Claim of Benjamin McGaha, moving Creeks west to Creek Nation

Submitted by David Morgan dmorgan@efn.org

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of
this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives
to store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/
***********************************************************************

Martha "Patsy" Berryhill was born in the Old Creek Nation, Georgia, 26 October 
1785. Patsy was the third child born to John and Elizabeth (Derrisaw) Berryhill. 
She grew up in the Old Creek Nation. Patsy married Benjamin McGaha, date and 
place unknown. Benjamin and Patsy lived in the Creek Nation after their 
marriage. In 1827, they went with Patsy's parents and brothers and sisters to 
the Creek Lands West in the First Party of McIntosh Creeks. I believe Benjamin 
traveled by and worked onboard a flatboat and Patsy traveled by land with her 
family. They settled in the fork of the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers with the 
members of Patsy's family who had gone west.

Benjamin McGaha signed as a witness to the Creek Memorial dated 7 March 1892. 

In 1834, Benjamin McGaha put in a claim with the United States Indian Department 
for helping with the emigration to the west. Following is a copy of this 
document:


	The United States Indian Department	    			No. 10
		BENJAMIN MCGAHA	Dr.
1827	To services of one wagon, four horses 
	and one teamster employed in transporting 
	Baggage for Creek Emigrants seven days 
	Furnishing forage for the horses at $4.00 
	per day								28.00

1827	To services of a small wagon and one
	horse in transporting Baggage for Creek
	Emigrants four days at $2.50 per day			10.00

1827	To furnishing rations for two persons 
	for 30 days commencing in March and ending 
	in April 1827, being 60 rations at 6 cents
	per ration							 	3.60

1827	To 40 days on board a flat boat at 1.00 
	per day							     40.00
									    $81.60

I do hereby certify upon my word and honor that the foregoing account, amounting 
to $81.60 is justly due me from the United States and that I have never received 
payment for the same or any part thereof.
	Given at the Creek Agency this tenth day of December 1834.

	Witness						    his
	John Wade					  Benjamin X McGaha
								    mark

---
The Story of John Berryhill and Elizabeth Derrisaw and Their Descendants

This is an unpublished manuscript done by Thelma Nolen Cornfeld before
her death in 1996. Her daughter Barbara gave me permission to put her
research online.

David Morgan