- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1786 Sept. 16, Tuckebatches, [Creek Nation] / Alex[ande]r McGillivray
- Creator:
- McGillivray, Alexander, ca. 1740-1793
- Date of Original:
- 1786-09-16
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Government relations
Creek Indians--Politics and government
Creek Indians--Land tenure - Location:
- United States, Alabama, 32.75041, -86.75026
United States, Georgia, Wheeler County, Oconee River, 31.95963, -82.54374 - Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated September 16, 1786 from Creek leader Alexander McGillivray to an unnamed Georgia official. McGillivray says that he recently received a letter from John Galphin, a mixed blood Creek who served as a liaison and interpreter between the Creeks and the state of Georgia, requesting that McGillivray meet him in Tuckebatches (also Tuckabatchie, Tuckabatchee) to receive some dispatches from the Georgia commissioners, but that when he arrived Galphin refused to meet with him in person. McGillivray warns the recipient of this letter to therefore disregard any report that Galphin may give him, as he is inexperienced in dealing with the Indians in an acceptable manner. He writes that, if the commissioners are serious about peace, they should prove it by ordering white settlers on Creek hunting grounds near the Oconee River to leave the area. McGillivray is adamant that this is the only way to satisfy the Creeks and prevent war.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc903
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc903
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc903#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc903/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 80, folder 05, document 03.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Tuckebatches
16 September 1786
Sir
A few days Since I received a letter from Mr. Jno. [John] Galphin dated Lower Towns. Wherein he Informed me that [added text: he ] had received dispatches from the Commissioners of the State of Georgia & Some for me & requesting that I woud [would] meet him in this Town to receive them from his hands. he accordingly came to the Tallassee Town on the opposite Side the river to this Town. after repeated Invitations to Come over & as often refused. he Sent me over Your letter of
15 Aug. [August] & respecting the Talk to the chiefs of this Country he has taken (from his inexperience) Such measures as must defeat the Intention of it. measures directly contrary to the forms & usages the Indians are accustomd [accustomed] to observe on Such occasions. therefore You need not Confide in any report he may make to you on this Subject. --
I Speak the Sense of a great majority of of [of] this nation Sir when I tell you that it Intirely [Entirely] rests with yourselves Whether we War or not. if your State is Sincere in its professions of Peace & Friendship give us the Proof we desire by ordering all persons that have Settled themselves on our hunting Grounds
Page: [2]
to remove Immediately from them into the proper boundary [deleted text: of ] between the State & this Nation as Settled & agreed upon. When it was a Brittish Government. before Such measures are taken the Indians will not be Contented nor regard with Confidence any talks that are Sent them. it is the wishes of the Nation to See the Settlements on the Oconee lands abandond [abandoned] Those are the principal Ground for quarrel & differences & when they See it accomplished they will then become Steady & firm freinds [friends] with you.
I am rather Surprised that you express Ignorance of the repeated representations we have Sent to Your Governors [deleted text: [illegible text] ] respecting encroachments & It was owing to our never receiving Satisfaction. that Induced us to resolve to do ourselves Justice last Spring & Compel the people to remove. Peace is equally the work of our hearts with yours & we are equally with you prepard [prepared] for war. but I hope that as you now know the Cause of our discontents. the Authority & Influence of Your honorable board will be exerted to remove them effectually that we may be long freinds [friends] .
my Situation at present is Such that I cannot possibly Travel so that a proper representation of this Country will not attend at this time. but if matters are made agreeable to our desires we will in the ensuing Spring. April next. upon notice given.
I have the Honor to be: Sir your mo. obed. [most obedient] Servant
[Signed] Alxr: [Alexander] McGillivray
I beg you accept my apology for this Scant paper. an Inconvenience we are often Subject to. Traders generally Illiterate keep very little -- & Ive [I've] been disappointed from Pensacola