Kirkland 138b Timothy Pickering's Deposition in Favour of Mr. Phelps . I certify that Oliver Phelps Esquire has shown me a number of depositions of Gentlemen of reputation who were present at the Treaty held by him at Buffalo Creek with the Six Nations of Indians in the year 1788 when he purchased of them a tract of land since called the purchase of Phelps and Gorham , and from their testimony it appears that the bargain made with the Indians was for Five Thousand dollars purchase money, an Show moreKirkland 138b Timothy Pickering's Deposition in Favour of Mr. Phelps . I certify that Oliver Phelps Esquire has shown me a number of depositions of Gentlemen of reputation who were present at the Treaty held by him at Buffalo Creek with the Six Nations of Indians in the year 1788 when he purchased of them a tract of land since called the purchase of Phelps and Gorham , and from their testimony it appears that the bargain made with the Indians was for Five Thousand dollars purchase money, and five hundred dollars annual Rent. that the papers exhibiting the bargain were openly interpreted by Mr. Kirkland Mr. Dean Colonel Butler and Captain Brant and that the Indians then appeared entirely satisfied-- I further certify, that at the request of Mr. Phelps I examined the Fish-Carrier and Sharonyowanen / the two head Sachems of the Cayuga and Onondaga Nations now attending the Treaty held by me with the Six Nations at this place / relative to the same bargain and they declared that it was as above stated, that the other Chiefs of their two Nations know it, and that they never heard one of them say any thing to the contrary. I further Certify, that yesterday the principal Sachems and Chiefs of the Seneca Nation came to my quarters, and declared they were entirely satisfied in respect to the bargain they had made with Mr. Phelps and that all they now asked of Mr. Phelps , was, that he would perform his engagements with them as the writings now stand. Upon Upon the whole, though from the Complaints made last fall by the Seneca Chiefs at Tioga, and by the Cornplanter last winter at Philadelphia, there appeared to me room for believing that the bargain was for Ten Thousand dollars purchase money, yet I am now entirely convinced that they were under a mistake, and that the writings showing that the purchase money was Five thousand dollars and the annual rent five hundred dollars are exactly agreeable to the bargain made with them in their full Council - Timothy Pickering Newtown in the State of New York July 16th 1791 copy Timothy Pickerings deposition in favor of Mr. Phelps Miscellaneous papers Show less
