Part 11

Bucktooth, 55 years old.--Ten acres of land enclosed, six acres of corn, three horses, one heifer, and eleven hogs.

Jacob Strong, Eighth month 14, 32 years old.--Eleven acres of land, three of corn, one and half of potatoes, one and half of oats, one and a half of meadow, one cow, two heifers, one calf, ten hogs, one plough--has put up a good house with stone chimneys up and down stairs.

Jacob Jemison, Ninth month 3, 30 years of age.--Four acres of corn, one and a half of oats, three-fourths meadow, one yoke of oxen, one cow, about twenty head of swine, one plough and chains.

David Halftown.--Five acres of corn, one of buckwheat, two of oats, one of potatoes, two of beans and other vegetables, one yoke of oxen, two cows, one yoke of steers, five hogs, one plough and chains.

Fight Thompson, 34 years of age.--Three acres of corn, half an acre of potatoes, one patch of turnips, one yoke of oxen, one calf, five hogs, and one plough.

William Patterson, Tenth month 1, 28 years old.--Four acres of corn, two of oats, two cows, and nine hogs, which he is fattening.

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From the foregoing account of thirty-five families, it appears they had about four hundred and forty acres of cleared land, one hundred and fifteen of which was cultivated with corn, seventy-one with oats, nine with wheat, seventeen with potatoes, and thirty-two in meadow ground. They possessed twenty-six horses, twenty-two yoke of oxen, one hundred and fifty-five other cattle, and nearly four hundred head of swine. But little account is given of their improvements in building--this having been heretofore noticed in this work.

In the spring of 1822, a school was opened on the land owned by Friends, for the instruction of the Indian children at the Alleghany settlement; the schools hitherto kept for their instruction, having been mostly on the Indians’ land. This school was continued for several years, under the care of a teacher who had devoted many years of his time to the instruction of the natives. In 1823, it was attended by an average number of about twenty children, most of whom were in the rudiments of their learning, but made considerable progress for the time they had attended, and their general deportment gave satisfactory evidence of an improvement in other respects. Another Friend, who resided among them at this period, afforded them instruction in some of the mechanic arts; and through this, and the succeeding year, notwithstanding the existence of various difficulties in relation to the prosecution of this desirable object, a spirit of industry and attention to business continued to be apparent with many of the natives.

In 1825, the school continued to be attended by about twenty children, whose conduct and improvement were satisfactory. Many of the natives had become increasingly sensible of the need they had of further instruction, especially in those branches of domestic economy in which females are commonly engaged.

The Friend and his wife, who had long resided at this settlement, having withdrawn therefrom, for a considerable time, another Friend, with his wife and a single female, offered their services, and proceeded to that settlement in the summer of this year, to unite with the two Friends there, in their arduous and interesting service. A school was established for the instruction of young females, and in 1826 the accounts were encouraging, of the progress made by the Indian girls in their studies, as well as in knitting, spinning, and other employments adapted to their sex. The school for the boys was also regularly attended, and their conduct satisfactory. Between school hours, they were employed on the farm at agricultural labours, or otherwise in the shop at some mechanical business; and the regular industrious habits thus encouraged and inculcated among the youth, it was evident, would have a beneficial effect in the formation of their future character.

From a more particular investigation into the state of the Indians at the Alleghany settlement, about this period, it appeared that eighty families, composed of four hundred and thirty-nine individuals, possessed four hundred and seventy-nine head of cattle, fifty-eight horses, three hundred and fifty hogs, and six hundred and ninety-nine acres of improved land, in which seventy acres of meadow were included; two hundred and thirty-nine acres were the last season planted with corn, forty-two with potatoes, thirty-eight sown with wheat, and one hundred and sixteen with oats, besides a quantity of buckwheat, and divers sorts of vegetables. But notwithstanding these encouraging circumstances in agricultural pursuits, and the prosperous state of the schools of both sexes, affording strong ground to believe, that this people might be essentially and permanently benefitted by the labour of Friends, yet their situation, at this period, was particularly trying, and critical, from the great liability to be dispossessed of their possessions. The continued applications in various ways of _those_ claiming the pre-emption right, and the evident influence _they_ were gradually making on the minds of some of the Indians, gave uneasiness to others more considerate and reflecting among them, and their fears in this respect soon became realized; for the Seneca nation, finally, were induced to part with large bodies of their lands in different places to the pre-emption holders. These sales (the amount of which I have not ascertained) were parts of the Cattaraugus, Buffalo, and Tonewanta reservations, and some smaller reservations near the Genessee river. The reservation at Alleghany, where the greatest improvements in agriculture were made, remained in the hands of the Indians; and could this avaricious disposition on the part of the whites to obtain their land be here restrained, and the natives left in the undisturbed possession of their _rightful inheritance_, the Seneca nation have yet a sufficiency of land to accommodate their numbers, and with industry and care, in pursuing their agricultural labours, they might obtain all the necessary comforts of life.

