USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 36
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" To His Excellency William Keith, Baronet Governour of Pen- " sylvania, &c., & the Honble Council.
" The Petition of us the Subscribers, being thirty three Families " in Number, at present inhabiting Tulpahaca Creek. '. HUMBLY SHEWETH :
" That your Petioners being Natives of Germany, about fifteen " years agoe, were by the Great Goodness and Royal Bounty of her " late Majesty Queen Anne, releived from the hardships which they " then suffered in Europe, & were transported into the Colony of " New York, where they settled. But their Families increasing, & " being in that Government confined to the scanty allowance of ten " Acres of Land to cach family, whereon they could not well subsist, " Your Petitioners being informed of the kind reception which their
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" Countrymen usually mett within the Province of Pensylvania, & " hoping they might with what substance they had acquire larger " Settlements in that Province, did last year leave their Settlements "in New York Government & came with their families into this " Province, where upon their arrival they applied themselves to His " Excellency the Governour, who of his Great Goodness permitted " them to inhabit upon Tulpahaca Creek, (being the farthest inhabit- " ed part of the Province north west from Philadia.) on Condition " that they should make full satisfaction to the Proprietor or his " Agents for such Lands as should be allotted them, when they " were ready to receive the same. And now your Petitioners un- " derstanding that some Gentlemen, Agents of the Proprietor, have "ample powers to dispose of Lands in this Province. And we, your " Petitioners, being willing and ready to purchase, do humbly be- " seech your Excellency & Council to recommend us to the favour- " able usage of the Proprietors agent, that upon paying the usual " Prices for Lands at such distance from Philadelphia, we may have " sufficient Rights and titles made to us for such lands as we shall " have occasion to buy, that our Children may have some settle- " ment to depend on hereafter, and that by your authority we may " be freed from the demands of the Indians of that part of the Coun- " try who pretend a Right thereto. And we humbly beg Leave to "inform your Excellency and Council that there are fifty Families " more who if they may be admitted upon the same conditions are " desirous to come and settle with us. We hope for your favourable " Answer to this our humble Request, and as in duty bound shall " ever pray, &c.
N. B. The names being mostly in a deep German hand could not be read, but by one skill'd in their writing, they are given as here subjoyned.
Johannas Yans, Peter Ritt,
Joannes Claos Shaver, Jo Hamoler Ritt,
Conrad Schitz,
Antonis Shart,
Paltus Unsf, Toritine Serbo,
Johan Peter Pacht,
Jocham Michael Cricht,
Josap Sab,
Sebastian Pisas,
Jorge Ritt, Godfreyt Filler,
Andrew Falborn.
Mr. Logan observed upon this petition, that by the whole Tenour of it, as well as the Writing, 'twas very easy to judge from whom what hand it originally came. It is addressed to HIS EXCELLEN- CY the Governour Sir William Keith; who (as they are made to speak) OF HIS GREAT GOODNESS PERMITTED THEM to inhabit on Tulpahaca Creek. HIS EXCELLENCY is to recom- mend them to the Agents, that they may have sufficient Rights and Titles made to them for such Lands, as they should have occasion to buy ; And to HIM they apply also, that by HIS AUTHORITY they might be freed from the demands of the Indians. It will there- fore no longer remain a question, (he said) tho' nothing more than this Petition were produced, by whose authority these foreigners had
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been encouraged to invade these lands to the manifest Injury of the Proprietor, and to the great abuse of the Indians, who at that very time was seated there, and had their Corn destroyed by those Peo- ples Creatures. And he now hoped that such of this Audience as had been so sollicitous to have the Indians complain of James Lo- gan might go away satisfied. They had complained, and they were answered.
Then applying to the Indians, he desired, that tho' these People had seated themselves on Tulpahockin Lands, without the Commis- sioners Leave or Consent, yet that they would not offer them any violence, or injure them, but wait till such time as that matter could be adjusted.
Mr. Hamilton being at the Board, desired the Governours Leave to say a few words which he did to this effect.
It was not difficult, he said, to account for the Indians mentioning at this time the affair of their Lands, considering the pains some had taken to perswade them they were wrong'd. That having accom- pany'd the Governour in his late Journey to Mahanatawny, with divers Persons of as good note as any of this City, on the News sent down to us forreign Indians in that neighbourhood, he had heard some things very positively advanced amongst the Inhabitants con- cerning this Injustice to the Indians, which as he could not then be- lieve to be true, he had wished to see them sett in a true Light, and as there were some now present, who had been very free in talking to that purpose he thought it would be most proper for these persons in this Audience to declare openly what they had to say, that if true it may be known who are to bear the blame, or if false that they may be convinced of their Error.
