USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 69
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" I have sent to the Cherokees and the Catawbas-the Former offer a Thousand Men, and the Latter say they will all march to defend their Hunting Ground on the Ohio, but I wait for Orders from Home and a more explicit Account of the French Transac- tions. I acknowledge I am much concerned at their coming so near Us, as they are very bad neighbors, and they are like so many Locust's, when they once take Possession their numbers will follow to support it. -
" I shall be glad to hear the return of Mr. Weiser's Message to Onondago. I think the New York Government is in the wrong in prevailing with the Six Nations to have no Transactions with our Government but at Albany; that's the Purport of the Speech sent me by Mr. Montour. The Twightwees are near 700 Miles from this, the Cherokees and Catawbas about 400 miles, and from this to Albany above 400 more ; how is it possible they could be prevail'd on to go so large a Journey, and I am determined, if possible, to transact all Affairs with them at Winchester, where the Southern Indians are all well satisfied to meet there, and I am sure 'tis the Duty of every Governor to extend his Views for the Benefit of the British Nation and the whole Colonies, which is what I entirely aim at, and have accordingly wrote Home to have the Transactions with the Indians in a more general and eligible Manner than hitherto it has been.
" Monsieur Lejonquier makes such Pretensions in his Letter to Mr. Clinton that I think the Ministry at Home will by no means agree to, but I wonder they have been so long silent on a Subject that so nearly concerns his Majestie's American Empire. The Leaden Plates they not only hid under Ground but fixed many of them on Trees at the Ohio, but the Indians tore them all down and then seemed much affronted at their assurance.
"If the Northern Indians could be prevailed on to meet next Summer at Winchester I would fain hope We might be able to make a Treaty of Friendship between them and those to the South- ward.
"I know the Difficulties You must have with a Quaker Assembly,
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yet as they have left the ££800 given to your own Disposal, I doubt not You will make use of that Money in a proper Manner.
" My Service to Mr. Weiser ; I am very sensible of his Capacity, and do not doubt of his Inclination in serving this Government, or more properly the English Interest.
" Enclosed I send You Copy of the Deed at Lancaster, in regard to the Grant of Lands given this Dominion, which I hope will have a proper Weight with the Indians, as they cannot forget so par- ticular a Transaction.
"I am, with very great Regard and Esteem, Sir, " Your most humble Servant, " ROBT. DINWIDDIE.
" The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire." .
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 15th Day of November, 1753.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
John Penn,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, { Esquires.
The Minutes of the Two preceding Councils were read and ap- proved.
A Man-of-War arrived in Virginia with Letters from the Right Honourable the Earl of Holdernesse, One of his Majestie's Principal Secretaries of State, to all the Governors of North America; And Governor Dinwiddie dispatched an Express with them according to their Addresses.
That to Governor Hamilton was read in these words :
" WHITEHALL, 28th August, 1753.
" Sir:
"His Majesty having received Information of the March of a considerable Number of Indians not in Alliance with the King, supported by some Regular European Troops, intending, as it is apprehended, to commit some Hostilities on Parts of His Majestie's Dominions in America, I have the King's Command to send you this Intelligence, and to Direct you to use your utmost Dilligence to learn how far the same may be well grounded, and to put You upon your Guard that you may at all Events be in a Condition to resist any Hostile attempts that may be made upon any Parts of his Majestie's Dominions within your Government, and to Direct You VOL. V .- 44.
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in the King's Name, that in case the Subjects of any Foreign Prince or State should presume to make any Encroachments on the Limits of his Majestie's Dominions, or to erect Forts on his Majestie's Lands, or commit any other Act of Hostility, You are immediately to represent the Injustice of such Proceeding, and to require them forthwith to desist from any such unlawful Under- taking; But if, notwithstanding your Requisition, they should still persist, You are then to draw forth the armed Force of the Pro- vince and to use your best Endeavours to repel Force by Force. But as it is his Majestie's Determination not to be the Agressor, I have the King's Commands most strictly to enjoin you not to make Use of the armed Force under your Direction excepting within the undoubted Limits of his Majestie's Dominions.
