USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV > Part 36
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Bill might be injurious to the Proprietors, and that some necessary Clauses were omitted, sent the following Verbal Message by his Secretary, Viz *:
The Governour has some observations to make on the Bill for the more effectual preserving the Credit of our Paper Money and re- covering the Proprietary Quitrents, and as your House seems to be in haste to adjourn, would be glad to communicate them to some Members sent by your House, but if you do not approve of that method, will send them in writting.
After which, Four of the Members of the Assembly waited on the Governour, and having received his Observations, the House returned the Bill with some Amendments, which were approved of.
The Bill intitled a Supplement to the Act for electing Members of the Assembly, &c., was read and returned to the Assembly with the following Message :
" The Governour in Council to the Gentlemen of the Asembly. " Gentlemen :
" A Bill for regulating the Choice of Inspectors at future Elections of Assembly Men, seems absolutely necessary from the Disorders complained of at the last. But I am apprehensive that the Bill now before me is not calculated to prevent the like for the future, and that the Method therein prescribed, considering the little Authority of Constables and Overseers of the Poor; will rather multiply Tu- mults than discourage them, particularly in this Populous City. However, if you continue desirous of making a Tryal of it, I will give my Assent to this Bill that nothing may be left unessayed for the Preservation of the Publick Peace.
"GEORGE THOMAS."
The Governour likewise sent by his Secretary the Petitions of several of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia and Lancaster Counties, for erecting a new County, with a Map describing the Bounds of it, together with the following Message :
"The Governor in Council to the Gentlemen of the Assembly. " Gentlemen :
" I have ordered to be laid before you the Petitions of several of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia and Lancaster Counties, setting forth the Hardships and Inconveniencies they labour under on ac- count of their great Distance from the County Courts, and praying that a new County may be erected agreeable to the Lines marked in a Map of the Province delivered by them. If it shall be thought likely to conduce to the Security, Ease and good Order of that part of the Government, I shall be willing to grant the Prayer of the Petition ; And as a Provision will be best made by a Law for the Establishment of Courts of Judicature, I shall be also willing to join with you in one for that or other necessary Purposes.
GEORGE THOMAS.
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The Bill for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania to trade and hold Lands within the said Province, was read and returned with a small Amendment, which was agreed to by the Assembly.
The Paper-Money Bill was likewise returned without any further Amendment.
Two of the Members of the Assembly waited on the Governour to know when he would be pleased to receive the House in order to their presenting to him such Bills to be passed into Laws as had met with his Concurrence ; To which the Governour answered that he was now ready to receive the House.
The Speaker with the whole House immediately waited upon the Governour, and having presented him with an Order on the Pro- vincial Treasurer for One Thousand Pounds for his year's Support, The Governour received it thankfully, and gave his Assent to the following Bills, Viz“:
A Bill for Re-printing, Exchanging, and Re-emitting all the Bills of Credit now current in this Province, and for striking the farther Sum of £11,110 5 0, to be emitted upon Loan.
A Bill for the more effectual preserving the Credit of our Paper- Money, and recovering the Proprietor's Quit Rents.
A Bill for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Debts.
A Bill for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania to trade and hold Lands within the said Province.
A Supplement to the Act for electing Members of Assembly, &c.
A Supplement to the Act prescribing the Forms of Declarations of Fidelity, Abjuration, and Affirmation, instead of the Forms here- tofore required in such Cases.
Then the Speaker informed the Governour that the House in- tended to adjourn to the Sixth of August next, to which the Governour answering that he had no exception to the time, the House withdrew.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, July 27th, 1739. -
PRESENT :
The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietor.
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernour.
James Logan,
Thomas Laurence,
Samuel Preston,
Ralph Asheton, Samuel Hasel,
Esqrs.
Anthony Palmer,
Clement Plumsted,
Thomas Griffitts,
Cacowatchike, Notchiconer, Kaycowockecar, Neweheconer, Tom-
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enebuck, Meshemethequater, Chiefs of the Shawonese Indians, with some others to the number of Twenty and one, being come to Town, the Minutes of Council containing a Conference with some of their Chiefs in the year 1732 were read, as was also the Treaty made be- tween William Penn, Esqr., proprietor and Governour of this Pro- vince, and some of the Chiefs of that Nation and other Nations of Indians in 1701. James Logan, Esqr., was then desired to prepare a Speech against four of the Clock in the Afternoon, to which time the Board adjourned.
