USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 23
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Then Delivered the Belt.
The Governor Received it and said, "I take hold of the Belt, and am Pleased with what has been said; It is all very good."
Teedeuscung then explained the Belt, saying it was sent by the Six Nations, and he accepted of it. "You see," says he, "a square in the middle, meaning the Lands of the Indians, and at one end the figure of a man, indicating the English, and at the other End another, meaning the French; our Uncles told us that both these conveted our Lands; But let us Joyn together to defend our Lands against both; you shall be partakers of us of our Lands."
Teedeuscung and his son came and dined with the Governor, & after dinner some more of the Indians coming in, the Governor Acquainted
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Teedeuscung that he had something of Importance to communicate to him; the Governor then informed him that as he was going to Council this morning he Received a letter from the Northern Fron- tiers with very bad news, that gave him a great deal of Concern; By this letter he Received Advice that some Indians had killed four of our white People at the minisinks, this Occasioned our forces to be upon their Guard, and a party of them fell in with three Indians, and Judging them to be Enemy Indians, one of them was Killed in Endeavouring to make his Escape; and then the Governor entered into the Particulars relating to Van Etten's Letter.
The Governor said he did not know what Indians had done this mischief; if the Indian who was killed was our friend he was Sory for it, but if our Enemy he was glad of it.
Teedeuscung said that when he came here to Council all the In- dians thereabouts knew of it, & therefore he beleaved it must be the french Indians that killed our People. But that if his People were so foolish as to come in our Borders at this time and were killed any how, they must take the Reward of their folly; none of these Private Deaths ought to Effect a publick measure, nor would this make any alterations in his Councils.
At a Council held at Easton, Fryday the 30th July, 1756. PRESENT : The Honourable the Governor.
The Gentlemen of the Council.
The Commissioners.
The same Indians.
The same Interpreters. The same Audience.
The goods were brought and Placed on the Council table and were delivered to the Indians, the Governor Speaking as follows : "Brethren :
"I acquainted you, yesterday, that the People of Pennsylvania had put into his Hands a small Present to Releave you and your wives and Children from their Present Distresses. I think it fur- ther necessary to inform you that a part of this Present was given by the People Called Quakers (who are Descendants of those who first came over to this country with your old friend William Penn) as a particular Testimony of their Regard and Affection for the In- dians, and their Earnest desire to promote the good work of Peace in which we are now Engaged.
" Brethren :
" This is not only their Sentiments but my own and those of
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the People of this Province, who will all rejoyce to see this good work of Peace perfected; and therefore as you have now Received from us, this is Substantial proof of our Dispositions to Releave your Distresses, you will be better Enabled to Encourage others to return to their former friendship with us. I say, Brother, By this we give you a clear testimony of our Readiness and good Disposi- tions for peace, shew you the same Readiness, & Comply with the terms I have proposed to you."
A String.
Teedeuscung returned thanks, and repeated his Assurances of doing all in his Power to perfect a General Peace with the Indians. From the Council the Governor proceeded to an Entertainment that was Provided for the Indians; the Officers & all the Com- pany then in Town Accompanyed him. Teedeuscung whilst at Diner was so well Pleased with his Reception & Generous Enter- tainment, that he Declared in the warmest manner no Endeavours of his should be wanting to bring over to a peace all the Indians far & near that he could speak or send to, and Repeatedly desired the Governor would publish what was done thro' his and the neighbouring Provinces, and he would do the same at home.
The Philadelphia Quakers, after diner, came to take their leave of him; he parted with them in a very affectionate manner; But the other part of the Company staying, he entered into a free Con- versation with the Governor, wherein he related many Entertain- ing particulars Respecting his Journey to Niagra, and afterwards made a Council Speech with a String of wampum, saying: " Brother :
"You are so good & Received us so kindly I will also give you some of that good Tobaco that the Six Nations put into my pipe; you shall smoak of it Yourselves; you will find it is good, and I will give of the same Tobaco wherever I go (meaning the message from the Six Nations to them to be at peace with the English) ; the same thing that I have offered you I will offer to all the In- dians, and tell them that you have smoaked of This Tobaco. But to do this requires me to be rich, and yet I am poor. It will take up a long time, as there are many nations to send the pipe to; But in two months I hope to go my rounds and be here Again with a large number of different nations. I say it may be in two months, But it may be longer, as the People live at a great distance from one another. I Assure you I will Execute Every thing you have de- sired of me, and let the Six Nations know all that has passed between us, and that I am your Agent and Councellor in the Dele- ware nation."
A String.
" Brother :
"I will not have you mistake me, as If I meant that I could pre-
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vail on the Ohio Indians. I cannot tell that they will leave of doing mischief. I hope you will Strengthen yourselves Against them. Pray make yourselves as strong as Possible on that side. I must warn you likewise of another thing; perhaps on the East Side of Susquehanna there may be mischief done by Indians in my Absence, but be Assured it will not be by any of my People; it will be by the french Indians from the Ohio, who can easily pass over Susquehanna and do what mischief they Please. Against these you be sure to arm yourselves in the best manner you can. Remember I give you this Warning."
A String.
-
At a Council held at Easton, Fryday the 30th day of July, 1756, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
William Logan,
Benjamin Chew,
Esquires.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
Conrad Weiser, Esqr.
Mr. Weiser was asked whether it was intended the Governor shou'd keep the Belt Teedeuscung gave, or return it. Mr. Weiser answered, that having some doubts about it, he put the same Question to Newcastle, who said the Belt was sent by the Six Nations to the Delewares, and as it was given by them to the Gov- ernor, it ought to be preserved among the Council Wampum, Being a Belt of great Consequence, and it would be well to Return another of a fathom long, & the Delivery of it, which must be in Council to-morrow, to make a proper Address to Teedeuscung, that he would be diligent, and Carry it to all the nations within his Influence. Newcastle said further, that Teedeuscung wou'd want Abundance of Wampum, & if he had it not, the Cause wou'd suffer exceedingly; we hoped the Council bagg was full, & desired it might be Emtied into the lap of Teedeuscung, Mr Weiser Concur- ring in Opinion, and saying that the French gave Great Quantities of Wampum to their Indians, and on matters of Consequence their Belts were several fathom long and very wide, the Secretary was ordered to bring all the Wampum he had into Council, viz': fifteen Strings & Seven Belts, A parcel of new Black Wampum, amounting to Seven Thousand, and having no new white Wampum, nor any proper Belt to give in return for Teedeuscung's peace Belt, a mes- senger was sent to Bethleham, and he Returned with five Thousand. Upon which the Indian Women were Employed to make a Belt of a fathom long & sixteen Beads wide, in the Center of which was to be the figure of a man, meaning the Governor of Pennsylvania, and Each other side five other figures, meaning the ten Nations men-
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
tioned by Teedeuscung. The King, who was very Irregular in his visits as well as his Discourses, bolted all of a Sudden into the Room, and with a high tone of voice spoke as follows, vist :
" Brother :
"I desire all that I have said and you have said to one another may be taken down Aright; some speak in the Dark; do not let us do so; let all be Clear and known; what is the Reason the Gover- nor holds Council so Close in his hands, & by Candle light; the Five Nations used to lett him sett out of doors like women; if the Five Nations still make him a woman they must; But what is the Reason the Governor makes him a woman (meaning why he confers with Indians without sending for him to be present and hear what passes) ?" The Governor answered, that he held Councils on a hill, has no Secrets, never sits in swamps, but speaks his mind openly to the world; what hapens here he has aright to hear; the women · were sent for to make a belt, not to Council; the Six Nations may be wrong; they are not under his Direction ; and therefore he is not answerable for their Conduct, if they have not treated the Delewares as men. The Chief thanked the Governor, seemed well pleased, & said to-morrow he would speak more ; what he had to say was from the Six Nations, He that won't make peace must die.
A String.
It was Agreed in the morning that the Governor should deliver . the new Belt then in making to Teedeuscung with a Proper Speech ; that by two Belts tied together Newcastle & Teedeuscung should be made Joint Agents for this Government, and they be desired to Consult together, to love one another, & act for the best ; that the new Black Wampum and all the Belts and Strings should be given to Tetteuscung, & a private present made to him & his Interpreter Ben,
At a Council held at Easton, Saturday, 31st Day of July, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
Same members as before.
Newcastle.
Conrad Weiser, Esquire.
