Children of GEORGE CURTIS and ELIZABETH are:

1817(?)

To the Honorable the congress of the United States, the humble petition of the undersigned inhabitats of the Alabama Territory residing near the waters of the Mobile,--respectfully showeth ,

Your petitioners view this proposed transfer of freeman, like the vassals of European potentats, from one sovereignty to another, as so repugnant to justice & so completely hostile to the priciples of republican America; that they persuade themselves it will receive from the representatives of the people of the United States, a prompt & indignant rejection.

That venerable instrument,--the declaration of Independence,--both established the sacred maxim that "all men are equal"--and that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed: But what equality of rights would exist; if the people of the Alabama territory were to be bound down by a form of government instituted without their co-operation by the people of the State of Mississippi?

What equality could they boast of when they found themselves subjected to he control of governors, & bound by the ties of allegiance to a government, without having previously had the smallest agency in the choice of the one or the organization of the other?

If the just powers of a government can be derived only from the consent of the governed; you r petitioners have certainly a right to expect that their inclinations will be consulted, & t hat some means will be provided by which their consent may be manifested, before they are entangled in the ties of allegiance to a new sovreingnty. They have indeed a right to expect more than this. They are as much entitled as their brethren of the Mississippi to have a voice i n determining the previous question submitted to the convention, whether it be expedient to form a partial state out of the Mississippi Territory? The voice of your petitioners has been decidedly against that measure. But it has been adopted, and they submit. But they cannot submit in silence to the doctrine, that after its adoption, they are liable to be bound like a ban d of captive slaves to the chariot wheels of triumphant majority. They are not the inhabitants of a province acquired by conquest, or by purchase from a foreign power. They claim the right s of original citizens of the United States. The Alabama territory is, for the most part, a portion of the state of Georgia, one of the old thirteen confederated sovreignties: it is entitled by a solemn compact with the state of Georgia to admission into the Union when its population shall be sufficient, on "an equal(?) with the original states, in all respects whatever, with liberty to form a permanent constitution & state government": But what will become of these privileges if the people of the territory can be transferred in parcels to the adjacent state s? & how dishonorably will the national faith be violated, if your petitioners are stripped o f that right of forming their own constitution, which they are as much entitled to, as any of the original parties to the federal compact!

Your petitioners humbly conceive that the reasons which they have suggested must be conclusive with your honorable body, against any extension of the territorial limits of the State of Mississippi:--but there are various considerations which induce your petitioners to be immoveably hostile to the measure.

1.) It will retard the admission of the Alabama territory into the union as an independent state:--& will considerable augment the burthens of government, when it is admitted.

2.) considering the actual situation of the country, & the state of its population;--the dividing line proposed to be established between the State of Mississippi & the Alabama Territory, i s the most unnatural one that could possible be devised. It is true that in a county where the population is regularly scattered over the whole surface of it, a river may be regarded a s a natural boundary. But in a country where the population is confined to the vicinity of the water courses, & the whole face of the territory besides is a wide waste; a river, especially if it be only of a second rate in point of magnitude becomes the most inconvenient 7unnatura l boundary imaginable. Such a boundary separates neighbors. It places under different governments those who are in habits of daily intercourse. it facilitates the evasion of both civil & criminal process, &multiplies the means of rendering the laws a laughing stock to the lawless. Under the circumstances in which your petitioners are placed, it will frequently separate one p art of a family from the other,&leave the plantation of a citizen in one state &his mansion house in another.

And what would be gained, to compensate for these inconveniences? nothing: but the saving of t he expense of running one additional line through a country where hundreds of thousands are al ready run under the authority of the national government.

3.)--If your petitoners have been accurately informed, one of the most impressive considerations which induced the late congress to divide the Mississippi Territory was the danger of a collision of interests between the two great communities living adjacent to the Mississippi, & t o the water of the Mobile.

A future want of harmony in the counsels of the new government,&perpetual feuds among the people, were anticipated as the natural result of such a collision. But the proposed alteration i n the boundary line will renew &augment those very dangers which the division was meant to guard against.

The only difference to be perceived is that with the limits now contemplated by the Mississippi people, the result of every struggle between the two communities will be that the people o f the Mobile, will be made to pass under the yoke.

