Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 808

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" In case the Proclamation published for their Encouragement to Inlist shou'd be mention'd by the soldiers, I have sent a Printed one to Governor Clinton, and likewise enclose one to Your Excel- lency, and if either the Proclamation or the Men's having March'd out of the Province and having remain'd in actual Service from the time their Companies were compleat, shall cause a change in Your Excellency's Sentiments, You will be pleased to communicate such Change, and give the necessary directions, the Council requesting me to assure You that they will with great Zeal and heartiness lay before the Assembly, which they have Summon'd to meet for this purpose on the 23d Instant, everything recommended to them for His Majestie's Service, which they desire to promote by every method in their Power on this and all other Occasions.

"I am with perfect Esteem,

"Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,

" ANTHONY PALMER.

" His Excellency WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esqr."

" PHILADA., Nov". 10th, 1747.

" Sir :

"On Sunday I received the inclos'd Discharge from Gov" Shir- ley in a Letter requesting, among other Things, it might be pub- lished among the Levies raised in this Province for the Expedition against Canada, and having yesterday laid them before ye Council, . I do by their Advice transmit it to you.

" On His Majestie's Orders, signified by the Extract of the Duke New Castle's Letter, and by the joint Letter of Governor Shirley & Admiral Knowles, Copys whereof were sent to Your Excellency by Mr. Lawrence while I was in the Lower Counties.

" The Assembly is summon'd to meet on the 23d Instant, and as I depend on Your Excellency to furnish the Council with an Account of what has been paid the Pennsylvania Forces under Your Command, & what still remains due to them, & with Materials to answer the several Queries put by Admiral Knowles & Governor

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Shirley, I most earnestly repeat my Request to Your Excellency to honour me with a full Letter on this Important Affair, time enough for the Council to form from thence a proper Message to the Assembly.

" Your Excellency will be pleased to be referr'd to Governor Shirley's Letter of the 29th October last (as I suppose he wrote in the same manner to all the Governors) for his Sentiments about the Pay of the Levies, their Arms and other things relating to them ; And as I am an entire Stranger to Millitary matters, and to the particular Circumstances of those Levies, having no other Judgment to form of what is proper to be done than from the Pro- clamation issued by Governor Thomas to encourage them to Inlist, I shou'd be extremely obliged to Your Excellency if You wou'd favor me with Your Sentiments on these Several Points.

" As Governor Thomas's Proclamation may be mention'd by the Officers or Soldiers, I herein inclose a Printed one, and am with very great Regard,

" Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,

" ANTHONY PALMER.

" His Excellency GEORGE CLINTON, Esqr."

Order'd, That fair Copies be immediately made and sent with the Papers therein mentioned by Express.

Mr. Lawrence & Mr. Till agreable to an Order of the last Coun- cil produc'd to the Board the Stamps for coining Pieces of Eight entirely defac'd.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, 13th Nov"., 1747.

PRESENT :

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

Thomas Lawrence,

Samuel Hassell, William Till, Abraham Taylor, 1 Esqrs. Joseph Turner,

Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker, William Logan,

Ten Indian Warriors from Ohio having arrived in Town on Wednesday, the President sent them a Message yesterday by Mr. Weiser, the Interpreter, to bid them welcome; and understanding that they were desireous to be heard to-day, he summon'd the Coun- cil for this purpose. Mr. Weiser attending he was sent to tell the Indians the Council was sitting and ready to receive them. They immediately came. The President inform'd them the Council were glad to see their Brethren; took their Visit kindly, and desired to know what they had to Communicate.

VOL. V .- 10.

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MINUTES OF THE

After a Pause, - rose up and spoke as follows :

" Brethren the English, the Governor of York, the Commission- ers at Albany, the Governor & Counsellors of Pennsylvania :

" We who speak to you are Warriors living at Ohio, and address You on behalf of ourselves and the rest of the Warriors of the Six Nations.

" You will perhaps be surpriz'd at this unexpected Visit ; but we cou'd not avoid coming to see You, the times are become so critical & dangerous. We are of the Six Nations, who are your antient Friends-having made many Treaties of Friendship with the Eng- lish, and always preserved the Chain bright. You know when our Father the Governor of Canada declar'd War against our Breth- ren the English, You, the Governor of York, the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Albany, the Commissioners for this Province sent to inform the Council at Onondago of it, and to desire that they wou'd not meddle with the War; that they wou'd only look on & see what wou'd be done; that we, the Indians, wou'd let you fight it out by yourselves, and not pity either side; and that we wou'd send to all the Nations in alliance with us to do the same. And, accordingly, the Indians did send to all their Friends and Allies, and particularly to the Indians about the Lakes, and in the Places where we Live, requesting they wou'd not engage on either side ; and they all stood Neuters except the French Praying Indians, who, tho' they promis'd, yet were not as good as their words. This is the first thing we have to say to our Brethren, and we hope they . will receive this in good part, and be willing to hear what we have further to say.

" Brethren :

" When the Indians received the first Message from the English, they thought the English & French wou'd fight with one another at Sea, and not suffer War to be made on the Land ; but sometime after this Messengers were sent to Onondago by all the English to tell us that the French had begun the War on the Land in the Indian Countries, and had done a great deal of Mischief to the English, & they now desir'd their Brethren the Indians wou'd take up the Hatchet against the French, and likewise prevail with their Allies to do the same. The old men at Onondago, however, refus'd to do this, and wou'd adhere to the Neutrality. And on their declaring this, the English sent other Messengers again and again, who pressed earnestly that the Indians would take up their Hatchet ; but they were still denied by the old Men at the Fire at Onondago, who, un- willing to come into the War, sent Message after Message to Canada and Albany to desire both Parties wou'd Fight it out at Sea. At last the Young Indians, the Warriors, & Captains consulted together & resolved to take up the English Hatchet against the will of their old People, and to lay their old People aside as of no use but in time of Peace. This the Young Warriors have done-provoked to

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

it by the repeated Applications of our Brethren the English. And we are now come to tell you the that French have hard Heads, and that we have nothing strong enough to break them. We have only little Sticks & Hickeries, and such things that will do little or no service against the hard Heads of the French. We therefore present this Belt to desire that we may be furnished with better Weapons, such as will knock the French down; and in token that we are hearty for You, and will do our best if you put better Arms into our Hands, we give you this Belt."

Here they gave a Belt of seven Rows.

" Brethren :

"When once we, the Young Warriors, engaged we put a great deal of Fire under our Kettle, and the Kettle boil'd high, and so it does still (meaning they carried the War on briskly), that the French Men's Heads might soon be boil'd; But when we looked about us to see how it was with the English Kettle, we saw the Fire was almost out, & that it hardly boil'd at all, & that no French men's heads were like to be in it. This truly surprizes us, & we are come down on purpose to know the reason of it. How comes it to pass that the English, who brought us into the War, will not fight them- selves? This has not a good appearance, and therefore we give you this string of Wampum to hearten and encourage you, to desire you wou'd put more Fire under your Kettle."

Here they presented the string of Wampum of 7 strings.

" Brethren :

"We have now done with general Matters, but old Scaiohady desires to inform the Council that he was here in James Logan's time, a long while ago, when he had but one Child, and he a little one; that he was then employ'd in the Affairs of this Government; that James Logan gave him this String to assure him if he ever shou'd come to want & apply to this Government they wou'd do something for him. Scaiohady is now grown old & infirm, & re- commends himself to James Logan's & the Council's Charity."

Here he laid down a String of Wampum.

The Indians withdrew, & the Council adjourn'd to Eleven O'Clock to-morrow morning.

In the Council Chamber, 14th November, 1747.

PRESENT :

Thomas Lawrence, Robert Strettell, Esqrs.

Benjamin Shoemaker, William Logan, S

The President being indisposed & the other Members not attend- ing. there could be no Council.

The Members present judg'd that before the heads of an Answer to the Speech of the Indians cou'd be considered, it was necessary

148

MINUTES OF THE

previously to Learn from Mr. Weiser the particular History of these Indians, their real disposition towards Us, and their future designs ; and accordingly sent for him. He said the Indians had in part told him their mind, and he thought they might be brought to tell him more, and when they did he wou'd inform the Council.

The Members likewise judged that it might be of Service to know Mr. Logan's Sentiments about what might be proper to be said to the Indians, & requested Mr. Weiser & the Secretary to wait on him for that purpose.

At a Council held at Philadelphia the 16th November, 1747. PRESENT :

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

Thomas Lawrence,

Samuel Hasell,

William Till,

Abraham Taylor,

Robert Strettell,

Benjamin Shoemaker,

Esqrs.

Thomas Hopkinson,

William Logan,

Mr. Weiser attending was called in, and inform'd the Council that he had Learn'd the following particulars from the Indians, viz .: That last Summer the Governor of Canada had sent the Hatchet to the Indians about the Lakes and on the branches of Ohio; that one Nation took it up; and that these Indians and the Indians in those Quarters, consisting principally of Warriors, being afraid others wou'd do the like, to prevent this took up the English Hatchet and proclaim'd War against the French, which had a good effect, no more daring after this to meddle with the French Hatchet; That these Indians on Ohio had concluded to kindle a Fire in their Town, and had invited all the Indians to a considerable distance round about them to come to their Fire in the Spring, and that they had consented to it. Mr. Weiser added that the Indians in the Parts these People came from were numerous, not less than Five hundred Men, and had many Allies more numerous than them- selves ; That it was always the Custom in War time to put the management into the hands of the Young People, & that it would be of the most pernicious Consequence not to give them encouragement at this time, and particularly he thought the Council should at least tell them they approv'd of their taking up the Hatchet, & acknowledge the Service done to the Eng- lish by their seasonable declaration in their favour. He thought Providence had furnished this Province with a fine opportunity of making all the Indians about the Lakes their Friends, & warm Friends too. Mr. Weiser being ask'd what sort of a Present should be given them at this time, he said Goods were now so dear that the value of One hundred Pounds wou'd appear but small, that they should have so much given them at least, and half as much to the Canayiahaga Indians; Not that this was by any means sufficient,

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

but wou'd be a good Salutation Present, and preparatory to a larger to be sent in the Summer. This he judg'd necessary to be done, and that they should be told of the future Present, And tho' he had never been in those Parts, yet he judg'd the attaching these Indians and their Friends to the English Cause to be so necessary that he wou'd, if the Council pleased & his Health shou'd permit, go with the Present himself, and see with his own Eyes what number of Indians were there, & in what disposition. He said further, that he accompanied the Secretary to Mr. Logan's yesterday, & that the Secretary had informed Mr. Logan of all these particulars, and taken his Sentiments in writing, and on them form'd the Plan of an an- swer. The Board order'd the Secretary to read what he had wrote, and on considering this & Mr. Weiser's Information, an answer was agreed to and the Presents settled. The Council adjourn'd to 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon, and directed that the Indians should be told to be there in order to receive the answer of the Council to their Speech.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, 16th Novr., 1747, Four o'Clock in the Afternoon.

PRESENT :

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President, and the same Members as in the Forenoon.

The Indians having taken their Seats the President spoke as fol- lows :

" Brethren, Warriors of the Six Nations-

"We, the President & Council of the Province of Pennsylvania, have taken what You said to Us into Consideration, and are now going to give you an answer.

"We are always glad to see our Brethren, and are particularly pleas'd at this critical time with your present Visit. You are sen- sible of the constant Freindship this Government has always shown to the Indians of the Six Nations, and that from their first Settle- ment in the Country their Interest has been put on the same foot with our own; And as long as you shall act up to your Engage- ments you will never want the most substantial proofs that we can give of our Regards to your Nations.

"You tell us that at the beginning of the War you received a Message from all the English to stand Neuter, and to prevail with your Allies to do the same; that in compliance therewith you did stand neuter, & all your Allies except the Praying Indians, who promis'd and broke their word; That the French commencing Hos- tilities, you received repeated Messages from the English to con- tinue Neuter no longer, but to take up their Hatchet against the French, and that you and your Allies have accordingly done this.

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MINUTES OF THE

Brethren, You did well to hearken to the Messages sent by The English. Your Allies so readily concurring with you, shews you keep up a good understanding with them, for which you are to be commended. You live in small Tribes at a distance from one an- other. Separate, you will be easily overcome; United, it will be difficult if not impossible to hurt You. Like the Strings on which you put your Wampum, a single Thread is soon snapp'd, a few re- quire more strength, But if you weave them into a Belt and fasten them tight together, it must be a strong hand that can break it.

"We are pleas'd to hear that at the pressing Instances of the Governors of New York & New England, you have taken up the Hatchet against the French, who you know, notwithstanding their fair Speeches, have been from the beginning your inveterate Ene- mies; And in Confirmation that We approve of what you have done, we give you this Belt.

" By your String of Wampum you tell us that you observe the English Kettle does not boil high, & you give the String to all the English to encourage them to put more Fire under their Kettle.

" As you Address this to all the English, we shall send your string to the other Governors. But to lessen your Concern on this- account, We are to apprize you that the French were sending large Forces in big Ships well arm'd with great Cannon over the Seas to Canada, that the English pursued them, attack'd them, took their Men of War, killed a number of their Men, & carried the rest Prisoners to England. This Victory put a stop for the present to the Expedition intended against Canada. You are, therefore, not to judge by the appearance things make now that the English Fire is going out, but that this is only accidental, & it will soon blaze again.

" As this is the first Visit paid us by our Brethren the Warriors living on the Branches of Ohio, to shew that we take it kindly of them, and are desirous to cultivate & improve the Friendship sub- sisting between the Six Nations & Us, we have provided a Present of Goods, a list whereof will be read to You at the close of our Answer. They are at John Harris', & the Interpreter will go along with You & deliver them to you there. In the Spring we propose to send Mr. Weiser to You, & he will be furnish'd with a proper Present to be distributed to all the Indians at Ohio, at Cana- yiahaga, & about the Lake Erie. In confirmation of what we say we give you this string of Wampum.

" Having received by the Traders a kind Message from the Cana- yiahaga Indians, to let them see we are pleased with it, We have sent them a small Present of Powder & Lead by Mr. Croghan which you will inform them of, and likewise of our further inten- tions in their favour with this String of Wampum, which is given you for that purpose.

"The President & Council at your recommendation will take care

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

to give Scaiohady a Present for his own private use, & his old friend Mr. Logan will do the same."

A String of Wampum.

The Indian Speaker having consulted with Scaiohady, took up the Belt and Strings of Wampum in the order they were presented, and repeating the Substance of every Paragraph, express'd high Satisfaction at what the Council had said, & promised to send the String of Wampum to the Canayiahaga Indians, who being their own Flesh & Blood they were pleased with the Regards shewn to them; And in Testimony of their entire Satisfaction & Devotion to the English Interest they gave the Indian Marks of Approbation and Danced the War Dance.

A List of Goods bought for the Ohio Indians, viz .:

4 Barrells of Gunpowder

@ £11

£44 00

5 cwt. Barr Lead

40s.

0 0

8 Guns -

50s.

20 0 0.

2 Pieces Striped Duffels

£14

28 0 0

1 Piece Blew Strowds

15 0

1} Dozen Tomhawks

30s.

10 1b. Vermillion

18s.

10 doz. best Knives

9s. 6d.

4 15

2 m. Flints

15s.

1 10

6 doz. Screw Boxes -

18d.

9 0

5 1b. Red Lead I

9d.

0 3

Cash paid John Smith the Waggoner for Carriage up to John Harris'

4 17

֏ Cask of Gunpowder -

2 15

1 doz. Looking Glasses

0 19 0

1 doz. Knives -

Cash paid for Pipes & Tobacco

¿ cwt. Turkey shot -

1 cwt. Bread - -

0 18

11 pair of Sizzars -

3 .3

1 Groce of Awl Blades - 1

0 18 0

£148 7 9

A List of Goods bought for the Canayiahaga Indians, viz .: 4 cwt. Barr Lead

@, 45s. £9 0 0

3 half Barrells & 2 Quarter Casks of Gunpowder -

0 0

2 doz. best Knives - - @, 10s. 6d 1 1 0

4 Guns -

55s. 11 0

1,000 Flints.

Cash paid John Smith, Waggoner

- - I

1 12 6

£47 18 6

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MINUTES OF THE

A List of Goods bought for Shikalamy, viz. :

5 Strowd Match Coats -

@, 28s.

£7 00

¿ Cask of Gun Powder -

2 15 0

¿ cwt. Barr Lead -

40s.

1 0 0

15 Yards of Blew Half Thicks -

3s. 2d.

7 6

1 doz. best Buckhafted Knives

0 9 0

4 Duffell Match Coats

15s.

3 0 0

£16 11 6

At a Council held at Philadelphia 17th Novr., 1747.

PRESENT :

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

Thomes Lawrence, Samuel Hasell,

William Till, Abraham Taylor,

Eqrs.

Robert Strettell, Thomas Hopkinson,

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.

Mr. Till, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Hopkinson were appointed a Com- mittee to prepare the Draught of a Message to the Assembly on the several Letters receiv'd from Governor Shirley, Admiral Knowles, & Governor Clinton, & likewise another Message to accompany the Indian Treaty.

At a Council held at Philadelphia the 20th Novr., 1747. PRESENT :

The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.

Samuel Hasell, William Till,

Abraham Taylor, Robert Strettell,

Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson,

Las

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.

The President having receiv'd a Letter from Governor Clinton, inclosing an Account of the Monies paid by him for the use of the four Pennsylvania Companies, together with an Estimate of what he, on conferring with some of the Pennsylvania Officers at New York, judg'd still to be due to them, the same were read & ordered to be laid before the Assembly at their meeting.

A Letter from Governor Shirley was likewise read & order'd to be enter'd, & referr'd to the Committee, to be recommended to the Assembly in the same Message with the Indian Treaty.

" BOSTON, November 9th, 1747.

