USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 31
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL,
Creek, thence crossing the Creek over the Bridge South fifty-two degrees and an half West nineteen perches to a post opposite to and thirty foot distant from James Mathers' Smith Shop, thence South sixty-eight degrees and an half West seventy-six perches to a post, thence South seventy-six degrees West eighty-four perches, thence South fifty-eight degrees West one hundred and seventy-one perches to a black oak Sapling, marked, thence South seventy-two degrees and an half West one hundred & fifty-two perches to a white oak, marked, about two perches short of Jacob Roman's Line, thence South fifty-one degrees West ninety-one perches, thence South sixty-four degrees and an half West two hundred and fifteen perches, thence South forty-six degrees West one hundred and twenty-seven perches to the middle of the Bridge over Marcus Hook Creek, thence South seventy degrees West one hundred & thirty-four perches to the Road leading from Marcus Hook to Con- cord, thence South fifty-eight degrees West seventy-two perches, thence South sixty-one degrees West one hundred and twenty-two perches to an old Stump about eight beyond Thomas Howell's House, thence South sixty-two degrees forty minutes West one hundred and thirty perches to New Castle Line, about half a perch West from an old marked hickery in the old Road.
CALEB COWPLAND, JOSEPH BONSALL, SAMUEL LEVIS, JOHN DAVIS, PETER DICKS, JAMES MATHERS,
THOMAS PEARSON,
JOHN SKETCHLEY,
A Letter from the Governor of Carolina was read :
"SOUTH CAROLINA, CHARLES TOWN, April 9th, 1748, $4 Sir :
"As the safety of this His Majesty's Province depends much on preserving the Friendship of the numerous Nations of Indians that surround Us, I have made it my particular Care, more especially since the commencement of the French War, to keep them steady in the British Interest; and I have the satisfaction to see that not- withstanding the French Intrigues our good Friends and Allies the Catawbas, the Cherokees, the Creeks, & the Chickesaws, are all firmly attach'd to Us, & that the Chactaws, who have hitherto been Friends to the French, have declared War against them & Killed a good number of their Men near the Mississippi. The Chactaw Na- tion is reckon'd one of the most numerous in America, consisting of many thousand fighting Men, & have lately made a Treaty of" Peace & Commerce with this Government. But the Catawbas have been some Years harass'd by the French & Northward In-
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dians called Nottooyaws, & tho' they are a brave People these con- stant Wars have thinn'd them.
"I must, therefore, earnestly desire that You will strongly re- commend it to the several Indians in Amity with your Government not to come to War against them, nor to join the French and their Indians in their Incursions upon these People, as I am inform'd they have done.
" This has now become absolutely necessary, for a few Days ago a Party of the Nottooyahs have carried off into Slavery some of the Inhabitants of the out parts of this Province, particularly one Cap- tain Haig, a Gentleman much respected and esteemed, & one Mr. Brown & some others.
"I hope you will have the Goodness to cause diligent Search to be made for them in case they shou'd be brought near Your Parts, & that when you have any Exchange of Prisoners with the French Indians or the Governor of Canada, that you will procure the Ran- som of these People shou'd it have been their misfortune to have been carried amongst them.
"I beg leave to assure You I am, " With very great respect, Sir, "Your most obedient humb. Servt.,
"JAMES GLEN.
"The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq"."
Whereupon the Council gave an additional Instruction to Mr. Weiser in these words :
" By the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of Pennsylvania.
"To CONRAD WEISER, Esq"., Indian Interpreter.
" Whereas, We have receiv'd a Letter from the Governor of South Carolina, a Copy whereof is herewith sent, informing Us that in or about the beginning of April last, a party of the Nattoo- yaws or some of the Northern Indians have carried off into Slavery some of the Inhabitants of the out parts of the Province of South Carolina, particularly one Capt". Haig, a Gentleman much respected & Esteemed, & one Mr. Brown and some others. You are hereby further Instructed, when you speak to the Indians at Ohio to men- tion this Affair, & to make the strictest enquiry after them; and if you can find out where they are carried to, you are to engage some of the Indians to sollicit for their discharge, now there is a Cessation of Hostilities, or if this may not be practicable you are to desire that they may be well used till an opportunity shall offer of treating with the Governor of Canada about them.
"Given in Council under my Hand & the Lesser Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the Twenty-sixth day of July, 1748.
" ANTHONY PALMER."
