Trade List of John McKnight, 1822 (original) (raw)

From Tomahawk and Long Rifle, Vol. 12, No. 1 (March 1987)

Partner of General Thomas James

By: Tom Crane

Arvada, Colorado

In his book, "Three Years Among the Mexicans and Indians, James wrote of the circumstances surrounding the trading venture to the Comanche Indians in 1822. The expedition left late in the fall of 1822 and erected a fort in present day Blaine county Oklahoma. This put the site on either the Canadian or Beaver fork of the Canadian. McKnight then left the fort to find the Indians and bring them back for trade. McKnight and his two companions were more or less captured by the Comanches and McKnight was sent back to the fort for an interpreter. The Comanches evidently followed him a short distance and killed him. His two companions were kept hostage by the Indians and were eventually given back to James when the trading began. James had a successful trade with the Comanches but lost everything on his trip back to the states. For the full story one must of course read the above mentioned book. You may also refer to Chittenden, "History of the American Fur Trade of the Far West" or Gregg, "Commerce of the Prairies." The list of McKnight's goods are in the Chouteau/Moffit collection in the Missouri Historical Society. This is the list:

12 pr 3 point Blankets 22 pr 2 1/2 do 5 inferior blue strouds 1 saved lint blue cloth 1 do 1 do 1 do 1 do 1 do 1 do 2 red stroud 1 scarlet do 5 scarlet do 2 striped cloth 20 Indian Callico 2 turkey striped Hkfs (handkerchiefs) 3 fancy do 2 black silk do 2 Dz Ivory Combs 19 " " do 1 " " do 8 " horn do 6 " paper covered looking glasses 16 " wood scapers 2 " Cartouche Knives 3 " Buck do 3 " brass inlaid do 1 " clasp knives 1 " do 1/2 " shop sissors 1/4 " do 3/4 " do 1/4 " do 1/4 " do 1-1/2 Dz. womens do 1-1/2 Dz. do 2 Dz do 2 Dz. square files 2 Dz. flat do 8 in. 1/2 Dz. rasps 8 in. 1 Dz. hand saw files 4 gros commercial bath rings 1 gros brass thimbles 1 gros Indian awls 1 gros gun worms 1 gros fire steels 2 M corn needles 1-1/2 gros white metal coat buttons 2 gros yellow vest do 1/2 white do do 1000 gun flints 20 bunches blue beads 17100 black wampum 11400 white do 3 1/2 lbs. blue beads 2 lbs. all colored thread 2 lbs white do 10 calico shirts 24 fine cotton do 5 red flannel do 7 white do 2 setts gorgets 2 setts moons 10 pairs wrist bands 1st size 10 do 2nd size 10 do 3rd size 6 rolls taffeta ribbon 25 lbs. vermillion 59 half axes 3 lbs cinnamon 2 pcs navy blue prints 1/2 groce London Scotch gardering 1/4 groce scarlet & striped do 1/4 groce colored do 6 brass kettles 2 nests tin kettles 14 in a nest 1/2 dz. Swans down vests 18 pairs Russia sheeting trowsers 4 kegs tobacco 639 lbs. 10 N.W. guns 1 tent 21/2 breadth 1 do 2 do 3 cod lines 18 threads 3 (?) scarlet & crimson worsted 6 prs course shoes 5 prs 3rd quality do 2 pad locks 1 do 2 claw hammers 2 drawing knives 1 hand saw 2 Augurs 2 sockets to do 1 candle mould 1 lb candle wick 13 soup plates 1 oval tin pan 3 oval tin do 2 candle sticks 1 tea pot 1 sugar cannister 1 tea kettle 4 quarts 1 tea cannister 5 Japand tumblers 1 small padlock 5 lbs Glauber Salts 1 dz peppermint 1/2 dz turlington 1/6 dz Opodeldoc 3/4 lbs white vitrol 2 memo books 1 Quire do 1 Box wafers 15 quills 1 provision basket 1-1/4 lbs brass wire 12 lbs sugar 1 dz table spoons 1 iron ladle 1 dz knee straps 1 nest Morocco Trunks 1 nest Morocco Trunks 1 (?) Hyson tea 1 pc blue cloth 1 pc red flannell 1 pc oil cloth 1 pc striped cotton 6 Swans down vests 12 prs shoes 3rd quality 1 spade 2 pieces super prints 2 dz ladies Scissors 1 dz pocket knives 1 dz do 1 (?) nails 1 dz gimblets 1/4 dz do 1 pc tow sheeting 1 pr steel yards 5 kegs powder 3 empty trunks 3 bale cloths 6 boxes 1 do 3 blankets 2 1/2 pts 12 yards white flannel 2 (?) thread 22 (?) sugar 6# nails 1 spade twine ? needles 1 dz red caps 4 mens C cotton shirts

Entered Oct 21st & 29th 1822 Total cost 2442.70 Purchased of the American Fur Co. St. Louis Samuel Abbott Agent