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., and 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, Moshulatubee, who had been the leader through the traditional hereditary means, along with Nitakechi, 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 Apuckshunnubbee'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 are 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, nephew of Pushmataha, Full Blood
Peter Pitchlynn, son of John Pitchlynn, grandson of Ebenezer Folsom
G. W. Harkins, George Harkins, son of Louisa Leflore, nephew of Greenwood Leflore
Jack Pitchlynn, son of John Pitchlynn, grandson of Ebenezer Folsom
Israel Fulsom, son of Nathaniel Folsom, brother to David Folsom
Louis Laflore, Father of Greenwood Leflore, White
Benjamin James, son of Benjamin James, (English), brother to Adam and George James
Joel H. Nail, Son of Joel Nail and Molly Welsh
Hopoynjahubbee, Unknown Full Blood, signed Supplement
Onorkubbee, Unknown Full blood signed Supplement
Benjamin Laflore, Brother of Greenwood Leflore
Michael Laflore, Brother of Louis Leflore, Uncle to Greenwood White man
And Allen Yates and wife , unknown
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, Mixed blood, unknown
Robert Jones Mixed blood, probable son of John or Samuel Jones
Noah Wall White Man Husband of Lucretia Folsom
James Campbell Husband of Delite Delilah Folsom, More than likely White
G. Nelson Garret Nelson, brother in law of Robert Cole
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, letters later shows this is Thomas Wall, son of Noah Wall and Lucretia Folsom
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, Unknown
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 nephew of Pushmataha
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 Nitakechi, Nephew of Pushmataha
And Polly Fillecuthey, Widow of Fillecuthey a Choctaw warrior/leader, Choctaw, known as Polly Cravatt, most likely, half sister to Greenwood Leflore, as only his mother and aunt are known to be children of John Jean Cravatt and Rebecca Cravatt, 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 Moshulatubee 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 Moshalatubbee's descendants.
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, Pushmataha’s nephew
Tobias Laflore, Half Brother of Greenwood Leflore
Jo Doke,
Jacob Fulsom; Nephew of David Folsom
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.
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. Peggy is the niece of Pushmataha, and sister to Oka lah homma, Tappenahoma, and possibly Nitakechi.
and to the widows of Pushmilaha, (Pushmataha)
One of Pushmataha's wives, and her two daughters and son, have a land scrip, the other, is rumored, and never registered. Immayahoka
and Pucktshenubbee, (widows) 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.
Note only signed by 17 Choctaws.
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.
