Politics in Choctaw Removal

Politics of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek by Jennifer Mieirs

Probably the best book I have read on this subject is the book by Arthur H, De Rosier, Jr., titled "The Removal of the Choctaw Indians." The importance of understanding the politics of the removal, not just from the United States point of view, but from the Choctaw's as well, is imperative in successful research of your family in the area. Most of us, come from one of the handful of part Choctaw leaders, who were instrumental in the signing of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. While the Choctaw had in fact ceded land for land in the Arkansas and Oklahoma territories with the Treaty of Doaks Stand, they were not required to relocate. Many in fact were against it. The next decade ensued much political maneuvering between different factions inside the nation, and different leaders. When David Folsom was elected chief of his district, Moshatubbe, who had been the leader through the traditional hereditary means, along with Nittakecchi, another full blooded, hereditary chief, almost went to war with the supporters of David Folsom. Accounts of this can be found in just about any book you read on the Choctaw that deals with the removal period. Greenwood Leflore, who had replaced Robert Cole, his great uncle, in Apuckanubbee's district, had secretly corresponded with the United States government (with their encouragement) stating he had enough supporters to relocate the tribe. In fact, he never intended to relocate himself. While he almost broke up the meeting at the treaty grounds, it was more from the decision that he could not pick or choose the twenty council members who would decide whether or not to ratify the treaty. The end result is that before negotiations were finished, many of the full bloods had left the area, and those who remained were offered bribes and enticements to ensure they would sign the treaty. The beneficiaries of those bribes are seen in the Supplement to the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Below is the Supplements, with some explanation of who benefited.

SUPPLEMENTARY ARTICLES TO THE PRECEDING TREATY

Various Choctaw persons have been presented by the Chiefs of the nation, with a desire that they might be provided for. Being particularly deserving, an earnestness has been manifested that provision might be made for them. It is therefore by the undersigned commissioners here assented to, with the understanding that they are to have no interest in the reservations which are directed and provided for under the general Treaty to which this is a supplement.

As evidence of the liberal and kind feelings of the President and Government of the United States the Commissioners agree to the request as follows, (to wit) Pierre Juzan, Peter Pitchlynn, G. W. Harkins, Jack Pitchlynn, Israel Fulsom, Louis Laflore, Benjamin James, Joel H. Nail, Hopoynjahubbee, Onorkubbee, Benjamin Laflore, Michael Laflore and Allen Yates and wife shall be entitled to a reservation of two sections of land each to include their improvement where they at present reside, with the exception of the three first named persons and Benjamin Laflore, who are authorized to locate one of their sections on any other unimproved and unoccupied land, within their respective districts.

ARTICLE 2. And to each of the following persons there is allowed a reservation of a section and a half of land, (to wit)

James L. McDonald

Robert Jones

Noah Wall White Man Husband of Lucretia Folsom

James Campbell Husband of Delite Delilah Folsom, More than likely White

G. Nelson Probably Garrett Nelson, son in law of Shumaka

Vaughn Brashears Son of Zadoc Brashears, Husband of Isabella Leflore, Part Choctaw

R. Harris, Probably Rubin Harris, Husband of Sylvia Leflore, More than likely White

Little Leader Full Choctaw, served in War of 1812 with Pushmataha

S. Foster Probably Samuel Foster, wife was Agnes Turnbull, White Man

J. Vaughn Probably son of Thomas Vaughn and Winifred, would be Part Choctaw

L. Durans Probably Lewis Durant, brother to John Folsom's Wife, Part Choctaw

Samuel Long White Man, Husband of Felicity Leflore

T. Magagha, Fullblood

Thos. Everge, Thomas Everidge, Husband of Eve Brashears, probably white man

Giles Thompson Husband of Charlotte Wall, (Noah Wall and Lucretia Folsom's daughter), more than likely White

Tomas Garland, ?? is this Thomas Wall?

John Bond Husband of Rebecca Juzan, (Charles Juzan's daughter and related to Chief Pushmataha), probably white man

William Laflore Brother of Greenwood Leflore, married to Martha Walker (Creek) step daughter of Zadoc Brashears, part Choctaw

Turner Brashears Son of Zadoc Brashears, Part Choctaw

the two first named persons, may locate one section each, and one section jointly on any unimproved and unoccupied land, these not residing in the Nation; The others are to include their present residence and improvement.

Also one section is allowed to the following persons (to wit)

Middle-ton Mackey Eventually married Malina Folsom, probably White man

Wesley Train Wesley Trahern, Grandson of Zadoc Brashears, part Choctaw

Choclehomo, Probably Full Choctaw, someone who served in War 1812

Moses Foster,

D. W. Wall, David W. Wall, son of Noah Wall and Lucretia Folsom, shortly after marries Delilah Juzan, widow of Jesse Brashears, part Choctaw

Charles Scott

Molly Nail Widow of Joel Henry Nail, mother of Nail children, Choctaw

Susan Colbert, who was formerly Susan James, Daughter of Benjamin James, and ex-wife of Major James Colbert, a Chickasaw leader.

Samuel Garland White man,or mixed blood husband of Sylvia Leflore

Silas Fisher Somehow related to Fisher's who marry into Leflore family, ? White

D. McCurtain Probably Daniel McCurtain, husband of Hannah, Shomaka's daughter by a Choctaw

Oaklahoma, Former Chief of Six Town Clan, Brother to Nittakechi, Nephew of Pushmataha

and Polly Fillecuthey, Widow of Fillecuthey a choctaw warrior/leader, Choctaw, known as Polly Cravatt, most likely, half sister to Greenwood Lelfore, as only his mother and aunt are known to be children of John Jean Cravatt and Rebecca Cravaat, Shomaka's daughter, also known as Nahomtima.

