USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 17
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" Here ends the Shawonese Speech.
"I bought some goods of Mr. Croghan to wipe off the Tears from Lawachkamicky's Friends and Family, and to cover his Grave ac- cording to Indian Fashion ; his Brother was here present, and his Brother-in-Law the young King.
"I condoled also with them in the Name of this Government over the Death of the Shawonese Chief that died at Capt McKee's last
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month, his Son was here present, the dead Man's Name was Kissa- kochquilla.
"The Goods that I made use of were as follow : 6 Strouds, 4 Matchcoats, 6 pair of Stockings, 2 Shirts, 1 Ruffled Shirt, 1,000 black Wampum. The above Goods were divided between the two deceased Chiefs Friends and Relations.
" About noon the same Day I delivered the Governor's Message to them in the following manner ;
"'Brethren the Six United Nations, Shawonese and Delawares : I am sent up to You from the Governor of Pennsylvania, and what I am going to say to You You must take as his own Words; I therefore desire You will give Ear to what I am going to say.'
" Gave a String.
"' Brethren :
"' The Governor sent me Express to acknowledge and thank You for your Message by Mr. Croghan, and to bid You welcome to Aucquick, and shake hands with You on his behalf, and to enquire after your Health and that of your Families.'
" Gave a String. 1
"'Brethren : You have done right to put yourself under the the Protection of this Province. We shall make all necessary Provision for you till the Government shall come to some Determi- nation respecting the present Situation of Affairs.
" 'Brethren : Our present Governor's Administration, agreeable to what has been some time ago fixed by himself, draws to a Period- a new Governor is appointed and soon expected-this renders it difficult for Us to know what to do. The Governor, who is your hearty Friend, desires You will be quiet and remain where You are till the new Governor comes over ; and he will doubtless bring the King's Order to Us all, as concerning the Expedition of the French and Invasion on your Lands. Make yourselves quiet and easy and mind nothing but Council affairs till You see Us first stir; perhaps the new Governor may be now in Pennsylvania, then You will hear certainly what We will do against the French on Ohio.'
" Gave a Belt.
"' Brethren : By my desiring You to stay here till the new Gov- ernor comes in, I don't mean that your young Men shall not run to Ohio now and then to enquire of our Friends the Indians there how they do, which We rather desire You will encourage, so that We may have News from our Friends on Ohio now and then, and also of the Proceedings of the French.'
" Gave a String.
" Here ended the present Meeting.
"Soon after the Shawonese and Delawares, together with Tuna-
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charisson and Scarrooyady, came into Mr. Croghan's House, and the Beaver, a noted Man of the Delawares, spoke to me to the fol- lowing Purport :
"'Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania : You was pleased some time ago by this String of Wampum (he shewing the String) at the Treaty held in Lancaster, to clear up the Road again to our Town from yours in order to renew the old friendly Correspondence with Us, and You removed all Obstacles that from time to Time had obstructed the same. You desired Us that the String of Wampum might be carried to Nowchikano and Kachhawatchiky, our Chiefs, which was done accordingly, and our said Chiefs and all our People agree to it very gladly, and desired Us to let You know that We on our side did the same on our End of the Road, and have removed every thing that from time to time obstructed the same, and now came the said Road to You, and We assure You that it is clear on our side, and We will always keep it so, and nothing shall from henceforth obstruct it; in Confirmation whereof We give You this String of Wampum.'
" The Speaker then took a Belt of Wampum in his Hand and said :
""'Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania : at the same time by this Belt of Wampum (he shewing the Belt) You assured Us that You was our hearty Friend, and nothing remained in. your Heart but Good Will and good Wishes to Us. You also desired Us to keep fast hold to this Belt and be true and hearty, and believe no flying Stories, but advise with You on every Occasion. This, your Belt, was carried to Nowchickano and Kachkawatchiky, and were gladly received; and We have it in charge to thank You for your kindness, and to put You in mind of it by this Opportunity. And We assure You that We have hitherto always followed your Advice and held fast to this Belt with all our Strength, and We will do so for the future, and will charge our Children and their Children to follow our Example and keep up a good Understanding with You always, and We hope You will always look upon Us as your good and true Brethren ; We earnestly desire it of You because We know that our Lives, the Life of our Wives and Children and those yet unborn, depends upon it.'
" Gave a Belt.
"Note .- The String and Belt that the Speaker first took up are those that were given them by the Commissioners of this Province at Lancaster in the Year 1748, and those that he now gave are in Exchange of them.
" Here ended the Shawonese Speech.