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The President having at the last Council taken the Sentiments of the Board with respect to an answer to Governor Shirley's Letter, & having accordingly wrote one, which was sent to him at Albany under & Cover to Governor Clinton, the same was read in these words:
"PHILADELPHIA, June 25th, 1748.
“ Sir :
" I have the Honour of Your's of the 11th Instant, informing me of Governor Clinton's appointment of an Interview with the Indians of the Six Nations at Albany the 10th of the next Month, & of your Intention to be there, earnestly desiring I wou'd cause Commission- ers to be sent from this Government to be present at this Interview.
"The Council, before whom I laid Your Letter, desire me to ex- press their Concern that Your Court did not come to their Resolu- tion time enough to lay this Important Affair before the Assembly, which has sat twice since the 16th May. They have, however, de- liberated whether, notwithstanding their two late Sessions and the Season of the Year which, as the House consists mostly of Farmers, requires their presence to do their Country Business, they shou'd not call them to meet a third time, & have concluded not to convene them, for that on former occasions of the like Nature the Assembly have expressly declar'd their Sentiments against engaging the In- dians to act offensively with the French, in consequence whereof Governor Thomas found himself oblig'd in his Instructions to the Commissioners which were sent from this Province to join with His Excellency Governor Clinton & the Commiss's. for the Colonies of the Massachusetts & Connecticut to tye up their Hands from urging the Indians to an open declaration of War against the French, & that contrary to his own Judgment of its being absolutely necessary for His Majestie's Service & the Security of the Northern Provinces, and as the Members of this Assembly are the same Persons & of the same Principles, & have but the other Day absolutely refus'd to be at any expence in defending the Province against the King's Enemies, tho' they were in their River & had like to have burnt New Castle, it is not to thought that they would alter their Senti- ments or enable the Council to send Commiss's that would be at liberty to act in Concert with Your Excellency on the two points insisted on by your General Court.
" The Council had just before the arrival of Your Letter sent an Express to Governor Clinton on Indian Affairs, & expecting the return of their Messenger every Moment they postponed coming to a Resolution upon it, thinking that Governor Clinton might have receiv'd some Instructions from His Majesty relating to this Affair and would impart them in his Answer, but his Excellcy. takes not the least Notice of this Interview. I only mention this in order to shew Your Excellency the reason why the return of the Post did VOL. V .- 20.
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not bring you the Council's answer, which it wou'd have done had they received Governor Clinton's favour time enough.
"The Council entirely concur in Sentiment with Your Excellency, & shou'd be extremely glad to appoint some of their Members to wait on You, but as they stand circumstanc'd they are firmly of opinion the Commiss" laid under such limitations would do more harm than good. My Age and Infirmities render such a Journey impracticable for me, or none wou'd be more pleas'd to have the honour of waiting on You at Albany than,
" Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant,
" ANTHONY PALMER.
"His Excellency Gov" SHIRLEY."
Another of pretty much the same Tenor was wrote to Gov" Clin- ton.
At a Council held at Philada. 26th July, 1748.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq., President.
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
William Till,
Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqrs. William Logan,
Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read & approv'd.
The Commissioners appointed to Treat with the Indians at Lan- caster made their report in writing, which was read and approv'd, & is as follows :
" To the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of Pennsylvania.
" We, the Subscribers, having been Honour'd with a Commiss"", authorizing us to hold a Treaty with some of the Six Nations, Twightwees, and others at Lancaster, do make the following Re- port of our Proceedings therein :
" We hope what we have done will be of Service to the Province and to Your Satisfaction. We are,
" Honourable Gentlemen, " Your most obedt humb. Servants, " BENJAMIN SHOEMAKER, " JOSEPH TURNER, " THOMAS HOPKINSON, " WILLIAM LOGAN."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
A TREATY
Åt the Court House in Lancaster, Tuesday, July 19th, 1748.
PRESENT :
Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson,
William Logan, S
The Magistrates and Inhabitants of Lancaster County, Fifty-five Indians of several Nations, viz. : Of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawonese, Nanticokes, and Twightwees.
Conrad Weiser, Esqr., Interpreter for the Six Nations.
Mr. Andrew Montour Interpreter for the Shawonese & Twigh- twees.
A Proclamation was made for Silence, and then a Commission in His Majesty's Name, under the Great Seal of the Province, was read, constituting the Honourable Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson, and William Logan, Esquires, Com- missioners to treat with these Indians, & the Interpreter was order'd to tell them the purport thereof & to bid them heartily welcome among their Brethren.
The Commissioners having been informed that Scarrowyady, a Chief of the Oneido Nation, living at Ohio, was appointed Speaker for the Indians, but was so much hurt by a fall that he was unable to attend, order'd the Interpreter to tell them that they condoled with them on this unfortunate accident, but hoped that as what they came to transact was of a Public Nature and well known to them, all this wou'd occasion no delay, As the Government had shewn them great Indulgence in granting them a Council at Lan- caster, so far from the usual Place of Business, and in so hot a Sea- son, it was expected they wou'd not detain the Commiss"s., but de- liver what they had to say to-morrow morning at ten o'Clock, and further to desire they wou'd use no manner of Reserve, but open their Hearts freely and fully, the Commissioners promising to treat them with the same freedom and Plainness.
At the Court House at Lancaster, Wednesday, July 20th, 1748.
PRESENT :
Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson, William Logan, S
The Magistrates and many of the Inhabitants of Lancaster County.
The same Indians as yesterday.
The Interpreter informed the Commissioners that Scarrowyady still continuing ill and unable to attend, had deputed Andrew Mon-
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tour to deliver his Speech, which the Indians desir'd might be re- ceived on their behalf, the substance thereof having been delib- erated upon and settled by them in Council.
The Commissioners saying they had no objection to this, Andrew Montour said he was now going to speak for the Indians of the Six Nations living at Ohio.
" Brethren, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and all the Governors of the great King of England over the Seas :
" You have often sent pressing Messages to the Council Fire at Onondago to engage in your Interest as many of their Allies as they cou'd influence ; These Messages they have transmitted to us desiring we would take all opportunities of complying with your request, in consequence whereof we have now the pleasure to pre- sent to You some of the Cheifs of the Twightwee Nation, a large and powerful Tribe living on Quebach, a great River running into Ohio, who come as Deputies sent by the whole Nation, with a Re- quest that You would be pleased to admit them into your Amity. We join with them in the Petition-take their Hands, and let them, together with ours, be lock'd close in yours, and there held fast. We have opened unto You the occasion of our Visit, and to make it acceptable we lay down this String of Wampum.
" Brethren, Onas, and all the King of England's Governors :
" It will be necessary to lay before You what has pass'd between the Twightwees and us previous to our coming herc, that You may be sensible of our Zeal for your Service, and of the ardent desire of that Nation to enter into Your Alliance.
" Last Fall they sent a Message address'd to all the Tribes of Indians at Ohio & elsewhere in Amity with the English, which was deliver'd to the Shawonese as living nearest to them, and by them communicated to Us, to this Effect.
"' Brethren :
""'We, the Twightwees, are desirous to enter into the chain of Friendship with the English ; and as You are the next to Us of the Indians in their Alliance, we entreat You to signify this our Desire to the other Indians, and that You and they will open us a Council Road to the English Governments. Make it so clear and open for Us that neither we nor our Wives or Children may hurt their feet against any Log or Stump ; and when once You have cleared a Road for Us we assure you we will keep it so, and it shall not be in the power of Onontio to block up or obstruct the passage. We further desire of You that when you have cleared a Council Road for us to the English, you and the other Indians will join your Interest to recommend us in the most effectual manner to them to be admitted into their Chain.' Upon receipt of this Message from the Twight- wees the following answer was sent them :
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"'Brethren, the Twightwees :
"' We received your String of Wampum expressing your desire to enter into Friendship with our Brethren, the English, and praying our Assistance to obtain this for you. We are glad you are in this Disposition, and wou'd, by all means, encourage you in it; but we are afraid lest you shou'd have taken this Resolution too hastily. Are you proof against the sollicitations that the Governor of Canada and his People will certainly use to engage your adherence to him ? Can you withstand his Resentment ? Consider this well, lest when we shall have recommended you to our Brethren the English, you shou'd prove unsteady, and so we shou'd lose their Esteem. Take, therefore, we urge you, time to consider & let us know your mind, & we will give you all the assistance in our Power.'
" The Twightwees having received this answer, sent in the Spring a second Message address'd to all the Indians on Ohio in alliance with the English, to this purport :
" ' Brethren :
""' Our Message in the Fall was not sent rashly or unadvisedly. We thought many Nights & Days of this Affair. We weighed every thing well relating thereto before we took the Resolution of seeking the Friendship of the English, and we now repeat to you our Assurances that this Request does not come from the Mouth only ; no, it comes from the heart, and is what we ardently wish to accomplish, and that we may not fail of Success we desire your assistance and that of all the Indians in the English Chain to help us to obtain this favour, and particularly we desire some of you will go along with us and present us to Onas.'
" Brethren :
. "We have now faithfully related what passed between the Twightwees and us. We deliver over to You the strings of Wam- pum which we received with their Messages. Their Nation has sent thirty Beaver Skins, which we desire you would accept, & now be pleased to hear what their Deputies have to say."
Here were laid down two strings of Wampum and 30 Beaver Skins.
Then Andrew Montour acquainted the Commissioners that he was now going to be the Mouth of the Twightwee Deputies.
" Brethren :
" We present to You the Calumet Pipe, and pray we may be admitted to become a Link in your Chain of Friendship, & give you the strongest assurances if this favour be granted to us that we will keep it bright as long as the Rivers run."
Here the Deputies laid down a Calumet Pipe with a long stem curiously wrought, & wrapp'd round with Wampum of several
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Colours, & fill'd with Tobacco, which was smoked by the Commis- sioners & the Indians according to Custom.
" Brethen :
"We, the Deputies of the Twightwees, have it in Charge further to tell you that our Nation received a Calumet Pipe from some of the Allies, consisting of twelve Towns or Nations, with a Message to this Effect : That they had a Report among them that we in- tended to sollicit the English to be received into their Friendship and Alliance. That if such Report was true they desired us to acquaint them with our Success, that they might apply for the same favour, which they earnestly desire, and said they would wait a Day & a Night for an answer."
Then the Deputies offer'd another Pipe to the Commissioners, not to keep, but that they might speak to it and return it with their answer.
Andrew Montour said he was now going to resume the Speech of the Six Nations at Ohio.
"Brethren :
" You have now heard the Twightwees speak for themselves. We heartily join with them in their Petition. They are numerous, and tho' poor yet they are worthy of your Friendship, and as such we most heartily recommend them to you by this bundle of Skins."
Here they laid down a bundle of Skins.
" Brethren :
" We beg leave before we conclude to become Intercessors for the Shawonese, who have given you just Cause of Complaint. They have told us that the Governor of Pennsylvania sent a Letter some Years ago requiring them to come down, but being conscious they had acted wrong, they had delayed hitherto to do it, & have taken this opportunity of our coming to make use of us, desiring us to ask that for them which they dare not ask for themselves; that is, that they may be received again into favour, they having owned their fault, and given us the strongest assurances of their better behaviour for the future. Forgive us, therefore, if we entreat you wou'd be pleas'd to drop your resentment, and however they have behav'd hitherto, we hope a sense of your goodness will prevail with them to become good & faithful Allies for the future."
Gave a String of Wampum.
Andrew Montour informing the Commissioners he had delivered all that was given him in Charge to say at present, the Indians withdrew.
* N. B .- A Day & a Night in the Indian Language signifies a Year.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Meeting of the Commissioners held at Lancaster the 21st July, 1748.
PRESENT :
Benjamin Shoemaker, Thomas Hopkinson,
Joseph Turner, Esqrs.
William Logan, S
The Secretary having settled the Minutes of yesterday, the same were taken into Consideration, & that part thereof which relates to the Shawonese not giving the Commissioners satisfaction, Mr. Wei- ser was sent to Scarrowyady to consult with him thereupon, who returned & inform'd the Board that according to order he had con- sulted with Scarrowyady, and he in the presence of Andrew Mon- tour deliver'd himself as follows :
" Neucheconno, Kekewatcheky, Sonatziowanah, and Sequeheton, Chiefs of the Shawonese now left at Allegheny, met in Council and address'd themselves to the Delawares and to the Six Nations on Ohio in the following manner :
" Grand Fathers and Brethren-
"' We the Shawonese have been misled, & have carried on a pri- vate Correspondence with the French without letting you or our Brethren the English know of it. We travell'd secretly through the Bushes to Canada, and the French promis'd us great Things, but we find ourselves deceived. We are sorry that we had any thing to do with them. We now find that we cou'd not see, altho' the Sun did shine. We earnestly desire you wou'd intercede with our Brethren the English for us who are left at Ohio, that we may be permitted to be restored to the Chain of Friendship and be looked upon as heretofore the same Flesh with them.' Thus far the Shawanese .*
" Whereupon the Indians of the Six Nations & the Delawares having received these assurances of their Concern for their past be- haviour, undertook to become their Intercessors, and have brought along with them three of the principal Shawonese to make their Submissions in Person.
