USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV > Part 76
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" Brother Assaraquoa :
" Tho' great things are well remembered among Us, Yet we don't remember that we were ever Conquered by the Great King, or that we have been employ'd by that Great King to conquer others; if it was so it is beyond our Memory. We do remember we were em- ployed by Maryland to Conquer the Conestogo's, and that the Second time we were at War with them we carry'd them all off."
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" You Charge us with not acting agreeable to our Peace with the Catawbas; we will repeat truly to you what was done : The Gov- ernor of New York at Albany, in behalf of Assaraquoa, gave us several Belts from the Cherickees and Catawbas, and we agreed to a Peace if those Nations would send some of their Great men to
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Us to confirm it face to face, and that they would Trade with us, and desired that they would appoint a time to meet at Albany for this Purpose, but they never came."
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" We then desired a Letter might be sent to the Catawbas and Cherikees to desire them to come and confirm the Peace. It was long before an Answer came, but we met the Cherikees and Con- firmd the Peace, and sent some of Our People to take care of them untill they returned to their own Country.
" The Catawbas refused to come, and sent us word that we were but Women; that they were men and double men for they had two P-s; that they could make Women of Us, and would be always . at War with us. They are a deceitful People; Our Brother Assa- raquoa is deceived by him ; we don't blame him for it, but are sorry he is so deceived."
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" We have confirm'd the Peace with the Cherikees, but not with the Catawbas. They have been Treacherous, and know it, so that the War must continue till one of Us is destroyed. This we think Proper to tell you, that you may not be Troubled at what we do to the Catawbas.
" Brother Assaraquoa :
" We will now Speak to the Point between us. You say you will agree with us to the Road. We desire that may be the Road which was last made (the Waggon Road). It is always a custom among Brethren or Strangers to use each other kindly. You have some very ill-natured People living up there, so that we desire the Per- sons in Power may know that we are to have reasonable Victuals when we are in want.
" You know very well when the White People came first here they were poor ; but now they have got our Lands and are by them become Rich, and we are Now poor. What little we had for the Land goes soon away, but the Land lasts forever. You told us you had brought with you a Chest of Goods, and that you have the Key in your Pockets; But we have never seen the Chest nor the Goods that are said to be in it. It may be smal and the Goods few. We want to see them, and are desirous to come to some Conclusion. We have been sleeping here these Ten Days past, and have not done any thing to the Purpose."
The Commissioners told them they should see the Goods on Monday.
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In the Court House at Lancaster, June the 30th, 1744. PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esquire, Governor.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia. The Honourable the Commissioners of Maryland.
The Deputies of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser, Interpreter.
The three Governments Entertained the Indians and all the Gen- tlemen in town with a handsome Dinner ; the Six Nations in their order having returned thanks with the usual Solemnity of Jo-ha-han, the Interpreter informed the Governor and the Commissioners that as the Lord Proprietor and Governor of Maryland was not known to the Indians by any particular Name, they had agreed in Council to take the first opportunity of a large company to present him with one, and as this with them is deemed a matter of great Consequence, and attended with abundance of Forme, the several Nations had drawn Lots for the performance of the Ceremony, and the Lot fall- ing on the Cayogo Nation, they had chosen Gachradodow, one of their Chiefs, to be their Speaker, and he desired leave to begin, which being given, he on an elevated part of the Court House, with all the dignity of a Warrior, the Gesture of an Orator, and in a very gracefull Posture, spoke as follows :
" As the Governor of Maryland had Invited them here to Treat about their Lands and brighten the Chain of Friendship, the United Nations thought themselves so much obliged to him that they had come to a Resolution in Council to give to the Great man who is Proprietor of Maryland a particular Name, by which they might hereafter correspond with him, and as it had fallen to the Cayogo's Lot in Council to consider of a proper name for that Chief Man, they had agreed to give him the Name of Tocarry-ho-gan, denoting Prece lency, Excellency, or living in middle or Honourable Place betwixt Assaraquoa and their Brother Onas, by whom their Treaties might be better carryd on." And then addressing himself to his Honour, the Governour of Pennsylvania, The Honourable the Com- missioners of Virginia and Maryland, and to the Gentlemen then present, he Proceeded :
" As there is a Company of Great Men now Assembled, We take this Time and opportunity to Publish this Matter, That it may be known Tocarry-ho-gan is Our Friend, and that we are ready to Honour him, and that by such Name he may be always called and known among Us. And We hope he will ever Act towards us ac- cording to the Excellency of the Name we have now Given him, and enjoy a long and happy life."
The Honourable the Governor and Commissioners, and all the
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Company present, returned the Compliment with three Huzza's, and after drinking Healths to Our gracious King and Six Nations, the Commissioners of Maryland proceeded to Bussiness in the Court House Chamber with the Indians, where Conrad Weiser the Interpreter was present.
The Honourable the Commissioners order'd Mr. Weiser to tell the Indians that a Deed, releasing all their Claim and Title to cer- tain Lands lying in the Province of Maryland, which by them was agreed to be given and executed for the use of the Lord Baron of Baltimore, Lord Proprietary of that Province, was now on the Table and Seals ready fixed thereto. The Interpreter acquainted them therewith as desired, and then gave the Deed to Canassatego the Speaker, who made his Mark and put his Seal and Delivered it, after which thirteen other Chiefs or Sachims of the Six Nations Executed it in the same manner in the Presence of the Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia and divers other Gentlemen of that Colony, and of the Provinces of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
At the House of Mr. George Sanderson in Lancaster, 2d July, 1744, A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Commissioners of Maryland.
Several of the Chiefs of the Indians of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser, Interpreter.
The several Chiefs of the Indians of the Six Nations who had not Signed the Deed of Release of their Claim to some Land in Mary- land, tender'd to them on Saturday last in the Chamber of the Court House in this Town, did now readily Execute the same, and caused Mr. Weiser likewise to sign it, as well with his Indian as with his own proper Name of Weiser, as a Witness and Interpreter.
In the Court House at Lancaster, July 2d, 1744.
·PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Maryland.
The Deputies of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser, Interpreter.
Canassatego Spoke as follows :
" Brother Onas :
"The other day you was pleased to tell us you were always con-
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cern'd whenever anything happen'd that might give you or us Un- easiness, and that we were mutually engaged to preserve the Road open and Clear between Us. And you informed Us of the Murder of John Armstrong and his two Men by some of the Delaware In- dians, and of their Stealing his Goods to a Considerable value. The Delaware Indians as you Suppose are under our Power. We join with you in your Concern for such a vile Proceeding; and to testify that we have the same Inclinations with you to keep the Road clear, free, and open, we give you this string of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
" Brother Onas :
" These things happen frequently, and we desire you will con- sider them well, and not be too much concerned. Three Indians have been killed at different times at Ohio, and we never mentioned any of them to you, imagining it might have been occasioned by some unfortunate Quarrels, and being unwilling to create a Disturb- ance; We therefore Desire you will consider these things well, and to take the Grief from your Heart We give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
" Brother Onas :
" We had heard of the Murder of John Armstrong, and in our Journey here We had Conference with our Cousins, the Delawares, about it, and Reproved them severely for it; and charged them to go down to Our Brother Onas and make him satisfaction, both for the Men that were killed and for the Goods. We understood by them that the principal Actor in these Murders is in your Prison, and that he had done all the Mischief himself ; but that besides him you had required and Demanded two others who were in his Com- pany when the Murders were Committed. We promise faithfully in our return to renew our Reproofs, and to Charge the Delawares to send down some of their Chiefs with these two young men, but not as Prisoners, to be examined by you; and as we think upon Examination you will not find them Guilty, we rely on your Justice not to do them any Harm, but to permitt them to return in safety.
