USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 62
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At a Council held at Philadia., the 14th of Octobr., 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble. CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
Griffith Owen, - Esq'rs.
Samll. Preston,
James Logan,
Richard Hill,
¿Esq'rs. Isaac Norris, L
Jonathn. Dickinson, Robt. Assheton.
Sosannan, Scollitchy, Eallochelan, with some other of the Indians waited on the Govr. in Council, &c., and by Edward ffarmer, Esq., who interpreted for them, say that when they went with their tribute to the five Nations, they were very kindly received by them; that they Delivered the presents sent by the Govr. to the Chiefs of the five Towns, who received them very kindly and thankfully.
They presented five several small Bundles of skins, about ea., & a small bundle of Beaver, which they said were sent by those nations to the Govr. in return to the presents which they had re- ceived.
The first was from that Town our Indians call Mechatenawgha, or Sennecaes, being the Tsanondouans, & consisted of six Beavers, & drest skins.
The second is from the Cayoogoes, about 5 skins.
The Third from the Onondagoes, abt. -- 5 skins.
The fourth from the Onoyootes, a like Quantity.
The fifth from the Cannyingoes or Mohocks.
They presented a belt of Wampum from the Son of one of their Chiefs, called Mechelokeety, who formerly had been here, & was kindly received, & hoped to return, but being prevented by Death, now his son sends this in hopes that when he comes he shall meet with the friendship his father had before him, and they desired it may be accepted in return of one of the belts sent ym. from us, By our Indians.
They presented another larger Belt of Wampum sent from the same person menconed before, who is now the Chief of the Sene- caes, Declaring with it that formerly when Captn. Cock was living, some presents had been sent by this Government, but were Inter- cepted by those of Albany, through a suspition that a Correspondence
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with us would be injurious to that Trade ; but now they sent this to lett us know that they desired a Trade might be opened between them & us for the future, for they had been ill used by those of Albany.
They presented for themselves & their Nation a parcel of Deer skins to the Govr. for him to make Breeches for himself & friends.
They also presented a small bundle of Deer Skins for Gloves.
They presented a small Bundle, in remembrance of the Treaties of friendship which their nation formerly had amongst us, & Desire the same may be always as it had been between us & them.
They presented a fourth small Bundle of skins in Remembrance of ye friendship yt has been between their old people & this Govmt., which they Desire may always Continue as Brothers of the same Land & nation.
They presented a fifth small Bundle, Desiring that an open & free passage may be for them, their Wives & Children, and those of the five Nations, yt they may Come to Buy & sell with us.
They presented a sixth, Desiring that when they came to Philadia., to trade with us, they may not be imposed on, but have a full value for their Commodities.
All which skins from the Delaware Indians amounted to 49 Bucks & 71 Does, vizt : 120.
To which the Govr. answered that he was Glad to see them safely return'd, and that they had had so good success in their Journey ; that he received their Presents very kindly, and would see them again to morrow or next day, and they were Desired to inform the Govr. what friends of their had brought with them.
Thereupon one of the Senecaes presents some strings of Wampum, Desiring of this Govmt., that there may be a Road opened between this place & their nations, that they may have a free & open trade with us whilst the Sun endures.
The same Senacaes made a present of a small bundle of Beaver skins & four Does with it, Declaring that they had been long seeking to find true friends, but had not hitherto succeeded ; they now hoped they had mett with such in us, as would prove really so; they Desired therefore that their might be a Constant friendship & Cor- respondence Establisht between us, that they might always have a free & open trade with us, for which purpose these were sent before by their nation, and that in the Spring many others would Come with Great Quantity of Goods to trade with us.
The same Delivered a small bundle of Beavers, Declaring that they have been hitherto very much abused by those of Albany in their Trade, in Not allowing them any tolerable price for their Goods ; That now they hope they have found those who will Deal more justly by them that henceforth they may be Encouraged to pursue their hunting again, Which they have for some time Declined, not finding it worth their while to Labour for that wch brings them so little advantage.
To which the Govr. answered, That we were very Glad to see them here, and kindly accept of their presents ; that since Govr.
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Penn's first Coming he has ever Esteemed them as Brethren, and we Desire we may still continue so, that we have provided some things for them as a Token of our Love & respects ; That we should have been Glad of having an opportunity of trading with them long ago, but hope we shall hereafter trade together, & that they shall always meet with fair usage, but the price of Commodities falls & rises ac- cording to the markets in England where we send furrs & skins.
The amount of the whole presents of the five Nations is :
5 Beavers, 721b. at 3-6,
25 Bucks & Does, ordinary at 3s.,
2 Bears,
£1. 6. 3.
