The King versus James Armstrong, Part III

Don Carlos de Grand-Pre

Circular to William Brocus, Samuel Gibson, Roswell Mygatt, William Tabor, Prosper King, Ezekiel DeWitt, John Swayze, James Swayze, William Smith, John Coleman, Samuel Walker, Waterman Crane, Israel Leonard, John Pickens, John Ford, James Stoddard, John Martin, Jeptha Higdon, Richard Adams, John Adams, Edward Lovelace, Adam Lanehart, Jeremiah Coleman, Hohn Lum, John Stampley, William Collins, John Kincaid, Joseph Fort, and Elias Bonnell:

The robberies lately committed by rebel James Armstrong, his two sons and negro, together with the vagabonds, named John and James Lovel and George Blair, who forcibly entered the houses of four inhabitants of this District and putting them in fear of their lives, stripped their dwellings of everything most valuable they could carry off, such as clothes, goods, firearms, horses, saddles, bridles, and other effects, contrary to the public peace and tranquility, being well-known.

In order to promptly and effectively remedy these, to cut short the course of these villians, I do hereby command all inhabitants, without exception to unite immediately and in parties of twenty persons and pursue these public robbers without delay until they are taken dead or alive, the public tranquility in a measure depending on their apprehension, as also on the expedition used, in which every person is interested.

It is therefore recommended to the inhabitants to concert among themselves the best means of taking these robbers, each party taking a different route and such as they expect most likely to be used by these villians in placing ambushes for them where they might think needful and where they may intercept them on their return from their nocturnal expeditions.

At Fort Panmurat Natchez, 12 Aug. 1786.  Signed Carlos de Grand-Pre

See also:

The King versus James Armstrong

The King versus James Armstrong, Part II

McBee, May Wilson.  The Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805. Greenwood, MS: 1953.

Orphans looking for a home

I've just finished taming these two little kittens, who are sweet, affectionate, and looking for a home.  If you're interested, please either comment at the end of the post or send me an email at epritchartt@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The King versus James Armstrong

Circular addressed to Alexander Fraser, Benjamin James, James McIntosh, residing in the Chickasaw and Choctaw towns.

Sirs:  It being the custom and interest of all nations to apprehend highway robbers who by force of arms strip travellers and enter the houses of citizens and plunder their most valuable effects, and even the horses which are so necessary for the support of their families, this is to inform you that a troup of these vagabonds have associated in this District to commit atrocities abovementioned and it is expected will shortly take the route of the Indian towns with their ill-gotten plunder to avoid their punishment imposed by the laws of all nations for such offences.

Under the impression I point out to your notice James Armstrong, and his two sons and a negro belonging to him, and likewise John and James Lovell, real and pretended brothers, and and James Blair, who have lately robbed many inhabitants of the District of their firearms, clothes, goods, saddles, bridles, horses, etc. to the end that should these villians who have committed these outrages against the peace of society and the majesty of the law appear at the Indian settlements yu might be pleased to have them arrested and with their booty conveyed under a strong guard to this District to receive the reward.

Have just learned that a certain Jeremiah Routh is an accomplice and has left this District with the effects plundered by Armstrong and companions.  I have also to request that you will not admit any person into your settlements unless provided with a passport in form.  Those to appear without such recommendations to be considered as vagabonds, disturbers of the public tranquility and the welfare of the society in general.

May God preserve you many years.

Fort Panmur at Natchez, Aug. 16, 1786.  P.D.

Such persons as may compose the escort of the prisoners and the property plundered will be amply recompensed for their service. _______________________ Signed:  Carlos de Grand-Pre.

McBee, May Wilson. The Natchez Court Records:  1767-1805.  Baltimore, MD. 1979, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

See also:  The Wild, Wild South

An Evening at the Slave Quarters

Enjoyed Saturday evening at Concord Quarters. Dinner was superb and we got to hear about The Slave Dwelling Project by its director Joe McGill.

Concord Quarters is the only remaining building at Concord Plantation, which burned in 1901. It was the home of the first Spanish governor of the Mississippi Territory, Don Manuel Gayosa de Lemos.

The Quarters was where the enslaved people lived on the plantation. It's now owned by Gregory and Deborah Cosey, who treated us to a delicious meal of mustard greens, ham hocks, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, cornbread and apple cobbler.

They also run a B&B there. www.concordquarters.com.

To learn more, go to slavedwellingproject.org.

Dagger Cane that belonged to Spanish Governor Don Manuel Gayosa de Lemos