Thomas Rutter, Senr., who had been call'd on by Sassoonan, stood . up & denied he had ever uttered any such thing, as that the Indians had not been satisfied for their Lands, &c.
Mr. Logan further desired the Governours Permission to speak to another Point, which tho' proper to be taken notice of at this Treaty. Yet he intended it, he said, for the sake of the Audience only.
It was with the utmost astonishment, he said, that he first heard the Story he was about to mention, for he could scarce believe it possible that any Man could be so lost to all Sense of Shame as to . form it, but he had received such numerous Accounts, & from such credible Persons of its being said & spread by many, that he could no longer forbear believing what he had so repeatedly been assured of.
He was sensible, he said, of our present Unhappiness in having Divisions fomented amongst us. Great Pains were taken to infuse into the Minds of such as could be prevailed on, a Spirit of Conten- tion & Faction, To divide & confuse, & by any means to perplex the Government has been the principal aim of some, the instances of it are obvious. But whatever they may do amongst ourselves, it is exceedingly wicked to carry their Endeavours amongst the poor in-
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nocent Indians, & to spirit them up to uneasiness by perswading them they are wrong'd in their Lands.
Yet if any thing can be worse, it is that ridiculous, that shameless but malicious Story he rose up to speak concerning himself, vizt : That the Proprietor had sent him over a vast Quantity of Indian Goods, Strowds, & he knew not what, for a Present to the Indians, all which (they were pleased to say) he had converted to his own Use in Trade. This was a home Push against him, for perswade the Indians of this & nothing can incense them more, That this wild & wicked as it is, has been currently said, many of those who now heard him speak very well knew. It required indeed a vast Stock of Assurance to say it, but he was certain none would have so much as to own it to himself, they must deeply blush, if it were possible for such to blush to acknowledge it. It would have been a great Plea- sure to him, he said, to have received any thing of that kind, & he would gladly have applied it as intended, but he had been so far from making Advantages that way that his own Generosity to the Indians had cost him more than he should name. Their malice who invented & spread this Story is to be pitied, but even the Indians themselves have more sense than to believe it.
Mr. Hill, first Commissioner of Property, delivered himself to this Purpose.
That it was stipulated at the first Settlement of this Province, be- tween the Proprietor William Penn & the Indians, that they should sell no Lands to private Persons or to any besides himself, or his Commissioners. And afterwards a Law was Enacted to the same Purpose, that all the Purchases made of the Indians by any other than the Proprietor or his Agents should be entirely void, which Law is still in Force. The Proprietors Commissioners, in his Ab- sence, have ever been strictly carefull to avoid granting any Lands that were not first duly purchased of the Indians, nor would they ever suffer them to be putt off from any Lands on which they were settled, even where they had fully sold all their Right till they would voluntarily remove. The Commissioners therefor would never have agreed to that Settlement of the Palatines on the Tulpyhockin Lands for the Indians were then seated on them, but we see by what Meth- ods they were disturbed. The Gentleman then at Helm, not only took upon him to order the Settlements of the Proprietors Lands, but so far to direct even in these affairs that the application must be made to him also, to be freed by HIS AUTHORITY from the In- dians Demands.
It fully appears therefore, where the sole Foundations of these Complaints lies, & how groundless all the Noise is, that has been made of the Commissioners patenting the Indians Lands. This can arise from no other than a mischievous Design to beget animosities, and raise a Disaffection in the Inhabitants, And 'tis probable, that it is with a view to possess the People with an opinion that all our Treaties with the Indians, with whom a Friendship has been so care- fully cultivated from the beginning, & of which we have reaped the happy Fruits are only on Affairs of Property & the Purchase of
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Lands, & therefore that the Publick should bear no part of the Charge. The contrary of this fully appears at this time, And when the Pro- prietor or his Commissioners have occasion to treat with the Indians about those Affairs, the Publick has never been troubled with the Expence of it.
The Governour then said.
" My Friends & Brethren :
" We have now brightned the Chain & strengthned our League, " & we are as one People. I have commanded all the English, by "a printed Proclamation published through all the Contrey, to be " kind to the Indians, which you shall hear read unto you & inter- "preted."
And the same was accordingly interpreted unto them, with which they appeared highly satisfied.