" And whereas, It may be greatly conducive to his Majestie's Service that all his Provinces in America should be aiding and assisting each other in case of any Invasion, I have it particularly in Charge from his Majesty to acquaint You that it is his Royal Will and Pleasure that you should keep up an exact Correspondence with all his Majestie's Governors on the Continent; and in case you shall be informed by any of them of any Hostile Attempts, You are immediately to assemble the General Assembly within your Gov- ernment, and lay before them the necessity of a mutual assistance, and engage them to grant such Supplies as the Exigency of Affairs may require. I have wrote by this Conveyance to all his Majestie's Governors to the same Purpose.
"I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, " HOLDERNESSE.
" Governor of Pennsylvania."
The Contents of this Letter being of a general Concern, and the other Governors having as may be supposed received Letters of the like Tenor, the Governer determined to take time to correspond with them on this important Subject, to consider in what manner the Requisition Mentioned therein could best be made, whether to the Commander of the French Forces at Weningo or to the Gov- ernor of Canada, and whether by himself or in conjunction with any other and what Governors, and to embrace the Opportunity given him by the Express, who was in Town on his Return to Williams- burg, to request of Mr. Dinwiddie as his Assembly was sitting that he would be pleased to favour him with his Sentiments on the several Matters recommended by his Majesty, and to acquaint him what would be done on the Part of their Government, and to assure him that as far as he should be enabled by the Assembly of this Pro- vince, whose religious Principles might stand in the Way, he would chearfully concur with him in all such Measures as should be thought necessary, and in the mean time he would by one of the Fall Ships write to the Secretary of State, acknowledging the Receit of his
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Lordship's Letter and making mention of such things as should occur to him on this important Letter.
The Governor informed the Council that Lewis Montour, Brother of Andrew Montour, came Express from Ohio with a Letter con- taining Speeches of some of the Indian Chiefs who were lately at Carlisle, and a Paper containing the names of those who sent it, wrote in the Hand Writing of Cayanguilaquoa, One of the said Chiefs and of the Mohock Nation, in which was a Belt dyed of a bloody Colour.
October the 27th, 1753 .- The Old Town.
A Speech delivered by the Half King and all the Head Men of the Six Nations and those that were at the last Council in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and by this Belt of Wampum We have all joined our Hands to it and sent it to our Brother the Governor of Penn- sylvania, hoping he will look on the Case as it stands, and We de- pend that You and the Governor of Virginia will join Hands and be as One, and We the Six Nations will be the third Brother, and as for the French our Enemy is at hand with a Tomhock in their Hands, holding it over our Heads to Us to take hold of it or else to be struck with it, and to take it to strike our own Flesh we think it very hard ; as for You, they have already struck and openly declare they will clear this River of the English and all Others that will not join them. So now We beg our Brothers Assistance with quick Dispatch, and for the Security of our Words We send You this Belt of Wampum, and We beg You will come to our assistance ; and farther, all the Land on the East Side of the Ohio River We deliver to You to make a Restitution to you for to clear Us and our Traders of what they are indebted to You, so We desire You will come to secure Us and the Ground, and We beg that You may not look light on this and send Us a speedy Answer by the Bearer and his Brother or any other Body You see cause to entrust, and We beg You will come to raise a couple of Forts, especially one at the Mouth of Mohongialo and the other higher up the River, so we wait for an Answer from You; these from your Brothers. the Six Na- tions. We entrusted Lewis Montour and William Campbell, for said Montour openly declares himself one of Us, and We hope our Brothers will use him well.
"THE HALF KING, " MINKOTTOHA, " JONATHAN, THE DEER."
A Speech made in the said Council by One of the Mohocks named Jonathan : " Brothers : I have heard since I came up more than what I knew when I was with You last concerning the French ; and now We have concluded of and with all the Six Nations as we are now put to Distress by the French and see that many of our
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Brothers the Traders are broke and cannot assist Us as they used to do formerly ; and We have all concluded to pay their Debts which they stand indebted to You; and further, what our Young Men is in Debt to our Traders shall be good and be no Reflections ; and for Restitution of their Debts we deliver all the Land on the East Side of the Ohio River from the Head to the Mouth. To confirm the above we have taken hold of the said Belt of Wampum which we have Sealed with Blood. We desire a speedy answer. There are a few Lines of their own Writing in the small bit of Paper-it is their names :
" Us present : " THOMAS MITCHELL, " JOSEPH. CAMPBELL,
" REED MITCHELL, " THOMAS MITCHEL, Jun". "WILLIAM CAMPBELL.
