USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 69
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday, 3d November, 1755. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieu- tenant Governor, &ca,
Robert Strettel,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Thomas Cadwallader,
Benjamin Chews Esquires.
A Draught of a Message to the Assembly having been prepared by the Governor it was read, considered, and approved, and whilst it was transcribing the House sent a Message to the Governor that a Quorum was met in obedience to his Summons and ready to re- ceive any thing he might have to lay before them, and desired a copy of the Writ by web. they were Summon'd.
The Governor desired the members to acquaint the House that he would send one of the Writts by the Secretary, and sundry papers of the most interesting Intelligence, & before these could be read he would send them a Message founded on those papers.
Accordingly the Secretary delivered to the House one of the Writts, together with all the foregoing papers that are entered, and sundry others of like Tenor that were not entered in the Minutes of Council.
In half an hour the Secretary delivered the following Message to the House :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"Having received Intelligence that a party of French and Indians
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had destroyed some of the Settlements nigh the River Sasquehan- nah, killed a number of the Inhabitants, and carried others off Pri- soners, and that a considerable Body of them had passed the Alle- gheny Hills and were moving towards the settled parts of this Pro- vince, issued Writts for calling You together, since which I have had repeated accounts of the motions of the Enemy, who, I am informed, are Fifteen hundred in number, & are encamped on the Sasquehannah about thirty miles above Harris' Ferry.
" The papers that I have ordered to be laid before you will inform you of the Cruelties their Parties had committed upon the Inhabit- ants of this Province on both sides the Sasquehannah, and that they have penetrated as far as the Kittochtinny Hills, within about eighty Miles of this City.
" This Invasion was what we had the greatest reason to believe would be the Consequence of General Braddock's defeat and the Retreat of the regular Troops, & had my hands been properly strengthened I should have put this Province into such a posture of Defence as might have prevented the Mischiefs that have since happened.
" It seems clear from the different accounts I have received that the French have gained to their Interest the Delaware & Shawanese Indians under the ensnaring pretence of restoring them to their Country, Their intimate knowledge of which will make them very dangerous Enemys to the Colonys in general, and to this in par- ticular.
" As soon as I could inform myself of the number and motion of the French & Indians, I signified the same to the neighbouring Governments, that they might not only be upon their Guard but prepared to afford us such assistance as the progress of the Enemy might make necessary, and at the same time transmitted to his Ma- jesty's Ministers the Intelligence I had received, and acquainted them with the defenceless state of the Province.
" The people in the back Counties have on this important Occa- sion behaved themselves with uncommon spirit and activity, but complain much of the Want of Order & Discipline, as well as of Arms and Ammunition. As we have no Militia it is not in my power to Form the people into such regular Bodies as the present Exigency requires, and you must be sensible that I have neither Money, Arms, or Ammunition at my disposal ; all I have, therefore, been able to do has been to issue Commissions to such as were will- ing to take them and to encourage the people to defend themselves and their Families till the Government was enabled to protect them.
" The cruel and bloody Disposition of the Indians is known to all, and has been unhappily felt by two many of the Inhabitants. What the designs of the Enemy are can only be conjectured from their
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Motions and Numbers, from which & from the known Circumstances of this Province, there is reason to apprehend they have something more in view than barely cutting off and destroying some of the Frontier Settlements.
" His Majesty and the Proprietaries have committed the People of this Province to my Charge and Care. I have done and still very readily do every thing in my Power to fulfil that important trust; and to that end I think it my Duty to call upon you to grant such supplies of Money as his Majestie's Service at this important and dangerous Crisis may require, and to prepare a Bill for establishing a regular Militia, exempting such as are conscien- tiously scrupulous of bearing arms, it being impossible without such a Law, tho' large sums of Money should be raised, to prevent Con- fusion and disorder or conduct matters with any degree of Regu- larity.