4 of the Clock, P. M. PRESENT : U. P.
Pursuant to the desire of the Board Mr. Logan laid what he had wrote before them, which, after some Alterations, being approved of, and the Indians desired to walk in and seat themselves, was deliv- ered to them as follows, Vizt .:
"Our good Friends and Brothers-
" Since your Nation first left their Settlement near Pextang, on the west side of Sasquahannah, and retired to so great a Dis- tance as the River Ohio or Alleghenny, this Government has ever been desirous of a Conference with some of your Chiefs.
"Some of your older men may undoubtedly remember that about Forty years ago a considerable number of Families of your Nation thought fit to remove from the great River that bears your Name, where your principal Correspondence was with those of the French Nation.
[A. D., 1699]. " And they then applied to the Indians of Sas- quahannah to be admitted to settle amongst them, who consenting thereto did petition this Government that you the Shawonese might be received, had, and esteemed from that time in the same Rank with them and the other Indian Natives of this Province.
"In consequence of which your Nation the year after came to this City and then executed a Treaty, whereby they bound them- selves in the most solemn manner to live in the strictest Union with all the English and to observe their Laws.
" And on the other hand, your Father William Penn (whose great affection and Tenderness for the Indians of every Nation, those who can remember him, are very sensible of to this Day), gave your Nation the most solemn Assurances of being treated like his Child- ren and Brothers, and considered in all respects by himself and those who should succeed him in the Government as Subjects to the same Crown and Partakers, of the same Privileges without Distinction that any English should enjoy.
VOL. IV .- 22.
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"You yourselves who are now present we suppose cannot but be sensible, and must readily confess, that this has been fully made good to you on all Occasions on our parts.
" This is what we judge necessary to put you now in mind of, that as the old Men of all Nations one after another drop off and young succeed in their places, those of yours who might not per- haps have received from their Parents Impressions strong enough to this purpose might here be told of them, and be made acquainted with the Engagements which their Fathers had entered into before."
This Treaty is as follows, Viz+ :
Articles of Agreement indented, made, concluded, and agreed upon at Philadelphia, the 23rd Day of April, in the Year One Thou- sand seven Hundred and One, between William Penn, Proprie- tary and Governour of the Province of Pennsylvania and Terri- tories thereunto belonging on the one Part, And Connoodaghtoh, King of the Indians inhabiting upon and about the River Sasque- hannah, in the said Province, And Widaagh (alias Orettyagh), Koqueeash and Andaggy, Inntquagh, Chiefs of the said Nations of Indians, & Oopaththa, King, and Lemoytungh and Pemoya- jooagh, Chiefs of the Nations of the Shawannah Indians, and Akookassongh, Brother to the Emperor, for and in behalf of the Emperor, and Werwhinjough, Cherquittagh, Relyewsan, and Woapathaa, chiefs of the Nations of Indians inhabiting in and about the Northern part of the River Potomock, in the said Pro- vince, for and in behalf of themselves and Successors, and their several Nations and People on the other Part, as followeth :
That as hitherto there hath always been a good Understanding and Neighborhood between the said William Penn and his Lieuten- ants since his first Arrival in the said Province. and the several Na- tions of Indians inhabiting in and about the same, so there shall be forever hereafter a firm and lasting Peace continued between the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, and all the English and other christian Inhabitants of the said Province, and the said Kings and Chiefs and their Successors, and all the several People of the Nations of Indians aforesaid, and that they shall forever hereafter be as one head and one heart, and live in true Friendship and Amity as one people.
Item ; That the said Kings and Chiefs (each for himself and his people engaging), shall at no time hurt, injure, or defraud, or suffer to be hurt, injured, or defrauded by any of their Indians, any In- habitant or Inhabitants of the said Province either in their Persons or Estates. And that the said William Penn, his Heirs and Suc- cessors, shall not suffer to be done or comitted by any of the sub- jects of England within the said Province, any Act of Hostility or Violence, Wrong or Injury, to or against any of the said Indians, but shall on both sides at all times readily do Justice and perform
1
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all acts and Offices of Friendship and good-will to oblige each other to a lasting Peace as aforesaid.