The progress made by the Indians at the Cattaraugus settlement, and the favourable situation of their land for cultivation, with proper attention on their part, had induced Friends to withdraw their aid for several years past, as it regarded an instructor among them. And the settlement, having been now continued among the Indians at the Alleghany for about thirty years, it was believed the time was nearly come to withdraw from them; and, accordingly, the Friends residing at Tunesassa, returned home in the year 1828, and left the Indians to improve on the instructions already received from the long and arduous labours of the society of Friends.

Having no official means at command, of obtaining correct information of their real situation at present, I am not able to bring this account to as satisfactory a close as would be desirable; but from the best information I can obtain on the subject, it appears, that the Indians continue to progress in agricultural pursuits, and in some of the mechanic arts; and some of their own people have kept schools for the instruction of the youth.

But it is also said, that the constant pressure upon them to obtain their land, affords strong ground to fear, that their former sales were only a prelude to their parting with the remainder, at no very distant period.

It is, however, a consoling reflection to the society of Friends, that they have extended a benevolent hand to this poor, degraded, and much injured people; and even should they finally be induced to part with, and relinquish the remnants of their present possession, and migrate to a more distant clime, the instruction they have already received in the mechanic arts, together with their knowledge of agriculture, will greatly contribute to their happiness and comfort, in the land in which they may settle, and not only so, but the benefits resulting from their knowledge of civilized habits be extended to more distant and savage tribes.

In concluding this account of the proceedings of Friends of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, it may be proper to state, that many individuals, both male and female, from an apprehension of duty, have, at different periods, devoted many years of their time to the instruction of the natives, and have had the consoling evidence of peace for their labours. But as this benevolent work could not be accomplished, without very considerable expense to the society, voluntary subscriptions were raised, at different periods, to a large amount, in which it is but just to acknowledge, that the society of Friends in England, feeling a lively interest in this righteous work, liberally contributed to a fund for that purpose, which the Yearly Meeting of New York and Baltimore partook of, for the purpose of aiding them in extending their benevolent views, in promoting civilization among various tribes, and of whose proceedings therein, a short account will be here subjoined.

_A brief account of the proceedings of Friends of the Yearly Meeting of New York, in promoting civilization among the Indians, residing in that state._

It will be seen in the early part of this narrative, that Friends of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, first promoted a settlement among the Oneida nation living near the Mohawk river, in the state of New York. They also extended some aid to the Stockbridges, and some other tribes in that quarter. This attention was continued from the spring of 1796, till about the close of the year 1799, when Friends withdrew from them; and the Yearly Meeting of New York, being actuated by the same benevolent motives to improve the condition of the aboriginal inhabitants, appointed a committee for that special purpose, who sent instructors among them, and continued to aid and assist them in agricultural pursuits, in some of the mechanic arts, and in school learning, for many years. But as I have not at command the means of furnishing a particular account of the gradual advancement made in the civilized arts among those Indians, I can only say, that in the prosecution of the work, Friends have had many difficulties to encounter; and the Indians have frequently been disturbed and harassed, by the same covetous spirit, that so frequently annoyed the Seneca nation, in order to dispossess them of their land. In consequence of this many of the tribes have been induced to sell and remove far to the westward.

By the kindness of a Friend in New York, I have been furnished with an account of some of the more recent transactions of the society of Friends, towards the Indians. He states some of the difficulties to which the Indians are subjected, by the officious interference of a _proselyting spirit_, which has much agitated several of the tribes, and created parties and animosities among them. The ultimate object appears to be, to unsettle them in their present possessions, and eventually to induce them to abandon the rightful inheritance of their fathers.

It appears from the account, that the Onondaga tribe are the only Indians at present under the care of the Yearly Meeting of New York; and the only tribe in that state united among themselves, and exempt from a party under the influence of a blind missionary zeal--desirous to relinquish their present possessions and emigrate. But a few years ago the Onondaga’s were an indolent, drunken people, and desirous of moving to the westward, but as they have in a good degree embraced the counsel of Friends, become industrious, and availed themselves of their local advantages, and tasted the sweets of their labour from the produce of the soil, a radical change has been effected among them.

