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 61
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"We are informed that the Indians about Diahoga and Otsiningo are very uneasy with respect to two matters. (1) That great numbers of Cherokee and other southern Indians should come so far north. (2) That we have assisted you in settling at Wyo- ming. The Cherokees have come from their country on invitation of the King and the southern Provinces to help the English General in the present expedition against the French. There is now in this city a deputation of Cherokees on their way with messages to the Six Nations ; and they have likewise a particular message to you and the Dela- wares. Respecting the building of the houses at Wyoming-you are so well acquainted with our motives and good intentions that you are quite able to answer for this measure to the Six Nations ; and we desire you to take all possible care to set this matter in a true light everywhere, as it is done entirely at your request and for the good of your Indians.
"As the way to Wyoming is now open, and we are convinced of your sincerity in doing us all the service in your power, we now send you some white men with these messages, and we depend on your protecting and seeing them safely conducted through the Indian country. We know that the Senecas are your particular friends.} We would, therefore, have you send this belt to them as an invitation to send some of their chief
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII : 126.
Į See page 332.
+ See ibid., 129.
373
men to confer with us about these matters. We hear there are many parties of Indians scattered up and down in the woods near Wyoming. We desire you will endeavor to call them together and find out what errand they have come upon."
Charles Thomson (see page 354) and Christian Frederick Post (see page 216) were selected as messengers for the Government, and, having accomplished their mission as best they could, they made a full report* thereon about the 17th of June. The most important parts of the report here follow :
"On Wednesday, June 7, 1758, having received the messages for the Indians, and instructions from the Governor, we set out [from Philadelphia] for Wyoming. Next day we reached Bethlehem, having engaged on the road Moses Tatemy and Isaac Still to accompany us. From Bethlehem we took three other Indians, and on Friday arrived at Fort Allen. As we had been informed on the road of some bad news sent to the Gov- ernor by the Captain at Fort Allen, we inquired the particulars, and were informed that on Tuesday last two Indians came to the fort express from Teedyuscung at Wyomink, to let them know that on Sunday last were seen a party of enemy Indians, about seventy- eight in number, directing their course towards the Minisinks. This discouraged our Indian companions, and as they had been all along against our going into the Indian country, this made them much more averse to it; whereupon we called them together next morning and made them acquainted with the purport of our messages and the necessity of our going. With this they were satisfied, and it was concluded we should go; and having settled every thing regarding the way and manner we should travel we left Fort Allen about twelve o'clock. *
"On Sunday morning [June 11th ] we set forward pretty early, and by twelve o'clock reached the Nescopeck Mountains,t within twelve or fifteen miles of Wyomink. Here we met twelve Indians traveling down to Bethlehem.' They left Wyomink the day before, and had been six days from Chenango [Otsiningo], a town of the Nanticokes on Susquehanna. There was one Nanticoke-a son of Capt. [Robert] White ;- one Monsey Captain, one Delaware, four Mohicans and two squaws. Upon meeting with them we spoke and inquired the news, and from several questions asked we learned that Teedyus- cung was well and at Wyomink; that all was quiet among the Nanticokes; that their principal men were at the Council at Onondaga which was not yet broke up; that Pax- inosa was still at Seekaughkunt, but was preparing to go somewhere.
"Being informed of our going to Wyomink with good news to all the Indians they told us they thought it was by no means safe for us to proceed-that strange Indians were thick in the woods about Wyomink; that a party was seen but four days before whose language none of the Delawares understood, nor did they know of what nation they were. This alarmed our Indians. They pressed us to turn back with this company and make all haste to Fort Allen, and two of them would go and invite Teedyuscung to come to us there. This we objected against on account of losing time, and proposed following what had been at first agreed upon; that was, to go forward to the Wyomink Hills, within seven or eight miles of the place, and there wait till two of the company went forward and informed Teedyuscung of our coming, and learned of him whether it would be safe to go to the town. The Indians we met thought it dangerous to proceed any farther, as they had seen fresh tracks crossing the path in two or three places between this and the town, and at one place not half a mile from where we then were. Upon this it was proposed to go back to the east side of the hill and there lodge till two of our Indians went and invited Teedyuscung to come and meet us; and the friendly Indians we met agreed to stay with us till he came up. From further conversation with one of the company, after we had been some time together, we were informed that 200 of the Six Nations had set out with a resolution to go to war against the English, and that he and his company had seen sixty of them; none of his company understood their language, but they made signs that they were going against the Minisinks.
