The main characters of the conspiracy include John Askin Sr., a merchant from the Detroit area dealing in furs and trade goods.
John Askin Jr. was a close friend of the Indians in the area, especially the Ottawa.
General Anthony Wayne was the commander of the United States Army stationed at Greene Ville and the main architect of the Treaty of Greene Ville.
It seems that John Askin Sr. was purchasing land from Native Americans. He collaborated with a consortium interested in acquiring a large area along Lake Erie, known as the Cuyahoga Purchase, for profit. His goal in the Treaty of Greene Ville was to prevent Wayne from interfering with private ownership and purchasing Indian land.
John Askin Jr. accompanied a group of Native Americans traveling to Greene Ville to ensure they retained ownership of their land and could sell it to whomever they wished. Askin claimed he was an interpreter and advisor for the Native people. He stated that the Indians asked him to join them so they would not be taken advantage of due to language barriers. Anthony Wayne had provided interpreters and did not want John Askin Jr. interfering. Askin Jr. was opposed to the Native Americans signing the proposed treaty.
When John Askin Sr. learned that his son was already on route to Greene Ville, he hastened to write instructions explaining what he wanted him to do. A friendly courier was supposed to deliver the letter to his son. Somehow this letter was intercepted and given to Anthony Wayne. Wayne confronted John Askin Jr. and showed him the letter. Wayne asked if he recognized whose writing it was, and Askin stated it was his father’s. Wayne then read the letter aloud and declared Askin was a spy. Wayne had a guard of soldiers take Askin to Fort Jefferson, and his orders were to hold him in a blockhouse, under guard, and incommunicado. Askin declared that the Indians he accompanied would be incensed and demand his release. He understood there were no spies during peacetime. The Indians did not seem to care about Askin’s plight.
Askin was held until the day after the treaty was signed. Wayne sent for him, had dinner with him, and then allowed him to leave. Wayne explained to Askin that the Indians were declared the owners of their land, but the treaty’s terms said that if they ever sold it, it could only be sold to the United States government. In addition, the United States government would not recognize all previous land claims purchased by private individuals before the Treaty of Greene Ville.
Note* We are still searching for a copy of John Askin Sr.’s letter of instructions to his son, John Askin Jr., and are trying to figure out how Wayne obtained it. One theory is that Francis Vigo, a merchant who dealt with Native Americans from Vincennes, Indiana, intercepted the letter and shared it with Anthony Wayne.
