USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 41
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
"I am, with great Regard, Gentlemen, "Your most Obedient humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
"To John Armstrong, James Galbreath, & John Bayards, Es- quires, & others, His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Cumberland."
VOL. IX .- 27.
418
MINUTES OF THE
A Letter from the Governor to the Magistrates of the County of Lancaster.
" PHILADELPHIA, 19th January, 1768.
" Gentlemen :
" Having received certain Information that on Sunday, the 10th Instant, Frederick Stump, a German, of Penn's Township, in Cum- berland County, did, without Provocation, mutder, in the most cruel and inhuman manner in his own House, near the Mouth of Middle Creek, four Indian Men, and two Indian Women, and that the next Day he proceeded fourteen Miles up that Creek, and there put to Death and burnt in their Cabins an Indian Woman, two Girls, and a Child, I do hereby strictly charge and require you immediately to exert yourselves in the most active manner on this Occasion, by giving your assistance to the Sheriff and other Officers of Justice, in Executing the chief Justices' Warrant, and taking all other measures in your Power for the immediate apprehending the said Frederick Stump, and that you also give your best assis- tance to the Sheriff in sending him under such a Guard as may secure him from all possibility of escape or Rescue, down to this City, agreeable to the Chief Justice's Warrant, forwarded for that pur- pose by this opportunity, to be examined by one of the Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and to be dealt with by them according to Law.
" I have directed the Magistrates of Cumberland County to dis- patch the Sheriff with the Power of that County, without delay, to George Gabriel's House, on Penn's Creek, where, I am informed Stump is gone, and to such other places where it is most likely he may be found ; But as it is probable he may abscond and throw him- self out of the Jurisdiction of Cumberland, by crossing the Sus- quehanna, and taking Refuge in the upper parts of Lancaster County, near that River, It will be absolutely necessary that your Sheriff, with all the assistance he can collect, be also dispatched as far as Mahonoy Creek, or the furthest Limits of the County, to be in readiness to apprehend him in Case he should retire thither.
" I am persuaded, Gentlemen, that the Love of Justice, a Sense of Duty, and a Regard for the publick Safety, will be sufficient In- ducements with you to exert yourselves in such a manner as to leave no Measures untried which may be likely to apprehend and bring to Punishment the Perpetrator of so horrid a Crime, which in its Consequences will certainly involve us again in all the Calam- ities of an Indian War, and be attended with the Effusion of much innocent Blood, unless by proper Exertion of the Powers of Gov- ernment, and a due Execution of the Laws, we can satisfy our In- dian Allies that the Government does not countenance those who wantonly spill their Blood, and convince them that we think our- selves bound by the Solemn Treaties made with them.
" I have this Matter so much at heart, that I have determined to give a Reward of Two hundred Pounds to any Person or Persons who shall apprehend the said Frederick Stump and bring him to
S J P
0 I b
ar
G IS be b
qu ฿ n
as
of el h in th P (D
to a of ]
ord publ dred Com
419
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Justice, and should have sent up Proclamations for the purpose by this opportunity, if I was not apprehensive that the setting up and making publick such Proclamations might be a means of Terrifying him, and put him on making his Escape or absconding before the Officers of Justice could take him. I mention this, therefore, to you in Confidence, and that you, by discreetly communicating it to such as you think proper, may the more easily prevail with them willingly to engage in the undertaking, and you may assure them that they shall have the Reward, though he should be apprehended before the Proclamation is actually published.
"I am, with great Regard, Gentlemen, "Your most Obedient humble Servant, "JOHN PENN.
" To Emanuel Carpenter, Isaac Saunders, Edward Shippen, Adam Simon Kuhn, Adam Reed, James Burd, John Philip De Haas, and James Bickham, Esquires, and others, his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the County of Lancaster."