Teedeuscung.
The names of the Indians Present at the treaty were taken down by Mr. Edmunds and Ordered to be entered. Mr. Weiser having Enquired of Newcastle what messages had been received by the Delewares at Diahoga from the Six Nations, Received the following information, which he took down in words that are the literal Inter-
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pretation of what Newcastle said, Viz : "The large Belt given by Teedeuscung was sent to the Delewares by the Council of the Six United Nations with a Message to the following Purport :
"'Cousins, the Delaware Indians : You will remember that you are our women ; our forefathers made you so, and put a petticoat on you, and charged you to be true to us & lie with no other man. But of late you have Suffered the string that tied your petticoat to be cut loose by the French, and you lay with them, & so became a common Bawd, in which you did very wrong and deserved Chastise- ment, but notwithstanding this we will still Esteem you, and as you have thrown off the Cover of your modesty and become Stark naked, which is a shame for a woman, We now give you a little Prick and put it into your private Parts, and so let it grow there till you shall be a compleat man. We advise you not to act as a woman yet, But be first instructed by us, and do as we bid you and you will become a noted man.
" ' Couzens :
" 'The English & French fight for our lands ; let us be strong & lay our hands to it, and defend it. In the mean time our Eyes and Ears to us, & the English our Brethren, and you will live as well as we do.' "
Then the Governor sent to Newcastle & Teedeuscung ; the new Belt not being finished ; he Explained the Proposed figures to them, & desired the women might finish it on rainy days, or resting in their Journey, which was Promised.
Then the Governor Spoke :
" Brothers Newcastle & Teedeuscung :
" I set an high value upon this Belt; It is the Peace Belt which Teedeuscung delivered in Council. I very Chearfully lay hold of it. I will lay it up with the Council Belts ; & declare it to you I am most heartily Disposed to Effect the meaning of this Belt ; A speedy & Honourable Peace, and a Return of the Offices of love & friendship between the Indians & their Brethren the Eng- lish. In Return I give you the Belt now making, which you will Consider as finished, & when done shew it every where, and make our Dispositions, and the treatment you have met with, known to your own People the six nations, and all your Allies."
Here the Governor gave the new Belt, so far as it was made, & all the Wampum prepared for it, desiring, if it was not Enough to Compleat it, that they would add more.
Then taking two Belts Joyned together in his hands, & address- ing Newcastle & Teedeuscung, he declared them Agents for this Province, and gave them Authority to do the Publick Business to- gether. He Recommended to them a mutual Confidence, Esteem,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
& Intimacy, & wished them Success in their negociations ; to which they answered they would be mutual good friends & lay their heads together, & do Every thing in their Power to promote the weighty matters entrusted to them. Teedeuscung added if this meeting should not serve him in every thing committed to his Charge, or things shou'd be Crooked, he would return to us & make them strait ; what he says comes from his heart & not from his lips; his heart & ours should be one, & be true to one another ; for if different liquors are put in a Cask & shaked, they will mix & Come one. The Governor said that he had written down what Teedeuscung had said on the belt delivered by him, & will keep it in his heart. It is very agreeable to him & the People of Penn- sylvania ; he will lay up the Belt in the Council Chamber as a mark of his friendship. As he is appointed Agent for Pennsylva- nia with Capt. Newcastle, he puts into his hands all the Belts & Wampums he has here, to be made use of by him in the Course of his negociation, as he may Judge most Proper, & most for the Interest of the People of this Province.
Teedeuscung Answered that he might meet with Difficulties in transacting the Important Business Committed to his Charge ; But as he is now one of the Council of the Province of Pennsylvania, he assures his Brethren that he will Exert himself faithfully and to the utmost of his Power in the service ; and if he meets with Crooked paths he will Endeavour to make them strait. The Gov- ernor then thanked Teedeuscung & Newcastle for their undertaking to be Agents for Pensylvania on this Occasion, desired that they might Co-operate one with another, & Consult together on the Pro- per measures to be entered into by them ; and delivered two Belts tied together, as a sign or Symbol of that Harmony & Unanimity that ought to subsist between them.
Teedeuscung said that he was Pleased with being Joyned with Newcastle in the Publick Business ; that he hoped matters wou'd be brought to a happy Issue ; that he wished there might be a firm friendship and lasting Union between the Six Nations and the people of Pennsylvania, and that they might be as one Man. He further said, that he had a large family, & having a great way to go, he had no means of Carrying any more Provisions than would serve him on the Road ; he therefore, desired that he might be furnished with a horse, that he might be Enabled to Carry necessaries for his family ; whereupon, the Governor promised to let him have a horse ; and he promised to return him again the next time he came down. The Governor then taking into his hands all the Belts, Strings, & Bundles of new Black Wampum, gave them to Teedeuscung and desired he would use them to the Best Advantage among the na- tions he should apply to.
The private Presents were then given, and the Governor and the Council took their leaves ; the Council returning to Philadelphia,
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MINUTES OF THE
and the Governor going to New York, on an Express received from General Shirley.
A List of Indians present at a Treaty at Easton, 26th July, · 1756.
" Capt Newcastle, one of the Six Nations.
" Teedeuscung, King of the Delewares.
" Tapascawen, Councellor.
" Amos,
" Kesmitas, Teedeuscung's three Sons.
" John Jacob,
" Machmitawchchink, his son-in-law.
" John Swalling, his Grandson.
" Christ. dan.
" Willdam.
" Josiah.
" Baronet Bowman, an Onondaga Indian.
" Weeraoochwee.
" Mongeest.
" Hutchchaon.
" Benjamin, that speaks Engh.
" John Pumpshire.
" Joseph Michty.
" Thomas Storer.
" Thomas Peipy.
" Nicodemus.
" Zachaias.
" Christian.
" Macharochellytha.
" Lived some months at Easton.
" I have carefully perused the foregoing minutes, & do find them to give a true Account of what Passed between the Governor & Indians in my Presence at Easton.
" CONRAD WEISER."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 20th August, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Lieutenant Governor, and the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquires.
Robert Stretell, James Hamilton,
Benjamin Shoemaker, William Logan,
Richard Peters, Thomas Cadwallader, Esquires. John Mifflin, Joseph Turner, Lynford Lardner,
A Commission, dated the seventh day of May last, from the
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Honourable Proprietaries to William Denny, Esquire, to be Lieu- tenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, with a Certificate of his having taken the Oath before his Majesty in Council, in which is recited the Royal approbation of Mr. Denny's Appointment, were produced and read.
But before Governor Morris' signing the Warrant for affixing the Great Seal to the said Commission, he proposed to Mr. Denny and the Council that a Letter of the seventeenth Instant, which he had received from Sir Charles Hardy, relating to the Embargo on Provisions, might be read, and that as he apprehended the Order he had given to the Collector of his Majesty's Customs here, for continuing the Embargo on the Exportation of Provisions, wou'd of course determine on the publication of Governor Denny's Commission, it wou'd be necessary for the Governor and Council to enter immediately upon the consideration of that point, whether the Embargo shou'd be continued or taken off; and after reading Sir Charles Hardy's said Letter, and his Order (with the Advice of his Council) of the Sixteenth Instant on that Subject, and full consideration of the matter, and after the Great Seal being Affixed to Governor Denny's Commission, and his taking the Oath of Office, It is Ordered, by his Honour Governor Denny, with the unanimous advice of the Council, that the Collector of His Ma- jesty's Customs of this or any other Port within this Province, do, from and after the Twenty-second day of August Instant, clear out any Vessel laden with Provisions, the Master of such Vessel giving Bond to his Majesty with sufficient sureities in the Sum of one thousand Pounds Sterling, to Land and deliver such Provisions, and every part thereof, in some British Port or Island, and not in any foreign Island, Plantation, Settlement or Dominion whatso- ever, and within Nine Months from the date of such Bond to re- turn to the said Collector a Certificate under the Hand of the Go- vernor or Commander-in-Chief of such British Port or Island, of the Landing such Provisions in and for the use of such British Post or Island. If to Lisbon, Madera, or Fyall, a Certificate is to be returned within the same time, under the Hand and Seal of the British Consul, or two known British Merchants residing there.
Ordered, That a Proclamation be immediately prepared for the continuance in force of the Commissions of all Magistrates and other Officers, and of all other Commissions and Orders whatso- ever, both civil and military, relating to the Government, protec- tion and defence of the said Province and Counties, to be pub- lished to-Morrow.
