USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 34
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That a Message was likewise dispatched to the Indians at Mauaw- kyhickon to acquaint them with this unhappy Accident, & the Con- cern we were under on that Account, after which being apprehensive that this Piece of Barbarity might stirr up the Indians to revenge it on our Inhabitants in these Parts, it was thought proper that some Persons should be empowred by Commission to gather the Inhabi- tants together, & putt them in a Posture of Defence in case of any such Attempt, & for that Effect John Pawlin, Marcus Huling, & Mordecai Lincoln, were Commissionated, and that after giving seve- ral other Directions & Instructions for securing the Peace of the Country, His Honour with his Company returned.
The Governour then desired the Board to consider whether it might not be proper to send a Message forthwith to Allummapees, Opekasset & Manawkyhickon, to acquaint them with what was
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hapned, & the Care taken by this Government in apprehending the Criminals, & to desire that they with their People may be at Cones- togoe at the Ensuing Treaty. The Board having express'd their Satisfaction with the Governrs. prudent Conduct in this whole Affair agreed hereto, & 'TIS ORDERED, that a Message to the Purpose aforesaid be drawn up, & sent by Nicolas Scull, John Scull, and Anthony Zadousky, with two Strowds to each of the aforenamed Chiefs.
Mr. Logan informed the Board, that pursuant to their order of the 10th Currt., A Message was sent to Conestogoe to Convene the In- dians to the Ensuing Treaty, & that the Messenger being now re- turned, has brought a Letter from Mr. Blunston, signifying that several Indians were mett there, & expected the Governour in nine or ten days.
The Governour then acquainted the Board, that Writts having issued for Summoning the Assembly of the Province to meet yester- day, he was informed by two of their Number that they were now a House, & that therefore he intended to acquaint them with what has pass'd, how necessary it is that some Provision should be made for defraying the Charges of the Treaty, and for this Purpose he had drawn up a Speech, which was read & approved, and the House of Representatives being sent for attended, to whom the Governr. spoke in these words :
Mr. Speaker & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :
" Tho' I have resolved never to interfere with the Proceedings of " the House of Representatives, in which concerns their Privileges, " of which you are most certainly the Judges, yet the last breaking " up of the house has given me no small Uneasiness. I shall, not- " withstanding, on your present coming together again by my Sum- " mons, recommend it to you all to fall on the most pacifick measures " that may be thought of making up this Breach, with a due Regard " to the Rights and Privileges of the House, which I hope you will " all be equally careful to Support & Maintain.
" But you will find it absolutely necessary from some late unhappy " occurrences in this Province, that all needless disputes which might " retard your Consultations, should now be laid aside.
" On Friday last the 10th instant, in the morning, I received an " Account from the Iron Works at Mahanatawny, that some strange " Indians very well armed, had fallen in amongst his Majesty's Sub- "jects in that neighbourhood, & had been guilty of such Violences " that some of our people believed it incumbent on them to know " who they were & what was their business. They endeavoured to " treat with those Indians in the civilest manner, upon which they " were attack'd, and hostilities immediately passed between them, to " the wounding of divers of our people, & not without some Execu- " tion, as 'tis believed, on the others.
" On the first account I immediately prepared to visit these parts " and with divers Gentlemen, who Kindly accompany'd me, some of " whom have herein proved very Serviceable to the Publick, I sett " out in a few hours & found the Country under very great Terror
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" & Surprize, but this was gradually dissipated, & the People hear- "ing of no more Enemies (those first being gone off ) began to be " appeased, when we were again alarmed by a fatal accident, in the " Murther of three harmless Indians, a young man & two women, " of our own friendly Natives, who were most inhumanely knock'd " on the head by three or four of our own people, & this without " any manner of Provocation from the Sufferers that I could possi- " bly learn, of all which you may have a more particular narrative " if desired.
" On this last information, I immediately caused a Hue & Cry to " be issued for apprehending the murtherers, three of whom were " taken, & are now in Chester goal, but another no less deep in the " guilt, when I left the place, was not found.