3. 15. 0. 0. 9. 0.
£5. 10. 3.
ffrom our Nation :
49 Bucks at 5s.,
£12. 5. 0.
71 Does at 2-6, -
8. 17. 6.
£21.2. 6.
ffrom the Senecaes : 15 Beavers, 23}1b. at 3-6, 5 Does,
£4. 2. 3.
0. 12. 6.
£4. 14. 9.
The whole presents amount all to, £31. 7. 6.
At a Council held at Philadelpia., the 15th of October, 1712.
PRESENT :
Ye Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut Governour.
Samll. Carpenter,
James Logan,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs. Robt. Assheton. Esq'rs.
Thomas Story,
The assembly waited on the Govr., And presented Isaac Norris to be their Speaker, who observing the usual form, the Govr. made them the following speech. GENT. :
The Proprietor in a late Letter to a member of the Council, has signified his Intention of surrendering the Govrmt. in a few months, & I have reason to believe I shall not be Continued under the Crown. Therefore, I have the less to propose to you, but if you can think how I can serve the Publick during the little time I may be in the administration, I shall be very ready to do it.
What I have to offer is, That for the Credit of the Province, you would take such measures as the money you have granted may be punctually paid when demanded, & that the Debt which the late As- semblys have allowed may be honorably discharged, for which 'tis to be doubted there is no sufficient fund Provided.
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And among these, (Gent.) I hope the two hundred & fifty pounds, part of the sum granted to me, may not be made a postponed Debt of the Province.
That the Debts on acct. of Indian Treaties ought to be forthwith paid I believe you will allow, As also the necessity of sending these strange Indians, now in Town away well satisfied.
They have proposed, in behalf of the five Nations, to Establish a free & open Trade between them & us for the future, which I believe will well deserve your Encouragement.
Gent. As the first Assembly I mett had a regard to the Charge of my coming over, so I hope you Gent., who in all probability will be the last I shall meet, will have some Consideration of the Charges of my going back, since my Great end in it is to wipe off the Calumny thrown on me for passing some acts the people thought necessary, & otherwise my endeavours to serve the Proprietor & the Publick.
Now after all I can hope for & my administration over, I shall find myself a great Looser by Coming to Pennsylvia. But this is a Melancholy subject, at least to me, and I shall waive it, & only wish that every member of this Assembly would make my case his own & then Lay our Saviour's Great Rule to mankind before him.
Mr. ffarmer exhibited an acct. of £15, 3s. 10d., by him Disbursed on account of the Indians, Dated the 19th May, 1712, which is allowed him with an addition of £3 for his entertainment of the Govr. & Council & their attendance.
At a Council held at Philadelpia., the 16th of October, 1712.
PRESENT :
Ye Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Samll. Carpenter, James Logan,
Griffith Owen, ¿ Esq'rs. Robt. Assheton. Esq'rs. Thomas Story,
Richd. Hill, Caleb Pusey, Jona. Dickinson & Thos. Stevenson, members of the present Assembly, presented to the Govr. the address of the House in answer to his speech, which was read in these words. May it please the Governour :
We the Deligates of the freemen of this Province of Pennsylvia., in Assembly mett, having read & considered thy speech to us this day, do find ourselves in Duty bound to answer the same in ye several parts thereof, to ye best of our power.
And in order thereunto we shall appoint a Committee to Inspect ye Publick accts. of this Province, & prepare matters for the better dispatch of business at our next meeting.
The Circumstances of ye Representatives being such yt they find it will be a great Inconveniency to their affairs to attend at ye season ; We therefore propose to adjourn to ye 15th Day of Decembr. next, unless ye Govr. shall see cause to call us sooner, and we are of opinion yt such a time of adjournment will be no prejudice to ye affairs of ye Province, nor the matters proposed to us by the Gover- nour.
561
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
We find there is a law Impowering ye Govr. & Council effectually to supply ye Treaties wth ye Indians; But if money be at present wanting, this House is so hearty for a good Correspondence wth them, that if the Govr. will be pleased to name the sum now wanted upon ye present occasion, this House will take it into Consideracon, & allow a suitable supply forthwith by a vote to be a publick Debt of this Province for that service.
The Indians also attending the Govr. and Council again this Day, with E. ffarmer, their Interpreter, the presents prepared for them by the Treasurer, amounting to £50, 6, 6, were Delivered ym., with a speech proper to the occasion, for which they returned their hearty thank, & then taking their Leaves, they withdrew.
