USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 22
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They humbly propose it as their opinion, that the following Heads
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will naturally occur on the past Transactions with those people, and the occasion that more particularly calls the Govr. to Albany at this time, vizt :
That some of their Ancient men may yet remember the first Settlement of the Province of Pensilvania by Wm. Penn. He was a good man, had a great affection for all the Indians. He entred into Leagues of ffriendship with them & treated them as his Brethern, and he gave it in Charge to the Govrs. whom he left in his place & to all his people, that they should always do the same.
That divers of the Chiefs of the five Nations have at several times visited us at Philadia. and Conestogoe ; We were always glad to see them, and treated them kindly as our Brethren. They made firm Leagues of ffriendship with us, and frequently renewed and strengthened them. We became as one people and hope always to continue the same; And as often as the five Nations renewed their Leagues with our Great and Good friends, the Govrs. of New York, it still united them the more nearly to us and gave us the great pleasure, because all the English are the subjects of one Great King.
The last Summer that wise and good man Ghesaont, with some other of their people, came in the name of all the five Nations to visit us. We received them with joy as our Brethren. We opened our hearts to each other. He rejoiced to see us and our Indians live in so much Love together. We brightened the chain together that it might be clear, strong & lasting as the Sun & Stars, but to our great grief that good man died before he returned, Yet we hope the five Nations received the Govrs. words of Love & ffriendship with the Golden Medal and the presents they delivered.
We then engaged as they & we had often done before, that we should all be as one people ; That the five Nations should not do an injury to any of us more than to themselves, And that We should not do an Injury to any of the five Nations more than to our own people, or if any person did such injury they should be punished for it in the same manner as if done to an Englishman.
Since that time a very unhappy accident has fallen out which has given us great Grief. We heard last Winter that one of the Five Nations had lost his Life by means of some of our People, the next day after the news came to Philada. the Govr. sent two of his Council to Conestogoe to enquire into the matter and bring him ye Truth. They found that a Quarrel arose about Rum, between a Brother of the five nations who had hunted near Patowmeck and two of our Traders; the Indian man was angry, went hastily and took his Gun to Kill the Englishmen, Whereupon in defence of themselves they seized him, & in the struggle gave him some blows and left him. We heard that our Indian ffriend & Brother died the next day.
The men who did this were brought to Philada., committed to Prison and put in Irons, and there remain to be tried for their Lives according to our Laws, in the same manner as if they had Killed an Englishman. And we have further passed a Severe Law against
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selling Rum to the Indians, which will prevent such Mischiefs for the future.
We are greatly grieved for this unhappy accident, but the Chiefs of the five Nations are so wise as to know that such accidents may happen without any ill design amongst the nearest Brethren, and they may see by this we strictly keep our Leagues in punishing those who offend against them.
A message having been sent by the Govrs. order from Conesto- goe, by Satcheechoe, to the five Nations immediately after the Fact was inquired into, to express our sorrow. The Govr. received their kind answer by the same messenger, and long after. By that an- swer the five Nations shewed themselves our true ffriends, in receiv- ing that message like Brethren, not desiring us to wipe away our Tears, more especially by inviting the Govr. to come and see them and shake hands with them, and he should find they were his true Friends.
To this the Govr. by Satcheechoe returnd his answer, that tho' he could not come up Susquehannah, he would gladly take the oppor- tunity of seeing them at Albany when they came thither to meet our good Friends the Govrs. of New York & Virginia. At the same time the Govr. sent some Tokens to the five Chiefs of the five Na- tions which he hopes they have received with the Mourning Gold Ring from the Govrs. own finger.
Accordingly the Govr. is come wt. some of his Council to visit them. He has left his family & his people to take them by the hand to joyn hearts, and rejoice in seeing the Faces of each other, that the fflame of Love & affection may burn clear in all our Breasts, and all clouds & Darkness may be done away.
But that we might not come so long a journey with Empty hands, The Govr. has brought with him these goods to bind his words, which they were desired to receive as a Pledge of our Resolutions to live in perpetual peace and under the strongest Ties of ffriendship with the ffive Nations; And all that we desire of them is, That remembering them and us and all our People to be under such Bonds and Leagues of ffriendship and Brotherhood, their Young Men and people when they travel may not hurt or disturb any of Our Inhabtiants in any case, otherwise than as they would hurt themselves or their own people. And that this our visit and the words yt. now pass may be recorded in everlasting Remembrance, to be sent down to their and our Children & Childrens. Children, and last as long as the Mountains & Rivers and the Sun & Moon shall endure.
