Six Nations with Virginia and Maryland at Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1744)
At Lancaster in 1744, Six Nations deputies gave up Maryland claims for 300 pounds and signed a Virginia deed for goods and gold.
- Signed
- 1744-06
- Senate
- Not recorded
- Promises
- 0 of 1 broken or only partly kept
What happened
What happened
This is a colonial record from 1744, long before the United States existed. The National Archives series includes it because United States treaty-making, in the Archives' words, followed a custom set by Great Britain and the colonial governments.
The council opened on 22 June 1744 in the court house at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, George Thomas, hosted commissioners from Virginia and Maryland and deputies of the Six Nations (Onondaga, Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida and Tuscarora, as listed). The Six Nations' speaker, Canassatego, said they had conquered the earlier people of the Susquehanna country, so its land now belonged to them. He also said that the lands now in question had never been sold.
Maryland's commissioners said they could not admit the Six Nations' right, but offered 300 pounds in currency, partly in goods, if the Six Nations gave a written release of all claim to Maryland lands. A deed for Maryland's proprietor, Lord Baltimore, was signed by Canassatego and thirteen other leaders, and the rest signed it on 2 July.
Virginia's commissioners offered goods worth 200 pounds and 200 pounds in gold in return for a deed recognizing the King's right to Virginia lands, plus an agreed road. The Six Nations agreed, and asked that their case be put to the King as settlement spread. At Logstown in 1752, Ohio Indian leaders said they had understood the deed's reach differently.
What was promised, and what happened
- Not known
Maryland would pay 300 pounds currency for a release of the Six Nations' claim to Maryland lands. (Council)
a Compensation to the Value of Three Hundred Pounds Currency
treaties.okstate.edu
Good to know. The 300 pounds for Maryland is in colonial "Currency"; the Virginia goods are priced in "Pennsylvania Money".
Summarized with AI assistance from 5 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error
What the sources say, and how this was checked
Supported by the sources below; some details rest on one source.
we have conquered them, and their Country now belongs to us
Treaty of Lancaster, 1744, Tribal Treaties Database, Oklahoma State Universityupon your giving us a Release in Writing of all your Claim to any Lands in Maryland
Treaty of Lancaster, 1744, Tribal Treaties Database, Oklahoma State UniversityThese Goods, and Two Hundred Pounds in Gold, which lie on the Table, we will give you
Treaty of Lancaster, 1744, Tribal Treaties Database, Oklahoma State UniversityUpon Condition that you immediately make a Deed recognizing the King's Right to all the Lands
Treaty of Lancaster, 1744, Tribal Treaties Database, Oklahoma State UniversityNegotiation of formal treaties with the Indians by the United States Government followed a custom established by Great Britain and the colonial governments.
National Archives, Ratified Indian Treaties, 1722-1869 (microfilm publication M668)
Research notes. The 300-pound Maryland figure is 'Currency' as stated; the Virginia goods are priced in 'Pennsylvania Money'.
What happened next
Everything the record holds about this land and this treaty, in order: what earlier agreements said, what this one did, and what the United States, the courts and the nations did afterwards.
Who is doing the work today
The nations connected to this treaty come first, then groups returning land and defending treaty rights. Support goes directly to them.
Who is doing the work
Working with these nations
- Oneida Indian Nation Nation government About 18,000 acres in trust (2022 est.), 25,000-acre cap under 2013 agreement
- Rematriation Native-led Indigenous women-led media, education, community advocacy Give on their site Website
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Allied land trust Funder/partner in several tribal land returns Website
Native legal and land defense, nationally
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Native-led Litigation and legal advocacy for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, land and resources Give on their site Website
- NDN Collective (LANDBACK Campaign) Native-led LANDBACK campaign (launched 2020; Mount Rushmore closure and return of Black Hills public lands), Indigenous… Give on their site Website
- Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) Native-led Land recovery and control by tribes and individual Indian landowners Website
- Decolonizing Wealth Project (Indigenous Earth Fund; California Tribal Land Return) Native-led Reparative philanthropy Give on their site Website
Gifts go straight to each organization; this atlas takes nothing. Listing is not endorsement: how organizations are listed.
Sources
Sources
No source is linked to this record yet. That is a gap we are working to close.
Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.