USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 57
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" By the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esgr., Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware,
" To Mr. Andrew Montour-
" Whereas, It is represented to me that many Persons are lately gone and continually going over the Kittochtinny Hills to settle Lands not purchased of the Indians, notwithstanding the repeated Proclamations issued by this Government against such Practices, and that sundry Persons are now under Prosecution for the same ; And whereas You, the said Andrew Montour have signified to me that if it was permitted you to go and reside there you cou'd be very serviceable both to this Government and to the Six Nations, in keeping People off from settling on those unpurchased Lands, and that you are thereby induced to offer your Service to me for that Purpose, I having taken the same into consideration, and hoping that your public character and the Relation you stand in to the Six Nations may open the Eyes of these unthinking People, do by these Presents permit, lycence, and authorize you the said An- drew Montour to go and reside in such Place over the Kittochtinny Hills as you shall judge most central and convenient, in order that you may by your personal Care and Vigilance preserve those Lands from being settled as well as warn all off who have presumed to go there, and do whatever is in your Power to discourage others from attempting it, letting all know what an offence it is against this Government, and how injurious to the Six Nations. Strictly re- quiring you to report to me from time to time the Names of such People as presume to settle there that they may be prosecuted, and earnestly recommending it to you to use your best endeavours that the good Purposes intended by this Permission may be effectually answered, and that you act with the utmost Prudence and Resolu- tion, so as not to give just cause for any one to charge you with a Breach of Duty in the Premises.
"' Given under my Hand and the Lesser Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia the Eighteenth Day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and Fifty-Two."
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MEMORANDUM.
Andrew Montour waited on the Governor to acquaint him that
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he had reason to believe he should be applied to by the Government of Virginia to interpret for them at the ensuing Treaty to be held. at Ohio, and desired his Honour's Leave and Advice how to act. The Governor thought it best to give it him in Writing, and that it should be enter'd in the Council Books, being as follows : " Mr. Andrew Montour-
" You having signified to me that you are to be employed for the Governmt of Virginia as Interpreter at the ensuing Treaty to be held with the Ohio Indians, and that from something which passed in Conversation amongst the Indians whilst you was with them in the Winter you are assured they will expect to know my Sentiments and to hear from me on this occasion, Be pleased to let them know that as his Majesty has been pleased to give these Indians such a . Specimen of his tender Care of them as to order them a Present, it is my advice that they give a very cordial Reception to the Virginia Commissioners, accept the King's Present with all becoming Thank- fulness, and cultivate an affectionate Friendship with his Majestie's Subjects of that Colony. These are my Sentiments, which I give you in Charge to communicate to the Six Nations and all the other Indians residing at Ohio in such a manner as you shall think will make the deepest Impression on them, telling them that the kinder they are to the Virginia People, and particularly to those who are minded to trade with them, the more agreeable it will be to me, that I wish the Indians all manner of Happiness, and shall be glad at all times to give them the amplest Proofs of my Regards for them. I wish you health, and am
" Your assured Friend, " JAMES HAMILTON.
"Philadelphia, 18th April, 1752."
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MEMORANDUM.
The Governor having received by Mr. Hugh Crawford a Letter from George Croghan, Esquire, dated the eighth of February last, enclosing a Message to his Honour from the Shawonese, order'd them both to be enter'd in the Council Books with his answers, all which are as follow :
A Letter to the Governor from Mr. George Croghan.
" May it please Your Honour :
" The enclos'd is address'd to you by the Chiefs of the Shawo- nese, and as far as I can understand it is to assure You that they with the Rest of the Nations in those Parts are determined to be revenged on the French for the thirty Men of the Twightwees that the French have killed this Winter, and they wou'd not undertake
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such a Proceeding without acquainting you and having your advice, which I take to be as if they wanted to be assured of your Friend- ship if they engaged in a War with the French, for by having Your Friendship they would be sure of always having Plenty of Goods and Ammunition amongst them.
"I am Your Honour's most dutiful and most obedient humble Servant,
"GEO. CROGHAN.
" February 8th, 1752."
A Message to the Governor from the Shawonese. " February the 8th, 1752.
