USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
" You will think it scarce possible, I imagine, that the Paternal care of his Majesty for his Colonies, or the Lenity and Indulgence of the Parliament, should go further than I have already mentioned ; Yet so full of true magnanimity are the Sentiments of both, and so free from the smallest Colour of Passion or Prejudice, that they seem dispos'd not only to forgive, but to forget those most unjusti- fiable marks of an undutiful disposition, too frequent in the late Transactions of the Colonies; and which, for the Honour of those Colonies, it were to be wished had been more discountenanced & discouraged by those who had knowledge to conduct themselves otherwise.
" A Revision of the late American Trade Laws is going to be the immediate Object of Parliament; Nor will the late Transactions
I
la f e a
0
'311
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
there, however provoking, prevent, I dare say, the full Operation of that kind and indulgent disposition, prevailing both in his Majesty" and his Parliament, to give to the Trade and Interests of America every Relief which the true State of their Circumstances demands or admits.
" Your Situation, which has made you a Witness of the Distrac- tion of that Country, will enable you to form the best Judgment of the Behaviour which your Province ought to use upon this Occa- sion, and of the Arguments which you ought to employ to enforce the necessity of such a Behaviour as is suitable to their present Circumstances.
" I have received your last Letters of the 10th & 19 of February last, and am glad to find that Things have remained quiet in your Government. By his Majesty's Commands, I transmit to you the Resolutions of the House of Commons, to be laid before your As- sembly, whom you will at the same time assure of his Majesty's approbation of the wise and prudent as well as dutiful Behaviour which the Province of Pennsylvania has held amidst the two pre- vailing distractions, which have so generally agitated the other Colonies. This behaviour of your Province reflects Honour on your administration, and I have the Satisfaction to inform you, that your own Conduct meets with his Majesty's approbation.
" I am, with great Truth and Regard, Sir, . "Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"H. S. CONWAY.
" Lieu' Gov". of Pennsylvania."
The abovementioned Letter being taken into due Consideration, the Council advised the Governor to lay the same, together with the Papers referred to in it, before the Assembly with a Message. ?
The following Message was accordingly prepared, approved, & 1 sent to the House with the said several Papers, vizt :
Ai Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" Having just receiv'd from the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Conway, the Copy of a Law lately passed for repealing an Act made last year by the British Parliament for granting certain Stamp Duties in America, I am pleased to have so early an Opportunity as your present meeting affords, of congratulating you on an Event so truly joyful, and which I hope will be productive of the most happy consequences to this and all the other Colonies.
" By the Secretary of State's Letter, which I have ordered to be laid before the House, you will likewise have the Satisfaction to find that besides the Repeal of the Stamp Act, our Gracious Sov- ereign and his Parliament are still extending their goodness farther, and propose to give every Relief to the Trade of America which our Situation and Circumstances require.
312
MINUTES OF THE
" Distinguished by such signal Instances of paternal Regard from His Majesty, and by such indulgence from his Parliament, I need not mention to you, Gentlemen, the Conduct you ought to pursue. I know your own Hearts will lead you, in return, to every act of Duty and Expression of Gratitude which a Loyal People can mani- fest on so happy an Occasion.
"I am further to acquaint you, that I took the earliest Oppor- tunity to do that justice to the good People of this Province which their Conduct merited, by representing to the King's Ministers the Moderation and Decency with which they behaved under the Dissatisfaction & Uneasiness universally prevailing in America on account of the Stamp Act. In Answer to which I have now the Honour of His Majesty's Commands to assure You, Gentlemen, of His Royal Approbation of the wise and prudent as well as dutiful Be- haviour, which the Province of Pennsylvania has held amidst the two prevailing Distractions which so generally agitated the Colo- nies.
" The late Resolutions of the House of Commons, mentioned in Mr. Conway's Letter, I have, agreeably to His Majesty's express Injunction, now ordered to be laid before you.
" JOHN PENN. " June 3d, 1766."
-
June the 4th day, A. M.
Two Members waited on the Governor, and presented him the following Message from the Assembly, in answer to His Honour's Message of Yesterday :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
"We have taken into our Consideration your Honour's obliging Message of this day, accompanied with Mr. Secretary Conway's Letter of the 31st of March, the copy of a Law lately passed for re- pealing the Stamp Act, and the late Resolutions of the House of Commons.
