Description:

Signed by the Chief of the Cayuga Nation "the Cayuga Chiefs gave Peter Wilson an Indian of our tribe ... a power of attorney ... the principle of our annuity must not be paid to him he is irresponsible and there would be great danger of our loosing the amount altogether..." - At a meeting of the Council of the Six Nations in 1839 William King had voluntarily resigned as Chief; he was succeeded by Peter Wilson!

NATIVE AMERICAN Manuscript Letter Signed by William King with his "x" mark as "a Chief and in behalf of the Cayuga Nation," witnessed by "T.S. Harris," with Manuscript Postscript Signed "Thomson S. Harris / Seneca Chiefe," 1 page, 7.75" x 13". Buffalo, N.Y., June 18, 1845. Integral leaf addressed to: "Hon. A.C. Flagg / Comptroller / Albany / N.Y." Oval blue postmark "Buffalo, N.Y., June 19" and straight line blue postal marking "Paid." Fine condition.

In full, original punctuation and spelling, "Dr Sir Some days since the Cayuga Chiefs gave Peter Wilson an Indian of our tribe a paper authorising him to transact some business for them with the Comptroller. I am informed to day that the paper which was signed by the Chiefs was a power of attorney authorising Wilson to take up from the State the principle of our annuity this was not contemplated and must not be paid to him he is irresponsible and there would be great danger of our loosing the amount altogether I write you for the purpose of having the payment delayed in case he should present the power of attorney untill our Chiefs can convene in Council and revoke in due form the power which will be done immediately I beseech you not to pay the money to him. William King his x mark / A Chief of and in behalf of / the Cayuga Nation. / In presence of T.S. Harris."

Postscript, in full, original punctuation and spelling, "Dear Sir At the request of Mr King I add this postcript to say that the above is expressive of the wishes of the Cayuga Chiefs and that in a short time as soon as they can be convened in Council (beng now scattered on several Reservations) they will in due form send you a revocation of the power. Respectfully Yours Thomson Harris Seneca Chiefe."

From"Cayuga Notes" by Grace E. Taft, "The American Antiquarian", Volume XXXIV, January-February 1912: " Since 1807, the Cayuga have had no separate reservations, but those of the tribe living in New York State settled with the Onondaga and Seneca at Cattaraugus, Tonawanda, Onondaga and Allegheny. By treaties in 1829 and 1831, complaints about the payment of annuity were settled by the removal of the Sandusky Cayuga to Kansas and Indian Territory. About 100 were left in New York at that time. The latter treaty was signed by Chief William King, who in 1839 resigned the chieftainship to Dr. Peter Wilson, or Wa-o-wa-na-onk, a Cayuga of Cattaraugus…." On September 17, 1839, at the Council of the Six Nations held on the Buffalo Reservation, William King voluntarily tendered his resignation as Chief of the Cayuga Nation.

In the "Annual report - United Church Board for World Ministries," 1827, Volume 17, in XIII. Seneca Mission "situated four miles from Buffalo, N.Y., on a reservation containing 83.,557 acres, listed is "Rev. Thomson S. Harris, Missionary and Superintendent."

A letter to President Andrew Jackson dated January 11, 1831, in The Papers of Andrew Jackson, beginning "We have come as delegates from the Seneca nation, vested with a legal power to make an inquiry concerning our annuity…" is signed by Seneca Chiefs Big Kettle and Seneca White with their "x" marks, and also by Thomson S. Harris.

A December 10, 1838, letter to R.H. Gillett, who served as commissioner to treat with the New York Indians from 1837-1839, from "The undersigned chiefs" is signed by 37 Chiefs including "Thomson S. Harris."

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