Nov 29, 2012 - Sale 2296

Sale 2296 - Lot 39

Unsold
Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500
JOHNSON, WILLIAM; SIR. Document Signed, "Wm Johnson," a deposition concerning a survey on the disputed Canajoharie Patent located on the south bank of the Mohawk River. 1 page, folio; moderate toning, tears at top edge repaired on verso with cello tape. Np, 25 January 1762
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". . . Mrs. Eve Pickerd of Conajoharee in the County of Albany . . . say'th that several years ago, David Schuyler & Peter Waggoner of Conajoharee . . . came to the deponents house and informed her that they had been spoke to by Mr. Collins surveyor to accompany him . . . till they came to an empty Wigwam at Conajoharee . . . near the mouth of Onówdáda creek . . . . That during the night said Collins set his compass and took a course into the woods, and very early in the morning, he waked Schyler & Waggoner, and desired them to make haste and embark in their Canoe, lest the Indians should discover them, as they would certainly kill them; whereupon they asked him what he had done, he informed them he had taken a survey of land for Mr. Livingston . . . . That shortly after, said Collins came to the Deponents house where several people were present, who spoke to him concerning said fraudulent Survey, To which he answered[,] 'I don't care how it is, I have got thirty pounds for it, and I have now done it[.]' That said Schuyler several times after applied to the dept. (as she understood the Indian language well) to beg she would acquaint them that he had no hand in said affair; as the Indians had threatened to murther him on that account. That the Dep[onen]t. has frequently heard the Conajoharee Indians declare that it was a fraudulent Survey, contrary to their inclinations, for which they were never payed a Consideration; and which they were determined never to agree to . . . ."
The lands sold by the Canajoharie Indians to a consortium lead by Philip Livingston in 1730 were only later disputed by the area's native residents. According to some accounts, this deposition was part of a larger effort by Sir William to render the original deed void in order to assume control of the lands himself.