" As the Enemy are now laying waste the Country and Slaught- ering the inhabitants there is no time to be lost, I therefore think it necessary upon this occasion to inform You that I am ready and Willing to consent to a Law for emitting any sum in Paper Money the present service may require, if Funds are established for sink- ing the same in Five years, but I cannot think it consistent either with the powers of my Commission or the duty I owe to the Crown, to pass any Bill of the same or a like Tenor of those I have here- tofore refused, And I hope you will not waste your Time in offering me any such Bills as you must know from what has passed between me and the late Assembly and the information I now give you it is not in my power to consent to, & I earnestly recommend it to you to afford in Time that assistance which your bleeding Country stands so much in need of.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, November 3rd, 1755."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 5th Novem- ber, 1755, A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr-, Lieu- tenant Governor, &ca.
Robert Strettle,
Joseph Turner, r Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner, Benjamin Chew, Thomas Cadwalader, Esquires. John Mifflin,
Intelligences received by this day's post were read and ordered to be entered.
The Intelligence given by Manoquetotha this first day of No-
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vember, 1755, Interpretted by Andrew Montour and John Davis, is as followeth, viz':
" That about 12 days ago the Delawares sent for Andrew Mon- tour to go to the Big Island, on which he and Montour with three more Indians went up immediately, and found there about six of the Delawares and 4 Shawanese who informed them that they had received a Hatchet from the French on purpose to kill what game they could meet with, and to be used against the English if they proved saucy.
"This account was particularly given from the Delawares, and they further informed them that they had received the Hatchet from the French & they were determined to use it against the En- glish while any of them are alive. They further inform that about 20 days ago a considerable body of Indians with about 100 French amounting in all to about 1,500 to be divided when they approached the Frontiers into certain Divisions viz" .: 40 against Shamokin to come down Juniata, and 40 to Harris' Ferry, and so on quite over the Province, that this body had actually left the Ohio about 20 days ago for the above said purpose.
" Andrew Montour further said that there was scouting Parties set out from Duquesne about 8 days before the main body men- tioned above, and he supposes that some of these parties were those who engaged our People on Penn's Creek, on their return from Shamokin. The French designed to build a Fort at Shamokin. Andrew Montour saith that the above said Indians intend to take up their Winter Quarters at Lancaster this Winter.
" JOHN ELDER. " HENRY DEGONON.
" JOHN HARRIS.
" THOMAS MAYO.
" MOSES DICKEY.
"THO" RUTHERFORD.
"WILLIAM KERR."
A Letter to Richard Peters, Esq., from John Potter, Sheriff, dated at Conegochege.
" CONEGOGIG, 3d November, 1755.
" Mr. Peters :
" Sir, this comes ye melancholy account of the ruin of the great Cove which is reduced to Ashes, and numbers of the Inhabitants murdered and taken Captives on Saturday last about 3 of the Clock in the afternoon. I received intelligence in Conjunction with Mr. Adam Hoopes, and sent immediately and appointed our Neighbours to met at McDowel's. On Sunday morning I was not there six VOL. VI .- 43.
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Minutes till we observed about a Mile and a half distant one Mat- thew Patton's House and Barn in Flames, on which we sat off with about 40 Men, tho' there was at least one hundred and Sixty there, our old Officers hid themselves for (ought as I know) to save their Scalps until afternoon when Danger was over; we went to Patton's with a seeming Resolution and Courage but found no Indians there, on which we advanced to a rising Ground, where we immediately discovered another House & Barn on fire belonging to Mesach James about one mile up the Creek from Thomas Bar's; we set off directly for that place but they had gone up the Creek to another plantation lefs by one Widow Jordan the day before, but had un- happily. gone back that Morning with a young Woman, Daughter to one William Clark, for some Milk for Childer, were both taken Captives but neither House nor Barn Hurt. I have heard of no more burnt in that Valey, yet which makes me believe they have gone off for some time, but I much fear they will return before we are prepared for them, for it was three of the Clock in the afternoon before a Recruit came of about sixty men, then we held council. whether to pursue up the Valley all Night or return to McDowel's, the former of which I and Mr. Hoop and some others plead for but could not obtain without putting it to Votes, which done we were out voted by a considerable number, upon which I and my Company was left by them that night and came home, for I will not guard a man that will not fight when called in so eminent manner, for there was not six of these men that would consent to go in pursuit of the Indians.
