James Foster 1838 Claim (No. 500) · Retracing the Bell Route: An Archive of Cherokee Removal · Retracing the Bell Route: An Archive of Cherokee Removal

Transcription

James Foster (No. 500)
Transcribed by Kaila Seger

“The United States Dr. To James Foster
To Rent for dwelling house and Kitchen 2 years at $40 per an[num] $80
To 12 acres land 2 years at $3 per an[num] per acre 72.
$152.00

James Foster being duly sworn states on oath that in the year of 1835 white people citizens of the United States (whose names were Kimbro) took possession of his house and place at Coosawatee consisting of 1 dwelling house and 1 kitchen worth at the Lowest calculation the price…above charged also 12 acres upland worth $3. per acre per an[num] And further states that he has never received any compensation or rent for said place
Sworn to & subscribed before me the 23rd of Feb[ruary] 1838 James Foster his X mark
John Adair M.C.

Tusky being duly sworn declares on oath that he was well acquainted with the possessions of James Foster and that said Kimbros did take possession of said house and place about two years ago and has had possession of the same ever since and further states that the prices charged for Rent are very reasonable and Jas Foster have not rec[eived] any Rent for said place or houses to the best of his knowledge.
Sworn to & subscribed before me the 23rd of Feb[ruary] 1838 Tusky his X mark
John Adair M.C.
This claim is allowed with a reduction of one year—76.00
12th March 1838 J.A. Bell P[resident of] C[ommittee]

Jas. Foster Claim
$152.00
Reduced 76
$76.00
No 500 Book 2d
Admitted J.A. Bell P.C.”

“The United States To James Foster & Tah ye ske Dr
1830 To damages by having our ferry suppressed on the Coosewaytee, below the Coosewaytee Town, the income of the said ferry being at that time…at the rate of about one hundred dollars per year for seven years—$700.00

Personally came James Foster and Tah ye ske who being sworn deposeth and saith that about the first part of the year 1830, to the best of these deponents recollection and knowledge, they established a ferry on the Oostahnahlee river, a little below Coosewaytee Town, by an order expressly given in Council for the purpose—that after they had the ferry in full operation, and receiving income, at the rate of one hundred dollars per year, it was suppressed by the operation of the state laws, & by the settlement of the whites in the country, other roads being cut & other landings or fords being made in the immediate vicinity—that from that time to this they have received no benefit from the said ferry and that they consider themselves properly entitled to the foregoing amount, as being a reasonable compensation for their loss
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7th Sept[ember] 1837 Jno[John] Ridge P[resident of the] C[ommittee]
James Foster his X mark
Tah ye ske his X mark

John A. Bell states upon oath that he recollects when James Foster and Tah ye ske and perhaps others obtained a grant from the Cherokee Council to open a road leading from where John Martin lived and crossing the Coosewaytee river about one mile below where this deponent lives and to establish a ferry on the same. That the said James Foster and Tah ye ske did put a boat there and kept it about one year, as this witness thinks but cannot say what income was derived from the said ferry—but he knows that travelers were crossing there & when the laws of the State of Georgia were extended and this country became the to be settled, this ferry was surpassed, this witness thinks by closing the road leading to the said ferry. This witness is of the opinion that the income of the said ferry was worth about one Hundred Dollars
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7th Sept[ember] 1837 John A. Bell
Jno[John] Ridge P[resident of the] C[ommittee]
The committee allow this claim—8th Sept[ember] 1837 Jno[John] Ridge Pres[ident of the] Committee”

Title

James Foster 1838 Claim (No. 500)

Name of Claimant

James Foster

Name of Witness(es)

Tah ye ske, John A. Bell

Name of Agent/Clerk

John Adair, John Ridge

Total Claim Amount

852.00

Amount

776.00

Claim Perpetrator

Kimbro (Kimbrough)

Date of Theft

1835