The Governour then enquired of them, if they had not heard that an Englishman was killed last Fall by some Indians, at John Burt's house, in Snake town, & whether those Indians belonged to them. To which they answered that they had heard of it, that it was not done by any of their People, it was done they say by some of the Menysinek Indians. The Governour said, he had received the like Answer at Conestogoe from the Indians who mett him there, but that He must have Justice done upon the guilty persons, & should demand it from that Nation to wch they belonged, that the Chain might be kept bright & clean, & every Spott be wiped away, And therefore desired to know where those of that Nation lived & under what Head or Chief.
To which they answered, that the Menysineks live at the Forks of Sasquehannah above Meehayomy, & that their Kings name is Kin- dassowa.
The Governour then said : What I have no further to desire of you is, that you would send some trusty People amongst the neigh- bouring Indians, & if you can to the Five Nations, to acquaint them with what has pass'd between us, And give these shoes and Stock- ings (presenting six pair of each) for the Use of those who are to travel, that they may the better bear their Journey. I shall also give you Bread, Pipes & Tobacco, with five Gallons of Rum to com- fort and support You in your Return home.
This the Indians readily agreed to do, & thus the Treaty ended.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, August 6th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governour. James Logan, Samuel Preston,
Richard Hill, Clement Plumsted. Esq'rs. Isaac Norris,
Was read a Recommedation of the Justices of Oyer & Terminer & Goal Delivery for this Province, in favor of Morgan Herbert, now a Prisoner in Chester Goal, setting forth, that the said Morgan, at a Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Goal Delivery, held before
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them at Chester, for the said County, on the 21st day of June last, was legally convicted of aiding & abetting Walter & John Winters in the Murther of certain native Indians, & tho' the said offence in strictness of Law may be adjudged Murther, yet that he was no further active therein than by being unhappily in the Company of those who com- mitted it, & that therefore, & from the application of divers Inhabi- tants who gave a good account of the said Morgan's Behaviour, they were induced to recommend him as an object of the Govrnrs. Com- passion & Mercy, that he may be repreived till the Kings Pleasure is known, & released from Prison, upon giving good Security for his future Behaviour. Upon which the Governour desired the Advice of the Board, who having considered the same are of opinion, that Mercy should be shown to the said Morgan Herbert, & that the said Justices be consulted as to the most proper manner of doing it.
At a Council held at Philadia., August 8th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. James Logan, Samuel Preston, Richard Hill, Clement Plumsted. Isaac Norris,
Esq'rs.
The Provincial Treasurer exhibited to the Board the Accounts of the late Indian Treaties & Charges upon them, amounting in the whole to Two hundred ninety three pounds ten shillings three pence farthing, which Accounts with all ther Vouchers were carefully ex- amined, & tho' the same amounts to a considerable Sum, yet all the articles therein contained appear to be just ; And therefore it is the opinion of the Board, that said Account be recommended to the Assembly for Payment.
At a Council held at the Courtho. of Philadia., August 24th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Govr. Richard Hill, Thomas Laurence.
Willm. Fishbourn, Esq'rs.
A List was presented to the Board of the Names of Eighty Pala- tines, who with their Families making in all about Two hundred Persons, were imported in the Ship Mortonhouse, John Coultas, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as by Clearance from the Officers of the Customs there, bearing Date the fifteenth day of June, 1728.
It appeared upon Enquiry that there was no Special License granted for their Transportation, they were then called in, & having declared that their Intentions were to settle & live peaceably in this Province ; the several Persons, whose names are subjoyned, did repeat & sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of September last. Hans Martin Miller, Uldrick Shurk,
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Hans Jacob Miller,
Uldrick Shurk, Jun.
