History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 13

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 13
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 13

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#One of the first symptoms of an approaching war between France and England was a dis- pute about boundaries, as early as 1747. Tho English extended their claims to the river St. Lawrence, while the French on their part contended for all the country to the westward of the Apalachian mountains. It was not believed at that time that either intended to insist on the oxtent of its claims; but it will appear in the sequel that France was extravagant in hier pretensions. Perhaps the proxlinity of settlement, and the reciprocal attempts to corrupt the Indians, and to precipitate them into hostilities with the times, served to inflamo the gathering storm, and to hasten its approach.

After the peace of Aix-la-chapelle, in 1748, the French ministry more attentively examinod the strength and resources of Canada and Louisiana. The position of these colonics, stretch- ing from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to that of the Mississippi, with an almost unInter- rupted inland water communication between the extremlties of both seemed to unfold the means of subduing the English power in America.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

succeeding chapter, giving a full account of Cenolor's expedi- tion, to which we devote considerable space in this work for the reason that one of the plates was buried at the mouth of Wheeling creek.

CHAPTER VIII.

DE CELORON'S EXPEDITION TO THE OHIO IN 1749-BURIAL OF THE LEADEN PLATES-THE INSCRIPTION-ONE OF THE PLATES DE- POSITED WITH CEREMONIES AT THE MOUTH OF WHEELING CREEK-THE ANCIENT NAME OF THIS STREAM.

HE extensive territory lying between the Ohio river and Lake Erie has been the theatre of many remarkable his- torical changes. Its earliest inhabitants left no record of their origin or history, save in the numerious tumuli which are scattered over its surface, bearing trees of the largest growth, not distinguishable from the adjacent forest. Measured by the extent and character of those vast structures, the race that built them must have been intelligent and populous. When and how they disappeared, we know not. Whether they were directly succeeded by the present race of Indians, or by an intermediate people, are questions to which history gives no answer. When La Salle discovered the Ohio he found it in the occupation of the red man, who claimed possession and ownership over the territory comprised within the limits of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, until the close of the last century. His villages were on every stream, and his hunt- ing grounds embraced every hill and valley.

The attractions of the fur trade stimulated Eastern adven- turers to penetrate, from time to time, the forest recesses of the West, and glowing descriptions were reported of the fertile soil, mineral wealth, and the abundance of the fur-bearing animals. It was not until England and France, the two great rival Pow- ers of Europe, became impressed with the prospective growth and value of the territory, and each prepared to grasp the eoveted prize, that the native owners of the soil began to take serious alarm. On the one side, England claimed to the nor- thern lakes, while France asserted ownership not only as far south as the Ohio, but over all the lands drained by its exten- sive tributaries.

The treaty of Aix-la-chapelle, to which both of those powers were parties, while it terminated a long and sanguinary warin Europe, left many subjects of controversy still unsettled. Among them were the boundaries between the French and English in America. At the conclusion of that treaty Eng- land lost no time in initiating measures for the occupation and colonization of the disputed territory, and encouraged the for- mation of the Ohio Company as one of the efficient means for accomplishing that purpose. Half a million of acres were granted by the Crown to that association, to be selected mainly on the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela and the Kanawha rivers. This was coupled with the condition that settlements, protected by suitable forts, should be estab- lished on the grant. The French were equally alive on the subject, and the demonstrations of the English aroused the at- tention of the Marquis de la Galissoniere, a man of eminent ability and forethought, who was then Governor of Canada. In order to counteract the designs of the English, he dispatched Captain Bienville de Celoron,* a chevalier of the order of St. Louis, in command of a detachment, composed of eight subal- tern officers, six cadets, an armorer, twenty soldiers, one hun- dred and eighty Canadians, thirty Iroquois and twenty-five Abe- nakis, with orders to descend the Ohio, and take possession of the country in the name of the King. The principal officers under him were de Contrecoeur, who had been in command of Fort Niagara, and Coulon de Villiers, one of seven brothers, six of whom lost their lives in the Canadian wars. Contre- coeur was subsequently in command of Fort du Quesne, at or immediately after the defeat of Braddock.

The present chapter is to give an account of that expedition, to trace its route and to identify as far as possible the geographi- eal points which it visited. Only brief notices of the under- taking have heretofore been given to the public. The dis- covery of some of the leaden plates buried by its officers on the

banks of the Ohio, have from time to time awakened publie interest and curiosity, which the meagre accounts already pub- lished have failed to satisfy.

