Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI, Part 19

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814

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sengers of a crowded Ship in the beginning of a Summer Voyage, where from the Number of the Sick, heat of the Weather, and fre- quent Calms, they Rage with such Violence and continue so long that every part of the Ship imbibes the Poison and will retain it for a considerable Time after both goods and People have been taken out of her. The Vessels of this Port that bring People from these Places usually land them in a Neighbouring Government, and have not been sufficiently suspected of Danger as We are persuaded the fol- lowing facts will convince You :

" Captain Arthur, who was then Mate of Captain Davis, told us that in the Year 1741 they took in a parcel of Convicts from the Dublin Goal and other Servants from the City; soon after the People on board were seized with Fevers, which few escaped, so that they were in great distress from the Number of the Sick during the whole Voyage. Where these People were landed we did not en- quire ; but this Ship after they were out was brought to Hamil- ton's Wharf and from thence carried to Thomas Penrose's to be repaired. Soon after her coming to the Wharf seven Persons in the Family of Anthony Morris the elder, and several in the House of Anthony Morris the younger, were seized with putrid bilious Fe- vers, and seventeen of Mr. Penrose's Family who had been on board the Ship were likewise affected with the same Fever, and also sundry other Persons in every part of that Neighbourhood where the Ballast of the Ship was thrown. This Fever afterwards raged thro' the City to the loss of many of its valuable Inhabitants.

" We have this Year had the same Kind of Fever amongst Us, long before the arrival of any Palatine Ships. Where it arose from we cannot positively say, but the following Circumstances make it probable it was owing to the same cause as that of the Year 1741 : Mrs. Elves, who lived near a Wharf and kept a Ship Chandler's Shop, was the first Person seized in the City, and soon after Mr. Edwards, Mr. Mifflin, and Sundry other Persons in the Neighbour- hood living about the Wharfs at or near the time of Mrs. Elves' Death. A relation of James Calder's, Esq"", was ill of this Fever, he had lately arrived from Bristol in a Vessel that had imported Servants and which had been very sickly in the Voyage. Likewise soon after two Persons were under the same disease who came in a Vessel. of Captain Simpson's that brought Convicts and Servants from Dublin. Capt Simpson said they had been very sickly from the Time of their leaving Ireland. He likewise said that many of the Indented Servants on board were such Persons as had been lately discharged from the Goals. That this Matter may have its due weight with you we shall give you the following Quotation from Doctor Pringle's Account of the Diseases of the Army in the Year 1743 :

"Orders coming to remove the Hospital from Germany to Flan- ders, all the Sick were embarked in Bilanders and conveyed by

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Water to Gent, but where they did not arrive till about the middle of December. So that in this tedious Voyage the Fever having ac- quired new Force by the confinement of the Air, Mortifications, and other putrid Effluvias, it was raised to such an extraordinary Pitch of virulence that above half the Number died by the way, and several more soon after their arrival. The resemblance of this Fever to a true Pestilence was farther evinced by this remarkable Incident : A parcel of Tents were put on board the same bilanders with the Sick, and which being to be refitted at Gent were put into the Hands of a Tradesman who employed 23 Journeymen about the Work, but those unhappy Men were quickly seized with a Malig- nant Fever and seventeen of them died.

" Ever since the middle of Summer there have been a few putrid Fevers in the City, which we believe were not owing to the Climate but to an infection either brought or generated amongst us by For- eigners. The first of these did not certainly come from the Pala- tines, but whether they have added fresh Fewel and continued them we cannot determine ; however, this we are convinced of (and which we have never till lately suspected), that the true State of the Palatine Ships is too often concealed from the Physicians who Visit them in such a manner that it is impossible to discover it from any thing they can see on board.

"There have been Diseases of the same Nature with these men- tioned at other times in the City, but we do not know any thing relating to them that would make their Enumeration necessary ; therefore shall conclude with only taking the Liberty to assure you we are,

" Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Serv's ..

" THOS. GREEME,

" THOMAS BOND.

" Decem". 2d, 1754."

The Council for their further Information sent for Jacob Shoe- maker, the man who has the care of the Stranger's Burying Ground, and ordered him to deliver in upon Oath the Number of Palatines buried there, which he did as follows :

" An account of the Palutines buried this Year.

