USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 28
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" Several Gentlemen gave it as their Opinion that the Result of the Committee in regard to Charter would be either in some time to put such men at the Head of Government (of which by the Voice of the Populace they have an Annual Oppertunity) as would Con- firm their Indian Title, or that One or Two of the Committee would
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Early in the Spring go to England and Solicit his Majesty for a Charter of Incorporation of the Same Tenor with the Old, which for Various considerations they made no doubt they should Obtain. " JOHN ARMSTRONG.
" Philadelphia, 11th December, 1754."
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Governor Fitch's Letter to Governor Morris. " NORWALK, 29th November, 1754. " Sir :
" Your Favour of the 20th Instant by Mr. Armstrong I received yesterday, and should be glad it was in my Power to do more Ser- vice than I am at present able to afford, to prevent the ill Conse- quences You have so well pointed out as proceeding from the Pur- chase of those Lands on Sasquehannah, in the manner in which some People of this Colony have presumed to act I am very sensible that to take any Steps to disaffect the Indians in our Alliance, or to raise Contests between the Governments at this critical Conjuncture must be prejudicial to his Majesty's Interest, and greatly detrimental to the Safety and Peace of these Governments, and therefore ought to be opposed by all. I persuade myself, Sir, that You believe I shall use what Influence and Interest I can against such Proceedings. Indeed I must confess myself to be unacquainted with the Scheme . proposed by those Persons, and know but very little about the Steps they have taken, as they never made any Application to the Gor- ernment about the Matter; and who the Persons concerned be or where they live I know not, but only in general I have been in- formed some live in this Government, and I suppose the greatest Number some in England, some in New York, the Jersey, and elsewhere. When Governor Wolcot made public Governer Ham- ilton's Letter about this Affair, I imagined it would have discouraged the further Proceedings in that matter, but by what I have heard it had not in general that Effect; however I know of no better Way with Us at present than to represent the State of the Case in some publick manner, by which all Persons concerned may see the Consequences of such a Procedure ; and it will be needless for me to hint what may be proper to be done in your Government in such case. I shall, therefore, lay this Matter before our Assembly for their Consideration, and shall, as I have Opportunity, endeavour, as far as lies in my Power, to shew the Peril attending such Trans- actions. If any Thing worthy of Notice occurs shall further advise You; in the meantime Remain
· " Your most obedient humble Servant,
" THOS. FITCH."
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A Letter to Governor Morris from William Alexander, Esquire. " NEW YORK, December 1, 1754.
" Hond Sir :
" I was honored with the Receipt of your Letter by Mr. Arm- strong, who set out for New England last Tuesday. I expect him here again to-morrow or next day, for I hear Governor Fitch is at home at Norwalk. Your Letter to that Gentleman I think is a very proper one. Mr. Armstrong told me that you desired him to get the dates of the Grants to the North and South Virginia Companies. Both Grants are in one Instrument, dated 10th April, 1606; but I think can be made no use of against the Connecticut Charter, for altho' the Country from the 34° to the 45º of N. Latitude be men- tioned in it, yet the grants were for but 100 Miles square to each Company wherever they would Chuse it within those Limitts. The South Virginia Company made their Election somewhere on Chese- peak Bay, The other Company made theirs in 1615 at Sadagahook, which is far Eastward of Boston, Consequently what Lands re- mained the Crown had right to grant to whom it pleased.
" But I think it is plain from many things which I have lately seen that it was the Intention of the Crown to Grant to the People of Connecticut only what was ungranted between Massachusets and Plymouth Colonies, and the Dutch of New Netherland; and that the reason for leaving the Connecticut grant so open on the West and South Sides was to give them the Colour of a pretence for Intrudeing on the Dutch, with whom they were then Contesting boundaries. That the Crown understood it so appears from its grant but two years after to the Duke of York, bounded on the East by Connecticut River, of which the Dutch had been possessed, and that the People of Connecticut Understood it so too I think is evi- from the Agreement their Gov". (the very Gent who but two years before obtained that Grant for them) and Commissioners made with the Commissioners appointed by his Majesty and the Duke of York for that purpose, by which they not only settle the line between them and the Duke's Grant, but do affix the Limitts of their Own 'Colony. It is dated 1664, a Copy of it is herewith. Indeed there was another agreement between this Province and that Colony in 1683, but that was founded on the first and was Chiefly to Correct & mistake or rather an imposition of the Commissioners of New England on those of Old England, who had made them believe that & line North North-West from the Mouth of Mamaroneck River would go Clear of 20 Miles on the East side of Hudson's River. A Copy of the Second agreement is also herewith.