The same Letter was likewise sent to the Magistrates of Berks County, with this difference, that the Paragraph in the foregoing Letter, from the words [" I have directed the Magistrates of Cum- berland County,"] to the end of the same Paragraph, was omitted, and instead thereof was inserted the following one, vizt :
" I have directed the Magistrates of Cumberland to dispatch the Sheriff with the power of that County, without delay, to George Gabriel's House on Penn's Creek, where, I am informed, Stump is gone, and to such other places where it is most likely he may be found; But as it is most likely he may abscond and throw himself out of the Jurisdiction of Cumberland by crossing the Sus- quehanna, and taking refuge in the upper parts of Lancaster or Berks Counties, which lie near that River, It will be absolutely necessary that your Sheriff, with a sufficient number of People to assist him, be also dispatched to Fort Augusta, and to those parts of the Country which are opposite to Penn's Creek, or wherever else it may be found necessary, in order to be in readiness to appre- hend him in Case he should retire thither. I have likewise instructed the Magistrates of . Lancaster immediately to send off their Sheriff to the utmost Limits of that County, for the same Purpose."
(Directed)
" To James Diemer, John Patton, and Henry Christ, Esqrs., and. to all and every his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Berks."
A Draft of a Proclamation was also prepared and issued, but, ordered not to be made publick till next Week, when it is to be published in the Pennsylvania Gazette and Journal, and two hun- dred Copies thereof to be printed and dispersed through the Frontier Counties. The said Proclamation follows in these words, viz' :
420
MINUTES OF THE
" 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, it appears, by a Deposition this Day taken before the Chief Justice of this Province, that on Sunday, the Tenth day of this Month, a certain Frederick Stump, a German, of Penn's Township, in the County of Cumberland, did, in Violation of the public Faith, and in defiance of all Law, inhumanly and wickedly kill, without any Provocation, four Indian men and two Indian Women, in his own House, near the Mouth of Middle Creek, in the said County, and that the said Frederick Stump went the next Day to an Indian Cabin about fourteen miles up the said Creek, and there barbarously pat to Death, and burnt an Indian Woman, two Girls and a young Child. And whereas, not only common Justice loudly demands, but the Laws of the Land and the Preser- vation of the Public Faith of Treaties with the several Indians, re- quire, that the most speedy and vigorous Exertion of the Civil Au- thority should be made in Order to secure and bring to Condign Punishment an Offender that hath perpetrated so audacious and Cruel an Act on Indians, who for several months past have lived near the Frontiers of this Province, in a friendly and quiet Manner, and have at all times since the Establishment of the general Peace with the Indians in 1764, behaved themselves peaceably and inof- fensively to all His Majesty's Subjects.
" I have therefore, by and with the advice of the Council, thought fit to issue this Proclamation, and do hereby strictly charge and command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, Officers, Civil and Military, and all other, his Majesty's faithful and Liege Sub- jects within this Province, to make diligent search and enquiry after the said Frederick Stump, and that they use all possible means to apprehend and secure him in one of the Public Goals of this Province, to be proceeded against according to Law. And I do hereby promise and engage, that any Person or Persons who shall apprehend and secure the said Frederick Stump, so that he be brought to Conviction, shall have and receive the public Reward of Two Hundred Pounds.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the Nineteenth day of January, in the Eighth Year of His Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight.
" JOHN PENN.
"By His Honour's Command.
" JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Junior, Secretary. "GOD SAVE THE KING.".
t d
S
t
0 f
S
p G h ti
f 1
re
421
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Thursday, 21st January, 1768.
The Governor received from the Assembly, by two members, a Verbal Message in the following Words, viz" :
A Verbal Message to the Governor from the Assembly. 1
" The House having intelligence that a Number of Indians have been lately barbarously murdered near Penn's Creek, within this Province, and that the Governor has had information thereof, re- quest that he would lay such Proofs and Examinations as he may have received, or taken on the Occasion, before the House, and if he has had any farther Accounts relating to Indian Discontent, that he would, also, be Pleased to communicate them."
-
January 21st, 1768.
The same members also, acquainted the Governor that the House Requested to know if his Honour had gone through the Considera- tion of the Bill now before him for removing the Settlers on the In- dian Lands, and that he would be pleased to let them know his Re- sult. thereon as soon as possible, as it is a Bill of great importance. His Honour made Answer that he should immediately communicate to the House the Intelligence he had received respecting the murder of the Indians at Middle Creek, as also, his Result on the Bill be- fore him, which he had under advisement at the time that disagree- able News was brought him, but that that put him under the neces- sity of referring it to a future Consideration.
Eodem die, P. M.
