A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 48

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734

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 48

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"We agree with you that the deed should be destroyed. We agree with you that it is a false proceeding. We will give you our assistance, but you know that we cannot destroy the deed ourselves-that would be another mistake. * * It must be the act of the Council of the Six Nations. We will think of the proper means. We advise the Governor to send for two deputies of every Nation of the Six, either here or at Albany, to kindle a council-fire with thein, to consider a way to oblige Connecticut to discountenance the deed, etc."

Daniel Claus and the Mohawks left Philadelphia on their homeward journey January 23, 1755, and reached Albany February Sth. Claus was the bearer of two letters to Colonel Johnson-one from Governor Morris and one from Richard Peters .¿ The following is an extract from Morris' letter :

"I heartily thank you for the part you have been so good as to take in the Connecti- cut affair. Hendrick has been very explicit on the subject, and I have entertained him and his companions in the best manner I could. You will give me leave to refer you to a letter you will receive with this, from Mr. Peters, for the particulars that have passed here, and for the plan that we have agreed to prosecute to put an end to this affair-in which I hope for the continuance of your friendly offices. You will observe, we propose that the Six Nations should be invited to send deputies to your house early in the Spring, with full powers to treat and agree upon this matter (relative to the purchase of Lydius,

* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 278.

+ See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 277.

# See Miner's "History of Wyoming," page 96.

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and to prevent the like for the future), when I shall send commissioners to meet them ; and it will give me particular pleasure if you will permit me to name you in the com- mission."

The following paragraphs are from the letter of Secretary Peters referred to :

"He (Hendrick ) told me you had made him a hearty friend to this Province, and would join with and support him in any measures which the Government of Pennsyl- vania should advise to get rid of this Connecticut deed. ** His Honor, the Governor, gave Hendrick a belt, with a string of wampum tied to it. By the belt he was asked to undertake, along with you, the breaking of the Connecticut deed. And for that purpose, and because there is no other way in the world to get rid of it, he was further desired to consider with you what will be the best method to procure the meeting of a Council at your house, as soon as possible, to consist of two or three deputies from each nation, and no more, in order to consult together of the most effectual manner how to do it. And by the string you are desired to convene such a Council.

"We further intimated to Hendrick, and now inform you, that to get rid of this deed we cannot devise any other method that will be effectual, unless the Six Nations in Council will execute a conveyance to the Proprietaries of all the lands lying within their grant ! * * And to show the Indians and yourself their just intention they propose to name you one of the commissioners, with Mr. Penn and myself. Hendrick seems to ap- prove much of this proposal, and I believe the more you think of the matter the more you will be persuaded that no other way can do the thing effectually. If it meets with your approbation-which I hope it will do-the Governor begs the favor of you to sum- mon a Council at your house, and leaves it to you to fix the time and take such measures with the Indians previous to the meeting as you and Hendrick shall think proper."

Before Colonel Johnson could take up the matter of the Connecti- cut deed and arrange plans for either "breaking" or ignoring it, other matters of greater importance were demanding not only his attention but that of Governor Morris of Pennsylvania. This year of 1755 afforded but a gloomy prospect for the cause of the Colonies. Never before, perhaps, had they been so boldly threatened by the combined power of the French and the Indians. In February Major General Braddock arrived in this country as Commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America; in March Colonel Johnson was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed General Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as previously mentioned ; early in June Braddock's expedition started out, coming to a disastrous end on the 9th of July with "the greatest defeat ever suffered by the whites in frontier warfare"; in the latter part of June, in response to a call issued by John- son for a conference with the Iroquois, over 1,000 Indians assembled at Mount Johnson, when and where they were informed that Johnson- their "Brother Warragh-i-ya-gey"-had been delegated to command a military expedition which should include 1,000 picked warriors from the Six Nations. Preparations for the expedition against Crown Point now followed ; then came-early in August-the advance of the British and Indian forces under Johnson to Lake George, where, on September Sth, occurred the battle in which "King" Hendrick lost his life. With the death of Hendrick the agents of the Pennsylvania Proprietaries lost their chief inainstay among the Six Nation Indians.

