Introduction
This webpage has been created to support historical researcher Peter T. Gayford's
research of Billy Caldwell (Sau-ga-nash), his Chicago River Reserve, and bloodline.
This ongoing research project started in 2006 and is the most comprehensive ever undertaken on this topic. It has involved Gayford's networking with scholarly institutions across the United States and Canada, as well as direct descendants of Billy's British family. As a result of this, Mr. Gayford has been able to compile approximately 1000 documents and letters related to Billy Caldwell. This in turn, has corrected most of the history surrounding Billy Caldwell's life and events following his passing. Information will be periodically updated on this webpage for the public's educational viewing, so be sure to check back regularly. ~Updated May 2012~ *SEE MOHAWK SONG AND DANCE ILLUSTRATION BELOW*
Be sure to read Peter T. Gayford's published essay below.
Interesting Facts
1. Through the 1829 Prairie du Chien treaty, Billy Caldwell recieved a 1600 acre reserve on
the Chicago River.
2. Billy Caldwell's land patent for his 1600 acre reserve was issued in June of 1839 by
President Martin Van Buren.
3. As written within Billy Caldwell's land patent, no parcels of land from his reserve could
be conveyed for sale without the written approval of a President of the United States.
4. Lands within Billy Caldwell's reserve not given written approval for sale by a President of
the United States were to be reserved for his heirs forever (or until legally sold off by
them).
5. As legally documented, the northwest 80 acres of Billy Caldwell's reserve was never
conveyed for sale with the written approval of a President of the United States.
6. Contrary to what history has written, Billy Caldwell did have a son (Peymo Caldwell) who survived into
adulthood. This heir also had a family of his own.
7. Many More...
Illustrations For Your Educational Viewing
 Contrary to what Author James Clifton wrote in his articles, Billy Caldwell was never named Thomas. According to his research, the above document was handwritten and given to a young Thomas (Billy Caldwell) at the Niagara Reservation by Daniel Claus. Clifton's conclusions were based upon the document's translation into the English language. However, as discovered through the Haldimand Collection (which James Clifton referenced for this document) and A Biography of Canadian Imprints (1952), Clifton was incorrect. Within the Haldimand Collection, the document was never supported by any historical notes or letters confirming Daniel Claus' involvement with it (it is alone). Nor do such claims exist in any letters or documents elsewhere. As a result of this, it can be firmly concluded that Daniel Claus had no association with this document or of its giving to a young Billy. In regards to the book entitled A Biography of Canadian Imprints (1952), the following is outlined about A Mohawk Song and Dance. As written within it, A Mohawk Song and Dance was a broadside printed in 1780 by William Brown at Quebec. This printing was was done for the 5 year old son of Lt.-Col. Henry Caldwell, Seigneur of Lauzon. His son, Sir John Caldwell, eventually grew up to succeed his father as Receiver General of Lower Canada in the year 1810. This source, like James Clifton's articles, also referenced the same document located in the Haldimand Collection (further debunking Clifton's research). Since this broadside was printed and not handwritten as James Clifton stated, Daniel Claus could not have wrote it for Billy. More, Billy was born in 1782, while this document was created in 1780. As a result, nothing adds up to support James Clifton's belief. To conclude, as based strongly on the supporting evidence, Billy Caldwell's name was never Thomas. One unsupported theory though is that it may have been William. This being based on the fact that when he was moved into the Caldwell family, one of his step brothers already had the name of William. To avoid confusion, his name may have been altered to the nickname of William, which is Billy. Again, this is only a theory, for his name could have always been Billy. Other theories regarding his name could be hypothesized, but no documentation exists to support anything. What is clearly documented at present is his English name was always Billy.
First paragraph of Billy Caldwell's 1839 land patent for his Chicago River reserve. The original land patent is held by the Department of the Interior, in Virginia. The entire patent is 5 pages in length.
 Left: Survey map from 1836. This is from when the reserve was first surveyed.
Right: Later survey map showing land conveyances. This map has an acknowledged
mistake upon it by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Department. This being the northwest
80 acres, which was never given written approval for sale by a president.
 1839 plat of Billy Caldwell Reserve. This plat is from
when the second survey of the reserve was completed.
This was viewed as the official survey of the reserve.
Aerial photograph of the northwest 80 acres in Billy Caldwell's reserve.  First page of Arthur Bronson's deed for land purchased within the Caldwell Reserve in 1833. The total amount of land he bought from Billy Caldwell was 720 acre, at a price of $900. This deed, which was endorsed by President Martin Van Buren is located at the National Archives. A copy of it, along with other deeds pertaining to this reserve's history, have been donated to the Old Edgebrook Historical Society in NW Chicago.
An early typed copy of Billy Caldwell's original 1816 letter, in which he
expresses his life long desire for a boundary line between the Indians
and Americans. This and his original four page handwritten letter
from 1816 are housed at the Ontario Archives in Canada.    Discovered in 2012 for the first time ever was Billy Caldwell's land petition to the British Government. This petition was submitted and accepted in 1818, and allowed Billy to secure 500 acres of land in Upper Canada. This land was granted to him as a result of his services to the Crown during the War of 1812.  Portion of William Caldwell Sr.'s Last Will and Testament.
