To all of these demands Mr. Morris was obliged to give a stout
and resolute denial, requiring them to fix upon a certain number of square
miles, which, in the aggregate, should not be far from three hundred and
fifty.
Here also arose difficulties about the size of their respective
allotments, which they were unable to settle, so that Mr. Morris was
obliged to assume the office of arbiter, and decide these for them, which
he accomplished generally to their satisfaction.
In only one instance did he depart from his purpose of not allowing
natural boundaries, in describing their reservations. It was in case of
Mary Jemison, the White Woman, who lived on the Genesee river, some few
miles above Mt. Morris. Her history is one of singular interest, and as
belonging to this region, and connected with the circumstances under
consideration, a brief notice of this remarkable woman, will not be out of
place.
Hers is an instance of the entire change that may be wrought, in the taste
and inclination, so that instead of a civilized, a person may prefer an
uncultivated state of society. Though descended from the whites, she
became so thoroughly Indian in her feelings and habits, that she was
regarded as a curiosity, and called by way of distinction--the "_White
Woman_."
She was born on the ocean, while her parents were emigrating from Ireland
to this country, about the year 1742 or 3. Her father and mother soon
after landing at Philadelphia, removed to a frontier settlement of
Pennsylvania, lying on what was called Marsh Creek.
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