USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 70
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" Being entirely ignorant of the Reasons of the Imprisonment of these People, it is not possible for me to do more than lay before You these Considerations, which will I imagine be of sufficient Weight to induce You to put an End to it, unless there be some- thing very particular in their Case. If, therefore, You should agree with me in Opinion with Regard to the Expediency of their Dis- charge, I should be much obliged to You to consider what Method may be the most proper to conduct them into their own Country, whether by Sea to this Port or by Land to Virginia, and if this last should on the Account of the approaching Winter appear the best, then whether they should not be escorted thro' the Inhabited Parts of your Province to Williamsburg, the Expence of which will be chearfully born by that Government to which they shall be delivered.
"I will only add, that their Enlargement will give a sensible Plea- sure to This and the neighbouring Provinces whose Nearness to the Nations interesting themselves in their Discharge does at this Junc-
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ture call for every Measure by which they may be confirmed in their Attachment to the English Interest.
" I am with great Regard, Sir, Your Excellency most obedient and most humble Servant,
"JAMES HAMILTON.
" His Excellency JAMES GLEN, Esquire."
" NEWCASTLE, 30th October, 1753.
" Sir :
. " The Indians who were at Winchester coming afterwards into this Province, I appointed Commissioners to meet them at Carlisle. While in Council there an Account was brought that the Half King was returned without Success from the Fort near Weningo, which the French had just finished, and that their Army which was in two hundred Canoes was removing, notwithstanding the repeated prohibitions of the Indians, to the Forks of Mohongialo, with Intent to build another Fort there.
" This News obliged the Commissioners at the Request of the In- dians to stop Scarooyady's and Andrew Montour's Journey to Charles Town, as set forth in my Letter to Governor Glen, which I send you a Copy of, desiring You will please to support it with One of your own. You are better acquainted with Mr. Glen and the Reason of the Proceedings against these Indians than I am, and a Letter from you in favour of these Young Men would add great Weight to the Application, in which, if they have not success, I cannot help being Apprehensive of bad Consequences, and that You will fail in your well-judged and most seasonable Intention of bringing about a Re- conciliation between the Northern and Southern Indians, in which if I can be of any Service I shall with great Pleasure receive your Commands.
"I should be glad to know what was done at Winchester; as the Commissioners have not yet made their Report to me of their Pro- ceedings at Carlisle, I am prevented from sending you an Account of that Treaty, which I shall not fail to do when I have an Oppor- tunity.
"I am, with great Regard, Sir, "Your most obedient and most humble Servant,
"JAMES HAMILTON.
"I acknowledge the favour of your late Letter, but being from home I cannot at present answer it.
"J. H.
"His Excellency ROBERT DINWIDDIE, Esquire."
After which the Governor informed the Board that a Vessel
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arrived Yesterday from Carolina, and that the Captain had brought with him Two of the Shawonese and a Letter from Governor Glen, which was read and ordered to be entered :
"So. CAROLINA, October 12th, 1753.
