THE PROPERTY OF A NORTH EAST COLLECTOR
CROGHAN, George. Autograph letter signed ("Geo:Croghan") to General Nicholas Herkimer, (1728-1777), N.p., 20 April 1770. 3 pages, 4to, integral address panel with seal and a last-minute postscript, recipient's docket, minor soiling at edges.
Details
CROGHAN, George. Autograph letter signed ("Geo:Croghan") to General Nicholas Herkimer, (1728-1777), N.p., 20 April 1770. 3 pages, 4to, integral address panel with seal and a last-minute postscript, recipient's docket, minor soiling at edges.
PACIFYING THE TRIBES ON THE NEW YORK FRONTIER. Croghan, instrumental in key treaties and councils with the Indians for some three decades, held patents on some 250,000 acres of land in central New York state. Here, he reports to Herkimer, also a land-holder in the Mohawk Valley, on a frontier council with the Indians: "I cant exactly Tell how many Indians there is in the Turtle Tribe, Nor in the Bear Tribe, Butt Each of those Tribes are to have [195] Dollars Equally Divided. Joseph [Brant?] is Now hear [sic] & he & I have agreed that I am to pay him & his family Myself & there is 40 more of the Wolf Tribe which are to have [200] Dollars Divided." Croghan tallies these payments to various tribes (or clans), which come to $590, and then adds: "I wish they may all settle itt with you." He goes on to report on news from a gentleman involved in "ye Land" who owes certain funds, complains that he has had a bout of gout, and requests that Herkimer furnish him a gross of "Buttens fitt for Servants Cloase." During the Revolution, Herkimer became one of the leaders of American forces in upstate New York, rose to the rank of brigadier general, but was mortally wounded in the deadly ambush at Oriskany (August 1777).
PACIFYING THE TRIBES ON THE NEW YORK FRONTIER. Croghan, instrumental in key treaties and councils with the Indians for some three decades, held patents on some 250,000 acres of land in central New York state. Here, he reports to Herkimer, also a land-holder in the Mohawk Valley, on a frontier council with the Indians: "I cant exactly Tell how many Indians there is in the Turtle Tribe, Nor in the Bear Tribe, Butt Each of those Tribes are to have [195] Dollars Equally Divided. Joseph [Brant?] is Now hear [sic] & he & I have agreed that I am to pay him & his family Myself & there is 40 more of the Wolf Tribe which are to have [200] Dollars Divided." Croghan tallies these payments to various tribes (or clans), which come to $590, and then adds: "I wish they may all settle itt with you." He goes on to report on news from a gentleman involved in "ye Land" who owes certain funds, complains that he has had a bout of gout, and requests that Herkimer furnish him a gross of "Buttens fitt for Servants Cloase." During the Revolution, Herkimer became one of the leaders of American forces in upstate New York, rose to the rank of brigadier general, but was mortally wounded in the deadly ambush at Oriskany (August 1777).