USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 48
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" We have transmitted a Copy of your Honour's Injunctions to the Justices of the upper end of the County, with our Advice to exert themselves, as it appeared probable to us that the Murderers might take that way to Virginia, where it is thought they will seek Refuge.
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" We cannot sufficiently acquit ourselves in not acquainting Your Honour, yet we can assure you the Sheriff, Justices, and several of the Principal People, have exerted themselves with all their might to regain Stump and Ironcutter; tho' we have not had success, We are persuaded all pains will be used by the proper Officers to apprehend the Rioters, and that the Magistrates will be aiding hereunto with all their influence.
" With all Wise and Good Men, we abhor the Base Insult on Government, sensible of the direct Tendency of such a Crime to the subversion of Order, Justice and Property.
"We are concerned your Honour's Orders and the Chief Jus- tices' Warrant were not immediately complied with, which we con- ceive might have been done with safety before those Licentious People had time to Cabal and contrive their Plan; this we think might have prevented such disagreeable consequences, nor can we conceive why it was not done. But your Honour no doubt has had the Reasons laid before you.
We are, with many others, highly pleased with the brave Conduct of Captain William Patterson, (he did Honour to our County, ) and the Notice your Honour has taken of Merit in the manner of ex- pressing your Approbation, we persuade, will influence not only the Young Man himself, but others, to behave worthily.
" We gratefully acknowledge Your Honour's Goodness in repeat- ing Your Injunctions of the 4th Instant, as most of Us had not the Pleasure of seeing them before. We shall willingly receive from time to time what Commands your Honour may think proper.
"We are your Honour's most
" Obedient humble Servants, "JONATHAN HOGE, "AND". COLHOUN, "JA" GALBREATH,
"JN. BYERS, "JNO. MCKNIGHT, "HARMO. ALRICKS.
" The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca."
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A Letter to the Governor from James Galbreath and John Hoge, Esquires.
" EAST PENNSBOROUGH, 29th of February, 1768.
" Honoured Sir :
" We take this opportunity to inform you, that on the twenty- seventh of this Instant, at Allen Township, in the County of Cum- berland, one James Thompson found an Indian Man lying Dead, within the Water Mark of the River Susquehanna, who without
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doubt, is one of the Indians Stump killed, and was brought down there by the Water. As soon as we heard thereof, hearing at the same time that the Coroner was Sick, we went down and held an Inquest on the Dead Body. He was struck, as appeared to us, two or three times with the Pole End of a Tomahawk on his Forehead, which broke his Skull. There was also a large Scalp taken off his Head, which took both his Ears. We held the Inquest the twenty- eighth Instant, and Interred him Decently; Cut small Poles, and made a Penn about his Grave. We have nothing material more to inform you of at present, but beg leave to Subscribe ourselves,
" Your most Obedient and humble Servants, "JAS. GALBREATH, "JONATHAN HOGE.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday 16 March, 1768.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª.
