USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 15
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 | Part 76 | Part 77
" As we find His Majesty expects the several Colonies should immediately provide for the Payment of the Troops raised by them respectively till Provision be made by Parliament for that purpose, it is more particularly desired that your Excellency would inform this Government as soon as possible of the Sum now remaining due for the Pay of the Officers & Soldiers raised here, to the end of our Assembly may be called to make Provision accordingly, which
134
MINUTES OF THE
cannot be done till we receive Your Excellency's Answer to this particular.
"I am, with the greatest Esteem, " Your Excelley's. most hum. Servt., "THOMAS LAWRENCE.
" His Excellency Gov". CLINTON."
Order'd, That the said Letters be transcrib'd fair and sent by the Post.
The Petition of John Thomas Jones & Stephen Barnes, & the Confession made by them, were again taken into Consideration, & it being represented to the Board that a material part of their Con- fession was omitted to be wrote down by the Clerk employed in taking it, viz., that Jones had thrown the Stamps for Counterfeiting Dollars into the River, It was Order'd, That the Sheriff make fur- ther Enquiry into that Circumstance, and if the Stamps shou'd be found that he report the same to the Board, but that if they should not be found that then the Sentence pronounced against the Peti- tioners be immediately put in Execution.
At a Council held at Philada , 29th October, 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
William Till,
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
The President having received a Letter from Captain Perry, & Mr. Lawrence having likewise received one from Govr. Clinton, they were read & ordered to be enter'd.
" NEW YORK, October 26th, 1747.
" Sir :
"I received Orders from His Excellency Gov". Clinton this Morning to transmit to Your Honour the number of Officers & Men belonging to the Province of Pennsylvania, since the Payment he made to them, which was to the 24th of June inclusive, but as I have not my Papers here, I cannot be quite particular in the num- ber, but so near that it will make a small difference in the Sum that may be raised to pay them. Underneath is as particular Account as I can send at present. Governor Clinton intends to write Your Honour in what manner he paid the Subalterns. The
135
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Captains have not received any pay as yet. An Exact Account will be sent to You as soon as possible.
" I remain Your Honour's most obedt humble Servt.,
"SAML PERRY."
Names of the Officers, viz. :
Captain John Deimer, Lient. John Wildt,
Ensign Wm. Franklin,
Captain Willm. Trent, Lient. Daniel Byles, Ensign Wm. Rush,
Captain John Shannon, Lieut. Jacob Kalloch, Ensign Wm. Morgan,
Captain Saml. Perry, Lieut. James Lawrie, Ensign Jams. Stevenson,
Under the Command of the above Officers has been Muster'd in two different Musters of two Months, each from the 25th June to the 24th of this Instant Inclusive, viz.
16 Sergeants, 16 Corporals, 8 Drumers, & about 190 Private Men.
"NEW YORK, 26th Oct"., 1746. " Sir :
"I am favoured with Your Letter of the 20th Instant, and in answer thereto I can inform You that I have paid the Troops raised in the Government of Pennsylvania to the 24th of June last, and the Subalterns two Months' Pay from the Dates of their Commis- sions. It is not in my Power at present to transmit to you an Exact Account of what Sums are due to these Troops without exact Lists, which, by the Distance they are at, cannot be readily obtain'd, besides the frequent Desertions make it uncertain ; but I have ordered Captain Perry, their Commanding Officer (who lately came down here upon account of His Health), to transmit to You their Numbers as nearly to truth as he can.
"I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,
"G. CLINTON. " The Honble. Thos. Lawrence, Esq"-"
The joint Letter of Governor Knowles & Governor Shirley, & the Extract of the Duke of New Castle's Letter, were again read, & on considering the same the Board was unanimously of opinion that the Assembly shou'd be immediately summon'd to meet on the 23d of November next, And the Writts being wrote were sign'd by the President & four Members of Council & Dispatch'd to the several Sheriffs, one of which is order'd to be enter'd :
" The Honourable the President & Council of the Province of Penn- sylvania,
" To the Sheriff of the County & City of Philadelphia within the said Province, Greeting :
" Having recieved some Dispatches of great Importance to His Majesty's Service, which it is necessary should be forthwith laid be-
136
MINUTES OF THE
fore the Assembly of this Province, We have, therefore, thought fit to convene the said Assembly before the time to which they now stand adjourn'd. These are, therefore, to require and command You on receipt hereof to Summon the Representatives chosen for the said County & City of Philadelphia to meet in Assembly at the said City on Monday the Twenty-third Day of November next, and thereof to make return to Us on the same Day.
" Given under our Hands & the Lesser Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the 29th Day of October, in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, of Great Britain, &ca., King, Annoqz Domini, 1747.
" THOMAS LAWRENCE,
" ABRAHAM TAYLOR,
" ANTHONY PALMER,
"ROBERT STRETTELL,
"JOSEPH TURNER."
At a Council held at Philada., 6th Nov"., 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence, William Till,
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Thomas Hopkinson, Esqrs. William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
The Board resum'd the Consideration of Indian Affairs, & call'd for Mr. Weiser's Letter of the' 15th October last, which was again read in these words :
" Sr. :
" On the Sixth of this Instant I set out for Shamokin, by the way of Paxtang, because the Weather was bad. I arrived at Sha- mokin on the 9th about Noon. I was surprised to see Shikalamy in such a miserable Condition as ever my Eyes beheld ; he was hardly able to streth forth his Hand to bid me welcome ; in the same Con- dition was his Wife, his three Sons not quite so bad but very poorly, also one of his Daughters, and two or three of his Grand-Children all had the feaver; there was three buried out of the Family a few Days before, vizt., Cajadies, Shikalimy's Son-in-Law, that had been married to his Daughter above 15 Years, and recon'd the best Hunter among all the Indians, Item his Eldest Son's Wife, and Grand Child. Next Morning. I administer'd the Medicines to Shikalimy and one of his Sons, under the direction of Doctor Greme, which had a very good Effect upon both ; next Morning I gave the
137
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
same Medicine to two more (who would not venture at first); it had the same Effect, and the four Persons thought themselves as good as recover'd, but above all Shikalamy was able to walk about with me with a stick in his Hand before I left Shamokin, which was on the 12th in the Afternoon.
" As to what passes among the Indians the Six Nations (except the Mohocks) have not yet declared against the French; some of their Cheifs are now in Canada, but for what reason is not known. It is generally believed by the Indians that they are about bringing over the French Praying Indians to the five Nations' Country, or lay a Stop to their War against the English. Shikalamy says if they miss in their Schemes, War will then be declared against the French ; some of the Siniker's Young Men have followed the Ex- ample of the Mohocks and went to Warr against the French, and had five of their Company killed by the French. The Young Peo- ple of the Six Nations are inclined to fight the French.
"Shikalamy told me further that the Governor of Canada has sent a Message to all the Indians about the Lakes and desired them to take up his Hatchet to fight the English; that two of the Na- tions had accepted it, but Shikalamy does not know which Two; all the rest of the Six Nations refused it at once.
" The Zis-gechroona, or Jonontadyhagas, or both, jointly have sent a large Black Belt of Wampum to all the Delaware and Shaw- nese Indians Living on the Rivers Ohio and Sasquehanna, to invite them into the War against the French ; the Belt came to Shamokin with the said Message; Shikalamy saw the Belt, but the Delaware Indians that brought it could not remember which of the above mentioned two Nations (or whether jointly) had sent it. That one hundred Men of the Delawares were actually gone to meet the Jon- ontadyhagas about Deoghsaghronty, where 70 or 80 of the Six Na- tions Living at Canoyinhagy were also expected ; they intend to cut off a French Settlement to the South of Lake Erie.
" Another such Black Belt of Wampum was sent by the aforesaid Indians to the Six Nations to the same purpose.
" Shikalamy said that himself and the Indians about Shamokin keep their Ears open to the said Nations, and they will act accord- ing as the Six Nations act.
"Whilst I was at Shamokin 14 Warriors came down from Diao- gon, about 150 Miles above Shamokin, to go to War against the Catawbas.
"On my Return, about three Miles this side Shamokin I met eleven Onontages coming from War; they, with some of the Ca- jukers, in all 25 Men, had an Engagement with the Catawbas, in which five of the Cajukers were killed. The Onontagers said the Catawbas were 200 Men ; I sat down and smoked a Pipe with them ; I had some Tobacco and a little Rum left with which I treated them,
138
MINUTES OF THE
and we discoursed about the Warrs. Their Captain was a very In- telligible man; I told him before we parted that we their Brethren of Pennsylvania long to hear of the Six Nations how things go con- cerning the War with the French, whether or no they had engaged in it, that if they had we were desirous our Brethren the Council of Onontago would let us know; If they have not, we had nothing to say to them, well knowing that our Brethren the Six Nations were People of Understanding and experienc'd in the War; we therefore leave that intirely to them, only we wanted now and then to recieve a Message from them in these critical Times and to hear of their Welfare. I gave the Captain a Peice of Eight to remem- ber what has been said to the Council at Onontago. In my going up I saw a French Scalp at the House of Thomas McGee; some Indians from Ohio had brought it there; Thomas McGee was gone to Philadelphia; I left it where it was; The same Day I met the Indian that brought it there ; he desir'd me to take it to the Gov- ernor in Philadelphia since Thomas McGee was not at home, who was desir'd to do it, and pressed very hard upon me to receive the Scalp for the Government of Pennsylvania, in who's favour the Scalp was taken, and at the Government of Pennsylvania's Request the Indians of Canayiahagon had taken up the Hatchet against the French, and that I was the fittest man to receive it. I told him that I had been concern'd in Indian Affairs these many Years, but I never knew that the Government of Pennsylvania had given the Hatchet or employ'd any body to kill French Men, and that I was sensible the Government had never requested the Indians at Canay- iahagon to kill French Men, and therefore I could not recieve the Scalp, and as I was well inform'd that this Scalp had been taken in time of Peace I could in no ways receive it; all White People would look upon such Actions with Contempt, and as my Commission for the Transaction of Indian Affairs did not extend to Ohio or Canay- iahagon, but reached only to the Six Nations, I must leave that Affair to those that had Correspondents that way to inform the Go- vernment of it, and recieve an answer. I hoped he would excuse me, and so we parted in Friendship.
" I must at the Conclusion of this recommend Shickalamy as a proper object of Charity; he is extreamly poor; in his Sickness the horses have eat all his Corn ; his Cloaths he gave to Indian Doctors to cure him and his Family, but all in vain; he has nobody to hunt for him, and I cannot see how the poor old Man can live ; he has been a true Servant to the Government & may perhaps still be, if he lives to do well again. As the Winter is coming on I think it would not be amiss to send him a few Blankets or Match Coats, and a little Powder & Lead if the Government would be pleased to do it, and You could send it up soon. I would send my Sons with it to Shamokin before the Cold Wheather comes.
" Olomipies is Dead; Lapaghuitton is allowed to be the fittest
139
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
to succeed him, but he declines ; he is afraid he will be envied, and consequently bewitched by some of the Indians. However this must lie still till next Spring, according to what Shickalamy says.
" It is my humble opinion that the Present intended for the In- dians on the River Ohio should be larger. If that what George Croghan is to take with him is intended for the Indians at Canayia- hagon, the Indians at Ohio our much nearer Neighbours should not be pass'd over without something. I arrived this Day about 12 of the Clock at my House in good Health, & I hope this will find . You in perfect Health & profound Peace of Mind, who am
“ Sir,
" Your ever Dutiful, "CONRAD WEISER.
"Tulphockin, October 15th, 1747.
"To RICHARD PETERS, Esqr-, Secretary of the Province of Penn- sylvania."
Resolved, That a Present of Goods to the value of Sixteen Pounds, or thereabouts, be made to Shikalamy, & that it be forth- with provided & sent to Mr. Weiser, with a request to dispatch it immediately by one of his Sons to Shamokin.
Mr. Logan inform'd the Council that there was a Waggoner of George Croghan's in Town, and that he had by Mr. Croghan's Order call'd for the Goods design'd as a Present to the Indians on Ohio & at Canayihage, & he desir'd to know whether he might de- liver them.
The Secretary having likewise receiv'd a Letter from Mr. Crog- han in answer to his about these Goods, it was read, and the Council not receiving that Satisfaction which they expected as to the Per- son who was to be trusted with the Carriage of the Goods & the delivery of their Message to the Indians, Mr. Logan received di- rections to send the Goods by this Waggon to John Harris', to re- main there till further Order, and the Secretary is order'd to dispatch an Express forthwith to Mr. Weiser to let him know that the Goods are sent there, & that the Council will proceed no further without consulting him, & as the Season was far advanced they desir'd he wou'd not fail to come & attend the Board as soon as possible.
140
MINUTES OF THE
At a Council held at Philadelphia the 9th Nov"- 1747.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq": President.
Thomas Lawrence, William Till,
Abranam Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
Thomas Hopkinson, Esqrs.
William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council ,were read and approved.
The Secretary inform'd the Board that he had sent an Express to Mr. Weiser, & receiv'd an answer from him that he wou'd be in Town on Wednesday next. Mr. Weiser says in his Letter, that at Lancaster he saw Ten Indians from Ohio on their way to Philada., & that he wou'd endeavour to be in Town as soon as them.
The Petition and Confession of Barnes & Jones were again taken under Consideration, and the Petitioners having made a further Discovery by informing the Sheriff of the Place where the Stamps where thrown, & they being accordingly found there & produced, It was resolv'd upon the Question, That that part of the Sentence en- joining the Pillorying the Petitioners be remitted, and that the residue thereof be put in Execution. And it is further Ordered, That Mr. Lawrence & Mr. Till be a Committee to see the said Stamps utterly defaced, and that the same when defaced be pro- duced at the Council.
The President having received a Letter from Governor Shirley, Dated at Boston the 29th Day of October last, the same was read in these words :
" BOSTON, October 29th, 1747.
" Sir :
" As a very great Expence to the Crown is running on whilst the Accounts of the Forces rais'd within your Government for the Ex- pedition against Canada are preparing and adjusting, Mr. Knowles and I think it our indispensable Duty to send You the inclos'd Dis- charge of them, which we desire you would have publish'd among the Levies in such manner as you shall think proper.
" You will perceive by the Extract of the Duke of New Castle's Letter, which we enclos'd in our last, that it His Majestie's Plea- sure the Levies should be Discharged in the most frugal manner, so that it is doubtless his Expectation that all such of them as have not marched out of the Province or Colony where they were raised, shou'd be paid off at the rate of the ordinary establishment for all His Majestie's Regiments of Foot, viz .: 'the Private Men at the rate of 6d. Sterling # Day, out of which a Stoppage must be made of 4d. for their Provisions, so that there will remain to be paid to them in Money only 2d. Sterling # Day; the Corporals after the
141
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
rate of 8d. $ Day, out of which a Stoppage of 4d. for their Pro- visions, so that 4d. Sterling $ Day will remain to be paid in Money to them; the Sergeants after the rate of 1 Shills. Sterls. Day, out of which a Stoppage must be made of 4d. for their Pro- visions, so that there will remain 8d. Sterls # Day to be paid to them.' And this is agreable to the Terms of their Enlistment, in which no more is promised than the usual Pay of His Majestie's Troops, viz. : 6d. Sterlg. $ Day for a private Man, 8d. for a Cor- poral, & 12d. for a Sergeant, out of which they find themselves with Provisions, & where Provisions are found for them as in the Case of Lt. General Phillips' Regiment posted in Nova Scotia & Newfoundland, a Stoppage of 4d. Sterls. $ Day is made out of their Pay for it; & in this Case it makes no difference with respect to the Soldiers that Provisions have been generally found for them at the Charge of the Colonies where they were rais'd, and not the Crown's; for that was not given them as the Bounty of the several Colonies, but was required by His Majesty from those Colonies to be done in ease of the National Expence, and as what was their reasonable part of the Charges to be incurr'd by the late intended Expedition, set on foot cheifly for the immediate Benefit of the several Colonies concern'd in it; and considering these Troops have not march'd out of their respective Colonies, they have no pretence to expect more than was promis'd them by the Terms of their In- listment, and ought to be satisfied with that.
" As to the method of paying off the Men when they are dis- charg'd, it appears to Mr. Knowles and me that there are but two ways of doing it, viz. : either by procuring Money or Credit from your Assembly, which we are commanded by His Majesty to re- commend to You, or else by borrowing Money of the Merchants upon Publick Bills, payable when the Parliament shall make Pro- vision for defraying the Charges incurr'd on account of these Levies ; which Bills Mr. Knowles & I think shou'd be sold for the highest Exchange that can be got for the benefit of the Men, but not at a lower rate than 700 $ Cent. Advance in Bills of the old Tenor, or £800 of that Currency for £100 Sterls; & if both these Methods should fail, then we can't see what more can possi- bly be done than to give the Men Certificates of what is due to them at the time of their being discharged, with a promise of Pay- ing them as soon as possible. But we hope there will be no neces- sity of having recourse to this expedient.
" Mr. Knowles being much very engag'd in the Business of his Squadron, which detains him great part of his time at Nantasket, has desir'd me to take upon myself the settling of the Terms for paying the Men off; and as he is under Orders from the Lords of Admir- alty to repair to Jamaica to take upon him the Command of His Majesty's Ships there, & designs to sail in about a fortnight, we shall be glad to proceed as far as possible in the Execution of His
142
MINUTES OF THE
Majesty's Orders committed to our joint Care before he goes; and besides, if the Accounts are not transmitted home in time to be laid before the Parliament this Session, it may occasion a Delay in raising the Money for defraying the Charges.
