USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 48
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That upon each Article the french Governor returned his hearty thanks, and added that for the better Security of this Tree, he would add a Top to it, that should reach up to the Heavens, that no Wind or Storm might shake or hurt it, & in Confirmation of his Words gave them a large Belt of Wampum.
That the Governor of Canada then said he would dig a very deep Hole, and therein throw his Hatchetts, that the upper parts should be covered with firm Earth, but the lower part should be Mudd and Water; that the Water might carry away the Hatchetts so that the same might never again be found, or used by him or them, his or their Children or Children's Children, to all Generations ; that when the Hole was thus covered up he would build a Town over it, that the Place might never be discovered, but that from thenceforth a lasting Peace should be established between them.
Hetaquantagetchty then proceeded & said :
That several of the Outawaes who live on the great Lake to the Westward had been foolish, but that he had sett them to Rights, and convinced them that it is their Interest to trade & deal with the En- glish ; that they not only advised but commanded these Indians not to deal for the future with the French, whose Goods are too dear, but that they should goe to the trading House of Oswegoe, where there is great Plenty of all Sorts of Goods, and buy of the English, who would sell cheaper than the French.
That last Fall the French Interpreter, Cahichtodo, came to Ohio River (or Allegeney) to build houses there, & to supply the Indians with Goods, which they no sooner understood than they went out to forbid him, telling him that the Lands on the Ohio belonged to the Six Nations ; that the French had nothing to do with them, and advised him to go home; but he, not regarding their Advice pro- ceeded, upon which they sent to the French Governour to com-
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plain, but their Messengers were not returned when they came from home.
That they Know nothing certainly of what passed between Cahich- todo and the Shawanese at Ohio.
Then presenting some Strings of Wampum,
They said, that since their Brother Onas & their Brother the Gov- ernour, had treated and received them so Kindly, & had spoke to them in so friendly a manner, they were highly pleased with the same, and are very willing & desirous that there may be more fre- quent Opportunities of conferring and discoursing with their Breth- ren, and that these may be managed by the means of Shekellamy and Conrad Weyser, the Interpreter.
That this is all they have to say at present, but as their Brother Onas is wiser than them, he may have some Questions to propose, to which they are ready to answer very freely & openly.
The Proprietor then told them that their Speech was extremely agreeable to him and he took it very Kindly; that he would now drink a friendly Glass with them, and afterwards would confer with them more closely on several Subjects.
The Speaker presenting the Proprietor with a fine painted Mantle of dresst Otter skins, putt the same over his Shoulders.
August 26th.
At a private Conference with Tyoninhogaroa & the other Chiefs who were present, the Proprietor, Governor, & some Members of Council :
They were told we were anxious for the Welfare of their Nation, and desire to know how the several other Nations around them. stand affected towards them. And first they were asked how the' Twech- twese (called by the French the Miamis,) & themselves now stood affected to each other ?
They said they were at War with those People while they were at War with the French, but after they had made Peace with the French they concluded one also with the Twechtwese ; that they are now in the strictest Union with them & are as one People.
Q. What Number of Men may the Twechtwese have?
A. They have one town so large that it is four times as long as one can see at once, and they have two other large Towns, but they know not the Number of their Men; they are a great Nation, and have more people than are in all the City of Philadelphia.
Q. What other Nations are they (the Mingoes) in Friendship with ; and what are the Numbers & Strength of such Nations ?
A. Their Chief Friends and Allies are the Twechtwey-roona, con- sisting as has been said of three Towns, the Altoomatte-roona who have also three Towns ; the Onichkarydgo-roona, who have but one town, and the Seysaghe-roona, (roona signifies a Nation or People) who have fourteen good Towns. Divers other Nations have also sued to them of late to come into Alliance with them, & they should receive them. All these were under the French, & traded only with them, but now they had opened their Eyes and they would
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trade only with the English, who used them better & sold their Goods cheaper.
Q. The French had burried their Hatchett and told them they would build a Town over it, So that it should never be found to be dug up again ; But do they think they would not find that Hatchett again upon any new Quarrell ?
A. The French Priests & others that come amongst them, speak nothing but Peace to them ; but last Winter Onontejo, (or the french Governor,) sent a Message to the Onondagoes, desiring some of them to come and speak with him, & they refused ; upon which he sent another Message with a large Belt of Wampum, threatening them if they did not come to him. Hereupon the Onondagoes sent five of their People to the Governor, asking him what he wanted with them, and why he had threated them, telling him that such Treatment was not agreeable to the Peace and Friendship professed between them : to which the Governor answered, he had not sent any such Message : the Onondagoes then produced the Belt he had sent, & repeated the Words that were delivered with it; but the Governor said they were foolish People that had delivered these Words, they had them not from him.
They were told in Return to this, that the French last year ex- pected to have a War with the English, and probably that Message was then sent, but when Affairs in Europe took another Turn, the French Governor might then think it proper to take back his Words and deny them.
They said it might be so.
Q. But if there should be a War between the English and French, would not those four Nations, vizt : the Twechtwey-roona, &c., joyn with the French again ?
A. Those four Nations, they said, had putt their hearts into their (the Mingoes) hands, and would now do whatever they ordered or directed.
Q. Were not the French angry with those People, for passing them & bringing their Peltry to trade with the English, and did they not endeavour to hinder them ?
A. The French are angry, and not only endeavour to stop them, but threaten them ; & some of those Nations expect the French will fall upon them ; but they regard it not; they find better usage from the English, and will have no more dealings with the French.
They were told that the Shawanese who were Settled to the South- ward, being made uneasie by their Neighbours, about Sixty Families of them came up to Conestogoe, about thirty five years since, and desired leave of the Sasquehannah Indians who were planted there, to settle on that River ; that those Sasquehannah Indians applied to this Government that they might accordingly Settle, & they would become answerable for their good Behaviour. That our late Pro- prietor arriving soon after, the Chiefs of the Shawanese & of the Sasquehannahs came to Philadelphia & renewed their Application ; that the Proprietor agreed to their Settlement, and the Shawanese
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thereupon came under the Protection of this Government ; that from that time greater Numbers of the same Indians followed them, and Settled on Sasquehannah & Delaware ; that as they had joyned them- selves to the Sasquehannah Indians who were dependent on the five Nations, they thereby fell also under their Protection. That we had held several treaties with those Shawanese, and from their first coming were accounted and treated as our own Indians : but that some of their Young-men having between four and five years since, committed some Disorders, tho' we had fully made it up with them, yet being afraid of the Six Nations, they had removed backwards to Ohio, and there had lately putt themselves under the Protection of the French, who had received them as their Children. That we had sent a Message to them to return, & to encourage them had laid out a large Tract of Land on the West of the Sasquehannah, round the principal Town where they had been last Settled, and we desired by all means, that they would return thither.
Tyoninhogarao answered that they never intended to hurt the Shawanese; that as they were coming hither they spoke with Ka- kowatchy, an old Chief of the Shawanese, & told him that he should not look to Ohio, but turn his face to us ; that they had also told Sassoonan, the old Chief of the Delaware Indians, that they must all come back from Ohio, for they should not Settle there, upon which he had sent Messengers to his People at Ohio, requiring them to return.
They were told that as they were the Chiefs of all the Northern Indians in these parts, and the Shawanese had been under their Pro- tection, they should oblige them to return.
They asked if we desired them (the Six Nations) to do it of them- selves, or to joyn with us.
It was answered that we desired they should joyn with us in en- gaging them to return. Upon which they craved time to consider of it amongst themselves, & then the Conference ended.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Aug. 28th, 1732.
PRESENT :
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governor.
James Logan,
Clement Plumsted.
Isaac Norris, Raph Assheton, Esq'rs.
Samuel Preston, Samuel Hasell.
The Minutes of the Treaty, with those taken at the private Con- ference, were read. The Governor then proposed to the Board to consider of the present proper to be given to the Indians, & some Progress being made therein, the further Consideration of the same was referr'd till the afternoon.
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At a Council then held.