William Logan,
James Tilghman,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
The late Measures taken by the Government for regaining Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, having proved ineffectual, it was Judged expedient by the Board, that the Governor should issue a Second Proclamation, offering a new reward of Two hundred Pounds for bringing Frederick Stump to Justice, and One hundred Pounds for John Ironcutter, and Publish a Description of their Persons. The Concurrence of the Commissioners appointed by Law, passed the 17th of February last, for raising and applying three thousand Pounds for the Purposes therein mentioned, being obtained with respect to the said Rewards, a Proclamation was immediately pre- pared, approved, and ordered to inserted in the Pennsylvania Gazette and Journal, and two hundred Copies of the same were directed to be Printed on Seperate Sheets, to be dispersed through the Province. The 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 New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware :
"A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, a Number of armed Men unlawfully assembled, did, on Friday the 29th of January last, forceably enter the Goal of Carlisle, in Cumberland County, and in Defiance of the Laws,
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rescue from thence the Persons of Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, who had been apprehended and committed there for the Murder of Ten Indians on Middle Creek, and have since set them at Liberty; And Whereas, the Measures hitherto pursued for re- taking the said Stump and Ironcutter have proved ineffectual, and there is reason to believe that the Murderers are either con- cealed within this Province, or have made their Escape to some of the neighbouring Colonies ; And Whereas, it is absolutely necessary in the present critical Situation of Affairs, for the Preservation of the Peace and Friendship subsisting between His Majesty's Subjects and the several Indian Nations, and it is also highly expedient for the Discouragement of such atrocious Crimes, that the said Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter Should be brought to exemplary Punish- ment :
" I have therefore, with the Advice of the Council, thought fit to issue this, my second Proclamation, hereby strictly charging and commanding all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs and Constables, and other officers, as well as all other His Majesty's subjects within this Go- vernment, to make diligent search and enquiry after the said Frede- rick Stump and John Ironcutter, and to use all possible Means for apprehending and securing them, that they may be proceeded against, according to Law. And as an Encouragement for bringing the said offenders to Justice, I do hereby promise and engage, that any Person or Persons who shall apprehend and secure the said Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, so that they be prosecuted to Conviction, shall have and receive as public Rewards, for Frede- rick Stump Two Hundred Pounds current Money of this Province, and for John Ironcutter One Hundred Pounds, and for the better discovery of the said Stump and Ironcutter, I have caused a de- scription of them to be published at the Foot of this Proclamation.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, and in the eighth year of His Majesty's Reign.
"JOHN PENN.
"By his Honour's Command, JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jun"., Secretary. "GOD SAVE THE KING."
Description of Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, viz :
Frederick Stump, born in Heidleberg Township, Lancaster Coun- ty, in Pennsylvania, of German Parents. He is about 33 Years of Age, five feet eight Inches High, a stout active Fellow, and well proportioned, of a brown Complexion, thin visaged, has small black eyes with a Down-cast Look, and wears short black Hair. He
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speaks the German language well, and the English but indifferently. He had on when rescued, a light brown Cloth Coat, A blue Great Coat, an old Hatt, Leather Breeches, blue Leggings, and Mockasons. John Ironcutter, born in Germany, is about 19 Years of Age, five Feet six Inches high, a thick clumsy Fellow, round shouldered, of a dark brown Complexion, has a smooth full Face, Grey Eyes, wears short brown hair, and speaks very little English. He had on when res- cued a Blanket Coat, an old Felt Hat, Buckskin Breeches, a pair of long Trowsers, course White Yarn stockings, and Shoes with Brass Buckles. 1
| The Governor received a Letter yesterday from George Croghan, Esquire, Deputy Superintendant for Indian Affairs, acquainting him that he was about to proceed to Fort Pitt, by Orders of Sir William Johnson, in order to condole with the Western Indians in behalf of this Province, whom he expected to meet there by the 25th of this Month, and that if any Commissioners were appointed to represent this Province at the Treaty, and to see the Delivery of the Condolance Presents, they should set off in a few Days. His Honour thereupon directed the Secretary to dispatch Letters to the several Members of Assembly, appointed by the House to attend the Indian Treaty, requesting they would come to Town on Saturday next, to agree on which of them should undertake that Business, and to receive the necessary Instructions on the Occa- sion.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday the 19th March, 1768.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gover- nor, &cª.
William Logan,
Lynford Lardner,
Richard Peters,
Richard Penn, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew,
James Tilghman,
The Governor acquainted the Board that having some time ago desired Colonel Armstrong to come to Town, in order to answer the Charges made against him of having opposed the execution of the Chief Justices Warrant requiring that Frederick Stump should be brought before one of the Justices of Oyer and Terminer at Phila- delphia, both He and Mr. Holmes, the Sheriff of Cumberland, were now in Town and ready to attend the Council, in order to be exam- ined with respect to their Conduct. Notice being immediately sent to them to appear before the Board, they attended accordingly.
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They each related the Circumstances respecting the Detention of Frederick Stump in the Goal at Carlisle, the Reasons for taking that Measure, as well as the Manner and Cause of his Rescue, and then laid before the Board sundry Depositions in proof of what they respectively Alledged.
