USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 75
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PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, President. Joseph Turner, James Tilghman,
William Logan, Richard Peters, Edward Shippen, jun"-,
Andrew Allen, Requires.
Indians present.
Cheahogah, a Cayugah Chief.
Shawana Ben, ? Chiefs of the Delawares.
Newoaleka,
Jacob Asquash, a Nanticoke Interpreter, And 24 other Indians, Viz .: Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Shawanese, Delawares, Mohickons, Nanticokes and Canoys.
The Indians being seated, the Cayuga Chief rose up and spoke as follows, Viz' :
" Brothers :
" When I was at home with my Nation we were thinking with ourselves about our Brethren at Philadelphia. We remembered
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that there was an old Road between us and them, in the very Be- ginning of times, and as we wanted to say something to our Brethren. at Philadelphia, and that we should travel in the same road that our Ancestors had opened as a Communication between them and as; upon this I sat out with some of our People, and found the old road that has been used from the Beginning, and travelled safe in it to this City, and we are glad to find the old Council Fire, which which was kindled by our Fathers is still burning bright and clear as it used to be, and that we see our Bretheren. We give you this String to clear your eyes, that you may see us in Council. We open your throats and clean your Hearts, that there may be no foulness in you ; we also unstop your Ears, that you may the better hear what we have to say to you, and we likewise Cleanse the Coun- cil Chamber, that we may sit happily together, without anything to Offend us.
A String of three Rows.
" Brothers :
" Please to hearken to us, having now cleared your Eyes, cleansed your hearts, opened your Ears, and swept the Council Chamber, I shall proceed to tell you our Business.
" Brothers :
" As we have already mentioned, there was at the Begining a Great Council fire kindled in the City, and it always burnt clear and Bright; of late there was another Fire kindled between our Na- tions and our Brethren, the English, at Sir William Johnson's, and there we have of late gone, and by this means the old Road to this Council-Fire was grown up and difficult to be found, but we have found it and travelled through it, and are come once more to the old Council Fire at Philadelphia.
" Brothers :
"Our Fathers and your fathers were in close friendship; they held fast the Covenant-Chain and strength'ned it; one held it fast at one end and the other at the other; but there are always some bad people who want to break the Chain, but they never have been able to do it; both you and we have held it fast. We desire to put you in mind that your fathers were kind to the Indians, and ready to assist thêm, and we hope that you are of the same disposi- tion that they were.
A String of four Rows.
" Brethren :
" When we were at home we were looking towards Wyoming, and observed that the People of New-England were come to live there. Now we want to know what Reason these New-Englandmen have for doing this, since we never gave that Land to them ? Being asked what they meant by this ? they answer that the New-Eng- landmen tell some of the Indians that they, the Indians, gave them the land at Wyoming, but we, the Indians, say that we never did
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give them this land ; we who are here of several different Nations, namely, the Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, Mohickons, Nanti- cokes, and Conoys, we all declare that the Indians never did give this land to the New-England People, but we gave it to the pro- prietor Onas, and to no other person, and we not only gave Wyom- ing to him, but a great space of land round about it, except the. places where the Indians live.
A String of three black and white Rows.
" Brethren :
"We have now fully told you all the Business of our coming here to this Council fire at Philadelphia; we came down all the way from the Mingo Country, on purpose to acquaint you with what you have now heard from us.
" And now, Brothers, hearken to what my Brother Shawana Ben here present, who lives upon the great Island, desires to tell you."
Shawana Ben then spoke as follows :
" Brothers :
"We were informed by Sir William Johnson that whenever we were tired of living on the land we were settled on, and had an In- clination to leave it, we might be permitted to do so and dispose of it; now Brothers, we tell you that we have an Inclination to remove from the place where we live, the great Island, and desire to dis- pose of it."
A String of four black and white Rows.
The Cayuga Chief then spoke as follows :
" Bretheren:
"I am now grown old, and have been employ'd as a Messenger, and am become stiff with Travelling, and I desire you will help me, and give me a Horse, that I may not be obliged to walk when I go home. I must also inform you, Brethren, that our Hatchetts and Guns are out of order, and we request you will get them put in Repair."
