USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 61
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The thirteenth by a woman that formerly the five Nations lived amongst us, that tho' now they are at a Distance they may live Quiet.
The fourteenth by a woman Desiring their Houses may be the same.
The fifteenth by a woman, that they are glad they can enjoy peace so quietly to bed and rise in the same manner.
The sixteenth, That formerly some french Inhabited among the five Nations, but a War breaking out, the five nations had Destroyed them, they pray that they may always do ye same.
The Seventeenth that they shall always keep an Open & Clean House for the 5 nations, & be ready to receive them.
The Eighteenth That as they have had Houses among the 5 na- tions, they Desire they may always have the same privilege.
The nineteenth That they may build their houses firm, as to con- tinue there long, and not be obliged to make them slight, as if they were on all occasions to fly.
The twentieth to the same purpose.
The twenty first that they build Houses & keep fires, without mo- lestation.
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The twenty second that they have built Houses, rest securely in them, & do not Doubt but they shall have the same liberty.
The twenty third, That formerly one of the Chiefs of those Na- tions came down & Dwelt among ym., that they Regarded him al- ways as their superiour, & one of them.
The twenty fourth That when they arrive, they would fully hear & understand them ; and that they may have Liberty to pass & re- pass in all places.
The twenty-fifth that they may make Racoon & other Blanketts to cloathe them, & sett Down in them in peace.
The twenty sixth that they are sorry the french should Destroy any of them, for that they take the Loss of any of them to be the Loss of themselves.
The twenty seventh That having heard that in their Warrs they had obtained a victory over the ffrench, they were very Glad, & Con- gratulated them upon it.
The Twenty Eight that they are glad their young men have the Privilege of going far from their own habitacons to hunt abroad in peace, & that they can return home & Eat & Drink & Enjoy them- selves.
The Twenty Ninth that they are Glad they can go in peace to hunt far abroad, that they may return home & Eat quietly meat to make them Strong.
The Thirtieth they are Glad they can hunt & bring home relief to their poor relacons.
The Thirty first They are sorry that their Children as well as theirs die ; that their Eyes have been so shutt up by it, that they could not see the Sun ; Desire they may be opened, & that all may be cheerful.
The Thirty second They hope they will be pleased with the pres- ents now offered, and that their children will have it in Everlasting Remembrance; these last 24 were all sent by women, the Indians Reckoning the paying of Tribute becomes none but women & children.
These two Belts were given them, one by Govr. Penn when here, the other sent since by Coll. Evans to Conestogo, which they are also to carry with them, but Desire they may be now instructed what was intended by them.
They were told it was now Eleven years since they reced. this present from Govr. Penn in order to carry it up, & therefore they were asked why it was so long Deferred.
They answered, that the person who was to carry them (viz. Hetoquean,) died very soon after, and that they had not Concluded to this year who should carry them, but now they are. going.
As to the two last presents, They were told they must shew them to ye Chiefs of ye five Nations as tokens of a firm & real friendship between them & us; they were Desired to acquaint the said Nations fully in what a peaceable manner, and with how much true friend- ship We had always lived with them, our nearest Neighbouring Indians, ever since William Penn first came into this Land, and
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wished that all others might take the same Methods, that nothing but peace & Love might reign among us; and when they should make this fully known to those nations, and shewed them. these belts as tokens sent them for that purpose, and to bring them back again with them to be still kept by them, & by no means to be parted with. They were further Desired not to Enter on this subject, or to shew these Belts till they had intirely done their own business.
They presented a Bundle of Drest Deer Skins as an instance of their thanks to the Govr., for favouring them with his Company & hearing what they had to say.
They presented a second bundle of the same kind, Declaring that they are sorry they are not better furnished, nor more Capable of Making a present suitable to their Inclinations & respect they bear, but at their return from the 5 Nations, when they bring the answer they shall there receive, they hope to offer something more worthy. |
These presents being kindly accepted, filling their Calumet or long winged pipe with Tobacco, & lighted it, they presented it so lighted to the Govr. & each of the Council, &c., to smoak a few blasts of it, as the token of the greatest friendship that could be shewn.
It was proposed to the Board that some small handsome present should be sent by these people to each king or Chief of the five na- tions, and accordingly it was Resolved, that a fine Laced Stroudwater matchcoat and a fine white shirt should be provided for each of the Chiefs, & sent by these now going; Which being interpreted to them, they Expressed a great satisfaction in it, and offered their ser- vice Gladly to be the bearers of it.
