USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. III > Part 62
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Captain Civility hereupon said that he knew nothing of their Busi- ness, or of what had brought them hither ; that he being of the same Nation with them, to witt: an Oneida, had at their Desire come down from Conestogoe to see them.
He was told that he was very welcome to us; that he is our good old friend, and that we should always be glad to see him.
Saristagoe said that he had nothing further to add but to request that their Guns, which were much out of order, might be mended ; that they may be able to kill some food for themselves, in their re- turn home.
The Indians then withdrew.
On considering what might be proper to be given those Indians in Return to their Present of Skins and Belt of Wampum, It was observed that they had come hither without any Authority from the Six Nations ; had nothing of Importance to deliver, and were only to be regarded as Private Persons, and therefore, to discourage others from visits of this kind, it might not be amiss to give them no more than just the value of what they had presented. But it being repre- sented on the other hand, that by the Account given of those Indians by Mrs. Montour, now in Town, whose Husband, Carandowana, was the Oneida Chief, it appears that though they are not Persons of any great Note amongst the Six Nations, yet they set out for this place at the Desire of some Chiefs of those Nations, who when just preparing to visit this Government, & to follow those Indians hither, were stopped by the unexpected Arrival of sundry Persons from Albany, charged with matters of Consequence to be imparted to them that hereupon orders were dispatched to countermand all the other
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Indians from proceeding, but that these Oneidas were far advanced on their journey before those Orders reached them.
And it being likewise considered that these are the first of the Six Nations whom Mr. Penn had seen amongst us since his Arrival, on which Account it may be expected that some further Notice of them should be taken than at another time might be proper, It was unan- imously agreed that the value of Twenty pounds be given them, in such Goods as they stand most in need of.
A Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Northern Liberties was presented to the Board and read, setting forth that several Lotts being laid out, Houses erected, & more about to be built, on the Lands lately belonging to David Pegg & William Coates, a regulation of the same was necessary to prevent Encroachments on the high Road leading to Germantown and Frankfort, which Road, by the return made of it, being not so well accommodated to the Bent of the River, is in several places very incommodious, and would, if strictly followed, lead quite beside the Stone Bridge, Battlement and Causeway, which have been made at so great a publick Expence, & therefore praying that an Order may be issued for reviewing that part of the said Road, from the Boundary of the City to Chocksink's Creek, or so far as may be found necessary, for the well settling the Line of the westerly side of the said Road. The Prayer of which Petition being granted, It is ORDERED that Isaac Norris, Thomas Griffitts, Thomas Masters, James Steel, Benjamin Eastburn and Richard Waln, or any four of them, review the said Road, & make such Alterations therein as may best suit the Publick Service, with as little Damage as possible to any private Persons. And that together with their Report, they lay before this Board a Draught of the said Road so reviewed.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Septr. 27th, 1734.
PRESENT :
The Honble. the Proprietaries.
The Lieutenant Governor.
Isaac Norris,
Clement Plumsted,
Samuel Preston,
Thomas Griffitts.
Esquires.
And the Indians mentioned in the preceeding Minute.
The Proprietaries, by the Interpreter, spoke to them as follows : " Brethren :
" We take your visit kindly, the Design of which, from what you " have said, We understand is only to give us thanks for the Concern " we showed on hearing what befell some of your Nation, and espe- " cially our good friend Carandowana, your Chief. We consider the " Acknowledgements you make us on that head, as Instances of " your Gratitude to those who wish you well, & are your true " friends. We had a great Esteem for Carandowana, and were " much grieved to hear of his Death, but as you and we have long " since covered his dead Body, we shall say nothing more on that " subject.
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" When we first heard of your coming hither, we believed you had " been charged with some Message to us from the Six Nations, with " whom you know, that about two years since, at this place, we held a " great Council ; this summer we expected a Return from them, but " we are told they are prevented by some business they had to do " with the Government of York. We desire that when they come " hither, we may see amongst them some of their wise old Men of " each Nation, that we may ratify and confirm with them all those " Matters of Importance which were the subject of our last Treaty.