These heads being duly considered, were approved of, and re- commended for a Scheme to be proceeded upon in the intended Treaty but subject to be varied acording as the circumstances of affairs, Time & Peace, in the Judgment of the Govr. and the mem- bers of Council who accompany him, may render it necessary.
The Govr. acquainted the Board, that being out of town on Satur- day last when the Assembly broke up, He had received this morn- ing from Benj. Vining, a member of that House, an order under the
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Speakers hand on the Provincial Treasurer for £130, allowed for the Expense of the Govrs. Journey to Albany, and the Gentlemen of the Council that are to accompany him thither.
Isaac Norris also acquainted the Board, that the Assembly had made choice of him for buying the Presents to be given to the In- dians at Albany, and had given him an order on the Treasury for £100 for that use.
The Govr. recommended the Care of the Governmt. to the Gen- tlemen of this Board that are to continue in the Colony during his Absence, and desired that in case any extraordinary emergency should happen while he was abroad (which he hoped there would not) they would give him Notice of it by an Express. Then Council wished them good Journey & safe Return, and then broke up.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Augst. 8th, 1722.
PRESENT :
The Honble Sir WILLIAM KEITH, Bart., Govr.
Anthony Palmer,
Robert Assheton,
Thomas Masters, William Assheton,
Isaac Norris having acquainted the Board at the last meeting of Council, that he had received a Bill from some members of Assem- bly, Drawn by order of ye House & Sign'd by the Speaker, for One Hundred Pounds Curt. Money, to be forthwith paid to him the said Isaac Norris, by the Provincial Treasurer, in order to be laid out in Presents for the Indians at Albany.
It is the opinion of this Board, that such presents will be on this occasion more commodiously purchased at New York, and it is or- dered, that the said Isaac Norris do apply the said sum of £100 for the purchasing of such Presents at York for the Indians at Albany, as the Govr. and members of Council who attend him in his Journey shall think fit to agree upon & Direct.
At a Council at Philadia., Septr. 21st, 1722.
PRESENT :
Richard Hill, Samuel Preston,
Isaac Norris, Anthony Palmer, Thomas Masters,
Robert Assheton,
Willm. Assheton,
James Logan, Secretary.
Richard Hill & Isaac Norris, two of the members of this Board, who by appointment of the Govr., Council & Assembly, accompanied the Governr. to Albany, having returned home last night, they now laid before the Board Copies of the Govrs. Speech, to the Indians of the ffive Nations at Albany, the 7th instant, wt. the said Indians Answer thereto on the 10th, both which were Read, and ordered to be entered on the Minutes of this Board, being as follows.
The Govs. Speech was in the following words, interpreted by
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James Le Tort, and an Indian for Sasquehannah, called Captain Smith.
Brethren :
I have travelled a great way to see you and to hold some Dis- course with you. The People of Pennsilvania have always been friends to the ffive Nations; They have punctually kept all their for- mer Treaties with you ; They expect that you do not forget them, & therefore I am come to brighten the Chain between us. You sent me word that you desired to see me, & I have obtained leave of my Brother, the Govr. of New York, to renew at this place our former Treaties with you, & I am glad he is present with us to hear & ob- serve all that is spoken.
.Some of your Ancient Men can yet remember the first Settlement of the Province of Pennsilvania by Wm. Penn. He was a good man, & had a great Affection for all the Indians. He entered into Leagues of ffriendship with them and treated them as his Brethren, and he gave it in Charge to his Govrs., whom he left in his place, and to all his people, that they should continue to do the same.
Divers Great men from the ffive Nations have on several occa- sions visited us at Philada. & Conestogoe. We were always glad to see them and treated them kindly like Brethren. They made firm Leagues of ffriendship with us & frequently renewed & strength- en'd them. We became as one People & hope always to continue so, and as often as the ffive Nations renewed their Leagues with our great & good ffriends the Govrs. of New York, it still united them the more nearly to us as being subjects of one & the same Great King.
Last Summer the Wise & Good Man Ghesaont, with some others of yr. people, came in the name of all the ffive Nations to visit us at Conestogoc. We received them with joy & opened our hearts to each other. He rejoyced to see us & our Indians live in so much love together, we then brightened the Chain that it might be dear, strong & lasting as the Sun & Stars. But when we heard that Ghesaont died in Virginia we were very sorry, Yet I hope the ffive Nations received my Words of Love & ffriendship to their Sachims, and to all their people, with the Golden Medal & the Presents then delivered.
