USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I > Part 34
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"On taking leave we kept on down the Susquehanna to call upon the Governor and his other sons at their plantation, one and a-half miles lower down. We were soon met by one of their cousins with a negro, for the Governor of Nescopeck has five slaves-a negress and four children. Negroes are regarded by the Indians as despicable creatures .* On coming to Nescopeck Creek-which is about half as wide as the Lehigh at Bethlehem -and having neither horses nor canoe we were compelled to wade it. The water was rapid and leg deep. It was running high in its channel by reason of the late rains. It was the first time in my life that I waded in water. Having crossed the stream we met Isaac, one of the sons, and a short distance farther the old Governor himself, who greeted us cordially. I presented him with a pair of scarlet causches. To all that was said he would indicate his assent with the word 'K'ehella !'t Going farther we came to the plan- tation, where we visited in four huts. In one was a stranger Indian (not a member of the family), in one were children, and in the third an old squaw. The fourth hut belonged to Ben, old Notamaes' fourth son. He had just returned from the hunt, and welcomed us very cordially. We sat with him a short time, and I took a great liking to a child of his. Mack gave him a pipe-tube, and then he set us over the river in a canoe, where we met David Zeisberger with the horses. After we had partaken of our noonday meal Ben came over to us and gave us a fine deer-roast, when we presented him with a silver buckle and needles and thread for his wife."
De Watteville and his companions proceeded onward to Shamokin, where the former delivered to Shikellimy (then tottering on the brink of the grave) a costly present that had been sent to him by Count Zin- zendorf.
About 1745 many of the Shawanese on the Ohio, who had long shown symptoms of disaffection to the English and subservience to the French cause, openly assumed a hostile character. They were seduced chiefly by the efforts of Peter Chartier, a noted French trader and an inhabitant of Pennsylvania at the beginning of the war with France. By his persuasions many of the Shawanese, under the leadership of Neucheconno, a shrewd and wily chieftan of the tribe, removed from their towns on the Ohio in order to be nearer the French settlements on the Mississippi. Kackawatcheky, however, seems to have remained true to the English. At all events he and his followers remained on the Ohio.
In April, 1748, a cessation of hostilities between the French and English took place, and a preliminary treaty of peace was entered into. Shortly before this became known in Pennsylvania the Provincial
time delighted in nothing more than a handsome corn-hoe, tomahawk and other instruments made out of iron and steel by his own hands. He generally settled himself a short distance from the town, where he would have his cornfield at hand and under good fence, with some fruit trees planted in it next to his house."
During the Indian depredations in Pennsylvania in the years 1755-57-to be referred to more at length hereinafter-Nescopeck became the rendezvous of those Indians-particularly from different parts of the country-who were plotting and warring against the English. At the beginning, or at least sometime dur- ing the continuance, of these Indian hostilities Nutimus and his family removed from Nescopeck to Tioga Point. In the year 1757 the old King visited Shamokin, where he complained to Capt. Jacob Arndt (of the "Forks" of the Delaware), then on military service at Fort Augusta, that the soldiers at the fort had debauched his (Nutimus') wife and daughter on a previous visit by secretly giving them whisky ; and he declared that if such things were allowed it would not be safe for a man to bring his wife and daughters to the fort. Under date of January 20, 1758, Col. Joseph Shippen at Fort Augusta (Shamokin) wrote to Maj. James Burd at Lancaster as follows (see the "Shippen Papers," page 106) : "Since January Ist several small parties of Delaware Indians have arrived here with skins to trade, at the store ; among the rest came old King Nutimus, Joseph [his son] and all their family, and we have now forty-three present, including women and children."
Under date of June 14, 1759, Timothy Horsfield, Esq., at Bethlehem, wrote to Governor Denny of Pennsylvania (see "Colonial Records," VIII : 353) that "Isaac Nutimus, a son of old King Nutimus who for many years past lived at Nescopeck, but since the war has moved up the river to Diahoga [Tioga Point], came yesterday to Bethlehem." During the Indian hostilities of 1763 (which will be referred to more fully hereinafter) Nutimus and some of his family were living on or near Great Island, in the West Branch of the Susquehanna near the present town of Lock Haven, as is evidenced by the following extract from an autograph letter (now in possession of the American Philosophical Society, Philadel- phia) written by Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania to Timothy Horsfield, under date of September 1, 1763. "I am very much afraid the old man Nutimus, who seems to have acted a friendly part by us, will fall a sacrifice to the unbridled and undistinguishing rage of the people of Cumberland in their expedition to the Great Island." At about the time of the ending of the Indian troubles in 1764 Nutimus removed to the Ohio region, where he continued to live until his death at Muskingum, "near his brother, i11 1780"-according to Watson, previously quoted.
