USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VI > Part 8
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" I shall be glad on Return of this Express to know if You can supply some Flower as above.
"I am, with very great Respect, Sir, " Your most obedient humble Servant,
"ROBERT DINWIDDIE.
" Governor HAMILTON."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the Sixth of August, 1754.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Assembly being to meet this Day in Vertue of the Gov- ernor's Writs, his Honour laid before the Council the Proceedings of the Congress held at Albany by the Honourable James De Lancy, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York and the Commissioners of the several Provinces, met in the said City of Albany the nineteenth Day of June, 1754, together with a Letter given to the Commissioners at Albany by the Commissioners of Indian Affairs there, a Letter from Andrew Montour, likewise Three Petitions, One from the In- habitants of Cumberland County, another from the Inhabitants of Donegal, and the Other from the Inhabitants of Pextang, Derry, and Hanover, which were read and ordered to be entered. The Com's, of Pensilvania having held a private Treaty with the Six Nations whilst at Albany for the Purchase of Lands, their Report to the Governor was likewise read and order'd to be enter'd.
"At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Wednesday the Nineteenth Day of June, 1754, A. M.
" PRESENT :
" The Honourable Lieutenant Governor of New York.
" Joseph Murray, " William Johnson, " John Chambers,
1
Esquires, of his Majestie's Council of this Province.
" William Smith,
" Theodore Atkinson,
.' Richard Wyberd,
" Meshec Weare,
" Henry Sherburne, Jr. J
" Samuel Wells, " John Chandler,
" Oliver Patridge,
" John Worthington,
Esquires, Comm's, for his Majestic's Province of New Hampshire.
Esquires, Commissioners for Massachu- setts Bay.
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MINUTES OF THE
" William Pitkir, " Roger Wooleot, " Elisha Williams,
" Stephen Hopkins,
" Martin Howard, Jr.,
Esquires, Commissioners for the Colony of Connectieut.
2 Esquires, Commissioners for the Colony of Rhode Island.
" John Penn,
" Riehard Peters,
" Isaae Norris,
" Benja Franklin,
Esquires, Commissioners for the Governmt. of Pensilvania.
" Benjamin Tasker,
" Abraham Barnes,
Esqrs., Com's for the Govt. of Maryland.
" His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of New York having yes-/ terday directed Mr. Banyar, Deputy Secretary of the said Province, to wait upon the Commissioners of the several Provinces above named, to aequaint them that his Honour desired they would meet him in Council in the City Hall of Albany this Morning, in Order to produce their Powers and proceed upon Business.
" The said Commissioners being now accordingly met, took their Seats and produeed their respective Commissions, which were read.
" His Honour then produced a Letter from the Right Honourable the Lords of Trade, bearing Date the Eighteenth Day of Sep- tember last, out of which a Paragraph was read.
" Afterwards were read Two Minutes of the Proceedings of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs in this City, dated the Fifteenth and Eighteenth Instant; Also a Remonstrance from the Oswego Traders to his Honour.
" It was recommended as the first Step necessary to be taken at this Congress, that the Commissioners should consider of the several Matters they may judge proper to be proposed to the Indians at the intended Interview with them, and to prepare the Speech to be made on that Oeeasion, for which Purpose his Honour acquainted the Commissioners he would direct the Secretary or Agent for In- dian Affairs to attend them with the Records of that Office, and the Commissioners of Indian Affairs to meet together as often as there should be Oeeasion, in order that they might give them all the In- formation relative to Indian Affairs."
" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Wednesday After- noon the Nineteenth Day of June, 1754.
" PRESENT :
" The Council of New York and all the Commissioners as particu- larly named in the Minutes of this Morning.
" The Board proceeded to take into Consideration, the Matters re-
1
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
commended by his Honor in the Morning. The whole Letter from the Lords of Trade was read, and is as follows, viz* :
"'WHITEHALL, Sept. 18th, 1753.
" 'Sir :
"' A few Days after You sail'd from Portsmouth We received a Letter from Mr. Clinton, enclosing the Minutes of the Proceedings between him and a Deputation of the Mohawk Indians at Fort George in the City of New York in June last, with the Journals of the Assembly then sitting.
" You will without doubt upon your Arrival be fully informed of the particular Circumstances of this affair, the Resentment ex- pressed by the Indians and the abrupt and hasty manner in which they went away; and tho' from the Confidence We have of your vigilant attention to whatever may concern your Government, we are persuaded You will not have failed to have taken every necessary and prudent Measure to obviate the fatal Consequences which might attend this affair; yet we think it no less our Duty to embrace the first Opportunity of writing our Sentiments to You upon it, and of pointing out to You what appears to Us necessary to be done.
