USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 7
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" I have, Gentlemen, only one thing more to recommend and re- quest of you, which is that, in contriving the ways and means for raising the Supply to be granted, you will carefully avoid whatever may occasion a Disagreement in Opinion between you and me, by means whereof your good Intentions may be frustrated and defeated, as has unfortunately happened on more than one Occasion before, and particularly in the last session of the late Assembly.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
" October 15th, 1763."
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20th October, 1763.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor, pursuant to His Majesty's Instruction under his sign Manual, dated the 15th of June last, did this day issue a Com- mission appointing Colonel James Burd Commissioner on the part of this Province, to act jointly with a Commissioner to be appoint- ed by the Governor of Connecticut, in communicating His Majesty's Strict Commands to the People from that Colony, who are making a Settlement at Wyoming, that they immediately desist from their undertaking and remove from thence within a reasonable limited
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time. The said Instructions and Commission follow in these words, viz *·:
" GEORGE R :
"[ L. S.] Instructions to Our Trusty and Well beloved JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Deputy Governor of our Province of Pennsylvania, in America, or to the Commander-in-Chief of Our said Province for the time being. Given at our Court at St. James's, the 15th day of June, 1763, in the third Year of our Reign.
" WHEREAS, it hath been represented to Us that a number of Persons, Inhabitants of our Colony of Connecticut, have presumed, without Licence from us or any acting under our Authority, to be- gin a Settlement on certain Lands at Wyoming, on the River Sus- quehanna, belonging to our good Subjects, the Six Nations of In- dians and their Allies, the Delawares, whereby the said Indians are greatly disquieted and aggrieved ; And Whereas, We have thought it necessary, as well for the support of our Royal Authority, as in Justice to the said Indian Nations, whom we are determined at all times to protect in the peaceable Enjoyment of all their just Rights and Possessions, that an effectual Stop should be put to the Settle- ment which the said People of Connecticut have thus unwarrantably attempted to make; Our Will and Pleasure therefore is, that you do forthwith, by Commission under the Seal of the Province of Pennsylvania under your Government, constitute and appoint a proper Person to be Commissioner on the part of the Province of Pennsylvania, with full power to act in Concert with a Commis- sioner in like manner to be appointed by the Governor and Com- pany of Connecticut, in the due and faithful Execution of our Royal Pleasure concerning the Inhabitants of the said Settlement. And you are hereby further required to instruct the said Commissioner with all convenient Speed to proceed with the Commissioner to be appointed on the part of the Colony of Connecticut, to the said Settlement at Wyoming, and there cause his Commission to be read and published with all due Solemnity, and immediately after Pub- lication thereof, to require and command the Inhabitants in our Name, forthwith to desist from their said Undertaking, & to depart & remove from thence within such limited time as you in your dis- cretion shall think necessary and reasonable.
"G. R."
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"By the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieut't. Gov. ernor, and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Dela- ware.
" To Colonel James Burd, of the County of Lancaster, Esq'r., Greet'g.