Item ; That all and every the said Kings and Chiefs, and all and every particular of the Nations under them, shall at all times be- have themselves regularly and soberly according to the Laws of this Government, while they live near or amongst the Christian Inhab- itants thereof; And that the said Indians shall have the free and full Priviledges & Immunities of all the said Laws as any other In- habitants, they duely owning and acknowledging the Authority of the Crown of England, and Government of this Province.
Item; That none of the said Indians shall at any time be Aiding, Assisting, or Abetting to any other Nation, whether of Indians or others that shall not at such time be in Amity with said Crown of England and with this Government. Item; That if at any time .any of the said Indians, by means of evill-minded Persons and 'sowers of Sedition, should hear any unkind or disadvantageous Re- ports of the English, as if they had evill designs against any of the said Indians, in such case such Indians shall send notice thereof to the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, or their Lieu- tenants, and shall not give Credence to the said Reports, till by that means they shall be fully satisfied concerning the Truth thereof, and that the said William Penn, his Heirs or Successors, or their Lieutenants, shall at all times in such Cases do the like by them. Item ; That the said Kings and Chiefs, and their successors and People, shall not suffer any strange Nation of Indians to settle or plant on the further side of Sasquehannah or about Potomock River, but such as are there already seated, nor bring any other Indians into any part of this Province without the special Appro- bation & Permission of the said William Penn, his Heirs and Suc- cessors. Item ; That for the Prevention of abuses that are too fre- quently put upon the said Indians in Trade, that the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, shall not suffer or permit any Per- son to trade or commerce with any of the said Indians but such as shall be first allowed or approved of by an Instrument under the Hand and Seal of him, the said Willram Penn, or his Heirs or Successors, or their Lieutenants, and that the said Indians shall suffer no persons whatsoever to buy or sell, or have commerce with any of them, the said Indians, but such as shall first be approved as aforesaid. Item ; That the said Indians shall not sell or dispose of any of their Skins, Peltry, or Furrs, or any other Effects of their hunting, to any Person or Persons whatsoever out of the said Pro- vince, nor to any other Person or Persons whatsoever but such as shall be authorized to trade with them as aforesaid; And that for their Encouragement the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, shall take Care to have them, the said Indians, duely furnished with all sorts of necessary Goods for their use at reasonable rates. Item; That the Potomock Indians aforesaid, with their Colony, shall have free leave of the said William Penn to settle upon any part of Po-
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tomock River within the Bounds of this Province, they strictly observing and practising all and singular the Articles aforesaid, to them relating. Item; The Indians of Conestogoe and upon and about the River Sasquahannah, and more especially the said Con- noodaghtah, their King, doth fully agree to, and by these Presents absolutely ratifie the Bargain and sale of Lands lying near and about the said River, formerly made to the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, and since by Orettyagh and Adaagayjunt- quagh, Parties to these Presents, confirmed to the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, by a Deed bearing Date the 13th Day of september last, under their Hands and Seals duly executed, and the said Connoodaghtoh doth for himself and his Nation cov- enant and agree that he will at all times be ready further to confirm and make good the said Sale according to the Tenour of the same, and that the said Indians of Sasquahannah shall answer to the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, for the good behaviour and Conduct of the said Potomock Indians, and for their Perform- ance of the several Articles herein expressed. Item ; The William Penn doth hereby promise for himself, his Heirs and Successors, that he and they will at all times shew themselves true Friends and Brothers to all and every of the said Indians, by assisting them with the best of their advices directions and Councils, and will in all things just and reasonable befriend them in all things as the English and other Christians therein do, to which they, the said Indians, hereby agree and oblige themselves and their Posterity for ever.
In Witness whereof, the said Parties have, as a Confirmation, made mutual Presents to each other, the Indians in five Parcells of skins, and the said William Penn in several English Goods and Merchandises as a binding Pledge of the Promises never to be bro- ken or violated, And as a further Testimony thereof have unto these Presents interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the Day and Year above written. Signed, Sealed, & delivered in the presence of
Edward Shippen, Nathan Stanbury,
Alex™. Paxton,
Pemoyajoongh, M Ahookassoongh, M Weewhinjough, M Cheequittagh, ×
Caleb Pusey,
James Streats, John Letort, Jnº. Hans Stelleran, James Logan, John Sanders,
Takyewsan, ₦ Woaputkoa,
Connoodaghtoh, ₦ Widaagh als. Orettyagh, M Coquecash, M Andaggyjunquagh, × Wopaththa, ₭ Lemoytungh, M
You see here the Engagements that your Ancestors for them-
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selves and you their Successors entered into on their Parts, and we think it more particularly necessary to put you in mind of them ; because we cannot be unsensible as well from your own Letters as otherwise, that the French, by their Emissaries, have made some attempts to prevail with you to renounce your solemn Contracts with us, and engage in their Interests, and on this account it is that we have desired to confer with you, requesting you as our Friends and Brothers that you would freely open your Hearts and without reserve communicate to us what has passed between you and them upon these heads, Assuring you on our parts that we shall ever treat you with the same Candour, Sincerity, and Openness in every thing that may relate to your real Interests as a People.
They being then asked whether they had any thing to say in answer now, or would chuse to take time to deliberate, declared they were well satisfied with what they had heard and would speak to it to-morrow morning, for it was their Custom to speak or Transact Business of importance only whilst the Sun was rising, and not when it was declining. The Board then agreed to adjourn to Ten of the Clock to-morrow morning and gave them Notice of it, at which time they said they would be ready.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, July 28th, 1739. PRESENT :
The Honble THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernour.
Anthony Palmer, 1 Esquires. Thomas Laurence,
James Logan,
Samuel Preston,
Ralph Assheton, Samuel Hasell, Thomas Griffits,
-
The Minutes of the 27th instant were read.
Kaycowocker, Newcheioner, Tomenebuck, Meshemethequater, Chiefs of the Shawonese Indians, and Ten more of that Nation being present, Newcheconer rose up and spoke in behalf of the rest (George Miranda being Interpreter) as follows, Viz *:
Being invited by you our Brothers two Years ago we resolved upon going to Philadelphia, but were very much affected with Grief to think we should go to the place where two of our Brothers (Indians) had died. When we came near this Town our Hearts were likewise full of Grief, but we considered that we were going to our Brothers who had the same Cause for Grief that we had. We are now come and are satisfied, and wish that the Day may be clear and that the Tears for our Brothers may be wiped away. They then laid down a string of Wampum.
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Being come where our Brothers died we have taken a little Deer's hair to put on their Graves, and missing a Brother (meaning the Governour) we take a little more Deer's hair to cover his Grave. They then presented three Bundles of Deerskins.
Having lost one Brother and you another, we desire that your Ears may be open so as to understand one another well. They then laid down another string of Wampum.
No doubt but you have heard a great deal of ill News of us, ' there being a great many Paths to this' Town, and perhaps you may have swallowed it down ; but we hope you will forget it and cast it all off; and we tell our Brothers Thomas Penn and the Governour, that as they have cleared the Road from our Place of Abode to this Town we hope there will be a free Passage from us to them and from them to us for the time to come, and we desire no ill Reports of us may be believed by them, without Information as to the Truth thereof. They then laid down another String of Wampum.
Being asked the Reason for our going over the Hills to live at so great a Distance from you our Brothers, fearing we had cast you off, we will tell the Reason for our going so far off, and will as long as we live hold you as Brothers and live in Friendship with you forever. They then laid down two bundles of Deerskins.
Brothers :- You have heard what we have now said; we earnestly desire the same Friendship you told us yesterday was between your Fathers and ours may continue forever. They then laid down two Bundles of Deerskins.
That Friendship which subsisted between your Fathers and ours being good we desire the same may be continued to us and our Children, that we may cling closs to one another as long as the World endures, and no Misunderstanding may ever arise amongst us. They then laid down a Bundle of Deerskins.
Our Father, God Almighty, has allowed a good and clear Day to hold Council with you our Brothers, and we wish the Sun may always shine so bright upon us. They then laid down another Bundle of Deerskins.
It is true we are scattered far abroad from the Great Island to Alleghenny; we have come and eat of Our Brothers' Victuals, and hope we and our Children may always cat of the same. They then laid down a Bundle of Deerskins.
We desire all you our Brothers to take Notice that we, the Chiefs of the Shawonese Indians, who were desired two Years ago to come here are now come, and that we are Very thankfull to you for the good and kind Usage we have met with, and are glad you sent for us. Last Fall was a Twelvemonth we received a Present of a horn full of Powder (two half Barrels and some Bullets were sent to them), for which we are very thankfull, and now in return for it
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present a Deerskin (a Bundle). We have nothing better to make a present of to you our Brothers but Forty and odd Deerskins.
