Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV, Part 72

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814

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The following is what Shick Calamy declared to be the Truth of the Story concerning the Murder of John Armstrong, Woodward Arnold, and James Smith, from the beginning to the end, to wit :

"That Mussemeelin owing some Skins to John Armstrong, the said Armstrong Seized a Horse of the said Mussemeelin and a riffled Gun ; the Gun was taken by James Smith, deceased. Sometime last Winter Mussemeelin met Armstrong on the River Juniata, and paid to about Twenty shillings, for which he offered a neck-belt in Pawn to Armstrong, and demanded his Horse, and James Armstrong refused it and would not deliver up the Horse, but enlarged the Debt, as his usual custom was, and after some Quarrel the Indian went away in great Anger without his Horse to his Hunting Cabin. Sometime after this Armstrong with his two Companions in their way to Ohio passed by the said Mussemeelin's Hunting Cabin ; his Wife only being at home demanded the Horse of Armstrong, be- cause he was her proper Goods, but did not get him (Armstrong

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had by this time sold or lent the Horse to James Berry) ; after Mussemeelin came from Hunting, his Wife told him that Armstrong was gone by, and that She had demanded the Horse of him, but did not get him (and as is thought pressed him to pursue and take Revenge of Armstrong). The third day in the Morning after James Armstrong was gone by, Mussemeelin said to the two Young men that Hunted with him, 'Come, let us go towards the Great Hills to Hunt Bears ;' accordingly they went all three in Company. After they had gone a good way, Mussemeelin, who was foremost, was told by the two Young men that they were out of their Course. ' Come you along,' said Mussemeelin, and they accordingly follow'd him till they came to the Path that leads to Ohio. Then Musse- meelin told them he had a good mind to go and fetch his Horse back from Armstrong, and desired the two Young men to come along; accordingly they went. It was then almost Night, and they traveled till next morning. Mussemeelin say'd, 'now they are not far off. We will make Ourselves black ; then they will be frightned and will deliver up the Horse immediately, and I will tell Jack that if he don't give me the Horse I will kill him,' and when he say'd so, he laughed; The Young Men thought he Joaked as he used to do. They did not blacken themselves, but he did. When the Sun was above the Trees (or about an hour high) they all came to the fire, Where they found James Smith sitting, and they sat also down. Mussemeelin asked where Jack was; Smith told him that he was gone to clear the Road a little. Mussemeelin Say'd he wanted to speak with him, and went that way, and after he had gone a little Distance from the fire he say'd something and looked back laughing; but he having a thick throat and his Speech being very bad, and their talking with Smith hindred them from under- standing what he Said, they did not mind it. They being hungrey, Smith told them to kill some Turtles, of which they were plenty, and we would make some bread, and by and by they would all eat together. While they were a talking they heard a Gun go off not far off, at which time Woodward Arnold was killed, as they learned afterwards. Soon after Mussemeelin came back and say'd, 'Why did you two kill that White man according as I bid you ? I have laid the other two down;' at this they were Surprised, and one of the Young men, commonly called Jemmey, run away to the River 'side. Mussemeelin say'd to the other, 'How will you do to kill Catabaws, if you cannot kill white Men? You Coward, I'll shew you how you must do;' and then taking up the English Ax that lay there, he Struck it three times into Smith's Head before he died; Smith never stirred ; then he told the Young Indian to call the other, but he was so terrify'd he could not call. Mussemeelin then went and fetched him and say'd to him that two of the White men were killed, he must now go and kill the third, then each of them would have killed one; But neither of them dare venture to talk any thing about it. Then he pressed them to go along with him,

