Colonel Benjamin Love

Benjamin Love, born circa 1795, was perhaps the best known of Thomas' sons. He and his family was admitted to the Monroe Church in 1828. In 1830 he was appointed United States Interpreter to the Chickasaw for the treaty negotiations being held at Franklin, Tennessee and again in 1832 for the Pontotoc Creek Treaty. He also served in that capacity in Washington , DC. in 1834.

From the 1834 treaty, Article 4 "...Many of their people are quite competent to manage their affairs, though some are not capable, and might be imposed upon by designing persons; it is therefore agreed that the reservations hereinafter admitted, shall not be permitted to be sold, leased, or disposed of unless it appear by the [419] certificate of at least two of the following persons, to wit: Ish-ta-ho-ta-pa the King, Levi Colbert, George Colbert, Martin Colbert, Isaac Alberson, Henry Love, and Benj Love, of which five have affixed their names to this treaty."

This commission existed from 1834 to 1845 in order that Chickasaw property owners would be treated fairly by eager land speculators, even if they were not very knowledgeable of business affairs. The commissioners protected their people from being swindled.

Benjamin moved to the Indian Territory in 1843 after leading other parties of Chickasaw to the west in 1840, 1841, and 1843.

In January 1844, he succeeded his brother Slone, as the Chickasaw's official interpreter. In November of 1848, he helped to draft the first constitution.

He was murdered near his home on July 4th, 1849 by two Shawnee, but suspician fell on two Chickasaw as instigators of the plot. They were exonerated.

Benjamin Love had married Charlotte Burney, daughter of Simon Burney and Peggy Allen. They raised six children: Narcissa, Agnes, Matilda, Mary Jane, Melvina and Emily.

After his death, Charlotte married Calvin S. Choate. She lived to be 110.

Narcissa married her cousin, John B. Love.

Matilda married George A. Criner. [1]

Mary Jane married B.F. Allen and later William Gaddis.

Emily married John Taylor Potts.

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NOTES

[1] per Troy Lawence (Friedtater@aol.com) - descendant