"I am, Honoured Sir, your obliged and Humble Servant,
"WM. ALEXANDER."
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" The Bounds of Connecticut issued by his Majesty's Commissioners and the Commissioners appointed by the said Colony.
"By Vertue of his Majesty's Commission We have heard the Difference about the Bounds of the Patents granted to his Royal Highness the Duke of York and his Majesty's Colony of Connecti- cut, and having deliberately considered all the Reasons alledged by Mr. Allen, Sen™-, Mr. Gold, Mr. Richards, and Capt. Winthrop, ap- pointed by the Assembly held at Hartford the 13th October, 1664, to accompany John Winthrop, Esq"., the Governor of his Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, to New York, and to agree upon the Bounds of the said Colony, why the said Long Island should be under the Government of Connecticut (which are too long here to be recited), We do declare and order that the Southern Bounds of his Majesty's Colony of Connecticut is the Sea, and that Long Island is to be under the Government of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, as is ex- pressed by plain Words in the said Patents respectively, and also by Vertue of his Majesty's Commission and by Consent of both the Governors and the Gentlemen above named.
"We also order and declare that the Creek or River called Mamaroneck, which is reputed to be about thirteen Miles to the East of West Chester and a Line drawn from the East Point or side where the fresh Water falls into the salt at High Water mark, North North-West to the Line at the Massachusetts be the West- , ern Bounds of the said Colony of Connecticut, and all Plantations lying Westwards of that Creek and Line so drawn to be under his Royal Highness' Government, and all plantations lying eastward of that Creek and line to be under the Government of Connecticut. Given under our Hands at James' Fort, in New York, on the Island of Manhattens, this First Day of December, 1664.
" RICHARD NICHOLLS, " GEORGE CARTWRIGHT, .
"S. MAVERICKE.
"We the Governors and Commissioners of the General Assembly of Connecticut do give our Consent to the Limits and Bounds above mentioned.
" As Witness our Hands.
"JOHN WINTHROP,
ALLEN, Sen".,
RICHARDS,
- GOLD, "JOHN WINTHROP, Jun".
" SECY'S OFFICE, N. York, Oct"- 21st, 1731.
" A true Copy from the Record,
" FREDK- MORRIS, D. Secretary.
" Minute of Council at Kensington 28th March, 1700."
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" At the Court at Kensington the eight and twentieth day of March, 1700.
" PRESENT :
"The King's most Excellent Majesty.
" Lord Arch Bishop of Canterbury, " Earl of Tankerville,
" Lord Chancellor, "Earl of Jersey,
" Lord President, " Lord Terres,
"Duke of Bolton, " Lord Lexington,
"Lord Great Chamberlain, " Mr. Secretary Vernon,
"Earl of Stampford, " Mr. Montague.
" Whereas, At a Council held at Fort James in New York the three and twentieth day of November, 1683, certain Articles of Agreement were concluded between Collo. Thomas Dungan, then Gov- ernour of that Province, and the Council of the said Province on one side, and Robert Treat, Esqr., Governor of the colony of Connec- ticut, Major Nathaniel Gold, Cap". John Allein, Secretary, and Mr. William Pitkin in commission with him from Connecticut on the other side, in the words following:
"It is agreed that the bounds, meers, or dividend between his Royal Highness' Territories or Province in America and the colony of Connecticut, for ever hereafter, that begin at a certain brook or river called Byram Brook or River, which river is between the towns of Rye and Greenwich (that is to say) at the mouth of the said brook where it falleth into the sound at a point called Lyons Point, to go as the said river runneth to the place where the common road or wading place over the said river is, and from the said road or wading place to go North north-west into the country so far as will be eight English miles from the foresaid Lyons Point, and that a line of twelve miles being measured from the said Lyons Point according to the line or general course of the sound Eastward where the said twelve miles endeth, another line shall be run from the sound eight miles into the country North north-west, and also that a fourth line be run (that is to say) from the northernmost end of the eight miles line, being the third mentioned line, which fourth line with the first mentioned line shall be the bounds where they shall fall to run ; and that from the eastward end of the fourth men- tioned line (which is to be twelve miles in length), a line parallel to Hudson's river in every place twenty miles distant from Hud- son's river shall be the bounds there, between the said Territories or Province of New York and the said colony of Connecticut, so far as Connecticut colony doth extend northward, that is to say to the south line of the Massachusetts colony, it is provided that in case the line from Byram River or Brooks Mouth North north-west eight miles, and the line that is then to run twelve miles to the end of the third forementioned line of eight miles, do diminish or take away land within twenty miles of Hudson's river, that then so
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much as is in land diminished of twenty miles of Hudson's river, thereby shall be added out of Connecticut bounds unto the line aforementioned parallel to Hudson's river, and twenty miles distant from it the addition to be made the whole length of the said parallel line, and in such breadth as will make up Quantity for Quantity what shall be diminished a's aforesaid.