Joannes Shurk,
Hans Lendert Miller, Conrad Keer, Dirik Oordt,
Dirik Smith,
Philip Engert,
Jacob Hoogh,
Christopher Sullenger,
Jacob Joost,
Walter Kenler,
Clement Tonkleberg,
Hans Meyer,
Pieter Tonkleberg,
Wilhelm Dillinger,
Frederick Tonkleberg,
Rodolph Heler,
Joan Pieter Melch,
Joannes Trinktingest,
Venunt Stowfer,
Stephen Haltsbeilder,
Godfrey Kenk,
Michael Rank,
Joannes Coopman,
Pieter Lorts,
Bultes Gering,
John Lagerom,
Hendrick Raan,
Frederick Leder,
Michael Scybel,
Casper Heydering,
Joannes Trankhuy,
Joannes Edesman,
Hans Ulrick Dodder,
Joannes Stock,
Hans Dirik Haak,
Hans Faks,
Jonas Keeler,
Jacob Kegenhover,
Michael Detemer,
Martin Schoup,
Joannes Kerer,
Jacob Stown,
Velde Grae,
Jacob Brummer, Joannes Crist,
Michael Keiler,
Joan Elbret Keeler,
Joannes Bare,
Martin Vogelhove,
Frans Latshow,
Joan Mathias Pieter,
Hans Benlie,
Joannes Roare,
Jacob Witsel,
Dirik Begtol,
Jacob Haystoe,
Jacob Bruelasher,
Hans Wolf Dillinger,
Philip Snolt,
Andreas Evie,
Christopher Benker,
Hendrick Ishelman,
Peter Middlecalf,
Joannes Morgestern,
Christopher Meng,
Joannes Naycomal.
Abraham Wolf.
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At a Council in the Courtho. of Philadia., Sept. 4th, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr. Lieut. Governour. Richard Hill, Clement Plumsted,
Thomas Laurence, Esq'rs.
with other Magistrates of the City.
A List was presented of the Names of Thirty Palatines, who with their Families, making in all about One hundred Persons, were im-
Joan Joost, Smit,
Bernard Hensell,
Michael Honest,
Joannes Kits Miller,
Hans Dirik Roodt,
Joannes Boot,
Christian Newswang,
Joannes Weyhelm,
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ported here in the Ship Albany, Lazarus Oxman Master, from Rot- terdam, but last from Portsmouth, as by Clearance from the Officers of the Customs there, bearing Date the 22d of June, 1728. It ap- peared the Master had no Special Licence for their Transportation : they were then called in, & having declared that they were come hither with Intention to settle & live peaceably in this Province, the Several Persons whose Names are Subjoyned, did repeat & sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of September last.
Georg Frederick Berbesdorf,
Hans Jerig Beigel,
Mathias Kaplin,
Casper Rishil,
Simon Shaller,
Jacob Weis,
Philip Showman,
Joannes Schenefelt,
Philip Glaser,
Jerig Boog,
Hans Adam Mire,
Jerig Moots,
Laurence Belits,
Jerig Gertner,
Henry Stelfelt,
Andrew Ablin,
Casper Oort,
Hans Miller,
Fred. Egelberger,
John Bloeman,
Conrad Feboy,
Hans Jerig Riger,
Jacob Danbach,
Martin Calb,
Jacob Beigel,
Joannes Earle Keil.
N. B. This Minute ought to have been Enter'd after the following :
At a Council held at Philada., September 1st, 1728.
PRESENT :
The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governour.
James Logan,
Clement Plumsted,
Isaac Norris, Thomas Laurence. Esq'rs.
The Governour informed the Board that on Saturday the 24th ulto, he was given to understand that two Indian Traders from Dur- ham, whose Names, as he afterwards learn't, are Coarse Froom, & John Schonhoven, were come to Town, & at a public house had been giving an Account of some Disturbances amongst the Indians in these Parts, upon which he Sent for them, but they appearing to be in Drink, were ordered to attend another time. And that accordingly on Monday last they presented a Paper setting forth that several Indians from Pehoquealin, had collected Skins for a Present, in order to meet the Governour at Durham Ironworks, in Bucks County, on a Treaty ; that they sent for Schonhoven, that he might be the Bearer of a Message to desire the Governour would appoint a Time to meet them there, & that while Schonhoven was amongst them, an Indian came from Sasquehannah with some Message, upon receiving which they, with their Wives and Children, went off from Pecho- quealin, leaving their Corn Standing; that the Hurry the Indians seemed to be in, gave these two Traders Cause to apprehend some Mischief was on Foot, & that therefore they had taken a Journey hither, to acquaint the Governour with it.
