USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 48
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1
At a Meeting of the Council held at Philadelphia, On Saturday the 9th of April, 1757.
PRESENT :
James Hamilton, William Logan, r Esquires.
Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin, Thomas Cadwalader,
Agreable to the Governor's Request, as set forth in a former Minute, the Council met at Mr. Peters' in order to examine all such Papers as contained any Matter relative to the Lands at any time belonging to the Delawares settled in this Province, And after read- ing over several Deeds They adjourned.
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MEMORANDUM.
Yesterday the Amendments to the Militia Bill were again con- sidered and settled, and sent by the Governor to the House with the Bill, Who returned it the same Day, with a Request that he wou'd reconsider it and pass the Bill as it stood; And to-Day the Governor returned the Bill with a Message that He adhered to every one of his Amendments; On which the House adjourned to .the Eighth of August, having appointed a Committee to wait on the Governor to Lancaster.
At a Meeting of the Council held at Philadelphia, on Monday the 18th of April, 1757.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell,
James Hamilton,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Lawrence Growden,
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner,
John Mifflin,
Benjamin Chew, Thomas Cadwalader,
The Council went through their Examination of Indian Deeds.
Mr. Logan having extracted from the Minutes of Council, all the Transactions between this Government and the Delawares and
t i c
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
other Indians, these Extracts were read and proper Parts selected, that might be in anywise serviceable.
At a Meeting of the Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday the 20th of April, 1757.
PRESENT :
Robert Strettell, Thomas Cadwalader, William Logan,
James Hamilton,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
The Council having gone thro' their Examinations of all the Papers produced to them by the Secretary, that contain'd any account of Indian Affairs, and Mr. William Peters (who attended as their Clerk and Assistant in this Enquiry) having digested the several Matters, and set down such Observations thereon as had been made in the Course of the Examination by the Members, and ap -. peared to him necessary for their Information, his Notes were read, and as some of the Members had not the same Sentiments with him, as to his Manner of explaining the Course of the Indian Pur- chase, in August, 1686, which was the Foundation of the Proprie- tarie's Right to the Lands, of which Teedyuscung insinuated they had been defrauded ; the same was a long Time under Considera- tion, and then Instructions were given to him, to amend and perfect the Draught of a Report, and when ready, the Secretary was desired to call them together.
The following Letter from Mr. Croghan of the 2nd of April, Inst., was read ; and it is recommended to the Governor to send a Complemental Message by Mr. Weiser, to the Indians now at Conestogo.
[Copy.] A Letter from Mr. Croghan to Governor Denny of the 2nd Instant. " HARRIS' FERRY, April 2nd, 1757.
" Sir :
"Thursday last, the 29th of March, I got here and found about 160 Indians, chiefly Six Nations.
"The Messengers sent to Ohio are not yet returned, and Teedy- uscung was gone to the Seneca Country when these set out ; and is expected soon In with not less than 200 Indians. As it is not certain whether he will come in at Easton or here, I have sent a Messenger to Bethlehem to meet him with a Message.
" I have met with the same Difficulty in removing the Indians from here, as many of their Chiefs are dead since they had a Meet- VOL. VII .- 30.
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ing in this Province, and several of their People have been carried off by the Small pox in Philadelphia. I was obliged to condole with them, which Ceremony took up 3 Days; and I have just now prevailed on them to set off for Lancaster. They are much afraid of Sickness, and say they always lose many of their People in Philadelphia.
" I Shall have not been able to fix either Time or Place for the Treaty till Teedyuscung comes in. On his Arrival I will push to have them to Philadelphia, and will write yr. Honour the Time and Place fix'd on for the Meeting.
"The best Intelligence I can get from the Ohio is, that the French talk'd much all Winter of attacking the Frontier Forts; but the Indians remark that the French have but about 300 Men in Garrison there, so that they imagine it impracticable till they are re-inforced, which the Indians think can't be before the 1st of May.
