Treaty of Holston with the Cherokee Nation of Indians
Document 1791Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the U.S. and the Cherokee Nation of Indians regarding land rights and peace.
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A Treaty of Peace and Friendship made and concluded between the President of the United States of America on the part and behalf of the said States, and the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors of the Cherokee Nation of Indians, on the part and behalf of the said Nation.
The parties being desirous of establishing permanent peace and friendship between the United States and the said Cherokee Nation, and the citizens, and members thereof, and to remove the causes of war by ascertaining their limits, and making other necessary, just and friendly arrangements: The President of the United States by William Blount Governor of the Territory of the United States of America south of the river Ohio and Superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern district who is vested with full powers for these purposes, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States: and the Cherokee Nation by the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors representing the said Nation, have agreed to the following articles namely
Article 1.
There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between all the citizens of the United States of America, and all the individuals composing the whole Cherokee Nation of Indians.
Article 2.
The undersigned Chiefs and Warriors for themselves and all parts of the Cherokee Nation, do acknowledge themselves and the said Cherokee Nation, to be under the protection of the United States of America and of no other sovereign whatsoever, and they also stipulate that the said Cherokee Nation will not hold any treaty with any foreign power, individual State, or with individuals of any State.
Article 3.
The Cherokee Nation shall deliver to the Governor of the territory of the United States of America south of the river Ohio on or before the first day of April next, at this place all persons who are now prisoners captured by them from any part of the United States. And the United States shall on or before the same day and at the same place restore to the Cherokees all the prisoners now in captivity which the citizens of the United States have captured from them.
Article 4.
The boundary between the citizens of the United States and the Cherokee Nation is and shall be as follows. Beginning at the top of the Currahee mountain where the Creek line passes it. Thence a direct line to Tugelo river, thence north east to the Ocounna mountain and over the same along the South Carolina Indian boundary to the North Carolina boundary thence north to a point from which a line is to be extended to the river Clinch that shall pass the Holston at the ridge which divides the waters running into Little river from those running into the Tennessee. Thence up the river Clinch to Campbells line and along the same to the top of Cumberland mountain, thence a direct line to the [undecipherable] Cumberland river [undecipherable] Cumberland river to a point from [undecipherable] which divides the waters of Cumberland from those of Duck river forty miles above Nashville, thence down the said ridge to a point from whence a south west line will strike the mouth of Duck river.
And in order to preclude forever all disputes relative to the said boundary, the same shall be ascertained and marked plainly by three persons appointed on the part of the United States and three Cherokees on the part of their nation.
And in order to extinguish forever all claims of the Cherokee Nation or any part thereof to any of the land lying to the right of the line above described, beginning as aforesaid at the Currahee mountain, it is hereby agreed that in addition to the consideration heretofore made for the said land, the United States will cause certain valuable goods to be immediately delivered to the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors for the use of their nation, and the said United States will also cause the sum one thousand dollars to be paid annually to the said Cherokee Nation. And the undersigned Chiefs and Warriors do hereby for themselves and the whole Cherokee Nation their heirs and descendants for the considerations above mentioned Release, quit-claim, relinquish and cede all the land to the right of the line described and beginning as aforesaid.
Article 5.
It is stipulated and agreed that the citizens and inhabitants of the United States shall have a free and unmolested use of a road from Washington District to Mero District and of the navigation of the Tennessee river.
Article 6.
It is agreed on the part of the Cherokees that the United States shall have the sole and exclusive right of regulating their trade.
Article 7.
The United States solemnly guarantee to the Cherokee nation, all their lands not hereby ceded.
Article 8.
If any citizen of the United States or other person not being an Indian, shall settle on any of the Cherokee lands, such person shall forfeit the protection of the United States, and the Cherokees may punish him or not as they please.
Article 9.
No citizen or inhabitant of the United States shall attempt to hunt, or destroy the game on the lands of the Cherokees nor shall any citizen or inhabitant go into the Cherokee country, without a passport first obtained from the Governor of some one of the United States, or territorial districts, or, such other person as the President of the United States may from time to time authorize to grant the same.
Article 10.
If any Cherokee Indian or Indian person residing among them, who shall take refuge in their nation shall steal a horse from, or commit a robbery or murder or other capital crime on any citizens or inhabitants of the United States, the Cherokee Nation shall be bound to deliver him or them up to be punished according to the laws of the United States.
Article 11.
If any citizen or inhabitant of the United States of either of the territorial Districts of the United States shall go into any town settlement or territory belonging to the Cherokees, and shall there commit any crime upon, or trespass against the person or property of any peaceable and friendly Indian or Indians, which if committed within the jurisdiction of any State, or within the jurisdiction of either of the said districts against a citizen or white inhabitant thereof, would be punishable by the laws of such State or district, such offender or offenders shall be subject to the same punishment, and shall be proceeded against in the same manner as if the offence had been committed within the jurisdiction of the state or district to which he or they may belong, against a citizen or white inhabitant thereof.
Article 12.
In case of violence on the persons or property of the individuals of either party, neither retaliation or reprisal shall be committed by the other until satisfaction shall have been demanded of the party of which the aggressor is, and shall have been refused.
Article 13.
The Cherokees shall give notice to the citizens of the United States of any designs which they may know, or suspect to be formed in any neighbouring tribe, or by any person whatever, against the peace and interest of the United States.
Article 14.