PRESENT :
The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governor. And the same members of Council as in the forenoon.
A Message was brought from the Indians by the Interpreter, that, having considered what had been proposed to them at the private Conference touching the Shawanese, they were ready to answer it, and to enter into further Discourse. Whereupon it was agreed to adjourn the Consideration of the present and to send for the Indians . who being come and seated :
HETAQUANTEGECHTY repeating what had been proposed to them at the Conference, said :
That they had taken time to consider of their answer touching the Shawanese, which they would now deliver to their Brother Onas and the Governour.
That they are much indebted to their Brethren for the goodwill and affection they show, in advising them to strengthen themselves by friendship with their Neighbours of Several Nations ; that they look upon this Advice as a Sure Token of Brotherly Love towards them.
Then laying down some strings of Wampum :
They desire we all joyn with them in calling back the Shawanese, which they conceive they can do by preventing our Indian Traders from going to Ohio, for while the Indians are supply'd at that place with such Goods as they want, they will be the more unwilling to remove.
That tho' they may be able to prevail with the Shawanese to re- turn from Ohio, yet they will not be so capable of affecting it, unless we call back our Traders from thence, and hinder them from furnish- ing them with Goods and receiving their Peltry there. It will there- fore be our own faults if they do not return.
That they will order Cahichtodo, the french agent, to remove from Ohio, and doubt not but they shall oblige him to it; they will men- tion our proposal at the great fire or Council, when they return home, and are sure they shall accomplish our desire if we will do what is necessary on our part.
They say that it is now many years since they expected the arri- val of one of the Sons of the great William Penn : one year they were told he was coming and came not ; it proved the same a second and a third year ; but they were greatly rejoyced to hear on their Road hither that he was certainly come. And it must have hapned, say they, by the Providence of the Great Ruler of Heaven and Earth, that his coming fell out at a time which gave them so early an op- portunity of seeing him ; they could gladly wish he may ever remain amongst them, & desire to know how long he intends to stay in the Country.
The Proprietor answered, he was much obliged to them for the affection they expressed for him, and joyn'd with them in acknow-
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ledging the hand of that Good Providence which gave him an oppor- tunity of seeing his Brethren so soon after his arrival, and that he had no thought of returning.
Then being invited to draw nearer, and enter into more familiar Discourse,
They say, that since they and their Brethren were now mett to- gether, they would willing ask some Questions of their Brethren, and particularly how the two Great Kings on the other side of the Water, viz. : the Kings of England and France stand affected to each other ?
It was answered that they knew those Kings had been at War, and a peace had been concluded between them which had now lasted about twenty years, & for what we yet know, they are in friendship with each other. Great Kings some times fall out ; they may do so again, but as yet we know nothing of it.
They reply'd, that they are extremly glad to hear that the two Great Kings are at peace with each other; they have frequently wondered why so much bad news should come from Canada, that has often made them very uneasie.
Being called on to draw round the table, and again invited to a more free & familiar Conversation.
Their Speaker, by the direction of Tyoninhogarao, said, That Onon- tejo (the Name they gave to the Governours of Canada) had sent to speak with their Chiefs, and told them he should have a War with Cor- laer, (their name for the Governours of New York,) and that he desired them to sitt still and look on, that the should see he was the better Man, & would beat Corlear & his people ; that he desired his Chil- dren the Six Nations should not concern themselves in it, for why should their Blood be shed in his Quarrell with the English.
The French and English were all from Europe, of the same kind of Flesh and Blood, & the Indians should leave them to fight it out among themselves ; these Nations should see he could himself beat all his Enemies. To which they said their Chiefs had answered to this purpose ; Onontejo you are very proud ; in your last War with the English you cried out for Peace, and you had it, but now you are grown proud; you are not wise to make war with Corlear, & to propose such things to us. Corlear is our Brother, He came to us when he was but very little, and a Child, we suckled him at our Breasts; we have nursed him & taken Care of him till he is grown up to be a Man ; he is our Brother & of the same Blood. He and We have but one Ear to hear with, One Eye to see with, and one Mouth to speak with. We will not forsake him, nor see any Man make War with him without assisting : we shall joyn him, and if we fight with you, we may have our Father Onontejo to bury in the Ground ; we would not have you force us to this, but be wise & live in Peace.
