USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 36
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"Our Four Nations are no Ways concerned in the Settlement of the French on the Ohio, nor is it with our Advice or Well-Liking. Our Fathers the Mohocks when they first heard of the French going to the Ohio, sent a Message with a large Belt to the other Nations, wherein they set forth that this Proceeding of the French was ex- tremely disagreeable to them and desired that it might be obstructed. and that none of the Nations wou'd suffer it, but do all in their Power to prevent any Settlement of the French in those Parts. This Message came first to our Castles and was readily agreed to, and then We sent it forward to Onondago where it has remained ever since; for the Onondagers said they approved of what the French were doing, that it was good and wou'd do no Hurt to the Indians, and by this means stopped the Belt so that it went no further.'
" I then delivered Assaragoa's Belt, inviting the Chiefs of the Six Nations to a Council at Winchester, and along with it and tyed to it the large Belt that was given me jointly by the Governments of Maryland and Pennsylvania, desiring them to agree to the Gov- ernor of Virginia's Proposal, and assuring them if they would come to Virginia they would give them the Meeting there. These Invi- tations they received very gladly and said they would lay them be- fore the Great Council that was to meet in a little Time at Onon- dago and did not doubt but they should prevail with the Six Na- tions to comply with the Invitation and that great Numbers would go; but then as there were several old People they could not take upon them to say that they could be got to come as far as Win- chester, but would rather chuse Conedogwainet on Sasguchannah ; but I said there were no Conveniences there and that this was but a little Way from John Harris' Ferry where a large Company might be accommodated, and I believe they will readily come there."
NOTE .- Scarrooyady was desired to give his Sentiments if the Governor of Virginia could not come there but would insist on their coming to Winchester, whether this wou'd not be complied with, and he said he did not know but they might.
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" Brethren :
"The next Thing I have to communicate to You is a Message from these Four Nations to their Brethren the Shawonese and their Cousins the Delawares. They desire them to consider themselves as under the Protection of the Six Nations, and that they are well affected towards them. They bid them be quite easy and still, nor be disturbed at what is doing, nor meddle at all on any side till they see or hear from them, and that it will not be long before they shall see one another and hold a Conversation together. In the mean Time as the English were their Brethren, and their Cause was much favoured by the Indians, they desired them to have their Eyes and Ears towards the Six Nations and their Brethren the English as they had hitherto done, and not to look towards the French.
" The several Messages sent by the Half King and Scarrooyady jointly to the Oneidos were all safely arrived, and in consequence thereof such of the Oneidos who were hearty Friends of the Eng- lish had made up a large Belt and sent it among the Six Nations by the Nanticokes to such as they could depend on, and We might rest assured that this Belt would be accepted, and that several would appear for Us in Time of Action. Even slow as We go on this will not hinder them from coming and appearing for the English at a proper Time, that is to say, when they appear to be capable of protecting Us against the French.
"The French joked with Us on the Death of the Half King, and laughed, but We shall make them cry before We have done with them."
Here Scarrooyady ordered Davison to withdraw and then spoke again :
" Brethren :
" I have a piece of News to impart to You, which was told me in Confidence, and I must desire that as I said I would conceal nothing from You that I should hear, You would be pleased to tell your Council and Assembly not to divulge it.
" At the Time I was at Oneido delivering my Messages there came a Deputation of French Indians with a Message from the Governor of Canada to invite his Children the Six Nations, as many as possible, and the more the better, to come down to Quebec to see their Father Onontio, and as the Mohocks had estranged themselves for sometime past from their Father, for what reasons he could not see, he desired them they wou'd take them by the Hand and conduct them to Quebec, where they should be very kindly used. The Chief of this Deputation was not himself a Caghnawago In- dian, but a very intimate Friend and Confederate of theirs, and in his Way from Quebec he called at the Caghnawago Town on St. Lawrence River and told them that they were going to Onondago,
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and likewise what they were to say. The Principal Man of the Caghnawagos came to him at midnight, and in a very earnest and importunate manner addressed him, saying: 'Brother, The French and the English are quarrelling about our Lands and want to en- gage Us in their Quarrel, but why should We meddle on either side ; the English, You see, buy our Lands from Us, piece after piece, and tho' they pay Us for it and so get it it from Us with our own Consent, yet what they give Us is soon spent and gone, and We much straitned for want of our Lands. The French take whole Countrys from Us by Force, never asking Us for our Con- sent, and so between both We shall in a little Time have no Lands. The French now treat Us like Slaves, and tho' the English do not, yet when all our Lands are gone they will despise Us. Since Mat- ters are so, Brother, Let Us consult and take Measures for our Preservation in Time. We therefore advise You, after You have delivered your Message, which you must do in publick, to carry this Message for Us to the Oneidos, viz": 'that We the Caghna- wagos have come to a full Resolution and are determined to stand Neuters and let the French and English fight it out together, and the more they destroy one another the better. If Indians engage for either side the sure Consequence will be that many of Us sball be killed, and our Strength thereby much impaired, which is what both sides want to see. I don't mean by this that the Oneidos should not accept the Invitation and come to Quebec and hear their Father speak and then give him good Words, but that these Words should be such as the French often give Us, only from the Throat not from the Heart; and as some of the Oneidos will go to their Brethren the English, they may hear them speak and give them, likewise, fair Words, but in the same manner; have a care of en- gaging Yourselves to fight for either. The Caghnawagos by this Belt assure the Oneidos that they will not fight for the French, and bescech them not to fight for the English.
.
""' We hope that the Six Nations will consider Us as their own Flesh and Blood, we know that We did not come out of the Ground in this Country but in the Six Nation Country, and sucked the same Breasts that they did; and therefore We desire they will take this weighty matter into their most serious Consideration and join Us in our Resolution of Neutrality ;'" and hereupon they gave the Messenger a large Belt to give to the Oneidos to enforce their Re- quest, and Scarrooyady was present when he delivered the Message and Belt to his Countrymen.
. Scarrooyady said he had done all publick Business, and sat still for a while, and then taking a String of Wampum he made the fol- lowing Speech :
" Brethren the English, not only Pennsylvania, but Virginia and Maryland :
" You think You perfectly well understand the Management of
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Indian Affairs, but I must tell You that it is not so, and that the French are more politick than You. They never employ an Indian on any Business but they give him fine Cloathes, besides other Presents, and this makes the Indians their hearty Friends and do any Thing for them. If they invite the Indians to Quebec they all return with laced Cloathes on, and boast of the generous Treat- ment of the French Governor.
"Now, Brethren, some of the Six Nations are going to Canada, and some say a great Number are coming to Virginia. Let me advise You, as You have Time enough, to open those large Pieces of Goods that your City is full of, and cut them up into fine Cloathes, and have them ready against the Treaty at Virginia, for You may . depend upon it those who go to Canada will be finely cloathed, and if your Indians at their Return do not appear finer than they, they will be laughed at and made ashamed.
"Further, Brethren :
"I have brought with me Three or Four Warriors, Mohoeks and Oneidos ; they are in King George's Service; they are valiant Men and faithful Friends; I have a particular Duty for them to do, of great Consequence to the general Cause. These You will be pleased to take Notice of and give them Cloathes, that they may perform their Business chearfully and leave your City well pleased."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the First April, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
John Penn,
Robert Strettell, ? Esquires.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters, $
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Amendments to the German Bill Entituled " An Act for preventing the Importation of German or other Passengers or Servants in too great a Number in any Ship or Vessel, and for pre- venting the spreading of Contagious Distempers within this Prov- ince," were road, approved, and sent to the House, and are as follows :
" Amendments to the Bill entituled ' An Act for preventing the Importation of German or other Passengers or Servants in too great numbers in any one Ship or Vessel, and for preventing the Spreading of contagious Distempers within this Province.'
" Ist. Dele all the Title, Preamble, and first Clause contained in Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and ending with [appointed] in Page 5, Line 9th, and instead thereof insert as follows :
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" An Act for regulating the Importation of German or other Passengers or Servants, and to prevent the spreading of Contagious Distempers within this Province.
" Whereas, the Laws already provided for regulating the Impor- tation of German and other Passengers or Servants, and for pre- venting the spreading of Contagious Distempers within this Province, have been found insufficient to answer the good Purposes intended by them, and infectious Distempers have, notwithstanding such Laws, been introduced and spread in this Province, Wherefore, for the more effectual Prevention thereof for the future and remedying the Deficiencies in the said Laws, Be it enacted by the Honorable Robert Hunter Morris, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor under the Honourable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and absolute Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Coun- ties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex upon Delaware, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said Province in General Assembly met, and by the Authority of the same, that from and after the Day of
175- no Commander or Master of any Ship or Vessel coming from any Place beyond the Sea and having on Board, or at any Time during the Voyage or Passage, having had on Board more than fifty Persons, including Mariners, Passengers, and Servants, shall on any Pretence whatever bring such Ship or Vessel nearer to the City of Philadelphia than three miles, nor land or suffer to be landed any Goods, Passengers, or Servants at any Port or Place within this Province until such Ship or Vessel shall have been visited by the Health Officer or one of his Deputies and at least one of two Phy- sicians appointed for that Purpose, and obtained a Licence from the Governor or Commander-in-Chief of this Province for the time being, or in case of his Absence from the Mayor, Recorder, or any Two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia, for bringing up to the said City such Ship or Vessel under the Penalty of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds, to be recovered as herein after directed and ap- pointed, Which said Health Officer and Physicians shall be recom- mended, named, and appointed (21) as in and by this Act is here- after directed : Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to lay any of His Majestie's Ships of War or any private Ships of War carrying Letters of Marque or Reprisal under any Restrictions in their entring into any Ports or Places within the Limits of this Province, unless (27). coming from Places infected with the Plague or other contagious Distempers.
" And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the said Physicians so to be nominated and appointed shall be Two of Four fit and capable Practitioners in Physick residing and to reside in the City of Philadelphia, who are from Time to Time as occasion shall require, to be recommended by the Mayor, Recorder, and Al-
-
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derman of the said City, or the major Part of them, to and Com- missionated by the Governor or Commander-in-Chief of the said Province for the Time being; and when so recommended and Com- missionated, they the said Physicians or at least one of them are hereby empowered and required, on Request of the Master or Com- mander or Owner of such Ship or Vessel or other Person to whom she shall be consigned, forthwith to visit such Ship or Vessel and carefully to examine and enquire into the state of Health of the several Passengers, Servants, and other Persons on Board her, and whether each Ship or Vessel is sickly or not, and immediately after such Visitation & Examination to make and deliver a faithful and true Report in Writing under his or their Hands to the Governor for the Time being, or (in case of his Absence) to the Mayor, Re- corder, or any Two Alderman of the said City, of the State and Condition of such Ship or Vessel and the Passengers and other Persons on board her, whether sickly or not, according to the best of their Skill and Judgement; For which Service each and every of the said Physicians so visiting such Ship or Vessel shall have and be paid the Sum of Three Pounds and no more by and from the Master or Commander, or other Person having Charge of such Ship or Vessel, to be recovered (in case of Refusal) by Warrant from any one Justice of Peace for the County of Philadelphia in the same manner as Debts under Forty Shillings are recovered in the said Province.
" And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia for the Time being, as often as Occasion may require shall recommend Two fit and capable Persons for the said Place of Health Officer to the Governor or Commander-in-Chief of the said Province for the Time being, who shall Commissionate and appoint one of such Two Per- sons so to be recommended to him from Time to Time to be the Health Officer for executing and performing all Acts, Matters, and Things whatsoever which to the said Health Officer, either by this Act or by the Act entituled ' An Act for imposing of Duties on Persons convicted of heinous Crimes,' or by any other Act or Acts of Assembly of this Province, doth or of Right shall hereafter ap- pertain or belong, Which said Health Officer so appointed shall have Power to constitute and appoint one or more Deputy or Deputies under him to execute the said Office as Occasion may require, for ยท whom he shall be accountable.
"2d. Pa. 5, Line 13. After [Chief] add [or by the Mayor, Re- corder, or Aldermen ].
"3d. Line 17. After [shall] add [submit to be examined as well by the said Physicians as the said Health Officer, and shall].
"4. Pa. 6, Line 12. After [sail] add [from her last Port in Europe, with the Names of all such Persons].
" 5. Pa. 7, Line 1. Dele [true] and insert [general].
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"6. Pa. 7, Lines 12 & 13. After [Examination] add [and Re- port of the said Physicians and Health Officer, or either of them], and dele [or otherwise ].
"7. Pa. 7 & 8. Dele from the Word [being ] in the last Line of Page 7 to the Word [when], exclusive, in the 2d Line of Page 8, and in Place thereof insert for in case of his absence for the Mayor, Recorder, or any Two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia ].
"8. Pa. 9, Line 4. After [Distempers] dele [whereupon the Trustees of the Province Island ], and insert [and the Governor or Commander-in-Chief for the Time being shall then and not before give an Order for the discharge of the said Ship or Vessel, together with the Merchandize imported in her, and the Trustees of the Pro- vince Island or the Keeper of the Pest House].
"9th. Line 10th. After [mentioned] add [and the said Health " Officer is hereby empowered and required to superintend and take care from time to time, to the best of his Power, to see all such Orders put in Execution which shall be so made by the Governor or Commander-in-Chief for the Time being, or the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of Philadelphia, or any Two of them as aforesaid, for sending and conveying such Ships or Vessels to the Province Island, and for putting on Shore there the infectious or sickly Pas- sengers, Servants, Mariners, or other Persons, and landing or airing their Apparel, Goods, Merchandize, and other Things to be imported in such sickly Ships or Vessels. And the Trustees for the Time being of the said Province Island, or the Person whom they shall appoint from Time to Time to be the Master or Keeper of the Pest House on the said Island (for whose Fidelity and due Discharge of that Duty and Service the said Trustees shall be answerable, and who shall reside on the said Island) are hereby required and obliged to receive and provide for all such Mariners, Passengers, Servants, and other Persons so to be sent to the said Island, with their Bag- gage and Goods, and there to accommodate them with Lodging, Nursing, Physick, Maintainance, and all other Necessaries suitable for them, and with Storehouses or other convenient Places for their Baggage, Goods, and Merchandize. And in case the said Health Officer shall refuse or neglect to do his Duty in seeing such Orders performed, or the said Trustees or their Master or Keeper of the said Pesthouse (after due Notice of any such Order for sending such sickly Persons and Goods to the said Island) or any of them, shall refuse or neglect to receive and provide for such Persons and Goods as aforesaid, and they or any of them shall be lawfully convicted of any Breach or Neglect of Duty in the Premises upon his or their appearance or default, upon the Oath or legal Affirmation of one or more credible Witness or Witnesses before the Mayor, Re- corder, or any Two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia (which Oath or Affirmation they or any of them are hereby empowered and required to administer), the Person or Persons so convicted
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shall forfeit any Sum not exceeding Fifty Pounds nor less than Forty Shillings, at the Discretion of the said Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, or any Two of them. One Moiety thereof to the Informer and the other Moiety for the Use of the Pest House as hereinafter directed, the same to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods by Warrant under the Hands Seals of such Two Justices before whom such Offenders shall be con- victed as aforesaid: Provided always, That nothing in this Act contained shall preclude, defeat, or prevent any Merchant or other Person or Persons whatsoever who may happen to be injured by any Neglect or Breach of Duty of the said Trustees of Province Island, Health Officer, or Keeper of the Pest House aforesaid, from bring- ing and prosecuting with Effect his, her, or their Action, Suit or Suits at Law or in Equity, for Recovery of his, her, or their particular damages.
" 10th. Line 14th. After [others] add [together with the said Health Officer's Charges].
" 11th. Pa. 10, Line 5. Dele [any one of the Justices of the Peace] and insert [the Mayor, Recorder, or any Two of the Aldermen].
",12th. Line 6. After [Trustees] add [or Keeper of the Pest House ].
"13th. Pa. 10, Line 16. Dele [find and provide proper] and insert [reinburse and pay to the said Trustees all such reasonable Charges and Expences as they or any of them, or their Keeper of the Pesthouse shall be at and expend for, or on account of the].
" 14th. Line 18. Dele [or to pay for the same] and insert [together with the said Health Officers Charges aforesaid, according to a just and fair Account to be exhibited by the said Trustees and Health officer respectively, and as the same shall be adjusted & allowed by the Mayor or Recorder, or any Two Aldermen of the said City of Philadelphia].
"15th. Pa. 11 & 12. Dele from [aforesaid] in Line 12 of Page 11, to [that] in Line 6 of Page 12, and insert [without a Certificate under the Hand of the Keeper of the Pest House aforesaid, or at least one of the Trustees of the said Province Island, setting forth that the Bearer of such Certificate, mentioning his or her Name, had remained in the said. Hospital or Pest House for the Recovery of his or her Health, and being recovered he or they had discharged him or her from the said Hospital or Pest House, for which Certi- ficate the Keeper of the Pest House or Trustees of the Province Island shall have and receive Six Pence and no more; And the Keeper of the Pest House aforesaid shall keep or cause to be kept a Book wherein fair Entry's shall be made of all Matters and Things relating to the said Hospital].
" 16th. Pa. 12, Last Line. Dele that whole Line and insert.
-
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"17th. Pa. 13, Line 9. After [Necessaries] dele [for] and in- sert [fitting for such]. Line 15. Dele [Two Feet] and insert [one Foot nine Inches]. Line 16. Dele [nine] and insert [six].
"18th. Pa. 14, Line 8. Dele [herein after appointed or his Deputy or Deputies] and add [aforesaid or his Deputy ; And if any of the Lodging Places or Cabbins shall be pulled down or altered before the said Health Officer or his Deputy shall have viewed and measured the same, such pulling down or altering shall be and is hereby declared full and conclusive Evidence that the Lodging Places or Cabbins so pulled down or altered were not made agree- able to the Directions of this Act.
"19th. Pa. 15, Line 8. After [every ] add [such].
"20th. Pa. 15, Line 10th. After [any ] dele. [Magistrate] and insert [the Mayor, Recorder, or any Two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia ].
"21st. Pa. 15, Line 15. After [Province] add [And Provided, That due Regard shall be had and proper Allowance made to the Distress and Necessity which such Master or Commander may happen to have been under of putting the Passengers and Ships' Company to short Allowance where his Ship or Vessel shall hap- pen to have had a longer Passage than ordinary, to wit, of fourteen Weeks or upwards.
"22d. Pa. 17, Line 12. Dele [such].
"23d. Pa. 17, last Line. After [shall] dele [be obliged to make their ] and insert [perform ].
"24th. Pa. 18, Line 18. Dele [such].
"25th. Pa. 19, Line 5. Dele [such].
" 26th. Pa. 20, Line 14. After [being] dele [or by any Two Justices of the Peace of any of the Counties within this Province] and insert [or by the Mayor or Recorder or any Two Aldermen of the City of Philadelphia ].
" 27th. Pa. 20, Line 18. Dele from [hath] in the 18th Line to [aforesaid] in the 4th Line of.
"28th. Page 21, Page 21, both inclusive, and in place thercof insert [shall have been discharged from the said Hospital or Pest- house, and shall have received a Certificate from the Keeper of the Pesthouse or one of the Trustees of the said Province Island of such his or her discharge in the manner hereinbefore directed].
" 29th. Pa. 21, Line 5. Dele [each ].
" 30th. Pa. 21, Line Pa. 15, 12. Dele [or alledged he or she is ] and insert [and].
"31st. Pa. 22, Line 8. Dele from [aforesaid] to the End of the 5th Line in Page 26, and insert [that before any such German or other Passengers or Servants shall be suffered to land within this
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Province, the Master or owner of such Ship or Vessel or Importer of such Passengers or Servants shall enter into Bond with at least one good Surety to the Health Officer for the Time being, his Ex- ecutors and Administrators, in the Penal Sum of One Hundred Pounds, with Condition that he or they will provide or cause to be provided good and sufficient Lodging, Meat, Drink, Apparel, and in case of Sickness proper Physick and Attendance for every Person imported by him or them in such Ship or Vessel until disposed of and while they shall remain under his or their Charge and Care ; And that such Passengers and Servants imported by him or them shall not become burthensome or chargeable to the Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia or other Township or Townships within this Province by begging of Alms, wanting Relief, or otherwise howsoever, for the Space of one Year from their Importation into this Province. And be it further Enacted by the Authority afore- said, That in case any of the said Passengers or Servants shall, notwithstanding such Bond and Engagement of such Master or Im- porter of them, be found begging of Alms or otherwise wanting Relief in this Province within the said space of one Year from their Importations, that then the Overseers of the poor of the City of Philadelphia and of the several Townships within this Province where any such Passengers or Servants shall happen to be found begging and wanting Relief, are hereby required to take care that they shall be well and sufficiently provided with proper Meat, Drink, Apparel, and Lodging, and not suffered to beg or ask Alms, and in case of Sickness that they shall be provided with necessary Phy- sick and Attendance ; And that all Moneys and Charges to be ex- pended and laid out by the Overseers of the Poor, of any City or Township within this Province in the Relief, Subsistence, Physick, and other Necessaries for any such Passengers or Servants, shall be repaid to the said Overseers of the Poor respectively or their Suc- cessors, Overseers of the Poor of such City or Township for the Time being, by the Importer of such Passengers or Servants, or the Master or owner of the Ship or Vessel in which such Passengers or Servants were imported, together with Six $ Cent. Interest for the same; And in case the said Importer of such Passengers or Servants, or the Master or Owner of such Ship or Vessel or other Person who shall have given Bond to the Health Officer as aforesaid, shall refuse on Demand to reimburse and pay to the said Overseers or their Successors all such Moneys so as aforesaid to be by them expended and laid out with Six # Cent. Interest for the same, That then it shall and may be lawful for the said Overseer of the Poor and their Successors respectively, and they are hereby authorized and em- powered to commence and prosecute with Effect in any Court of Record within this Province where the same shall be cognizable one or more Suit or Suits at Law, as Occasion may require, upon the Bond so to be given the Health Officer as hereinbefore directed in the name of such Health Officer to whom such Bond shall be given,
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