"Since Mr. Knowles' & my joint Letter to Your Honour, I am informed by Mr. Secretary Willard that upon the first raising of Troops in this Province for the Expedition against Canada in Queen Ann's time, her Majesty expressly promis'd (among other things) as an Encouragement for Voluntiers to inlist, that they shou'd retain their Arms, which had been provided for them by the Crown. But as the Expedition did not proceed that Year, and the Queen sent Orders to disband those Levies, which was done, this Government then thought proper (notwithstanding the Queen's ex- press Promise, and those Troops had march'd out of the Province to be ready to proceed by Land to Canada) to make the Soldiers deliver up their Arms, as they had not actually proceeded to Canada, in order to be kept for the Service of the Expedition when it should be prosecuted, which seems to be the Case where the Men had far greater reason to expect to retain their Arms than they have in this, especially as the Duke of New Castle, in his Letter to me of the 30th May, only says that 'His Majesty had laid aside the design of the Expedition for the present.'
" It was necessary to transmit to You the Terms for the Pay- ment of the Men and Non-Commissioned Officers, together with the enclos'd Discharge of them ; As to the Officers, it may be time enough to send You Mr. Knowles' & my opinion of the Terms on which they shou'd be paid off, by the Post following, he being now at Nantasket; with Regard to myself, I must, in the meantime, say that I think they ought to have the full Sterling Pay which the Officers of his Majesty's other Troops in their Ranks receive.
"I am, with very great regard,
"Sir, " Your Obedient humble Servant, "W. SHIRLEY."
Discharge of the Levies raised for the Expedition against Canada.
" His Grace the Duke of Newcastle having in his Letter to Gov- ernor Shirley signified that His Majesty finding it necessary to em- ploy the greatest part of his Forces to assist His Allies and defend the Liberties of Europe, had thought proper for the present to lay aside the prosecution of the intended Expedition against Canada, and commanded him & Governor Knowles to discharge all the Forces raised for that Service (except such as they should judge necessary to be kept in Pay for securing the Province of Nova Scotia), and to thank the Officers & Men in His Majestie's Name for their readiness & Zeal to enter into His service.
143
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. ,
"In consequence thereof We do hereby discharge all the said Officers & Men (except four hundred) out of His Majestie's Service from the 31st October, 1747, and they are hereby discharged ac- cordingly.
" And We do also Thank them in His Majestie's Royal Name for their readiness to engage in their Country's Cause against the common Enemy; and though they are prevented at present of re- venging themselves on a cruel, perfidious Enemy, it cannot be doubted but the same Zeal & Spirit will always animate them to serve whenever they are called upon. Given under our Hands this 28th Day of October, 1747.
"W. SHIRLEY, "CHAS. KNOWLES."
Mr. Till, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Hopkinson are appointed a Commit- tee to prepare an Answer to the same against to-morrow morning, to which time the Board adjourn'd.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 10th November, 1747. PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
William Till,
Abraham Taylor, -
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqr's. William Logan.
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
Mr. Till, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Hopkinson, the Committee appointed to prepare Draughts of Letters to be sent to Governor Shirley and Admiral Knowles & Governor Clinton, produced the same to the Board, which were read and approved, and follows in these words, viz. :
" PHILADA. Nover. 10th, 1747.
" Sir :
"Your Excellency's Letter of the 29th, October last, was deliv- ered to me on Sunday, and yesterday I laid it before the Council, together with the Discharge of the Levies raised within this Pro- vince for the Expedition against Canada, dated the Day before, and by their advice I have this Day forwarded it by Express to Gover- nor Clinton, as those Forces have all along been within his Govern- ment & under his command. In a Letter I have the honour to receive from him, he informs me he has paid off the Private Men to the 24th June inclusive, and the subalterns two Months pay from the Dates of their Commissions; and as his Excellency when he
144
MINUTES OF THE
advanced this Pay for them had no doubt a regard to the Terms on which they were Inlisted, it cannot be supposed that any alteration can be now made therein without Murmer & Discontent, especially as the Soldiers have had hard Duty during a long Winter, & in a very cold Country. Your Excellency supposes the Pennsylvania Companys to have remained in this Province in good Quarters, but this is not the Case. The settlement however of their Pay, whether this does or does not make any difference between their Case & that of the Men belonging to Collo. Phillips' Regiment, must be entirely left to the Judgment of Governor Clinton on what Your Excellency has wrote to him on this subject which I presume is the same as what I have the honour to receive from You.
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.