"' When we consider of how great Consequence the Friendship and Alliance of the Six Nations is to all his Majestie's Colonies and Plantations in America in general as well as to New York in particular ; when We consider that this Friendship and Alliance is only to be gain'd and preserved by making Presents to them at proper times and upon proper Occasions, and by an inviolable Ob- servance of all our Engagements with them; and when we recol- lect the attempts which have lately been made to withdraw them from the British Interest, we cannot but be greatly concerned and surprised that the Province of New York should have been so in- attentive to the general Interest of his Majestie's Subjects in America, as well as to their own particular Security, as to have given Occasion to the Complaints made by the Indians; but we are still more surprised at the Manner in which these Complaints were received, the dissatisfactory Answers given to the Indians, and at their being suffered to depart (tho' the Assembly was then sitting) without any Measures taken to bring them to Temper, or to redress their Complaints.
"' This being the Light in which We see this Affair, We think it for his Majestie's Service that You should take the very first Op- portunity of representing to the Council and Assembly in the strongest manner of how great Importance it is to the Province of New York to preserve the Friendship and Affections of the In- dians, and the fatal Consequences which must inevitably follow from a Neglect of them, that You should press them to join with and support You in every Measure You shall find it necessary to pursue in order to fix them in the British Interest, more especially by making proper Provision for Presents for them, which joined to
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MINUTES OF THE
the Presents allowed by his Majesty and which You will receive by this Conveyance, may serve to facilitate this great End, and to wipe away all Remembrance of that Neglect the Indians now complain of. As a speedy Interview with the Indians is from their Disposi- tion become the more necessary, You will no doubt think it pro- per to advise with the Council as to the Time and Place of Meeting the Indians, in which Points We trust You will have a due Regard to their Convenience. And as it appears from their Complaints that Albany which has been the usual Place of Meeting is ob- noxious to them, You will, if You find sufficient Foundation for this Complaint, appoint some other Place You shall think more for their Ease and Satisfaction. And We observe from a Report of the Council and Assembly to Mr. Clinton that Onondago is proposed as the most proper Place. We likewise hope that in the Choice of the Persons who are to attend and assist You at this Interview, You will have a regard to such as are best acquainted with the In- dians and their Affairs and not obnoxious to them. And as a great deal depends upon the Interpreters, We desire You will be particu- larly careful to appoint such as are well acquainted with the Indian Language, and Men of Ability and Integrity.
"' We hope that the Threats of the Mohawk Indians when they left New York have not been carried into Execution, but think it of absolute Necessity, in order to obviate any ill Consequences. which might attend these Threats, that some Person of Character and Discretion should be imediately sent among the Indians to acquaint them of your Arrival, of the Presents his Majesty has or- dered to be delivered to them, and of your Intention of holding an Interview with them for burying the Hatchet and renewing the Covenant Chain ; that this Person should be carefully instructed to endeavour to remove any Prejudices which the Six Nations may have imbibed from the Representations of the Mohawks, to obviate the ill Effects which would attend a general Discontent amongst them at so critical a Conjuncture, and to put them upon their Guard against any attempts which may be made to withdraw them from his Majestie's Interest; and that nothing may be wanting to convince the Indians of the Sincerity of our Intentions You will do well to examine into the Complaints they have made of being de- frauded of their Lands, to take all proper and legal Methods to redress their Complaints, and to gratify them by reasonable Pur- chases or in such other Matter as You shall find most proper and agreeable to them, for such Lands as have been unwarrantably taken from them or for such other as they may have a Desire to dispose of; and We recommend it to You to be particularly careful for the future that You do not make Grants to any Persons what- soever of Lands purchased by them of the Indians upon their own Accounts, such Practices have been found in a neighbouring Gov- ernment to be attended with great Mischief and Inconvenience. But when the Indians are disposed to sell any of their Lands, the
61
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Purchase ought to be made in his Majestie's Name and at the Pub- lick Charge.