Contrary to what has been written, Billy was never disinherited. Instead, his father gave to him the land in Harwich District ( approx. 200 acres).
  This tract consisting of approximately 200 acres was given to Billy Caldwell in his father's Last Willand Testament. As communicated by a descendant of William Caldwell's son William (March 2012), this land was sold off as one parcel by Billy Caldwell. Although Billy Caldwell's role in the Fort Dearborn Massacre has been one of historical debate, Charles Dilg's
interviews of Alexander Robinson's daughter Mary (who was a brilliant woman) provides the most grounded logical
evidences for what it was. Charles Dilg was a local historian/archaeologist, whose work on Native American
cultures of the Chicago Region is currently housed at the Chicago History Museum. Whereas Kinzie's
Wau-Bun was fictitious in nature, and possibly geared toward the emerging fiction market of its time, Dilg's
experiences were not. Adding to this, even though Alexander Robinson briefly stated to Lyman Draper
(circa late 1860's) that Billy Caldwell saved the Kinzie's lives, that was 20 plus years after the publishing of
Wau-Bun, and as documented during the final few years of his life when he was suffering from advanced
Dementia. Taken as a whole, in regards to what is known about Billy Caldwell's hate of the Americans and
love for his Indian/British roots, Dilg's interviews are more than likely on target for being the truth.
 This unknown letter was discovered in 2012 by Peter Gayford. As written in August 1833 by Arthur Bronson, Billy Caldwell was planning to secure an 800 acre reserve at the Mouth of the Milwaukee River. This reserve being his payment for helping to negotiate the treaty at Chicago in September of 1833, which ultimately pushed the Indians west of the Mississippi River (Caldwell's life long dream). Instead of receiving this reserve though, the United States opted in the end to give him a $5,000 payout for his services.  Did you know that Billy Caldwell has more than one gravesite?
This one is located near Three Rivers, Michigan. The above marker
was placed upon the site in 1911 by the local DAR. Billy Caldwell's
true resting place though is at Council Bluffs, Iowa.
 The DAR's 1911 burial marker as relocated at the
Three Rivers Cemetery in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Peter Gayford visited this memorial in July of 2011.
   Ma-Sa-Qua's attempt to secure Billy Caldwell's final annuity payment. Ma-Sa-Qua (Saqua Legrand) was Billy Caldwell's final wife. Peymo Caldwell was their birth son. This letter is from June 5, 1843. She passed during thewinter of 1843-1844, after speculatively being plunged into a life of poverty.
  Letter to the Indian Department from Attorney Samuel Niles announcing Billy Caldwell's only surviving son Peymo. Further requesting a copy of his father's land patent to regain lost lands within the 1600 acre reserve on the Chicago River.
 Naturalization and Power of Attorney Documents for Billy Caldwell's only
surviving son Pe-y-mo. Pe-y-mo who was illiterate and lived his days
with different tribes, did have a family of his own. Thus, it is very
likely that descendants of Billy Caldwell live today.
  Letter from Attorney Samuel Niles to the Indian Department, regarding the northwest 80 acres of Billy Caldwell's reserve that
was never approved for sale by a President of the United States. Although sale of this land by Peymo Caldwell was attempted several times, it was never granted legal approval by a President for various documented reasons in other historic letters.
More Historic Information Available At...
1. The Newberry Library in Chicago, Illinois houses the Peter T. Gayford Collection (2010).
This collection consists of historical NARA files, maps, letters, land patents, and other
information related to Billy Caldwell and his reserve. Also apart of this collection, are
historical NARA files and documents related to the reserves of Claud LaFramboise, Victoire Pothier, Jane Mirandau, and Archange Wilmette. This complete collection is the only one of its kind anywhere, and thus a true treasure chest of local historical information for all interested researchers.
2. The Old Edgebrook Historical Society in Chicago, Illinois houses the
Billy Caldwell Collection.
This 1000 plus document collection consists of NARA files, maps, letters, land patent, and more. This information was donated to this society by Peter T. Gayford in 2011. 3. Several community specific historical collections have been made at other organizations. These organizations include the Franklin Park Public Library (Laframboise Collection), Niles Historical Society (Pothier Collection), Norwood Park Historical Society (Mirandau Collection), Wilmette Historical Society (Ouilmette Collection), and Winnetka Historical Society (Albert Scharf Collection). These collections were donated to these institutions by Peter T. Gayford in the Fall of 2011.
Publications
1. The Chicago History Journal
July 2011
*The attached United States Copyrighted essay (below), provides regularly updated information for your educational learning.* __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Copyright Notification
Nothing on this webpage may be used for personal or corporate gain without the expressed
written consent of Peter T. Gayford (author). Information and images may only be used for
educational purposes if cited back to the author correctly. |
