USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 77
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" BERNARD ADAM GRUBE, " JOHN JACOB SCHMICK, " J. OKELY.
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Address signed by the Indians as above after it had been read to them & explained in their own Tongue, & further these Affirmants say that their names thereunto subscribed as Witnesses are of their own proper hands' writing respectively.
" TIMO. HORSFIELD, [L. s.]
" The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esq"."
His answer to the foregoing Address from the Indians now re- siding at Bethlehem :
[L. s.] " The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieutenant Governor & Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania & Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware,
" To the Indians lately residing at Gnadenhutten & now at Beth- lehem, Greeting :
" Brethren :
" You may always depend on the most favourable Construction being put on whatever you lay before me.
" It gives me a true pleasure to find you are under the force of Religious Impressions, and speak in so affectionate a manner of the great Author of the Christian Salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ.
" As you have made it your own Choice to become Members of our Civil Society & Subjects of the same Government, and deter- mine to share the same Fate with us, I shall make it my Care to' extend the same Protection to you as to the other Subjects of his Majesty, and as a Testimony of the Regard paid by the Government to the distressed State of that part of the Province where you have suffered so much, I have determined to build a Fort at Gnaden- hutten, from which you will receive equal Security with the White People under my Care.
" I have not the least suspicion of your having been concerned in the late Mischiefs. Your precaution & flight are an Evidence of your Innocence, & I take in good part your Professions of Truth and Fidelity to your Brethren, and thank you for them.
" I heartily Commiserate your losses, and think you entitled to Relief; and as I intend to send for all our friendly Indians to come and confer with me in this Time of Danger, I shall let you know the time when I shall meet them, and desire you to be present, that I may speak to you at the same time.
" In the mean time I desire you will be of good behaviour, and remain where you are.
" Given under my hand and the Lesser Seal of the said Province at Philadelphia, the Fourth day of December, Anno Domini, 1755.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philada. the 8th of December, 1755.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esq"' Licu- tenant Governor, &ca.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters,
Robert Strettell,
Thomas Cadwalader,
Esq™S.
Joseph Turner,
William Till,
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
The Governor acquainted the Council that he received last night by Express from General Shirley, now at New York, a very press- ing Letter to meet him immediately there to assist at the Congress of the several Governors, &ca., for settling the plan of operation for the next Campaign, & that he proposes to set out to-day for New York, and recommends it to the Council to take care in his absence to preserve the Peace of the Province, &ca.
The Captains of the Vessels employed by Governor Lawrence to carry the Neutral French out of Nova Scotia having Landed them at the nearest place to the Pest House, demanded their discharge, & such as produced the proper printed receits had their discharges this day delivered to them. The Importations are as follows :
Imported to Philada. from Nova Scotia in the Sloop Hannah, Richard Adams, Master, 137 French Persons.
Sloop Three Friends, James Carlisle, Master, 156 Do
Sloop Swan, Jonathan Lovell, Master, 161 Do.
Total,
454 French Prsons.
Charles Broadhead, of Smithfield Township, came to Town on the 29th Novem". last, and on the same day acquainted the Gover- mor that he was just come from Wyomink, that the Indians was very uneasy there, & had charged him to hasten to the Governor of Philadelphia, & delivered him their Message, which was as follows :
A Message to the Governor from the Indians at Wyomink by Mr. Broadhead.
"WYOMINK, 9th November, 1755.
" When the Indians met it was about 10 o'Clock at Night, by reason I wanted to return as soon as I could.
" They gave me two Strings of Wampum to carry to the Gov'. with these words :
" ' 1st. Brother : We are glad to see you, & you have done well that you are come such a great way to us, and you see that we live here still in Peace. We look upon that what we have heard from our Grand-Father when he was last in Philadelphia ; How that his
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Arms was always stretched out, & would when Danger came inclose us his Children in them.
"'2d. Brother : Our Grandfather, whose hands is stretched out toward us, has sent here a great man to us, which should treat with us and tell us his Children what we should do. When we was last in Philada. we saw the great man, Colonel Johnson, who told us we should return to Wyomink and be still, & that he would speak to our Uncles the 5 Nations, & then he would send us word what we should do. And then the Governor told us that if Col. Johnson did not send us word he would, and since that time we have heard nothing neither from Col. Johnson, the Governor, nor our Uncles, so we don't know what to say or do but to be still, and now we hear the Hatchets are a flying about our Ears, which puts us in Fears & makes us believe we are in great Danger, so we can say nothing more, but be still till we have an answer;' & then they offered me a Guard to go with me a part of the way back again."
And the Governor having on perusal of this Message thought proper to Consult Charles Broadhead about what was proper to be said to those Indians, he gave his opinion in writing, which is as follows :
"The Opinion of Charles Broadhead in relation of the Indians settled at Wyomink on the East Branch of Sasquehannah : These Indians consist of Delawares, Shawonese, & Minisinks, and it is my opinion they are very true to the English Interest at this time, tho' how long they may so continue without receiving the Hatchet from us is hard to determine. This they seem very fond of shewing great willingness to, to Join with us against the French & their In- dians, the advantage of which to us is very obvious. The number of Warriors at Wyomink the 9th Instant was about 30, but much larger Bodies of them were higher up the River & Branches, many of which I immagine would join with those at Wyomink on re- ceiving proper encouragements from us. If they could be prevailed on to come down among the Inhabitants on the other side of the Blue Hills, which I think could be accomplished with care taken to have proper Provisions made for their Wives and Children, &ca, this Winter, and an Officer or Officers appointed them well acquainted with their Customs & Language, It is my opinion they would be of the greatest service to the Settlers beyond the Mountains-being always ready on the least notice to oppose the Enemy should they attack any Settlements in that part of the Country. They may, I think, entirely protect the Settlements from Delaware to the West Branch, & perhaps to Schuylkill, ranging to the Valley between the Killalny Hills, and the second Mountain.
" Decem". 3rd., 1755."
And on considering the Indians' Message and Mr. Broadhead's Opinion, the following Message was sent to them, and the care
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thereof committed to Aaron Dupui and the said Charles Broadhead with the following Instructions :
A Message from Governor Morris to the Indians living at Wyo- mink, &ca.
[L. s.] " The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor & Commander-in- Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware.
" To the Indians living at Wyomink, Nescopecka, and Sha- mokin, Greeting :
" Brethren :
"The People of the Province have always considered you as their own Flesh & Blood, and it being a time of Danger, are anxious to know the state and Condition of your Affairs, & to give you the strongest Assurances of the Continuance of their Affection for you.
" Brethren :
"I have many things to say to you, which concern your safety & our mutual Security, that will require us without loss of time to see one another and confer together ; & have, therefore, sent these Messengers to take you by the Hand, and conduct you to John Harris' on the River Sasquehana, where I have kindled a Council Fire, & expect to see you there on the first day of January, which will be the beginning of the next moon.
" Brethren :
" Be not afraid to Come; I engage on the part of this Govern- ment that you shall not be hurt, and if you are apprehensive of any Danger happening to your Wives and Children in your absence, I . desire you will bring them along with you, and I will protect them and take good care of them.
" Brethren :
" I mean this invitation to come to Council, not only for you but for all the Indians that are in your Neighbourhood, & desire you will send Messengers forthwith, to invite them to it in my Name ; and I expect a large number will Accompany you as I have many matters to communicate of very great Consequence to all the Indians.
" Brethren :
" Hitherto we have not been a Warlike People, but we have seen our Error, and are determined to act with Vigour, and let the In- dians see we are capable of defending of ourselves against our Ene- mys, & affording our Friends and Allies the Protection they have a right to demand of us, in virtue of the Treaties subsisting be- tween us.
VOL. VI .- 48.
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" Brethren :
"I desire you will not hearken to any Stories that may be told you, to the prejudice of us your Brethren ; We are your hearty Friends ; We propose to give you the strongest Marks of our Con- fidence, and whatever you hear to the contrary, give no Credit to it.
" Brethren :
" A Company of Warriors of the neighbouring Province of Jer- sey found some Indians near a place where mischief had been just done by the Enemy, and not knowing but they might have been concerned in that Mischief, they took them up and confined them. As soon as I heard of it I sent a Message to the Governor of Jer- sey, and desired him to send them to me ; and you may be assured they shall be well taken care of, and if I find them innocent I will bring them with me to the Congress.
.
" Given under my hand & the Lesser Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the eighth day of December, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-five.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS."