Next day [June 12th], between eleven and twelve o'clock, Teedyuscung, with Tapescawen, Captain Augustus, § Sam Evans, Kelkapugh, or Isaac, a Captain of the Mon- seys, Welawamick, or Moses, | a Mohegan, Gootameek, or Moses, Jr. (mentioned on page 315), and David came to us. At first we expostulated with Teedyuscung about the road being shut, and told him that, though we were come with good words to all the Indians, we could not go to his town to deliver them. He said it was not his fault. We put him in mind that the road had been opened by a .belt of wampum from Wyomink to us, and that it was his business to keep it open from his town to Fort Allen, as we kept it open from Fort Allen to Easton or Philadelphia. We further took notice that it was the custom of all nations to suffer messengers of peace to go backwards and forwards safe and unmolested, and that unless this was practised two nations once at war could
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII: 132, and Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, VIII : 145-148.
+ The range of mountains shown-in the far background at the right-in the picture facing page 236.
# See page 219. ¿ Teedyuscung's brother-in-law, George Rex, mentioned on page 338.
¡¡ Without doubt the Moses mentioned on page 312.
374
never be at peace again. To this Teedyuscung replied that what we said was right, but that the Six Nations and not he had blocked up this road; that 200 of them had gone to war in different parties; that they had passed through several towns on the Susquehanna; that at these towns the Delawares endeavored as much as in them lay to dissuade them from going to war against the English, but they would not hear them; that these 200 were chiefly of the Seneca nation and from three towns that lay near the French. They said they had heard the words Teedyuscung had sent them, but they were now out and would not turn back, but would strike the English this one time more. *
* * From one of these parties a few Shawanese, upon hearing that the English were building a fort at Wyomink, went down to see whether it was so, and these were they that killed the young man when the workmen were there .*
"Teedyuscung further told us that a report had prevailed among the Indians up the Susquehanna and through the Seneca country and along the Allegheny that the English were building a fort at Wyomink with 800 men; that this was confirmed by the Shaw- anese party that had been down. At this it was proposed that some one should go and know for certain whether it was really so, and boldly ask the English what they meant. Though this seemed dangerous, yet one Willemeghikinkt (James)-a Wanamie, who lives in a town of the Senecas near the French fort at Niagara, and is a Captain on the Ohio under Tessawhenund, the Chief of all the Delawares on the Allegheny-offered to go, though it should cost him his life. Not many days after the English left Wyomink [June 2d] he came there and was informed of the true state of affairs, and three days ago [June 9th] left there in order to return and inform the Indians thereof. * * * *
"After dinner we told Teedyuscung our orders were to deliver our message at Wyo- mink; that being dissuaded from going farther we had stopped here and sent to desire him to come to us, and now he was come we desired to know what we should do. He said he was glad we did not come to him; that he had seen fresh tracks as he came along, and he thought it best we should deliver the messages here. Whereupon we sat down, and, taking out the belts and strings, delivered the messages distinctly. After they had been read and interpreted once, in order to impress them deeper in his mind we gave him the substance of each belt and string in other words, and then entered into conversa- tion on every part. By this means, everything being repeated again, he seemed to com- prehend every part and to be much pleased with the whole. With respect to the Chero- kees he said, if the messenger should recover and be inclined to see him he might come by the way of Bethlehem, and from thence some Indians would conduct him and his company safe up to Wyomink. On the belt to remove the uneasiness respecting the settlement of Wyomink, he said he hoped that was already removed, or would be upon the return of Willemeghikink and his company, which consisted of thirty men from sev- eral towns of the Six Nations. * * As to calling together the parties about Wyomink and learning their business he did not know how that could be done, as neither he nor any of his people understood the language of some of the parties; but that he would do what he could in the matter.