It was then stipulated & agreed between us, That we should all be a's one People; That the ffive Nations should not do an injury to any of us more than to themselves, & that we should not do an injury to any of the ffive Nations more than to our own people, or if any person did such injury, they should be punished for it in the same manner as if done to an Englishman.
Since that time a very unhappy accident has fallen out, which gave us great grief last Winter ; We heard, that one of the ffive Nations had lost his life by means of some of our People.
. The very next day after the News came to me at Philada. I sent two of my Council to Conestogoe, to enquire into the matter and bring me the Truth. They found that the Quarrel arose about Rum VOL. III .- 9
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between a Brother of the ffive Nations, who hunted near Patowmeck, and two of our Traders. The Indian was angry, & went hastily & took his Gun to Kill the Englishman; they in defence of them- selves Seized the Indian, & in struggling gave him some Blows and left him. We heard that our Indian ffriend & Brother died ye next day.
The men who did this were brought to Philada. and put in Prison, and they will be tried according to our Laws, in the same manner as if they had Killed an Englishman ; And to prevent such mischief for the future, we have made a severe Law against selling of Rum to the Indians. Tho' this misfortune gave us great Grief, yet we are perswaded that the Chief Sachims of the ffive Nations are so wise as to know that such accidents may happen, without any ill design amongst the nearest Brethren. And by this they will see how strictly we keep our Leagues & Treaties, in punishing those who shall dare to offend & injure them or any of their People.
I made haste to send a message to the ffive Nations by Satchee- choe to express our sorrow, & I received their kind answer by the Return of the same messenger. You received our message like truc Brethren, desiring us to wipe away our tears and invited me to come & see you, immediately I sent Satcheechoe back with this Answer, That I would meet you at Albany with my good ffriends the Govrs. of New York & Virginia, and I sent some tokens to your Sachims which I hope they received, with a Mourning Gold Ring off my own finger to Sakaunkauta.
Satcheechoe returned speedily and said you would be glad to see me at Albany. He also told me you desired John Cartlidge might be released out of Prison, & ye injury done to your Kinsman might be forgot ; But Satcheechoe brought no Belt nor any other Token to confirm his Words, & therefore I have brought him along with me, that you may know & tell me if he spoke Truth.
Brethren : You see I am come here with four of my Council to visit you. I have left my ffamily & People, and have travelled a great way to take you by the hand to joyn Hearts, and to rejoice in seeing each others faces, for all clouds & Darknes must be done away, that the flame of Love & affection may burn clear in our Breasts.
I have brought these Goods with me to bind my Words, viz : five pieces of Strouds for Cloathing, five Casks of Powder and five hun- dred wt. of Lead, to encourage your hunting, that you may grow Rich & Strong; And I desire you may receive them as a Pledge of our firm Resolutions to live in perpetual peace & under the strongest ties of ffriendship with the five Nations ; that you will ever remem- ber us as your Brethren, and not suffer your young men, when they travel, to hurt any of our inhabitants no more than they would their own, or to kill their Cattle & Stock ; And that this visit & the Co- venant Chain which is hereby brightened may be recorded in ever- lasting remembrance to be sent down to your & our children, and to our children's children, to last as Long as the Mountains & Rivers, and the Sun & Moon shall endure.
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I also give you those two pieces of Blankets to wipe away and dry up the Blood that has been spilt, and to cover it so as it may never be seen or heard of any more.
I live at a great distance from the Brethren, and perhaps may never see so many of your grave ancient men together again ; I will therefore like a true Brother, leave with you my best advice for the happiness and welfare of all yr. people, & as oft as you look upon these two Belts, remember (Two Belts laid down) that this one sig- nifies the strength which a wise Nation acquires & secures to its people by peaceable Councils, and increasing the number of its ffriends ; and this other Belt represents to you a Bold, ffirm true heart that abhors falsehood, but is ever faithfull to its ffriends & punctually observes whatsoever it promises.
The Answer made by the Indians of the ffive Nations, viz : the. Maquase, Oneydes, Onondages, Cayouges & Sinnekas, to the Propo- sitions made by the Honble William Keith, Bart., Govr of Pensil- vania, &c. in Albany the 10th day of Septr., Anno, 1722.