One of the Indians present called Cawandaghsaw, then acquain- ted the president and Council that he was a Cocknawawga, and was just arrived from Charles Town in South Carolina, and Delivered a letter from Governor Bull to the president, which was Read, and is as follows, Vizt :
"CHARLESTOWN, September 6, 1771.
" Sir :
" An Indian of the Oneida Nation, named Da-ya-gough-de-re- sesh, called by the English Thomas King, who had been employed by Sir William Johnson to negociate and Confirm peace between the Six Nations and various Tribes on the Ohio, and our Southern Nations, after finishing his important business, arrived here about twelve days agoe, and desired to Return by Sea to Sir William John- son, and expressed a Strong Inclination to see the great City of
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Philadelphia; I accordingly provided a passage for him and his Retinue in Captain Blewer, and Cloathing, and some presents for himself and his Companions ; but he was taken Ill of a Fever; and unfortunately died last night. He was to have been accompanied by two Catawbas to Confirm the Peace in presence of Sir William Johnson, but his Death put an end to their Voyage with him; I have sent the Cloaths I had provided for him by his Companion, to be given by Sir William Johnson (to whom I write by them) to dry up the tears of his Relations.
" I Recommend them, the bearers hereof, to your protection and assistance on their way to Sir William Johnson. Your knowledge of the Genius of Indians, and of the fidelity of this tribe to the Eng- lish, and your own humanity, leave me no Room to add any argu- ments in their Favour.
" I have the Honour to be, with great Regard, Sir, " Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
"WM. BULL.
" To the Honourable Lieutenant Governor HAMILTON, Com- mander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania."
The same Indian then informed the Council that he had a great Quantity of Wampum, which was given by the Southern Indian Nations at their several Treaties with Thomas King, and that he would show the Wampum to the Council, if they Chose to see it, and according he shewed twenty Belts, and a large number of strings of Wampum.
While the Council was Sitting, a Shawanese Indian, named Sha- wana John, came into the Chamber, and presented a Petition to the president, setting forth that he had been at Sir William John- sons, and was sent by him on Business to the Governor of Boston ; and that as he was a coming here in passing through Hartford and New Haven, some Gentleman there give him Letters for the Gov- ernor of this Province ; that these Letters, and his passport, and nine Dollars, were taken from him while he was asleep at an Inn in Brunswick, in New Jersey, and he desired that his loss might be made good to him.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 3d October, 1771.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, President. Joseph Turner, James Tilghman,
William Logan, Andrew Allen,
Benjamin Chew,
Edward Shippen, Jun"., J Esquires. Thomas Cadwallader,
The Sheriffs of Philadelphia and Chester Counties having made- their Returns of the Elections for those Counties, they were laid
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before the Board, and being duly Considered, the following persons were appointed, and their Commissions, with Writs of assistance and Warrants for affixing the Great Seal, were signed by the Presi- dent, Mr. Turner, Mr. Logan, Mr. Chew, and Mr. Cadwallader.
Judah Foulke, Sheriff, { of the City and County of Philadelphia. .. Caleb Cash, Coroner, S
Jesse Maris, Sheriff of Chester County.
Friday 4th of October, 1771.
The President dispatched by an Express, a letter to the Hon- ourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esquire, Governor of Connecticut, which follows in these words, Viz *:
" PHILADELPHIA, the 4th of October, 1771.
"Per THOMAS ROBINSON, Express.
" Honoured Sir :
" As I have the honor at present to preside in this Province, I have transmitted you the Inclosed Copies of a Deposition and Capi- tulation, by which you will perceive how the peace of this Govern- ment has been lately disturbed by the Violent proceedings of what is Called your Susquehanna Land Company, who have associated to themselves some of the most abandoned and Profligate of our people, such as are accused, and indeed stand Indicted of Capital Crimes here.
" As the people Concerned in these violent and even hostile measures, profess to act under the authority of your Government, and have made a Capitulation expressly on behalf of the Govern- ment, I have thought it proper and Expedient to send a Mes- senger to your Honour on purpose to know with Certainty whether they have proceeded in any sort under your Countenance or Au- thority, or that of your assembly; And as this must be a mat- ter within your Knowledge, I make no doubt but you will dis- patch the express with a Speedy answer to
"Your most Obedient, "and most humble Servant,
" JAMES HAMILTON, President. "To.the Honourable JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esq"", Governor of Connecticut, at Lebanon."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia on Saturday 5th October, 1771.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, President.
Joseph Turner,
James Tilghman,
William Logan, Andrew Allen,
Benjamin Chew,
Edward Shippen, Jun".,
Raquires. .
The returns of the Elections of Sheriffs and Coroners for the Counties of Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, Berks, York, Northampton, New Castle, and Kent, being now made, the Board took the same into Consideration, and appointed and Commissionated the following persons as Sheriffs and Coroners for the first mentioned six Coun- ties ; and the President appointed and Commissionated Thomas Duff and James Caldwell, Sheriffs, and Henry Vining and John Smithers, Coroners of their Respective Counties of New Castle and Kent.
John Crosby, Jun"., Coroner of Chester County.
Richard Gibbs,
Sheriff,
Bucks
County.
James Wallace,
Coroner,
Frederick Stone,
Sheriff,
Lancaster
Do.
Samuel Boyd,
Coroner, S
Samuel Edie,
Sheriff,
York Do.
Joseph Adlum,
Coroner,
George Nagle,
Sheriff,
Berks
Do.
Isaac Levan, jun™.,
Coroner,
Peter Kachlein,
Sheriff,
Northampton
Do.
Peter Seip,
Coroner, S
Thomas Duff,
Sheriff,
New Castle
County.
Henry Vining,
Coroner,
James Caldwell, John Smithers,
Sheriff,
Coroner, S
Kent
County.
A Transcript of the Record of the Conviction of George Spots was then laid before the Board, by which it appears that at a Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Goal Delivery held at Philadel- phia, for the County of Philadelphia, on the twenty-third of Sep- tember last, Before William Allen, John Lawrence, and Thomas Willing, Esquires, Justices of the Supream Court and of the said Court of Oyer and Terminer, George Spots, of Philada County, La- bourer, was tryed and Convicted of Fellony and Robbery committed by him, the said George, on the King's high Way, on the Second day of April last, and that he hath received Sentence of Death for the same.
The said Record being taken into Consideration, and the said Justices and the Jury by whom he was convicted, having Recom-
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Thomas Cadwallader,
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mended him as an Object of Compassion, it was agreed that he should be Reprieved, on Condition that he remove from this Pro- vince, and never more return into it. The Reprieve was accord- ingly made out under the great Seal, and delivered to the Care of the Sheriff of this County.
October 7th, 1771.
The Sheriff of Sussex County having now made his Return of the Election for that County, the President appointed the following persons the Sheriff and Coroner, and signed their Commissions :
Peter Robinson, Sheriff, Eli Parker, Coroner, S
of Sussex County.
The Sheriff of Cumberland having. also made his Return of the Election for that County, the President and four Members of Coun- cil appointed and Commissionated the following persons as Sheriff and Coroner, Viz *:
Ephraim Blaine, Sheriff, r Cumberland County. Coroner, S
Samuel Laird,
October the 8th, 1771.
The Return of the Election for the County of Bedford being now inade, the President and four Gentlemen of the Council appointed and Commissionated the following persons the Sheriff and Coroner of that County, Vizt:
John Proctor, jun"., Joseph Erwin,
Sheriff, 2 Bedford County.
Coroner, S
A Draught of a Letter being prepared by Order of the Board to be dispatched to the Proprietaries, the same was Ordered to be Transcribed for that purpose, and sent by the first Opportunity. The said Letter follows in these Words, Viz':
" PHILADELPHIA, the 8th of October, 1771.
