USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 59
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
" Brother :
" In former Times all this Country belonged to the Indians ; now it is otherwise. Yon have a large Share of it, and I am glad to find You carry on a good Trade with Us, and We live together in Peace and Love. This is just as you promised it should be at the last Treaty.
A String.
" Brother :
" I hope you will now pay a particular Regard to what I am go- ing to say. We are come here from a great way off, and are much fatigued. There are some of the six Nations where we live, and I am come at their Instance, as well as from the other Indians that are at Chenango, and I hope you will listen to me in their behalf.
" You see our Condition ; We are very poor and ragged; We have not had a good Hunting Season ; We have been very Sick, and are in Distress; Have pity on Us, and give us a little Cloathing ; We are almost Naked."
A String.
Mr. Peters was desired to acquaint the Speaker of the House with this application, and ask him to provide what should be thought proper to be given on the Occasion.
Thursday, the 24th of August, 1769.
MEMORANDUM.
Mr. Fox having, at the Instance of the Governor, provided a present for the Indians, it was this Day delivered to them, and the Governor at the same Time spoke to them as follows :
606
MINUTES OF THE
" Brethren :
"I have considered what you said to me ; it is all very agreeable ; and I am glad to see you.
A String.
" Brethren :
" You may be assured We shall always observe to do whatever We promise in our Treaties. The People of this Province were always kind to their Indian Brethren; and will continue to be kind to them as long as the Indians, on their side, behave in a friendly, quiet and good manner.
A String.
" Brethren :
"I thought that the Country about Chenango was a good hunt- ing Country ; and that you might get Fish in Plenty ; and that all sorts of Game abounded there. We are sorry that you tell Us of your distress and Poor Condition ; and in consideration thereof, We have provided (though with some difficulty, as there are now scarce any Indian Goods in Town) a few things for you, which I desire your acceptance of as a Testimony of the Love the good People of this Province bear to their Indian Brethren."
Thursday the 24th of August, 1769.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor having received further Intelligence respecting the Determination of the Connecticut People to continue to keep Pos- session of the Wyoming Lands, thought proper to dispatch by Ex- press the following Letters and Instructions to Colonel Francis, at Fort Augusta, Mr. Charles Stewart, Mr. Amos Ogden and Mr. John Jennings, Sheriff of Northampton County.
A Letter from the Governor to Colonel Francis.
" PHILADELPHIA, the 24th of August, 1769.
“ Sir :
" As the New England Men have not thought proper to observe their agreement made at Easton, but soon determined to retain their unlawful Possessions at Wyoming, I must desire you to exert your Influence in raising as good a Party as you can, in order to assist the Sheriff of Northampton in executing the King's Writ on the New England People at Wyoming who were indicted at Easton, and I hope you will find the People in your Neighbourhood as willing to embark in the affair as they have heretofore shewn themselves. When you can know what number you can procure, you will send
1
a
a
S
607
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
an Express to Wyoming, informing Mr. Stewart or Mr. Ogden of it, that they may transmit the Account to the Sheriff of North- ampton, and fix a Time of meeting him at Wyoming, in which you will take Care to allow Time enough.
"I send you & , to defray the Expense of the Expedi- tion.
" It is hoped you will be able to procure the People to go with- out Pay, as they have already manifested a very good Disposition to bring the Intruders to Justice, and to support the Civil power of the Government under which they live.
If the Persons Indicted have all left Wyoming, you will be made acquainted with it by Mr. Stewart or Mr. Ogden, and in such Case you need not proceed. I have a Confidence in your activity and Resolution, as well as in your Prudence, in this Service, and am, Sir,
"Your most obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN PENN.
" To Colonel TURBUTT FRANCIS at Fort Augusta."
A Letter from the Governor to Messieurs Stewart and Ogden.
" PHILADELPHIA, the 24th August, 1769. "Sir :
" As the New England Men seem determined to remain at Wyo- ming, there is a Necessity that the Government should take proper Measures to bring the People Indicted at Easton to Justice ; And for that Purpose I desire you will immediately repair to Wyoming, in order to carry on a Correspondance with Colonel Francis, who is desired to assist in this matter, and also with Mr. Jennings, the Sheriff of Northampton, who is properly instructed in the manner of executing the King's Writ against the Offenders.
