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 early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume I > Part 47
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In the Summer of 1756 a royal commission was issued to Sir William Johnson appointing him "Agent and Sole Superintendent of the Six Nations and all other Indians inhabiting British territory north of the Carolinas and the Ohio River" ; and at the same time orders were issued "forbidding any Colonial Gov- ernor to transact any business with the Indians or hold any communication with them except through Sir William Johnson."
At the beginning of 1758 a powerful French armament at Louisbourg on Cape Breton threatened the New England Colonies, and there was a call for men to defend them. In May an expedition under com- mand of Gen. Sir Jeffrey Amherst was sent to attack Louisbourg, and at the same time an army under General Abercrombie and Lord Howe set out to capture from the French Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The French forces were widely distributed, of necessity, since the frontier to be guarded was so vast, but the three points of greatest strategic importance were Louisbourg on the east, Fort Niagara on the west and Fort Ticonderoga in the center. Early in July Abercrombie was defeated at Ticonderoga -losing 2,000 men and retiring almost as if in flight ; but on the 25th of the same month Louisbourg was surrendered to Amherst, who, a few months later, became commander-in-chief of all the British forces in North America.
During the Winter of 1758-'59 General Amherst matured plans for a comprehensive invasion of Canada. It was proposed to attack the French in all of their strong posts at once ; to fall as nearly as possible at the same time upon Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara and the forts to the south of Lake Erie, while a great naval armament and a considerable body of land forces should attempt the capture of Quebec. General Amherst was himself to lead the attack upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point ; for the command
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of the expedition against Quebec Gen. James Wolfe was selected, while Gen. John Prideaux was appointed to the command of the Niagara expedition, with Sir William Johnson second in command. Fort Niagara was regarded at this time as the most important post in America, for the reason that it secured the great- est number of communications. It was located on the eastern bank of the Niagara River, at the very entrance of the river into Lake Ontario. The original fort at this point consisted of "a stockade and
Niagara River.
LAKE ONTARIO
AVIEW of NIAGARA FORT, taken byse la William Johnson, ouf the es of July 1759 . Urin on the Spit in sy88.
FORT NIAGARA IN 1758. Photo-reproduction of an old print.
cabins" erected in the latter part of the seventeenth century by French troops under the command of the Marquis de Denonville. The stockade had "four bastions," upon which were mounted "two great guns and some pattareras." (For the locations of Fort Niagara and Fort St. Frédéric, and for a ground-plan of the latter, see the map on page 33.)
The force sent against Fort Niagara consisted of 3,000 white troops and 980 Indians-the latter being directly under the command of Sir William Johnson. (See "Jean Montour," page 206, ante.) The siege of Niagara was begun on July 7th, 1759, and twelve days later General Prideaux was killed by the bursting of a shell ; whereupon the chief command devolved upon Sir William Johnson. On the 24th of July a severe engagement between the French and English took place at some distance from the fort, resulting in the defeat of the French, and on the following day Fort Niagara, with its garrison of 618 men, was surrendered to Sir William. In the meantime, on July 7th, Fort Ticonderoga had been abandoned by the French and taken possession of by General Amherst, who, on the 14th of August, also gained possession of Crown Point.
August 10, 1760, General Amherst set out from Oswego, New York, with an army of 6,000 Provincials, 4,000 British Regulars and 1,350 Indians to make an attack upon Montreal. The Indians were under the . command of Sir William Johnson, and composed the largest force of that race ever assembled. on this continent up to that time. (See first paragraph of note on page 164.) On September 9th not only Mont- real, but "Canada, with all her dependencies," was surrendered to the Crown of Great Britain. This event practically terminated the war.
