GALILEO: Southeastern Native American Documents: Results

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Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842

Document: KRC038

Deposition [of] Lachlan McGillivray, 1755 Dec. 22, Augusta, Georgia / [sworn to] before Jonathan Copp

date: December 22, 1755
extent: 2p
summary: This is a legal deposition of Lachlan McGillivray, dated December 22, 1755 in Augusta, Georgia. McGillivray, a trader to the Creek Nation, says that he was present at a meeting between the Governor of South Carolina and Creek leaders in Charleston in either June or July of 1753. McGillivray reports that Creek leader Malatchi (also Malatche or Malatchee) declared that the islands of St. Catherine's, Sapelo, Ossabaw, and other unnamed lands near Savannah, Georgia belonged to Mary Bosomworth (a.k.a. Mary Musgrove or Coosaponakeesa), herein referred to as Malatchi's sister. Malatchi reportedly asked the governor and his council to confirm her right to the lands in order to prevent any further disputes. McGillivray also states that Malatchi knew that some of the other Creek leaders present at the meeting had previously ceded the aforementioned lands to Patrick Graham (President of the Georgia colony, 1752-1754) but received no answer upon asking who was responsible for the cession.
repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries
collection: Keith Read
box: 02
folder: 57
document: 01
subject headings:

Legal documents

Creek Indians--Land tenure

Malatchi Opiya Mico

Glen, James, 1701-1777

Creek Indians--Legal status, laws, etc.

Musgrove, Mary, 1700-1765

Georgia

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Georgia [illegible] District of Augusta

The deposition of Laughlin MackGillivrayof AugustaIndian Trader to the Creek Nationtaken before me Jonathan CoppClerk one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the District aforesaid This deponent being duly Sworn on the Holy Evengelist [Evangelist] of Allmighty [Almighty] God deposeth and saith That He was present and Interpreter at a Conference held in the Council Chamber at CharlesTownSouth Carolinain the Month of June or July 1753 between his Excellency the Governor and Council of the said Province and the Head Men of the Uper [Upper] and lower Creek Nationand says that He then and there heard Malatchideclare That the Islands of St. Catherine, Sapala, and Ossabawand the Lands by the Town of Savannahbelonging to his Sister meaning Mary Bosomworthand desired that the said Governor and Council would be Aiding and Assisting in confirming the said Mary Bosomworthin her Right to the said Lands which might be a means of preventing any further disturbance or Despute [Dispute] about the same -- And this Deponent also saith That Malatchifurther [illegible] that he had been informed, some of the Head Men present meaning the upper Creekshad given the said Lands and Islands to Doctor Patrick Grahamand then desired to know which of them had given away those Lands upon which they were all Silent?

taken and Sworn to this 22nd. day of December 1755. before me
[Signed] Jonathan Copp.
signed
[Signed] Lachlan McGillivray.

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Copy of affidavits & other proofs of Title to Lands in Georgia
22 Decr. [December] 1755