USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 37
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VOL. VII .- 23.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday 14th of December, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew, Thomas Cadwallader,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
This day having been appointed for hearing the Petitions against Justice Bonsell, The Justice, the Petitioners, and their Evidences who had been served with Notices attended ; and being called in, the Witnesses on both sides were fully examined upon their respective Qualifications, and upon the whole it appeared that Justice Bonsall was addicted to drink, and had made too frequent a practice of hear- ing Causes in Publick Houses, and thereby occasioning unnecessary Expence to the parties.
The Governor recommended it to the Council, to make Enquiry into the State of the Proprietary Indian purchases, and particularly of such as were made of any Lands comprized within the bounds mentioned by Teedyuscung in his Speeches at Easton, and to ex- amine the Council Journals, and all other Books, Papers and Evi- dences relating to the late and former Transactions with the Indians, and particularly the Evidences who were present at the one and half day's Walk, performed in pursuance of the Deed of 1686, and Con- firmation Deed in 1737, and every thing else that may give light into this Affair, that he might be furnished in Time with all neces- sary Informations and Materials to enable him to make a proper Defence for the Proprietaries and Government against the Charges made by Teedyuscung at the late Treaty. All the Members of Council promise to give their Assistance in, and to meet as often as called upon to Expedite the Enquiry ; but the care thereof is more immediately committed to Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Logan, and the Secretary is Ordered to furnish and lay before the Committee all the Proprietaries' Deeds for their Indian purchases, together with the Council Books, Minutes of Property, Indian Trea- ties, and every other matter necessary for the said Enquiry.
The Governor informed the Council that Sir William Johnson had appointed Mr. Croghan to transact Indian Affairs in this Pro- vince, and had sent him here with Instructions for that purpose, which he had communicated to him; that Mr. Croghan in several Conversations which had passed between them had declared it to be his opinion, that there shou'd be a meeting with the Indians as carly as possible in the Spring, that their business being finished in time they might be at Liberty to take such measures as Sir William Johnson shou'd request of them in the Operations of the ensuing
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Campaign, and that all possible endeavours shou'd be used to get the Ohio Indians to come to the Meeting; that, thereupon, he had desired Mr. Croghan to put down his thoughts in Writing, which he had done in a Letter that was read in these Words:
A Letter from Mr. George Croghan to Governor Denny.
" PHILADELPHIA, December the 13, 1756. "Sir :
"On perusal of the late Treaty held at Easton, I find that the Indians made a Complaint of their being defrauded out of some of their Lands ; upon which the Commissioners acquainting your Hon- our, that more goods were brought than cou'd be conveniently dis- posed of, it was agreed by you to propose to them immediate Satisfac- tion, which they refused, alledging that they were not the Persons who had power to receive it, and as they cou'd not then finish the great Work they came about, that they intended to come in the Spring and finish it, To which your Honour was pleased to Answer, you wou'd be glad to meet them at any time; From which I am of Opinion, that the Government cannot avoid giving the Indians a Meeting to settle this or any other Difference that subsists between them, as I think it will be for the good of his Majesty's Service to have these Affairs immediately accommodated; and am also of Opinion this Meeting ought to be held before the first of March, for it is probable, if it shou'd be put off longer, it may impede his Majesty's Service, as the Indians may be called together in the Spring by Sir William Johnson, to join the Forces under the Com- . mand of his Excellency Lord Loudoun; And as I have a deputa- tion from Sir William Johnson for the transacting of Indian Affairs here, I assure your Honour, that I will do every thing in my power to settle, in an amicable manner, those differences, and in the mean time let Sir William Johnson know that the Indians are to meet here, and have his further Instructions on that head; I am of Opinion, if proper Steps be taken, that some of the Ohio Indians (who are the proper Indians to Settle those Affairs) may be brought to this meeting.
"I am, with respect, Your Honor's most obedient Servant, "GEORGE CROGHAN."
The Council knowing Mr. Croghan's Circumstances was not a little surprized at the Appointment, and desired to see his Creden- tials; on which Mr. Croghan was sent for and at the Governor's in- stance he produced a paper of Instructions under Sir William John- son's hand which was read, and a Copy taken of it in these Words :
Sir William Johnson's Instructions to George Croghan, Esquire. " FORT JOHNSON, November 24th, 1756. " Sir :
"You will proceed to Philadelphia as soon as you can, or to any
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part of that Province where the good of his Majesty's Indian In- terest may require.
