USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 12
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" I have put them under the Escort of Capt. Robinson, who is now on his march from hence to New York with a Detachment of Highlanders, and very kindly offered me his Service on this pressing Occasion.
"I am, Sir, " Your most Obedient, humble servant,
"To His Excellency Gen1. GAGE."
"JOHN PENN.
-
A Letter from the Governor to Sir William Johnson.
" PHILADELPHIA,, 5th January, 1704. " Sir :
" Since my writing to you on the 31 last month, I have had in- telligence that the riotous Parties, which I then informed you had murdered all the Conestogo Indians, are again assembling them- selves in much greater numbers on the Frontiers, and have given out that they will come & destroy about 140 other friendly Indians, who have, for the most part, lived several Years at Bethlehem and Nazareth, & have been lately removed into the neighbourhood of this City for their better Security. But tho' I could easily have afforded them a sufficient Protection, yet I chosen to gratify them in their desire to be sent to you; and have this day embraced the favourable opportunity of sending them off under the Convoy of Capt". Robinson's party of Highlanders, now on their march to New York. I have wrote to General Gage & Governor Colden, to desire they will be pleased to give directions that they may proceed from thence without molestation, through that Government, till they shall arrive at your House.
" I had two reasons for gratifying these Indians in their request ; the one, that they might be rendered easy in their minds, & the Wighalousin Indians get home to their Families, who will imagine them put to death, as they will hear what has been done at Lan- caster ; the other, that by them you may have an Opportunity of representing this violent Outrage as done in defiance of Govern- ment, & that I have issued Proclamations ; my second, being in- closed, to apprehend and bring to Justice all that are concerned in
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those barbarous murders. I have earnestly pressed the Assembly to form a Bill that shall put it in the power of the Government, for the future, to prevent & punish such Enormities as these ; and I hope they will think it now high time to establish a proper mili- tary Law.
"I am, Sir, " Your most Obedient, humble Servant, 1 " JOHN PENN.
" To ST. WILLIAM JOHNSON, Bart."
A Letter from the Governor to the Govr. of New York.
"PHILADELPHIA, 5th January, 1764.
" Sir :
"Our back Inhabitants who have indeed suffered a great deal by the Indian War, have got it into their heads that one Indian should not be suffered to live among us, and have carried their Resentment so far as to go and kill some Indians who lived under the Faith & Protection of the Government for Sixty Years in an Indian Town, near Lancaster. Not content with this barbarous outrage, they, in the open day time, march'd into that Town, and there murdered fourteen more Indians who were put in there by the Magistrates for their Security, & after perpetrating these horrid Violences, these lawless people have even threatned to come and kill a number of Indians that I gave leave to sit down in an Island on Schuylkill, in the Neighbourhood of this City.
"This might have been easily prevented, as there are Arms and Men enough, who would not have suffered such a monstrous invasion of all Law and Order; but these Indians, who are of a mild disposi- tion, desired they might be permitted to go to Sir William John- son's, from whence they could be easily sent to the heads of the Sus- quehanna, where they have a good acquaintance.
" On considering their request, it appeared to the Council that this would not only tend to the quieting the minds of the Indians, which were much disturbed at their Situation & long absence from their families, who live on Susquehanna, but also be a means of having this matter communicated to the Six Nations & to the several Tribes of friendly Indians in the most favourable manner.
" Satisfied of the advantages arising from this measure, I have sent them thro' Jersey and your Government to Sir William John- son, & desire you will favour them with your protection & counte- nance, & give them the proper Passes for their Journey to Sir William's Seat.
" I have recommended it in the most pressing Terms to the As- sembly to form a Bill that shall enable me to apprehend these Sedi-
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tious & barbarous Murderers, and to quell the like Insurrections for the future.
" I am, Sir, "Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
"To Governor COLDEN, at New York."
A Letter from the Governor to Governor Franklin.
" PHILADELPHIA, 4th Jan"" 1764.
" Sir :
" A number of Friendly Indians, who have been lately taken under the protection of this Government, & seated for their Security on the Province Island, being under great apprehensions of being destroyed by a set of lawless Rioters on the Frontiers of this Pro- vince, who have already put to death all the Conestogo Indians, have requested me to send them up to Sir William Johnson.