" We return your Honour our Hearty thanks for your Congratu- lations on the happy issue of this important affair ; and it gives us the highest Satisfaction to observe that his Majesty entertains the most favourable Sentiments of " the prudent as well as dutiful Be- haviour which the Province of Pennsylvania has held amidst the too prevailing Distractions which so generally agitated the other Colonies," and of your Conduct on this Occasion.
" We shall, with the greatest Chearfulness and Pleasure, express the warmest Sense of Gratitude and Duty to his most Gracious Ma-
1
1
j
313
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
jesty, and his Parliament, for their Wisdom, Justice, and Conde- scension, manifested to us by the Repeal of the Stamp Act, and for their further benevolent Disposition to give every Relief to the Trade of America, that our Situation and Circumstances require.
"Permit us, also, to return your Honour our Thanks for the early Opportunity you took to do that Justice to the good People of this Province which their Conduct merited, by representing to His Ma- jesty's Ministers the Moderation & Decency with which they have behaved under the Dissatisfaction and Uneasiness universally pre- vailing in America on account of the Stamp Act.
" Pleased, as we are, of the present Opportunity of testifying our Joy and Felicity upon so happy an Event, give us leave to congratu- late your Honour upon your Marriage, and to offer our sincerest Wishes for your future Happiness.
"Signed by Order of the House,
"JOSEPH FOX, Speaker. 4
" June 3d, 1766."
-
New Castle, Friday 6th June, 1766.
Three Members of Assembly waited on the Governor with a Mes- sage from the House, acquainting him that they had met on the 26th of last Month, pursuant to Adjournment, and had proceeded to prepare several Bills, which they should soon present to the Gov- ernor for his Concurrence, but in the meantime, requested to know if the Governor had any business to lay before them. His Honour made answer that, having lately received a Letter from His Ma- jesty's Secretary of State, acquainting him with the Repeal of the ' Stamp Act, and with other important matters, he should order a Copy of the same to be immediately laid before the House for their Perusal.
The Secretary accordingly carried to the House a Copy of Mr. Conway's Letter, dated the 31st March last, and also, a Printed Copy of the Act of Parliament to repeal an Act for granting certain Stamp Duties in America.
New Castle, Monday 9th June, 1766.
The Assembly of the Government of the Lower Counties, during their Sessions, sent up the Governor for his perusal and Concurrence Nine Bills entituled as follow, viz“:
"An Act for the Embanking and Draining a parcel of Marsh on Pearman's Branch, in Kent County."
314
MINUTES OF THE
"An Act for the Embanking and Draining a parcel of Meadow Marsh and Cripple in Christiana and Mill Creeks Hundreds, in the County of Newcastle."
"An Act for keeping in good Repair the Banks and Sluices of a parcel of Marsh in St. George's Hundred, in the County of New- castle."
"An Act for draining the Marsh near Pagan Creek, in Sussex County."
"An Act for aiding the discontinuance of the Process of the Su- preme Court within this Government."
"An Act for the relief of Robert Chalfant, a Prisoner in the Gaol of New Castle."
"An Act for draining and improving certain Swampy and Sunken Ground, commonly called the Green Drains, in Sussex County."
"An Additional Supplementary Act to the Act for regulating the Publick Roads in New Castle County."
"An Act for regulating the Streets & Alleys in the Town of New Castle."
The said Bills were duly read and considered by the Governor, Benjamin Chew, and Richard Penn, Esquires, Members of Council, and after making some Amendments to a few of them, to which the House acceded, they were severally agreed to.
The Governor having then acquainted a Committee of Assembly that he was ready to receive the House immediately at his Lodgings, in order to pass the Bills, They accordingly attended with the abovementioned nine Bills, which the Governor enacted into Laws, Signed a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal thereto, and directed the Secretary to accompany two Members of Assembly to see them Sealed and Deposited in the Rolls Office.
The Speaker then presented to the Governor Orders on the Trus- tees of the Loan Office for £ 100, for which His Honour thanked the House.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 19th June, 1766.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gover- nor, &cª.
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew, ' } Esq™
Lynford Lardner,
Richard Penn,
The King having lately testified, in a remarkable manner, the most Paternal Affection and condescending Goodness towards the Subjects of his American Colonies, by passing a Law for the repeal- ing of an Act granting certain Stamp Duties in America, The Council judged it the duty of this Government to return their most
r 0 f
315
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
unfeigned Thanks to His Majesty, and to express their high Sense of his goodness for so signal an Instance of His Royal Favour, by a proper and dutiful Address from the Governor & Council of this Province.
