Benjamin Franklin Stickney

Benjamin Franklin Stickney Esq (the gentleman I mentioned to you last fall) he is about five feet nine inches high; has blue eyes, light brown hair, and is a little marked with the small pox. ~ General John Stark

Fort Wayne in 1816 by Major Francis Belton

Our next four posts concern our cousin Benjamin Franklin Stickney (5C6X) whose rather amazing life is worth the telling. As the United States population pushed ever westward, Benjamin found himself in the thick of the action. His story also relates the beginning of the end for the Native people then living on the western frontier.

Benjamin Franklin's great-grand nephew

Benjamin Franklin Stickney (5C6X) was born in Newburyport, MA in 1773. He was named for his great-grand uncle Benjamin Franklin. In 1747, Franklin's niece, Dorcas Davenport had married our cousin Anthony Stickney (3C8X). Dorcas and Anthony were Benjamin Franklin Stickney's grandparents. We wrote about Anthony's relationship with his uncle by marriage in our "Family Stories" post.

One Stickney family story handed down through the generations said that old Ben was so pleased with his niece's choice of name that he gave the little tyke a silver tankard. This tankard became precious to Benjamin Stickney's descendents and, in 1915, they donated it to the Toledo Museum. Alas, later research by the museum proved that the tankard had been made in 1797, seven years after old Ben's death. An aging tankard owned by common Benjamin Franklin Stickney doesn't carry the same weight as one given as a present by the much more famous Benjamin Franklin. The relic was promptly stripped from its display case and relegated to storage.

Note: Benjamin Franklin couldn't possibly have been very impressed that a nephew would be named after him. In the post Revolutionary years, two of the most popular names for sons were George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. We have quite a few of them in our family alone.

with a little help from a father-in-law

In 1802, Benjamin married Mary "Molly" Stark who was the daughter of John Stark, the famed Revolutionary War general. Stark was the hero of the Bennington Battle which heavily contributed to the defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Benjamin's marriage to Molly gave his fortunes a major boost. In 1805, he became justice of the peace and postmaster for the town of Pembroke, MA and, in 1810, he wrote an article about his father-in-law. This article became the "definitive biography" of Stark of the time and helped to Benjamin to become a gentleman of note.

(1) Newburyport, MA (2) Pembroke, MA

Stark was also influential in getting his son-in-law a post in president James Madison's government. In July of 1811 Stark wrote the following letter to Madison which is now housed in the Library of Congress.

Derryfield July 18 1811. The bearer of this is Benjamin Franklin Stickney Esq (the gentleman I mentioned to you last fall) he is about five feet nine inches high; has blue eyes, light brown hair, and is a little marked with the small pox.

He having made a tender of his services to the public does not think it proper to engage in any business that may prevent his immediate attention to any directions of yours (should you be pleased to direct)

From an opinion that he cannot imploy his leisure of suspence better than in travelling—he is about to undertake a tour into the Southern States, and will call on you in his way at Washington.

As I think you have no doubts of my high affirmation and friendship, I will not say any more.

John Stark

at Fort Wayne, Indiana

At the time that Stark wrote to the president on Benjamin's behalf, war with Britain was looming large. Secretary of War, William Eustis, enlisted Benjamin to "to sneak into Canada and scout the strengths and positions of British and Canadian troops." Benjamin's report "confirmed what Mr. Madison had already assumed: U.S. troops could not mount an invasion of Canada."

The success of Benjamin's scouting expedition earned him another coup. In March of 1812, he was named Indian agent at Fort Wayne in the Indiana Territory. From the Pictorial History of Fort Wayne by B. J. Griswold we learn that "Major Benjamin Franklin Stickney, a man of strong character, brave and somewhat eccentric, took up his duties at a time when the fort was in imminent peril."

(1) Pembroke, MA (2) Fort Wayne, IN

The "imminent peril" at Fort Wayne stemmed partly from a treaty signed at Fort Wayne in 1809 that excluded the powerful Shawnee tribe led by Chief Tecumseh. A deep hatred for the whites had been instilled in Tecumseh after witnessing "[m]urder, massacre, and the invasion of the Shawnee’s lands and the destruction of their crops." For many years he had led a fierce resistance against white settlers invading Shawnee lands. The treaty of 1809 had only fanned the flames. And Tecumseh's wasn't the only disgruntled tribe in the expanding western portion of the United States.

By May of 1812, Benjamin foresaw trouble brewing with the Canadian Natives who would naturally remain faithful to the British. He wrote to future president William Henry Harrison, then governor of the Indiana Territory, that "[t]he time appears to have arrived when it is necessary, if possible, to cut off all communication between the Indians within the territory of the United States, and Canada."