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he went foremost; then one of the young men told the other as they went along, 'My Friend, don't you kill any of the White People, let him do what he will; I have not killed Smith, he has done it himself; we have no need to do such a Barbarous thing. Mussemeelin being then a good way before them in a hurry, they soon saw John Armstrong setting upon an old Log; Mussemeelin spoke to him and Say'd, ' Where is my Horse ?' Armstrong made answer and say'd, ' he will come by and by, you shall have him ;' ' I want him now,' said Mussemeclin, Armstrong answered, 'you shall have him; Come, let us go to that Fire (which was at some distance from the place where Armstrong sat), and let us smoke and talk together.' 'Go along then,' say'd Mussemeelin. 'I am coming,' said Armstrong, 'do you go before Mussemeelin do you go foremost.' Armstrong looked then like a Dead Man, and went towards the Fire, and was immediately shot in his Back by Mussemeelin and fell. Mussemeelin then took his Hatchet and Struck it into Armstrong's head, and say'd, 'Give me my Horse, I tell you.' By this time one of the Young men had fled again that had gone away before, but he returned in a Short time. Mussemeelin then told the Young men they must not offer to discover or tell a word about what had been done for their Lives, but they must help him to bury Jack, and the other two were to be throw'd into the River. After that was done, Mussemelin or- dered them to load the Horses and follow him towards the Hill, where they intended to hide the Goods; accordingly they did, and as they were going, Mussemeelin told them that as there were a great many Indians hunting about that place, if they should hap- pen to meet with any, they must be killed to prevent their Betray- ing them .- As they went along, Mussemeelin going before, the two young Men agreed to run away as soon as the could meet with any Indians, and not to hurt any body. They came to the desired place, the Horses were unloaded, and Mussemeelin opened the Bundles and offered the two Young Men Each a Parcell of Goods. They told him that as they had already sold their Skins, and every Body knew they had nothing, they would certainly be charged with a black Action were they to bring any Goods to the Town, and therefore they would not accept any ; but promised, never- theless, not to betray him. 'Now,' says Mussemeelin, 'I know what you were talking about when you stay'd so far behind; You have agreed to betray me, but you shall fare like the White men if you intend to hurt me. The two Young Men being in a great danger of loosing their own lives (of which they had been much affraid all that day), accepted of what he offered to them, and the Rest of the Goods they put in a heap and covered them from the Rain, and then went to their Hunting Cabin ; Mussemeelin unexpectedly find- ing two or three more Indians there, laid down his Goods and sayed he had killed Jack Armstrong, and taken pay for his Horse, and should any of them discover it, that person he would likewise kill;

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but otherwise they might all take a part of the Goods. The Young man called Jimmey went away to Shamokin, after Mussemeelin was gone to bury the Goods, with three more Indians with whom he had prevailed; one of them was Neshaleeny's Son, whom he had ordered to kill James Smith, but those Indians would not have any of the Goods. Some time after the Young Indian had been in Shamokin, it was whispered about that some of the Delaware In- dians had killed Armstrong and his Men. A Drunken Indian came to one of the Tudolous Houses at Night, and told the Man of the House that he could tell him a piece of bad News. 'What is that ?' said the other; the Drunken man said, 'Some of our Dela- ware Indians have killed Armstrong and his Men, which, if our Chiefs should not resent and take them up, I will kill them my- self to prevent a Disturbance between us and the White People our Brethren.' Next morning Shick Calamy and some other Indians of the Delawares were called to assist Olumapies in Council. Then Shick Calamy and Olumapies got one of the Tridolow Indians to write a Letter to me to desire me to come to Shamokin in all haste, that the Indians were much dissatisfyed in mind. This Letter was brought to my House by four Delaware Indians, sent Express, but I was then in Philadelphia, and when I came home and found no particulars mentioned in the Letter, and that none of the Indians of the Six Nations had been down, I did not care to medle with Delaware Indian affairs, and stay'd at home till I received the Gov- ernor's Orders to go (which was about two Weeks after). Olumapies was advised by his Council to employ a Conjurer (or ker as they call it) to find out the Murderer; accordingly he did, and the Indians met ; the seer being busy all night told them in the morning to Examine such and such a one; they were present when Armstrong was killed, naming the two young men (Mussemeelin was then present); accordingly, Olumapies, Quitheyyquent, and Thomas Greene, an Indian, went to him that fled first and Examined him ; he told the whole Story very freely ; then they went to the other, but he would not say a word, but went away and left them. The three Indians returned to Shick Calamy and informed them of what Discovery they had made, When it was agreed to Secure the Murderers, and deliver them up to the White People. Then a great noise arose among the Delaware Indians, and some were afraid of their Lives and went into the Woods ; not one cared to medle with Mussemeelin and the other that could not be prevailed on to Discover any thing, because of the Resentment of their families; but they being Pressed by Shick Calamy's Sons to Secure the Murderers, otherwise they would be cut off from the Chain of Friendship, four or five of the Delawares made Mussemeelin and the other Young man Pris- oners and tyed them both. They lay twenty-four Hours, and none would venture to conduct them down, because of the Great Division among the Delaware Indians ; and Olumapies in danger of being killed, fled to Shick Calamy and begged his Protection. At last

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Shick Calamy's Son Jack went to the Delawares, most of them being Drunk, as they had been for Several Days, and told them to Deliver the Prisoners to Alexander Armstrong, and if they were afraid to do it they might separate their Heads from their Bodies and lay them in the Canoe, and carry them to Alexander to Roast and eat them ; that would satisfy his Revenge, as he wants to eat Indians ; they prevailed with the said Jack to assist them, and accordingly he and his Brother and some of the Delawares went with two Canoes and carry'd them off."

At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 25th Day of May, 1744. PRESENT :

The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor. Samuel Hasell,

William Till,

Abraham Taylor.

Robert Strettell,

Thomas Laurence, - Esqrs.

The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.

The Governor having received a Message from the Assembly, and having likewise sent an other to the House by his Secretary, the same were read, and are as follows :

A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.

" May it please the Governor-

" When by our late Message we took notice that the Bill which now lyes before the Governor wanted Amendment, for that the time appointed for the Commencement of the Trust thereby in- tended to be reposed was expired, it was done with Intent the Amendment necessary might be proposed by the Governor, which we doubt not he will agree with us may, if he pleases, be done in a Parliamentary Manner.

"We are also of Opinion that it will be for the Interest of Our Constituents to make further Provision concerning the Excise Act, and we have a Bill before us to this Purpose; and we hope these Bills, and such others as shall be truly usefull to the Province, when offered, will meet with the Governor's assent, And we, on our Part, shall then Chearfully make Provision for his Support for the Current Year, equal to any granted for the like Time to either of his immediate Predecessors."

A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.

" Gentlemen :

"I have had your Message of the fifteenth Instant under Considera- tion. After the Trouble and Pains I have taken to reconcile the Neigh-

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boring Governments and the Indians of the six Nations, no man can doubt of my Zeal for the Good of the Publick. You yourselves, if I may be allow'd to Judge from your Messages, have been sensible of it. But my presence at the ensuing Treaty does not appear to me to be either so necessary or convenient as you think it. My Mediation was offered to prevent future Hostilities between the Government of Virginia and those Indians, and to settle the Time and Place of their Meeting for a Treaty; both which have been happily effected. The Governor of Virginia is not to be at the Treaty himself, nor has he desired it of me, from whence I have Reason to conclude that my Interposition will be thought by the Commissioners from that Government rather impertinent than necessary. The Govern- ment of Maryland has engaged to make the Indians satisfaction for some Lands claimed by them ; So nothing remains to be done on that Head but to agree on the Value of those Lands, in which that Governor has not asked any Assistance of mine. As to the Mur- der of Armstrong and his two Men, since the Criminal is now in Goal, and it appears not improbable to you that he was the only Person who Committed the barbarous facts, a Message from me to the Chiefs of the Indians at Lancaster, insisting upon the Restora- tion of the Goods belonging to the Deceased, Seems to me to be all that is now necessary. But what more particularly determines me against the Journey at this Time, is a Letter I was Yesterday hon- oured with from the Governor of New York, enclosing a Transcript from the London Gazette, which by my order was immediately laid before you. From hence it is not be Doubted but that a Warr against France is declared, and that His Majesty's orders and In- structions thereupon are on the way to his Several Governors upon the Continent of America; And I think I shall be more in my Duty to attend their Arrival in this City, where I may better con- cert Measures with the Council, and issue such orders as shall be immediately thought requisite for the Security of this his Majesty's Colony. As you have hitherto refused to make any Provision against an Event which has been generally foreseen, and particu- larly mentioned by their Excellencies the Lord's Justices in his Majesty's absence from his British Dominions, I fear I am to expect little from you. In that Event, however, I shall think it my Duty to call you together, that in case of your Perseverance in so dangerous a Resolution, I may give his Majesty an Account of Our Defenceless Condition, and, agreeable to his Royall Instruction now before me, of what I apprehend is necessary for the Security of the Province.

" I do concur with Your Message of the Seventeenth Instant that it will be for the Interest of your Constituents to Renew the Excise Bill; and my Reason is, that you may be thereby Provided with Money, without a General Tax on the Inhabitants, not only to Pur- chase Arms, Ammunition, &ca., for your own Defence, but to answer such Demands as may be made upon you by his Majesty for Dis-

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tressing the publick Enemy in America. And if you will expressly appropriate the Sums arising from the Excise to these Purposes, I will most chearfully pass the Bill, and give up my own Arrears, tho' so justly due to me-the Support of the Government having been the Principal foundation both of the Excise and Paper-money acts."

" May the 18th, 1744."

" GEO. THOMAS. >

The Governor having received from the Assembly Two Bills, one Entitled a Bill for the New appointment of Trustees, &can, And the other for laying an Excise on all Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other Spirits, the same were read, and some amendment being proposed, the Secretary was immediately sent by his Honor to the Assembly with the Bills and proposed Amendments.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 26th day of May, 1744. · PRESENT :

The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Goy- ernor.

Thomas Laurence,

Robert Strettell,

William Till, Esqrs.

The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and Approved.

Then the Governor informed the Board that the Assembly had Yesterday returned the two Bills and Amendments, and had agreed to some of them; but in that proposed in the Excise Bill the House adhered to the Bill. That he had immediately returned the Bill by his Secretary, adhering to the Amendments proposed to the Excise Bill; And that he had received this morning a Message from the Assembly by two of their Members, acquainting him that the House agreed to amend the Excise Bill in the manner proposed by him, and desired he would appoint two Members of his Council to Join with some of the House in comparing the Engrossed Bills, that they might be ready to be passed into Laws. And the Bills being agreed to, Mr. Laurence and Mr. Till were desired to compare the Engrossed Bills with the first Copies; and they reported that they had Exam- ined them, and found them to agree.

The Governor having received the following Message from the House, the Same was read, and is as follows:

" May it please the Governor :

" We are very sensible of the Trouble and Pains the Governor hath taken to reconcile the Neighbouring Governments and the In- dians of the Six Nations; and We hope the same Generous Motives will induce him to continue his Mediation until the Differences which Subsist between them are entirely adjusted. For altho' we

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make no question the Gentlemen Comissionated by those Governments will acquit themselves with that Prudence and Circumspection the case requires, yet as they are strangers to the Indians it is to be feared their Endeavours will not be attended with that success which the Governor's Presence at the Treaty, and the Confidence the Indians repose in him might afford them. As, therefore, it may not only facilitate the composing of those differences, and give an opportunity of further enquiry concerning the Murder of Armstrong and his two men, but also renewing our Friendship with the Indians of the Six Nations, of giving them Notice of the War with France, and exciting them to be steady in the Interest of Great Britain, we hope the Governor will be prevailed on to undertake the Journey -- it being, as we conceive, an affair of such Importance to the Peace of the Province as will sufficiently Justify the Governor's Absence, and not Deprive him of the Opportunity of Executing any orders and Instructions he may Receive from the Crown. Nor need the Governor be under any Fear but that whenever those orders shall arrive, the Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, so far forth as shall relate to them, will pay all the Regard which becomes loyall faithful Subjects, consistent with their Religious Principles, to the Command of the Crown.

" As to that Part of the Governor's Message which relates to the Excise, the Bill being since agreed to, and the Appropriation of the Money to Arise thereby settled, it will be unnecessary to any thing concerning that Matter."

The two Members who delivered the above Message having in- formed his Honour the House desired to know when he would re- ceive them in order to Enact the Bills into Laws, and the Governor having appointed them to wait on him immediately, the House with their Speaker came up and presented the two following Bills (viz+) : One Entitled an Act for the new Appointment of Trustees of the General Loan Office of Pennsylvania, and for making Current £10,000 in new Bills of Credit, to exchange such of those now by Law Cur- rent as are torn and defaced; And the other Entitled An Act for laying an Excise on all Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other Spirits.

Which the Governor passed into Laws, and Appointed Thomas Laurence and Wm. Till, Esqrs., in Conjunction with a Committee to the Assembly, to see the Great Seal affixed to the Same.