The Instructions from Governor Morris to Aaron Dupui, Esqr., Mr. Benjamin Shoemaker, & Mr. Charles Broadhead, relating to the foregoing Message to the Indians :
" Instructions of the Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor & Commander-in- Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, & Sussex, upon Delaware,
" To Aaron Dupui, Esq., Mr. Benjamin Shoemaker, & Mr. Charles Brodhead, of the County of Northampton :
" Gentlemen :
" I give you the Charge of a Message to the Sasquehannah Indians, the purport of which is to invite them to meet at John Harris' on the First of January next, where I intend to hold a Council with all the Friendly Indians I can collect together, and as it ought to be delivered as soon as possible, and you have kindly offered your ser- vice, I must desire you will not give it the least delay, but taking with you such prudent Persons as you shall judge necessary for your safety, proceed directly to Wyomink.
" If they receive the Invitation in good part, and you find them well disposed to us and willing to come, You are then to take care that Indian Messengers be dispatched with the Invitation and String of Wampum to such other Indians as can attend that meeting.
"You are to send a Messenger immediately, either Indian or White man, to Philadelphia to acquaint me of the Time that they may be expected at Harris'.
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" In case the Indians cannot be got together or offer good reasons that they cannot be ready to come with you directly, endeavor to persuade as many of their Chiefs as you can to come, and desire the rest may follow as soon as they conveniently can.
" But if they give you a cool Reception and decline the Invita- tion altogether, then you are to endeavor to discover their true Sentiment & future Designs by the softest and most prudent methods in your Power, but if these have not the desired effect then you are to demand an explicit & positive Declaration whether they will join with us or no.
" As soon as you receive a determined answer either favorable or otherwise, dispatch a trusty and proper Messenger to Mr. Hors- field at Bethlehem, who has my orders to send it forward by Express to this City.
" You are to keep an exact Diary or Journal of your proceedings & make report to me thereof at your Return.
" You are to conduct & accompany the Indians from Wyomink to Harris' Ferry, & take care that they be well treated, & that none of the White People molest or give them any uncasiness in their Journey ; and when you draw near to our back Settlements, You are to dispatch a Messenger to me at Harris' Ferry to acquaint me when I am to expect them there.
" You are to take with you a sufficient quantity of the best White Wampum, to give at the delivery of the Message.
"ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, 8th Decem", 1755."
At a Council held at the State House, the 10th December, 1755.
PRESENT :
JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, President.
Robert Strettell, Joseph Turner,
William Logan, Thomas Cadwalader, S Esquires.
Commissions issued to George Reynolds, Esquire, Captain, Jamuel Allen, Gentlem., Lieutenant, William Whiteside, Gent-, Ensign,
For a Company in Leba- non Township, Lancaster County.
For a Company in Bethel
Henry Wagoner, Esq'., Captain, 2 Abraham Hubler, Gent™., Lieutenant, S townsP.' Lancaster County.
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At a Council held at the State House, the 16th December, 1755.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner, Esq'rs.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Thomas Cadwalader,
The following Letters and Papers received by Express from Northampton County, informing the Government that the Indians had began hostilities there, were read :
A Letter to the Governor from Timothy Horsfield, Esq". " BETHLEHEM, Decem". 12th, 1755. " May it please your Honour : 1
" Sir :- The Inclosed are a faithful Translation of two Original German Letters to the Reverend Mr. Spangenberg, which are just now come to hand, & which will inform your Honour of the par- ticulars. which I have to lay before you ; Your Honour will thereby see what Circumstances we are in in these parts. I would also just mention to your Honour, that the bearer brings along with him some pieces of arms which fail in the using, and which makes the people afraid to take them in hand. I pray your Honour will take it into your further Consideration & give us all the assistance that lays in your power.
"I am, With all due respect, Your Honour's most Obliged hum- ble Servant,
" TIMO. HORSFIELD.
"P. S .- I have sent to alarm the Country with all the expedi- tion possible, but when we have the people we have no proper per- sons to lead them, & what can we Expect ?"
A Letter from Mr. Nathanael to the Reverend Mr. Spangenberg. "NAZARETH, 11th December, 1755.
" Mr. Bizman who just now came from the Blue Mountains, & is the bearer of this Letter, will tell you that there is a number of 200 Indians about Broadhead's Plantation, they have destroyed most all the Plantations thereabouts, and killed several Families at Heoths. You will be so kind & acquaint Mr. Horsefield directly of it, that he may send a Messenger to Philadelphia & let all our Neighbours know what we have to expect, and that they may come to our Assistance.
