OCR Text |
Show 39 568 INDIAN LAND CE8SI0NS IN THE UNITED STATES [BTH.ANN.18 By the act of October 10, 1G65, the bounds of the Indians on the south side of James river were fixed as follows: "From the heads of the southern branches of the blackwater to the Appomatuck Indians, and thence to the Manokin Town." This boundary was more accurately fixed iu 1G91, as will later be shown. After the death of Opechancanongh, no chief of sufficient prestige aud authority to hold the Indians iu confederation having arisen, a loug peace followed. Several of the tribes retired westward and those which remained, reduced in numbers and wanting concert, lingered on the frontiers, and exchanged with tho settlers their superfluous products at stated marts. This peace, however, was broken in 1675. The Indians at the head of Chesapeake bay and tribes farther south made sudden and furious inroads upon the frontier settlements "marked by devastation and blood."1 On the 0th of June, 1676, during the war which ensued, the following act was passed: Act 3. Whereas this country is now engaged in a warr against the Indians, and will thereby inevitably bo at great cost and charges in prosecuting the same, aud whereas at or about the last conclusion of peace with the Indians, certain great quantities of land was assigned and sett apart, for them, which lands were they sold for the use of tho country would in somo measure help to defray the publiqnc charge aforesaid, . . . Therefore enacted r»,d ordained by governour, council and burgesses of t h i s grand assembly, and by the authority ol the same, that all lands whatsoever Bett apart for Indians iu the last conclusion of peace with them and other Indian lands ns now are, or hereafter shall be by them deserted, bee not granted away by pattent to any perticuler person or persons, but thpt the same be reserved, and by due forme of law vested ou the country, and dispose to tjhe use of the publique towards defraying the charge of this warr. Provided al wales that this act nor any thing therein contained shall prejudice any legall grants heretofore made to any person or persons whatsoever of any part or parcell of the said lands, aud all such Indian lands as have bin pattented siuce the peace aforesaid, and before such desertion shall be held and deemed to be illegally pattented.5 The act of April 16, 1691, above referred to as determining the boundary of the Indian territory south of James river, is as follows: Forasmuch as by a clause of the 8th act of assembly made at James Citty October the tenth, ll>6.">, it is enacted that the bounds of the Indians on the south side James river, be from the heads of the Southern branches of the Black water to the Appomatuck Indians, and thence to the Manokin Town, for the better explaining and ascertain-in"- t h e bounds betwixt the English aud Indians on the south side of James River, Beit enacted . . . That a line from the head of the cheife or principal branch of the black water, to the upper part of the old Appamattocks Indian Town feild, and thonco t o the upper end of Manokin Town be judged, deemed, held and taken, to be t ho said bounds, and that the right honourable the lieutenant governour, with the advice of the councell bee requested to appoint some surveyor or surveyors to lay out, ascertain and plainly marke the said lines, and that all pattents or other grants of any lands laying without the said bounds be, and hereby are declared void and null to all intents and purposes as if the same had never been granted.3 In 1722 Governor Spotswood concluded a treaty with the Six Nations by which they agreed never to appear to the east of the Blue ridge nor •Burk, llistorv of Virginia, vol. n, pp. 155-157. ' Hening's Statutes at Large, vol'. II, p. 351. »Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. in, p. 81. |