" Brother :
"It is a great while ago since You, our Brothers the English, and We, Your Brothers the Indians, were both made by one God that made all things; and when he made you white and Us black he placed You on the Ground beyond the Great Sea and us on the Ground on this side that Sea, and then he was pleased to order you to make Ships and come over the Great water to visit us your poor Brothers, and as soon as we saw your Ship we took hold of her and was glad to see you our eldest Brothers; and soon after you gave us Books, and told us we should pray, and we thought we would do so, but in a short time we got in debt and the Traders told us we must pay them, so we quitted praying and fell to hunting, and the God that made us gave us all the Beasts of the Field for our Food and the Water for our Drink
and the Wood for our Fire, and threw down Fire from Heaven to kindle our wood, and since you our Brothers came and settled on the sea Side we were obliged to come back on account of Game, as our Food grew scarce, and we are come to a Place where we are always in fear, and do not know how soon we will be obliged to apply to you for Succour ; and notwithstanding our many Failings, we have that Faith in you our eldest Brothers that you will take care of us and advise us for the best. All the Nations settled on this River Ohio and on this side the Lakes are in Friendship and live as one People ; but the French, who are directed by the Evil Spirit and not God, trouble us much ; they have often cheated us with their advice, and as we won't listen to them any more they threaten to cut us off, and have killed thirty of our Brothers the Twightwees; and we now acquaint you that we intend to strike the French, and not suffer ourselves to be insulted any more by our deceitful Fathers and Brothers. We remember that our old men have told us from generation to generation that when God spoke first to us that he gave six things and told us we must believe what he said, so we always council in that way, and we hope when you speak to us you will speak by Six Strings of Wampum and then we will be sure it is you that speak to us, and that you don't
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speak for nothing, as we assure you our hearty Inclinations to believe and hear you when you speak, and we assure you we will be directed by you and no other ; and in Confirmation of what we have said we send you those Six Strings of Wampum.
" Present :
" Hugh Crawford,
" Misemeathaquatha,
" John Grey,
"Loapeckaway,
" John Findley,
"Nickiphock,
" Dd. Hendricks,
"Loa waghcomico."
" Aaron Price,
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The Governor's Answer to George Croghan, Esquire. " PHILADELPHIA, April 24th, 1752.
"Sir :
" I have received your Letter of the eighth of February, enclosing one from the Chiefs of the Shawonese, with Six Strings of Wam- pum, And I now enclose to you an answer to the said Letter of the Shawonese, which I desire you will deliver and explain to them in the best manner, to which Purpose I have sent Six Strings by Hugh Crawford, which you will please to receive from him.
" You cannot but be sensible that Application from the Indians to this Governmt for assistance towards carrying on a War with the French or any others must be very disagreeable, because you well know the Principles of the People here who have the disposition of the Publick Money are entirely averse to any such measures; and therefore it lays me under the necessity of either evading the Demand or of promising what it is not in my Power to perform, which I should by no means chuse to do.
" These People and all others in our Alliance may be assured of 1 our Friendship upon all occasions where it is in our Power to shew it consistently with the Circumstances of the Province, but to encourage them to go to War and engage to assist them therein is what I cannot by any means agree to for the Reason before men- tioned, namely, that I should not be able to fulfil my engagements in case any such Promise should be made to them.
" What I have, therefore, to request of you is, that upon delivery of my answer you will give it the most favourable turn for us that is in your Power, and if I have omitted any thing that would have been proper to be said that you will supply it in the best manner you are able. I am glad to hear of the recovery of your health, and am,
"Sir, Your most humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON."
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The Governor's Answer to the Shawonese.
"PHILADELPHIA, 24th April, 1752.
" Brethren : '
"Every opportunity you give me of hearing from you affords me great satisfaction, Your's of the eighth of February, written in the Hand of Mr. George Croghan, and witnessed by Five Indian Traders, , was delivered to me last week by Mr. Hugh Crawford, and its con- tents have been carefully observed, by which you give me to under- stand 'that you will be faithful to Us of this Province, your true Friends, that the French are prefidious and have of late as well by their Threatnings as actions rendered you very uneasy, having killed, as you say, Thirty Twightwees.'
"We hope you are sincere in your Professions of Fidelity and Amity to Us. We always conceiv'd of the French in the Light you represent them, and that they will never be at rest nor suffer you to be so till they have made Slaves of the Indians and taken from them all their Lands.
"The Circumstances and real Inclinations of the other Indian Nations among whom you live, with regard to these bad men the subjects of the King of France, are not so well known to me as to enable me to give you proper advice, but since I understand that his Majesty our great King over the Waters has invited you and the other Indian Nations to a Council to be held at Logg's Town this next month, and Mr. Crawford tells me all the Indians are deter- mined to be present at this Juncture at the meeting, I think the Counsellors and Commissioners for Virginia will be better enabled on the spot to judge of what shall be proper for you and the other Indian Nations to do, and will, I doubt not, give you good and faithful advice.
" Brethren-These People and We are all subjects of one Great King, and have the same Interests and the same affections for the Indians, our faithful and good Friends, so that I am perswaded they will pay a just attention to what you shall be pleased to communi- cate to them, and give you such Council as they shall judge most for your real Interest and for the Benefit of all his Majestie's Colonies.
"I for my Part shall ever retain an affectionate tenderness for the Shawonese, and at all times be ready to relieve their wants and do them my best offices.
"This my answer will be delivered you with six Strings of Wam- pum, according to your Request, whereby you shall know that it comes from me, and receive them and what I write as a Testimony of the sincere Love of
"Brethren, Your true and assured Friend, "JAMES HAMILTON."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 25th of May, 1752. :
PRESENT :
Thomas Lawrence, Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Council was called to take into consideration the condition of the Magistracy within the Province, which had received many altera- tions as well from Deaths as from the Erection of the New Counties ; while the Council were sitting the Governor sent to inform them that he was indisposed, but desired they wou'd think of a proper number to put into Commission for the county of Chester, the Court sitting the next day, and also of a proper number for the county of Philadelphia, that Court sitting next week, and after much deliber- ation the following Persons were recommended and commissions ac- cordingly issued, viz., William Moore, Elisha Gatchel, Joseph Bonsell, John Mather, Charles Grant, Samuel Flower, Thomas Cummings, Thomas Worth, Aaron Ashbridge, John Churchman, John Miller, Isaac Davis, John Scot, Joshua Pusey, Samuel Lightfoot, Edward Brinton, Mordecai Moore, Mordecai James, Esquires, and the Chief Burgess of Chester for the time being, were appointed Justices for the county of Chester; And Thomas Lawrence, Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, William Logan, Esquires, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia for the time being, the Re- corder of the City of Philadelphia for the time being, Owen Evan, Joshua Maddox, Septimus Robinson, Edward Shippen, Charles Willing, Nicholas Ashton, Thomas Fletcher, John Potts, William Coleman, Benjamin Franklyn, John Smith, Rowland Evans, Wil- liam Plumsted, Thomas White, John Mifflin, Henry Antis, Henry Pawling, Samuel Ashmead, John Jones, and Abraham Dawes, Esquires, were appointed Justices for the City and County of Phila- delphia.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 9th of June, 1752. PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved. The consideration of the new Commissions of the Peace was re-
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sumed, and the following Gentlemen appointed Justices for the County of Bucks, viz. : Abraham Chapman, Mathew Hughes, Simon Butler, Ennion Williams, Richard Mitchell, John Abraham De- Normandy, Alexander Graydon, Mahlon Kirkbride, Langhorn Biles, Thomas Janney, Richard Walker, John Jemmison, William Buck- ley, Septimus Robinson, John Hart, John Chapman, John Wilson, John Watson Jun"., William Paxson, William Rodman, and Gilbert Hickes, Esquires, and the Chief Burgess of Bristol for the time being.
And Thomas Craige, Daniel Broadhead, Timothy Horsefield, Hugh Wilson, James Martin, John Vanatta, Aaron Depuy, William Craig, and William Parsons, Esquires, were appointed Justices for the new County of Northampton.