Being asked when & where this Discourse passed, they said about five years since, at Tiochteage, (their Name for Montreal.) That Onontejo had three several times before, proposed to them to joyn with him against the English, but they would not hear it. That
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at last he had proposed to them to stand Neuters, as has been men- tioned, which they having also refused, he had never spoke to them since.
They were told that it was true the French were very proud, but they had been soundly beaten last War in Europe ; the Governor who is now present, had been himself engaged in many great Battells against them; that in one Battle where he was, the French lost forty thousand Men, either Killed or taken Prisoners ; they lost many great Towns, and whole Countries were taken from them; yet now, as they are ever proud, they want to be Masters, and because they know the Six Nations are the bravest Indians in all these parts of the World, they would first separate them from their Brethren, the English and Dutch, who have at all times been true Friends to the Indians ; have supply'd them with Powder, Lead, Guns, Cloathing, and all Necessaries, when the French on the other hand, made War on them, and endeavoured to destroy them ; their old Men know this, & know that the French would not have left one of their People alive upon the face of the Earth, if they had been strong enough to Master them ; but they were not able; they were obliged to cry out for Peace. And now they would deceive them, but they well know they are old Enemies, & the English are their constant Friends.
They said our Words were true and good, they would communicate them to their other Chiefs, and after some more Discourse to the same Purpose, they retired.
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August 29th.
The Indians, by their Interpreter, having signified their Desire of knowing the Sentiments of the Proprietor and Governor on what had been offered in answer to the Proposition about recalling the Shawa- nese, that being likewise inclined to send a Message on this head to that Nation, they desired a Belt of Wampum might be given them to send with it, and that they would be pleased to have an Answer to their Proposition about Employing Shekellamy and Conrad Wey- ser in all Messages between them, the Six Nations, and this Govern- ment.
Whereupon the Honourable the Proprietor and the Governor, and some Members of Council being mett, the Indians were sent for, who being come, & seated, the Proprietor spoke to them as fol- lows :
" My Brethren :
" We have considered your Answer accompanyed by some Strings "of Wampum, to our Proposition of recalling the Shawanese. We " are much obliged to you for the Readiness you show to joyn with " us in this matter, and we are desirous to have the same putt in "Execution as soon as may be; but we doubt that both you and " we will be obliged to consider that the Indians settled there have " their Corn growing, & it may be very inconvenient to order their " Removal to a place where they will have no Bread, & indeed it 19*
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" would be cruel. As several Traders likewise, have considerable " parcels of Goods lodged at Ohio, it will be a hardship to oblige " them to remove now when the Winter is coming on. Therefore " we would propose, that till next Spring we should delay calling " back our Traders, & likewise that the Indians for the aforemen- " tioned Reasons, be suffered to continue there till that time and no " longer. And to confirm these Words, we give one Stroud Match- " coat.
" As to what you have said about employing Shekellamy & Conrad " Weyser, on which you gave the first strings of Wampum, We are " very glad you agree with us in the Choice of so good Men to go " between us. We believe them to be very honest, and will with " Chearfulness employ them, and to confirm this we give another " Stroud Matchcoat.
" Since you think fitt to desire some Token from us to accompany " your intended message to the Shawanese, We now give you a large " Belt of Wampum to be delivered to them, together with the Words " that have been spoken, that concern that Nation."
The Belt being accordingly delivered, & the Indians having ex- pressed their Satisfaction with what had been now said unto them, withdrew.
At a Council held at Philadia., Augt. 30th, 1732. PRESENT :
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The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esgr., Lt. Governor.
James Logan, Thomas Laurence,
Isaac Norris, Samuel Hasell. Esq'rs. Samuel Preston,
A Draught of a concluding Speech to the Indians being laid be- fore the Board, was read, and with some small Amendments ap- proved.
