USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 20
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" As Provisions might be exported from this Province through those Counties not Subject to our laws, and great Quantitys are raised there, we were fully Apprized that any restraints we could lay upon our Exportation here would by no means put a Stop to the Supplying the French with Provisions, unless that Government Prohibited the Exportation from thence Also; we, therefore, limited the Continuance of our act accordingly, and we must own the Astonish- ment we were under by when we found the Governor had Enacted a law there Invalidating the acts of the other Colonies by Limiting the Continuance of their act to one month only.
" As our Act Prohibits the Exportation of Provisions in Con- formity with the law of New York Colony, with which New Jersey, we understand, has also Complied, the Governor cannot think it reasonable that the Colonies of New York, New Jersey, and this Province, should be deprived of their Laws by an Act of the Gov- ernment of the three Lower Counties. Therefore as that Act was passed by the Governor himself, we presume, instead of applying to us upon this occasion he will think it his duty to call the Assembly of the three Lower Counties to whom it belongs, to Continue their Law to the time Limited by the other Governments.
" It is well known that Maryland raises great Quantities of wheat, Pork, & other Provisions, and yet, as we are Informed, their Ports have hitherto Continued open to the exports of Provision from thence. The Governor will therefore Judge the necessity of recommending a Prohibition there, without which, we apprehend, the acts of the Northern & Eastern Colonies must Prove ineffectual.
" Signed by Order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker."
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Mr. Weiser being sent for, the Council resumed the Considera- tion of the application made by Ogaghradarisha about building a Fort at Adjouquay, and upon more fully considering the Matter, it was agreed not to give any other Answer to it than that a Fort at Shamokin would be sufficient at present for all the purposes the Indians could use it; that if, hereafter, the Six Nations should con- cur in this Request, it might be gratified, otherwise it might give offence. The Governor's Answer sent to Col. Clapham was com- municated to Ogaghradarisha, and he was asked if the same had been faithfully interpreted, and he answered that it was. Abun- dance of Conversation passed between the Governor and the Indian Chief, in which he promised to assist in the measures now taking, and to promote the English Interest by all the methods in his power.
The Governor received by Two Members a Bill intituled " A Sup- plementary act to a Law of this Province, intituled ' An Act for the more effectual obstructing the Exportation of Provisions and warlike Stores from the Province of Pennsylvania,'" to which the House desired his Concurrence.
Then the Bill for regulating and continuing the Nightly Watch, and enlightening the Streets, lanes, and Alleys of the City of Phila- delphia, and for raising of Money on the Inhabitants and Estates of the said City, for defraying the necessary Expences thereof, was considered, and the Council advised his Honour to recede from his proposed Amendments. The Secretary was sent to the House with a verbal Message accordingly, and to inform the House that the Gov-' ernor was ready to pass the said Bill into a Law, whenever it should be presented to him for that Purpose.
MEMORANDUM.
On the Second Instant Two Members waited on the Governor with the Bill for continuing the Excise, and delivered therewith the following Resolves of the House thereupon, and desired the Governor would please to reconsider the said bill. The same Mem- bers likewise presented to his Honour, for his concurrence, a Bill entituled " An Act for the further continuing an act entituled ' An Act to prevent the Exportation of Provisions, Naval or Warlike Stores, from this Province to Cape Breton, or to any other the Dominions of the French King, or Places at present in Possession of any of his Subjects ;'" and desired to know if the Governor had come to any Determination upon the Supplementary Bill to the act for the more effectual obstructing the Exportation of Provisions and Warlike Stores; and the Governor informed them he had not.
Resolves of the House of Assembly.
" That it is the Opinion of this House that the said Proprietary
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Instructions was the Principal if not the only Obstruction to the passing the several Bills offered to the Governor by the last Assem- bly for granting money for the King's Use.
"That the act for laying an Excise on Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other Spirits, passed in the year 1744, and the Act granting Five thousand Pounds for the King's use, passed the 24th of June, 1746, by which the said act for laying an Excise on Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other Spirits, was continued for Ten Years next, after the first day of June, 1746, have received the Royal approbation.
"That Acts laying an Excise on Spirituous Liquors have been found necessary for defraying the charges of Government, and have been continued within this Province for more than thirty Years ; that the Governor's not passing the bill Presented to him for Con- tinuing the excise upon the Terms of all our former acts, repeatedly approved of by the Crown, from an Apprehension that he is re- strained by the said Proprietary Instruction, is evasive and frivolous, & an infringement of our Just rights, and that as Deputy Governor of this Province, he has, or ought to have, full Power to give his assent to all such as we have an undoubted right to offer.
