Letter 1802 Feb. 13 (to) Governor (Archibald) Roane of the State of Tennessee / Benjamin Hawkins

Summary:  This letter, dated February 13, 1802, is from Benjamin Hawkins, U.S. Agent to the Creek Indians, to Tennessee Governor Archibald Roane (1801-1803). Hawkins recommends that all horses and cattle be branded specific to their location, and he offers guidelines for how this should be done.

Creek agency 13th of Feby. 1802

I find it important to the preservation of the property of my fellow citizens bordering on the agency for Indian Affairs South of Ohio to recommend to their consideration the adoption of the following regulations All horses and cattle to have brands distinct from those of property to serve as a guide for the agents, as well as the honest dealers in horses and cattle. the brands to be Roman letters an inch and half in length to be put on the right side of the neck under the main for horses and two and a half inches in length for cattle to be put on the right side

For Tennessee horses and cattle belonging to people on the West side of Cumbarland mountain to be branded with the letter A and those on the East side of that mountain the letter B

For North Carolina the letter C

For South Carolina D

? counties the letter E

From Jackson County to the forks of Ocmulgee and Oconee the letter F on the alatamaha G From alatamaha to St. Marys and down that river H

For the Mississippi territory ?

The settlements on Tombigby the letter I and those bordering on the Mississippi K.

If your Excellency should concur with me in opinion I request you to publish this regulation and to recommend to my fellow citizens over whom you have the honour to preside and who may be affected by it to conform to it.

I have the honour to be very respectfully
Sir, your Excellencys most obedient Servt
Benjamin Hawkins
agent for Indian affairs South of Ohio

His Excellency
The Governor of the State
of Tennessee

NOTE:  Information obtained from the University System of Georgia Library

Transcribed by Kim Gordon

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