indian troubles  pre1800     Rapides Parish

Documents as found in 
Papeles Procedente de Isla Cuba, Archivo Generale de Indias, Seville Spain
Submitted by Houston Tracy, Jr.


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Indian Depredation at the Post du Rapide
Legajo (Bundle) 216-A, Folio 854

Rappid (Rapide) District      December 28th 1798

Personally Appeared James White and being Duly Sworn on the Holy 
Evangeles (Evangelist) of almighty God sayeth that the Choctaw 
Indians Stole two of his Horses and took them to the
Natchezes (Natchez District) and ascertain (a certain) William 
Fairbanks Stopt (stopped) them as he was Shone (shown) that the 
said Horses did belong to Some White man and the Indians agread 
(agreed) to take twenty Dollars for the said Horses and in some 
Short time the said Fairbanks heard that they did belong to
James White and the said White went and got his Horses by paying 
the above sum given under my hand the day above rtiten (written)
 
(signed)  Benj Grubb              James White

=================================================================
Legajo (Bundle) 216-A, Folio 853

Rappid (Rapide) District      December 28th 1798

Personally Appeared James White and being Duly Sworn on the Holy 
Evangelist of almighty God sayeth that a party of Chock Taws 
(Choctaws) came to his Hous (house) on the 24 of
December and by fors (force) too (took) a quantity of Wier 
(wire) and all the amunition (ammunition) that they cold (could) 
find and anything that they wanted farther (further) this 
Deponenth say not given under my hand the day above rit (written)
(signed)  Benj Grubb              Thomas Essex

=================================================================
Legajo (Bundle) 216-A, Folio 852

Rapids (Rapide) District      15th December ---- 1798
     To the Honourable Ceasar Archneard (Archinard)
...Director of the Civil police of the District of Rapids & Judge 
of the Same.

     your petitioner inhabitants of this Dist. beg leave to 
represent to your Consideration a grievance Whereas the property 
of you petitioners is Very much Exposed & for more than two years 
past has frequently Been taken from them; Even in theire presence;  
by lawless Bandities of Chacktaws Ranging through the Country;  
& Frequently Coming to the Houses of your petitioners;  When
they are from home; & terifying their Wives & Children;  & take 
off with them Such things as they please,  that these Bands of 
outlaws on pretext of their going to war Frequently encamp on the 
range of the Stocks of your petitioners & there kill Cattle & hogs, 
Steal horses for the use of their Expedition Again (against) the 
Cadoce (Caddo) indians, & then take the same Horses & many
others to the Naucheys (Natchez District) to Sell.  Such abuses 
& many others, Which your petitioners presumes your are perfectly 
acquainted with;  is altogether unsufferable in a Civilized 
Settlement, and as there aliuses have Been passed by for so long 
a time We find from Sad Experience that those Rubers (robbers) & 
plunderers take further Encouragement & those insolence in arises 
almost Dayly;  for not making a proper Resentment this we are 
authorized to inform you of from a Circumstance which happened 
about five Days ago by a party of warriors Which is at this time 
Encamped in the Neighbourhood, Near  Mrs. Frasors (Frazier's);  
He went to the house of Jacob Hooter & Compeled him by force to 
kill one of his best hogs for them;  which they Caryed (carried) 
off; they Say that in the Spring there will be one thousand on 
this side the Mississippie & that they will take Every necessary 
which they may Stand in need off for there wars;  We your 
petitioners looking up to the Government for the protections of 
our persons & property from the Depradations of Such Vagrants; 
-- Humbly pray that you as the proper officer would take
such measures;  in the premises as would appear most Condusive 
to you;  Either by Consulting With the inhabitants What measures 
to fall on or Acquainting the Governor General & Waiting for 
his Directions What to do;  
& We your petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray.    
    [NOTE: Not all these signatures are genuine]
Thomas x Nugent, Mark Powel, Benjamin Miller, Jacob Hooter, 
John L Croy, Michael Hooter, James White, Joseph McClenahan, 
Philip Hooter, Isaac Frasar, Edmund Nugeant, Joseph Hooter, 
Charles Fouquie, John Young, William Brown, Benjamin Grubb, 
Alexr. Fulton, Abner Broadaway, Saml. Henarie, Emanuel Rice, 
Joseph Homes, Joseph Walker, Nicholas Grubb, George Pain, 
King Holston, Robert Wilson, Reuben White, Gorg Paul, 
John Cockle, John Miller, Hugh Bailey, Dewson Hull, Jno. x Hull, 
Uriah Wigins, Dan x Wigins, Jacob Paul, Thomas x Swafford, 
William Weakes, John Pillares, John Almaho, David Gray, 
Adam x Huffman, Michel L Croy, John L Croy, Nicholas x Levins, 
Mathew x Gray, Richard Earl, John x Doyle, Theophilous Lindsey, 
Samuel x Gray,  John Fowler, Thos. Essex, Muyon, Francis Aroi