" As I am willing to comply with their request, I have taken the opportunity of putting them under the guard of Capt". Robinson's Detachment of Highlanders, who are now on their March to New York.
"I beg you will give the necessary orders, that they may pass with safety thro' your Government, and furnish them with such passports as you may think proper.
"I am, Sir, Your most Obedient humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
" His Excelle Governor FRANKLIN."
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Monday, 9th January, 1764.
The Governor having last Saturday received a Letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, one of His Majestie's Prin- cipal Secretaries of State, laid the same before the Assembly, ac- companied with a Message, in these words, viz *:
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" On Saturday last I was favoured with a Letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated the 19th October last, which, as it is ex- pressive of the Judgment the King has formed of the late Conduct of the Legislature of this Province, founded on advices and dis- patches from Sir Jeffery Amherst, and points out what part his Ma- VOL. IX .- 8.
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jesty expects the General Assembly of this Province will act in raising & paying Troops, to be employed not only in defending our Frontiers, but offensively, against the Savages, in such manner and at such places as the Commander-in-Chief shall judge necessary to direct. I thought it my duty to communicate it to you without delay, and I have accordingly ordered the Secretary to lay it before you.
" JOHN PENN. " January 9, 1764."
A Letter from the Right Honourable the Earl of. Halifax to the Governor.
"ST. JAMES'S, October 19, 1763. " Sir :
"The King having observed, upon perusal of the dispatches lately received from Sir Jeffery Amherst, that notwithstanding the Insur- rections of the Indian Nations have so long been increasing, and now bear the appearance of becoming general, the Legislature of Pennsylvania have nevertheless inflexibly persisted in refusing or neglecting to pay any Regard to the pressing instances with which Sir Jeffery has repeatedly urged them to contribute to the general Defence of the Country, and Annoyance of the said Indians, by raising and employing a competent number of Troops. His Majesty has commanded me to express to you his Surprize and Displeasure at a Conduct so inconsistent with the Security of the Lives and Properties of his Subjects in Pennsylvania in particular, as well as to the duty they owe to the public Safety in general; And I am further to signify to you His Majesty's pleasure, that you do recom- mend it to the General Assembly of the Province under your Gov- ernment, in His Majesty's name, to make provision, without further delay, for raising & paying such a reasonable number of Men as the actual state of the War may require, to be employed, not only in protecting and defending the Frontiers of Pennsylvania, but in acting offensively against the Savages, in such manner, and at such places, as Sir Jeffery Amherst shall judge necessary to direct. This is the Conduct which His Majesty, in such a time of general Danger, has a Right to expect from His Colonies. This is the Conduct of which Virginia set the laudable Example, by calling out & marching a Thousand of her Militia upon the first requisition of the said Commander-in-Chief; And such a mark of Zeal and Duty his Ma- jesty does require & expect from the Province of Pennsylvania, and from other His Colonies in North America.
"I am, with great Truth & Regard, Sir,
"Your most Obedient humble Servant, "DUNK HALIFAX." q
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
January 11th, 1764.
The Governor received sundry Letters from the Governors of Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, & New York, desiring the several Quotas of Money, relating to the money that was received by the Province of Pennsylvania, more than their share of the Parliamentary Grants, the same were laid before the House, with the following Message.
A Message from the Governor to the. Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" My Predecessor, Mr. Hamilton, by a Message, dated the 20th of September last, informed the then Assembly that the Agents for this Province in London, had received out of the Parliamentary Grant in the Year 1761, the sum of Ten thousand nine hundred & forty-seven Pounds Sterling more than the distributive share justly due to us from our Quota of Men raised for the King's Service in the Year 1760, which sum was agreed by the said Agents, to be due to several of our Neighbouring Colonies, who had received less than their true proportion out of the said Grant for that Year. I now lay before you a Copy of the minutes and Agreement of all the Agents impowered to receive the money granted by Parliament to the Colonies of North America, for the Services performed by them in the Year 1760, which set this matter in a clear Light, and shew to what particular Colonies, and in what Proportions the above men- tioned sum, is to be repaid by this Province. I also have ordered to be laid before you several Letters which have been received from the Governments of the Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and New York, demanding the payment of their respective Quotas, and earnestly recommend it to you to make Provision, during the Course of the present Session, for the discharge of this Debt, & thereby comply with the Engagements which you will perceive our Agents have entered into for that purpose.
