USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 3
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INDIAN PATHIS.
The runways, or paths of the aboriginal tribes, were almost as numerous as our roads, and may be traced along
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ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
the banks of all large streams, except at points where the distance can be shortened, as by avoiding curves formed by the widening of the river or creek. They had, how- ever, great thoroughfares, called war-paths, two of which began at Diahoga (Tioga). One of these extended almost in a straight line through Bradford and Lycoming coun- ties, crossed the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Dunn's Island (Lockhaven), thence to Bedford, and thence to the Potomac. The other passed down the North Branch of the Susquehanna, via Wyoming, to Shamokin, thence to the Juniata, near Huntingdon, and thence to Bedford, where it united with the former path. These were the great routes of the warriors of the Six Nations going south to war against the southern tribes.
From Wyoming there was a path by the way of War- rior's Gap, uniting, at or near Mauch Chunk, with a path extending from Shamokin to the Delaware and Lehigh rivers. There was also another from Wyoming to Gnad- enhutten and Fort Allen, over the mountains, nearly in the route of the Wilkesbarre and Easton turnpike. Be- sides these, there was a path from Wyoming, via Shick- shinny Creek, through Huntington township, and across the head-waters of Fishing and Muncy Creeks to the West Branch of the Susquehanna at the town of Muncy. The path from Wyalusing united with the path through Huntington township. The path from Wyoming to Ca- pouse, or the Monseys' Village, near Scranton, passed along the eastern bank of the Lackawanna, branching off at Capouse northward and eastward. The northern branch extended to Oquago, now Windsor, New York, via Leggett's Gap and Abington. The eastern branch ran via Dunmore, crossing the Moosic Mountain near John Cobb's, and thence through Little Meadows, in Wayne county, to Coshutunk (Cochecton) on the Delaware. The first
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wagon road of the Connecticut settlers to Wyoming fol- lowed the path last named.
Many of these thoroughfares were trodden, for hun- dreds of years, by the feet of the red men, until in many places they were worn down to the depth of one and two feet. They did not pass over the highest points of land, as some writers suppose, but these elevated places of observation were ascended by side paths connecting with . the main routes.
THE MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES.
These pious adventurers established their first mis- sions in the West India Islands in 1732, and in Greenland in 1733. In 1735 they planted missions in Georgia among the Creek Indians, but the war between England and Spain compelled them to leave their settlement in 1739, when they came to Pennsylvania. Here they met the celebrated George Whitfield, and by his invita- tion settled on a tract of land, which he had purchased with the intention of establishing a free school for negro children. Mr. Whitfield had laid out and named the town . Nazareth, and had commenced the erection of a large stone building, but becoming involved pecuniarily, and the Indians expressing dissatisfaction at the near approach of the whites, the settlement was abandoned. The Moravians then purchased a tract of land lower down on the Lehigh, and laid out the town of Bethile- . hem in 1741. During this year Count Nicholas Louis Zin- zendorf, the principal elder of the society of the Moravians, and founder of the secret order of the Mustard Seed, arrived from Europe. Being desirous to extend the mis- sionary field, this self-sacrificing Christian nobleman, in the fall of 1742, resolved to visit the Susquehanna In-
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dians, and with this view applied to Conrad Weiser* to accompany him, but pressing business engagements com- pelled him to decline. However, the count secured the services of an interpreter, one Martin Mack, and his wife, and with them he set out on his wilderness journey. On their arrival in the Wyoming Valley, they pitched their tent on the bank of the river, a short distance from the Shawanese village. A council of the Indians was called to hear their errand of mercy, but the savages were not satisfied as to the real object of their visit. They knew that many white men were more anxious about their lands than about their souls, and they viewed the alleged disinterested regard of Zinzendorf as a mere sham under which he designed to defraud them. Their suspicions increased, and they resolved to assassinate him. Three savages crept stealthily to his tent on this murderous errand. A blanket curtain, suspended upon pins, formed the door of his abode. By gently raising a corner of this curtain the Indians, undiscovered, had a full view of the good man, who sat unconscious of danger, with an expres- sion of devotion on his benignant features. They were awe-stricken by his appearance. It was a cool night in September, and the count had kindled a fire. Warmed by the flame, a large rattlesnake had crept from its covert, and at this moment was gliding over the limbs of the holy
* Conrad Weiser resided among the Mohawk Indians from 1716 to 1729, and spoke the languages of several tribes. In 1730, he removed to Tulpe- hocken, in Berks county. Ile became with Shikellimus, the Cayuga chief at Shamokin, the medium through whom business was transacted between the proprietary government and the Six Nations. IIe was a most upright and worthy man, and was viewed by the Indians as their friend and guardian. IIe made repeated journeys among the Indians of the North and West, and he was no doubt, the first white man who ever trod the soil of Luzerne county. He was elected justice of the peace for Berks county. He kept the first tavern opened in Reading, and was commissioned colonel during the French War. IIe died in 1760.
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man, whose thoughts were engrossed by his devotions. The serpent escaped his notice, but the Indians, with breathless attention, had observed the movements of the poisonous reptile, and as they gazed upon the aspect and attitude of the Count, and saw the serpent offer him no harm, they changed their minds, says Stone, as suddenly as the barbarians of Malta did theirs, in regard to the shipwrecked prisoner, who shook the viper from his hand without even feeling a smart from its venomous fang. Their enmity immediately changed to reverence, and in the belief that Zinzendorf enjoyed the protection of the Great Spirit, they retired, and reported to their friends what they had seen. The Count was thenceforth regarded by these children of the forest with profound veneration. He remained in Wyoming several days, during which time Conrad Weiser arrived. Arrangements were made for further missionary labors among the several tribes of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Indians, and the Count then returned to Bethlehem. In 1743 he purchased Mr. Whit- field's tract of land at Nazareth, and completed the build- ing he had commenced. Bethlehem and Nazareth now became the centre of the operations of the Moravians. Missionaries proceeded thence to many Indian tribes throughout New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. In their devout zeal they penetrated beyond the Allegha- nies.
These Moravians established a mission-house at Shamo- kin, and Shikellimus was brought under the influence of the gospel. He died in 1749, and on his death-bed exhorted his people to embrace the religion of the Saviour.
A mission had been planted among the Mohican In- dians at Shekoniko, on the borders of Connecticut, but the whites growing jealous of the Moravians, and difficul- ties arising, they proposed, with the permission of the 3
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Six Nations, to remove the Mohicans to Wyoming. To this the Mohicans objected, as Wyoming lay on the war- rior's path from the country of the confederacy to the south. It was arranged they should settle near Bethle- hem, where dwellings were erected for them, and the village called Fredenshutten, or Tents of Peace. The emigration increased so rapidly, to this point, that the Moravians purchased a tract of land, and laid out a town at Mahoning Creek, on the Lehigh. They erected forty log-houses and a chapel, calling the place Gnadenhutten, Huts of Grace. Between this new Christian Indian vil- lage and Wyoming there was a constant intercourse. Hungry savages, in times of scarcity, flocked to Gnaden- hutten, professing Christianity, and filling themselves at the tables of the pious missionaries. When the season for hunting came, they would return to the wilderness in pursuit of game, and with the profits of the chase would procure, from the heartless trader, the terrible fire-water, which causes the red and white man alike to forget their duty and their God. Some, however, were sincere in their professions, and remaining steadfast, died in the faith. The missionaries, Spangenberg, Heckewelder, Zeis- berger, Post, Mack, Butler, Seidel, Schmick, Fry, and others, received Indian names, and proclaimed the gospel to the heathen on both branches of the Susquehanna, on the Lackawanna, and throughout the whole of North- castern Pennsylvania, wherever the smoke ascended from the rude bark wigwam.
THE FRENCH WAR.
We have already intimated that the French, through the influence of Catholic missionaries, who are often in advance of other denominations, had secured to their interest the Shawanese, the Delawares, and other Indians
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on the Ohio. However, Sir William Johnson* had suc- ceeded in dividing the Six Nations. The Mohawks, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras remained attached to the British cause. The Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas declared themselves neutral; nevertheless, a considerable number of the two last-named tribes took up the hatchet with the Delawares, Shawanese, and other tribes, already in alli- ance with the French. Efforts were made by the French, through the Senecas and Cayugas, to induce the Susque- hanna Indians to declare in favor of Onontio, the French King, as the Indians named him. Their arts and pro- mises were crowned with success. In 1753 they succeed- ed in removing nearly all the Christian Indians from Gnadenhutten to Wyoming, hoping by this to place them beyond the influence of the whites. But the Moravian missionaries, who had a mission-house at that place, as well as at Shamokin, continued to minister to their spiritual necessities even after the warriors had raised the tomahawk against the English.+
The news of Braddock's defeat in July, 1755, spread
* Sir William Johnson was born in Ireland in 1714, and settled in America, on the Mohawk river, in 1734, on land belonging to his unele, Sir Peter Warren.
He became acquainted with the Six Nations, studied their character and acquired their language, and eventually exercised great influence over them. In 1757, at the head of the English forces he defeated the French at Lake George, for which victory the House of Commons voted him 5000 pounds sterling, and the King conferred upon him the title of Baronet. At the same time he was tendered the office of superintendent of Indian affairs. He had two daughters, one of whom married Col. Guy Johnson. His son was Sir John Johnson. Sir William died in 1774.
t Bishop Spangenberg sent Schmick and Fry to Wyoming, where they arrived November 10th, 1755, with a message to Paxinos, the Shawanese chief, who remained the friend of the English. Paxinos was requested to send to Shamokin and bring Marten Keifer, the missionary, to Wyoming, and then with Christian Frederick Post, who was stationed at Wyoming, all should return to Bethlehem. Frederick Post, as will be hereafter shown, had great influence over the Indians.
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rapidly over the country, carrying dismay to the hearts of the English settlers. The frontiers of Pennsylvania were threatened with ruin by the victorious French and their savage allies. The government of Pennsylvania did not act with the energy and promptness which the emer- gency demanded. No means were adopted for the pro- tection of the frontier settlements, and murders were com- mitted by the skulking enemy in many places in the north and west of the province. A flourishing German settle- ment at Mahanoy, or Penn's Creek, below Shamokin, was attacked, the inhabitants butchered, and their dwellings fired. John Harris, at the head of forty men, immediately marched to Shamokin to ascertain of the friendly Indians who had committed the outrage. Some of the Delawares seemed displeased at their visit, and four of their number left the town. Others expressed regret and a willingness to fight the French, declaring they had no knowledge of the affair. On the return of Harris's company, and while crossing a creek, they were fired on by Indians in ambush, ยท four of them were killed and four were drowned. A few days after this, on the 2d of November, 1755, the settle- ments at Great and Little Coves were attacked by a war party under the command of Shingas, a western Delaware chief, who, it is said, although a small man, possessed great physical strength, and powers of endurance. Peti- tions and letters from the frontier settlements were sent to Philadelphia, praying the Assembly to adopt measures for the public defence. Scarrooyady, an Oneida, the Belt, Zigarea, James Logan," John Shikellimus, the
* This is Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief, who made the eloquent speech recorded by Mr. Jefferson in his Notes on Virginia. He was probably born at Shamokin, being one of the sons of Shikellimus, who had the supervision of the Susquehanna Indians. His father, entertaining a high regard for James Logan, Esq., one of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, named him in honor of that gentleman. Logan lived on the Juniata a number of
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eldest son and successor of old Shikellimus at Shamokin, and Andrew Montour, son of Madame Montour, urged upon the Pennsylvania government the immediate adop- tion of prompt measures to repel the French; and some
years, and when the whites began to settle about him, removed west. Judge Brown, who was the first actual settler in the Kishacoquillas Valley, in Mifflin county, of this state, in speaking of the big spring not far from his residence, thus stated an incident in regard to Logan : " The first time I ever saw that spring, my brother, James Reed and myself, had wandered out of the valley in search of land, and finding it very good, we were looking about for springs. About a mile from this we started a bear, and separated to get a shot at him. I was traveling along, looking about on the rising ground for the bear, when I came suddenly on the spring; and being dry, and more rejoiced to find so fine a spring than to have killed a dozen bears, I set my rifle against a bush and rushed down the bank, and lay down to drink. Upon putting my head down, I saw reflected in the water, on the opposite side, the shadow of a tall Indian. I sprang to my rifle, when the Indian gave a yell, whether for peace or for war, I was not then sufficiently master of my faculties to determine; but upon my seizing my rifle, and facing him, he knocked up the pan of his gun, threw out the priming, and extended his open palm towards me, in token of friendship. After putting down our guns, we again met at the spring, and shook hands. This was Logan-the best specimen of humanity I ever met with, either white or red. He spoke a little English, and told me there was another white hunter a little way down the stream, and offered to guide me to his camp. There I first met your father.
" We visited Logan at his camp, at Logan's spring, and your father and he shot at a mark for a dollar a shot. Logan lost four or five rounds, and acknowledged himself beaten. When we were about to leave him, he went into his hut, and brought out as many deerskins as he had lost dollars, and handed them to Mr. Maclay, who refused to take them, alleging that we had been his guests, and did not come to rob him-that the shooting had been only a trial of skill, and the bet merely nominal. Logan drew himself up with great dignity, and said, 'Me bet to make you shoot your best-me gentleman, and me take your dollar if me beat.' So he was obliged to take the skins, or affront our friend, whose nice sense of honor would not permit him to receive even a horn of powder in return."
After Logan removed from the Kishacoquillas Valley to the West, his whole family, located on the Ohio, below Wheeling, was murdered " by some white savages, without a shadow of provocation." Not long after, he was accosted by a messenger from Lord Dunmore, who requested his presence at a treaty to be held on the Scioto in 1774. Logan replied to the messenger in the
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ANNALS OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
of them even went to Philadelphia, and declared to the Assembly that if they did not erect forts, and fight the enemy, all the Susquehanna Indians would desert the English cause. Scarrooyady said he was disgusted with the neglect and inactivity of the English ; that the Indians could not remain neutral, and would fight on the one side or other; and that quite a number had already received the hatchet from the French king. The frontier settlers threatened to invade Philadelphia, and compel the Assembly to furnish arms and ammunition for the protec- tion of themselves and their families. The difficulty in obtaining suitable measures for the public defense arose on this wise. Mr. Morris was governor at the time of Braddock's defeat, and in his commission was a clause prohibiting him from doing any act that might encumber the proprietary estates within the bounds of the province. When the state of affairs seemed imperatively to demand the raising of men and money for the war, the Assembly passed an act appropriating 60,000 pounds to be issued
following speech, which has, probably, been translated into every language of the civilized world :-
"I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat ; if ever he came eold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said, 'Logan is the friend of white men.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Col. Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unpro- voked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it: I have killed many : I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan ?- Not one."
A war-club, says Mr. Jefferson, was found tied to Cresap's door, with a letter signed by Captain J. Logan.
TIL-1
TEEDYUSCUNG
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in bills of credit, and provided for the liquidation of the same by the imposition of a tax on all real and personal estates, including the estates of the Proprietaries. The governor refused to sanction the bill, and long messages passed between the legislative and executive branches of the government, without arriving at a satisfactory adjust- ment of the difficulty. Finally, Governor Morris stated the case to the Proprietaries in London, and Thomas Penn wrote in reply, complimenting him for his adhesion to the tenor of his commission, but agreeing to furnish 5000 pounds from the proprietary rents in the province. The Assembly then passed an act, November 27, 1755, appropriating 60,000 pounds, 55,000 to be issued in bills of credit, and 5000 pounds to be paid by the Proprietaries. while their estates were' to be exempt from taxation. But by this time scores of innocent people had fallen under the murderous tomahawk of the savage.
When the question relative to taxing the proprietary estates was pending between the governor and Assembly, the latter, in one of their messages, said, "What has this government done to offend the Delawares and Shawanese ? Have we not always lived in peace with them ? Why are they offended ? Let us hold a treaty with them and persuade them." Such was the ridiculous language of the Assembly when the lives of hundreds were trembling in the balance.
About this time, Teedyuscung was chosen king of the Delawares at Wyoming in the place of Tadame, who was friendly to the whites, and had been treacherously mur- dered, but by whom was unknown. Teedyuscung was born near Trenton in 1705, and was one of those who had been forced from his land by the fraudulent consumma- tion of the walking purchase. He was a large muscular man, haughty in his bearing, witty, fond of admiration
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and of rum, a bold warrior, and a sagacious counsellor. " What has this government done to offend the Dela- wares ?" asked the Assembly. The words and deeds of Teedyuscung proclaim the deep-seated offense and its cause. Sending a large belt of wampum to the Susque- hanna Indians, and even to the Cherokees in the south, he said : " I am in exceeding great danger; the English will kill me; come and help me." The Delaware town at Nescopeck was made the rendezvous of the warriors. There assembled Shingas with his western warriors, and Buckshanoath the great Shawanese war chief of Wyoming. With these Teedyuscung attacked the settlements in Berks county on the 16th of November, 1755, spreading fire and death in all directions. On the 24th of the same month, Gnadenhutten was attacked, a number of the people were murdered, and the buildings, were laid in ashes. It is said the murderers of the people at Gnaden- hutten were commanded by a chief of the Six Nations, and not by Teedyuscung. In the beginning of December of the same year a council of war was held at Wyoming, by the Delawares, the Shawanese, the Nanticokes, and others, at which it was determined to lay waste the whole country on the Delaware. They danced the war-dance, and sang their death-songs. At the appointed time, the paths between Wyoming and the Delaware, over which the missionaries had so often carried the white flag of peace and good-will, were crowded with hostile savages, ' on an errand of blood and death. Two hundred warriors rushed from the mountain side upon the defenceless set- tlements. Nearly the whole of Marshall's family, the man who performed the walk, and afterwards declared that the Penns refused to pay him, were put to death. Teedyuscung, at the head of a scouting party, fired into a company assembled at a funeral. He penetrated into
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New Jersey, and even approached within a few miles of Easton. During the month of December, fifty dwellings were burned in Northampton county, upwards of one hundred men, women, and children were murdered and scalped, and nearly as many were carried away into cap- tivity. This destruction of life and property is attributa- ble to the quarrel which existed between the governor and Assembly, in reference to taxing the proprietary estates. The Assembly are wholly inexcusable for their neglect of the public defense at that critical period. The great body of the Indians in Pennsylvania, who were dis- posed to arm against the French, being left to themselves and unsupported by the government, were easily per- suaded, by the promises and presents of the French agents, to make war upon the English. John Shikelli- mus, Logan, and nearly all the Shamokin Indians, deserted their former haunts, and repaired to more distant locali- ties, where they became identified with those engaged in hostilities. But The Belt, Aroas, or Silver Heels, Scar- rooyady, and Andrew Montour retired among the English settlements, where they were employed by the governor as messengers. Andrew Montour was the son of an Indian chief, by a French woman, known as Madame Mon- tour, who resided at the Indian village of Ostenwawen, situated on the West Branch, above the present town of Northumberland. Montour Ridge and Montour county have derived their name from her. Andrew was a friend to the English, often brought them important intelligence, and, from his intimate knowledge of the Indian character, could give advice which it was safe to follow.
Paxinos, an aged Shawanese chief, residing at Wyoming, has also been mentioned as the fast friend of the English. It was he, who, in the interview with Charles Broadhead, a relative of the Hon. Richard Broadhead, on the 9th of
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November, 1755, at Wyoming, urged upon him to hasten to the governor, and induce him to send a messenger to the Indians in the Valley, with belts of wampum and presents, to secure them to the English interest. The message contained a warm and pressing invitation to all the Indians to attend a treaty, or council, to be held on the first day of January, 1756, at John Harris's. But before the messenger started on his dangerous journey, Teedyus- cung had devastated the country of the Delaware; and, among others, the plantations of Mr. Broadhead, and of Aaron Duphuy, who had been selected to bear the mes- sage to the Wyoming Indians. On the first of January he was engaged, with thirty of his warriors, in scalping the remaining inhabitants, and burning their dwellings, of Smithfield township, Monroe county. To return to Paxinos. He used every argument to dissuade the Del- awares and his own warriors from taking up the hatchet against the English. He pressed his solicitations with such zeal that the Delawares threatened to take his life. When the warriors began to dance the war-dance, he, with Abram and about thirty others, chiefly old men and women, retired to a village west of Kingston, near Blind Town, where he remained until all the Indians departed the valley for the country of the Six Nations.
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