Early Records from the Creek Nation
Creek Nation [Oct 26, 1827]
Know all men by these presents that I Watta Grayson have this day bargained and
sold unto my brother Thomas Grayson for the full and just sum of fifteen hundred
dollars to me paid; a family of Negro slaves as follows.
Jim a man about thirty eight years old, his wife Ginny about thirty, Campbell about fourteen, Molly about twelve, Rose about ten, Dianna about nine, Jupiter about seven, Nelly about four, and Eady about two years old, the right and title of said Negroes I warrant and defend against all claims whatever unto Thomas Grayson, his heirs or assigns forever.
Witness where of I hereunto set my
hand this 26th Octr 1827.
Watta X Grayson
Test
Robert X Grierson
Steven X Hawkins
The above is a true copy from the original on record in my office
John Campbell
Agent Creeks
Western Creek Agency 27th Octr 1832.
Circuit Court
March Term 182-
The State of Alabama
Montgomery County
In the case of Bryant Rushing and George Taylor against Reuben Jordon and
Elizabeth Grierson the Negros sued for were Ben about twenty seven years of age,
---- a woman about 24 years old, R-s- a girl 7 years old, Celia a girl about 5
years old, Hope a boy about one year old, which suit was left to arbitration
and the Nation gave to Rushing & Taylor the Negros Ris-- a girl, Celia a
girl, and John? a boy, or to pay them 12.00 in case of failing to deliver the
Negroes.
The above is right
W. Graham Clk
Western Creek Nation 23rd August 1836
Having been called on by Genl. John Campbell Agent for the Creeks to say what
I know with respect to a family of eleven Negros that are in dispute between
Col. David Brearly and Thomas Grierson. When I moved from the old Creek Nation
in the year 1827 Thomas Grierson sent this family of Negroes out to this country
by me as he was taken sick and unable to come at that time himself. I returned
with Col. Brearly the following year to the old Creek Nation and while I was
there a man by the name of Jordon claimed those Negroes and accused me of
stealing them and took me with a states warrant and while I was in custody of
the Sheriff Col. Brearly told me that he was very anxious for me to be
relieved as he could not provide to collect the Indians for emigration without
my aide and that he was going to purchase Jordon's title to the Negros as he
could get it for twelve hundred dollars. I told him then that there were two
other claims which he knew of as well as myself, that was McIntosh's and
Grierson's claims. He said that made no difference as they were Indians and that
he would buy Jordon's title, which he did and paid him twelve hundred dollars.
Sometime two or three months after he bought the title of Jordon I and Col.
Brearly was in Alabama together when he told me then that I should give him a
Bond for the delivery of the Negroes. I told him that I asked not like to do it
and he told me that if I did not give him a bond that he would take me with a
writ and put me in jail and the thought of being put in jail terrified me and I
as---- some kind of instrument of writing that he wrote but not with the
intention of giving up the Negroes to him .. for that I did not intend to do but
he came on before I did and told my father who had charge of the Negroes
that he was to have them for a sum of money he had advanced for me although he
had not advance one dollar for me and my father give up the negroes and he has
had them in possession ever since, except one that run off from him, and all the
others he had sold near 8 year since and the purchasers have them now in
possession.
Thomas Grierson never give me any title whatever for the Negroes and I never
advance him one dollar towards the payment of the Negros. I was --- employed by
him to bring them on here for him.
Thomas Grierson has been trying for a year past to have this business brought to
a final issue but has not been able as yet to effect it, his object is to bring
it before a juditial tribunal and ---- titles -----.
As witness my hand
Benjamin Hawkins
Source: [M234, roll 236, frame 294-97] Contributed by Lance Hall, Creek Researcher
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This is a transcription of a records from National Archives microfilm series M234, rolls 236, 290 and microfilm series M271, rolls 1-4. Microfilm series M234 reproduces letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs. Rolls 236 and 290 contains correspondence relating to the Creek Agency (West) and the Florida Superintendency Emigration, respectively. Microfilm series M271, rolls 1-4 contains correspondence received by the Secretary of War relating to Indian affairs. Many of these are very hard to read and there are no doubt mistakes in the transcriptions. More background information regarding the transcribed records below can usually be found in the letters preceeding and following the record, on the microfilm.
