USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 18
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" And when you shall be furnished with money for that purpose by the Commissioners, or any other proper Officers, you are at the time of mustering, or as soon after as Conveniently you can, to pay the several Officers and men from the time of their respective In- listments, or their last payments, agreeable to the Instructions you shall from time to time receive from the Commissioners, or other Proper Officers.
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" You are to keep an Exact Journal of your proceedings, in which you are to set down every thing Material that you shall transact, observe, or meet with, in, or upon this service ; and also just and fair accounts of all your Receipts, Payments, and dis- bursements from time to time ; Copys of which you are to return to me, or the Commander-in-Chief for the time being, and the same are likewise to be laid before and Submitted to the Inspection and Examination of the Commissioners, or the Other proper Of- ficers.
" You are also to return to me lists or Rolls of the Several Companies you shall muster from time to time, and as you will be required to swear that the same, as well as your accounts, are just and true, you will be very Carefull in making them up.
" You are on every Occasion to Examine into the state and Con- dition of the Forts, Arms, Ammunition, Provisions, Blankets, Ac- coutrements, Tools, and Other Stock and things belonging to his Majesty, or the Province, and remaining at such Fort, and with each Company of which you are to return me, or the Commander- in-Chief for the time being, an exact account and report ; and of all other your Transactions and Proceedings in a Convenient time, after making such musters from time to time."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday 17th June, 1756.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell, William Logan,
Thomas Cadwalader, John Mifflin, Esquires.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
A Letter of Major William Parsons of the fifteenth Instant, and one from Mr. William Edmonds of the sixteenth, relating to New- castle and the other Indians who were going to Diahoga with the Governor's Message being stopt at Bethlehem, on account of a Party of one hundred Men that were gone from the Jerseys on a Scalping Party, were read. The Council having considered the same, they were of Opinion that the President shou'd immediately send an Express to Governor Belcher, notifying to him our Proclamation for a Suspension of Hostilities against the Indians, and letting him know that the said Indian Messengers were sent to Diahoga by this Government, there being a Prospect of bringing about an accomo- dation with the Sasquehannah Indians, in order to fix a Time and Place for holding a Treaty with some Deputies of those Indians ; and that they were detained at Bethlehem on receiving the account of the said scalping Party. He was Likewise advised to desire his Excellency would forthwith recall them, and prevent any other Persons from going out against the Indians, till the Expiration of the Time limited in the Proclamation.
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The Council ordered that a Copy of the President's Letter to Governor Belcher, with the other Papers, should be sent by Ex- press to Governor Morris at Amboy, that his Honour might take such other steps as he should think Proper ; And a Letter was like- wise sent to Mr. William Edmonds at Bethlehem, to acquaint him with the Proceedings of the Council, and to advise the Messengers to go on as soon as they 'are Satisfied they can proceed with safety ; all which were ordered to be entered as follows :
A Letter to Governor Morris from Major Parsons. " EASTON, June the 15th, 1756.
" Honourable Sir :
" Your Favour of the 12th Instant came safe to hand yesterday morning, and as you have not commanded me otherways, I purpose to let Capt. Foulk's Lieut and Men remain in Fort Allen till Capt. Reynolds comes to relieve them ; Yesterday Evening, James Enis and Thomas Apty came from Bethlehem in their Way to Paulin's Kill, to enquire if the Scalping Party were gone out from that Place. I gave them a letter of Recommendation to Col. John An- derson, and all other his Majesty's Justices and officers, desiring them to assist and forward them in their Journey, and to do every- thing in their Power to divert that party from going out, if they were not already gone. This afternoon Mr. Enis & Mr. Apty re- turned to this Place & tell me that about Eighteen or twenty miles from hence, they met with Johnathan Hampton, Esqr., and Doctor Hart, who Informed them that four Officers & twenty-five men each set out last Saturday & took ten days' provisions with them ; whereupon, I wrote Immediately to messeaurs Horsfield & Edmonds, and desired them to take care of the Indians, & keep them at Beth- lehem, only until your further pleasure could be known, & beged them to send Mr. Enis & Mr. James immediately Express to Phila- delphia to Inform your Honour how matters are Situated.
