Chenango's Great Indian
Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, February 1, 1890
The celebrated chief of the Oneidas, Abram Antoine, whose name appears in an old Oxford Gazette as Abraham Antonia, was born on the banks of the Susquehanna in 1750, and while yet a boy his parents removed to Chenango, Broome County.
The Oneida Indians had a tradition that the Antoines, supposed to have belonged to the Tuscarora Nation, were the seventh generation from the inhabitants of the fort in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], and that a gigantic chief lived there whom they called Thick Neck. When their hunters came into his vicinity he destroyed them, notwithstanding their many attempts to decoy him out of his strong hold. At last they succeeded in getting between him and the fort, he quickly turned, ran down the river to Warn's pond and secreted himself in the marsh, where he was soon found and destroyed. He was buried on the bank, the earth leveled and leaves placed over the grave that no vestige of him should remain. The remnant of the tribe was adopted by the Oneidas.
During the Revolutionary war Abram Antoine took up arms in favor of the Americans, and was in several battles, and it is said was employed on a secret mission by Gov. Clinton. Bold, adventurous and revengeful, few dared to encounter his wrath, years might elapse before the opportunity for revenge presented itself, but when the offender least expected it he paid the price of his temerity with his life. An instance is related of a perfidious act perpetrated upon Antoine by a white man named Patterson, who inveigled him and his father, Squire Antoine, into signing a deed for the reservation of one-half mile square, known as the "Castle farm" in the town of Chenango, under the supposition that they were executing a bond for the faithful fulfillment of a contract made by Abe for the delivery of a certain number of bear skins at a specified time in payment for a silver mounted rifle. For this act Patterson forfeited the lives of himself and family at the hands of Abe, who it is believed followed him for the purpose to Ohio, whither he moved, and summarily revenged the treachery.
Abe's most atrocious deed was the murder of his own child. Returning one evening from the council fire he found his child of a few months crying, impatient at the noise he snatched the infant from its mother's arms and raking open a hot bed of coals buried it beneath them. The following circumstance led to the execution of Antoine at Morrisville, Madison County. In the year 1819(?), his daughter Mary formed a connection with a young Stockbridge Indian, but was soon deserted for a more agreeable squaw, which so enraged her that she killed the rival with an Indian knife justifying herself by saying that "She had got away her Indian and deserved death.." Mary was executed in Smithfield, Madison County [sic Chenango Co.]. John Jacobs was the principal witness against her and had been active in her arrest, but fearing death from the hands of Antoine, who had openly threatened to kill him, moved away and did not return till his enemy sent word that he would not be molested, and relying on this promise, did not take any unnecessary precaution. A few days after while hoeing corn with a number of men, Antoine approached, shook hands with each one until he came to Jacobs, and while apparently grasping his hand in friendship, drew a long knife from his sleeve, at the same time saying, "How d ye do, brother." quickly drove it three times into the body of his victim, who fell at the first blow. Abe gave a terrific whoop and disappeared before the terrified witnesses recovered their presence of mind. That evening several Indians learning that Abe was secreted nearby in a thick copse of underbrush went in pursuit, but he had provided himself with dogs, which gave an alarm on the approach of the pursuers, and escaped through a narrow path that he had cut with much labor. Later a party of white and Indians approached to within a few yards of him, but by his agility he again escaped. He was constantly armed with a rifle and two or three knives. Two sons, well armed, were often with him, as they declared, for the purpose of defending their father. One of them, Charles, was a most powerful and desperate fellow, and was said to have been the strongest Indian of his tribe. He died in Chenango County, having undertaken to drink a quart of rum on a wager.
Previous to this, a reward had been offered for Abe's arrest. the forest was searched thoroughly even into Pennsylvania. Gen. Rathbone, of Oxford, called out the militia, all to no purpose, for the old chief was securely sheltered in South Oxford by Andrew Achorn, a German, who had been in the Hessian Army, and settled in the country he had fought against, until the excitement died away.
An attempt was made to take Abe while encamped on the farm of John Guthrie in Sherburne. Two large and resolute Indians, learning that he was alone and his sons following a hunt, determined to capture him, and reached the camp undiscovered. Abe was making a broom but hearing a noise seized his rifle, pointing it at them as they rushed in upon him, which so appalled them that they suddenly retreated. Abe's rifle was not loaded, which fact he frequently boasted of in having frightened away two braves with an empty gun. He at length grew bolder and walked into several villages in open day without fear of being molested. It is recorded that on one occasion he entered a store in Sherburne, in which were several men, and drank until he became intoxicated.
Finally two brothers, in whom Abe placed great confidence, followed him to Delaware County whither he had gone in pursuit of game, which was not so scarce there. After giving him presents and spending some time, they proposed shooting at a mark, the object of which was to take their victim while his rifle was unloaded. Abe consented and fired, the men rushed upon him, but were beaten off, and the old chief would have then escaped if they had not shot him in the leg. He was taken to Morrisville and placed in jail.
