Special Instructions to General Israel Chapin Esquire Deputy Temporary Agent on civilizing the Five Nations and Stockbridge Indians

Item

Type

Copy of document

Title

Special Instructions to General Israel Chapin Esquire Deputy Temporary Agent on civilizing the Five Nations and Stockbridge Indians

Description

Following the visit of the Five Nations delegation to Philadelphia, Knox provides detailed instructions to Chapin on the appropriation of $1500 per year annuity to the Five Nations and Stockbridge Indians. Chapin is to select blacksmiths, carpenters and schoolmasters of unblemished integrity and who will set a good example. Would prefer school masters with livestock husbandry skills. Blacksmiths should be able to repair guns. Carpenters should be able to fix wheels. They should be equipped with the tools of their trade. They should be married men and should be provided with livestock such as oxen, cow, a bull. Knox provides a list of expenses.
Wives should teach the Indian girls spinning, sewing and knitting. Farms of the schoolmaster, blacksmith and carpenter will be adjacent, and the school house will be nearby. The Indian children will go to school, work on the farms and some will work for the Blacksmith and Carpenter. Indian girls will learn how to milk cows. Indians will be instructed on works of creation on Sundays, but not the peculiar doctrines of revealed religion. Indians will be treated with gentleness and will not engage in work unless whites are doing the same. Keep regular accounts. Teach men to plow and give them chains, oxen and carts. Teach how to grow and cultivate hay. Encourage Indians to learn the art of blacksmithing and carpentry. Boys and girls who learn skills and read will receive a suit of clothes. Chiefs will be rewarded with livestock.

year created

1792

month created

04

day created

28

author

in collection

in image

notable person/group

Israel Chapin
Henry Knox
blacksmith
carpenter
wheelwright
Indian children
Indian girls
Indian chiefs
Five Nations
President of United States General George Washington
War Office
schoolmasters

notable location

Five Nations
War Office
Philadelphia
Stockbridge
Massachusetts
New York

notable item/thing

bulls
cows
oxen
farm
livestock
husbandry
tools
expenses
spinning
sewing
knitting
chains
carts
suit of clothes

notable idea/issue

Knox plan for civilizing Indians of the Five Nations

document number

1792042800001

page start

1

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Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (9 pages) BTB08 (9 pages) Collection: Samuel Kirkland Papers 147j

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Henry Knox [unknown] [n/a]
Recipient General Israel Chapin [unknown] [n/a]