USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 11
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"I am with great Respect, Sir, " Your Honour's most Obedient humble Servant, "EDWD SHIPPEN.
" The Honble JN". PENN, Esq", Goy""'
The Council being of opinion that the Indians under the Gov- ernment's protection on the Province Island, were greatly exposed in their present Situation to danger of being molested by the Rio- ters, & that it would be proper to contrive immediate Means for their defence, agreed that Three Flatts & 3 small boats should be sent without delay to the Province Island for the use of, the In- dians, that they might, on any intelligence of the approach of the Rioters, make their escape, till more effectual measures should be fallen on for their Protection.
The Council further advised the Governor to dispatch the Ex- press back to Lancaster, with a Letter to Mr. Edward Shippen, de- siring him to gain all the Intelligence in his power, respecting the further designs and motions of the lawless Rioters, and to endea- vour to learn the names of any of the Ringleaders or persons con-
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cermed in the murder of the Indians in the Work House, and to acquaint the Governor, from time to time, by Express, with every piece of Intelligence he should receive concerning them.
The Governor was also advised to write to Colonel Armstrong, at Carlisle, and the Rev& Mr. Elder, at Paxton, to exert themselves on this occasion, by using all means in their Power, to discover and detect the Rioters, and to suppress all such Insurrections among the People under their influence for the future.
The Council were likewise of opinion that a high reward should be offered for the apprehending & securing the Ringleaders of the Rioters, and the Provincial Commissioners being called in, and con- curring with this Measure, they advised that a Proclamation for that purpose be immediately issued by the Governor, offering a Re- wardof Two hundred pounds each, for the detection of the said Ringleaders, and that any accomplice, not immediately concerned.
The Governor then proposed to the Council, that his Brother, Mr. Richard Penn, should be admitted as a Member of Council, which was unanimously agreed to by the Board, who expressed a particular Satisfaction and pleasure in having so worthy a Member added to their number.
At a Council held at Philada on Saturday, 31st Decom"., 1763.
PRESENT:
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieuten" Governor, &cª.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Benjamin Chew, Lynford Lardner, Esquires.
Willliam Logan,
Richard Peters,
Joseph Turner,
The Council again taking into Consideration in what manner the friendly Indians at the Province . Island might be most effectually secured from the attacks of the Ricters, who lately broke open the Gaol at Lancaster, and killed the Indians there, & have threatened to come down and destroy the Indians placed by the Governor on the said Island, advised the Governor to raise, forthwith, & Company of fifty Men with their proper Officers, and to give them orders to take post at the Province Island, and to keep sufficient Guards over the said Indians, Night and Day, & to defend them to the utmost of their power against all attempts to injure or molest them; hav- ing first obtained the Concurrence of the Provincial Commissioners to defray the expence of the above Measure.
A Letter from the Sheriff of Lancaster, of the 27th of December Inst, with the list of Conestogoe Indians were read, and ordered to be put on these Minutes .
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A Letter to the Governor from John Hay, Esq., Shff. of Lancasts Co'ty.
" LANCASTER, the 27 Decem'., 1763.
" Sir :
" Agreeable to your Orders to me when at Philadelphia, I here inclose a List of the names of the Indians found killed at the In- dian Town in Conestogoe Manor, with the names of the Survivors, fourteen in number, whom I found, on my Return, had been col- lected and placed in the Work house of this County, By my Son, with the assistance of John Miller & Rob" Beatty (who by appoint- ment of Mess". Hockley & Peters, had the Care of the Indians be- longing to the Town), where they are properly taken care of, & fed, & wait for your Honour's further directions relating to them.
" I, likewise, agreeable to your Order, give herewith, an account of the Effects and Papers which have been found, belonging to the said Indians, which now remain in the possession of the said Miller and Beatty, in trust for the Indians, to witt :
"Three Horses,
"A Writing, or Parchment, purporting an Article of Peace & Amity concluded between the Governor of Maryland & the Chiefs of the Conestogoe & other Indians.
" A Writing on Parchment, purporting an Article of Agreement between William Penn, Proprietary, &ca., of Pennsylvania, and the King of the Indians inhabiting in or about the River Susquehan- nah, and other Indian Nations, dated the three & twentieth day of the second month, called April, in the Year one thousand, seven hundred & one.