Craig, Hildreth, De Hass, and other authors and compilers of works pertaining to the history of the Ohio valley, have given descriptions of the plates that were found at the mouths of the Muskingum and Kanawha, but they possessed no knowledge of the other plates deposited by the expedition. As the ceremony of depositing one of these plates was performed by the com- mander and his officers on the banks of Wheeling creek, at its entrance into the Ohio, and as an ancient name designating the stream, formerly unknown, is herewith presented, an interest will attach to the full details of the expedition in the minds of readers of history in this vicinity that would otherwise not be awakened.

While examining the archives of the Department de la Marine, in Paris, in the summer of 1877, the writer met with the orig- inal manuscript journal kept by de Celoron during his entire voyage. He also found in the Grandes Archives of the Depot de la Marine, No. 17 rue de l'Universite, a manuscript diary of Father Bonnecamps, who styles himself "Jesuitte Mathematicien," and who seems to have been the chaplain, as well as a kind of sail- ing master of the expedition, keeping a daily record of the courses and distances they traveled, the latitudes and longi- tudes of the principal geographical points, with occasional brief notes of the most important occurrences. In another depart- ment, called the Bibliotheque du depot de la Marine, there was found a large MS. map, 31} by 34} inches square, representing the country through which the expedition passed, including the St. Lawrence westward of Montreal, Lakes Erie and On- tario, the territory south of those lakes as far as the Ohio, and the whole course of that river from the source of the Allegheny to the mouth of the Great Miami. This map forms an im- portant illustration of the expedition. On it are delineated by appropriate characters, the points where leaden plates were deposited, where the latitudes and longitudes were observed, and the localities of the Indian villages visited on the route.

The journals of de Celoron and Father Bonnecamps, and the map of the latter, have furnished the ground-work of the nar- rative. Explanatory and historical notes, drawn from other sources, have occasionally been added.

As the effort of France to establish a great empire in America, after a most determined struggle, resulted in a disastrous fail- ure, and the loss of much of her former prestige throughout the world, these documents, and many others, were never pub- lished, but have been securely kept on file, obscured among the musty archives of the Government departments.

The first of the leaden plates was brought to the attention of the public in a letter addressed by Governor George Clinton to the Lords of Trade in London, dated New York, December 19th, 1750, in which he states that he "would send to their Lordships in two or three weeks a plate of lead, full of writing, which some of the upper nations of Indians stole from Jean Coeur,t the French interpreter at Niagara, on his way to the river Ohio, which river, and all the lands thereabouts, the French claim, as will appear by said writing." He further states "that the lead plate gave the Indians so much uneasiness that they im- mediately dispatched some of the Cayuga chiefs to him with it, saying that their only reliance was on him, and earnestly begged he would communicate the contents thereof to them, which he had done, much to their satisfaction and the inter- ests of the English." The Governor concludes by saying that "the contents may be of great importance in clearing up the encroachments which the French have made on the British Empire in America."* The plate was delivered to Colonel, afterwards Sir William Johnson, on the 4th of December, 1750, at his residence on the Mohawk, by a Cayuga Sachem, who ac- companied it by the following speech :

"Brother Corlear and War-ragh-i-ya-ghey:# I am sent here by the Five Nations with a piece of writing, which the Senecas, our brethren, got by some artifice from Jean Coeur, earnestly beseeching you will let us know what it means, and as we put all our confidence in you, our brother, we hope you will explain it ingeniously to us." Colonel Johnson replied to the Sachem, and through him to the Five Nations, returning a belt of wam- pum, and explaining the inscription on the plate. He told them that "it was a matter of the greatest consequence, involv- ing the possession of their lands and hunting grounds, and that Jean Coeur and the French ought immediately to be expelled from the Ohio and Niagara." In reply, the Sachem said that

*This name is usually spelled Celeron, but incorrectly. M. Freland, in his Cours d'His- toire du Canada, vol. ii. p. 493, calls him Celoron de Blainville.

+Joncaire.

*N. Y. Colonial Documents, vi., p. 601.

#The Indian name of Sir William Johnson. It signifies "Superintendent of Affairs."

