UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE “POSSESSED OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE TRADE, CONNEXIONS AND INFLUENCE”: THE ATLANTIC INTIMACIES OF AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY INDIAN TRADER A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By BRYAN RINDFLEISCH Norman, Oklahoma 2014 “POSSESSED OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE TRADE, CONNEXIONS AND INFLUENCE”: THE ATLANTIC INTIMACIES OF AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY INDIAN TRADER A DISSERTATION APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY BY ______________________ Dr. Joshua Piker, Chair ______________________ Dr. Paul A. Gilje ______________________ Dr. Judith Lewis ______________________ Dr. Robert Rundstrom ______________________ Dr. Catherine E. Kelly ©Copyright by BRYAN RINDFLEISCH, 2014 All Rights Reserved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation has been a long time coming, and it is only natural that my intellectual, financial, and personal debts are many. While the years of research and writing is often a lonely and solitary process, this work could not have been possible in the first place without the support of so many people, institutions, and organizations. Writing one’s “Acknowledgements” is essentially charting the course of one’s own life over the past decade. Therefore, I must start with those who encouraged me at the earliest stages of my career. This is for Dr. Richard St. Germaine (Ojibwe) and Dr. James W. Oberly at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire who made me truly believe that history is much more than just dates and names, and took a naive undergraduate under their wing and opened his eyes to the world of Native Peoples and their pasts. Similarly, I cannot put into words how indebted I am to Dr. Kristen Foster at Marquette University. Her guidance, mentorship, and friendship has been a source of inspiration throughout my academic life; a life that would not have been possible without her support. Also, Dr. Thomas Jablonsky and Dr. Steven Avella provided constant encouragement and sagacious advice; Dr. Lezlie Knox showed me how to be a true professional in the academic world; Dr. John Krugler and Dr. Julius Ruff displayed great patience with an easily excitable student; and Dr. James Marten read and edited much of my early work. At the University of Oklahoma, I could not have asked for a more remarkable advisor than Dr. Joshua Piker. So many times you hear the “horror stories” about doctoral advisors, but he is far from that. His insight in every manner of academia – and life in general – has been, and continues to be, a source of inspiration. More iv importantly, he not only tolerated my volatile ramblings in person and on paper, but gave me direction and a purpose. I would not be here if it was not for his confidence in me and his unwavering support, especially during the dissertation process. I only hope one day that I might be able to replicate even a fraction of his scholarship or mentorship. My deep and sincere thanks also goes out to Dr. Paul Gilje who taught me what it is to be a scholar of early and revolutionary America, how to read and write like a historian, and how to love this profession. His dedication to our work as historians, patience, and “tough-love” approach remains a source of motivation. To complete the triumvirate that molded me into who I am as a scholar, I am eternally grateful for the insight and support of Dr. “Cathy” Kelly. As her teaching assistant, editorial assistant for Common-place, and a student in her seminars, she taught me what it is to be a responsible historian, pushed and challenged me when I needed it most, and believed in me when I struggled to do so myself. I also owe extensive thanks to Dr. Judith Lewis and Dr. James Hart who taught me everything I needed to know about British and Irish history, and to Dr. Robert Griswold for his abiding support. My intellectual debts for this dissertation extend even further to those who offered their guidance, assistance, and knowledge throughout the dissertation process. I must single out Dr. Steven C. Hahn, Dr. Kathryn H. Braund, Dr. John T. Juricek, Dr. Claudio Saunt, and the Curator of Published Materials at the South Caroliniana Library, Friedrich Hamer, for their expertise in regards to the Creek Indians and southeastern history. I am particularly obligated to Dr. Braund and Dr. Saunt who provided me with research materials I could not access myself. Additionally, I owe a very special thanks to the genealogist Brent Holcomb, who seemingly lives at the South Carolina v Department of Archives and History, and managed to locate George Galphin’s last will and testament after it went missing. At every twist and turn that this dissertation took, various historians were also there to encourage and inspire. Therefore, I must thank Dr. Colin Calloway, Dr. Robbie