We likewise understand that search has been made for the Goods belonging to the deceased, and that some have been already returned to your People ; but that some are still missing. You may depend upon our Giving the Strictest Charge to the Delawares to Search again with more Diligence for the Goods, and to return them or the value of them in Skins. And to Confirm what we have said, we give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
" Brother Onas :
" The Conoy Indians have informed us that they sent you a Mes- sage some time ago to advise you that they were ill used by the
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White People in the place where they had lived, and that they had come to a Resolution of removing to Shamokin, and requested some small Satisfaction for their Land ; And as they never have received any answer from you, they have desired Us to Speak for them. We heartily recommend their Case to your Generosity, and to weight to our Recommendation we present you with this String of Wam- pum.
Which was receiv'd with the usual Ceremony.
The Governor having conferred a little time with the Honourable Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland, made the following Reply :
" Brethren-
"I am glad to find that you agree with me in the necessity of keeping the Road between us clear and open ; and the Concern you have expressed on Account of the Barbarous Murders mentioned to You, is a proof of Your Brotherly affection for Us. If crimes of this Nature be not Strictly enquired into, and the Criminals Severely Punish'd, there will be an end of all commerce between us and the Indians, and then you will be altogether in the Power of the French; They will set what Price they please on their own Goods, and Give you what they think fit for your Skins, so it is for your own interest that our Traders should be safe in their Persons and Goods when they Travel to your Towns.
" Brethren :
"I consider'd this matter well before I came from Philadelphia, and I advised with the Council there upon it, as I have done here with the Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland. I never heard before of the Murder of Three Indians at Ohio; had complaint been made to me of it, and it had appeared to have been committed by any of the People under my Government, they should have been put to Death, as two of them were two years ago for kill- ing two Indians. You are not to take your own satisfaction, but to apply to me and I will see that Justice be done you; and should any of the Indians rob or murder any of our People, I do expect that you will deliver them up to be tryed and Punished in the same man- ner as White people are. This is the way to preserve Friendship between us, and will be for your benefit as well as our's. I am well pleased with the Steps you have already taken, and the Reproofs you have given to your Cousins the Delawares, and do expect you will lay your Commands upon some of their Chiefs to bring down the two Young men that were present at the Murders. If they are not brought down, I shall look upon it as a Proof of their Guilt. If upon Examination they shall be found not to have been concerned in the Bloody Action, they shall be well used and sent home in Safety. I will take it upon my self to see that they have no Injus- tice done them. An Inventory is taken of the Goods already restored, and I expect satisfaction will be made for such as cannot be found in Skins, according to their Promise.
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" I well remember the coming down of one of the Conoy Indians with a Paper setting forth That the Conoys had come to a Resolu- tion to leave the Land reserved for them by the Proprietors, but he made no complaint to me of ill usage from the White people. The reason he gave for their removal was, that the Setling of the White people all around them had made Deer Scarce, and that therefore they chose to remove to Juniata for the Benefit of Hunting. I ordered what they said to be entered in the Council Book. The old Man's Expences were borne, and a Blankit given him at his Return home. I have not yet heard from the Proprietors on this head, but you may be assured, from the favour and Justice they have always shewn to the Indians, that they will do every thing that can be reasonably expected of them in this case.
In the Court House Chamber at Lancaster, July 2d, 1744, P. M. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia.
The Deputies of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser, Interpreter.
The Indians being told by the Interpreter that their Brother As- saraquoa was going to Speak to them, he spoke as follows :
" Sachims and Warriors, our Friends and Brethren :
" As we have already sayd enough to you on the Subject of the Title to the Lands you Claim from Virginia, we have no occasion to say any thing more to you on that head, but come directly to the Point. We have open'd the Chests, and the Goods are now here before you; They cost Two hundred Pounds, Pennsylvania money, and were bought by a Person. recommended to Us by the Governor of Pennsylvania, with ready Cash. We order'd them to be good in their kinds, and we believe they are so. These Goods, and Two hundred Pounds in Gold which now lye now on the Table, we will give you, Our Brethren of the Six Nations, upon Condition That you immediately make a Deed, recognizing the King's Right to all the Lands that are or shall be by his Majesty's Appointment in the Colony of Virginia.
