Republic of Indian Stream
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Indian Stream was a small, unrecognized, constitutional republic in North America
, along the section of the US–Canada border that divides the Canadian province of Quebec
from the US state of New Hampshire
. It existed from July 9, 1832 to 1835. Described as "Indian Stream Territory, so-called" by the United States census
-taker in 1830, the area was named for Indian Stream
, a small watercourse. It had an organized elected government and constitution, and served about three hundred citizens.
who had led many successful raids on New England
settlements during the 1670s.
This grant was sold to one land-speculation company, while a second group of Indians from the same tribe made representations to another company of Europeans that their chief had been deposed and that they were empowered to issue a grant to the second company. Following the Revolutionary War
, both companies surveyed the territories and issued their own land grants to settlers, which frequently overlapped one another. After the War of 1812
, when both companies were in financial straits, they merged and reconciled all land claims.
The establishment of Indian Stream as an independent nation was, essentially, the result of the ambiguous boundary between the United States
and Canada
as defined in the Treaty of Paris
. There were three possible interpretations of where "the northwesternmost head of the Connecticut River
" might be. As a result, the area (in and around the three tributaries that fed into the head of the Connecticut River) was not definitively under the jurisdiction of either the United States or Canada.
The relevant text from the Treaty reads:
The Republic encompassed the northern reaches of what is now the state of New Hampshire
, including the four Connecticut Lakes
. While the British
claimed the southeasternmost branch (the chain of Connecticut Lakes), the U.S. claimed the border as we know it today (i.e., Hall's Stream
, to the west, which is, arguably, the "northwesternmost headwater" of the Connecticut). Both sides sent in tax
-collectors and debt-collecting sheriffs. The double taxation angered the population, and the Republic was formed to put an end to the issue until such time as the United States and Great Britain could reach a settlement on the boundary line.
The Republic ceased to operate independently in 1835 when the New Hampshire Militia
occupied the area, following a vote by the Indian Stream Congress authorizing annexation to the United States. The vote arose from disquiet regarding a prior incident in which a group of "streamers" invaded Canada
to free a fellow citizen who had been arrested by a British sheriff and magistrate. The reason for the arrest was an unpaid hardware-store debt, and the offender faced confinement in a Canadian debtors' prison. The invading posse shot up the judge's home where their comrade was being held, and this caused a diplomatic crisis, a so-called 'international incident'. The British ambassador to the United States was appalled at the idea of a war over a matter so trivial as a hardware-store debt and quickly agreed to engage in negotiations to resolve the border disputes that had remained outstanding since the time of the Treaty of Paris (1783).
Britain relinquished its claim in January 1836, and American jurisdiction was acknowledged in May 1836. The area was still described as Indian Stream at the time of the 1840 United States Census taken on June 1, 1840; the local population totalled 315. The area was incorporated as the town of Pittsburg
in 1840. The town covers 291.4 square miles (754.7 km²), of which 282.3 sq mi (731.2 km²) is land area and 9 sq mi (23.3 km²) is inland water.
In 1842, the land dispute was definitively resolved by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
, and the land was assigned to New Hampshire. However, the 1845 Lewis Robinson Map of New Hampshire based on the latest authorities, shows the boundary north of the town of Clarksville
but just south of modern-day Pittsburg.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, along the section of the US–Canada border that divides the Canadian province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
from the US state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. It existed from July 9, 1832 to 1835. Described as "Indian Stream Territory, so-called" by the United States census
United States Census, 1830
The United States Census of 1830 was the fifth Census conducted in the United States. It was conducted on June 1, 1830. It determined the population of the 24 states to be 12,866,020 of which 2,009,043 were slaves. The center of population was about 170 miles west of Washington, D.C...
-taker in 1830, the area was named for Indian Stream
Indian Stream
Indian Stream is a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 19.1 miles long, in New Hampshire in the United States. It rises in the mountains of extreme northern New Hampshire, in Coos County near the U.S.-Canada border, where the Middle Branch of Indian Stream joins the West Branch...
, a small watercourse. It had an organized elected government and constitution, and served about three hundred citizens.
History
The area was first settled by Europeans under a land grant, not from the King of England, but from the St. Francis Indian chief, called King Philip by his white neighbors, after the great King PhilipMetacomet
Metacomet , also known as King Philip or Metacom, or occasionally Pometacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philip's War, a widespread Native American uprising against English colonists in New England.-Biography:Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit...
who had led many successful raids on New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
settlements during the 1670s.