That the Cherokee nation may be led to a greater degree of civilization, and to become herdsmen and cultivators, instead of remaining a state of hunters the United States will from time to time furnish gratuitously the said Nation with useful implements of husbandry. And further to assist the said nation in so desirable a pursuit, & at the same time to establish a certain mode of communication, the United States will send as many persons to reside in said nation as they may judge proper, not exceeding four in number, who shall qualify themselves to act as interpreters. These persons shall have lands assigned by the Cherokees for cultivation for themselves and their successors in office. But they shall be precluded exercising any kind of traffic.
Article 15.
All animosities for past grievances shall henceforth cease, and the contracting parties will carry the foregoing treaty into full execution with all good faith and sincerity.
Article 16.
This treaty shall take effect and be obligatory on the contracting parties as soon as the same shall have been ratified by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States.
In witness of all and every thing hereon determined between the United States of America & the whole Cherokee nation, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals, at the Treaty ground on the bank of the Holston near the mouth of the French Broad within the United States this second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety one.
(signed) Wm Blount [Seal]
Governor in and over the Territory of the United States of America South of the River Ohio and Superintendent of Indian affairs for the Southern District.
Chuleoah or the Boots L [seal] Anoith or Black Fox B [seal]
Squottecuttah or Hanging Man C [seal] Nontucaka or the Northward [seal]
Occurna or the Badger 3 [seal] Tchakiska 1 [seal]
Ahulloh or Kingfisher Bt [seal] Yonerwalleh or Bear at home B [seal]
Tuckaseh or Tarrapin T [seal] Long Will W [seal]
Halch 9 [seal] Henoshkishie or John Watts G [seal]
Kunnonchatulloh or the brane 1 [seal] Kenetsooyah or Bloody fellow Bt [seal]
Cauquillehanah or the Thigh C [seal] Chinquilatagne or Double head T [seal]
Chesquottetoneh or Yellow bird I [seal] Hoolagruah or Big Acorn Bt [seal]
[undecipherable] [seal] [undecipherable] [seal]
Tushegatche or Tushega Killer b [seal] Tahle-coneyjeha or middle fisher T [seal]
Hrilsatche L [seal] Himmefah or cabin [seal]
Tenkfhalene 1 [seal] Tulletche or twokiller X [seal]
Sarwileh or Hare catcher L [seal] Healoushe or stop full D [seal]
Auhruah [seal] Hulfalche O [seal]
Henotiilah or rising Aaron [seal] Angriotagaue or the little Turkeyes son A [seal]
Hameletoha or Landing Turkey † [seal]
Tahlohteske or Upfetter T [seal] Toonanmailoh [seal]
Chiakoneshe or Otter lifter O [seal] Tuesteke or common disturber T [seal]
Heshrukarune or she reigns k [seal] Robin McJim Rt [seal]
Ayuka 3 [seal]
John Thompson [undecipherable]
James Guy, interpreter
Done in presence of
Damt Smith Secretary of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio.
Thos Kennedy of Kaintucky
Jas Robertson of Mero District
Claiborne Watkins of Virginia.
Jno H. Whitney of Georgia.
Larche of Georgia. Titus Ogden N. Carolina
John Chisolm of Washenton District
Robert King Thos Gegg
Compared
Saml A. Otis Secretary
Type
Document Signed
Description
Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the U.S. and the Cherokee Nation of Indians regarding land rights and peace.
Date
07/02/1791
Author
Sent from
South of Ohio River
Collection
Document number
1791070290001
Page start
1
Notable persons
William Blount
Chuleoah, the Boots
Squollecuttah, Hanging Maw
Occunna
the Badger
Enoleh
Black Fox
Nontuaka
the Northward
Tekakiska
Tuckaseh
Tarrapin
Kateh
Kunnochatutloh
the Crane
Cauquillehanah
the Thigh
Cesquotteleneh
Yellow bird
Chickasawtehe
Chickasaw Killer
Chutloh
King Fisher
Toowayelloh
Bold Hunter
Jahle-oonoyehka
middle Striker
Kinnesah
Cabin
Tullotehe
two killer
Kealouske
stopt still
Kulsatehe
Auquotague
the little Turkey's son
Tuskegatehe
Tuskega killer
Tinkshalene
Sawutteh
Slave Catcher
Aukuah
Oosenaleh
Kenotetah
rising Fawn
Koolaquah
Big Acorn
Kanetetoka
Standing Turkey
Yonewatleh
Bear at home
Long Will
Kunoskeskie
John Watts
Nenetooyah
Bloody Fellow
Chuquilatague
Double head
Talohteske
Upsetter
Cheakoneske
Otter lifter
Keshukaune
She reigns
Toonaunailoh
Teesteke
common disturber
Robin McClemore
Skyuka
President George Washington
Cherokee
Indian Nation
chiefs
warriors
prisoners
Creek
Thomas Kennedy
Daniel Smith
secretary of territory
Robertson
Claiborne Watkins
Whitney
John Chisolm
prisoners
white inhabitants
herdsmen
cultivators
Notable locations
Ohio River
frontier
border
mountain
South Carolina
North Carolina
Clinch
Holston
Little river
Tennessee
Campbell
Cumberland
Duck River
Curahee Mountain
Tugelo River
South-Carolina Indian boundary
Cumberland River
Clinch River
Notable items
Treaty of Peace and Friendship
land rights
cause of rivalry
return prisoners
boundaries
regulation of trade
protection of the United States
boundary between the citizens of the United States and the Cherokee Nation
claims
valuable goods
free and unmolested use of a road from Washington District to Mero District
navigation of the Tennessee River
sole right of regulating their trade
game on the land of the Cherokees
horse
robbery
murder
laws of the United States
disputes
regulating their trade
lands
passport
refuge
capital crime
violence
retaliation
reprisal
greater degree of civilization
state of hunters
animosities for past grievances
advice and consent of the Senate

