USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 31
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"Your most Obed' hble. Servant,
" RICHARD PETERS. ".To ISAAC NORRIS, Esqr-, Speaker."
The same was sent to the Speaker, upon which the Clark of the House delivered him the following Paper :
" In Assembly, October 16th, 1756.
" Mahlon Kirkbride, William Hoge, Peter Dicks and Nathaniel Pennock, returned Representatives to serve in Assembly, requested leave to resign their Seats for the Reasons set forth in the follow- ing Paper by them presented to the House, viz":
"' May it please the Speaker and House of Representatives .:
"' Understanding that the Ministry have requested the Quakers, who, from the first Settlement of this Colony, have been the Ma- jority of the Assembly of this Province, to suffer their Seats, during the difficult Situation of the Affairs of the Colonies, to be filled by Members of other Denominations, in such manner as to prepare, without any scruples, all such Laws as may be necessary to be enac- ted for the Defence of the Province, in whatever manner they may Judge best situated to the Circumstances of it : And notwithstand- ing We think this has been pretty fully complied with at the last Election, yet at the Request of Our Friends, being willing to take of all possible objection, We who have (without any Solicitation on our Part) been returned as Representatives in this Assembly, re- quest We may be excused and suffered to withdraw our selves and vacate our Scats, in such manner as may be attended with the least Trouble, and most satisfaction to this Honourable House.
"' MAHLON KIRKBRIDE, "' WILLIAM HOGE,
"'PETER DICKS, "'NATHANIEL PENNOCK.'
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" And the House taking the foregoing Request into Considera- tion,
" Resolved, That the Seats of the said Members be deemed va- cated, and that they be disabled from sitting or Serving in Assem- bly for the Ensuing year.
" Ordered, That the Speaker do issue his order to the Provincial Secretary, requiring him to issue Writs to the Sheriffs of the County of Bucks and Chester, respectively, for electing other Persons in the Room and Stead of the said Members so disabled from sitting or serving in Assembly.
" William Allen being returned a Representative, so the County of Cumberland and for the County of Northampton, was called upon 'by the House to declare for which of the said Countys he in- tended to serve ; and he accordingly declared that he chose to serve for the County of Cumberland. It was thereupon
" Ordered, That the Speaker do issue an Order to the Provincial Secretary, requiring him to issue a Writt to the Sheriff of the County of Northampton, for Electing another Person in the Room and Stead of the said William Allen.
"True Extracts from the Minutes,
"WM. FRANKLIN, Clk. of Assembly."
Upon which the Secretary prepared Writts, and the Governor sign'd them, one of which is ordered to be entered.
[L. s.] " By the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieu- . tenant Governor and Commander-in- Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware,
" To the Sheriff of the County of Chester, Greeting :
" Whereas, It appears by a Resolve of the House of Represen- tatives of the said Province, that Peter Dicks and Nathaniel Pen- nock, Esquires, elected Representatives to serve in this Assembly, for the County of Chester, are disabled from sitting or serving in Assembly for the ensuing Year, and the Speaker of the said As- sembly hath directed his Order to the Provincial Secretary to issue a Writt for the Election of two Members, to serve as Representa- tives in their Room and Stead; You are, therefore, hereby strictly charged and Commanded, within five days after the Receipt of this Writt, to cause to be elected Two Freeholders of your County of most note for Virtue, Wisdom, and Ability, to serve as Represen- tatives in Assembly, in the Room and Stead of the said Peter Dicks and Nathaniel Pennock, for the present Year, giving two day's No- tice in writing, of the Time and place of holding such Election to the Inhabitants of your County, according to the directions of the
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Laws of this Province in such Case made and provided, and make Return thereof together with this Writt.
" Given under my Hand and the Lesser Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the Nineteenth day of October, in the Year of our Lord, 1756.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" By His Honour's Command, "RICHARD PETERS, Secretary."