Also in May of 1812, Benjamin had many fires to put out concerning Natives in the area under his tent of responsibilty. He had extensive correspondence with Secretary of War, William Eustis, about a "party of friendly and verry inoffensive Indians" who were assaulted by "a number of white men armed with Rifles." Two Native men were killed and a woman and child taken captive. One Native man, who managed to escape, returned to Fort Wayne "naked and his flesh verry much torn, and almost exhausted." In Ben's letter to Eustis he wrote:

To prevent the family from going off to take individual revenge, I have requested them to remain at their camp near here until I can investigate the affair, promising them some relief.

A week later, Benjamin wrote again to Eustis after meeting with the family of one of the Native that was killed.

I witnessed the most affecting sceneI ever saw. The father of the deceased in strains of powerfull eloquence, themother pouring out ther tears by his side, and every countenance a picture of grief: and many of them sullen, as although determiled on revenge. I asked the old man to suspend his anger till I could have time to investigate the affair. He answered me,"Why should I suspend my anger, when I have evidence sufficient that he died an innocent man?

From such evidence as appeared of their inncence, I furnished clothes, a Rifle, and a little whiskey, to enable the family to adopt another person in the place of the deceased. This dried up their tears, and changed the countenances, and they went off appearantly well satisfied.

It seems odd that Benjamin would have furnished the family with a"a little whiskey" given that he had made his position on Native addiction to alcohol clear before ever arriving at Fort Wayne:

The insatiable thirst for intoxicating liquors appears to be born with all the yellow-skinned inhabitants of America; and the thirst for gain of the citizens of the United States appears to be capable of eluding all the vigilance of the government to stop the distribution of liquor among them. * * * The Indians will travel anv distance to obtain it. It appears to be valued higher than life itself.

And in the same month that he had given out the whiskey, he had sent out the following proclamation:

Whereas by an Act of Congress passed the thirtieth day of March one thousand Eight hundred and two, the President of the U S is authorised to "take such measures. . .to prevent or restrain the vending or distributing of spiritous liquors among all or any of the Indian Tribes." And whereas the President of the U S has appointed me an Agent for Indian affairs, and instructed me to exercise his authority. . .

This is to forbid all persons selling or causing to be sold, or given as a present or under any other pretext aiding or assisting any Indian or Indians in obtaining and spiritous liquor

B. F. Stickney Indian Agent

more fires to put out

In a postscript to a letter outlining the problem of the Native family to Ohio Governor Return Meigs, Ben added a sarcastic note which gives a hint as to his future problems with his superiors and colleagues in his role as Indian Agent:

P S I do not understand the Postcript. . .in which you say "I wish you to act in conjunction with capt. Wells". Nor do I think you would understand me, should I say to you as Governor of the State of Ohio: I wish you to act in conjunction with capt. this one, or col. that one. I would act in conjunction with capt. Wells as readily as any gentleman. . . B. F. S.

On May 12, a Potawatamie Chief called Five Medals came to Fort Wayne to deliver a speech to Benjamin. Five Medals began by calling Benjamin Father because Ben "was sent by our Great father, the chief of the seventeen fires (James Madison)."

Five Medals first mentioned the Treaty of Greenville, Ohio in 1795 which had made a "general and sincere peace" that "gave pleasure to all both the red and the white people." He went on tell Benjamin the reason for his visit:

In one year less than ten (after the treaty) Gvo. Harrison came to Vincennes: and he had not set down when he told us that it was the wish of our great father that we should sell him land. We did not wish to offend our great father -- we gave way to him, we sold him land. But soon after, a man came to Detroit and bought more land.

This alarmed us, and alarmed our young men and Warriors more -- They said their chiefs would sell all their land and ruin thm. This destroyed the influence of the chiefs: since then, the young people have refused to oby us. . .and this has produced much mischief.

The time has arrived when something must be done, and done immediately. Father, much depends upon you. If you unite your efforts with ours I think we can do some thing yet; we may again enjoy the fruits of peace.

Benjamin's rather unsympathetic reply:

Brother -- The grass does not grow under my feet, day or night. . .As for what has been done in the selling and buying of land, it cannot be undone. To make bargains today and unmake them tomorrow, or even to talk about it -- belongs to children and not to men. "We cannot have our cake and eat it too." Nor can any thing be done to restore to life those who have been killed. We must take things as they are: not as we would have them.

Our Father did not wish that you should be compelled to sell your land. . .it was your voluntary act, and you have received the Goods for the land according to bargain. As for your motives in selling the land, they are best known to yourselves.

If you have done any act that has diminished your authority or influence. . .I am verry sorry, for on the support of your authority, depends your safety. . .As you say, the time has come when something must be done -- I am ready to assist you. I will tell the President and Gov. Harrison what you have said.

Benjamin would have reason to rue his harsh words to Five Medals in the months to come. Up next: War begins