" As to the Road, we agree you shall have one, and the Regula- tion is in paper which the Interpreter now has in his custody to Shew you. The People of Virginia shall perform their Part if you and your Indians perform their's. We are your Brethren, and will do no hardships to you, but, on the Contrary, all the kindness we can."
The Indians agreed to what was said, and Canassatego desired they would Represent their Case to the King, in order to have a further Consideration when the Settlement increased much farther
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back. To which the Commissioners agreed, and Promised they would make such a Representation faithfully and honestly, and for their further Security that they would do so, they would give them a Writing under their Hands and Seals to that purpose.
They desired that some Rum might be given them to drink on their way home, which the Commissioners agreed to, and payd them in Gold for that Purpose, and the Carriage of their Goods from Philadelphia, Nine pounds thirteen shillings and three pence, Penn- sylvania money.
Canassatego further sayd, That as their Brother Tocarry-ho-gan sent them Provision on the Road here, Which kept them from Starving, he hoped their Brother Assaraquoa would do the same for them back, and have the Goods he gave them carry'd to the usual Place, which were agreed to.
After this Conference the Deed was Produced, and the Interpre- ter Explained it to them, and they according to their Rank and Quality put their Marks and Seals to it in the presence of several Gentlemen of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; and when they delivered the Deed, Canassatego delivered it for the use of their Father the Great King, and hoped he would consider them, upon which the Gentleman and Indians present gave three shouts.
In the Court House at Lancaster, Tuesday, July 2d, 1744. A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esqr., Governor.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia.
The Honourable the Commissioners of Maryland.
The Deputies of the Six Nations.
Conrad Weiser Interpreter.
The Governor Spoke as follows :
" Friends and Brethren of the Six Nations-
" At a Treaty held with many of the Chiefs of your Nations two years ago, the Road between us was made Clearer and Wider; Our Fire was enlarged and our Friendship confirmed by an Exchange of Presents and many other Mutual Good Offices.
" We think ourselves happy in having been Instrumental to your meeting with our Brethren of Virginia and Maryland, And we per- suade ourselves that you on your Parts will always remember it as an Instance of our good will and affection for you. This has given us an opportunity of seeing you sooner than perhaps we should otherwise have done; and as we are under mutual Obligations by Treaties, we to hear with Our Ears for you, and you to hear with
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your Ears for us, We take this opportunity to inform you of what very nearly concerns us both.
"The Great King of England and the French King have De- clared War against each other. Two Battles have been fought, one by Land and the other by Sea. The Great King of England Commanded the Land Army in Person, and gained a Compleat Victory. Numbers of the French were killed and taken Prisoners, and the rest were forced to pass a River with Precipitation to save their Lives. The Great God covered the King's head in that Battle, so that he did not receive the least hurt, for which you as well as we have reason to be very thankfull.
" The Engagement at Sea was likewise to the Advantage of the English. The French and Spaniards joined their Ships together and came out to Fight us. The brave English Admiral burnt one of their largest Ships, and many others were so shatter'd that they were glad to take the opportunity of a very high wind and a dark Night to run away and to hide themselves again in their Harbours. Had the Weather proved fair he would in all probability have taken or destroyed them all.
" I need not put you in mind how much William Penn and his sons have been your Friends and the Friends of all the Indians ; you have long and often experienced their Friendship for you, nor need I repeat to you kindly you were treated, and what valuable Presents were made to you two years ago by the Governor, the Council, and the Assembly of Pennsylvania. The Sons of William P'enn are all now in England, and have left me in their place, well knowing how much I regard you and all the Indians. As a fresh proof of this, I have left my House and am come thus far to see you, to renew our Treaties, to brighten the Covenant Chain, and to confirm our Friendship with you. In testimony whereof I present you with this Belt of Wampum." Which was received with the Jo-hah.
" As your Nations have engaged themselves by Treaty to Assist Us, your Brethren of Pennsylvania, in case of a War with the French, we do not Doubt but you will punctually perform an En- gagement so solemnly entered into. A War is now declared, and We expect that you will not suffer the French or any of the Indians in Alliance with them to March through your Country to disturb any of our Settlements, And that you will give us the Earliest and best Intelligence of any Designs that may be formed by them to our Disadvantage, as we promise to do of any that may be to your's. To enforce what I have now say'd to you in the strongest manner, I present you with this Belt of Wampum."