" Mark-nerodiyadon kariniati kayenguirigowagh deanaghrison Shonajowanne Skaronyade Eokogha gonhitjer yagotonde maria got- hoede Jonathan rone."
Then the Governor sent for the Speaker and Mr. Franklyn into Council, who were called in, and then the Indian Speeches were read again, and Lewis Montour called in and examined, who gave the following Account, viz" : That the Half King and Scarrooyady had been at the Lower Shawonese Town and had as he understood held a Council there with the Shawonese. That those Chiefs on their Return from thence to Shanoppin, the Place of their abode, situate on the Ohio about three miles above the Forks of Mohon- gialo, forthwith assembled the Indians about Twenty in Number together with the Indian Traders who were in Town. That he was present and heard the Speeches made, which were taken down in English by Reed Mitchel, an Indian Trader, One of the Signers. Lewis being asked to repeat the Speeches as he heard them he did so, and it agreed in Substance with the English Intrepretation. But being asked further if any mention was made of what was done in Council at the Lower Shawonese Town, he answered he did not hear nor know any thing about it. But that when the Speeches were wrote by Mitchel Two Sets of them were given to him with a Belt by the Indians, with orders to carry them to Mr. Croghan and his Brother Andrew ; that he accordingly delivered them to Mr. Croghan, who was then at Aucquick, together with some Letters from the Traders, and that his Brother was gone to Williamsburg with one of the same Tenor. Lewis Montour withdrew. Mr. Pe- ters, Mr. Norris, and Mr. Franklyn informed the Governor that He was a French Indian, and suspected to be made use of by the French as a Spy. That he came to Carlisle while they were there along with a Servant of Joseph Cammels from the Lower Shawonese Town under pretence of paying a visit to his Brother. That this
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Joseph Cammel, who was another of the Signers, was represented by Mr. Croghan to be a bad man, and corrupted by the French, and that the Mitchell's, the other signers, were men of no character. They likewise gave it as their opinion that there could not be time enough for Scarrooyady after his return from Carlisle to go to and come from the Lower Shawanese Town by the Twenty-seventh Day of October, the Date of these Speeches.
On these Informations, and considering the Singularity of the Offer made to this Government of all the lands on Ohio as a Com- pensation to the Indian Traders for their Debts, it was thought this could be no general Meeting of Indians, nor that any thing done in it could be in consequence of previous Councils held by the Indians at any other Places, and that the Indian Traders might have put this into the Heads of the Indians. They therefore advised the Governor to take the Opportunity of the Virginia Express, and set all this matter forth to Governor Dinwiddie, with a Request that he would examine Andrew Montour about it and advise with him what answer to give it.
The Governor received from the Commissioners a List of the Goods left by them in the hands of Mr. George Croghan. It ap- peared that among other things there was a large Quantity of Powder and Lead, concerning which his Honour desired to know their Sentiments, whether it would be safe for him to give Orders by this Messenger for the Delivery of those Goods. The Council and Commissioners thought it might be of use if the Governor would please to direct Mr. Croghan to wait until Gover- nor Dinwiddie should give Orders to Mess's Guest, Trent, and Montour, for the Disposal of the Goods in their hands, and to gov- ern himself accordingly.
These several matters being taken into Consideration, and that the French had an Army encamped within fifty miles of these In- dians, it was thought proper to take no Notice of their imprudent Message, nor of the characters of the English Traders present, but to send them an affectionate Answer in the following Terms :
" The Answer of the Governor of Pennsylvania to the Speeches sent by Lewis Montour from the Chiefs of the Six Nations met in Council at the Old Town, the twenty-seventh Day of October, 1753.
""""Brethren Six Nations residing at Ohio :
"'We have received your Message by Lewis Montour, accom- panied with a Belt dipped in Blood and a small Piece of Paper con- taining some Names wrote in the Hand of Cayenquiloquoa.