" Sir :
" While the Six Nations continue at War with the Catawbas, the French Indians, who are without doubt well pleased to see our In- dians destroying one another, frequently accompanied them in their Expeditions, under pretence of assisting them against their Enemies; but I have reason to be of opinion that their Views did not terminate in the Destruction of the Catawbas, tho' that be a favourite Point, but that they were in hopes by repeated Injuries done to this Pro- vince to provoke Us to revenge ourselves on the Six Nation. They, therefore, under Cover of the Name of Senecas, Nittewagees, fre- quently came into our Settlements, at first sculking in the Woods and Swamps, killing a few Cattle only for Provision, but afterwards shewing themselves more openly, forcing Provisions from the In- habitants, killing their Cattle out of Wantonness, and carrying off some of our Settlement Indians, People born among Us and who were not at War with any Nation whatever, and such of our Slaves as had the least Tincture of Indian Blood in them. These Provo- cations made me write circular Letters to all the Officers of the Militia to raise their respective Companies in any Part of the Pro- vince where any Damage had been done by Indians, and to endeavour to bring such Indians to Charles Town, but if they re- sisted to use military Force; at the same time I laboured to recon- cile Differences that had so long subsisted betwixt our Friends the Catawbas and the Six Nations, and this I did as thinking it for the British Interest in general to preserve and protect such Indians as are Friends to the English; but I was also hopeful that if Peace could be brought about, that we should be less troubled with North- ern Indians in our Settlements, since they could have no Pretence of coming this Way. At Length Peace was concluded and We have had fewer Incursions than before, but still some Parties continue to come, and some Months ago one of these Parties murdered one Felix Smith not far from Charles Town, and ravished a Woman at the same time, upon which I, by the Advice of the Council, issued a Proclamation promising a Reward to any Person who should take alive or kill any of the Gang of Indians who had been guilty of the above Actions, or to any Person who should kill or take alive any Northern Indians in the Settlements after the Expiration of three Months. I knew there were some of the Six Nations at that time in the Catawbas, and as I knew that they were very scarce of Provisions I concluded that they might be hunting with the Catawbas for Provi- sions round that Nation, and I was apprehensive if any of our Inhabit- ants should for the Reward fall upon them without notice and destroy them, it might have the Effect to involve this Province in an Indian
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War. Within the said Period of Three Months Six Northern In- dians were discovered in our Settlements, and brought Prisoners to Town by the Militia ; they call themselves Savannahs and say they live upon the Ohio, and that they are in Friendship with the Eng- lish Governments to the Northward; there is too good Reason to think, from the Examination of several Persons, that some of them have been formerly here, and that they have carried off some of our friendly Indians. And as these Indians are upon many Accounts very serviceable to Us, we are extremely desirous to redeem them, and have therefore sent Two of the Six Prisoners to You to be sent or detained by You as You may judge it most likely to obtain the good End of having our friendly Indians or Mustee Slaves sent back to Us; and I hope that You will either send for some of the Head Men or send some proper Person along with these two Men to their Nation, who will let them know the Care that We have taken of the other Four, and that they will be returned to their Friends upon restoring all the Prisoners they have taken from Us, and upon their engaging to You in the most solemn manner not to permit any of their People to come into this Province for the future. The Ex- pence attending this Matter I make no doubt will be chearfully defrayed by this Government.
"I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant, "JAMES GLEN. " The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esq"."
The Two Shawonese were kindly received by the Governor in Council, examined and sent to Lodgings. One of them having con- tracted a Bloody Flux in the Voyage, Doctor Grome was ordered to attend him.
MEMORANDUM.
The following Letter was wrote to Governor Dinwiddie :
"PHILADELPHIA, November 16th, 1753.
" Sir :
"I am favoured with Two of your Letters, one by the Post of the Third September last, enclosing a Copy of the Indian Deed executed at Lancaster, which I shall send to Mr. Weiser, at whose Instance I desired the Copy, the other of the twenty-third of October, by express enclosing a Letter of the twenty-eight of August last from the Earl of Holdernesse, one of his Majestie's Principal Secretaries of State, to whom I shall do myself the Honour to write by a Ship from this Port, chusing, as my Letter from hence may arrive as soon as by the Return of the Man-of-War and the contents of his Lordship's Letter are of great Moment, to take some time in the Consideration of my Answer.
" With respect to the matters enjoined by his Majesty, your Cir-
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cumstances are much more desireable than mine, which in this. respect are rendered unpleasant by the religious Sentiments of the . Assemblies of this Province.
" However, that I may do all in my Power, as my Assembly does not sit, and yours is fortunately sitting, I earnestly desire you will be pleased to let me know the Results of their Deliberations, that I may lay them before the Representatives of this Province when they are to take these Matters into Consideration.
" His Majesty having enjoined his Governors not to exceed the undoubted Rights of his Crown, nor to become Aggressors, as your Government must have held several Treaties with the Indians prior to the Royal Grant of Pennsylvania, I should be glad to be informed whether any and what Treaties have been held with the Indians liv- ing on the waters of the Ohio, and whether they do not Esteem themselves independent Nations, and tho' in alliance with yet not subject either to the French or to the Six Nations, and whether these Indians at the Treaty at Utrecht were deemed French Indians and are any wise included within or referred to in that Treaty by the con- tracting Parties on either side.