" That what arrcarages are due from the town of Rye to the Colony of Connecticut for former Years and the present year's rate shall be paid to Connecticut.
"That two Surveyors be appointed, the one from New York and the Other from Connecticut, to make a survey and run the forc- mentioned lines, partitions, Limits, and bounds, between his Royal Highness' province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut ; and they the said Surveyors are to meet at the town of Stanford on the first Wednesday in October next ensuing, and to be directed by one of the Council and two more Commissionated from Each Govern- ment.
" That if it shall please the King's Majesty and his Royal High- ness to accept and Confirm these Articles they shall be good to all intents forever Between his Royal Highness, and his heirs and assigns, and the Corporation of Connecticut and their successors, and this Agreement to be good and in full force, power, and Virtue, from the day of the date hereof. In Witness whereof the parties above named have to these presents interchangeably set their hands and seals at Fort James, in New York, the Eight and twentieth day of November, in the thirty-fifth year of his Majesty's Reign, Annoq. Domini, 1683.
" And whereas, in pursuance of the foresaid agreement an actual survey of the land and places therein mentioned was also made and reported by the Surveyors and Commissioners appointed for that service in the words following: 'By virtue and in pursuance of a Commission bearing date the twentieth day of September, 1684, from the Right Honble. Coll1. Thomas, Gov'. General of all his Royal Highness' Territories in America,' &ca. :
"We, under-written, did upon the first Wednesday of this In- stant, Octo", meet at Stanford Major Nathan1. Gold, Cap". Jona". Seleick, Daniel Sheerman, and Mr. Jolın Herriman, Surveyor, Commissionated by a General Court held at Hartford, as by the Commission they produced, bearing date May the Eighth, 1684, doth fully appear. We went to Lyons' Point, on the. East side of Byran River, and from the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the sea we Measured up the said River and found it to be one Mile and a half and twenty rods, bearing North half-Easterly and so came to a great stone at the wading place where the road cuts the said River; thence directed our Course North North-West six miles and a half, and there marked three white Oak Trees as in the margin ; then directed our Course West and by North seven Miles
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and one hundred and twenty rods, which brought us to the North- ernmost end of a reach of Hudson's River, which bears (we judge) south and by west a quarter westerly and North and by East a quarter Easterly, which above said line falls upon the said reach abot three miles above Frederick Philips' upper mills over against Tapan, and the said River bearing north as to its General Course upwards. We concluded the above-Mentioned West and by North line to be the shortest from the said three Marked trees to Hud- son's River, and having unanimously concluded that part of the sound from Lyons' Point Easterly to bear East-north-East, we did from said trees at Eight miles distant run a parallel to the sound, viz": East North-East twelve Miles and still Continued said Twelve Miles line East North-East one Mile and sixty-four Rods, which then gave us twenty Miles from Hudson's River and is Eight miles North North-West from the sound.
"Then finding the Oblong of twelve miles East North-East and Eight miles North North-West did diminish sixty-one thousand four hundred forty Acres from the twenty miles upon Hudson's River, we added to the above said Twenty Miles upon the E. N. E. line three hundred and five rods more to run at the additional breadth parallel to Hudsons' till it meets with the Massachusetts line, which we deemed one hundred distant miles from our Eight miles line, which several Courses with their distances, together with three hundred and five rods added, do clearly appear in the plat by the surveyors drawn and hereunto Annexed, which addition of 305 rods we refer for its Confirmation and ratification to the two Governments from whence we are employed; and that the above written is a true report of our proceedings we have this tenth day of October, in the year above written, Subscribed our Names.
