USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 21
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" Be pleased, therefore, Gentlemen, when you frame another Bill to consider whether it would not be better on all Accounts to aug- ment the Sum proposed to be given, since this will go but a very little way towards expelling the French from our Borders and de- fending our Frontiers from the Incursions of their Indians.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
"December 18, 1754."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday, 19th December, 1754.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
John Penn, William Logan,
Robert Strettell, Richard Peters,
Esquires.
His Honour informed the Council that Scarroyady an Oneida In- dian, who succeeds Tanachrisson or the Half King in the Direction of Indian Affairs at Aughwick was come to Town along with Two other Indians in their Way to Onondago, and that they had brought with them one John Davison an Indian Trader, who they said spoke the Indian Language extremely well and could interpret for them, and that they desired to be heard in Council to-Day. As John Davison was a Stranger, the Governor ordered Michael Taffe, an- other Indian Trader who spoke the Indian Language, to attend the Council that he might assist in the Interpretation.
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The Indians came in and took their Seats, Vizt. :
Scarroyady, an Oneida Chief.
Jagrea, a Mohawk, his Son-in-Law. Aroas, a Seneca Warrior, a Young Man. John Davison, Michael Taffe, S Interpreters.
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The Governor ordered the Interpreters to tell the Indians that he was glad to see them and took this Visit very kind, that he supposed they had met a Messenger going to Aughwick by whom he had sent a Message to Scarroyady to be delivered to the Six Nations, but he was much better pleased with the Opportunity of delivering it to himself in Person, and was obliged to him for his Friendship in Coming, and was now ready to hear what he should be pleased to communicate to the Council:
Then Scarroyady spoke as follows :
" Brother Onas-
"I am employed by King George, the Governor of Virginia, and the Governor of Pennsylvania.". Then holding up a Belt he said, "this is from King George and the Governor of Virginia ;" and then shewing another he said, "this is from Pennsylvania," and he thanked the Almighty that they and he had but one Heart and one Mind.
" Brother:
" It has pleased God to call away one of our Friends and Coun- sellors. Before he dyed it was concluded that I should go to the Six Nations and look into their Houses, particularly the Houses of the Oneidas. I was to be sent to appear at their Doors and just look in to see who were our Friends among the Six Nations. " Brother :
"What I am now going to say is in the Character of a Warrior. I lay down the Counsellor and take up the Warrior. I shall speak from my Heart. Believe me I shall speak from my heart. My Thoughts are ruminating upon Old Times. I am revolving in my Breast the Fate of our Forefathers from antient Times down to this Day. Multitudes of Sculls, some of our Forefathers, some of our Brethen, lye on Heaps before my Eyes. I see large Quantities of dry Bones; those who animated them were all destroyed by our Enemies. This sad vision, these doleful Thoughts, I intend to re- late to the Six Nations when I look into their Doors. All that I have said to you I will say to them, and if they are not infatuated they will take into Consideration the Deaths of their Forefathers killed by the Enemy, and conclude to join with me in assisting our Brethren. Whatever Answer they give me, whether good or bad, I will tell it you faithfully as I return.
"I take hold of this Belt and go to my numerous Friends over
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the Ohio as soon as ever I return, and shall impart unto them all the News I get among the Six Nations. I will convene them alto- gether. I will embody them. They will all join against the French.
" Brother :
Holding up a Belt with an Hatchet in it he proceeded to say : "This Belt was sent by the Governor of Virginia and delivered by Capt. Trent. You see in it the Representation of an Hatchet. It was an Invitation to us to join with and assist our Brethren to re- pel the French from the Ohio. At the Time it was given there were but Four or Five of us, and we were all that knew any thing about the Matter; when we got it we put it into a private Pocket on the inside of our Garment. It lay next to our Breasts.
" As we were on the Road going to Council with our Breth- ren, a Company of French, in Number thirty-one, overtook us and desired us to go and Council with them ; and when we refused they pulled us by the Arm and almost stripped the Chain of Covenant from off it, but still I would suffer none to go with them. We thought to have got before them but they passed us, and when we saw they endeavored to break the Chain of Friendship I pulled this Belt out of my Pocket and look'd at it and saw there this Hatchet, and then went and told Coll. Washington of these thirty-one French Men, and We and a few of our Brothers fought with them. Ten were killed and Twenty-one were taken alive whom we delivered to Coll. Washington, telling him that we had blooded the Edge of his Hatchet a little.
