USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 33
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would acquaint him, but he must by no means lett it be known that she was his author, and then proceeded to relate to him, That a Delaware Indian Woman, whose son had been killed some time agoe by a Shawanese, had brought Manawkyhickon a Long Belt of black Wampum of twelve Rows, Desiring that by means thereof her Tears might be wiped away, that Manawkyhickon had sent his black Belt to the five Nations, and that the five Nations sent the same to the Miamies, with a message desiring to know if they would lift up their Axes, and joyn with them against the Christians, to which they agreed, that hereupon Manawkyhickon had sent four Belts of Wampum to those of his Nation who were abroad hunting, ordering them quickly to return home; And this Examinant fur- ther says, that meeting Manawkyhickon again after this Information, he desired that Indian, as his old Friend, to tell him what news he heard or knew, but that he would tell him nothing; that hereupon the Examint. told him what he had heard both of the four Belts sent to our Indians, and of the black Belt sent by the five Nations to the Miamies, at which the Indian appeared surprized, admiring who could inform him of these things, but that at length He (Ma- nawkyhickon) own to him that both these were true ; And this Exa- minant says likewise, that having acquainted Mrs. Montour with his Design of communicating what she told him to our Governour, they answered he might do so, for it was with that intention she had ac- quainted him with it.
The examinant further says, that this Manawkyhickon was a near relation of Wequeala, who was hang'd last year in Jersey, that he much resented his Death, & went immediately after to the five Na- tions with whom he has long had an acquaintance and interest, & is great with their people. He adds also, that in the parts where he has been on Susquehannah, he mett with some Indians of the five Nations lately come from thence, who told him, on his enquiring of them for news, That the French Governour, at his return to Mon- treal last year from New York, where he went about the new fort built by the English near the Lakes, sent for the Chiefs of all the Nations about Canada in Alliance with the French, & told them he wanted them to pull down a certain house that had been lately built, but the Chiefs answered, that could not be his business with them to pull down a house, if he wanted them to goe to War he should tell them so. The Governour answered that he could not say that, but would send them to the Chief Governour at Quebeck, who would give them an answer, that the Governour of Quebeck received them very kindly, & sent them back with a Letter to the Governour of Montreal, who told them on receipt of the Letter, that they, vizt : the Governours would write to their Master the King of France, & desired the Indians in the mean time to goe home & be in readiness till the King's orders came.
This examinant further says, that enquiring of Allummapees, an- other Chief of some Indians on Delaware concerning these matters, the said Indian declared he was wholly ignorant of them all, & that he had delivered to the examinant a small belt of Wampum to be
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presented to the Governour which was laid on the Table as a Token, that neither he nor any of his people knew, of any of these Designs. That he had further enquired of some others of our Indians, who made the same Answer, & in like manner had sent the Governour a small piece of Wampum to testify the same, vizt : that they were innocent and ignorant of the whole.
The board having considered this Examination, are of opinion, that there is no great Dependance to be had on this information of Montour's ; However, that it will be adviseable to make further in- quiries, that in case there should be any foundation for the Story it may be known as soon as possible. In the mean time it was again observed to the Governour, as it had been in September last, that the present Circumstances of our affairs with the Indians render'd it necessary, that these people should be taken notice of & visited by the Governour ; To which the Governour was pleased to say, that he should be ready to undertake the Journey, whenever he can be informed, (which Mr. Wright had undertaken) that the Indians were returned from hunting, for he understood there were scarce any In- dians at present at or about Conestogoe, & that as soon as it was practicable, nothing should be wanting on his part to establish and confirm the good Understanding that had hitherto subsisted between this Governinent & these people.
The Treasurer hereupon observed, that he had very lately attend- ed the Committee of Assembly with his accounts in order to settle them, but that they would by no means allow of the articles of his Disbursements for defraying the Charges of the Treaty held with those of the five Nations at Philadelphia in July last, which had been examined by this board, & recommended by the Governour to the House, that they alledged for a reason, that the Treaty had not been laid before the House.
The Clerk answered, that by the Governour's order he had ac- quainted the House, that the Treaty was ready to be laid before them whenever they should think fit to call for it, but that he was inform- ed such Treaties had not usually been laid before the house, but at the desire of the Assembly, unless it were particularly so ordered by this Board.
It was further observed, that this Government might at sometimes lie under great Disadvantages, if on any Emergency, as visits from the Indians or Necessary Messages to them, no money could be had from the Treasurer to defray the Expence.
The Governour was therefore requested to putt the House in mind of these Exigencies, that a suitable Provision might be made for them ; And that all Indian Treaties having been so long intermitted, there would now be occasion for some considerable Advance, if the Governour should meet both the Indians on Susquehannah & those on Delaware, for which there seemed to be an equal Necessity, for that they were now generally thought themselves slighted.
It was then ORDERED, that three Matchcoats be given to James Letort & John Scull, to be by them delivered to Allummapees, Mrs. Montour & Manawkyhickon, & that a proper Message be drawn up
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that the Indians may be induced to discover what they Know touch- ing the Information now given.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, April 25th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
James Logan,
Samuel Preston,
Richard Hill, Isaac Norris,
Clement Plumsted. Esq'rs.
The Governour acquainted the Board, that Eight Members of As- sembly having withdrawn themselves from the House, there was not a sufficient number left to make a Quorum, so that the Assembly was oblig'd to break up on Saturday the 20th Currt., at which time he received a Representation from the Speaker & the Members remaining in the House, which he now laid before the Board, & is as followes :
TO THE HONBLE PATRICK GORDON, ESQR, &c.
" It is with Concern that we are obliged to trouble the Governour " upon this occasion, & to acquaint him, that nothing less than the " Preservation of the Rights & Privileges of the Freemen of Pen- " sylvania could induce us to make the following Representation, " wherein some of our own Members may seem to be treated with " more Freedom than is decent to be used to Persons, who being " chosen to represent their Country, were presumed, at least by their " Electors, to be Men of Sense, Honour and Integrity, and we wish " it were in our Power to say what is proper upon this occasion with- " out even so much as naming them, yet what is said proceeds not. " from any Disrespect to their Persons but the mere Necessity of " Speaking Truth.
" By our Constitution the Assembly of Pensylvania is to consist "of twenty six members, & two thirds of that Number make a " Quorum. Since our last Session in January, Daniel Williamson, "one of the Representatives for the County of Chester, is dead, " Christopher Vanhorn, one of the Representatives for Bucks County "is indisposed, so that he could not attend the House at this time, " And Sir William Keith, one of the Representatives for the County " of Philadia., being called to Great Britain upon Affairs of Im- " portance, (as 'tis said) his Absence has been excused by the House. " And so the Assembly consisting of twenty three Members, which "in the Sense of the Law is a full house, have since their meeting " on the 15th of this instant proceeded, as usual, in such Business " as was laid before them, untill this Day, when the Speaker being "in the Chair & the House called over, it appeared that Eight of " the Members for the County & City of Philadia., vizt: Jno. " Kearsly, Thomas Tresse, Job Goodson, Willm. Monington, Lod " Christian Sprogell, Thomas Rutter, Jno. Swift & Edward Horn, " were absent : And the Doorkeeper delivered a Letter to the " Speaker, the same was opened, & it being address'd to the Speaker
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" & the Members of Assembly then present, the same was delivered " back to the Doorkeeper, with orders to acquaint the Persons who " delivered it to him, that if they intended that Paper should be "read, it must be brought into the House by some of the Persons " who signed the same, or introduced by some of our own Members " according to the order of the House.
" It was moved & agreed to by the Members then present being " Fifteen, that the Doorkeeper should call in the Eight absent Mem- " bers, who returned & said, he had delivered the Message from the "Speaker, & that he had received for answer from them, that when their " Demands contained in the beforementioned Paper (which was then " in their own custody) were comply'd with they would then come "to the House. But this Answer not being understood by the "Speaker nor the sitting Members, they never having read that " Paper, the Doorkeeper was again sent to require the said absent " Members to repair to the House immediately to attend the Service " of the Country, & likewise to acquaint them, that the Speaker & " the Members in the House were altogether ignorant of the Con- " tents of that Paper ; To which we had for answer by the Door- " keeper, that the Eight Members returned their humble Respects " to the Speaker & the House, & desired him to say that they retained " their Resolution, & we might have that Paper if we would send for " it. Yet being unwilling to believe they had any Design of disa- " bling the House to proceed upon the Business of the Country, we " waited from 11 o clock in the forenoon to 6 in the afternoon this " day, expecting their Prudence would lead them to return to the " Service of their Country, but being informed that sundry of them- " selves out of Doors had said, they did not design to give any fur- " ther attendance in the House. We do now humbly beg leave to " represent this Conduct of the said Eight Members as most unwar- " rantable and unprecedented, in Breach of their Known Duty to " their Countrey, & tending to the Subversion of the Constitution, " as much as in them lies.
