USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 32
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The Governor then informed the Council that he had ordered to Colonel Clapham, a re-enforcement of Fifty Men, under Captain Bussee, who was on his March to Shamokin.
A Petition from the Inhabitants of the Frontiers of Berks County was read, and also letters from Colonel Weiser and Justice Adam Read, containing accounts of some late Murders; Those Letters were ordered to be entered.
Letter from Colonel Weiser to Governor Denny.
" Honoured Sir :
" Last Night about ten a'Clock I received the maloncholly News that the Enemy Indians had again made an Invasion in Berks County, and Killed and Scalped two Married Women and a Lad of fourteen Years of Age, and wounded two Children of about four Years old, and carried off two more ; one of the Wounded is Scalped and like to die, and the other has two Cuts on her Forehead, given her by an Indian Boy, in order to Scalp her, but did not, there being Eight Men of Fort Henry posted in two different Neighbours' Houses, about one and a half Mile off ; when they heard the noise of the Guns firing, they made towards it, but came too late.
" The People are moving away, leaving their Barnes full of Grain behind them; and there is a lamentable cry among them. It is with submission a very hard case, that so many Men are taken away to protect Shamokin (a Wilderness), and the Inhabitant part be with- out it. I have ordered Eighteen Men out of the Town Guard of Reading to re-enforce Fort Henry immediately, of which I hope your Honour will approve off.
" Captain Bussee will have reached Fort Augusta last Sunday Evening, according to what he wrote to me in his last Letter from Fort Hunter, Dated the 15 Instant; he complains bitterly of the poor Condition the Detachment is in for want of Cloaths. I in- treat your Honour, that as soon as the Companies of the First Bat- talion receive their pay (so that they can furnish themselves with necessarys against the Winter), Captain Bussee and the Detachment under him may be releived before the Winter sets in.
" I am very sorry that I cannot attend in Philadelphia at this Time; I have now an intermitting Feaver upon me, thought it
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therefore necessary to send my Son Samuel, in order to serve your Honour as an Interpreter to Newcastle, or any other of the Six Nations.
"I am, Honoured Sir, " Your very obedient, "CONRAD WEISER.
" Heidleberg, in the County of Berks, October 19th, 1756."
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A Letter from Justice Adam Read to Edward Shippen, Esqr., &ca. " Friends and Fellow Subjects :
"I send you, in a few lines, the maloncholly condition of the Frontiers of this County ; last Tuesday the 12 of this Instant, ten Indians came on Noah Frederick plowing in his Field, killed and Scalped him, and carried away three of his Children that was with him, the Eldest but Nine Years old, plundered his House, and carried away every thing that suited their purpose, such as Cloaths, Bread, Butter, a Saddle and good Riffle Gun, &ca., it being but two short Miles from Captain Smith's Fort, at Swatawro Gap, and a little better than two from my House.
" Last Saturday Evening an Indian came to the House of Philip Robeson, carrying a Green Bush before him, said Robeson's Son being on the Corner of his Fort watching others that was dressing flesh by him, the Indian preceiving that he was observed fled; the Watchman fired, but missed him; this being three quarters of a Mile from Manady Fort; and Yesterday Morning, two Miles from Smith's Fort, at Swatawro, in Bethel Township, as Jacob Fornwal was going from the House of Jacob Meyler to his own, was fired upon by two Indians and wounded, but escaped with his Life, and a little after, in the said Township, as Frederick Henley and Peter Stample was carrying away their Goods in Waggons was met by a parcel of Indians and all killed, five lying Dead in one place and one Man at a little distance, but what more is done is not come to my Hand as yet, but that the Indians was continuing their Murders. The Frontiers is employed in nothing but carrying off their Effects, so that some Miles is now waist. We are willing, but not able with- out help; You are able, if you be willing (that is Including the lower parts of the Country), to give us such assistance as will enable Us to redeem our waist Land; you may depend on it that without Assistance we in a few days will be on the wrong side of you, for I am now a Frontier, and I fear that the Morrow Night I will be left some Miles. Gentlemen, consider what you will do, and not be long about it, and let not the World say that we die as fools dyed. Our Hands is not tied, but let us exert ourselves and do something for the Honour of our Country and the preservation of our Fellow
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Subjects. I hope you will communicate our Grievances to the lower parts of our County, for surely they will send us some help if they understand our Grievances. I wou'd have gone down myself, but dare not, my Family is in such Danger. I expect an Answer by the Bearer, if Possible.
"I am, Gentlemen, Your very humble Servant, " ADAM REED.
" Before sending this away I have just recd information that there is seven Killed & five Children Scalped a Live, but not the Account of their Names."
On reading these Accounts the Governor was advised to lay them and the other Intelligence before the Assembly, and in the strongest Terms to press them again for a Militia Law, as the only thing that wou'd enable the Country to exert their Strength against these Cruel Savages. The Governor prepared the following Message, and sent it by the Secretary to the House on the 26th, with the Intelligence read at this Council :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I lay before you Accounts of some very late Murders committed on the Borders, even on the East side Susquahannah, and a Petition from the Neighbouring Inhabitants, praying further Assistance for their Protection. I have likewise additional Intelligence from Sha- mokin, which makes it very probable that several large Parties of French and Indians are now on their March against different parts of the Frontiers.
" These advices make me more and more sensible of the necessity of a Militia Law, which I have so earnestly recommended to you, and hope to have the pleasure of hearing you have made a consider- able progress in it.
" The Indians now in Town have again applied to me to be sent into the Country ; Be pleased, therefore, to come to a determina- tion how to dispose of them, either in the Manor of Pennsberry or elsewhere.
"WILLIAM DENNY."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday, 29 October, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
William Logan, Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader,
Lynford Lardner,
Esquires.
John Mifflin,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
A Letter of the 24 of October, from Captain Orndt, who has the Command of Fort Allen; another of the 25 from Major Par- sons; another of the 27 from Justice Horsfield, received by Ex- press, were read. By them the Governor was informed Teedyuscung was come within the Inhabitants and had with him no more than Thirty Indians, a hundred of the Company that sat out with him from Diahogo staying behind at a little distance from Fort Allen, with design to see what reception their Chief wou'd meet with.
The Governor observed the absolute prohibition he was put under by Lord Loudoun's Letter, entered in the Minutes of the 15 In- stant, declared his unwillingness to treat at all in violation of such a direct Injunction from his Majesty, and thought it best that Tee- dyuscung shou'd come to Philadelphia, be kindly received, have proper presents made, and be referred to Sir William Johnson for what was further to be done on the part of this Government, but as the Governor was a stranger to the Transactions of this Governt. with those Indians, to their Importance, and to the purposes of this present he requested the Council wou'd favour him with an account of it, and with their Advice on this occasion.
Lord Loudoun's Letter was again read, and many observations made upon the Style, as well as matter of the said Letter, by one or other Member of Council who spoke in their order and gave their Sentiments at large, which were in substance that the Royal Charter gave the Proprietaries an hereditary and full right, power, and authority of Treating with the Indians, and declaring War against them if thought necessary, and in consequence of this Char- ter, the late and present Proprietors had held many Treaties as well at Albany as in their own Province, with the Six Nations and all the Tribes of Indians living in this Province, or any wise connected with them, They had by their kind usage and repeated Treaties, and fair and open Purchases of their Lands, preserved them steady in their Fidelity to his Majesty, and the English Nation; That his Lordship shou'd have favoured the Governor with an Authentick Copy of his Majesty's Orders to him on this subject, and of His Majesty's Commission to Sir William Johnson, both which the Governor had a right to inspect, and it was their Duty to VOL. VII .- 20.