The Governor returned to the House by the Secretary, the Bill for removing the Persons Settled on the Indian Lands, with the fol- lowing Amendment, Vizt:
" Page 5, Lines 4 & 5. Dele the words [by the Consent and ap- plication of the Six Nations] and insert the words [when the Said George Croghan, Esquire, as Deputy Superintendant, hath of late, held Conferences with the Indians, so as no enlargement or addi- tion be made to the improvements thereon at the time of the pas- sing this Act, nor any more Families be seated on the same]".
The Secretary at the same time delivered to the House the fol- lowing Verbal Message from the Governor, with the Papers therein referred to, vizt. :
The Governor commands me to lay before the House the Deposi- tion of William Blyth, which contains all the intelligence he has re-
1
422
MINUTES OF THE
ceived relating to the barbarous Murder of ten Indians near Penn's Creek, and to acquaint the House that Warrants are issued by the Chief Justice, to apprehend the Villianous Perpetrator of that horrid Crime. And that he has dispatched Letters to the Magis- trates of the Frontier Counties, Copies of which are now making out and shall be laid before the House for their perusal, and taken every Step he judged most proper to bring the Audacious Criminal to exemplary Punishment.
"I am also commanded by the Governor to lay before the House a Letter from Sir William Johnson, received a few Days ago, which is all the Intelligence he has had on the Subject of Indian discon- tents, since his written Message to the House of the 5th of this Instant.
" January 21st, 1768."
Two Members of Assembly again brought up to the Governor the Bill for the removing the Persons settled on the Indian Lands, with an Answer to the Governor's amendment thereto, viz':
"The House agreed to the Governor's Amendment as to the words (by the Consent and Approbation of the Six Nations,) and in respect to the other part adhere to the Bill.
"January 21st, 1768."
-
January 21st.
The Governor wrote the following Letters to General Gage and Sir William Johnson, agreeable to the advice of Council the 19 Inst., viz *:
A Letter from the Governor to His Excellency General Gage.
" PHILADELPHIA, 21st January, 1768.
" Sir :
"On Wednesday last I received information by William Blyth, who then came to this City from Middle Creek, on the West Side of Susquehanna, that a barbarous and unprovoked murder of ten Indians was committed on that Creek by one Frederick Stump, a German, on the 10th and 11th days of this Month, the particulars of which are contained in the inclosed Copy of the said Blyth's Deposition.
I am under the greatest Apprehensions that this unhappy affair will, at this Juncture, when the Indians are so much discontented by the Injuries already done them, be productive of the most Ca- lamitous Consequences. But nothing on the part of this Govern, ment shall be wanting to remove all the Causes of their Complaints, and to give them the utmost Satisfaction in the late instance of Bar-
1
423
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
barity committed on their People. I have caused the Chief Jus- tice's Warrants to be dispatched to all the Sheriffs and other Officers of the Frontier Counties, commanding the most diligent Search to be made for the Perpetrator of the murders, and for apprehending and bringing him to condign Punishment.
" I have also written Letters to all the Magistrates of Cumber- land, Lancaster, and Berks Counties, in the strongest Terms, re- quiring them to exert themselves in the most active manner on this Occasion, by giving their best Assistance to the Sheriffs and other Officers in the immediate Execution of the Warrants sent them, and taking all other Measures for the speedy apprehending the Attrocious Villain, and bring him to Justice ; And to induce the the People the more willingly to engage in the Undertaking with the Sheriffs, I have signified to the Magistrates that I will give a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds to the Person or Persons who shall apprehend and secure him; And in a little time I shall Pub- lish a Proclamation for the same purpose, which I have delayed for a while, till the more private measures I have concerted are carry'd into Execution, and lest the setting up Proclamations and making them Public immediately, might be a means of alarming him and putting him on absconding or making his escape, before the Officers of Justice could have an Opportunity of taking him.
"I shall write by this Opportunity to Sir William Johnson, to acquaint him with this most unfortunate Affair and the Measures I am using to give the Indians Satisfaction in bringing the Murderer to Exemplary Punishment, that he may Communicate the whole Matter to the Six Nations in the most favourable manner, and that they may be convinced of our sincere Intentions to redress them for all Injuries done them, and to preserve Faith with them to the utmost of our Power.