It was then proposed what presents should be provided for these people in return of theirs, & being agreed on to the value of £-, they were ordered to be Delivered.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 21st of May, 1712.
PRESENT : Y e Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Govr.
Joseph Growdon, Isaac Norris,
Samll. ffinney, Esq'rs. Jonathn. Dickinson, Esq'rs. James Logan,
Robt. Assheton.
A Peticon. of several of the Inhabitants of Bristol, Cheltenham, & the Northern Liberties, and also a Petition of Hans Neyes, to be Re- lieved in some matters relating to the laying out of a new Road from Philadia. to John Reading's Landing, being read ; It is ordered yt the persons last appointed to review the said Road, shall attend this board upon Wednesday the 28th Inst., at the Hour of ten in the morning, to be advised with Concerning the same, and to take such further Directions therein as may be thought necessary & Convenient.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 27th of May, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edwd. Shippen,
Joseph Growdon,
Samll. Carpenter,
James Logan,
Griffith Owen,
Esq'rs.
Jonathan Dickinson, Robt. Assheton.
Esq'rs.
Thos. Story,
The Govr. laid before the board several acts he had received from the Assembly, which had passed the House for his Concurrence.
An act Entituled an act for Establishing the lower ferry on the River Schuylkill ; as also an act Entituled an act for Establishing & Regulating of ferries over Delaware & Neshaminy Creek, were read & Referred to the Consideration of ye Commissioners of Property. An act for the further securing the administration of the Governmt. was read, and some amendments proposed, made as follows, vizt :
No. 1. That the words (or in case the Ltts. absence out of this Govmt.) to be left out, and instead thereof a Clause to be inserted, Giving the Council Power of Administration in the absence of the Govr. till his return, Legislation Excepted.
2. Or untill the Proprietary & Govr. & Chief shall make further provision therein, which shall first happen.
3. As fully and amply as before.
4. Of the said Proprs. and Govr. in Chief, which shall first hap- pen.
An act for the Raising Money on the Inhabitants of the City of Philadia. for the Public use and Benefit thereof, the Bill is approved, Excepting the Confirming of Ordinances, to be yet made, Instead of which These ordinances may be passed into Laws, or after they are made & viewed, an act to be passed to Confirm them ; But as the bill now stands, it would Certainly be rejected by the ministry at home, unless the ordinances themselves were Exhibited with ye act.
An act for the better ascertaining the Publick Debts & Collecting the Arrears of County Levies ; the Govr. is of Opinion that the As- sembly's, Wages & other Publick Debts ought to be Justly Discharged, but not after the manner proposed by this Bill; such Deductions & Defaulcations being not only Impracticable, but may be of ill Conse- quence where so great a Burthen must of Necessity fall on the meaner Sort, who will be obliged in a great measure to pay the whole money on any Publick occasion; Besides 'tis high time the Debts of the Counties were settled, and some methods taken about their Payment.
An act to prevent the Importation of Negroes & Indians into this Province ; upon which 'tis proposed that,
No. 1. The officer as in other Cases be appointed by the Govr. & Council, & Commissionated by the Govr.
2. As the Law in such Cases to be made shall Direct, The Words (to be made) to be left out.
3. Leave out the Concurrence of ye Assembly, And also these words, Whereof the Assembly of this Province shall be Judge.
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4. A Proviso that no negroe or Indian belonging to this Province, · either now out of it or now on Sea, or being sent out hereafter in business into another Government, or accompanying his master, be Lyable to pay at his Return.
5. That the waiting servts. of travelling Gent. may be Intirely Exempted without leaving it to ye discrecon of the officer.
An Act Concerning the Register Generall's office, The Govr. thinks two months time little enough to appoint the officer, and he's of opinion that that office ought to be kept at Philadia., for the whole province ; for that it will be a greater Security to the Publick than to have it in so many Branches, and the Business thereof more cer- tainly Dispacht for the Ease of the People, where due and Constant attendance is given ; besides as it is an office whereon the estates of so many people in a great measure depend, the security seems too little ; And how the Register General will be Counter secured in the other Counties, will be a Question. The distance can be no objec- tion, for 'tis well known the People in England travel much further on such occasions.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 28 of May, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHA. GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Govr. Edwd. Shippen,
James Logan,
Samll. Carpenter,
Thomas Story, Š Esq'rs. Robert Assheton, 1 Esq'rs.
