13G 



news of the battle of Bunker Hill reached England, when the whole matter was 

 suspended until the American troubles should subside ; and before this, that is in 

 1780, Captain Carver died, and the grant was never confirmed by the British Crown. 



In 1806, Dr. Samuel Peters, who it seems b)^ marriage became an heir to this 

 claim, presented the matter to Congress, and prayed for its confirmation ; but it 

 was rejected. In 1821, February 17, a confirmation of "the Carver Grant" was 

 made at Lac Traverse on the St. Peter's river, by Chateau Houmans, Little Crow, 

 and three other Chiefs. On the 13th day of August, 1824, it seems that Eesh- 

 tali-hum-bak, or Sleepy Eyes, who claimed to be a Sioux Chief, was in the city 

 of New York, and confirmed the said grant. And at the ensuing session of 

 Congress another petition was presented for a confirmation of this grant by that 

 body, which was again refused ; and among other reasons assigned for its rejection 

 was the fact, that no such Indians as the first signers of the grant were known, 

 and no tradition of the grant was to be found among the Sioux. 



In 1821 a keel boat load of goods was sent up to the Sioux, and the deed of 

 that date was obtained by this means. But as soon as the United States Indian 

 agent and the ofiicers of the L^nited States army at Fort Snelling, St. Peters, 

 were informed that the keel boat men were dickering with the Indians about the 

 land in question, the boat and men were ordered out of the country, which they 

 left in double quick time. This I learned from the traders, on my first '\nsit 

 to the country in 1837. 



In 1837 the Indian title to the pretended grant was extinguished by treaties 

 with both the Chippewas and Sioux; and on the 7th day of December of that 

 year the claimants, under Carver's heirs, made another attempt to secure the 

 confirmation of the grant. And the deposition of Kenneth McKenzie, who wit- 

 nessed the deed of confirmation in 1821, as to the fact of the said grant; and 

 also the deposition of Ramsey Crooks, as to the identity of said McKenzie, were 

 taken in New York city, and I think were presented to Congress, or an attempt 

 made to do so ; but it seems this apphcation succeeded no better than the former 

 ones. 



The claimants of this pretended gi-ant may be called legion, for they are many. 

 The first deed of this claim is without date, in history, but must have been given 

 within the past century. It is said that Martha, a daughter of captain Carver, 

 and the only one of his children then in England, and under their laws deemed 

 the only heir, was induced to marry, and then with her husband (whose name 

 is not given) gave a deed therefor, to the mercantile house of Conly & Co. in 

 London, who soon after sent one Clarke, with a stock of goods to obtain and 

 keep possession of the grant ; but he being robbed and murdered on the Niagara, 

 the expedition failed, by which Conly &; Co, lost £3,000 sterling. 



On the 9th of May, 1794, Jonathan and Rufus Carver, together with four of 