* See pages 149 and 165.
+ A Delaware ejaculation of approval or pleasure.
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Council decided to send Conrad Weiser on a mission to the Ohio "to make particular inquiry into the behavior of the Shawanese since the commencement of the war, and in relation to the countenance they gave Peter Chartier." Weiser was informed by the Council that the Shaw- anese had "relented, and made acknowledgments to the Government of their error in being seduced by Chartier, and prayed that they might be permitted to return to their old towns and taken again as sincere peni- tents into the favor of the Government." They had not yet, however, sent deputies to Philadelphia to formally acknowledge their fault and
ask for restoration to favor .* But before Weiser was ready to set out on his mission news came that certain Indian deputies from the West had arrived at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and desired to treat with the Gov- ernment. Among these deputies were some chiefs of the Twightwees (mentioned in the note on page 205), "lately in the interest of the French, and now desiring to enter into an alliance with the English."
Commissioners were appointed by the Government to proceed im- mediately to Lancaster to treat with these Indians, and they were directed to be careful that the Shawanese, by their representatives at the treaty, "acknowledge their fault in plain terms, and promise never to be guilty of any behavior again that inay give us reason to suspect their fidelity." The work of the treaty was begun at Lancaster July 19, 1748, fifty-five Indians being present, including Six Nations, Shaw- anese, Delawares, Nanticokes and Twightwees. Of the Indians in at- tendance only eighteen had come from the Ohio, however, the remainder being from Conestoga and other nearby villages on the Susquehanna. Of the Nanticoke Indians at the treaty Conrad Weiser wrote subse- quently to Secretary Peterst : "The Nontikook Indians have been very troublesome to us. They were like so many wolves, and I had no influence on them."
Andrew Montour acted as interpreter for the Shawanese and Twight- wees. The principal Shawanese chiefs of the Ohio were not present in person. Led by Neucheconno they had met in council at one of their villages and had prepared a message addressed "to their Grandfathers and Brethren-the Delawares and Six Nations on the Ohio," which was conveyed to Lancaster by Scarooyady, an Oneida chief residing at or near Logstown who had great influence with the Indians on the Ohio and was a firm friend of the English. This "message," or petition, delivered at the Lancaster conference by Scarooyady in behalf of the Shawanese, was couched, in part, in the following words :
"We the Shawanese have been misled, and have carried on a private correspond- ence with the French without letting you or our brethren the English know of it. We traveled secretly through the bushes to Canada, and the French promised us great things, but we find ourselves deceived. We are sorry that we had anything to do with them. We now find that we could not see, although the sun did shine. We earnestly desire you would intercede with our brethren the English for us who are left on the Ohio, that we may be permitted to be restored to the Chain of Friendship."
Addressing themselves to Scarooyady, the speaker, and the Six Nation and Delaware chiefs who accompanied him, the Commissioners said :
"Your intercession for the Shawanese puts us under difficulties. It is at least two years since the Governor of Pennsylvania wrote to Kackawatcheky a letter, wherein he con- descended out of regard to him and a few other Shawanese who preserved their fidelity, to
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," V : 290.
+ See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 11.
# See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," V : 311.
228
offer those who broke the Chain a pardon, on their submission on their return to the towns they had deserted, and on their coming down to Philadelphia to evidence in per- son the sincerity of their repentance. This they should have immediately complied with, but did not. *
* Some of them, it may be allowed, are weak people, who were * perverted from their duty by the persuasions of others ; but this cannot be thought to be the case of Neucheconno and a few more. As, therefore, you have taken upon your- selves the office of intercessors, take this string of wampum and therewith chastise Neu- checonno and his party in such terms of severity as shall be proper for them ; and then tell the delinquent Shawanese that we will forget what is past and expect a more punc- tual regard to their engagements hereafter.
