Sol #1223 — Seneca Nation v. Hugaboom: 1878 Cattaraugus resurvey did not enlarge reservation

Finding #1223 recovers Seneca Nation of Indians v. Hugaboom, 132 N.Y. 492–499 (Court of Appeals, 1892). The 1929 hearing groups it with lease cases; the original report is a disputed Cattaraugus Reservation south boundary, not an Allegany village tenancy.

The Nation sued Wellington Hugaboom in ejectment for a strip south of the line he maintained. Congress’s May 25, 1878 resurvey authorization produced an approved straight-line survey placing upwards of eight rods of his farm inside the reservation. Justice Bradley acknowledged the survey was made and approved — and held it could not enlarge the reservation by changing a previously duly marked treaty line.

A long fence since 1829 and occupation south of it helped the jury identify the alleged original 1798/1802 line. The court did not hold that mere Indigenous “acquiescence” could independently surrender a treaty boundary by practical location.

Separations: Cattaraugus exterior ≠ Allegany village maps; approved resurvey ≠ automatic boundary shift; occupation-as-line-ID ≠ acquiescence-surrender; hearing p.493 points inside a decision that starts p.492. Source: 1892-seneca-hugaboom-cattaraugus-resurvey-boundary.

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