Having acquired a large tract of land a little distance north of the Mohawk River, Sir William John- son built thereon in 1762 a manor-house to which he gave the name of "Johnson Hall." It is still stand- ing, about four miles from the river and about eight miles from "Mount Johnson," near the present city of Johnstown-which he at the same time founded-and is, perhaps, one of the most historic buildings in the United States. Sir William moved into it in the Spring of 1763, leaving "Mount Johnson" and the estate connected with it in possession of his eldest son and heir-afterwards Sir John Johnson. "John- son Hall" was, in the time of its original owner, the most commodious and imposing edifice west of the Hudson River. It was the scene of many notable gatherings of distinguished people in the British service and famous chiefs of the Six Nations. Gideon Hawley referred to it in 1765 as "a very superb and elegant edifice, surrounded with little buildings for the accommodation of Indians when down upon treaties or conferences with Sir William." (See "Library of American Literature," III : 137, for "Sir William John- son's Baronial Hall.") Here, until his death, the baronet lived and exercised the duties of Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs for the District of North America. Intimately acquainted with the mental characteristics, the wants, the wishes and the fears of the Indians, he, as it were, with one hand wielded the power of government in keeping them in order and subjection to the laws, and, with the other, exer- cised the duties of a Mentor, in teaching them how to promote their own best interests.
Sir William Johnson, who, it is said, had had a presentiment of his death, died of cerebral apoplexy July 11, 1774, after only a few hours' illness. This was about seven months after the tea riot had taken place in Boston, and his admirers believe that had he lived a few years longer the course of the Revolu- tionary War in the Mohawk Valley would have been changed, and that he would have been found side by side with Washington, enlisted in the cause of independence. "He disappeared from the scene of action at a critical period, when-to employ an Indian allegory-two thunder-clouds, black with anger, seemed rushing into conflict, leaving no one of sufficient capacity to cope with or control the storm." It is thought that Sir William's nature would have revolted at the bloody massacres of settlers at the hands of the red men and Tories, which were incited by his son, Sir John, and his nephew Col. Guy Johnson, together with the infamous John and Walter N. Butler. No other man in this country, however, was under such great obligations to the King-obligations which, had Sir William lived until the breaking out of the
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war, he could not have well avoided. Great Britain had lavished on him the highest honors, and he was held in the highest respect by the Indians. His position, therefore, to say the least, would have been embarrassing.
Sir William Johnson was certainly not the least picturesque figure of the French and Indian War period of our Colonial history-that period which has been called the training-school of the Revolution. He was, by all odds, the most remarkable of Colonial New Yorkers, and was a powerful factor at a crucial period of American history. He was just the man the English Government required in the contest they were waging with the French. "The gifts of his Sovereign, and the facilities he enjoyed for purchasing Indian lands, made him the possessor of great wealth, which, with his military honors, the partiality of his countrymen and his great influence with the Indians, rendered him as near a Prince as anything the backwoods of America have witnessed."
We have already noted the fact (on page 278) that, after the death of Sir William Johnson's wife Katharine, Caroline Peters lived with him as his common-law wife for some six years. About a year after her death-or, in 1754-a successor to her in the affections of Sir William and as "mistress of his household" came from Canajoharie Castle to Mount Johnson in the person of Mary-or, as she is better known, "Molly"-Brant. She was then nineteen years old, was the daughter of Nicklaus Brant (men- tioned on pages 264 and 277) and the granddaughter of Abraham Peters, and, therefore, the niece of Car- oline Peters, her predecessor at Mount Johnson.
That Molly Brant and Sir William were never married is shown conclusively by the latter's will, wherein bequests are made to six girls and two boys described by the testator as "my natural children by my housekeeper, Mary Brant." It has been generally understood that certain Indian customs in mar- riage had been observed by Sir William and Molly. Also, it is true that the latter was often called "the Indian Lady Johnson," "the Brown Lady Johnson" and "Lady Molly" ; but these were matters of com- pliment or courtesy only. However, according to a statement made by Col. Daniel Claus a few years after Sir William's death, Molly Brant was "considered and esteemed as his [Sir William's] relict" by the Indians, and "one word from her would go farther than one thousand from any white man whatever." (See Buell's "Sir William Johnson," page 268.) In 1779 Sir Frederick Haldimand was Captain General and Governor-in-chief of the Province of Quebec. (See sketch of his life in Chapter XIV.) In 1760, as Colonel Haldimand, he had served under Amherst in the campaign against Montreal, and was well acquainted with Sir William Johnson. Under date of August 30, 1779, Colonel Claus wrote to General Haldimand, giving an account of "Molly Brant's adventures and misfortunes in the King's service," and stating that she had "lived with Sir William Johnson as his wife, and was always so regarded by the In- dians." Two days later General Haldimand wrote Colonel Claus that he would "see Miss Molly shortly and provide for her wants."
