Letter Signed

Letter from the Reverend Samuel Kirkland to Colonel Timothy on New York Governor Clinton; land transactions of Peter Smith; Thonoghleyo and Big Beard and their service during the Battle of Saratoga for General Benedict Arnold

Kirkland writes from Oneida New York and reports that he is enclosing some extracts from New York Governor Clinton’s speech and letters to the Oneidas respecting their affairs and improvement of the reservation. Captain Jacob Reed has assisted. The name of the surveyor who surveyed Peter Smith’s land leased of the Oneidas is Joseph Arnum or Arnen. On the other leases, he has no information. Kirkland relays a request from the Oneida chiefs on a missing part of a treaty negotiated by Pickering . Mr Sergeant and Captain Hendrick have not seen it. Kirkland relays a request from Antony, Thonoghleyo and Big Beard say they rendered service to the United States during the Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolutionary War. They carried a letter at the request of the Commandant at Fort Stanwix to General Benedict Arnold to announce the retiring of the British troops from Fort Stanwix. To perform this, they had to strike south to escape the enemy scouts. They were almost captured by Germans while in sight of General Arnold. Kirkland says their story can probably be proven, and recommends they be given five or six dollars each. Kirkland notes that it is so cold he must periodically thaw his pen at the fireside. He wishes that Pickering be advanced to a station where his abilities and integrity may have full scope.

1795

01

19

Onieda

Samuel Kirkland

Colonel Timothy Pickering

Governor Clinton

Governor of New York

Peter Smith

Captain Hendrick

Captain Hendricks

Big Beard

Antony , Thonoghleyo

Mr Sergeant

General Benedict Arnold

British troops

German troops

Joseph Arnum

Joseph Arnen

Scouts

British Army

Commandant at Fort Stanwix

Oneida

Six Nations

Oneida

New York

Fort Stanwix

Saratoga

Albany

Britain

Germany

Battle of Saratoga

Revolutionary War

1795011940101

1

Oneida Janry 19th 1795
Dear Sir,
The receipt of yours from Albany, dated the 13th ultimo, I instantly acknowledged. Agreeably to your desire I now inclose you some extracts from Governor Clintons speech & letters to the Oneida respecting their affairs & improvement of their reservation. Capt. Jacob Reed has assisted me in the business. He also tells me, the name of the surveyor who surveyed Peter Smiths land leased of the Oneidas is Joseph Arnun or Arnen and resides at Gencoee commonly called Kanadaseaga. As to the other subject, respecting the first or second care, no information has yet occurred worth noticing.
Some of the Oneida Chiefs have again applied to me, to make enquiry of you concerning the Counterpart of the Treaty you negotiated with them their nation, while at their village. Mr. Sergeant and Capt. Hendrick declare they have not seen it since you left their settlement; They sent a second messenger, requesting me to reexamine my papers, for possibly, I might after all find it among them. They can hardly account for it, that so wise & good a man & such a friend to Indians, should forget to leave so important a
a paper with them. However, there is not one, that I know, who has the least suspicion it was done with design.
My situation subjects me to the mortification of being the medium of transmitting difficulties & Indian complaints to you, which I flattered myself were forever closed, by the late treaty you held with the Oneidas. You will excuse me therefore in communication the following. "Antony, Thonoghleyo, & Big Beard, have before I left my [house?] came to me with a grievous complaint that an important piece of service, they rendered the United States in the late war, had been forgotten in the list they gave in [illegible] Viz their carrying a letter at the request of the commandant of Fort Stanwix, to Genl Arnold, to announce the retiring of British troops from said fort to perform this, with any safety. They were obliged to strike off southward of their own village to escape the scouts [illegible] parties of the enemy & went even south of where my dwelling house now is, & verry narrowly escaped being taken when almost in sight of Gen'l Arnold, at the german flatts. I could not passify them without
without promising them that I would [undecipherable] the foregoing account. I believe the fact can be sufficiently attested, but it would require more labour than to make there [undecipherable] of five or six dollars each. You will act in the matter as you think best.
Mr. Sergeant informs me by letter that he has borrowed money upon the encouragement you gave hime of a speedy supply, for what particular purpose he does not mention.
The piece of gold you gave Dr. Hopkins at this place for a pistole, proves to be but half a guinea, a little short of weight, a ballance. Therefore agreeably to your settlement with him would be one dollar.
The extreme wtr weather with our open huts invites to the fireside, to thaw the pen almost every line. I must conclude with a cordial wish for your prosperity & family and ardent desire that you may be advanced to a station you would fill with honour & an office where your abilities [undecipherable] & integrity might have full scope & their happy [undecipherable] be felt to every part of the union.
With high respect & real Esteem I am Dr Sir Your obedt humbl servt
S Kirkland
T Pickering Esqr