""Tis but justice to distinguish the good from the bad. Kackawatcheky and his friends, who had virtue enough to resist the miany fine promises made by the emissaries of the French, will ever be remembered with gratitude and challenge our best services. To testify our regard for these we present theni with this belt of wampuni, and have ordered our Interpreter [Weiser], who is going to the Ohio, to give them a present of goods."*
"Taming Buck," one of the Shawanese present, then stood up and spoke as follows :
"Brethren-We the Shawanese, sensible of our ungrateful returns for the many favors we have been all along receiving from our brethren the English ever since we first made the Chain of Friendship, came along the road with our eyes looking down to the earth, and have not taken them from thence till this morning, when you were pleased to chastise us and then pardon us. We have been a foolish people and acted wrong, though the sun shone bright and showed us clearly what was our duty. We are sorry for what we have done, and promise better behavior for the future. We produce to you a certifi- cate of the renewal of our friendship in the year 1739 by the Proprietaries and Governor.t Be pleased to sign it afresh, that it may appear to the world we are now admitted into your friendship, and all former crimes are buried and entirely forgot."
The Commissioners took the certificate but refused to grant "Tam- ing Buck's" request, stating that it was sufficient for the Shawanese to know that they had been forgiven, on condition of future good behavior. Presents were then distributed to all the Indians at the treaty excepting the Shawanese, who merely had their guns and hatchets mended. Upon closing the conference the Commissioners publicly announced that news had just arrived that there was "a cessation of arms between England and France," and there was "likely to be a peace."
In view of the treatment accorded the Shawanese at Lancaster, as just related, it will be interesting to read Governor Hamilton's opinion of the same Indians expressed a few years later. In February, 1751, in a letter to the Board of Trade (London) relative to land titles, Indian affairs, etc., in Pennsylvania, he wrote :
"What right the Shawanese in these circumstances may have to the soil must be left to be settled between themselves and the Five Nations ; but from the time they were admitted to live in this Province they have been his Majesty's faithful allies, and behaved as such without any instance to the contrary."
One year later, replying to a message received from certain Shaw- anese chiefs, Governor Hamilton wrote :
"I for my part shall ever retain an affectionate tenderness for the Shawanese, and at all times be ready to relieve their wants and do them my best offices."
At the very time that the Lancaster Indian conference was in pro- gress there was being held in Albany, New York, a "Grand Council," which has been described by historians as "one of the most picturesque events in the history of the Colonies." There were present the Gov- ernors of the New England Colonies, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia, with the chiefs of the Indians friendly to the English and the colonists, or who were willing to be friendly in the future. Thirty Indian chiefs of high rank, each attended by several
* In August and September, 1748, Weiser performed his mission to the Ohio, this being the first official embassy undertaken at the instance of the English Colonies to the Indians who lived beyond the Alle- ghenies. It was then that Weiser met Kackawatcheky and presented him with the gift sent by the Gov- ernor, as mentioned in the note on page 214.
+ See note, page 214.
# See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 61.
229
warriors of his tribe-and many of the chiefs and warriors accompanied by their wives and children-were there, representing the Six Nations, the Delaware, Shawanese, Mohegan, Wyandot and other tribes. "Per- haps," says Bnell,* "the most interesting figure in this assemblage was the great war-chief of the Genesee Senecas, Hiokato, t who for years had vowed that he would never speak one word with an Englishman. The results of this council were more satisfactory and on a larger scale than any previously held. The Iroquois renewed all their ancient covenants with the King. The Senecas gave in their complete adhesion through Hiokato and Capt. Jean Montour :- both of whom had hitherto been opposed to English influence."