Molly Brant was undoubtedly a woman of ability, and with her Sir William lived happily. After his death she removed to Canajoharie (now Danube), where she lived with her children until the flight of the Mohawks to Canada. After the Revolution the British Government, while it did not recognize the legiti- macy of Sir William Johnson's half-breed children born to him by Molly Brant, did recognize her and their right to be beneficiaries under his last will; and so provision was made for her and for them by the Government, as a satisfactory equivalent for the losses they had sustained through the action of the State of New York in sequestrating the Johnson estate.
Molly Brant was the elder sister of the famous Mohawk warrior Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea (born 1742), whose name has been previously mentioned. He early became a protégé of Sir William John- son, and thenceforward until the death of the latter spent much time in his service and near his person. Sir William's dying words were spoken to Brant. Although only thirteen years old at the time of the battle of Lake George (mentioned on page 264), Joseph Brant carried a small fowling-piece presented to him by Sir William, and, with the Mohawks under "King" Hendrick-his great-uncle-took part in the battle. In the campaign of 1759, ending with the capture of Fort Niagara, Brant, then seventeen years of age, served as Lieutenant in the Canajoharie company of Mohawks, and, according to Stone, conducted himself with "distinguished bravery." Later Brant was sent by Sir William Johnson to the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock's school at Lebanon, where he received a good education for the times. It is said that more than one missionary on the New York frontier learned the Mohawk tongue from Joseph Brant ; and it was he who made the first translation of the Gospel of St. Mark into his native language. As an inter- preter Brant had special qualifications, and during the last few years of Sir William Johnson's life, and for a year or two following his death, Brant was in receipt of a salary as a Government interpreter at- tached to the office of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
In 1776 Brant visited London, where he entered into an agreement with Lord George Germaine, British Colonial Secretary, to organize the Six Nation Indians in support of the British cause. In view of this promised service Brant was given the rank and pay of Captain. Under date of April 16, 1779, Lord Germaine wrote to Governor General Haldimand, previously mentioned, that "Brant's activity and suc- cess give him a claim to every mark of regard. He has been appointed a Colonel of Indians."" (See the "Haldimand Papers," British Museum, London.) After the Revolutionary War Brant was in receipt of a pension from the British Government until his death at Brantford, Ontario, in November, 1807.
Francis W. Halsey denominates Joseph Brant "the most interesting Indian who, in that eventful eighteenth century, forever linked his name with the history of central New York." John Fiske declares that he "was the most remarkable Indian known to history." To quote further from Halsey ("The Old New York Frontier," page 327) : "He [Brant] was better than the Tories under whose guidance he served, and far better than most Indian chiefs of his time. There was much in the man that was kindly and humane. If he loved war, this was because he loved his friends and his home still more. He fought in battle with the vigor and skill of a savage, but we are to remember that he fought where honor called him. To the story of his life peculiar fascination must long be attached, a large part of which springs from the potent charm of an open personality. In Brant's character were joined strength and humanity, genius for war and that unfamiliar quality in a Mohawk savage, bonhomie." Of Brant's humanity in the Pennsylvania-New York border warfare many well-authenticated stories have been recorded. He was a Free Mason, and upon more than one occasion saved the life of an enemy who, in difficulty and danger, threw him the sign of distress.
Anne, or Nancy, Johnson (born 1740), Sir William's eldest child by his white wife, Katharine, was married about 1759 or '60, at Mount Johnson, to Col. Daniel Claus (mentioned on page 287), who was con- siderably older than she.