And then Governor Morris and the Council attended Governor Denny to the Court House for the Publication of his Commission, which was done in the usual forms.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday, 21st August, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Hunter Morris, Esquire, late Governor.
Robert Strettell,
James Hamilton,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
William Logan,
Esquires.
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read and approved.
Mr. Morris was desired to be present in order to assist on the several matters that were to come under consideration. Several Letters from Major William Parsons, Justice Horsfield, and Mr. Edmunds, were read, informing the late Governor that Teedyuscung was still at Fort Allen, that he and his Company were perpetually drunk, and in some Conversation had expressed themselves in terms inconsistant with their Professions at Easton, and that the Lieu- tenant who had the Command of the fort had sold Rum to the Indians and done many things contrary to his Duty.
It was recommended to the Governor to send an Express to Colonel Weiser and Major Parsons, with orders for them to go to Fort Allen and enquire into the Conduct of the Lieutenant or any other Offenders, and to inflict such punishments on them as were agreeable to the Military Law; and further, to represent to Teedy- uscung and his Company the Great Danger that might to the Pub- lick from this long and unexpected delay of theirs, and to send them away directly.
Mr. Morris let the Governor know that Captain Newcastle had been informed of this stay and behaviour of Teedyuscung, and that · he had thereupon expressed so much uneasiness as to offer his Ser- vice to go to the Six Nations to enquire into the nature of the Authorities he said he had received from them, and to learn his Character and in what esteem he was with them, and how far the several matters, mentioned by him in the Conferences, were to be depended on; he therefore thought it might be proper to send for Captain Newcastle, and if he continued in the same mind to send him forthwith by the Stage Boat and Waggon, under the care of some honest Man to New York, and by him to send Letters to Sir Charles Hardy and Sir William Johnson, giving cach of them an Account of what had been done at Diahoga and Easton, and likewise of this unexpected behaviour of Teedyuscung, and to recom- mend Captain Newcastle to Sir Charles Hardy, with a request that he wou'd take care to get him properly conducted to Sir William Johnson, in which Sentiment the Governor and the Council unani- mously concurring with Mr. Morris, Captain Newcastle was sent
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for and presented to the Governor, and expressing the same earnest desires to go to the Six Nations, his Passport and Letters recom- mendatory were prepared, and Letters wrote by him to Sir Charles Hardy and Sir William Johnson.
Letter from Governor Denny to Sir Charles Hardy. " PHILADELPHIA, 21 August, 1756.
"Sir :
"The Bearer, one of the Six Nations, formerly called Cashio- wayah, now Captain Newcastle, is one of those few Indians who were left by Scarroyady and the Belt of Wampum on their going to Colonel Johnson's to assist in Building a Fort at Shamokin and to be employed in such Publick Business as there shou'd be occasion for with the Neighbouring Indians.
" A little before Scarroyady went away, Governor Morris received from you an account, in Extracts from Letters of Sir William Johnson, that there had been a Meeting at Otsanango between the Six Nations and the Chiefs of the Enemy Indians, in which these last had agreed to hearken to the interposition of the Six Nations, and to forbear any further Hostilities against the Inhabitants of this and the Neighbouring Colonies, and it was thought proper on receiving this Intelligence after consulting the two Chiefs, Scarroyady and the Belt of Wampum, to send Newcastle to Wiomink, to make what was done at Otsanango known to the Susquehannah Indians, of which a large body was said to have been collected there; and he was instructed to find out their dispositions, and if they shou'd prove in our favor, then to acquaint them, that notwithstanding the outrages committed against this Province, we would, since the Six Nations interested themselves so heartily in this matter, overlook what was past and consent to peace on their Submission and future good behaviour.
" And accordingly Newcastle set out charged with these Messages to Wiomink, and finding that the Indians had moved from thence, higher up the Susquehannah, to a place called Diahogo, situated at the Mouth of the Cayhuga Branch, he followed them there and de- livered his Messages to them, which were well received, and he returned to Governor Morris with assurances from those Indians that they were sorry for what they had done, and were sincerely disposed to return to their amity and friendship with the Children of Onas, informing us at the same time that they were in distressed Circumstances and desiring us to pity them.
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