"' As We find it has been usual upon former Occasions when an Interview has been held with the Indians for the other neighbour- ing Governments in Alliance with them to send Commissioners to be joined with those of New York, and as the present wavering Disposition of the Indians equally affects the other Provinces, We have wrote to the Governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, and New Jersey, desiring them to represent to their respective Assemblies the Utility and Necessity of this Measure, and to urge them to make proper Pro- vision for it; and therefore it will be necessary that when You have settled the Time and Place of Meeting You should give them early Notice of it; and this leads Us to recommend one thing more to your Attention, and that is to take Care that all the Provinces be (if practicable) comprised in one general Treaty to be made in his Majestie's Name, it appearing to Us that the Practice of each Province making a separate Treaty for itself in its own Name is very improper, and may be attended with great Inconvenience to his Majestie's Service. So we bid You heartily farewell, and are your very loving Friends and humble Servants.
""' DUNK. HALIFAX, "'J. GREENVILLE, ""'DAPPLIN.
"'To Sir DANVERS OSBORN, Governor of New York.
"' Albany, June, 1754.
"' A true Copy of the Original. Exª. by
""'GEO. BANYAR, D. Sy.'
" And also were read the following Papers from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Albany, vizt .:
"' ALBANY, 15th June, 1754.
"'At a Meeting of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at Mr. Lutridge's.
"'PRESENT :
" 'Col. Myndt Schuyler.
" "Robert Saunders, Esquire, Mayor of the City.
"' Syl". Van Shaak, Esquire, Recorder.
""" Cap". Hubert Marshal, Commander of the Fort.
"' Cornelius Cuyler,
" ' John Beekman,
" ' John Ranslear, Esquires.
" 'Jacob Coent Ten Eyck,
" ' Peter Winnce,
" ' Peter Wraxall, Sec'y.
"' His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable James
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MINUTES OF THE
Delancey, Esquire, having directed Col. Mindt Schuyler to convene the Commissioners of Indian affairs that they might consult toge -. ther if they had any Matters in particular to recommend to his Honour upon the approaching Interview with the Six Nations.
""' In consequence hereof the Commissioners are of Opinion that the Six Nations who now live dispersed and confused should in the most earnest Manner be exhorted to unite and dwell together in their respective Castles, and that the Mohock Nation should live in one Castle only.
""' That his Honour apply to the Onondago Indians in particular to direct and exhort them to live together in one Castle according to their antient and prudent Custom, and to cause all their Friends and Relations wherever dispersed to join them, particularly those who have separated themselves and live at present at Swagassie, on the South Side of the River Saint Lawrence to the Eastward of Cadaraqui, where the French have lately fortified, have a Garrison, and where a French Missionary constantly resides in order to draw them off from our Alliance. At this Swagassie the French lately made a Settlement of Indians belonging to the Six Nations, of which the greatest Part are from Onondago and Cayuga.
""'That whereas the French have long been endeavouring to pre- vail on the Senecas to come and settle at Irondequat in order to have them nearer to their Settlements, the more easy to cffect their Design of debauching them from the British Interest, The com- missioners are of Opinion that his Honour should insist on the Senecas, who at present live very remote from one another, to make a general Castle near the mouth of the Senecas' River, where they have already began to build a new Castle. This Point has been several Times recommended to them by former Governors, and which they have faithfully promised to do, but have not hitherto effected.
"'The Commissioners are of Opinion that the most effectual method to retain and secure the Six Nations to the British Interest will be to build Two Forts, One in the Onondago the Other in the Seneca Country, and that each Fort be supplied with a proper Mis- sionary. They are further of Opinion that the Carrying and Sell- ing Rum in the Castles of the Six Nations is of the most pernicious Consequence to the publick Interest of this Colony in particular, and to the British Interest in general, with respect to our Indian Connections.
"' The Commissioners are also of Opinion that no French Man upon any Pretence whatsoever shou'd be suffered to reside or trade amongst the Six Nations, and that the said Six Nations should be directed to send those French Men away who now trade or reside amongst them, and to warn them not to return; Those French
63
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Emissaries having always been of fatal Consequence to the British Interest amongst the Six Nations.
" ' A true Copy from the Records of the Indian affairs.
"'PETER WRAXALL, Secy.'
-
"' ALBANY, 18th June, 1754.
"' At a Meeting of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs at the House of Robert Luttridge.
"'PRESENT :
"' Peter Winne, " ' Sylvant Vansehaak Recorder,
"' Mynd" Schuyler, Esquires.
"' John Beckman,
"' Jacob Coent Ten Eyck.
""' His Honour the Lieutenant Governor having sent to Col. Mynd". Schuyler to know what he should do with Regard to the River Indians at the approaching Interview, Col. Schuyler thought proper to convene the Commissioners that they might answer his Honour upon this Point.
