USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 16
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" Gave a Belt.
"'Brother Onas :
"' What you said to us we took to Heart, & it Entered into our Heart, & we speak to you from our Hearts, and we will deal Ho- nestly with you in every Respect.'
" Gave a String.
" ' Brother Onas :
"' We desire you will look upon us with Eyes of Mercy. We
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are a very poor people; our Wives & Children are almost naked ; we are void of Understanding, and destitute of the Necessaries of life. Pity us.'
" Gave a String.
" The Delawares, Memksies and Mohickons to Onas and the Peo- ple of Pennsylvania :
" ' Brethren :
"' There is a great Number of our People among you, and in a manner confined ; we desire you will set them at Liberty, or rather give them a safe Conduct to Wyomink, where we intend to settle, as on your Fireside ; tbere we will Jointly with you kindle a Council Fire, which shall always burn, and we will be one People with you.'
" Gave Two Belts.
" ' Brother Onas and all the People of Pennsylvania :
""" We had the Misfortune that a great and dark cloud overspread our Country, but by your Prudence, and that of our uncles, the Six nations, it is now almost dispelled, and we see the clear Heavens again. We, the Delawares, the Shawonese, the Mohickons, and Memksies, give you this String of Wampum, and desire you that the Bitterness that might have gathered in this dark and unhappy Time may be removed, and that you may by this means spit it out. Take or accept this as a certain cure for that Purpose, and pass by all that is past, and think on your poor foolish brethren with mercy, and forget all the Evil done to you by them.'
" Gave several Strings of Wampum.
""' Brother Onas :
"' What our Uncles, the Six Nations, required of us in your and their Behalf, by their Delegates at Otsaningo, we that live on the River Sasquehannah have agreed to. We have laid aside our Hatchet, and will never make use of it more against you or your Brethren, the English ; all our young Men have been consulted about this, and all earnestly agree to it, and we now speak in their Presence.
-
""' We must give you this Caution, not to charge them with any thing that may be done by the Ohio Indians, under the Influence of the French, against you. We assure you, our Young Men will do no more Mischief to your People.'
" Gave a String.
" Teedyuscung, otherwise called Honest John, was Speaker for the Delawares, who further informed us that the Delawares, under the French Influence, are going to the Twightwees.
"The foregoing contains a true Relation of the Report of the Indians.
" CONRAD WEISER.
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Then Jagrea spoke as follows :
" Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania,
" We have now finished our Report, having mentioned every thing material that passed at Diahogo. We have endeavoured to discharge our Trust faithfully, and we hope our Services will be well taken by you. We are sure they are well meant, and a happy Foundation is laid on which you may erect a good Building, but it behoves you to use Dispatch, and send us back quickly with your answers, least, as Times are dangerous, any thing may intervene to frustrate the good Work so fortunately begun."
After the Indians were gone, the Council took into Consideration the Draught of a Proclamation for a Suspension of Hostilities for Thirty days, and the same being agreed on, it was engrossed, and ordered to be entered.
The Governor having prepared the following Message to the As- sembly, the Secretary was sent with it to the House, together with a Copy of the Minutes of the Transactions with the Indians on Sasquehannah, and Extracts of Two Letters from Sir Charles Hardy relating to Indian Affairs :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" I have directed the Secretary to lay before you Extracts from Two Letters of Sir Charles Hardy's relating to Indian affairs, as also the Minutes of what has been transacted with the Indians on Sasquehannah in Consequence of those Letters, by which you will see the Disposition those People are in, and the Desire they have to be distinguished from the Indians that have joined the French, and to Renew their alliance and Friendship with us.
" The Council have advised me upon this occasion to publish a Proclamation for a Suspension of Hostilities, that the Measures now taking for an accommodation may meet with no obstruction, nor any Umbrage be given to those Indians for preventing the bringing that affair to a Satisfactory Issue; and I propose to send the Proclamation forthwith to Diahogo accompanied with a proper Message, and make no Doubt of the necessary Support from you in the Prosecution of these measures.
" In order to render the late Embargo permanent and effectual, I have called the Assembly of the Lower Counties to meet at New Castle on Friday the Fourth Instant, and shall recommend it to them to pass a Law to the same Effect with that lately passed here ; and as that will only Occasion an absence of three or four Days, I imagine it will not interrupt any Business that you may have under Consideration.
"ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, June 2d, 1756."
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The Governor received the following Message from the House by Two Members :
" May it please the Governor :
" As it appears by the Letters from Sir Charles Hardy and the Minutes of Sir William Johnston's Negotiations with a Deputation from the Onondagos to the Delaware and Shawonese Indians, as well as by the account of what has been transacted with the In- dians on Sasquehannah, which the Governor has been pleased to lay before us, that the Delaware and Shawonese Indians, by the au- thority and interposition of the Six United Nations, have promised to cease from further Hostilities, and are disposed to renew and strengthen their alliance and Friendship with the English, the Gov- ernor will not fail of the necessary Support in the Prosecution of such Measures as may tend to a happy issue of this good Disposi- tion in the Deleware and Shawonese Tribes, and accordingly we heartily recommend it to the Commissioners appointed by Law to dispose of the Sixty Thousand Pounds lately granted to the King's use, to concur with the Governor in furnishing such Supplies of Money as may be necessary for effectuating these good Purposes.
" We are of Opinion that the Bill for regulating the Indian Trade, which has lain a considerable Time before the Governor for his assent, might be of great Service at this Juncture, by bringing such of our Indians as have never joined with and desire to be dis-' tinguished from those who have been concerned in the Hostilities committed upon the Back Settlements of this and the neighbouring Provinces under the immediate Inspection and care of this Gov- ernment; and as by the Passing this Bill we apprehend the Ne- cessities of these our Friendly Indians may be supplied, and their Affections secured on the easiest Terms, and those of other Dispo- sitions brought in by their own Interests, we request the Governor would concur with us in passing that Bill.
"Signed by Order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. " June 3d, 1756."
The following Message respecting the Support of Government was sent the Assembly by the Governor, and the Secretary was ordered to desire the House would return the proposed amendments which the Governor had sent with the Bill for regulating the Indian Trade.
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. " Gentlemen :
" You are sensible that the Trouble and Expence attending the administration of the Government since my arrival have been con- siderably greater than in any former Time, and that no Sums since
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your first Sessions have been granted for my Support; I must, therefore, desire you will take this Matter into Your consideration, and make such Provision as is agreeable to Justice and the Prac- tice of former Assemblies.
"ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, June 3d, 1756."
Then the Governor and Council went to the Court House, and before a large Company published the Proclamation for a Suspen- sion of Hostilities, the Post having brought no Letters from Sir William Johnson.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 8th June, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner, Esquires.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
Captain Newcastle, Six Nation Indians.
Jagrea, or Satagarowyes, S
Conrad Weiser, Esquire, Interpreter.
The Governor acquainted the Council that yesterday Mr. Logan was desired to go to Jersey to engage three or four of those Indians to accompany New Castle to Diahoga, and he consenting to go, proper Instructions were given him for that Purpose.
The Matters necessary to be said in answer to the Messages sent from Diahoga by New Castle were taken into Consideration, and after some time were agreed upon, and then the Indians were sent for.
The Governor was informed by Mr. Weiser that the Indians were uneasy at being detained in Town, being apprehensive that their long stay here would make the Diahoga Indians believe either that they were cut off by the English, or that this Government did not mean to conclude a Peace with them ; and that Captain Newcastle, in parti- cular, was out of humour because the Governor, before he went to Diahoga, had promised him, as he said, to send for his Niece, whom he had left at Michael Taafe's on Sasquehannah, and he expected to have seen her in Town at his and he was so much disgusted at not finding her here that he was determined to go to Taafe's, and de- clined returning to Diahoga.
On Mr. Weiser's giving this Information, the Governor convinced Capt. Newcastle that this had not been asked of him; but he was only requested to take care that she should be well subsisted at Taafe's, which he had, on the part of this government, promised she
a
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should. This matter being cleared up to his Satisfaction, and a Pro- mise made that the Girl should be now sent for to. Town, Captain Newcastle consented to go again to Diahoga ; Whereupon the Gov- ernor spoke as follows:
" Brethren :
"I have had good Reason to detain you here so long, for I have expected daily to receive the Result of the Council that is now hold- ing at Onondago by the Six Nations, at the Instance of the Chiefs of the Delawares and Shawonese, this, you must be sensible, would be propper for me to know before I returned the answer of this Government to the Messages of the Diahoga Indians, least they should say one thing to the Six Nations and another to me; and was it not that those Indians might, by your longer Stay, imagine you were killed, I should encline to detain you till I could know for cer- tain what has passed at Onondaga between Sir William Johnson, the Six Nations, and the Deputies of the Sasquehannahs, Delewares, and Shawonese.
" Brethren :
" Mr. Logan, a Member of Council, is now in Jersey, solliciting that Government for three or four of the best and discreetest of their Indians to accompany you, and he will send them under a Safe- guard to Bethlehem, where I expect they will meet you at the latter End of this week; my Reason for joining them to you is, that they may testify to the Indians at Diahogo the kind Treatment they have received from their Brethren, and to confirm the testimony of Wil- liam Lacquis, and by these means intirely falsify the Stories that have been told those Indians of our having Imprisoned and put to death the Indians that staid amongst us.
" Brethren :
" Hearken attentively to the particulars of my answer to the Mes- sages you brought from the Indians at Diahogo; the Interpretter will deliver it distinctly to you, and lay in order the Strings that I shall give to enforce what I say, for the better assistance of your Memory :
The Governor and the People of Pennsylvania To the Indians on Sasquehannah gathered at Diahoga :
" Brethren :
" I return you the Thanks of this Government for the kind Re- ception you gave to my messengers. This I look upon as an act of Friendship and a Token of your kind Intentions."
A String of 4 Rows.
" Brethren :
" I am glad to find a good Spirit at last prevailing amongst you, and that you hearkened to my message and laid it to Heart. You VOL. VII .- 10.
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will ever find your Brethren sincerely disposed to consult and ast for your truest Interest, and in the several Matters which were or shall now be particularly promised on our Part. You may rest assured we mean punctually to perform them, and expect the same Disposition in You."
A String of 4 Rows.
" Brethren, Delawares, Shawonese, Munsies, and Mohiccons :
" As you, on your Part, have confirmed the Treaties and leagues of amity Subsisting between you and this Government, and given a Belt in Confirmation thereof, and desire the same may be done on our Part, I do now, by this Belt, ratify and confirm all former Treaties and Engagements, and assure you that they shall be most inviolably observed as long as the Sun shines."
Here a large Belt was given.
" Brethren :
" As your Confirmation of former Treaties was accompynied with professions of Sincerity, so I make you the Strongest Assurances of Truth in the Confirmation this Government has now made."
A String of 4 Rows.
" Brethren :
" That both you and I may have an Opportunity of making those . mutual Declarations at a publick Convention, I now kindle a Council fire at the House of Conrad Weiser, who is one of the Council of the five Nations and the publick Interpretter of this Province."
I
A large Belt of 14 Rows.
N. B .- Mr. Weiser said it was Necessary to name a particular Place, But the Indians were, notwithstanding, allways at Liberty to name another, and he beleaved from Something that Captain New- castle had droped, the Indians would chuse the forks of Delaware. " Brethren :
" Having Appointed a place for us to meet in Council, I now clean the Road to this Place and remove the Logs & other Obstruc- tions out of it, so that it may be perfectly Safe for every one desi- rous to use it to travle to their Brethren when met in Council."
A large Belt of 8 Rows & 8 Strings tied to it.
" Brethren :
" It is offencive to see Blood spilt upon the Road used by people who have lived in friendship Together. I, therefore, remove all Blood out of the Road that leads to the Council fire."
A Belt of 9 Rows.
" Brethren :
" Your Indians who have stayed among us go where they please, they live as we do and Enjoy their Liberty ; we only Hinder them
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a V
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te
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from going to the Frontiers where they may be mistaken for Ene- mys and hurt or Killed ; and that the Indians may know the Truth of this, we send some of them along with our Messengers to Dia- hoga, who will Declare what Treatment they have had from us. What few we have in Confinement shall be set at Liberty when the Council meets, and be brought there."
A String.
" Brethren :
"This last is a very Important article and on what we absolutely depend, that all Prisoners taken on both sides shall be delivered up, as there can be no Sincerity on Either Side where this is not done, and that, in the most full and ample manner, without keeping Back a Single Prisoner ; this Belt assures you that it shall be punctually performed by us, and we Expect the same punctually on your Side."
Two large Belts, one 7 the other 8 Rows.
" Brethren :
" You have mentioned to us the Distresses You have been in and are in for want of Necessarys, these are owing to Your having given way to the Influence of an Evil Spirit, and Struck us your Brethren without any Cause, and as you have brought it on Your- selves you have the less reason to Complain ; But now that a good spirit begins to shew itself in you, and you desire to meet in Coun- cil, I shall bring with me a Sufficiency of Cloaths and Provisions to releave those Distresses."
A String.
" Brethren :
" As you have laid down the Hatchet and desire the same may be done by us, our messenger Carries with him our Proclamation for Suspension of Hostilities within the Limits therein Specified, of which we have informed the Six Nations.
"Brethren :
" Agreeable to the repeated advice and Request of Scarroyady and other Indians of the Six Nations then residing in this Pro- vince, I engaged to build a fort at Shamokin for the Protection of our friendly Indians, their wifes and children ; and I. now acquaint you with the march of the Forces, in Order to effect this usefull work, that it may give no umbrage, the Commander having my Orders not to act offencively.
" Brethren :
" You are to take notice that nothing proposed by me is to In- terfere with any Invitation you may have from Sir William John- ton, or Your Uncles the Six Nations; they have acquainted me that great Council is to be held in the Country of the Six Nations, and hose Indians at Diahoga are invited to it; I would have them by.
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all means give their Attendance there ; you may go to either Place as you incline, for we are both in the Service of the King and act by his Direction.
" Brother Newcastle :
" I have now finished what I would have you say, in the name of this Province, to the Indians gathered at Diahoga; you will adopt the several articles to Indian Customs, retaining the Spirit and Sub- stance of them."
Some Messengers to Particular Persons, were afterwards sent by him.
One to the Shawonese King, Packskinosa, with a String, to tell him the Governor had heard by all his Messengers of the great fidelity with which he had adhered to the English, that they relyed on his giving him his best Council, and furthering the good mea- sures now taken, with all his skill and Influence; he Invited him Particularly to the Council fire, where he expected his assistance, as he should stand in need of so faithfull and so wise a councellor ..
Another to John Shiccallamy with a String, to tell him it gave much concern to hear he was ill Treated at Captain Magee's Fort ; that the abuse offered was entirely unknown to the Government, and desired he would come with Captain Newcastle, and he shall have a kind welcome, and receive Sufficient proofs of our Friend- ship for him.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 10th June, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Chew, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
John Mifflin,
The Secretary laid before the Council the Speaker's order of the Seventh of June, his Letters to the Speaker of the Ninth, and the Speaker's letter of this day, with an Extract of the minutes of As- sembly of the fourth, all of which were read & ordered to be entered in their Order.
The Speaker's Order to the Secretary.
" Whereas, James Pemberton and . Joshua Morris, chosen to serve in Assembly for the county of Philadelphia; William Cal lender, chosen to serve in Assembly for the city of Philadelphia William Peters, chosen to serve in Assembly for the county of Chester ; Peter Worrall, chosen to serve in Assembly for the county of Lancaster ; and Francis Parvin, Chosen to Serve in As sembly for the county of Berks, have each and every of them re.
t 0
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signed and vacated their, seats in the Assembly, whereupon I am desired and empowered by the House of Representatives, to issue my order for a New Election of Members to serve in Assembly in their Stead and Room.
" These are, therefore, pursuant to the Direction of Law of this Province, to require the forthwith to issue writs to the Sheriff of the city of Philadelphia, and to the Sheriffs of the Counties of Chester, Lancaster and Berks, respectively, for Electing other Per- 1 sons to serve in Assembly in their Stead.
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" June 7th, 1756."
The Secretary's Letter to the Speaker. " PHILADELPHIA, June 9th, 1756. " Sir :
" Agreeable to your Order of Yesterday, I prepared writs to the Several Sheriffs, for the Election of new members of Assembly, to serve in the Place & Stead of James Pemberton, Joshua Morris, .. William Callender, William Peters, Peter Worrall, & Francis Par- vin, Esquires, according to the Inclosed form, and laid them with your order before the Governor in the same manner as I have always done on the receipt of such Orders, who observed that by the Law of the fourth year of Queen Anne, to Ascertain the Number of members of Assembly, and to regulate Elections, on which he Pre- sumes the Order is founded, and from which all power in these Cases is derived ; writs to be issued in Consequence of the Speaker's order are expressly Confined to the Particular Cases of Death with absence, or a vote of the House, Disableing a member to sit or serve in As- sembly, and that in Case of resignation assigned in your Order for a new Election is not taken notice of, or Provided for by any act, and therefore he could not think it right to sign those writs, of which I think it my duty to give you Information, and am,
"Sir, your most Obedient humble Servant, " RICHARD PETERS, Provincial Secry."
The Speaker's Letter to the Secretary.
" By a paper in my possession, signed by all the members who have vacated their Seats in Assembly, the House, upon consulting the precedents upon their minutes and the law of the Fourth year of Queen Anne, resolved that if those members should, after the rising of the House, still Continue their Resolutions of attending the Service of their Country no longer, to Signify that Resolution
be
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by having the Paper, which they presented and was read in the House, then the Speakers should Issue his Order for a new Election. I have desired the Sheriff to procure the Resolve of the House from the Clerk, which he will deliver herewith. I hope this Explana- tion may be Satisfactory to the Governor, and that the writs may Issue as the Law directs, In pursuance of the Order I have given by the Authority & Direction of the House.
"I am your assured Friend,
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. " June 10th, 1756.",
-
Extract Inclosed in the foregoing Letter.
" IN ASSEMBLY, the 4th Day of the month Called June, 1756.
3
" James Pemberton, Joshua Morris, William Callender, William Peters, Peter Worral, and Francis Parvin, Members of Assembly, having requested Leave to resign their Seats for Reasons set forth in a Paper signed by them, which they this afternoon presented to the House and read, it was, after some time spent in Consideration thereof,
"' Resolved, That if, after the Adjournment of the House, the said shall Continue in the same mind, and Deliver the before men- tioned paper into the Speaker's hands, their Seats shall be deemed vacated accordingly, and the Speaker shall forth with issue his order to the Provincial Secretary for the Electing new members in their Places.'
" A true Extract from the minutes.
" WM. FRANKLIN, Clerk of Assembly."
Then the following Letter was agreed to and sent to the Speaker :
"PHILADELPHIA, June 10th, 1756.
"Sir :
" I laid your letter delivered me by the Sheriff, and the Extract from the minutes of the House before the Governor, who after Con- sidering them hath desired me to let you know, that your Explana- tion of the manner in which the members therein mentioned, are said to resigned and vacated their Seats in Assembly, fails of giving him that Satisfaction on the Occasion you seem to Expect; he is still of Oppinion that the Case of Resignation is not Provided for by the Act of the fourth of Queen Anne ; and that as the six mem- bers did sit & vote in the house at the time of Adjournment, he does not Conceive that any act done in the recess of the House can
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vacate their Seats, or disqualify them from Sitting in the Assembly at the Next Meeting.
" I am, Sir, your most Humble Servant,
" RICHARD PETERS."
New Castle and Jagrea came to the Governor to take their leave, and received their Passports and Letters to Mr. Spangenberg.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday 12th June, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable BOBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
William Logan,
Joseph Turner,
Benjamin Chew, - Thomas Cadwalader, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
A Letter from Governor Tinker requesting that the Provisions, &c., might be Shipped for the use of him and Garrison at Provi- dence, was read, and a letter was sent to the Collector to clear the Ship, Pursuant to the act of Assembly ; Both which Follow in these Words :
A Letter from Governor Tinker to Governor Morris. " Dear Sir :
" I take this Opportunity to let you know that if you have Ever done me the Honour of writing to me since we parted, it has my misfortune not to receive it. I know you have many vexatious avocations, and your time greatly employed ; but I have flattered myself that a spare moment might have been found to say how fares it to one who loves you & Esteems you as we do. Conynham will present you with this by a vessel of Mr. Gambiers, & she is to bring some Provisions to the Garrison he is to replace, as well as some good things that Country affords for my Table; I hope therefore, she may not be detained. Whenever you tell me we are not totally forgoten or Unwelcome, I shall frequently assure you how very much
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