" As you are come a long way to see us, we are unwilling you "should return without some few necessaries, which we now give " you, vizt :
One dozen of hatchets,
Six Strowd Matchcoats, One half barrel Powder, One dozen Tobacco Tongs, One hundred weight of Ten Gallons of Rum, Lead, One hundred weight of Bread,
Two dozen of Knives,
with some Tobacco and Pipes.
Which the Indians receiving with great Thankfullness, they took Leave of the Proprietaries, Governor & Council.
It was Recommended to Mr. Preston, the Provincial Treasurer, to pay for mending their Guns & Hatchetts, and likewise for their Entertainment during their stay here.
The Proprietaries were pleased afterwards to add to this general Present,
Half a Barrel of Powder, One hundred weight of Lead, Two hundred Flints, Twenty five pounds Tobacco, One hundred Pipes.
And to Civility they gave a fine Gun, with Cloathing for himself & his Son, to the Value of Pounds. · E.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, October 4th, 1734.
PRESENT :
The Honourable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
James Logan, 1
Ralph Asheton, Samuel Hasell,
Samuel Preston,
Henry Brooke,
Thomas Griffitts,
Esquires.
Clement Plumsted,
Charles Read.
Thomas Laurence,
The Returns of the Elections of Sherifs & Coroners for the ensuing year, in the several Counties of the Province, being this day laid be- fore the Board, the following Persons were by & with the advice of the Council, appointed to the said Offices, vizt :
For the City & County of Philadelphia. Septimus Robinson &
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Andrew Robeson being returned for Sheriffs, & Owen Owen & John Roberts for Coroners, Septimus Robinson is appointed Sherif and Owen Owen Coroner.
For the County of Bucks. Timothy Smith & John Hall being .returned for Sherifs, & William Atkinson & Jonathan Woolston for Coroners, Timothy Smith is appointed Sherif and William Atkinson Coroner.
For the County of Chester. John Parry & Richard Jones being returned for Sherifs, & John Wharton & Nathan Worley for Coroners, John Parry is appointed Sherif and John Wharton Coroner.
For the County of Lancaster. Robert Buchanan & James Mit- chel being returned for Sherifs, and Joshua Lowe & Samuel Bethel for Coroners, Robert Buchanan is appointed Sherif and Joshua Lowe Coroner.
And Commissions are ordered to the said Sherifs, they first giving Security as the Law directs.
E.
- 5th.
Returns from the Counties of Newcastle & Sussex being delivered to the Governor, the following Persons were appointed to the Offices of Sherif & Coroner.
For the County of Newcastle. Henry Newton & John Dunning being returned for Sherifs, and Henry Gonne & John Robertson for Coroners, Henry Newton is appointed Sherif and Henry Gonne Cor- oner.
For the County of Sussex. Robert Smith & Cornelius Wilt- bank being returned for Sherifs, and Joshua Fisher & John Roades for Coroners, Cornelius Wiltbank is appointed Sherif and Joshua Fisher Coroner. -
E.
October 7th.
The Returns from the County of Kent having been yesterday brought to the Governor, vizt :
Daniel Rodeney & Cæsar Rodeney being returned for Sherifs, and Nicholas Lockerman & Samuel Berry for Coroners, Daniel Rodeney is appointed Sherif and Nicholas Lockerman Coroner.
E.
15th.
The Representatives of the Freemen of this Province, elected the 1st instant, having pursuant to the Constitution mett yesterday in Assembly and chosen their Speaker, sent a Messenger to the Gover- nor to know at what time he would be pleased to receive them for presenting their Speaker. His Honour appointed the forenoon, &
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gave Directions for Calling a Council in the morning, but divers Members being from town, & others indisposed, a Quorum could not be gott together.
The Representatives attending according to order, Andrew Ham- ilton, Esquire, addressing himself to the Governor, acquainted him that they had been pleased to chuse him for their Speaker, & were now before His Honour for His Approbation, to which the Governor answered, that he made no objection thereto. The Speaker then proceeded to make the usual Requests for the Maintenance of their Rights & Priviledges as a House, in the full Enjoyment & Exercise of which the Governor having assured them, he made the following Speech :
" Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen :
" It is with much Pleasure that I again see the Representatives of " the good People of this Province met in General Assembly, and I " joyfully embrace the Opportunity now given me, of congratulating " the Country on the late happy Arrival of the eldest of our Proprie- " taries amongst us, whose Affectionate Concern for the Welfare of " Pennsylvania, the Place of his Birth, and for the Happiness of all " its Inhabitants, will, I am perswaded, no less entitle him to their " Regard and Esteem, than his Personal Merits endear him to all " that know him.
" As it has not been usual for the Assemblies of this Province to " enter on any Business of Moment at their first Meeting, I have gen- " erally delayed laying any Matters before them till their second "Session. But at this time I conceive it to be incumbent on me, " and agreeable to the constant Professions I have made of my hearty " Inclinations to promote and advance as far as lies in my Power, the " true Interest of this Government, in which I shall ever chuse to " have the Advice of its Representatives, to communicate to you the "Purport of a Letter I have very lately received from the Secretary " to my Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations, desiring my " Opinion what further Encouragements may be necessary to engage " the Inhabitants of the British Colonies on the Continent of Amer- "ica, particularly of those within my Government, to apply their " Industry to the Cultivation of Naval Stores of all kinds, and like- " wise of such other Products as may be proper for the soil of the said " Colonies, and do not interfere with the Trade or Produce of Great " Britain. My Answer hereunto is expected as soon as possible, " that their Lordships may have time to consider of it before making " their Report on this Subject, at the Beginning of the next Session " of Parliament, which may be about Christmas next.
" As this Province, Gentlemen, produces, tho' in but too small " Quantities, sundry Commodities which Britain is obliged to pur- " chase from other Nations, and may be further capable of great " Improvements, no ways interfering with the Trade and real Interest " of our Mother Country, it is our immediate Duty on this Occasion, " to apply all our Thoughts to consider what Progress may be made "in those Manufactures which our Soil and Climate will admit of, " and what may be proper to be proposed as Encouragements for
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" inciting our Industry thereto. Nothing will give me greater Sat- "isfaction tban to be able, on these Points, to deliver my Opinion " consistent with the general sense of the People whom you now " represent.
" The usual Business of the year, and what the Publick Service " shall point out as necessary, will no doubt come under your Con- " sideration at your subsequent Sessions, and I flatter myself the "Experience you have had of my past Conduct, makes it unneces- " sary for me to add to those Assurances which I have constantly " given, of contributing my utmost for the Honour and Advantage " of a Province that has deserved so well of me.
E.
October 15th.
Hetaquantagechty, who came hither last August on a Message from the Six Nations, coming to town with Shekellamy and Conrad Wey- ser, the Interpreter, on Saturday last, and having signified to the Honourable the Proprietaries, that he had a Message to deliver, this afternoon was appointed for receiving it, and
At a Council then held.
PRESENT :
The Honble JOHN PENN, and THOMAS PENN, Esq'rs., Pro- prietaries.
The Lieutenant Governor.
Henry Brooke,
Clement Plumsted,
Ralph Assheton. Esquires.
And these two Indians.
Hetaquantagechty by the Interpreter, spoke to this Effect.
That he is very Glad to meet his Brethren the Proprietors and the Governor, & that they are willing to lend an Ear to what he has to say :
That he comes hither from the Six Nations, on Business relating to the last Treaty held between them & this Government; that on his Road hither he heard the Melancholy News of the Governor's Loss, by the Death of his Spouse; that he once resolved to turn back lest the Governor's Affliction should prevent him from attending to Business, but thinking it better to proceed forward, he is pleased to find the Governor present with them; that he takes part in his Grief, and if he had a Handkerchief good and fine enough to present to the Governor, he would give it to wipe away his tears; then pre- senting some strings of Wampum to the Governor, he desired that the Governor would lay aside his Grief and turn his thoughts to Business, as he had done before.
The Governor receiving the Strings of Wampum, thanked him for the kind Concern he had expressed on his Account.
Hetaquantagechty then addressing himself to the Proprietor &
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MINUTES OF THE
Governor, and presenting two drest Skins as a Mark of the Regard of the Six Nations for their Brethren here, proceeded to say :
That his Brethren may remember he came hither last Summer on a Message from the Six Nations, acquainting this Government that they would come to Philadia this Spring, to return an Answer to the Treaty held with them the year before, according to which Pro- mise they fully intended to have come, but the Ganawese Indians having sent them word that they were hastening to them on some Important Business, the Six Nations waited for their coming, which was not till the Summer was far advanced ; that then having resolved to come hither, they appointed a place for their Nations to meet at, on Sasquehannah River ; that some were actually set out and gone some days Journey, when a Message came from the Government of New York, by some of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, desiring a Meeting of the whole Six Nations at Tsanandowa, on affairs of great Moment, relating to the French; that these Commissioners had brought with them several great Guns, and seemed to have Business of Consequence to propose, on which Account the visit of the Six Nations to this Government was delayed, and many of those who were gone before were called back ; that therefore he was sent from -them to represent the true Reason of their not coming, and to excuse them to their Brethren here; that he was likewise desired to tell them that the Six Nations had considered of all the matters that had been treated of between them and this Government, and had ap- proved of all that had been done and said, and would certainly come next Summer and fully ratify it themselves.
That on his Road hither he was sorely troubled to hear that some base Mis-representations had been made of those Indians that came hither to that Treaty, as if they were Persons who had no Authority for their coming, and were not of any Credit amongst their own Peo- ple, and that this Government had been imposed upon & put to a needless Charge on their Account; that he believes this Report has been in a great Measure owing to a certain Woman,* whose old Age only protects her from being punished for such Falsehoods ; that in the mean time they must resent it and hope to get rid of her. On this Article he delivered some strings of Wampum.
He then proceeding, said,
That the Indians have often complained of Great Quantities of Rum brought amongst them, but now they have more Occasion than ever to renew that Complaint ; for such Quantities are daily carried to them, that they are not only impoverished by it, but many of them disabled from providing Sustinence for themselves and their Fami- lies ; that the Indians love to drink it, and the Traders generally furnishing themselves with little else, they can scarce get Powder & Shott to hunt with; he therefore earnestly desires that some measures may be taken for preventing a Practice which must end in the Destruction of the Indians, who, if they want Rum, should rather fetch it for themselves than have it brought to them.
Mrs. Montour.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
That the Six Nations were desired by this Government, at the last Treaty, to prevail with the Shawanese to leave Ohio or Allegheney and return towards Sasquehannah ; that for this purpose they sent Messengers to the Shawanese, who answered that they would remove further to the Northward, towards the French Country, whereupon some Chiefs of the Six Nations set out to speak with them, and they mett together ; but he cannot tell what was the Result of this meeting.
That he has understood when the Shawanese were desired to leave Allegheney they sent a Belt of Wampum to the Delaware Indians, with a Message, intimating to them that as they, the Shawanese, were to seek out a new Country for themselves, they should be glad to have the Delawares with them. That Sassoonan, the Delaware Chief, had forbid any of his People to go with the Shawanese, and had desired that these last mentioned Indians should rather return to Sasquehannah ; but Hetaquantagechty being apprehensive that if the Shawanese should go over to the French Country the Delawares would follow them, he thought proper to apprize this Government of it.
That having now finished what he had to say he will only add, that as we have several Gunsmiths here, it would be very acceptable to all the Indians about Shamokin, to have one settled amongst them ; that they would engage he should be paid honestly for his work : he might gett many Skins and grow Rich.
Then presenting a Bundle of drest Deer Skins, he said they were Hunters and lived in the Wilderness, and would desire, if their Brethren please, to have some Powder and Lead given them.
He was asked from whom these Skins were given ; whether from the Six Nations. He said they were given by himself, Shekellamy, and the Neighbourhood about Shamokin.
The Proprietors told him they took his visit kindly, and would consider what he had said and give an Answer to it : the Indians were invited to drink a friendly Glass.
E.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, October 16th. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Proprietaries.
The Lieutenant Governor.
Henry Brooke,
Samuel Hasell,
Clement Plumsted,
Charles Read.
Esquires.
Ralph Assheton,
And the Indians mentioned in the preceeding Minute.
John Penn, Esqr., by the Interpreter, spoke to them as follows.
" My Brethren :
"I am well pleased with the Opportunity your visit gives me, so " soon after my Arrival here, to see my good friends Hetaquanta- " gechty and Shekellamy, of both whom I have received so favour-
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"able a Character that you shall always be welcome to me, and I " desire you to assure all the Indians, and particularly my good " friends of the Six Nations, that it shall be my constant care to " strengthen that firm League and Chain of Friendship which my " Father first began, and has since been carefully preserved between " the Indians, and all the People within this Government.