Judge Williams, of Utica, presided at Abe's trial. The prisoner pleaded not guilty and objected to a trial, except by his own people. He stated that he had paid $270 to the different tribes for a ransom and thought it hard that he should die when he had made his peace with the Indians. The court appointed Judge Platt and General Kirkland his counsel, who rested their defense on this, that the State of New York had no jurisdiction over the Indian tribes within her territory. The court however, overruled the objection and Abe was sentenced to be hanged on Friday, the 12th of September, 1823. He said he was willing to die, but objected to the mode of execution, preferring to be shot.
Abe was very skillful in wood carving and it is said gave instructions in that art to the late Hon. T.H. Matteson, of Sherburne. It was this gentleman who, while yet a young lad, approached the old chief's scaffold just before the execution and bade him good-bye, affecting Abe more than any other part of the proceedings.
(The writer of the above spells Abe's name Antoine, though usually it is spelled Antone.)
Abe's most atrocious deed was the murder of his own child. Returning one evening from the council fire he found his child of a few months crying, impatient at the noise he snatched the infant from its mother's arms and raking open a hot bed of coals buried it beneath them. The following circumstance led to the execution of Antoine at Morrisville, Madison County. In the year 1819(?), his daughter Mary formed a connection with a young Stockbridge Indian, but was soon deserted for a more agreeable squaw, which so enraged her that she killed the rival with an Indian knife justifying herself by saying that "She had got away her Indian and deserved death.." Mary was executed in Smithfield, Madison County [sic Chenango Co.]. John Jacobs was the principal witness against her and had been active in her arrest, but fearing death from the hands of Antoine, who had openly threatened to kill him, moved away and did not return till his enemy sent word that he would not be molested, and relying on this promise, did not take any unnecessary precaution. A few days after while hoeing corn with a number of men, Antoine approached, shook hands with each one until he came to Jacobs, and while apparently grasping his hand in friendship, drew a long knife from his sleeve, at the same time saying, "How d ye do, brother." quickly drove it three times into the body of his victim, who fell at the first blow. Abe gave a terrific whoop and disappeared before the terrified witnesses recovered their presence of mind. That evening several Indians learning that Abe was secreted nearby in a thick copse of underbrush went in pursuit, but he had provided himself with dogs, which gave an alarm on the approach of the pursuers, and escaped through a narrow path that he had cut with much labor. Later a party of white and Indians approached to within a few yards of him, but by his agility he again escaped. He was constantly armed with a rifle and two or three knives. Two sons, well armed, were often with him, as they declared, for the purpose of defending their father. One of them, Charles, was a most powerful and desperate fellow, and was said to have been the strongest Indian of his tribe. He died in Chenango County, having undertaken to drink a quart of rum on a wager.
Previous to this, a reward had been offered for Abe's arrest. the forest was searched thoroughly even into Pennsylvania. Gen. Rathbone, of Oxford, called out the militia, all to no purpose, for the old chief was securely sheltered in South Oxford by Andrew Achorn, a German, who had been in the Hessian Army, and settled in the country he had fought against, until the excitement died away.
An attempt was made to take Abe while encamped on the farm of John Guthrie in Sherburne. Two large and resolute Indians, learning that he was alone and his sons following a hunt, determined to capture him, and reached the camp undiscovered. Abe was making a broom but hearing a noise seized his rifle, pointing it at them as they rushed in upon him, which so appalled them that they suddenly retreated. Abe's rifle was not loaded, which fact he frequently boasted of in having frightened away two braves with an empty gun. He at length grew bolder and walked into several villages in open day without fear of being molested. It is recorded that on one occasion he entered a store in Sherburne, in which were several men, and drank until he became intoxicated.
Finally two brothers, in whom Abe placed great confidence, followed him to Delaware County whither he had gone in pursuit of game, which was not so scarce there. After giving him presents and spending some time, they proposed shooting at a mark, the object of which was to take their victim while his rifle was unloaded. Abe consented and fired, the men rushed upon him, but were beaten off, and the old chief would have then escaped if they had not shot him in the leg. He was taken to Morrisville and placed in jail.
Judge Williams, of Utica, presided at Abe's trial. The prisoner pleaded not guilty and objected to a trial, except by his own people. He stated that he had paid $270 to the different tribes for a ransom and thought it hard that he should die when he had made his peace with the Indians. The court appointed Judge Platt and General Kirkland his counsel, who rested their defense on this, that the State of New York had no jurisdiction over the Indian tribes within her territory. The court however, overruled the objection and Abe was sentenced to be hanged on Friday, the 12th of September, 1823. He said he was willing to die, but objected to the mode of execution, preferring to be shot.
Abe was very skillful in wood carving and it is said gave instructions in that art to the late Hon. T.H. Matteson, of Sherburne. It was this gentleman who, while yet a young lad, approached the old chief's scaffold just before the execution and bade him good-bye, affecting Abe more than any other part of the proceedings.
(The writer of the above spells Abe's name Antoine, though usually it is spelled Antone.)
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