On receiving a Letter in Council from Mr. Shippen, the Gov- ernor informed them that at York and Lancaster, in his Return from Carlisle, he sent for a Number of the principal Inhabitants, and understanding that great Numbers has formed them selves into associated Companies, and were under Officers duly Commissioned by the late Governor ; he took pains to persuade them to meet every day under Arms, go thro' the Exercise, and agree on a cer- tain Number to go to the Assistance of Cumberland County in case it should be attacked, which was expected to happen every moment, in Consequence of the Intelligence given by the redeemed prisoners, and in revenge for the burning of Kittannin; and he particularly recommended this Affair to Mr. Shippen, who had likewise used his Endeavours, but to no purpose as appears by his Letter, which was read and ordered to be entered.
" LANCASTER, 15 October, 1756.
" Honoured Sir :
" In pursuance of your Honour's kind advice to the Inhabitants of this Borough, a Meeting was appointed to be held Yesterday at the Court House at twelve a'Clock, in order to Agree upon a plan of Marching up to Colonel Armstrong in case we should be alarmed with an Account of his being Attack't; but to my great Astonish- ment no body appeared except the Chief Burgess & myself and two or three more, so that 'your Honour can judge by this how insen- sible we are of our approaching Danger, and unworthy of the good Counsel you were pleased to give us.
" I imagine Captain Lloyd's Business to Philadelphia at this time is to inform your Honour of the Apprehensions they have at Fort Augusta of being visited very speedily by a large Body of French and Indians now rendevousing at Fort Duquesne for that purpose ; however, I thought proper to trouble your Honour with the inclosed Letter which I just received from Captain Jameson, especially as it takes notice of a Body of Delaware Indians on the North Branch being spoke with by Ogaghradarisha, to whom they said they were going to Speak with the Governor of Pennsylvania. I am, with my best regards,
" Your Honour's most Obedient h'ble. Servt.,
" EDWD. SHIPPEN.
" To the Honble. WILLM. DENNY, Esq"., Governor."
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At a Council held at Newcastle, Thursday, 21st October, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
William Till, Richard Peters, Esquires.
A Message was sent last Night to the Governor by Six Members informing him that a Quorum of the House were met according to Charter, had Chosen their Speaker, and desired to know when and where they might wait on his Honour to present him for his Ap- probation ; And the Governor having appointed the House to wait him at Eleven a'Clock this Morning, they came in a Body and pre- sented Benjamin Chew, Esqr-, as Speaker Elect, who was approved, and demanded the usual Privileges for himself and the House, which were granted. A Message was delivered from the House by three Members that the Speaker and Members were Qualified, and that they were ready to receive whatever Business his Honour should please to lay before them. On which it was taken into con- sideration whether it might not be better to desire them to postpone Business for this Season that the Governor might be at Liberty to return to Philadelphia and there urge the several weighty matters which he had laid before the upper Assembly, as they required the utmost dispatch. Mr. Chew was desired to attend the Council, and giving it as his Opinion that the House, whom he had consulted on the Occasion, wou'd not be displeased if they were desired to ad- journ to the Month of March, The Governor sent the following Message :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" As this is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting You in Assembly since my arrival to the Government, and it is the usual Season of the Year for you to sit on the Dispatch of Busi- ness, I could wish my duty to his Majesty and the publick would admit of my continuing among you till you had framed such Bills as you shou'd now think necessary for the Interest of your Consti- tuents, that it might have demonstrated to you how sincerely I am disposed to do every thing on my part that may contribute to the Happiness and security of the Good People of this Government. It is with real concern, therefore, that I find myself under the necessity of acquainting you that affairs of the utmost consequence to both Governments, which will admit of no delay, oblige me to Return immediately to Philadelphia, and desire that the Considera- tion of Business may be put off to a future Time, such as you shall think the most convenient, unless you have any necessary matter to
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lay before me that can be compleated this day or to-Morrow Morning.
"WILLIAM DENNY."
The Secretary was ordered to deliver to the Speaker at the Time he shou'd present the Message, the Several Papers he had laid be- fore the Upper Assembly with his Speech on the Occasion.
At a Council held at Newcastle, Friday, 22d October, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
William Till,
Richard Peters, S Esquires.
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and Approved. A Bill entituled " an Act * * *
* * * * " was presented to the Governor for his concurrence, to which he gave his Assent, enacting it into a Law.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, the 24th of October, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettle, Joseph Turner, -- Esquires.
Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner,
Benjamin Chew, John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwallader,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were Read and Approved.
