Treaty of August 3, 1795, also known as the Treaty of Greenville. The Treaty of Greenville set a precedent for objectives in future treaties with Native Americans — that is, obtaining cessions of land, advancing the frontier through white settlement, and obtaining more cessions through treaties. With the tribes’ surrender of most of Ohio, settlers began entering in Northwest Territory in greater numbers. In the near future, more treaties would further diminish Indians’ territory. 1
A treaty of peace between the United States of America and the Tribes of Indians, called the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawanoe, Ottawa, Chipewa, Putawatime, Miami, Eel River, Weea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia.
To put an end to a destructive war, to settle all controversies, and to restore harmony and a friendly intercourse between the said United States, and Indian tribes; Anthony Wayne, major-general, commanding the army of the United States, and sole commissioner for the good purposes above-mentioned, and the said tribes of Indians, by their Sachems, chiefs, and warriors, met together at Greeneville, the headquarters of the said army, have agreed on the following articles, which, when ratified by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, shall be binding on them and the said Indian tribes.
Article 1. Henceforth all hostilities shall cease; peace is hereby established, and shall be perpetual; and a friendly intercourse shall take place, between the said United States and Indian tribes.
Article 2. All prisoners shall on both sides be restored. The Indians, prisoners to the United States, shall be immediately set at liberty. The people of the United States, still remaining prisoners among the Indians, shall be delivered up in ninety days from the date hereof, to the general or commanding officer at Greeneville, Fort Wayne or Fort Defiance; and ten chiefs of the said tribes shall remain at Greeneville as hostages, until the delivery of the prisoners shall be effected.
Article 3. The general boundary line between the lands of the United States, and the lands of the said Indian tribes, shall begin at the mouth of Cayahoga River, and run thence up the same to the portage between that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum; thence down that branch to the crossing place above Fort Lawrence; thence westerly to a fork of that branch of the great Miami river running into the Ohio, at or near which fork stood Loromie’s store, and where commences the portage between the Miami of the Ohio, and St. Mary’s river, which is a branch of the Miami, which runs into Lake Erie; thence a westerly course to Fort Recovery, which stands on a branch of the Wabash; then south-westerly in a direct line to the Ohio, so as to intersect that river opposite the mouth of Kentucke or Cuttawa River. And in consideration of the peace now established; of the goods formerly received from the United States; of those now to be delivered, and of the yearly delivery of goods now stipulated to be made hereafter, and to indemnify the United States for the injuries and expenses they have sustained during the war; the said Indians tribes do hereby cede and relinquish forever, all their claims to the lands lying eastwardly and southwardly of the general boundary line now described; and these lands, or any part of them, shall never hereafter be made a cause or pretence, on the part of the said tribes or any of them, of war or injury to the United States, or any of the people thereof.
And for the same considerations, and as an evidence of the returning friendship of the said Indian tribes, of their confidence in the United States, and desire to provide for their accommodation, and for that convenient intercourse which will be beneficial to both parties, the said Indian tribes do also cede to the United States the following pieces of land; to-wit.
(1.) One piece of land six miles square at or near Loromies store before mentioned.
(2.) One piece two miles square at the head of the navigable water or landing on the St. Mary’s river, near Girty’s town.
(3.) One piece six miles square at the head of the navigable water of the Au-Glaize river.
(4.) One piece six miles square at the confluence of the Au-Glaize and Miami rivers, where Fort Defiance now stands.
(5.) One piece six miles square at or near the confluence of the rivers St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s, where Fort Wayne now stands, or near it.
(6.) One piece two miles square on the Wabash river at the end of the portage from the Miami of the lake, and about eight miles westward from Fort Wayne.
(7.) One piece six miles square at the Ouatanon or old Weea towns on the Wabash river.
(8.) One piece twelve miles square at the British fort on the Miami of the lake at the foot of the rapids.
(9.) One piece six miles square at the mouth of the said river where it empties into the Lake.
(10.) One piece six miles square upon Sandusky Lake, where a fort formerly stood.
(11.) One piece two miles square at the lower rapids of Sandusky River.
(12.) The post of Detroit and all the land to the north, the west and the south of it, of which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or English governments; and so much more land to be annexed to the district of Detroit as shall be comprehended between the river Rosine on the south, lake St. Clair on the north, and a line, the general course whereof shall be six miles distant from the west end of Lake Erie, and Detroit River.
(13.) The post of Michillimackinac, and all the land on the island, on which that post stands, and the main land adjacent, of which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or grants to the French or English governments; and a piece of land on the main to the north of the island, to measure six miles on lake Huron, or the strait between lakes Huron and Michigan, and to extend three miles back from the water of the lake or strait, and also the island De Bois Blanc, being an extra and voluntary gift of the Chipewa nation.