" Hearing of some others of our Indians, who were not far from " that neighbourhood, I call'd them in to acquaint them with this " unhappy accident. Care is also taken to give the deceased a de- " cent Burial ; but as the murthered persons were all related, as I " am informed, to some of our Indian Chiefs, we cannot expect but " that so barbarous a fact must be resented. I have taken all the " measures in my power, that on the best advice could be thought " proper to prevent the worst impressions on them, or remove them, " if made, & as I am enabled, shall proceed in whatever shall be " thought rationally practicable for that End, I have already desired " as many of those Indians, as I could find messengers to reach, that " they would meet me, next Week at Conestogoe, where I have ap- " pointed as general a Treaty as can be compass'd in that time, for " you will agree, I believe, that in these Cases Delays ought by all " means to be avoided.
" But there is further absolute Necessity that messages with " some small presents should be forthwith dispatched to Divers "other Parts of the Countrey, especially up the River Delaware, " who ought by all means to be seasonably informed of the real " Truth of these matters, to prevent all misunderstanding from these " Quarters.
"I am also further to acquaint you, Gentlemen, that last night " I received advice from Conestogoe by the Return of an Express " I had sent from hence thither on Friday last, that some of the " Chief of the Five Nations are to be here with us at Philadelphia " on a friendly visit, of which good uses may be made, seeing all " our Indians of these parts have an Entire Dependence on those " Nations.
" That these proceedings, Gentlemen, most necessarily occasion an "Expence you cannot be insensible, but when the unhappy Conse- " quences of any misunderstanding with these people, & the dire " Effects of such Quarrells are considered, you will undoubtedly allow "it to be the highest prudence to prevent, by an early & sensible " Application of a proper remedy, the Calamities that others of His " Majestys Subjects have been distress'd with in some of their Ame- " rican Colonies, I therefore must seriously recommend it to you, " Gentlemen, that without any Delay on any Pretence whatsoever,
" you would in behalf of the Country, by whom you are entrusted, " assist me with your Advice, and make such Provision as may en- " able me effectually to put in practice those necessary measures I " have already mentioned for establishing the publick peace, and you " may assure yourselves I shall decline no toil or fatigue on my part, " that may contribute to so good an End.
After which the House withdrew, & the Council adjourned.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, May 16th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governr. James Logan, William Fishbourn, Isaac Norris,
Samuel Preston,
Clement Plumsted. Esq'rs.
A Draught of a Proclamation for securing the Peace of the Pro- vince was laid before the Board, which being read was approved of, & the same being signed by the Governour, was ordered to be Sealed, Printed, and forthwith Published, & is as followes.
" BY THE HONOURABLE PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., " Lieutenant Governour of the Province of Pensylvania & Counties " of Newcastle, Kent & Sussex, upon Delaware.
"A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, by the especial Favour of Divine Providence & its " Blessings on the Endeavours of our late Honourable Proprietor, " and the first Adventurers with him, in the Settlement of this Co- " lony, the Inhabitants thereof have hitherto enjoy'd a continued " Course of Peace & Tranquility, secured from all Hostilities, either " by Invasion or Insurrection : To which nothing under the Divine " hand has more effectually contributed, than the prudent Care that was " then taken by the Proprietor, to Enter into a firm Alliance & Sin- " cere Friendship with all the Indian Natives, at that time a numer- " ous People. AND WHEREAS, by the several Treaties then made, " it was specially provided & agreed, that the said Natives should be " considered in all Dealings, & Converse with them as our Friends & " Brethren without Distinction ; And by the like Care in the Go- "vernment, the Same Treaties have from time to time been continued " & confirmed, & by the sober & prudent Conduct of the ancient " Settlers & their Successors, the first Established Friendship has " been hitherto without any Interruption Supported & maintained, " to the great Benefit, as well as Honour & Reputation of this Go- " vernment & its European Inhabitants, as also of the said Natives, " who have not to this time been guilty of any Failure or Breach on " their Parts of the said Treaties. BUT WHEREAS, by Reason of " some rude Insults from a few strange Indians, who had ranged " amongst our Inhabitants some Actions tending to Hostilities en- " sued; Whereupon the People assembled themselves in Companies, " under an Apprehension that those Robbers might be followed by
" much greater Numbers. And since these Motions, a most barbar- "ous Murther has been committed by some furious Men on the " Bodies of three harmless & quiet Natives, our Friends; for which " the Malefactors have been happily seized and are in safe Custody, " in order to be tried & suffer condign Punishment. NOW for Pre- " vention of all further other Breaches of the Established Friendship " between us & the said Natives, I do, by Virtue of the Powers & " Authorities to me derived from the Kings sacred Majesty, & the " Honble the Proprietors & Governours in Chief of this Province & " adjacent Counties, hereby strictly Charge & Command all and "Singular His Majestys Subjects, the Europeans of whatsoever Na- " tion they be, who reside in the said Province or Counties, that on " no Pretence they abuse any Indian Native of the Nations around " us, vizt : the Delawares, Conestogoes, Ganawese, Shawanese, Min- " goes or those of the Five Nations, or any other coming and demean- "ing themselves peaceably amongst us, but that on all occasions " they treat all the said Indians with the same civil Regard that they " would an English Subject ; And that by all means they avoid that " unbecoming Practice of expressing or Shewing their weak unhand- " some fears, by which they greatly expose themselves to Remarks " that are dishonourable. But because, on the late Alarms, Appre- " hensions have been raised of Insults from foreign Indians: To the "End, that the Inhabitants may not in any such Case (should it un- " fortunately happen) be unprovided. I do hereby Direct & Require "all His Majestys Liege Subjects within the said Province & Coun- " ties, that they be at all times duly furnish'd with suitable Arms " & Ammunition for their Defence, to be used in case of real Ne- "cessity by the order & Direction of proper Officers, who shall be "duly appointed for that Purpose. And that they fail not to ap- "pear with them in proper Time & Place, if there should be Oc- "casion to use them, in Defence of themselves, their Families & " Country.
