Treaty Between the United States and the Creek Indians Signed at New York
Record Group 11: General Records of the United States GovernmentSeries: Indian TreatiesFile Unit: Ratified Indian Treaty 17: Creeks - New York, August 7, 1790
George Washington President of the United States
To all whom these Presents shall come; Greeting:- Whereas a treaty of peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Creek Nation of Indians was made and concluded on the Seventh day of the present month of August by Henry Knox, Secretary for the Department of War who was duly authorized thereto by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate on the one part and the kings, chiefs and the warriors of the said Creek nation whose names are thereunto signed on the other part; Which treaty is in the form and words following.
A treaty of peace and friendship made and concluded between the President of the United States of America, on the part and behalf of the said. States and the undersigned Kings, Chiefs and the Warriors of the Creek Nation of the Indians, on the part and behalf of the said nation, —————
The parties being desirous of establishing permanent peace and friendship between the United States and the said Creek Nation and the citizens and members thereof and to remove the causes of war by ascertaining their limits and making other necessary just and friendly arrangements: The President of the United States by Henry Knox, Secretary for the department of War, whom he hath constituted with full powers for these pier hoses by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States and the Creek Nation by the undersigned Kings, Chiefs, and Warriors represented the said nation have agreed to the following articles.
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Article 1st- There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between all the citizens of the United States of America and all the individuals, towns, and tribes of the upper, middle and lower Creeks and Seminoles composing the Creek Nation of Indians.
Article 2nd- The undersigned Kings, Chiefs and Warriors for themselves and all parts of the Creek Nation within the limits of the United States do acknowledge themselves and the said parts of the Creek Nation to be under the protection of the United States of America and no other sovereign whosever and they also stipulate that the said Creek Nation will not hold any treaty with an individual state or with individuals of any state.
Article 3rd- The Creek Nation shall deliver as soon as practicable of the commanding officer of the troops of the United States stationed at the Rock landing on the Oconee river all citizens of the United States white inhabitants or negros who are now prisoners in any part of the said nation. And if any of such prisoners or negros should not be so delivered on or before the first day of June onsuing the governor of Georgia may empower three persons to repair to the said nation in order to claim and receive such prisoners and negros.
Article 4th- The boundary between the citizens of the United States and the Creek Nation, is and shall be from where the old line strikes the river Savannah thence up the said river to a place on the most northern branch of the same commonly called the Keowee where a North East line to be drawn from the top of the Oconee River called the Appalachee- thence down the middle of the said main south branch and the river Oconee, to its confluence with the oakmulgee, which form the river Altamaha and thence down the middle of the said Altamaha or the old line on the said river and thence along the said old line to the river St. Mary's.
And in order to preclude forever all disputes relatively to the head or source of the main south branch of the river Oconee, at the place where it shall be intersected by the line aforesaid, from the Currahee mountain, the same shall be ascertained by an able surveyor on the part of the United States, who shall be assisted by three old citizens of Georgia, who may be appointed by the Governor of the said state, and three old Creek chiefs, to be appointed by the said nation; and the said surveyor, citizens and chiefs shall assemble for this purpose, on the first day of October, one thousand one hundred and ninety-one, at the Rock Landing on the said rigor Oconee, and thence proceed to ascertain the said head or source of the main south branch of the said river, at the place where It shall be intersected by the line aforesaid, to be drawn from the Currahee mountain. And in order that the said boundary shall be rendered distinct and well known, it shall be marked by a line of felled trees at least twenty feet wide, and the trees chopped on each side from the said Currahee mountain, to the head or source of the said main south branch of the Oconee river, and thence down the margin of the said main south branch and river Oconee for the distance of twenty miles, or as much farther as may be necessary to mark distinctly the said boundary. And in order to extinguish forever all claims of the Creek nation, or any part thereof, to any of the land lying to the northward and eastward of the boundary herein described, it is hereby agreed, in addition to the considerations heretofore made for the said land, that the United States will cause certain valuable Indian goods now in the state of Georgia, to be delivered to the said Creek nation; and the said United States will also cause the sum of one thousand and five hundred dollars to be paid annually to the said Creek nation. And the undersigned Kings, Chiefs and Warriors, do hereby for themselves and the whole Creek nation, their heirs and descendants, for the considerations above-mentioned, release, quit claim, relinquish and cede, all the land to the northward and eastward of the boundary herein described.