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do it, before coming to any resolution on a point wherein the Rights of the Proprietaries by Charter, the powers inherent in every Governor, and the safety and well being of this Province were so intimately concerned. It was thought a power derived from his Majesty under the Great Seal cou'd not, if at all, be superceded by a less authority than the Great Seal; so that it was absolutely necessary to be satisfied in what manner his Majesty had signified His Pleasure to Lord Loudoun, as well as what it precisely was. It wou'd by no means consist with the King's Service in this time of War to encourage the Indians to come and Treat with this Govern- ment at any time without first acquainting the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Forces with it, and leaving it to him to fix the time of such Treaty, to the end it might not interfere with or in any wise prejudice the Military Operations. The Governor was made acquainted with the Substance of what passed at the late Treaty held by Governor Morris with Teedyuscung and the Diahogo Indians, and that their present Business here was to deliver up their Prisoners and conclude a peace ; so that it wou'd be vastly injurious to his Majesty's Interest to refuse now to treat with them, or turn things out of their Course, as agreed upon in the former Treaty ; and that this necessity wou'd appear plain to Lord Loudoun, and justify the Governors going & Treating with them, Matters being in these singular Circumstances. That as the Assembly was setting the Governor might consult them as well as his Council. All which meeting with the Governor's approbation, the following Message was immediately sent to the Assembly :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" I have this Morning received a Letter giving me an Account that the Indian King, Teedyuscung, with a number of Indians was met near Easton, and that one hundred of those who set out with him are waiting in the Woods a little beyond Fort Allen to know what reception will be given to their Chief.
" As Lord Loudoun after being acquainted with the former Treaty held at Easton, has been pleased, in a Letter already laid before you, to signify to me in his His Majesty's Name that neither the Gov- ernor nor Government of this Province shou'd confer or Treat with the Indians, but that they shou'd be referred to Sir William John- son who, his Lordship says, has the sole management of Indian Affairs committed to him by a special Commission from His Majesty, I find my self under very great difficulties, and as I am under a necessity of coming immediately to a Resolution, I desire you will give me your advice in what manner to conduct myself on behalf of this Government, whose security and nearest Interest as well as those of the other Colonics will be deeply affected by the measures now taken.
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" Mr. Weiser is waiting for Orders to set out for Easton, but can- not be dispatched till I have the Opinion of the House.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" 29 October, 1756."
Captain Newcastle having at the Governor's desire visited Mr. Weiser, they came to Town together. Captain Newcastle was taken ill of the small Pox. Mr. Weiser waited on the Governor to re- ceive his Commands.
Then was read a Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, setting forth the mischiefs arising from the Publication of matters relating to the Army and Intelligence of all sorts. in the publick News Papers, and desiring something might be concerted to put a stop to so injurious a Practice ; some of the Members were of Opinion that the Letter shou'd be laid before the Assembly and some thought otherwise, but all agreed that it was worthy of further Consideration ; perhaps a Letter wrote expressly on this Subject by Lord Loudoun, request- ing it might be laid before the Assembly, wou'd have greater weight with them than Sir Charles Hardy's Letter.
MEMORANDUM.
In the Afternoon the Governor received from the Assembly the following Answer to his Message, and immediately dispatched Mr. Weiser and Pumpshire to Easton, giving Mr. Weiser directions to acquaint Teedyuscung that the Assembly was sitting and had many important matters before them, and to invite and persuade him to come to this City that the Publick Business might go on at the same time, which wou'd otherwise be much interrupted :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
" We have considered your Honour's Message of this day, with Lord Loudoun's Letter, laid before us at the Beginning of the Ses- sion, and since you are pleased to ask our Opinion and Advice on this important Occasion, we shall give it with all dutiful Freedom and Sincerity. We are truly thankful to our gracious Sovereign for the late wise regulation of putting Indian Affairs, especially those that relate to War or Peace with them, under a more general direction than they have hitherto been; as we think the British In- terest will now have more Weight with the Indians than if separate Treaties of Peace might be made by separate Colonies for them- selves, without consulting the Interest or Safety of their Neighbours. We cannot, therefore, desire, however burthensome the present War with the Indians may be to this Province, that such a separate Treaty shou'd be concluded on our behalf. We are, however, of
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Opinion that the Treaty begun by the late Governor (before Sir William Johnson's powers were made known), in pursuance of which the Indians are now come down, shou'd not be wholly discontinued on our part, lest the Opportunity of bringing them to a general Peace with all the British Colonies be lost. We rather think it adviseable that your Honour would give them an Interview, make them the Customary presents in behalf of this Government, to re- lieve their Necessities, and assure them of Our sincere Inclination to take them again into Friendship, forgive their Offences, and make a firm Peace with them, but at the same time to let them know that the Government of this Province cannot agree to make Peace with them for itself, and leave them at Liberty to continue the War with our Brethren of the Neighbouring Colonies ; That we are all Sub- jects of one great King, and must for the future be all at Peace or all at War with other Nations at the same time; That our King has appointed Sir William Johnson to manage these general Treaties for all the Governments in this part of America, and to him, there- fore, we must refer the Indians for a final Conclusion and Ratifica- tion of this Treaty, promising also to write to him, acquaint him with the good dispositions the Indians have shewn at these Con- ferences, and recommend it to him to make the agreement firm and lasting to all Parties. An Interview oft his kind with the Indians, we apprehend, may at this Time be greatly for his Majesty's Service, and for the Advantage not only of this but of all the Neighbouring Colonies, and not inconsistent with the Intention of Lord Loudoun's Letter, which we, nevertheless, submit to your Honour's prudent Consideration.
