CHICKASAW LETTERS -- 1844


C.F. Eastman to J. Thompson, 16 JAN 1844:

Fort Towson Ark Jany 16th 1844

To the Honl J. Thompson Esqr

Dear Sir

I am truly happy to have the pleasure of congratulating you in your Success in being elected by so great a majority to one of the highest posts of honor in the gift of the people in the state in which you reside; --- I must ask a great favour at your hand, and feel Confident it will not be denied me, you will recollect in the fall of 1842 myself and many other emigrated to this Country and paid our own expenses for which we were allowed a stipulated sum by the War Department and paid out of the Chickasaw fund, for which most of the emigrants, after arriving to this Country, gave Danl Saffarans an order to the Department to draw the amt of money that each one was allowed and pay over to them when Recd.

I want you to apply to the department and get a true copy of the amt that was allowed each head or person; also how much was allowed per head for every horse or work animal that was brot out, and the number of days that we were allowed pay for emigrating to this Country.

I want a coppy for the following persons Susan Colbert, James & Samuel Colbert, L. M. James & myself. This information I want for my own gratification and interest; and any other information will be duly appreciated.

This information that I solicit is of great interest to me if I get it in time and feel confident you will attend to it immediately on the receipt of this and foward it in due time to your humble servant at this place. I will be truly happy to receive some of your best speeches to know how Democracy id flourishing.

With true respect

I remain your friend

and Obt Servant

C.F. Eastman

NB

Please say nothing about my writing you on this subject for no news of importance is withheld from some Merchants in this Country.

C.F.E.


Ish-te-ho-ta-pa, et al to J. W. Porter, 8 FEB 1844:

Chickasaw District Febry 8th 1844

Honl

J. W. Porter

Sectr of War

Sir

There are several of the Chickasaw Commissioners that have been appointed since the Treaty of May 24th 1834. Agreable to the 4th Article. Ish-te-ho-ta-pa, Levi Colbert, George Colbert, Martin Colbert, Isaac Alberson, Henry Love and Benjamin Love were appointed Commissioners. Before the Chickasaw Delegation returned to their Nation one of the Commissioners Levi Colbert died, and Maj James Colbert was appointed in his place. Slone Love was appointed in the place of Henry Love, resigned in Novr 1840. James Wolf was appointed in the place of Martin Colbert decd in Novr 1840, Joseph Colbert was appointed in May 1842 in the place of his Father James Colbert (decd) and James Gamble was appointed in May 1842 in the place of George Colbert (decd). None of the above named Commissioners have received one cent for their Valuable Services to their Nation except Maj James Colbert, he received one years pay only. Agreable to the 4 art. of said treaty "It is stipulated that as often as any vacancy happens, by death, resignation or otherwise, the Chiefs shall elect some discreat person of their Nation to fill the occuring vacancy, who upon a certification of qualification, discretion and capability, by the Agent shall be appointed by the Sectry of War, where upon he shall possess all the authority granted to those who are here named and the Nation will make to the person so appointed such reasonable compensation as as they, with the assent of the agent and Sectary of War may think right, proper and reasonable to be allowed.

Therefore agreably to the said forth article, We are of opinion, and believe it but just for the above named Commissioners (to wit) James Colbert, Slone Love, James Wolf, Joseph Colbert and James Gamble to be paid the sum of Seven Hundred dollars annually out of the interest of the Chickasaw fund for their services to their Nation and we are in hopes that the Honl Sectr of War will approve the amount we have agreed on,

Very respectfully

your friends & Brothers

Commissioners

Ish-te-ho-ta-pa his X mark

Isaac Alberson his X mark

Benjamin Love

Slone Love

James Gamble

James Wolf

Joseph Colbert


Ish-te-ho-ta-pa, et al to J.W. Porter, 14 FEB 1844:

Chickasaw District Febry 14th 1844

Honl

J. W. Porter

Sectr of War

Sir

There are several of the Chickasaw Commissioners that have been appointed since the Treaty of May 24th 1834. Agreable to the 4th Article, of said treaty, Ish-te-ho-ta-pa, Levi Colbert, George Colbert, Martin Colbert, Isaac Albertson, Henry Love and Benjamin Love were appointed Commissioners: before the Chickasaw Delegation returned to their Nation, one of the Commissioners, Levi Colbert died, and Maj James Colbert was appointed in his place. Slone Love was appointed in the place of Henry Love, resigned in November 1840. James Wolf was appointed in the place of Martin Colbert (decd) in Novr 1840. Joseph Colbert was appointed in May 1842, in place of his Father James Colbert (decd) and James Gamble was appointed in May 1842 in the place of George Colbert (decd). None of the above named Commissioners have received one cent for their Valuable Services to their Nation except Maj James Colbert, he received one years pay only. Agreable to the 4th art. of said Treaty, "It is stipulated that as often as any vacancy happens, by death, resignation or other wise, the Chiefs shall elect some discreat person of their Nation to fill the occuring vacancy, who upon a certificate of qualification, discretion and capability, by the Agent shall be appointed by the Sectr of War; Where upon he or they shall possess all the authority granted to those who are here named, and the Nation will make to the person so appointed such reasonable compensation as They with the assent of the Agent and Sect of War may think right and proper and reasonable to be allowed.