The Speaker then delivered to the Governor two Orders of As- sembly, the one upon the Trustees of the Loan Office for £500, and the other upon the Provincial Treasurer for £500, and say'd that tho' the House Apprehended some other Laws would be necessary to be passed before the Expiration of the Year, yet as a Mark of Confidence they reposed in the Governor, they had given the whole Current Years' Support at this Time. To which the Governor was pleased to say, That he ever disliked bargaining for Laws; That Confidence naturally begets confidence; That the Allowance now

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made him of the whole Support for the Current year, for which he returned his thanks to the House, so far from obstructing his As- sent to any reasonable and necessary Bills, would rather be an in- ducement to him to exceed their Expectations in this Respect; That he had thoughts of sending a Message to them on Indian Af- fairs, but that this Opportunity of expressing his Sentiments relating to them rendered it unnecessary; That soon after War should be declared against the French, which he daily expected his Majesty's Commands for, he was determined to go to Lancaster and assist the Commissioners of the Governments of Virginia and Maryland in composing their Differences with the Indians of the Six Nations, and to renew our Friendship with the Indians ; and that they might Depend on his doing every thing there in his Power for the Good of the Province.

MEMORANDUM.

Two Members of the Assembly the same day waited on the Gov- ernor to acquaint him the House proposed to Adjourn to the 30th of July next, To which his Honour said he had no objection.

At a Council held at Philadelphia the 11th June, 1744. PRESENT :

The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Thomas Laurence,

Samuel Hasell, . r Esquires.

Ralph Assheton,

William Till,

Abraham Taylor,

Robert Strettell,

The Governor having received by Express a Letter from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, inclosing his Majesty's Declaration of War against the French King, and likewise his Majesty's most Gracious Declaration for the Encouragement of his Ships of War and Privateers, the same were read and are as follows :

" The Duke of Newcastle's Letter to the Governor. " Whitehall, March 31st, 1744.

"Sir :

" The French King having Declared War against his Majesty (as you will see by the Inclosed copy of His Declaration for that pur- pose, which is full of the Grossest and most indecent Misrepresen- tations and Reflections upon his Majesty's conduct), I am to ac- quaint you, by his Majesty's Command, that on Thursday last, the 29th instant, a Great Council was held at St. James's, where his Majesty approved and has Since Signed a Declaration of War VOL. IV .- 44.

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against the French King, and Ordered that the Same should be Published on this day by the Heralds at Arms in the usual Places and with the accustomed formalities on the like Occasions, which has been done accordingly. I send you inclosed a printed Copy of. the said Declaration, and am Commanded to Signify to you His Majesty's Pleasure, 'That you cause it to be Proclaimed in the Province under your Government, that his Majesty's Subjects having this Notice may take care to prevent any Mischief which otherwise they might Suffer from the Enemy, and do their duty in their Several Stations to distress and Annoy the Subjects of the French King.' And his Majesty would have you be very rigorous and Severe in preventing any Amunition or Stores of any kind from being carried to them ; And you are to use all Proper Methods that may be most effectual for that purpose

"I send you Inclosed His Majesty's Proclamation for the Distri- bution of Prizes taken by his Majesty's Ships of War or Privateers, which you will take care may be Published in the Province under your Government; And you will do every thing in Your Power to Encourage His Majesty's Subjects to fit out Ships to Act as Priva- teers against the Enemy ; And you will, upon the Receipt of this Letter, take all opportunitys, as far as Depends upon you, to dis- tress and Annoy the French in their Settlements, Trade, and Com- merce.

" I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, " HOLLES NEWCASTLE."

" His Majesty's Declaration of War against the French King. " George R. :

"The Troubles which broke out in Germany on account of the Succession of the late Emperor Charles, the Sixth, having been be- gun and carried on by the Instigation, Assistance, and Support of the French King, with a View to Overturn the Ballance of Power in Europe, and to Extend the dangerous Influence of that Crown in direct Violation of the Solemn Guaranty of the Pragmatic Sanc- tion given by him in the year One thousand Seven hundred and thirty-eight, in Consideration of the Cession of Lorraine, and We having on Our Part executed Our Engagements for Maintaining the Pragmatic Sanction with that good Faith which is inseperable from Us, and having opposed the Attempts made against the Do- minions of the Queen of Hungary, We are not Surpris'd That Our Conduct in this Respect should have drawn upon Us the Resent- ment of the French King, Who has found his Ambitious Views in a great Measure disappointed by the Assistance We have furnished to Our Ally, unjustly attacked by him, or that he should alledge it as a principal Reason for declaring War against Us.

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV, Part 72

Author: Publication date: 1838 Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814