"We then told him *
* that our orders were, after we had delivered the mes- sages to him and his people at Wyomink, to proceed farther with the messengers Teedy- uscung should send along, and carry these belts to the other nations. He said it had often been asked by the Senecas why none of the English accompanied the messages sent to then1. We told him there would hereafter be no occasion for such a question- we were now ready to go, and would set out with those he sent along as soon as he pleased. On this he was silent. We then told him if he had any doubts he might take time to consider the matter, and that we would proceed with him to Wyomink and lodge there over night. After musing some time he said he thought we could by no means proceed to the Seneca country that way, as many war parties were out. * He said® before we could go with safety a road should be opened. We again mentioned our going up to Wyomink and staying there till his messenger came in, or at least over night. Whereupon, after consulting his council, he took out some strings of wampuni, and by two forbade us to go any farther, for fear of some mischief befalling us.
"He [Teedyuscung] said: 'Brother, the Governor-I am glad to see your messen- gers in the woods, and am glad to hear and receive such great and good words here in the wild bushes. * * When I hear of anything you shall hear it. This makes me tell your messengers to go back from this place, and not to go forward. What makes me not invite your messengers to my house is that I don't yet know the design of these Indians that lie squatting in the bushes; and if any ill should befall these messengers, that would darken the heavens and make great clouds between us. * * Now, Brother, when I live here I am very uneasy; even at night I cannot enjoy rest. I see a great deal of mis- chief done, and some who have done the mischief came past my door. Now I am afraid if your people follow them, and come as far as where I live and find me, they will think it was I did it, and so fall upon me. The Indians have sent to see what was doing at Wiomink, and they have sent me word that a great number of them will be with me in . eleven days, and many of those all this Summer-all the Wanamies and Mohegans and many others having resolved to come and live with me. Now, Brother, I desire to know what I shall do, for I have no provisions for them. I beg you would help me, and if you
* See page 371.
+ See pages 365 and 377.
375
will give me any assistance of that sort I desire I may have it from Shamokin, not from Fort Allen. My young men can soon go down the river in canoes and fetch it from Shamokin, but the journey to Fort Allen is very difficult. I desire I may have some Indian corn with the flour. I am likewise in want of powder and shot. I would cheer- fully go with your messages, which are good, but every day I expect messages from different parts. However, I will send by some trusty persons, and I assure you the Senecas' belt shall be delivered to the chief man in eight days.'
"We next inquired how the chief man of the Senecas was affected to the English. *
He said the chief man was our friend. * We next inquired of Teedyuscung what he had heard of the prisoners-whether we might hope to see them soon returned. He told us that a few days ago one Nenachechunt, a Chief of one of the towns on the Allegheny, had come to him at Wyomink to know whether the English were willing to include him in the peace, and whether Teedyuscung desired the prisoners should be returned. And, being assured of the truth of both these articles, he said there were a good many prison- ers in his town, and he would take care they should be restored; and that he and his people would come down and settle with Teedyuscung at Wyomink.
"But from what we learned from the Indians the case of the prisoners is this: All that are taken are looked upon by the Indians as the private property of the captors, and are either given away to those families who have lost any men in the war, or are sold to others as we sell slaves. And many of those that have been taken, we are informed, have been sold and bought several times. Now, as the Indians have no public fund to redeem them out of the hands of private persons, and as we have none of their people prisoners to exchange for them, it will be next to impossible to procure the return of the prisoners, without offering a price for them and redeeming them ourselves. * *
"As it now grew late, and it was considered we could not go forward, we thought it best to return back part of the way, especially as our provisions began to grow scarce and there was no pasture for the horses in the place we now were. * * Tuesday [June 13th] in the afternoon we arrived at Fort Allen, the prospect of which was hid from us, by bushes growing on the bank of the river, till we came just upon it. *
* At Mr. Horsfield's [in Bethlehem] we met one Captain Neilson of the Provincials, who, after expressing himself with great bitterness against Teedyuscung, declared that if he met him or any of his people in any of the courses he should be ordered to take, let them come on what occasion or with what pretense soever, he would kill them without asking any questions. He was also inquisitive to know in how many days a party of stout, active men could go to Wyomink, and expressed himself as if he had a desire to send out a party to destroy that town. * * We have only to add that all the Indians are removed from Tioga and Owego; that Paxinosa, with about one hundred men, lives yet at Seekaughkunt; that the Nanticoke tribe has but about fifty fighting men, and that they live chiefly at Chenango."