It appearing in their Examination that they disagreed in some particulars, and that Robert Miller and William Lyon, Esquires, Justices of the Peace, were also concerned in preventing the exe- cution of the Chief Justices Warrant, the Council were of Opinion that they also should be examined with respect to their Conduct and Knowledge in this Matter, before any proper Judgement can be given on it.
The Board therefore advised the Governor to give Directions that Mr. Millar and Mr. Lyons appear before the Council on the first Tuesday in May next, to which Time the further Consideration of this Subject is Postponed.
John Ross and Joseph Fox, Esquires, of Philadelphia, Charles Humphreys & Isaac Pearson, Esquires, of Chester County, and William Rodman, of Bucks County, the five Members of Assem- bly named by House to attend the Treaty with the Indians, waited on the Governor this morning according to appointment, and ac- quainted him that the State of their Health and private Affairs would not admit of their taking a long Journey at this time, and desired to be excused from attending as Commissioners at the Trea- ty to be held at Fort Pitt.
Tuesday the 22d of March, 1768.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor having desired Mr. Galloway, the Speaker of the Assembly, to convene such of the Members as resided in the City, that they might consider of some other Persons whom they could re- commend as Commissioners to attend the Indian Treaty and to be joined with Mr. Shippen, the provincial Secretary, whom he had named as one instead of those who had declined, Mr. Galloway with two other Members, waited on the Governor and acquainted him that they could not think of any suitable Persons who were willing to go on that Service, and requested the Governor would appoint such Gentlemen as he thought proper. His Honour was therefore pleased to nominate John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Junior, Esquires, as the Commissioners.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday 31st March, 1768. PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &c.
William Logan,
Richard Penn,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew,
James Tilghman,
Esquires.
. The Draught of a Commission and Instructions to John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Junior, Esquires, appointed to attend the Treaty to be held with the Indians at Fort Pitt, were laid before the Board, read, and approved, as was also the Draft of a Message to be delivered by them to the Western Indians after receiving such alterations or Additions as they with the Advice of Mr. Croghan should judge necessary to be made at Fort Pitt. The Commission and Instructions are as follow, Viz *:
" A Commission from the Governor to John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Junior, Esquires, to attend a Treaty with the Indians at Fort Pitt :
[L. S.] " 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 :
" To John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Junior, of the City of Phila- delphia, Esquires, Greeting :
"WHEREAS, in pursuance of a Law of this Province, passed the seventeenth day of February last, entituled ' An Act for raising and applying the sum of three thousand Pounds towards removing the present discontent of the Indians, regaining their Friendship, &c.,' the Commissioners therein named have, with my Consent and approbation, agreed that Twelve hundred Pounds, part of the said sum, shall be applied in defraying the Expence of presents of Con- dolence to the several Western Tribes of Indians now about to as- semble at Fort Pitt, by the Invitation of Sir William Johnson, in Order to hold a public Treaty under the immediate direction of George Croghan, Esquire, Deputy Superintendant of Indian Affairs : And whereas, it is judged necessary that Commissioners should be sent on the part of this Province to attend the said Treaty, as well to distribute the several presents to the Indians, and to communi- cate the Messages of Condolance sent them by this Government on account of the Losses they have sustained by the Death of several of their People, as to confer with them on behalf of this Pro- vince, concerning such other matters as may tend to remove their present Jealousies and Discontent, and to preserve the Peace and Friendship subsisting between them and this Government. Now Know Ye, that Reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loy- alty, Fidelity, and Prudence, I have thought fit to nominate and
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appoint you, the said John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Commission- ers to attend the said Treaty with the Indians, in my room and stead, and to deliver to them such Messages as I shall give you in Charge, and make and distribute among them presents of Condo- lance in behalf of this Government, with full Power to You, or either of You, to confer with them, or with their, or any of their Chiefs or Delegates, and to receive from them any Messages or An- swers which they may have to make respecting the Causes of their Complaint, Discontent, or Grievance, and concerning all and every other matter and thing which to You may appear necessary to be trans- acted, concluded, and agreed upon with the said Indians, so far as immediately concerns the Peace, Safety, and Interest of this Pro- vince in particular, as fully and amply, to all Intents and Purposes, as I myself might or could do, if I was personally present, Hereby ratifying and holding firm and effectual whatever You, the said John Allen and Joseph Shippen, or either of you, shall Lawfully do in and about the Premises.