4.) The rivers Tombigby & Mobile are formed by nature to be one great channel of intercourse between the western states & the gulf of Mexico. This channel ought to be subject to the regulation of a single sovereignty.

It should be under the superintendence of a legislature, which will, not only be sensible of its importance, but feel an interest in promoting its utility &affording to nature all the needful succours of art.

But will such an interest be felt by a legislature, of which a majority of members will be elected by the inhabitants of a country adjacent to arrival channel of commercial intercourse? It cannot be expected. The Alabama territory as it now stands, possesses an identity of interest, as complete, as any state of equal extent in the American Confederacy. Whether the people are stationed on the Tombigby or Alabama,--on the Mobile or the Tennessee; they are all deeply interested in bringing to perfection the same channel of trade & commerce. But if you divide them, if you connect one portion of them to the Mississippi, & leave the other portion of them to themselves; you paralize their energies, & drop a cloud over their fair prospects of future prosperity. The general interests of the Union, call for the highest possible improvement, of every part of it:--and the Congress of the United States will watch with the most sedulous jealous y against every measure calculated to obstructor retard it. Your petitioners therefore, humbly and respectfully hope that no proposition for making any encroachments on the Alabama Territory, will receive any countenance from your honorable body.

H Newman  Wm Coleman  J ohn G Creagh

Darling Perry  William Lafton   Jno D Curtis

William Coate   Saml Etheridge   John Scarborough

John Johnson   Joel Langham    Moses Hill

James Furlow    John Glass    James Green

Isaac Pugh    Danl B Ripley     Jesse B Irvine

Lewis Mitchell   James Daniel    James Waldrom

Mark Hays  Jesse Pugh   Wm Hays

Stephen Brown     David Smith   Walter Mabry

Jno Barran  James Caller  Wm Barran

Robert Lewis Saml Wilson  Reuben Saffold

Mark Norwood Neal Smith  Warham Easley

William B Patton Elijah Pugh  R W Serviss

Starling Hill  Edward N Potts  Alexander McGrew

Elijah Ross Benjamin Clement  Robt Caller

Jonah Mott J Slaton  James Lowrey

Robt H Phillips   Lewis Henderson  John Wilson

Jesse Deed  John Rhoeds   Thomas Cox

Benj Hatch   Mathew Averet   James Ford

Joh Riordan   Zadock Adair   Zach McGrath

David Taylor   Wm Robison    John McGrew

Wm Simmons Jno H McConnel   William Ravencraft

Henry L Riveire   Samuel Gaines    Saml Dale

Joshua Killen   James Dellets Jnr   Jesse Whatley

James Young    James Howard     John Bagby

William Flinn   Wm Vaughan     L Roberts

Dempsey Winbourn   Robert Henderson   James Morgan Jr

Dunkin Henderson   Jas B McConnell  William Edwards

Elias Massey   WilsonDickson             Wm Cato

John Campbell  John S Vaughan               Thomas Miller

Josiah Fletcher    JamesRisher      James Edwards

Jas McKee JQ   Willis Kitchens   John Pippens

Thomas W Gill Peter Loper   W J Ware

Thomas Loper   Wm Hopewell    William Pippen

Lewis Alexander   ElijahLloyd     William Coon

Wm Pierce  Abel Farra r Ja    Geo Lindsey

Wm Onail   Josiah Fletcher J C Houston

Samuel S Steele Richd Bradford          Nelson Campbell

James Stuard   SolomonEvans   James Snoden

Daniel Davis Samuel TO weans  Moses Gordon

Morris Guin George  Moore    John McCants

S Reid    J  Whelin    Samuel Davis

Wm Chas   Crawford John Files

Lawrence Woods    James Young   Clabon Harris

John Bell    William Mason   J Q  B P Whitlow

Absalom Loper   Aron Matthews  Vardy Jolly