"If, upon going to Wyoming, you find that all the Persons In- dicted have left the place, you are immediately to advise both Colonel Francis and the Sheriff of it, that the Expence of bringing up their Parties may be avoided. If any thing particular should occur, which you may think proper for the Government to be ap- 1 prized of, you are to send Expresses for the Purpose.
" I am, with great Regard, Sir,
"Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN PENN.
" To CHARLES STEWART or AMOS OGDEN, Esquires."
608
MINUTES OF THE
" Instructions to the Sheriff of Northampton, relative to his Con- duct in executing the King's Writ upon the New England Men at Wyoming, Indicted for Forcible Entry, &ca. :
" You are to summon to your Aid as many of the Inhabitants of the County as you may judge necessary.
"It is expected that a Number of People from the West Branch of Susquehanna will join you in the Neighbourhood of Wyoming, whom you will also take to your assistance ; but of this you will receive further and more particular Intelligence, either from Wyo- ming or Philadelphia, and you are to wait till such further infor- mation is given you.
" As you are a Stranger to the Persons Indicted, you should take with you such of the Persons settled at Wyoming, under Pennsyl- vania, as are acquainted with them, to shew or point out to yon those named in the Writ.
"You are to be Cautious not to arrest any who are not named in the Writ, except they oppose you in the legal execution of your Duty, or attempt a rescue, or otherwise commit a Breach of the Peace; in either of which Cases, you may arrest and detain them, until they can be carried before a Justice to Answer' for their Offence.
"If the Persons named in the Writ, or any of them, retire to any House and refuse to admit you, you are first to demand En- trance, and inform those within that you have the King's Writ against the several Defendants, and if they afterwards refuse to open the Doors, you will be justified in breaking them open and entering to make the arrest; but, before you proceed this length, it is absolutely necessary. you should know that one or more of the Defendants are within the House; but in this Case, it would be well if, before you use Force, you would parley with the wrong-doers, and urge Arguments to induce them to desist from their illegal Purpose.
" As the New England Men threaten to oppose You in the exe- cution of your Duty with Force and Violence, it is prudent that You and Your Party should furnish yourselves with Arms for your Defence and Preservation only, but not to make use of them unless reduced to the necessity of doing it by an illegal and violent resist- ance, in which Case you may oppose Force with Force. It is, how- ever, warmly recommended to You to exercise on this unhappy Occasion the utmost Discretion and Prudence, to avoid the effusion of Blood, and that neither You or Your party strike, fire at, or Wound the Offenders, unless you are first stricken, fired on, or Wounded.
" At the same Time that it is required of you to act a spirited and resolute Part in using your utmost Endeavours to arrest the Offend- ers, it is not expected or desired that you should expose yourself and your Party to unnecessary Danger, or run great Hazards, if
1
G
609
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
you should be opposed by Numbers so greatly Superior to You that there is no probability of succeeding in the Attempt, which must be left to your own Judgement and Observation on the Spot; but in such Case you are to return and make Your Report to me, in Order that I may apply to General Gage to furnish me with the Military Force to support the Civil Power, & enforce the execution of the Laws.
" JOHN PENN.
"To JOHN JENNINGS, Esq"., Sheriff of the Coty. of Northampton." " Philadelphia, August 24th, 1769.
Tuesday the 19th of September, 1769.
MEMORANDUM:
The Governor received a Verbal Message from the Assembly, acquainting him that the House had met pursuant to Adjournment, and were ready to receive any Business he had to lay before them, to which His Honour answered that he had nothing in particular at present to recommend to their consideration.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday 26 September, 1769.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª., and James Tilghman, Esquire.
The Assembly having sent up to the Governor for his Concur- rence a Bill entituled " An Act for the Support of the Government of this Province and Payment of the Public Debts," the same was read, and before any Determination should be made respecting it, the Governor thought proper to send a Verbal Message to the House by the Secretary, requesting them to furnish him with a List of the Public Debts which are intended to be discharged by the Bill. under his Consideration.
Wednesday the 27th of September, 1769.
Two Members of Assembly brought to the Governor an Esti- mate of the public Debts referred to in the Bill for the support of Government, and also, delivered to His Honour an Address from the House, which is as follows, viz1 ..
VOL. IX .- 39.
610
MINUTES OF THE
To the Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &ca.
The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said Province in General Assembly met.
"' May it please your Honour :
"We, the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania, in Assembly met, beg leave to represent, that taking under our Consideration the several Laws lately passed for the Pre- servation of the Fish in the Rivers Delaware, Susquehanna, and Schuylkill, and making the last mentioned Navigable, find, not- withstanding the salutary Provisions in the said Laws, a large Num- ber of Wears, Dams, Baskets, and other Obstructions have been, and daily continue to be erected in the said Rivers, whereby the good Intentions of the Legislature are rendered ineffectual, and the Mis- chiefs intended to be remedied remain unremoved, and that a con- tinuance of those Mischiefs is principally occasioned by the Neglect of the Magistracy and Constables concerned in the due execution of the Powers vested in them by those Laws.
"We therefore earnestly request your Honour will be pleased to issue your Proclamation requiring and commanding the Magistrates and all other Officers for the several Counties adjoining the said Rivers, to pay due Attention to the said Laws, and exert their utmost Endeavours to enforce a faithful and strict Obedience to them.
" Signed by Order of the House, "JOSEPH FOX, Speaker.
" September 27th, 1769."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Friday the 29th Septem- ber, 1769.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JOHN PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca.
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew, { Esquires.
James Tilghman,
The 'Minutes of the Indian Conferences held last Month by Colo- nel Francis at Shamokin, were read and ordered to be entered in the Council Books, and the Secretary was directed to lay the same before the Assembly for their Perusal. The said Minutes are as follow, vizt .
G 0 di th
an
F
re
F
R
I
Co
do
non read as 8 one
611
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"' Minutes of a Conference held at Shamokin or Fort Augusta, by Colonel Francis on the part of the Government of Pennsylvania, with the Indians inhabiting in and near Shanango, in order to Condole with and make a Present to Seneca George and his Re- lations, on Account of the Death of George's only Son, who was Shot some Time since by an unknown Person, near the Mouth of Middle- Creek on Susquehanna.
Saturday, August the 19th, 1769, a little before Noon Seneca George, accompanied by the Conoy King, named last Night by an Onandago Chief named Genquant, and about 53 more Indians of different Tribes, but chiefly Nanticokes and Conoys, landed from their Boats and sent a Message to Colonel Francis to know when they might speak to him, who immediately returned Answer that in the Afternoon he would be glad to see his Brother Seneca George and the Friends and Brethren he had brought with him. Colonel Francis then prepared to receive the Indians, and desired the Reve- rend Doctor Smith of Philadelphia, who happened to come to the Fort about half an Hour before the Indians, to give his assistance in taking the Minutes, &ca.
August the 19th, in the Afternoon.
PRESENT :
Colonel Francis, on the Seneca George,
part of the Government, Last Night, the Conoy King,
Reverend Doctor Smith, and about 50 Inhabitants, and 22 more Warriors,
Genquant, an Onondago,
on and near Susquehanna, and Young Men.
Isaac Still, Interpreter.
Seneca George speaks :
" Brother :
" You sent a Letter some Days since inviting me to this Place. I invited my Brother Genquant, one of the Onondagoes, to come with me, and likewise some of my Children of the Nanticokes and Conoys. I also found other Young Men waiting for me to come down ; and now we are all here before you, as if you was the Gover. nor, for you could not expect me to come alone.
" Brother :
" We have met among ourselves this Day with many Tears, but now we see you our Tears begin to dry up a little, and we are ready to hear what you have to say, and you may appoint the Time as soon as you please, and when you speak, all of us will consider one with another what you say to us.
1
1
612
MINUTES OF THE
" Brother :
" I will speak one Word more, I desire you would stop all your Strong Drink a while, for you and I can neither speak nor'smoke together rightly if our young Men should get Drink at this Coun- cil-fire kindled by the Governor at Shamokin.
" Brother :
" You and I are Friends and know each other, and you likewise very well know what the Custom is when the Governor meets his Brethren at any place where he appoints a Council Fire. Now you see your Brethren here, and we desire you will give us something to eat, for this is always the Custom when We meet the Governor at a Council Fire. We have no more to say at this Time."
Colonel Francis was going to make some. Reply, and to express his Pleasure at Meeting his Brethren, and to tell them that they should hear good Things from the Governor on Monday, But Seneca George got up and desired Colonel Francis would not speak then, it being better to consider what had been said to him till Monday. The Indians then went to their Camp, and Provisions were sent to them. This Evening Joseph Shippen, Esquire, the Provincial Secretary, arrived at the Fort.
Sunday, August 20, 1769.