John (born 1742), Sir William's only son by his wife Katharine, was knighted in the lifetime of his father, as a special compliment to the latter. Shortly before Sir William's death Sir John made a visit to England, where "he was most graciously received by His Majesty and all the royal family." J. R. Simms says "Sir John was not the amiable-tempered, social and companionable man his father was, and hence was not the welcome guest in all society that his father had been." Early in 1776 Sir John Johnson was arrested at Johnson Hall by the Revolutionary authorities and then released on parole. But a few months later he broke his parole and fled precipitately to Canada, accompanied by a large number of his depend- ents and tenants. He was made a Colonel in the British army, and soon organized a corps (consisting of two battalions) called the "Royal Greens," composed mainly of refugee Loyalists, or Tories, from the Johnson estate in the Mohawk Valley. From the time of organizing this corps he became one of the most active and one of the bitterest foes that the patriots encountered during the Revolution. Soon after the close of the war Sir John went to England, but returned in 1785 and established his residence in Canada. He was appointed Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs in British North
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"I have been honored with yours of the 15th ultimo by'Mr. Daniel Claus, whom I immediately sent to call Hendrick to my house. Upon his arrival I delivered and inter- preted your honor's letter of invitation to him, and urged his waiting on you immedi- ately ; which when he agreed to, I spoke to him concerning the affair as far as I judged necessary, and I flatter myself it will have a good effect-he having faithfully promised me to exert himself and use his utmost endeavors for the interest of the Proprietaries against the Connecticut attempt. After my expatiating some time on the injustice of their proceedings, more especially so after what passed at Albany last June in public, Hendrick then with some warmth disapproved of them as well as the weakness of those of his brethren who were seduced by Lydius, and promised to do all he could to make them revoke or retract what they had so shamefully done, provided I would assist him and countenance his proceedings with the Five Nations-which I assured him I would with all my interest."
In the meantime Governor Morris and Secretary Peters had been kept pretty busy receiving communications from, and writing to, various people on the important subject of the projected inroads of The Susque- hanna Company into the territory coveted by the Penns. Under date of November 13, 1754, Daniel Brodhead, Sr. (mentioned on page 258), wrote from Lower Smithfield, in Northampton County, to Secretary Peters, as follows* :
"I thought it incumbent on me to inform you to what a crisis the New Englanders have raised most of the people of our neighborhood in relation to their selling the lands of Wyomink. Letters came here announcing the fact that thirteen of the sachems had signed the deed, and desiring all persons here who were interested to meet at Hartford [Connecticut] on the 20th inst.t This occasioned a meeting in our parts to the number of thirty, who had already become adventurers and lodged their money in the hands of one Robert Parkes, to be taken to Connecticut. * * This appears to be a sort of anarchy, which, if not soon stopped, will, I am afraid, prove very detrimental to the peace of the Province."
Justice Brodhead further informed Secretary Peters that he had issued a warrant for the arrest of Parkes, who, just as he was setting out for Connecticut, was apprehended by the local constable and brought before the Justice. The latter, after a brief examination of the defend- ant, "left him in care of the constable to get security for his personal appearance at the next Court," according to directions received from Chief Justice Allen at Philadelphia ; but the constable let Parkes go, who thereupon departed for Connecticut in company with John Atkins, Esq., a Pennsylvania magistrate and a member of The Susquehanna Company. On the following day J. McMichael of Lower Smithfield wrote to Sec- retary Peters that most of the people in that locality were "concerned with the New Englanders, and not one magistrate on this side the moun- tain, except Daniel Brodhead, but what joins them."
Under date of November 20th Governor Morris wrote a long letter to Thomas Fitch, Governor of Connecticut, relative to the situation of
America, and for several years he was also a member of the Legislative Council of Canada. His death occurred at Montreal in 1830.
Mary Johnson (born 1744), the youngest of Sir William's legitimate children, was married in the Spring of 1763 to her cousin Guy Johnson. The latter-who was a native of Ireland-had then, for some years, made his home with his uncle Sir William. In the campaign against Montreal he served as a Lieu- tenant, and in 1761 Sir William appointed him one of his Deputy Superintendents of Indian Affairs, with the rank of Colonel. In 1766 Sir William built for his daughter and son-in-law a mansion on an estate now known as Guy Park, in the western part of the present city of Amsterdam. This they occupied until their flight to Canada early in 1776. Col. Guy Johnson succeeded Sir William in the office of Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs. Both he and his brothers-in-law, Sir John Johnson and Col. Daniel Claus, were led by their inclination, as well as by some irritation against the leaders of the patriots, to exert them- selves, successfully, to induce the Six Nations to embrace the British cause. The task was rendered easier by the circumstance that the British Government did not spare the presents which were the most effectual means of securing the fidelity of the Indians. The Americans, on the other hand, were too poor to purchase aid.