John Silvy    SionThrower    Wm Duke

John Cook Jr    J WWilliamson   A P Rea

Moses Strahan  Isaac MalletL   W Mason

Wm James    J Irvine   Thos Mendenhall

Sml Howe  Geo Boute     M H Rivers

William Morgan   John O Gunn   Willis Sturdevant

Peter Brandon    James D Steele    Wm Tarlton

John Housley   Thomas Housley    S W Johnson

A Sanders   James Welsh   Harrison Young

John Moore   Caleb Tochstone    John Varnor

Branson Barlow    A H Phillips   James Album

James Denson John Harman   Peter Cartwright

George Shirley   John Koen   Elijah J Whatley

John Hamby S J Whatley   Joseph Long

Samul Davis    Alexander McGrew    Clark Carter

Job Springer    William Nicclesdonn   Job Springer

William N Downy    Wm Gough   Alexander Autry

Leven Hanesworth    Wm Autry   Joseph Long

Thos Newman    Joseph Koen   William Martin

Wm Ross   MortonBarton    Christorpher Va ndevender

Archibald Colvill    Jos Carson    Walker Bailey

Solomon Stewart Lewis Crane  John Harrington

Moses Elison MosesBisho p Gardner Holcom

John Hicks David Williams    George W Stevnson

Isaac Denson    Thornton Stone    Nathaniel Denson

A Ward    James Denson    N Shackelford

Joseph Denson    D J Shackelford    Jas Hall

Jno R Cotten    MatthShaw    John Bell

Josiah Chambers JohnCo x Michael Stinson

Samel Rivers   William Godfrey  Littleberry J Newsem

Wm Thornton J   ohn Smith    David Raglin

Andrew Henshaw Linsey McCaryJohn Bradford

Mily Asby   Thos Rhodes    James Rogers

Thomas Murray    Jesse Denson J r    John Bagby

Alexander Faith    Absalom Reed   Charels Wells

Arch McRae    John Harris    James Earle

James Mills    Elisha Terven    Martin Wells

Thomas Jones John Curry   Noah Robert

Drury C Wilkinson   I J Alson  J D Lister

Wm Shaw   M J Everitt    John K iby

Henrey Atchison    Johns Minchur   Saml Elison

Geo Fisher Jams Grims   S J Price

James Bedwell   Isaac Jordan   Wily Curry

Jas Moore David Rudder   James Renfroe

Elias Stinson  John Baird   Richard Wormack

Willi McMillan   Joseph Thompson J  ohn Hays

James Thomson   Richard B Glover  Thos Thompson

Jarimiah Crain   John G Parish  John Pickering

Jas Magoffin   Aaron  Pickering   Saml Gearsin

James Langham  Bryant Koker   Wm Henry

Jacob McCarty   Joseph Hainsworth   A Wells

William Powell   Wm Donald   Thomas May

Wm Wormack   J G Lyon  Geo Grines

Eli More   Haydon Wells  John Curry

Nevin Culbraith   Zebdee Sentry   Jos McCarty

Henry Prince   John Clark   Lewis Cato

Mordica Kelly   Henry Arrington   Henry Nail

J T Stokes  Alford Haley   Wm H Sewall

James Fair JnoBake r Thos Moore

Joel HeardThos Kirk Tho Eastin

Moses Gague DavidJohnso n Richard Clark

John Johnston Sr NormanMcLeod Franc is Boykin

R G Hayden Wm YatesWm Ross

John Johnston Jr James LPhilips G reen B Chaney

M E Sexton HiramMerston L awrence Timin

Martin Moody SquireGrayso n Thos Salathill

L G Gilbert JohnMcCart y Moses Griffin

John Mccrary JohnPhilli p Jas H Chambers

Gibson Moore John FSausama n A S Lipscomb

Lewis Sewill WilliamBowlin g Geo S Gaines

J F McGrew JohnGilmore S r J A Myers

Z Landrum JamesChandle r Wm Mosley

Jediah Pace EliasCoolidg e Joseph Jarvis

H BrightJohn Griffin Demsey Koker

Mathew Hicks MackWhite Joh n MacDonald

William RoseEllington Evans John Morgan

John McKinney David WhiteBerryman H Loper

John Kirkham Bazzel GrayAbraham Rutledge

Green Hill Jesse BLandru m Wm Prye

Jas Daflin G RKennerl y Jonah Rogers

Vincent Harrisson Austin KellyJohn Anderson

James Dewitt Sr W BealeJoseph Dewitt

James May Henry RayJn Dean Sr

Joshua Green Jno Dean JrWilliam Parker

Robt Lee IsaacJackso n Wm Wilson

Thomas Cox Matthew WilsonMatthew Cox