POINTE ARE PINS

R. AUX POMMES

LAC TJADIKOIN

POINTE PELLEE

IBLES AUX SERPENTES

-42

VILLAGE DE LOUPS 15-

R. AUX BOEUFS * -*

VILLAGE DE LOUPS

R. AU FIEL

R. AU VERMILLION

ANCIENT VILLAGE DES CHAQUANONS

ANTIQUS

30 -

VILLAGE DE X CHININGUE

X VILLAGE DE LOUPS

LA DEMOISELLE

5 -

R. YENANGUAKONAN

CARTE DUN VOYAGE ENIT

R. BLANCHE 1* LE BARIL

|| R. CHINODAICHTA

R. DE SINHIOTA

LONGITUDE OCCIDENTALE

DANS LA BELLE RIVIERE EN LA NOUVELLE ERANCE MD C C XL IX PAR LEREVEREREND PERE BONNECAMPS. JESUITTE MATHEMATICIEN.

3.9

PORT DES MIAMIS

TOUTE CETTE PARTIC DE VAC CINE ENCONI.

PORTAGE DE LA DEMOISELLE

R. KANOUOUAR A

40 20

CEDRES

R. AUX

LA PAILLE .COUPEET

5 -

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

"he had heard with great attention and surprise the substance of the 'Devilish writing' he had brought," and that Colonel Johnson's remarks "were fully approved." He promised that belts from each of the Five Nations should be sent from the Sen- ecas' Castle to the Indians at the Ohio, to warn and strengthen them against the French encroachments in that direction.

The following is a literal copy of the inscription in question. It was sent by Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade on the 17th of January, 1751:

"L'AN 1749 DV REGNE DE LOVIS XV ROY DE FRANCE, NOVS CELORON, COMMANDANT D'VN DETACTHIMENT ENVOIE PAR MON- SIEVR LE MIS. DE LA GALLISSONIERE, COMMANDANT GENERAL DE LA NOUVELLE FRANCE POVR RETABLIR LA TRANQUILLITE DANS QUELQUES VILLAGES SAUVAGES DE CES CANTONS, AVONS ENTERRE CETTE PLAQUE AU CONFLUENT DE L' OHIO ET DE TCHADAKION CE 29 JVILLET, PRES DE LA RIVIERE OYO AUTREMENT BELLE RIVIERE POUR MONUMENT DU RENOUNELLEMENT DE POSSESSION QUE NOUS AVONS PRIS DE LA DITTE RIVIERE OYO, ET DE TOUTES CELLES QUI Y TOMBENT, ET DE TOUTES LES TERRES DES DEUX COTES JVSQVE AVX SOURCES DES DITTES RIVERES AINSI QU'EN ONT JOVI OU DV JOVIR LES PRECEDENTS ROIS DE FRANCE, ET QU'ILS S'Y SONT MAINTENVS PAR LES ARMES ET PAR LES TRAITTES, SPECIALEMENT PAR CEVX DE RISWICK, D'V TRECHT ET D'AIX LA CHAPELLE."

The above is certified to be a "true copy" by "Peter De Jon- court, interpreter."

TRANSLATION.

" In the year 1749, of the reign of Louis the 15th, King of France, we Celoron, commander of a detachment sent by Mon- sieur the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor General of New France, to re-establish tranquility in some Indian villages of these cantons, have buried this plate of lead at the confluence of the Ohio and the Chatauqua, this 29th day of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Belle Riviere, as a monument of the re- newal of the possession we have taken of the said river Ohio, and of all those which empty into it, and of all the lands on both sides as far as the sources of the said rivers, as enjoyed, or ought to have been enjoyed by the kings of France preceding, as they have there maintained themselves by arms and by treaties, especially those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix la Chapelle."

On the 29th of January, 1751, Governor Clinton sent a copy of the above inscription to Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylva- nia, informing him that it was "taken from a plate stolen from Joncaire some months since in the Seneca country as he was going to the river Ohio."*

The expedition was provided with a number of leaden plates, about eleven inches long, seven and a half inches wide, and one-eighth of an inch thick, on each of which an inscription in French, similar to the one above given, was engraved or stamped in capital letters, with blanks left for the insertion of the names of rivers, at the confluence of which with the Ohio they should be deposited, and the dates of their deposit. The name of the artist, Paul de Brosse, was engraved on the reverse of each. Thus provided, the expedition left La Chine on the 15th of June, 1749, and ascended the St. Lawrence to Fort Frontenac. From thence, coasting along the eastern and southern shore of Lake Ontario, they arrived at Fort Niagara on the 6th of July. They reached the portage at Lewiston on the 7th and ascended the Niagara into Lake Erie. On the 14th, after advancing a few miles up the lake, they were compelled by a strong wind to encamp on the south shore. They en- barked early on the morning of the 15th, hoping to reach the portage of "Chatakouin" the same day, but an adverse wind again forced them to land.