" Would it not likewise be necessary to ascertain the Distance of the Mouth of the Mohongialo from the Northern Bend of Patowmec, as that Place is well known at home by the late Dispute between your Government and Lord Fairfax. This I apprehend may be done by the Testimonies of many of your Inhabitants who live on or near Patowmec and are every day going to Mohongialo, and might with a Map of the Country lying between Patowmec and the Ohio and the course and Distance of the Apalaccian Mountains, which must be crossed before you can reach the Forks of the Mohongialo, give the Ministry great Insight into the situation of the Places now seized by the French.
" But after all, unless the several Governors should confer together on the several Points enjoined them by his Majesty, and afterwards lay their Sentiments before the King and their respective assem- blies, it does not appear to me that his Majestie's Orders can be car- ried into Execution or proper Funds raised for that Purpose.
" I have as I wrote you from Newcastle had an Interview with the Indians at Carlisle, having given a Commission to three Gen- tlemen, one of the Council and the other two of the Assembly for that Purpose, whose Report I have caused to be published and here- with send you two of the printed Copies in which there can be little new to you, as these Indians came directly from Winchester, except the account of the Treatment which the Half King met with from the French Commander at the Fort lately built near Weningo and the Behaviour of that Sachem after his Return. This evidently shows that the French have intimidated the Indians, and if it be true what is expressly affirmed by Taaf and Calender in their Let- ter, a Copy of which is herewith sent tho' not put down in their
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Report, that the Commander told the Half King his Nation, mean- ing the Seneca Nation, favored the French Proceedings, it gives but a melancholy Prospect of their affairs.
" The Inclinations of these Indians in general may be good, though it is not to be doubted but the French have their Emissaries among them, and have corrupted and may be still corrupting particular Indians ; but then, according to all Accounts, the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese, are continually under the Force of Liquor, and may be dispirited from Indolence and Debauchery. The Twight- wees are indeed of a martial Spirit and remarkable for Sobriety ; but they are much divided, some declaring for the English while Others still adhere to the French, or are likely to stand neuter and wait the Event. It would be well if a true Account could be taken of the Numbers of such as declare for the English, and what might be depended on from them in case of giving them Assistance; But as this is not known to me, nor what sort of a Correspondence they keep up with the original United Nations at Onondago, nor how these last stand affected to them, or instruct them what to do, it is impossible to know their Strength or their Inclinations. Had Mr. Weiser been permitted by Governor Clinton to have proceeded to Onondago and executed my Instructions, I should have been able to give You better Information, but his not being permitted to go, which I think an unadvised Step in Mr. Clinton, has disappointed me much, and I am still in the dark, Governor Clinton never having been so good as to send me an Account of what has been done by Col. Johnson at Onondago, who he promised should sound the Indians on these Articles; and that I should receive from him a full State of their Affairs for my own Direction with respect to the Ohio Indians.
" Having answered your Letter I must now acquaint You that I have detained your Messenger on Account of an Express I have received from the Six Nation Indians at Ohio, as one of the same kind will be delivered You by Mr. Andrew Montour. I was willing the Indian Messenger, who is Andrew's Brother, should be exam- ined by the Council in the Presence of the late Commissioners, that I might hear their Opinions and thence be the better able to regulate my Conduct.
" Lewis Montour on Examination declared that the Half King and Scarrooyady had been at the Lower Shawonese Town, where he understood a Council had been held which he called a great Council of all the Indians; that these Chiefs on their Return from thence home, that is to Shanoppin, about three miles from the Forks of Monhongialo, forthwith called together the Indians of their own Nations, about twenty in Number, to a Meeting, and likewise the Indian Traders who were then in the Town; That he was also pre- sent and heard the Speeches made on that Occasion, which were taken down in English by Reed Mitchel, an Indian Trader and one of
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the Signers, and he repeated the Substance of them, but being asked if there were any Belts or Strings sent from what he called the Great Council at the Lower Shawonese Town and produced at this Meeting, or anything said of what was done there, he answered he did not hear nor know any thing about it, But that when the Speeches were wrote they were given to him by the Council to carry to Mr. Croghan and his Brother Andrew, to whom he went and de- liver'd them at their Houses, together with some Letters from the Indian Traders then present ; That as soon as Mr. Croghan and Mr. Montour had perused them it was concluded that Andrew should go to Williamsburg and his Brother to Philadelphia.