(14.) One piece of land six miles square at the mouth of Chikago River, emptying into the south-west end of Lake Michigan, where a fort formerly stood.
(15.) One piece twelve miles square at or near the mouth of the Illinois River, emptying into the Mississippi.
(16.) One piece six miles square at the old Piorias Fort and village, near the south end of the Illinois Lake on said Illinois River: And whenever the United States shall think proper to survey and mark the boundaries of the lands hereby ceded to them, they shall give timely notice thereof to the said tribes of Indians, that they may appoint some of their wise chiefs to attend and see that the lines are run according to the terms of this treaty.
And the said Indian tribes will allow to the people of the United States a free passage by land and by water, as one and the other shall be found convenient, through their country, along the chain of posts herein before mentioned; that is to say, from the commencement of the portage aforesaid at or near Loromie’s store, thence along said portage to the St. Mary’s, and down the same to Fort Wayne, and then down the Miami to Lake Erie: again from the commencement of the portage at or near Loromie’s store along the portage from thence to the river Au-Glaize, and down the same to its junction with the Miami at Fort Defiance: again from the commencement of the portage aforesaid, to Sandusky river, and down the same to Sandusky bay and lake Erie, and from Sandusky to the post which shall be taken at or near the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the lake: and from thence to Detroit. Again from the mouth of Chikago, to the commencement of the portage, between that river and the Illinois, and down the Illinois River to the Mississippi, also from Fort Wayne along the portage aforesaid which leads to the Wabash, and then down the Wabash to the Ohio. And the said Indian tribes will also allow to the people of the United States the free use of the harbors and mouths of rivers along the lakes adjoining the Indian lands, for sheltering vessels and boats, and liberty to land their cargoes where necessary for their safety.
Article 4. In consideration of the peace now established and of the cessions and relinquishments of lands made in the preceding article by the said tribes of Indians, and to manifest the liberality of the United States, as the great means of rendering this peace strong and perpetual; the United States relinquish their claims to all other Indian lands northward of the river Ohio, eastward of the Mississippi, and westward and southward of the Great Lakes and the waters uniting them, according to the boundary line agreed on by the United States and the king of Great-Britain, in the treaty of peace made between them in the year 1783. But from this relinquishment by the United States, the following tracts of land, are explicitly excepted.
1st. The tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres near the rapids of the river Ohio, which has been assigned to General Clark, for the use of himself and his warriors.
2nd. The post of St. Vincennes on the river Wabash, and the lands adjacent, of which the Indian title has been extinguished.
3rd. The lands at all other places in possession of the French people and other white settlers among them, of which the Indian title has been extinguished as mentioned in the 3d article; and
4th. The post of fort Massac towards the mouth of the Ohio. To which several parcels of land so excepted, the said tribes relinquish all the title and claim which they or any of them may have.
And for the same considerations and with the same views as above mentioned, the United States now deliver to the said Indian tribes a quantity of goods to the value of twenty thousand dollars, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge; and henceforward every year forever the United States will deliver at some convenient place northward of the river Ohio, like useful goods, suited to the circumstances of the Indians, of the value of nine thousand five hundred dollars; reckoning that value at the first cost of the goods in the city or place in the United States, where they shall be procured. The tribes to which those goods are to be annually delivered, and the proportions in which they are to be delivered, are the following.
1st. To the Wyandots, the amount of one thousand dollars.
2nd. To the Delawares, the amount of one thousand dollars.
3rd. To the Shawanese, the amount of one thousand dollars.
4th. To the Miamis, the amount of one thousand dollars.
5th. To the Ottawas, the amount of one thousand dollars.
6th. To the Chippewas, the amount of one thousand dollars.
7th. To the Putawatimes, the amount of one thousand dollars.
8th. And to the Kickapoo, Weea, Eel River, Piankashaw and Kaskaskia tribes, the amount of five hundred dollars each.
Provided, That if either of the said tribes shall hereafter at an annual delivery of their share of the goods aforesaid, desire that a part of their annuity should be furnished in domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and other utensils convenient for them, and in compensation to useful artificers who may reside with or near them, and be employed for their benefit, the same shall at the subsequent annual deliveries be furnished accordingly.
Article 5. To prevent any misunderstanding about the Indian lands relinquished by the United States in the fourth article, it is now explicitly declared, that the meaning of that relinquishment is this: The Indian tribes who have a right to those lands, are quietly to enjoy them, hunting, planting, and dwelling thereon so long as they please, without any molestation from the United States; but when those tribes, or any of them, shall be disposed to sell their lands, or any part of them, they are to be sold only to the United States; and until such sale, the United States will protect all the said Indian tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their lands against all citizens of the United States, and against all other white persons who intrude upon the same. And the said Indian tribes again acknowledge themselves to be under the protection of the said United States and no other power whatever.