This tribe has for seven or eight years past been under the particular care and superintendence of Adin T. Corey, as agent for the committee of the Yearly Meeting; and being well qualified for the important trust, and feeling his mind devoted to it, the Indians have reposed great confidence in him, and distinguished him by the name of ‘Oatnus,’ and consider him as their benefactor, as will be seen in the following speech.

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_Onondaga, Fourth mo. 27, 1829. “To the committee of the Yearly Meeting of New York, on Indian concerns._

“Brothers--Oatnus, our brother, told us he was going to New York to attend the great council--and we thought good to send you a talk, to let you know our minds. First, we thank you for all your goodness in giving us the many useful things you have given us, for our benefit, and we thank the Great Spirit, who in his unspeakable mercy put it into your hearts to take us by the hand, and pity our condition; but most of all, that he put it into your hearts and the heart of our brother Oatnus, to come and live amongst us.

“Brothers, he has been a wall about us, that in a great measure has fenced out the encroachments of our white neighbours. When he speaks, the white people hear, and they do not cheat us as they used to do.

“Brothers, he has improved our condition much every way. When he came among us, we were hungry and almost naked, but now we are more comfortable. Our lands lay common, and were running up with bushes--now there are many of them fenced and well cultivated, yielding an abundant supply of food for our people. Our young men, women, and children were running about doing no good--now, most of them are diligently and profitably employed. One of our young men has learned to work pretty well at blacksmithing--three lads have learned to make good shoes--our young women, most of them, can spin, knit, and sew, and some of them can weave. Oatnus has also transacted most of our business--made many bargains, and handled much of our money, and done all well--not one shilling sticks in his pocket--he has fed our hungry children, clothed our naked, and helped us when we were sick--when he came we were divided, now we are united--when there is war he makes peace--when he speaks our young men hear and keep mostly out of bad company--our farming begins to flourish, and although we have made much improvement, we still want a head--we cannot go alone, and if you leave us now, it will be like making us a very valuable present, and taking it away again.

“Brothers, remember, when our brother Oatnus come, we were wild and ignorant respecting business, and it must necessarily take a good while to tame a whole nation.

“Brothers, our brother told us, our school was so thinly attended, he thought it would be best to drop it till winter, but we are unwilling it should stop, for fear our children will go back--we wish you to keep it going--some of us have been negligent in sending our children, but we will endeavour to be more diligent in the future, if we can be favoured with it.

“Brothers, our very tried brother is growing old, and through abundance of labour and fatigue has grown feeble, having been sick a good deal, and cannot do as he used to do, yet we are not willing to part with him, we want him to stay enough with us, to oversee our business, manage our affairs, and sit with us in council.

“Brothers, we still want to go on in improvement, and as our young man that has learned to work at smithing, has taken to farming in the summer season, we therefore want to get a sober goodly man, to come and set up his trade among us, and take some of our boys and learn them the trade. We also want a wagon maker, and a cooper of the above description, and for the same purpose, and we believe it might be done with very little expense to our brothers, if Oatnus stays with us a part of the time, and has the management of our affairs; for we have abundance of materials to carry on the two last mentioned trades, and part of the first; and our circumstances are very different now from what they were when he first came amongst us.

“Brothers, we have concluded to build a saw-mill this season, among ourselves.

“Brothers, it makes our hearts sick when we look abroad and see our Oneida and Seneca brethren, who have got the blackcoats and hungry mouths among them--for there is nothing but contention, spite, and animosity, and no business that is profitable--and we thank the Great Spirit that has sent us peace--sweet peace and no blackcoats.

“Brothers, may the Great Spirit preside over your councils--make you love one another, remember your real brethren and do much good. Farewell.”

Signed by the chiefs and some of the warriors.

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To the foregoing speech the committee on Indian affairs made the following reply:

“Brothers, we have received by the hands of brother Oatnus your communication to us, and it has made our hearts glad; and, that our brothers and sisters of the Great council might hear it, we gave it to them to read, and it made their hearts glad also, and greatly to rejoice, to hear from you and to hear that Oatnus did well with you--and that you listened to his voice.

“Brothers, we cannot tell you how much we want you to improve in all things--we know you cannot do every thing at once, but we want you to hearken to our counsel--we love you--we desire your good, and that you may increase and leave a good name behind you, when the Great Spirit shall take you away.

“Brothers, remember we can only counsel you for good--if you take our counsel the Great Spirit will help you.

“Brothers, you have now witnessed a little of the rewards of the Good Spirit, in taking our counsel and the counsel of our brother Oatnus--our counsel to you is, that you continue to improve as you have begun.

“Brothers, be sober, be industrious--love to improve yourselves, and the Great Spirit will bountifully assist you.