" WHEREAS, I have lately received an Instruction from His Ma- jesty, dated at St. James's, the 15 day of June last, setting forth that it had been represented to His Majesty that a number of Per- sons, Inhabitants of His Colony of Connecticut, had presumed, without Licence from Him, or any acting under His Authority, to begin a Settlement on certain Lands at Wyoming, on the River Susquehanna, belonging to His good Subjects, the Six Nations of Indians, and their Allies the Delawares, whereby the said Indians were greatly disquieted and aggrieved. And that His Majesty had thought it necessary, as well for the Support of His Royal Authority, as in Justice to the said Indian Nations, whom he is determined at all times to protect in the peaceable Enjoyment of all their just rights & possessions, that an effectual stop should be put the Settlement which the said People of Connecticut had so unwarrantably at. tempted to make. And His Majesty, therefore, in and by His said Instruction, signified to be his Royal Will and Pleasure, that I should forthwith, by Commission, under the Seal of the said Pro- vince of Pennsylvania, constitute and appoint a proper Person, to be Commissioner on the part of this Province, with full power to act in Concert with a Commissioner in like manner to be appointed by the Governor & Company of Connecticut, in the due and faith- ful Execution of His Royal Pleasure concerning the Inhabitants of the said Settlement. And am thereby further required to in- struct the said Commissioner, with all convenient Speed to proceed with the said Connecticut Commissioner, to the said Settlement at Wyoming, & there to cause his Commission to be read and pub- lished with all due Solemnity, and then, immediately to require and command the Inhabitants in His Majesty's Name, forth- with to desist from their said Undertaking, and to depart and remove from thence within such limited time as I in my discretion should think necessary and reasonable, As in and by the said Instruc- tion, whereof a true Copy is hereto annexed, appears. Now Know You, that, in obedience to the said Royal Instruction, and for carrying the same into immediate Execution, and judging you fitly and duely qualified for the same, and reposing special Trust and confidence in your Loyalty, Fidelity, Resolution and Ability, I have, by and with the advice of the Council, nominated, constituted & appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint you, the said Colonel James Burd, to be Commissioner on the part of this Province of Pennsylvania, with full power to act in
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Concert with a Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor and Company of Connecticut, in the due and faithful Execution of His Majesty's Royal pleasure concerning the Inhabitants of the said Settlement, hereby requiring you with all convenient Speed to proceed with the Commissioner on the part of the Colony of Con- necticut to the said Settlement, and there to cause this your Com- mission to be read and published with all due Solemnity, and immediately after Publication thereof, to require and command the Inhabitants, in His Majesty's Name, forthwith to desist from their said undertaking, and to depart and remove from thence as soon as may be before the Expiration of Weeks at the furthest after your arrival and publication of this your Commission amongst them; As they will answer their contempt herein to His Majesty, at their peril.
" And what you shall do in the Premises you are faithfully to report to me at your return.
" Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, the twentieth day of October, in the third year of His Majesty's Reign, & in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty-three.
"JAMES HAMILTON."
The Governor by the Secretary laid before the House a Letter from His Excellency, Sir Jeffery Amherst, inclosing an Extract of a Letter from Sir William Johnson, containing Indian Intelligence, both which are respectively as follow, vizt. :
A Letter from General Amherst to the Governor.
"NEW YORK, October 16, 1763.
" Sir :
" I herewith inclose you a Paragraph of a Letter which I received last Night from Sir William Johnson, containing some intelligence of the bad intentions of the Savages on the Frontiers of Pennsylva- nia, &ca., and I acquaint Colonel Boquet thereof, that he may be on his Guard ; but I cannot help repeating my Surprize at the in- fatuation of the People in your Province, who tamely look on while their Brethren are butchered by the Savages, when, without doubt, it is in their Power by exerting a proper Spirit, not only to protect the Settlements, but to punish any Indians that are hardy enough to disturb them. I am, with great Regard, Sir,
" Your most Obedient humble Servant,
"JEFF. AMHERST.'
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Extract of a Letter from Sir Wm. Johnson to His Excellcy. Sir Jeffery Amherst, dated at Johnson Hall the 6th of October, 1763 :
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" This morning a Seneca Chief, of Canudasegey, the first Castle of that Nation, and which has not been concerned in any of the Hostilities, arrived here, and gives me the following Information, which he had from a party of Warriors, just returned with some Scalps & Prisoners from the Cherokee Country, viz: 'That on their way home they met a large Body of several Nations assembled at a Village of Delawares, on the River Adjuketa, which empties into Muskingham, or Elk River, where they saw the Ottawawa Confe- deracy deliver the War Hatchet, Bow and Arrows, to the Delawares, and desired they would use the same with Vigour against the Eng- lish, who were about taking away their Country; That they then pointed out the Forts Pitt & Augusta as the greatest Eyesores to the Indians in those parts; therefore, desired they would lose no time in distressing and attacking them, on which they would all join in a body and proceed towards Philadelphia; That while the Delawares were engaged in that affair, they, the Ottawas, Twight- wees, Hurons, &ca., would demolish Detroit and Niagara. The Delawares thanked them for looking upon them now as Men, and told them that they would, by their actions, shew them they were worthy of the Confidence reposed in them; After which the Huron Speaker addressed the Shawanese, and warmly reprimanded them for their Backwardness in spending their time hitherto so idly in Treaties and Conferences with the English, to prevent which they, the Ottawawa Confederacy, plucked the Horns from their Heads (i. e. remove every thing but War from the Thoughts of their Sachems), and made them become Warriors, desiring they would exert them- selves in Conjunction with the Delawares, to which they agreed.'"