Records regarding the 33 Negroes detained at New Orleans in July 1838:
Contributed by Lance Hall, Creek Researcher
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[M271, roll 3, frames 665-668]
Deposition of J. S. Thomas
Millegeville, Georgia
Being called upon by the Governor of Georgia under authority as he
states, of the Secretary of State of the United States to declare what I know
respecting the parties interested in the purchase & introduction of a parcel
of Africans which were take to the Agency in the winter of 1817. The
following is what I know on the subject.
Some time in the first week in the month of December 1817 I was at the
Creek Agency attending to the transportation of provision for the use of the
United States troops, under a special contract with the Colonel of the 7th U.
States Infantry, then commanding the District. When Capt. William
Bowen with a certain Doctor James Long arrived there with a parcel of African
Negroes. Being intimately acquainted with Capt. Bowen I had frequent
conversations with him about the Negroes, and asked him if he would sell them,
to which he replied that they were not for sale, but were purchased by himself
and Mr. James Erwin of Savannah Merchant for their own use, and were solely
their property except a small interest in them belonging to the said Doctor
Long. I then advised Captain Bowen to remove them immediately as
they ware in danger where they then ware, for in my opinion if
General Mitchell saw them he would report them in which case it might be
difficult to get them clear, and besides the troops are expected at that time to
pass the Agency on their way from Fort Hawkins to Fort Scott, which would also
endanger their safety. Capt. Bowen to my representations observed,
that it was impossible for him to remove them at that moment for the want of
subsistence and the means of transportation, and requested me to subsist them
whilst they remained at the Agency, which I accordingly did until they were
taken possession of and reported by General Mitchell. Finding that
Capt. Bowen could not remove the Negroes at that time, I immediately wrote to
Col Andrew Erwin of Augusta under the impression that he was apprised of the
purchase made by Bowen, advising him of the arrival of the Negroes and the
danger to which I believed them exposed; and to my surprise received for answer,
that my letter was the first information he had received on the subject, and
expressed his surprise that his son should have engaged in such a speculation
without his knowledge, he would thank me to render them any assistance I could
to get them off to the Westward. This I had determined to do having
received attention from Col. Erwin and his friends which in my opinion laid me
under obligation to serve them. During this time General Mitchell
was at his place of residence in Georgia, but soon afterwards arrived at the
Agency on his way to the Chatahochey to attend a meeting of the chiefs of the
Creek Nation, which I think was appointed for the 9th of the month December.
Whether he saw the Negroes on his way out I do not recollect, but I think he
told me afterwards that he had not, but had seen Capt. Bowen from whom he had
received the first information of their being at the Agency. On
General Mitchell's return from Chatahochie which must have been about the middle
of the month General Gaines came in company with him, but the General did not
remain but a few hours and went on the same day to Fort Hawkins.
General Mitchell then saw the Negroes and appeared willing that they should be
removed, if done before he took official cognizance of them; and Doctor Long had
his proportion designated and he took them off with him to the Westward.
General Mitchell remained at the Agency but a few days and returned to Georgia
to spend Christmas with his family and then positively declared that as the
owners had declined or delayed removing them he would immediately on his
reaching home report them to Government, after which he would not permit them
removed unless security was given to take them out of the United States.
I returned to Georgia myself at this time and being invited by General Mitchell
to dine with him on Christmas day, I did so, and was shown by him a copy of the
letter he wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury reporting the Negroes.
