Calvin, Bartholomew (fl. 1780) [Statement opposing white settlement on Indian land in Brotherton, New Jersey]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00540.01 Author/Creator: Calvin, Bartholomew (fl. 1780) Place Written: Indian Mills, New Jersey Type: Document signed Date: 6 January 1780 Pagination: 1 p. ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
A strong statement signed by eight Indians showing alarm over white settlers moving onto their land, forbidding it in the future, making illegitimate leases null and void, and voicing hopes to "live in Quietness among one another without giving any offense to one another. Jacob Skekit and Bartholomew Calvin sign in full, and six others signed with marks. Brotherton is now known as Indian Mills in Burlington County, in Southern N.J.
January 6th 1780
Be it known by this, that it has been in our consideration of late about settling of white People on the Indian Lands, And we have concluded that it is a thing which ought not to be, & a thing that will not be allowed by us, that of renting or giving Leases for said Lands, hereafter, no, not by the proprietors themselves without the consent of the rest much more by those who has no Claim or Rite here, & we have further resolved, that all Leases given heretofore by those who have no rite shall be accounted as null & Void & of none effect, - We have come upon those resolutions we hope for our better living in friendship among one another, it may be that there is some which does not like white people for their Neighbours, for fear of their not agreeing as they ought to do. it might be about there children or about something they have about them we know not what, Again it may be the white Man may do something either upon Land Timber or something after which some one of the proprietors would not like & from thence would come great deal of Disquietness, & many other ways which may plainly be seen into, by those that have any sense or reason - We are exceeding glad when we see we are like to live in Quietness among one another without giving any offence to one another, & this one of keeping white people from among us will be a great step towards it, & for this reason we intend to stand by or rather stand Hand in hand against any coming on the Indian Lands without we all agree as one to let him come
For the further strengthening of this we have interchangeably set our hands & marks as Witnesses
Joseph [inserted: his mark] Micty Bartholomew Calvin
Jacob Skekit Robert [inserted: his mark] Skikkit
Derrick [inserted: his mark] Quaquiase Benjamin [inserted: his mark] Nicholas
Mary [inserted: her mark] Calvin
Hezekiah Calvin
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