MySource:Samples 59/Perry Family, Dawes Packet (Choctaw), Witness: Hammond

COPY NO. 14

• Applications for Enrollment of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914. NARA M1301. The Dawes Commission negotiated with tribal members who received common property in return for abolishing their tribal governments. (Record Group: 75, Roll: 0086, Tribe: Choctaw, Group: Mississippi Choctaw, Card Range: MCR 178- MCR 214, Case Number: MCR 205, Surname: Boyd, Given Name: Victoria, Status: [Blank]).

General deposition of John T. Hammond, a white man, taken by consent, to save the time of a particular examination in each case, and to be used when applicable.

John T. Hammond, a witness offered on the part of the claimants, being duly sworn by one of the commoners, deposed as follows.

He was at the agency on the Robinson road about the latter part of June or first of July, between the 25th June and 5th of July in the year 1831, and saw the name of Coleman Cole on a book that Col. Ward kept to register claiments under the 14th article to the treaty; the book was taken, he thinks, from a shelf or cupboard by Stephen Ward the sub agent, for the purpose of registering witness as a claimant in the 14th article. The book was about the size of a half quite of commonfoolscap paper; it was stitched together through the back. Col. Nelson had been there a few days before with a long list of names from Yalobusha, which were registered on the book. There were several persons there with witness. Ward seemed to doubt whether there were as many heads of families among the Yalobusha’s as were registered on Nelson’s list. He wished to have an opinion on the subject and inquired of us how many we knew. He read most of the names; amog them he recollects the name of Coleman Cole. He understood from the sub agent that Coleman Cole’s name was on Nelson’s list. He has no knowledge that Coleman Cole went himself to Ward to be registered. His understanding was that Nelson had Cole’s name registered. He knows of no other Coleman Cole than the claimant. Garrett Nelson was a white man; has no knowledge that Cole authorized him to register his name. He saw figures on the book which appeared to represent the number of children, but does not recollect if there were any connected with the name of claimant. There appeared to be from sixty to a hundred names on the book that Ward said were taken from the list handed in by Nelson. He recollects the names of Charles Frazier, Molly Frazier, Nelly Dyer, Joseph Perry, James Perry, John Perry, Moontubee, Tish-a-pia, Ha-lah, Hardy Perry, Tukaloon-tubbee, Nancy Moore, Sarah Perry, James Oxberry, Susan Perry, widow of Levi Perry, Moses Perry, & Eden Nelson.

The persons above named are personally known to him; they dealt at his trading-house, and many of them were neighbors, and that is the reason he now particularly recollects them. All their names have been on his books. Rachael Davis was also on the book; she is the widow of James Davis, a white man; he died in the latter part of 1830 or first of 1831, as well as he recollects. It was after the laws of Mississippi were extended over the Indians. It was before the council held at John Perry’s. He has no personal knowledge that a council was held at Perry’s. He has no personal knowledge that a council was held at Perry’s, but has it from hearsay. Levi Perry was dead before he came into the Nation in 1828. The greater part of the names on the book beside those named before he thinks were Indian names. The book was divided on its pages into columns; one for the date, one for the heads of families, one for the children over ten, and one for the children under ten, and another for general remarks, such as creeks, water-courses, &c; the children were put down in figures; there were figures put down opposite to nearly all the names on Nelson’s list. Opposite James Oxberry’s name there were put down two children under ten. The witness knows that James Oxberry had at the time three children under ten born before the time of his registration. Witness knows that at that time the youngest child was very small, and will not say it was born before the month of September, 1830. he recollects the name of Patrick Riley was on the book. He was a white man known to witness. His name was not in the same part of the book on which Nelson’s name was registered. Knows that all the persons named by him were heads of Choctaw families. Most of them are middle-aged people except Nancy Moore, and of her he is not certain. She had a child.

Cross examined by District Attorney

At the time spoken of before, when he saw the book of registry at Ward’s, the following persons were with him, viz, Samuel Allen, Enos Wade, Jacob Thompson, Ned Perry. The two first are white men; the third a quadroon, and the last a half blood. Allen and Ned Perry and Wade have gone west. Col. Armstrong and William Armstrong were also present. Charles Frazier & Joseph Perry are near the Cickasaw line. Perry’s house is considered on the claim. The Choctaw’s claimed him and he called himself Choctaw. He had a Chickasaw wife. James Perry lives six miles on this side of Joseph Perry, James Perry married a Chickasaw wife. Does not know whether Nelly Dyer lives in the Choctaw, or Chickasaw Nation. He does not know where the divisional line between the Choctaws and Chickasaws runs, and cannot say whether Charles Frazier, Joseph Perry and Nelly Dyer live in the one country or the other. They are called Choctaws in their neighborhood. He has seen them in the councils of the Choctaws. He, the witness, resided at the date of the treaty near Tuscahoma, in Tallahatchee County, lived there 4 to 5 years and in the neighborhood ever since; settled near Tuscahoma in 1828. He is a claimant under the 14th article of the treaty, and has no interest direct or indirect, in any other claim. He has never been employed by any of the claimants, their agents, or attorney’s of the Choctaws, in the prosecution of their claims under the 14th article of the treaty, nor has he any engagements with them for the future. He has no reason other than those stated before for recollecting the names of the persons on Nelson’s list. The Perry’s are relation of his wife, and he would have recollected the names at any time. A list was shown him of some of the names on Nelson’s list since he came here by Mr. Halsey. The names on that paper were, Charles Frazier, Mollie Frazier, Nelly Dyer, Joseph Perry, James Perry, John Perry, Rachael Davis, Moontubbee, Tiah-a-pia, Hala, Moses Perry, Nancy Moore, Susan Perry. He would have recollected the names last stated as well without having seen the list.

The persons before named, except Charles Frazier & Joseph Perry, are all south of Coffeeville – the two excepted above, north [ie. of Coffeeville]. He has no knowledge that any person before named authorized Garrett Nelson to register them.

JOHN T. HAMMOND

Sworn to and subscribed to at Leflore’s the 19th January 1838

J. Murry

P.D. Vroom