Return J. Meigs Letter
This collection consists of a single letter dated April 14, 1812 from Return J. Meigs to John Strothers in Nashville, Tennessee. Meigs writes about his concern that both the Chickasaw and Cherokees rights are being violated by the United States government over land grants.
Dates
- 1812
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of a single letter dated April 14, 1812 from Return J. Meigs to John Strothers in Nashville, Tennessee. Meigs writes about his concern that both the Chickasaw and Cherokee rights are being violated by the United States government over land grants.
Biographical/Historical Note
Return Jonathon Meigs was born on December 28, 1740 in Middletown, Connecticut to Return Meigs and Elizabeth (Hamlin) Meigs. He served in the local militia and was named a captain in 1774. One year later, he was appointed a major in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment and continued his service until the end of the war. After the war, he became a surveyor in Ohio. Meigs participated in the finding of Marietta, Ohio and helped establish the code of regulation, which eventually became the Northwest Territory. He moved to Tennessee in 1801 to persue a combined position of agent to the Cherokee Nation and military agent for the United States War Department. As a Cherokee agent, he defended the rights during treaty negotiations and encouraged the Cherokee to form a republican government. He served as a Cherokee agent until 1813.
Return J. Meigs married Joanna Winborn in 1765 and the couple had four children. After her death in 1773, he married Grace Starr the following year. Return and Grace had three children together. Grace died in 1807. Meigs died on January 28, 1823 at the Hiwassee Garrison, Cherokee Agency in Tennessee.
Acquisition Note
This collection was purchased by Special Collections in 1999.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository