USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Fort Wayne in 1790 > Part 5
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We are obliged to make use of Peerogues or Canoes to go to see those people who live on the other two Islands occa- sioned by the water-Sun shined about 4 o'Clock, turned a beautifull Evening untill about 8 or 9 o'Clock when it became Clowdy & Thick. After sun sett Mr. Leith, Ironside, Kinzie & myself and some french men, carried a long flatt piece of Timber & placed it across the narrowest part of the run & fall which enters from the River for the purpose of crossing more at our ease, as we are often obliged to be going backwards & forwards from our house to that of Mr. Leiths-it makes a very good Bridge.
19th. Wednesday. Raine this morning early-Pretty smart -a thin sleety raine continues which makes it very disagree- able-Rather a Raw day. Water still Rising. This after- noon about 2 o'clock arrived here from Detroit one Jerome a french man in Mr. Leiths employ with a Horse load of Blankets and Robedoux who left this for Detroit 19th. Jany on Mr. A. Lasells affairs-They came as far as Roche de Bout in Slays-
59The "Rebecca" was a government armed vessel of 136 tons, built at Detroit in 1782. When used as a merchant vessel she carried a complement of fifteen men; when equipped as a war vessel, thirty-five men. Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XXIV, 12.
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Received letters from my Brother, Meredith, Baby & Mr. Rob- ertson-the last respecting one Chevalier at Petit Piconno, which Mr. Robertson had heard was dead, but no such thing. The ice began to float down the River about 3 o'Clock this afternoon but soon stopped. 8 o'Clock the River is quite choacked up with Ice & the water Rising very fast, its now equal with the Banks of the river. 9 o'Clock some of the Ice entirely over one part of the Bank .- My Horse which Mr. Sharpe left at the Glaize is dead,-not owing to the fatigue he got, but a small worme which has killed a great number of Horses-he was fatt when he died. Played cards at Mr. Dufresne's this Evening, with Mr. and Mrs. Adamher.
20th Saturday .- Began to raine this morning about day breake excessively hard & left off about 8 or 9 o'Clock-A great fogg this morning. Our bridge across the Run carried off-The Ice has totally choaked up the entrance of Run so much that it answers in lieu of the bridge, the River is choaked up in the same manner. a Person might easily cross the River upon it .- Fogg cleared up about 10 o'Clock & began to blow pretty fresh .- Went to Mr. Cicotts this day to inform myself Respecting Piere Chevallier trader at Tipiconno for Mr. Rob- ertson, from one Cleremont who lately came from that place but he could not give me so good an account of him as Mr. Cicott who went theire himself this winter-he says some time in December last this Chevallier was robbed by the Potuwatomie Indians, in the night when asleep owing to his not making his door fast, that he got some of his goods back, and that what they got was not considerable-Mr. Cicott says that its risking Property too much, to let him have it, as he lives in the woods with only one man with him continually exposed to the malice & treachery of the Indians about him-
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that he means to come to this place very early in the Spring and will send in a few packs to Mr. Robertson.
II o'Clock. Wind seems to increase- About 3 o'Clock this afternoon the Ice floated down the River & the Run all in a body, I don't think I ever saw a grander sight; a number of Loggs & Trees, stumps of trees &c came down upon it. The River is now pretty clear except the run which is full from the mouthe till about halfway. The water which ris imme- diately on the ice's going, is-now lowering much-I must observe that a little time before the Ice went off that two Miami Indians walked over it, a third was on his way when the Ice began to move, he was obliged to return immediately ; The Ice made a great noise when it came down. The water touched Mr. Payett's step into his house and very near that of Mr. Cicotts-The Ice was by large lumps jumbled up together which occasioned the noise, as they Ran one over the other .- Rather Raw this Evening .- Raine from 7 to 9 o'Clock.
21" Sunday. Beautifull morning. The River quite clear of Ice-The Run still choaked up- Water about four feet lower. -about 10 or II o'Clock the Run got clear of Ice. About I or 2 o'Clock it began to raine & continued 'till the Evening .- A Great deal of Ice came down this afternoon, a good deal of it went thro' the Run-Water rise a good deal this afternoon .- a great quantity of Ice at the bottom of the Run, a great quan- tity of Wood, Old Trees &c. came down with the Ice this Even- ing. This evening I was sent for by Mr. J. B. Lassell to be a witness to his marriage with Miss Rivarre. Mr. Adamher, Mr. De Seleron and Mr. Barthelemie were also witness .-
22nd. Monday. The finest day I have seen for some time --- A good deal of Ice still floating .- The Centre of the Run
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choaked up .- a great quantity of Trees, Stumps &c. floating down this morning-Froze a little last night. 12 o'Clock-Mr. Leith got the people to make a Bridge with the loggs that floated into the niouthe of the Run-Very little Ice floating at Present.
23rd. Tuesday. Damn'd disagreeable day. Rained most Part of the night, Thunder a little at a distance ; Snowed about day breake. Yesterday rote Meredith, Jack Robertson, Wm. Robertson & my Brother, and this morning wrote to Thoms. McKee.60 Not the least sign of Ice on the River. Raine most part of the afternoon-Thunder & Lightning about 5 o'Clock, & rained exceedingly hard. Mr. Ironside shewed me how to know when the Lightning & Thunder is near-As soon as it lights you Count the number of Seconds between it & the thunder, & each second, its 1120 feet off-multiply this by the number of seconds, divide by 3 & it will give you yards and by 1760 & it will give you the distance in miles should it be 10 far.
24th. Wednesday. Some time in the night Mr. Kinzie came in to informe us that the water was rising very high that it was already at his Step-He came in again about day breake & told us it was entirely in his House, desired he might bring his apprentices here & also stay himself with us-The water is amasingly high obliged to make use of a canoe to fetch Mr. Leith here, the water rising close to his Door-Mrs. & Miss Payee obliged to fly theire House about 12 o'Clock in the night & take refuge at Mr. Barthelmies, Mr. & Mrs. Cicott were obliged also to go up to their Garrett. Mr. Lorains, Mr. Lafontaine Houses & Mr. Kinzie's Shopp where he works is
60Son of Alexander McKee, and for many years in the British Indian Department.
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an Island of itself. A river runs on each side of them the same at Mr. Leiths, but the last will soon be overflooed- 9 o'Clock, Its at present not far from our own door-Obliged to cut down Picketts & make a road thro the different yards, the Streets and Bank entirely overflooed-Blows excessively hard-Raine most part of the Morning- Our House quite surrounded with water- Runs amasingly in the cellar-Mr. Leith obliged to desert his .- Every House almost in the village is in the same Predicament-we are all obliged to put our trunks & things in the lofte-We are now Prepared for its coming in the House- Mr. Leith & Kinzie put up a stove in the loft of the Company's House- Mr. Ironside & myself joined them this afternoon- The water came into the house about 3 o'Clock, a good deal came up from the cellar. After Supper which was about 6 o'Clock Mr. Leith returned to his own Garrett. Mr. Ironside & myself got under way in the Canoe to return to our Garrett, but we were very unfortunate, just as we came into the rappidest part of the water, a whirl Pool very near oversett the Canoe, Mr. Ironside who was steering, slipped backwards & fell into the water, the canoe had then greate way & lucky enough arrived close to the upper part of the Picketts of the Grave Yarde which I immediately took hold of & held fast by them standing on the ribbon, pushed the Canoe off immediately with the lads that were in it, who got down the Current in time to save him. He says when the canoe came up to him, he was just gone-The lads took him into one Mr. J. Morris-& came immediately back for me-I got some dry clothes for him at Mr. Adamhers .- Water not rising much.
25th. Thursday. Water very little higher than it was-Blue and froze excessively hard this last night-Very fine sun
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. I took hold of the Picketts ... ..
shiny day. As I'm not overfond of Canoes I do not mean to return to the Compys House .- Breakfasted at Mr. Adamhers & I'm engaged to dine there also. II o'Clock, Water seem- ingly Rising-
26th. Friday. Very little frost last night .- Gloomy day- Water rose a little last night & is still rising .- Canoes goes thro several yards ever since the day before yesterday. There is not above three Houses that you can walk to without wet- ting yourself or going in a Canoe. Went in a Pirogue with J. B. Richerville & F. Lassell & paid a visit to Mr. Leith in the Friponne,61 also to Mrs. Cicott in her Garrett-This last House has at least water half way up to the Garrett Floor- Sun shined about 1/2 past 12 o'Clock. Pd. J. B. Lassell a visit alone. The water had obliged Richerville to quit his House & go to his mother's, Her House is very high from the Earthe, which prevents the water coming to it as soon as the others.
27th. Saturday. Wind began to blow very hard last night about 10 o'Clock & continued the most part of the night .- Froze very hard-Water lowered a little-Very fine day-I o'Clock-Water still falling. High wind this afternoon, S. W. About Sun sett the wind dyed away & it became a perfect Calme ; A very beautifull Evening- Water has fallen about 4 inches at least this day.
28th. Sunday. Froze very hard last night. Water fallen about 15 Inches since last night. Very fine Sun shiny day-
61 Probably this term is used in the sense of warehouse. Toward the close of the French regime in Canada royal storehouses were established at Quebec and Montreal. Because of the officials peculations that developed in connection with their administration both the storehouse at Quebec and the one at Montreal became popularly known as La Friponne, or The Cheat. See Francis Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe (Boston, 1885), II, 24. It seems probable that the term passed into more or less general use as the designation for storehouses at the French posts.
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Our floor quite dry-Payed a visit to Mr. Abbott this after- noon in comp'y with Miss. Adamher, Dufresne & Coco Las- sell-from that we went to see Mr. Lafontaine .- Coco got damned drunk- After those visits, J. B. Lassell, J. B. Richerville & Francois Lassell & myself gave the ladys a row upon & down the River, the fiddler played a few tunes and myself on the flute.
I March. Monday. Water has fallen at least two feet since yesterday- Froze hard and snow'd a good deal this morning. IO o'clock Its now thawing which makes it very dirty & disagreeable- Water still falling very much .- 6 o'clock- Little Raine & Sleete this Evening- The snow entirely gone.
2d. Tuesday. Very dark disagreeable day- Water fallen greatly, the Bank entirely dry-but very much worne away- particularly opposite to Blue Jacketts door its not above five or six feet wide-before it was at least 10 or 12. Mr. Leith & Kinzie have moved back to us this morning. Yesterday after- noon Mr. Ironside & Myself moved our baggage down from the Lofte .- This day The King of the Shawnee called the (Wolfe) Capt. Snake & another Chiefe of the same Nation came to this place-that a meeting should be made of the Prin- cipal Traders & Inhabitants of the place, which was done-He then got up and spoke as follows-Fathers & Brothers here assembled, this is to acquaints you that we are now going to gather all our straggling nation together and build a village a little distance up from here- for which we have to request you will let us have a little Tobacco & Vermillion-by & when our village is Built we shall hold a grand Council & informe you of our Wants- What we want now is to rise the hearts of our young men. And you may be assured you shall lose nothing by it, for we mean to cultivate the land and rase a
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good deal of corn & will recompense you for your present kindness to us- The people all of a voice announced that they approved very much of theire coming to live together in one place- And gave them what they wanted- The String of Wampum was given to Mr. Adamher- The Chillcothy tribe of Shawaneese who have their village a little distance down from here are not to move .- Raine, Snow & Northerly Wind this afternoon. Snow's and freezes very hard this Evening.
3rd. Wednesday. Excessively cold all night & continues to be so-blowed also very hard all night &c Ice floating down the River this morning- Water quite low, the entrance of the Gully dry. Amazingly cold all day & blew very hard- Two of the Shawanee Chiefs went off this day ; Snake remained- Capt. Johnny came up this day from his Village.
4th. Thursday. Froze hard all night. A little snow- not near so colde this morning as yesterday-Rather an obscure day. No wind. Its very curious how the water has rise & spread itself in this Country in about thirty years- There is an old French woman in this place of the name of Barthelmie who says she recollects when the banks of the River were so near one to another and consequently the River so narrow, that at low water the children used to jump over it. Scated this morning at the Bottom of the Gully opposite Mrs. Payees. Turned out a very fine afternoon- Thaw's very much. Snake gone home.
5th. Friday. Froze hard last night. Windy, dark day- Thaws a good deal. To shew what rascalls their is in this place-one Lucie a Canadian who was in Mr. Abbotts service was seen carrying off a Bundle of Hay this morning by Mr. Leith & J. Forsythe which he stole out of the Friponne, thro'
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the window .- (The Property of Mr. Leith's) The fellow at first denied it, but when he found there were such convincing proofs against him, he acknowledged it, by saying there was no harme in taking a little Hay. It's some time now that the Hay has been Perceived going damned fast; Mr. Kinzie has at the same time a good deal of property in the said House- Mr. Adamher however has sent him a summons to appear before him at Mr. Leithes desire. The fellow appeared is obliged to get security for his good behaviour hereafter.
Raine most part of the afternoon. This afternoon, the Lit- tle Turtle, the Grees wife & Brother arrived here with some other of their family from their wintering & hunting Ground. The Grie has been sick but is now getting better.
6th. Saturday. Raine & high wind all night- Very dirty disagreeable darke Clowdy day, Wind blows very hard. 4 o'Clock. Begins to freeze very hard.
7th. Sunday. Froze excessively hard all last night .- Very cold Windy day. This morning the Little Turtle, The Gries Brother &c. left this for their home-Sent a pound of Tobacco to the Grie with my Compliments. This afternoon Mr. Leiths pierogue arrived here from Roch de Bout, which left this the 24th Feby.
8th. Monday. An excessive cold day, Wind blows very hard &c A great deal of Ice floating down the River. Clowdy & a little Snow in the morning-but turned out very clear in the afternoon.
9th. Tuesday. Very fine Sun Shiny day-not so cold as yesterday and very calme. The River full of floating Ice.
Three months this day I left Detroit.
IOth. Wednesday. Very mild day- Very thick over head- a great deal of Snow fell this last night. This day the Chili-
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cothy young men came down from the place where The Town is to be built, they have already finished the Council House, which is by all accounts a very long one. This afternoon one Shirelock arrived here from his wintering ground, (he trades for Mr. Leith) in consequence of one Montroills stealing his Propperty to the amount of Twenty Eight Bucks he has brought the fellow with him- This Montroille is a fellow who has abandoned himself totally & lives amongst the Indians, those kind of people are of the worst, they are very pernicious to the Trade who fill the Indians Heads with very bad notions & think nothing of Robbin the Traders Property ; when they have an opportunity, such Rascalls ought to be dealt with very severely and totally excommunicated from the Indian Country.
IIth. Thursday. Rather cold this morning, but still thick and Clowdy over head. Montroille appeared this morning who ownes the deed. Shirelock told him it was no more of his business that the property he robbed was Mr. Leiths & that it lay in his Breast what should be done to him- He makes great promises and says that he will hire himself to Mr. Leith & work out what he Robbed; Mr. Ironside told him he would speake to Mr. Leith about it. I believe this matter is now settled the man is to work out the value of what he stole- Turned out a very fine day about 12 O'Clock.
12th. Friday. Sott up all night with Mr. Adamher & some more Gentlemen at Mr. Lorrains who has been very ill near Eight months. He fell in a kind of a Trance last Tuesday afternoon about 4 o'Clock and continued so untill this day at 12 oClock and died-during the time he was in this situation he took no nourishment whatever, his Eyes were shut, had no hearing, kept constantly blowing & now & then coughed a
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little .- He was the oldest Inhabitant of this Place & Environs, he has been here &c 40 years62_
Very disagreeable dirty day, It thaws very much. A good deal of Raine this Evening.