With reference to the Cherokees who were in Philadelphia at this time-as stated in the message borne to Teedyuscung by Messrs. Thom- son and Post-it may be said: They composed a deputation charged by their nation with the duty of delivering certain messages to Teedy- uscung and his people and to the Six Nations. Upon the arrival of this deputation in Philadelphia their chief had been taken ill, and in consequence the party was detained in the city. When the chief recov- ered he decided that he and his companions would go on to the "Long House" of the Six Nations by way of New York City and Albany. This they did, and in consequence it was necessary to procure the services of a trustworthy messenger to carry from Philadelphia to Wyoming the message intended for the Delawares. Christian Fred- erick Post was selected by Governor Denny to perform this service.
This message from the Cherokees to the Delawares was signed by two of the principal chiefs of that nation, and was, in part, as follows *:
"NEPHEWS-We have to acquaint you that we have received a tomahawk from our elder brother, the English, and are going along with them to the war against the French and the Indians that are his allies. We are going to war along with our brother, the English, but as for you, you need not be uneasy or apprehensive of our doing you any mischief, for we love you as ourselves, from the heart, and will not hurt you; for we look upon you as ourselves. * * * Nephews, listen to us. We do not desire you should go to war at all. Formerly you used to wear a petticoat, and did not use to go to war; and we do not now desire you to go to war. You may stay at home, and we will fight for you. We are resolved to go to war along with our brother, the English, in order that you need not go to war.
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII : 135.
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"Nephews, we are sorry there should have been a kind of shyness between us and you for a good while past. We suppose other Indians may envy our peace, friendship and good understanding, and tell strange stories; but we desire you, our nephews, may not give credit to such. We earnestly request that you would come and see us the ensu- ing Spring, at some of our towns, that we may have the opportunity of conversing more freely. *
* You know, or can have a clear guess, how many of your country people are living on the Ohio among the French. We earnestly desire you would endeavor to bring them away, for the tomahawk we have received from our elder brother is exceedingly sharp." ** *
Post set out from Philadelphia on June 21, 1758, and in the evening of the following day arrived at Bethlehem. There he found the In- dians who, earlier in the month, had accompanied himself and Charles Thomson from Nescopeck Mountain to Bethlehem. The next morning (June 23d) Post and these Indians proceeded to Fort Allen, and thence they continued their journey on Sunday the 25th. Post's diary of this journey is printed in "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII : 138-143, and is, in part, as follows:
"June 26 .- Lodged at night on a hill beyond Nescopeck River. There was a vio- lent gust of rain, and we had no other cover over us but the heavens, and all that fell from thence came upon us. June 27 .- Came to the town [Wyoming] on this [the south- east] side of the river about two o'clock in the afternoon. My Indian companions called out,* on which a great number of Indians came out of their houses-many with painted faces, and upwards of forty strangers of different tribes, some of whom I knew. I observe that they are upon their guard, and have scouts out. We went to Teedyuscung's house, which was as full as it could hold. He told me that some of their people were gone to Shamokin a little before our arrival. I met there a captive woman, Cobus Decker's daughter, from the Jerseys, near Minisink; and an Indian trader, Lawrence Bork of Lancaster County, who has been with them the whole time of the war.