Which was received with the Jo-hah.
After a little Pause his Honour the Governor Spoke again :
" Friends and Brethren of the Six Nations-
" What I have now sayd to you is in conformity to the Treaties
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subsisting between the Province of which I am Governor and your Nations. I now proceed with the Consent of the Honourable the Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland to tell you That all Differ- ences having been adjusted, and the Roads between us and you made quite clear and open, We are ready to confirm our Treaties with your Nations, and establish a Friendship which is not to end but with the World it self. And in behalf of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, I do by this fine Belt of Wampum and a Present of Goods to the Value of Three hundred pounds, confirm and establish the said Treaties of Peace, Union, and Friendship, you on your Parts doing the same."
Which was received with a loud Jo-hah.
The Governor further added, " The Goods bought with the one Hundred Pounds Sterling Put into my Hands by the Governor of Virginia are ready to be delivered when you Please. The Goods bought and sent up by the People of the Province of Pennsylvania, according to the List which the Interpreter will explain, are laid by themselves, and are likewise ready to be deliver'd to you at your own time."
After a little Pause the Commissioners of Virginia Spoke as fol- lows :
" Sachims and Warriors of the Six Nations-
" The Way between us being made Smooth by what Passed Yes- terday, we desire now to confirm all former Treaties made between Virginia and you our Brethren of the Six Nations, and to make Our Chain of Union and Friendship as bright as the Sun, that it may not contract any more Rust for ever; that our Childrens' Chil- dren may rejoice at and confirm what we have done; and that you and your Children may not forget it, We give you One hundred pounds in Gold and this Belt of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremonye.
" Friends and Brethren :
" Altho' we have been Disapointed in Our Endeavours to bring about a Peace between you and the Catawbas, yet we desire to speak to you something more about them. We believe they have been unfaithfull to you and Spoke of you with a foolish contempt, but this may be only the Rashness of some of their Young Men. In this Time of War with Our common Enemies, the French and Span- iards, it will be the wisest way to be at Peace among Our selves. They, the Catawbas, are also Children of the Great King, and there- fore we desire you will agree that we may endeavour to make a Peace between you and them, that we may be all United by one common Chain of Friendship. We give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
" Brethren :
"Our Friend Conrad Weiser, when he is old, will go into the
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other World, as Our Fathers have done; our Children will then want such a Friend to go between them and your Children to re- concile any differences that may happen to Arise between them, that, like him, may have the Ears and Tongues of our Children and yours.
" The way to have such a Friend is for you to send three or four of your Boys to Virginia, where we have a fine House for them to Live in, and a Man on purpose to teach the Children of you, our Friends, the Religion, Language, and Customs of the White Peo- ple. To this Place we kindly invite you to send some of your Children, and we promise you they shall have the same care taken of them, and be Instructed in the same manner as our own Children, and be returned to you again when you please; and to confirm this we give you this String of Wampum."
Which was received with the usual Ceremony.
Then the Commissioners of Maryland Spoke as follows :
"Friends and Brethren, the Chiefs or Sachims of the Six United Nations :
"The Governor of Maryland invited you hither, we have treated you as Friends and agreed with you as Brethren.
" As the Treaty now made concerning the Lands in Maryland Will, we hope, Prevent effectually every future Misunderstanding between us on that Account, we will now bind faster the Links of Our Chain of Friendship by a Renewal of all our former Treaties; and that they may still be the better Secured we shall present you with One hundred Pounds in Gold.
" What we have further to say to you is, Let not our Chain con- tract any Rust; whenever you perceive the least Speck tell us of it and we will make it clean. This we also expect of you, that it may always continue so bright as our Generations may see their Faces in it; and in pledge of the Truth of what we have now Spoken and our affection to you, we give you this Belt of Wam- pum."
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