" Then the Beaver, the Speaker of the Delawares, stood up and directed his Discourse to the Six Nations, and said :
" Uncle : I still remember the Time when You first conquered
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Us and made Woman of Us, and told Us that You took Us under your Proection, and that We must not meddle with Wars, but stay in the House and mind Council Affairs. We have hitherto followed your directions and lived very easy under your Protection, and no high Wind did blow to make Us uneasy ; but now Things seem to take another turn, and a high Wind is rising. We desire You, therefore, Uncle, to have your Eyes open and be watchful over Us, your Cousins, as you have always been heretofore.'
" Gave several Strings of Wampum.
" Then the same Speaker directed his Discourse to the Governor of Pennsylvania, and said :
"'Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania : by your Speech just now made to Us, You comforted our Hearts and You removed all Doubts and Jealousy ; it is, what You said to Us, like the morning Sun. We see now clear your kindness and good will to Us and our allies. We will make it known to all. We are extremely pleased to hear You speak so sincerely and so agreable to Us. We thank You kindly for your Good Will.'
" Gave a String.
"' Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania: I must now go into the Depth, and put You in Mind of old Histories and our first ac- quaintance with You, when William Penn first appeared in his Ship on our Lands. We looked in bis Face and judged him to be our Brother, and gave him a fast Hold to tie his Ship to; and We told him that a powerful People called the Five United Nations had placed Us here and established a fair and lasting Friendship with Us, and that he the said William Penn and his People shall be welcome to be one of Us, and in the same Union, to which he and his People agreed ; and we then erected an everlasting Friendship with Wil- liam Penn and his People, which We on our side so well as You have observed as much as possible to this Day. We always looked upon You to be one Flesh and Blood with Us. We desire You will look upon Us in the same Light, and let that Treaty of Friendship made by our Forefathers on both sides subsist and be in Force from Generation to Generation ; both our Lives, our Wives' and Children's Lives, and those as yet unborn, depends upon it. Pray, Brother, consider well what we say and let it be so.'
" A large Belt.
" By a little String of Wampum, of black and white, they de- sired the Government of Pennsylvania will take no Notice of any thing that will be said to the contrary, but believe that that what they had said now to be the Truth from their Heart.
"5th .- In the morning I answered the Shawonese and ye Dela- wares first Speech in the following manner :
"'Brethren the Shawonese : when You first came to Aucquick You made a Speech to Mr. Croghan, directed to the Government
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of Pennsylvania, by which You put the Governor in mind of what was said to You at the Treaty in Carlisle last Fall, to wit : that You was desired to be quiet and still, and not meddle with any thing concerning the present Noise of the War, but only Council affairs to Strengthen Yourselves in the best manner You could by keeping a good Correspondence with your allies; and You said You had complied with that advice, and had renewed Friendship with your Indian allies, and least the Governor of Pennsylvania might think that You were in the French Interest, because You were not engaged with the English in the action against the French that happened some time ago near Ohio, You assured the Governor of Pennsylvania that You was, notwithstanding, a Friend and Bro- ther to the English, as We have always been, and that You acted according to their advice; this is the Substance of what You said. I have it in charge from the Governor of Pennsylvania to let You know that he approves of your Proceedings, and desires You will always act agreeable to his advice in every thing, and in so doing You will do well.'
" Gave a String.
" ' Brethren the Delawares : You have told Us and put Us in mind of the old Treaties of Friendship subsisting between us, and that You was one People with Us, and that You therefore recom- mended the Speech made to Us by your Grand Children the Shaw- onese to be the Truth and a word that came from their Heart, so that we may believe them, which you earnestly desired by a String of Wampum as a Letter of Recommendation from You our old Friends.
"' Brethren the Delawares : it is true You are one People with Us, for You spring out of the same Spot of Ground with us, and are, therefore, our Countrymen and older Inhabitants than We are; as to your present Habitation on Ohio We look upon as your hunt- ing Cabbin only, for here is your Mother Country, and We look upon You as Ourselves. We, therefore, take the Recommendation well, and are glad that You and your Grand Children the Shawonese are of one Mind. We believe that what they said came from the bottom of their Hearts, and there remains no doubt with Us. We thank You both for your kind Speeches.'
" Gave a String.
" Then I took up the big Belt that the Delawares gave me yester- day and said :
"' Brethren : by this Belt you was pleased to put the Governor of Pennsylvania in mind of the first Treaties of Friendship and Acquaintance with the People of Pennsylvania when the great Wil- liam Penn first arrived on your Land, and You repeated over what then passed between your Forefathers and the said William Penn and his People. I must tell You, Brethren, that that is too
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weighty a Matter for me to give You an Answer upon it or to ox- change the Belt. I will therefore take it with me to Philadelphia and lay it before the Governor, and he will lay it before his Council and all the old and wise People of Pennsylvania ; they are only able to consider this and make a suitable Answer. I am too mean a man and no way empowered nor capable to answer it, but can only say that I am very well pleased with what You said and am glad to carry this Belt to Philadelphia.'
" The Indians in general, as well as those of the Six Nations as Delawares and Shawonese, appeared to be extremely pleased with what I told themn, and gave their Approbation in the usual Sound.
" Then Tanacarisson stood up and thanked the Delawares for their Kind Speech made Yesterday to the Six Nations by their Strings of Wampum, and said that their Speech will be sent to the Six Nations by a special Messenger where it ought to be.
" A Shawonese named Danaluqueshon in open Council signified his great Satisfaction in this 'Meeting, and said that this was a com- fortable Day to him and his People.
" On the same day Tanacarisson and Scarrooyady came to consult with me and advised to join with them to desire the Shawonese and Delawares to stay here at Aucquick for some time longer, or at least so long till the new Governor was come in, to which I agreed in behalf of this Government, and I found the String of Wampum, and Scarrooyady made the Speech accordingly to the Shawonese and Delawares this Evening.
"6th .- This day at their own Request I informed them of what passed in Albany at the last Treaty and of the. Purchase of the Land that was made there ; they seemed not to be very well pleased at first when they heard of it because of such a large Tract that the Six Nations had released to the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, but when they were informed of the New England People's Design and the French taking the Ohio Lands in Possession, which they might look upon as lost to them, they were content, but would have been more so if they had received a Part of the Consideration.
" This Evening I let them know that as now all Publick Business was over I would set off to-morrow morning; they, to wit, Tanaca- risson and Scarrooyady, desired me to stay longer with them to dis- course over some private Affairs as they had hitherto no time, to which I consented, but they got Liquor that Evening and all got drunk ; however I stayed, and in the Afternoon Tanacarisson and Scarrooyady got sober, and I learned from them in a private Dis- course, first, that the Senecas from time to time had sent Messages by Belts and Strings of Wampum to the Indians on Ohio to order them not to meddle with the French neither in one way nor the other, but stand Neuter and keep their Ears and Eyes towards the Six United Nations.
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" Secondly. That the Twightwees had sent several of their head Men this Summer to the Lower Shawonese Town with a Message, the Purport whereof as follows :
"'Brethren the Shawonese: You know that the French has in- vaded our Country on all Sides, why do You set so still ? Will You be Slaves to the French, and suffer them to be Masters of all the Land and all the Game? Rise up and take the Hatchet and follow our Example. We have killed not long ago fifty French Men, all warriors; and in one day five other Nations have joined Us; and if You and your Grandfathers the Delawares will but stir the French will soon be forced to fly.'
"This Article is confirmed by Moses, otherwise called the Song, Mohock Indian, who was present at the Delivery of the Message.
"To which the Shawonese made answer :
"' Brethren the Twightwees : We are surprized at your Request. The Six United Nations have desired Us to sit still and not mind the French, and that We must keep our Ears and Eyes to the Six United Nations, so does our Grandfathers the Delawares. We de- sire You will spare Us, and leave our Town before the French hear of You and come and kill You here, and plunge Us into the War before the Six United Nations begin it.'
"The Twightwees accordingly went home in disgust, and Tana- carisson and Scarrooyady are out of humour with the Shawonese for not consulting them about an answer to the Twightwees.
" The following Article I was charged to keep to myself, to wit :
" Thirdly. That they, to wit, Tanacarisson and Scarrooyady, were credibly informed that the Mohocks, Oneiders, and Tuscaroras would assist the English against the French as soon as the English gave Proof of their being in earnest.
" Fourthly. Scarrooyady is going to Oneido soon (it is his native Country) to inform himself of the Minds of the Six United Nations, and to use his Endeavours to bring them to side with the English against the French.
" Fifthly. I found that the Shawonese and Delawares are very strictly united together, and that the French made them large Pre- sents, desiring them to stand their Friends or Neuter; they, the Shawonese and Delawares, made them no answer at all, but sent these Men, about twelve in Number, to see their Brethren the English (and I suppose to learn what they are about) and to renew their Friendship with them.
" The Indians' Names that were present in all the Meetings I had with them are as follows :
" Tanacarisson, Seneca Chief,
" Delawares.