" Last Thursday, being at Fort Morris, the Captain received the Copy of a Letter without date, Informing him that the Indians (some- time last Week, I imagine,) killed & scalped a certain Felix Wins, near the fort, at the Gap of Swahtaraw, & Carried away his wife and Three Children, and burnt his House; that it is supposed there must be a Considerable number, by the Quantity of Goods, &c., they carried off; that two Children were missing, about two miles from Fort Henry, supposed to be Carried away by the Indians, as several of their Tracks were seen in that Neighbourhood.
" I am, Honourable Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
" WM. PARSONS."
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A Letter to Governor Morris from William Edmunds. " May it Please Your Honour :
" According to the Directions received in the Secretary's Letter, & Thomas James, Mr. James Ennis, & Thomas Apty, being very adapted Persons for such a Journey, I Procured them to go with two Letters, one to Mr. Parsons, the other to Justice Anderson, Desiring those two Magistrates to assist them to Expedite their Journey to Paulin's Kill, where they were to Enquire Concerning the Party we heard were going or gone against the Indians; but when they had proceeded about twenty miles in the Jerseys, they met with Johnathan Hampton, Esq., Commissary General of the Jerseys, & Doctor Hart, who for Certainty informed them that last Saturday four Officers with each Twenty-five men set off from Paulin's Kill towards the great Swamp, in Quest of Indians, and had taken ten days' Provisions with them, on which they returned on yesterday afternoon to Bethleham, which was to our great satis- faction, having in Mr. Spangenberg's absence, being gone to War- wick in Lancaster County, &c., Received by Express a Letter from your Honour, which, by the Gentleman appointed to Transact his affairs, was, opened, and as for Conscience sake we particularly respect our rulers, & Especially are for promoting or assisting to the good & peace of the Land where we live, the said Gentleman Particularly recommended to me The Carrying Your Honour's Commands into Execution. Accordingly I ordered the three pair of maukasins for the Indians, & their Horses to be made and held in readiness for the journey, which I intend to accompany them in as far as Gnadenhutten. But now, may it Please Your Honour, the Case is so ; when Thomas Apty & James Enis Returned, we Con- sulted & Concluded to acquaint the Indian Messengers of that we heard from your Honour, and also of the Proceedings in the Jer- sey, accordingly we appointed them to meet after Supper, they being also Impatient to hear what was doing in Jersey ; when we came together I acquainted them with the arrival of Ogaghra- disha, &' of the Cayuha Indian in Diahoga, and your Honour's desire of their soon proceeding to Diahoga, vizt., to remove the great Concern they might have for Ogaghraderisha, by telling them the Comfortable news, of his being Come safe to Colonel Wm. Clapham, from whom your Honour had messages come from the Six nations, Expressing their great Satisfaction at our Building a Fort at Shamokin ; and then I added that I believed your Honour was not Acquainted of what we now heard was done in the Jer-
seys.
When your Letters came away from Philadelphia, &c., with
some more words by way of Conference, I Desired to know as Cir- cumstances now were, whether their mind was immediately to Pro- ceed on their Journey or not, and after it was agreed that Captain Newcastle should Consult his Companion & give answer this morn- ing, which is to this effect, that he did in Philadelphia & does now
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Desire to have a White man or two to go with him, which would not only be a Guard for them against White People, but also he thinks it necessary somebody should Particularly be your representative to the Indians, & Speak in Your name to them. Further, whether the Governor of the Jerseys might not be Prevailed on by Proclamation to suspend the Hostilities in the manner Your Honour has here, & further desired me to acquaint your Honour, soon they would wait your Honour's direction & further assistance here, as your Wisdom you shall see meet; they also beg your Honour to procure Augus- tus the Indian, to go with them.
"From, Sir, your Honour's most Obedient Humble Servant, " WM. EDMUNDS.
" BETHLEHEM, June 16th, 1756.
" P. S .- At their desire, I have inserted Augustus, his name, but, do think, as they know the way he will not incline to go along with them, and therefore must desire your Honour will not force him."
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A Letter to Governor Belcher from the President of the Council. " PHILADELPHIA, 17th June, 1756.