"Davison said he was in the Action and that there were but Eight Indians who did most of the Execution that was done. Coll. Washington and the Half-King differed much in Judgment, and on the Collonel's refusing to take his Advice the English and Indians separated. After which the Indians discovered the French in an Hollow and hid themselves, lying on their Bellies behind a Hill ; afterwards they discovered Coll. Washington on the opposite Side of the Hollow in the Gray of the Morning, and when the English fired, which they did in great Confusion, the Indians came out of their Cover and closed with the French and killed them with their Tomhawks, on which the French surrendered."
After this Relation of Davison Scarroyady proceeded, taking another belt in his Hand, which he said was sent by Pennsylvania to enquire of them what Number of Indians lived to the West of the Ohio, in whose Alliance, of what Strength, and of what Dispo- sition they were.
" Brother Onas :
"The Delawares, Shawonese, Owendats, and Twightwees are our Allies; we expect they are in full Friendship with us; you may depend on the Truth of what I say, they are our fast Friends. 1
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take your and their Speech along with me to the Six Nations to have it confirmed. , All these Nations send a Message by me to assure the Six Nations of their Friendship. Their Message catch'd me just as I was setting out to go to the Six Nations. I am not going there of my own Head or at the request of the Ohio Indians only. They have often invited me to come; they insist upon it that I shall come; they have sent importunate Messages to me to come."
Then holding up two Belts to which were tied several Strings of Wampum, he said :
"Brother Onas-
" All these are Messages from the Camp at Wills' Creek. The Purport of which is do desire us to be at Peace together; not to mind any Thing of War; to lie by and not meddle at all with the War. But you must know these Speeches were made to us in Publick that all might hear them and think of us in this Manner and so speak of us to the French ; but in private we have had other Talk. We are Warriors -- they know it, and what is in our secret Purposes."
Then holding up another Belt he said :
" Brother :
"This is one of your Belts to the Delawares and Shawanese which I take with me to the Six Nations, and intend to tell them how kind you have been to them and all of us on the Ohio."
Then holding up two Belts and a String he said :
" Brother :
"These are French Belts given on the following occasion : when the French first came on this side of the Lakes with an Army I went to them with some Young Men and paid my Father a Com- pliment and bade him welcome. After which I divulged in a few Words what my Errand was to him. Father, I said, I am come to take you by the Hand and lead you and a few of your Men with you to Council, but I must entreat you will, leave your Army behind; it is not proper or by any means suitable to go to Council with a great Army. Your Children would be afraid to see an Army take their Seats at the Council Fire. This might terrify them. Father hear me : I will go to my Brethren of Pennsylvania and represent this matter to them, and prevail with a few of them to meet my Father in Council; then they may confer together, and in so doing bring about a Peace; for now we are afraid of our Lives, hearing every Day of such Disturbances and Tumults, and all this done by .our Father in a Country that belongs to us, to the Six Nations, and our Brethren the English." To which the French Commander an- swered :
"Child-
" I thank you for coming here to take me by the Hand and lead-
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ing me to Council. I thank you very kindly, but Child it is a thing impossible for you or any Man to take me by the Hand. I am very . strong, and the Matter of great Weight that I am about. If in- fernal Spirits were to come out of the Ground and pretend to take me by the Arm and lead me against my Will, they could not do it. No, Legions of Devils could not do it. They might pull my Arm from my Shoulder but they could not move my Body, it is too Heavy. To make my Children on the Ohio quite easy about this Matter I declare to you that I am determined to go down the Ohio to the very mouth of it, not all at once but by Degrees. I will first go to the side of the Lake, there I will build one Fort, after that I will cross over the Land to the Head of Buffelo River, there I will build another strong House. From thence I will decend the Ohio to the Mouth of Mohongialo River and there build another. I shall go very smoothly down the Stream to this Place and make it very Strong. After this I shall become heavier, and of myself by my own Weight be carried down the Stream to Kushusky or Canni- angoy."