" Had Mr. Croghan and Mr. Montour, or either of them, wrote their Sentiments about this Meeting, and whether it was in conse- quence of another Council held by the Indians at the Lower Shawo- nese Town, which it may possibly have been, as the Speeches men- tion all the Indians who were at Carlisle and contain more Matter than could be proper to be said by a private Meeting of Indians, their Letter might have cleared up many Points which appear doubt- ful, such as whether the Indians were in a sober, thoughtful mood, whether the Indian Traders had not their Influence in this Meeting, and whether the several Matters had been previously recommended to the Six Nations by the general Council of the other Nations, and what they really expected from Us on the Occasion.
"For want of knowing these several Points as well as the Cha- racters of the subscribing Indian Traders (it being represented to the Commissioners at Carlisle that one of the Cammels was thought to be corrupted by the French), it became difficult to determine what Answer to give the Indians, But at length the Council and Commis- sioners were unanimously of Opinion that as the two Governments were desired to join together and consult one another, nothing pre- cise could be wrote till it should be known in what Light You saw this Message, Mr. Montour being able to explain several Matters to you that the Messenger sent to me was ignorant of, But that a Letter should be sent to Mr. Croghan informing him that an Express from You was fortunately here, to whom this Affair was fully mentioned by me, and that after knowing your Mind I would take my Measures and give the Indians an Answer. In the mean time if the Indians should be in actual Want of the Goods left by the Commissioners in Mr. Croghan's Hands, and Mr. Croghan should think it abso- lutely necessary to give them to the Indians for their joint Use and Benefit, he might do it, though I should chuse that these Goods, which consist chiefly in Powder and Lead, should go along with the Virginia Goods left in the hands of Mess's. Geust, Trent, and Mon- tour ; and further, that Mr. Croghan should wait till Andrew's Re- turn, and when he saw what Orders You had given him he might then act agreable thereto.
. " I have the Pleasure to acquaint you further that Governor Glen,
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before my Letter cou'd reach his hands, had shipped Two of the Shawonese Young Men on board a Vessel bound here with Letters to me desiring they might be sent home, or detained as I might judge it most likely to obtain the good end of having their friendly Indians or Mustee Slaves sent back to Carolina, and requesting I would either send for some of the Head Men among the Shawonese or send some proper Person along with them to their Nation, who might let them know the Care that has been taken of the other Four; and that they will be returned to their Friends upon restor- ing all the Prisoners they have taken from Carolina, and upon their engaging to me in the most solemn manner not to permit any of their People to come into Carolina for the future.
" The Two Indians are arrived here, one of them with the bloody Flux on him the other in good health, who has been examined in Council, and says they were Thirteen in Number when they set out, Seven went back and the Six were taken in Carolina without doing any the least mischief, nor does Governor Glen lay any thing particular to their Charge.
" These Examinations taking up a good deal of time your Mes- senger has been very uneasy at his Detainment here; but I hope the Importance of these several Matters will plead my Excuse for it, and that you will be pleased with all convenient Dispatch to give me your Sentiments and the Resolves of your Government as to what should be at present done for these Ohio Indians till some general Plan shall be concerted, in which the other Provinces may if they please take a Share.
"I am with great Regard, Sir, "Your most obedient and most humble Servant,
"JAMES HAMILTON.
" His Excellency ROBERT DINWIDDIE, Esquire."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday, the 5th Day of December, 1753.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas Lawrence, Joseph Turner, r Esquires.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor informed the Council that the Two Shawonese had been detained in Town by the Sickness of one of them; that he was now so far recovered as to be able to undertake the Journey,
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and therefore he had prevailed on Mr. Patton to conduct them to the Six Nations at Ohio, and had drawn up a Message to those In- dians, and had likewise thought it proper to give particular Instruc- tions to Mr. Patten, Draughts of both which as well as of his Answer to Governor Glen were read and approved:
A Message from the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, to the half King Scarrooyady, and other Chiefs of the Six Nations at Ohio.