(NOTE: I think this is the source of the name Fillecuthey for Oklahoma)

to be located in entire sections to include their present residence and improvement, with the exception of Molly. Nail and Susan Colbert, who are authorized to locate theirs, on any unimproved unoccupied land.

John Pitchlynn has long and faithfully served the nation in character of

U. States Interpreter, he has acted as such for forty years, in consideration

it is agreed, in addition to what has been done for him there shall be granted

to two of his children, (to wit) Silas Pitchlynn, and Thomas Pitchlynn one section of land each, to adjoin the location of their father;

likewise to James Madison and Peter sons of Mushulatubbee one section of land each to include the old house and improve-meat where their father formerly lived on the old military road adjoining

a large Prairie. King is a name that is associated with Moshatubbee's descendants. It is rumored, his daughter Kiamiachi was a wife of Nittakechi.

And to Henry Groves son of the Chief Natticache there is one section of land given to adjoin his father's land. Changed name to Henry Byington.

And to each of the following persons half a section of land is granted on any unoccupied and unimproved lands in the Districts where they respectively live (to wit)

Willis Harkins, Son of Louisa Leflore, marries Salina Folsom, Part Choctaw

James D. Hamilton,

William Juzan, Son of Charles Juzan, Part Choctaw, Related To Pushmataha

Tobias Laflore, Half Brother of Greenwood Leflore, Part Choctaw

Jo Doke,

Jacob Fulsom; Folsom and Nail descendant, part Choctaw

P. Hays,

Samuel Worcester; full blood

George Hunter,

William Train, William Trahern, Grandson of Zadoc Brashears, Part choctaw

Robert Nail Son of Joel Nail.

Alexander McKee.

And there is given a quarter section of land each

to Delila and her five fatherless children, she being a Choctaw woman residing out of the nation; This is not Delilah Juzan Brashears (her husband died in 1829), nor is it Delilah Brashears Trahern, who died about 1820. The names of the children on the land scrip are, Four daughters, Charity, Betsy, Susan and Sarah, and Joseph. A possible Delilah is Delita Delilah Folsom, who married James Campbell. The Delilah mentioned in the supplement is rumored to have had an affair with John Donly, and these are his children. Choctaw.

also the same quantity to Peggy Trihan, another Indian woman residing out of the nation and her two fatherless children Peggy Trahern, former wife of Charles Juzan, these "fatherless" children are the children of a Trahern, most likely the brother to Wesley Trahern who married Delilah Brashears. Choctaw.

and to the widows of Pushmilaha, One of Pushmataha's wives, and her two daughters and son, have a land scrip, the other, is rumored, but not proven to be the mother of Chamnay and Running Deer, and died 1830 or 1831. Choctaw.

and Pucktshenubbee, I have not found the land scrip for her, who were formerly distinguished Chiefs of the nation and for their children four quarter sections of land, each in trust for themselves and their children. All of said last mentioned reservations are to be located under and by direction of the President of the U. States.

ARTICLE 3. The Choctaw people now that they have ceded their lands are solicitous to get to their new homes early as possible and accordingly they wish that a party may be permitted to proceed this fall to ascertain whereabouts will be most advantageous for their people to be located.

It is therefore agreed that three or four persons (from each of the three districts) under the guidance of some discreet and well qualified person or persons may proceed during this fall to the West upon an examination of the country.

For their time and expenses the U. States agree to allow the said twelve persons two dollars a day each, not to exceed one hundred days, which is deemed to be ample time to make an examination.

If necessary, pilots acquainted with the country will be furnished when they arrive in the West.

ARTICLE 4. John Donly of Alabama who has several Choctaw grand children, and who for twenty years has carried the mail through the Choctaw Nation, a desire by the Chiefs is expressed that he may have a section of land, it is accordingly granted, to be located in one entire section, on any unimproved and unoccupied land.

Allen Glover and George S. Gaines licensed Traders in the Choctaw Nation, have accounts amounting to upwards of nine thousand dollars against the Indians who are unable to pay their said debts without distressing their families; a desire is expressed by the chiefs that two sections of land be set apart to be sold and the proceeds thereof to be applied toward the payment of the aforesaid debts. It is agreed that two sections of any unimproved and unoccupied land be granted to George S. Gaines who will sell the same for the best price he can obtain and apply the proceeds thereof to the credit of the Indians on their accounts due to the aforementioned Glover and Gaines, and shall make the application to the poorest Indian first.

At the earnest and particular request of Chief Greenwood Laflore there is granted to David Haley one half section of land to be located in a half section on any unoccupied and unimproved land as a compensation, for a journey to Washington City with dispatches to the Government and returning others to the Choctaw Nation.

The foregoing is entered into, as supplemental to the treaty concluded yesterday.

Done at Dancing Rabbitt creek the 28th day of September, 1830.

Jno. H. Eaton,

Jno. Coffee,

Greenwood Leflore,

Nittucachee, his x mark, Mushulatubbee, his x mark, Offahoomah, his x mark, Eyarhoeuttubbee, his x mark, Iyaeherhopia, his x mark, Holubbee, his x mark, Onarhubbee, his x mark, Robert Cole, his x mark, Hopiaunchahubbee, his x mark, David Folsom, John Garland, his x mark, Hopiahoomah, his x mark, Captain Thalko, his x mark, Pierre Juzan, Immarstarher, his x mark, Hoshimhamartar, his x mark,

In presence

E. Breathitt, Secretary to Commissioners, W. Ward, Agent for Choctaws, M. Mackey, United States Interpreter, John Pitchlynn, United States Interpreter, R.P. Currin, Jno. W. Byrn, Geo. S. Gaines.