Notwithstanding the fact that all the affairs and undertakings just mentioned, as well as others of importance, were occupying the serious thought and close attention of the American public, Governor Morris continued to find time in which to fidget and fluster about Lydius and The Susquehanna Company. Under date of March 11, 1755, Governor De Lancey of New York communicated to his Council "a letter from Governor Morris of Pennsylvania desiring the countenance of this [the New York] Government in respect to a meeting of the Six Nations of

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Indians at Colonel Johnson's this Spring, where Mr. Morris proposes to treat with them by commissioners, and to purchase of thein in behalf of the Proprietaries of that Province all the lands within the same, as bounded in the royal Charter. And desiring that John Lydius, who has lately made a purchase of lands within that Goverment, in behalf of some people of Connecticut, may be prosecuted for the same-the charges whereof he [Morris] will defray." * * In taking action on this communication the Council decided that, "as the charge against the said John Lydius is general, this Board cannot order a prosecution against him by the Attorney General, but that the Government of Pennsylvania might be at liberty to commence and carry on a prosecution against him in the King's name."*

Under date of March 25th Governor Morris wrote to Governor De Lanceyt :

"The purchase from the Six Nations of all the lands lying within the King's grant to William Penn is thought to be the only proper expedient to prevent the confusion that might arise from the wild schemes of the Connecticut people, which, if carried into execution, must destroy ye peace of other Provinces as well as that of Pennsylvania. It was the request of Hendrick that a treaty for this purpose might be held at Colonel Johnson's. * *

* I propose to take the grant, if we can agree with the Indians, in the express words of Mr. Penn's Charter, and against this I conceive you can have no objec- tions. * * * I am taking measures to obtain evidence against Lydius, and when this is laid before me and approved, I shall then renew my application and take ye legal steps agreeable to your letter, for which I return you thanks as I do for your kindness to Scarooyady and his unworthy interpreter. This chief is really a man of consequence at Ohio, and will not be thought there to have degraded himself by a too free use of ye in- toxicating cup." #

Under date of May 3, 1755, Governor Morris wrote to Major General (formerly Colonel) Johnson as follows§:

"You may remember the manner proposed effectually to destroy the effect of that clandestine transaction of Lydius, and to prevent the like for the future, was to invite the Six Nations to send deputies to your house to declare their sense of that deed, and to make an absolute conveyance to the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania of all the lands within the limits of their grant from the Crown. * * * I propose that, agreeably to your friendly offer of assistance in this affair, you should invite the Six Nations to your house, either solely upon this subject, or join this with the one you are to send them upon the Public Service. * * As to the consideration, I think besides a sum of money down there must be an annual payment for a certain term of years, to be agreed on at the meeting. I have orders from the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania to return you their thanks for the part you have taken."

About this time Governor Morris received from England a com- inunication from the Hon. Thomas Penn, || the head of the Proprietary family. It contained, among other matters, the following :

"We are extremely satisfied with your proceedings in the Connecticut business. As for making a purchase of these worthless Indians, till they have demanded the deed

* See page 54 of "Report of the Regents' Boundary Commission Upon the New York and Pennsyl- vania Boundary," Albany, 1886.

+ See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 273, 279.

# Early in February, 1755, Scarooyady, the "Half King" (mentioned on page 262)., accompanied by other Indians and an interpreter (probably Andrew Montour, mentioned on page 206), journeyed from Philadelphia to Mount Johnson, via the cities of New York and Albany, to formally ask, in behalf of the Pennsylvania authorities, for a conference with the Six Nations relative to the purchase (as proposed) of lands within the Pennsylvania Charter limits. This delegation visited the Mohawk country, and it was while passing through Albany early in March, on their homeward journey, that the "Half King" signed the Susquehanna Company's deed ! (See page 276.) Governor De Lancey met this delegation in New York, when they were en route to or from Albany, and under date of March 18th he wrote Governor Morris : "The interpreter is a lying knave and the chief is turned sot."

Secretary Peters, writing to Colonel Jolinson in the latter part of January, 1755, relative to the intended visit of the "Half King" to Mount Johnson and the Mohawk Castles, said : "Scarooyady is a warrior, a brave and stout man, and has an aversion to the French, and wants, without any good reason, to strike them, and secretly purposes to animate the Six Nations to take part in the war. This he will do if he can, though this is not his public errand. * * * I think him a mighty good man, and worthy of all kinds of notice from the Six Nations." (See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 287.)

§ See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 298.

| See Chapter VI for his portrait and a sketch of his life.