Ordered, that John Orton's bill, amounting to &2, 6s. 5d., for the mending of 12 Guns, &ct., for the Mingo Indians, when they went upon the Expedition, is paid by the Treasurer.
The Treasurer Exhibited an act. of £96, 13, 104 Disbursed by him on ye acct. of the Indians, is now Inspected & allowed.
POST MERIDIEM.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Governour.
Samll. Carpenter,
Richd. Hill,
Griffith Owen,
i
Isaac Norris,
Thomas Story, Esq'rs.
Samll. Preston,
Esq'rs.
Caleb Pusey,
James Logan,
Jonath. Dickinson, Robt. Assheton,
Whereas, divers of the Inhabitants of the City and County of Philadia., by their Petcon. now Exhibited & read, pray an alteration of a new Road lately laid out from the River Delaware, in ye County of Bucks, opposite to John Reading's landing to Philadia., & that in Lieu thereof the Road formerly laid out from Nathill. Pools, to Willm. Coates's Corner, and so over the Govr's Mill Creek, to ye said Mill's Landing place, & from thence in a direct Course to the end of ye lane between ye lands of Isaac Norris & Job Goodson, may be made the Publick Road from this City, to joyn ye said new Road at the Lane aforesaid. It is therefore Ordered, that Rchd. Hill, Jonathan Dickinson, Thos. Masters & Job Goodson, Rich. Walne & Wm. Coates, or some four of them, do lay out the same accordingly ; and at the same time they view the Land of Hans Neys, who Complains of great Damage done him by the Courses of the said Road, & give him such Relief as may be reasonable.
ROBT. ASSHETON, D. Secry.
Willm. Davis, a Justice of peace in Chester County, for his indis- creet proceedings in marrying of Wm. Havard & Eliz. the Daughter of Capt. Roche, is ordered to be left out of Common.
Ordered, that Samll. Carpenter & Thos. Story, in a message from the Govr., inform the House of Representatives that there is in dis- burse about fifty or sixty pounds for the Charges of Indian Treaties, over & above the yearly allowance of £50 per annum allowed by VOL. II .- 24
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law for that service, after the full value of all their presents are Deducted ; as therefore there is a number of them in town on an Important Treaty, the Govr. hopes the House will make such a re- solve as may Justify & enable the Treasurer to Defray the said Charges ; as also that they inform the House the Govr. agrees to their proposed adjournmt. and the said members returning, reported they had delivered their message, and that the Speaker said he would recommend it to the House.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 14th of Janry., 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble. CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Samll. Carpenter, Esq'rs.
James Logan,
Griffith Owen,
Robt. Assheton,
Esq'rs.
A Peticon of James Letort's was read, praying that he may have a Lycense Granted him to Trade with the Indians, &ct., which being considered, he is approved on, & may have the Governour's Lycense accordingly.
There were also read the return made by four of the 6 persons appointed at the last Council, for altering the new Road laid out from Delaware, in Bucks County, opposite to John Reading's Land- ing, to Philadia., so far as between the end of the front street of Philadia. to the lane between I. Norris's & Job Goodson's Planta- tions, in these words :
In pursuance of the above order the Govr. & Council, We, the persons therein nominated, have laid out the Road thereby Directed ; beginning at the North side of Vine Street, in the middle of the front street of the City of Philadia. on Delaware side, & thence proceeding by the several Courses and Distances herein after following, vizt : North Twenty-one Deg., Easterly fifty-two perches to N. Pool's house; North Twenty-two Degrees, Easterly fifty-six perches to Danll. Pegg's porch ; North Twenty-one Deg., Easterly sixty-one perches, N. one Deg., W. sixty-six perches, N. two Deg., W. sixteen perches, over the marsh & Mill Creek; N. Twenty-two Deg. W. thirty perches, N. fifteen Deg. and an half, W. Thirty perches, N. Eighteen Deg. and an half, W. forty-four perches, N. four Deg., W. Sixty perches, North one Deg., East forty perches, N. Eight Deg., East Eighty perches, N. fourteen Deg. & an half, W. Twenty-nine perches, N. four Deg., W. sixteen perches, N. two Deg., E. Eighty perches, to the lane between Isaac Norris & Job Goodson, the place to which we are ordered to carry the said Road. In Witness whereof we have hereunto sett our hands & Seals the Seventh day of January, in the Eleven Year of Queen Ann, Annoq Domini, 1712.
Richd. Hill, Thos. Masters,
Jonath. Dickinson, Job Goodson.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 18th of febry., 1712.]