"' They are of Opinion that after the Six Nations arrive in Town it will be Time enough to send a Message to the said River Indians.
"' Whereas divers Complaints have been made to the Commis- sioners of Indian Affairs that the Indians at Chonojahare Castle do forcibly take Rum from the Oswego Traders in their Passage by the said Castle, And also that the Oneido Indians oblige the Traders to let them carry their Goods over the Carrying Place, and to pay them double and sometimes more than double the customary Price which the Germans are ready and willing to take, it is the Opinion, therefore, of this Board, that his Honour be pleased at the approach- ing Interview to represent the Injustice of these Proceedings to the Six Nations, and that it is a Breach of their Promises so solemnly made, and a Violation of their Engagements entered into and fre- quently renewed with former Governors.
"' A true Copy from the Records of Indian Affairs.
""'PETER WRAXALL, Sec".'
" A Remonstrance was then read to the Board from the Oswego Traders to his Honour the Lieutenant Governor of New York, of which the following is a Copy :
""' To His Honour JAMES DELANCEY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York, &c .:
""' We the Traders (or Handlers) to Oswego most humbly beg Leave to remonstrate to your Honour the many Hazards and Dif-
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MINUTES OF THE
ficulties We are subject to in Our Passage thither from the ill Treatment We meet with from the Indians (i. e.) in passing the Mohocks and Chonajohare Castles; they board our Battoes with Axes, Knives, &ca., and by Force take what Rum they think pro- per, whooping and yelping as if they gloried in their Depredations, and threatning Murder to any that oppose them; and on our Ar- rival at the great Carrying Place the Oneido Indians force our Goods from Us at Pleasure to carry over, and not content with making Us pay a most exorbitant Price for each Freight, but rob Us of our Rum, Stores, and other Goods, with a great deal of in- vective threatning Language, and are generally so numerous that We are obliged to submit to those Impositions or run the Risque of being murdered and robbed of every thing We have; and to put their Schemes the better in Execution they force away the High Germans, who generally attend with their Horses, that we may be under a necessity of employing them and paying whatsoever they please to demand.
"' We therefore humbly pray your Honour to take these our most severe Grievances under due Consideration, and fall upon such methods to redress them as to You in your great Wisdom shall deem most expedient.
"'Accept of our most fervent Prayers for your Welfare and Prosperity, as We ever remain with all due Deference, Gratitude, and Esteem,
"'Sir, Your Honour's most dutiful and most humble Servants. " Oswego, June 1st, 1754.'
" To which Forty Seven several Names were signed.
" The following Gentlemen were appointed a Committee to pre- pare the Draught of a general Speech to be made by his Honour to the Indians, viz":
" William Johnson, " Sam1. Wells, " Theodore Atkinson, " Elisha Williams, " Martin Howard, Jun". " Isaac Norris, " Benja. Tasker, Jun".
Esquires.
"To whom were delivered the aforesaid Papers.
" Adjourned till to-Morrow Morning."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" At a Meeting at the Court House in Albany on Thursday, 20th June, 1754, A. M.
" PRESENT :
" His Honour and the aforesaid Council of New York, and sev- eral of the Commissioners.
" The Committee appointed Yesterday to prepare a Draught of a general Speech to be made to the Indians not being ready to make their Report, adjourned till to-Morrow Morning."
" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany on Friday 21st June, 1754, A. M.
" PRESENT :
" His Honour the Lieutenant Governor, the Council of New York aforesaid, all the Commissioners, and Thomas Hutchinson, Esquire, one of the Commissioners of Massachusets Bay.
"It was proposed by the Governor that to avoid all Disputes about the Precedency of the Colonies they should be named in the Minutes according to their Situation from North to South, which was agreed to.
" Peter Wraxall, Esquire, was chosen Secretary to this Board.
"The Committee delivered in their Draught of the general Speech, which was read thro', and afterwards Paragraph by Para- graph.
" Objections were made to some Parts, the Board not coming to any Conclusion on the same they adjourned till to-Morrow Morn- ing."
" At a Meeting at the Court House in Albany, Saturday 22d June, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
" The Council of New York aforesaid and all the Commissioners except John Chandler, Esqr., One of the Commissioners for Mas- sachusets Bay.
"The Consideration of the Draught of the general Speech was resumed, and one being agreed upon, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Pe- ters were desired to wait upon the Lieutenant Governor with the same.
" Adjourned till Monday Morning."
VOL. VI .- 5.
