[United States ratification of the Treaty of Fort Harmer]
Document 1789Articles outline boundary line between U.S. and Six Nations and determined separate lands held by each of the Indian Nations. U.S. to enforce law and punishment for all violations mentioned herein. Allowances for trading posts,
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*Article* II. And whereas at the before mentioned Treaty it was agreed between the United States and said Nations, that a Boundary Line should be fixed between the Lands of those Nations and the Territory of the United States; which Boundary is as follows, viz.—Beginning at the Mouth of Cayahoga-River, and running thence up the said River to the Portage between that and the Tuscarawas Branch of Muskingum, then down the said Branch to the Forks at the Crossing-Place above Fort-Laurence, thence westerly to the Portage on that Branch of the big Miami-River which runs into the Ohio, (at the Mouth of which Branch a Road stood which was taken by the Rangers in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-two,) then along the said Portage to the Great Miami or Omie-River, and down the South-east Side of the same to its Mouth; thence along the Southern Shore of Lake Erie to the Mouth of Cayahoga, where it begins. And the said Wyandot, Delaware, Ottawa and Chippewa Nations, for and in Consideration of the Peace then granted to them, and of the said United States, and the Potions they then received, as well as of a Quantity of Goods to the Value of Six Thousand Dollars, now delivered to them by the said Arthur St. Clair, (the Receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge) do by their Preients renew and confirm the said Boundary Line; to the End that the fame may remain as a Division Line between the Lands of the United States of America, and the Lands of said Nations, for ever. And the undersigned Indians do hereby in their own Names, and the Names of their respective Nations and Tribes, and their Descendants, for the Consideration above mentioned, Release, Quit-claim, Relinquish and Cede, all their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] described, to sit as the said Indians formerly claimed the same; for them the said United States to have and to hold the fame in true and absolute Propriety for ever.
*Article* III. The United States of America do by thefe Preients relinquish and quit-claim to the faid Nations refpectively, all the Lands lying between the Limits above defcribed, for them the faid Indians to live and hunt upon, and otherwife to occupy as they fhall fee fit: But the faid Nations, or either of them, fhall not be at Liberty to fell or difpofe of the fame, or any Part thereof, to any Sovereign Power except the United States, nor to the Subjects or Citizens of any other Sovereign Power, nor to the Subjects or Citizens of the United States.
*Article* IV. It is agreed between the faid United States and the faid Nations, that the Individuals of faid Nations fhall be at Liberty to hunt within the Territory ceded to the United States, without Hinderance or Molestation, fo long as they demean themfelves peaceably and offer no Injury or Annoyance to any of the Subjects or Citizens of the faid United States.
*Article* V. It is agreed that if any Indian or Indians of the Nations before mentioned, fhall commit a Murder or Robbery on any of the Citizens of the United States, the Nation or Tribe to which the Offender belongs, on Complaint being made, fhall deliver up the Offender or Perfons complained of, at the neareft Poft of the United States; to the End that he or they may be tried, and if found guilty, punifhed according to the Laws eftablifhed in the Territory of the United States North-weft of the River Ohio, for the Punifhment of fuch Offences, if the fame fhall have been committed within the faid Territory, or according to the Laws of the State where the Offence may have been committed, if the fame has happened in any of the United States. In like Manner, if any Subject or Citizen of the United States fhall commit Murder or Robbery on any Indian or Indians of the faid Nations, upon Complaint being made thereof, he or they fhall be arrefted, tried and punifhed agreeable to the Laws of the United States, in the Territory where the Offence was committed, that nothing may interrupt the Peace and Harmony now eftablifhed between the United States and faid Nations.
*Article* VI. And whereas the Practice of ftealing Horfes has prevailed very much, to the great Difquiet of the Citizens of the United States, and if perfifted in cannot fail to involve both the United States and the Indians in endlefs Animofity; it is agreed that it fhall be put an entire Stop to on both Sides; neverthelefs, if Individuals on both Sides fhall violate this Agreement, and the Laws provided againft fuch Offences, continue to make Depredations of that Nature, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] States, North-weft of the Ohio, where the Offence may have been committed, will admit of: And all Horfes fo ftolen, either by the Indians from the Citizens or Subjects of the United States, or by the Citizens or Subjects of the United States from any of the Indian Nations, may be reclaimed, into whole Poffeffion foever they may have paffed, and upon due Proof fhall be reftored: any Sales in Market Overt, notwithftanding. And the civil Magiftrate in the United States refpectively, and in the Territory of the United States North-weft of the Ohio, fhall give all neceffary Aid and Protection to Indians claiming fuch ftolen Horfes.