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from the Connecticut people, I think it is throwing away the consideration money. By Mr. Peters' account the best of them have been dishonest. * *

* When a purchase is made I would not have it in words too particular, but to extend to the northern boundary of the Province of Pennsylvania, without any mention of a degree, and will be a release of their claim to all the land within that Province. I had rather avoid making the Government of New York privy to it, as they expect we shall confine our purchase to the 42°, whereas we shall certainly expect three degrees." I think we should insist that the Six Nations send to the Government of Connecticut and demand the deed. * * Mr. Peters gave me expectation that he would seize on Lydius and prosecute him. If that can be done, and he has the deed in possession, it might conduce to their giving it up."t

While these conditions of excitement and disturbance prevailed with the Pennsylvanians the agents and officers of The Susquehanna Company went quietly ahead about their business. They did not spend much time in writing letters and talking, but they accomplished a few things of importance to the Company. A good many new proprietors were brought into the Company, shares being disposed of in New Eng- land, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania by duly accredited agents. The following copy of a receipt; given by Colonel Lydius shows the form of certificate usually given at this period to the purchasers of shares in the Company :

"Albany, January 31, 1755. I the subscriber do hereby acknowledge to have received of Mr. JACOB BRYAN of Burlington, New Jersey, seven Spanish dollars, for which sum he is entitled to one whole share of The Susquehanna Company's Purchase, etc." [Signed] "JOHN LYDIUS [L. S.]"

May 8, 1755, the General Assembly of Connecticut convened in regular semi-annual session at Hartford, and about the same time a meeting of The Susquehanna Company was also held there. The minutes of that meeting are not recorded in the Company's minute-book, nor are they to be found in the incomplete copy of the "Minutes of The Susquehanna Company" printed in "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XVIII : 3. However, among the "Trumbull Papers" (mentioned on page 29, ante, paragraph "6") there is a transcript of the proceedings of the Company at the meeting referred to, in the handwriting of Samuel Gray, the Clerk, and duly attested by him in October, 1782. A copy of the same is now printed for the first time.

"Voted, That the Committee be impowered and desired to pursue and address the Generale Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut in behalf of this Company, for their con- tinuance and approbation of the erecting a new Colony at Susquehannah, and of our application to His Majesty for that purpose. That the said Committee do, as soon as conveniently may be, employ a suitable number of persons to go forth, in concurrence with the Indians of whom they purchased, to erect monuments at the north-east and south-east corners of the land already purchased of said Indians. That said Committee procure to be laid out a Township, or Townships, and admit settlers therein upon such terms and under such regulations as they shall judge most advantageous for the Company and safe for the settlers. That they be impowered to build and erect a sufficient fortifi- cation, a grist-mill and saw-mill at the charge of the Company in such town, place or places as shall appear to them necessary for the encouragement and security of the first settlers. That the Committee be empowered to make any further additional purchase of land for the benefit of the Company and for the enlargement of said proposed new Colony, and take new and further deeds and conveyances of the same from the Indians in the name of the respective proprietors, or members, of said Company.

"That a seasonable address be made to His Majesty for royal grant and confirma- tion of a sufficient tract of land to said Company, and his approbation and encourage- ment of our undertaking; and to incorporate the said Company with a Charter of privileges, immunities and government in form as near as may be of the Constitution of said Colony of Connecticut. That in order thereto a proper address from the chiefs of

* See page 245 relative to the unsettled New York and Pennsylvania boundary-line.

+ From "Pennsylvania Archives, " First Series, II : 370.

# From "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 293.

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the Six Nations of Indians to His Majesty be procured .* That Col. Samuel Talcottt and Capt. Thomas Seymour be added to the present Committee, joyntly with them to carry 011 this affair."

Within a few days after the adoption of the foregoing resolves the Executive Committee of the Company presented to the General Assembly then in session a memorial setting forth the objects and desires of the Company. The following extracts from the proceedings of the Assem- bly# show the action then taken by that body.