" That the House do adhere to the Bill for continuing the act for laying an Excise on Wine, Rum, Brandy, & other Spirits, as it now stands, without admitting the Governor's amendments.
" That the said Instructions is not Calculated to promote the happiness and Prosperity of this Province, & is Inconsistent with the Perogative of the Crown & the Liberties of the People, & that all Proprietary Instructions not warranted by the laws of Great Britain are illegal and void in themselves; Nevertheless, if the Governor should apprehend himself bound by such Proprietary In- structions, they may prove ruinous to the Province, and of danger- ous Consequence to the British Interest in America."
On the Third of July the Governor received from the House by - Two Members a Bill entituled "An Act for granting the sum of Forty Thousand Pounds to the King's use, and for striking the said Sum in Bills of Credit, and to provide a Fund for sinking the same." The Governor told the Members he would consider it, but could not come to any Determination before his Return from New Castle, where he was going in order to meet the Assembly of the Three Lower Counties.
On the Fifth Two Members waited on the Governor from the House with a Bill Entituled " An Act for striking the Sum of Four Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, and to Provide a Fund for sinking the same by Yearly Payments to be made by the Proprie- taries' Receiver General to the Trustees of the General Loan Office of this Province for that Purpose," for his concurrence ; and like- wise desired to know if he would please to pass into a Law the Bill that had received his assent, and whether he would come to any Determination upon the Bills before him before he went to New
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Castle. The Governor informed the members that the Bill for regu- lating the Watch the House had sent him no Message about, since he had informed them he had receded from his amendments, but he was ready to pass into Laws any Bills that were presented for that Purpose.
The Governor having received Intelligence of Consequence from the Indians at Bethelehem, he drew up the following Message to the House and sent it by the Secretary :
" Gentlemen :
" The Secretary will lay before you a Copy of the Intelligence of Nicodemus and Joe Piepe, two Indians that lately came to Beth- lehem from the Place called Diahoga, upon the Sasquehanna, by which you will see that the Western Indians were forming them- selves into a Body, with an Intention to attack this Province about the Time of Harvest. This Intelligence I received on Saturday, and have dispatched Orders to the Forces to be upon their Guard, and directed them to be thrown into such a Disposition as would most effectually assist and protect the People in their Harvest. If upon Consideration of this Matter, any other Measures are neces- sary for the Public Safety, you will enable me to take them.
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
" Philadelphia, July 5, 1756."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday, July 10th, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwalader, Esquires.
A Letter from Governor Phipps of the Eighteenth of June last was read, desiring the Governor's Permission to the Schooner Jolly Robin, Thomas Staniford, Master, to load and bring to Boston 750 Barrels of Flour, if she can take such a Quantity on Board ; and on taking the same into Consideration, the Governor thought proper to permit Samuel Smith and Son, Joseph Saunders, and Joshua Howell, to ship 750 Barrels of Flour to be delivered to the Order of Governor Phipps, for the use of the Government of Massachu- setts Bay.
Another Letter from Governor Phipps of the same Date was read, desiring a Permission to Ship a Cargo of Wheat and Flour in the Schooner Dolphin, William Mould, Master, on the Application of John Powell, Agent, Victualler for his Majesty's Ships ; and 500 Barrels of Flower were permitted to be Shipped, on Oath being
1
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made that the same were for the use of the King's Forces, and for no other Use whatever.
Mr. John Bell having renewed his Application for Permission to clear the Brigantine Princess Louisa of this Place, laden with Pro- visions for the Troops and Garrisons in Newfoundland, and made Oath accordingly, the Permission was granted.
Upon Application made by Mr. Daniel Roberdeau, for Permission to ship 450 Barrels of Ship Bread on Board the Ship Philadelphia, Robert Forsyth, Master, for Jamaica, on account of Augustus and John Boyd, and Company, Esquires, and George Hinde, Esquire, Contractors for supplying his Majesty's Navy in Jamaica, and the said Daniel Roberdeau making Oath as aforesaid, the Application was allowed.
The Governor wrote to the Collector, desiring him to be particu- larly careful that the Vessels be not permitted to take in a greater Quantity than is Specified.
