Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI, Part 57

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

That upon this he desired Mr. Peters and Mr. Weiser would think of a proper Assortment of Goods for a present, and bespeak them that they might be ready.

The Governor further informed the Council that Mr. Weiser had this morning found the Owendats in a very bad Temper, and said if the present was not delivered to them this day he believed they would go away ; that he had acquainted the Speaker with what was thought necessary to be given, as well to the Owendats as to the Six Nations, and he concurring with him in opinion and promising to mention it to the House, Mr. Peters and he had ordered that part of Goods intended to be given the Owendats to the Governor's House, to be delivered to them after dinner.

The Governor ordered the Goods in, and then spoke as follows :

" Brethren, the Owendats-

" The Goods now lying before you are the Gift of the Good Peo- ple of this Province. They desire your acceptance of them as a Mark of the sincere affection they bear you, and of the greatful

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

sense they have of your Friendship in coming to pay them this visit at such a dangerous time."

Here the Interpreter received the following List of the Goods :

¿ bbl. Gunpowder

£5 0 0

1 p& blue Strowds

- 18s.

1 16 0

2 1b. Vermillion

1 doz. Cuttoe Knives

1 dozen large Do.

- 0 15 0 6

1 Gro. Indian Awl blades

0 15 0

¿ Gr. Morris bells -

0 13 1

0 0 0

2 cwt. Bar Lead

42s. 6d.

3 4

1 ps. Striped Duffield

1 ps. Blankets - -

7 0 0

2 Pieces Garlich

0 0 0

6 Guns -

. 25s.

7 10 0

4 doz. long pipes -

1s. 4d.

Porterage of powder, &ca.

£57 5 6

" Brethren :

"We consider you as united to us in a firm League of Friendship and as having the same Interests with us, in consideration of this we desire that when you return home, as You live at a great Dis- tance and among our Enemies, You would observe every thing that is doing, keep up a close Correspondence with us, and give us early notice when any thing is intended against us.

"We expect you will do all in your power to prevent any Injury being offered to our back Inhabitants ; and if it should be told you that notwithstanding your good Offices Hurt is projected against us, You will dispatch one of your Tribe in whom you can repose a Confidence, and whom you know to be a Friend of the English, to give us notice of such intended Harm that we may be prepared to defend ourselves.

" We cannot give you the Hatchet, but we depend on the con- tinuance of your Friendship, and that you will neither be concerned in any attempts against the Lives or properties of our Inhabitants, nor as far as lies in you to suffer others to do us hurt. This we say to your nation, and accordingly you will acquaint them with our request. In Confirmation whereof We give you this Belt."

Here a Belt was given.

0 - 12s. 1 7 4 0 6 -

1 Groce sorted Rings

1 Gr. Scarlet Garters

1 ps, white half Thicks

10 1b Tobacco -

553

9 0 0

2 Gro. bed lace

554

MINUTES OF THE

A Message sent by the Governor on the 16th Instant to the As- sembly, in Answer to theirs of the 12th Instant on Indian Affairs, was read in these words :

" A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.

" Gentlemen :

" If my Message gave you reason to think that the Owendats came here on a particular invitation of Mine at this time, I have led you into a mistake ; they set out from their Country, as they have informed me, on the plan set forth in the Minutes of Council of the twentieth and twenty-fourth day of December last, which were laid before you.

" The other Indians at their request accompanied them hither as they were strangers; and Scarroyady says he has some particular Business to transmit with this Government. I have in the name of the Province given Thanks to the Owendats for this kind visit, and to those of the Six Nations that were with our Army in the late Action ; assured them all of the Affections of the English ; recom- mend to them to continue firm in their Attachments to us, and give them Room to expect some presents as a token of our Regard.

" As the Treasury is exhausted I can only say that I will readily pass a bill for striking any sum in Paper Money the present Exi- gency may require, provided Funds are established for sinking the same in Five Years.

"The Secretary will communicate to you what was said to the Indians Yesterday, and I shall lay before you what may further pass between us, & earnestly recommend to you to enable me to send these people away perfectly satisfied.

" ROBT. H. MORRIS.

" PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16th, 1755."

The Governor laid before the Council a Letter from Gov" De Lan- cey and his Message to the Assembly thereupon :

A Letter from Governor De Lancey to Governor Morris. "NEW YORK, 7th August, 1755. 1 " Sir :

"I inclose you a Copy of an Extract of Governor Lawrence's Letter to Lieutenant Governor Phipps, which I received Yesterday. His intelligence should be a strong motive to induce us to continue to restrain by every means in our power supplying the French with provisions, as they must be greatly distressed for want of them.

" The Assembly yesterday voted 400 additional Men to reinforce those under Major General Johnson, which I hope will soon be raised and sent away. The Governor of Connecticut I expect will send 500, and if Massachusetts Bay do the like we shall have a

555

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

force sufficient near Crown Point to withstand the Canadians tho' they shou'd be joined by the Troops from France which have es- caped up the River St. Lawrence.

" And if Jersey send more Men to Colonel Schuyler to reinforce General Shirley, and I hear their Assembly have voted £30,000. We may have reason to hope we shall be able to cope with the French.

"I am, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant, "JAMES DE LANCEY. "To Governor MORRIS."

A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.

" Gentlemen :

" By an Extract of a Letter from Governor Lawrence to Lieu- tenant Governor Phips sent me by Governor De Lancey, I find that the French at Louisburgh are in great distress for provisions, inso- much that he thinks they may be reduced to the necessity of giving up the place to us if a supply can be prevented.

"I therefore recommend it to you to think of some proper Law that may most effectually prevent their being supplied from this Province.

" ROBT. H. MORRIS.

"Philadelphia, August 16th, 1755."

Sundry Letters from Mr. Burd relating to the new accounts of the poor people employed in cutting the Roads for the use of the Army were read, and the Accounts sent to the House by the Secre- tary.

Mr. Alexander having been so kind as to transmit to the Gov- ernor a Copy of an order made by the Governor and Council of the Province of New Jersey relating to the unjust pretentions and muti- nous behaviour of some of the people of Connecticut, the same was read and ordered to be entered as a precedent to be observed in case those restless Spirits continue their design of settling Lands in this Province.

Copy of the Minutes of the Council of the Province of New Jersey.

" At a Council August 9th, 1755.

" His Excellency laid before this Board sundry Depositions, which being read it from thence appears that a considerable number of the people of the County of Hunterdon, and particularly of the late Rioters on the Society's and Byerlie's Tracts there, have within a

556

MINUTES OF THE

few Months past entered into a Conspiracy and Combination to throw off their Dependance on his Majesty's Government of this Province, and have signed a Writing setting forth that they had bought the Lands they were possessed of, but could not find that the persons they had bought of had any right thereto ; that Actions had been brought against several of them, and had turned or would turn them out of possession, and praying that the Government of the Colony of Connecticutt would sett them off in a County of Con- necticutt by themselves and take them under their protection and Laws, &ca., whereon His Excellency referred the said Depositions to the Consideration of a Committee of this board, or any five of them, to enquire further into that matter, and into what if any Colour for such Conspiracy, and to report their Opinion thereon to this board with all convenient Speed.

" At a Council, August 20th, 1755.

" May it please your Excellency :

"In obedience to your Excellency's Order in Council of the ninth Inst. referring to us the three depositions therein mentioned, and to enquire further into the matter contained in these depositions, and into what, if any Colour for such Conspiracy, we have consid- ered thereof, and find that the Colour for pretended the Conspiracy arises from the uncertainty of the Southern and Western Boundaries of the Charter of the Colony of Connecticut, and had there been nothing afterwards to ascertain those Boundaries, yet there was no more colour to claim any part of New Jersey by virtue of that Charter than there was to claim Mexico, Peru, and Brazil, for New Jersey was at the date of that Charter in the possession of the Dutch, as the others were in the the possession of the Spaniards and Portuguese. But we find that all Colour arising from the un- certainty of the said southern and Western bounds was taken away as follows : We find that on the 12th day of March, 1664, King Charles the 2nd granted to his Brother James, Duke of York, sundry large Tracts of Land in America, whereof the now Province of New York and the now Province of New Jersey were part, and the said Duke of York granted to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret in fee the now Province of New Jersey, by Lease and Release, dated the 23rd and 24th days of June, 1664, Rendering to the said Duke of York and his Heirs the yearly Rent of Twenty Nobles. That by virtue of a Commission from King Charles the second under the Great Seal of England, dated the 26th day of April, 1664, Commissioners were appointed for hearing, determining, and setting the Bounds of the English Colonies, by virtue of which the Commissioners thereby appointed, after hearing of Commis- sioners appointed by the Assembly of Connecticut on the 1st day of December, 1664, did Judge, order, and declare that the Southern

