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The
Watauga Petition
- From
The First American Frontier, The Annals of Tennessee to the End
of The Eighteenth Century, J.G.M. Ramsey, A.M., M.D., Lippincott,
Grambo & Co., Philadelphia, 1853
From
the inhabitants of Washington District, including the river Wataugah,
Nonachuckie, &c., 1776
To the
Hon. the Provincial Council of North-Carolina:
The humble
petition of the inhabitants of Washington District, including the
River Wataugah, Nonachuckie, &c., in committee assembled, Humbly
Sheweth, that about six years ago, Col. Donelson, (in behalf of
the Colony of Virginia,) held a Treaty with the Cherokee Indians,
in order to purchase the lands of the Western Frontiers; in consequence
of which Treaty, many of your petitioners settled on the lands of
the Wataugah, &c., expecting to be within the Virginia line,
and consequently hold their lands by their improvements as first
settlers; but to their great disappointment, when the line was run
they were (contrary to their expectation) left out; finding themselves
thus disappointed, and being to inconveniently situated to move
back, and feeling an unwillingness to loose the labour bestowed
on their plantations, they applied to the Cherokee Indians, and
leased the land for a term of ten years, before the expiration of
which term, it appeared that many persons of distinction were actually
making purchases forever; thus yielding a precedent, (supposing
many of them, who were gentlemen of the law, to be better judges
of the constitution than we were,) and considering the bad consequences
it must be attended with, should the reversion be purchased out
of our hands, we next preceded to make a purchase of the lands,
reserving those in our possession in sufficient tracts for our own
uses, and resolving to dispose of the remainder for the good of
th community. This purchase was made and the lands acknowledged
to us and our heirs forever, in an open treaty, in Wataugah Old
Fields; a deed being obtained from the Chiefs of the said Cherokee
nation, for themselves and their whole nation, conveying a fee simple
right to the said lands, to us and our heirs forever, which deed
was for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand pounds sterling
(paid to them in goods,) for which consideration they acknowledged
themselves fully satisfied, contented and paid; and agreed for themselves
and their whole nation, their heirs, &c., forever to resign,
warrant and defend the said lands to us, and our heirs, &c.,
against themselves, their heirs, &c.
The purchase
was no sooner made, than we were alarmed by the reports of the present
unhappy situation between Great Britain and America, on which report,
(taking the new united colonies for our guide,) we proceeded to
choose a committee, which was done unanimously by the consent of
the people. This committee (willing to become a party in the present
unhappy contest) resolved (which is now in our records) to adhere
strictly to the rules and orders of the Continental Congress, and
in open committee acknowledged themselves indebted to the united
colonies their full portion of the Continental expense.
Finding
ourselves on the Frontiers, and being apprehensive that, for the
want of a proper legislature, we might become shelter for such as
endeavored to defraud their creditors; considering also the necessity
of recording Deeds, Wills, and doing other public business, we,
by consent of the people, formed a court for the purposes above
mentioned, taking (by desire of our constituents) the Virginia laws
for our guide, so near as the situation of affairs would admit;
this was intended for ourselves, and was done by the consent of
every individual, but wherever we had to deal with people out of
our district, we have ruled them to bail, to abide by our determinations,
(which was, in fact, leaving the matter of reference,) otherways
we dismissed their suit, lest we should in any way intrude on the
legislature of the colonies. In short, we have endeavored so strictly
to do justice, that we have admitted common proof against ourselves,
on accounts, &c., from the colonies, without pretending a right
to require the Colony Seal.
We therefore
trust that we shall be considered as we deserve, and not, as we
have (no doubt) been many times, represented, as a lawless mob.
It is for this very reason we can assure you that we petition; we
now again repeat it, that it is for want of proper authority to
try and punish felons, we can only mention to you murderers, horse
thieves and robbers and are sorry to say that some of them have
escaped us for want of proper authority. We trust, however, that
this will not long be the case; and we again and again repeat it,
that it is for this reason we petition to this Honourable Assembly.
Above
we have given you an extract of our proceedings, since our settling
on Wataugah, Nonachuckie, &c., in regard to our civil affairs.
We have shown you the causes of our first settling and the disappointments
we have met with, the reason of our lease and of our purchase, the
manner in which we purchased, and how we hold of the Indians in
fee simple; the causes of our forming a committee, and legality
of its election; and same of our court and proceedings, and our
reasons for petitioning in regard to our Legislature.