" For Alexander Stedman - 62

" For Henry Kepelly

" For Benjamin Shoemaker

- - -

" For Danicl Benezet -

- -

" For Michael Hillegass

253

" Jacob Shoemaker upon his Affirmation saith the above Account

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of burials since the 14th September last is Exact and true from his Book and the Acct of Coffins, Except those from Micheal Hillegass, which he thinks may be 6 or 8 more & some to be Buried this Day, Novem". 14th, 1754.

" JACOB SHOEMAKER.

" Affirmed before me.

" CHAS. WILLING."

At a Council held at Philadelphia in the State House, 3d De- cem"., 1754.

PRESENT :

The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.

John Penn,

Joseph Turner, Richard Peters,

Robert Strettell, Esquires.

Two Members waited upon the Governor and acquainted him that the House were met according to their Adjournment and desired to know if he had any thing to lay before them, and he told them that he should be at the Council Chamber at Eleven a' Clock this Morn- ing, and would then send a Message to require their Attendance.

The Secretary in Pursuance of an Order under the Hand of the Speaker prepared a Writ to the Sheriff of the County of Philadel- phia for electing a New Member to Serve in Assembly for that County in the room of Edward Warner, deceased, and the Governor Signed it, ordered the Lesser Seal to be put to it, and the Secretary to countersign it.

The Governor laid before the Council several Letters, which were read, considered, and ordered to be entered, Vizt : A Letter from Sr. Thomas Robinson, dated 5th July last; A Letter from Governor Dinwiddie, dated 8th November last; A Letter from Governor Sharp informing him that the King had given him the Command of the Troops to be raised against the French, dated likewise on the 8th November ; Two Letters from George Croghan-one of the 16th October and another of the 23d November ; Two Letters from Daniel Clause, one to Mr. Hamilton and another to Mr. Peters, dated the 29th of October last; A Letter from John Harris, of Paxtang, dated the 29th of October, giving an account of the Half King's Death.

Letter from Sr. Thomas Robinson. " WHITEHALL, July 5th, 1754.

" Sir :

" Your Letter of the twenty-fifth of November last in Answer to

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the Earl of Holdernesse's of the twenty-cight of August, having been received and laid before the King, I am to acquaint you that it is his Majesty's express command that you should in Obedi- ence thereto not only Act Vigorously in the Defence of the Govern- ment under your Care, but that you should likewise be aiding and assisting his Majestie's other American Colonies to repel any hostile Attempts made against them, and it was with great surprize that the King observed your total silence upon that part of His Majesty's Orders which relate to a concert with other Colonies, which you must be sensible is now become more essentially neces- sary for their common Defence, since the Account received by you from Major Washington with regard to the Hostilities committed by the French upon the River Ohio, which verify in Fact what was apprehended when the Earl of Holdernesse Wrote so fully to you in August last, and which might have been in a great measure if not totally prevented, had every one of his Majestie's Governments ex- exerted themselves according to those directions, the observance whereof I am now by the King's Command to enforce you in the strongest manner. I am,

" Sir, Your most obedient humble Servt., " THOMAS ROBINSON,

Letter from Governor Dinwiddie. " WILLIAMSBURG, November 8th, 1754. " Sir :

" I have the Pleasure of Your Letter of the 12th October last, and I take this opportunity of congratulating you on your safe Arrival at your Government, and I sincerely wish You health and all the Blessings due to a good Governor.

"Our Assembly met last Month, and after strong Solicitations and Arguments they have voted 20,000 to enable me to conduct the necessary Expedition. His Majesty was also graciously pleased to send me 10,000 in Specie, and appointed Mr. Sharp to Command in Chief the combined Forces against the French on the Ohio. He has been here and consulted Measures for the operations, either this Winter or early in the Spring, which he will be Judge off when he gets to the Camp, where I presume he will soon be there.

"I am in Consequence of above Supplies raising of Levies to send to Wills' Creek with all Expedition; but I must observe, the above Supplies will come far short in Answering the End in driving the French from the Ohio, as I think not less than 250 Men can be employed to do the Business Essentially. It gave me much surprize to see in Your Papers that Your Assembly is adjourned VOL. VI .- 12.

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till the Second of next Month without granting any Assistance; I am sorry they should have desired it when the Enemy is so near our Frontiers ; and if supplies were now granted the time is short enough to make proper Preparations, even if the Expedition be re- tarded to the Spring.

