversy and Captain John Vincent (wrongly referred to as a Huron
Indian) are important because they illustrate how our occupation of
our historical homeland and service during the Revolutionary War were
ignored as factors by Congress and General Washington in considering
land grants following the American Revolution. For example, Captain
Vincent forwarded Abenaki land claims over Vermont and New York to
General Bayley in February 1781.
These were later forwarded by Bayley to General Washington for a
decision. Washington then forwarded the issue to Congress who
forwarded it to the Secretary of War, Henry Knox, who contended that
Congress did not have any authority over the lands on Lake Champlain
(this was in 1787, four years after the signing of the Paris Treaty
that divided the U.S. and Canada along the 45th parallel; thereby
placing the Champlain Islands well within the jurisdiction of the
United States).
Petition of Captain Joseph Traversy, October 1783
Office of the Secretary of Congress, October 24, 1786
Office of the Secretary of War, October 27, 1787
To the Honorable the Congress of the United States of America
The Petition of Capn. Joseph Traversy humbley fourth;
That your Petitioner a Native and Inhabitant of Canada took an active
part in the Cause of America from the very beginning of the late
conflict.
That he used his utmost Endeavors during the War to be of some
ability to that Cause. That he cheerfully and many times risked his
life either by carrying important Intelligence to the Inhabitants of
Canada and to the Northern Indians, according to orders from General
Gates, Marquis de LaFayette and Count d'Estaing, and bringing back
useful advices to the several Legislatures and Commanding Officers of
the United States, or by trying to stop the Excursions of the
aforesaid Indians, in which he partly succeeded, must especially in
acquainting them with the Alliance with France and doing his utmost
to attach them to the Interests of America.
That in consequence of his serving the United States his properties
in Canada amounting to a considerable Value and which his fortune
were seized by the British government. And that having lost all hopes
of recovering them by the same Peace which has secured the
Independence of America, he finds himself, towards the decline of
life, reduced to shift about, deprived of his place of abode, a wife
and eight children to support and without anything to subsist upon
but what he can get by hunting, a kind of life already too hard and
soon impossible to be followed by a Man of his Age. Your Petitioner,
therefore, fully convinced with the Justice and Generosity of the
Honourable the Congress begs leave to apply to them, that they would
grant him some Compensation for his service. But Knowing, at the same
time, that the present Circumstances of the United States would
possible prevent them from following the impulsion of their liberal
Sentiments, and wishing nothing more strongly than to become a
settled Inhabitant of the United States, he desires the Honourable
the Congress would grant him some uncultivated lands towards the Lake
Champlain, near the limits of the United States and Canada. Your
petitioner will be able to give a full Satisfaction for what he has
now brought forth, and could show more exactly the spot on which he
wishes to settle himself, to such as the Honourable the Congress will
judge it fit to name for that purpose. But whatever may be the fate
of his humble petition, his best wishes will only be for the Welfare,
and the remains of his life employed for the Service of the United
States and he will never cease, as in duty bond, to pray for the
prosperity of the Honourable the Congress of whom he submits himself.
With the greatest respect, the most obedient servant and most
faithful Subject, Signed in behalf of Joseph Traversi Office of the
Secretary of Congress, October 24, 1786 On the Memorial of Joseph
Traversy stating that 22 Indians who served under him in the late war
have been deprived of their lands by Col. Allen of Vermont and
praying to have their lands returned. The Secretary of Congress
reports that the Memorial of Joseph Traversie be referred to the
Secretary of War to report. Office of the Secretary of War, October
27, 1787 The Secretary of the United States for the department of War
to whom was referred the petition of Captain Vincent a Huron Indian
Reports That the papers respecting Captain were at the latter end of
August last presented to your Secretary at a time when Congress were
not assembled--That he examined into the claims of the said Captain
Vincent and found that his legal claims were adjusted but that he
claimed for undefined and casual Services which were most probably
compensated at the time they were performed. That your Secretary
persuaded the Said Captain Vincent to return to his own Country again
giving him a gun powder and lead and paying his expenses which in the
city of New York. That Congress having no lands on Lake Champlain
cannot give any to the Said Vincent--But Should Congress think proper
they will direct that he be furnished with provisions on Lake
Champlain as long as the Canadians shall continue to be furnished--
Being both aged and infirm he would be compensated within the
description of Canadians who are to be Supplied with one years
provisions--His Services may also entitle him to a Supply of clothes.
On this principle the following resolution is submitted Resolved.
That the Secretary of War direct Captain John Vincent a Huron indian
who rendered Services to the United States during the late War to be
furnished with rations in the Same manner as the Canadian refugees on
Lake Champlain are furnished and also a Supply of clothes.
H. Knox
War Office
October 27, 1787
His Excellency, The President of Congress
Sources: U.S. National Archives, Washington, DC; Zadock Thompson,
History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical, in Three Parts,
with a New Map of the State and 200 Engravings, Burlington, VT:
Chauncey Goodrich, 1842.
Mazipskwik or Missisquoi as it later became known as, is historically
documented by early Vermont historians as the main village of the
Western Abenakis. According to an 1842 publication prepared by
Zaddock Thompson for the Clerk's office in the District Court for the
District of Vermont entitled "History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and
Statistical, in Three Parts:"
When Mrs. Howe and others were taken at Bridgeman's fort and carried
into captivity, in 1755, the northern parts of Lake Champlain were in
possession of the St. Francis Indians, who wintered there in large
numbers and subsisted by hunting and fishing; and as late as the time
of the revolutionary war, a branch of this tribe had a village at
Swanton, consisting of about 50 huts with a church, jesuit
missionary, and some lands under cultivation.