The Consideration of the Present to the Indians was resumed, & after some time Spent thereon, a List of Goods proper to be given them was drawn up, and delivered to Mr. Preston, the Provincial Treasurer, to whom it was recommended to provide them with all Dispatch, so that they may be gott ready by tomorrow afternoon.
It was then considered what might be proper to be given Shekel- Jamy, for his Trouble in the two Journeys he had performed at the Desire of this Government, with Messages to the Six Nations. And likewise, the Reward to Conrad Weyser, who had accompanied the Indians hither from Tulpahockin, had been very carefull of them, and was extremly Serviceable on this present Treaty. And it being observed that these Men were not only very acceptable to the In- dians, as appeared by their late recommendation of them, but like- ยท wise seemed to be persons of Truth & Honesty, on which Account it would be necessary to give them all due Encouragement.
It is resolved that the Sum of Eight pounds be paid to Shekel
P
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lamy, & Twelve pounds to Conrad Weyser, together with the Charges he may have necessarily expended for the Indians in their Journey hither.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, in the Great Meeting house, August 31st, 1732.
PRESENT :
The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieut. Governr. With the Members of Council,
&
A very great Audience, that crowded the House and all its Galle- ries.
PRESENT ALSO :
The Chiefs of the Indians, with all their People who accompanied them in their Journey.
THE PROPRIETOR was pleased to direct the Minutes of the 23d, 24th & 25th, to be publickly read, which was done accordingly. The Clerk of the Council, by his Order, then informed the Audience that several Conferences had been held with the Indians, on Matters of Great Importance, but that the Result & Substance of the whole is comprised in the following Articles, by which the present Treaty is to be concluded. And the same being first read and afterwards distinctly interpreted to the Indians, is as follows :
" Brethren :
"Our Intention in desiring this Visit from the Six Nations, was " to advise with you on such matters as will contribute to your own " Welfare and Security, as well as to the Public Peace of this and " of all these Northern Colonies in general. We heartily thank " you for accepting of our Invitation, in so kindly visiting us, taking "this long Journey to see us, & being so free and open on the Seve- 1
" ral heads we have Spoke to. And now to close the whole Treaty, " we shall recapitulate in Public, the Articles on which we have " agreed.
"In answer to our Proposition, that you should bring over as " many Nations of Indians as you can into your Interest, and make " firm Leagues with them, you have told us that you have already " made such Leagues with the Nations of the Otawese, the Twetch- "twese, Altamootes, Onachkaryagoe & Sessagychese, who have " heretofore depended wholly on the French. We are highly " pleased with what you have done herein, & we advise you by all " means & by all Opportunities, further to brighten and strengthen " these valuable Chains, and not only with these Nations, but with " all other Nations that you can possibly gain over to you, whether " they live nearer to you or at a greater Distance. These People " will find it greatly for their own Interest, as it will also be for
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" your Interest, for by these means you will make yourselves much " greater and Stronger.
"We have desired particularly that you would take the Shawan- " ese into your Protection, make a firm League of Friendship with " them, and engage them to be as one People with yourselves ; that " they may be usefull to and assist you, on all Occasions. And the " better to secure them from others that you would joyn with us, as " has been proposed, in removing them and all our Delaware In- " dians from Ohio, and bringing them back to their former Habita- " tions, in which you have promised to take proper Measures on "your parts.
" That you should make all the Nations of Indians who joyn with " you, sensible, that when they enter into a League of Friendship " with the Six Nations, they at the same time enter into Friendship " with all the Subjects of the Great King of England that are on " this Side of the great Water, & that thereby they become as one " People.
" Our Advice further is, that you would avoid all needless Wars " with other distant Indians, by whom you may loose your own " People, & perhaps gain but little.
"That you should committ nothing that may justly provoke the " French, yet that you strictly maintain your own Rights ; that you " keep your own People as much as possible united amongst your- " selves, all of one Heart and one Mind, without Division, that you " may all draw together as in one Chain. That you should use " your utmost Endeavours to bring home all such of your People as " live among the French; that so you may all be joyned & bound " together as one very great Man, with one Heart and one Head, for " so you will become much the Stronger.
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