"' By this You desire me to consider your Case and to join Hands with the Governor of Virginia, promising if We too join together that You will make a third Brother.
" ' You further acquaint me that the French your Enemy are
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coming near You with a Tomhock in their Hands holding it over your Heads for You either to take Hold of it and with them strike your Brethren the English, or in case of Refusal to be struck your- selves with it; that they have already struck the English and openly declare they will drive them away from the River Ohio, as well as all Others who shall not join them.
"' You further make this Government an Offer of all the Lands on the East side that River, delivering it to Us to make a Restitu- tion to such as You and the Traders are indebted to, and desire me to come to secure You and the Land and to build Two Forts, One at the Mouth of Mohongialo and the other higher up the River Ohio.
"' And lastly, You inform me that You have committed the Care of this Message to William Campbell and Lewis Montour, who You say has declared himself One of You.
"' Brethren :
" ' A Messenger of Governor Dinwiddie was fortunately here with me when Lewis Montour brought me your Message, and I embraced this favourable Opportunity of sending my Letters to him, wherein agreeable to your Request I assure him in the strongest Terms that I will very heartily consult with him, join hands with him, and do everything in my Power jointly with him, to give You the desired Assistance.
""' You are sensible Williamsburg, where the Governor of Vir- gia resides, is at a great distance from this Town, above three hundred miles; that it will be some time before I can receive his Answer, but so far as depends on me there shall be no Delay, and when it shall be setled in what manner You can be best assisted, We will send You Word.
"' Brethren :
""' The Commissioners who by my appointment held a Treaty with you at Carlisle have reported to me every matter that was transacted there, and I find their Account perfectly agrees with your Message in representing the French as actually invading and seizing your Country with an Army of Canadians raised for that very purpose, and that neither the Principles of Justice nor your just and reason- able notices to them to return home and not violate the Treaties subsisting between you the Indians and them, have made any Im- pression on them, but still continue determined to execute their wicked Purposes, and I am truly sensible that the Independency of the Indian Nations and the Property of the Indians in their own Lands, as well as all Freedom of Commerce, are struck at and will be overturned if they should establish themselves in these Coun- treys. But be assured his Majesty will not suffer this, nor that his Subjects shall be treated in such a manner without the least Provo- cation and in time of Peace, and expressly contrary to the Treaties
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subsisting between his Majesty and the French King. The French Commander utters a very great Falshood when he says that the Lands on Ohio belong to his Master, and that it was thus settled between the King of Great Britain and the French King. The quite contrary is declared in the last Treaty about these Matters, Viz: that the Five United Nations are independent Nations, and that the Subjects of both Kings may trade without Molestation with them and their allies, or with the French Indians and their allies, in any of their Countreys.
"This I thought necessary you should be well informed of, least the words of the Commander should gain Credit with you. Don't trust such perfidious Men cither with your Lands or your Persons, adhere all to one another, concert your Measures prudently and unani- mously, and be assured his Majesty will not suffer you to want the assistance of his Subjects against these imperious and tyranical aggressors.
" The Proprietaries to whom his Majesty has given the sole Right of treating with the Indians on Land affairs, are now at London, nor have I any power over their Chest; I am therefore obliged to consult them before I can give you an answer to the Terms on which you propose to release all your Right to the Lands on the East side of Ohio within the Limits of this Province. This I will, however, offer to your Consideration, whether it is not manifestly attended with this Difficulty that the debts due from Indians to Indian Traders and from them to their Merchants can never be reduced to certainty .- But whatever the Proprietaries Sentiments may be of this Proposal the Governor of Virginia and myself will concert Measures for your assistance; we will be as one Man and we expect You will be a Third according to your words.
"Brethren :
"We consider your Message as a very important one; We have taken time to weigh it well in all its Parts, and we are your true Friends and faithful Brethren. We have never hitherto shewn Ourselves wanting in our Assistance to You, we never shall you may be assured. The Season we apprehend will not permit the French to advance nearer to You, so that You will have time to consult together, and to make all the Indians in that large Extent of Country to which the French make Pretensions acquainted with their unjust Designs, that they may assemble together in Council, and there concert a joint and unanimous Opposition, and enter into hearty and mutual Bands and Leagues together, and be united as one Man. Let this be done, and in the End I hope all will be well.