Therefore agreably to the said forth article we are of opinion, and believe it but just for the above named Commissioners, James Colbert, Slone Love, James Wolf, Joseph Colbert and James Gamble to be paid the sum of Seven Hundred dollars annually out of the interest of the Chickasaw fund for their services to their Nation and we are in hopes that the Honl Sectry of War will approve the amount we have agreed on,

Very respectfully

your friends & Brothers

Commissioners

Ish-te-ho-ta-pa his X mark

Isaac Alberson his X mark

Benjamin Love

Slone Love

James Gamble

James Wolf

Joseph Colbert his X mark


Joseph Bryan to T. Hartley Crawford, 8 MAR 1844:

Washington March 8th 1844

Sir,

I have received the enclosed copy of a communication addressed to the Secretary of War from Mr. Slone Love; one of the Chickasaw Chiefs, together with a letter of Atty from Mr. Love to Col. Danl Saffarrons authorizing him to [receive?] such an amount as may be allowed him for his services as Chickasaw Comes by the Hon Secretary of War. I respectfully ask that if no action has yet been had on the letter of the Comes that you will cause the matter to be inquired into, and such an allowance made to the Comes as the Secretary may think them entitled to.

Very respectfully

Your Obet Servt

Joseph Bryan

T. Hartley Crawford Esq.


Power of Attorney by Slone Love, 5 FEB 1844:

[As enclosed in the above letter]

Now be it known by all men that I Slone Love of the Chickasaw Nation West have made, constituted and appointed and by these presents do make, constitute and appoint Daniel Saffarrons of Sumner County, Tennessee, my true and lawful Agent and attorney in fact for me and my name place and stead to ask demand and receive, of and from the proper officers of the United States all such sum or sums of money as may be due and owing to me on account of my services rendered as one of the Chickasaw Commissioners aggreeable to the treaty of 24th of May AD 1834, hereby authorizing my said attorney for me and in my name, to give such full and ample receipts and acquitances as may be necessary for all such sum or sums of money, as may be found due to me, or may be paid over to him on my account in consequense of my said services.

In testimoney whereof I the said Slone Love have here unto set my hand

and seal this the 5th day of February AD 1844

Slone Love (LS)

Signed Sealed and }

acknowledged in our presence}
A. M. M. Upshaw

Wiley Dickinson


Pitman Colbert to A. M. M. Upshaw, 12 APR 1844:

(Copy)

Fort Towson April 12th 1844

Col A. M. M. Upshaw

Dear Sir

I have been call upon by the [__?__] Colbert Carter, to do some thing for him and his sister, in regard to their property in Alabama, which I would have done provided , If I Knowed how to do; upon reflecting upon all such cases of this kind, we can only look to you, who I should suppose was our proper Gardian. Therefore I have strongly urged and recommended my young Nephew Carter, to come and see you on the subject it would be unnecessary for me to dwell upon the condition of the property for you know enough of it, to make such statement to the War department, it can not be doubted the property should remain as it is now, without something is done so as to have the property brought to this country. the porr orphan children never will get the good of them.

Respectfully

yr friend

(signed) Pitman Colbert


A. M. M. Upshaw to T. Hartley Crawford, 26 APR 1844:

Chickasaw Agency

April 26th 1844

Sir

I will take the liberty of calling your attention again to the case of the young Carters. Their property is still in the State of Alabama, in the hands of Mr. F. M. Reynolds, (if it has not been squandered). Mr. Colbert Carter is now about 20 or 21 years of age, and his sister Melena has been Married about 18 months. They emigrated to their Nation agreably to the treaty between the United States and the Chickasaws. Their only hopes are that you will direct some of the attys for the United States to examine into the condition of their property, and have it taken out of the hands of Mr. Reynolds, so that it can be brought to this Country. I respectfully refer you to my communications on this subject of the 30th of June 1842. I send here with an extract from a letter received by me last evening from Maj Pitman Colbert on the subject.

Very respectfully

I have the honor to be

yr mo ob sv

A. M. M. Upshaw

Honl

T. Hartly Crawford

Commr of Indn Affairs


A. M. M. Upshaw to T. Hartley Crawford, 25 MAY 1844:

Chickasaw Agency

May 25th 1844

Sir

On examination this day of a Muster Roll of emigrant Chickasaws that I forwarded to your office last Feby, I desern that I did not make the remarks in the Column of remarks that I intended. I aught to have remarked that Benjamin Love, Sally Love, James L. Tyson and Molly Gunn emigrated to the Chickasaw district and that R. B. Willis, Reubin R. Bourland & John Byrd stoped near Ft Towson, and James H. Ned came within thirty or thirty five miles of the Chickasaw district.

Very respectfully

yr mo ob st

A.M.M. Upshaw CA

Honl

T. Hartley Crawford

Comr of Ind Affairs


Wm. H. Dibs(?) to Wm. Wilkins, 10 JUL 1844:

Washington City DC.

July 10th 1844

Sir:

A few days ago I recd a communication from Capt Bryant dated Fort Washita, C. N. in which he says -- "They have a report that the Chickasaws have applied to the Secy of War requesting the dismissal of Col. Upshaw and desiring my appointment -- this I do not wish. I have suffered to much myself from such proceedings and cannot become the rival of any man upon such priciples."

As I represent Capt Bryant in his absence, I must respectfully take the liberty of representing his views upon the subject if such an effort is making.

I have the honor to be

Very Respectfully

Your Obt Sert

Wm H. Dibs(?)

Hon. Wm Wilkins

Secy of War


Ish-te-ho-ta-pa, et al to Secretary of War, 3 AUG 1844:

Chickasaw District CN

August 3rd 1844

To the

Honl Secretary of War:

We the undersigned Chiefs and Commissioners of the Chickasaws, most respectfully request that the proceeds of our late land sales at Pontotoc amounting as we understand to near Fifty Thousand dollars, be paid over to our people with their forth coming annuity. The Department must be aware of our extreme wants. The proceeds of our late land sales added to the annuity would relieve our people and supply all their necessities. [___?___] that our request will be granted, we remain,

Your Friends & Brothers

Ish-te-ho-ta-pa King his X mark

Isaac Albertson his X mark

Slone Love

Benjamin Love

James Wolf

Joseph Colbert his X mark

James Gamble


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