The southern shore of the lake at this point is described as "extremely shallow, with no shelter from the force of winds, involving great risk of shipwreck in landing, which is increased by large rocks, extending more than three-fourths of a mile from the shore." Celoron's canoe struck on one, and he would inevitably have been drowned, with all on board, had not prompt assistance been rendered. On the 16th, at noon, they arrived at Chatakonin portage. This was an open roadstead, where the United States government, many years ago, attempted unsuccessfully to construct a safe harbor. It is now known as Barcelona or Portland. As soon as all preparations were made for the overland passage, and the canoes all loaded, Mm. de Villiers and le Borgue were dispatched with fifty men to clear the way, while Celoron examined the situation of the place, in order to ascertain its fitness for the establishment of a post. He

says: "I found it ill-adapted for such a purpose, as well from its position as from its relation to the navigation of the lake. The water is so shallow that barks standing in cannot ap- proach within a league of the portage. There being no island or harbor to which they could resort for shelter, they would be under the necessity of riding at anchor and discharging their loading by batteaux. The frequency of squalls would render it a place of danger. Besides, there are no Indian villages in the vicinity. In fact, they are quite distant, none being nearer than Canaougon and Paille Coupee. In the evening Mm. de Villiers and le Borgue returned to lodge at the camp, having cleared the way for about three-quarters of a league." Up to this time, the usual route of the French to the Mississippi had been by the way of Detroit, Green bay, the Wisconsin, Lake Michigan, and the Illinois river. They had five villages on the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Illinois, as early as 1749.

"On the 17th," continues the Journal, "at break of day, we began the portage, the prosecution of which was vigorously maintained. All the canoes, provisions, munitions of war, and merchandise intended as presents to the Indians bordering on the Ohio, were carried over the three-quarters of a league which had been rendered passable the day previous. The route was exceedingly difficult, owing to the numerous hills and moun- tains which we encountered. All my men were very much fatigued. We established a strong guard, which was continued during the entire campaign, not only for the purpose of secu- rity, but for teaching the Canadians a discipline which they greatly needed. We continued our advance on the 14th, but bad weather prevented our making as much progress as on the preceding day. I consoled myself for the delay, as it was caused by a rain which I greatly desired, as it would raise the water in the river sufficient to float our loaded canoes. On the 19th, the rain having ceased, we accomplished half a league. On the 20th and 21st we continued our route with great diligence, and arrived at the end of our portage on the banks of Lake Chatacoin on the 22d. The whole distance may be estimated at four leagues. Here I repaired my canoes and recruited my men.

It is a little over eight miles, in a direct line, from the mouth of Chautauqua creek, on Lake Erie, to the head of Chautau- qua Lake. The route taken by the expedition would of course be more, and probably equal to the four leagues, or ten miles, stated by Celoron. The difficulties they encountered must have been exceedingly formidable. Chautauqua lake is 726 feet above Lake Erie, and in order to reach the water-shed between the two lakes, an ascent of at least one thousand feet had to be overcome. Although at that early day, when the forests were yet undisturbed, the Chautauqua creek flowed with fuller banks than now, yet even then but little use could be made of it by loaded canoes, except near its mouth. The portage could only be accomplished for the greater part of the way by carrying the canoes, baggage, provisions, and supplies on the shoulders of the men up the steep mountain sides to the summit, from which the waters flowed southward into Chautauqua Lake. Looking back from this elevation, a magnificent panorama must have presented itself to Celoron and his companions. Lake Erie lay at their feet, with the Canada shore, forty miles distant, in plain sight, while the extremities of that great in- land sea, extending east and west, were lost below the horizon.

The expedition did not loiter long on the banks of Chautau- qua Lake. On the 23d they launched their bark flotilla on its clear, cool waters, and paddling south-eastward through the lake, passed the Narrows at what are now known as Long and Bemus Points. The shape of the lake is quite peculiar. Its northwestern and southeastern extremities, which are nearly equal, and comprise the greater part of the lake, are connected by two short, irregular straits, between which nestles a small, beautiful bay. The singular configuration of the whole gives plausibility to the interpretation of the Indian name. Chautau- qua, which is said to signify "a sack tied in the middle."