" You are to endeavour all in your power to find out the disposi- tion of such Indians as are still living in them parts, and try all means to convince them it is their interest to continue Friends to the English and the Six Nations.
"If you find them well inclined, then you will encourage them to come and join his Majesty's Arms here, or any where else they may be wanted next Spring.
" You will also enquire into the Cause of the Delawares and Shawonese behaviour to their Brethren the English, in them parts ; and assure them if they will come, and let me know wherein they are injured, I will endeavour to have justice done them, so that that unhappy difference may be settled.
"In case you can meet with the old Onondago Indian, who lives near Shamokin, I would have you employ him and send him either to the General Meeting soon to be held at Onondago, there to learn what passes at that Council, or to the Shawonese and Six Nations, living at the Ohio, to know their Resolutions ; and give him in Charge to loose no time, so that I may know as soon as possible what he learns from them. You may assure him he shall be well rewarded, provided he exerts himself properly on this Occasion. I wish you a good Journey ; and
" Am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,
" WILLIAM JOHNSON.
" To GEORGE CROGHAN, Esquire, Deputy Agent of Indian Af- fairs for the Northern District."
The Governor told the Council he had abundance to lay before them, with respect to the deficiency of Quarters for the Soldiers now in Town. The Examinations of the Evidences and Petitions against Justic Bonsel, having taken up the greatest part of the day, the Council agreed to meet early to-Morrow Morning, in order to fall upon some expedient for the better Quartering of the Soldiers.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 15th De- cember, 1756.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
James Hamilton, Benjamin Shoemaker, Esquires.
Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
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The Governor informed the Council that Murders had been lately committed in the Frontiers, near the Line dividing Northampton from Berks County ; and there was Reason to believe they were committed by Indians who were at the late Treaty, as would appear by a Letter from Mr. Horsfield, inclosing an Examination of an Indian called Akoan, delivered to the Governor by Tattamy, who gave Akoan a good Character, and was of Opinion that the Mis- chief was actually done by some of the Indians in their Return from the Treaty. The Letter and Tattamy's Testimoney being read they were ordered to be entered.
" Examination taken before Timothy Horsefield, Esgr., the 1st December, 1756.
" The 30th November, 1756, in the Evening, came Ephraim Coulver, the Tavernkeeper opposite Bethlehem, informing me that Nicodemus had been with him, and told him that a young Indian Man was come to their House, and had something very particular to say concerning the Indians where he came from.
"I sent and desired Nicodemus to come to-morrow morning to me, and bring the young Indian Man with him.
" December the 1st came Nicodemus,
" Akoan, the young Indian Informer,
" Old Tattamy, the Indian, 1 Interpreters.
" Augustus,
do.
" Joshua, do.
7
" Akoan, a Mahikander, says, that he went in Company- with Three other Indians to Wyoming, and stay'd there one Day; he says further, that he heard some Indians on the Sasquehannah were starved to Death for want of Victuals, and he thought, what shall I do there; I will return again to the white People; accordingly, he returned alone; about half Way from Wyoming to Fort Allen, he met with Four Shawonese Indians, who related to him that Arm- strong, the Indian, with Five other Indians, was gone to the left Hand, from there towards the little Schuylkill, to kill the White People, and that also Four Minisink Indians were gone towards Brodhead's, or Minisink, all painted, and white Feathers on their Heads. The same Day, in the Evening, he came to Nathaniel's hunting Hutt, about sixteen Miles from Fort Allen; there he found an Indian sitting at a Fire; the Indian gave him some Flower, and said, 'bake thee Bread and eat!' When Akoan had made his Bread, there came Six Indians, dressed in their Warlike Manner, that was Armstrong and his Company ; they placed them- selves round the Fire, and Akoan gave them share of his Bread; one of the Six Indians, a Shawonese, opened his Bundle and gave Akoan a Piece of Tallow, and on being asked where he got it, the Indian told him they had killed a Cow near Fort Allen, and also a
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Horse, because they could not catch it, and he shewed him the Bell the Horse had on.
