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 67
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"Mr. Edwards,* another of the said committee, told me candidly that Mr. Inger- sollt had in fact presented the resolve, or memorial, made by the [Connecticut] Govern- ment in their favor, to Mr. Pitt; and many others, who gave him great encouragement that it should be duly considered in its proper season ; and for this end Mr. Ingersoll has engaged a friend to give him timely advice, upon which Col. Eliphalet Dyer is to embark immediately for England, invested with the above armor. I find it is the opinion of the committee that the said one hundred men cannot proceed until next Spring, as the season is now too far spent to plant and sow."
The following is a copy of an original document preserved among the "Penn Manuscripts" (folio 63), previously mentioned, and is now printed in full§ for the first time. It is a report made by Daniel Brod- head|| to Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania, is dated "Philadelphia, September 27, 1762," and was sworn to by Mr. Brodhead before the Hon. Benjamin Chew, Recorder of Philadelphia, as being a statement of what the "deponent saw and heard in a late journey, made by him from Easton to an Indian town or settlement on the River Susquehanna, called by the name of Wyoming."
"May it please Your Honor : On Thursday [September 9, 1762], about nine o'clock at night, I received your Honor's orders by John Moore, Esq., to go up the River Dela- ware and to use my best endeavors to discover the pretenses and intentions of the Con- necticut people, who were then employed in cutting a road from the upper part of Mini- sinks to Wyoming. Accordingly got ready on Friday and went to John McDowell's in Lower Smithfield Township, where I tarried all night. On Saturday employed myself to gain what intelligence I could of the inhabitants-how the people of that township were affected, to wit : Who were concerned with the Connecticut people in lands ; who were to supply them with provisions ; who were gone with them ; and to take the names of the persons who were purchasers in that township-and found that Benjamin Shoemaker, Daniel Shoemaker, Samuel Dupue, Samuel Drakes, Joseph Wheeler, William Clark, Sr., Nicholas Dupue, Jr., John McDowell, Hugh Pugh, William Smith, Sr., Joseph Hains, John Fish, Charles Holmes and James Lawson were the persons [in Lower Smithfield] that had purchased Rights. But that the Connecticut people were refused assistance by each of them except Daniel Shoemaker, Joseph Wheeler, Charles Holmes and James Lawson, they having gone with them to Wyoming.
"Hearing at the same time that the New England people were already got to Wyoming, I was obliged to get a person to go with me to help me on the road, which was attended with some difficulty, it being a busy time with the farmers. I did, how- ever, prevail on my brother Garret to go with me, and agreed to pay him 7sh. 6d. per day. That night lodged at Samuel Dupue's. Early on Sunday morning went up the [Delaware] River, and when I came to Upper Smithfield Township| found the inhabitants very close to the interest of the Connecticut people, and that they seemed very anxious to know my opinion respecting or relating to the claim of the Connecticut
* Judge Daniel Edwards. See page 282, ante. + Jared Ingersoll, Esq., mentioned on page 395.
# The Hon. William Pitt, later the Earl of Chatham. From 1757 till 1761 he was British Secretary of State.
¿ A portion of the document is printed on pages 17 and 18 of Hoyt's "Brief of Title in the Seventeen Townships in the County of Luzerne."
| DANIEL BRODHEAD, JR., mentioned on page 258, ante.
" In what is now Pike County, Pennsylvania. See "Map of a Part of Pennsylvania," in Chapter XI.
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people. But I never made any other reply than that I had heard the Indians request of Sir William Johnson and His Honor our Governor that, if the white people came to settle on the lands at Wyoming, they should be removed. They then told me that the Connecticut people had lately sold a number of Rights to the inhabitants at £48 each, and that they had given out that they were determined to hold the lands by strong hands. That night I staid at Andrew Dingman's, who informed me that four men that had been with the New England people to Wyoming were returned ; that they told him that when the Connecticut people came to Wyoming the few Indians there (not exceeding seven men) were very angry, and had met them with their guns and tomahawks-which was afterwards confirmed by the Indians themselves-and demand- ed to know their business, their [the Indian] women and children having fled to the woods, not knowing anything of the approach of such a number of armed inen into their country.
