The Ohio Valley in colonial days, Part 13

Author: Fernow, Berthold, 1837-1908. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Albany, N.Y. : J. Munsell's Sons
Number of Pages: 314


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APPENDIX A.


EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF GALINÉE .* -


After thirty-five days of very difficult navigation we arrived at a small river, called by the Indians " Karontaguat," which is the nearest point on the lake to "Sonnontouan," and about 100 leagues South West of Montreal. . . . 43º 12 N. Lat. ... M. Dol- lier, M. de la Salle and myself consulted together, in order to determine in what manner we should act, what we should offer for presents and how we should give them. It was determined, that I should go to the village with M. de la Salle for the purpose of obtaining a captive taken from the nation, whom we desired to visit, who could conduct us thither and that we should take with us eight of our Frenchmen, leaving the rest with M. Dollier in charge of our canoes. ... When we were within a league of the village the halts were more frequent. ... , until we finally came in sight of the great village. ... In order to reach it we had to ascend a small hill, on the edge of which the village is situated. As soon as we had ascended the hill, we saw a large number of old men seated on the grass, expecting our approach. They


* René de Brehan de Galinée, a missionary of the Order of St. Sulpitius, who became one of la Salle's companions, as stated in the text, is the writer of this journal. He was well acquainted with the Algonquin dialect and had some reputation as surveyor and astronomer.


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had left a convenient place in front, in which they invited us to sit down. * * * *


·


The third and last present, which we gave, were two coats, four kettles, six hatchets and some glass beads, with which we announced, that we had come on the part of Onontio,* to see the people called by them "Toagenha "t living on the river Ohio and we asked from them a captive of that country, to be our guide. They considered it was necessary to think over our proposition .... We thus consumed the time for eight or ten days .... During our stay at that village, we inquired particularly about the road we must take to reach the Ohio river and were told to go in search of it from Sonnontouan. That it required six days' journey by land of about twelve leagues each. #


This induced us to believe, that we possibly could not reach it in that way, as we would hardly be able to carry for so long a journey our necessary pro- visions, much less our baggage. But they told us at the same time, that in going to find it by the way of Lake Erie, in canoes, we would have only a portage of three days before reaching that river, reaching it at a point much nearer to the people, whom we de- sired to find, than by way of Sonnontouan.


* Onontio means Great Mountain and was the Iroquois name for Gov- ernor Montmagny, and later all the other French Governors.


+ Otoagannha = People speaking corrupt Algonquin. Relation, 1661-2, p. 9.


# Probably by portages from the head of the Genesee to the Alleghany.


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What troubled us however more than all else was, what the Indians told our Dutch interpreter. They called him insane for wishing to go to the Toagenhas, who were a very bad people, sure to kill us. Besides this, we would run great risk along the river Ohio of meeting the Ontastoes,* who would most certainly break our heads. Therefore the Senecas were not willing to go with us, as they feared that our deaths would be charged to them. ... We were relieved of all this difficulty by the arrival from the Dutch of an Indian, who lodged in our cabin. His home was the village of one of the Five cantons of Iroquois at the end of Lake Ontario. This Indian assured us, that we would have no trouble in finding a guide, as a number of captives from the tribes we desired to visit were in his village and he would cheerfully con- duct us to his home.


It was under the influence of these hopes, that we left the Sonnontouans. . We waited here (at Ganastogué Sonontoua O-tin-a-oua-ta-oua) until the chiefs of the village came to meet us with some men to carry our effects. . .. . They made us still another present of about 5000 wampum and afterwards two captives for guides. One of them belonged to the Chouanons nation, the other to the Nez Percés. The Chouanon fell to M. de la Salle, the other to us.


* The Andastes or Guyandots may be meant. They lived, according to Gallatin (Syn. Ind. Tr. 76), on the Alleghany river. The war with the Iro- quois, in which they were engaged at this time, ended in their destruction, 1672.


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APPENDIX B.


A JOURNAL FROM VIRGINIA BEYOND THE APPALA- CHIAN MOUNTAINS IN SEPTR, 1671, SENT TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY BY MR CLAYTON, AND READ AUG. I, 1688, BEFORE THE SAID SOCIETY.