Ethridge, Dr. Daniel Usner, Dr. Scott Stevens, and Dr. Kariann Yokota. In addition, the support and knowledge of the staff at the South Caroliniana Library (in particular Graham Duncan), Newberry Library in Chicago (John Aubry and Matt Rutherford), David Library of the American Revolution (Katherine A. Ludwig, Brian Graziano, and Meg McSweeney), William L. Clements Library (Brian Dunnigan), Georgia Historical Society, South Carolina Historical Society, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library, British Library, and British National Archives were all indispensable to my work. This dissertation would also not have been possible without the financial aid of several university and archival institutions. I express my sincere gratitude to the History Department at the University of Oklahoma for their funding my month-long research in London. I would also be remiss if not to thank the Graduate College, the College for Arts & Sciences, and Graduate Student Senate for the generous grants that funded my research at the Universities of South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, I gratefully recognize the financial support of the Newberry Library for a fellowship to research at their institution and the American Philosophical Society. I am similarly indebted to the David Library of the American Revolution for their resident research fellowship. Finally, I thank the national office of Phi Alpha Theta at the University of South vi Florida for their doctoral scholarship that allowed me to travel to the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. Friends and family have been my biggest cheerleaders and advocates throughout this process. It goes without saying that my parents and in-laws have been a constant source of support over the years. From their willingness to listen – and even reading my work – to giving me sanctuary in the basement to research and write, I owe them so much. To Jeff Fortney and Rowan Steineker, they together lent me their intellectual wherewithal, priceless humor, and constant companionship. Even when I was down in the deepest recesses of dissertation hell, they were always there for me. To Dustin Mack, he served in a number of supportive capacities, but none more important than as my chief reader who spent many days pouring over various drafts of my chapters. To the rest of my graduate cohort – Matt Bahar, Julie Stidolph, Matt Pearce, Brandi Hilton- Hagemann, Doug Miller, Nate Holly, and Stephen Vickory – your friendship and knowledge has been instrumental in shaping me as a scholar and friend. Also, to my fellow “fellows” at the David Library – Christopher Minty, Mark Boonshoft, and Dr. Michelle Orihel – you provided an invaluable intellectual support, a wealth of insight and research resources, and most of all, your friendship. I eagerly await our next “Chipotle” and “Wegmans” antics. Finally, Bridget Rindfleisch has been a rock amid the stormy seas of the past five years. Her tireless love and enthusiasm for life has kept me going throughout the dissertation. She not only endured the ups and downs of this process, but found ways to make me smile, laugh, and persevere every day. This is why I dedicate this work to her, because she never once lost faith in me. She is the light of my life. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Part I: George Galphin’s Atlantic World of Intimacies and Localities, 1764-1776 1. “In whom he placed the greatest Confidence”: George Galphin, his Intimates, and the World of Familial Intimacy at Silver Bluff 38 2. “The intimate connection…between his interest and mine in the Indian trade”: George Galphin, his Allies, and the Creation of Intimate Partnership and Alliances 78 3. “His People”: George Galphin, his Dependents, and the Quest for Gentility in a World of Intimacy 126 Part II: The Foundations of George Galphin’s Atlantic World, 1707-1763 4. “We have Suffered many Hardships to acquire a Small Competency”: The Galphin Family of County Armagh, Ireland, 1700-1737 166 5. “He was Looked Upon as an Indian”: George Galphin, the Creek Indians of Coweta, and the Politics of Intimacy, 1741-1763 194 6. A “Principal,” “Considerable,” and “Sensible” Trader: George Galphin, the Deerskin Trade, and the Commerce of Intimacy, 1741-1763 230 Part III: The Violence within George Galphin’s Atlantic World, 1771-1780 7. “I thought to be Easey the remainder of my Life…but I have had more troble than ever”: George Galphin and the Violence of Intimacy, 1771-1776 268 8. “I am sorry an Independence is Declared”: George Galphin, the American Revolution, and the War of Intimacy, 1776-1780 307 Conclusion 345 Bibliography 364 viii LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS 1. George Galphin’s “scrawle” to Henry Laurens 20 2. Map of the Boundary Line between South Carolina and Georgia 39 3. Map of Silver Bluff and the Savannah River 40 4. Map of Silver Bluff and the Lower Path 42 5.