" May it please your Honors :
" In our Letter of the 20th of August last, we acquainted you of the unfavourable situation of your affairs at Wyoming, and that we had an Intention of laying the matter before the Assembly, in hopes of their assistance. We did so, and now inclose you copies of our Message, and their answer; by which you will perceive the uncer- tainty of succeeding in our application. We have dispatched a Messenger to the Governor of Connecticut, to know whether that
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Government have given any countenance or Authority to the Pro- ceedings of their people at Wyoming. If they should deny that they act under the Authority of Government (as we conceive they will,) it is thought it may favor the application we intend to make to the approaching Assembly. If they should avow their proceed- ings, it may be a proper Foundation for an Application at home. Our intelligence from Wyoming is that their numbers have not in- creased as was expected ; that there is a Disagreement between the New-England men and Stewart's Party, and that they are not pre- paring for a Crop of Winter Grain.
" From a View of what it past, we think it highly probable that nothing but the Interposition of the King and Council can put an end to this troublesome and expensive Business.
" We inclose copies of a Letter and Deposition just come to hand from the Westward, which seem strongly to point out the necessity of ascertaining that Frontier. ·
" We have the Honour to be "Your most Obedient humble Servants, " JAMES TILGHMAN, " ANDREW ALLEN, "EDWARD SHIPPEN, Jun", " JAMES HAMILTON, " JOSEPH TURNER,
" WILLIAM LOGAN,
" RICHARD FETERS.
"To the Honourable THOMAS PENN and JOHN PENN, Esquires> Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, London.
"To the care of Mess"s. David and John Barclay, Merchants in London.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on. Wednesday 16th October, 1771, A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, President. Joseph Turner, Andrew Allen,
William Logan, Edward Shippen, Jun". Esquires.
The President acquainted the Board that a Committee of Assem- bly had waited on him yesterday, to acquaint him that the House had met pursuant to the Laws and Charter of this Province, and had chosen their Speaker, and were Ready to Receive any business the Council might have to lay before them. But on Receiving an account this Morning that Captain Falconer's Ship was arrived in the River, from London, with the Honourable Richard Penn, Esquire, our Governor, on Board, it was agreed to Defer all Busi- Dess with the House 'till he should come up to the City.
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The Secretary presented to the Board a Petition from Divers In- habitants of the City of Philadelphia, and the Northern Liberties, setting forth that there is a Public Road leading from the upper end of Fourth Street to the Southwardmost line of the Widow Master's land near her Mill-Dam, which has been in use about sixty years, and is a boundary of the Lots and Land on each side thereof, and of very great Convenience to the owners of the same ; that the Petitioners are of opinion that if the said Road was extended through the Widow Master's land into the Germantown Road, it would not only accommodate the owners of the said Lots and those who reside on and near the present old Road, but be of very great utility to the publick by opening another out-let into the Country from the Northern parts of the City.
That the said Road (if extended as aforesaid) would pass over even and good Ground, would not exceed 190 perches in length, and Consequently would Occasion but a small expense in opening and keeping it in Repair. That the Petitioners have obtained the full Consent of the Widow Masters for Carrying the said road through her Land, agreeably to the Courses laid down in a Draught accompanying their Petition, and humbly Conceive that no reasona- ble objection can be had thereto, as it will not injure or pass through the Land of any other person ; and therefore prayed the Council would be pleased to appoint men to view the Ground and to lay out a public Road from the end of the said old Road leading from Fourth Street into the Germantown Road, according to the manner proposed and laid down in the said Draught, or as nearly so as may be found most Convenient for public use.
The Board taking the said petition and Draught into Considera- tion, do order and appoint Joseph Fox, Jacob Lewis, Luke Morris, John Lukens, Jonathan Evans and Edward Duffield, to view the Ground, and if they or any four of them are of Opinion that the Road Petitioned for is necessary for publick use and Convenience, to lay out the same in the manner proposed by the petitioners, or as nearly so as they shall judge most advantageous for the publick Service, and to make return of the Courses and Distances thereof, with a Draught of the said Road, into the Provincial Secretary's office, in order to be Confirmed as a public Road, if the same shall be approved.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday 16th October, 1771, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable RICHARD PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &cª.
The Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire.
Joseph Turner, James Tilghman,
Richard Peters, . Andrew Allen,
Lynford Lardner,
Edward Shippen Junior,
Esquires.
Thomas Cadwallader.
The Honourable Proprietaries, Thomas Penn and John Penn, Esquires, having been pleased to appoint Richard Penn,. Esquire, to be Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware, He pro- duced his Commission under the Hands and seals of the said Pro- prietaries, bearing date the fifteenth day of July last, with their Warrant for affixing the great Seal thereto; and also a Certificate under the Seal of the Privy Council, dated the sixteenth of Au- gust last, declaring his Majesty's approbation of Richard Penn, Esquire, to be Lieutenant Governor of the said Province and Coun- ties, and his having taken the Usual Oaths. The Secretary was thereupon sent to the keeper of the Great Seal to get the Seal affixed to the said Commission, and the Seal was accordingly affix- ed thereto. Sometime after his Return the Governor, attended by the Council, Mayor, Alderman and Common Council, and preceded by the Sheriff and his officers, went to the Court House, where his Commission was published with due Solemnity in the presence of a very great Concourse of People.
The Commission and Certificate were Ordered to be Recorded in the Rolls Office.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday 17th October, 1771.
PRESENT :
The Honourable RICHARD PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- nor, &cª.
James Hamilton,
Lynford Lardner,
William Logan, James Tilghman, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
Edward Shippen, jun".,
The Governor informed the Board that he Continued Mr. Joseph Shippen, Jun"., in the Office of Provincial Secretary and Clerk of
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the Council, and desired that an entry of the same might be made on the minutes of Council.
The Secretary having, by the Governor's Directions, prepared a Draught of a Proclamation for Continuing all Magistrates & other Officers in their Respective Offices, the same was read and signed by the Governor, and Ordered to be published in the several public Papers next week. The said Proclamation follows in these words, Viz* :
" By the Honourable RICHARD PENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.
" A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, the Honourable Thomas Penn and John Penn, E's- quires, true and absolute Proprietaries and Governors-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, have been pleased by their Commission, under their Hands and Seals, bearing date the fifteenth day of July last, to Constitute and appoint me to be their Lieutenant Governor of the said Province and Counties, with all necessary powers and Authority for the well. Governing of the same, which said ap- pointment the King's Most excellent Majesty, in a Council held at St. James's, the sixteenth day of August last, was Graciously pleased to allow and approve of. Therefore, in pursuance of the said trust in me Reposed, having a Special Regard to the Safety of the State and Government of the said Province and Counties, and to prevent failures in the Administration of Justice therein, I have, by and with the advice and Consent of the Council of the said Province and Counties, thought fit to ordain, and do hereby ordain and declare, that all Orders and Commissions whatsoever, relating to the Gov- ernment of the said Province and Counties, heretofore lawfully and rightfully Issued, which were in force on the sixteenth day of Octo- ber Instant, shall be, continue, and remain in full force, Power, and Virtue, according to their Respective Tenors, untill my further pleasure shall be known therein; and that all persons whatsoever, who on the said sixteenth day of October Instant, held or Enjoyed any Office of trust or profit in this Government, by Virtue of any such Commission as aforesaid, shall continue to hold and enjoy the same untill they shall be determined by me as aforesaid, or by other Sufficient Authority. And I do hereby further Command and Re- quire all Magistrates, Officers, and Commissioners whatsoever, in whom any Public Trust is Reposed in the Government of the said Province and Counties, that they diligently proceed in the perform-
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ance and discharge of their respective Duties therein, for the safety, peace, and well-being of the same.
" Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the seventeenth day of October, in the eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, De- fender of the faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one.
"RICHD. PENN.
"By his Honour's Command.
" JOSEPH SHIPPEN, Jr., Secr'y. ₽
"GOD SAVE THE KING."
END OF VOL. IX.
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