"' A Letter (which seems to be under the Lesser Seal of the Pro- vince), signed W. Keith, dated Philadelphia, May 26, 1719, di- rected to Civility, & the rest of the Indian Chiefs at Conestogce.
"' A Letter (which seems to be under the Lesser Seal of the Pro- vince), signed W. Keith, dated Philada., 5th May, 1719, directed to Civility, or Tagotelessa, & the Indian Chiefs at and near Conestogoe.
"'A Writing, purporting a Letter, signed James Logan, dated the 22nd 4 mº. 1717, directed to Civility, & the other Indian Chiefs at Conestogoe.
"' A Paper (which seems to be under the Lesser Seal of the Pro- vince), signed James Logan, purporting An Order of Council held at Philadelphia, Sept. 28th, 1708, or a Request to the Indians to apprehend Nichole Godin, on suspicion of several treasonable Prac- tices against the Government.
""" And Two Belts of Wampum.' "
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" Decem". 27th, 1763, P. M.
" Honoured Sir :
"Since writing the above, the poor Indians whom we imagined · were placed in safety are destroyed. A number of Persons to the amount (by their appearance), of fifty or Sixty, armed with Rifles, Tomahawks, &ca., suddenly, about Two o'Clock, rushed into the Town & immediately repaired to the Work House where the In- dians were confined, & notwithstanding all opposition of myself and the Coroner, with many others, broke open the Work House, and have killed all the Indians there, being the fourteen mentioned in the List to have survived the former Affair at their Town. After which they in a Body left the Town without offering any insults to the Inhabitants, and without putting it in the power of any one to take or molest any of them without Danger of Life to the Per- son attempting it; of which both myself and the Coroner by our opposition were in great danger.
" I have since the above affair taken from Messrs. Miller & Beatty the above mentioned Papers and Belts of Wampum, which I shall keep till I have orders from your Honour, & any thing further that I can find belonging to the Indians, shall be properly taken care of. .
" As it is rumored that the people with a Superior Force intend an Attack on the Province Island, with a view to destroy the In- dians there, I think proper to mention it to your Honour, & shall do all in my power not only to apprehend the Offenders but to pre- serve the Peace of the County.
"I beg your Honours directions, which I shall endeavour punc- tually to observe, being
" Your Honours Most Obedt Humble Servt,
" JOHN HAY.
"To the Honble. JOHN PENN, Esqr., Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &ca."
List of the Indians killed at the Indian Town in Conestogoe Manor :
Their Indian Names :
Sheehays
Shechays,
George
Wa-a-shen,
Harry
Tee-Kau-ley,
A son of Sheehays,
Ess-canesh,
Sally, an Old Woman,
Tea-wonsha-i-ong;
A Woman,
Kannenquas.
List of the Indians belonging to the Conestogoe Town in the Work House at Lancaster :
Captain John Betty, his Wife Bill Sack
Kyunqueagoah, Koweenasee, Tenseedaagua,
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Molly, his Wife
Kanianguas,
1
John Smith
Saquies-hat-tah,
Peggy, his Wife
Chee-na-wan,
little John, Capt. John's Son
Quaachow,
Jacob, a Boy
Shae-e-kah,
Young Sheehays, a Boy
Ex-undas,
Chrisly, a Boy
Tong-quas,
little Peter, a Boy,
Hy-ye-naes,
Molly, a little Girl
Ko-qoa-e-un-quas,
a little Girl
Karen-do-uah,
Peggy, a little Girl
Canu-kie-sung.
The names taken from Peggy, Wife of Jnº. Smith, and } pme. Betty, wife of Captain John. S John Hay. LANCASR., 27th Decem"., 1763.
The Council further advised the Governor to write to General Gage & Sir William Johnson, and inform them of these riotous pro- ceedings, and of the measures taken by the Government to suppress. them ; to desire the General would give directions to the Command- ing Oficer of the King's Troops, quartered at Carlisle, to support and assist the Government in the Execution of the Civil Authority, in putting a stop to any Insurrections of the like kind for the future ; & to recommend it to Sir William Johnson to acquaint the several Tribes of the Six Nations with the murder of the Conestogo In- dians by a party of lawless rioters, & with the measures taken by issuing Proclamations offering rewards for apprehending the perpe- trators of those Barbarities, & to set the whole affair to the Indians in its true & proper light, that they may not impute to this Govern- ment any Breach of Faith with respect to those Indians.
Accordingly Letters were prepared by the Governor to General Gage & Sir William Johnson, which follow in these Words, vizt :
A Letter to His Excellency General Gage from the Governor.
" PHILADELPHIA, 31st December, 1763.
" Sir :
"I think it necessary to inform you that on the 14th Instant, a number of the Inhabitants on the Western frontiers of this Pro- vince, without any authority, assembled in arms & proceeded in a a party of between fifty and sixty men to the Indian Town in the Conestogoe Manor, in Lancaster County, and there, without the least Cause, cruelly put to death Six of the Friendly Indians, who had peaceably and inoffensively resided there for many Years past, by permission from this Government, and after burning and destroy- ing their Houses and Effects, precipitately retired. Upon receiving Information of this barbarous Outrage, I immediately dispatched Orders to the Magistrates of the back Counties to use their utmost Endeavors to apprehend and confine the Offenders, that they might be brought to Justice, & likewise issued the inclosed Proclamation.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
. " Notwithstanding which, these daring rioters on the 27th Instte again assembled in Arms, & came down in a large Body to the Town of Lancaster, broke open the Work House, and murdered fourteen of the Conestogo Indians, who had before escaped their Fury, and were confined there by the Magistrates for their security.
" I have been since informed they have threatned to proceed to the Province Island, a few miles below this City, to destroy a num- ber of other friendly Indians, amounting to about 140, seated there by the Government for their protection. I have taken the best measures I could for their preservation, but as these lawless rioters, flush'd & embolden'd by their Success, and encouraged by their num- bers, may possibly carry their insults upon the Government & its Laws still further, & raise such Tumults and Insurrections as it may not be in my power to suppress without the aid of a Military Force; and as there is too much reason to expect that our Provin- cial Troops, if they could be spared, could not be brought to act vigorously against their Friends, Neighbours, and relations, I am under the necessity of making application to your Excelley for the assistance of the King's regular Troops in this Province, to support. the Civil Authority in the Execution of the Laws in case of need, and to give a check to these daring attacks upon Government. As I understand that three Companies are quartered in Carlisle for the Winter, I beg you will be pleased to give directions to the Com- manding Officer there, to afford me his best assistance in case the present Emergency I apprehend should lay me under the necessity of calling those Troops to the aid of the Province, and that he may be directed by your Excellency to obey such Orders as I may think proper to give him, for the preserving peace and good Order, & Supporting and Executing the Laws.
"I take the Liberty to inclose you a Letter to Sir William John- son, to whom I have communicated the above mentioned unhappy . affair, and desired him to represent it to the Six Nations in its true light, that they may not impute any Breach of Faith to this Gov- ernment, & beg the favour of you to forward it by the first conve- nient Opportunity.
"I am, with great regard, Sir, "Your Excellency's Most Obedient humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN. " To His Excelley. Gen1. GAGE."
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A Letter from the Governor to Sir William Johnson.
" PHILADA., 31st December, 1763.
"Sir :
"I think it necessary to inform you, that on the 14th Inst. a number of the Inhabitants on the Western frontiers of this Pro-
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vince, without any Authority, assembled in Arms, and proceeded in a Party of between fifty & Sixty Men, to the Indian Town in the Conestogo manor, in Lancaster County, & there, without the least Cause, cruelly put to death Six of the friendly Indians, who had peaceably and inoffensively resided there for many years past, by Permission from this Government, & after burning and destroying their Houses and Effects, precipitately retired. Upon receiving In- formation of this barbarous outrage, I immediately dispatched Or- ders to the Magistrates of the back Counties, to use their utmost Endeavours to apprehend and confine the Offenders, that they might be brought to Justice, & likewise issued the inclosed Proclama- tion.
"Notwithstanding which, these daring Rioters, on the 27th In- stant, again assembled in Arms, & came down in a large body to the Town of Lancaster, broke open the Work House, & murdered fourteen of the Conestogo Indians, who had before escaped their Fury, and were confined there by the Magistrates for their Se- curity.
" As this affair may be misrepresented to the Six Nation Indians, & give them an unfavourable Idea of the Faith of this Government, and may moreover be attended with other bad Consequences, I must beg you will take the properest method of acquainting them with the Truth of this Transaction, & of removing any disadvanta- geous Impressions they may have received from an imperfect account of the matter. Every good Man must look upon the Con- duet of the Perpetrators of these unparelleled Villanies with Abhor. rence & Detestation, who, at the same time that they have imbrued their hands in innocent Blood, have set themselves above, & violated those very Laws under which they themselves derive the Rights of Security & Protection. I am preparing a Proclamation, offering a high reward for the discovering and apprehending the Ringleaders of this Party, and you may be assured that nothing in my power shall be wanting to bring them to the Punishment justly due to' their Crimes.
"I am, Sir, your most Obedt. hble. Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
" To Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON."
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Monday the 2d January, 1764.
This day the Governor issued a Proclamation, as agreed on in Council the 29 of last Month, which follows' in these words, viz1:
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor & Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, & Counties of Newcastle, Kent, & Sussex, on Delaware.
" A PROCLAMATION :
"WHEREAS, on the twenty-second day of December last, I issued a Proclamation for the apprehending and bringing to Justice a number of Persons who, in violation of the Public Faith, & in De- fiance of all Law, had inhumanly killed Six of the Indians who had lived on Conestogoe Manor for the Course of many Years, peaceably and inoffensively, under the Protection of this Govern- ment, on Lands assigned to them for their Habitation. Notwith- standing which, I have received Information that on the Twenty- seventh of the same Month, a large party of armed Men again assembled and met together in a riotous & tumultous manner, in the County of Lancaster & proceeded to the Town of Lancaster, where they violently broke open the Work House, and butchered and put to death fourteen of the said Conestogoe Indians, Men, Women, and Children, who had been taken under the immediate Care and Protection of the Magistrates of the said County, and lodged for their better Security in the said Workhouse, till they should be more effectually provided for by Order of the Govern- ment: And Whereas, common Justice loudly demands, and the Laws of the Land, (upon the preservation of which not only the Liberty and Security of every Individual, but the being of the Government itself depend), require that the above Offenders should be brought to condign Punishment; I have, therefore, by and with the advice of the Council, published this Proclamation, & do hereby strictly charge & command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, Officers Civil and Military, and all other his Majesty's faithful and liege Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and enquiry after the Authors and Perpetrators of the said last men- tioned Offence, their Abettors and Accomplices ; and that they use all possible means to apprehend and secure them in some of the public Gaols of this Province, to be dealt with according to Law. And I do hereby further promise and engage, that any Person or Persons who shall apprehend & secure, or cause to be apprehended and secured, any three of the Ringleaders of the said party, and prosecute them to conviction, shall have and receive for each the publick reward of Two Hundred Pounds; and any Accomplice, not concerned in the immediate shedding the Blood of the, said Indians, who shall make discovery of any or either of the said Ringleaders & apprehend and prosecute them to conviction, shall, over and above the said Reward, have all the weight and influence
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of the Government for obtaining his Majesty's Pardon for his Offence.
" Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the second day of January, in the fourth Year of His Majesty's Reign, & in the Year of our Lord, one thou- sand seven hundred & Sixty-four.
" JOHN PENN.
" By His Honour's Command. " JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun"., Secretary. "GOD SAVE THE KING."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 3rd January, 1764.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters, Esq1.
William Logan,
Lynford Lardner,
The Governor laid before the Board a Letter which he received last Night by Express from Edward Shippen at Lancaster, inclosing a Copy of an Anonymous Letter, dated the 31 December, inform- ing that many of the Inhabitants of the Townships of Lebanon, Paxton, and Hanover, in Lancaster County, were forming themselves into a Company of 200 Men, to March to Philadelphia, with a de- sign to kill the Indians on the Province Island, & that many of the Farmers near the Mountain had contributed largely to defray the Expences of such of them as were not able to procure Horses, and pay their charges, &ca.
" While this matter was under the Consideration of the Board, & a Message was preparing to lay before the Assembly on this oc- casion, The Governor received a Verbal Message from the House, by two Members, letting him know that they had under their Con- sideration Ways and Means for raising Money for the Troops voted by them, and desired the Governor would lay before them an Esti- mate of the Expences attending that service; & further, they ac- quainted the Governor that they had been informed that some fresh barbarous murders had been committed on the Indians at Lancaster, and had seen his proclamation for apprehending the Offenders, and were desirous to strengthen his hands on this occasion.
Then was prepared the following Message to the Assembly, which, being read and approved, was ordered to be carried by the Secretary to the House, with the Letter therein referred to :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I was preparing a message to inform you of the cruel Mas- sacre of the Indians, in the Work House of the Borough of Lan-
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
caster, on the twenty-seventh of last Month, by a wicked and law- less set of Rioters, when I received a Message by two of your Members, that you were already made fully acquainted with the particulars of that horrid Scene of Barbarity, and insolent and dar- ing violation of the Laws. The Letters which I have ordered here- with to be laid before you, prove that the party who perpetrated this outrage do not intend to stop here, but are making great addi- tion to their numbers, and are actually preparing to come down in a large Body and cut off the Indians seated by the Government on the Province Island; and it is difficult to determine how far they may carry their designs, or where the mischief may end.
" You must be sensible, Gentlemen, that the civil power alone is incapable of frustrating the attempts of those abandoned and des- perate Persons, and that no means can be effectual, but the oppos- ing force by force. It is, moreover, particularly unfortunate at this time, that we have no Funds out of which the expence of levying men to strengthen the hands of Government, and protect the In- dians, might be defrayed.
"As a moment's time is not to be lost, I must beg your serious and immediate attention to this important affair, and hope that, by a Bill in all respects adequate to the present Exigency, you will furnish me with full powers to repel those bold Invaders of Law and Justice, & support the Honour & Dignity of the Govern- ment.
" January 3rd, 1764."
"JOHN PENN.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday 4th Jan"- 1764. PRESENT :
`The Honourable JOHN. PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gover- nor, &ca.
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner,
A Message from the Assembly, in answer to the Governor's Mes- sage of yesterday, was read in these words :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
"' May it please your Honour :
" The House have given their "most serious and immediate Attention to the important Affairs" laid before them in Your Hon- our's Message of this afternoon, and considering that the military Force of this Province is at present engaged in the defence of our long extended Frontier, by your Honour's orders, have unanimously entered into a vote of Credit that they will make Provision for de-
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fraying the Expence of such additional Force as the Governor & present Provincial Commissioners shall find necessary to Frus- trate the further wicked Designs of those lawless Rioters who have perpetrated the most inhuman murders on the poor defenceless In- dians, ancient Friends of this Province, and living under the Pro- tection of its Government ; And they, with pleasure, acquaint your Honour that they are just now informed a considerable sum has lately been paid into the hands of the Treasurer, which may be im- mediately applied to the purpose of "repelling those bold invaders of Law and Justice, & supporting the Honour and Dignity of the Government," and which will probably be sufficient, 'till such a Bill as your Honour recommends, can be prepared and considered.
"Signed by Order of the House,
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. " January 3rd, 1764."
The Council considered what was further to be done for the Se- curity of the Indians on the Province Island, and after weighing every thing that was proposed, the Council were of Opinion, that as the Indians themselves requested they might be put under a proper Convoy, and sent to Sir William Johnson, this was the best mea- sure that could, at present, be taken, and the Commissioners agree- ing to defray the Expence that would arise on this Service, it was concluded that no time should be lost in getting things ready for their departure early to-morrow morning.
It was particularly fortunate that there was in Town a Detach- ment of Highlanders, under the command of Capt". Robinson, on their March to New York, who, at the instance of the Governor, readily agreed to escort them as far as that City.
It was further thought advisable that proper Letters should be sent to Sir William Johnson, Gen". Gage, Governor Colden, and Gov". Franklin. Mr. Logan offered his Service to go to Burlington & Trentown, to procure Passports for the Indians, & to do every thing that might be necessary for their safe conduct thro' the Province of New Jersey.
Thursday, the 5th January, 1764.
This day the Governor wrote the following Letters to Gen1. Gage, Sir William Johnson, Governor Colden, and Governor Franklin :
A Letter to General Gage from the Governor.
" PHILADELPHIA, 5th Jany., 1764.
" Sir :
"Since my Letter of the 31st of last month, we have been every day alarmed with accounts that those wicked People who commit-
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ted the outrages mentioned in that Letter, were directing their march towards this City, in order to kill about 140 Indians that I placed for their Security in an Island at the Mouth of Schuylkill. We could easily defend these Indians, but as they have earnestly entreated to be no longer detained from their Families, and to be sent to Sir William Johnson, I have consented to it, that their minds may be quieted, & Sir William have an opportunity of rep- resenting this matter to the Nations in the most favourable manner.
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