"They say that the Delawares and Shawonese, who have been active against us, are moving their Women and Children to where the Lower Shawonese are settled, and that those of them who have been hitherto Neuter are going to settle with the Six Nations, which they say are about one-half of the two Tribes.
" If the Messengers gone to Ohio meet any of those, I hope they will be able to bring them into this Meeting.
"These Indians are in great want of Cloths, and I am of Opinion that they should have some order'd them before the general Presents can be given.
"There is a Report prevails here that there are 3 Familys cut off In Conigochegue, near Colon1. Chambers' Mill, but no Particular Account.
"I am, with great Esteem & Respect, " Your Honour's most humble Servant,
"GEO. CROGHAN.
"To The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esq".".
N. B .- Vide Minutes 14th of March.
Sir William Johnson's Letter to the Governor, and his Commis- sion and Instructions to Mr. Croghan were read, and it being ob- served that the Governor is not mentioned in either the Commission or Instructions, but Mr. Croghan is order'd to report his Procced- ings to Sir William, Lord Loudoun, or Colon1. Stanwix, the next officer in Command, the Council thought proper to desire the Gov- ner to inform them what had passed between him and Lord Loudoun on this Subject, and what part he proposed to take in it.
Fa In
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
A Letter from Governor Belcher of the 11th Instant, with Minute of Council enclosed, were read, and are as follows:
[Copy.]
A Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Denny. " Sir:
" I hope your Honour receiv'd mine of the 4th of January past, since which I met the Assembly of this Province, when I laid be- fore them your Honour's Letter to me of December the 16th, with the Minutes of a Conference You held in November last with the Delaware and other Indians; and the Legislature of this Province past an Act for regulating Affairs, which Mr. Bradford at Phila- delphia, the King's Printer for this Province, is now Printing, and I have order'd him to deliver one of them to your Honour, wch. with what the Governour and Council have done further relating to the Indians, I now enclose you, and I hope the Steps taken in the Mat- ter by this Government will help to corroborate the Peace you have made with the Indians, and that it may prove for the better Safety and Tranquility of your Province and this.
" Your Honour will please to observe when any Indians incline to come into this Province where they must call for Passess, being thought by the Governor & Council most convenient that the Passes shou'd be so given (and not otherwise).
"I am, with much Respect, Sir,
"Your Honour's most obed" & most humble Servant,
" J. BELCHER.
" Eliza Town (N. J.), April 11th, 1757.
" L. Governour DENNY."
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Minute of Jersey Council respecting Indians.
"At a Council held at Elizabethtown in the Province of New Jersey, on Thursday the 31st day of March, 1757.
" PRESENT :
" His Excellency JONATHAN BELCHER, Esquire, Governor.
"The Honble. Andrew Johnston, " Lewis Morris Ashfield, " Thomas Leonard, Esquires.
" His Excellency communicated to the Board a Letter from the Honble. William Denny, Esquire, Lieuten Governour of Pennsyl- vania, dated at Philadelphia, december the 16th, 1756, respecting Indian Affairs, enclosing the Treaty held with the Indians at Eas- ton, in Pennsylvania, in November last. The Council advise His
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MINUTES OF THE
Excellency to permit the Indian called Philip to pass to Philadel- phia, also to direct the Secretary, the Mayor of Burlington, or John Ladd, to give Passports to Philadelphia to such Indians in this Colony as incline to go there, in any Number not exceeding Three Men, at any one Time, while the State of Affairs between the Eng- lish and Indians remains in the present Situation.
"The above is a true Copy, compared by
"ROBT. OGDEN, D. Secrey."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, On Monday the 25th Day of April, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwalader,
Richard Peters, - Esquires.
The Members related to the Governor the purport of what had been done at the several Meetings of Council touching the Indian Enquiry, and that Mr. William Peters had their Instructions to draw up a Report of the Matter as it appear'd to them after the strictest Examination and their best Consideration.
