Desposition of Gov. Henry as to Purchase of Lands from the Indians, 4 June 1777
Contents
Letter text, June 4, 1777
The Deposition of Patrick Henry Esquire; who being first duly Sworn deposeth & Saith,
That early in the year one thousand seven hundred & Seventy four as well as he remembers the honble Wm Byrd Esqr decd, having said
that the Cherokee Indians had offer’d to give him a Tract of Land some years before, & Falling into Conversation on that Subject with this deponent, He the said Wm Byrd together with the Honble [sic] John Page Esqr decd & this deponent agreed to send a Certain Mr Kennedy to the Cherokee Nation to see if they were willing to part with some of their Land on the Waters of their own River in Virginia, to convey the same to them & not for the State. Colo Christian was to be a Partner if the Scheme succeeded. Upon Mr Kennedy’s return he informed this Deponent that he had been to Colo Byrds & had let him know the answer of some of the Indian Chiefs & Communicated the same to this Deponent, which was, that they were willing to treat on the Subject. Not long after this, & before any Treaty was Resolved on, the Troubles with great Britain, seemed to Threaten Serious Consequences, & this Deponent became a member of the first Virginia Convention, & a member of the first Continental Congress, upon which he Determined with himself to disclaim all Concern & Connexion with Indian Purchasers for the Reasons following, that is to say. He was Informed, shortly after his Arrival at Congress, of many Purchases of Indian Lands, Shares in most or all of which were offered to this Deponent, & Constantly refused by him because of the Enormity in the Extent to which the Bounds of those Purchases were Carry’d Another Reason for this Refusal was, that Disputes had arisen on the Subject of these Purchases, & this Deponent, being a Member of both Congress & Convention, conceived it improper for him to be concerned as a Party in any of these Partnerships; on which it was probable he might decide as a Judge. The Deponent says he was further fixed in his Determination not to be concern’d in any Indian Purchase whatever on the Prospect of the Present War, by which the Sovereignty & Right of Disposal in the Soil of America would probably be Claimed by the American States. After conversing with the sd Wm Byrd & Communicating his Sentiments freely on the Subject, the Deponent saith that the Scheme dropt, nor did it proceed further than is above related. The Deponent further says that Mr Henderson & his Partners very soon after their Supposed Purchase joined in a Letter to this Deponent; in which was Contained as this Deponent might be a Partner with them. The Deponent also says he recd a great Number of Messages from Messrs Henderson &c. inviting him to be a Partner: That Mr Henderson in his own Person & Mr Allen Jones (a Partner in the Purchase) both apply’d to the Deponent to join them in their Scheme but the Deponent uniformly refused & plainly Declared his Strongest Disapprobation of their whole proceedings, giving as his Reason that the People of Virginia had a right to the back Country, derived from their Charter & the Blood & Treasure they Expended on that account. The Deponent says that he is not now nor ever has been Concern’d directly or Indirectly in any Indian Purchase of Lands & that he knoweth nothing of Mr Hendersons Contract.
The Deponent being asked whether Application to the Legislature or the Crown was made for leave to Purchase Lands of the Cherokees by the sb Wm Byrd or any other Person in the matter aforesaid- He answereth that no such Application was made that he knows of
that the only proposal to the Indians was, to know if they would treat on the Subject & Further saith not- 198
Williamsburg Sc
Sworn to before
Jno: Prentis
R: Kellon
June 4th, 1777.
Foot Note
198For depositions of Arthur Campbell, Abraham Hite, Nathaniel Henderson, James Douglas and John Floyd, see Virginia “Calendar of State Papers”, Vol. I, p. 303 et seq.
Letter text, June 2, 1777
The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor enclosing a state of the military stores belonging to this Commonwealth.
Ordered, That the said letter and state do lie on the table.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the Governor and Council, desiring they would inform this House whether Philip Love199 and William Grayson Esquires, resigned their appointments as colonels of two of the battalions of this Commonwealth, or refused to accept the same.
Foot Note
199Philip Love, brigade major Virginia Militia, 1777.
Letter text, June 3, 1777
Resolved, That the Governor, with the advice of the Privy Council, be empowered to employ proper persons to purchase, on account of the public, and at a generous price, all the salt that may be imported into this country in the course of the next twelve months, and that he be authorized to issue his warrant on the treasurer to pay for the same; that such salt when purchased, be immediately stored in some convenient and secure parts of the country, and distributed, by order of the Governor, with advice of the Council, amongst the inhabitants of the different counties, in such proportions as their exigencies may require and that the quantity procured may admit regard being principally had to such counties as are farthest removed from salt water, and that the receivers of the salt to pay into the hands of such persons as may be appointed for that purpose, at the time of delivery, so much per bushel as the Governor, with the advice of the Council, may judge reasonable, the money when received, to be paid with all convenient despatch [sic] into the treasury, for reimbursing the public.
Letter text, June 4, 1777
That the Governor and Privy Council be desired to lay before this House an estimate of the probable expense of the army the ensuing