The well-known Canassatego-whose name appears so frequently in the preceding pages of this book-was present at this council as chief speaker of the Onondagas, and in one of his speeches accused the English of neglecting the Western Iroquois, thereby leaving the hearts of the latter open to the blandishments of the French emissaries. This speech provoked a reply from Abraham, a leading chief of the Mohawk tribe-concerning whom we shall have some further matters of interest to relate hereinafter. Abraham was present as the representative of his brother, old "King" Hendrick, the senior chief of the Mohawks, who was detained at home by an "attack of inflammatory gout"'! Chief Abraham spoke in English, and said in parts :
"You complain that the English, the colonists, do not trust you. How can they, when you do not trust them ? There can be no confidence between two unless both share it alike. There can never be faith on one side and doubt on the other withont distrust on both sides. And wherever there is distrust no real friendship can exist. You Western Iroquois listen to the silver tongues of French priests and emissaries, whose only object is to lure you to ruin that their cause may profit by it. They do not love you. They would not give you a gourdful of succotash if you were starving. But when have the English and the colonists failed to help you in distress? Put away the French ! Send them across the Lake! Tell them to practise their bows and scrapes and grimaces upon the stupid Indians of Canada-not upon the noble Iroquois !"
The results of the Albany and Lancaster treaties, as well as the news that hostilities between France and England had been suspended, soon became generally known throughout the Indian tribes east of the Mississippi, and with few exceptions those who had forsaken the English, or had been inclined to forsake them, or were wavering in their allegiance, hastened to assume more friendly relations with the authorities of the various English Colonies. October 7, 1748, a definitive treaty of peace and friendship between France and England was concluded at Aix La Chapelle, which fact became known in this country about the close of the year.
We have shown by the extracts from the diaries of Mack and De Watteville that, from the time of the departure of King Kackawatcheky and his band from Wyoming in the Spring of 1744 (see page 213), until the Autumn of 1748, the Shawanese at Wyoming numbered but very few. It is quite probable that those few continued here because they were either too old and feeble to make the long and tedious journey to the Ohio, or they were Shawanese women who were married to Chick- asaw or Mohegan husbands. However, late in April or early in May, 1749, a numerous band of Shawanese immigrated to the valley-presum- ably from the region of the Ohio River-and erected their wigwams in
* In "Sir William Johnson." t See foot-nole, page 164.
# See foot-note, page 206.
¿ See Augustus C. Buell's "Sir William Johnson." page 66.
230
the "upper town" (described on page 209) in Plymouth. About this time, or very shortly afterwards, the "lower town," on "Shawnee" Flats, seems to have been abandoned by the Indians as a place of abode.
The chief of these new-comers was Pack-sha-nos, or Paxinosa, a inan concerning whom, prior to this time, we can learn but little. He said he was born on "the Ohio" ; in 1755 he called himself "an old inan"; in 1757 his eye-sight was so defective-either on account of old age or disease-that he wore spectacles ! He is the only Indian who lived in the valley at that period who is known to have worn spectacles. Others may have worn then, but the information has not been preserved -as in this instance. Paxinosa was married, had a son named Kola- peeka, or "Samuel," and a daughter who was married.
In May, 1749, shortly after Paxinosa and his people arrived at Plymouth, a message was sent from Wyoming to Gnadenhütten on the Lehigh to this effect* :
"That a conjurer who was dying in Wajomick had disappeared in the night, and two days after returned from Heaven, where God had told him that He had appointed sacrifices for the Indians, to atone for their sins ; but had given the Bible to the white people only, and though it contained many excellent things yet He considered it an abomination that the Indians should walk in the same way. He added that the white people were wise and cunning, and if the Indians meddled with them they would all be devoured, especially their children. The messenger added that the man who had been with God had summoned all the Indians to meet on the river Susquehannah to hear him."
