Jeff Bowen

Texas Cherokees 1820-1839 Jeff Bowen

Even though the Trail of Tears was approximately seventeen years away, the Eastern Cherokee were feeling the pressure of white settlers and an American government wanting them out of their way in the east. A large following of Cherokee led by Chief Richard Fields and Chief Bowles migrated to Texas in 1819 after a short stopover in Arkansas.

The Cherokee eventually established a settlement near present-day Nacogdoches, Texas. The Cherokee first petitioned the Spanish government for permanent residence and then following their war for independence the newly minted Mexican government. Similarly, they'd eventually make the same request with the independent Republic of Texas and then again with the State of Texas.

Following the same agreement in good faith with each separate entity not one of them followed through with their promises. This also included the Treaty of February 23, 1836, negotiated with then Texas president Sam Houston and still the Cherokee were driven off their Texas land in 1839.

The complete contents of Fields' account of the Texas Cherokee history from 1820-1839 was brought to light and transcribed for publication, complete with affidavits and illustrations.



In addition to quoting sources, documenting the agreements or understandings between the Texas Cherokee and succeeding governments in question, this compilation includes a number of newspaper articles published in connection with the suit. Containing illustrations of Chief Bowles and other personalities involved in this history. In addition, you can also find the Fields' Cherokee genealogy through actual documentation connecting the Lawyer and the Chief who loved his people.

There is also a full name index with all the persons mentioned both white and Cherokee which reads like a forgotten saga of a people just looking for a place to call home.
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