*Article* VII. Trade fhall be opened with the faid Nations, and they do hereby refpectively engage to afford Protection to the Perfon and Property of fuch as may be duly licenfed to refiide among them for the Purpofes of Trade, and to their Agents, Factors and Servants; but no Perfon fhall be permitted to refide at their Towns or in their hunting Camps, as a Trader, who is not furnifhed with a Licence for that Purpofe, under the Hand and Seal of the Governor of the Territory of the United States North-weft of the Ohio, for the Time being, or under the Hand and Seal of one of his Deputies for the Superintendence of Indian Affairs; to the End that no Impofts may be impofed upon in their Traffick. And if any Perfon or Perfons fhall intrude themfelves without fuch Licence, they promife to apprehend him or them, and, to bring them to the faid Governor, or one of his Deputies for the Purpofe before mentioned, to be dealt with according to Law: And that they may be defended againft Perfons who might attempt to forge fuch Licences, they further engage to give Information to the faid Governor, or one of his Deputies, of the Names of all Traders refiding among them from Time to Time, and at leaft once in every Year.
*Article* VIII. Should any Nation of Indians meditate a War againft the United States, or either of them, and the fame fhall come to the Knowledge of the before mentioned Nations, or either of them, they fhall notify or give immediate Notice thereof to the Officer commanding, or in his Abfence to the Officer commanding the Troops of the United States at fuch Poft. And fhould any Nation with hoftile Intentions againft the United States, or either of them, attempt to pafs through their Country, they will endeavour to prevent the fame, and in like Manner give Information of fuch Attempt to the faid Governor or commanding Officer, as foon as poffible, that all Caufes of Miftruff and Sufpicion may be avoided between them and the United States. In like Manner the United States fhall give Notice to the faid Indian Nations, of any Harm that may be meditated againft them, or either of them, that fhall come to their Knowledge; and do all in their Power to hinder and prevent the fame, that the Friendfhip between them may be uninterrupted.
[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] United States, or any other Perfon not an Indian, fhall prefume to fettle upon the Lands confirmed of the faid Nations, he or they fhall be out of the Protection of the United States; and the faid Nations may punifh him or them in fuch Manner as they fee fit.
*Article* X. The United States renew the Refervations heretofore made in the before mentioned Treaty at Port-M'Intofh, for the following Trading Pofts in Manner and Form following, *That is for*, Six Miles fquare at the Mouth of the Miamie or Omie-River,— fix Miles fquare Portage upon the Branch of the Miamie-River which runs into the Ohio,—fix Miles fquare upon the Lake Sandusky where the Fort formerly ftood—and two Miles fquare upon the Lower-fide Lower Rapids on Sandusky-River: Which Pofts, and the Lands annexed to them, fhall be for the Ufe and under the Government of the United States.
*Article* XI. The Poft at Detroit, with a Diftrict of Land beginning at the Mouth of the River Rofine, at the Weft End of Lake Erie, and running up the Southern Bank of faid River six Miles; thence North-Weft and always fix Miles Weft of the ftrait, until it ftriked the Lake St. Clair, fhall be referved for the Ufe of the United States.
*Article* XII. In like Manner the Poft at Michelimackinac, with its Dependencies, and twelve Miles fquare about the fame, fhall be referved to the fole Ufe of the United States.
*Article* XIII. The United States of America do hereby renew and confirm the Peace and Friendfhip entered into with the faid Nations at the Treaty before mentioned, held at Fort M'Intofh; and the faid Nations again acknowledge themfelves, and all their Tribes, to be under the Protection of the faid United States, and no other Power wahtever.
*Article* XIV. The United States of America do alfo receive into their Friendfhip and Protection, the Nations of the Pattiwatimas and Sacs; and do hereby eftablifh a League of Peace and Amity between them refpectively; and all the Articles of this Treaty, fo far as they apply to thefe Nations, are to be confidered as made and concluded in all, and every Part exprefsly with them and each of them.
*Article* XV. And whereas in defcribing the Boundary before mentioned, the Words, if ftrictly conftructed, would carry it from the Portage on that Branch of the Miami, which runs into the Ohio, over to the River Au Glaize; which was neither the Intention of the Indians, nor of the Commiffioners; it is hereby declared, that the Line fhall run from the faid Portage directly to the firft Fork of the Miami-River, which is to the Southward and Eaftward of the Miami Village, thence down the main Branch of the Miami-River to the faid Village, and thence down that River to Lake Erie, and along the Margin of the Lake to the Place of Beginning.