" Though I was not present when the last Treaty was held with " my Brethren of the Six Nations, yet the whole of what then passed " was made known to me, and I entirely approve of it, being agree- "able to my own Sentiments. I am therefore, for myself and on " behalf of this Government now to acquaint you :
" That it would be very agreeable to us to have some of the wise " old Men of the Six Nations at Philadelphia, according to the Ex- " pectations they gave us, but since Business of great Consequence " has prevented them, we take it kindly that they have sent you, our " good friends, to acquaint us with the true Reason of it. We shall " nevertheless expect to see next year, some of your Ancient Men " of the Several Nations, that we may have a full Answer to all those " matters of which we treated together.
" Though we have not had the Pleasure of seeing our Brethren of " the Six Nations, because of the Message from New York, by the " Commissioners of Indian Affairs, yet we are the less Sorry seeing " it is not improbable but those People have come hither to treat of " matters which concern all the Subjects of the Great King of Eng- " land, and as the Government of York and Pennsylvania have the " same Common Interest, and are in Effect one and the same People, " we hope every Proposition they shall make for more firmly uniting " the Six Nations to their ancient good friends, the English, and for " strengthening all the Indians against the Attacks of their Enemies, " will be chearfully received and willingly hearkned to.
" We are much concerned to find that the Shawanese, instead of " following the good Council we gave them, are desirous to go further " from us, and even to remove themselves towards the Settlements " of the French : if they should persist in this Resolution, which we " hope they will not, they will be lost to the Six Nations as well as " to us : and therefore we must desire you, that as soon as you re- " turn you will represent this to the Six Nations, that they may use " their Endeavours to prevent the Shawanese going off, and likewise "caution the Delawares from giving any Ear to those who would " perswade them to leave their old true friends. And on this head, " we shall not be wanting to give them our wholesome Council, " which we hope their own true nnd real Interest will lead them to " follow.
" As to the Complaints you make of the great Quantities of Rum " brought amongst the Indians, we believe there is but too much " reason for them ; such Complaints have been long and often re- " peated : we have made many Laws against that wicked Practice, " and we shall now order some parts of them to be interpreted to " you, that you may see how great our Care has been in those Points ; " but the Indians are so fond of it, that unless you could fall on
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" some method to hinder them from drinking it, it is scarcely pos- " sible for us to prevent its being brought to them : some People for " the sake of Gain, will hazard anything : the woods are dark and " thick, and what is acted there seldom comes to our knowledge, and "if it does, it is a very difficult matter to gett any Person to witness " against those evil People what they have done, and without some " Proof of this kind, our Laws will not punish them : all imaginable " Care shall be taken, that none of the Licensed Traders shall escape " unpunished, if any such Practice shall be proved against them, & " if others come amongst the Indians, they go Secretly and without " our knowledge; if they can be discovered they shall be severely " punished.
(Then were read & interpreted unto them several Paragraphs of the Act against selling Rum and other strong Liquors to the Indians.) " You know Brethren, that all the Subjects of England are free, " and those who are Tradesmen generally resort to such places where " they are most likely to gett Business, but we cannot order them to " goe to where we please : it is the hope of Gain that prevails with " them : we should be glad to have the Indians accommodated with " Smiths for mending their Guns & Hatchets, and as the People in- " crease, it is very likely some may settle in your Neighbourhood.
" We give no Ear to those foolish People who would endeavour to " discredit our good friends of the Six Nations, with whom we held " the late Treaty : we believe those that then came to us were good " Men and had an Authority for what they said and did ; you should " disregard such idle Reports, for they can make no impressions on " us."
They were then told that some Powder and Lead, with some cloath- ing, would be delivered to them.
Hetaquantagechty said he was very much pleased with what had been spoke : it gave him great Satisfaction, but he thought it strange that our People would continue in a Practice so severely forbid by our Laws ; he therefore desired that the Paragraph of the aforesaid Law which gives Power to any Persons to Seize and Secure Rum found in any Indian Towns or Settlements should be copied out and given him.
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