At a Council held at Philada-, on Saturday, the 22nd of October, 1763.
PRESENT:
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca.
Benjamin Shoemaker, William Logan, Esqrs.
The Governor laid before the Board the three following Bills sent up by the House for his Honour's concurrence, which were read and approved, and the Secretary directed to return them to the House, with a verbal Message that the Governor agreed to them, vizt .:
"An Act to prohibit the selling of Guns, Powder, or other War- like Stores to the Indians."
"An Act for granting to His Majesty the sum of £24,000 for the defence and protection of this Province ;" And
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"An Act for regulating the Officers and Soldiers in the pay of this Province."
At the same time the House desired the Secretary to give notice to the Governor that they will attend His Honour, if it suits him, at half after 12 o'Clock this day, to pass the said Bills into Laws.
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Eodem die, 1 o'Clock.
The Governor acquainted the House by the Secretary that he was waiting in the Council Chamber, where he required the attendance of the Speaker & Members of Assembly, in order to pass the Bills which had received his assent. The House attending accordingly, the Speaker presented the following Bills, which His Honour im- mediately passed, and signed a Warrant for affixing the Great Seal thereto, and ordered them to be deposited in the Rolls Office, viz *:
"An Act to prohihit the selling of Guns, Gun Powder, or other Warlike Stores to the Indians."
"An Act for granting to His Majesty the sum of £24,000 for the defence and Protection of this Province, & for other purposes there- in mentioned;" and
"An Act for regulating the Officers and Soldiers in the pay of this Province."
The Speaker then acquainted the Governor that the House pro- posed to adjourn to Monday, the 16th of January next, to which His Honour made no Objections.
Two Members of Assembly waited on the Governor & delivered him a written Message from the House in the words following, viz *·:
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
" We return you our thanks for laying before us the Letter you have received from Sir Jeffery Amherst, of the Sixteenth of this Inst-, with the Intelligence inclosed therein, from ST. William Johnson, respecting the bad intentions of the Savages against our Frontiers. For this Intelligence We are likewise obliged to His Excellency, but at the same time we are greatly at a loss how to understand the meaning or design of that part of his Letter wherein he expresses his 'Surprize at the Infatuation of the People of this Province, who (he alledges) tamely look on while their Brethren are butchered by the Savages, when, without doubt, it is in their power, by exerting a proper spirit, not only to protect the Settle- ments, but to punish any Indians that are hardy enough to disturb
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them.' Can it be possible that the General is, at this day, unac- quainted with the vigorous Measures which this Government has pursued, much beyond any of the rest of the Colonies, for the Pro- tection and Defence of their long extended Frontier ?
" Your Honour well knows, that on the Eleventh of June last, you convened the Provincial Commissioners, who chearfully agreed to raise an hundred Men for the Reinforcement of Fort Augusta, a Garrison on Susquehanna, then but weakly manned, and a Post of great importance to the Provincial Defence.
" On the fourth of July the Assembly met, in pursuance of your Summons, when you laid before them the necessity of an Additional number of Men, to repel the savage attempts of those Barbarians ; & that, in pursuance of a Letter from the General, which you also communicated to them, with equal Chearfulness and Expedition, they granted the additional number of Seven hundred Men, and passed a Law for furnishing Carriages for the Transportation of Provisions for the use of the Troops destined for the Western Com- munication.
"" These Troops, so granted, were accordingly raised with the ut- most Expedition, & they have been, as we are informed, placed at proper Stations on the Frontiers, under your Command, and been active since in the protection thereof, and that with more vigour and Spirit than has been known or experienced the whole late War. Several Parties of Indians have been intercepted and repulsed, and the Inhabitants in a great measure preserved from the intended Massacres, and a large Body of them now engaged in an Expedition against the Great Island, which has heretofore served as a Station from whence the Savages usually issue, for the Annoyance of our Settlements.