" In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Province to be affixed, at Philadelphia, the thirty-first day of March, in the Year of Our Lord one thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-eight, and in the eighth year of His Majesty's Reign.
"JOHN PENN."
Here follows the Instructions.
Instructions to John Allen and Joseph Shippen, Junior, Esquires, Commissioners to assist on the Part of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, at a Conference to be held with the several Tribes of Wes- tern 'Indians, at or near Fort Pitt, under the immediate direc- tion of George Croghan, Esquire, Deputy Superintendant of In- dian Affairs.
" You are, with all convenient Speed, to proceed to Fort Pitt, and on your arrival there to communicate to the Commanding Officer your appointment to be my Commissioners to confer with the sev- eral Tribes of Indians that may be convened by Mr. George Cro- ghan, at a general Convention to be held there, or at some other convenient Place in the Neighbourhood, and to desire his Presence and Assistance.
" You are to shew to Mr. Croghan the Indian Speeches herewith delivered to you, and to take his Advice with respect to their Pro- priety, and if it should appear to him and yourselves that any Alte- rations in their form are to be made for the good of the Service, or that any thing material has been omitted, you have my Authority
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to make such Alterations or additions. You will, likewise, con- sult with Mr. Croghan on any matters the Indians may say to you, that what you shall reply thereto may be done accord- ing to Indian forms and Customs. You are to assure Mr. Croghan that I have a great dependance on his Care and Judg- ment, in advising you in every thing to be done, that may con- tribute to remove their Jealousies, and establish a good and lasting Friendship between the Indians and this Province. You are to take every measure in your Power to discover the real Sentiments and designs of the Indians, and if you find them favourably disposed to us, to give them all the Encouragements in your Power to con- firm them therein; if otherwise, you are to endeavor to find out from whence such unfavourable dispositions have arisen, and to con- fer with them and endeavor to set them right. Should you find that the Settlements of their unpurchased Lands, especially those at Red Stone Creek and Cheat River, have given them uneasiness, or have been the Cause of their disaffection towards us, You are to inform them of all the several Steps which have been taken by me in this matter, for which Purpose you will take with you my several Proclamations, and the Laws lately passed, with all such Orders and Messages as I have sent to these People, to warn them off .- And as it is said by these Settlers, in their own vindication, that they had leave from, and were encouraged by some of the Indians to be in their Settlements, and to continue in them, contrary to the Laws of my Government, you are to enquire into the Truth of this, and if you find there is any foundation for it, you are to remonstrate this as a practice which will defeat every measure I may take to prevent any Encroachments on their Lands, and on this occasion you will remind them that they have repeatedly, and in the most solemn manner, engaged by Treaties not to sell any Lands within the Limits of this Province to any Persons but to the Proprietaries.
" As the minds of the Indians may be rendered greatly uncasy on Account of the late Murder committed by Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter on some of their Brethren, You are to acquaint them with the Account I have received of those Murders, and that it happened in consequence of some Violence offered to Stump's Family, and sundry other Provocations from those Indians.