" The other Day the French Commander sent some of the Six Nation Indians, who are along with him, with this String to the In- dians at Aughwick with the following Speech :
"'Come my Children take Pity of your Father in his Old Days and look back to your former Dwellings. I have made a Messenger of one of your own People to go to George Croghan and to lift you up in his Arms and bring you with him and set you down where you used to live.'
" But we made him this Reply :
"' Father :
" This is a Notice of your Intentions, but be pleased to take a Word of Advice when you shall think proper to put it in Execution and send any one to take Us up in his Arms and carry Us to your Fort, be sure let him have strong Hands, for we shall certainly re- sist him, and if he is not very Strong neither We nor He shall return to the Fort. And we said to the Messenger, Brother you belong to Us; We hate the French; if it had been otherwise we would never have left the River but have staid in our own Houses ; But why does the Commander talk of leading Us under the Arm and setting Us down on the Ohio and stopping there? If he will or can carry us away with him, tell him he ought to carry us to the Six Nation Country and set us down there-this he has not strength to do, and tell him from us that after he hears this Declaration of ours he will not attempt it.'
" Brother Onas :
" I am now going to tell you what we are going to do with the French Wampum and Belts. As to the Wampum which the In- dian brought to Aughwick we shall throw it behind us (here he
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made Signs of throwing away the Wampum with great Contempt), and as to the Belt upon which Four Forts are painted, notwith- standing all his bold Speeches there may be Stones rolled down the River heavy enough to knock down those Forts and in the tumble they may crush many of his People that stand on the Ground. The Almighty knows what opportunity I shall have of seeing my Father, but when I see him I will roll the Belt up and give it him back and say, take this Father, I have no use for it, I will do this which is yet unknown to you and the Six Nations; I have told it you, and I am going to tell it them.
" Brother Onas :
"I am going to Onondago to desire the Six Nations in the Name of King George to send Deputies in the Spring to Winchester to hear what the Great King has to say to them and to confer on the Situation of Affairs. The more Provinces join in this Invitation the better. I shall be glad to carry your Commands and those of Tocarrigoan, Governor of Maryland, and join them to the Virginia Belt. You are all one People, and I thank God you and I are one Flesh and Blood. Let us all then join together. I will see what is doing at Onondago and come and let you all know it. I have now done, but Jagrea has some Messages to deliver which are of great Importance, be pleased to hear him."
Then Jagrea spoke as follows :
""'Brother-
""' An Indian called the Turtle, one of the Chiefs of the Twigh- twees, was sent with a Message to the Six Nations on the Ohio and the English, and came as far as Log's Town, but finding it deso- lated by his Brethren he delivered it to a Mohock Indian called the Song; and to the Shawonese who were at the Place this is what he said :
"'Brothers-
"' Be Strong and strike the French, and drive them from these Waters. We the Twightwees have struck the French and killed Fifty of them. We desire all Nations may be strong. The Twigh- twees, Piankishaws, Waywawjachtanows, and Muskoos, and all the Indians to the West, desire you to be quick and strike the French; cut them down now whilst they are Young and Tender-do not suffer them to grow to be large Trees.'
"The Shawanese, to whom this Speech was delivered by the Turtle, made Answer that they could do nothing till they should hear from the Six Nations and their Brethren the English, who had requested them to keep still and do nothing against the French till they should hear further from them.
: " This passed between the Turtle and the Shawanese in the ` presence of the Mohock Indian called the Song. Now I will
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tell you a discourse that passed between the Twightwees and Owendats :
A Discourse the Twightwees had with the Owendats.