"Given in Council at Philadelphia, under my hand & the Great " Seal of the said Province, the Sixteenth day of May, in the first " year of the Reign of our Sovereign LORD GEORGE the Second by " the Grace of God, over Great Britain, France & Ireland, King, " Defender of the ffaith, &c., Annoq Dom., 1728.
" GOD SAVE THE KING.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, May 17th, 1728. PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. James Logan, William Fishbourn, Clement Plumsted. Esq'rs.
Isaac Norris,
Samuel Preston.
The Board enter'd upon the Consideration of the Presents proper to be made to the Indians at the ensuing Treaty, & 'TIS ORDER- ED, that the following Goods be provided by the Provincial Treasu-
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rer, and sent up to Conestogoe by the first Opportunity, vizt : twenty five Strowd Matchcoats, twenty Blanketts, twenty Duffels, twenty five Shirts, one hundred wt. Gunpowder, two hundred wt. of Lead, five hundred Flints, & fifty Knives, with Rum, Bread, Pipes & To- bacco, together with such Provisions as may be necessary for the Governour & his Company.
It was moved that a Day should be appointed for the Tryal of John & Walter Winters, that Notice thereof may be given to the In- dians, but the same was deferr'd until the Chief Justice should be consulted thereon.
At a Council held at Philadia., May 20th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honbl PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. James Logan, Clement Plumsted, r
Saml. Preston, Thomas Laurence, Esq'rs.
William Fishbourn,
$
The Governour acquainted the Board, that John Smith & Nicholas Schonoven, two Indian Traders from Pechoquealin, near Durham Iron Works, had this day delivered him a verbal message from Ka- kow-watchy, the Chief of the Shawanese there, to this Effect : That he having heard that the Flattheads, (Indians so called) were come into this Province with a design to make war upon our Indians, he had sent eleven of his men armed to enquire into the truth of the re- port, with orders to assist our Indians in case the same should be true ; that their provisions failed them, & they were oblig'd to gett from our inhabitants wherewithal to subsist, but that they offered no rude- ness till our people used them ill, & fired upon them, that he is very sorry for what has happened, & that he has a great love for us all as his Brethren, but that one of their number is wounded & lost his gun, which he desires may be sent.
The Board taking the same into Consideration, ORDERED that an Answer be sent to the above message, to inform Kakow-watchy of the Imprudent conduct of these eleven Indians, & the Confusion that has happen'd thro' their means, & to warn them to be more cau- tious in their Behaviour for the future, that the Govr. may probably see them some time in the Fall at Durham, & care shall be taken to enquire for the gun. That three Matchcoats be sent to Kakow-watchy as a present, together with the Matchcoat Belt and Hatchet which were left by their Indians, & that forty shillings be given to each of the said messengers for their trouble & expence, with their entertain- ment in Town for two Days.