" Pray, Sir, endeavour to rouse them from their Lethergie, Su- pineness, to their Duty to the best of Kings and to their own Pre- servation ; my Eyes have been strongly fixed on Your Province for a considerable Aid, and am still in Hopes that I shall not be dis- appointed.

"A Colony of Your Riches and great Number of Inhabitants to remain unactive in so imminent danger surprizes me, and must all well-wishers to these Colonies. Though they may plead some re- ligious Tenets for their Excuse, yet as there are great Numbers in the Province that are not of so unjust and unreasonable Tenets as to run the Risque of loosing their Lives, Liberties, and Properties, it may reasonably be expected that a considerable Force & an agreeable supply should be granted by your Assembly ; and tho' they are late in doing it, yet I hope at least they will shew them- selves good Subjects and attend to the Law of Nature Self-Pre- servation.

"I am sorry for the Death of the Half King, but hope Monea- tootha will supply his place well, with a strong respect to the Eng- lish Interest. I have ordered a considerable present (to Wills' Creek) for him and the Indians that are with him. I have no doubt but that the French will infest our Frontiers with small De- tachments from the Fort on the Ohio. I have ordered a Company of Fifty Men for their protection, and have directed the Lieutenants of our Frontier Counties to raise Numbers of the Militia, as Occa- sion or Intelligence may reach them, to oppose the malicious de- signs of our Enemies. It will be much pleasure to me to keep up a strict Correspondence with You, as it may tend to the Service of the Crown and these Colonies.

"I wish You a happy, easy, and long Government, and am with great Respect,

"Sir, Your most Obedient humble Servant, "ROBERT DINWIDDIE."

Letter from Governor Sharpe. " ANNAPOLIS, November the 8th, 1754.

« Sir :

" I have received the favour of Your Letter acquainting me with Your safe Arrival in Your Government, upon which I very heartily congratulate You, and most sincerely wish you much Ease and

the

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Satisfaction in your Administration. Your early Declaration that you will always make it your Business to promote His Majestie's Service and the Interest of these Colonies, that You will freely communicate to me the Measures that you shall esteem likely to contribute to that end is highly agreeable to mne, as it gives me an oppertunity of assuring You that I will make it my Study to de- serve your Confidence, and that Your advice in any thing that might concern the Public Service will with me always have the greatest Weight and Influence. You are, I presume, no Stranger to His Majestie's having been pleased to honour me with a Commission to take the Command of the Forces that may be raised for ye Defence of these Colonies against the Encroachments and Invasion of his Majestie's Enemies, and from your generous professions I flatter myself with hopes that nothing will be wanting on your part to enable me to Execute his Majestie's Commission with some Reputa- tion, and repel the Danger that at this time threatens us. It would be, I am persuaded, impertenant in me to insist on or even to hint the fatal Consequences that must attend our conniving at the En. croachments the French have lately made on his Majestie's Do- minions in this part of the Continent, or suffering them to remain Masters of the Forts which they have built on the Frontiers of that Province. Of this you are extreamly sensible, and I will not doubt but your Assembly, when they meet again, will shew a just regard to our Recommendation of the Service to their Consideration, and will manifest their Patriotism by granting such Supplies as the Exigency of Affairs and the Danger that threatens their Country does at this Time demand ; indeed without large Assistance from them and the Neighbouring Colonies .I dispair of answering in the, least his Majestie's Expectations and Royal Intention in bonouring me with such a Commission, and shall be under the disagreeable Necessity of excusing my failure or Inaction, and attribute them to the want of such Succors as his Majesty, by his Secretary, gives me room to expect from his good and loyal American Subjects. Shou'd my hopes of your Assembly's Disposition prove well grounded, You will be kind enough to advise me by express thereof, and acquaint me in what manner you judge they will be most in- clined to afford Us their Assistance, that I may regulate ny Conduct or lay my Plan of Operations accordingly. I would be much obliged to you for endeavouring to get me Intelligence of the Number of the Enemy at Wenango and their Fort on Buffeloe River, of the Situation and Strength of which I have in vain endeavoured to get a particular description. I should be also glad to learn whether there is any Road yet opened from the back Settlements in Penn- sylvania to any of these places, and whether it would be imprac- ticable to convey Provisions thither from your Province either in Summer or the Winter Season. I returned last Sunday from Wil- liamsburg, where I left the Virginia Assembly sitting; they had granted the Sum of £20,000 for the Service, and were proceeding

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to prepare a Bill levying a Number of Forces at once in that Pro- vince by obliging each County to furnish a certain Quota.