The Amendments to the five Bills at yesterday's Council were now read and ordered to be Carried to the House by Thos. Story & Robt. Assheton.
At a Council held at Philadelpia., the 3d of June, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Govr.
Samll. Carpenter, ) Jonathan Dickinson,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs. Robert Assheton, Esq rs. James Logan,
The Assembly's answer to the Govr's proposals of amendments to the foregoing bills were Read & Considered, and his Reply to the Answers were annext to the Bills, and were ordered to be carried to the House in the afternoon by Jonath. Dickinson & James Logan.
At a Council Held at Philadia., the 4th of June, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr. Ltt. Govr. Edwd. Shippen,
Samll. Carpenter,
James Logan, Jonathn. Dickinson, Esq'rs.
Griffith Owen, Thos. Story,
Esq'rs.
Robt. Assheton,
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The Govr. acquainted the Board that he had received a message from ye House by two of their members, who Desired that a Com- mittee of the members of Council & Assembly might Confer about some of the bills then before them, And that he had appointed the Conference at his house immediately ; Soon after the members of Assembly with the Speaker came, And the act for the better ascer- taining the Publick Debts & Collecting the arrears of the County Levies ; The act for Raising money on the Inhabitants of the City of Philadia., for the Publick use & benefit thereof ; And the Act concerning the Register General's office, their several proposals of Amendmt. were read & fully Debated ; As was also ye Proposals of Amendmt. to the Property bill, And then the Speaker Desired the Govrs. answers about the said Bills ; the Govr. told him he would Consider of the matters Debated, and that they should hear from him in the morning.
At a Council held at Philadia, the 5th of June, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Edward Shippen,
James Logan,
Samuel Carpenter,
Geo. Roche,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs.
Jonathn. Dickinson, Robt. Assheton.
Esq'rs.
Thomas Story,
The Govr. gave his sentiments as to Yesterday's Debate of the Bills, & Thos. Story, Samll. Carpenter, Jonathan Dickinson, & James Logan, were ordered on a message to the House to Deliver the same.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 7 of June, 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Governr.
Edwd. Shippen,
James Logan, -
Samll. Carpenter,
Jonathn. Dickinson,
Esq'rs.
Thomas Story,
A message Came from the House to acquaint the Govr. that the Bills were ingrossed, and to know what time the Govr. would be ready to receive the House to pass them; the Govr. acquainted them that he was now ready to receive them, and thereupon the Speaker, with the House, waited on the Govr. & Council with the Bills to be passed into Laws, and the Govr. passed the several fol- lowing acts, viz. :
An act for Confirming Patents and Grants.
An act for the better ascertaining the Publick Debts & Collecting the arrears of County Levies.
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs.
Robert Assheton.
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An act for the Raising Money on the Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia, for the Publick use and Benefitt thereof.
An act for the Better Govmt. of the City of Philadia.
An act Concerning the Register General's Office.
An act for Impowering Religious Societies to Buy, hold & Enjoy Lands, Tenements & hereditamts.
A Supplementary act to a Law about the manner of Giving Evi- dence.
An act for Establishing the Lower ferry on the River Schuylkill.
An act for Establishing & Regulating ferries over Delaware River & Neshaminy Creek.
An act to prevent the Importacon of Negroes & Indians into this Province.
An act for the further Securing the adminiscon. of the Govmt.
A Supplementary act to an act Entitled an Impost act Laying a Duty on Negroes, Rum, Wine, Spirits, Cyder, Vessels, & appropria- ting Certain sums of money arrising by the same & other Publick Stock of this Province, and a Warrt. to the Keeper of the Great Seal for affixing the same to the said Laws, being prepared, was signed by the Govr., & orders were given that the Sherif should Cause them, when sealed, to be Publickly proclaimed.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 23d of July, 1712.
PRESENT :
EDWARD SHIPPEN, Presidt.
Joseph Growdon,
James Logan,
Esq'rs.
Samll, Preston, Jonath. Dickinson,
r Esq'rs.