"John Young, "John Bell,
" Philip Wells,
" Robert Verklain, 1 Comrs. of
"Nath1. Gold, "Jonath" Selick, New York. "Daniel Sheerman, "Jolın Herriman,
Com'&· for Connecticut.
" And for as much as the Lords Comm's of Trade and Planta- tions have represented to his Majesty upon Occasion of a Late dif- ference and dispute between the said province and Colony Relating to the right of Government over the towns of Rye and Bedford lying on their borders, that it may be necessary for the terminating of that difference and preventing all future disputes about the division line and boundaries between the said province and Colony that his Majesty would please to declare his Royal approbation and Confirmation of the said Agreement and Survey, his Majesty is Graciously pleased to approve and Confirm the same; and pursuant to his Royal pleasure thereupon signified and Expressed, the said Agreement and survey are hereby approved and Confirmed accord- ingly, whereof the respective Governments of New York and Con-
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necticut, the towns of Rye and Bedford, and all persons whom it may concern, are to take due Notice and govern themselves accordingly. "JOHN POVEY."
Extract from a Letter to Governor Morris from James Alexander, Esquire, (dated 2d December, 1754).
"I am heartily sorry to hear that the Connecticut People have so far prevailed as to corrupt some of Northampton People to join them. I believe more vigorous Measures will be wanting to nip this Affair in the Budd than Writing to Governors and Magistrates or employing a few Rangers, as I before proposed ; I question if less will do than a superior Number to the Connecticut Men, Women, and Children that come, and bring them to Philadelphia, the Women and Children to ship off to Governor Fitch, the Men to imprison till bailed or list for Ohio, this done twice or thrice will terrify Others from coming, and one or two Thousand Pounds laid now out in this Service may save scores of Thousands that it may afterwards cost. I doubt not Connecticut will amuse and give good Words till a great Number be setled and then bid Defiance.
"Your Letter to Governor Fitch was a very proper previous Step, but I suppose nothing is to be expected from it
"I shewed Mr. Armstrong and my Son a Collection of all the Papers relating to the Settlement of the Bounds between New York and Connecticut, and gave it to my Son to get several of them copied by Mr. Armstrong's Return. The Beginning of the Elizabeth Town Bill has Dates of Charter to South and North Virginia Company, with Books and Leaves from whence taken."
Extract from a Letter to Governor Morris from Mr. Thomas Pow- nal, dated the ninth of December, 1754.
"As to the Matter You was pleased to intimate to me about the Connecticut Emigration, the following is the best account I could pick up. I did not see the Governor. There was a great Meeting about a Fortnight ago at Hartford of the People concerned in the Design'd. The original Sharers are Six Hundred; there were at Hartford Two Men from the Delaware who represented 'Twenty on the Delaware. The Scheme when it was first undertaken stood thus : They made a Purse, each Man paying four Dollars towards the Pur- chase, &c., but since that they have been obliged to pay five more, so that to the original Sharers of the Purchase 'tis nine dollars a Man. These original Sharers take in (many of them) Partners in their Share, So that the Number of Emigrants may be very con- siderable. These Sharers engaged to go themselves or to procure one to go in their Stead to the Sasquehannah, and there to make a
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Settlement, build a Building, clear so much Land, &c., on their respective Lots in a given Time. They talk of each Lot being seve- ral square Miles. What was concerted at this last Meeting was as follows : They chose a Treasurer and a Committee to transact their affairs as to the Purchase, as to the Application to their own Govern- ment for a Conveyance of the Right, as to their Application to the Government of England for a Charter, &c., &c , as to all controverted Rights. This is all that appears upon the Face of Business as far as I have learnt. 'Tis said their own Government is not inclined to come into the Scheme; But I should guess by the People con- cerned in it the Fact is not so. Deputy Gov" Pictkins and Major Wolcot (both Commissioners at Albany this Summer) were men- tioned to me as concerned in it; The other Names I heard are Mr. Seymor, Mr. Edwards, an Attorney at Hartford, Col. Falcot of Hartford, Major Dyers, Col. Willis, Major Leyman, and several other principal Men of this Province. I think I heard that their agent had wrote them Word that it was supposed their Scheme would interfere with Mr. Penn's Patent. The grand Emigration does not propose to go forth till all be quietly settled, but in the mean time 'tis said there will be some Individuals going.