13th. Saturday. Very fine day, but very muddy & dirty under foot ; Blows excessively hard. Mr. Lorain was buried this day. The young Volunteers of the place gave him three Vollies at the request of some of the Pincipal People here, in Honor to his services rendered to the King of Great Britains, and long Residence in this place. I shewed them how to Pro- ceed respecting the manouvers, the word of Command was given by one Vivie who has been a Drummer in the late 84th. Regt. I B'n
14th. Sunday. Very beautifull day quite calme-Froze a little last night & a little snow before day Breake. This day Mr. Geo. Girty came down from his wintering Camp. Snake came down also to day from his village, he dined and got very drunk at Mr. Abbotts. It seems that that Gentleman wants Snake to accompany him to the Post, but he'll find himself mistaken for the other would not go with him upon any account.
15th. Monday. Very fine day, a little frost last night- Wind rather high .- Sherlock & Geo. Girty returned this day to their wintering place. Turned thick & Clowdy about I oClock- and quite calme- A very dark Evening.
16th. Tuesday. Rained most part of the night-Thunder at a Distance, about day breake-A great number of Pigeons
62The census of 1769 includes Lorraine's name among the nine heads of families then at Miamitown. In 1763 he, or another of the same name, was at Ouiatanon when the savages overpowered the English garrison. Lorraine and another Frenchman were instrumental in saving the lives of the captives. See Indiana Historical Society, Pubs., II, 335, 440.
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flying about this morning. Very calme but clowdy & thick. Began to Raine about II oClock & continued all day- The water has rose a good deal since last night.
17th. Wednesday. St. Patrick's- Rained excessively hard all night & still continues to raine a little- Water rose since last night at least ten feet & still rises very fast, it now runs into the Gully- Blows pretty fresh. I'm much afraide that we shall have a second flood. Left off raining about II or 12 o'Clock. Turned out a very fine afternoon and Evening. Sent Mr. Abbott a String of Potatoes.
18th. Thursday. Raw, Clowdy day. Froze very hard last night. Water has rose very high. even with the bank- Mr. Payees People obliged to quit theire House- and its equal with the step of Kinzie & Cicotts doors. However I believe the Frost will stop its progress. Cleared up about Io'Clock and turned out a very fine afternoon & Evening ; Water still rose all day, altho' there was a Frost,-about a foot.
19th. Friday. Very beautifull day; Froze hard last night. Water has rose very little, Its almost at a stand .- Water be- gan to fall a little this afternoon-
20th Saturday. Very fine morning, rather heazy. Wind at S. warme; Very little Frost last night, the water had fallen about 5 inches & better since yesterday afternoon.
2Ist. Sunday. Very beautifull day. Quite warme & Calme -Not the least frost last night; The water falls very slowly, not a foot since yesterday. A party of Shawanees arrived from war at their village the 19th instant .- They have brought three Prisoners & a negro man. It seems that another party of them attacked a boat wherein there was an officer & about 21 men. They killed every one of them; Sank the Boat & hid every utensill they found in it, in the woods. They also took
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nineteen persons near Limestown which they have all Pris- oners except 2 or 3. The first party were the Chilicothy Peo- ple - & the others the Picowees. One of the above Prisoners told Mr. Kinzie this morning the General St. Claire came down the Ohio, to the Bigg Miami, about Christmas last. This man's name is John Witherington, comes from a place called Limestown. They also got a great quantity of Linnen out of this Boat- It seems that their was several other parties out, some of the Catawas or Cherokees were out also; at any rate their was at least 40 souls taken & killed. This John Wither- ington's family is separated from him, he has a wife 7 months gone with childe & 7 children, which some of the other Parties have got Prisoners.63
22 Monday. Clowdy morning, very hard shower of Raine in the course of the Night; Very calme- water falls so very slowly that its hardly perceivable-The Miamias of the oppo- site side danced from 7 oClock last Evening untill this morning at day breake; they were taken in what they call their Natt, which is with them, like the Colours of a Regiment, with us; they take it out to war with them, and when they return, there is a ceremony of taken it into the Council House, Chiefs House or Place where they keep theire Trophies. It seems that this Natt has been out ever since last fall. Thus custom prevailes amongst all the Indian Nations. But there are a number of Tribes who have not those Natts.