" I am much afraid that Juniata, Tuscaroro, and Sherman's Val- ley hath suffered. There is two-thirds of the Inhabitants of this Valley who hath already fled, leaving their Plantations, & without speedy Succor be granted I am of opinion this County will be lead dissolute without Inhabitant. Last night I had a Family of up- wards of an hundred of Women and Children who fled for Succor. You cannot form no just Idea of the Distressed & Distracted Con- dition of our Inhabitants unless your Eyes seen and your Ears heard their Crys. I am of opinion it is not in the Power of our Representatives to meet in Assembly at this time. If our Assem- bly will give us any additional Supply of Arms & Ammunition, the latter of which is most wanted, I cou'd wish it were put into the hands of such persons as would go out upon Scouts after the Indians rather than for the supply of Forts.
" I am, Sir, Your most Obedient very humble Servant, " JOHN POTTER, Sheriff.
" Sr. : Please to call upon the Assembly for the money due to me. "J. P."
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Copy of a Letter of Mr. Thomas Barton's for the Governor. "3 o'clock in the Morning, November 2nd, 1755. " Gentlemen :
" I am just come from Carlisle. You may see by the inclosed in what a Situation I left it. The great Cove is entirely reduced to ashes. Andrew Montour charged Mr. Buchanon last night at John Harris' to hasten home & remove his wife and children. I suppose by to-morrow there will not be one Woman or Child in the Town.
" Mr. Hans Hamilton marches this morning with a party of Sixty men from Carlisle to Shippen's Town. Mr. Pope and Mr. McConaughy came over with me to raise Reinforcements in order to join Mr. Hamilton immediately.
"I intend this morning to return to Carlisle with a Party of men to guard that Town ; the Gent". there desire me to request your as- sistance without Delay.
"I am, Gent". Your's, &ca.
" THOS. BARTON.
" A true Copy.
"THOS. ARMOR."
Intelligence from Benjamin Chambers. " FALLOW SPRING, Sabbath Morn5. "Nov". 2nd, 1755.
" To the Inhabitants of the Lower part of the County of Cum- berland :
" Gentlemen-
" If you intend to go to the assistance of your neighbours you need wait any longer for the Certainty of the News. The Great Cove is destroyed ; James Campbell left this Company last night and went to the Fort at Mr. Steel's Meeting House, and there saw some of the Inhabitants of the Great Cove, who gave this account that as they came over the Hill they saw their houses in Flames. The Messenger says that there is but 100, and that they divided into two parts. The one part to go against the Cove and the other against the Conolloways, and that there are no French among them. They are Delawares and Shawnese. The part that came against the Cove are under the command of Shingas the Delaware King, the people of the Cove that came off saw several men lying dead, they heard the murder Shout & the firing of Guns, and saw the Indians going into the Houses that they had come out of before they left sight of the Cove. I have sent Express to Marsh Creek at the same time that I send this, so I expect there will be a good Company from there this day, and as there is but 100 of the Enemy
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I think it is in our power (if God permit) to put them to flight if you turn out well from your parts. I understand that the West Set- tlement is designed to go if they can get any assistance to repel them.
" All in haste from Your humble Servant, "BENJAMIN CHAMBERS."
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A Letter to Governor Morris from John Armstrong, Esqr-, at Carlisle.
" CARLISLE, 2nd November, 1755.
" Honoured Sir :
" At four o'Clock this afternoon by Expresses from Conegochege, we are informed that Yesterday about 100 Indians were seen in the Great Cove, among whom was Shingas the Delaware King; that im- mediately after the discovery as many as had notice fled, & looking back from an high Hill they beheld their Houses on Fire, heard several Guns fired and the last shrieks of their dying neighbours; 'tis said the Enemy divided and one part moved towards the Canal- lowais. Mr. Hamilton was here with 60 men from York county when the Express came, and is to march early to-morrow to the upper part of the County. We have sent out expresses every where, and intend to collect the Forces of this Lower part, expect- ing the Enemy every moment at Sheerman's Valley if not nearer hand. I'm of opinion that no other means than a Chain of Block Houses along or near the South side of the Kittatinny Mountain, from Susquehannah to the Temporary Line, can secure the Lives and Properties even of the old Inhabitants of this County, the new Settlement being all fled except Sheerman's Valley, whom (if God do not preserve) we fear will suffer very soon.
" I am Your Honour's disconsolate Humble Servant,
" JON. ARMSTRONG."
And from thence a Message was framed and sent to the Assembly with the Papers :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I this minute received intelligence that the Settlements at a place called the Great Cove, in the County of Cumberland, are destroyed, the Houses burnt, and such of the Inhabitants as could not make their Escape either slaughtered or made Prisoners ; this and the other Cruelties committed upon our Frontiers has so alarmed the remaining Inhabitants that they are quitting their Habi- tations & crowding into the more settled parts of the Province, which in their Turn will become the Frontier if some stop is not speedily
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put to the cruel Ravages of these Bloody Invaders. In this melan- choly situation of our affairs may be attended with the most fatal Consequences. I must, therefore, again most heartily press you upon this further Intelligence to strengthen my hands and enable me speedily to draw forth the Forces of this Province against his Majestie's Enemies, and to afford the necessary and timely assist- ance to the back Inhabitants.
" ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, November 5th, 1755, P. M."
The Papers delivered to the House on Monday night were de- manded of the House by the Secretary, & he was told that they should be delivered in the morning, as the House was then upon the part of the Governor's Message to which they related.
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At a Council held at Philada, Wednesday the 5th November, 1755, P. M.
Present as in the forenoon.
A Message was delivered from the Assembly by two members, and was read.
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please the Governor :
"Since the issuing Writts for calling us together, the Governor is pleased to let us know by his Message of the third instant that he had repeated accounts of the motions of a party of French & Indians who have destroyed some of his Settlements nigh the River Sasquehanna, who he is informed (are Fifteen hundred in number, and are encamped on that River about thirty miles above Harris' Ferry), but we cannot find by the Papers and Letters the Governor has been pleased to lay before us, that fifteen hundred of the Enemy are encamped on Sasquehanna, about thirty miles above Harris' Ferry, or on any part of that River. Nevertheless, it is too evident that the Back Settlers are greatly alarmed and terrified, and that Cruelties have been committed upon the Inhabitants, prin- cipally within the late purchase made by the Proprietaries the last Year at Albany, by some Parties of the Delaware and Shawanese Indians, joined, perhaps (tho' that is not very clear), with a few of the French Mohawks, who, several of the accounts say, were to be followed by a large number of French and Indians from Fort Du Quesne, with a design of dividing themselves into parties to fall upon the remote Inhabitants of this Province & Virginia.
" By these Hostilities of the French and the Indians who have engaged to join them, the Indians who are still inclined to preserve their alliances with us, seem equally terrified lest the remote In-
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habitants and the English generally, should revenge upon them the barbarities committed by parties of the Delawares and Shawanese Indians. Therefore, in our opinion, it requires great Care and Judgment in conducting our Indian Affairs at this critical Junc- ture ; for as the Six Nations are in alliance with the Crown of . Great Britain, and numbers of them joined the King's Forces un- der General Johnson, who acted with great Fidelity and Bravery, It seems absolutely necessary on our part to request the Governor would be pleased to inform us whether he knows of any disgust or Injury the Delawares or Shawanese have ever received from this Province, & by what means their affections can be so alienated as not only to take up the Hatchet against us, in Breach of their De- pendance upon the Six Nations, by whom they were long since sub- dued, but of the Friendly interviews and Treaties we have so repeatedly and very lately held with them and the Indians of the Six united Nations, both before and since the defection of part of the Shawanese under P. Chartier, to whom particularly this Gov- ernment interposed their good Offices in procuring the Liberty and sending home a number of their people as we apprehended, very much to their Satisfaction.
" We likewise request the Governor would be pleased to inform us whether he has any knowledge of the Inclinations of the Six Nations, or what part they have acted in relation to this cruel in- cursion of the Delawares and Shawanese within the Limits of this Province ; And that he would lay before us the Indian Treaty held at Philadelphia, in September last, as we are resolved to do every thing in our power to redress them if they shall appear to have re- ceived any wrong or Injury at our hands, tho' nothing of that kind hath come to our knowledge, and if possible to regain their affections, rather than by anyneglect or refusal of that Justice we owe to them and all our Indian Allies, entail upon ourselves and our posterity the Calamities of a Cruel Indian War, of which we apprehend there may be too much Danger, unless the most speedy and Cautious Methods are taken to prevent it.