1671


Sep" I. Thomas Batts, Thomas Woods, and Rob- ert Fallam, having received a commission from the Hon'ble Major General Wood for the finding out the ebbing and flowing of the Water on the other side of the Mountains, in order to the discovery of the South Sea, accompanied with Perecute, a great Man of the Apomatack Indians, and Jack Neasam, for- merly Servant to Major General Wood with five horses set forward from the Apomatacks Town about eight of the Clock in the morning, being Friday Sept". Ist. 1671. That day we travelled about 40 Miles, took up our quarters, and found, that we had travelled from the Okenechee path due West.


Septr 2. We travelled about 45 Miles and came to our quarters at Sun set, and found we were to the North of the West.


Septr 3. We travelled West and by South Course and about three o'Clock came to a great swamp a Mile and a half or two Miles over, and very difficult to pass. We led our horses thro' and waded twice over a River emptying itself into Roanoke River. After we were over we went North west and so came


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round and took up our quarters West this day we travelled 40 Miles good.


Sep' 4. We set forward and about two of the Clock arrived at the Sapony Indians Town. We travelled South and by West course till about noon, and came to the Sapony West. Here we were very joyfully and kindly received with firing of Guns and plenty of provision. We here hired a Sapony Indian to be our Guide towards the Totoras a nearer way than usual.


Septr 5. I wot as we were ready to take horse and March from the Sapony's, about seven of the Clock in the morning we heard some guns go off from the other side of the River. They were seven Apoma- tack Indians sent by Major General Wood to accom- pany us in our Voyage. We hence sent back a horse belonging to M' Thomas Wood which was tired, by a Portugal belonging to Major General Wood, whom we here found. About eleven of the Clock we set forward and that night came to the Town of the Flanakaskies which we judge to be 25 Miles from the Sapony's and received the like or better entertain- ment than from the Sapony's The Town lying west and by North is an Island on the Sapony River, rich land.


Septr 6. About II of the Clock we set forward from the Flanakaskies but left M' Thomas Wood at the Town dangerously sick of the Flux and the horse he rode on belonging to Major General Wood was likewise taken with the staggers and a failing in


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his hinder parts. Our course was this Day West and by South, and we took up our quarters West about 20 Miles from the Town. This afternoon our horses stray'd away about one of the Clock.


Septr 7. We set forward about three of the Clock. We had sight of the Mountains. We travelled 25 Miles over very hilly and stony Ground, our course westerly.


Sept 8. We set out by sun rise, and travelled all day a west and by north course, about one of the Clock we came to a Tree mark'd in the path with a Coal M A. N ₮ about four of the Clock we came to the foot of the first Mountain went to the Top, and then came to a small descent, and so did rise again, and then till we came almost to the bottom was a very steep descent. We travelled all day over very Stony Rocky ground and after 30 Miles travell this day we came to our quarters at the foot of the Moun- tain due West. We past the Sapony River twice this Day.


Sept 9. We were stirring with the Sun and trav- elled West and after a little riding came again to the Sapony River, where it was very narrow, and ascended the second Mountain which wound up west and by South with several risings and fallings, after which we came to a steep descent at the foot whereof was a lovely descending Valley about six Miles over, with curious small risings : indifferent good way. Our course over it was South West, after we were over that we came to a very steep descent at the foot


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where of stood the Tatera Town in a very rich swamp between a branch of the main River of Roanoke, circled about with Mountains, we got thither about three of the Clock, after we had travelled 25 Miles: Here we were exceedingly civilly entertained. Sat- urday night Sunday, and Monday we staid at the Toteras Perecute being taken very sick of a fever and ague every afternoon notwithstanding on Tues- day Morning about nine of the clock we resolved to leave our horses with the Toteras and set forward.


Septr 12. We left the Town West and by North. We Travelled that day sometimes southerly some- times northerly, as the path went over several high mountains and steep Vallies crossing several branches and the River Roanoke several times, all exceedingly stony ground untill about four o Clock Perecute being taken with his fit and we were very weary. we took up our quarters by the side of Roanoke River almost at the head of it at the foot of the Great Mountain. Our course was West and by North, having travelled 25 Miles, at the Toteras we hired one of their Indians for our Guide, and left one of the Apomatack Indians there sick.