A Letter from Justice Horsfield of the Sixth Instant, giving an Account of the Coming of Holepeeka, Packsinosa's Son, and three other Indians, to Bethleham, from Diahoga, and Requesting Powder, Lead, and Provisions, was read, with the Papers inclosed therein, and the Governor's Answer of Yesterday, which was approved.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Justice Horsfield. " BETHLEHAM, 6th July, 1756. " May it Please your Honour :
"I rece'd your Honour's favour of the 4th Instant by Return of the Express, and Agreeable to your directions have bespoke for three of the Indians two Shirts & a Blanket for Each, which shall be delivered them in your Honour's name. The Inclosed Papers will Inform your Honour the Occasion of this Express. The Indians desire to be Dispatched as soon as Possible ; the Reason of it your Honour will please to observe. Their Families are in much want of Provisions; they will, however, wait two days for your Honour's Answer, by which time I hope this Express will Return.
" We Labour under much difficulty on Account of these Indians wanting their Guns Repaired, and to have some Powder and Lead, which we Cannot by any measure do unless we have your Honour's Express Commands for it; if it be your Pleasure it shall be done, or not, Please to Signify it. Your Honour shall be strictly Obeyed. I beg leave to Observe Kolapeeka, Paxinosa's Son, seems very desirous to Carry (according to the Indian way of Speaking) some words from your Honour to his Father.
"I am, with all due Respect, your Honour's Most Obedient Humble Servant,
" TIMº HORSFIELD."
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A Paper Inclosed in the Foregoing Letter.
" BETHLEHAM, July 6th, 1756.
" Last night, in the dusk of the Evening, Arrived at Bethleham four Indians from Diahoga with a Convoy from Fort Allen, & a letter from Newcastle, which is here Inclosed.
" As Newcastle desired that Kindness might be shewn unto them, they were Chearfully Received & Entertained.
"This Morning they were Visited, & told at the same time that a Messenger should be sent to the Governor, & therefore they shou'd let us know what they had to say to the Governor. Kolapecka, Packsanosa's youngest Son, a Shawonese, answered to this Effect : He did not come from Diahoga with an Intent to go to Bethleham, but was out a Hunting, his Family being Scarce of Provisions ; that Shekaschano, Mekickachpe, & Wenimah, all Shawonese, now of Diahoga, & formerly of Wiomink, were in his Company; that not being by the Chiefs, he had no Message to the Governor, nor could he tell us any news; so much, however, he knew, that Nine Nations were in the English Interest, Vizt. : 1. the Shawonese ; 2. Tasaning; 3. Nantikokes; 4. Tuscarorors; 5. Tuttelars; 6. Onon- dagoes; 7. Cajugas; 8. Sankikman; 9. Ganossetage; And he said, I am sure they are all Friends to the English.
"Being Asked About the Delawares, his Answer was, 'about them I can say Nothing.'
" About his Father he told us, that he was gone with Another Chief of the Mennesink Nation, whose name is Onondamokin, to meet Sir William Johnston at the Council with the Indians at Onondago.
" Then he was asked About the Allegany Indians, and their Meeting together with Other Nations, with an Intent to join them, & to fall upon the English ; whether he had heard any Thing of it. He said, 'I knew that Some were gone there from Diahoga, but for what End I do not know ; I could not find Out.'
" Paxanoso's Son told the Brethren that if they had any Mes- sage to his Father, he would bring their words up to him. Here- upon he was told that the Brethren were Private Persons, & that it would be better he stayed for the Governor's words. He said, I can't stay long, for my Family is in want ; I will, however, stay a Couple of days, & should be glad to take up some word for my Father.
" He was told, that as he wanted to bring down his family, he shou'd be helped to some Provisions."
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" July 1st, 1756.
" To the Captain of Fort Allen, also at Bethleham :
" Dear good Friends :
" These are to let you know from me, Captain Newcastle, by these Bearers. About the 25th of June, old Mr. Packinosa's is gone to Council at Colonel Johnston's ; also we met these Indians at a Place called Lahhawonai ; from thence Captain Newcastle di- rected them to come to the Brethren English, for we Really think they are our Friends, and this is to desire the Captain at Fort Allen and the other Officers to shew Kindness. Captain New Castle desires the Captain at Fort Allen to Convoy these Friend Indians safe to Bethleham ; also the Son of Old King Packinosa's will require to Come again to fetch his Father down as soon as ' Possible. This Captain Newcastle desires the Brethren English would furnish them with Provisions.
"Sir, Your most Humble Servant, " CAPTAIN NEW CASTLE, "One of the Chiefs of the Six Nations. " JOHN PUMPSHARE.