""Brethren the Owendats :
""" We thank God that we see one another a piece once more ; we all may begin and condole one another's miserable Condition on the Account of the great Distance we live apart. We understand that you are in a miserable Condition here. You dare not Stir nor rise off your Seats for fear of your Father the French. We can't look about but our Father has a Rod over our Head, and it is all on the Account of the Love that we bear to the English. Come, Bretheren, the Sun is nigh setting and Darkness is approaching. We will lay Hands on you and others will lay Hands on us, and well all March off to the Sun rising, where the Day Light is ap- pearing, for here we have no Priviledge of any News, nor can hear good things as we used to do from our Brethren.' "Brothers :
" This Speech of the Twightwees was very pleasing to the War- riors of the Owendats, but not to their Chief, who is inclinable to the French ; without consulting him the Warriors sent this Message by me to Onas :
"'Brother Onas :
""'I am employed by the Warriors of the Owendats to come Ex- press to You. They desire their Brethren not to have any Notion in their Hearts that we have slipped from them; but that though we are at present still, yet we are strongly bound in the Chain of Friendship with them. We will not hear the Delusions of the French our Father, but we expect to appear out of the Ground among our Bretheren. We shall go in the Spring to Winchester, but no Body is to know any thing of it more than that we are going a Hunting or to deal with our Bretheren, but when in the Woods we will turn our Faces to Winchester.'
" Names of the Warriors.
" Tahati, " Juchquarora,
Jochtaris, Atirunta.
" They desired me not to make Publick what they intend. Every Speech is to pass under the Ground and come up at the Spot where it was intended to be delivered, and no where else."
Scarroyady said they had now finish'd all they had to say.
Then the Governor let them know that the Assembly was sitting, and that he would communicate what they Had said to the House and consult with them thereupon.
After Council Scarroyady in private let the Governor know that Jagrea was willing either to proceed with him to the Six Nations or to return to the Owendats.
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Mr. Peters was sent by the Governor with a verbal Message to the Assembly, setting forth the substance of what was said by the Indians, and to know of them what they would advise the Governor to do with respect to the Meeting at Winchester and the return of Jagrea to the Owendats, which was delivered accordingly in the Afternoon, and as soon as the House rose the Speaker inform'd him that the House approved of the Meeting at Winchester and advised the Governor to invite the Six Nations there. They likewise thought it would be better for Jagrea to be asked to return to the Owendats.
The Governor laid before the Council a Letter he receiv'd last Night from Sir Thomas Robinson in these Words :
" WHITEHALL, October 26, 1754. " Sir :
" Having informed you in my Letter of July 5th that the King had under his Royal Consideration the State of Affairs in North America, I am now to acquaint you that amongst other Measures that are thought proper for the Defence of his Majestie's just Rights and Dominions in those parts the King has not only been pleased to order two Regiments of Foot, consisting of Five hundred Men each besides commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers, com- manded by Sir Peter Halkett and Collonel Dunbar, to repair to Vir- ginia and to be there augmented to the number of Seven Hundred each, but likewise to send Orders to Governor Shirley and Sir Wil- liam Pepperell to raise two Regiments, whereof they are respectively appointed Colonels, of One Thousand Men each, and also to sign Commissions for a number of Officers to serve in the said two Regi- ments, and who will forthwith repair to North America for that 1 Purpose.
" Whereas there will be wanting a considerable Number of Men to make up the designed Complements of the said four Regiments, it is his Majesty's Pleasure that you should be taking the previous Steps towards contributing as far as you can to have about Three Thousand Men in readiness to be inlisted, and it is his Majesty's Intention that a General Officer of Rank and Capacity to be ap- pointed to Command in Chief all the King's Forces in North America, a Deputy Quarter-Master-General, and a Commissary of the Musters, shall set out as soon as conveniently may be in order to provide every thing for the Arrival of the Forces above mention'd from Europe and for the raising of the others in America.
" You will receive from that General and the other Officers just mention'd a full and exact Account of the Arms, Cloathing, and other Necessaries to be sent upon this important Occasion, as like- wise of the Ordnance Stores and of the Officers and Attendants be- longing thereto, all which being ordered for this Service are such Proofs of his Majesty's Regard for the Security and Welfare of his Subjects in those Parts as cannot fail to excite you to exert yourself
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and those under your Care to take the most vigorous Steps to repel your Common Danger, and to shew that the King's Orders which were sent you last year by the Earl of Holdernesse, and were re- newed to you in my Letter of the fifth of July, have at last rouz'd that Emulation and Spirit which every Man owes at this time to his Majesty, the Public, and himself. The King will not, therefore, imagine that either you or the rest of his Governors will suffer the least Neglect or Delay in the performance of the present Service now strongly recommended to you, particularly with Regard to the following Points, Vizt. :
" That you should carefully provide a sufficient Quantity of fresh Victuals at the Expence of your Government, to be ready for the use of the Troops at their Arrival.
