CHICKASAW LETTERS -- 1833


Affidavit of Samuel Sely [Sealy], 12 MAY 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

May 12. 1833

Samuel Sely, a chief of the Chickasaw Nation, Says -- that since his recollection there have been several attempts to mark the line between the Chickasaws & Choctaws, as agreed upon at the conclusion of the old war; and a dispute arose as to which Branch of the Oke-tithe-hah should be the line, and it was at one time agreed that the high land between the two main forks should be the line and when the high land was traced it struck the Old Natchez Road about one mile South of Wall's old place, to run from thence a strait course to the Tuncia "Old feilds", on the Mississippi. Since his recollection, the Choctaws contended for all of the Tuncia Old Fields but the Chickasaws maintained that it been long understood that they were to be divided between the two nations, and that his understanding has always been that their dispute was settled in that way.


Affidavit of Ish-te-ho-to-pa, King, 18 MAY 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation May 18th. 1833

Ish-te-ho-to-pa, King of the Chickasaw Nation, Says that the line between his Nation and the Choctaws had been settled on long before he assumed the functions of King of the Chickasaw people, and that he understood that it was to commence at the junction of Oke-tib-bi-hah creek with the Tom-big-be & run up the main Branch of the Oki-tib-be-hah to its Source, to the "Tuncia Old Fields" on the Mississippi, he has never seen the Tuncia Old Fields, nor does he know how far they are below the mouth of the St. Francis River.


Affidavit of George Colbert, 18 MAY 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

May 18th 1833

Col. George Colbert, a chief of the Chickasaw Nation: Says: That, during the Agency of Samuel Mitchell that he was, with others, appointed to settle the line between his people and the Choctaws and that they met Puck-she-nubbe and O-chu-m-ma, on the part of the Choctaws and they agreed that the line should be as follows (viz)

Begining at the junction of the Oke-tibbe-hah Creek with the Tom-big-bee & running up said creek to the main Fork, Noo-sah-che-yah, there on the high land between the forks to a Blazed tree on the old Natchez Road, about one mile South of Walls old place, thence on a direct line to the Tuncia Old Fields on the Mississippi. He says there was some dispute between the two Nations as to the place where the old fields lay on the Mississippi, and that the Choctaws contended for all the old fields, but the dispute was refered to Puckshenubbe and Ochumma on the part of the Choctaws who agreed that the old fields should be divided. He never has seen the Tuncia Old Fields, but has always understood that they were situated on a high point of land below the mouth of the River St. Francis & that the place derived its name from a tribe of Indians who once lived there, but who have long since became extinct.

He further says that the tradition of his people is that long since the Chickasaws & Choctaws waged war with each other on account of a dispute concerning their lands & boundries, & when peace was made, the above described line was agreed upon as the Boundrry between the two nations. He says that it was not the Custom of Indian Tribes to mark the lines that divides the lands of each other. But their Boundries called for water courses, ridges, or the half way ground between their towns, as they all lived in towns as late as his recollection and in that manner the Boundrey was fixed between his people, the Choctaws, Creeks and Cherokees.


Affidavit of In-mut-be, 18 MAY 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

May 18th 1833

In-mut-be, a chief of the Chickasaw Nation, Says -- That he has heard it asserted by old people, the Chickasaws & Choctaws had a long was caused by a dispute concerning their Boundries, and that an old Choctaw Chief, who was then the ruler of his people, came to the Chickasaw Old Towns and said that he had come to make peace, that he had measured the ground from his town the the Oke-tibbe-hah creek & from thence to the Chickasaw town and that the Oki-tibbe-hah was half way between the two towns. It was agreed, the said creek should be the line between the two nations from its mouth to its source, from thence a direct course to the "Tuncia Old Field" on the Mississippi.


Affidavit of Capt. William McGilvery, 12 JUN 1833:

[M-234 Roll#136]

Chickasaw Nation

12 of June 1833

Capt. William McGilvery, a chief of the Chickasaw Nation, Says that he has always understood, that the line between the Choctaws and Chickasaws to begin at the mouth of Oke-tibbe-hah and run up the same to a large Bend, thence a straight course to a marked tree, one mile South of Walls old place on the Old Natchez Road, thence a strait line to the Tuncia Old Fields, on the Mississippi. There was no dispute about the line in old times, But the young chiefs have made a contention as to the locality & Identity of the Place Known by the name "Tuncia Old Fields". He has never been at the Tuncia Old Fields but has heard of them since a Boy.