" Sir :
"There being some prospect of Bringing about an accomadation with the Susquehanna Indians by means of the Six Nations, his Honour, our Governor, by the advice of his Council, issued the In- closed proclamation for a suspension of Hostilities against them ; and this Government having occasion a few days ago to send some friendly Indians with a message to Diahoga, in order to agree on a time and Place for holding a treaty with some Deputies of those Indians, for fixing the terms of ye proposed peace with them, an express came here to-day from Bethlehem to Acquaint the Gover- nor that those Indian Messengers had stopt there, and was afraid to proceed any further on account of the danger they apprehended themselves to be in from a party of one Hundred men, who, they understood, set out from your Province last Saturday with a Scalp- ing design against the Enemy Indians.
" The Governor being gone to Amboy, Convened the Council, who advises me, that as we conceive it is of Great Consequence to the Neighbouring Provinces as well as this, that these Indian Mes- sengers should not be hindered or delayed in Proceeding on their Journey to Diahoga, if it could be avoided, I should, therefore, im- mediately dispatch an Express to your Excellency to desire you would be pleased not only to recall the said Scalping party, if Practicable, but by Proclamation, or such other method as you should Judge most Propper, to prevent any more parties going out against the Indians, at least till ye time Limited in the inclosed
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Proclamation shall be expired, if not till the result of the Proposed Treaty for setting the terms of a peace with them can be known ; and hoping you will Concur with us in this Salutary measure (as we think it) for the mutual good of yours as well as our Provinces.
"I am Your Excellency's Very humble Servant,
"ROBERT STRETTLE,
"President of the Council."
A letter from William Peters, Esqr., to Governor Morris. " PHILADELPHIA, 17th June, 1756. " Sir :
" The Council ordered me to send you inclosed ye Copy of their letter to Mr. Belcher, in order that you might take any other Steps in ye affair that you should judge Necessary.
"You see by ye inclosed Advertisement, that the Elections are to be Monday and Tuesday. We have no material news since you went.
" I am Your Honour's most Obedient Servant, "WM. PETERS.
" Please to tell my Brother yt I hope he wont forget to speak to ye Gentlemen about taking my Son."
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A letter from William Peters to Wm. Edmunds. "PHILADELPHIA, 17 June, 1756.
44 Sir :
"The Governor being absent in the Jerseys, the Council have wrote to Governor Belcher to desire he will forthwith recall yt Scalp- ing party who went out last Saturday from his Province, and pre- vent any others going out till ye result of the proposed Treaty with the Susquehanna Indians can be known ; and I have also wrote to our Governor on ye affairs. In ye meantime ye Council are of Opinion that Newcastle & the rest of the Indians at Bethleham should not go from thence till they can be satisfied yt they can Proceed with safety.
"I am, Sir, Your Humble Servant;
"WM. PETERS."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 25th June, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner, Esquires ..
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin, 7
Two Letters were read from Governor Phipps, one dated the third Instant, in favour of the Schooner Pembroke, Richard Slacey, mas- ter, of Marblehead, that she may be permitted to take in Provisions for the use of the Fishery; another of the fourteenth Instant, in favour of the Brigantine Prince George, Caleb Prince, master, to the same Purpose ; but it appearing by the Contents of the Letters that neither of the applications are within the act of Assembly, and therefore the Persons attending were informed that the Cases, as stated in the Letters, were not provided for by the Act, and no Order could legally issue ; but Appliers were at Liberty to remon- strate to the Assembly, and pray for an Alteration of the Law.
An Application of the Twenty-Second Instant from Mr. Bell, merchant, of this City, was likewise read, setting forth that in Con- sequence of his Orders from the Contractor to supply his majesty's Troops and Garrisons in Newfoundland, he had Chartered and loaded the Brigantine Princess Louisa, William Gardener, Master, with Provisions for the use of Col. Hopson's Regiment and the Detach- ments of Artillery there, on which Provisions they depend, and have no other Expectations of being supplied ; and desired his Honour would be pleased to give an Order to the Collector to clear the said vessel. The Council, on considering the act lately passed, were unanimously of opinion that no such Order could legally issue, of which Mr. Bell was acquainted.
Then an application from the Governor of Bermudas, under the Great Seal of that Government, in favour of the Sloop Experiment, Israel Somersett, master, dated the seventh Instant, and a letter of the fourteenth from Stephen Hopkins, Esquire, Governor of Rhoade Island, in favor of the Sloop Sea Flower, Peleg Shearman, master, were read, desiring that they may be permitted to ship Provisions for the use of the Inhabitants of the several Governments. The Requests not being made agreeable to the Tenor of the Terms pre- scribed in the Act of Assembly, the Council are of Opinion the Governor cannot lawfully permit it.
The Governor informed the Council that having received the fol- lowing Letter from Mr. Horsefield the twenty-third Instant, and had wrote him an answer, and sent therewith a Message to be de-
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livered by him to New Castle, which were read and ordered to be entered.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Timothy Horsfield, Esquire. " BETHLEHEM, June 21st, 1756. " May it please your Honour :
"This Morning about 5 o'clock there arrived here two Delaware Indians from Diahoga, who declaring themselves Friends to the English and peaceably disposed, were by us received as such. Their names are Nicodemus and Christian, his son, and formerly lived in Gnaden-Hutten. As soon as I heard of their being here, tho' sick in Bed, I sent for Captain New Castle and acquainted him with it, and what I heard of the circumstances, namely : that they left Diahoga with a company of their Friends, Men, Women, and child- ren, to the number of Fifteen ; that a Day's Journey beyond Gna- den-Hutten they had left the rest of their Company, and determined to venture their Lives and come thro' and see how they could get the rest after them. When the Captain heard this he directly re- solved, in vertue of his commission from your Honour, to go this day with his Company and Nicodemus' Son Christian, attended by Mr. Edmonds, to Gnaden-Hutten and immediately proceed to bring them to the Fort and from thence hither in Safety, till further Orders from your Honour. I thought this highly necessary to acquaint your Honour with by Express, that we may speedily know your Honour's Pleasure herein. I am with all due Respect,
" Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant, "TIMO. HORSFIELD.
"P. S .- The underwritten Particulars I got to the Knowledge of from our Indians, who had conversed with them; but as I had promised Captain Newcastle he should know the Contents of my Letter to your Honour I could not insert them in it, doubting whether it might be prudent he should know so much.
"1. When these Indians came away, and it was known they found there was a great many of the same Mind with them, and wished themselves under the Protection of the English, and they think many will follow them, particularly if they hear these have succeeded.
"2. That several of the Chiefs who had lived in Diahoga, when Captain Newcastle was last there, were now moved higher up, and generally thought (tho' not certainly known) to be gone to the French.
"As Things are circumstances, I humbly conceive it will be highly necessary to use all the Dispatch imaginable to send away the Captain, he himself being very urgent for the Messenger's Re- turn that he may forthwith proceed up to Diahoga.
" TIMº. HORSFIELD."
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A Letter from Governor Morris to Timothy Horsfield, Esquire. " PHILADELPHIA, June 23d, 1756.
" Sir :
"I am favoured with yours of the twenty-first by the Express, and in answer think it proper that Capt. New Castle should set off directly for Diahoga, and take with him two or three of the Indians just arrived, that they may testify along with him our good Recep- tion of them.
"I do hereby empower the Brethren and request them to receive into their Houses at Bethlehem all such friendly Indians as shall come to them and desire to be taken in, and to support and maintain them till they have my further orders, always taking Care to adver- tise me from Time to Time of the arrival of any Indians, mention- ing their Place of Abode, their Tribe, and such other Circumstances as shall be necessary to give me a just and proper account of them, and any Expences attending this Service will be paid by the Gov- ernment.
" I herewith enclose an additional Message to New Castle, which I beg you will send to him wherever he is with all possible Dispatch ; as every Article's very necessary, and if he should be gone, as you see from the first Part of my Letter that I intend some of the In- dians from Diahoga should accompany him, I desire you or some of the Brethren will speak in my name to such of the Diahoga Indians as you shall think most trusty, and send them forward directly with my additional messages to New Castle. I am,
"Sir, Your humble Servant, " ROBT. H. MORRIS."
" Additional Messages to be delivered by Captain New Castle to the Indians at Diahoga enclosed in the foregoing Letter to Mr. Hors- field.
" ' Brother :
"' Having received Information that some of the friendly Indians at Diahoga are come to put themselves under our Protection, and that others who they left behind are disposed to follow them, I desire you will assure all such, in my name, that they shall be welcome to me and be put into Places of Safety and well maintained and taken care of ; and further, I request you will bring them with you, after you have finished the Business committed to your Care.'
" A String.