"The Assembly, who are now sitting, have sent me a Bill for Re- moving the Settlers, and preventing others from settling on any Lands in this Province not purchased from the Indians, which in- flicts the Penalty of Death on all that shall be found settled on those Lands after a regular and legal Notice of 30 Days has been given them to Remove. I have this Day returned it to the House, and have agreed to pass it with a necessary Amendment, which they can have no objection to, and am in great Hopes this Law will ef- fectually answer the good purpose design'd by it.
" I am, with great Regard, Sir, " Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN PENN.
"' To His Excellency General GAGE."
424
MINUTES OF THE
A Letter from the Governor to Sir William Johnson.
" PHILADELPHIA, 21st January, 1768.
" Sir :
"A few days ago I was favour'd with your Letter of the 2d In- stant. It gives me great Pleasure to know that you approve of the Conduct of the Proprietary Commissioners towards the Deputies of the Six Nations that attended the Surveyors in running the Line between this Province and Maryland, and of the Satisfaction made the Indians for their Services; and I am much obliged to you for your Goodness in advancing the 40 Dollars for the Deceased Indian, Jacob's Wife, which I shall Transmit to you very soon, together with the Ballance you mention to be due to you in the Accompt sent me.
"It is with the deepest Concern that I must now acquaint you, that on Wednesday last I received, by William Blyth, who then came to this City from his House at Middle Creek, on the West side of Susquehanna, the disagreeable and Melancholy Intelligence of a very Barbarous and unprovoked Murder committed on four In- dian Men, three Indian Women, two Girls and a Child, at that Creek, by one Frederick Stump, a German, on the 10th & 11th days of this Month, the particulars of which are contained in the inclosed Copy of the said Blyth's Deposition.
" I am under the greatest apprehensions that this unhappy affair will, at this Juncture, when the Indians are so much discontented by the Injuries already done them, be productive of the most Ca- lamitous Consequences ; But nothing on the part of this Govern- ment shall be wanting to remove all the Causes of their Complaints, and to give them the utmost Satisfaction in the late Instance of Barbarity committed on their People. I have caused the Chief Justices Warrants to be dispatched to all the Sheriffs and other Of- ficers of the Frontier Counties, commanding the most diligent search to be made for the Perpetrator of the Murders, and for ap- prebending and bringing him to Condign Punishment. I have, also, written Letters to all the Magistrates of Cumberland, Lancaster, and Berks Counties, in the strongest Terms, requiring them to exert them- selves, in the most Active manner, upon this occasion, by giving their best assistance to the Sheriffs and other Officers in the im- mediate Execution of the Warrants sent them, and taking all other measures for the speedy apprehending the attrocious Villain, and bringing him to Justice ; and to induce the People the more willingly to engage in the undertaking with the Sheriffs, I have signified to the Magistrates that I will give a Reward of Two Hun- dred Pounds to the Person or Persons who shall apprehend and secure him, and in a little time I shall issue a Proclamation for the same purpose, which I have delayed for a while, till the more private Measures I have concerted are carried into Execu- tion, and lest the setting up Proclamations and making them public immediately, might be a means of alarming him and putting him
.on COU
th
Re
L
fli th ஜர்
w La
sa
A L to
be ni N M th R be and La and an pre
425
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
on absconding or making his Escape before the Officers of Justice could have an opportunity of taking him.
" In order to prevent as much as possible the fatal Consequences that may be likely to attend this very unfortunate Affair, I must beg you will be pleased to take the most early occasion to commu- nicate it to the Six Nations in as favourable a point of light as the Nature of the Case will admit of, and to acquaint them with the Measures I am using to give the Indians satisfaction in bringing the murderer to Exemplary Punishment. I am in hopes, from the Representation you give them of this matter, they will distinguish between the Acts of private Individuals and those of Government, and be convinced that tho' it is not in the Power of the Wisest Laws to restrain vicious Men from committing Acts of Violence and Wickedness, yet this Government Possesses the most sincere and steady Intentions to redress their Injuries at all times, and to preserve public Faith with them to the utmost of its Power.
" The Assembly, who are now sitting, have sent me a Bill for Removing the Settlers, and preventing others from Settling on any Lands in this Province, not purchased from the Indians, which in- flicts the Penalty of Death on all that shall be found settled on those Lands after a regular and Legal notice of 30 Days has been given them to remove. I have this Day returned the Bill to the House, and have agreed to pass it with a necessary Amendment, which they can have no objection to, and I am in great hopes this Law will effectually answer the good purpose designed by it.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir, "Your most obedient humble Servant,
" JOHN PENN.
