Trail of Tears Collections – Access Genealogy

Trail of Tears Evaluation

The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek contains a long list of individuals (3547) receiving land reservations and positively recognizes these people as members of the tribe in a legally binding fashion. Many of these land recipients are elsewhere identified as countrymen or mixed bloods. There can be little doubt that they were accepted as leaders and members of the tribe. The various claims to land and claims for other reasons are found in American State Papers and offer positive identification of mixed bloods in individual cases. They also help pinpoint the location of mixed-blood land holdings.

Office Of Planters’ Bank, Tennessee June 6, 1837

DEAR SIR; For your satisfaction, and for the information of the department, I beg leave to say, in explanation of the protest of Major Bennett’s check in your favor, for $200,000, that, in the conversation between Doct. Reynolds, who presented it, and myself, and in my communication to him before the protest, I stated that I did not think I ought to issue any paper except payable at New Orleans. I was induced to believe so from the general suspension in the eastern cities, and the great revulsion in the money market of our whole country. But he refused to … Read more

Office Indian Affairs, July 25, 1835

SIR: The selection and general supervision of the agents to be employed in appraising improvements under the treaty with the Cherokee Indians of December 29, 1835, having been committed to you, I proceed to state some principles for their observance in the execution of this duty. You will divide the country ceded by the first article of the treaty into convenient districts, and assign to each a sufficient number of agents for the prompt completion of this business. You will report to this office the names and residences of these agents, and indicate the district in which each is to … Read more

New Echota, Georgia, September 27, 1837

SIR: Yours of the 29th and 30th of August have been received. In relation to what is said in that of the 29th, I have to state as follows: In the month of August I received from the Treasurer of the United States $200,000, in drafts on sundry banks and receivers of public moneys in the South, to be disbursed under the act of Congress of July 2, 1836, for carrying into effect the Cherokee treaty. Of these drafts there are on hand to the amount of $25,000; the balance have been disposed of, some to the recipients of money … Read more

New Echota, Georgia, May 13, 1837

Cashier of the branch of the Planters’ Bank of Tennessee, at Athens, pay to the order of Captain J. P. Simonton, disbursing agent, two hundred thousand dollars. RICHARD BENNETT. Disbursing Agent, &c, Endorsed Wilson Lumpkin, John Kennedy, United States Commissioner; J. P. Simonton, Captain U.S.A.D.A.C.R. I, Samuel H. Gordon, notary public for the county of McMinn, in the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that on the day, I was requested by Captain J. P. Simonton to call upon the cashier of the branch at Athens of the Planters’ Bank of the State of Tennessee, and to request of said … Read more

Letter of Samuel H. Gordon

Be it known, that on the day of the date hereof, I, Samuel H. Gordon, notary public for the county of McMinn, in the State of Tennessee, duly commissioned and sworn according to law, residing in the town of Athens, in said State, at the request of J. C. Reynolds, exhibited to William Clarke, cashier of the office of said bank at Athens, the original check whereof a true copy is on the other side written, and demanded payment thereof from said cashier, at said office, it being the place where said check was made payable, and I was answered … Read more

Commissioners’ Office, New Echota, May 29, 1837

SIR: Being apprised that you have been notified that you might consider yourself relieved from duty here, as soon as you have performed the duties in which you are now engaged in the Indian Department, we deem it expedient to state to you, that the duties in which you are now engaged, as disbursing agent under the Cherokee treaty of 1835, will necessarily require the constant services of a disbursing agent to the end of the present year, or longer. We take pleasure in adding, that if consistent with the public interest, it would afford us personal gratification to have … Read more

Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated July 3, 1837

Extract of a letter from Messrs. W. Lumpkin and John Kennedy, commissioners, &c, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated July 3, 1837. “As to the kind of funds which would be received at this time here, in discharge of claims under the treaty, it is proper to remark that every recipient would prefer specie, because it is worth more that the paper of any bank which has suspended specie payments; yet all recipients who expect or intend to use their funds in Georgia, would take the bills of the Augusta Bank, rather than lie out of the money. “The … Read more

Athens, Tennessee, June 6 1837

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, on the 13th of May, I received from Richard Bennett a draft on the branch of the Planters’ Bank of Tennessee, at Athens, for $200,000, to be disbursed under the Cherokee treaty of 1835; which draft has been returned to me protested, under the following circumstances: The commissioners deeming it expedient to have $100,000 delivered at New Echota, before the funds there on hand should be exhausted, requested that, as my personal services at New Echota would no readily be dispensed with, Dr. Reynolds should take my draft, proceed to Athens, … Read more