94 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



to Quebec, and request the grant of another and less distant reser- 

 vation. This time Brant asked that Lieutenant Colonel Butler be 

 empowered to purchase a tract of land extending six miles on either 

 side of the Grand River throughout its length, for the use of the 

 Mohawks and such other tribesmen of the Six Nations as should join 

 them in settling there. He also suggested that since the Mohawks 

 has sustained losses amounting to nearly 16,000 pounds, New York 

 currency, a part of this sum be distributed among its members, in 

 case of delay in effecting their settlement, and that provisions also be 

 furnished the Indians until they should become well established in 

 their new homes. In reply to these proposals Haldimand gave 

 definite assurance that the tract of country between the three lakes, 

 Ontatio, Erie, and Huron, would be purchased; that a reservation 

 on the Grand River would be granted to the Six Nations by deed, the 

 remainder being retained for occupancy by the Loyalists, or for some 

 other purpose; that he would recommend to the King the indemnifi- 

 cation of the Six Nations for their losses, but would relieve their 

 present distress by advancing to them 1,500 pounds and sending them 

 clothing, provisions, and utensils while waiting for instructions. In 

 fulfilment of these promises Butler was instructed to purchase the 

 tract in question, and Sir John Johnson was directed to appropriate 

 1,500 pounds for the Mohawks. 



In pursuance of his orders Butler, with many officers of the gar- 

 rison, met the Mississauguas and the chiefs and warriors of the Six 

 Nations in council May 22, 1784, and experienced no difficulty in 

 securing a deed in favor of the government for an immense tract 

 containing 2,842,480 acres, in return for which the sum of 1,180 pounds 

 was paid. The boundaries of this tract were described as beginning 

 at Lake Ontario four miles southwesterly from the point opposite 

 to Fort Niagara, called Mississaugua Point, running thence along 

 the said lake to Waghquata Creek, thence by a northwest course until 

 striking the River La Tranche (Thames) and so down stream to the 

 place where a due south course would lead to the mouth of Catfish 

 Creek on Lake Erie and from that place down Lake Erie to the lands 

 heretofore purchased from the Mississaugua Indians, thence following 

 the boundary of that purchase back to Mississaugua Point." 



1 Third Report, Bureau of Archives, 1905, 486-489; Stone, Life of Joseph Brant, 

 II, 238, 239; Haldimand Papers, B. 96-1, p. 135; B. 169, pp. 131-133; B. 56, 

 66-68; B. 63, 143-145; Can. Archives, 1886, 416; Haldimand Papers, B. 175, 269; 

 Can. Archives, 1888, 793. 