PRESENT :
The Honble. CHA. GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
Samll. Carpenter,
Esq'rs
James Logan,
Griffith Owen,
Robt. Assheton. Esq'rs
The Govr. laid before the board two Bills he had yesterday reced. from the House of Representatives ; the one intituled An Act for the Limitacon of actions, &c., which was read, and the objection fol- lowing was made, vizt., The Govr. is of opinion that the first clause in the bill requiring that no writs be brought for mannors, Lands, &c., to be sued, unless they be commenced within seven years, &c. The same does not suit the Nature and Circumstances of this Prov- ince, and may happen to be prejudicial to very many ; But agrees to the rest of the bill, excepting the Proprys. Quitt rents, and would rather the first part be drawn into a bill by itself, better adapted to the various circumstances of lands in this Province, wch very widely differ from those in England ; and ye Treasurer & Secry. are Ord'd. to carry the said Bill to ye House, particularly mentioning to ym. the proposed two amendments.
The other Bill Intituled an act reviving, Explaining and Con- tiuuing several Laws in this act mentioned, was also read and agreed to; & 'tis ordered to be returned to the House by Griffith Owen & Robt. Assheton, who are directed to propose further to the House that they would add a Clause to it for effectually Collecting the ar- rears of the £2000 granted to ye Proprietor by a former act, past in the year 1700 at New Castle.
But ye House finding there had been an act passed at Philadia. in the year 1705, Judged it altogether sufficient for that purpose.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 21st of febry., 1712.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
Samll. Carpenter,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs.
James Logan,
Thomas Story,
Robt. Assheton, 1 Esq'rs.
The Govr. laid before the board three bills he had received from the House yesterday, by two members, vizt. Capt. Geo. Roche & another. under the following Titles : 1st the supplement to ye Law intituled an act that no Publick House or Inn within this Province be kept without License ; 2nd. An Act for laying a duty or Excise upon sundry Liquors, and also upon hops, to answer several Exi- gencies of the Govmt .: 3d. An Act for Establishing Orphans Courts, which were severally read. To the two first of which there was no objection made, & therefore Samll. Carpenter and Thos. Story, were ordered to return them to the House as approved of, but were direct- ed to say on the bill Relating to Publick Houses, that the same thing might, in his opinion, be as effectually settled without a Law for it ;
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and on the 3d. vizt : the act for Orphans Courts, they were to in- form the House it was an act of too great Importance to be Hurried, and he must take some time to consider it; and the Assembly in 2 or 3 days after, applying to the Govr. again to the same purpose, & receiving for answer that ye bill appears to him of such importance to the whole countrey that he thinks himself indispensably obliged to take Judge Mompesson's opinion upon it, pursuant to the proprie- tors Instructions to himself in all Difficult or Doubtful points in the Laws. That he would endeavour to obtain this with all possible dis- patch, after which, & not before, he should be capable of giving them an answer ; whereupon they proposed to him to adjourn for a month, wch being agreed to they did accordingly, to the 23d of next month.
24th of March, 1712-3.
The Govr. sent to the House by Robt. Assheton a written mes- sage in these words.
GENT :
Being informed that you failed of making a House yesterday, according to your own adjournment, I am willing to believe the same was not by design, & therefore think fitt (if a Quorum be now present) to recommend the Dispatch of Publick business now before you.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 26th of March, 1713.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Governour.
Thomas Story,
Samll. Carpenter, ! Esq'rs. Griffith Owen, Robert Assheton. Esq'rs.
The Govr. having receiv'd Judge Mompesson's answer to the Bill for Establishing Orphan's Courts, sent it to ye House yesterday, with some proposed amendmts., which the House could not agree to; & therefore as they were not judged very material, the Govr. thought fitt to wave them, & accordingly Griffith Owen & Robt. Assheton is Ord'd. to return it to the House, & signify to them that the Govr. is Content to pass it as it is.
The Govr. further laid before the board a bill he had receiv'd from the House, Intituled an act for amending divers laws therein mention'd, which was read & one Clause in it objected to, which the same members of the board were also Ordered to take them to the House, mentioning to them that objection, & returning they reported yt they had done accordingly.
Two members from the House, Cl. Plumsted & Nich. ffairlamb, brought up the bill for the Limitation of accons. with the House's Concurrence to ye Govrs. amendments, & further signifying yt the Govr. & the House having agreed to all the bills depending, the Govr. was Desired to appoint some members to Joyn a Committee of
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
the House in the morning, to examine the Engrossed Bills, in order to their being passed.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 27th of March, 1713.
PRESENT :
Ye Honble. CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Governour.