,
Captain Newcastle returned a few days ago from the Six Nation County, but cou'd not make the Report of his Journey for want of an Interpreter. The Governor sent an Express for Mr. Weiser, who being indisposed, had sent his Son, Captain Sam, and by his Interpretation, assisted by Pumpshire and Jo. Peepy, Captain New- castle gave the following Account :
" Brother :
" I return the Belt delivered to me with a Request of this Gov- ernment that I wou'd go the Six Nations to enquire into the Char- acter and Credentials of Teedyuscung.
" Brother :
" I have but in part executed my Commission, not having Oppor- tunity of doing it so fully as I wished. I met with Canyase, one
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of the principal Councellors of the Six Nations, a Mohock Chief, who has a regard for Pennsylvania. He gave me an Account which he wou'd have confirmed by a Belt of Wampum, but not having any he desired his Words might be regarded as much as if he had sent a Belt. I related to this Chief very particularly the manner in which Teedyuscung spoke of himself and his Commission and Authority from the Six Nations at the Treaty at Easton. I gave him a true Notion of all he said on this head, and how often he re- peated it to the Governor, and then asked him whether he knew any thing of this matter. Canyase said he did ; Teedyuscung did not speak the Truth when he told the Governor he had a regular Authority from the Six Nations to treat with Onas. Canyase then proceeded and said, ' Teedyuscung on behalf of the Delawares did apply to me, as a Chief of the Six Nations. He and I had long discourses together, and in these Conversations I told him that the Delawares were Women, and always treated as such by the Six Na- tions, that the Delawares were the most nearly related to the Mo- hocks, that the Mohocks had given the Delawares Protection, and they had permitted them to sit down and enjoy peaceably the Lands on which they were Seated. We, the Mohocks, are Men; we are made so from above, but the Delawares are Women and under our Protection, and of too low a kind to be Men, and that we have ob- served you the Delawares have suffered your Pettycoats to be cut away by strangers, and are running about Naked and doing things that do not become you in the Condition you know you are, subject to us, you, the Delawares, have been put upon by some Man or other from whom you have taken directions which you should not have done. We have seen you in all your proceedings, and do not approve your Conduct.
"'Since you have been so follish as to obey that voice, a Stranger's voice, and cut off your Pettycoats and taken the Tomhawk, and now appear in the Character of a Man, I join and help to cut off your Pettycoats, and so far make a Man of you, but I do not put the Tomhawk in your Hand. I know what is for your good, and, there- fore, I will not allow you to carry a Tomhawk. Further, since there has been a Cloud to dim your Eyes in the Day, I now take that Cloud away and set a Sun in the Firmament that shall Light you and your Children the whole day.
"' If you will follow our advice you and your Children shall enjoy the Light and live in peace.'
"Canyase repeated that he had no Wampum, and on that Account did not know what to do, but as is usual among the English to make use of Writing, he takes that method and tells him without Wam- pum that he, Canyase, and the Mohocks intend to go down the River Susquahannah and visit all the Delawares and take them with him, and when he has Collected them together then he will come
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with them to Pennsylvania and hold a Treaty in such places as the Governor shall appoint.
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" After this relation from Canyase, Captaint Newcastle, in answer to what was said, spoke in the Name and behalf of the English to him in these words:
"'Brother Canyase :
"'I wou'd have you proceed to the matter as quick as you can ; go down the River to Diahogo; go as far as Wiomink. I do not, however, kindle a fire on the behalf of the English in that place, but only clean it for you, and wou'd have you sit down there and send to the Governor of Pennsylvania that you are there and will wait his Answer.' "
Then Newcastle, taking in his Hand a String of Wampum, he proceeded and said : "I likewise saw Taniogharao, a Seneca Chief, and said the same thing to him as I had done to Canyase, & he told me that he was going to War against the French, and as soon as he returned he wou'd take the matter in hand; he had heard a New Governor was come, and he wou'd go and see him; he said further that the Indians were attending Colonel Johnson, that they had been with him a long time, but they were not well used-he gave them no power, when they asked him for Lead he gave them but a very little; that he did not like Men who wore two Faces, who spoke favourable to one Nation and then spoke as favourable to another; he loved Men who were Solid, faithful, and on whom one might Depend, and trust their Lives with them. Taniogharao added to his String of Wampum a little bit of Leather to shew his Sentiments of that Gentlemen, meaning Sir Wm. Johnson, as one who had two Hearts, a good one and a bad one. He sent his Name to the Governor, that he might believe he spoke the Truth ; he will not only come himself, but bring with him all his Nation, and assist the People of Pennsylvania; he likewise desired the Governor to Notify to Colonel Clapham that he was coming, if he shou'd return safe from his Expedition, and if he shou'd be killed his Nation wou'd come, never the less; and Colonel Clapham, when he saw them coming, might know it was them."