The following Address was accordingly prepared, approved, & signed by the Governor and Members of Council present, and after- wards it was carried to all the absent Members, who also approved & signed the same, except Wm. Logan, who was at Burlington.
Mr. Chew then inclosed the Address in a Letter to the Honour- able Thomas Penn, Esqr., and transmitted it by the Packet from New York.
"TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
"The Address of the Governor and Council of the Province of Penn- sylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Del- aware.
" We, your Majesty's Faithful Subjects, the Governor and Coun- cil of the Province and Counties aforesaid, with the most profound Submission, beg leave to approach the Throne on an Occasion the most affecting & interesting to us and all your other American Sub- jects.
"Permit us, Royal Sir, with Hearts overflowing with Gratitude, humbly to acknowledge the manifold Instances of your Paternal Tenderness and Affection, extended to your Subjects in this dis- tant part of your Empire, and, in a more especial Manner, to ex- press our lively Sense of your Majesty's unbounded Goodness, and the disinterested Benevolence of your Parliament, in the late Re- peal of the Act imposing certain Stamp Duties in your Colonies.
" We rejoice in this Opportunity of declaring that Your Majes- ty's Administration hath been distinguished by the strictest Regard to Justice, and an unwearied attention to the Welfare and Happi- ness of your People. But when we reflect on this late signal In- stance of your Majesty's exalted Virtue, that you have been gra- ciously pleased to hearken to the Cries of your Subjects, and to stretch forth your Royal Hand to their Relief, notwithstanding many of them (blinded by a misguided Zeal) have committed Acts injurious to your Government, we are impressed with the highest Reverence for your great Magnanimity & princely Condescension.
" We trust that your Majesty cannot fail to receive the warmest returns of Gratitude and Loyalty from all your Subjects. For ourselves, We humbly beseech your Majesty to accept of our un- feigned Assurances that our Hearts are firmly attached to your Sa- cred Person and Government, our Affection to our Mother Country
316
MINUTES OF THE
inviolable, and our Lives and Fortunes entirely devoted to Your Majesty's Service.
" BENJ. CHEW, LAWRENCE GROWDEN,
" THOS. CADWALADER, RICHARD PETERS,
" RICH'D PENN, Jun".,
LYNFORD LARDNER,
" JOHN PENN Lieut. Gov".,
BENJAMIN SHOEMAKER,
" JOSEPH TURNER.
"June 19th, 1766."
At a Council held at Philadelphia on Friday the 15th of Au- gust, 1766.
PRESENT :
The Honble. JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª. Lynford Lardner,
Richard Penn.
Benjamin Chew,
Several Burglaries and a Robbery on the Highway having been lately committed in and near this City, The Board took into Con- sideration the necessity of putting an immediate Stop, if possible, to such Villianies, by discovering and punishing the Authors .of them, and advised the Governor to issue a Proclamation, offering a Reward of Fifty Pounds for the apprehending and convicting each Offender, and promising a Pardon to any Accomplice who shall make a full discovery of all the Persons concerned in the said Bur- glaries and Robbery, so that they be convicted.
A Proclamation being immediately drawn up, was approved and ordered to be printed, and Copies dispersed through the City and Suburbs, and also to be inserted in the Pennsylvania Gazette and Journal. The said Proclamation follows in these words, viz:
" By the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.
"A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, Information hath been made to me, that several Burglaries have lately been committed in the City of Philadelphia, and its Suburbs, to the great Terror and Annoyance of His Majes- ty's good Subjects ; and also, that on Tuesday Evening last, a Rob- bery on the Highway was committed on a Person passing between the said City and the Lower Ferry, on Schuylkill : And Whereas, it is of great Importance to the Public that a stop should, as soon as possible, be put to crimes of so evil & pernicious a Nature, by detecting the Authors and Perpetrators of those Villainies, so that they may be brought to condign and exemplary Punishment. I
S
R
R ad ma th be
317
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
have, therefore, thought fit, with the Advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby offering a Reward of Fifty Pounds to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend or make known, and cause to be apprehended, all any or either of the Persons concerned as Authors, Perpetrators or Accomplices, in any of the said Bur- glaries or Robbery above mentioned, so that he or they shall be convicted thereof, according to the due Course of Law. And, I do promise, over and above the said Reward, to grant a Pardon to any Accomplice who shall make a full discovery of the other Persons concerned in the said Burglaries or Robbery, and cause them to be apprehended & convicted.
" And I do hereby charge and command all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other officers whatsoever, within this Government, to use their utmost Care and Diligence in detecting, apprehending, & securing the said Offenders.
" Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the fifteenth day of August, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Sixty-Six, & in the Sixth Year of His Majesty's Reign.
" JOHN PENN.
" By His Honour's Command. " JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun"., Secretary." "GOD SAVE THE KING."
-
Tuesday 9th September, 1766.
Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor this morn- ing, and acquainted him that the House were met pursuant to ad- journment, and desired to know if he had any Business to lay be- fore them; to which His Honour made answer, that he had some matters to recommend to them, which he should communicate by a Message to the House to-morrow morning.
- -
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday the 10th of September, 1766.
PRESENT.
The Honble. JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &c. Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew, Esqra. - Richard Penn,
The Governor laid before the Board, for their Consideration & advice, several Letters which he lately received from Gen1. Gage, making a requisition for providing Quarters & necessaries agreeable to the late Act of Parliament for His Majesty's Troops, which should be sent into this Province.
1
318
MINUTES OF THE
His Honour also laid before the Board his Majesty's Instructions, dated 24th October, 1765, for removing the People settled to the Westwd. of the Allegheny Mountains, and also another Letter from Gent. Gage, with Extracts of a Letter from Mr. Croghan, dated at Fort Pitt, the 26th May, 1766, and an abstract from his Journal, acquainting his Honour with the necessity of speedily driving away the Settlers on the Indian Lands at Red Stone Creek, and on the Monongahela, and offering the aid of the King's Troops for that purpose.
The said Letters and Papers were read, & follow in these words :
A Letter from General Gage to the Governor.
"NEW YORK, June 15, 1766.
" Sir :
"A Detachment of the Royal Highland Regiment which took Possession of the Illinois Country, is just arrived in this Port from Pensacola, and as they will March on the 17 Inst. for Philadelphia, ' I am to beg the favour of you to give Directions that they may be supplied with Quarters and Carriages when they shall enter the Province of Pennsylvania, according to the Act of Parliament made in that respect; and that they may be also provided with Quarters in Philadelphia, where the Detachment is to remain till further Orders. I have the honour to transmit you herewith & Return of their Numbers.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir, " Your most Obedient h'ble Servant,
"THOS. GAGE. " Honble. Lt. Gov". PENN."
" Return of a Detachment of the 42d Regiment, order'd to March to Philadelphia :
" 1 Captain, 3 Subalterns, 1 Mate, 5 Serjeants, 2 Drums, & 102 Rank and File.
" THOS GAGE.
"New York, June 15, 1766."
-
A Letter from General Gage to the Governor.
"NEW YORK, 15th August, 1766.
" Sir :
"As His Majesty's Service may oblige me to send Troops to Phila- delphia, I herewith inclose you a return of the strength of a Bat- talion compleat, that you may be pleas'd to order Provision to be made for Quartering & Providing them according to the Act of Par-
319
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
. liament. As some Officers may be absent, and others may have double Commissions, I cannot as yet exactly ascertain the numbers that Provision should be made for; But as soon as it is in my Power, I shall give you an exact Return of them, as also timely Notice when you are to expect them. I only write now to give you previous Notice, as the Service may require that Troops should be sent to Philadelphia.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir, " Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"THOS. GAGE. "Honble. Lt. Gov". PENN."
320
Strength of a Battalion of Foot on the English Establishment.
OFFICERS.
Commissioned.
Staff.
Non-Com- missioned.
Colonel.
L+ Colonel.
Major.
Captains.
Lieutts.
Ensigns.
Chaplain.
Adjutant.
Q" Mast'.
Surgeon.
Mate.
Serjeants.
Drummers.
Rank & File.
Total, Officers included.
Total,
-
-
1
1
1
7
0
8
1
1
1
1
1
18
9
441
500
MINUTES OF THE
and ssod
P
)
to
set
ISSE
321
1
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" His Majesty's Instruction to the Governor.
" GEORGE R.
"[L. S] Instruction to our Trusty and well-beloved JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of our Province of Pennsylvania, in America, Given at Our Court at St James's, the 24th day of October, 1765, in the Fifth Year of our Reign.