23rd. Tuesday. Clowdy day. Quite calme & not the least cold- A little raine last night- water fallen a good deal since yesterday .- An Indian, a Miami arrived last Evening from the Post, brought a letter to Mr. L. Dubois from one
63For accounts of similar raids upon the Americans in the vicinity of Cin- cinnati at this time see Amer. St. Papers, Ind. Affs., I, 86-91.
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Perret Gamlains, Notary Public of that place; Nothing extra- ordinary in that part of the Country ; the Garrison consists of upward of one Hundred men, & officers &c. This Indian has passed the winter about the Environs of Post Vincennes.
Their seemingly is a very great want of Provisions in that place- the Garrison the same, They are obliged to kill the cat- tle belonging to the settlers.64
24th. Wednesday. Very Clowdy morning, but turned out a very fine day about 12 or I oClock. Water fallen greatly ; The Gully clear of water, but very muddy-Geo. Girty re- turned this day from the woods. One John Thompson who was taken amongst the 19 mentioned the 21st Instant- came here this day- He informed me that their was a great talk of raising men to come against the Ind's; However General St. Clair who is now at the Bigg Miami with two boat loads of goods, means to call the Indians together at a Council at Post Vincennes- But if the Indians do not come to a settle- ment with them, they mean to fight them. He says that he understood about Christn-[torn] A War was [torn] be- tween [four leaves missing] this morning of which a descrip- tion is here with inserted in this Paper- Waited upon all the people of yeplace this morning, and bid them farewell. Dined at Mr. Adamhers & received the letters of that family, thanked them for the politeness and attention they paid me during my stay at the Miamies. Settled with Marie Louisa, respecting a Horse which she is to purchase and send in to me by her son Mr. J. B. Richerville. Left the Miamis about 1/2 past 12 oClock. had the pleasure at the same time of being told by Mr. & Mrs. Adamher that I was much regretted by every one in the village. Stopped about 9 leagues below the Miamis abt
64During the winter of 1789-90 the inhabitants of Vincennes were in a con- dition bordering upon starvation. See Dunn, Indiana, 269.
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5 oClock in the afternoon : stopped a leake in our Peerogue, made a fire and put up our tent ; Began to raine about 4 oClock; Rained very hard almost all the night.
2d April Friday. About 1/2 past 2 oClock got under way, the Rain being over & moon lighte. Stopped at II leagues below the place we slept at last night ; at the Indian Wigwaum from whom we got the Rackoon last fall going out ; The two french- men that are with us bought some sugar for Tobacco-The Ind'n gave Mr. Leith & me a large piece, for which we gave him some Bread in return; Mr. Leith promised to send him some Tobacco. Arrived at the Glaize at Mr. McDonnels about 4 oClock this afternoon- hich is 30 Leagues from the Miami Town. Just before sun sett Messrs. Sheppard & Sharpe ar- rived from Detroit, they left their Peerogue in the morning and walked up- They left Detroit the 24th. March. As they left the letters in the Pierogue we can not get them till tomor- row morning.
3d. Saturday. I cannot help mentioning how very hospita- bly we were received by Mr. McDonnell who gave us the best he had- he was also so obliging as to give me several cakes of Mapell Sugar one of which is for Richard with his Com- pliments- he likewise gave me a few Turkey wings. We parted with him & Messrs. Shepherd & Sharpe about 1/2 past 8 oClock. Met with Mr. Shepherds pierogue about 2 leagues be- low the Glaize Mr. Leith took his letter out of Mr. Shepherds Trunk & I took one from my Brother out of Mr. Sharpes, agreeable to their desire- Arrived at Mr. J. Cochrans about 3/4 past 5 oclock which is 15 leagues from the Glaize. Stopped a little & got a little maderia & grogg, from where proceeded down the Rapids,65
65 Apparently the concluding portion of the Journal has been destroyed. In its present condition it closes abruptly at this point.
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