USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 17
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"I am Your Excellency's obliged Servant, " JNO. TINKER."
A Letter from Governor Morris to Abraham Taylor, Esquire. " Sir :
" Governor Tinker having by letter Signified to me that he is in want of Provisions, as well for the use of his own family as of the King's Garrison, and that he has given Orders for their being
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Shiped on Board the Sloop Molly Amos, Minot Commander, I laid the Letter before the Council, together with the following List of Provisions proposed to be shiped by Mr. Conyngham, Governor Tinker's Agent, and the Quantity being judged reasonable, you will be Pleased to Clear the said Vessel, the master Conforming to Every particular prescribed in the Act lately passed for restraining the Exportation of Provisions, &c.
"I am, Sir, Your very humble Servant, " ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" List of Provisions Shipped for Governor Tinker:
" 40 barrels Pork,
"10 Do. Beef,
"275 Do. Flour,
" 53 Do. Indian Corn, 201 bushels,
"18 Do. Oats,
" 6 half Barrels Flour,
" 16 Quarter do.
" 20 Barrels
Bread,
"22 kegs
" 20 Sheep,
".3 Barrels Hams."
Mr. Logan who had prevailed on John Pumpshire and two other Jersey Indians to Undertake the journey to Diahoga with Captain Newcastle, brought them with him to town this day, and were ad- mitted into Council, and having Expressed much readiness to do the Province any Service in their Power, the Several matters given in Charge to Captain Newcastle were Distinctly related to them.
And the Necessary Preparations were made for their Setting off to-morrow for Betheleham in order to join Captain Newcastle, and to go with him to Diahoga.
Several Associated Companies of foot Militia in the Several Counties were read, the Officers Approved, and the Commissions Ordered to issue.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday, 14th June, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu" tenant Governor.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Joseph Turner, Esquires. 1
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader,
John Mifflin, Benjamin Franklin,
Joseph Fox,
Esquires, Commissioners.
Evan Morgan,
John Hughes,
The Governor informed the Council that having received the following letter from the Commissioners, he had desired them to meet him in Council this Morning :
A Letter to the Governor from the Commissioners.
" May it Please the Governor :
" When the Indians first began to Infest our Frontiers, the Com- missioners were of Oppinion that the best means of Securing our Inhabitants was to carry the warr into the Enemy's Country and hunt them in all their Fishing, Hunting, Planting, & dwelling places ; But having sent for Croghan & others in order to obtain their Opinion, and they advising that by a Chain of forts the Fron- tier should first be in some degree secured before we acted Offen- cively, the same was agreed to-the Building of Forts immediately set about, which took up much more time than was expected. Re- wards were then offered to Volunteer Parties who should go out on the Scalping account in Expectation that Numbers would be en- couraged by those rewards ; but in this we are Disappointed. We shall think, however, that the Indians ought to be pursued and Hunted ; and as the back Inhabitants begin now to request Guards to protect them in getting in their Harvest, we submit it to the Governour's Consideration whether the best means of affording them the Protection will not be to order out parties from the Forts to range on the West side of Sasquehannah, quite to Ohio & the Neighbourhood of Fort Duquence, to Annoy the Enemy, take Pris- oners, & obtain Intelligence, which may be of great use in Case any Attempt on that Fort should be ordered this Summer by Lord Lou- don; and the Enemy, kept in Continual allarm by these parties, may Probably be so Employed as to find no Leasure to disturb our Har- vest People. If the Governor approves this measure we request
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he would Immediately issue the Necessary Orders before he goes on the journey that we hear he is about to undertake.
" B. FRANKLIN, " JOHN MIFFLIN, "JOS. FOX, "EVAN MORGAN, "JOHN HUGHES."
The Commissioners came into Council, and then were read the Examination of George Allen & others, and of James & Lazarus Lowry and others, taken the Eighth Instant; A Letter of the Eleventh Instant from Colonel Clapham, inclosing a Conference the Colonel had with Agaghradarisha the day before, and a Letter from Daniel Clause, dated at Fort Johnson the fifteenth of May, to the - Colonel; all which were ordered to be Entered.