"When we had been awhile there Teedyuscung called the men together. First I told them, in general, the intents of my coming, and told Teedyuscung my instructions and gave him, with a string of wampum, the Governor's answer [to the message carried by Thomson and Post from Teedyuscung to the Governor]-with which they all seemed well pleased. I then read to them the Cherokees' speech and repeated it three times, that they might get the full meaning of it. Augustus interpreted it, and they were well pleased and satisfied and very attentive to the words which they heard, and returned many thanks for the same. I then delivered the belt. Then Teedyuscung showed me two chiefs and several other Indians from Allegheny, who purposed to go down to Phila- delphia; but the idle reports which they had all along heard had made them suspicious and afraid. I told them I was very glad to see them, and as I had been twice married amongst them I had a great love towards their nation, and would speak very free with them, and they might believe me.
"After we had discoursed awhile together they shook hands with me and told me: 'Brother, we are very glad to see you, and have a long time wished to see some of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania with whom we, ourselves, could speak; for we cannot believe all that we hear, and know not what is true and what is false.' Then the rest of the people, women and children, came to see me, and welcomed me to their town. But, unhappily, a woman had bought five gallons of rum of somebody in Easton (I did not know his name, but supposed he was a Jew), with which most of them got drunk. Two beat their wives almost to death, and I know that those who suffer such abuse must sigh and groan to God against those who sell them the liquor.
"[Wyoming ] June 28 .- The Indians from Allegheny came early to visit me; invited me to their fire, and to breakfast with them on bear's meat and turkey. At breakfast they asked me many questions, which I gave them a true answer to. They said that the Indians, through the many idle reports they had heard from time to time, were grown suspicious of the English, and could not believe that they would make peace with them; and hence they were resolved to stay with the French. That they were sorry that they had gone to war against the English, and wished often to have seen some messengers from the Government with whom they could have spoken, for then they would have long left off the war against them. They complained strongly that they never had heard any satisfactory account of the peace made at Easton [in July and August, 1757], nor of any treaties that had been held; nor had they received any belts till now lately. They all passed by the Mohawks, but did not go into any of their towns. I assured them the English were not in fault, for they had often sent the messages, belts and invitations to them, that they might come down and speak together.
* "According to the rules of Indian politeness you must never go into a town without sending a pre- vious message to denote your arrival; or, standing at a distance from the town and hallooing, till some come out to conduct you in. Otherwise you are thought as rude as white men."-"Early Western Travels," I: 193.
.
377
"Kutaikund, one of their chiefs, who lives this side the Allegheny, said that he was very old, but those two who are just now come from Allegheny (pointing to Kekeuscung* and Pisquetoment) wish to know the truth of affairs. Then, lifting up his hands to Heaven, he wished that God would have mercy upon them and help them, and bring them and the English together again and establish an everlasting ground and foundation for peace between them. He wished further that God would move the Gov- ernor's and people's hearts towards them in love, peace and union. He said further that it would be well if the Governor sent somebody with them at their return home, for it would be of great consequence to them who live above Allegheny to hear the Governor's mind from their own mouths. * * *
"June 29 .- We set off from Wyoming, in all about fifty, and canie that day about twenty miles. June 30 .- About eight miles the other side of Fort Allen we met with the Indian messenger with a message from the Governor of the Jerseys. They all sat down by their fires, and the messenger acquainted them with his message. At night we arrived at Fort Allen."
In view of the information brought by Post it was deemed advis- able by the Government to send him on an embassy to the Delawares in western Pennsylvania; preliminary to which, however, it was con- sidered necessary to hold a conference with Teedyuscung and the chiefs from the Allegheny then at Wyoming. They were accordingly sum- moned to Philadelphia, and under date of July 5th the Governor issued the following proclamation, or "advertisement"#:
"Whereas, a number of friendly Indians, conducted by Teedyuscung the Delaware chief, are now on their way to this city, in order to hold a treaty with the Government; and it is absolutely necessary for the well doing and despatch of business that they be debarred from drinking spirituous liquors-Therefore, all persons, other than such as are appointed to take care of the Indians, are strictly enjoined and prohibited from sell- ing or giving any spirituous liquors to these Indians."
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