" As these things are Facts, we cannot help, in our Turn, being much surprized at the Censure contained in His Excellency's Letter, by which it is evidently intimated that the good People of this Province are utterly regardless of the Distresses of their Fellow Subjects, and 'tamely look on while they are butchered by the Sav- ages.'
" A hard Censure this ! but for what part of the Government it was intended is not clear from the Letter. If intended for your Honour, we have reason to believe you have done every thing, as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, that could be expected. If for this Part of the Legislature, the large number of Men in the pay of this Government, at a time when the Province is loaded with a debt extremely burthensome, occasioned by their late generous and large Aids to the Crown for the protection of the Colonies during the late War, will evidently shew it is without foundation ; And if the poor People on our Frontiers, their present distressed Situation, and the uncommon Military Spirit & Resolution, so manifest among them ever since the late Indian Incursions, ought at least to have excused them from it.
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" But the Gen1. is of Opinion, that it is in our power, by exert- ing a proper Spirit, not only to protect the Settlements, but to punish any Indians that are hardy enough to disturb them. Would he give himself the Liberty of one Moment's Reflection on our Cir- cumstances, must he not see the Injustice as well as Impracticability of our defending a Frontier near three hundred Miles in length, which covers and protects, in a great measure, those of Maryland and New Jersey, without the least Contribution or aid from either of those Colonies. Is it reasonable that this Province, already heavily loaded with debt, should be at the Sole Expence of defend- ing not only her own Frontiers but so great a part of those of her neighbouring Colonies ? And is it not evidently impossible that this Young Colony, against whom the Indian Force has been prin- cipally aimed, should alone, without any assistance from the rest of the Provinces, defend a Frontier so extensive, against all the lurk- ing and perfidious Parties of so powerful a Confederacy as is men- tioned in the General's Intelligence.
"You, Sir, are well acquainted with the Circumstances of the Province, & its present Distress, and therefore we presume you readily see how vain the Expectation must prove, that any one par- ticular Colony can defend itself against the united Power of so many Confederated Nations.
"Signed by order of the House,
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" October 22nd, 1763."
At a Council held at the State House on Saturday the 22nd Oct"", 1763.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutent Gov- ·ernor, &ca.
Benjamin Shoemaker & William Logan, Esquires.
John Curtis, Samuel Curtis, Jemmy Nappier, Robin Nanticokes, And Conoy Sam. -
The Governor's answer to Papounan, and the Indians at Wigha- lousin.
Speaking to John Curtis, says :
" Brother :
" We think we have understood what you have said to us with- out an Interpreter, and think you have sufficient knowledge of the English Language to understand us. Listen therefore to what I am going to say in answer to what you said to me when you first came here; Brother, as you have brought us a Message from Pa- pounan and the Wighalousin Indians, I desire you to carry this my Message to them in answer."
A String.
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" Brother Papounan and the Wighalousin Indians :
"You say you do not understand why there should be any Differ- ence between us and the Indians, and that after considering the matter well, it is surprizing to you that there should have been any Disturbances made by Indians, since you cannot find the least Cause given by us for such a Behaviour; And that as to you, the Indians at Wighalousin, you concern yourselves with nothing but the Wor- ship of God.
" Brother :
" We do not look on you and your Indians to be our Enemies, but rather our Friends, and we can sincerely say that you form a true Judgment on this behaviour of the Indians, for We do assure you we have not given the least Cause of Offence since we so firmly concluded a peace with the Indians. As therefore, this renewal of Hostilities is without the least Provocation on our side, and has been carried on in so cruel a manner, you cannot but think that it must raise great resentment in the minds of the Inhabitants against those who have committed them.
" As to you who have been no ways in These Disturbances, but give yourselves up to the religious Worship of God, we shall still be your Friends, and endeavour to preserve you in that safety which your Conduct deserves, and pray God to bless your Religious de- signs."
A String.
" Brother :
" You remind us of the Services you did for us in the affair of the Prisoners and of the Horses which were stolen from our Inhabit- ants. We remember it well, & as we did then thank you for it, so we do now again thank you for it.