"WHEREAS, it hath been represented unto us, that several Persons from Pennsylvania and the back Settlements of Virginia, have migrated to the Westward of the Allegheny Mountains, and there have seated themselves on Lands contiguous to the River Ohio, in express disobedience to Our Royal Proclamation of the 7th of October, 1763 ; It is therefore Our will and Pleasure, and you are hereby strictly enjoined and required, to use your best En- deavours to suppress such unwarrantable proceedings, and to put a stop to these and all other the like Encroachments for the future, by causing all Persons belonging to the Province under your Govern- ment, who have there irregularly seated themselves on Lands to the Westward of the Allegheny Mountains, immediately to evacuate those Settlements, and that you do enforce, as far as you are able, a more strict Obedience to Our Commands, signified in Our said Royal Proclamation, and provide against any future Violence thereof.
"G. R."
A Letter from Gen'l Gage to the Governor.
" NEW YORK, July 2d, 1766.
" Sir :
"I take the Liberty to inclose you some Extracts from Papers and Letters which I have received from Fort Pitt, in consequence of a meeting held there with several Indian Nations who come to lay their complaints before us. The Murthers which have been too frequently committed and gone unpunished, and the people settling themselves upon the Lands belonging to the Indians, It's greatly to be feared, unless some speedy and vigorous measures are taken to prevent both, will too soon involve us again in all the misery of an Indian war. You will best know what is the most proper to be done on such Occasions. I can only offer you every assistance in my power that you may have occasion for, either to apprehend and secure the Murtherers, or to drive the Settlers off any Lands belonging to the Indians, which they may have taken possession of in your Province. If you will please to take proper and legal methods, as I presume Red Stone Creek is within your VOL. IX .- 21.
1
322
MINUTES OF THE
Government, the Garrison of Fort Pitt shall assist to drive away the Settlers, and it seems right that a number of Indian Chiefs should be present to see our desire to do them Justice. If I don't mistake, the crossing of the Mountains and Settling on their Lands was the chief Occasion of the defection of the Indians dependent on Pennsylvania, particularly the Shawanese and Delawares, at the breaking out of the last French war.
" I have the honor to be, Sir,
" Your most Obedient humble Servant,
" THOS. GAGE.
" Honble. I.t Governor, Pennsylvania."
-
Extracts of an Abstract from Mr. Croghan's Journal.
Dated FORT PITT, 22 May, 1766.
" Major Murray informed me that there were several Chiefs of the Shawanese, Delawares and Six Nations, & Hurons from San- dusky, with a considerable number of Warriors, who had waited a long time to see me, that they were very discontented in their Minds on account of having several of their people killed by the English, some on the Frontiers of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the Jerseys, besides three Shawanese murdered & Plundered by two men who ran away from this Post down the River.
" The 24th .- I had a meeting with the Six Nations & Delawares and Huron Chiefs, when they made great Complaints about seve- ral of their People being Murdered on the Frontiers of the seve- ral Provinces ; say they have lost five Men on the Frontiers of Vir- ginia, one near Bedford in Pennsylvania, and one in the Jerseys. This Conduct they say of their Fathers the English, does not look as if they were disposed to live in Peace with their Children, the Indiaas; Besides that, as soon as the peace was made last Year, contrary to our Engagements to them, a number of our people came over the Great Mountain and settled at Redstone Creek & upon the Monongahela, before they had given the Country to the King, their Father. And that after the unnatural War that has been carried on between them and their Fathers, the English, for some years past, and the loss of their people on the Frontiers this Spring, they have great reason to dread the consequences that may attend our Inhabitants and their young Warriors mixing so soon together in that part of the Country, For tho' all their different Tribes are heartily disposed to perform all their Engagements and promote the good work of Peace, Yet if their Fathers continue to Murder their People whenever they caught them in their Settlements, and break their Engagements to them, they can't be accountable for the future Conduct of their Warriors, who are governed only by the persuasion of their Chiefs."
a
I
S 2 0
la P
h ha wb ob
me the of rend an 'Ar
furn
1
0
323
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Extract of a Letter from Mr. Croghan to his Excell' cy. Gen'l Gage.
Dated FORT PITT, 26 May, 1766.
" Major Murray and I have appointed a time when we shall speak to all the Nations here, and endeavour to remove their Dissatisfac- tions on account of the Murders committed on their People, & all other causes of Complaints, and flatter myself we shall be able to remove their present disgust, as I am convinced they have an ardent desire to live in peace with us, from the open and free manner they have made known their Causes of Complaints. But if some effectual measures are not speedily taken to remove those People settled on Red Stone Creek, 'till a boundary can be properly settled as pro- posed, and the Governors pursue Vigorous measures to deter the Frontier Inhabitants from Murthering Indians which pass to and from War against their natural Enemies, the Consequences may be dreadful, & We involved in all the Calamitys of another general War."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.