Thos Langham Andrew WhiteS Hammond

John Calloway John George   J Green

L Hammond Benj King    M Hammond

Josiah Wills S Hammond   William B Wills

J Hammond    James Reed     Westbrooks

William Jolley  Wiley Huckly  Jams Barran

G M Caller  A Rutchledge    Benjamin Curtis

Wm Botalar      Isaiah Wilson    Jon Bollar

G W Creagh       Westley Boalar         S Westbrooks

Green McKenny      Jams Smith     Jese Killby

Thos Prothro      Jno Linch     Wm DoDridge

Aver Landom     James Spikes      Jno Landom

Jonas Spikes Thomas Heaton    Richard Dodd

Samuel Williams  Edward Bazer     Edward Smith

Mathias Walker  Josiah Jones    Thomas Waite

William Landrum      James Caller     Josiah Green

Stephen Evans      William Bird     Thos M Brumby

Fedick Scarborough      Danl Campbell     Wm A Robinson

John Martin      Jas Keel     Chas Phillips

H W Taylor     J Phillips     John Millstad

Richard Dodd      Gorge Lowrey     Robert Pugh

Wm McEGirard      John Cox     S Nabors

Wm Tait      P F Crowel     Stephen Grice

Reason Pew      Bartlet Brown     Wm H Robertson

David Phillips    Bodo Adams    David Childres

Francois Girard John D Lorry    Miql Gitara

Michael Secrest     G B Cotters     John Reid

L Judson Robert WhiteM McKinsey

Lewis Nabors   J S Patten   William Jaunson

Joseph Swett     A Quinnelly    J W C Fleeming

John McGrew     J Whitehead    Robert Harrison

J P Smith     Clak McGrew    Aron Barlow

Willim McGrew    Ser George Woodruff    William McGrew Jr

Noah Adams     Alexander McGrew    Jos McCandless

Alexander Kilpatrick    P H Hobart    Nesbitt McGrew

Wm Hall     urtis Blinderbush    Walter Bourke

Middleton Harrison    Carman Frazee   Bengaman Rogers

John Bolton     Alexander Mckdaniel    Gerald Byrne**

John Cox     William Pollard    John Lowery

Dque Saller jeune William LoweryDiego McCoy*

Richard W Hall M PerraultThomas Lowery

James Wilson Andrew LowertSaml Acre

Benjamin Deloch Henry V ChamberlainJohn C Parist

Benjn Dubroca V S AlexanderJ G Viennedez

J Saml Browing Danl DuvalCharles Nabours

Louis Dolives David PhillipsS H Garrow

James Steap D S FisherGreen D Caller

Alvan Robeshow Georg P DenisGeorge Gullett

Charles Ray     John Eades    James Ray

Charles Hall    Hall Ray   Cyrus Sibley

John Stokes    Thomas M Mervin    James Deuit Jr

Thos W Daily       Blasingan Johnson    Nicolas Weeks

George Opry      Buford Weekley     William Curtis

Harry Toulmin

* Diego McCoy is Diego McVoy who was a commisioner of Mobile, Alabama from 1815.

** Gerald Byrne is Gerald Byrne Jr. His father, Gerald Byrne Sr, was massacred in 1814 b y a band of Redstick Indians.

Both above notes were provided by Bonnie McVoy Treon. She can be contacted at gateon@ctc.net.

It is amazing how many of the above I remember from reading about the Massacre at Fort Mims. Sharman

Child of BLUNDEL CURTIS is:

Notes for ROBERT HAWKINS:

The Hancock County records mention only a Drury Hawkins and a Hardress Hawkins. Interestingly , after finding those two names in records in Hancock County, I glanced back over records I had collected and found a document from the will Book V V 1776-1784 which mentions a Robert Hawkins, St. Mark's Parish, Craven County. Wife: Jane, formerly Jane Davis, 1/2 estate, then to son . Son: Thomas, under 19 years, other half estate. Brother: Drury Hawkins. Mentions: Thomas and Robert, under 18 years and William Hawkins, sons of my brother. Exors: Wife; Samuel Little; D avid Guelyard. Wit. Sm. Little, Thos. Sumter.

d: 29 May 1775. P: nd. R:nd. P. 181

Children of ELIZABETH CURTIS and MICHAEL HORN are:

Children of ELIZABETH CURTIS and ROBERT HAWKINS are: