USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 10
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
" Brethren :
" As we agree to take up the Hatchet and to come into all your Measures, we must advise you that in all your Steps you will act so as to be secure, and not go forwards for a while and then be obliged to go as far or farther back again, and that with Shame. Your People are foolish ; they are extremely heavy, move slow, and are liable to surprizes, if you go by yourselves. We are a light Body ; we can trip nimbly thro' the Woods, look over a large Extent of Country and see that all is clear, and no Enemy lying concealed to cut you off when you think nothing of it. We must likewise tell you not to make a trifling Peace. You have no doubt heard we are a People who never lay down our Arms; it is true our young Peo- ple now tell you that they will fight whilst they can find one of the Enemy to fight with, so do not make a trifling Peace. Do your- selves and us Justice, and bring your Enemies to a due Sense of themselves, and to offer just Terms, and then, and not till then, think of a Peace. This is our Advice."
Here they danced the War Dance; the Indian called the Belt singing with a Belt in his hand.
Here the Interpreter said Scarroyady was going on a fresh mat- ter, and said Indians change their Subject without giving notice or making any Apology ; but it might be proper for him to acquaint the Governor that he was going to address him and the three Dela- wares that they had placed on Seats within the full view of him and
81
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
the Council. Scarroyady addressing himself to the Governor and Delawares, and turning to them spoke in the following Manner, Andrew Montour interpreting what he said :
" We are glad to see some of our Cousins in this Town, and that they are safe and unhurt; we observe that they walk about the Streets as if they were of your own People and your Friends, and that they are so secure amongst you."
A String.
Then addressing the Governor he resumed his Speech, holding two Belts in his Hands.
" Brethren :
"In my Journey as I went thro' Oneoquago, Oneido, and the Mohlock's Country, I was much sollicited by them to come and reside among them. They repeatedly said to me 'Father, we have lost all our old People; we have but few Counsellers left ; We want some Men of Gravity and Experience to advise us and instruct us what to do against the common Enemy ; we therefore entreat you will come and live with us; we will obey you in every thing you shall tell us to do; we will follow you wherever you go; you shall find us obedient Children to you.' In this manner they importuned me frequently ; and at the Treaty at Fort Johnson these People all spoke to him to join with them in this Application, and to use his Interest with me, which he undertook to do, and he joined a Belt to theirs by which they renewed their Sollicitations. What they said I have already mentioned. Colonel Johnson, on his own part, spoke-' Father, a great many Indians have sollicited me very warmly to desire you will be a Captain among the Warriors and a Counsellor in their Councils, and I have considered well their ap- plications, and do think it will be for the Interest of the Six Na- tions, and of Service to his Majesty and the Colonies, that you should gratify them, and remove to some principal Place in the Six Nation Country; and therefore, in behalf of the King of Great Britain and of the Colonies, I have joined a Belt to theirs, and do request you will remove up to some Place here and take upon you the Command of the Warriors and your Seat at the Council Fire, and afford them the assistance they desire, and which they want by the Death of their Chiefs.'" Here he separated the Belts, and gave Col. Johnson's Belt to the Governor.
" Brethren :
"Colonel Johnson will bear Witness that these Indians are your very good Friends, and have a good meaning in this Request to me. I shall not be far from you; we can always correspond with Ease ; it is but a little way from where I intend to live to Shamokin. I now desire you will order an immediate Conveyance for us that are here, our Wives and Children, that we may get safe to Colonel Johnson. Clause, Montour, and Croghan, say they have a Call VOL. VII .- 6.
1
82
MINUTES OF THE
there, and they can, with your order, conduct us thro' the Jour- ney."
Scarroyady addressing the Delawares, spoke :
"Cousins :
"One of the Reasons assigned by the Delawares to the Six Na- tions for their striking the English was, that they were ill used by the Inhabitants when they lived among them. Now this we knew at the Time was false, and you are living Witnesses to the con- trary, and as such must come and bear your Testimony at the great Meeting which is to be held in June at Oswego, between the Six Nations and their Allies, and General Johnson. I give you notice of it and invite you to it, that you may confront this false Story and be living Evidence of the contrary, and that you may hear what is said at that great Meeting and give an account thereof to your People. It behoves you to be of good Behaviour, and give no of- fence to your Brethren, the English, nor to misrepresent them."
Gave a String.
Scarroyady held up two Belts and two Strings, tied endways to one another, and spoke again, but did not deliver them over.
" Cousins :
" One of these Belts was given us by the Governor of Virginia, to take up the Hatchet, we joined one of our own to it. We have made use of it, and now are going to make use of it again. You hear what our Brethren have said to us, and we to them ; consider of it, and for the future go hand in hand with us. I have finished."
The Governor, after a little Pause, addressed the Indians : " I re- turn you Thanks for the Zeal with which you have taken up the Hatchet. The war shall be prosecuted with all the Vigour I am able to inspire, and you shall not want any Assistance I am able to .afford ; I hope since you have joined with us in this necessary War, that the Blood of our Inhabitants will cease to run. As to other Matters, they shall be spoke of at another time."
The Governor sent the Secretary to the Assembly with the Act for regulating the Officers and Soldiers commissionated and raised by the Governor for the Defence of this Province, with a Message, that he adhered to his Amendments, and desired a Conference with the House in the Council Chamber, either this afternoon, or on Monday, as they should incline. They chose the afternoon, and ac- cordingly a Conference was held ; in which it appeared that the Committee, appointed to confer with his Honour on the Bill, were of Opinion, from the Reasons offered by the Governor, that his Amendments were just and ought to be agreed to.
The Returns of Several Companies of Foot Militia, in the Coun- ties of York, Lancaster, and Bucks, were read, tlfe Officers approved, and Commissions ordered to issue.
83
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Two Returns of Companies in Bucks County, under the Associa- tion, were read and approved.
-
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 12th April, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The several Indian Treaties and Deeds that have been made by the Delaware Indians with the government and Proprietaries were called for, and the Governor received Satisfaction in finding that the Delaware Nation were the subjects of his Majesty, and had submitted to and been tried by the Laws, and some of them sen- tenced to Death, and suffered in the presence and with the Consent of the other Indians.
The Draught of a Declaration of War was again considered, and some Difficulties arising about the manner of wording it, as to Indians and the Indian Country, Mr. Weiser was desired to consult Scarro- yady as to this Part, and all the rest was prepared to be reconsid- ered in a full Council.
Several of the Strict and reputable Quakers presented an Ad- dress to the Governor, bearing their Testimony against War, ex- pressing their apprehensions at this Declaration, and praying that amicable Methods might be further tried. Mr. Logan moved for a full Council to be called this Evening, and the Sumons's served instantly.
Several associated Companies of Foot Militia in the County of Bucks were read, and the Officers approved.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 12th April, 1756, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esq., Lieu- tenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Lynford Lardner,
William Till,
Benjamin Chew, Esqrs.
Lawrence Growdon,
Thomas Cadwalader,
William Logan,
John Mifflin,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
84
MINUTES OF THE
The Governor having received an Address signed by Samuel Powell and others, on behalf of themselves and many others of the Society of Quakers, against his declaring War against our Enemy Indians, and Publishing a Proclamation for offering Rewards for Indian Prisoners and Scalps, the said Address was read and or- der'd to be enter'd; the Governor desired the Council's Advice whether he should postpone making the said Declaration of War, and previous to it take any Steps other than had been taken in order to come to amicable Measures with the Delawares. And after a full Narration of the several Steps that had been taken by the Governor, all the Council were satisfied that proper Measures had been taken and fully taken, and after full Consideration and Debate, all the Council (except Mr. Logan, who desired his Dissent might be entered on the Minutes), agreed that the Governor ought not to delay declaring War against the Enemy Indians; that it was abso- lutely necessary and should be done in the morning, if his Honour could get Scarroyady's Answer Time enough. The Bounties for Prisoners and Scalps were then considered and agreed to.
Then were read the last Indian Minutes, which the Secretary was order'd to carry to the House when they met again.
It was then debated whether the Governor should consult the Assembly before issuing the Declaration of War; it was unani- mously agreed that his Honour should consult them afterwards, but not before.
" To ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Gover- nor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylva- nia, &ca.,
"The Humble Address of some of the Peoplecalled Quakers, residing in the city of Philadelphia, on behalf of themselves and many others :
"With hearts sorely distressed and deeply affected with the Calamities of our Fellow-Subjects, and painfully apprehensive of the impending Desolations consequent of an Indian War, we address the Governor, and earnestly intreat thy favorable Attention on this solemn and important Conjuncture, in which the Lives and Liber- ties of the People of this Province are so nearly concerned.
" We have, with the most sensible Concern and Pain of Mind, observed the sorrowful Alteration in the State of this late peaceful Province, now become the Theatre of Bloodshed and Rapine, and distressed by the cruel Devastations of a barbarous Enemy, which justly excites the most agravating Reflections in every considerate Mind; yet, when we consider that all Wars are attended with fatal Consequences, and one with Enemies so savage as those who have now become ours, with Circumstances the most shocking and dread- ful, we cannot omit beseeching that before the Resolution of declar- ing War against them be carried into Execution, some further
85
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
attempts may be made by pacific Measures to reduce them to a Sense of their Duty, and that a farther opportunity may be offered to such as may be willing to separate from those who have been the wicked Instruments of perverting them.
· " The Settlement of this Province was founded on the Principles of Truth, Equity, and Mercy, and the Blessing of Divine Provi- dence attended the early Care of the first Founders to impress these Principles on the Minds of the Native Inhabitants, so that when their Numbers were great and their Strength vastly Superior, they received our Ancestors with Gladness, relieved their Wants with open Hearts, granted them peaceable Possession of the Land, and for a long Course of Time gave constant and frequent Proofs of a cordial Friendship, all which we humbly ascribe to the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God, 'whose Hand is for good upon all them that seek him,' and as the Angelic Acclamation of 'Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men,' with which the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was published, and the Example and Precepts which he, as the Prince of Peace, gave through the Course of his personal Appearance on Earth, have given us undoubted Assurance that the day is dawn'd in which his peaceable Reign will be exalted and gradually become universal; we cannot, without Neglect of our Duty and sacrificing the Peace of Conscience we prefer to every temporal Blessing, omit reviving our Testimony in this Time of Probation, that all Wars appear to us contrary to the Nature and End of the Gospel Dispensation, and that we, as a People, still firmly believe that on an humble and Steady Acquiescence with the Dispensations of Divine Providence, our real Protection and Security depends, from which no temporal Inconveniences and Difficulties can Justify our departing; yet, while we earnestly desire all may attain this happy Experience, we do not presume to prescribe, but as our Minds feel more than our Words can express, of Pain and Anxiety for our Brethren and Fellow Christians, whose Desolations we fear will be increased and per- petuated by a hasty Declaration of War, we find ourselves obliged to beseech the Governor to resume the most weighty, serious, and religious Deliberations on this melancholy Occasion, that so every Measure which hath been pursued, and whatever remains possible to be done to prevent so fatal and lamentable an Extremity, may be strictly and impartially reviewed and considered, that full Enquiry may be made whether some Apprehensions these Indians have con- cieved of a Deviation from the Integrity of Conduct towards them, so conspicuous in the first Establishment, may not unhappily have contributed in some Degree to the Alteration of their Conduct towards us.
" That full Time may be allowed for those Indians who still re- main well affected towards us, to use and report the Effect of their Endeavours to reconcile our Enemies, and that proper Care may be
86
MINUTES OF THE
·
taken to prevent our Allies being, thro' the Misconduct of evil Dis- positions of any, injured in such manner as to provoke them like- wise to turn their Arms against us, and that the Governor's Care to guard against involving the innocent with the Guilty, may carry so clear Demonstration of Christian Tenderness and aversion to shed- ding Blood, that an Evidence may be given to the Minds of the neighbouring Indians which may engage them heartily and sin- cerely to assist in the desireable work of restoring Peace and Tran- quility, towards which all the Measures hitherto taken seem to have contributed little good Effect. We, therefore, with Sincerity and Fervency, pray that the Calamities may be averted, which will ensue on a continued War with these Savages, some of the melancholy Effects of which the Annals of a neigbouring Province, full of the most warlike People, have testified; and as the Fear of God, Honour of the King, and Love of our Brethren and Fellow Christians, are the Motives which have engaged us to make this Address, we hope to demonstrate by our Conduct that every Occasion of assist- ing and relieving the distressed, and contributing towards the ob- taining Peace in a manner consistent with our peaceable Profession, will be chearfully improved by us, and even tho' a much larger Part of our Estates should be necessary than the heaviest taxes of a War can be expected to require, we shall chearfully, by volun- tary Grants, evidence our Sincerity herein. May the Mind of the Governor be endued with that Wisdom which the wisest of Kings experienced to be better than Weapons of War, and may thy Councils be directed to the Honour of God and Good of the People over whom thou presidest, is our sincere Desire and Prayer.
" Sign'd on behalf and at the Request of many of our Brethren, by
" SAML. POWELL, " ANTHO MORRIS,
" JOHN REYNELL,
"SAML PRESTON MOORE, "ISR. PEMBERTON, " JOHN SMITH.
"Philadelphia, the 12th 4 mº- 1756."
87
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 13th April, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
William Till,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
William Logan,
Lawrence Growdon,
Joseph Turner,
Esquires.
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwalader, 1
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor informed the Council that he had this Day at noon received Letters from Lancaster, containing Intelligence of a great Body of the Inhabitants of the Back Counties being to meet there and proceed to this City, with design to force the Governor and As- sembly to pass some Laws that they have prepared for that Pur- pose ; which proceeding being of very dangerous Consequence to the Peace and Constitution of the Government, the Governor ordered the Letters to be read, and then desired the Council's Advice.
The Council were of different Opinions as to what was proper to be done with the People; but all agreed that the Governor should lay the Matter before the Assembly, which was done in the follow- ing Message :
"Gentlemen :
" I have this Day received Information that a Number of People from the Back Counties, Inhabitants, have resolved to meet at Lan- caster on the Sixteenth Instant, and thence proceed to this City to make some Demands of the Legislature now sitting.
" As Attempts of this kind may be dangerous to the King's Peace and the Authority of the Legislature, I think proper to give you this timely notice of it, and, by the Advice of the Council, shall give immediate Orders to the Provincial and other Magistrates to use their utmost Endeavours to prevent the mischiefs that may at- tend so extraordinary a Procedure.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, April 13th, 1756."
The Governor likewise wrote to the Justices of the Supream Court and to the Magistrates of the City of Philadelphia, and it was left under consideration what further Steps to take.
Mr. Weiser came and informed the Governor that Scarroyady had been in Liquor two Days, and was incapable of being conferred with.
88
MINUTES OF THE
MEMORANDUM.
On the Fourteenth Instant, the Proclamation of War against the Delawares was published at the Court House in the Presence of the Council, Supream Judges, Magistrates, Officers, &ca., and a large Concourse of People, and is as follows :
"By the Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware:
"A PROCLAMATION.
" Whereas, the Delaware tribe of Indians, and others in Confed- cracy with them, have for some Time past, without the least Provo- cation, and contrary to their most Solemn Treaties, fallen upon this Province and in a most cruel, savage, and prefidious Manner, killed and butchered great Numbers of the Inhabitants, and carried others into barbarous Captivity ; burning and destroying their Habitations, and laying waste the Country. And Whereas, notwithstanding the friendly Remonstrances made to them by this Government, and the Interposition and positive Orders of our faithful Friends and allies the Six Nations, to whom they owe Obedience and Subjection, re- quiring and commanding them to desist from any further Acts of Hostility against us, and to return to their Allegiance, the said In- dians do still continue their cruel Murders and Ravages, sparing neither age nor Sex; I have, therefore, by and with the Advice and consent of the Council, thought fit to issue this Proclamation ; and do hereby declare the said Delaware Indians, and all others who, in Conjunction with them, have committed Hostilities against His Majesty's Subjects within this Province, to be Enemies, Rebels, and Traitors to His Most Sacred Majesty ; And I do hereby require all his Majesty's Subjects of this Province, and earnestly invite those of the neighbouring Provinces to embrace all Opportunities of pur- suing, taking, killing, and destroying the said Delaware Indians and . all others confederated with them in committing Hostilities, Incur- sions, Murders, or Ravages upon this Province. And Whereas, sundry of our good Friends and Allies the Six Nations, and other friendly Indians, are seated upon and do inhabit the Country to the North- ward of the Mouth of a River falling into the Sasquehannah, called Cayuga Branch, and those of the Six Nations now in Town have de- sired that our Hostilities against the said Enemy Indians might not, therefore, be carried on more Northerly than a Line extending from the Mouth of the said Cayuga Branch, at an Indian Town called Diahoga, or Tohiccon, to the Station Point between the Provinces of New York and Jersey, at the Indian Town called Cashetunk, upon Delaware; the said Indians promising us their hearty and best As- sistance. I do, therefore, hereby declare that the Indians living
1
89
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
and being to the Northward of a Line drawn from the Mouth of the said Cayuga Branch to the said Station Point are not included in this Declaration of War.
" And Whereas, many Delaware and other Indians abhorring the ungrateful, cruel, and perfidious Behaviour of that Part of the Delaware Tribe and others that have been concerned in the late inhuman Ravages, have removed into the settled and inhabited Parts of the Country, put themselves under the Protection of this and the neighbouring Governments, and live in a peaceable Manner with the King's Subjects ; I do therefore declare, that the said friendly Indians that have so separated themselves from our said Enemies, and all others who shall join or act with us in the Prose- cution of this just and necessary War, are expressly excepted out of this Declaration, and it is recommended to all Officers and others to afford them Protection and Assistance. And Whereas, the Com- missioners appointed with me to dispose of the Sixty Thousand Pounds lately granted by Act of General Assembly for His Majesty's Use, have, by their Letter to me of the Tenth Instant, agreed to pay out of the same the several Rewards for Prisoners and Scalps herein after specified; and, therefore, as a further Inducement and Encouragement to all his Majesty's Liege People, and to all the several Tribes of Indians who continue in Friendship and Alliance with us, to exert and use their utmost Endeavour to pursue, attack, take, and destroy our said Enemy Indians, and to release, redeem, and recover such of his Majesty's Subjects as have been taken and made Prisoners by the same Enemies; I do hereby declare and promise, that there shall be paid out of the said Sixty Thousand Pounds to all and every Person and Persons, as well . Indians as Christians not in the Pay of the Province, the several and respective Premiums and Bounties following, that is to say : For every Male Indian Enemy above Twelve Years Old who shall be taken Prisoner and deliver'd at any Forts garrisoned by the Troops in the Pay of this Province, or at any of the County Towns to the Keepers of the common Jails there, the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Spanish Dollars or Pieces of Eight; For the Scalp of every Male Indian Enemy above the age of Twelve Years, produced as Evidence of their being killed, the Sum of One Hundred and Thirty Pieces of Eight; For every Female Indian taken Prisoner and brought in as aforesaid, and for every Male Indian Prisoner under the Age of Twelve Years taken and brought in as aforesaid, One Hundred and Thirty Pieces of Eight; For the Scalp of every Indian Woman, produced as Evidence of their being killed, the Sum of Fifty Pieces of Eight; And for every English Subject that has been taken and carried from this Province into Captivity that shall be recovered and brought in and delivered at the City of Philadelphia to the Governor of this Province, the Sum of one Hundred and Fifty Pieces of Eight, but nothing for their Scalps ; And that there shall be paid to every Officer or Soldier as are or shall be in the
90
MINUTES OF THE
Pay of this Province who shall redeem and deliver any English Subject carried into Captivity as aforesaid, or shall take, bring in, and produce any Enemy Prisoner, or Scalp as aforesaid, one-half of the said several and respective Premiums and Bounties.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the Province, at Philadelphia, the Fourteenth Day of April, in the Twenty-Ninth Year of His Majesty's Reign, and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" By His Honour's Command, " RICHARD PETERS, Secretary. " GOD SAVE THE KING."
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.