The Proclamation of 1763: An Attempt to Ease Tension
Fort Ontario, 1766: A Final Peace with Pontiac
"A few days ago Pondiack and his chiefs of the several nations here, arrived from Oswego, where they have been in council with Sir William Johnson, & all seem very well contented with the treatment they met here."
- New York Gazette, September 8, 1766
"The peace agreement at Fort Ontario in 1766," according to historian David Dixon, "was not as much a formal treaty, but more of an agreement to cease hostilities."
"Although the hostilities between Native Americans and British forces ended with the actions of Bradstreet and Bouquet in 1764, the agreement at Fort Ontario did," in the words of Dr. William Campbell, "have important consequences."
"First," according to Campbell, "settlers, squatters and Native Americans alike could breathe a collective sigh of relief. Also, it helped establish a temporary sense of autonomy among the tribes who were in confederation with Pontiac in their dealings with the British.
Seemingly, their rights and title to their remaining lands now seemed secure."
However, this same man, Sir William Johnson, whom Pontiac had grown to trust during these negotiations, would betray him when he became motivated by greed and stole away huge tracts of Native American land in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix.
"Although the hostilities between Native Americans and British forces ended with the actions of Bradstreet and Bouquet in 1764, the agreement at Fort Ontario did," in the words of Dr. William Campbell, "have important consequences."
"First," according to Campbell, "settlers, squatters and Native Americans alike could breathe a collective sigh of relief. Also, it helped establish a temporary sense of autonomy among the tribes who were in confederation with Pontiac in their dealings with the British.
Seemingly, their rights and title to their remaining lands now seemed secure."
However, this same man, Sir William Johnson, whom Pontiac had grown to trust during these negotiations, would betray him when he became motivated by greed and stole away huge tracts of Native American land in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix.