USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 26
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A Petition of Joannes Koster, and about 150 other high and low Germans, to the Govr. and Council was read, setting forth, that the Petrs., with many other aliens to the Kingdom of England, by the Encouragement of the Propr. had Transported themselves into this Province, & by their Industry had changed the uncultivated Lands they had purchased into good settlemts., & for Twenty two years past had behaved themselves as Liege & Loyal subjects of England, that above 60 of the said Ptrs. at one time, viz : the 7th of ye 3 mo., 1691, had in open Court, promised allegiance to K. William & Q. Mary, & fidelity to the Propr., besides many others who had done the Like, &c., that such as have not already obliged themselves are ready to do it when they shall be admitted. They therefore request, that (seeing they are not at present believed to be secure in their Estates,) for remedying the unhappiness they may be engaged in, if they be still considered as foreigners, the assembly may be convened
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with all Convenient speed, & a Bill recommended from this board for naturalizing all & every of the said Ptrs., that they may have an undoubted right to hold, enjoy, alienate, sell & dispose of any of their Lands, as the natural born subjects of England may or can do in this Province, & also that they may be capable of Electing & being elected, to serve in Assembly & other Offices; also, that some of the Petrs. being Mennists, who (with their Predecessory for above 150 Years past,) could not for Conscience sake take an Oath, the same pro- vision may be made for them by a law, as is made for those called Quakers in this Province, and that the said Law may be sent home with the rest, past by the late Assembly, in Order to obtain the Queens Royal Approbation.
Which Petition being argued and Considered, It is Resolved, that it is highly reasonable the Petrs., and all others in their Circum- stances, should be rendered Secure in their Estates and Titles to their Lands in this Province, the value of which is generally, but the effect of their own labours, and in pursuance of some parts of the prayer of the said Petition leave is given to the sd. Petrs., to procure the attorney Genl. to draw up a bill for that purpose, to be laid be- fore this Board, where it shall meet with all due Encouragement.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, ye 27th May, 1706. PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
Edward Shippen, ) Griffith Owen,
Saml. Carpenter, Esq'rs. William Trent, S
Esq'rs. Thomas Story,
The Govr. acquainted the Board that he was obliged very speedi- ly to leave the town for a few days, before which he thought it advi- sable to Call this Board, in order to advise of what may be necessary to be done for the preservation of these parts of her Majesty's Do- minions in so dangerous a time when all the English Colonies are so apparently threatned, in Order to which he thought it his duty, after the Example of the rest of the neighbouring Govmts. forthwith to Call the assembly together, to make provision by a law for the de- fence of the Place.
It was moved that there might a full Council upon debating a matter of such Importance, there being but one member present be- sides such as were called Quakers. In answer to which, the Govr. informed the board that all those members of Council in a Body, that are not Quakers, had last week addressed him for this very purpose, & that tho' he should be glad to have had a fuller Council, and those Gentlemen present, yet as he knew their Sentimts. by that address, it might not be altogether so necessary to desire them again.
Several Objections arose, and the matter was debated, but at length it was Resolved by the opinions of the Whole Board, that the Consideration of it should be adjourned to the Govrs. Return, which upon this occasion he designed should be in three days time, & therefore adjourned the Board till next 6th or friday morning.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, ye 1st 4 mo., June 1706.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edward Shippen,
Jasper Yeats,
Samuel Carpenter,
William Rodeny,
Samul ffinney,
Esq'rs. William Trent, Esq'rs.
Caleb Pusey,
James Logan.
George Roche, Joseph Pidgeon.
The Govr. Ordered the minutes of the last Council to be read, and desired the advise and Opinion of the Board upon the subject, being called for that purpose viz : to Consider whether the Assembly ought not forthwith to be Called.
All those members not Called Quakers seem'd of Opinion that it was incumbent on the Govenour to call the Assembly together with all speed, in order to provide for the safety of the Place.
To which the other members objected, That seeing it might be taken for granted that the Assembly when mett, could not, because of their Profession, (being all such as are Called Quakers excepting one member,) be concerned in any thing that tended to the bearing of arms, the Calling of them together for that end could be con- strued only as a Design to gett their Refusal, it would be to no purpose to attempt it, unless their Refusal was really the thing that is desired.
It was further pressed by some of that side, that seeing thee As- sembly when Called must either act as desired or refuse, and their refusal from the proof they gave in the late alarm in not joining at all with the rest in Bearing arms might be depended on, it should therefore be Considered what step was next to be taken, which Con- sideration as much concerned this Board as the first step, Viz: whether an Assembly should be called or not.
To this it was answered that to presuppose they would not act, was to anticipate their Resolution, and that since it will be thought necessary by the Govmt. in Engld. that the Assembly should make some provision for a Defence, if any Damage should ensue, which might too Justly be feared, the blame could not be properly placed to their acct. unless they were tried, and that it was necessary the better to clear the Govr. in case such Damage should ensue, that the matter should be laid before them, and upon their Refusal it would plainly appear where the fault lay, and then the way would be clear to apply for Redress. And the whole subject being largely debated, The Govr. put the Question to the Board, whether the As- sembly should be called or not; those who are not called Quakers all gave their Opinion that it was necessary for the Govrs. Security in the Case that an Assembly should be called. But the others insisted on it, that the only consequence of calling them would be to expose them to blame without producing any effect as to the thing desired, that the assembly were the Representatives of the people of this Province to whom, and to the Constitution of it, as settled by Virtue of the Powers granted to the Propr. by K. Charles ye 2d., a
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due regard ought to be had, and that these Proceedings were only steps to overthrow that Constitution, and bring in a Change, which could not be done with Justice to the Propr. and the first settlers of the place. Whereupon the Council adjourned without coming to any Resolution.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, ye 6th 4 mo., June, 1706.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. Edward Shippen, James Logan,
Samuel Carpenter,
Esq'rs.
Richard Hill,
Thomas Story,
William Trent.
(Bg's
Griffith Owen,
The Chiefs of the Conestogoe, Shawanois and Ganawense Indians upon Susquehannagh, being come to town, in Order to Confer with this Govmt. about publick affairs relating to them, they were all seated in the Council Chamber, Indian Harry being Interpreter.
The Secretary not having done it in Council before, gave the Board an accot of his message to the said Indians, in October last, under- taken by order of Council, upon the Repeated Reports we had of great uneasinesses among the Indians, by reason of ye Ganawense, who had fled from Maryland, as follows, viz :
That in Company of some persons from Chester, viz : the Sherif & Clark of that County, and the Sheriff of New Castle, Hercules Coutts, Hermannus Alricks, with Edward Shippen, Junr., & others, being ten in number, he carried thither some English Goods for a present, and at Conestogo as the Chief place he first treated with them, telling them, (according to the minutes then taken,) That he was come from the Govr. of Pennsylvania, who had always been a friend to all the Indians within the Bounds of it. That Governour W. Penn, since first he came into this Countrey, with all those under him, had always inviolably maintain'd a perfect Friendship with all the natives of this Countrey, that he found Possess'd of it at his first arrival.
That when he was last in the Countrey he visited those of that place, and his son upon his arrival did the same, in order to cultivate the ancient friendship between ym, that he & his posterity might, after his fathers example, maintain peace & a good understanding with them & theirs.
That the Govr., who now is at Philad., is sent over to them by Govr. Penn in his stead, would have come also and seen them, but other business obstructed, he intended it however as soon as possible he could with Conveniency.
That he, (the Secretary) with that Company were now Come, not to make any new Treaty with them, for that he hoped would be needless, those that have been already made being in full force & sufficiently strong, but to enquire of them, as our brethren, how matters stood with them, whether any thing new had happen'd
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among them, and whether all things were well with them in this time of open War, of which we desired a full account of them.
That Govr. Penn had often employed his thoughts how to prevent any affronts or Injuries of any kind being put upon them, and how they might the most advantageously be furnished with what they wanted from the English.
That notwithstanding all his care things had not been so well managed as desired, but that now we were Resolved to fall upon mea- sures, more effectually to put in practice what had been so much wished for in Vain.
That the assembly of Pennsylvania, which is the great Council was now about to sit at Philada., to make necessary laws for the good of the publick, that in order to have some good Law made, also for their advantage, they were desired to send three or four of their Chief & wisest men to Philada., to agree on such things as would be most proper to be past into Laws for that purpose.
That he was not willing to insist on any further particulars at this time, upon the various Reports that had been spread in the Countrey concerning them, which principally occasioned this visit, referring it till they should meet at Philadela., only he would mention two things of great Importance at the present time, & which he must lay before them ; First, that they should take great care of giving ear to Mali- cious Reports spread and carried by ill men, for that we heard they had been alarm'd at the Christians putting themselves in arms in all these parts and mustering, the reason of this was the war with the french, and was designed rather to help than to hurt them, but as they and we are brethren each must be assistant to the other, and therefore the English took up arms to defend themselves, and the Indians also against both their Enemies.
That notwithstanding they ought all as far as possible to avoid war, for peace was most desirable, & War must be only for defence.
That we were also informed some of the Maryland Indians then among them had differed with the English there, and were afraid to return or come among the English of that Govmt. If so they might then continue among us till matters were fully settled, that our Govr. would treat with the Govr. of Maryland in their favour, but they must not quarrel wth any of the subjects of England, for we are all under one Crown and are as one people.
That these Indians then called the Piscataway Indians about five years ago when they came to settle within this Govermt. came to Philada. in Company with those of Conestogo and the Shawanois, who engaged to our Governt. for their peaceable deportmt. & Beha- viour amongst us, That hitherto they had behaved accordingly, and we hoped they would continue so to do. After which he summ'd up his discourse and desired them to remember well what he had said and give him an answer at next meeting to morrow. The Secry. further informed the Board that the next day sitting again in Coun- cil with their Chiefs at Conestogoe, they made answer ;
That in Consideration of our visit, tho' they were very poor, they presented us with some skins. That they could not possibly come
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to Philada. so soon as desired, being now late in the year, but in the spring they will all come in a body. That they did not understand what we meant by ill reports, which being further explained to them, they answered, (Viz. the Ganawense,) that some of the Virginians had much disturbed them, killed one of their men & abused several others, that being uneasie they thought it not safe to Continue there, & were now come hither where they hoped they might live peaceably, that on their sides whatever was reported they meant nothing but peace and Friendship. To which He answered that they should be safe here, and desired them not to go further from us till matters be fully settled with Virginia & Maryland, that in the mean time we would be kind to them & they should not want. They proceeded to answer that they knew not of any ill reports at present, that when they heard any they should wholly disregard them.
That he further added that he understood John Hans was building a Log house for Trade amongst them, which made us uneasie, & de- sired to know whether they encouraged it. To which they answered that they did not, and were desired not to suffer any Christians to settle amongst them without the Govrs. leave. They added that they desired us to trade with them and for the present to trust them, for it was very low with them. The Secry. further added that among the Shawanois, with whom their Chief abode was, he had also held a treaty to the same purpose with that at Conestogoe, & had reced. very near the same answers, that he had made them pre- sents of Stroudwater & Indian Jewels to the value of near £20 and had reced. some skins in return, which being sold to the best advan- tage amounted to £6 and no more. That he left them all in a very good temper, very well pleased and obliged with the message, and exceeding friendly disposed. That he with the Company had made a Journey among the Ganawense, settled some miles above Cones- togoe at a place called Connejaghera, above the fort, and had Con- ferences with them, which seemed wholly to compose all their appre- hensions, and that he had reason to believe he left all these 3 nations in a perfect good understanding with us, of which he thought it necessary more particularly to acquaint the Board at this time, because the present Conference would in some measure be grounded upon that message.
The said acct. being ended the Govr. Ordered the Interpreter to acquaint the said Indians That he fully design'd to have seen them at their own Town before this time, but unexpected business falling in prevented him, notwithstanding he still continued his resolution by the first convenient opportunity, in the meantime he was glad to see them all here, and desired they would proceed to inform him of what they had new or what had Occurred to their notice.
Upon which Andaggyjunguagh, the Chief of those of Conestogo, laid before the Govr., a very large Wampum Belt of 21 Rowes, with three hands wrought in it in black, (the rest White) which Belt, he said, was a pledge of peace formerly delvd. by the Onondagoe Indians, one of the 5 nations to the Nantikokes, when they made the said Nantikokes tributaries; that the Nantikokes bing lately under some
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apprehensions of Danger from the five Nations, some of them had this spring come up to Conestogoe & brought this Belt with them, and that they had another of the same also at Conestogoe, to shew to those of the 5 Nations that were expected shortly to come down to receive the Nantikokes tribute; that they brought this belt thither, that we might also shew it to those of the five Nations who might come down this way, that they might see they had made Peace, and that we are at Peace with our Neighbouring Indians. Much time was spent in discoursing this, as also in Conferring wch the Shawanois, who owned themselves under some apprehensions from the 5 nations, and then adjourned till morning.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, ye 7th June, 1706.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edwd. Shippen,
James Logan,
Saml. Carpenter,
Esq'rs.
William Trent,
Esq'rs.
Thos. Story,
Griffith Owen,
Richard Hill, wth the same Indians as yesterday.
The Board went upon a further Consideration of what might be intended by the Indians in leaving that Belt here, which was left with them to be shewn to the 5 Nations when they came down that way, as a pledge given by themselves of a peace, to be kept with the Nantikokes, and therefore ought to be kept ready by them to be pro- duced to the 5 Nations as they came to Conestogoe, which was the service the Nantikokes designed to themselves in leaving it there, but would be eluded by putting it so far out of the way as it would be if left here at Philadelphia, Which being debated for some time, and the Indians more particularly Examined about it, It was resolved at length upon their declaring, that they had another of the same at Conestogoe to be shewn to the 5 Nations, that the said Belt should be kept here according to their proposal.
The Govr. caused the late Law for improving a better Corres- pondence with the Indians to be read & explained, & interpreted to them ; and they were acquainted upon it, that this Govermt. took all possible care to have all matters relating to them regulated to the best advantage, that now they had made a Law to prevent any injuries to them from the Christians, and laying greater Punishments on those that should Committ them, than if they were done to the English themselves. That we had also enacted in that Law, that no person should trade with them, but such as should first have a Licence from the Govr., under his hand & Seal, upon taking out of which Licence, the persons Licensed were obliged to observe certain Orders and Regulations, that the Indians should be in no wise abused by them. That it now concern'd them to take care among them- selves, that this law should be kept in force, for the Traders coming among them could not be discovered but by the Indians, & therefore they were desired to see that it be duly observed. They then de-
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sired that only two persons should be allowed to trade with them, for that number would be sufficient, But it was answered, that they would be the more subject to be imposed on, the fewer should trade with them, and it would be their advantage, Provided that all Traders were subject to a Regulation.
They further desired that none might be suffered to go up into the Countrey beyond their Towns, to meet the Indians returning from Hunting, for they sustain Great Damages by that Practice, by being made drunk at their Return before they get home to their wives, & so were imposed on and Cheated by the Traders of the fruits of all their Labours.
Upon this they were desired to take Care among themselves that none of their people should sell anything to the Traders till they came home to their own Town, and in the Licenses that should be given for the future, the Govr. would take Care to oblige them not to go any higher into the Countrey than the noted Indian Towns, & to trade no where else.
They then presented a parcel of Deer, Fox & Raccoon skins, of about £14 in value, (according to the prices they now bear,) which they offered for a Confirmation of the Chain of Friendship between us, and desired that we might all still Continue friends and Brothers as we have always hitherto been, which being kindly accepted, and Orders given to provide goods to return them for their present, the Council adjourned.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, ye 25th June, 1706.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN EVANS, Esqr. Lieut. Govr.
Thomas Story, James Logan,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs. William Trent,
Esq'rs.