" January 11th, 1764."
" JOHN PENN.
Eodem die, P. M.
Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor with a verbal Message that the House desired to know whether he had any In- structions from the Proprietaries relating to raising Supplies and emitting Bills of Credit, and requested a Copy of them; To which the Governor answered, that he had Instructions on this head, which he would furnish them with to-morrow. They also delivered to the Governor a Message from the Assembly, which follows in these words, viz":
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ad
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A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
" In answer to your Honour's Message of this Morns. concerning the Debt of this Province to some of the other Colonies, we beg leave to acquaint you, that having found on the Minutes of the last Assembly the same matter earnestly recommended by the then House, to the consideration of the present Assembly, we had some days since, ordered a Bill to be brought in for discharging that debt, which Bill has accordingly been brought in and read, and is now under the Consideration of the House, we being truly desirous that the Engagements entered into by our Agents, should be hon- ourably discharged as soon as possible.
" Signed by Order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" January 11th, 1764."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, the 12th Jan" .. 1764.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &ca.
James Hamilton,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner, Benjamin Chew,
Richard Penn, Esquire, took and subscribed the usual Oaths and Declarations to the Government, and then took his Seat as a Mem- ber of Council.
The following Message to the Assembly was then prepared & approved, & the Secretary was ordered to carry the same to the House this forenoon, with a Copy of the 11th and 12th instruc- tions from the Proprietaries, relating to a Paper Currency.
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I received a verbal Message from you Yesterday, desiring to be informed whether I had any Instructions from the Proprietaries respecting raising Supplies & emitting Bills of Credit in this Pro- vince, & of what Nature such Instructions were.
"Though this is not a matter of right, yet to demonstrate to you, Gentlemen, my willingness to oblige you and to do every thing in my power to avoid unnecessary disputes, I now send you a Copy of my Instructions on this head.
"JOHN PENN.
" January 12th, 1764."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
A Copy of the Eleventh & Twelfth Instructions from the Proprie- taries to the Governor.
" XI. WHEREAS, all money raised for publick services should be disposed and applied by the Law which raises the same, & such was the ancient practice in the said Province ; You shall, therefore, not give your assent to any Bill or Act of Assembly for the Emitting or Re-Emitting, or continuing any paper Currency, or Bills of Credit in the said Province, unless in such Bill or Act of Assem- bly, it shall be enacted that the whole of the Interest money to accrue, arise and become payable from the Loan of all such Paper Currency, shall be clearly and with certainty disposed of, and no part thereof left to be disposed of at the Discretion of the Assem- bly only ; Nor shall you give your Assent to any Law for prolonging the present Excise, or laying any other Excise, or raising any money on the Inhabitants of the said Province of Pennsylvania, unless in all such Acts it be enacted that all money thereby raised, shall clearly & with Certainty be disposed of, and no part thereof left to be disposed of at the Discretion of the Assembly only.
"XII. Whereas, in the Twelfth Year of his late Majesty's Reign, the whole sum in Paper Bills, or Bills of Credit of the said Province, amounted only to the sum of Four score thousand Pounds Proclamation Money, or thereabouts; but the same is now swell'd and increased to a great & enormous sum ; and although a reasona- ble quantity of Paper money or Bills of Credit in American Pro- vinces, tends greatly to the benefit of those Provinces and the In- habitants thereof, as well as of the Trade of Great Britain, yet too large a quantity hath heretofore in other Colonies, and may in Pennsylvania become greatly detrimental to the Trade and Credit of the same and prejudicial to the Persons having dealings there ; We, therefore, recommend it to you to use your utmost endeavours to keep the quantity of Paper Money or Bills of Credit current from time to time, in the said Province, as low as possible ; and in case you shall judge it expedient and necessary to consent to any new Bill, either for creating, emitting, continuing, or remitting any Quantity of Paper Money or Bills of Credit, you are to con- form yourself to the Agreement made between us and the Agents of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, which was ratified by his late Majesty in Council, & entered in the Council Books in the Year, 1760; and you are effectually to take care that such Paper Money, or Bills of Credit, shall not be capable of being made a Tender, or any satisfaction, or discharge for any Quitrents, or other sterling Payments, due or to become due to us, but that all such Rents & Payments shall be paid either in Sterling Money, or according to the Course of Exchange between the said Province of Pennsylvania and Great Britain at the times of Payment, or according to the Tenor of the respective Grants & Reservations of such Rents ; or
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else that some such equivalent be enacted for our indemnity, against any loss by such paper money as was heretofore enacted by Act of Assembly of the said Province of the Twelfth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty, always provided, that on every such Bill strict regard be had on our foregoing Instruction, Nº. 11."