Affidavit of Tah-um-ba, 12 JUN 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

12th of June 1833

Tah-um-ba, a Choctaw, says that he is an old man and has long lived with the Chickasaws, that he is a relation of the old Choctaw King , Fren-chi-mah-tubbe, that it was one of the last requests of the old King, the line as fixed and should remain between the two Nations undisturbed. That he understoood it was to begin at the junction of the Ohe-tibbe-hah Creek and run up the said creek to its source & thence a strait line to the "Tunica Old Fields" on the Mississippi. He was many years ago at the old fields But does not know how far they are below the mouth of St. Francies River for he knows but little about miles, & that he went by land along a trail leading from Levi Perry's to that place, that the place was generally known when he was young and that there was no dispute about it until late days.


Affidavit of Bah-ha-cah, 12 JUN 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

12th of June 1833

Bah-ha-cah, a chief of the Chickasaw Nation Says -- That it was agreed between the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, that the Boundry between them should begin at the Mouth of Oke-tib-be-hah and run up the same to its head & then a strait line to the Tunica Old Fields on the Mississippi River. He says that he is a very old man and when a boy, the Choctaws and Chickasaws had a long war, at the close of which they walked the ground between the two Nations, and that the Oke-tib-be-hah Creek was found to be the half way point between the two Nations, and was agreed upon as the line to its head, and then a strait course towards the sun set until it would strike the Mississippi at the "Tunica Old Fields". He further says that he has never seen the "Tunica Old Fields" nor did he ever know until late years that there existed a dispute about its locality.


Affidavit of Maj. Levi Colbert, 12 JUN 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]

Chickasaw Nation

12 th of June 1833


Maj. Levi Colbert, Principal Chief of the Chickasaw Nation Says. -- That many years ago there was a dispute between the Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks & Cherokees, and their Father the President requested them to have a meeting of the four Nations and settle the Boundries between them, & that a meeting was called at the Chickasaw Old Fields, that none of the Cherokees met and but two Creeks. But a great many of the Choctaws convened and in a full Council of the Chickasaws and Choctaws they agreed to appoint three Commissioners on the part of each Nation who should fix where & decide the Boundry between them & that it should be permanent; And that the Comms. met and agreed to begin at the mouth of the Oke-tib-be-hah Creek and run up the main Branch to a Bend two or three miles east of the the old Choctaw "Long Town" path, now the Natchez Road, thence a strait line to the Blazed tree on said path about one mile South of Wall's old place, then a strait line to the Tunica Old Fields on the Mississippi. He says that there was no dispute between his Nation and the Choctaws about the line until, a few years ago, that the Choctaws of late pretended that the Tunica Old Fields were a few miles higher up the river, than the place to which we had always claimed, that he has always understood that the "Tunica Old Fields" were about 30 miles by water below the mouth of the River St. Francis at a high point of land on the Mississippi. He says that the Chickasaws permitted a white man to live at the "Old Fields" many years ago for the purpose of keeping a canoe to carry his people across the Mississippi to hunt and that the Choctaws never disputed their right to do so.


Affidavit of Tam-chi-ca, 12 JUN 1833:

[M-234 Roll #136]


Chickasaw Nation

June 12 1833

Tam-chi-ca, a Chief of the Chickasaw Nation, Says. -- that the Chickasaws and Choctaws had a long war when he was a very small boy, that his Chief was by the name of Pi-o-mut-tah-hah, the name of the Choctaw Chief, he does not recollect. That they were set to war with each other by the French, who lived at New Orleans and Pensacola, and that his people went to Charleston, and got powder lead and arms from the White people there. And that after a long war, the old Choctaw Chief met the Chickasaw Chief & made peace and agreed that the line between them should begin at the mouth of Oke-tibbe-hah and run up to its head and that a strait course to the "Tunica Old Field" and that the warriors on each side should not cross the line to Hunt. He does not know how long since the line was marked at the old Natchez Road, but it has been a great while since it was settled that far and that it has been marked some further towards the Mississippi and after the line was fixed there was no dispute by the old people who are dead & gone, but the new chiefs who have come into power have had some dispute as to the locality of the Tunica "Village" or "Old Fields" on the Mississippi. He further states that he never has seen the "Old Field" himself.


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