Seminole Indian Slave
[M271, roll 1, frames 34+]
St. Augustine the 4th Sept. 1801
Sir,
I never did expect; I should be obliged -- troublesome to you in your high
station & bring to your encumbrance an old man who had only a very
short acquaintance with you, when you did the honor to this Town of a visit
with General Green. I had pleasure to read in the American Newspapers your
appointment of Superintendent General of the Indians in the S. District of the
United States and to you as such I have recourse, to solicit your assistance
to be able to recover thirty eight Negroes, a large party of the Hichitis
Indians have plundered at my plantation the 31st August last. Five of these
Indians are particularly known to me & my family; they did live for many years
on the west of St. Johns f--ing n-- Switzerland & were always well treated by
us.
I have offered a reward of 500 dollars to our Seminole Indians, to be paid by
me on the recovery & delivery of the said 38 Negroes or in proportion for any
number. Mr. Jack Forrester a partner and attorney of the house of Panton
Leslie & Co. has offered as much and I have the promise of H. E. our Governor
that he will give a handsome present for the same purpose.
Amongst these 38 Negroes my great anxiety is for twenty children big & little,
these savages have carried off, which made great sore to my feelings, and I
lament much to have lost my dairy maid, my wash woman with 10 of her children,
it is a severe blow to me in my old age now in my 78.
The Governor has been so kind, too write you, sir, and recommend me to your
protection. I will esteem it a great favor if upon due information in your
department you will make a favorable report to H. E. The President of the US,
to whom our minister will communicate the official letter of our Governor on
this affair. I have ordered my youngest son, to attend close to these
negotiations as he is as yet Secy of legat--n at the Congress, till his
successor arrives; being named Consul for his C. M. at Philadelphia my son
would be very proud if he could show you my gratitude & his. I offer him at
your disposal - His name is Philip.
I trust that by your kind interposition I shall be able to recover this great
loss for my large family of children & grandchildren.
I have the honor to be with respect & due
regard
Sir Creek Nation 27th Sept 1801 Sir
Your most obt & hum. servt
F. P. Fatio
I received your Excellys letter this day directed to Col. Hawkins, agent of
Indians Affs by the hands of Mr. James Akin, sent on by James Seagrove Esqr
express. Col. Hawkins being at this time called away from this quarter to the
northwest, on Business, thought proper in this case to peruse your
Excellency's letter, & shall pay due attention to the contents, have enquired
strictly into the business respecting the violation committed on Mr. Fatio by
the Indians, robing him of his Negroes. Your Excellys it appears have been
informed, that the Indians of the Hitchetaw Town, who reside on the American
side [of] the line are concerned in this roberry. I thought at first it might
have been so, as your Excelly was informed, but after strictly enquiring into
the business, am fully convinced that none of that Town on this side [of] the
boundary line have been concerned in it, there was it seems one Hitchetaw man
amongst them but he is one that has resided a length of time amongst the
Miccosukee people, a large town only thirty miles distant from St. Marks
Garrison except this one man all the rest of the Indians that were at the
committing [of] this robery on Mr. Fatio were all from that said town, it
appears from information by a very intelligent Chief from Miccosukee resident
of that Town who came up to Kenards and returned a few days ago and informed
Mr. Kenards that the principal of the taking [of] those Negroes of Mr. Fatio
is in consequence of one of the Chiefs of their town being for a long time
past kept close confined in St. Marks Garrison and that those that took the
Negroes are determined not to return them on any other terms but on having
this chief released from confinement, and delivered up to them, hope you
Excelly will excuse my taking the liberty to inform you that since the
confinement of that Indian Chief, that it has not in the smallest degree
retained the Indians from committing hostile acts near the St. Marks. One
matter I can take upon me to make known to your Excelly respecting this man
from good information, that is, that, he has not been a mischievous man
against St. Marks and that he was the last man that stood out against Bowles
and would not agree to commit murder on the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty
and I expect the releasing of this man lays a good deal in the power of your
Excellency and if you should see cause on account of the great loss of Mr.
Fatio has sustained to comply with these red peoples demand by sending back
Mr. Akins & any other confidential man through the interference of Mr. Kin--
who has promised that in case of a compliance by you Excelly on the business
that he will go forward in person and have every one of the Negroes in his
charge before he will ask for the man to be sent out, and take upon himself to
have them safely conducted to their owners. I hope what I have wrote will be
sufficient to convince your Excellency that this Business is out of the line
of Col. Hawkins Agency under whom I have the honor to serve, never the less
shall be at all times ready to execute any lawful requisitions made by your
Government in Col. Hawkins absence, shall in about twelve days from this have
an opportunity by express to forward your Excellency's letter on to Col.
Hawkins to which I make no doubt he will reply by first convenient conveyance.
I have the honor with due
respect to Subscribe myself
Your Excellency's most humble
& obt Servt
Timothy Barnard
Agt & Intr U.S.