557

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

boundary of Connecticutt was the Sea between Connectieutt and Long Island, and that the Creek or River ealled Momoronick River, which was reported 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 of the Massachusetts, be the Western Bounds of the said Colony of Connecticut, which award of his Majestie's said Commissioners was consented to by the Governor and Commissioners of the General Assembly of Connecticut as by the said Commission and the said award and consent all of Record in the Secretary's Office of New York more fully may appear, and its notorious that Momoroniek River is far Eastward of Hudson's River, & that the said North North west Line from thenee leaves all New Jersey to the Westward of the said West Bounds of Connecticut.

" And we do further find that afterwards, on or about the 23rd day of November, 1683, certain Articles of Agreement were con- cluded between Col. Thomas Dongan, then Governor of the Pro- vinee of New York, and the Council of that Provinee on the one side and Commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of Connecticutt on the other side, by which certain Lines from Byram River (which is mueh further Eastward than the said Momoronick River and North North-west Line) were agreed to as the Bounds between the Duke of York's Territories in America and the Colony of Connecticut for ever thereafter, which certain Agreement was on the twenty-eighth day of March, 1700, ratified and approved of by his late Majesty King William the third, with the advice of his privy Council, as by the said Agreement and approbation apon Record in the Secretary's Office of New York may appear, and which last-mentioned bounds (being about twenty miles Eastward of Hudson's River) have continued ever since the Western Bounds of Connecticut, without any pretence to the Contrary by the Colony of Connecticut to our knowledge or Belief.

" And we do further humbly report to your Excelleney, that as all Colour of Ground for the said Conspiracy was so long ago taken away as before, We are humbly of Opinion that the said Conspiracy and all Endeavours to carry the same or the like into Execution are highly eriminal and seditious, tending to disturb and destroy his Majesty's Government and peace of this Province.

" Wherefore we are humbly of Opinion that the said Deposi- tions with a Copy hereof be delivered to the Attorney General of this Province, and that he communicate the same to the Trustees of the Counties in which he may suspect any of the said Conspirators or other such Conspirators do live, that they may diligently enquire, discover, apprehend, and committ all such Conspirators and their aiders and abettors, that they may be prosecuted by him with the utmost rigour and severity of the Law, either by Indictments or Information, to file which Information we are of opinion that he be

558

MINUTES OF THE

impowered by your Excellency and Council's approbation hereof without any further particular order.

" We are, also, further of opinion, that the Justices of the said Counties at the next Quarter sessions shall cause a copy of these presents to be read to the respective Grand Juries at giving them their charge, that they may diligently enquire and true presente- ment make of all such' Conspirators, and of all persons who by their Actions or words or writing, have Countenanced, Aided, or Abetted, or shall Countenance, Aid, or Abett such Conspiracy, that they may be brought to Justice and punished as Seditious Per- sons and Enemies to His Majestie's Government and peace of this Province ; and that the same be in like manner read and recom- mended in the Succeeding Courts of Quarter Sessions, while they have reason to suspect that any such Conspirators remain undis- covered, and not prosecuted and punished in their respective Coun- ties.

" By order of the Committee.

"DAVID OGDEN, Chairman."

Which being read, was approved of by his Excellency and this board, and declared accordingly.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 19th Augt., 1755.

PRESENT :

The Governor,

Mr. John Penn,

Mr. Strettell,

Mr. Turner, Mr. Lardner,

Mr. Peters.

The following Dispatches by Express from General Shirley were read :

His Letter of the 13th Augt-, from the Camp of the Great Car- rying Place between the Mohawks River and Wood Creek :

A Letter from Gent. Shirley to Governor Morris.

" Camp on the Great Carrying Place between the Mohawks River and Wood Creek, Augt. 13th, 1755.

" Sir :

"I have but a minutes time before I proceed in my March to write, and inclose to you a Copy of the Letter and Orders to Colo- nel Dunbar.

" The successful execution of them will be the last importance to His Majestie's Service.

559

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

" It will now, Sir, depend upon your own Government and those of Virginia and Maryland to assist him with reinforcements, Pro- visions, Ammunition, Artillery, Ordnance, Stores, Carriages, and Horses, and all other Things necessary to fit him out for his March and the Service he is ordered upon, and I have wrote to the same effect to Governors Dinwiddie and Sharpe, whose assistance with your own I must entirely rely upon at this extraordinary Crisis.

" As to the expence of the necessary supplies, Your Honour I know and his Majestie's two other Governors will do the Crown all the Justice you can in getting your respective Assemblies to bear the whole or as great a part of it as possible; the remainder of it I must for the good of his Majestie's Service, which is now at Stake, submit to draw upon the Deputy Pay-Master, for which you may depend upon I will, trusting that the Government at home will take proper measures for reimbursing the Crown from the Colo- nies.

"I am with the greatest Regard and Esteem, Dear Sir, Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,

"WY. SHIRLEY.

" To the Honble. Governor MORRIS.

"P. S .- Be pleased not to lose a moment's time in forwarding my Dispatches for Col. Dunbar, which I hope will fall in with your own Sentiments.

" Yours, Dear Sir, most Affectionately, "W. S."

Copy's of Major General Shirley's orders to Colonel Dunbar of the 6th and 12th of August :

[Copy.] Orders for Colonel Thomas Dunbar :

" You are to take upon you the Command of your own and the late Sir Peter Halket's Regiments, and without Delay proceed to the City of Albany, in the Province of New York, leaving a proper number of Officers of each Regiment in Pennsylvania and Mary- land, and New Jersey, to recruit for Compleating the said Regi- ments to their full Complements of 1,000 Men each.

" After your arrival at Philadelphia you are to proceed to Am- boy, and if you shall be in want of Provisions for victualling the said regiments on your March, I have given orders to Messrs. W. Mifflin and Saunders, at Philadelphia, to supply you upon your Ap- plication to them for that purpose.

" You are to give timely notice to Mess™. Ewing, Alexander, and Morris, of New York, of the time you expect to be at Amboy, who have directions to provide Vessels, Provisions, and other necessaries to convey you to Albany, on board of which Vessels you are to em- bark the said Troops and proceed with them to Albany, where you

560

MINUTES OF THE

shall be furnished with Provisions for the said Troops by the afore- said Ewing, Alexander, and Morris, upon your demand of the same.

" You are to encamp and remain at Albany until further or- ders.

" Being informed by a Copy of your Letter to Governor Morris that you have posted the three independant Companies under the comand of Captns. Rutherford, Gates, and Demera, at Fort Cum- berland, You are to continue them there till further Orders.

" Lastly, you are to order Capt". Ord or the Commanding Officer of the Train of Artillery, together with Mr. McCullogh, Engeneer with the Train, &ca. to March by the same Route as before men- tioned to Albany, there to remain till further Orders, except Mr. McCullogh, who is to proceed upon the receipt of this order with such Matrosses as are at hand with all Expedition to join me at Oswego, And you are to order Mr. Johnson, the Deputy Paymaster General for the Southern district, to proceed directly to New York, where he will receive further orders from me.

" If I have omitted any thing in these orders necessary for the Expediting your March, You will be pleased to supply such Omis- sion according to your own discretion in the best manner you can for his Majestie's Service and forwarding your March.

" From the Camp on the Mohawks River, 36 Miles from the Oneida Carrying Place, August 6, 1755.

"WM, SHIRLEY."

Orders for Colonel Thomas Dunbar.

" Whereas, by the death of Major General Braddock the com- mand of all his Forces in North America devolves upon me, and upon advices rec'd from the Governors of Pennsylvania and Dominion of Virginia of the defeat of part of his Majestie's Forces under the said late General's comand, I think it for the good of his Majestie's Service that an attempt should be made as soon as possible for the Reduction of Forts Duquesne and Presque Isle with the Forces now under your Command and those which shall be raised by the Gov- ernments of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, or either of them, for the same Service. Now I do hereby direct that upon the receipt of these my Orders (any thing contained in my former Or- ders to you of the 6th Instant to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding) you collect as soon as May be such Provisions, Pieces of Ordnance, Ammunition, and stores as you may meet with at Winchester and Fort Cumberland or elsewhere in Virginia (re- serving for the said Fort what you think necessary for the defence thereof), as also such as you shall receive from the Lt. Gov". of Penn-

561

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

sylvania and Maryland (to whom, as also to L' Governor of Vir- ginia, you will be pleased to make application for the same) and those you buried in your Retreat, and after making the proper Dis- positions of his Majestie's Forces under your Command and the provincial Forces which you shall receive, you are immediately to March with the said Troops to Fort Du Quesne, at which place I don't in the least doubt from your Experience and good Conduct of your safe Arrival, And you are to send me as soon as may be a return of the Strength you March off with, as well as the Artillery, Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, &ca.

"Upon your Arrival with the Forces under your Command before Fort Du Quesne you are to beseige it in the manner you shall Judge proper for the reduction thereof; and upon your succeeding in it, you are to leave a Garrison there sufficient for the defence of it and proceed with the Remainder of the Forces under your command to the French Fort at Presque Isle, and attempt the reduction thereof, and in case of your success against it to leave a garrison in it suffi- cient for its defence ; both which Garrisons are to remain there until further orders. And in case of your Failure in both these attempts (which God forbid), You are to make the most proper Disposition of his Majestie's Forces to cover the Frontiers of the Provinces, particularly at the Towns of Shippensburg and Carlisle, and at or near a place called McDowell's Mill, where the New Road to the Allegheny Mountains begin in Pennsylvania, from the Incursions of the Enemy, until you shall receive further orders.

" You will carry Mr. McMullough, Mr. Orde, the Officers of the Train of Artillery, and Matrosses, as also such of his Majestie's Independant Companies now posted at Fort Cumberland as you shall think proper, with you to Fort Du Quesne.

" Lastly, if through any unforseen Accident it should become absolutely impracticable for you to put these orders in Execution, which yet I hope can't be the case, then you are forthwith to follow my former Orders of the 6th Instant.

"W. SHIRLEY.

"A true Copy, Examined by

"WM. ALEXANDER, Secy."

Copy of Major General Shirley's Letter to Colonel Dunbar of the 12th Aug. :

A Letter from General Shirley to Colonel Dunbar. "From the Camp at the Carrying Place ) of Onedia, near the head of the Mo- hawk's River, August 12th, 1755. S " Sir :

" Upon my receiving Letters from Governor Morris that you was on your March with his Majestie's Forces under your Command VOL. VI .- 36.

562

MINUTES OF THE

for the City of Philadelphia, I was then of the Opinion from the Accounts I had received of the late defeat and the present Circum- stances of the Forces that it would be for the good of his Majestie's Service to have them Marcht this way in order to assist in or sup- port the two Expeditions now carrying on against Niagara- and Crown Point, for which purpose I sent you Orders of the 6th In- stant; but having since received Letters from Gov". Dinwiddie with a full account of the state of the Forces now under your Command, and the Reinforcements you will receive, it appears clear to me, as there will be four Months of good weather before the winter setts in, that with the number of Forces you now have and the Assist- ances you will receive from the Provinces of Pennsylvania, Mary- land and Virginia, You may yet have it in your power to retrieve the Loss sustained by the late defeat of Major General Braddock and the Honour of the British Arms by proceeding directly to Fort du Quesne. The Loss of Artillery by the General may I under- stand be supplied with other pieces, together with Ammunition and Ordnance Stores, from Fort Cumberland, Winchester, and the Pro- vinces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Dominion of Virginia, which with what you buried before your Retreat (and I hope was not so defac'd but that they may be of Service again), appear to me to be a sufficient Train, for under it advisable to you to make a Second attempt for the Reduction of Fort Du Quesne, especially as I am fully persuaded that your late Retreat hath made the Commandant there think himself at Liberty to draw off great part of his Forces from thence to strengthen the Forces at Niagara and Crown Point, or at least the former of them, where they daily expect to be attack'd, and consequently to weaken the Garrison at Fort Du Quesne.

"I am, therefore of Opinion, Sir, and I doubt not but you will join with me and the Governors of the three before-mentioned Colonies, that it will be for the good of his Majestie's Service, as the Forces under your command must by this time be refreshed and recovered from their late Timidity, of which I hope their Officers have made them sensible, and that they will be glad to have an opportunity to Retrieve the Honour of the British Arms, that you do after making the proper Disposition of the Forces now under your Command March directly for Fort Du Quesne, for which purpose you will herewith receive my Orders.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI, Part 57

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

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