The Governor laid before the Board a Letter from His Excellency General Gage, dated the 6th Instant, in answer to His Honour's Letter of the 31st Ultº", inclosing an Order to the Commanding Officer of the King's troops at Carlisle to aid this Government in Support of the Civil Authority, both which were read & ordered to be entered on these Minutes.
0 A Letter to the Governor from General Gage.
New York, Jany. 6th, 1764.
" Sir :
" Your favour of the 31st Dec". came to my hands Yesterday, to- gether with your Proclamation & Letter to Sr- Wm. Johnson, which last shall be forwarded by first Opportunity.
"I expect three compleat Companies of the 1st Battalion of the Royal American, now on their March from Albany, will arrive here in three or four days, and I shall give them orders to proceed to Philadelphia, there to wait your further Orders. This is the most expeditious support I can send to you, but in case you should not judge this Force sufficient to aid and protect the civil Authority, I herewith transmit you an order addressed to the Officer command- ing at Carlisle, which you will make use of or not, as you shall see convenient. I am with great Regard Sir,
" Your most Obedient, humle. Servt.,
"THOS. GAGE.
"To Hon. Lieutt Gov". Penn."
Gen'l. Gage's Order to the Command'g Officer at Carlisle.
By His Excellency the Honourable THOMAS GAGE, Major General & Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America, &ca., &ca., &ca.
To the Officer Commanding His Majesty's Forces at Carlisle.
" The Honourable Lt. Governor Penn having made Application to me for the Assistance of the King's Troops in the Province of Pennsylvania ito support the Civil Authority in the execution of the Laws, You are hereby directed and required to pay due obe-
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dience to all such Orders as Governor Penn shall judge necessary to transmit to you, to effect the above mentioned purpose.
" Given under my hand at Head Quarters in New York this 6th day of January, 1764! T 1 "THOS GAGE. " By His Excellency's Command. "G. MATURIN."
At a Council held at Philada, on Monday, the 16th January 1764.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Benjamin Chew, Esqrs-
Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner,
The Governor laid before the Board a Bill which the Assembly had sent him for his Concurrence, entituled "An Act for the pay- ment of £10,947 Sterling, in certain proportions, to several Colo- nies in America," & the same being read, was referred to a further Consideration.
The Governor laid before the Board a Letter of the 10th Instant he received on Friday last, from his Excellency General Gage, ac- quainting him that the Lieutenant Governor of New York, by the advice of his Council, had determined not to receive the Indians now on their March thither, within his Government, nor suffer them to pass through that Province, & had issued Orders accordingly ; As, also, a Letter of the same date, received yesterday, from Gov". Colden, with a Copy of the Minutes of the Council Board of New York, upon the same subject, all which were read in their Order, and are as follows :
pria mail A Letter from General Gage to the Governor.
"NEW YORK, Jany: 10th, 1765. " Sir :
" Lieut Gov . Colden will, no doubt, inform you of the advice of the Council assembled to consider your Letter of the 5 Inst., re- specting the Indians you have lately sent from Philadelphia, under the escort of Capt". Roberson, of Montgomery's Regiment, which is not to receive the Indians within this Government, or suffer them to pass through the Province, but to issue the proper Orders to the Justices and Magistrates of Richmond County to stop & cause them to return; And Lieut. Governor Colden acquaints me by Letter, that he was preparing Orders, to prevent their being admitted into this Province. As you thought it advisable to put them under the care of
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the Military, they shall not be abandoned by the escort, 'till re- turned to you in safety ; I have, therefore, sent Orders to Capt. Robertson to return with them to Philadelphia, in case the Orders reach him within a day or two Day's march of that City ; But if he receives the Orders at Brunswick, or on this side Brunswick, to halt 'till I send some Companys of the Royal American Regiment, whom I expect here this day, to relieve him; And those Companys will escort the Indians back to Philadelphia, and receive any Orders you shall judge proper to give them. In the mean time, Capt. Robertson is directed to protect them from any Violence which may be offered them, and to apply to the Magistrates where he shall be to supply them with Provisions, which, if demanded, I suppose the Province of pennsyla will repay. I had the Honour to receive your Letter of the 5th Inst., on this Subject, yesterday at noon. I am, with great regard,
" Sir, Your most Obedt humble Serv'., " THOS. GAGE. " Honble. Gov". PENN."