“Brothers, we want you to mind the Great Spirit, to be industrious--to try to learn yourselves--to keep out of bad company--to avoid strong drink--to counsel with brother Oatnus, who will never deceive you, but counsel you for your good.”

Signed, &c.

_Fifth mo. 29, 1828._

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By a report of the committee on Indian affairs dated the twenty-seventh of the Fifth-month, 1830, and presented to the Yearly Meeting held in the same month, it appears that during the past year, the Onondaga tribe have received their care and attention as heretofore, and that those Indians are realizing in an unprecedented manner, the fruits of their own industry, being stimulated and encouraged, by the care which Friends have extended towards them, for a few years past, which affords great cause for encouragement. There is a striking contrast between their situation now, and what it was seven years ago, when their only buildings were two small barns, and a few inferior huts. The lands which they then had cleared, were very imperfectly cultivated, and the state and quality as well as quantity of their stock, as also teams and utensils of husbandry of every kind, were correspondent. Since that time, they have greatly increased their quantity of cleared land; this season they had about three hundred acres of wheat--their crops are more abundant, furnishing more than a supply for their people. The fencing and arrangement of their fields are farmer-like and judicious. The number of their barns is increased to about twenty--their teams of horses and oxen, are numerous and efficient--they are pretty well supplied with wagons, harness, ploughs, and other farming utensils, and these articles are kept in tolerable repair. Many of their present dwellings, though small, are comfortable frame buildings, and their household furniture consists mostly of useful and plain articles--such as are used in civilized life.

On a good mill stream within their territory, which consists of a reservation of about ten thousand acres, the committee’s superintendent, during the past year, aided by the individual labour of the Indians, raised a substantial dam, and by a discreet dispensation of their resources, and by a general economy introduced among them, has collected about five hundred dollars, which defrayed the expenses of erecting a good saw-mill, which the Indians find to be highly useful and productive.

As the same stream furnished an eligible site for a grist-mill, at no great distance from those improvements, and as the reducing of their grain into meal for this tribe, was performed by the manual labour of the women in a great measure, the committee were encouraged to believe, that as they duly appreciated the benefits resulting from their newly erected saw-mill, and from the increased display of mechanical genius, industry, and method among them, the time was not far distant when further and more useful improvements will be made by themselves, calculated to raise their habits in domestic and civilized life, and elevate their minds to a steady pursuit of their more substantial happiness and welfare.

The committee not having been able to comply with the Indians’ request, made in their speech two years ago, for a blacksmith, wagon maker, and cooper to be placed among them, as no suitable persons had offered for that purpose, and also the school having been dropped, that had formerly been kept, and in a flourishing condition among them, partly for want of sufficient funds to continue a permanent teacher, these subjects were again suggested to the Yearly Meeting, with an earnest wish to inspire in the minds of Friends a feeling that might prove beneficial in promoting these desirable objects.

Notwithstanding this concern, to meliorate the condition of the Indians, has been prosecuted for many years by the committee, with at times, but little evidence of good resulting to these people, from their labours, yet from more recent developments evinced from the latter experience and research of the committee, though the prospect is an arduous one, it presents encouragement, and the field of labour is brightening, as the hidden causes of past obstructions present themselves.

The committee say in their report, “It appears that many associations are formed in this country, and some of them under the denomination of benevolent and religious; all apparently well disposed, and even anxious to promote the good and the happiness of these original proprietors of the soil. Yet unhappily for these, the means resorted to, to advance their prosperity, have (in too many instances) been elevated above their comprehensions, and not adapted to their wants, their habits, and their religious views. From a zeal beyond knowledge, to benefit these people, agents and missionaries have been settled among them, patronized by these associations, little qualified to inspire their confidence and respect, and in their zealous pretensions to christianize, previous to properly instructing in the arts of civilized life, they produce discouragement and incalculable injury, divisions and dissentions; and in the language of the Indians themselves, ‘quarrelling and contention, spite and animosity, and no business that is profitable.’

“Since the Onondaga tribe has been under the care of the committee, the missionaries have been inclined to leave them to the care of Friends. And this tribe, which a few years ago was divided and full of dissention, is restored to union and harmony, and there is a laudable feeling springing up among them, and an increased desire to become introduced into, and firmly fixed in the habits of civilization.”

The committee, in time past, having extended some care to several tribes of the Seneca nation west of the Genessee river, are of the opinion that essential and lasting good might, by that care being further extended, result to those people. To show the desire of the Indians herein, the following speech of a principal chief, on behalf of a large majority of the Indians, in the state of New York, presented in the last winter, was laid before the Yearly Meeting.

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_New York, January_ 20, 1830.