On the evening of the 23d of July the expedition encamped on shore within three miles of the outlet. The lake is stated by Celoron to be "nine leagues," or about twenty-two miles long. The actual length is less than sixteen. Distances are almost always overstated by the early Freuch voyagers in America. In the evening a party of Indians, who had been engaged during the day in fishing in the lake, reported they had seen the enemy watching them from the adjacent forest. They had fled as soon as discovered. Early on the morning of the 24th the expedition entered the outlet, a narrow stream, winding through a deep morass, bordered by a tall forest, which, over-arching the way, almost shut out the light of day. The water being found quite low, in order to lighten the canoes,

*V Penn. Col. Records, p. 508.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

they sent the greater part of their loading about three-quarters of a league by land, over a path pointed out by the Sieur de Saussaye, who was acquainted with the country .* The dis- tance they accomplished this day by water did not exceed half a league. It probably carried them through the swamp as far as the highland in the neighborhood of the present village of Jamestown. The next day, before resuming their march, Celo- ron deemed it expedient to convene a council to consider what should be done in view of the evident signs of an enemy in the vicinity, who, on being discovered, had abandoned their canoes and effects and fled, carrying the alarm to the adjacent village of Paille Coupee. The council decided to dispatch Lieu- tenant Joncairc, some Abenakis, and three Iroquois, with three belts, to assure the fugitives of the friendly object of the expe- dition. After the departure of the embassy the march was re- sumed over the rapids, with which the outlet abounded.

"We proceeded," says the Journal, "about a league with great difficulty. In many places I was obliged to assign forty men to each canoe to facilitate their passage. On the 26th and 27th we continued our voyage, not without many obstacles; not- withstanding all our precautions to guard our canoes, they often sustained great injury by reason of the shallow water. On the 29th, at noon, I entered the 'La Belle Riviere.' I buried a plate of lead at the foot of a red oak on the south bank of the river Oyo (Ohio) and of the Chanougon, not far from the village of Kanaouagon, in latitude 42° 5' 23"."+ It is unnecessary to give a copy of the inscription on the above plate, as it is similar to the one which was sent to Governor Clinton, as before related, except slight variations in the spelling, accents, and arrange- ment of lines. The three plates which thus far have been dis- covered present the same differences. The places and dates of deposit are coarsely engraved, evidently with a knife. In the one just described the blanks were filled with the words: "Au confluent de l'Ohio et Kanaaiagon, le 29 Juillet."

" At the confluence of the Ohio and Kanaaiagon, the 29th of July."

The river, spelled "Kanaaiagon" on the plate, "Chanougon" by Celoron in his Journal, and "Kananouangon," on Bonne- camps' map, is a considerable stream that rises in western New York, and after receiving the Chautauqua outlet as a tributary, empties into the Allegheny just above the village of Warren. It is now known as the Conewango. On the site of Warren, at the northwesterly angle of the two rivers, there was, at the time of Celoron's visit, an Indian village, composed principally of Senecas, with a few Loups, bearing the name of Kanaouagon. It was opposite the mouth of the Conewango, on the south bank of the Allegheny, that the leaden plate was buried. The fol- lowing is Father Bonnecamps' entry in his diary :

" L'on a enterre une lame de plomp, avec une inscription, sur la rive meridonale de cette riviere, et vis-a-vis le confluent des deux rivieres." "We buried a leaden plate, bearing an inscription, on the south bank of this river, and opposite the confluence of the two rivers."

The place of deposit is a little differently described in the Proces Verbal drawn up on the occasion. " Au pied d'un chene rouge, sur la rive meridionale de la riviere Ohio, et vis-a-vis la pointe d'une ilette, ou se joignet les deux rivieres Ohio et Kanaaugon." " At the foot of a red oak, on the south bank of the Ohio river, and opposite the point of a small island, at the confluence of the two rivers Ohio and Kanaugon." It will be noticed that the in- scription on the plate recites that it was buried on the south side of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the " Chanougon" (Cone- wango).

This presents a discrepancy between the inscriptions as given in the journals of Celoron and Bonnecamps, and the one on the plate forwarded by Colonel Johnson to Governor Clinton in 1751, as above described. The latter states it tohave been buried "at the confluence of the Ohio and Tchadakoin.' The solution of the difficulty seems to be that the latter plate was never buried or used, but was abstracted by the Iroquois friendly to the Eng- lish, and another plate, having a correct inscription, was sub- stituted by the French. The inscription on the one sent to Governor Clinton, was undoubtedly prepared on the supposi- tion that the Chautauqua outlet emptied into the Ohio. But when that outlet was found to be a tributary of the Conewango, and that the latter emptied into the Ohio, a corrected plate, containing the name of the Conewango instead of the Chautau-

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 13

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728