Biography
John McPhail was one of the former Hudson’s Bay Company employees whom Washington territorial authorities held during the Puget Sound conflict of 1855–1856. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Steilacoom report identifies the named group as men Governor Isaac Stevens suspected of aiding Indigenous forces and considered treasonous. It states that a court-martial convened in May declined jurisdiction and civil authorities discharged the prisoners. The report establishes actual group detention, but not this individual’s exact arrest or release date, confinement site, conviction or duration.
John McPhail was one of the former Hudson’s Bay Company employees whom Washington territorial authorities held during the Puget Sound conflict of 1855–1856. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Steilacoom report identifies the named group as men Governor Isaac Stevens suspected of aiding Indigenous forces and considered treasonous. It states that a court-martial convened in May declined jurisdiction and civil authorities discharged the prisoners. The report establishes actual group detention, but not this individual’s exact arrest or release date, confinement site, conviction or duration. Actual detention followed by civil discharge after a May 1856 court-martial declined jurisdiction. No conviction, imposed term, individual endpoints or actual total established.
BIA, Steilacoom proposed finding, January 14, 2000, PDF page 69, footnote 72.