"' Brethren :
" I have committed this answer to the care of Messieurs Croghan and Montour, with my Orders to deliver it and interpret it to you in Council.
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"On your Recommendations, signified to me by the Commis- sioners who were at Carlisle, I have appointed these Two Persons to do the Publick Business of this Government, and expect to see their attestations or certificates to all the Messages which You shall please to send to this Government. They are answerable to me for their Conduct, and I can place a Confidence in what they say or do. But as to other Persons, tho' they may be good Men, yet if they are not known to me it will not be proper, especially in such a dan- gerous Season as this is, to entrust them with publick Consultations and make them the Messengers of advices. This is the case with those who have subscribed the Interpretation of your Speeches; they may be good Men but I do not know them nor their Characters.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
"Philadelphia, 20th November, 1753."
Then were read Two Letters, one to Governor Glenn and the other to Governor Dinwiddie, wrote at the instance of the Commis- sioners of the late Treaty at Carlisle, in these Words :
" PENNSYLVANIA, October 30th, 1753.
" Sir :
" The Shawonese, a Nation of Indians living on the Ohio in the Borders of this Province and of That of Virginia, have heard that some of their young Men who went to War against the Southern Indians in company with a Party of Cogherawagos have been seized within your Government and committed to the publick Jayl of Charles Town, and ignorant of the Reasons why Indians belonging to a Nation in Amity with the English should be so treated, have earnestly besought me to make Enquiry into this matter and to be- come an Intercessor with You for their Release.
" It is at their Instance therefore that I am obliged to give you this Trouble, and to induce You to favour their Sollicitation I think it incumbent on me to acquaint You that the Six Nations, Dela- wares, Shawonese, Twightwees, and Owendats, all Indian Nations living on the Ohio and its Branches, held a Treaty this Summer with the Government of Virginia at Winchester, in which they set forth the Confinement of these young Warriors in Terms of much Tenderness, and made it a Point with that Government that two of the principal Men of the Six Nations should go to Williamsburg and there be joined by some Persons on the Part of Virginia, who together should proceed to Carolina to sollicit You for their dis- charge. That these Indians after finishing their Treaty at Win- chester came into this Province, and were met at Carlisle by Com- missioners of my appointment (my health not permitting me to be present) where an Account was brought to them from Ohio whilst in Council that a large Army of French who had entered their Country in the Spring and had built a Fort near the Heads of the
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Ohio, were actually coming down that River to a Virginia Settle- ment situate in the Forks of Mohongialo, with an intent to build another Fort there and drive away the English Traders. Alarmed at this News the Indians made immediate preparation for their Re- turn, and applied to the Commissioners to stop the Journey of their Chiefs to Carolina, setting forth that their Presence was absolutely necessary as well to conduct their Young Men home as to assist against the French ; and this really appearing to the Commissioners to be the Truth, and that many bad Consequences might arise from the Absence of Men of their Character and Influence, they pre- vailed with the Chiefs and with the Shawonese, though not without Difficulty, to drop their intended Journey and leave it to the Gov- ernor of Virginia and myself to procure the Release of their young men.
"The Commissioners have not only represented these Matters to me, but further add that these young men were bred up amongst the English and bave contracted a particular Regard for them; they are the Flower of their Nation for Courage and Activity, and would at this time be of great Service in the Defence of their Country ; That Information was given them the Commissioners by the Virginia Interpreter, who came along with these Indians to Carlisle, that Governor Dinwiddie was using his best Endeavours to bring about a Peace between the Northern and Southern Indians, and intended for that Purpose to hold a general Treaty with them the next Summer, to which these Indians were invited and had promised to come, declaring they were sincerely desirous of Peace, and as the Commissioners have no manner of reason to doubt of the Truth of this Information they desire me to mention this to you, believing the Discharge of these young Men would much contribute to the Success of this Union, without which the Indians will in all Probability lose their Countrey and Independancy.
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