" ' Brother :
'' I now inform you that Ogaghradarisha, an Indian, who I sup-
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pose is well known to you, was lately at Fort Johnson along with Scarroyady and Andrew Montour, and was sent by Sir William Johnson and Scarroyady along with the Cayuga Indian who was at Philadelphia with a Message to the Indians at Diahoga, and with another to Col. Clapham at whose Camp he is now arrived, and I have sent for him to come to me that I may take his Advice in Indian Affairs. I desire you will acquaint the Indians at Diahoga with his safe arrival, and that I shall not detain him longer than is necessary.
"'Brother :
"' The Scalping Party who went from the Jersey is returned, and I have received assurances from them that they will not go into any further hostile Measures. They were not acquainted with the Sus- pension of Hostilities, or they would not have gone ; of this acquaint the Indians at Diahoga, and that they will meet with no Obstruction from any of our Warriors, but be aided by them, if they incline to remain with you.
""" Brother :
" I earnestly request you will see John Shickcalamy, and entreat him to join his Family to those who are disposed to come to us, and I engage him a good reception.'"
Then the Governor laid before the Council the following Speech of Ogaghredarisha to Col. Clapham, which he had received enclosed in a Letter from the Colonel, and the same was read and ordered to be entered as follows :
" Ogaghraderisha produces a Belt of Wampum, which he received from Sir William Johnson, with a Message to the Indians at Dia- hoga to this Purpose : 'Brothers, let this Belt of Wampum take you by the Hand in most friendly Manner and lead you to a great fire at Oswego, to lay your Grievances before me in Council of the Six Nations,' and says that the first place he came to on the North Branch of the River Susquehanna was Mahanquango, where there were three little towns, one Mingoe & two Tuscarora, and found the English Employed in Building Forts at the said Towns, which they were doing at all the Towns belonging to the Six Nations in those Parts, except Chocquonote, where he saw Thirty Delewares and Twenty of the Six Nations, and in Conversation with the Dele- "wares found that they were of the Number of those who had Com- mitted Hostilities against the English, but having sufficiently avenged themselves, were Satisfied for the Present. The said Dele- wares had a few English Prisoners with them, and Informed him that the Greatest part of the English Prisoners were sent away to the Ohio; that from Chocquonote he came to Diahoga, where he was directed to deliver his message from the Council of the Six Nations, and found only a few women, some sick with the Small pox, many Dead, and a few others planting Corn; that he saw
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nothing but emty Houses in his Passage By Wyoming, nor any thing at Shamokin ; that at Choquonote he saw a Indian named Bem, who told him that Ninety Delewares & Shawonese were Coming to Strike the English, & that a great Present of Amunition and Goods waited their acceptance at Fort Duquesne, where the Son-in- Law of French Margaret ansured him there were seven hundred Indians Collected, Expecting Orders and an Opportunity to strike the English. French Margaret's Son-in-Law also Informed him there were but eighty Frenchmen in Fort Duquesne, and very few in the other French Forts on the Ohio, which was owing to large Detachments being sent from thence to the northward; that the Thirty Indians at Choquonote privately told him that their Inten- tion was to settle their Families at the Head of a Creek called Sciota (which runs into the River Ohio near the Lower Shawonese Town), at which Place all the Shawonese, Delewares, & Waindotts have concluded to settle' their Families, also at a place of Security for them to live, after which they might safely leave their wives and Children, & be enabled to make their future Encroachments on the English with a Blow more severe than ever ; But that they determined to keep the French in Ignorance of this their Intention till they had received the Presents designed for them; that they held daily Councils, expressed great Enmity against the English, & he was fully Convinced were determined to move off in a Body next fall.
"Taken at the Camp at Armstrong's, June 15th, 1756."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 28th June, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
Lynford Lardner,
Robert Strettell, Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew, S Esquires.
The Record of the Conviction of Thomas Francis for Horse- stealing at Newcastle, with the Judge's Letter of the twenty-sixth of April last, was read, and the Governor, who had this Matter under his Consideration at Newcastle, saying that the Judges, in a Conference on the subject, could not mention any thing in Favour of the condemned Person, and no one of the many who have been condemned under the Law against Horse Stealing having suffered Death, the Council advised the Governor to issue a Warrant for his Execution in pursuance of the Sentence. Mr. Chew discovering Error in the Certificate of the record of Conviction, nothing certain was concluded on as to the Execution.
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