This grant was sold to one land-speculation company, while a second group of Indians from the same tribe made representations to another company of Europeans that their chief had been deposed and that they were empowered to issue a grant to the second company. Following the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, both companies surveyed the territories and issued their own land grants to settlers, which frequently overlapped one another. After the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, when both companies were in financial straits, they merged and reconciled all land claims.
The establishment of Indian Stream as an independent nation was, essentially, the result of the ambiguous boundary between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as defined in the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
. There were three possible interpretations of where "the northwesternmost head of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
" might be. As a result, the area (in and around the three tributaries that fed into the head of the Connecticut River) was not definitively under the jurisdiction of either the United States or Canada.
The relevant text from the Treaty reads:
- " ... (westward) along the said highlands which divide those rivers that empty themselves into the river St. LawrenceSaint Lawrence RiverThe Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost head of the Connecticut River; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due west on said latitude ... "
The Republic encompassed the northern reaches of what is now the state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, including the four Connecticut Lakes
Connecticut Lakes
The Connecticut Lakes are a group of lakes in northern New Hampshire, situated along the headwaters of the Connecticut River. They are accessed via the northernmost segment of U.S. Route 3 . The lakes are located within the boundaries of Pittsburg, but are far from the town center...
. While the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
claimed the southeasternmost branch (the chain of Connecticut Lakes), the U.S. claimed the border as we know it today (i.e., Hall's Stream
Halls Stream
Halls Stream is a 25.2 mile long tributary of the Connecticut River. For most of its length, it forms the boundary between Canada and the United States, with the province of Quebec to its west and the state of New Hampshire to its east....
, to the west, which is, arguably, the "northwesternmost headwater" of the Connecticut). Both sides sent in tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
-collectors and debt-collecting sheriffs. The double taxation angered the population, and the Republic was formed to put an end to the issue until such time as the United States and Great Britain could reach a settlement on the boundary line.
The Republic ceased to operate independently in 1835 when the New Hampshire Militia
New Hampshire Militia
The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major...
occupied the area, following a vote by the Indian Stream Congress authorizing annexation to the United States. The vote arose from disquiet regarding a prior incident in which a group of "streamers" invaded Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to free a fellow citizen who had been arrested by a British sheriff and magistrate. The reason for the arrest was an unpaid hardware-store debt, and the offender faced confinement in a Canadian debtors' prison. The invading posse shot up the judge's home where their comrade was being held, and this caused a diplomatic crisis, a so-called 'international incident'. The British ambassador to the United States was appalled at the idea of a war over a matter so trivial as a hardware-store debt and quickly agreed to engage in negotiations to resolve the border disputes that had remained outstanding since the time of the Treaty of Paris (1783).
Britain relinquished its claim in January 1836, and American jurisdiction was acknowledged in May 1836. The area was still described as Indian Stream at the time of the 1840 United States Census taken on June 1, 1840; the local population totalled 315. The area was incorporated as the town of Pittsburg
Pittsburg, New Hampshire
Pittsburg is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 869 at the 2010 census. It is the northernmost town in New Hampshire and the largest town by area in the state - and in New England as well - more than twice the size of the next largest town, Lincoln. U.S...
in 1840. The town covers 291.4 square miles (754.7 km²), of which 282.3 sq mi (731.2 km²) is land area and 9 sq mi (23.3 km²) is inland water.
In 1842, the land dispute was definitively resolved by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies...
, and the land was assigned to New Hampshire. However, the 1845 Lewis Robinson Map of New Hampshire based on the latest authorities, shows the boundary north of the town of Clarksville
Clarksville, New Hampshire
Clarksville is a town located in northern Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 265 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
but just south of modern-day Pittsburg.
Further reading
- Brown, Roger Hamilton. The Struggle for the Indian Stream Territory. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve University Press, 1955.
- Doan, DanielDaniel DoanDaniel Doan is best known for his classic hiking books, 50 Hikes in the White Mountains and 50 More Hikes in New Hampshire...
. Indian Stream Republic: Settling a New England Frontier, 1785-1842. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 1997. - Harmon, Joshua. Quinnehtukqut. Buffalo: Starcherone Books, 2007.
- Lent, Jeffrey. Lost Nation. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2002. (historical fiction)
- Pike, Robert E. Tall Trees, Tough Men. New York: W.W. Norton, 1967.
- -----. Spiked Boots. Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press, 1999 [reprint].