" Little further more. I desire Mr. Spangenberg to shew Kind- ness to those men ; I think if you should do so, it will shew the Sincerity of the good Cause of the English ; when those men comes back again at Diahoga, it may perhaps do very deal of good."
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A Letter from Governor Morris to Mr. Horsfield " PHILADELPHIA, 9th July, 1756. " Sir :
"I am Sorry your Messenger has been Obliged to wait my Re- turn from Newcastle. I am afraid the Four Indians will not have Patience to stay ; but if you have been able to detain them I desire you will Present a String to Holapecka and his Company, & others Present, Acquainting them with my Absence as an Apology for the slow Return of their Messenger. Tell him I wish it could have Consisted with the Circumstances of their Families for them to have given me the Satisfaction of seeing them here; but as this does not suit them now, and they are in want of Provisions, I have Ordered you to Supply them with as much as they can Carry, and a Small Quantity of Powder & Lead as much as may be wanted for the Present to serve their Necessities ; more I would give them, but it would be dangerous to themselves if met by our Enemy In- dians to have more.
" I send another String to be given to Holapecka to Present for me to his Father when he Returns from Onondago. It is to Invite
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the Old man to come & see me & give me his Advice. I think three or four Pounds of Powder will be enough, & as much Provi- sions as they can carry ; how much that will be must be left to your Judgment, but they should by all means be sent very well Satisfied.
" Please to make my Acknowledgements to Mr. Spangenberg for the Trouble given him in these Indian Affairs. I approve what he & you have done; nor is it for want of Respect, but Time that I am,
." Your humble Servant,
" ROBT. H. MORRIS.
A Letter to Governor Morris from Mr. Horsfield. " BETHLEHAM, July 7th, 1756. "May it please your Honour :
"I think it my duty to Acquaint your Honour with the great ' Danger wherein we Apprehend not only the Brethren at Bethleham & their Families, but all the Country Round About us, are in at Present.
" Your Honour has invited the friendly Indians by Capt New- castle to come into this Province, with a Promise that they should be kindly Received & Entertained. Your Honour has given out a Proclamation at the same time that the Indians coming into Penn- sylvania should be Received as friends & not treated as Enemys till the third of July, a. e. Now Capt .. Newcastle sends Indians to Bethleham of whom we are not sure whether they are Friends or Enemys, & we may expect more are a Coming, & who knows how many come with them under the Pretence of being friends ; I there- fore give it your Honour's wise Consideration.
" Ist. Whether wicked People that are bitter Against the Indians cannot & may not fall upon them & Destroy them, the Proclama- tion being expired ?
"2nd. Whether the Indians who come under Pretence of being Friends, as they have not Engaged to a Cessation of Arms, & as they actually do keep their Arms, may not fall not only upon us in Bethlehem, but Also upon All the Country, & do a great deal of Mischief ?
"Your Honour will Please to Consider that either of the before- mentioned Things can prove fatal & Destructive to the Province & his Majesty's most dutifull Subjects.
" It is therefore that two Brethren from Bethleham, Vis-, Na- than Seidel & Christ Tho" Benzier, are appointed to go in the name of all the Inhabitants of Bethleham to Represent this Affair in its
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proper Light to your Honour, & they do hope that your Honour will not expose them like Sheep to the Mouths of the Wolves, but send such Orders to the Commanding Officers at fort Allen, &c., &c., that they may either keep the Indians Arriving at any of the forts, or Conduct them under Proper convoy to Philadelphia, or where your Honour thinks most proper, & let us know your Pleasure whether these Indians that came lately to Bethleham, Vist-, Repe, Nicodemus, &c., should not come to Philadelphia or any other place, Bethleham being already so full and so crowded that in most of our Rooms we have been forced to lodge 20 or 25 Persons, & seventy of our Indians have lived all the winter in a small House where they had but two Rooms.
"I am Your Honour's most Obedient hum1. Servant, " TIMº. HORSFIELD."
The Council advised the Governor to renew the Proclamation for a suspension of Hostilities, and that as there was no room at Beth- leham, and the Moravian Brethren there were uneasy, and no Troops there, the Indians should be Removed to Eastown where there was a Guard, and the following Letter was drawn up by the Governor to be sent to Mr. Parsons at Easton, which was approved, & another Likewise to Mr. Horsfield :
A Letter from Governor Morris to Mr. Parsons. " PHILADELA., 11th July, 1756.
"Sir :
" Having. Ordered the Indians at Bethleham and such other friendly Indians as shall Come thither to be Removed to Easton, I desire you will Immediately make the necessary Preparations of houses and Provisions for their Reception, and at a Certain time to be Agreed upon for their Removal, you will Order an Escort of the town Guard to Bethleham to protect them on the Road.