" That you should likewise furnish the Officers who may have Occasion to go from Place to Place with all Necessaries for travel- ling by Land, in case there are no means of going by Sea; And that you should use your utmost Diligence and Authority in procuring an exact Observance of such Orders as shall be issued from Time to Time by the Commander-in-Chief for quartering the Troops, im- pressing Carriages, and providing all Necessaries for such Forces as shall arrive or be raised within your Government.
" As the Articles above-mentioned are of a local and peculiar Nature, and arising entirely within your Government, it is almost needless for me to acquaint you that his Majesty will expect that the Charge thereof be defrayed by his Subjects belonging to the same. But with regard to such other Articles which are of a more general concern, it is the King's Pleasure that the same should be supplied by a common Fund to be established for the Benefit of all . the Colonies collectively in North-America, for which Purpose you will use your utmost Endeavours to induce the Assembly of your, Province to raise forthwith as large a Sum as can be afforded as their Contribution to this common Fund, to be employed provision- ally for the general Service of North-America (particularly for pay- ing the Charge of levying the Troops to make up the Compliment of the Regiments above-mentioned), untill such time as a Plan of general Union of his Majestie's Northern Colonies for their common Defence can, be perfected.
"You will carefully confer, or correspond, as you shall have Op- pertunities, upon every thing relative to the present Service, with, the said General Sir William Peperell and Governor Shirley, or either of them; and as it is the King's Intention to give all proper En- couragement to such Persons who shall engage to serve upon this, Occasion, you will acquaint all such Persons in the King's Name that they will receive Arms and Cloathing from hence, and that they shall be sent back (if desired) to their respective Habitations when the Service in America shall be over.
" As the several Governors in all the King's Provinces and Colo-
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nies in North-America will receive by this Conveyance a Letter to the same Effect with this which I now send you, they will be pre- pared at the same time to obey his Majesty's Commands. And I am to direct you to correspond with all or either of them occasionally, as you shall find it expedient for the General Service.
" I am, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, "THOMAS ROBINSON."
And after a long Consultation on the Subject of the said Letter, the following Message to the Assembly was drawn by the Gov- ernor and approved by the Council, and sent to the House by the Secretary :
"Gentlemen-
"The Secretary will lay before you a Letter I receiv'd last Night from Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's principal Secre- taries of State, notifying to me his Majesty's gracious Intention to send two Regiments of Foot from Ireland, to be compleated in America, and to raise two others in this Country, to be commanded by his Excellency Governor Shirley & and Sir William Pepperell, for the Defence of his Majesty's just Rights and Dominions.
" His Majesty will appoint a General Officer of Rank and Capa- city to take upon him the Command in Chief of all his Forces in North America, who will soon be here with a Deputy Quarter- Master-General and Commissary of the Musters, in order to pre-, pare every thing for the Arrival of the Forces. His Majesty has been also graciously pleased to order Arms, Cloathing, and other Necessaries, to be sent hither upon the present important Occasion, aud likewise Ordnance Stores, and Officers and Attendants belong- ging thereto.
" Such Proofs of His Majesty's gracious and paternal Regard and Affection for the Welfare and Security of his Subjects in North America cannot fail to excite the warmest Returns of Duty and Gratitude in the Breast of every Man that Regards his Country, his Family, or himself. And it gives me particular Pleasure that we are now sitting in General Assembly, as we have thereby not only an early opportunity of testifying the grateful Sense we have of His Majesty's Care and Protection, but of exerting ourselves in the Service of our Country at this important Conjuncture, and setting a proper Example to the other Colonies.
"You will observe by the Secretary of State's Letter that it is his Majesty's Pleasure we should contribute as far as we can to the having about three thousand Men in readiness to enlist; that we should provide a Quantity of Fresh Provisions for the Troops, and Neces- saries for the Officers that may have occasion to travel by Land; that the Orders to be issued by the Commander-in-Chief for quar- tering the Soldiers and impressing Carriages should be carried into
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exact Execution, and that all Necessaries should be provided for such Troops as shall arrive or be raised within this Government.
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