"NATHANAEL."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
A Letter from Mr. Graff to the Revd. Mr. Spangenberg, dated 11th December, 1755.
" An hour ago came Mr. Glotz and told us that the 10th Instant in the night Hoeth's Family were killed by the Indians, except his Son & the Smith, who made their Escape, and the houses burnt down. Just now came old Mr. Hartman, with his Family, who also escaped, and they say that all the neighbourhood of the above men- tioned Hoeth's, vizt: Broadhead's, Culvers', McMichael's, & all Houses and Families thereabouts were attacked by the Indians at Daylight and burnt down by them.
" Mr. Culvers' and Hartman's Family are come to us with our Waggons & lodge partly here in Nazareth, partly in the Tavern. Our Waggons, which were to fetch some Corn, were met by Cul- vers 3 Miles this side his House, and when they heard this shocking News they resolved to return & to carry these poor People to Naza- reth. They say also that the number of Indians is above Two hun- dred. We want to liear your good advice what to do in this present Situation & Circumstances, and desire if possible your assistance.
" GRAFF.
" Nazareth, 11th Decem"-, 1755."
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A Secd. Letter to the Governor from Timothy Horsfield, Esq". " May it please your Honour :
"Sir :- I have dispatched an Express this Morning to your Honour in Philadelphia to inform you of the Circumstances we are in. But since hearing that you was in New York, I thought it my Duty to dispatch another Messenger with this, thinking it might yet find your Honour there.
" In the night an Express arrived from Nazareth, acquaint". me that there is certainly People now in Nazareth who fled for their Lives, and informs us that one Heoth and his Family are cut off, only two escaping, & the Houses, &ca., of Heoth, Brodhead, and others, are actually laid in Ashes, & People from all Quarters flying for their Lives, & the common report is that the Indians are 200 Strong.
" Your Honour can easily Guess at the Trouble and Consterna- tion we must be in on this Occasion in these parts. As to Bethle- hem, we have taken all the Precaution in our Power for our Defence ; we have taken all our little Infants from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the greater Security, and these, with the rest of our Children, are near 300 in number. Altho' our gracious King & Parliament have been pleased to exempt those amongst us of tender Conscience from bearing Arms, yet there are many amongst us who make no
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scruple of Defending themselves against such cruel Savages. But, Alas! what can we do, having very few Arms & little or no Am- munition, & we are now as it were become the Frontier, and as we are circumstanced, our Family being so large it is impossible for us to retire to any other place for Security.
" I doubt not your Honour's goodness will lead you to consider the Distress we are in, & speedily to afford us what relief shall be thought necessary against these merciless Savages.
"I am, with all due respect, Your Honour's most obedient h'ble. Serv1. TIMº, HORSFIELD.
"Bethlehem, 12th DecemT., 1755.
"P. S .- Heoth's, Broadhead's, &can, are situate a few miles over the Blue Mountains about 25 or 30 Miles from hence."
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An Affidavit taken at Philips Burgh in these words : " Colonel :
" Joseph Stout received one Express this morning by a young man from that place, where John Carmeckle & Broadhead lives back of Samuel Dupues, where they were attacked Yesterday about 11 o'Clock, where the Barn & Barracks was on fire, & heard the Guns a firing (for Broadhead had Barracaded his House), & there was several People killed, and I fled to Jno. Anderson for help ; & as near as I could think there was an hundred Enemy that appeared to me, and was in White People's cloathing-only a few Match Coats.
" Sworn before me this 12th Day of December, 1755.
"HENRY COLE.
" Col. Stout :- I desire you would come up directly with your Regiment till you and I see if we can save our Country. Your Compliance will oblige your real friend,
" JOHN ANDERSON.
" Philips Burgh."
A Deposition of John Mich1. Hute's taken before William Parsons, Esqr.