"I am, Sir, with the greatest Esteem,

" Your most obedient humble Servant,

" HORº. SHARPE."

Letter from Mr. Croghan. " AUGHWICK OLD TOWN, October 16th, 1754.

" Sir :

"Two Days ago came here an old Man of the Six Nations from the French Fort on the Ohio, and brought with him a very large Belt of Black Wampum with a Speech made on it by one of the Six Nations who lives with the Commandent in the Fort. The Speech was to desire those Indians to return immediately to the Ohio and settle themselves under their Father's Arm, where they might be shure to be fed & Cloathed with great Plenty, and when there their Wives and Children wou'd be safe from the Attacks of any Enemy, as they have plainly seen this Summer that no Enemy can stand before their Father the French.

"The same Man sent me the Inclosed String of Wampum to desire me at my Peril not to interfere and stop those Indians from going home to their own Country. Those Indian's Answer was that they never would return in Peace with the French; but that they expected to live yet on the Ohio Lands, which Lands justly belongs , to them and their Brethren the English, and not to the French. By every Indian that comes down from the Ohio we hear of great Preparations making by the French to attack the back Inhabitants in small Partics, in hopes, I suppose, to put a Stop to any English Army marching out this fall, which I think they need not dread. Colonel Innis has Built a Fortification at the Mouth of Wills' Creek opposite to the New Store called Fort Mount Pleasant. He has invited the Indians that is here to go to see him and receive a Pre- sent from the Government of Virginia which he will deliver them. They set off to-Morrow, but leaves their Women and Children here behind till they return, which they expect will be in ten Days.

" You have heard of the Half King's Death I suppose, which has been much lamented by all the Indians; as Colonal Innis had sent for them I was obliged to make a Condolance Speech to them and a present of Goods to cover his Grave in the name of the Gov- ernor of this Province, as they cou'd not see the Road nor hear what the Governor of Virginia had to say to them till that Cere- mony had been done.

"I am, Sir, your most humble Servant,

GEO. CROGHAN."

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A Letter from George Croghan to Governor Morris. " NOVEMBER, 23d, 1754,

"May it please your Honour :

" Four Days ago an Indian Man called Canghenstain, of the Dela- ware Nation, who has been gone Six Weeks to the French Fort as a Spy, returned and brings an Account that there was 1,100 French came to the Fort on Ohio and 70 French Indians called Orun- dox, and that there was more French at the head of Ohio and 300 Indians of the Coniwagos and Outaways, which was ex- pected every day when he left the Fort. They have brought eight more Cannoes with them. He says that the French sent out three small parties of Indians against the English Settle- ments before he left that, but where they are Destined he cou'd not find out. He likewise says that there is 300 French Families settling at the Twightwee Town and thereabouts, which is a fine Country lying on this side the South-West end of Lake Erie. This News he had from a Man of his Nation who saw them and had bought three Cows from them. This News makes the Indians here very uneasy, at whose Instance I am obliged to trouble your Honour with this Express. The Indians who went to the Camp at Virginia to Treat with that Government Returned fifteen Days ago with a Present of Goods, and in 10 days ten Men returned to the Camp to stay there the Winter and Act as Scouts. Monacathotha and another Chief sets off at the return of this Express for the Onon- dago Country, and proposes leaving the rest of the People here the Winter, about One hundred and eighty in Number, big and little, at the Expence of the Government. I am

" Your honour's most humble and most obedient Servant, " GEO. CROGHAN.

"P. S .- I understand the reason of the French making those great preparations this Winter is from a report one of the Deserters from the Virginia Regiment took there this Summer, that there was Four thousand of his Majesty's Troops coming from England to Virginia to act this fall in the Expedition."

Extract from a Letter to the late Governor from Mr. Daniel Clause in October, 1754.