A String.
The Governor returned Captain' Newcastle his hearty thanks, assured him of his Friendship and kindness to him and all his Friends, and then acquainted them that Conrad Weiser was Sick, and to confer with him, & desired he would go and see him, to which he consented.
The Governor then laid before the Council the Minutes of a Con- ference which Colonel Clapham had held on his Return to Shamo- kin which Ogaghradarisha, which were read, and as they Contain
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several curious matters besides what that Chief related to Major Burd, they were ordered to be entered.
" At a Conference held at Fort Augusta, October 18, 1756. " The Speech of Ogagradarisha.
""'The design of my coming here now is to inform you, my Dear Friend and Brother, of the situation and Designs of the French and Indians, as far as I am acquainted therewith, which I shall do without the least reserve.
"' Just after I returned to my own Town, there was a Treaty held between Colonel Johnson and the Six Nations. I my self was not at the Treaty, but received the Accounts from the Indians of my Town who were there.
"' Being Sick, I was not able to proceed with the Message I was sent on, but delivered the Governor's as well as my Brother's Letters, Speeches, and Belts for Colonel Johnson to my Couzins, who went with the other Indians of the Town to the Treaty. Upon their Arrival they were all safely delivered to Colonel Johnson, who had not time then to publish the Contents, as he was just setting out upon an Expedition, but would do it upon his Return.
"'The greater part of the Six Nations on this River went to the Treaty, and some Delawares. It is reported that a great number of Indians are in the English Interest, and that they had a consid- erable Number actually went to Assist the English Commander to the Northward. But Three Towns near the Lakes, viz: The Conessatages, The Nondewagees, and Cayugas were determined to be Neutral, & neither War against the French or English unless they were much provoked to it by Hostilities from either party.
" The French come frequently to the Towns of the Six Nations, especially the Neutral Towns, with large presents of Wampum, and make Speeches, telling them either to take up the Hatchet against the English or sit still. The Indians of the Neutral Towns are very wavering, some of them incline to the French, others to the English, which will terminate to the Advantage of those who take most pains to cultivate their Friendship.
. "The Delawares and Shawanese, upon a Council held, made a Speech to the Six Nations, and told them it was best not to War one with another, but to take up the Hatchet against the White People, without distinction, for all their Skin was of one Colour and the Indians of a Nother, and if the Six Nations wou'd strike the French, they wou'd strike the English. The Nondagegees, a Nation beyond the Lakes, made a Speech to them to the same pur- pose, and told them thus : 'We have Friends and Allies enough back of Canada ; We will strike the French ; do you and all your Friends strike the English.' To which they replied, 'no, we will not strike our Brethren the English, who have done us no harm; When
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they do us mischief it will be time enough to strike them, but we will not do it before.'
""'One of my Friends, who have been at Oswego, says that nothing remains there now but the Rubbish. The Lake was floating with Flouer and other Provisions, the Barrels being all staved; he saw no dead Carcasses. I am of Opinion that the French have not need of more provisions, of which they have a great plenty. A Great Number of the Six Nations were Assistant to the French, and had the Chief Hand in demolishing one of their Forts.
"" The French have built a Strong Fort on this side the Lake, at no great Distance from Oswego. Many of the Indians whose Towns are near them are afraid to act in behalf of the English lest the French shou'd fall upon and destroy their Wives and Children in their absence.
"' They are incessantly trying every Artifice to draw them off from the English, whom they say are no Men, and if they will either assist or sit down quiet, they shall see that they will soon cutt off every Englishman alive; they are attempting by all means to bring every Indian Nation in America to their Interest.
"' They lately employed the Nondagegees as Emissarys to the Southern Indians, by whom they sent large presents of Wampum, telling that they were now come to wash all Grief and sorrow from amongst them, and to afford them aid against the English, who (they said) had used them ill, and told them if they joined the English, who were but weak, they wou'd soon be cut off, but if they would not join the French to War against the English, they shou'd sit still, which they promised they would do.' In conse- quence of the Truth of the above, he here presented a Belt of Wampum.
" ' I have moreover, Brother, to tell you, that before I left my own Town, an Indian came from the Ohio, and brought word that a large Body of French and a Thousand Indians were getting ready for an Expedition against this place, and are determined to take your Fort Immediately after the defeat of the Indians at the Kittannin. The French Commander at Fort Duquesne held a Treaty with a vast number of Indians of different Nations, viz'-, Chepewas, Tawas, Twightwees, Nottowas, Delawares, and Shawa- nese. When they were all Assembled together, he laid before them a great Belt of Wampum, as broad as my two Hands and a Fathom in length. He also tied another long belt of Wampum to the Handle of an Ax, and holding it up, told them thus : ' My Chil- dren, it is true I once before gave you the Hatchet and told you to be strong and strike the English ; What you since did was only in play, but since they have come to your town and killed your Friends and Brethren, I give it to you again. This String which I have fastned to the End of it, roll it tight around your Arm,
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Carry it always with you, and never let it out of your Hand till you have revenged the Blood of your Brethren on the English, and have not left one of them alive. I promise you my Assist- ance, and to send a Strong Body of French & Amunition with you to take their Fort which is lately Built.'
"' This saying, he presented them with the Wampum and Hatchet, upon which they all gave loud Shouts which pierced the Skies in token of Approbation, and thanked their good Father who was so careful of them, promising to do whatever he would direct.
"' They conclued their Treaty with War dances and other Ceri- monies. Soon after five parties were sent out in different Routs the better to Execute their design.
" ' Yesterday I went out with Lewis Montour to hunt, and we were met by two of the Chepeewas about Six Miles above the North branch of the River. They pressed us to go to their Com- pany, who was but at a small distance, but Montour returned, and I joined the party, who were Ten in Number. They enquired if there was a Fort here. I told them, yes. They then asked if it was a large one, and if it had any Great Guns. 'Yes,' I told them, 'a great many.' They told me they knew that as well as myself, for they saw the Fort and Guns long ago, and told me like- wise the French were coming from Fort Duquesne and a Thousand Indians to take it , that there were four large Parties already sent from Fort Duquesne at the same time they came.
"' They told me the other four parties were Delawares, and if they had happened to meet me, they would have killed me, but for their parts they would not; they said now they were discovered, they wou'd take a Circuit round, and destroy the Inhabitants who had no notice of their coming, but I am of Opinion they design to lay in weight and cut off your Communication.
"' I have been sick almost ever since I left you, but as I am more and more convinced from Our Accounts that this is a dan- gerous place, and will soon be surrounded, I was under continual apprehensions lest my Son shou'd be killed too, whom I left in your care. As the Time draws near when you will be surrounded by Enemies on all sides, and you will be in the greatest danger, I wish and beg, if my brother pleases, that he would send away my Son to the great Town (Philada.) where he may be in more safety. I desired many of my Friends, Brothers & Sisters to come here, but they answered, 'no : That is a too dangerous place ; the French will soon come down and we shall be destroyed with the rest;' this prevented, or else they wou'd gladly come.' In confirmation of the above, he presented another Belt of Wampum.
" Lewis Montour was out hunting yesterday with the old Man, when they were so unexpectedly met by the Indians. They insist- ed upon his going with the old Man to join the party, which he
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seemed willing to do, but as they walked before he took an oppor- tunity to slip from them, and made the best of his way to this Fort, crossing the River in the utmost Precipitation, with his gun cocked. Upon the arrival of the Indians to their Company three of their best runners were sent back in pursuit of him, and four others went with the old Indian whom they made Prisoner, to the Canoe, sup- posing he would wait for the old Indian's Return, as they did not dare to Kill the old Man, he being of the Six Nations, they detain- ed him about two hours to get what intelligence they cou'd, & then dismissed him."
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