He also told me that he informed Colonel Brearly who rode part of the way with
him from Fort Hawkins to Milledgville that he should report them immediately on
his reaching home, and Colonel Brearly has mentioned repeatedly the same fact to
me since. Truth and justice requires that I should further declare
in this case that it is my belief that I have a correct knowledge of the parties
who were interested in the purchase and introduction of those Negroes and that
it is my decided conviction that General Mitchell not only had no interest or
concern in their purchase and introduction but was entirely ignorant of both. I
also declare that prior to the introduction of the Africans by Capt. Bowen, when
reports were prevalent and a subject of conversation, of the same description of
people being introduced into the sea board country of this state, I have had
frequent conversation with General Mitchell on that subject, and was uniformly
advised by him to have nothing to do with such transactions, for those who did
would experience not only pecuniary loss, but destroy their reputation.
J. S. Thomas
Sworn and subscribed before me this 3rd day of
April 1820.
James ---- Baldwin County, Georgia
Sworn to & acknowledged before me 22 July 1820
Jas. Fleming, .., Baldwin County, Georgia.
The witness being cross examined by General Mitchell says:
He is personally acquainted with Col. Gideon Morgan of Tennessee.
Deponent saw the Colonel at the Agency some time about the middle of December
1817. That he conversed with him on the subject of the Africans at
that time, & since, and was informed by the Colonel before he saw Genl.
Mitchell, that he was authorized to offer the Negroes to him for sale in order
to secure the amount due to the Erwins for advances made by them for the
purchase of the Negroes. After the Colonel had seen Genl. Mitchell
.. he informed deponent that he had offered the Negroes to the General but that
he had positively refused to have anything to do with the purchase of them, but,
had said that he (Colonel Morgan) might remove them. Colonel Morgan
then offered the Negroes to the deponent, but not agreeing on terms, no contract
was made. The deponent was present at the settlement made between
Doctor Long and Capt. Bowen, and five of the Negroes were selected by Dr. Long
and taken by him to the Westward. Dr. Long & Capt. Bowen then left the
Agency, the former for Mississippi, and the latter to bring on the balance of
the Negroes, as he said. General Mitchell was at this time gone to
the Chatahochie, on his return & after the departure of Col. Morgan the
deponent was present when Mr. Elhert an old Indian Country man who was settling
a new place three or four miles above the Agency applied to Genl. Mitchell for a
few of the Negroes to clean a piece of land for him. Genl. Mitchell
told him he had no objection, and he presumed Capt. Bowen would have none
provided .. he (Mr. Elhert) would take good care of them, feed them well.
Mr. Elhert promised to do this; and Genl. Mitchell requested this deponent to
select six of the stoutest of the men to go with Mr. Elhert. The
deponent did so and designated them by tying a piece of Yellow ferreting to
their jackets. The deponent did not see the Negroes set out for Mr.
Elherts, but he knows that they went; and that they returned again to the
Agency; and he has since seen them in Milledgville and some of them are now, or
lately were there.
The Negroes were lodged in a piece of Woodland within the fence of the
Plantation, in small huts covered with dry goods and built by themselves, near
the quarter where Genl. Mitchell was settling his own Negroes. There
were no huts, houses, or cabins of any sort built by the Negroes or people of
General Mitchell in which to lodge the said Africans. The houses
that were built were for the use of his own people. None of the
Africans were sent from the Agency by General Mitchell, or by any person acting
for him, or concealed by him or them within my knowledge. All those
taken to the Agency by Capt. Bowen, were take away by Mr. McIntosh, except those
taken by Doctor Long, and three had absconded at the time of the seizure.
After the Negroes were detained by Genl. Mitchell, some of them, some time more
sometimes less, were in the public Yard at the Agency every day when this
deponent was there, grinding corn for their own use at a hand Mill.
Some of the small Negroes who were sick and infirm, some with burned hands, some
with burned feet .. were placed by order of General Mitchell in the Cabins of
his own people at the Agency for the purpose of being nursed and taken care of
.. and to some of the men who had the venereal General Mitchell personally
attended and administered medicine and proper nourishment for their relief and
support. These men were lodged in some old Cabin near the residence
of General Mitchell.
J. S. Thomas
Sworn to & subscribed to before me 22 July 1820
(Contributed by Lance Hall, Creek Researcher)
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