" To Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, Bart."
-
Friday, January 22d.
The Secretary, by the Governor's directions, laid before the Assembly Copies of the Letters to the Magistrates of Cumberland, Lancaster, and Berks Counties, referred to in the Verbal Message to the House of Yesterday.
Eodem Die, P. M.
The Governor sent to the Assembly the following Verbal Mes- sage by the Secretary, vizt :
A Verbal Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Sir :
"The Governor commands me to acquaint the House that several poor Indians are come to Town from Wighaloosin, to Petition for
426
MINUTES OF THE
some Cloaths and necessaries, of which they are almost destitute ; and that a young Indian Man is also come from the upper parts of the Susquehanna, whom His Honour thinks it necessary to dispatch with a Message to the Indians residing thereabouts, on the Subject of the late murder of the Indians at Middle Creek. His Honour, therefore, requests the House will enable him to defray the Ex- pences on both these Occasions."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Friday 22d Jan., 1768, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª.
Joseph Turner, William Logan, James Tilghman,
Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew, &Esquires.
A Delaware Indian, named Billy Champion, who came to Town two days ago, from the Susquehanna, appeared at the Board, and acquainted the Governor that Newahleeka, the Chief of the Dela- wares, and the other Indians at the Great Island, were much displeased that five white men had lately been marking Trees and Surveying Land in the Forks of the Susquehanna, as yet not purchased from the In- dians, and that he having innocently hired himself as a Hunter to them, while they were engaged in that business, was very much blamed by the Indians, and threatened to be killed by them; That there- fore Newalecka had ordered him to come immediately to the Gover- nor of Pennsylvania, and acquaint him therewith, and ask him whether those People had gone into their Country to Survey and Mark the Land by his Orders, or not, and also to request that he would prohibit all others from doing the same for the future, till the Land should be purchased from the Indians. It being the opinion of the Board that it would be advisable for the Governor to send Newalecka an Answer thereto, and a Message, with a Belt of Wampum to him and the other Indians at the great Island, by Billy Champion, to acquaint them with the late cruel Murder of the In- dians at the Middle Creek, and the Steps now taking to apprehend the offender, Mr. Logan and Mr. Peters were appointed to prepare a proper Message for that purpose, and to lay the same before the Council to-Morrow.
The Board then took into Consideration the Assembly's Answer to the Governor's Amendment to the Bill for removing the Settlers on the Indian Lands, and being of Opinion that the Governor ought not to recede from his Amendment, advised him to return the Bill to the House in the Morning, with a Message, explaining the Rea- sons of his Amendment.
1
of
m an m th P A ve t s re từ ar m
ar
d gr th
Se
in
1
427
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday 23d January, 1768.
1
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª. William Logan, Benjamin Chew, 1 Esquires.
Richard Peters,
James Tilghman, S
The following Message to the Assembly being prepared, was Read and approved, and the Secretary was directed to deliver the same immediately to the House, with the Bill for removing the Settlers on the Indian Lands, viz":
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I am sorry to find by your Answer to my proposed Amendment of the Bill for removing the Persons settled on the Indian Lands, that you are not inclined to accede to what I look upon to be the material part of it. As it was impossible I should know the Nature and Circumstances of any Improvement Mr. Croghan may have made' on any Lands on the Ohio, I thought there might be an opening left for the People intended to be removed to sit down on those very Lands excepted by the Bill, which would render the Precautions taken in the Bill in a great measure ineffectual, and the Amendment was principally intended to guard against that Incon- venience, which I am confident you are equally sollicitous with me to prevent; but if you think the Terms of the Amendment too re- strictive of the Liberty Mr. Croghan ought to have, of adding to or repairing the Improvements on the Ohio at the Place mentioned in the Bill, I am willing to depart from the Amendment as it stands; and as I think strict forms may be dispensed with in a matter of so much consequence as the present, I would propose the following instead of it, which I am in hopes may be more agreeable to you, and may answer the general purpose of the Bill as well, Vizt: ' Where the said George Croghan, Esquire, as Deputy Superinten- dant, hath of late held Conferences with the Indians, so as no greater number of Families be seated thereon than are at present on the same.'
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.