Document: WT012
[Letter] 1839 June 24, Washington City, D.C. [to] Ja[me]s P. H. Porter, Sevierville, Ten[nessee] / W[illia]m H. Thomas
author: Thomas, William Holland, 1805-1893
date: June 24, 1839
extent: 1p
summary: This letter, dated June 24, 1839, is from William Holland Thomas to James P. H. Porter in Sevierville, TN. Thomas explains that he has been detained in Washington, D.C. by the absence of T. Hartley Crawford, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, while attempting to settle Cherokee claims. Thomas also discusses business and the construction and usage of roads through the Great Smoky Mountains and the Oconaluftee Cherokee settlement in North Carolina.
repository: Hoskins Special Colections Library, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
collection: MS2058 William Holland Thomas
box: 1
folder: 1
document: wt012
subject headings:Cherokee Indians--Land tenure
Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Letters
Southern States
Page: [1] [djvu image | jpg image]
Washington City June 24th 1839
Dear sir,
I have been here since the first of last month attending to the business of cherokeesremaining east .The absence of Mr. CrawfordCommissioner of Indian Affairs has occasioned a delay in the invistigation [investigation] of claims arrising [arising] under the [added: late] Cherokee[deleted: [added: late]] treaty but since his return the business has been taken up and is undergoing an invistigation [investigation] which will probably be completed towards the last the last of next September before that is done I am inclined to think it will not be ascertained whether the Department regards the dicisions [desisions] made by the Board of Commissioners as final or Subject to a new invistigation [investigation] where apparent injustice has been done the Claimants, a due regard being had to the Commissioners having acted within the Scope of their authority as desired from the treaty. I expect to remain here while some time in the next month, should I ascertain any thing of importance to you I will inform you of it
The intries [entries] made by me in Sevier CountyI understand were sold to satisfy the demand for the taxes will you please inquire into it for me, and if the time has not expired purchase of the individual who became the purchaser of those lands take his title thereto in my individual name, and pay him the amount allowed by law on redeeming land sold for the taxes, if he will not relinquish his right on those conditions please pay for me the amount, required by law for their redemption (if you have any doubt as to that title reenter the lands in my name) and inclose [enclose] a statement thereof to me at Scotts Creekpo. [post office] HaywoodNC, I want you to try and incourage [encourage] your people to complete their part of the Smoky mountainroad, agreeable to my instructions my part is completed before this time, and I am extremely anxious that the Tennesseepart should be completed before [deleted: next] fall. On my return home I will try to have undertaken the road from Scotts Creekto [illegible] SCby the way of [unclear: Foxway] which would add considerable to the travlling [travelling] on the Oconalufta road
yours &c [et cetera]
[Signed] Wm. [William] H. Thomas
Jas. [James] P. H. Porter, SeviervilleTen.
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