MEMORANDUM: Pursuant to Appointment with the Indians at Conostogoe, the Governour attended with some members of Council, & divers other gentlemen, to the number of about thirty, who volun- tarily offered their company thither, sett out from Philadelphia on the 22d of May, & on the 23d in the evening came to the House of Mr. Andrew Cornish, about a mile distant from the Indian town. The 21th & 25th days were spent in waiting for some other persons ex-
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pected at the Treaty & in mutual civilities, & on the 26th the Treaty began as followes :
At a Council held at the Indian Town of Conestogoe, May 26th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. Some Members of Council & divers other Gentlemen.
PRESENT ALSO :
Ganyataronga,
Tawenna,
Tanniatchiaro,
Chiefs of the Conestogoe Indians.
Taquatarensaly, alias Capt. Civility,
- Oholykon,
Peyeashickon, Wikimikyona,
Chiefs of some of the Delaware Indians on Brandywine. ,
Howickyoma,
Skayanannego,
Onneygheat,
Chiefs of the Ganawese Indians.
Nanamakamen,
Peyhiohinas, L
Weysow-walow
Keyscykakalow,
Chiefs of the Shawanese.
Nichtamskakow,
Shakawtawlin or Sam, Interpreter from the English into the Del- aware.
Captain Civility, Interpreter from the Delaware into the Shawa- nese and Mingoe (alias Conestogoe.)
Pomapechtoa, Interpreter from the Delaware into the Ganawese Language.
Mr. Nicholas Scull,
Mr. John Scull,
Assistant Interpreters.
Mr. Peter Bizallion,
The Govr. spoke as followes : My Friends & Brethren :
" You are sensible that the Great William Penn, the Father of " this Countrey, when he first brought his people with him over the " broad Sea, took all the Indians and the old Inhabitants by the hand, " & because he found them to be a sincere honest people, he took " them to his heart & loved them as his own. He then made a strong " League & chain of Friendship with them, by which it was agreed " that the Indians & the English, with all the Christians, should be " as one People.
" Your Friend & Father Wm. Penn still retained a warm affection " for all the Indians, & strictly commanded those whom he sent to go- " vern this people to treat the Indians as his children, & continued in " this kind love for them until his death.
" His sons have now sent me over in their stead, & they gave me " strict charge to love all the Indians as their Brethren, & as their
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" father William Penn loved you. I would have seen you before this " time, but I fell sick soon after I came over, & continued so till next " Spring. I then waited to receive some of the five Nations who " came to see me at Philadelphia, & last Fall I heard you were all " gone out a hunting.
" I am now come to see you, and to renew the ancient Friendship " which has been between William Penn's People and you. I was " in hopes that Sassoonan & Opekasset, with their People, would " have been likewise here, they have sent me kind Messages & have " a warm Love for the Christians. I believe they will come to me " at Philadelphia, for since they could not gett hither I have desired " them to meet me there.
" I am now to discourse with my Brethren, the Conestogoes, De- " lawares, Ganawese & Shawanese Indians upon Susquehannah, & . " to speak in Love to them.
My Brethren :
" You have been faithfull to your Leagues with us, your Hearts " have been clean, & you have preserved the Chain from Spotts or " Rust, or if there were any you have been carefull to wipe them " away ; your Leagues with your Father William Penn, & with his " Governours are in Writing on Record, that our Children & our " Childrens Children may have them in everlasting Remembrance. " And we Know that you preserve the memory of those things " amongst you by telling them to your Children, & they again to " the next Generation, so that they remain stamp'd on your Minds " never to be forgott.
" The Chief Heads or Strongest Links of this Chain I find are " these Nine, vizt :
1st. "That all William Penns People or Christians, and all the " Indians should be brethren, as the Children of one Father, joyned " together as with one Heart, one Head & one Body.
2d. " That all Paths should be open and free to both Christians " and Indians.
3d. " That the Doors of the Christians Houses should be open to " the Indians & the Houses of the Indians open to the Christians, & " they should make each other welcome as their Friends.
4th. " That the Christians should not believe any false Rumours " or Reports of the Indians, nor the Indians believe any such Ru- " mours or Reports of the Christians, but should first come as Breth- " ren to enquire of each other; And that both Christians & Indians, " when they hear any such false Reports of their Brethren, they " should bury them as in a bottomless Pitt.
5th. " That if the Christians hear any ill news that may be to " the Hurt of the Indians, or the Indians hear any such ill news that " may be to the Injury of the Christians, they should acquaint each " other with it speedily as true Friends & Brethren.
6th. " That the Indians should do no manner of Harm to the " Christians nor their Creatures nor the Christians do any Hurt to " any Indians, but each treat the other as their Brethren.