It was returned in Answer by the Governour that their Present and all they had said was taken in very good Part.
He then replied, That is all we have to say on this head, but with respect to the French we hope you have heard from them as well as we, as you are in Friendship with them.
Then the Governour told them that we had spoke to them yester- day concerning the French, and promised our hearts should be open to them, and hope their's will be so to us on that Point.
They replied, The Letter which was wrote at Alleghenny was not wrote agreeable to their Minds, nor as they designed, but being merry over a Cup of good Liquor at Alleghenny, they then said they would write to you, their Brothers, which two white Men who were in Company undertook to do, so wrote what they themselves thought proper.
The Governor desired to know what Offer had been made to them · by the French ; they replied, when their Fathers, the French, sent to them, they sent a belt of Wampum, and told them they might live where they pleased, and continue in Friendship with their Brothers, the English, for they had better Goods than theirs to furnish them with.
As the Present made by the Indians is thought to amount to Fifty Pounds, It is agreed that the Treasurer do provide the Value of One hundred and Twenty Pounds against Monday next, to be given them in return.
Then the Council adjourned to Monday at 4 of the Clock in the Afternoon.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, July 30th, 1739.
PRESENT :
The Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esqr., Proprietary.
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernour.
James Logan,
Samuel Preston,
Thomas Griffitts, Esqrs.
The several Goods to be presented to the Shawonese Indians being laid down in order, and their Chiefs and others of That Nation being seated, they were spoke to as follows, Viz:
"Our Friends and Brothers :
" The loss of two of your Brothers whom your Nation sent to speak with us seven years agoe, very deeply afflicted us; we truly
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mourned for them; we buried them in handsome Coffins; paid them the same honours at their Funerals by firing our Cannon that is done to great Officers amongst the Christians, and sent with a present some handkerchiefs to their Friends and Relations, to wipe away their Tears ; and you returned us your Thanks for our great Care herein. For this reason we forbore now to mention their loss to you lest it should renew your and our Grief. But since you chose to do it on your part, we heartily join with you in condoling the common loss; Yet as all Men are born to die, we must acquiesce in the Will of God. They cannot return to us but we must go to them ; we must therefore bury and cover our Grief with them and put an end to our mourning.
" As we have received repeated accounts, as well from the North- ward as otherwise, of Endeavours used by the French of Canada to draw you off from the Engagements you had so solemnly entered into with this Government at your People's first removal from their former settlements, and putting themselves under the Protection of the great King of England, we could do no less than inquire into it; we were therefore desirous to see and speak with yourselves, who we knew were best able to inform us. And as this is agreeable to one of the Covenants which have been read to you, that your Nation entered into with your Father William Penn; that is, that if either of you hear any report concerning us, or we hear such of you, before we believe them we are to enquire of each other. This we have now done on our parts and you have satisfied us.
"You have now assured us, as our faithful Brothers, that you retain duly in remembrance the Covenants your Ancestors entered into with your and our Father William Penn, and that you will not only remember but inviolably observe them as long as the Sun & Moon shall endure.
" And this you have confirmed and sealed by a weighty and valu- able Token of skins, which we very kindly accept. And now to bind your words and fasten them as with Iron, to brighten the Chain, and wipe from it every spot or stain that might darken its lustre, to clear and widen the Path between you and us, and to remove every stump and grub out of it, That the Heavens and Air above us may be fair, and the Earth under us be keep'd smooth and clear as long as the sun shall shine and waters shall flow, we now give you these Goods, Viz : 2 Ps of Strouds, 1 Ps of Dussells, 1 Ps. of Blankets, 1 P& of half thicks, 5 half Barrels of Powder, 3 hundred weight of Lead, 1 hundred w+ of Swan Shot, 2 Dozens of Ruffled Shirts, 20 Prs of Shoes, 2 Doz. Prs of Buckles, 2 Doz. Prs- Hose, 1 Doz. of looking Glasses, 3 Doz. of Knives, 4 laced Hats, 8 Plain Do-, 1 hundred wt. of Tobacco, 2 hundred w. of Midling Bread, 3 hundred wt of Cheese, 1 Box of Pipes, 1 Doz, of hatchets, 1 Doz. of hoes, 10 Galls. of Rum, and 4 Trimmed Coats by the Proprietor."
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