The Indians having understood that Doctor Smith was to have Divine Service to White People assembled at the Fort, Seneca George sent Notice that his People worshipped the same God with the English, and would attend Divine Service, which they did ac- cordingly, with great Decency, and Isaac Still interpreted the Con- clusion of the Discourse, which was particularly addressed to them.
Monday, August 21st, 1769.
PRESENT :
Colonel Francis,
Joseph Shippen, Esquire,
Reverend Doctor Smith,
Seneca George, Last Night, the Conoy King, Genquant, the Onondago Chief, and other Indians, as before.
Charles Stewart, Esquire,
and near 100 Inhabitants.
Isaac Still, Interpreter.
Seneca George speaks :
"Brother, and all of you my Brethren :
" This Day We are all met here together. Some chief Men, iny Brothers, are come with me, and some young Man, to this Council
In tha
a 0 ce
W
sa
C 6
G
1
1
S
W
CO to
613
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Fire kindled by the Governor. You have sent for me to come from Shanango, and now I am come to hear my Brother, and I suppose you have something within your Heart to tell me."
Gives a String.
Colonel Francis then spoke as follows :
" Brother Seneca George and all you, my Brethren :
" I am glad to see you here, and that you received the Letter I sent you soon enough to meet me here at the very Time I wished to see You. My Grief for what has happened has been equal to yours, but on seeing you here in so friendly and good a Disposi- tion, my Grief is now so much removed that I have been able to light this Council Fire, and to acquaint you with what is contained within the Governor's Heart on this Occasion.
Gives a String.
"Now Brethren open your Ears and listen. I am going to de- liver to you what the Governor desired me to speak to Seneca George and his Friends on this sad Occasion. Attend then Breth- ren, for it is now the Governor speaks.
" Brethren :
" I take this Opportunity by Colonel Francis to give you my kind and hearty salutations, and by this String I desire you will hearken to the Message I send you by him.
A String of Wampum.
" Brethren :
"It is not above a Month ago that Colonel Francis came from Shamokin, on purpose to acquaint me of the Death of one of our Indian Brethren, and that the Man who was supposed to have committed the Crime was apprehended and secured in Lancaster Gaol.
"On this information, I ordered the Man to be sent to the Gaol of this City, to be kept secure till he can be tried.
" Brethren :
"Colonel Francis further acquainted me that the Indians who were in the Cabbin with our deceased Brother at the Time he was killed, were present when the Offender was taken, and were satisfied with Colonel Francis's Conduct in this Affair, and were kind enough to take a Message from him to give you an Ac- count of what had been done, and to tell you he was hastening to Philadelphia to lay the same before me, and would bring in a Month or six Weeks my Message to you on this Melancholy Occasion, and desired you to be at Shamokin in Order to re- ceive it.
" Brethren :
" Knowing that by Treaties between this Government and the Indians, We are obliged to inform each other of any accidents that happen which may be likely to disturb the Peace sub-
614
MINUTES OF THE
sisting between us; as soon as I had made myself acquainted with the Particulars attending this Matter, I lost no Time in sending an Account thereof to Sir William Johnson, that he might relate the real Truth, so far as was come to my knowledge, to the Indians of the Six Nations, and assure them that the person apprehended should be taken great Care of and safely secured, and receive his Trial in the same Manner as if the Deceased had been a White Man; and by his Trial it will appear whether the Affair was accidental or designed.
" Brethren :
"We are sensible that whilst the Body of our deceased Brother lies above Ground your Minds cannot be easy. We therefore, by these Strouds, bury this Body and cover it so deep that your Eyes may never more see it.
Black Strouds.
" Brethren :
" With these Handkerchiefs We wipe away all the Tears which run down your Cheeks, and take the Sorrow from your Hearts, and desire you would grieve no more.
Handkerchiefs.
" Brethren :
" With this Belt We scrape up all the Blood that has lain on the Ground or may have stained the Bushes. We collect them to- gether and bury them under Ground, that neither your nor your friends Eyes may more behold them, as you pass and re-pass the place where the accident happened.
A Belt.
" Brethren :
" As we have now buried the Body of our deceased Brother, We desire you will suffer no uneasiness to remain in your Minds, that may cause the least ill will towards your Brethren, the English.
A Belt. 1
" Brethren :
" As you are the Relations of our deceased Brother, as a Token of our Affection for you and to comfort your Hearts, We desire you would accept of this present of goods."