"Signed by order of the House. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. "Novembre 5th, 1755, P. M."
Which being considered, the Council was unanimously of opinion that it appeared by the Contents thereof that the Assembly did not intend to provide for the Defence & Security of the Prov- ince by preparing the Bills recommended in the first Message; Wherefore and because it appears by all the Letters received from the Inhabitants that they are in the utmost disorder and confusion and in great want of Arms and Ammunition and press for imme- diate assistance, The Council was further of opinion that the Gov- ernor ought to lose no more time in Messages with the Assembly,
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but repair in Person immediately to the Frontier with a Quorum of the Council to give all possible assistance and Countenance to such as are willing to take up arms against his Majestie's Enemies by Proclamation, where he will still have it in his power to con- sider and assent to all Bills that may be offered him by the As- sembly, if they think proper to offer any.
The Ship Lydia being arrived this afternoon from London, Mr. Mifflin was desired to go and enquire what Quantity she had brought in of Powder and Lead and Arms, and secure them for the use of the Government.
Mr. Peters & Mr. Lardner delivered their report, which was read in these words :
"Mr. Peters and Mr. Lardner, the Committee appointed to en- quire what Arms or Ammunition had been distributed by any Members of the late or present Assembly, and to whom and by what Authority they have taken upon them to do it, Do report that in order to be informed of this matter they enquired of Mr. Trotter if he distributed Arms or knew who did, and he told them that the late Assembly had appointed a Committee for that purpose, but of whom it consisted he could not tell, other than that Evan Morgan and Benjamin Franklin were of it, and he believed the only acting Per- sons under that appointment. Whereupon they went to Mr. Morgan, who told them that he was one of a committee appointed by the late Assembly, and in virtue thereof he had purchased and sent up seve- ral Quantities of Arms at different times to such of the Back In- habitants as had petitioned for them and were known to be most exposed to danger, and being asked for the Particulars he delivered to them the List hereto annexed, and said it contained a full and true Account of the number of Arms & quantities of Ammunition distributed by him in virtue of the order of the late Assembly ; and being asked whether any order had been given by the present As- sembly for the purchase and distribution of Arms, He said not that he knew of. They then went to Mr. Franklin, who being asked the same Questions as Mr. Morgan, said That he was one of the Com- mittee appointed by the late Assembly, and that none had been ap- pointed by the present Assembly for the purchase of Arms, and that in virtue thereof he had distributed Sundrys; The particulars where- of he had put down in writing and delivered to them the paper annexed, telling them at the same time that all the Arms and Am- munition therein mentioned had been delivered while the Governor was at New Castle and since his return.
" RICHARD PETERS, "LYNFORD LARDNER."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday, 6th Novem", 1755. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieu- tenant Governor, &ca.
Robert Strettel,
Joseph Turner, r
Richard Peters,
Lyndford Lardner, Esqrs.
Benjamin Chew, John Mifflin,
The Governor having caused the Inhabitants of the several Coun- ties to be told that if they would enter into associations, form them- selves into Companies, and recommend fit persons for their Officers, he would grant them Commissions and give them all the Encour -. agement in his power, He had the pleasure to receive a great number of Petitions for Companies, and to the Officers recommended he very readily granted Commissions, who all took the Oaths to his Majesty and subscribed the Declaration required by Law.
The further Intelligence that have been lately received concerning the advances and Operations of the Indians was sent by expresses with proper Letters to General Shirley, Sir Charles Hardy, Gover- nor Belcher, and Governor Sharpe.
The Council resumed the consideration of the defenceless state of the Province, and debated a long time on sundry proposals that were offered for raising supplies of Arms and Ammunitions.
The Governor was informed that the Assembly proposed to offer him a Bill for raising Money by Taxes on Real Estates, & that they had included the Proprietary Estate in such Bill tho' ex- empted by former Laws, and desired the Council would consider this matter well that he might be prepared to give an Answer to the Assembly in case they sent such Bill. After long Deliberation all were of opinion that the Governor could not give his assent to such Bill.
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