In due time Fort Niagara, previously mentioned, became the headquarters of the Indian Superintend- ency under the British, and the rendezvous for scalping and marauding parties. In August, 1779, Gov- ernor General Haldimand notified Lieutenant Colonel Bolton, the commandant of Fort Niagara, that "Mr. Johnson, Colonel of the Six Nations, is going to take charge of his civil duties." At the same time Colonel Bolton was informed as to Colonel Johnson's position, and the regard that must be paid him be- fore the Indians. Col. Guy Johnson died March 5, 1788, in London, England, whither he had gone in straitened circumstances.
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 253. + See the reference to this meeting on page 292.
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affairs. This letter having been entrusted to John Armstrong, Esq. (mentioned on page 259), for delivery to Governor Fitch, the latter, upon its receipt, replied as follows* :
"I should be glad it was in my power to do more service than I am at present able to afford, to prevent the ill consequences you have so well pointed out as proceeding from the purchase of those lands on Susquehanna in the manner in which some people of this Colony have presumed to act. I am very sensible that to take any steps to disaffect the Indians in our alliance, or to raise contests between the Governments at this critical con- juncture, must be prejudicial to His Majesty's interest, and greatly detrimental to the safety and peace of these Governments, and therefore ought to be opposed by all. * *
"I must confess myself to be unacquainted with the scheme proposed by those per- sons, and know but very little about the steps they have taken, as they never made any application to the Government about the matter. And who the persons concerned be, or where they live, I know not, but only in general I have been informed some live in this Government-and, I suppose, the greatest number-some in England, some in New York, the Jerseys and elsewhere. *
* * I know of no better way with us at present than to represent the state of the case in some public manner, by which all persons concerned may see the consequences of such a procedure. * * I shall, therefore, lay this matter before our Assembly for their consideration."
During his stay in Connecticut Governor Morris' private mes- senger (Armstrong) gathered up all the information concerning The Susquehanna Company it was possible for him to procure from sources outside the Company ; and upon his return to Philadelphia he made a report of the same (under date of December 11th) to the Pro- vincial authorities. This report is printed in full in "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI: 259. The following paragraphs have been extracted from it :
"Received information of Mr. John Lloyd, merchant at Stamford, Connecticut, that Mr. [Jedidiah] Elderkin said, [as] he understood the matter, that an Indian deed was already obtained from several of the Six Nation chiefs; that he the said Elderkin was concerned in the lands ; that the purchasers had the countenance of their Govern- ment in what they had done, and would settle 400 persons early in the Spring. If the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania had any objections he would be glad how soon the matter had a fair trial and was brought to issue.
"Was informed at New Haven *
* by Capt. David Wooster, Lieut. Nathaniel Whiting and Mr. Thomas Darling that the purchase was entirely of a private nature, con- trary to their own as well as our laws; that the Government (as such) had nothing to do with it, and that Mr. Elderkin was certainly mistaken if he so much as insinuated any license to have been given by the Governor for that purpose. To the same import spoke the Governor, the President of New Haven College and sundry other gentlemen .. * * * The gentlemen of the committee are Maj. Phineas Lyman, Maj. Roger Wolcott, Col. Samuel Talcott, Maj. Eliphalet Dyer, Mr. Edwards and Mr. George Wyllys. The latter is Secretary of the Colony and Treasurer to the Company. * * "Tis said the Committee are men of great natural understanding, as well as considerable acquirements.
"There were formerly 500 subscribers at seven dollars each, to which are added 300 at nine dollars each. There are two of the sachems who have refused to sign the deed until they are paid 1,000 dollars more than the other sachems are content with. The generality of the more knowing people despise the scheme as wild and preposterous ; but some others mightily cry up the antiquity and extent of their Charter, whereon their claims are chiefly built. *
* * When the Governor's letters are laid before the Upper and Lower Houses they will doubtless put a stop to any considerable number coming in the Spring to settle on the Susquehanna lands ; yet it is highly probable that as matters are carried to so great a length some number will come."
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