7th. "But as there are wicked People in all Nations, if either
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" Indians or Christians should do any harm to each other, Complaint " should be made of it by the Persons Suffering that Right may be " done, & when Satisfaction is made, the Injury or Wrong should be " forgott & be buried as in a bottomless Pitt.
8th. " That the Indians should in all things assist the Christians, " & the Christians assist the Indians against all wicked People that " would disturb them.
9th. " And lastly, that both Christians & Indians should acquaint " their Children with this League & firm Chain of Friendship made " between them, & that it should always be made stronger & stronger " & be kept bright & clean, without Rust or Spott between our Chil- " dren and Childrens Children, while the Creeks and Rivers run, " and while the Sun, Moon & Stars endure.
" And for a Confirmation on our Parts of all these Several Arti- " cles, We bind them with these Several Parcels of Goods, vizt :
20 Strowd Matchcoats,
1 Cwt. of Gunpowder,
20 Duffells,
2 Cwt. of Lead,
20 Blanketts,
500 Flints,
20 Shirts, 50 Knives,
After which the Governour proceeded & said.
" My Brethren :
" I have now spoke to the League and Chain of Friendship, first " made by your Father William Penn with your Fathers, which is " confirmed. I am now to acquaint you with an unhappy Accident " that has afflicted me & all good People amongst us, and we lament " & mourn with you on the heavy Misfortune.
" About forty days agoe we heard that the Twechtweys were " coming as Enemies against this Countrey. I believe it is false, " for we never hurt the Twechtweys; And about eighteen Days since " I received an Express from the Iron works at Mahanatawny, ac- " quainting me that Eleven forreign Indians, painted for War, & " armed with Guns, Pistoles and Swords, were come amongst our "Inhabitants, plundering them & taking away their Provisions by " Force, whereupon some of our People, to the number of twenty " men, with Arms, went to speak to them Civilly but the Indians " fired upon them & wounded some of them ; Our men likewise fired " on the Indians & wounded some of them also, but the Indians fired " first. It was very ill done to fire.
" As soon as I had this Account I took horse and went to Maha- " natawny with several Gentlemen of Philadelphia, but the Indians " were gone off. I found our People believed there were more "coming, and therefore some Hundreds mett together with their " Arms to defend themselves in case the Indians should attack " them.
" As I was returning home I heard news that grieved me exceed- " ingly. I was told that two or three furious Men amongst us had " Killed three or four Indian Friends & hurt two Girls. I went back " mourning, & sent out Men to take the Murtherers, who were ac- "cordingly taken, & they are now in Irons in a Dungeon to be tried " by the Laws of the Great King of all the English, as if they had
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" Killed so many of his own Subjects. I have likewise caused " Search to be made for the dead Bodies, & two Women were found " murthered, who by my order were laid in a Grave and covered " with Shirts & Strowds. I hear likewise that the dead Body of an " Indian man has been found & is buried.
" You Know there are wicked People among all Nations ; there " are ill People amongst you, & you are sometimes forced to putt " them to Death. The English are a great People, & there are like- " wise wicked men amongst them. I mourn for this Misfortune, & " will do all I can to comfort the Relations of the Dead when I see " them, which I hope will be at Philadelphia with Sassoonan & Ope- " kasset.
" About eight months agoe I received an account that an English " man was Killed by some Indians, at the House of John Burt, in " Snake town. I heard John Burt was very abusive to the Indians, "and I sent to apprehend him, but he fled; if he can be taken he " will be punished. But since there was a Man Killed, we expect "the Indians will doe us Justice by apprehending the Murtherers " that they may be punished, for we must be just and faithfull to " each other, that this Spot may be wiped away & the Chain be " kept bright & clean.
" You know, My Brethren, that one Link of the Chain is, that " when the Indians are uneasy they should tell it to us, & when we " are uneasy we will tell it to them. I therefore desire your Hearts, " may be open, that I may know if you have any Cause of Grief " which I will endeavour to remove, for I am your Brother.
" I have issued a Proclamation requiring all our People to use you " well which shall be read unto you before I goe away. I will pre- " vent any Hurt being done to our Friends the Indians, because " those who do not behave themselves agreeable to what is therein " commanded, will be severely punished.
At a Council held at the Indian Town of Conestogoe, May 27th, 1728.
PRESENT :
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