Richd. Hill,
Robert Assheton,
Isaac Norris,
Several Indians being arrived some Days ago from Conestogoe, on business of importance, (as they said,) and having waited Eight Days for their Interpreter, they at Length mett the Councill this day ; Tagodrancy or Civility, a War Captain & Chief, with Tanyahticka- hungh, the old Speaker, Knawonhunt, & Soachkoat, two Brothers, & some others being sate, they first presented a bundle of Deer skins, and by Indian Harry, their Interpreter, said : That the Pro- prietor, Govr. Penn. had at his first Coming amongst them made an agreement with them that they should always Live as friends & Brothers, and be as one Body, one heart, one mind, and as one Eye & Ear; that what the one saw the other should see, and what the one heard the other should hear, and that there should be nothing but Love & friendship between them & us forever.
They presented a small bundle of furrs, & said that on their part they had always kept up to this Agreement, And should constantly observe it in all respects ; that if any thing came to their knowledge relating to us they would always like brothers and friends acquaint us with it, and if at any time any forreigners or Strangers came among them they would (as they had always done,) give notice of it
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1
immediately at Philadelphia, and in all things would acquit them- selves according to what they had promised & Engaged. They pre- sented two bundles of skins together, & said that on our part we had promised them to regulate the Trade that was carried on with them at Conestogo, And had spoke of Lycenses to be given to the Traders, by which means all abuses were to be Rectified. But that since Lycenses were granted they found themselves worse Dealt by than Ever, they received less for the Goods they sold The Traders; were worse Treated & suffered more Injouries, Which they desired the Council would Inquire into, & know why it was so, & cause it to be Redressed.
They presented a fifth Bundle, & said, that the Cattle the Traders kept, hurt & Destroyed their Corn ; Civility gave an account of his coming with Divers of their people, in a friendly visit to the old french women, M. L. Torts' house; that without any provocacon she turned them out of doors, & that upon their Expostulating upon it, she told them the house was her own, that that Land was hers, for she had bought it of Govr. Penn, & proceeded to insult them very rudely ; they therefore Desired to know whether this was so or not, & whether she had any authority to act in such a manner.
They were told by the board that the Council were much troubled to find they had occasion to complain, but they were desired to use such a freedom with us as became Brothers, and not receive any thing, but Lay all their Grievances before us, whoever the persons offending might be, and it should all be Considered & answered together.
They proceeded to complain of M. Le Tort, and particularly the old Queen Conguegoes represented that the sd. M. L. Tort did ym. great Damages by keeping of Hogs, and that at twice she turned them into the Queen's Corn in her own sight.
They said that they had often taken horses out of their Corn & carried them to their owners; that sometimes they would not ac- knowledge them to be theirs, but that when damages were done by any, all the Traders would Deny that those horses did belong to any of them that did it ; upon which one of them they said Resolved to take a method to find to whom one particular horse belonged, for having taken him out of his Corn three several times, he at last shott him, that the owner meeting with that Loss might be discovered by his complaints.
They added that one Sheerwill had lived amongst them for two years without planting any corn; that notwithstanding he had still enough, furnishing himself by stealth ; & that he had sometimes been taken in the fact, but that he had now left the place.
They are told that all these matters should be Enquired into, Considered and answered altogether in the morning.
They desired that they might be acquainted with what news we had either from New Y. relating to the Indians, or from other places ; and some time being spent on these severall subjects, they are told they might withdraw, which they did accordingly, and the Council Entring into the Consideracon of what had been delivred. It was
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Resolved, that these Injuries requiring an immediate Redress, care should be taken to procure satisfaction to the Indians for the losses they had already sustained, and that they should be prevented for the future by obliging these traders to remove from so near a Neigh- bourhood to them without any delay, and that none of them should be suffered to sitt down among these people; all which was referred to be further Considered to-morrow.
The acct. of their presents being taken, they were found to be,
30 Deer skins, valued at about 3-6d each, €5 5
2 half bears, 7
3 foxes at 18d. each, 6 Racoons, at 6sh. ea., 10 6
3 Beavers at 5s. & one Drest Doe's at 3-6, 18 6
The whole amounting at the highest computation to £7 01 0 And 'tis Ordered that another should be provided to return to them, vizt :
6 Stroudwater Matchcoats.
6 Duffils.
6 White Shirts.
50 1b. of powder.
1 cwt. of Lead, Besides a stroudwater & a shirt to Harry the In- terpreter, & two small shirts to two of his Children, and then ad- journed till to-morrow at 3 in the afternoon.