" Brethren :
" Having had a favourable Opportunity of a Ship's going to Caro- lina soon after the Return of the Commissioners from Carlisle, I made Use of it at their pressing Instances to send to the Governor of that Province my Letters, wherein I interceeded for the Enlarge- ment of the Six Shawonese detained in the publick Prison at Charles Town, and requested he would be pleased to send them to my Care to be returned to their Nation; but before my Letters could arrive that Government, having a Regard for the Northern Indians, had sent Two of these Shawonese by Sea to Philadelphia, where they arrived some time ago.
" Brethren :
" One of the Indians had contracted a dangerous Sickness at Sea, and I put him under the Care of one of the best of our Physicians, the Person I make use of myself when I am out of Order; and now that by his Care and Medicines he is restored to his health, I have sent them under the Care of Mr. John Patten, to be delivered to You in Council.
" Brethren :
" The Governor of Carolina tells me he intends to send the other Four, if the Shawonese Nation shall readily comply with what he: desires. Hear, therefore, and take great Notice of what the Gov -. ernor of Carolina says, and do not fail to conform to it in every particular, as upon these conditions only I deliver these Two Persons; to you.
"These are the Words of his Letter to me :
"'There is too good Reason to think from the Examination of several Persons that some of the Shawonese Indians have been formerly here, and that they have carried off some of our Friendly: Indians born within our Province, and as these Indians are upon. many Accounts very serviceable to Us, We are extremely desirous . to redeem them, and have therefore sent Two of the Six Prisoners, to You to be sent or detained by you as You may judge it most likely to obtain the good End of having our Friendly Indians or- Mustee Slaves sent back to Us, and I hope that you will either send" for some of the Head Men, or send some proper Person along with! VOL. V .- 45.
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these Two Men to their Nation who will let them know the Care that We have taken of the other Four, and that they will be re- turned to their Friends upon restoring all the Prisoners they have taken from Us, and upon their engaging to you in the most solemn manner not to permit any of their People to come into this Pro- vince for the Future.'
" Brethren :
" I desire one or more of your Chief Men will conduct these Two Indians to the Lower Shawonese Town, and at the Time You deliver them enquire diligently if there be among the Shawonese or any other Indian Nations any of the Carolina Indians, and if you find there are, take effectual Measures that they be delivered to You, and then send them under a safe Convoy either to the Gov- ernor of Virginia, which I think the nearest and best Conveyance to Carolina, or to me, to be sent by Sea there.
" Brethren :
"The Captain of the Ship in which these Two Indians came, relates that the other Four have made their Escape out of Prison ; if so I hope they are already in safety at their own Houses. Tho' they have escaped yet they and their Nation should be sensible of the Governor of Carolina's kind care of them and kind Intentions to release them. I expect neither they nor any other of the Shawonese or any other of our Friendly Indians will ever go into the inhabited Part of Carolina. The Road lies to the Westward of the Inhabitants, in that Road let them travel and do no injury to those good People who are their true Friends. The French Indians have done much Mischief in Carolina ; no longer ago than last Summer they committed a barbarous Murder which occasioned your young Men being apprehended; they conceal this from you, but I now tell it you and that they will be surely put to death if they are caught among the Inhabitants of that Province.
" Brethren :
" Your Fathers the Six Nations have made and confirmed a Peace with the Nation of the Catawbas. They are no longer at War together. Your Warriors must be told not to break the Peace."
" Brethren :
" The Governor of Virginia has informed me that he has invited the Catawbas to come to Winchester next Summer, and you have promised to be there too. I am pleased to hear this, and heartily recommended it to You to continue Friends. Their Friendship will strengthen your Hands against your Enemies the French."
" Brethren :
"I expect to receive your Answer by the Bearer, Mr. John Pat- ten, whom I have sent Express with these Indians, and to whom I expect You will be very kind. By him You may take the Oppor-
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