Newberry Library - William Blount papers, 1794-1796

Title William Blount papers, 1794-1796

Date 1794-1796

Place United States--Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio

Subjects Cherokee Indians, Chickasaw Indians, Choctaw Indians, Indians of North America

Description formerly known as Ayer MS 75-81.

Summary Ten items, 1794-1796, pertaining to Blount's administration as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southwest Territory. Military topics include militia appointments and reenlistments at South West Point and Fort Grainger, the payment of troops, the removal of white settlers from lands guaranteed to the Indians by the Treaty of Holston, and the repossession of stolen Cherokee horses. There also is correspondence regarding Chickasaw and Choctaw annuity goods; an Oct. 10-21, 1795, peace conference with Cherokee and Choctaw chiefs at the Tellico Blockhouse; and the construction of public buildings at Tellico. Correspondents include David Henley, an agent of the War Department, John Pitchlynn, U.S. interpreter to the Choctaw, and militia and U.S. Army officers.

Biographical/Historical Note United States statesman. William Blount, born in North Carolina, was paymaster for Continental troops in 1777, served in the North Carolina legislature, in the Continental Congress and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was named governor of the Territory south of the Ohio River by President Washington in 1790, and served as superintendent of Indian affairs in that region from 1790 until 1796. After settling in Tennessee, Blount held several high political offices. This included being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1796, from which he was expelled in 1797 for concocting a plan to incite Creek and Cherokee Indians to aid the British in conquering the Spanish territory of West Florida. Nevertheless, Blount's career in Tennessee was not hampered by the "high misdemeanor," and in 1798 he was elected to the Tennessee State Senate where he was chosen president. While governor of the Southwest Territory, William Blount built as mansion in Knoxville, which is now a National Historic Landmark. He died in Knoxville in 1800, aged 50.

Extent 0.4 linear feet (1 box)

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts, Orders (Military records), Receipts

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 74

BibID 135903

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2354px × 3846px 25.93 MB

Filename 991359038805867_Ayer_MS_74_fol_001_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11I8RU