Executive Department Of The Cherokee Nation,
Tahlequah, January 26, 1871.
Gentlemen: Enclosed you will please find a list of the names of the districts, and also a list of the judges of the several districts up to present time. Also copies of the act in relation to marriage and estate, and the act in relation to a seal. There is no law legalizing marriages contracted according to the customs of the country, or annulling such marriages. The copy enclosed is all the information I can give you in relation to marriages, as regards the seal. There is no law authorizing any of the judges to use a seal in any of his official transactions. The names of the clerks of the several districts I could not get on account of being locked up in the Auditor’s office at this place, and he resides some distance from here. I will send after the key to his office, and forward you a list as soon as it can be done.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES VANN,
Acting Principal Chief Cherokee Nation.
ALLEN Ross, Secretary.
Messrs. F. E. FOSTER and GEO. E. WEBSTER.
P. S. I shall be at Gibson next week, and will then give you all the information required.
An Act in regard to marriage and estates.
Be it enacted by the national council, That all regular ministers of the gospel, of every denomination, having the care of souls, and all judges of this nation, are hereby authorized and empowered to solemnize the rites of matrimony according to the rites and ceremonies of their respective churches, and all such marriages shall be deemed lawful. No person, being married, shall marry another person without first having obtained a bill of divorce from the proper authority. Nor shall it be lawful for any person to marry and live with, as man and wife, his or her connection nearer than that of second cousin.
Be it further enacted, That when any person shall die intestate, the estate of such person shall be divided, according to law, between his or her lawful widow or widower as the case may be, and the legitimate children of the same.
Tahlequah, October 24, 1855.
JOHN ROSS. JAMES VANN,
Assistant and Acting Principal Chief Cherokee Nation.
Executive Department,
Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, January 24, 1871.
ALLEN ROSS, Private Secretary.
A list of the judges of the several districts in the Cherokee Nation, from July 1865, to July 1870.
Coo-wees-coo-wee district:
District Judge Stop Sconatie, July to October 1865.
District Judge Daniel R. Hicks, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Daniel R. Hicks, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Charles Rogers, October 1869, to October 1871.
Delaware district:
District Judge Luther Rice, July to October 1865.
District Judge Charles Thompson, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Elowee Butler, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Elowee Butler, October 1869, to October 1871.
Saline district:
District Judge George Beamer, July to October 1865.
District Judge Charles Wickliffe, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Charles Wickliffe, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Charles Wickliffe, October 1869, to October 1871.
Tahlequah. District:
District Judge Jackson R. Gourd, July to October 1865.
District Judge Jackson R. Gourd, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Jackson R. Gourd, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Jackson R. Gourd, October 1869, to October 1871.
Going Snake district:
District Judge Frog Six Killer, July to October 1865.
District Judge Johnson Robbins, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Johnson Robbins, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge W. G. Thornton, October 1869, to October 1871.
Flint district:
District Judge Johnson Bolin, July to October 1865.
District Judge Wesley Gritts, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Samuel Adair, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Jackson Christie, October 1869, to October 1871.
Sequoyah district:
District Judge Mink Downing, July to October 1865.
District Judge George Blair, October 1865, to October 1867.
District Judge Franklin Falkner, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Ezekiel Starr, October 1869, to October 1871.
Illinois district:
District Judge Robert Crawford, July to October 1865.
District Judge Robert Crawford, October 1865 to October, 18:37.
District Judge Amos Thornton, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge Jacob Bushyhead, October 1869, to October 171.
Canadian district:
District Judge Franklin Gritts, July to October 1865.
District Judge Te-car-to-ar-skee or Wm. Doublehead, October, 1865, to October, 1667:
District Judge I. M. Hildebrand, October 1867, to October 1869.
District Judge I. M. Hildedrand, October 1869, to October 1871.
P. S.–I have not been able to get a list of the names of the clerks, as they are locked up in the auditor’s office, at this place, and he resides in Canadian district. I will furnish you a full list as soon as I can get the key to the office.
Very respectfully,
JAMES VANN,
Acting Principal Chief