Samuel ffinney, Joseph Pidgeon,
The Govr. having appointed the Assembly to meet Yesterday, which they did not till it was very late, A Message came from the House this Morning, to acquaint the Govr. they were met and ready to receive what he had to lay before them, to which the Govr. an- swered, that when the Councill mett he would send to them.
The Council being mett, the Govr. Ordered Thos. Story to acquaint the House, that he desired to be attended by the whole House immediately.
The Secry. laid before the Board an acct. of the Charge of the last treaty had with the Indians of Conestogoe, at Philadelphia, amount- ing on the Debtr. side to £36 2 5; on the Credr. £13 17-which makes the ballance £22 5 5, which acct. being Examined and ap- proved of by the Board, 'tis ordered that the Treasurer forthwith pay the said Ball. out of that £50 per An. allowed by the Assembly for that purpose. Thos. Story returning, reported that the Assem- bly when he went was rose, but that he had informed some of the members, and they were about to meet, and would all attend the
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Govr. immediately; Accordingly the Speaker attended with the House came, and the Govr. Spoke to them in the following words, Viz :
GENTLEMEN :
The manifest Danger with wch all these, her Majestie's Colonies in America are at this time Treatned from a powerful and active En- emy, has with great reason alarm'd every Govmt. round us, and put them upon taking the best measures they can find practicable for their Defence ; And as this Province makes also a part of her Ma- jesties Dominions, and is peopled wth her subjects, whose lives and fortunes are of equal concernmt. to her Majesty. I think myself obliged, in pursuance of the Trust reposed in me, as well by her most Sacred Majesty as by the Propr. to use the same care and endeav- ours for their safety that can be used in any other of her Majesties Govmts., otherwise I should be inexcusable now at a time especially when the Ruin of at least two of our Islands and their Inhabits. has taught us what we have to fear. Since my arrival here, Gent., I have done all in my Own power to raise & regulate the Militia to the best advantage that the Circumstances of the place would bear, but it has manifestly appeared yt this, without the Concurrence of the whole Countrey by a Law, will not be effectual ; Besides that some place of Security in Case of an attack, will be of the same necessity here that it is found to be in all other towns in her Majesty's Domin- ions that lie exposed to an Enemy.
That you might have an Opportunity of Considering these things, and that we might all contribute to the best of our Power to make a suitable provision after the example of the Rest of her Majestie's subjects, is the occasion of your being now Called together, the matter is of great Importance & tho' I am Sensible that with you it may carry some Difficulties with it, yet I would willingly hope that upon a close application of your thoughts, some measures may be found to render all her Majesties subjects here, as safe and easy in point of Defence as in the rest of her Majesties Dominions.
After which the Speaker reced. a Copy of it in writing & then they withdrew, & the Board adjourned to the afternoon.
The 26th of June, four members of Assembly presented to ye Govr. the following address in writing.
The Humble Address of the House of Representatives of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania, Presented to the Lieutent. Govr., in answer to his Speech to the House, upon the 25 day of the Month, Called June, 1706.
May it please the Govr. :
Wee, the Representatives of the freemen of this Province of Penn- sylva, in Assembly mett, having taken unto our Serious Considera- tion thy Speech to us on the 25 Instant, Whereby is Intimated how the danger which these Colonies are threatened with has alarmed the Governmts. around us, & put them upon such measures as they find
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practicable for their defence, as thou art pleased to represent it, But we beg leave to observe, that what some of the Neigbouring Colo- nies, which are under the immediate direction of the Queen, & of long Standing of Great Estate, and bring vast Revenues to the Crown have found Practicable upon that emergency, As Running their Vessels as far up the Rivers as they could into the Countrey, may be done here. Never the less, we understand, that in the time of the late false alarm, several of the Inhabitants of this City, when they endeavoured to secure some of their Goods, by sending them up the River & out into the Woods, were threatned to be Shott by such as pretended to stand in the defence of the place which we cannot but Resent, & Earnestly desire the Govr. may be pleased to Cause them, as well as those who Brought up the false Reports from New Castle, to be brought to Condign Punishmt.
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