" After a while the same Indian said to Akoan, 'We have been at the little Schuylkill, about the White People, to do some Mis- chief, but the Snow (it was half Leg deep at that Place) has hindered us, being afraid to be discovered, therefore we will go to the Minisink Town on the Sasquehannah and secure our Goods, and then we will return to the Inhabitants about the Wind Gap and Minisink, and get Six or Seven Scalps, and if possible, take some alive, and therewith we will go to the French and rejoice them with the Scalps, and will stay awhile with them.'
"These Indians would fain have had Akoan to go with them, but he would not.
"About Ten Miles from Fort Allen he found Three Indians, Delawares, who told him that the Three Cayuga Indians that were at the Treaty were gone towards Allemingle to kill the white Peo- ple. He also met Teedyuscung about Seven or Eight Miles from Fort Allen with Captain Harris and both their Families. Akoan says he did not know whether Teedyuscung knew anything of these Affairs or not, he Having told Teedyuscung that he was going to the white People again ; Teedyuscung answered, 'it is well.'
" All this has happened within these few Days.
" TIMº. HORSFIELD."
On the Second Instant, Moses Tattamy came to see the Governor, and being asked about the Contents of this Letter, he said he be- lieved Akoan to be an honest Indian, and to have told the Truth. And Tattamy said that Akoan told him the Indians declared they did not mind Teedyuscung, and that several of them when the Powder given them was dividing among them, said "now we have got something to kill our Brethren with." Tattamy likewise said he believed Teedyuscung had little or no Authority among his own People, and was always doubtful whether he was empowered by any other Nation.
The Governor acquainted the Council that notwithstanding the Orders given by him to the Magistrates, and his Messages to the Assembly, and repeated applications made by Col. Boquet to the Provincial Commissioners, the King's Forces still remained in a most miserable Condition, neither Assembly, Commissioners, nor Magistrates having done any thing to relieve them, tho' the Weather grew more pinching, and the small Pox was encreasing among the Soldiers to such a Degree that the whole Town would soon become a Hospital. That Colonel Bouquet, being a Foreigner, was loath to take violent Measures ; but if something was not instantly done he hoped the Governor would issue a Warrant to the Sheriff to assign him Quarters in private Houses. That the Publick Housekeepers were in general miserably poor, and had no Beds or Necessaries,
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and were not in Ability to provide them. In short, that he was cruelly and barbarously treated, and urged the Governor to come to Resolutions instantly, that the Soldiers might be relieved and an Hospital provided. He added that the new Hospital was promised to him by the Managers, but they drew back from their Promises, and he could neither get the new Hospital nor the old one, nor any House for an Hospital.
Mr. Shoemaker was kind enough to undertake with the Mayor and Capt. Tulliken once more to examine carefully the Public Houses, and to make report thereof with all the Expedition possi- ble, that the Governor might be enabled to lay a very exact Ac- count before the Assembly in Proof of their Insufficiency to afford Quarters for the Numbers demanded according to the following . Paper delivered by the Mayor :
" Captain Tulleken's Demand of Quarters, &oca.
" In Obedience to Orders received from his Excellency the Earl of Loudoun, Colonel Stanwix has thought proper to send Captain Tulleken to Philadelphia to demand Quarters for the First Battalion of His Majesty's Sixty-Second or Royal American Regiment.
" Captain Tulleken demands Quarters as follows : Quarters for 500 Men; a Hospital for the Sick; a Store House; a Guard Room for an Officer and Men.
" Billetts for the Officers :
" Colonel, one ; Lieutenant Colonel, one; Majors, one ; Cap- tains, eight ; Subalterns, thirty ; Staff officers, six. Total, Forty- seven.
" N. B .- There must be Fire and Candles for the Guard Room, and for the Hospital.
" Besides the above, Captain Gates' Company of Independents, Forty-seven Men, Four Officers.
" The whole have Billets delivered them on the Publick Houses. " ATTWOOD SHUTE, Mayor.
" December 13, 1756."
The Minutes of the Indian Treaty at Easton was prepared, and sent to Governor Belcher with the following Letter :
" PHILADELPHIA, 15th December, 1756.