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The Governor laid before the Board a Letter which he had re- ceived from Gov". Clinton, with some advices relating to Indian Affairs, which were read and ordered to be entered together with his Honour's Answer to Governor Clinton :
A Letter from Governor Clinton to Governer Hamilton. " Sir :
" I do myself the Honour to transmit you Copies of a Paragraph of a Letter from Lieutenant Mills at Oswego, also of a Letter from .Mr. Martin Killogg, the Indian Interpreter for Boston and Connec- ticut, to Coll Johnson, which are Just now come to my Hands. I am with very great Truth, Sr.,
" Your Honour's most obedient and very humble Servant,
"G. CLINTON.
" FORT GEORGE, in New York, 23 May, 1752."
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Paragraph of a Letter from Lieutenant Mills at Oswego, dated the 27th of April, 1752.
" Monsieur St. Orr, a French Officer, who was going Express for De Troit to Canada, called here on Thursday last and informed me that the Party he lately commanded mutinied, the Corporal at their head, but that he had the good Luck to run one of them thro' the Body, and an Inhabitant at the head of nineteen more shot another, which put an end to it, and he left four in Irons behind ; but when he heard of my Treatment he was astonished, and as I heard the preceding Day by an Indian that Burns only is alive at Swiagawekee, a new Settlement between Codaraghqui and Mon- treal, with one of his Feet almost rotted off, he assures me if his Endeavours are successful to send him back to me.
"By some forreign Indians just arrived I am told that the Twightwees have killed Fifteen of the French, and that the above-
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mentioned Officer is gone to Canada to conduct an Army back to be employed against them, pursuant to my Report last Fall.
"I am, Sir, your Excellency's " Most dutiful and most Obedient humble Servant,
"JOHN MILLS. "NEW YORK. "Copy Exd. by "GEO. BANYAR, Del. Con."
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Copy of a Letter from Martin Kellogg to Coll. Johnson.
"STOCKBRIDGE, April 13, 1752.
"Sir :
"By a Mohawk from Connajaharie we are informed the Tawec- tawees invited several Tribes to smoak with them at or about the beginning of January last past, signified their design of making war with the French, and has ordered three French to be killed, to say, an Officer and two Soldiers-took another, cut off his ears, sent him to Canada to do word to the Governor, &ca. 'T'is also said our Six Nations will join with them to war against Canada and others of the Tribes. Also that you are desired to send Provisions, Powder, Cutlass's, &c., to Oswego, where they have promised to meet with you early this Spring. Also that you are desired to build a Fort at Chenoontawanie for them to retire to in case they need. I have made report to Boston Court, and shall very soon make Report to Connecticut Court, but, Sir, we have not a word from yourself about all this. I should be glad you would send me an Account what you suppose true of all the above soon as you can, that I may convey the same to our several Governments, that in case any thing may be wanted to encourage such a Design it may be had, is of very great importance wisely to improve an advantage to the best Purpose. If truly many of the Tribes are resolutely set, and will unite to war against Canada, I am apt to think they will soon amaze the French, and vastly interrupt their Peace ; you, Sir, can have opportunity to exert yourself in doing abundance for the Crown of Great Britain. I question not your willingness and ability herein, and wish you may be directed in every thing for the better, from your ready Friend and humble Servant,
" MARTIN KELLOGG.
" A true Copy of the Original Examª., this 23d May, 1752, by "GEO. BANYER, D. Secry."
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Governor Hamilton's Answer to Governor Clinton.
" PHILADELPHIA, June 11th, 1752." " Sir :
" I am honoured with yours of the twenty-third of May last, enclosing Extracts from two Letters that have been sent to your Excellency relating to Indian Affairs, in which this Province is particularly concern'd, and I return you my sincere thanks for your early Communication of them. But as the Nation of Indians therein mentioned, and indeed most of the Others residing in those Parts, have an intimate Connection with this GovernIt yet have not signified any thing of the kind to me (altho' there be a daily intercourse betwixt us), I am inclined to think Matters have not proceeded to the lengths there represented. At the same time I am firmly perswaded the French, whenever they think themselves strong enough, will not omit any Opportunity of reducing those People to their Obedience ; and it is a great Mortification to me to find myself so embarrassed in that respect by the religious Scruples of one Branch of our Legislature, that I fear it would not be in my Power (whatever Necessity there might be for it) to afford our Indian Allies that Assistance and Protection my own Inclination leads me to, and which the Interest of this Part of his Majestie's Dominions seems to demand. If I receive any Intelligence from Ohio which I think worthy your Notice, I shall not fail to com- municate it to you by the first opportunity.
" Being with very great Regard, Sir,
"Your Excellency's most obedient " And most humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 24th June, 1752.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Thomas Lawrence, Robert Strettell, - Esquires. Benjamin Shoemaker, Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
A Petition was presented to the Governor by Mr. Spangenberg, praying his Honour's Passport and Permission to three of the Mo-
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ravian Brethren to go to Onondago for the Purposes therein mentioned, and read in these words :
" To the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esgr., Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.
" May it please your Honour :
" Three of our Brethren, Viz. : the Reverend Mr. Martin Mack, the Reverend Mr. David Zeissberger, and Mr. Gottfried Rund, belonging to Bethlehem, having a mind to go up to Onondago (Agree- able to a certain Promise the Brethren made the Indians two years since, as your Honour will see by the Paper annexed)-The First to conduct them thither and then return again to his Place among the Indians at Gnaden-Hutten, over the blue Mountains, the two last to stay awhile with the Indians and improve themselves in their Language.
"These are, therefore, humbly to desire your Honour will be pleased to grant them a Passport for that Purpose under your Hand and Seal, which will greatly oblige
" Your Honour's most humble and most obedient Servant,
" JOSEPH alias AUGUSTUS SPANGENBERG. " PHILADELPHIA, 18th June, 1752."
The Council were unanimously disposed by all means to en- courage and to promote the Conversion of the Indians to the Christian Faith, and thought that the Zeal expressed by the Mora- vian Brethren on this occasion was highly laudable, but as it was to be feared that the Indians would not be pleased with the Brethren's living amongst them, and that these might not confine themselves to matters of Religion, but might meddle with the Affairs of Govern- ment, it was thought proper to write to Mr. Weiser desiring him to give his Sentiments of this matter, and in what Light the Indians wou'd see it, and whether it could have any bad effect on the Affairs of Government; and accordingly a Letter was wrote to Mr. Weiser by the Secretary ; but the matter dropped the Moravians not renew- ing their application.
" A Petition was read of sundry of the Inhabitants of the Countys of Bucks and the late erected County of Northampton, purporting that there was a great want of High Roads thro' the said Counties to Easton, the County Town of the said county of Northampton, situate at the mouth of the West Branch of Delaware, and alledging that a commodious Road may be laid out from the Point of the Mouth of the said West Branch opposite to the said town of Easton, being the landing Place of a well-accustomed Ferry over Delaware River and over the said West Branch into the Great Road leading from Saucon to the City of Philadelphia, and another very commodious one may be laid out thro' Durham Tract to go near the
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Furnace to the Great Road leading from Philadelphia through the said Saucon Township to the Minisinks, and praying that proper Persons may be appointed to view and lay out the same; the Prayer of which Petition being granted, It is Ordered, That William Par- sons, John Watson, John Chapman, Henry Mitchel, John Lefever, Lawrence Merkle, Jacob Huchart, Stephen Twining, Jun"., and William Armstrong, or any Five of them, View the Places where such Roads are wanted, and if they are satisfied that there is a Ne- cessity for such Roads, that they or any Five of them lay out the same, William Parsons, John Watson, or John Chapman, being one of the number in laying out the said Roads, and that of the said Roads laid out by Course and Distance as streight as possible for the general Accommodation of the Inhabitants, and with as little Damage as may be to any private Persons, a Return be made to this Board together with a Draught of the said Roads."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 10th of August, 1752.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas Lawrence,
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Esquires.
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor laid before the Council several amendments which he had made to two Bills left with him by the Assembly at their last Sessions, the one Entitled " An Act for regulating Attachments not exceeding Five Pounds, and the other Entitled " An Act for regu- lating and establishing Fees."
The Attachment Bill with the Amendments proposed to be made to it were first read and approved; and as the Amendments were many, and some of them long, the Secretary was directed to write the Bill agreeable to the amendments, and to deliver it with the Bill and Amendments to the House to-morrow morning.
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