1828 Miller Co. Petition
ARKANSAS TERRITORY, TERRITORIAL PAPERS
Clarence E. Carter (ed), The Territorial Papers of the United
States, Territory of Arkansas XX, 629
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PETITION TO GOVERNOR IZARD BY CITIZENS OF MILLER COUNTY [NA:OIA,
Lets. Recd. (Delawares and Shawnees): DS [March 20, 1828] PETITION
To his Excellency General George Izard, Governor of Arkansas
Territory Your petitioners Citizens of the Territory of Arkansas
Miller County, and living within the Civil and Military jurisdiction
of the United States humbly sheweth, That we are and for some
time past been very much annoyed by the Indians, particularly
Shawanees, settling among us, building their huts contiguous
to our corn Cribs & fields, pilfering from houses and Corn-cribs,
Killing Hugs, Driving their Stocks of Horses and Cattle among
us, Cutting Down Timber &c and all done under the Authority of
his Excellency Don Jose Antonio Saucedo of the Department of
Texas who has given them a permission in writing, dated the 20th
March 1827 at Nacgdoches to settle at this place (pecan point)
until the line between the two Governments shall be run, then
they are to be confirmed in their title. Your petitioners
believing it to be within the power of the Executive of this
Territory to cause the removal of the aforesaid Indians, humbly
solicit the Interference of His Excellency - in the behalf this
section of the country, Otherwise we see no prospect but of being
obliged to abandon our homes and fields which most of us have
cultivated from Ten to 12 years or be obliged to come to an open
rupture with them as they have frequently threatened to drive
us off if not pleased with their conduct. Your petitioners will
await with impatience the commands of his Excellency and in duty
bound will ever pray Pecan Point 20th March 1828. Petitioners
Names: Pierson, J. G. W. Wetmore, George C. Clover, Isaac
Leavins, James Leavins, Joseph Walters, James Furguson, James
Montgomery, William Montgomery, Edley Montgomery, Andrew Ward,
James J. Sen. Ward, James J. Jnreph Rolins, John Humphris, Thomas
Hammond, Peter Clapp, David Wallis, J. Woods, Wyatt Newman, Jonathan
Edmondson, J. Shaw, H. Hanks, James S. Hanks, H. M. Slingland,
William Jones, Jonathan Greenwood, Franklin J. Wright, Clayborn
Cutbirth, Elijah Cleck, Peter Lawton, George F. Trammell, David
Bowman, John Hordy, Jas. Hagan, Walter Cutbirth, John Ballard,
J. B. Kitchens, Pharo Hogan, William Killey, Zachariah Lorrence,
David House, William Pelin, John Noll, Martin G. We the undersigned
Grand Jury impanneled at the March term of the Miller Circuit
court for the year 1828 present that the facts stated in the
foregoing petition are true and that the community suffer much
from Indian depredations. Wetmore, George C. Jno Robins Thos
Boatwright Ward, James t. Senr McCann, Willis Clark, James Teal,
John Kitchens, Pharah Dunlop, John McAtee, William Humphries,
Thomas Davis, Levi Hanks, James S. Dolarhide, Andrew Hanks, H.
M. Patton, Ben [Endorsed] Petition to His Excellency General
George Izard, Governor of Arkansas Territory