At that period, the trade with the Six Nations was chiefly in the hands of the English. One of their principal traders was JOHN ABEEL,[H] generally named O'BAIL or O'BEEL; his name is mentioned in the annals of that period on several occasions. At one time it is stated, that he made presents of considerable value to the Indians. It was one of the hospitable customs of these people, to give their friends a wife. JOHN ABEEL had his Indian squaw, and CORNPLANTER was the fruit of that temporary union. Although we have no certain information on the subject, I think it probable that the mother was the daughter of an Indian Sachem. I infer this from the fact, that the best and most respectable traders of that period, were regarded with great favor by the Indians, and also from the important circumstance, that three of her sons were recognized as Chiefs of the Seneca tribe, namely: her celebrated son, CORNPLANTER, and her younger sons, Ga-ne-o-di-yo, or Handsome Lake, and Ta-wan-ne-ars, or Blacksnake. [H] I have recently been informed that JOHN ABEEL, the father of CORNPLANTER, was a Hollander or Dutchman. The inaccurate way of writing the name O'BAIL, has given rise to the statement, generally believed, that he was of a different nation. I learn that CORNPLANTER visited a nephew of JOHN ABEEL, who resided in the city of New York, and their relationship was recognized. I have this information from a great-grandson of the nephew referred to. The original manner of writing the name was ABEEL. The family now write it ABEEL. I regret that the name is inaccurately engraved on the monument erected at Jennesadaga. We may also reasonably infer that she faithfully and carefully discharged her duty to her offspring, in accordance with the light and knowledge which she possessed. It was the Indian woman who planted the fields of corn, and kept the wigwam, when the hunter was in the forest, or the warrior was upon the war path. Their attachment to localities was greater than that of the Indian men. It sometimes happened that Indian women interposed to prevent grant of lands by the chiefs and warriors. They desired to preserve their wigwams, their fields and their orchards. The father of CORNPLANTER being absent, chiefly residing at Albany, or on the Mohawk river, the mother's influence was uncontrolled. I think it highly probable that the remarkable attachment to the _land_, exhibited by CORNPLANTER on all occasions, was the result, in some good degree, of the teachings of his mother. When he speaks at the treaties, or sends a "talk" or a message to the Chief of the thirteen tires, or to "Corlaer," (New York,) or to "Onas," (Pennsylvania,) he says: "We do not want money or goods; we want homes; we want land; the trader's goods soon wear out, the land lasts forever." CORNPLANTER refers to his birth and childhood in his interesting address to the Governor of Pennsylvania, in 1822, when the question of taxing his property, hereinafter mentioned, was raised.