Valuation 163, William Harris - 30066, Susannah Collins - 38223

"Decision of the commissioners in the case of William Harris and Susan his wife, see Y. 163. Commissioners Office. New Echota, September 15th, 1837. Whereas William Harris of Forsyth County, Georgia, a white man and citizen of the United States did some time previous to the late Cherokee Treaty of 1835 intermarry with Susan Collins a native Cherokee woman, whereby and in consequence of which said intermarriage, the said William Harris became entitled to the priveligeses and immunities of a Cherokee citizen, and under the provision of the late treaty above referred to his improvements were valued to him by the people's valuing agents and returned to the commissioners accordingly - which said valuations amounted to the section of seven hundred and ninety nine dollars ($799.00) and his spoliation to three hundred dollars ($300.00) and where as the said William Harris did make his election under said treaty to become a citizen of the U.S. and [upon?] application did some months ago recieve from the commissioners their certificates for the sum of three hundred and ninenty nine dolars ($399.00) upon which he has recieved the aforesaid sum of moving from the proper disbusing office of the government of the U.S. and since the reception of the aforesaid sum, is having been made satisfactoy to appear to the commissioners by the testimony of various respectable persons as well as the conffessions of said Harris, that he has failed to keep the marriage vow in other respects maltreats his said wife as well as her family and connections to a degree that affords just grounds for the belief that if the said Harris should not entirely abandon his said wife that his treatment towards her has been, and will be such as to produce a final seperation. He having [outlasted?] the most sacred obligations of the marriage contract. In consideration of all of which the foregoing premise it is ordered and adjudged by the commissioners that the unpaid balance of seven hundred dollars ($700) now due to the said Harris, as will appear from the records of this office, be withheld from him, and placed to the credit of Susan Harris his wife - and for the purpose of placing said funds out of the power of said Harris, and securing the application of the same, to the use and benefit of the said Susan, W is ordered that certificates do issue for the aforesaid sum of seven hundred dollars to Robert Rogers in trust for the said Susan Harris and to be applied to her entire use and benefit. Signed Wilson Lumpkin, John Kennedy, Commissioners"