Article 6. If any citizen of the United States, or any other white person or persons, shall presume to settle upon the lands now relinquished by the United States, such citizen or other person shall be out of the protection of the United States; and the Indian tribe, on whose land the settlement shall be made, may drive off the settler, or punish him in such manner as they shall think fit; and because such settlements made without the consent of the United States, will be injurious to them as well as to the Indians, the United States shall be at liberty to break them up, and remove and punish the settlers as they shall think proper, and so effect that protection of the Indian lands herein before stipulated.
Article 7. The said tribes of Indians, parties to this treaty, shall be at liberty to hunt within the territory and lands which they have now ceded to the United States, without hindrance or molestation, so long as they demean themselves peaceably, and offer no injury to the people of the United States.
Article 8. Trade shall be opened with the said Indian tribes; and they do hereby respectively engage to afford protection to such persons, with their property, as shall be duly licensed to reside among them for the purpose of trade, and to their agents and servants; but no person shall be permitted to reside at any of their towns or hunting camps as a trader, who is not furnished with a license for that purpose, under the hand and seal of the superintendent of the department north-west of the Ohio, or such other person as the President of the United States shall authorize to grant such licenses; to the end, that the said Indians may not be imposed on in their trade. And if any licensed trader shall abuse his privilege by unfair dealing, upon complaint and proof thereof, his license shall be taken from him, and he shall be further punished according to the laws of the United States. And if any person shall intrude himself as a trader, without such license, the said Indians shall take and bring him before the superintendent or his deputy, to be dealt with according to law. And to prevent impositions by forged licenses, the said Indians shall at least once a year give information to the superintendent or his deputies, of the names of the traders residing among them.
Article 9. Lest the firm peace and friendship now established should be interrupted by the misconduct of individuals, the United States, and the said Indian tribes agree, that for injuries done by individuals on either side, no private revenge or retaliation shall take place; but instead thereof, complaint shall be made by the party injured, to the other: By the said Indian tribes, or any of them, to the President of the United States, or the superintendent by him appointed; and by the superintendent or other person appointed by the President, to the principal chiefs of the said Indian tribes, or of the tribe to which the offender belongs; and such prudent measures shall then be pursued as shall be necessary to preserve the said peace and friendship unbroken, until the Legislature (or Great Council) of the United States, shall make other equitable provision in the case, to the satisfaction of both parties. Should any Indian tribes meditate a war against the United States or either of them, and the same shall come to the knowledge of the before-mentioned tribes, or either of them, they do hereby engage to give immediate notice thereof to the general or officer commanding the troops of the United States, at the nearest post. And should any tribe, with hostile intentions against the United States, or either of them, attempt to pass through their country, they will endeavor to prevent the same, and in like manner give information of such attempt, to the general or officer commanding, as soon as possible, that all causes of mistrust and suspicion may be avoided between them and the United States. In like manner the United States shall give notice to the said Indian tribes of any harm that may be meditated against them, or either of them, that shall come to their knowledge; and do all in their power to hinder and prevent the same, that the friendship between them may be uninterrupted.
Article 10. All other treaties heretofore made between the United States and the said Indian tribes, or any of them, since the treaty of 1783, between the United States and Great Britain, that come within the purview of this treaty, shall henceforth cease and become void.
In testimony whereof, the said Anthony Wayne, and the sachems and war chiefs of the before mentioned nations and tribes of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals.
