Treaty of Fort Harmar with the Wyandot and allied nations, 1789

What happened

Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory, called leaders of the Wyandot, Delaware, Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatomi and Sauk nations to Fort Harmar. Richland Source says the council began December 13, 1788. It says the nations hoped for a reservation west of the Muskingum River and north of the Ohio, but St. Clair refused and demanded the boundary set at Fort McIntosh in 1785. The article says he "told the American Indians he would attack them if they refused," and also sought their friendship with $3,000 in presents.

The treaty was dated January 9, 1789 and proclaimed September 27, 1789 (7 Stat. 28). The nations agreed to "renew and confirm" the Fort McIntosh boundary "to the end that the same may remain as a division line" between the lands of the United States and those of the nations "forever." They released and ceded "all the land east, south and west of the lines above described, so far as the said Indians formerly claimed the same." The text records goods valued at six thousand dollars delivered at the treaty, and two Wyandot hostages held until prisoners were returned.

Richland Source says many of Ohio's American Indians, including the Shawnee, refused to honor the treaty, claiming that the groups at the negotiations did not speak for them, and that warfare increased. The Treaty of Greenville, signed on August 3, 1795, had the Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware, Miami and other nations agree to move to the northwestern corner of present-day Ohio.

Good to know. Figures differ: a news feature says $3,000 in presents, while the treaty records goods worth $6,000; they may be different payments. St. Clair's threat is reported only by that news feature.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error