" But when we see those Men have not the Power to hurt, much " less to destroy our happy Establishment, but by their Willfull Ab- " sence, (which they weakly imagine can dissolve this Assembly) to " give some small Interruption to the Business of the Country, it is " no small Satisfaction to us that we Know the Design can easily be " disappointed, & a proper Remedy apply'd with the Governrs. As- " sistance; We therefore, the Speaker & sitting Members of the As- " sembly of Pensylvania, who are by far the greater Part, have " agreed to & do humbly request that the Govr. will be pleased " to call together all the Members of the present Assembly to " attend the Service of the Country, as soon as will suit with his " Conveniency, after his Return from attending the Service of the " three lower Counties. And as this Resolution tends evidently to " the Preservation of the Constitution, & especially the legisla- " tive Authority of this Province from the Designs of ill disposed " Persons, We depend upon the Govr. giving his ready and lawfull
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" Assistance to the House of Assembly in this reasonable and just " Request.
DAVID LLOYD, Speaker.
The Governour likewise laid before the Board the Representation of the said Eight Members, which had been delivered to him on the 23d Currt. by four of their Number, & was now read in these words : "To the Honourable Patrick Gordon, Esqr., Governour. " May it please the Governour :
" We, the Governours most dutifull and assured Friends do esteem " it a favourable Presage of future Happiness to this Province that " we are Governed by a Gentleman, whose views do so evidently ap- " pear consistent with Civil Liberty, which effectually secure to every " man the quiet Possession of what he esteems most dear to him.
" And as it has been the Will of our Constituents that we should " represent them in a Legislative Capacity, in which we had the " Pleasure to see the Governour appear at our head, We think it our " Duty to give him a true Narrative of the late Difference betwixt " us and our Fellow Representatives about Electing a Member in " Place of Sir William Keith, who is departed out of this Province " for Great Britain. .
" It will not consist with the strict Rules of the House to expose " the Several Proceedings and Debates which attended that Affair, " but this we may assure the Governour, no Parliamentary Proce- " dure was ever more regularly carry'd on by the Members of the " County for which he was one of the Representatives, than the steps "they took to represent the Necessity of a Member to supply his " Vacancy.
"They produced a Letter under his hand, & would have produced "more as well as other Evidence, if required, to prove that he was " gone to Great Britain, with other Letters, in which he declared his " Intent of not returning in less than twelve or fourteen Months with " his Desire that a Member might be Chosen to supply his Place, " which Request in Parliament is look't upon as a Sufficient motive " for the Speaker to issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown " for Electing a new Member in Place of one incapable of serving, " they moved for a new Election, & declared Sir William willfully " absent according as the Law of this Province doth provide & direct. " They renewed their Motion next day, & represented the Breach of " Privilege & Violation of Law such a Refusal would produce, which " appears from the aforesaid Law entituled An Act to regulate Elec- " tions, &c., which Law allows & appoints each County Eight Mem- " bers to represent them in Assembly, but this produced no better " effect than a vote expressly to the Contrary, & finding by this & " many more particulars, which we are herein obliged to omitt, which " sufficiently shewed that they were fixed in a Resolution destructive " (as we conceive) of Right & Privilege; We resolved therefore to " retire for some few hours & to send them the inclosed Dissent, " hoping by this means to move them to a more calm & prudent " Consideration of this weighty Point, but so far have they been from " making the least offer towards reconciling the Difference, that they
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" dispersed themselves without giving us the least Notice, so that we " were left late within Night, destitute of an opportunity to conclude " on Methods to avoid the Trouble which such a precipitant act " must necessarily give the Governour, in making out Summons's to "recall the House to the Business of the Country.