" All this and more than this I imagine You must have heard ; but as You desired me to acquaint You with what I heard of it as I passed thro' the Colony, I do this more to shew my Readiness to comply with every Command You can honour with than that it can give You any new Light into the Affair.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Col. Johnson. " December 9, 1754. " May it please Your Honour :
"I with pleasure embrace this oppertunity of congratulating Your Honour on Your Safe Arrival and advancement to that Government, over which I sincerely wish You long to preside.
"I have been honoured with Yours of the 15th ult. by Mr. Daniel Clause, whom I immediately sent to call Hendrick to my House. Upon his arrival I delivered and interpretted your Honour's Letter or Invitation to him, and urged his waiting upon You immediately, which, when he agreed to, I spoke to him concerning the affair as far as I Judged necessary; and I flatter myself it will have a good Effect, He having faithfully promised me to exert himself and use his utmost endeavours for the Interest of the Proprietaries against the Connecticut Attempt.
" After my expatiating some time on the Injustice of their Pro- ceedings, more especially so after what had passed at Albany last June in Publick, Hendrick then with some warmth disapproved of them, as well as the weakness of those of his Bretheren who were
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seduced by Lyddius, and promised to do all he could to make them revoke or retract what they had so shamefully done, provided I would Assist him and Countenance his Proceedings with the Five Nations, which I assured him I would with all my Interest; upon that He and his Party sett out full of Spiritts and in good temper ; and I doubt not (from the knowledge of Your Honour's great and well-established Character) of their returning so; and Mr. Peter's great experience and thorough knowledge of Indian affairs as well as of Hendrick's temper and Principalls will contribute much to Your Honour's Ease in accelerating the Affair with them, Who (to those unacquainted with their Ways and tedious forms) must be thought very troublesome and Silly. I have had a great deal of discourse with Hendrick in private about that affair, and also his present Sentiments, which to insert here would make my Letter of too great a length for Your Honour to read with Patience; where- fore make bold to refer Your Honour to the Bearer, Mr. Clause, for some particulars I have communicated to him, as I am convinced of his Sincerity and readiness to Serve that Government on all Occasions.
" Nothing could give me more Pleasure than to hear of those Indians answering Your Honour's Expectations, as I am, with all duc regard,
"Your Honour's Most Obedient Humble Servant,
"J. M. JOHNSON.
" MOUNT JOHNSON, Decbr. the 9th, 1754."
A Letter from Col. Johnson to Mr. Richard Peters. " MOUNT JOHNSON, Docbr. 9th, 1754. " Sir :
"Your kind favour of the 15th Ulut" with one from Governor Morris, was brought to me by Mr. Clause into the Woods where I have been these three Months past settling some of my Lands, upon which I came Home and sent Mr. Clause immediately for the Poli- tician Hendrick, to whom I delivered the Governour's Letter and advised him to undertake the Journey, which at first he was unwilling to do, but after talking a good deal on the Subject to him and promising to join and back him here among the Six Nations, his Fears and Uneasiness vanished, so that he agreed to go, and As- sured me he would do all in his Power for the Interest of the Proprietaries.
" As None knows the Nature and Temper of Indians better than you do, I have not the least doubt of their returning well satisfied and in good Temper, which would give me great pleasure, as I am certain it would be of Service to the Cause in Hand.
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" Having been hurried and thronged with Numbers since my coming home as not to allow me time to write or scarce look about me, hope you will be kind enough to excuse Brevity and this Scrawl, and believe me
" Sincerely Your most humble Servant, "WM. JOHNSON.
"P. S .- I have given Mr. Clause some hints concerning the Management of the Indians while there, which may be useful."
Extract from a Letter to James Alexander,. Esquire, from a Connecticut Man.
" NORWALK, Dec" 13th, 1752.
" Sir :
" The last Assembly in October a Petition was prepared signed by four hundred Heads of Families, praying for a Grant of those Lands within the Bounds of our Charter that lie West of Hudson's River. I was earnestly applied to by some of the Company, but on what you said to me When You last saw me at New York I not only refused to have any Thing to do with them but took the proper Means to have their Petition negatived, but in such a Way as they knew nothing of.
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Mr. James Alexander's Answer to the foregoing. "NEW YORK, Dec". 15th, 1752.
" Sir :
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