Done at Fort-Harmar, on the Mufkingum, this Ninth Day of January, in the Year of our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Eighty-nine. In Witnefs whereof the Parties have hereunto interchangeably fet their Hands and Seals.
Arthur St. Clair. PATTIWATIMA, [Seals.]
KONATIKINA,
*In Prefence of*
Jos. Harmar, Lt.Col.Com. 1ft U.S. Regt. and Brig. Gen. by Brevet.
Richard Butler,
John Gibson,
Wm. Mc. Curdy, Capt.
E. Denny, Enfign 1ft U. S. Regt.
A. Hartshorn, Enfign.
Robt. Thompson, Enfign 1ft U. S. Regt.
Francis Luse, Enfign.
J. Williams, Jun.
William Wilson,
Joseph Nicholas,
James Rinken.
Sacs { TEPAKEE,
KESHEYIVA,
Chippewas { MESASS,
PAUSHQUASH,
PAWASICKO,
( 7 )
Ottawas { WEWISKIA,
NEAGEY,
Pattiwatimas { WINDIGO,
WAPASKEA,
NEQUEA,
Delawares { CAPTAIN PIPE,
WINGENOND,
PEKELAN,
TEATAWAY,
NANAMAKEAK,
WETENASA,
SOSKENE,
PEWANAKUM,
TEYANDAT /ON TEC,
CHEYAWE,
DOUEYENTEAT,
TARHE,
TERHATAW,
DATASAY,
MAUDORONK,
SKAHOMAT,
Wyandots [seals beside each name throughout]
Be it remembered, That the Wyandots have laid Claim to the Lands that were granted to the Shawanefe, at the Treaty held at the Miami, and have declared, that as the Shawanefe have been fo reftlefs, and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] United States, [undecipherable] now be at Peace, they will difpoffefs them, and take the Country into their own Hands; for that the Country is theirs of Right, and the Shawanefe are only living upon it by their Permiffion. They further lay Claim to all the Country Weft of the Miami Boundary, from the Village to the Lake Erie, and declare that it is now under their Management and Direction.
Separate Article.
Whereas the Wyandots have reprefented, that within the Refervation from the River Rofine along the Strait, they have two Villages from which they cannot with any Convenience remove; it is agreed, that they fhall remain in the Poffeffion of the fame, and fhall not be in any Manner difturbed therein.
NOW
( 8 )
NOW KNOW YE, That I having feen and confidered the faid Treaty, do, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Senate, accept, ratify, and confirm the fame, and every Article and Claufe thereof. IN TESTIMONY whereof, I have caufed the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and figned the fame with my Hand.
GIVEN at the City of New-York, the Twenty-ninth Day of September, in the Year of our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Eighty-nine, and in the Thirteenth Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States.
[seal: SEAL OF THE United States.]
G: WASHINGTON.
By Command of the Prefident of the United States of America,
H. Knox,
Secretary for the Department of War.
Type
Printed or published document
Description
Articles outline boundary line between U.S. and Six Nations and determined separate lands held by each of the Indian Nations. U.S. to enforce law and punishment for all violations mentioned herein. Allowances for trading posts,
Date
09/29/1789
Author
Sent from
New York
Collection
Document number
1789092900201
Page start
1
Notable persons
multiple
Henry Knox
George Washington
Delaware
Ottawa
Chippewa
Wyandot
Pattawatamas
Pottawatomie
Indians
Indian Nation
hostiles
Arthur St. Clair
Harmar
Richard Butler
John Gibson
William McCurdy
Denny
Hartshorn
Robert Thompson
Francis Luse
Williams
William Wilson
James Rinken
Joseph Nicholas
magistrate
governor
Pattiwatima
Konatikina
Tepakee
Kesheyiva
Mesass
Paushquash
Pawasicko
Wewiskia
Neagey
Windingo
Wapaskea
Nequea
Captain Pipe
Wingenond
Pekelan
Teataway
Nananmakeak
Wetenasa
Soskene
Pewanakum
Teyandat on tec
Cheyawe
Doueyenteat
Tarhe
Terhataw
Datasay
Maudoronk
Skahomat
Notable locations
New York
city
frontier
north
west
Ohio
boundary
territory
Cayahoga river
Tuscarawa branch
Muskingum
Croffing Place
Great Miami
Omie
Lake Erie
Fort MacIntosh
Sandusky
trading post
Detroit
Lake St. Clair
Michelimackinac
Au Glaize
Fort Harmar
Notable items
treaty
Indian goods
supplies
provisions
gifts
horses
property

