24 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ahn.M 



impressed with his ignorance and pretence, Tlie BuhaequeDt developments of his 



fiction broughl him to the notice of the family, and it was with this, knowledge that 

 my father, Dr. Williams of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, happened to be in 

 Caughnawaga when those of the tribe who knew of the childhood of Eleazar were 

 questioned regarding his origin. Dr. Williams was then locating and laying the 

 railroad through the Indian reservation, and was not only intimately acquainted 

 witli Oronhiatekha (De Lorimier), the head chief, with Taiaike (Jean Baptiste 

 Rice, better known as "Grand Baptiste"), the pilot of the Ea chine rapids, and other 

 subordinate chiefs, but was adopted by the tribe, and is still remembered by the 

 older members as " Kanstcseres." 



In the fall of 1851 two gentlemen came to Caughnawaga to investigate the story 

 of Eleazar Williams. It was on a Sunday afternoon that De Lorimier summoned 

 the mother of Eleazar, Mary Ann Rice (Kanoutewanteta), and an old man and 

 woman who were with the parents at the time of his birth, as well as others who 

 could tell of his youth. It may be w r ell to say here that Eleazar was in had odor 

 with tlie tribe. This fact has been made much of by the upholders of the French 

 origin, and lias been stated by them as due to the lapse of the man from the Romish 

 faith, and an attempt to avenge on him the slighted creed. Tlie real facts are that 

 the Romish Church, if it had any feeling in the matter, rejoiced in getting rid of 

 a black sheep, as Eleazar had made his 1ribe the victims of a favorite habit of his — 

 the collection of money for a specific purpose, and its immediate conversion to his 

 own use. 



All the persons gathered on that Sunday afternoon knew of the character of the 

 man, and that was all. They were then entirely ignorant of his pretensions, and 

 spoke only Iroquois and a French jtatnis. They were taken singly into the room where 

 they were to be questioned, and a Scotchman named McNab, who was a notary and 

 greatly trusted by the Iudians, acted as interrogator and interpreter. The old woman 

 first told how she was present at the birth of Eleazar, and that he was the son of 

 Mary Ann (Rice) Williams, and that the birth took place at Lake George, New York, 

 where the party had gone on a fishing excursion. It was immediately after the 

 Revolution. The old man followed and said that the birth took place as stated, and 

 he further told how Eleazar had fallen from high rocks when a boy and received 

 injuries to his legs and knees that had left sears. The mother then told her story in 

 corroboration of what had been told. After all the testimony had been taken, there 

 was no one present but felt that Eleazar Williams was an Indian. Mr. McNab then 

 translated to them the printed account of the pretended French origin of the man. 

 It made the mother cry, and she said that she knew that Eleazar had done mauy bad 

 things, but she did not think he would deny his own mother. The matter was 

 talked over by the tribe, and they did not hesitate to call him a liar. The peculiar (?) 

 Bourbon features of Eleazar were possessed by De Lorimier, Francis Mount — by all, 

 in fact, who were descended from white captives. 



Father Marcoux stated to my father that the early mission records were very 

 incomplete, and, in general, those children born outside of the mission had no place 

 on the. record. This seems to cover the whole case. — Edward II. Williams, jr., IVcnt- 

 worth, June 4, 1S94. 



Returning to a period before the consummation of the treaty of 1821, 

 another phase of the subject may be noted. General Ellis continues: 



The Menomonees and Winnebagoes having been apprised of the intended visit 

 of their grandfathers, the Not-ta^ways, but a few days delay occurred before they 

 appeared on tlie bank of Fox river, to meet their eastern brethren. The reception of 

 the delegates was cordial by the. Menomonees and Winnebagoes, and had there not 

 been a third party to interfere, the New York Indians would probably very soon 

 have accomplished their object. The French inhabitants and half breeds settled at 

 Green Bay, numbered about live hundred souls; their alliance with the Iudians, par- 

 ticularly the Menomonees, was very close, and their influence with them very strong, 