"Signed by order of the House.
"ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker. "29th October, 1756."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 3rd Novem- ber, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
William Logan, Į Esquires.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
A Letter received this Morning from Mr. Weiser, relating to Tee- dyuscung and the Indians now at Easton, was read in these Words : " Honoured Sir :
"In pursuance of your Orders I arrived at this place last night; about a quarter of an Hour after my Arrival came in Teedyuscung
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and several of the Indians now in Easton ; the Old Man appeared extreamly glad to see me and so was the rest, especially three of the Six Nation of Indians, to wit, two Cayeukers and one Mohock, signified a good deal of Satisfaction in their Countenances as well as words; having had a quarter of an hour's Conversation with Them, they told me that several of their Cousins the Delawares stood back at Gnadenhutten, and some further off, till they shou'd understand whether or no it would be safe for them to come, and that they had sent a Mohock to Fort Allen to keep the Indians there in better order, they having been unruly for want of Liquor, and to inform them of the kind reception they met with at Easton.
"This Morning Teedyuscung and about twelve or thirteen more met me at Mr. Parsons', according to appointment of last Night. I spoke to them to the following purport in English (John Pump- shire served as Interpreter) : 'Brother Teedyuscung, please to hear. The Governor of Pennsylvania (Onas) sent me up here to bid you welcome within the Inhabitant part of this Province, and to signify to you that it gives him a great deal of satisfaction that you was as good as your Word ; and by this string of Wampum he ordered me to wipe off the Sweat from your Body, occasioned by your long Journey, and that it shou'd serve you as a dose of Phy- sick, which shall serve you as a vomit to clear your Body from that distemper usually occasioned from eating poisoned herbs or roots, & occasions the overflowing of the Gall; and as you are now ar- rived among your Brethren, let these two Rows serve to wipe the dust from your Eyes and clear your Ears, so that you may look clear & freely at your Brethren and to distinguish what the Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania in Council shall say to you from the Singing of the Birds.'
" Gave him a String of Wampum of four Rows.
" I took another String of Wampum, and spoke to him as fol- lows:
"'Brother Teedyuscung : When the Governor of Pennsylvania first heard of your arrival at Fort Allen, he Convened the Old and wise Men of Pennsylvania who were then Met and are now sitting, in order to consult with, in these matters in which you are engaged, and the Governor & the said old and wise Men, gives you a hearty Invitation to come to the principal City, where you could be enter- tained better, and every thing might be done with more Solemnity; but the Governor don't press upon you, if you think it disconven- ient to go to Philadelphia, say so to me, and I will send an Express to your Brother, the Governor, and you need not doubt but he will come up with all possible speed, accompanied with some of the old and wise Men ; and I must tell you (in order to deal fair with you) that the Small Pox are in Philadelphia, but not very bad, and you
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perhaps are not afraid of them, as of late you had them among yourselves.'
"Here I gave a String of Wampum.