Early in April, 1749, at a meeting of the Grand Council of the Six Nations held at Onondaga Castle, it was decided to send deputies from each of the nations to Philadelphia, to shake hands with the new Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania (the Hon. Jaines Hamilton, t who had assumed office in the previous November), to answer a proposal for peace with the southern Catawbas (made by the foriner Governor of Pennsylvania) and to consider other matters. It was agreed that all the deputies should meet together at Wyoming, and proceed thence in a body to Philadelphia. About the middle of May the deputies of the Senecas, four in number, accompanied by other members of their nation, arrived at Wyoming. Here they waited a month for the arrival of the deputies from the other nations, who, however, failed to appear. The Senecas thereupon continued their journey to Philadelphia, where they arrived June 26th accompanied by some "Tuteloes and others, Nanticokes and Conoys."¿ These Indians were received by the Governor and Council on July 1st, when Ogashtash, the Seneca speaker, stated that the Grand Council at Onondaga had heard that the white people had begun to settle on the Indians' side of the Blue Mountains. Continuing, Ogash- tash said§ :
"We, the deputies of the Senecas, staying so long at Wyomen, had an opportunity of inquiring into the truth of this information, and to our surprise found the story con- firmed, with this addition, that even this Spring, since the Governor's arrival, numbers of families were beginning to make settlements. As our boundaries are so well known, and so remarkably distinguished by a range of high mountains, we could not suppose this could be done by mistake ; but either it must be done wickedly by bad people, with- out the knowledge of the Governor, or that the new Governor has brought some instruc- tions from the King, or the Proprietaries, relating to this affair, whereby we are like to be much hurt. The Governor will be pleased to tell us whether he has brought any orders from the King or the Proprietaries for these people to settle on our lands ; and if not, we earnestly desire they may be made to remove instantly with all their effects, to prevent the sad consequences which will otherwise ensue."
* See Loskiel's "Ifistory of the Mission of the United Brethren."
+ For portrait, and sketch of his life, see Chapter VI.
# See Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, IV : 205 (September, 1829).
¿ See ibid., XIII : 308 (November, 1833).
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Governor Hamilton informed the Senecas that the settling of the white squatters along the Juniata was contrary to the terms of the treaties made by the Government with the Indians, and that a procla- mation would be issued commanding all the white people who had set- tled [north] west of the Blue Mountains to remove by November 1, 1749. Strouds, duffels, half-thicks, gunpowder, lead, shot, vermilion, shirts, guns, brass kettles, hatchets, knives, flints, looking-glasses, gar- ters, ribbons, scissors, bed-lace, ear-rings, rings, Morris-bells, thimbles, beads, jews-harps, handkerchiefs, tobacco and pipes to the value of $100 were distributed on the 4th of July to the Indians, and a day or two later Conrad Weiser conducted them out of the city and journeyed with them as far as liis home in Heidelberg Township. Here the Indians concluded to remain for a few days to visit with their old friend and brother Weiser, and without invitation they camped out near his house and made themselves at home. The Tuteloes, it seems, made them- selves very much at home, and injured and destroyed a large amount of Weiser's movable property and damaged his plantation generally. Weiser expostulated and tried to influence them to proceed on their journey, but without avail. Finally, after an experience of a week or ten days with these unruly visitors, Weiser induced the Senecas to take their departure, and, by their aid, the Tuteloes were forced to go along .*
These Indians dawdled along the way to the Susquehanna, and thence up the river past Shamokin and Nescopeck to Wyoming, where they-or at least the Senecas-arrived about the 1st of August. They had been here two or three days when, unexpectedly, a large fleet of canoes came down the river bearing the belated deputies of the Onon- daga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Tuscarora nations together with other representatives-chiefs, warriors, squaws and children-of these several nations, and Indians of some other tribes or bands. This large company remained at Wyoming for a day, and then proceeded on down the river accompanied by the Seneca deputies and their party who had just returned from Philadelphia, by Chief Paxinosa and a number of his Shawanese from their new home in what is now Plymouth, and by a number of Delawares, Nanticokes and Mohegans from the different villages in the valley. At Nescopeck they were joined by Nutimus and a number of his people, and then, without delay, floated onward to Shamokin. Arriving there a messenger was sent in haste over the mountains to Conrad Weiser to announce the coming of the deputies. The news was forwarded by express to the Governor, who immediately directed Weiser "to try all ways to divert the Indians from coming to Philadelphia." This the Interpreter did, but his efforts were resented by the Indians with so much spirit that he was obliged "to turn his protests into invitations and make the best of circumstances." There- fore, on came the tawny host, their numbers increased at Shamokin by Tachnechdorus, the vicegerent of the Six Nations, t and several chiefs from Shamokin and thereabout.
Accompanied by Weiser from Tulpehocken they reached Philadel- phia August 14th, and according to official records they numbered 280 in all-Six Nations, Delawares, Nanticokes, Shawanese, Mohegans and Tuteloes. Whether or not the last-mentioned Indians were from Wyo-
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