Delivered the Goods.
(signed) "JOHN PENN."
Seneca George then Speaks :
" Brother :
" Now I have heard what the Governor has to say to me on this Occasion ; My Young Men and the Chiefs that are come with me have likewise heard it, and are very glad that they have heard the Governor of Philadelphia speak. Now I will return to my Fire-place, and to-Morrow will give an Answer to what the Gover- nor has said to us."
615
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Tuesday, August 22d.
The Indians sent Word they could not be ready to answer the Governor's Message till to-morrow in the forenoon.
-
Wednesday, August 23d.
PRESENT :
Colonel Francis, Doctor Smith,
Seneca George, Last Night,
Charles Stewart, Esquire, about 50 Inhabitants.
and other Indians, as before.
Being met, Seneca George spoke as follows :
" Brother :
" We have met here on this good Day; and as the Governor of Philadelphia has sent you here to speak to me, I shall look upon you as in the Governor's room. I am glad to hear what my Bro- ther the Governor has said, and so are also my young Men, and I doubt not your young Men are likewise as well pleased as our young Men are with what the Governor has said. "' Brother :
"I let you know I am not a King, but I am a Captain of the six Nations. But here is a King, [pointing to last Night, the Conoy King], You will hear him him speak good Things. His Words and mine are one.
" Brother:
"You may see that the Occasion which has called us to meet here, is not from a bad Spirit on our Part, but yours. The great and good Spirit put it into the Hearts of our Grandfathers and yours to lay strong Foundations for Peace with each other. We must follow what they have done, and if We hide any Thing in our Hearts from one another, this great Spirit whom you call God Al- mighty, will know it."
The Conoy King then speaks:
" Brother :
"I am really glad to see you at this Fire which the Governor has placed at Shamokin, and to hear what my Brother, the Governor, has said, and to see all these young Men that are come with you. · My young Men are likewise all glad on the same Account.
A String, 4 Rows.
" Brother :
"I now speak to the Governor by you, Colonel Francis. I have put into my Heart what the Governor has said. My young Men have done the same. We all believe what the Governor has said to
616
MINUTES OF THE
Colonel Francis has really come from his Heart. I will, therefore, now open my Heart, and you shall hear very good Things.
2d String, 4 Rows.
" Brother :
"I am well pleased the Governor takes this Method to bury our Grief under Ground. I need not repeat what you said to us. I am glad you have wholly wiped away that Stain from the Face of the Earth, and I now assure you I will look on you, my Brothers, as I used to do, and think well of you.
" Brother :
" As I told you, we are all glad to hear our Brother, the Governor. But, I assure you, Brother, I do not know what to do on the Affair we are met about. I have considered this sad Breach, and should know what to do in it if any of my People had committed the like against any of yours.
64 Brother :
" You know best how to manage such of our People as have been overcome by the Evil Spirit, and therefore I leave this Matter wholly to you.
A Belt, 7 Rows.
" Brother :
" Let me now speak one Word to my Brother, the Governor, and to you, Colonel Francis. I would have my Brother, the Governor, be strong to hold fast that good Friendship whereof our Grand- fathers laid fast Foundations when you came first into this Coun- try. Sir William Johnson is but lately come. But We had in old Time a very frm Peace, and you and I used always then to speak to one another.
" Now as I said, Brother, We then laid firm Foundation for Peace, and this was one great article of that Peace, that we should have Pity on our young Men and also our Women and Children .- Because We all came at first from one Woman, as you may easily know by this mark, 'that our little Children when born have all the same Shapes and Limbs as yours, altho' they be of a different Colour.' Wherefore, Brother, I would have you be strong and in good earnest to preserve this our antient friendship, so that our young Men where-ever they meet on a Journey, or hunting about in the Woods, may always be glad to see one another.
6' Brother :
" There was also another Mark in this our old Friendship, that if We had but one Loaf of Bread when we met each other in the Woods, We would cut it in two and divide it one with another .- Let us all then cast up our Eyes to the great good Being to bless our Endeavours to preserve this our antient Friendship.
A Belt, 8 Rows.
a
1
-
617
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" Brother :
"You know that our Grand-fathers made a Road between each other, which passes by my Door and reaches to Onondago. We have now kindled a Council Fire at Shamokin. Let us both then be strong, that our young Men, Women and Children, may pass and re-pass and always be glad as they meet one another as they hunt in the Woods.
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.