USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 32
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" I have sent a Commissary to Pennsylvania to contract for 100 Waggon loads of Flower to be delivered at Conogohege by the 20th of March, and that the Waggons if wanted are to be taken into the Service to carry up our Stores. I beg of you to give what assist- ance you can to Mr. Walker, who is charged with that Commission.
"Your Excellency may expect to have the French (or rather Canadians) with some Indians making an appearance on your Frontiers. You may make what use of these Movements you please to your Assembly, But you may take my word of it that if such Movements are made they have no other View in it but do distract us in our Councils and endeavour to harrass the Inhabitants -a sure Sign that they are in a Pannick. On the contrary, if they lie quiet in their Forts they apprehend no Danger and are to be dreaded. I hope your people will not look on this as an Inlet to our Enemies, but lay aside all Animositys and act for the good of their Country.
" Should any small rivers be to cross when the roads are a making, I must recommend to have floats made on them for the Crossing a Waggon, and that the roads be made wide, at least 30 Feet, and carried along the Ridges of the Mountains to avoid the Channels of the Runs of Water. I have been a good deal employed about this kind of work since I arrived, but it is now almost finished.
"I am, with the greatest Respect, Your Excellency's most obe- dient and most humble Servant,
"JOHN ST. CLAIR."
A Letter from Governor Morris to Sir John St. Clair. " PHILADELPHIA, 28th February, 1755.
" Sir :
" On the Tenth Instant I had the Honour to write You in An- swer to Your's of the Fourteenth Ult" and by Cap' Rutherford seut You the best Map of this Province I could then procure, which I hope You have received. I have since with some Difficulty pre- . vailed on a Man in this Town, one Evans, to furnish me with a Map of the back Country from the Materials he has in his Hands,
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and You will receive it with this, and from the best Information I can get and in the Judgement of those here most acquainted with that Country it is more to be depended on than any other.
" There is an open Waggon Road from this Town to the Mouth of Conegochege which I am told is a very good one, by which any Quantity of Provisions may be carried and along which the North- ern Forces may march and join the Europeans at Winchester with only crossing three small Ferries, but there is no Waggon Road from Carlisle West through the Mountains but only a Horse Path, by which the Indian Traders used to carry their Goods and Skins to and from the Ohio while that Trade remained open. I send You herewith a Map of that Path from Carlisle to the Shanoppin's Town, where the French Fort now stands, by which You will see the great Difficulty that will attend the making a Waggon Road that Way. The black Log is not laid down upon this Map or the new one of Evans', but is nigh the Place there called Croghan's and consider- ably distant from the Turkey's Foot.
" You must be sensible of the Difficulties I labour under in this Province, having no Money at my Command and obliged for every Article of Expence to apply to a Set of Men quite unacquainted with every kind of Military Service and extremely unwilling to part with Money upon any Terms ; however, I will try if I can prevail on them to enable me to send a Surveyor to reconnoitre the Country from Carlisle Westward beyond the Allegheny Mountains, and for my own Part shall spare no Pains to have the Roads that may be necessary upon the present Occasion put into good Order, and if the Assembly will give Money shall have such Others opened as the Passes through the Mountains will admit of for the more convenient March of Troops or Carriage of Provisions.
" I think with You that the French will oppose our March to the Ohio; they have Numbers of Indians in their Interest; they will with their aid endeavour to harass our Troops in their Way thro' the Woods.
"You will observe that the carrying Place near the Falls of Niagara, where the Upper Lakes all empty themselves into that of Ontario, and where the French have a small Fort, is the only Com- munication between Canada and the new Settlements upon Ohio and the Lakes, and if We can make ourselves Masters of that Pass all their Southern Forts must submit, as they can in that case have no Supply either of Men or Provisions on the Lake Ontario. Not very far from Niagara We have a Fort called Oswego mounted with small Cannon and garrisoned by the New York Companies, to which there is an open Road from a very fine Provision Country upon the Mo- hocks' River that empties itself into Hudson's River a little above Albany in the Province of New York; General Braddock will con- sider whether a Part of the New England Regiments with the two New York Companies may not be well employed in reducing that
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Fort, which I am informed is not a strong one; any quantity of Provisions may be laid in at Oswego, and Cannon may be carried by Water from thence to Niagara, which will greatly facilitate the Reduction of that Fort; and the gaining that Pass will not only cut off the Communication between the old and new French Settlemts. but would oblige the whole Six Nations of Indians and their allies who are at present mostly in the French Interest immediately to declare for Us. I thought it my Duty to hint this Measure to you that General Braddock might consider it.
"Governor Shirley's Son has sent upwards of Two Hundred Re- cruits from hence for his Father's Regiment, and I expect an Officer from Sir William Pepperell to raise Men here; and if any of those Troops are to be employed to the Westward would it not be right to hinder the sending any more of them to Boston.
"I send You a Plan of the French Fort at Crown Point, and a Map of the Lake and Country about it.
" A Committee of our Assembly have agreed to purchase Four- teen Thousand Bushels of Wheat, which is to be made into Flower . and delivered at the Mouth of Conegochege upon Notice of the Arrival of the Troops, and Mr. Walker is gone to the Part where it is to be bought and manufactured to give the necessary orders about it.
"I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant, " ROBERT H. MORRIS.
A Letter from Sir Thomas Robinson to Governor Morris. " WHITEHALL, October 25th, 1754. " Sir :
"His Majesty having been pleased to appoint James Pitcher, Esqr., to be Commissary of the Musters of all his Majesty's Forces that are or shall be employed in his Majesty's Colonies and Pro- vinces in North America, I have his Majesty's orders to direct you, or in Your Absence the Lieutenant Governor or such other Person that shall have the chief Care of your Government, to be aiding and assisting to the said James Pitcher, Esqr., in the Execution of this duty.
"I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, "T. ROBINSON.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Mr. John Rutherford. " Sir :
" I very heartily congratulate your Honour on General Braddock's Arrival, which we had yesterday an account of by a Letter from Sir
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John St. Clair by the Post to Governor Sharp, but no particulars of the Train or of the Forces being arrived with him, tho' report says both are, and Governor Sharp seems to think by Sir John's manner of writing of the Disposal of the Forces in Quarters that they are arrived. Sir John St. Clair was at Fredericksburgh in his way back to the Camp when the Express from General Braddock over- took him, upon which he set out for Williamsburgh; and as I am obliged to go to the Camp directly I shall forward your Letter and Map to him by Captain Rose, who goes to-morrow and carrys Governor Sharp's Letters. I shall be extremely glad to hear of Your Health and of Captain Morris' success at Boston, and am, with the greatest Regard, Sir,
" Your Honour's Most obedient and most humble Servant, "JOHN RUTHERFORD. " ANNAPOLIS, 26th February, 1755."
On Considering the Contents of these several Letters it was unanimously concluded that the Assembly should be convened by Writ, and accordingly Writs issued to summon them to meet on the Seventeenth Instant.
The Governor laid before the Council the Return of a Road made in Pursuance of an Order from this Board, dated the Twenty-Fourth day of June, 1752, which was read and ordered to be entered, and is as follows : 1
" To the Honourable the Governor and Council of the Province of Pennsylvania :
" In Pursuance of an Order from the Honourable Board of the 24th Day of June, 1752, there was laid out a Road Beginning at the South Side of the west Branch of Delaware opposite to Easton, and from thence extending along the Several Courses of the other new Great Road to a Post on Charles Briggs' Land, Thence leaving the said Road South Twenty-three degrees East Sixty-Seven Per- ches, South-East Sixty Perches, South Nine degrees west Fifty Perches, South five and half Degrees East Thirty-Six perches, South three degrees West Forty-four Perches, South sixteen and half degrees West Twenty-four Perches, South Six degrees East Forty- four perches, South fourteen and half Degrees West forty-Eight Perches, South twelve degrees West Twenty-four Perches, South five degrees West fifty-four Perches, South thirty-eight Perches, South Twenty-four degrees East twenty Perches, South nine degrees East one hundred and fourteen Perches, South two and half degrees West thirty-five Perches, South twenty degrees west forty Perches, South thirty-five degrees West 'Thirty-five Perches, South Eleven degrees west fifty Perches, South nineteen degrees west Thirty-nine perches, South fifty-three degrees East twenty-six perches, South Thirty-six degrees East fifty-two Perches to Durham Road, eleven
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Perches distance from the Furnace, Being from the Post aforesaid Two Miles and Two Hundred and Sixty Perches.
" WILLIAM PARSONS, "JOHN CHAPMAN, " JACOB HUCHART, " STEPN. TWINING, JuT.
" February 14th, 1755."
MEMORANDUM :
The Secretary having several Times by Order of the Governor called upon the Speaker for the Minutes of the last Sessions of As- sembly, and they being not delivered, He was desired to make another Demand, which He did, and was told that the Printer should deliver them as soon as finished.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 10th March, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieu- tenant Governor.
John Penn,
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner, Richard Peters, Esquires.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The following Letters and Papers were read and ordered to be entered :
A Letter from Lord Halifax, dated 26th November, 1754.
A Letter by Express from General Braddock, dated at Williams- burg, 28th February, 1755.
Another by the same from Governor Dinwiddie of the same Date.
A Letter from Governor Shirley, dated 17th February, 1755, with Massachusets Act.
Another Letter from Gov. Shirley, dated 24th February, enelos- ing the following Papers, viz. :
Governor Shirley's Message to his Assembly, dated 13th Feb- ruary, 1755.
Resolves of the Council and Assembly of Massachusets, dated 1Sth February, 1755.
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A Letter from Lord Halifax to Governor Morris. " GROSVENOR SQUARE, Nov. the 26th, 1754.
"Sir :
" This Letter will be transmitted to You by General Braddock, whom His Majesty has appointed Commander-in-Cheif of his Forces in North America. The troops shortly to be sent from hence, the two Regiments to be raised in New England, and the Gentleman to whom the Command is given, are the Strongest proofs of his pater- nal regard for the welfare and Protection of his Subjects against the unwarrantable Incroachments of the French ; and I trust in God that these Pledges his Majesty is pleased to give them of his great Attention to their Security and to the preservation of the British Dominion in America will be attended by the desired Effects ; and that the Legislatures of the Several Provinces will be so animated and encouraged by the vigorous measures their Mother Country takes that they will no longer hesitate about raising such Supplies as may render effectual the great Purposes in hand. The means of their future Security are now open to them, and cannot fail of success if they shall be back'd by such vigor, unanimity, and Dispatch as it is incumbent on His Majesty's Colonies to exert on so important an occasion ; for without these what has been done by His Majesty may prove very inadequate to the Services intended.
" If an Union of Councils had sooner prevailed Opposition to French Usurpations would probably have been an easier task than it may now be. I cannot, however, doubt of every Thing we wish being accomplished if that Harmony and confidence are established so necessary in great National Undertakings. In order that this may take place as far as it is in my power to contribute to it, I must recommend General Braddock to You as a Gentleman with whom You will co-operate for the Pubic Service with the greatest Satis- faction ; a Gentleman who has no other view than the Effectual Execution of His Majesty's Commands for the Welfare of his Sub- jects in America ; who is above all lucrative Considerations, and whose only aim is Honour to himself and Service to his Country. If such a confidence is reposed in time as such a Character well de- serves, we may promise ourselves Success ; but if Jealousies, Sus- picions, Contradictions of Councils, should unfortunately take Place, this great Opportunity of giving future Security to His Majesty's Subjects in America may be lost.
" I doubt not of your Co-operation with and assistances to Mr. Braddock in every thing he shall think necessary for His Majesty's Service, and am,
" Sir, your most obedient, humble Servant, "DUNK HALIFAX."
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A Letter from General Braddock to Governor Morris. " Sir :
" Your answer to Sir John St. Clair's first Letter is just arrived. I waited for the Return of the Messenger or would have informed You sooner of my being at Williamsburg with his Majestie's Com- mission to command all the Forces in North America. I cannot help expressing the greatest Surprise to find such pusillanimous and improper Behaviour in your Assembly, and to hear of Faction and Opposition where Liberty and Property are invaded, and an absolute Refusal to supply either Men, Money, or Provision for their own Defence while they furnish the Enemy with Provision, which his Majesty has been informed of and has ordered all suspected Vessels to be stopped and forfeited, but to provide more effectually against this unnatural Proceeding I think it very adviseable to put an Em- bargo upon all Provision, and I should be much obliged to You if You would proceed immediately to issue such an Order.
" It is astonishing to see One of the principal Colonies preserving a Neutrality when his Majestie's Dominions are invaded, when the Enemy is upon the Frontier, nay, when it is undetermined if the Fort of Duquense is not in the Province of Pennsylvania. His Ma- jesty to drive the French from their Encroachments and out of the great Regard to his Subjects in these Parts has ordered Two Regi- ments and a Train of Artillery from England, no Measures are taken to repair Roads, to provide Horses and Carriages to transport the Stores nor even Subsistence for those Troops who are come to restore and preserve that Property which their factious Councils have suffered to be invaded.
" My Commission empowers me to settle the Winter as I shall think most proper. You may assure your Assembly I shall have Regard to the different Behaviour of the several Colonies and shall regulate their Quarters accordingly, and that I will repair by un- pleasant Methods what for the character and Honour of the Assem- blies I should be much happier to see chearfully supplied.
" I hope You will not impute any Part of this Letter as being addressed or directed to You. I am thoroughly satisfied of your good Intentions and the means You have used to obtain the neces- sary Assistance, nor do I doubt your Continuation of them. I must desire You to establish a Post with good Horses at convenient Dis- tances between Philadelphia and Winchester for the forwarding yours and receiving my Dispatches, which may be of great Import- ance during the Operation of the Campaign, and I desire You will inform me of the Places appointed.
" Governor Dinwiddie writ to You concerning Flower; if You can prevail on your Assembly to raise any Money I shou'd be glad You would provide a large Quantity and send it to Winchester.
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"I was desired before I left England to recommend it to the Gov- ernors of Provinces to make one common Fund for the Supplies of the several Colonies, that a Treasurer should be appointed with Or- ders to answer my demands, as it is only proposed to expedite Busi- ness, and as I declare myself quite disinterested I shall be ready to give an account of the Disbursements. Enclosed are Letters from Lord Halifax and Mr. Penn. I hope they contain such matter as may prevail upon your Assembly to contribute handsomely to the present Service. I am,
"Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, '
"E. BRADDOCK.
"Williamsburg, 28th February, 1755."
A Letter from Governor Dinwiddie to Governor Morris. " WILLIAMSBURG, Virga-, Feb. 28th, 1755. " Sir :
"This morning I received your letter of the 10th February, as I did your former last week. I received Mr. Norris' letter to you which appears to me very evasive. The supply of flour I wrote you about is for His Majesty's forces daily expected from Ireland, General Braddock being now with me, and I presume their first at- tempt will be to route the French from the fort they built on the Ohio, which Mr. Hamilton, your predecessor, believed to be on the lands belonging to your proprietors. If that is so, pray what objec- tion can there be to supply the forces with flour who are engaged to drive the enemy from your frontiers ? unless intended to perplex or in short to refuse any supplies.
"Surely their conduct when properly represented will appear that they are bad subjects and disobedient to His Majesty's commands, the consequence thereof they may easily conceive ; but the flour, if possible, must be had, and if sent from the place to Winchester, which is a wagon road, will answer. I write a short letter to Mr. Allen on the head, but I impatiently expect the return of my last express.
" I have not time to add but to desire you to send a fresh express to New York with the letters he will deliver you, and Mr. Delancey must forward them with a fresh Express for Boston.
"I am, with very great respect,
"Your honour's most obedient h'ble servant, "ROBT. DINWIDDIE."
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A Letter from Governor Shirley to Governor Morris. "BOSTON, February 17, 1755.
" Sir :
"The designs of the French (in which they have so far already succeeded) for invading His Majesty's just rights in these northern parts of America contrary to the most solemn treaties, require these Governments as well for their own safety as in faithfulness to his Majesty, without delay to use all means in their power to frustrate these perfidious and pernicious practices.
"Among other measures necessary to be taken, especially at this critical conjuncture (the present aspect of affairs threatning a speedy rupture), nothing we can do seems likely to tend more, by the blessing of God, to defeat the schemes of the French to swallow up all his Majesty's Dominions on the continent of America than that the governments should agree in the most effectual means for stop- ping all supplies of provision and warlike stores being sent out of any of these colonies without the inclosed precaution against their being carried to the French.
" The General Assembly of this Province have passed an order for that end (a copy of which I now inclose), and have desired me to solicit the Governours of the rest of His Majesty's colonies to joyn with us in this necessary expedient for our common safety. Your Honour will observe that the time for the continuance of this prohi- bition is restrained to three months; but if the other governments should join with us I make no doubt of bringing my Assembly to extend it further.
"It would give me great pleasure to have your Honour's concur- rence with me in sentiments concerning what appears to me so salu- tary a measure at this conjuncture for the general good of all His Majesty's colonics in North America.
" I have the honor to be with the greatest respect,
"Sir, your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
"W. SHIRLEY."
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Act of Massachusetts Bay obliging all Masters of Vessels to take Oath not to land Provisions in any French Port, d.ca.
"At a great and general court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, begun and held at Boston upon Wednesday the 29th day of May, 1754, and continued by adjournments and prorogation unto Wednesday the 5th day of February following, and then met.
" In Council, February 8, 1755.
" Voted that the Impost Officer and his Deputies for and during
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the Term of twelve Weeks be and hereby are directed and im- powered to demand from the Master of every Vessel which shall clear out from any Port within this Province an Account upon Oath of all Provisions and Warlike Stores laden or intended to be laden on board such Vessell before her sailing, and whensoever it shall appear to the said Officer or Deputy that any Vessell has on board, or that there is intended to be landed on board any Vessell more Provisions or Warlike Stores than is necessary for the victualling and defence of such Vessell on her proposed Voyage, the said Officer shall require the Master of such Vessel to give Bond with Sureties in the Penalty of One Thousand Pounds Sterling that all such Pro- visions and stores of war shall be landed within his Majesty's Do- minions, and certificate returned from the chief officer of the customs of such port, or if it be at a port where there is no officer of the customs, then from the Chief Magistrate, that all such provisions or stores of war have been landed accordingly. And His Excel- lency the Governor is desired to give orders that no vessell having provisions and warlike stores on board as aforesaid be cleared at the Naval Office untill bond shall have been given as above directed ; and that any vessell already cleared out and suspected to have any quantity of provisions or warlike stores on board be detained untill security be given as aforesaid; and that his Excellency be likewise desired as soon as he shall think proper to acquaint his Majesty's several Governors on the continent with this order and desire that the like care may be taken within the several governments.
" Sent down for concurrence.
"THOS. CLARKE, Dept. Sec'ry.
" In the House of Representatives, Febry. . 8, 1755, read and con- curred.
" T. HUBBARD, Spk™-
" Consented to.
"W. SHIRLEY."
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Another Letter from Governor Shirley to Governor Morris. " BOSTON, New England, Feb. 25th, 1755. "Sir:
"It would be needless for me to observe to You how his Majesty's Colonies upon this Continent are surrounded with the Incroachments of the French. They have long since marked out for themselves a large Empire upon the back of it, extending from Cape Breton to the Gulph of Mexico, and comprehending the Country between the Apalachian mountains and Pacific Ocean, with the numerous, power- full Tribes of Indians Inhabiting it; and they are now finishing the extreme Parts by a communication between Louisbourg and Quebec
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across the Isthmus of Nova Scotia and Bay of Funda at the one End, and a junction of Canada with the Mississippi by a line of Forts upon the Great Lakes and Rivers at the other.
" It is fallen to the Lot of the most Eastern Colonies to be hemm'd in by that part of their Incroachments which begin in Nova Scotia and end at Crown Point, among which the Fort at Beau Lejour upon the Isthmus of the Peninsula, that at St. John's River and Fort St. Frederick near Crown Point are the Principal.
" His Majesty, out of his Paternal care for the Welfare and Secu- rity of his good Subjects of these Colonies, in September, 1753, signifyed his Royal Pleasure by the Right Honourable Earl of Hol- dernesse's Letter, dated the 21st of that month, to his Governours there, that they should with the arm'd Force of the militia under their respective commands (if need be) remove all Incroachments upon his Territories within the limits of their several Governments, and use their best endeavours for promoting a General Union among them for their common Defence against an Invader.
"In July last by a Letter from the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Robinson, dated the 5th of that month, his Majesty signifyed his orders to me and Colonel Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief of Nova Scotia, that we should concert measures for attacking the French Forts in that Province.
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