"To give your Honour an Account of all the false and unjust Stories the French spread among the Six Nations about Washing- ton's defeat wou'd take more than one Sheet. The only Remedy for the English to convince the Indians of the contrary will be to shew them at once that they can do more by Strength than the French with their idle Stories, but the sooner the better, otherwise

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the French will gain so much by it as to gain all the Indians in their Alliance, which then may prove a very hard Task to get the better of them, particularly as their is a confirmed Account of a great many of the Six Nations being gone lately to Canada, not- withstanding the Commissioners thought to have stopped them from going, but they neither fear nor regard them, and by what I under- stand by the Interpreter many of them resolved not to listen to what was desired or sent to them by the Commissioners, but their Fire was burning at Colonel Johnson's. The last Treaty of Peace they made with the French Indians seems quite odd and unnatural, as they used the Terms, that in case a War should break out they would refuse Acting, neither should they listen if the King of France would desire their Assistance; when they came to the Mohawks they had their Joke about it and called them Fools; by what I understand their real Scheme was to draw the Mohawks with them, and actually prevailed upon several Families to go along.

" A true Copy. · " RICHARD PETERS.

" Mr. Clause lives with Hendrick, the Mohawk Chief, at the upper Mohock Castle."

A Letter from Mr. Daniel Clause to Mr. Peters. "CANAJOHAREE CASTLE, 8ber. 29th., 1754.

" Honoured Sir :-

"You'll have doubtless received my Letter from September last by an opportunity going to York. I wou'd make it my Incum- brance to acquaint your Honour of my living now with Henry the Sachem of this Castle. I translated your Letter to him and he promised to fulfill what layd in his Power, & thanks you for the Confidence you put in him, and will send you an Answer by the next opportunity with all the News and other Affairs which hap- pened this good while past.

" I can't give your Honour any extraordinary News except what I heard by the way of Oswego, that there was about one hundred of the Six Nations gone to Canada. They told the People that asked them about their going that it was of no bad Consequence and they need not be afeard of any thing, they wou'd take care of themselves; by what People can conceive it is more out of fear as the French go on in such active & Rash a manner, they say there never was the like seen how quick the said Nations turned after Col. Washington's defeat; it is even since confirmed by different Accounts that there was but two French Men and one Indian killed in the said Action, and that the English had been most all drunk.

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"The 20th Instant arrived here two Indians from Ohio which brought a Letter from Cayenquireko'a in the Name of the half King and Skar'onyada to Hendrick, wherein he Speaks to the Six Nations and says that the News came among 'em that the French King called all his Indians together, and was agoing out with a great Party in order to encounter the English who wou'd not listen to his Proposals, but was going to do Mischief, he therefore wou'd meet them at the Mountains; that there was 400 Indians as Caghnawas, Orendax and River Indians or Akotsaganes, with him.

" He tells us in the Letter that the Six Nations shou'd not make one Day's delay to rise for their Assistance, and gives an Account of their Brethren now in Alliance with them, who was the Twightwees, Kosagas, Chickasas, Cherokees, Catawbas, Tshiyayktagh, and Wean- nat, which he says was all in the English Interest, and were they to meet in a Body about January at Tiyonderago he reflects to the Six Nations what strong an Arm they wou'd have against the French in case the Eastern Indians wou'd Joyn as well as the Western, and concludes with encouraging the Six Nations not to neglect their Lives, and adds that the Half King alias Tohanaghrieshoe, Skaroe- yade, and him Cayenquirekoa, wou'd live and die with the English.

"Henry sent the News imediately among the Six Nations. I dare say if the Said Nations were properly managed so that they might be acquainted of the Forces the English have, and assured of being assisted by them in case of need, such delusions of the French wou'd never take place.

"I remember to have read in one of Coll. Johnson's Journals among the Six Nations last War, when he had an Account of the said Nations being ready to go to Canada, where he told them by a large Belt that they might be assured of his Assistance with a suffi- cient Party of Men in case of Need ; at the same time he expected and desired by that Belt that none of them should pretend to go to Canada, and that any one that would trangress his desire he must look at as an Enemy, and by the first Oppertunity would reward him as an Enemy deserv'd; whereupon, after a long and serious Con- sultation they agreed to his Desire, and none of them were heard of to have been there, &ca.

" I have not since my last heard any thing about * Lydius's Purchase except that the Oneidas have :* * also; I suppose Henry will mention something in his Letter when he writes. I am in the meanwhile with due Respect,

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI, Part 19

Author: Publication date: 1838 Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814