" Sir :
" I do myself the Honour to send You the Minutes of the Con- ferences lately held at Easton, with some Delawares and other In- dians. Teedyuscung, their Chief, is, as I am informed, a Native of New Jersey, from whence he removed, not long since, to Wio- ming, where were several Delawares, Shawonese, and Mohickons, with whom the Inhabitants of both Provinces lived in a very
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friendly manner, and carried on a considerable Indian Trade ; and notwithstanding this and many mutual good Offices done to each other, the French Indians from the Ohio corrupted them, after the Defeat of General Braddock, and persuaded them to join their Par- ties in their Incursions on our Frontiers. The Government, ap- prized of this cruel and unexpected Procedure of the Delawares, sent a Remonstrance to Sir William Johnson, to be laid before the great Council of the Six Nations, in which it was insisted that, agreeable to their Treaties, they should call these independent In- dians to Account, and oblige them to desist further Hostilities ; and accordingly the Six Nations did interpose their Authority, and in- sisted that their Nephews should lay down the Hatchet with which they had ungratefully struck their Brethren of Pennsylvania, and return to their antient and, till then, uninterrupted Friendship with them. In consequence of which, Overtures of peace were made first at Diahogo, and afterwards at Easton, in July last ; but the Indians not bringing with them their Prisoners, as was in- sisted upon and expected by this Government, a further Meeting at Easton was proposed and agreed to, and Teedyuscung coming there with his Indians, by the advice of Council and Assembly, I went to confer with him.
" You will please to observe, that, in the Course of those Con- ferences, the Chief has warmly sollicited me to use my good Offices with you that the Indians now living in your Province may have Liberty, if they please, to go and visit their Relations and Friends in the Indian Country, using the Road opened thro' this Province to Diahogo, whence they may return again to their former Resi- dence, whenever they chuse it. The Chief thinks when the In- dians come to see one another, and know how friendly those in your Province have been treated, it will dispose them to Peace, and enable him to gain over large Numbers. He particularly de- sired this Favour for one of you Indians called Philip, who it seems has been put into Prison, but released, and lives now along with the other Indians.
" As Teedyuscung made the strongest Assurances of doing all in his Power to encrease the Number of His Majesty's Friends, I think it would be for the public Service if their Request be com- plied with, and those amongst You be permitted to visit their Friends on the Sasquehannah ; and in case You shall be of the same Opinion, and shall give such as are willing to go your Pass- ports and Recommendations to me, I shall not fail to protect and assist them in their Journey.
" You will be pleased to observe further, that the Indians have represented the People of your Province, as well as Others, in an unfavourable Manner, as not having done them Justice with respect to their Lands. And as You will think with me, that if the Indians have any just Causes of Complaint, it will be the better the sooner
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these are heard and determined. I am persuaded they will not want your best advice and Assistance, whenever they apply to You on such Occasion.
"I am, Sir, your Excellency's
" Most obedient humble Servant,
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" Governor BELCHER."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday the 18th December, 1756.
PRESENT :
e
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Stettell, Benjamin Shoemaker,
James Hamilton, William Logan, Esquires.
Joseph Turner,
John Mifflin,
Richard Peters, Thomas Cadwalader,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and Approved.
The Governor informed the Council, that finding the Representa- tions of the Misery of the Soldiers for want of Quarters, made by himself and Colonel Bouquet, produced no Manner of Effect on the Assembly or Commissioners, he sent for the Sheriff, and in the Presence of Colonel Bouquet acquainted him, that he was making out a Warrant which he would direct to him to provide Quarters for the Soldiers in private Houses, and desired him to stay till it should be finished, which he did, and it was delivered to Col. Bou- quet ; but as there was a blank in it for the Number of Soldiers un- provided for, it was agreed that this should be filled up, and the Warrant brought again to the Governor, before it should be deliv- ered to the Sheriff. On this Mr. Coultas proposed to let some of his particular Friends know that such a Step would be taken, in case Quarters were not provided, which might very easily be done, as there were many empty Houses in Town, and none but straw Beds were required, with Wood and a few Necessaries, that might very soon be provided at a small Expence; and he believed, when it came to be known that Colonel Bouquet had the Governor's War- rant to quarter on private Houses, the Assembly would be sollicited by the Citizens, and the Affair soon terminate to the Colonel's Sat- isfaction.