Frederick Christof von Strysflas,
Michael Keim,
Daniel Bengal,
Alexander Zaartman,
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The Governour proceeded and said, he was not so much sur- priz'd at this, seeing the message might be supposed to come from the Chiefs of the five Nations, who, as we are told, are now about Conestogoe, and have a great power over all our Indians, as he had since been, upon seeing a Letter wrote by Antony Sadowsky to John Petty, both Indian Traders, which being laid before the Board, was read, and is in Substance, that an Indian came to Oley, to one Peter Kirwin, and brought account that all the Indians were removed from Shamokin, except Allummapees and Opekasset ; that at the Shawanese town called Malson, the Shawanese had hang'd one Timothy Higgins, a Servant of Henry Smith's, an Indian Trader, upon a Pole of their Cabin ; that the Indians were to come down to Philadelphia about the full of this moon, & that it was feared it might not be well with the rest of the Indian Traders in those parts, for that the Indians were dissatisfied. The Governour observed, it was not very likely the Indians would come here, if they had proceeded to such an Outrage, as hanging any of our people ; that there seemed to be an Inconsistency in the relation of this matter, and therefore " he hoped it might not be true : And added, that as it highly con- cerns the peace and safety of this Province, to use all necessary pre- caution, and to enquire not only into the Truth of the foregoing Re- ports, but likewise to find out from what Springs these Uneasinesses amongst the Indians have their Rise; he had, therefore, now called the Council together to consult with them on the most proper methods to be taken.
The Board having entered seriously upon the consideration of what the Governour had said. Observed, that all those appearances of dis- quiet among the Indians seemed more & more to confirm the informa- tion which James Letort gave this Board in April last, & that it was not to be doubted but they were, in a great measure, owing to the prac- tices of Manawkyhickon, who, in Resentment for the Death of his relation Wequeala, hang'd last year in Jersey, has been endeavouring, not only to stir up the Twechtwese or naked Indians, call'd by the French Miamies, against the Christians, but likewise if possible, to sett the five Nations at variance with the English, and that it is to be ap- prehended his practice had some Influence, because several Chiefs of the five Nations who were expected here long since, are not yet come, and our own Indians have likewise neglected to return according to their appointment at the late Treaties : And altho' the Board do not give Entire credit to that part of Zadouskis' Letter relating to the hanging of Timothy Higgins, as not believing that the Shawanese - durst proceed to such Insolence, Yet they are of opinion that an En- quiry should be made into the affair, and that therefore a message ought forthwith to be dispatch'd to Shamokin, to enquire of Allum- mapees & Opekasset why they have failed in coming hither as they promised, & to know of Kakow-watchy, the Chief of the Pechoquealin Indians, why he left that Place & his people afterwards removed so suddenly from it, and to acquaint Shikellima, that as he is appointed (as 'tis said) by the five Nations to preside over the Shawanese, it's expected he will give a good account of them ; that they came into
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this Government as Strangers, & had Leave to settle amongst us, the Conestogoe Indians becoming their Security, and that 'tis to be hoped they have behaved themselves well : And to let them all know, that if any mischief is done we do expect and require they will seize the persons who are guilty of it, that they may be punished, for we must have the same Justice from them that they expect from us and will not be abused.
It was further considered by the Board, that as the five Nations have an absolute Authority over all our Indians, and may command them as they please, it is of great Importance to Remove any Im- pressions that have been made upon them to the prejudice of the English, and that by all means 'tis necessary they should be spoke with. It is therefore the opinion of the Board, that a message be sent to Conestogoe, to John Wright & Saml. Blunston, Esquires, or some other of the Justices in those parts, that they may enquire for the Chiefs of the five Nations that lately passed that way towards Maryland, and prevail upon them to come down to us, & if they are gone off from Conestogoe, that Civility should be sent after them with a message from this Government, to desire them to speak with us before they return to their own Country ; & accordingly Mr. Logan was desired to send an express to Conestogoe, with a Letter to the said Justices to be communicated to Civility, & that Henry Smith & John Petty should be forthwith sent up to Shamokin with written directions to apply to the Chiefs there, to the purposes hereinbefore mentioned.
At a Council held in the Courtho. of Philadia., Septemr. 11th, 1728.
PRESENT : The Honble PATRICK GORDON, Esq., Lieut. Govr. Thomas Laurence, Esqr.,
with others of the City Magistrates.
A List was presented of the Names of Forty two Palatines, who with their families, making in all about Ninety persons, were Im- ported here in the ship James Goodwill, David Crockat, master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as by Clearance from the officers of the Customs there, bearing Date the Fifteenth day of June, 1728. It appeared there was no special License granted for their Transportation : they were then called in, and having declared that they were come hither with Intention to settle & live peaceably in this Province, the several persons whose names are subjoyned, did re- peat and sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of September last.
Johan Casper Steffer.
Johan Casper Steffer, Jun'r. Uldrick Engelar, Andreas Knaft, George Graff,
Frederick Sholl,
- Jacob Beyer,
Michael Korr,
Adam Engeler, Loerenc Durr,
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