" Teedyuscung, after about 10 or 15 Minutes, made answer to the following purport :
"' Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania: you remember very well that in time of darkness and Danger I came in here at your in- vitation, and at this place (meaning Easton) we kindled a small Council Fire, to which I am now returned, and several other Indians of different Nations, and some more are by the way to come, so that if you shou'd put out this little Fire, it will be said of it, that it was only a Jack Lanthorn (what the Germans eall Irrwish) kindled on purpose to deceive those that approach it; therefore, Brother, I think it by no means adviseable to put out this little Fire, but rather to put more sticks upon it, and I desire that you will eome to it as soon as possible, bringing your Old and Wise Men along with you, and shall be very glad to see you here.'
" Gave a String of Wampum hereby sent.
" I learned from the said three Six Nation Indians, that there is several more by the way, between Wiomink and Fort Allen, that will come in if Timely Notice was sent to them ; the said Six Nation Indians behave very Sober, and seem to be charged with some particular Business, or they come to put Teedyuscung in the right; I told them every thing in the Mohock Language what I said to Teedyuscung, and at the request of Teedyuscung.
"I am apt to think that Teedyuseung's authority, or influence, is not so great among the Indians as he first gave out, or was repre- sented to this Government, but I take him to be entirely in our In- terest, and will do what ever he can to serve Pennsylvania. It is my humble opinion that these Indians shou'd be Cloathed against the Winter.
" Major Parsons gives himself a great deal of Trouble with These Indians ; he is in a very poor state of health, tho' on the mending Hand, but the Indians cannot let him rest.
" The Moment I was about elosing this Letter, in eomes Teedy- uscung into Mr. Parsons' House, and tells us that two Indians ar- rived in Town as Messengers from a greater Number, on the other side the Hills, between Fort Allen and Shamokin, sent on purpose to see how Teedyuseung fared, and whether he was alive with his Companions. I and Mr. Parsons desired Teedyuscung to bring said two Men to us, which was immediately complied with, and they both appeared chearfull ; and when Teedyuseung will be in a Condition to do business, he will send these Indians back with a proper answer as far as lies in our power ; however, Teedyuseung now says they shan't go baek till the arrival of the Governor. have nothing to add, will therefore conelude with asking your
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Honour's Pardon for not Writing a better Letter. I have been too often interrupted by the Indians and have not time to write it over again.
" I am, Honoured Sir, " Your very obedient, and humble Servant, " CONRAD WEISER.
" Easton."
The Governor expressed great dissatisfaction at this Journey, thought it rediculous to humour the Indians in such a manner, and that no Treaty should be held with them out of this City ; how- ever, since it was deemed necessary he wou'd, tho' unwillingly, un- dertake the Journey, and invited the Members of Council to accompany him ; he likewise sent the following verbal Message to the House :
A Message from the Governor by the Secretary.
" Sir :
" The Governor informs the House that he proposes to go to Easton to-Morrow, if the Weather will permit, and wou'd be pleased with the Company of any of the Members that the House shall think proper to appoint, to attend the Conferences with the Indian Chief."
Whilst the Council was sitting, The Governor received the fol- lowing address from some of the Quakers of this City, and advised with the Council about a proper answer. The Members said the Petitioners had asked no more of him than they had of the late Governor, and that it might be granted without any inconvenience ; whereupon, the Secretary was directed to give the following answer :
" To the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, &ca.
" The address of a considerable number of the People called Qua- kers, in this City of Philadelphia, on behalf of themselves and their Brethren in other parts of the said Province, Sheweth:
" That the Calamities and desolation of our fellow-subjects on the frontiers of this Province having been the painful Subject of our frequent Consideration, with desires to be instrumental by every means in our power consistent with the Peaceable principles we Profess; By the permission of Governor Morris some of us had some Conferences the last Spring with some Indian Chiefs of the Six Nations, from whence we were confermed in our Apprehensions that there was a prospect of some good Effect by further Endeavours to promote pacific measures with the Delaware Indians living on the Northern Frontiers of this Province.
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" That immediately after the said Conferences Governor Morris sent a Message to these Indians, in which he particularly mentioned our earnest desires to interpose with the Governmt to receive their submission, and to Establish a firm and lasting Peace with them.
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