Case ID: tenn_10/html/0431-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Judge Catron.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Luna Riley vs. Elliston.
    The reservation given to the heads of Indian families, by the troa- ® ties of 1817 and 1819, extended the right only to such perons as were the “heads of Indian families,” at the date of the treaty of 1819.
   Opinion of the court delivered by

Judge Catron.

At the date of the treaty of 1819, Riley, the lessor of the plaintiff, was an Indian youth residing in his mother’s family, who was clearly its head. In the summer of 1819, he married and became the head of a family. Some time in the fall of 1819, he removed to the land claimed, and registered his name as a life reservee, with the Indian agent.

We are of opinion, that the treaty of 1819, art. 2, taken in connexion with the eighth article of the treaty of 1817, only allowed to heads of Indian families, who were such at the date of the treaty of 1819, reserves of six hundred and forty acres each. That Luna Riley not being then the head of an Indian family, was, by the terms of the treaty, excluded, and the registration of his name for a reservation unauthorised. We think the charge of the circuit court substantially correct, and order the judgment to he affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.