" Sir :

"I am to inform your Honour that at a meeting of. Commiss">

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

from the Government of the Massachusetts Bay, New York, & Con- necticut, at the City of New York in September last, It was agreed in behalf of the said Governments that an Expedition shou'd be undertaken against the French Fort at Crown Point; That certain Measures shou'd be us'd to retain & confirm the Indians of the Six Nations & others in Alliance with them in the Interest of the Eng- lish Governments, & other matters were agreed upon for the Defence of the English Colonies against the French & Indian Enemy ; and also that there shou'd be another Meeting of the Commissioners about the middle of December next, and that in the meantime all the other Governments from New Hampshire to Virginia should be Invited & earnestly urg'd to join in this Publick & Important Undertaking, wherein his Majestie's Honour & the Interest of all Subjects in North America are so deeply concerned. The Agree- ment of the Commissioners was laid before the General Assembly of this Province in their late Session, but finding so thin an appear- ance of the Representatives and most of the principal Members absent, I judg'd it best to adjourn the Assembly to Tuesday the seventeenth Instant, that these matters might be considered in a full Court, By which means it will be later before our General Assem- bly can determine upon them than was expected, which obliges me to entreat You to order your Publick Business so as that your General Assembly may be able to meet about the time when You may expect to know our Resolutions upon this Affair. And I doubt not but you are so fully appriz'd of the great Importance it is of to His Majestie's Service in North America to have the Indians of the Six Nations and others in Alliance with them kept in Friendship with us and not suffer'd to go over to the French, which there is the utmost Danger of unless all these Colonies shall unite with their greatest Zeal & Expedition to improve this favourable oppor- tunity for fixing those Indians in the English Interest. I am in- formed from those that know the Situation of the Countrey, that if the Six Nations should join with the French, the Colonies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania will have but a very thin Barrier between them & the Enemy, which would probably in such Case stand but a few Months, & then those Provinces would lye as much open to the Enemy as those of the Massachusetts Bay & New York, which would be so unhappy an Event that I am persuaded the Wisdom of making seasonable Provisions against it must be very manifest to You, and therefore that the Regard & Concern you have for the Prosperity of the Province under your immediate Government will prompt you to do every thing in your power to promote the design now on foot for securing the Six Nations in our Interest, & de- stroying or at least weakening the Power of the French.

"I am, with great Regard, Sir, "Your most obedt. humb. Servant, "W. SHIRLEY."

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MINUTES OF THE

The Gentlemen of the Committee having prepar'd the Draught of a Message to the Assembly according the directions of the last Board, the same was settled & ordered to be copied fair, to be Sign'd by the President on Tuesday morning the 24th Instant, to which time the Council adjourned.

At a Council held at Philadelphia the 24th Nov". 1747.

PRESENT :

The Honoble Anthony Palmer, Esquire, Presidt.

Thomas Lawrence,

Samuel Hasell,

William Till,

Abraham Taylor,

Robert Strettell,

Joseph Turner,

Esqrs.

Thomas Hopkinson,

William Logan,

The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approv'd.

Two Members of Assembly being sent from the House with a Message, they were called in, & inform'd the Board that the House was met according to their Summons, & desir'd a Copy of one of the Writs by which they were Summon'd.

The Message to the Assembly was again read & Signed by the President.

A Message from the President & Council to the Assembly.

" Gentlemen :

" You are called together at this time in pursuance of certain Instructions from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 30th May last, 'Signifying that it was His Majesty's pleasure that Gov- ernor Shirley should immediately appoint a Meeting with Commo- dore Knowles at such Place as shou'd be agreed upon, & consider with him the present State of Nova Scotia & Louisbourg, and take the proper Measures for the Defence of those places, and as it is. His Majestie's Intention that the Americans shou'd be immediately discharged, except only such few as are mention'd, and that when Governor Shirley & Mr. Knowles shall have met & fully consider'd the Service to be undertaken in the manner directed, and shall have agreed what number of Americans it will be necessary to keep in Pay for that purpose, It is His Majestie's pleasure that he shou'd procure an Account of the whole Expence on Account of the American Troops from the time of their being levied to the time of their Discharge, and when the same shall be adjusted & Liquidated, to transmit it to His Grace with the proper Vouchers from the several Governors, that it . may be laid before Parliament, to the End that Provision may be made for the Payment; and in the meantime, in order to prevent any Complaint amongst the Men that have been Inlisted (as well those that shall be discharged as those that shall continue in Service) for

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V, Part 16

Author: Publication date: 1838 Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State Number of Pages: 808

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 808