We will
now proceed to give you some account of our military establishments,
which were chosen agreeable to the rules established by convention,
and officers appointed by the committee. This being done we thought
it proper to raise a company on the District service, as our proportion,
to act in the common cause on the sea shore. A Company of fine riflemen
were accordingly enlisted, and put under Captain James Robertson,
and were actually embodied, when we received sundry letters and
depositions, (copies of which we now enclose to you,) you will readily
judge that there was occasion for them in another place, where we
daily expected attack. We therefore thought proper to station them
on our Frontiers, in defence of the common cause, at the expense
and risque of our own private fortunes, till farther public orders,
which we flatter ourselves will give no offence. We have enclosed
you sundry proceedings at the station where our men now remain.
We shall
now submit the whole to your candid and impartial judgement. We
pray your mature and deliberate consideration in our behalf, that
you may annex us to your Province, (whether as County, district,
or other division,) in such manner as may enable us to share in
the glorious cause of Liberty; enforce our laws under authority,
and in every respect become the best members of society; and for
ourselves and constituents we hope, we may venture to assure you,
that we shall adhere strictly to your determinations, and that nothing
will be lacking or any thing neglected, that may add weight (in
the civil or military establishments) to the glorious cause in which
we are now struggling, or contribute to the welfare of our own or
ages yet to come.
That you may strictly examine every part of this our Petition, and
delay no time in annexing us to your Province, in such a manner
as your wisdom shall direct, is the hearty prayer of those who,
for themselves and constituents, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
| John
Carter, Chn |
John
Sevier
|
John
Jones
|
| Charles
Roberdson |
Jas.
Smith
|
George
Rusel
|
| James
Robertson |
Jacob
Brown
|
Jacob
Womack
|
| Zach
Isbell |
Wm.
Bean
|
Robert
Lucas
|
|
The
above signers are members in Committee assembled.
|
| |
|
Wm.
Tatham, Clerk, P.T.
|
| |
|
|
| Jacob
Womack |
John
Brown
|
Adam
Sherrell
|
| Joseph
Dunham |
Jos.
Brown
|
Sam.
Sherrell, jr
|
| Rice
Durroon |
Job
Bumper
|
Sam.
Sherrell, Sr
|
| Edward
Hopson |
Isaac
Wilson
|
Ossa
Rose
|
| Lew.
Bowyer, D. Atty |
Richard
Norton
|
Henry
Bates, jr
|
| Joseph
Buller |
George
Hutson
|
Jos.
Grimes
|
| Andw.
Greer |
Thomas
Simpson
|
Christopher
Cunningham, sen.
|
| Joab
X Mitchell |
Valentine
Sevier
|
Joshua
Barten, sr
|
|
(his mark) |
Jonathan
Tipton
|
Joud.Bostin,
sen.
|
| Gideon
Morris |
Robert
Sevier
|
Henry
Bates, jun.
|
| Shadrach
Morris |
Drury
Goodan
|
Will'm
Dod
|
| William
Crocket |
Richard
Fletcher
|
Groves
Morris
|
| Thos.
Dedmon |
Ellexander
Greear
|
Wm.
Bates
|
| David
Hickey |
Jos.
Greear
|
Rob't
Mosely
|
| Mark
Mitchell |
Andrew
Greear, jun.
|
Ge.
Hartt
|
| Hugh
Blair |
Teeler
Nave
|
Isaac
Wilson
|
| Elias
Pebeer |
Lewis
Jones
|
Jno.
Waddell
|
| Jos.
Brown |
John
I. Cox
|
Jarret
Williams
|
| John
Neave |
John
Cox, jr.
|
Oldham
Hightower
|
| John
Robinson |
Abraham
Cox
|
Abednago
Hix
|
| Christopher
Cunningham |
Emanuel
Shote
|
Charles
McCartney
|
| Jas.
Easley |
Thomas
Houghton
|
Frederick
Vaughn
|
| Ambrose
Hodge |
Jos.
Luske
|
Jos.
McCartney
|
| Dan'l
Morris |
William
Reeves
|
Mark
Robertson
|
| Wm.
Cox |
David
Hughes
|
Joseph
Calvit
|
| James
Easley |
Landon
Carter
|
Joshua
Houghton
|
| John
Haile |
John
McCormick
|
John
Chukinbeard
|
| Elijah
Robertson |
David
Crocket
|
James
Cooper
|
| William
Clark |
Edward
Cox
|
William
Brokees
|
| John
X Dunham |
Tho's
Hughes
|
Julius
Robertson
|
|
(his mark) |
Wm.
Roberson
|
John
King
|
| Wm.
Overall |
Henry
Siler
|
Michael
Hider
|
| Matt.
Hawkins |
Frederick
Calvit
|
John
Davis
|
| |
John
Moore
|
John
Barley
|
| |
Wm.
Newberry
|
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