Sept 13. In the Morning we set forward early, after we had travelled about three Miles we came to the foot of the great Mountain, and found a very steep ascent, so that we could scarce keep ourselves from sliding down again. It continued for three Miles with small intermission of better way. Right up by the Path on the left we saw the proportion of


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the Man* there growing very high weeds and grass about it, but nothing but moss on the place. When we were got up to the top of the Mountain and set down very weary we saw very high Mountains lying to the north and South as far as we could discern. Our Course up the Mountain was West and by North a very small descent on the other side, and as soon as over we found the Vallies tending westerly. It was a pleasing tho dreadfull sight to see the Moun- tains and Hills as if piled one upon another. After we had travelled about three miles from the Mountains easily descending ground about 12 of the Clock we came to two Trees mark'd with a Coal M. A. N ₮ the other cut in with M. A. and several other scrable- ments hard by a run just like the swift Creek at Mr Randolphs in Virginia, emptying itself sometimes westerly sometimes northerly, with curious meadows on each side, going forward we found rich ground but stony curious rising hills and brave meadows with grass above man's height many Rivers running West north West and several runs from the South- erly Mountains, which we saw as we marched, which run northerly into the great River. After we had travelled about 7 Miles we came to a very steep de- scent where we found a great run, which emptied itself as we supposed into the great River northerly our Course being as the path went, west south west, We set forward West and had not gone far, but we


* Whereof they had given an account it seems in a former Relation which I have not. (Note of Mr. Clayton.)


In Colonial Days. 225


met again with the River still broad, running West and by North. We went over the great run empty- ing itself northerly into the great River. After we had marched about 6 Miles north West and by North we came to the River again where it was much broader than at the two other places. It ran here west and by South and so as we suppose wound up westerly. Here we took up our quarters, after we had waded over, for this night due west. The soil the farther we went, the richer. Stony, full of brave meadows and old fields .*


Sept 14. We set forward before sun rise our pro- vision being all spent. We travelled as the path went sometimes southerly sometimes northerly over good ground but stony, sometimes rising hills, and then steep descents, as we marched in a clear place at the top of a hill we saw agt us lying south West a curious prospect of hills like waves raised by a gentle breese of wind rising one after another. Mr Batt supposed he saw houses : but I rather think them to be white Cliffs. We marched about 20 Miles this day and about three of the Clock took up our quarters to see if our Indians could kill us some Deer, being West and by North very weary and hungry and Perecute continuing very ill yet desirous to go forward. We came this day over several brave runs and hope to- morrow to see the Main River again.


Old fields is a common expression for Land that has been cultivated by Indians, and left fallow, which are generally overrun with what they call broome grats. (Note in the original MSS.)


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Septr 15. Yesterday in the afternoon and this day we lived a dog's life hunger and Ease Our Indians having done their best could kill us no meat. The deer they said were in such herds and the ground so dry that one or other of them would spy them. No remedy. About one of the Clock we set forward and went about 16 Miles over some exceeding good and some indifferent ground a West and by North course till we came to a great run, that empties itself west and by North, as we suppose into the great River which we hope is nigh at hand. As we marched we met with some wild geese, berries and exceeding large haw's, with which we were forced to feed ourselves.


Septr 16. Our Guide went from us Yesterday and we saw him no more till we returned to the Toteras. Our Indians went a ranging betimes to see and kill us some Deer as Meat. One came and told us they heard a drum and a gun go off to the northward. They brought us some exceeding good grapes and killed two turkies, which were very welcome and with which we refreshed ourselves, and about ten of the Clock set forward and after we had travelled about ten miles, one of our Indians killed us a Deer and presently afterwards we had sight of a curious River like Apamatack River Its Course here was north and so as we suppose runs West about certain curious Mountains we saw westward. Here we took up our quarters our course having been West. We understand the Mohecan Indians did here formerly


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live. It cannot be long since for we find corn stalks in the ground.


Septr 17. Early in the Morning we went to seek some trees to mark, our Indians being impatient of longer stay, by reason it was like to be bad weather and that it was so difficult to get provision. We found four Trees exceeding fit for our purpose, that had been half barked by our Indians, standing one after the other. We first proclaimed the King in these words : "Long live Charles the Second by the " Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, " and Ireland and Virginia and of all the Territories " thereunto belonging. Defender of the Faith &c" fired some guns and went to the first tree which we marked thus for his sacred with a pair of marking Irons Majesty then the next thus WB 11 for the right c R hon'ble Governor S' William Berkley the third thus for the hon'ble Major Gen- eral Wood the last thus B : R F. P for Perecute who said he would turn Englishman and on another tree hard by these letters one under another E. N. TT. N P. VER. after we had done we went our selves down to the River side, but not without great diffi- culty it being a piece of very rich ground whereon the Moketans (sic) had formerly lived and grown up so with weeds and small prickly locusts and thistles to a very great hight that it was almost impossible to pass. It cost us hard labour to get through. When we came to the River side we found it better and broader than we expected much like James River at


