California Treaty H: Reading's Ranch, Cotton Wood Creek, 1851 (unratified)

What happened

On August 16, 1851, at Reading's Ranch on Cotton Wood Creek, Indian agent O. M. Wozencraft made a treaty of peace and friendship with the chiefs, captains and head men of the Noi-ma, Noe-ma, Y-lac-ca, No-me and Noi-me. In Article 1 the bands acknowledged the United States "to be the sole and absolute sovereign of all the territory" ceded by Mexico. Article 3 set apart a district "forever" for their sole use and occupancy. It began at the mouth of Ash Creek on the Sacramento River, ran up the east branch twenty-five miles, then north to the Pit River fork and down it.

Article 4 promised 500 head of beef cattle and 75 sacks of flour within two years, to help the bands move to and settle on the reservation. The treaty has no quit-claim article.

None of it took effect. It was one of 18 treaties made in California in 1851 and 1852. The National Archives' Prologue magazine says the senators found the commissioners' appointments irregular, were unsure whether Mexico had recognized native land title, and heard strong objections from white Californians. The Senate "rejected the treaties and, following Senate rules, imposed an injunction of secrecy on them." With the treaties rejected, Indian title was left unresolved. Prologue adds that Indians of California later sought compensation for lands taken without payment in a case before the Indian Claims Commission. It reports that "the case was decided in favor of the Indians."

Good to know. Sources give July 2 or July 8, 1852 as the date the Senate rejected it.

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