"Upon petition of Phineas Lyman, Roger Wolcott, Jr., Samuel Gray and others, to the number of 850, known by the name of THE SUSQUEHANNAH COMPANY, by their agents GEORGE WYLLYS, DANIEL EDWARDS, SAMUEL TALCOTT, THOMAS SEYMOUR and ELIPHALET DVER, representing that this Colony according to the express limits of its royal Charter is in extent from the Narragansett Bay on the east to the South Sea to the west, and from the sea-shore on the south to the line of the Massachusetts Province on the north ; that within and towards the western parts of its limits are, and from time immemorial have been, large uumbers of the Indian natives-commonly called the Six Nations-dwelling, improving and claiming a large extent thereof ; that a certain large parcel of such their claim-situate and lying on the waters of the Susquehannah, about seventy miles north and south, and from about ten miles east of said river extending westward two degrees of longitude-they the said natives finding not necessary for their own use, have, for very valuable considerations, been induced to relinquish and sell to the said petitioners ; and that some well-ordered plantation in so near a neighborhood to said nations might most likely be a means to cement and fix them in friendship with His Majesty's subjects ; and that they the said Indian nations are desirous such settlements might be promoted and carried on, as being conducive to their interest and safety ; and thereupon praying the consent of this Assembly, &c., thereou to erect and settle a Colony for the more effectual securing said Indians in His Majesty's dominions-

"Resolved by this Assembly, That they are of opinion that the peaceably and orderly erecting and carrying on some new and well-regulated Colony or plantation on the lands abovesaid would greatly tend to fix and secure said Indian nations in allegi- ance to His Majesty and friendship with his subjects ; and accordingly hereby manifest their ready acquiescence therein, if it should be His Majesty's royal pleasure to grant said lands to said petitioners, and thereon erect and settle a new Colony in such form and under such regulations as might be consistent with his royal wisdom ; and also take leave humbly to recommend the said petitioners to his royal favors in the premises."

We will now return to Wyoming Valley, which we left November 1, 1753-about which time the "Journeying Committee" of The Sus- quehanna Company arrived on the ground, as described on page 254.

Early in April, 1754, Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania not hav- ing heard anything in a long time from the Indians on the North Branchi of the Susquehanna, thought it necessary to send Conrad Weiser "to the Delawares and Shawanese at Wyomink" to inquire after their health, to sound them relative to their attitude towards the French and to apprize thein of the intentions of the Connecticut people. § Weiser left his home at Heidelberg April 17th, accompanied by his son Samuel, and arrived at Shamokin the 20th. There Weiser remained while his son, "James Logan, the lame son of Shikellimy,"|| and another Indian pro- ceeded up the river in a canoe with the Governor's messages, which were addressed to "old Nutimus, the chief at Nescopeck," and to "Paxi- nosa, the chief man at Wyomink." Samuel Weiser and the two Indians returned to Shamokin April 26th, with the information that both Nuti- inus and Paxinosa were away from home. The messages, with the ac- companying strings of wampum, were well received, however, by those who were at home, and it was supposed that "the Indians would have a council together when they all came home, which would be at their planting time."

* A memorandum in the handwriting of Mr. Gray appended to the foregoing transcript states that this address was procured, "with affidavit and certificate," and was sent to England-as will be more fully shown hereinafter. It is probable that the "affidavit" referred to by Colonel Franklin, and mien- tioned on page 291, ante, was a copy of the address now referred to.

t See page 282. Į See "Colonial Records of Connecticut," X : 378.

¿ See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 24, 34; VIII : 256.

See note, page 1$5.

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We have referred on page 238 to the efforts being made in the Spring of 1753 to have the christianized Indians at Gnadenhütten re- move to Wyoming, and that as a result Abraham, the Mohegan, and his family had come hither. After Abraham had located in the Valley he added his persuasions to those of the Shawanese, and, says Reichel, "messenger after messenger went down from the Susquehanna to the unwilling Delawares and Mohegans of Gnadenhütten with sinister invita- tions from the Shawanese to come up to them and plant in Wyoming."