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Col. Staggs the falls much like these falls, we imag- ined by the Water marks that it flows here about three feet. It was ebbing Water when we were here. We set up a Stick by the Water side, but found it ebb very slowly. Our Indians kept such a hallowing, that we durst not stay any longer to make farther trial. Immediately upon our coming to our quarters, we returned homewards, and when we were on the Top of the hill, we turned about and saw over against us westerly over a certain delightfull hill a fog arise and a glimmering light as from Water. We suppose there to be a great Bay. We came to the Toteras tuesday night, where we found our horses well and ourselves well entertained. We immediately had the news of M' Byrd and his great Company Discovery three miles from the Toteras Town. We here found a Mohekan Indian who having intelligence of our coming were afraid it had been to fight them, and had sent him to the Toteras to inquire. We gave him satisfaction to the contrary and that we came as friends, presented him with three or four Shots of Powder. He told us by our Interpreter, that we had from the Mountains half way to the place they now lived at. That the next town beyond them lived upon plain level, from whence came abundance of Salt. That he could inform us no farther by reason that there were a very great company of Indians that lived upon the great Water.


Sept 21. After very civil Entertainment, we came from the Toteras, and on Sunday Morning the 24th we


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came to the Flanakaskies. We found M' Wood dead, and buried, and his horse likewise dead, after Civil Entertainment with firing of Guns at parting which is more than usual. -


Sept 25. On Monday morning we came from thence and reached to the Sapony's that night where we stayed till Wednesday.


Septr 27. We came from thence, they having been very courteous to us. At night we came to the Apomatack Town being very wet and weary.


Oct I. Being Sunday Morning we arrived safe at Fort Henry.


God's holy name be praised for our Preservation .*


EXTRACT OF A LETTER OF MR. CLAYTON TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY, READ TO THEM OCTOBR 24, 1688.


WAKEFIELD Aug. 17. 1688.


My last was the Journal of Thomas Batts Thomas Woods, and Robert Fallam. I know Col. Byr'd that is mentioned to have been about that time as far as the Toteras. He is one of the intelligentest Gentle- man in all Virginia and knows more of Indian affairs than any Man in the Country. I discoursed him about the River on the other side the Mountains said to ebb and flow, which he assured me was a mistake in them, for that it must run into a Lake now called Petite which is fresh Water, for since that time a Colony of the French are come down from Canadas and have seated themselves in the back of Virginia,


* This Journal is also given in N. Y. Col. Doc., III, 196.


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where Fallam and the rest supposed there might be a Bay, but is a Lake, which they have given the name of Lake Petite, there being several large Lakes be- twixt that and Canada. The French possessing themselves of these Lakes no doubt will in a short time be absolutely Masters of the Beaver trade, the greatest number of Beavers being caught there.


The Colonel told me likewise that the common notion of the Lake of Canada, he was assured, was a mistake, for the River supposed to come out of it had no Communication with any of the Lakes nor they with one another, but were distinct.


APPENDIX C.


REMARKS ON THE JOURNAL OF BATTS AND FALLAM IN THEIR DISCOVERY OF THE WESTERN PARTS OF VIR. GINIA IN 1671. BY JOHN MITCHELL, M. D., F. R. S. [ABOUT 1755].


This Discovery of Batts and Fallam is well known in the history of Virginia, and there is no manner of doubt of its being authentic, altho' it has not yet been published by the Royal Society. The account given of this Discovery by R. B .* (Robert Beverly Esqre, a gentleman of note and distinction in the Countrey who was well acquainted with it and its his- tory) agrees very well with this original account of


* History of Virginia.


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it; altho he is not so particular in describing the Place that these Discoverers went to, that we may be able to fix upon the spot, which I think we may do from the Journal itself, and that from the following considerations.