" While they Remain at Easton you will take Care that the soldiers and Officers keep strictly to their Duty, that the guards & Sentrys are Regularly Releaved, and the Arms kept in good Order, & Either Discharged or drawn every other day, and you will post them in such Manner as will most Effectually protect them from the Insults of the People, and Prevent any evil designs in case they should not be so friendly as they Pretend.
" The Charges attending this Service you draw Bills upon the Commissioners for, Sending them the Necessary Accounts, and you will inform me from time to time what is done in Consequence of these Orders.
"I am your very Humble Servant, "ROBT. H. MORRIS."
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A Letter from Governor Morris to Mr. Horsfield. " PHILADA., 11th July, 1756.
" Sir :
" I Laid your Letter of the 7th Instant before the Council, and Since the Brethren find it Inconvenient, and Express their un- easiness at the Indians Continuing with them, I have determined to remove them for the present to Easton, where the Guard will be Able Sufficiently to protect them from Insults, and prevent their doing mischief, in case their Dispositions should not prove so friendly as is Pretended.
" I have given orders to Mr. Parsons to receive them & to find them in Provisions, and as soon as he has fitted up a Comodious place for them in Easton, he is to Acquaint you that he has done so, & Agree on a time to send an Escort for them, and you will be Pleased accordingly to deliver them over to his Orders.
" If a number of Indians should come Along with Newcastle, they must likewise be well guarded and Conducted to Easton, there to Remain till I give further Orders.
"The Proclamation for Suspension of Hostilities is Continued for - - days longer, and it is expected that all Persons, Civil and Military, will yield due Obedience thereto.
"I am, Sir, Your Humble Servant, " ROBT. H. MORRIS.
The Governor issued Writs for summoning the Assembly the 19th Instant.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 20th July, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
· Robert Strettle, Richard Peters,
Joseph Turner, (
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Thomas Cadwalader,
Indians.
Captain Newcastle, Pumpshire, a Jersey Indian, Interpreter,
Rarbett, a Mohawk,
Peteghchdaqua, Samuel Evans,
Tassawelanaghqua, John Dowdy,
Isaac, an Indian Boy.
A Letter from General Abercrombie of the 13th Instant, with
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one enclosed from Sir William Johnston to him of the 12th, received by Express, were read and Ordered to be entered.
" ALBANY, July the 13th, 1756.
" Sir :
" His Majesty having been pleased to give Sir William Johnston a Commission of Colonel Agent, and Sole Superintendent of the affairs of the Six Nations and other Northern Indians, in pursu- ance of which Commission I have the Satisfaction to Acquaint your Honour that Sir William Johnston has Engaged a Considerable Body of Indians to Act Offencively against the Enemy, and for your further Confirmation I transmit to you a duplicate of a Letter from Sir William Johnston to me, whereby you will see the Neces- sity of Repealing an Act of Assembly that may tend to Interrupt the good Understanding and Accomodation which Sir William Johnston has so happily brought About with these Nations. Your own prudence and Zeal for the publick service will best govern you in the Measures you will take upon this Occasion.
"I have the Honour to be, with the Greatest Respect, Your Honour's Most Obedient & most Humble Servant,
"JAMES ABERCROMBY.
" To the Honble. ROBT. H. MORRIS, Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania."
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A Letter from Sir William Johnston to General Abercromby. " FORT JOHNSTON, 12th July, 1756. " Sir :
" Last night I concluded all matters with the King or head of the Shawonese, and with the King or head of the Delawares, who live on the Susquehanna ; the former at Wioming, the Latter at Tioaga. The Shawonese Chief declares that none of his people has been Concerned in any of the Hostilities Committed on the Fron- tiers of the Southern Provinces ; that they have strictly Adhered to their Treaties and Engagements with the English, & are deter- mined to Continue acting upon the same Principles. The Dela- ware Chief has Confessed that some of his people, deluded by the french, and the Indians in their Interest, did Join with them in their late Hostilities and Depredations on the Frontiers of said Governments ; that they have seen their error, laid down the Ax, & do Repent of their past misconduct ; will for the future govern themselves by the example of their Uncles, the Six Nations, & in conjunction with them will taken & use the Hatchet against the French, and all their Adherants. This he Ratified in the most publick manner before the Deputies of the Six Nations, who were present, and Engaged himself that all the English Prisoners, who VOL. VII .- 13.
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