Assuming that each hut was inhabited by a family of four, Mazipskwik
had an Abenaki population of at least 200 prior to the American
Revolution. The following Memorials to Congress by Captain Joseph
Traversy and Captain John Vincent (wrongly referred to as a Huron
Indian) are important because they illustrate how our occupation of
our historical homeland and service during the Revolutionary War were
ignored as factors by Congress and General Washington in considering
land grants following the American Revolution. For example, Captain
Vincent forwarded Abenaki land claims over Vermont and New York to
General Bayley in February 1781.
These were later forwarded by Bayley to General Washington for a
decision. Washington then forwarded the issue to Congress who
forwarded it to the Secretary of War, Henry Knox, who contended that
Congress did not have any authority over the lands on Lake Champlain
(this was in 1787, four years after the signing of the Paris Treaty
that divided the U.S. and Canada along the 45th parallel; thereby
placing the Champlain Islands well within the jurisdiction of the
United States).
Petition of Captain Joseph Traversy, October 1783
Office of the Secretary of Congress, October 24, 1786
Office of the Secretary of War, October 27, 1787
To the Honorable the Congress of the United States of America
The Petition of Capn. Joseph Traversy humbley fourth;
That your Petitioner a Native and Inhabitant of Canada took an active
part in the Cause of America from the very beginning of the late
conflict.
That he used his utmost Endeavors during the War to be of some
ability to that Cause. That he cheerfully and many times risked his
life either by carrying important Intelligence to the Inhabitants of
Canada and to the Northern Indians, according to orders from General
Gates, Marquis de LaFayette and Count d'Estaing, and bringing back
useful advices to the several Legislatures and Commanding Officers of
the United States, or by trying to stop the Excursions of the
aforesaid Indians, in which he partly succeeded, must especially in
acquainting them with the Alliance with France and doing his utmost
to attach them to the Interests of America.
That in consequence of his serving the United States his properties
in Canada amounting to a considerable Value and which his fortune
were seized by the British government. And that having lost all hopes
of recovering them by the same Peace which has secured the
Independence of America, he finds himself, towards the decline of
life, reduced to shift about, deprived of his place of abode, a wife
and eight children to support and without anything to subsist upon
but what he can get by hunting, a kind of life already too hard and
soon impossible to be followed by a Man of his Age. Your Petitioner,
therefore, fully convinced with the Justice and Generosity of the
Honourable the Congress begs leave to apply to them, that they would
grant him some Compensation for his service. But Knowing, at the same
time, that the present Circumstances of the United States would
possible prevent them from following the impulsion of their liberal
Sentiments, and wishing nothing more strongly than to become a
settled Inhabitant of the United States, he desires the Honourable
the Congress would grant him some uncultivated lands towards the Lake
Champlain, near the limits of the United States and Canada. Your
petitioner will be able to give a full Satisfaction for what he has
now brought forth, and could show more exactly the spot on which he
wishes to settle himself, to such as the Honourable the Congress will
judge it fit to name for that purpose. But whatever may be the fate
of his humble petition, his best wishes will only be for the Welfare,
and the remains of his life employed for the Service of the United
States and he will never cease, as in duty bond, to pray for the
prosperity of the Honourable the Congress of whom he submits himself.
With the greatest respect, the most obedient servant and most
faithful Subject, Signed in behalf of Joseph Traversi Office of the
Secretary of Congress, October 24, 1786 On the Memorial of Joseph
Traversy stating that 22 Indians who served under him in the late war
have been deprived of their lands by Col. Allen of Vermont and
praying to have their lands returned. The Secretary of Congress
reports that the Memorial of Joseph Traversie be referred to the
Secretary of War to report. Office of the Secretary of War, October
27, 1787 The Secretary of the United States for the department of War
to whom was referred the petition of Captain Vincent a Huron Indian
Reports That the papers respecting Captain were at the latter end of
August last presented to your Secretary at a time when Congress were
not assembled--That he examined into the claims of the said Captain
Vincent and found that his legal claims were adjusted but that he
claimed for undefined and casual Services which were most probably
compensated at the time they were performed. That your Secretary
persuaded the Said Captain Vincent to return to his own Country again
giving him a gun powder and lead and paying his expenses which in the
city of New York. That Congress having no lands on Lake Champlain
cannot give any to the Said Vincent--But Should Congress think proper
they will direct that he be furnished with provisions on Lake
Champlain as long as the Canadians shall continue to be furnished--
Being both aged and infirm he would be compensated within the
description of Canadians who are to be Supplied with one years
provisions--His Services may also entitle him to a Supply of clothes.
On this principle the following resolution is submitted Resolved.
That the Secretary of War direct Captain John Vincent a Huron indian
who rendered Services to the United States during the late War to be
furnished with rations in the Same manner as the Canadian refugees on
Lake Champlain are furnished and also a Supply of clothes.
H. Knox
War Office
October 27, 1787
His Excellency, The President of Congress
Sources: U.S. National Archives, Washington, DC; Zadock Thompson,
History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical, in Three Parts,
with a New Map of the State and 200 Engravings, Burlington, VT:
Chauncey Goodrich, 1842.