" The 12th Day of December, 1755, Personally appeared before me, William Parsons, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Northampton, Michael Hute, aged about 21 Years, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose & declare that last Wednesday about 6 of the Clock, Afternoon, a Company of Indians about 5 in Number attacked the House of Frederick Heoth about 12 miles Eastward from Gnaden-
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hutten on Pocho Pochto Creek. That the family being at Supper the Indians shot into the House & wounded a Woman; at the next shot they killed Frederick Heoth himself, & shot several times more, whereupon all ran out of the House that could. The Indians immediately set fire to the House, Mill, and Stables. Heoth's Wife ran into the Bakehouse, which was also set on Fire. The poor Woman ran out thro' the Flames, and being very much burnt she ran into the Water and their dyed. The Indians cut her belly open, and used her otherwise inhumanly. They killed and scalped a Daughter, and he thinks that three other Children who were of the Family were burnt. Three of Heoth's Daughters are missing with another Woman, who are supposed to be carried off. In the Action one Indian was killed & another wounded; and further this Deponent saith not.
" JOHN MICHAEL HUTE.
" Sworn at Easton the day and Year above said, Before me, " WM. PARSONS."
The Deposition of Jno. McMichael and others, taken before Wil- liam Parsons, Esqr., at Easton.
"The 12th Day of December, 1755, Personally appeared before me, William Parsons, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Northampton, John McMichael, Henry Dysert, James Tidd, & Job Bakehorn, jr., who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and declare, that Yesterday about 3 of the Clock, afternoon, two Indian Men came from towards Broadhead's House, who fired at these Deponents and several others, who returned the fire and made the Indians turn off. And the said Deponents, James Tidd and Job Bakehorn, further said, that as they were going round the Stack Yard of the said Mc- Michael, where they all were, they saw, as they verily believe, at least 4 Indians on their knees, about twenty perches from the Stack Yard, who fired at the Deponents. And these Deponents further say, that they were engaged in manner aforesaid with the Indians at least three Quarters of an hour. And these Deponents, John McMichael and Henry Dysert further say, that they saw the Barn of the said Broadhead's on fire about nine of the Clock in the morning, which continued Burning till they left the House, being about 4, afternoon, and that they heard shooting and crying at Broadhead's House almost the whole Day, and that when they left McMichael's House, the Dwelling House of said Broadhead, was yet unburnt, being, as they supposed, defended by the people within it. And the Deponents, James Tidd & Job Bakehorn, further say, that they did not come to McMichael's House till about 3 in the afternoon, when they could see the Barn and Barracks of the said Broadhead's on fire. And these Deponents further say that
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they did not see any one killed on either side, but James Garlant- house, one of their Company, was shot through the Hand & Arm; and further these Deponents say not.
The mark of "JNº. M McMICHAEL, The mark of "HENRY H DYSERT, The mark of "JAMES M TIDD, "JOB BACORN.
"Sworn at Easton the Day and Year aforesaid, Before me,
"WILLM. PARSONS."
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A Letter to Governor Morris from Conrad Weiser, Esquire. " Honoured Sir :
"Notwithstanding my hurry in leaving Philadelphia, I got no further than here, being obliged to stop by the way, especially in this County, to consult with some of the Magistrates and others about the present alarm of Broadheads, &ca. being cut off according to a Warrant to the Constables of the County of Northampton by Justice Horsfield. The People of this Town and County are in very great Consternation. Most of this Town are but day labourers, owing Money, are about to leave it, they have nothing at all where- with to support their Familys. All Trade is stoped, and they can get no employment, and without the Governt takes about 30 or 40 of them into pay to guard this Town, they must go off and the rest will think themselves unsafe to stay, & the back Inhabitants will have no place of Security left for their Wives and Children when they are out either against their enemy, or taking care of their Plantations & Cattle, & when things should come to Extremity. I have signed a Recommendation for a Captain's Commission to John Lesher in Oley, one Conrad Care for Lieutent & Eberhard Martin for Ensign should have been included. John Lesher had a Captain's Commis- sion from your Honour before the Act was made. I gave it to him according to your Honour's direction. I would be so free as to recommend Jonas Seeley, Esqr., for a fit person to serve the Province as an Officer in Companys that will be employed as outscout; he is a man of Conduct and Courage ; the same I can say of Mr. Christian Bussey, the Doctor of this Town; he is a hearty and very worthy person, has neither Wife nor Child, and will do all what he can to recommend himself to the Government. This Country is in a dis- mal Condition : believe me, kind Sir, that it cant hold out long. Consternation, Poverty, Confusion Parties is every where. If no haste is made for our Relief, I cannot stay but must move with my
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