" The Examination of George Allen, Abraham Loverhill, James Crampton, John Gallaher, John Murrah, and Robert Egar, taken the Eighth Instant at the Camp at Armstrong's ( Fort Hali- fax) :
"These Examinants (being sent out on a Scout on Thursday the Third of June from McKee's Store to reconnoitre the Enemy at Shamokin, &ca.) returned this morning at 9 o'clock, and report they saw nothing till they came to McKee's and found his House burnt, where they discovered the Tracks of an Indian Magason, and in following it up towards Shamokin they perceived the Tracks of several Horses which had passed up and down about three weeks before, as they suppose. That they arrived at Shamokin on Satur- day night, and not observing any Enemy, went to the Place where the Town had been, the Houses being burnt to the Ground. That they continued there till 10 o'clock the next day, and seeing no ap- pearance of an Enemy except some old Tracks of Indians and Horses they returned, and about half a mile on this Side found a Canoe in which they came down to George Gabriel's Place, whose Houses were burnt, and searched about for some Guns that were lost last Fall in the Skirmish between the Indians and McKee's Party, and found five of them in the River. That they then pro- ceeded with their Cance to Charles Williams' burnt House; from thence came by McKee's and saw nothing but a Few Horses, and arrived at Berry's Place on Monday night. That early in the morn- ing they discovered a Canoe with an Indian coming down the River, and as soon as they were perceived by him he sheered across the River, when some of them immediately got into their Canoe to fol- low him, upon which he hoisted a red Flag and came to them with his little Son, and to convince them of his friendship produced a letter from Mr. Daniel Claus to Colonel Clapham under an open Cover directed to Sir William Johnson, Baronet. That they then immediately put off with their Canoes and came down with their Flag to the Camp at Armstrong's."
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" The Examination of James and Lazarus Lowry, Alexander Stevens, James Fulton, and Cornelius Atkinson, taken the Eighth Instant at the Camp at Armstrong's.
" These Examinants (being sent out on a Scout the 5th Instant from McKee's Store to reconoitre Shamokin and up both the Branches of Sasquehannah) returned this morning at 7 O'clock, and say that about a Mile from this Place they saw the Tracks of Two Indians going down and two up the River. From thence they proceeded as far as Akins' Place on Monday, where they discovered the fresh Tracks of four Indians and four Horses, taking a Course at right Angles from the River towards Andrew Lycon's ; that they followed the Tracks about six miles to no purpose, and then turned to the left and went across the Mountain towards Mr. McKee's Plan- tation, and having got within two Miles of that Place they came upon the same Tracks, and supposed they had taken thro' the Gap of the Mountain to avoid the Difficulty of passing it; that they pursued the said Tracks about a Mile, when James Lowrey desired his company to stay there till he should make a further Discovery (the Sun being then but half an hour high); that he followed up the Tracks till he came within seventy yards of McKee's cleared Fields, and plainly saw four Indians and as many Horses hoppled. in the Meadows, upon which he immediately ran back a mile to acquaint his Companions with it, and upon their coming up they all perceived five more Indians walking up from the River (with Water, as they supposed) towards the Place where the House had stood; that while they were consulting together what they should do they heard the Discharge of three Guns, one after another, on the right and left of them, when they imagined they were in Danger of being surrounded if they continued there any longer; upon which they retired all night, and came in the morning to the Camp at Arm- strong's to bring the Intelligence."
A Letter to Col. Clapman from Mr. Daniel Clause. " FORT JOHNSON, 15th May, 1756.
" Sir :
" I hope these may find you and your Party in perfect Health, and good Situation.
" Mr. Montour, Scarroyady, and the rest of the Indians remem- ber their kind Respects to you, and desired me to let you know that they are safe arrived at the Mohawks, where the most of them reside at Sir William Johnson's Seat as yet; and as by their leaving you they promised to let you hear from them when arrived among their Friends, the Six Nations, they agreed to send the Bearer here of, Ogaghradarisha and the Cayuga Indian that was at Philadelphia,
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in order to acquaint you of every thing that is going on in these Parts.
" They likewise let you know that there is in a short Time a general Treaty to be held at Oswego with the 6 Nations, and all the Indian Nations, which will come and join the English, where they say they must be present in order to deliver all the Messages they were charged with from the Government of Pennsylvania; and as soon as that Treaty would be over, some of them would come down to Shamokin, and relate every thing trans- acted.
" They expect these Messengers would be well used, in particu- lar the old man, Ogoghradarisha, as he is a noted Friend of the English, and known by the Province of Pennsylvania, and was charged with important messages to all the nations on Sasquehan- nah, concerning the State of Matters with the English and Dela- warès.
" They lastly request of you immediately to dispatch Letters of every thing he would relate to you, to his Honour Governor Morris, that he might bring an answer to them how every thing was situ- ated in that Province, and at Shamokin, as he is sent on purpose to see whether you was at Shamokin, and how affairs stood, as well with you as the Province of Pennsylvania, that they might act ac- cordingly, after the Treaty of Oswego being over.
" All this they confirm with the enclosed String of Wampum.
" Every thing here goes on pretty well. Oswego is at present in a tolerable Situation, concerning Provisions, &ca., and shall do well enough this Summer if the French don't plague our Provi- sion Battoes too much ; we are often alarmed ; they threatened to cut off the great carrying Place, or Burnet's Field, in order to stop our Communication.
"If it is confirmed that admiral Boscawen took the 11 men of War with French Troops designed for Canada, it will give a great Shake to their Schemes this Season.
. "I hope to hear of your good Success, and remain,
"Sir, Your most Humble Servant, "DANIEL CLAUSE."
A Letter to Governor Morris from Colonel Clapham. "CAMP AT ARMSTRONG'S, June the 11th, 1756.
" Sir :
"Inclosed is the result of a Conference held yesterday with the Chief of the Six Nations at this Camp, the answer to which depend on me only, would not cost a moment's hesitation. Your love of your Country and Susperior judgment in public affairs will undoubt- edly lead you to better Conclusion than are in my power, and what-
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ever they shall be, your Honour may assure yourself that they shall be punctually executed. I hope I may take the Liberty to observe that his Proposal, as it seems to open a more amicable Prospect than has prevailed of Late, ought, by no means, to be rejected; if the manner and Adress of a Stranger ought to add the least weight to his arguments, I must do him the justice to own that his came Extremely well recommended. I am in want of Oakum for the Carpenters, Vermillion & Wampum for the Indians, & should be Extremely Glad of Divisions being sent as an Interpreter. Your Honour, I flatter myself, will furnish me with an answer by the bearer; and believe me to be,
" Sir, Your Honour's most affectionate & "Obedient Humble Servant,
"WILLM. CLAPHAM.
" At a Conference held at the Camp at Armstrong's, June 10th, 1756, between Colonel William Clapham, Esquire, and Oghaghra- disha, an Indian Chief of the Iroquois, on the waters of Susquehanna.
"PRESENT :
" Lloyd, r
" Shippen, $ Captains.
" James Lowry, & " Lewis Montour, Interpreters.
"' My Brother :
"' Colonel Johnston, at my Departure, told me thus: Brother, I find great difficulties in Governing and Supplying the wants of the Six Nations in Connection with me; 'tis therefore Impossible I should also take Charge of those seated at a Distance on the waters of Susquehanna, for which reason I have recommended them by you and this String of Wampum to Colonel Clapham [or Ugcarunthi- unth] for that purpose.
""'Brother :
"'The Iroquois living on the North Branch of Susquehanna have sent me as a representative of the whole to treat with you (producing a Belt of Wampum), and will ratify all my Contracts. Brother : they agreed to your Building a fort at Shamokin, but are desirous that you should also build a fort three day's journey in a Canoe higher up the North Branch in their Country, at a place Called Adjouquay, and this Belt of Wampum is to Clear the road to that place.
" ' Brother :
"' If you agree to my proposal in behalf of my Nation, I will re- turn and Immediately collect our whole Force to be Employed in protecting your People while you are a Building a fort in our Coun- try at Adjouquay, where there is a good Situation and fine Soil at
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the Entrance of a deep Creek, on a level plain five miles extending, and Clear of Woods. Adjouquay is fourteen miles above Wioming, and old woman may carry a heavy Pack of Skins from thence to the Minisink and return to Adjouquay in two nights. "'My Brother :
"' The Land is troubled and you may justly Apprehend Danger, but if you will grant our request we will be together, and if any danger happens to you we will share it with you. My Brother: I have known this young man a good While, pointing to James Lowry, and have traveled far with him; he is a propper man & knows the Country well, I should be glad to recommend him as a Companion on the March. My Brother (laying down a Belt of Wampum folded in the middle): this describes your path to Shamokin,' un- folding the Belt and Extending it to its full length, 'this is your road to Adjouquay.'
" Upon which he presented the Belt and offered his little son as a pledge of his fidelity, insisting at the same that Colonel Clapham should visit their Town, Escorted by their Warriors, who dispising to turn out of the way would Conduct him straight thro' the Dela- ware Town to their Village, in defiance of all Oposition whatever.
" By the Colonel's Order. "T. LLOYD, Aid-de-Camp."
The Council taking into Consideration the several matters men- tioned in the Conference between Colonel Clapham and Ogagha- dradisha, they advised the Governor to return him Thanks for his Kind Speeches, and to give him an Invitation to Come to Phila- delphia, and, accordingly, the following answer was agreed upon and Sent by the same Express :
" The answer of Governor Morris to what was delivered to Colonel Clapham by the Indian Sachem Ogaghraderisha at the Camp at Armstrong's on the 10th June, 1756.
"' Brother Ogaghraderisha :
""' Colonel Clapham has Communicated to me by a Special Mes- senger the several matters you have delivered to him, as well from Sir William Johnston as from your good friends & Allies the Six Nations, and I detained the Express no longer than was neces- sary to lay them before the wise men whose advice I ask in all" matters relating to Government for their Consideration, and they concurr with me in this Answer, which I am now going to make . you.
"' Brother :
"'I return you hearty thanks for your kind Speeches ; they Give me much Satisfaction, bespeaking Great Care and sincere af- fection for us on the part of Scarroyady and our other friends at
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fort Johnston, and on the North Branch of Susquehanna, and I am particularly Obliged to you for Undertaking this Hazarduous Journey.'
" A String.
"'Brother :
"' You tell me that Sir William Johnston, finding it too difficult for him to take the necessary care of the remote Indians who live on the waters of the Susquehanna, has recommended it to the person who has the Command of the Provincial Forces now on their March to Shamokin, to take care of them. This is Perfectly agreeable to me. I have already given him Orders to afford every kind of Relief & Protection in his power to Our friendly Indians, and I now repeat the same directions to him; in Confirmation thereof I give this String.'
" A String.
"' Brother :
"' You say that the six Nations living on the North Branch of Susquehanna, have appointed you to represent them and will ratify & confirm whatever you Transact with this Government on their be- half. As you have so full a Power from them, I must desire you to Proceed to this City, the Place where all our Wise men and Councillers Assemble together and transact the Publick Business. I have several matters now under my Consideration of Great Im- portance to our Allies, the Indians, which I cannot communicate but in Council ; by this Belt, therfore, I invite you to Come to this City and afford me your assistance and advice in Council.'
" A Belt.
""'Brother :
" 'I thank the Indians for their ready and Voluntary consent ; they have by you given consent to our Building a Fort at Shamo- kin ; you must be sensible that this measure did not Originally pro- ceed from me, but was first moved by the Six Nations who lived amongst us, and on their renewing their request, after having been present in the great Council lately held at Sir William Johnston's, I consented to it. I promised it should be done, and the Forces under Colonel Clapham are now going to carry the promise I made the Six Nations when here, into Execution.
"' Brother :
"'I am desired to build another Fort fourteen miles above Wio- ming, at a Place called Adjouquay. I have agreed to this request and am taking measures to do it out of Hand, about which I shall likewise want to Consult you.
"'Brother :
""' I have given notice of your arrival amongst us to Sir William Johnston and Scarroyady at Fort Johnston, and I have sent Messen-
.
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gers to Diahoga to give them Information of it ; at least they should be uneasy at your absence, and I mention this that you may be the more willing to come to this City, where I shall be glad to take you by the Hand, & place you among my Councellors.
" ' Brother :
""' You may return to Susquehanna from this City by a nigh & Convienient road with out any danger, and I shall take Care that you be well rewarded for your Trouble.'
" A String.
"' Brother :
"' As I expect to see you here you must not look on this as a Compleat answer ; you must be sensible from What I have said that your Message is extremely Agreeable to us and will be Complied with, but I have several things to be mentioned to you in a per- sonal Conference.'
" 14th June, 1756."
"ROBT. H. MORRIS.
The Governor wrote the following Letter to Colonel Clapham :
" PHILADELPHIA, June 14th, 1756. " Sir :
"Your Express Arrived in Town last night and delivered me your dispatches, which I laid before the Council and Commissioners, who were unanimously of Opinion that we should Avail ourselves of the Oppertunity given us by the arrival of Ogaghraderisha to be made acquainted as well with what has been done among the Six nations at Fort Johnston as what is doing among the several Tribes of Indians thro' which he has passed, and that I should invite him to this City in order to settle with him several matters now under our Consideration, and agreeable to their Determination I have formed my Answer to what was delivered by him in the Conference held at your Camp, which I desire you will get well Interpretted to him, and if he is reluctent I must desire you will set him right and Encourage him to come.
" As Mr. Shippen is with you I desire he may conduct him at least as far as Lancaster, if not to this City, taking care that he be well Escorted, and when he Comes to Lancaster provided with any necessary he may want, if they cannot be procured with you for the performance of his Journey.
" The Commissioners are acquainted with the Contents of your General Letter, and I hope they will not let you want any thing you have wrote for, either in this or your former Letters.
" Captain Satter sett of yesterday with my Letter and Instruc- tions to you, together with some Blank Commissions and other Papers. I have sent you £100 by Mr. Bard, who will set off in a
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day or two, and is all the money I have by me. I have paid the Messengers Six Pounds, and leave it to you to Settle with him for the journey and other Services.
"I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, "ROBT. H. MORRIS."
The Governor then Confered with the Commissioners on the Several matters mentioned in their Letter to him, and after some time spent in Consideration thereof, the following Orders were Agreed to be sent to Lieutenant Colonol Armstrong, to the several Commisaries of the Provincial Stores in the County of Cumber- land, and the Orders and Instructions to James Young, Esquire :
" Orders to Lieutenant Colonol Armstrong.
"You are immediately to send Captain George Armstrong to build Pomphret Castle where it was laid out by Major Burd, as Colonol Clapham's regiment is now in that Neighbourhood, and you will direct him to acquaint Colonol Chapham of all his Motions, and keep up a Correspondence with him, that they may mutually assist each other if needfull.
" You are also to send out, from time to time, one or more Com- panies, as you shall judge proper, to range and Scour the woods Westward, as far as they can be accomodated with Provisions in proper Quantities and Qualitys; which Parties are to be made up of Detach- ments from such garrisons as you shall think fit, but not to consist of less than fifty in Each party, and to be Commanded by such of the officers as you shall appoint, and you are to furnish them with proper Orders and Instructions to search for and annoy the Enemy Indians, and to recover as many Prisoners as they can, and to be Particularly Careful in their marches not to be Surprised.
" You will receive from the Commissioners one Hundred muskets, with their Accoutrements, and two Hundred Fuzees or light Arms, with theirs. The former are to be Distributed among the Garrisons where they are most wanted, taking the Officers' receipts, and you are to send down all the Arms that are bad and Defective. The Fuzees are Intended for the ranging Service, and You are to be Accountable for the whole. A Quantity of Amunition & provision will also be sent up, and the Commissioners are to follow and observe your Orders and Directions in the Destribution thereof.
"ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" By his Honour's Command, " WM. PETERS, Millit. Secretary,
" Phila., 14th June, 1756."
VOL. VII .- 11.
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" Orders to the Several Commissaries of the Provincial Stores in the County of Cumberland.
" You are hereby Ordered to deliver, Apply, and Distribute all the provincial Amunition, Provisions, & Stores, which you now have upon hand and shall hereafter receive, unto such Person and Per- sons, in such Parcles and Quantitys, and for such uses as you shall from time to time be ordered & directed by Colonel John Arm- strong, Esqr., and not Otherwise ; and his Orders and the propper receipts of the Several persons shall deliver out the same to, upon such Orders, from time to time, shall be your sufficient Voucher on making up and Settling your Accounts.
"ROBT. H. MORRIS."
"By his Honour's Command, " WM. PETERS, Mily. Secretary. "Phila., 14th June, 1756."
" Orders and Instructions to James Young, Esquire.
"Having Appointed you Commissary General of the muster for this Province, you are as often as occasion shall require, and you shall receive particular Orders for that purpose from me or the Com- mander-in-Chief of the Province for the time being, to muster the several Regiments and Companies raised in the pay of this Pro- vince ; and in making such musters you are Distinctly to call over the names of the Officers and Men in Each Company, Examine their several Inlistments, and Satisfy yourself that the persons ap- pearing, and they whose names are inserted in the Certificates of Inlistments, respectively are the same ; and if the persons appear- ing at Such Muster, you are to take a true list, in which you are to set down the names of the Officers and men, together with the dates of the Officers' Commissions, the age of Each Soldier, his trade, the time of his Inlistment, the Country in which he was born; which muster Roll you are to compare with the muster Rolls returned to you by and on the Oaths of the proper Officers of Each Company respectively ; and if they in any thing differ, you are to Enquire into the Cause of such difference, and make report thereof to me, or the Commander-in-Chief for the time being.
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