"On Monday morning set out early and lodged within five miles of Lachawacksink Creek .* On Tuesday, as soon as we could see to travel, set out on our journey, and that night lodged within thirty miles of Wyoming. On Wednesday morning set out early, and after traveling about five miles met seven men. Two of them said they were going to New England to conduct 200 families to their quiet possession at Wyoming. The other five said they were going to Minisink for flour, and that the Indians were well pleased with their new neighbors. Soon after we parted with these men we came to a very fine creek called by the Indians Laghawagheneah,t which we followed to its con- fluence with the River Susquehanna, about twelve [sic] miles distant from Wyoming town. About four miles distant from the New England people's encampment met twelve men with their arms and accouterments, and they told me that a great num- ber of ill-looking fellows of the Six Nations had a few minutes before ordered them to leave that place,¿ which they had agreed to ; and that the rest would go on the morn- ing following.
"At five o'clock we came to the encampnient ( consisting of upwards of seventy men, having guns) where they had cut about fifteen tons of grass. I tarried there till night, endeavoring among other things to get their names-but soon found them on their guard as to that. I was, however, directed to Gardner and Smith, two of their Commissioners, who, they said, would sell me as much land as I might choose. Mr. Smith, looking on me to be a purchaser, began to tell me that the Pennsylvania line was settled by the Indians at the treaty lately held at Lancaster, and that it did not extend farther up the River Delaware than Dupue's, and that he did intend to have cut a road to Benjamin Shoemaker's mill from Wyoming, who would better supply them. I asked them how they claimed the lands there. They answered, by their Charter and their Indian pur- chase. Then I asked them by whom they were abetted and encouraged. They answered, by all the power of their Government of Connecticut, and added that they had seen a proclamation published by their Governor which, they said, contained nothing but what they could prove to be false and absurd ; that himself (meaning the Governor) and his two sons were privy to their undertaking, and were concerned with them; that they were to hold a treaty with the Indians at Albany this [coming] Winter, and would settle the lands next Spring with 1,000 armed men and two pieces of artillery! They had begun to build three block-houses, and the Indians afterwards told me that they were determined to have built three miles in length upon the bank of the river, had they not prevented them.
"When I came to the Indian town Wyoming I saw there between forty and fifty men of the Indians, besides women, and most of them were of the Six Nations returning from the Lancaster treaty, and among them was an Indian called Thomas King. There. was with them an Irishman named David Owen, and he and a Bethlehem Indian called Captain Augustus, § who talked English, told me that the Indians had ordered the Connecticut people to go away and quit the land ; and said if they had not done so forth- with the Indians would have killed every man of them before they could have got in to the inhabitants. I then told them that I came from His Honor, the Governor of Penn- sylvania, to see what the New England people were doing at Wyoming, and when I returned was to make a report of what I had seen. They desired me to thank Your Honor, in the most affectionate manner, for Your Honor's care over them, and desired I. would stay with them two days and rest myself and horse; for which I thanked them, and said that their brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania, was troubled to hear of the uneasiness the New England people were likely to give his friends and brethren, the Indians, and that he could not sleep easy until I returned with the good news of the New England people's return to their own country. Then they agreed that what I had said was right, and on Thursday, about ten o'clock in the morning, I set out for Fort Allen, and on Saturday about two o'clock arrived at Easton." *
November 19, 1762, a private conference took place between Governor Hamilton and Teedyuscung at "Bush Hill," Philadelphia,
* Lackawaxen Creek, mentioned on page 392.
+ Lackawanna River. See pages 34 and 187. Į See page 404.
¿ Teedyuscung's brother-in-law, mentioned on page 338.
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the Governor's residence. Teedyuscung, having been desired, and hav- ing promised, "to speak nothing but what should be strictly true," said *:
"Brother, you may remember that some time ago I told you that I should be obliged to remove from Wyomink on account of the New England people, and I now again acquaint you that soon after I returned to Wyomink from Lancaster there came 150 of those people, furnished with all sorts of tools, as well for building as husbandry, and declared that they had bought those lands from the Six Nations and would settle them, and were actually going to build themselves houses and settle upon a creek called Lecha- wanock, about seven or eight miles above Wyomink.t I threatened them hard, and declared I would carry them to the Governor at Philadelphia ; and when they heard me threaten them in this manner they said they would go away and consult their own Governor, for if they were carried to Philadelphia they might be detained there seven years. And they said further, that since the Indians were uneasy at this purchase, if they would give them back the money it had cost them-which was one or two bushels of dollars-they would give them their land again.
"Brother, ten days after these were gone there came other fourteen ment and made us the same speeches, declaring that they expected above 3,000 would come and settle the Wyomink lands in the Spring ; and they had with them a saw and saw-mill tools, purposing to go directly and build a saw-mill about a mile above where I live. But, upon my threatening those in the same manner I did the former company, they went away and, as I was told, buried their tools somewhere in the woods. These people desired me to assist them in surveying the lands, and told me they would reward me handsomely for my trouble-but I refused to have anything to do with them. Six days after these were gone there came other eight white men and a mulatto,¿ and said the very same things to me that the others had said, and immediately I got together my council, and as soon as we had finished our consultations I told these people that I would actually confine thein and carry them to Philadelphia and deliver them to the Governor there ; upon which they went away, saying they would go to their own Governor and come again with great numbers in the Spring. Some of these people stole my horse that I bought at Easton, but they gave me another horse and £5 in money in satisfaction for my horse .¿
"Brother, though I threatened these people hard that I would confine them and carry them down to you, yet I did not mean actually to do it, remembering that you charged me not to strike any white men, though they should come, but to send you the earliest notice of their coming that was in my power. * *
* Brother, before I got up to Wyomink from Lancaster there had come a great body of these New England people with intent actually to settle the land, but the Six Nations, passing by at that time from Lancaster, sent to let them know that they should not be permitted to settle any of those lands ; and on their expressing great resentment against them, and threatening them if they persisted, they went away. This I was told by Thomas King, who was left behind at Wyomink by the Six Nations to tell me that they intended to lay this whole matter before the Great Council at Onondaga, and that they would send for me and my Indians to come to Albany in the Spring, where they are to have a meeting with the New England people, and desired I would be quiet till I should receive their message, and then come to Albany.
"On this speech of Thomas King's we [the Wyoming Indians] met together in council, and agreed not to give him any promise to come to Albany, but to advise the Governor of Pennsylvania of this and to take his advice what to do; and if he will go with us, and advise us to go, we will go-in case we should be sent for in the Spring. Brother, surely, as you have a General of the King's armies here he might hinder these people from coming and disturbing us in our possessions.
"Brother, I have one thing more to say, and then I shall have finished all I have to say at this time. You may remember that at the treaty at Easton we were promised that a schoolmaster and ministers should be sent to instruct us in religion and to teach us to read and write. As none have been yet provided for us I desire to know what you intend to do in this matter. * * * About six days before I left Wyomink I received * a belt from King Beaver, || who desired that I and the Delawares, the Wapings and Mohickons settled at Wyoming would remove thence and come and live at Allegheny."
On the next day after the delivery of the foregoing speech the Governor replied to it, in part as follows :
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," IX : 6.
+ This refers to the sixteen "pioneers" who arrived in Wyoming in June, but soon retired to the Cushetunk settlement.
į These men were, undoubtedly, a part of the company of twenty-five who, as previously explained, remained in the valley until about the middle of October, after the departure of the main body of the settlers.
¿ See page 410.
| See note, page 326.
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"I thank you for the information you have given me of what passed between you and the people of Connecticut. Hearing that some of these people were gone towards the Susquehanna I sent a special messenger* after them, to warn them from settling those lands and to take care not to give offense to the Indians, from whom those lands had not been purchased. My messenger came, fortunately, just after the Six Nations had ordered them to go away, and shown great reluctance at their presuming to come and settle those lands ; and met them returning home displeased with the Six Nations for speaking to them in the rough manner they did. Brother, I have written both to General Amherst and to Sir William Johnson and to the Governor of Connecticut. This matter is likewise laid before the great King by Sir William Johnson, so that I am in hopes that you will not see any more of these troublesome people, but that measures will be taken to keep them at home.
"Brother, I commend you for your prudent behavior. I did, and do still, desire that no blood of the white people may be shed by you, but that you will continue to give me the earliest notice you can if you hear of any of them coming again in the Spring. Brother, I observe what you say with reference to the message sent to you by Beaver. You know that your uncles, the Six Nations, have kindled a fire for you at Wyomink, and desired you would stay there and watch and give them notice if any white people should come to take away the lands from them, and that you would not suffer them to do it. You may think, be assured, that this Winter measures will be taken to prevent these troublesome people from coming to disturb you. On these considerations I desire you will remain quiet where you are and not move away, as you seem to have no inclina- tion to go away only on account of these New England disturbers.
"As to any invitations the Six Nations may make to you to come to Albany to counsel with them and to meet the New England people, you will pay such regard to them as your connections with your uncles will require. I don't pretend to any authority over you, but I would advise you to comply with such invitation as you shall receive from your uncles. I am not invited, and know nothing of this matter, but if I hear anything of it I will let you know. The times have been so unsettled that there has been no opportunity of sending ministers and schoolmasters among you. Now there is a likeli- hood of a general peace soon to be established. If you determine still to continue at Wyomink-about which you have expressed some doubts to me-I shall consider of this matter and send you an answer at the proper time."
Within a few days after his interview with Governor Hamilton Teedyuscung set out on his homeward journey, never again either to see the Governor or to visit Philadelphia. Arriving at Bethlehem he found David Zeisberger about to start on a hurried visit to Wyoming, accompanied by Gottlieb Sensemann (a Moravian Brother). In the company of these missionaries, therefore, Teedyuscung traveled the remainder of his way home. An epidemic of dysenteryt was raging in the valley, and many Indians were suffering from it. Among the first to be prostrated had been Abraham (Schabash), the Mohegan, who immediately sent an urgent message to Bethlehem-"Brethren, let a teacher come to see me ere I die !" But Zeisberger, who came in response to this call, arrived too late; the aged Mohegan had finished his course, exhorting, with his dying breath, the Indians about him to remain faithful to Christ. In compliance with his last request he was buried near his village, previously mentioned, on Abraham's Plains. Zeisberger and Sensemann spent some days in the valley and attended in their dying moments many of the baptized Indians-both Mohegans and Delawares .¿ Among the latter was Captain Augustus ("George Rex"), § who passed away "admonishing those about him to avoid his evil example, and professing a sure hope of eternal life." Several days before his death that of his wife occurred, and some days later her sister, the wife of Teedyuscung, died.
The news that The Susquehanna Company had, at length, actually begun a settlement in Wyoming Valley, soon spread throughout Con- necticut and aroused considerable interest and comment, not only
* Daniel Brodhead. See page 405. + See, also, page 212.
į See Loskiel's "History of the Mission of the United Brethren."
¿See note, page 388.
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among the shareholders, or proprietors, of the Company, but among the people generally. Among those who foresaw that unusual advan- tages would accrue to the Colony and the country from this opening up of new territory, and who desired to benefit thereby, was the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, mentioned in the note on page 293. He was a settled clergyman (Congregational) in the town of Lebanon (mentioned on page 283), where, several years prior to this time, he had founded an Indian school, with the double object of preparing young preachers for the missionary field and of educating Indian youth who should return to their tribes and become teachers among their own people. Without show or ostentation Dr. Wheelock had begun this school at his own house, and almost at his own charge. He started with two pupils, one of whom was Sampson Occum,* but the school gradually increased in numbers until pupils flocked to Lebanon faster than they could be pro- vided for. So benevolent an undertaking, pursued with such singleness of purpose, could not fail to attract public notice and approbation, and Dr. Wheelock was aided by contributions from individuals while the Province of Massachusetts voted to pay, for a certain time, the expense of educating six Indian children. Joshua Moor, who owned lands in Lebanon, gave a portion of them for the benefit of the school; and from this circumstance the seminary for the education of Indian boys after- wards attached to Dartmouth College was known as "Moor's Indian School."
Under date of September 8, 1762, Dr. Wheelock wrote to Sir William Johnson, as follows :
"I understand that some of our people are about to settle our new Purchase on Susquehannah River. If it does not disoblige and prejudice the Indians I shall be glad ; and it may be if that settlement should go on a door may open for my design on that Purchase."
In reply to this Sir William wrote from Johnson Hall, October 16, 1762, as followst:
"While the Indians remain in their present sentiments it will be highly improper to attempt any settlement in their country, as they are greatly disgusted at the great thirst which we all seem to show for their lands ; and, therefore, I must give it as my opinion that any settlement on the Susquehanna River may prove fatal to those who should attempt to establish themselves thereon, as the Indians have all declared not only their great aversion thereto, but have also threatened to prevent any such settlement-so that I hope the dangers to which they may be exposed, together with your Governor's proclamation against the same, will induce those concerned to drop their undertaking."
November 16, 1762, a largely-attended meeting of The Susque- hanna Company was held at Windham. The Directing Committee,
* An Indian of the Mohegan tribe, referred to on page 160, ante. At a later period he became celebra- ted as a preacher and an instructor among the Indians. When almost at the zenith of his efficiency and reputation he and another clergyman were sent to England as agents to solicit assistance from the wealthy and charitable for Dr. Wheelock's school. They were furnished with testimonials of their character, and certificates of approbation from eminent persons in the Colonies. In England Occum was looked upon as a wonder. He was the first. Indian preacher from the New World who had ever visited the Old World, and wherever he went crowds thronged to see and hear him. A North American Indian in a pulpit, eloquently preaching in the English tongue, "was a phenomenon too nearly miraculous to pass unseen or unheard" in those days. It was said, moreover, that he exhibited in his person and character a practical example of what might be done with Indians when fairly brought under the influence of instruction. All this was highly favorable to the great ends of the mission, and in a few months a subscription was obtained to the amount of nearly £10,000. The King gave £200, and several gentlemen £100 each. The money was deposited in the hands of trustees in England, and drawn upon by Dr. Wheelock as occasion required.
Toward the close of the colonial period remnants of several Algonkian tribes scattered through New Jersey, Long Island and the southern part of New England were gathered together, and in 1786 Sampson Occum led 192 of these emigrants to a place near Oriskany, New York. In 1788 they were secured by treaty in the possession of six square miles of land in what is now the town of Marshall, Oneida County, New York. Having no language in common, they adopted the English, and from this and the fact of being a brotherhood living in a town, they received the appellation of "Brothertown Indians." (See note, page 193.)
For a portrait of Sampson Occum, and a sketch of his life, see "Indian Tribes of the United States" (Edition of 1856), Part V, page 518.
+ See "Documentary History of the State of New York," IV : 315, 320.
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previously mentioned, having made a report of the work begun by the first settlers at Wyoming, and of their several conferences with the Indians here, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
"Whereas, It is represented that a congress with the Indians of the Six Nations is expected at Albany on the 22d of March next, according to the agreement of John Smith,* Esq., with some of the said Indian chiefs, it is
"Voted, That Col. Eliphalet Dyer, Timothy Woodbridge, Esq., John Smith, Esq., Job Randall, Esq., Mr.t Isaac Tracy, Mr. John Jenkins, Capt. Uriah Stevens and Col. John Lydius be a committee to repair to Albany on the said 22d of March with full power and authority in behalf of this Company to treat with said Indian chiefs respecting our purchase made of them, and procure a recognition of said purchase ; and also to agree with any tribe or chief Indians that complain they have not been fully satisfied nor received their part of the purchase money ; and make such reasonable presents and gratuities as may be needful to content said Indians.
"Voted, That whereas at the last meeting there was the right to two townships ordered to 200 men, * * and numbers went on upon said lands in order to take posses- sion, but thought it prudent to withdraw for a season-it is now voted that the same privilege be and is hereby continued to such persons as in said former vote was provided, on condition that they make their entry on said lands by the 1st of June next. * * That one Isaac Bennett, Jr., for unjustly taking the property of some Indiant on said Susquehanna lands, as was supposed, be excluded from having any part in said town- ships. That the same committee for carrying on the said settlement be also continued, and that the major part of said committee (that may be present on their march to said place, and when there arrived) to govern and control in said affair."
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