At that time the foremost Delaware Indian in Northampton County north-west of the Kittatinny Mountains was a certain Ta-de-us-kund, or Tee-dy-us-công .* He had been converted to Christianity and baptized somne years previously by the Moravian Brethren, and was considered by them as a member of the Gnadenhütten community-although he did not spend all his time there. Reichel says ("Memorials," page 220) :

* TEEDYUSCUNG, according to his own statement, made in 1756 (see "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 724), was born about the year 1706 "among the English, somewhere near Trenton, New Jersey," in which neighborhood his ancestors of the Lenni Lenape had been seated from time immemorial. He belonged to the Unami, or Wanamie, clan of the nation, whose totemic device was the Turtle. (See page 103.) Teedyuscung was the son of "Old Captain Harris," a noted Delaware chief, who was the father also of "Peter," alias "Young Captain Harris," "Captain John," sometime of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, "Tom Evans," "Nicodemus," alias "Joe Evans," and "Sam Evans"-all of whom were half-brothers of Teedy- uscung. (See Reichel's "Memorials, " pages 119 and 271, and Pennsylvania Magazine of History, XXI : 419.) According to a statement written by Count Zinzendorf in September, 1742 (see Reichel's "Memorials," page 92), "Old Captain Harris," having grown aged and helpless, was left by his children to starve to death. About the year 1730 a number of New Jersey Delawares, from the country along the Raritan River and from the vicinity of Trenton on the Delaware River, emigrated to the wild Indian country north- west of the Kittatinny Mountains, in what is now Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Among these emi- grants were "Old Captain Harris" and his family, including Teedyuscung, who, with a few others, estab- lished a village on the banks of Poakopohkunk (now Pocopoco) Creek, about twenty miles north-east of the locality where Gnadenhitten was later laid out, and not far from the site of the present village of Brodheadsville. The Delaware village of Meniolagomeka (mentioned in the note on page 311) came into existence about the same time on the banks of Aquanshicola Creek, a few miles distant. It is stated in Egle's "History of Pennsylvania" (page 947) that feedyuscung was born on the Pocono Mountains, and resided for a long time in what is now Monroe County. The first part of this statement is incorrect, but the latter part is true. In memory of his long residence in that section of Pennsylvania there is a small village named for him in the north corner of Pike County, and in the same county what is now known as Porter's Lake was for a long time called Lake Teedyuscung.

Teedyuscung, who was generally known among the whites as "Honest John," first heard the Moravian missionaries preach in 1742. Impressed by their teachings he later sought admission to fellow- ship with the Christian Delawares and Mohegans at Gnadenhütten. In 1749 he was admitted to their congregation, but was not baptized until the next year. Loskiel states : "His baptism was delayed some time because of his wavering disposition. But having once been present at a baptism he said to one of the Brethren, 'I am distressed that the time is not yet come that I shall be baptized and cleansed in the blood of Christ.' Being asked how he felt during the baptism he replied, 'I cannot describe it-but I wept and trembled.' He then spoke with the missionaries in a very unreserved inanner, saying that he had been a very bad man all his life ; that he had no power to resist evil, and that he had never before been so desirous to be delivered from sin. * * He evinced this fervor ever after, and was named 'Gideon.'" In the record of Indian baptisms for the year 1750 Bishop Cammerhoff made this entry: "March 12th. -To-day I baptized Tatiuskundt, the chief among sinners."

Teedyuscung was married about 1726 to a Delaware woman, who was baptized "Elizabeth," March 19, 1750, at Gnadenhütten. Reichel and others who have written about Teedyuscung say that he had three sons, as follows: i. Tachgokanhelle, born about 1727; baptized "Amos" December 14, 1749; mar- ried to Pingtis (baptized "Justina"), a Jersey Delaware, whose sister Agnes was the wife of Christian Frederick Post mentioned on page 216. ii. Kesmitas. iii. Onangintolany, or "Capt. John Jacob," alias "Hans Jacob." Teedyuscung had a son, however, who was known as "Thomas Bull" and as "Captain Bull." Sir William Johnson referred to him by the latter name in 1764 (see Chapter VI, post), while Col. (later Gen.) Hugh Mercer referred to him in 1759 as "Thomas Bull." Prior to 1750 "Thomas Bull" had separated from the other members of his father's family and joined the Delawares in the Ohio region. In March, 1759, Colonel Mercer was the English military commander at Pittsburg, and he employed "Thonias Bull" as a spy in the lake region. March 2d the latter left Pittsburg for Venango, La Bœuf and Presque Isle. He returned to Pittsburg March 17th, bringing an account of the fort, garrison, etc., at Presque Isle. When he left there he said "he was going to Wyoming to see his father Teedyuscung." (See letter from Colonel Mercer in "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII : 310, 311.) It is possible that "ii. Kesmitas" and "Captain Bull" were one and the same person.

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A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 48

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909-1930 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 734

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734