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MINUTES OF THE
" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Monday 24th June, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
"The Council of New York aforesaid and all the Commis- sioners.
" A Motion was made that the Thanks of this Board be given to the Reverend Mr. Peters, One of the Commissioners for Penn- sylvania, for his Sermon preached yesterday, and that he be desired to suffer the same to be printed, which was unanimously agreed to.
" Mr. Chambers and Mr. Peters were desired to wait upon his Honour to request him to administer an Oath to Mr. Wraxall for the due and faithful Discharge of his Office of Secretary to this Board.
" Adjourned to 3 o'Clock this Afternoon."
-
" At a Meeting as aforesaid in the Afternoon the 24th June, 1751.
" PRESENT :
" His Honour the Lieutenant Governor and the Council aforesaid of the Province of New York and all the Commissioners.
" Mr. Chambers and Mr. Peters reported to the Board that Mr. Wraxall had been sworn into his Office by his Honour conformable to their Desire in the Morning.
" A Motion was made that the Commissioners deliver their Opinion whether an Union of all the Colonies is not at present absolutely necessary for their Security and Defence.
" The Question was accordingly put, and it passed in the Affirma- tive unanimously.
"His Honour the Lieutenant Governor made a Proposal as a Branch of Indian affairs under the Consideration of this Board to build Two Forts in the Indian Country to protect them, their Wives and Children, as the best Expedient to secure their Fidelity to his Majesty.
" Which Proposal the Board determined to proceed upon after they had considered some Method of effecting the Union between the Colonies.
"On a Motion that a Committee be appointed to prepare and receive Plans and Schemes for the Union of the Colonies and to digest them into one general Plan for the Inspection of this Board,
67
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"' Resolved, That Each Government chuse One of their own Num- ber to be of that Committee.'
" Accordingly were appointed,
" Thomas Hutchinson, Esquire, for Massachusets Bay.
" Theodore Atkinson, Esquire, for New Hampshire.
" William Pitkin, Esquire, for Connecticut.
" Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, for Rhode Island.
" Benjamin Franklin, Esquire, for Pennsylvania.
" Benjamin Tasker, Esquire, for Maryland.
" It was left to his Honour to appoint One of his Majestie's Council for the Government of New York, and he named William Smith, Esquire.
" Adjourned till to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."
" At a Meeting in the Court House in Albany on Tuesday the 25th June, 1754, A. M.
"PRESENT :
" Joseph Murray, " William Johnson, & Esquires, of the Council of New York. " John Chambers,
" Roger Wolcot,
" Elisha Williams,
Esquires, Commiss's for Connecticut.
" Samuel Wells,
" John Chandler, Esquires, Commiss's, for Massachusets " Oliver Partridge, & Bay.
" John Worthington,
" Richard Wybert, Esquires, Commissioners for New " Meshech Weare, Hampshire.
" Henry Sherborne, Jr.,
" Martin Howard, Jun"- Esquire, a Commissioner for Rhode Island.
" John Penn & Isaac Norris, Esquires, Commissioners for Penn- sylvania.
" Abraham Barnes, Esquire, a Commissioner for Maryland.
" The Draught of the general Speech not being returned to the Board from his Honour the Lieutenant Governor of New York, Ad- journed to 5 o'Clock this Afternoon."
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MINUTES OF THE
" At a Meeting as aforesaid Tuesday the 25th June, 1754, P. M. "PRESENT :
" All the Gentlemen of the Council of New York and all the Commissioners.
" Mr. Murray delivered to the Board for their Approbation his Honour's Alterations and Additions to the Draught of the Speech presented to his Honour by Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Peters the twenty-second Instant, which were read to the Board by the Secre- tary, and the further Consideration thereof was deferred till to- morrow morning.
" Adjourned till Eleven o'Clock to-morrow morning."
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" At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Wednesday 26th June, 1754, A. M.
" PRESENT. 1
" William Johnson, & - Esquires, of the Council of New York.
"John Chambers,
" William Pitkin,
"Roger Wolcot, Esquires, Commissioners for Connecticut.
"Elisha Williams,
" Samuel Wells,
" John Chandler,
"Thomas Hutchinson, &
" Oliver Patridge,
Esquires, Commissioners for Massachu- sets Bay.
" Martin Howard, Junr., Esquire, a Comm". for Rhode Island.
"The Draught of the general Speech to the Six Nations was further debated, but not being fully concluded upon the Board ad- journed till 10 o'Clock to-morrow morning."
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