Allegany Reservation

Oil Spring Reservation Map

Oil Spring Reservation Map, 1890

Oil Spring reservation, in Cattaraugus County, New York, as indicated on the Allegany reservation map, contains 640 acres in 2 towns and counties. It was by oversight included in the treaty made at Big Tree, in the sale by the Seneca Nation of 3,500,000 acres to Robert Morris, and passed with his title to the Holland Land Company. A suit for the recovery of this land was brought in 1856, and resulted in favor of the Seneca Nation. On the trial Governor Blacksnake, as he was named by Washington when he visited the capital in company with Cornplanter, testified, at … Read more

Religion of the Six Nation Tribes

With the exception of the Tuscaroras, each of the Six Nations has one or more council houses, in which the people assemble for business or purely Indian ceremonies, religious or social. There is also a council house or town hall on the Mount Hope road of the Tuscarora reservation, but the pagan party has no footing among this people. The council houses, formerly built of logs, are practically in disuse, and frame buildings, about 40 by 80 feet, with fireplace or simple chimney at each end, which allows separate sittings for the sexes, have taken their place. A new building … Read more

Reservations of the Six Nations in New York and Pennsylvania, 1723-1890

Map of the Country of the Five Nations

The accompanying map was prepared in 1771 under the direction of William Tryon, captain general and governor in chief of the province of New York, and is as nearly suggestive of the then recognized boundary of the Six Nations as any that has had official sanction. In 1851 Lewis H. Morgan, assisted by Ely S. Parker, a Seneca chief; and afterward an efficient staff Officer of General Grant, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, prepared a map for a volume entitled League of the Iroquois, which aimed to define the villages, trails, and boundaries of the Five Nations as they … Read more

Births from Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy’s Ledger

Births that occurred within or around the Allegany Reservation in New York, and were recorded in in an old ledger owned by Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy. Births Amelia’s Baby, b. Nov. 7, 1908. Bennett, Benjamin Harrison, b. Jan. 6, 1892. Bennet, Benjamin’s 1st child b. Nov. 27, 1913. Bennett, Henon & Laura’s boy & girl, b. Aug. 11, 1896. Burr, Wella & Sidney’s baby boy, b. April 17, 1902. Lay orDay, Doug’s baby, b. Feb. 9, 1906. Fisher, Mr.’s birthday age 70 years, Nov. 24, 1908. Goldsmith, Herbert’s boy, b. Dec. 27, 1911. Kennedy, Charles’ oldest son, b. Jan. 19, 1842. … Read more

Deaths from Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy’s Ledger

Deaths that occurred within or around the Allegany Reservation in New York, and were recorded in in an old ledger owned by Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy. A Armstrong, Elmer, d. Jan. 28, prob. 1883. Armstrong, Ely’s Baby, buried today Aug. 6, 1911. Armstrong, Joe’s first wife, d. Mon. Aug. 28, 1893. Funeral 30th. Armstrong, Joe, D. May 28 or 29, 1898. Funeral 30th. Armstrong, Kittie (Silverheels), d. 1925. Armstrong, Mary Jane, d. May 20 prob. 1883, bur. 22nd. Armstrong, Sarah, d. March 4, 1929, Funeral 6th. Armstrong, Wau-gis or Wan-gis, Widow, buried April 1 1907 Arnold, Henrietta, D. Wed. July 21, … Read more

Marriages from Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy’s Ledger

Marriages that occurred within or around the Allegany Reservation in New York, and were recorded in in an old ledger owned by Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy. Marriage George, Wallace, mar. to Julie (looks life Lee), Jan. 1, 1903. Lay, Blanch and Sherman Seneca, Jan. 1, 1907. George, Hellen to Frank Williams, July 9, 1899, at Silver Creek. Jimerson, Willet & Phina, mar. May 2, 1910. Hare, Hiram & Mary Kennedy, mar. in church, Feb. 1, 1903. Hare, Fred & Louisa Patterson, Mar. June 28, 1903. Miller, Edith mar. to a white boy whose name is Lewis. Jan. 1, 1907. Poodry, Rose, … Read more

Allegany Reservation Map and Occupants, 1890

Allegany Reservation Map, 1890

Allegany Reservation, lying in Cattaraugus County, New York, has remarkable features in very respect, and of great social and political concern. Besides resting under the burden of the Ogden Land Company pre-emption right to purchase whenever the Seneca Nation shall agree to sell its lands, it is already occupied in part by white people, who, in large numbers, hold duly legalized leases, running until May, 1892, and subject by recent act of Congress to renewal upon the consent of the parties thereto for a term not exceeding 99 years. Upon location of the New York, Lake Erie and Western and … Read more

Iroquois Tribe

Iroquois Indians, Iroquois People, Iroquois First Nation (Algonkin: Irinakhoiw, ‘real adders’, with the French suffix –ois). The confederation of Iroquoian tribes known in history, among other names, by that of the Five Nations, comprising the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca. Their name for themselves as a political body was Oñgwanonsioñni’, ‘we are of the extended lodge.’ Among the Iroquoian tribes kinship is traced through the blood of the woman only; kinship means membership in a family, and this in turn constitutes citizenship in the tribe, conferring certain social, political, and religious privileges, duties, and rights which are denied to … Read more

Miscellaneous Records from Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy’s Ledger

Records that occurred within or around the Allegany Reservation in New York, and were recorded in in an old ledger owned by Mrs. Ulessus Kennedy. Smith, Bertha Pierce, returned from Seattle Washington with two children June 5th, 1904. Smith, Bertha Pierce & Ed Smith, started today for his home, Junction City, Washington, Dec. 27, 1902. Pierce, Bertha, graduated at Gov. School, March 15, 1900. Smith, Ed, Warren & Edna, gone to their western home, Hadlock, July 23, 1907. Pierce, Hattie’s house burned, July 16, 1907, about 2:30 am, occupied by Edwin Smith. Smith, Edna, surprise party, March 16 1906. Tallchief, … Read more

The Ogden Land Claim

The New York Indians And The Seneca Leases. We regard the Allegany and Cattaraugus reservations, in their so called “government by their own council for these last years, as a notorious instance of the corruption and misuse of funds by Indians, to which we have referred above. The reports of committees of Congress, of inspectors, and of commissions, as well as facts presented by representatives of the council before the House Committee on Indian Affairs, give unquestionable evidence of such corruption. We last year urgently recommended the passage of a law requiring all lease moneys to be made payable to … Read more

Seneca Tribe

Seneca Tribe: A prominent and influential tribe of the Iroquois. When first known they occupied that part of western New York between Seneca Lake and Geneva River, having their council fire at Tsonontowan, near Naples, in Ontario county.