"As the Assembly of this Province have voted the Sum of Three Thousand Pounds for Indian Services, &cª., out of which Sum Sir William Johnson has wrote me word £1300 is necessary for him to lay out in Presents to the Indians now assembling at Johnson Hall, & £500 more is paid and allotted for the taking and securing of Frederick Stump; so that there remains only £1200 for this and other Indian Services. You are therefore to advise with Mr. Croghan what Sum will be necessary on this Occasion, and when that is agreed on you are to make out a proper assorted List of the Goods that are to be bought, and to draw on the Commissioners appointed by Law for the Amount thereof, according to the Proposal
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of Mr. Croghan's to me that he would supply them of the best Kinds and Qualities at 25 $ Cent. advance on the Philadelphia prices. You are to consider whether it may not be proper to re- serve a part of this Sum for any incidental Expenses that may arise on this or any other Indian matter. You are to endeavor to find out all the Relations of the deceased Indians, and to deliver to them such Presents of Condolance as shall be agreed on by you and Mr. Croghan, and to give the remainder as a Publick Present from the good People of this Province, to the other Indians that may be present at the Treaty. You are to take and keep exact Minutes of all your Conferences and Proceedings, and make Report thereof to me, and if any opportunity should offer from Fort Pitt to this place you are to write to me how you proceed.
"There are always some private Indians of Note, who have great influence over their respective Tribes; endeavor to find such out, Consult them and make them your Friends, which will be the means of having your Business more easily and better done. You may perhaps get from them the secret intentions of the Indians. Given under my Hand at Philadelphia, the thirty-first day of March,
in the Year of Our Lord, 1768.
"JOHN PENN."
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Monday, April the 4th, 1768.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor this day received by the Post, a Letter from Sir William Johnson, Baronet, dated the 16th of March last, inclosing an Extract from the Proceedings of the general Congress he had just held with the Six Nations, the Canada Confederacy and Chero- kee Deputies, which were ordered to be entered on the Minutes of Council, and are as follows, viz* :
A Letter to the Governor from Sir William Johnson.
JOHNSON HALL, March 16th, 1768.
" Sir :
"Since my last Return of your Express I have had the Congress with the several Nations, and the most troublesome I ever held, yet I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that the Pains I took amongst the principal Indians in private, has produced a much more favourable Disposition in them than before, which is as much as I could possibly expect. To remove their discontent totally, when we consider the Nature and Number of their Grievances, was more than could possibly be done; nor can it be expected, till they ex- perience the Change in us. I inclose you that part of the proceed- ings which relates to the Affair in your Province, the rest, contain-
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ing the Proceedings on behalf of the Cherokees, &cª., having no connection with it.
" The disagreeable News of the late Murder reached the six Nations on their way hither, as well as that the Murderer had been rescued, which had the like to have occasioned them to return back. On their Arrival, their discontent was but too visible, and that Affair was considered by them as an Introduction to something worse, which their natural Jealously had long caused them to suspect, but the Pains I took with their Chiefs in Private, and the many Arguments I made use of fully to explain the Acts lately passed by the Province, and the Steps which were everywhere taking for the future prevention of Murders and encroachments, together with the Light in which I placed the Present ordered by your Government, produced as good an Effect as I had Reason to hope for, and brought them, in the End, to a more favourable way of thinking, in which I am hopeful they may be continued, if they find these Laws operating in their be- half. The Number of Indians who attended on this Occasion was 760, besides which, 70 more arrived during the Congress, some of whom were related to the deceased. These I took particular notice of, and, as I had laid out the Sum intended, in such Presents as would best agree with their wants, it has proved very agreeable to them.
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" I now take the liberty to draw on you, in favour of Mr. James Plyn, Merchant at Schenactady, or Order {for thirteen hundred Pounds, Pennsylvania Currency ; and suppose that Mr. Croghan is, by this time, enabled to proceed to Fort Pitt, agreeable to the In- structions I have sent him, to treat with the Indians in that Quarter, so as to put a Period to that disagreeable Business, which I have endeavoured, to the best of my Power and Influence, to conclude in the best manner for the Peace of the Province.
" I am so hurried at this time, in sending off part of the Chero- kee Delegates by land, with a large Body of the Six Nations to escort them Home, by the way of Fort Pitt, that I have only time to assure you of my readiness always to serve you and the Family.
" As I am, Sir, " Your most Obedient and very humble Servant, "W. JOHNSON.
"P. S. A Gentleman from Connecticut, who dined with me Yesterday, told me that that Government was determined to send home a Agent in the Spring to Sollicit the Susquehanna Affair."
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