1º. The Appamatrick Town, the place that they went from, is well known in Virginia to this day, at least the River it stood upon, which is the Southern branch of James River, that is well known by the name of Appamatox : and Capt. Smith, who was at this Town of Appamatrick, as he calls it laies it down on the River of Appomatox a little below the Falls opposite to where the Towns of Petersburgh or Blandford now stand : as may be seen by comparing his Map of Virginia with our Map of North America.


2º. From this Town of Appamatack they set out along the path that leads to Aconeechy, which is an Indian Town on the borders of Virginia and Caro- lina, marked in all our maps, from which path they travelled due west, now you will see both these Roads laid down in our map of North America, and exactly as they are described in this Journal, they being the two Roads that lead from the Falls of Appamatox River Southward to Carolina, and Westward to our Settlements on Wood River in Virginia.


3°. This Road that goes to the Westward which was the one that our Travellers went crosses three branches of Roanoke River a little below the Moun- tains, just as it is described in the Journal as may be seen by comparing the Journal with our Map above


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mentioned. This branch of Roanoke River is called Sapony River in the Journal which has been called Staunton River (in memory of the Lady of the late Governor of Virginia) ever since the Survey of those parts in running the boundary line between Virginia and Carolina in 1729. The Sapony and Totera In- dians mentioned in the Journal were then removed farther South upon the Islands of Pidee River, as may be seen in the Map of Carolina by Mr Mosley one of the Surveyors in running that line. and they are now removed to the Southward of that among the Catawbas as it is well known that all the Indians of those parts have gone for many years, in order to protect themselves against the Iroquois who have overrun all those parts, and here we find a River that still retains the name of Sapony or Johnston River, but a great way to the Southward of the River men- tioned in the Journal by that name.


4°. From the branches of Roanoke River they passed over the Mountains and came to a large river west of the Mountains running North and South, which plainly appears from this account of it to have been what we call Wood River in Virginia which is well known and well settled by our People there, both above and below the Place where these People dis- covered it, and they frequently pass the Mountains now in going to and from Wood River about the same place that is described in the Journal.


5°. Nigh this River they saw from the Tops of the Mountains an appearance of a Water at a distance,


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like a Lake or Arm of the Sea. The same observa- tion is made by another Person M' Christopher Gist who lately surveyed this Country hereabouts, and indeed upon the spot described in the Journal, as appears from both their Routes as laid down in our Map abovementioned, which cross one another about the place where these discoverers fell in with the great River, as they call it. The water seen by Gist was known by him to be Wood River a little lower down, where it passes a great ridge of the Mountains that lye to the Westward.


6°. When they arrived at this River, they were in- formed of a numerous and warlike nation of Indians, that lived on the great water, and made Salt, the accounts of whom prevented their going any farther ; all which is agreeable to the History of those Times. The Indians they mean were the ancient Chawanoes, or Chaouanous, who lived to the Westward and North- ward of the Place that these Discoverers were at : and were at this time, 1671, engaged in a hot and bloody war with the Iroquois in which they were so closely pressed at this time that they were entirely extirpated or incorporated with the Iroquois the year following. These people might make salt no doubt as the present inhabitants of those parts do, from the many Salt Springs that are found on the Rivers Ohio and Missisipi. And as for the great water that they lived upon that appears even by name to have been the Missisipi, which is so called from Mescha, Cebe two words in the Indian Language that signify the


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great River or Water, so that if we had the Indian name of this great water mentioned by our Travel- lers, instead of the interpretation of it in English it is impossible it might have been the Name they give it we see means the same thing.


7º. The distance that these people travelled was 338 Miles, besides what they went on the fourth day of their Journey, which they do not mention, but by their usual rate of travelling might be about 18 or 20 Miles, which makes about 360 Miles in all and allmost due West. This is much farther to the Westward than we lay down Wood River at present, when we have had its true Western Distance actually measured in running the Boundary between Virginia and Carolina. But it is very probable as M' Beverly saies in his History, that these Travellers in passing the Mountains in particular might not advance above three or four Miles a day in a Strait Course. It has been generally found by our Surveyors in the Woods of America as I have been told by some of them, and as appears indeed from their surveys compared with the accounts of Travellers that a true measured distance on a strait course is about one third of the usual distance completed by Travellers in the Woods where they have no strait Roads and known distances to guide them, accordingly we find from these Sur- veys of the Countrey that it is about 140 Miles in a strait course from the Falls of Appomatox River to Wood River in Virginia which is a little more than one third of the distance computed by our Discoverers.




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