Done at Greenville, in the territory of the United States north west of the river Ohio, on the third day of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Anthony Wayne
Wyandots:
Tarhe, or Crane, his x mark
J. Williams, jun. his x mark
Teyyaghtaw, his x mark
Haroenyou, or half king’s son, his x mark
Tehaawtorens, his x mark
Awmeyeeray, his x mark
Stayetah, his x mark
Shateyyaronyah, or Leather Lips, his x mark
Daughshuttayah, his x mark
Shaawrunthe, his x mark
Delawares:
Tetabokshke, or Grand Glaize King, his x mark
Lemantanquis, or Black King, his x mark
Wabatthoe, his x mark
Maghpiway, or Red Feather, his x mark
Kikthawenund, or Anderson, his x mark
Bukongehelas, his x mark
Peekeelund, his x mark
Wellebawkeelund, his x mark
Peekeetelemund, or Thomas Adams, his x mark
Kishkopekund, or Captain Buffalo, his x mark
Amenahehan, or Captain Crow, his x mark
Queshawksey, or George Washington, his x mark
Weywinquis, or Billy Siscomb, his x mark
Moses, his x mark
Shawanees:
Misquacoonacaw, or Red Pole, his x mark
Cutthewekasaw, or Black Hoof, his x mark
Kaysewaesekah, his x mark
Weythapamattha, his x mark
Nianymseka, his x mark
Waytheah, or Long Shanks, his x mark
Weyapiersenwaw, or Blue Jacket, his x mark
Nequetaughaw, his x mark
Hahgooseekaw, or Captain Reed, his x mark
Ottawas:
Augooshaway, his x mark
Keenoshameek, his x mark
La Malice, his x mark
Machiwetah, his x mark
Thowonawa, his x mark
Secaw, his x mark
Chippewas:
Mashipinashiwish, or Bad Bird, his x mark
Nahshogashe, (from Lake Superior,) his x mark
Kathawasung, his x mark
Masass, his x mark
Nemekass, or Little Thunder, his x mark
Peshawkay, or Young Ox, his x mark
Nanguey, his x mark
Meenedohgeesogh, his x mark
Peewanshemenogh, his x mark
Weymegwas, his x mark
Gobmaatick, his x mark
Ottawa:
Chegonickska, (an Ottawa from Sandusky,) his x mark
Pattawatimas of the river St. Joseph:
Thupenebu, his x mark
Nawac, (for himself and brother Etsimethe,) his x mark
Nenanseka, his x mark
Keesass, or Run, his x mark
Kabamasaw, (for himself and brother Chisaugan,) his x mark
Sugganunk, his x mark
Wapmeme, or White Pigeon, his x mark
Wacheness, (for himself and brother Pedagoshok,) his x mark
Wabshicawnaw, his x mark
La Chasse, his x mark
Meshegethenogh, (for himself and brother Wawasek,) his x mark
Hingoswash, his x mark
Anewasaw, his x mark
Nawbudgh, his x mark
Missenogomaw, his x mark
Waweegshe, his x mark
Thawme, or Le Blanc, his x mark
Geeque, (for himself and brother Shewinse,) his x mark
Pattawatimas of Huron:
Okia, his x mark
Chamung, his x mark
Segagewan, his x mark
Nanawme, (for himself and brother A. Gin,) his x mark
Marchand, his x mark
Wenameac, his x mark
Miamis:
Nagohquangogh, or Le Gris, his x mark
Meshekunnoghquoh, or Little Turtle, his x mark
Miamis and Eel Rivers:
Peejeewa, or Richard Ville, his x mark
Cochkepoghtogh, his x mark
Eel River Tribe:
Shamekunnesa, or Soldier, his x mark
Miamis:
Wapamangwa, or the White Loon, his x mark
Weas, for themselves and the Piankeshaws:
Amacunsa, or Little Beaver, his x mark
Acoolatha, or Little Fox, his x mark
Francis, his x mark
Kickapoos and Kaskaskias:
Keeawhah, his x mark
Nemighka, or Josey Renard, his x mark
Paikeekanogh, his x mark
Delawares of Sandusky:
Hawkinpumiska, his x mark
Peyamawksey, his x mark
Reyntueco, (of the Six Nations, living at Sandusky,) his x mark
In presence of (the word “goods” in the sixth line of the third article; the word “before” in the twenty-sixth line of the third article; the words “five hundred” in the tenth line of the fourth article, and the word “Piankeshaw” in the fourteenth line of the fourth article, being first interlined)
H. De Butts, first aid de camp and secretary to Major General Wayne.
Wm. H. Harrison, aid de camp to Major General Wayne.
T. Lewis, aid de camp to Major General Wayne.
James O’Hara, quartermaster general.
John Mills, major of infantry and adjutant general.
Caleb Swan, P. M. T. U. S.
Geo. Demter, Lieutenant Artillery.
Vigo.
P. Frs. La Fontaine.
Ant. Lasselle.
H. Lasselle.
Jn. Beau Bien.
David Jones, Chaplain U. S. S.
Lewis Beaufait.
R. Lachambre.
Jas. Pepen.
Baties Coutien.
P. Navarre.
Sworn Interpreters:
Wm. Wells.
Jacques Lasselle.
M. Morins.
Bt. Sans Crainte.
Christopher Miller.
Robert Wilson.
Abraham Williams, his x mark.
Isaac Zane, his x mark.
Citations:
- Kessel, William B., Ph D., and Robert Wooster, PhD. Encyclopedia of Native American Wars & Warfare. Facts on File. New York, NY, 2005. 152.[↩]