East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 3, Fall 1982 Page: 2
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EAST TEXAS FAIL RECORDS^ ^3
9&EASrT TEXAS FMJILY RECORDS VOL. 6, NO. 3, FALL 1982
They wanted the land where they were Shawnee village emptying into the said
living.6 By this time the tribe num- river from the northeast, thence running
bered 150 families, about 800 people with said creek to its source and from
with 200 of them men. The Cherokees thence a due north line to the Sabine
owned 3,000 head of cattle and as many River and with said river west; then
hogs, and 600 head of horses. The ma- starting where the San Antonio Road
jority of the people knew how to read crosses the Angelina River and with
and write, and a school for young men said road to the point where it crosses
was conducted in their village. The the Neches River and thence running up
Cherokees cultivated their fields and the east side of said river in a northwove
their own cotton into cloth and west direction. This area was about
made it into clothing. fifty miles long and thirty miles wide
and comprised present day Smith and
The clouds of war loomed ominously Cherokee Counties and parts of Van
on the horizon and a Texas rebellion Zandt, Rusk and Gregg Counties. The
against the Mexican government seemed Indians could not sell or lease land to
eminent. A provisional government was any person who was not a member of their
established by the Texans on November tribe, nor could any citizen of Texas
11, 1835, with Henry SMITH elected buy or lease land from the Indians.
Governor and James W. BINSON elected After the signing of this Treaty,
Lieutenant Governor. This action was General HOUSTON reportedly presented
taken at the General Consultation of Chief BOWLES with a sword, a red silk
Texas at San Felipe de Austin on the vest and a sash.7
Brazos River. In an attempt to resolve
the Indian problem in East Texas, a After the war with Mexico, and Texas
"Solemn Declaration" was unanimously had gained its Independence, HOUSTON was
adopted on Nov. 13 by the 54 members of elected President and one of his first
the Consultation, to give the Cherokees acts was to sent the Treaty to the Texas
the land they were living on. Of course Senate for ratification. Nearly a year
General Sam HOUSTON who had just been later, the Senate reported that the
elected Commander-In-Chief of the Texas Cherokee Treaty would be detrimental to
army, supported it with all his power. the Republic of Texas and a violation of
HOUSTON and BOWLES had been friends the legal rights of many citizens. One
since their childhood in Tennessee when of the greatest reasons for this deHOUSTON
would go and spend much of his cision was that David G. BURNET had been
time with the Indians. The first treaty granted land, part of which was in that
negotiated by the Provisional government claimed by the Cherokees. On December
of Texas was signed in BOWLES' village 26, 1837, the Treaty was declared "null
on Feb. 23, 1836, by HOUSTON and John and void". Of course, HOUSTON was
FORBES for the government and Colonel greatly disappointed and distressed by
BOWLES, BIG MUSH, Samuel BENGE, OSOOTAt this decision. He did not give up gettCORN
TASSELt THE EGG, John BOWLES (the ing the treaty ratified and even went so
Chief s son) and TENUTA signing for the far as to have General Thomas J. RUSK,
Cherokees, Shawneest Delawares, Kicka- Commander of the Texas Militia, have the
poos, Quapaws, Biloxi, Ioni, Alabama, line laid out according to the Treaty of v
Coushattas, Caddoes of Neches, Tahocul- 1836. On Nov. 10, 1838, Alexander
lakes and Mataquo. Among other state- HORTON wrote HOUSTON that the line had
ments, the second article stated that been run in 19 days with 34 whites and
the tribes should own the following 16 Indians.8 This was the last action
lands: Beginning on the west bank at HOUSTON could take for his term expired
the point where the San Antonio Road and Mirabeau Buonaparte LAMAR was electcrosses
the River Angelina, and running ed president. LAMAR wanted the Indians
up said river until it reaches the mouth expelled from Texas. The new cabinet
of the first large creek below the great made the boast that they would kill off
-r2
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East Texas Genealogical Society. East Texas Family Records, Volume 6, Number 3, Fall 1982, periodical, Autumn 1982; Tyler, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38048/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting East Texas Genealogical Society.