At a Council Held at Philadia, the 24th of July, 1711.
PRESENT :
EDW. SHIPPEN, Presidt.
Joseph Growdon, Isaac Norris, James Logan, Esq'rs. Jonathn. Dickinson, ? Esq'rs.
Richard Hill,
Robt. Assheton.
The board taking into Consideration the Complaints made by the Indians, They thought fitt to Order, That the Traders whose Cattle had done damage to the Indians, should be forthwith obliged to make Compensation to the satisfaction of the sufferers before they left the town ; And as had been before resolved, that none of them should be suffered to live any longer amongst that people, but should this fall at farthest remove to Greater Distance, and not be allowed on any terms to keep any cattle & other horses than what are for their im- mediate service, unless they should live on Purchased Land.
The several other heads spoke to by the Indians being also Con- sidered, the Secry. was directed to answer them from the Board, according to the Instructions now agreed on & Giving him, and accordingly the Presents Yesterday ordered to be Returned to them being mostly gott ready, & they themselves called in, the Secy. spoke fully to every particular, the heads of which are as follows : That the Bond of friendship & Brotherhood made by the Proprietor, Willm. Penn, with their nation, was so strong, that we Doubted not that it would ever be broken; that both we & they had hitherto Inviolably kept it, and we were Glad to see them on their parts
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Desirous to strengthen it, and therefore took their presents very kindly.
That we, on our parts, thought this Bond so strong that it Could not be made firmer by any presents; Yet to shew how acceptable any tokens of their friendship were to us, and that they might be supplied with some things necessary, in Consideration of their Long Journey to visit us ; We desired them to accept what we had pro- vided for a Return to them, Repeating what those presents were, & Delivering them all but the shirts which were not yet ready, and the provisions to be given them in the morning. That in relation to their Complaints of Trade, they must Consider that the end that all Traders had in view by Buying and Selling, was to gain something by it to themselves. That unless they could buy at such a rate as that, they could sell the same Goods for somewhat more, so as to live by the Profit, they would lose their Labour & none would follow it. That all Commodities sometimes rose in price & at other times fell, and that the Traders must buy at such Rates as their Buyers Could afford. That most of all the Skins & furrs bought of the Indians were sent to England, where the people were numerous like the Leaves on ye Trees, and received all the Goods on the main from Carolina, Virginia, &c., & so to Hudson Bay, that these Goods happen'd now by their plenty to be Low in England, and English Goods high by reason of the War. That it was owing to these Causes & not to the Traders being obliged to take Lycences; That their Trade was now so low, (as some ill people who would not subject themselves to any orders might suggest to them,) That the Reason of Granting Lycenses was that none should be allowed to trade with them, but such as should give security here to Deal honestly by them, and not Injure them in any of those points they had formerly Complain'd of; that by these means we could at all times, by the Security they gave here, punish them whether present or absent for any Disorders they Committed, and therefore that these Lycenses were of the Greatest Benefitt to the Indians, and that if they were any way Injured in Trade they ought to Complain to us. That from the security the Traders had given, We might oblige them to make reparation; That we were heartily sorry they had such occasion of Complaint on other accounts than those of trade; and that the Traders proved such Bad neighbours that none had ever been allowed by us to settle amongst them but Peter Bizalion, and that not only he but the rest that had done them Damage should forthwith make them satisfaction. They were therefore ordered to settle the acct. of their damages with the persons who had done them by to morrow morning, and were promised that they should be made good to them.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 14th of Augst., 1712.
PRESENT : Y. Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieutt. Governour. Thos. Story, Samll. Preston. Esq'rs. Jonathn. Dickinson, Robt. Assheton. James Logan, Richard Hill, Isaac Norris, 1
Esqʼrs. .
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Govr. laid before the Board a letter he had received from Coll. Hunter, Govr. of N. York, Dated the 11th Inst., Requesting him to pay the £2000 lately given to the Queen by acts of Assem- bly here, to Mr. Trent, whose receipt should be a sufficient Dis- charge for the same; and requested the opinion of the Board there- upon ; & the matter being fully Considered, It is the opinion of the board, (the Expedition agst. Canada being so long ago over,) and the moneys not yet fully Collected nor paid into the Treasurer's hands, that it will be the best & safest way to Lett the money remain in the Treasury till the Queen's Immediate order shall be produced for the payment thereof.
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