* Some of the Shawonese were seduced by Peter Chartier, a noted Indian Trader and Inhabitant of Pennsylvania at the beginning of the French War, & remov'd from their Towns to be nearer to the French Settlements on the Missississipi. Some time after several of these Deserters return'd, of which Neucheconno & his Party were some; these, it seems, together with Kekewatcheky, the old Shawonese King, and his Friends, who had withstood the sollicitations of Chartier, join'd together & apply'd in this submissive manner to Scarrowyady.
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At the Court House at Lancaster, Friday, the 22d July, 1748.
PRESENT :
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson,
William Logan, S
The Magistrates and many of the Inhabitants of Lancaster County.
The same Indians as on Wednesday.
The Commissioners order'd the Interpreter to let the Indians know they were going to give them an answer.
" Brethren, you who live at Ohio of the Six Nations and others :
" We are concern'd that Scarrowyady continues so ill as not to be able to attend, but are pleas'd to hear he is in a fair way of Re- covery, and that he cou'd give the necessary Instructions to Mr. Andrew Montour about the Business which brought you here. We take it for granted that your Sentiments are fully & truly expressed in the Speeches delivered, & shall, therefore, answer the several matters contained therein in the order they were spoke.
" Brethren of the Six Nations & others living at Ohio :
" It gives us no small Satisfaction to observe the Regard you have shewn to the Messages sent you by the Governors of His Majesty's Provinces in endeavouring to gain over to His Majesty's Interest as many of your Allies as you cou'd influence. This is agreable to your Duty, & was recommended to you in a particular manner by the Governor of this Province at the commencement of the French War. As the Twightwees shewed so great an Inclina- tion to enter into our Friendship and desir'd you to conduct them hither, the part you have acted on this occasion was kind and pru- dent, and we think ourselves oblig'd to You for encouraging them & shewing them the way.
"Our Approbation of your Conduct is testified by this String of Wampum.
" Brethren :
" As there is reason to think from the manner in which the Twightwees have made their Application for a Council Road to the English Provinces, that it is not a sudden or a hasty step, but well considered by them, & may take its rise from the different Treat- ment which Indians of all Nations meet with at the hands of the English from what they experience while in the French Interest, we are inclinable to think them sincere, and that when admitted into our Chain they will not likely break it.
" A Council Road to this Province is a measure which nearly concerns you, as it is to be laid out thro' your Towns, and no doubt you have thought well of this, and conceive you may depend on the
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
sincerity of their professions & that it may be for our mutual benefit, or you wou'd not join with them in making this Request. At your Instance, therefore, and from the opinion we have of your prudence & Integrity, we consent that such Road may be opened ; and it may be depended on that on our Parts it will always be kept clean, not the least obstruction shall be suffer'd to remain in it.
" In Confirmation whereof, We give this String of Wampum. " Brethren of the Twightee Nation :
" At the Intercession of our good Friends & Allies the Six Na- tions we have granted you a Council Road, whereby you have free access to any of His Majestie's Provinces; we admit you into our Friendship and Alliance, and, therefore, now call you Brethren, an appellation which we hold sacred, and in which is included every thing that is dear. It obliges us to give you assistance on all occa- sions, to exercise unfeigned affection towards you, to take you into our Bosoms, to use our Eyes and Ears and Hands as well for you as for ourselves. Nothing is put in competition by an Englishman with the Faith and Honour due to those whom our Gracious King pleases to take into his Protection, admit into his Chain of Friend- ship, and make them our Fellow Subjects. From that Moment they become our own Flesh and Blood, and what hurts them will equally hurt us. Do you on your parts look upon this Important Name of Brethren in the same Light; You must no more think of Onontio & his Children, all that sort of Relationship now ceases- His Majesty's Friends are your Friends, and his Majesty's Enemies are your Enemies. On these Conditions we accept your Calumet Pipe, and shall lay it up very carefully that it may be always ready for use when you and we come together. In token of our readiness to receive you into our Chain of Friendship, we present you with this Double Belt of Wampum as an Emblem of Union.
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