A Letter to the Governor from Governor Colden. "FORT GEORGE, NEW YORK, Jan' 10th, 1764. " Sir :
" Yesterday about one afternoon I received your Letter of the 5th Instant, and immediately called his Majesty's Council of this Pro- vince for their advice thereon ; the result thereof you will see by the inclosed Minute of Council. I have accordingly sent Orders to the Magistrates of Richmond County not to suffer these Indians to enter this Province.
" The Indians on the East side of the Susquehanna are the most obnoxious to the People of this Province of any, having done the most mischief. They consist of a number of rogues and thieves, run- aways from the other Nations, and for that reason not to be trusted .: I could not be assured that these Indians can safely pass through this Province without an Escort, which would with great difficulty and expence be obtained at this Season of the Year. The minds of the people are so generally irritated against the Indians living on the North East Branches of Susquehanna, that a number of Volun- tiers were proposed to me to go out against them to punish them for their Cruelties & perfidy. If you shall think proper to send two of these Indians with some discreet person to conduct them to Sir Wil- liam Johnson, they shall have my pass for that purpose.
" I think it a misfortune that our Correspondence should begin in this manner, for I am sincerely and heartily disposed to serve the people of Pennsylvania, & you, Sir, may be assured that I am with the greatest regard and respect, Sir,
" Your most Obed' & most humle Servt.,
" CADWALLADER COLDEN.
" Honle Lieut' Gov' Penn."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Fort George, in the City of New York, on Monday the 9th day of January, 1764.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. CADWALLADER COLDEN, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor, &ca. i
Mr. Horsemanden,
Mr. Walton,
Mr. Smith,
Earl of Stirling,
Mr. Watts.
His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, communicated to the Council a Letter of the 5th Instant, from the Honourable John Penn, Esq', Governor of Pennsylvania, representing that the back Inhabitants of that Province had carried their resentment against the Indians so far as to kill some who had lived under the Faith and Protection of that Government for Sixty Years, in an Indian Town near Lancaster. That not content with this barbarous Out- rage, they in open day time march'd into that Town, and there mur- dered fourteen more Indians, who were put in there by the Magis- trates for their Security, and after perpetrating these horrid Vio- lences, had even threatned to come and kill a number of Indians that he gave leave to sit down in an Island on Schuylkill, in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. That this might have been easily prevented, as there are Men and Arms enough-but that these In- dians are of a mild and peaceable disposition, desired they might be permitted to go to Sir William Johnson's, from whence they could easily be sent to the heads of the Susquehanna, where they have a good acquaintance. That on considering of this request, it appeared to the Council that this would not only tend to the quiet- ing the Minds of the Indians, who were much disturbed at their Situation & long absence from their Families, who live on Susque- hanna, but also be a means of having this matter communicated to the six Nations and to the several Tribes of Friendly Indians, in the most favourable manner; and, that satisfied of the advantages arising from this measure, he hath sent them thro' Jersey and this Government to Sir William Johnson, and desires his Honour will favour them with his Protection & countenance, and give them the proper passes for their Journey to S' William's Seat.
"And his Honour having been pleased to require the Opinion and Advice of the Board thereupon, the Council expressed their surprize that the Government of Pennsilvania should, without pre- viously consulting this Government, order so great a body of In- dians, in number about one hundred & forty, to pass into this Pro- vince ; a measure which the Council conceive, could not but excite the greatest uneasiness at this time among the Inhabitants, and which appears the more unadvisable as the permitting these In- dians to return to their Families on the Susquehanna, would be adding greatly to the strength of a people, from whom His Ma-
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