Next Day Colonel Bouquet informed the Governor that the Sheriff had desired the Favour of having the Warrant to shew to some of his particular Friends, and the Colonel gave it him, telling him of the blank, and that it was no Warrant till that was filled up; and, notwithstanding the Warrant was given to the Sheriff in Confidence,
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he shewed it to Mr. Pemberton and some other Quakers, and they and the Sheriff carried it to the Assembly, which was an high breach of Confidence placed in him.
This, the Governor said, he thought necessary to relate to the Council, and then ordered the Warrant to be read, and the following Message delivered him last Night by Two Members, who, in Con- versation, informed the Governor that the House had recommended it to the Commissioners for disposing of the Thirty Thousand Pounds to make Provision for the Expence of an Hospital and the necessary Utensils.
Warrant to Sheriff to provide Quarters as follows :
" By the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware :
" To the Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia :
" Whereas, the Earl of Loudoun, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America, has demanded Quarters within this City for a Battallion of the Royal American Regiment, consist- ing of a thousand Men, and an Independant Company consisting of one hundred Men; And Whereas, Billets have been given by the Mayor of the said City on the Publick Houses therein, agreeable to the Directions of an Act of Assembly of this Province in that case lately made and provided, for Forty-Seven Officers and Five Hun- dred Soldiers, Part of the said Battallion and Company already arrived, but it appears by the Report of the Commanding Officer that the said Publick Houses cannot accommodate and furnish with the Necessaries directed by the said Act a greater Number than ; And Whereas, His Majesty, by his
Principal Secretaries of State, hath commanded me to use my ut- most Dilligence and Authority in procuring an exact Observance of such Orders as should be issued from time to time by the Com- mander-in-Chief for quartering such Troops as should arrive or be raised within this Government. These are, therefore, in His Ma- jesty's Name, to authorize and command You forthwith to provide proper Quarters for the Remainder of the said Troops, and an Hospital for their Sick, or Houses contiguous to one another in lieu thereof, within the said City, according to the Demand made by the Officer commanding the said Battallion, hereunto annexed. Hereof You are not to fail, as you will answer the same at your Peril ; And all Justices of the Peace and other Officers, Civil and Military, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to You in the Execution of the Premises.
" Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Philadelphia, this Sixteenth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six, and in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty.
" WILLIAM DENNY."
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A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
"May it please your Honour :
" A Report having yesterday prevailed in Town that your Honour had given Orders to the Sheriff to quarter the Soldiers on private Houses, which greatly surprized the Inhabitants, the House (though they do not think it possible your Honour could be prevailed with to issue Orders so diametrically opposite to an express Law passed by yourself but a few Days before) think it necessary on this Oc- casion humbly to request that your Honour would be pleased to direct the Magistrates and Officers of the City and Liberties who have billeted the Soldiers on Publick Houses, according to Law, to visit those Houses, inspect the Accommodations provided for the Men, see that they are good and sufficient, and oblige every Pub- lick Housekeeper to receive and provide for the Officers and Sol- diers that are or may be billeted on each House, in Proportion to the Number for which Quarters are required, either in the Publick Houses or such Others as the Keepers of them may procure, so that the Minds of the People may be quieted, and no just Cause of Complaint may arise that Quarters and the Necessaries in Quar- ters are not duly provided, according to the Intention of the Legis- lature in passing that Act.
"The House have recommended it to the Provincial Commis-' sioners to provide an Hospital for the Soldiers, which we make no doubt will be done accordingly .*
"Sign'd by Order of the House .. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
"17th December, 1756."
It was judged proper, in order to consider the said Message, and to answer it, that the Letter of Sir Thomas Robinson, of the Twenty-Eighth of October, 1756, the Report of the Lords of Trade, and the Governor's Messages to the Assembly, of the Sev- enth and Eighth of December, along with the Bill for extending several Sections of an Act of Parliament in the Twenty-Ninth Year of His Majesty's Reign, intituled, " An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters," should be read, which being done, and the Mayor, who was desired to attend, having assured the Governor that the Publick Houses were full, and there still remained to be quartered.
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