PRESENT.
The Honble Sir WILLIAM KEITH, Bart Govr. of Pensilva- nia, &c,
Richard Hill,
Col. John French,
Isaac Norris,
Andw. Hamilton,
2 Esqrs., members of ye Council of Pensil- vania.
Col. Peter Schuyler, Evert Banker, - Esq'rs., Commis- Peter Van Brugh, Philip Livingston, sioners of the In- dian Affairs.
Joha. Cuyler,
Joh. Bleecher,
Hend Hanse, John Collins,
Interpreted by Lawrence Claese into Dutch, & rendered into Eng- lish by Robert Livington, Tanachaha being Speaker.
Brother Onas :
(Which signifies a Pen in the Language of the ffive Nations, by which name they call the Govrs. of Pensilvania since it was first set- tled by William Penn.)
You told us in your proposition, some days ago, that you was come a great way to see us of the ffive Nations. We thank you for your good will to us, & are very glad to see you here in good health, and we hope a good understanding and Agreement will be made & concluded between us.
You told us also, that you are come to renew the Covenant Chain that has been made between us so long ago, even at the first Settling the Province of Pensilvania, and to brighten the chain, and to remove and do away any spot of Rust that may be grown upon it since our last Meeting & Conference at Conestogoe.
Brother Onas : You have told us that at that time you brightened the Covenant Chain between us, that it might be clear and lasting as the Sun and Stars in Heaven, for which we thank you, and we being now all present, do in the most solemn and public manner, renew the Covenant and brighten the Chain made between us, that the
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Lustre thereof may never be obscured by any Clouds or Darkness, but may shine as clear and last as long as the Sun in the Firmament.
Brother Onas : You have likewise told us how that William Penn, who was a good man, did at his first Settlement of the Province of Pensilvania make Leagues of ffriendship with the Indians, & treated them like Brethren, and that like the same Good man he left it in Charge to all his Gouvernours who should succeed him, and to all the people of Pensilvania, that they should always keep the Covenant & Treaties he had made with the ffive Nations, and treat them with Love and Kindness. We acknowledge that his Governours and People have always Kept the same honestly and truly to this day. So we on our parts always have Kept & forever shall Keep firm, Peace & ffriendship, with a good heart to all the people of Pensilva- nia. We thankfully receive & approve of all the Articles in your Proposition to us, and acknowledge them to be good and full of Love. We receive & approve of the same with our whole hearts, because we are not only made one people by the Covenant Chain, but we also are people united in one head, one Body & one heart, by the strong- est ties of Love & friendship.
Brother Onas : You desire there may be a perpetual Peace & ffriendship between you and the five Nations, and between your chil- dren and our children, and that the same may be Kept as long as the Mountains & Rivers endure ; all which we like well, and on our . part desire, that the Covenant and Union made with a clean & true heart, between you and us may last as long as the Sun and Moon shall continue to give Light, and we will deliver this in Charge to our Children, that it may be Kept in Remembrance with their Chil- dren and Childrens children to the latest ages ; And we desire that the Peace and Tranquility that is now established between us may be as clear as the Sun shining in its Lustre, without any Cloud or Darkness, and that the same may continue forever.
Brother Onas : We have well considered all you have spoken, and like it well, because it is only the renewing of former Leagues and Treaties made between the Government of Pensilvania & us of the five Nations, which we allways believed we were obliged to keep ; And as to the accident of one of our friends being Killed by some of your People, which has happen'd by misfortune and against your will, We say, that we are all in Peace, we think it hard the persons who killed our friend & Brother should suffer, and we do in the name of all the five Nations forgive the offence, & desire You will likewise forgive it, and that the men who did it may be released from Prison and set at Liberty, to go wither they please, and we shall Esteem that as a mark of Regard and ffriendship for the five Nations, and as a farther confirmation of this Treaty.
Brother Onas : We say farther, we are glad to hear the former Treaties we have made with William Penn repeated to us again, and renewed by you; and we esteem and love you as if you were Wil- liam Penn himself. We are glad you have wiped & covered the Blood of our dead friend & Brother, and we desire the same
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may be forgot, so as it may never be more mentioned or remem- bred.