" Brother :
" You likewise remind us of the great Service you did in pre- venting the Relations of an Indian who was killed soon after the last Treaty that was held at Easton, coming down to take revenge on our Inhabitants. This we also remember well, and now repeat our thanks for your kindness therein. Such acts of Friendship may always be expected from Men who act with Sincerity on religious Principles, and as we hope we are under the Influence of the same good Principles towards God and Man, We shall always behave to- wards you in the same just and kind manner.
" Brother :
" You further tell us that the assurances we then gave you of ac- quainting you of any Mischief designed against you, had made you perfectly easy and satisfied, & that you do entirely depend upon us. Agreeable, therefore, to our Engagements, we now inform you what lies very heavy on our minds, and our apprehensions of your danger.
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"Brother :
"Since we so firmly concluded and made a Peace with the In- dians, Our Innocent Inhabitants, thinking no danger, and depend- ing on your good Faith, so solemnly pledged to us, have been seized in their Houses, barbarously murdered, & their little innocent Children's Brains dashed out before them. This has been frequently perpetrated, and our Brother, John Curtis, can tell you, that within these ten days, some of these Barbarous Indians have been down & killed upwards of twenty of our People near Bethlehem. These actions have enraged & provoked my People greatly; and in re- venge, some of them have gone into the Indian Country to take their Satisfaction, and as I do not know where they are gone, I can- not but be under Apprehensions, lest, in their great anger, they will not be able to distinguish between those who are our Friends & Those who are our Enemies. And if any such thing should hap- pen, you must blame those Indians who have so unjustly struck us, as People who have been so much hurt, cannot be restrained from taking Revenge.
" Brother :
" As we cannot answer for those enraged, ungovernable people, in their attempts to revenge the blood of their Fathers, Brothers, and Children, we are not without apprehensions of danger to you, tho' we should do all in our power to prevent it, and would, there- fore, now be glad to hear from yourselves in what manner you think that can be best done, and for that purpose now send a White Man, James Irvine, with our Brother, John Curtis, as far as Fort Allen, at which place he shall remain 15 days, in expectation of receiving your Answer to that point, and also, receive any other Message you may have to send to us."
A String.
"Brother :
" We thank you for acquainting us that there has been a Great Council held with the Indian Nations living at Onohoquaga, Che- nango, Chokenote, and Awaigah, consisting of Oneidas, Tusca- roras, Delawares, Munseys, Nanticokes, Conoys, Onondagoes, Mo- hickons, Cayugas, & Shawanese, & that they desire you, by a Mes- sage, to inform me that the occasion of that Council was from Sr. William Johnson sending - Belts to you, to desire a Confe- rence with you, and that they would, in the mean time, remain, as they had done before, our steady and hearty Friends. That they had determined to do so, and had sent Deputies to ST. William John- son, to tell him so, and that they further desired we might be ac- quainted with this, their Resolution, & that they would, likewise, on their Return from Sir William Johnson, acquaint us what had passed between them and him.
" Brother :
"We desire you by this Belt, to return them our hearty thanks for what they have done, which we very much approve of & take it
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as a real mark of their Friendship for us; We shall impatiently wait to know the result of this Conference, and desire they would let us know as soon as they can, by some safe hand, on whom they can depend to deliver it.
" Brother :
" Assure these Indians that we are their hearty Friends, and consult with them on what methods may be best taken to secure all our Friendly Indians, and you and them in particular, so that nei- ther you nor they may be hurt by any of our People."
A Belt.
" Brother :
" As soon as I heard of the Mischief the Indians were doing on our Frontiers, I immediately sent a Message to the Commander at Fort Augusta, with my Orders to forward to the Indians who lived on the Waters of Susquehanna, The substance whereof was to this Effect :
"Ist. That after the Peace so lately reestablished between all the Indian Nations and the Subjects of our Great King, I was much concerned to see the Sky again begin look dark and Cloudy, as if it threatened new Troubles and mischiefs both to You and Us.
"2d. That I had heard with grief that some Indians, to the Westward, but of what Nation I knew not, had lately killed some of our White People at Yahisgarie, and about Fort Pitt, without any provocation from us, and without letting them know the cause of this Resentment.
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