"We are very sensible that differences of this Nature must be " very unpleasant to the Governour, as well as offensive to the Coun- " try, but we hope when a true State of the Case is fully known, & " it appears from whence the Offence arises, We shall no longer fear "our Country's Disapprobation, or the Governours Displeasure with "our Conduct.
" We do in the most sincere manner declare to the Governour, " that the real Sense we have of his good Inclinations for the Wel- " fare of the Province is such, that we should think ourselves the " worst of Men did we project any Schemes or raise any needless "Controversies that might disturb his Ease or injure the Interest of " his Family. The person that is proposed by some to succeed Sir " William Keith we have no Regard to in this Controversy, but in " the opinion of most of us that calm, easy & unprejudiced Procedure " whichi ought to be maintained in a Representative Body, is too " often broke in upon by some men, who by Custom & Use have " contracted such Habits of haranguing at the Bar, as seem insensibly " to lead them into a Neglect of the decent Orders and Rules of As- " sembly.
" We pray the Governour will excuse this Trouble, & beg Leave " to assure him we shall at all times, whenever it is in our Power, " study to convince him that we are fully perswaded the Interest of " this Province & that of the Governour are inseperable, & that all " Abetters & Maintainers of any thing destructive to one are inju- " rious to both.
" The Govrs. most dutifull and assured Friends.
Edward Horne, John Swift,
Wm. Monington, John Kearsley, L. C. Sprogell, Job Goodson,
Thos. Rutter, Junr. Thos. Tresse.
Philadia., Ap. 23d, 1728.
The Governour proceeded & said, that this unhappy Division was like to interrupt the Consideration of several matters of importance which were laid before the House, and that therefore it would be necessary to issue forth Writts for calling the Members together as soon as possible, that he was oblig'd to attend the Assembly of the three lower Counties, which is to meet the 1st of next month, but that he believed they would not sitt long, and proposed to the Board whether the 20th of May next might not be a proper Time to call them together. The Board joyned with the Governour in expres- sing their Concern for this Difference in the House, & agreed that it was highly necessary that the Members should meet speedily, to the end no Interruption might be given to Publick Business, and are of opinion that the time mentioned by the Governour will be suitable.
13*
It was then Considered when the Writts should issue, but the Board thought fitt to leave that entirely to the Governours Di- rection.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, May 6th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governr .. James Logan Samuel Preston,
Isaac Norris, Clement Plumsted. Esq'rs.
The Governour acquainted the Board, that a Letter from Mr. Wright at Conestogoe was lately communicated to him, giving an account of a Quarrel that was like to ensue between the Indians of these parts & the Shawanese, these last having Killed two of the Conestogoe Indians, that they seemed prepared for War, & that therefore his Presence was desired as necessary to settle those Dif- ferences, which might in End affect the Peace of the Province. His Honour likewise said he had received a Petition, signed by a great many of the Inhabitants in the back parts of this County, setting forth that they are under some Apprehensions of being attack'd by the Indians, that many Families had left their Habitations thro' fear of them, & praying that proper Measures might be taken for their Safety.
And therefore the Governour now moved to the Board that since it is of great importance to compose those Differences speedily, which would oblige him to take a Journey to Conestogoe, it would be re- quisite that the Assembly should meet as soon as possible ; Which the Board from the Consideration of what the Governour had said readily agreed to, and the 14th Currt. being proposed for the Time of their meeting was approved, 'Tis therefore ORDERED, that Writts be forthwith issued for that purpose.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, May 10th, 1728.
PRESENT.
The honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governr. James Logan, William Fishbourn,
Samuel Preston, Clement Plumsted, $ Esq'rs.
Thomas Laurence, Esquire, one of those named in the Minute of ยท the 20th of April, 1727, as proper to be added to this Board, was in- troduced by one of the Members, & having taken the Oaths enjoyn'd by Law, & likewise that for the faithful Discharge of his office as a Counsellor, took his Seat accordingly.