"Scarrooyady, Oneido Chief, " The Beaver,
"Tokaswayeston, Seneca Chief,
" Delaware George,
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" Seneca George, Chief,
" Captain William, Seneca,
" Kanachjakanyjady, Seneca,
" Sakojaduntha, Cayuga,
" Moses Contjochqua, Mohock,
" Aquogioda, Ditto.
" Dishickamy,
" Hickyjusku,
" William Anderson the Delaware,
" Delaware Jack,
"John Moore the Delaware, & several others.
" Shawones.
" Lapechkewe, the Young King.
" Donylequeshoney,
"Wapatykeety, Speaker.
" Kanjuchha, (alias Penn).
"The Runner.
" Catousima, Cachkawatchiky's Grand-child, and Several others.
" The white people that were present for the most were besides myself and my Son,
. " Andrew Montour, Interpreter to the Delawares.
" George Croghan.
" Peter Sheffer.
" Hugh Crawford.
" Thomas Simpson, and
" John Owen.
"On the 8th about ten o'Clock I left Aucquick, and came by the way of James Dunning's and Carlisle, and arrived at my house in Heidleberg, September the 12th, 1754.
"CONRAD WEISER."
A Letter to Governor Hamilton from Mr. George Croghan. " August the 30th, 1754.
" May it please your Honour :
"Yesterday I received your Honour's Express and acquainted the Indians that Mr. Weiser was on the Road with a Message from your Honour to them, which was a very agrceable piece of News to the Indians in General.
"One of the Indian Messengers that went to Ohio is returned, and brings an Account that there will be a great Number of Indians from Ohio here in a few days, as he tells me they are all deserting the French of all Nations; by a French Deserter from the Fort I hear the French are very sickly, and not less than three or four dye of a day.
" I assure your Honour I have been as frugal as in my Power in supplying the Indians since they came here, nor did I know any- thing of their coming till they got here ; for had I been at Wills' Creek when they sat off I should have endeavored to have made them
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stay in Virginia at the Camp before I would have drawn such an Expence on the Province or such a Trouble on myself; I was abroad when they came, but as soon as I came home I put a Stop to any Spirits being brought amongst them, nor do I even keep one Drop in my own House.
" I here enclose the Copy of a Letter from Captain Stobo men- tioned in his last Letter, with a Plan of the Fort, which I received two days ago by an Indian named Moses. Ireceived a Letter from Col. Innes yesterday who makes his Compliments to your Honour ; he informs me that there will be one of the Council from Virginia for certain up here to confer with the Indians soon, who I hope will bear some of the Expence, for I assure your Honour the Expence will be great; there is such a Number of Women and Children and more coming; they have already almost destroyed thirty acres of Indian Corn for me, exclusive of the other Provisions, which are very dear and hard to be got, as the Country takes all Opportuni- ties to extort an extravagant Price for what they have to sell; but if those Indians be to be maintained here, I would be glad the Government would send some Person to purchase the Provisions for them who I would assist as much as in my power, by which means the Government might be full satisfied of the Prices of Provisions and the Quantity that would serve, as well as the Trouble of taking Care of so many of different Tribes.
"Sir, I shall do every thing in my Power to assist Mr. Weiser pursuant to your Honour's Commands.
"I am Your Honour's most humble and most obedient Servant, " GEO. CROGHAN.
" AUCQUICK, OLD TOWN.
"P. S-Sir, the Indians insist on the Promises made them last Fall by the Government of Virginia and this Government, that is to Supply their Wives and Children with Provisions as they are drove out of their own Country."
A Letter from Captain Stobo, 28th July, 1754.
" Sir :
" The Indians are greatly alarmed at a Report said to be brought up by an Indian named Tuscarrora John. He reports that the Half King Monecatootha, and a Shawanese King, &a, to the num- ber. of 37, were confined by the English and carried as Prisoners ; that John Meinor alias Jack Cork, of Montour's Company, told him so soon as they got them to the Inhabitants they would hang them all and advised him to make his Escape. This was industri- ously reported the Day before the Shawonese counselled with the French and their Indians. The French made them a very long VOL. VI .- 11.