It is needless for us to answer every particular of your proposi- tion, because we acknowledge the whole to be good & acceptable to us, especially your good advice which we will always remember, and in testimony thereof, and as a full confirmation of our Agreemt., Consent & approbation of all that you have proposed, & we have here said & promised. We lay down a few Beaver, Bear & dress'd Deer Skins, & so concluded.
Then the Govr. expressed his Satisfaction with their Answer, and gave them thanks for their good will & love to him and the People of Pensilvania.
The Indians then desired to know of the Governour, if the men who were in prison for Killing their friend and Brother were Dis- charged ? to which the Govr. answered, that they were let out upon Bail. They then desired that the men might be discharg'd, to which the Govr. answered, that as soon as he returned to Philadelphia he would give such orders in that affair as should fully answer the Re- quest of the five Nations, in order to confirm the ffriendship that is so happily renewed & established by this Treaty.
A true Copy, examined by
PHILIP LIVINGSTON, Secr. for Indian Affairs.
The Chiefs of the Indians express'd a great affection for the Govr. & the people of Pensilvania, and it appeared that Satcheechoe had faithfully discharged his Trust in both the Messages sent by him.
When our Interpreters were coming away the Chiefs informed them, that they had something further to say to the Govr. upon which they were detained.
The next day, the 14th of Septr., the Gov. received at his Cham- ber the Ten Chiefs of the five Nations, being two from each, together with two others said to be of the Tuscororoes, and by the interpretation of Lawrence Claese, public Interpreter for the Indi- ans, in the presence of Philip Livingston,"Secretary for indian affairs at Albany, both whom our Govr. desired to be present, they spoke as follows :
Brother Onas :
We here now freely surrender to you all those Lands about Cones- togoe which the five Nations have claimed, and it is our desire that the same may be settled with Christians, in token whereof we give this String of Wampum.
Brother Onas : According to the best understanding we have re- newed at this time with you all former treaties between Your people and us, we therefore expect, that if any of our people come to Trade at Philadelphia you will order that they be received like Brethren, and have the Goods as cheap as possible ; So we wish you all pros- perity and a good journey home.
Now we are going to depart from one another. We your brethren, the Sachims of the five Nations, desire that you would give us some .
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Provisions to help us on our Journey, on which they gave two small bundles of Beaver and dress'd Skins.
SIR WILLIAM KEITH'S ANSWER.
Brethren . You know very well that the Lands about Conestogoe, upon the River Sasquahannah, belong to your old friend & kind Bro- ther William Penn ; nevertheless, I do here, in his name, kindly accept of the offer & surrender, which you have now made to me, because it will put an end to all other claims & Disputes if any should be made hereafter.
Brethren : I understand as you do, that we here at this time re- newed all former Treaties between the five Nations & Pensilvania, and considering how well you are provided with Goods at Albany, I think Philadelphia will be far out of your way to Trade, but as often as any of your People come to us in Love and friendship, they shall . be treated like Brethern.
I am not able to provide for you here as if I were at home, but I will order some Bread to be got for your particular use, and I heartily wish you well home to your own ffamilies.
And the said Gentlemen informing the Board, that it would be agreeable to the Governours inclinations that the said Papers were published, which he had desired them to signify to the Board, to whom he leaves it to consider of the use & service thereof. It is therefore ordered, that for the Satisfaction of the Inhabitants of this Province the said Speech & Answer be forthwith published in Print, with a proper Introduction thereto, to be prepared by , & communicated to this Board for their Approbation before the same is delivered to the Printer.
The Secretary communicated to Board a Letter he had received from the Govr. of this Province, dated at Albany the - instant, in- forming him that Colo. Spotswood, Govr. of Virginia, then with him at Albany, had resolved in his return homeward to Hold a Treaty with our Indians at Conestogoe, wither our Govr. designed to ac- company him, and therefore desires the Secretary to give Notice by James Le Tort, and Smith the Ganawese Indians, to the Chiefs of the four Nations of Indians settled upon Sasquahannah River, viz : the Mingoes or Conestogoe Indians, the Shanawese, the Ganawese & the Delawares, to be ready to meet Colo. Spotswood & him at Conestogoe in the beginning of October; But James Le Tort, and Smith the Indian, not being returned from Albany as the Govr. ex- pected, the said direction of the Govrs. is at present impracticable. And further, this Board is of opinion, that they cannot concur in directing our Indians to meet the Govr. of Virginia at Conestogoe, untill this Government is acquainted with the End & Design of the said meeting.
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