Samll. Carpenter,
Griffith Owen, Esq'rs. Thomas Story,
Robt. Assheton. Esq'rs.
The Engrossed bills being Duly examined, these five acts were passed into Laws under ye following Titles, & and being first signed by Isaac Norris, Speaker.
1st. An act for Reviving, explaining & continuing several Laws in this act mentioned.
2d. An act for Limitation of actions.
3d. An act for Establishing Orphan's Courts.
4th. An act for amending divers laws therein mentioned.
5th. An act Laying a Duty or Excise upon sundry Liquors, and also upon Hopps, to answer the several Exigences of this Govern- ment.
The Govr. also signed a Warrt. for Affixing the Great Seal to them, and an Order to the Sheriff to proclaim them to morrow noon, in ths usual manner.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 8th of June, 1713.
PRESENT :
Ye Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Griffith Owen,
Samll Carpenter, r Esq'rs. Robt. Assheton,
James Logan,
Esq'rs.
Isaac Norris,
The Young Indian, Called Civility, one of the Chiefs of Cones- togo, with Harry the Interpreter, having arrived here two days ago, and Desired to Deliver a message from the Nation, the Govr. Called a Council thereupon, and being mett, he presented to the Govr. two small parcells or strings of Wampum, wch they said were Deli- vered them by certain messengers from the Cayoogoes and Onoyoo- toes, two of ye five Nations, who had been lately at Conestogo, and desired to know what was the message that those who came from ye said nations had deliv'd. here last fall; for that they were apprehen- sive some of the Tsanondowans had some ill design agst. us ; a pro- posal having been made that several hundreds were to come down in a body, under pretence of Trading which might be attended with ill consequences.
The substance of the minutes then taken we told them, & that as they came on a message of friendship, we had made them a suitable answer ; that we always had been friends with them, and Desired so to Continue ; that being such, they were free to trade with us, as all
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others were, & that we hoped we should have no cause to apprehend any thing further from them. They were particularly acquainted that our Queen had now made peace with the ffrench, and we were all to live amicably together ; that the ffrench now durst not injure an English man, nor an English man none of the french, any more than one of their own nation ; But that upon the whole we took their care shewn by this information very kindly, & desired them always to continue the same disposition towards us, as we should shew our- selves friends to them.
Ordered that care be taken of them whilst in Town, and that the Treasurer (Civility being now one of the Chiefs of their nation) pro- vide for him a good Stroud, a Shirt, a hatt, and a pair of Stockins & a match coat for Harry, with some small tokens for his children, with some Rum, Tobacco & bread.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 16th of July, 1713. PRESENT :
The Honble CHARLES GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Govr.
Griffith Owen, Richard Hill,
Samll. Preston, Jonath. Dickinson,
James Logan, Esq'rs.
Esq'rs. Isaac Norris,
Robert Assheton.
Coll. Hunter, ye Govr. of New York, his Letter to James Logan, Secry., dated the 13th Inst., being a Copy of one to the Govr.,) was read, purporting that one James Mark, who had lately Counterfeited some of the New York Bills of Credit, being (as he supposed) here, and requesting our assistance in the apprehending and securing him ; And the said Mark being this morning apprehended and now in pri- son ; It is the opinion of the Board that the said Mark be forthwith sent under safe conduct to Burlington, and delivered to the Sheriff or some of the Chief Magistrates there, in Order to be sent forward by them to New York.
At a Council held at Philadia., the 10th of Augst., 1713.
PRESENT :
The Honble CHA. GOOKIN, Esqr., Ltt. Govr. Griffith Owen,
Jonathn. Dickinson,
Isaac Norris, Esq'rs. Robt. Assheton, S Esq'rs.
Samll. Preston,
Nathaniel Pope, of West Jersey, aged about thirty-two years, on his affirmation saith :
That on fryday last, two Sailors, who had passes from hence to go to New York, told this affirmant at Burlington, that there lay a small sloop at Philadia., who, as they gave it out, intended to go to seek a wreck at fflorida ; But that they had some other Designs, and intended to go upon ye Padd ; That ye Master of a vessel would have had them to have gone with ym., & told ym. that altho' the
567
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
vessel was small, they would soon have a bigger, & pulled an orange out of his pocket & sd. he would sail round that, meaning ye world, as he believes.
NATH'LL. POPE.
These appearing not only by the above deposition, but other rea- sons yt the above sloop now lying at Chestnut street wharf has some ill design, it is therefore ordered that the Sheriff or his Deputy Im- mediately search the said sloop, & secure her sails & anchors, till fur- ther ordr. shall be taken therein.
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