The Governour then told the Board that he was just setting out for Mahanatawny, upon Advice brought him this Morning by Ex- press, that a party of foreign Indians were fallen in amongst our In- habitants in these parts, & had committed several acts of Hostility, particularly, that they had fired upon some of our People, who to the Number of Twenty had advanced towards them to Know what they
wanted, & had wounded several slightly, & one man mortally ; that our People thereupon returned their Fire, and, as'tis believed, Killed their Captain who appeared to be a Spanish Indian, and that it was dreaded some further Mischief would ensue, which he hoped he would be able to prevent. But added that in the meantime it would be necessary to hasten the intended Treaty at Conestogoe, & for that End a Message, with some small Present, should be forthwith dispatched to Captain Civility, to acquaint him that the Govern- our designs to be there in twelve or fourteen days, and that he would therefore Convene all the Indians thereabou's against that Time.
Which the Board approved of, and ORDERED that two Strowd Matchcoats, with a message to the Purpose aforesaid be immediately sent. They then express'd their Concern for the Uneasiness which this Accident would necessarily raise in the Country, & having wished the Governour Success in his Journey & safe Return, the Council adjourned.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, May 15th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governr. James Logan, Clement Plumsted, Richard Hill, Thomas Laurence. Esq'rs.
William Fishbourn.
The Governour acquainted the Board, that last night he returned from Mahanatawny where he found the Countrey in very great Dis- order, occasioned by the Noise of the Skirmish that hapned between some of our People & a small Party of Indians, that many of the back Inhabitants had quitted their Houses, & seemed under great Appre- hensions of Numbers of Indians coming to attack them ; that several Palatine families were gathered together at a Mill near New Hano- ver Township, in order to defend themselves, & that there he saw the Man who was said to have been Killed by the Indians, but he appeared to be only slightly wounded in the Belly ; that having ex- amined several Persons there & at Colebrookdale touching the said Indians, he understood that they were eleven in Number & had been in that Neighbourhood for some Days; that they were all armed & had a Spanish Indian for their Captain, and that having been rude in several houses where they forced the People to supply them with Victuals & Drink, some of our Inhabitants, to the Number of Twen- ty, a few of whom were armed with Guns & Swords, went in Search of the said Indians, & coming up with them they sent two of their Number to Treat with the Captain, who instead of receiving them civilly, brandished his Sword & commanded his Men to fire, which they did, & wounded two of ours, who thereupon returned their Fire, upon which they saw the said Captain fall, but he afterwards got up & run into the Woods after his Party, having left his Gun & Match- coat behind him, & that since that time they had been no more seen.
OVL
The Governour said, that tho' he had this account from one of those who were then present, he could not help thinking our People had given some Provocation, & wished it might not appear so when the Indians should give their Relation of this Matter.
That some of the Inhabitants seemed so incensed, that they seemed determined to Kill any Indian they could find, & that great Pains were taken on this head to make them cautious of doing any rash act which might be attended with fatal Consequences.
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The Governour proceeded & said, that after having used several Methods to quiet the Country & so induce the People to return to their Habitations, & having ordered some Powder & Lead to be dis- tributed in Case of any attack. He was preparing to return home, when he received the melancholy news by an Express from Samuel Nutt, Esqr., that an Indian Man & two Women were cruelly murthered at Cucussea by John & Walter Winters, without any Provocation given, and two Indian Girls much wounded, upon which a Hue & Cry was immediately issued against the Murtherers, & He returned back next day to Mahanatawny to make Enquiry into this matter, where he learned that the said Winters, & one Morgan Herbert, an Accomplice in the said Murther were apprehended, who being brought thither & examined, the said Winters confessed the Murther, as did likewise Herbert, his being present when they perpetrated the same, as appears from their several Examinations now laid before the Board, and that they had nothing else to say in their Justification, then that, from the Reports in the Countrey of the Indians having Killed some white men, they thought they might lawfully Kill any Indian whom they could find. They were then ordered to Prison and a sure Guard, and orders were issued for apprehending John Roberts, mentioned in their Examination as an Accomplice in the said Crime ; And then the Coroner was dispatched to take an Inqui- sition of the dead Bodies, & to bury them wrapt in Linen, & was further directed that in case any of their Relatives should be there He should present them with four Strowds to cover the dead Bodies & give two Strowds to their Indian Girls, & to Employ some Person to cure their Wounds, & further to assure their Friends that the Offenders should not goe unpunished.
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