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and elegant Speech, telling them they did not come to make War with any, but the English would not let them alone; that they ex- pected their Children would not see their Father abused in his old age, but if that they had a mind to join the English they might; if not, and to live in Peace with all, there were Goods for them. This was all I could pick up. The French gave Two very large Belts of Wampum and as many Strings; their Indians gave an equal Number. The French gave them likewise a large Present, vizt., 16 very fine Guns, 2 Barr's. Gunpowder and Bullets in Proportion, 16 fine suits of Cloathes, several of a meaner kind, Blankets, Strowds, &ca. The Shawanese made no Answer at that time, or have I heard they have as yet. 'Tis now reported for certain that the Half King, &c., are killed and their Wives and Children given up to the Bar- barity of the Cherokees and Cawtabas, of whom they say there are 300 at the New Store; true or false it has greatly alarmed them, and had it not been for that report I believe a great many Indians of several Nations would have been with You. Now, if true (which I cannot think), there will be no further dependance on any Indians this way and will make our Return very hazardous, but that's not to be considered. The Shawonese, Picts, and Delawares, have had a grand Council by themselves; what they have determined I know not, but I have persuaded some of them to venture to see you. By assuring them they will be used in the best manner and that there is large Presents for the Indians at the New Store, a Present well-timed now will be of great Service. If Peace be made with their Indians, Catawbas, and Cherokees, I hope all will go well. I assure You there was not any of those Indians We call our's at the Battle, except Six or Seven I believe of the Mingoe Nation, Fellows not regarded by them, particularly one English John, he was at Guests with those that were suspected as Spies ; I'm informed he intends to see You with some of the rest, take care of them; I send this by Monecatootha's Brother-in-Law, a worthy Fellow, and may be trusted. On the other side You have a Draught of the Fort such as Time and oppor- tunity would admit of at this time, its Garrison consists of 200 Men; Workman and all the Rest went in several detachments to the Num- ber of 1,000, two days hence Mericuc (a fine Soldier) goes, so that only Contrecœur with a few young Officers and Cades remain here ; a Lieutenant went off some days ago with 200 Men for Provisions, he's daily expected, when he arrives the Garrison will then be 400. La Force is greatly wanted here, no scouting now, he certainly must have been an extraordinary Man amongst them, he is so much re- gretted and wished for; when We engaged to serve the Country it was expected We were to do it with our Lives, let them not be dis- appointed, consider the Good of the Expedition without the least Regard to Us; for my part I wou'd die ten thousand Deaths to have the Pleasure of possessing this Fort but one day, they are so vain of their Success at the Meadows, 'tis worse than Death to hear them ; strike this Fall, as soon as possible make the Indians ours, prevent Intelligence, get the best, and 'tis done; one hundred trusty Indians
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might surprize this Fort, they have Access all day and might lodge themselves so that they might secure the Guard with their Tom- hawks, shut the Sally Gate, and the Fort is ours; none but the Guard and Contrecœur stays in the Fort. For God's Sake commu- nicate this but to few, and them you can trust. Intelligence comes here unaccountably, if they should know I wrote I should at least lose the little Liberty I have. I should be glad to hear from You, but take no Notice of this in your's. Excuse Errors, bad Diction, &can, and believe me to be Your
" ROBT. STOBO.
"Pray be kind to this Indian; Shingas and Delaware George have been here."
DRAUGHT OF THE FORT.
The Governor received the following Letter from Governor Din- widdie, which was read and ordered to be entered :
" VIRGINIA, Williamsburg, September.
" Sir :
"Your kind Favour of the twelfth ultº. I received, and shou'd have answered it before this, but waited the Result of our Assembly in regard to granting Supplies. They met the 22d of last month, and I thought with great Inclination to grant a handsome Sum, they all appearing sensible of the great Danger all the Colonies were exposed to. On the 27th they voted £20,000, which was twice read in the House of Burgesses, the third Reading, which was the 28th, a contentious Spirit possessed some of them, and they proposed a Rider to the Bill, which was to pay &2,500 to Payton Randolph, Esquire, their Agent, sent home with a Complaint against me about the Pistole Affair. Our Treasurer, who is Speaker of the House of Burgesses, inconstitutionally paid this money by a Resolve of their House, which Resolve was last November rejected by the Council; however they tacked this to the Bill of Supply, and sent it up to the Council, and they unanimously rejected the same. They were on this obstinate, and declared they would pass no Bill of Supply without it. I used all the Argument in my Power to shew them the Impropriety of tacking a private Demand to a publick Bill of Supply to his Majesty ; and further told them, that Transaction was out of our Hand, for that Resolution and the other extraordinary Resolves they made in the November Session was before the King and Council, and that they should not Notice it till the Resolution and Determination of the King and Council was known. They were obstinate and deaf to all Arguments, and declared without that Rider they would grant no Supply, so that I was obliged to prorogue them till the 17th of October next.
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