Background
Richard Prickett was born about 1777 in Fayette County, now Greene County, Pennsylvania.
Richard Prickett was born about 1777 in Fayette County, now Greene County, Pennsylvania.
He was a fur trapper and an interpreter for the United States government during its early contacts with the Menominee tribe. At age 13, he was captured by Shawnee Indians on Bear Creek, northeast of Fort Pitt, in present-day Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and later taken to Ohio by the Stockbridge tribe. After a number of years, he was given to the Chippewa tribe and Prickett moved to Michilimackinac and worked in the fur trade for 20 years.
From 1818 to 1834, Prickett was the government interpreter for the Indian Service with the Menominee tribe.
Prickett spoke the Chippewa language but did not speak the Menominee language. He was able to interpret due to the fact that most Menominee chiefs also spoke Chippewa.
In 1823, Prickett claimed a section of land on the west bank of the Fox River near Green Bay, Wisconsin. The headmaster at the school described him as "violent and abusive."
Prickett was the United States. interpreter for Colonel Samuel C. Stambaugh, along with interpreters Resident Advisor Forsyth, Central America Grignon, and Attorney - General Ellis for the 1831 treaty with the Menominee tribe.
When the Senate modified the treaty, he interpreted for the second one, in 1832.
Prickett later worked for Colonel George Boyd, the United States. Indian Agent at Green Bay, Wisconsin as an interpreter. He was said to have married a Chippewa and later a Menominee.