The Governor inform'd the Council, that Mr. Hockley being of Opinion that the Bill for striking Money on Account of what was unpaid of the Proprietaries' Five Thousand Pounds was unnecessary, He return'd it on the 7th Instant to the House, with a Verbal Mes- sage, acquainting them "that the Receiver General will pay as much to the Commissioners for the Proprietaries, at their next meeting, as will reduce the Sum to Two Thousand Pounds. The Receiver further promises to use all possible Diligence in collecting the arrears of Quit Rent, and discharge the Remainder out of that Fund as soon as possible, and before the Term proposed. As this will render the Bill less necessary, the Governor returns it, being unwilling to make any Addition to the Paper Currency, which is already too large;" And that the Bill was sent back to him with a Verbal Message, viz": "That the Proprietaries' Gift of Five Thousand Pounds was made in Consideration of their being exempted from paying their reasonable Proportion of a necessary Sum of Money long since expended in the Defence of the Province, And by the Act intituled 'An Act for granting Sixty Thousand Pounds to the King's Use,' &ca., the Money was to be paid imme- diately by their Receiver General into the Hands of the Provincial Commissioners for that purpose. The Commissioners have repeat- edly called on him for that Money, with so little Success that they
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
have not to this Day received one-half of the Sum given, the Pay- ment having been evaded by Answers, that the Receiver General cou'd not collect sufficient Sums of Money from the Arrearages of the Proprietary Quit-Rents to discharge their Gift. Whether this be so or not, we shall not positively determine, but are credibly informed that considerable Sums of Money have been lately paid to the Receiver General by the People, in Discharge of their Quit- Rents.
"The Governor is pleased to say, in his last Message, that the Receiver Gen1. promises to use all possible diligence in collecting the Arrears of Quit-rents, and discharge the remainder out of this Fund as soon as possible, and before the Term proposed. It is not material to us out of what Fund the Money is to arise, nor have we any thing to do with the Collection of the Quit-rents; And we conceive the Proprietaries are in honour bound to discharge the remainder immediately, shou'd their Quit-rents never be collected, especially as the Publick have been and still are in great want of the Money. The Term proposed was not for the Payment of the Money into the Hands of the Commissioners, but for sinking it; therefore the Receiver General's Promise of discharging it before the Term proposed, is unintelligible and by no Means satisfactory to us; Nor do we apprehend the striking so small a sum as two Thousand Pounds can be of any ill Consequence, as Exchange is now lower than it has been for several Years past. The Bill was calculated to make the Paym" easy to the Proprietaries and to give the Public the immediate Use of the Money by striking it, tho' at their own Expence, without the least Design of depriving the Pub- lick of the present Benefit of a Sum of Money to which they have an undoubted Right. We, therefore, beg Leave to return the Bill to your Honour, and desire you wou'd pass it into a Law.". The same Day the Gov". likewise returned to the House the Militia Bill, with the Amendments, as agreed to by the Council on the 4th In- stant, which was sent back to him on the next Day, with a Verbal Message, " that the House desired him to reconsider it and pass it into a Law, as it then stood." And he had again sent to the House both Bills, with a Message, viz": "that as to the Former he wou'd not pass it, and as to the Militia Bill, that he adhered to all his Amendments thereon." That on his signifying to the House his Desire that some of their Members shou'd attend him at the Treaty to be held with the Indians, now at Conestogo, they had nominated the Speaker, Mr. Fox, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. West, for that Pur- pose, after which they adjourned to the 8th of August, with his Approbation.
The Governor laid before the Board the Three following Papers, making an Apology for his not having communicated them sooner, viz* :
"Minutes of a Meeting of Governors with Lord Loudoun, begun
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MINUTES OF THE
the 15th and continued by several Adjournments to the 24th of March, 1757."
" Copy of his Majesty's Rules for settling Ranks and Precedence in North America, dated at Kensington, the 7th May, 1756."
"Copy of his Majesty's Order of 12th May, 1756, for settling the Rank of Provincial General and Field Officers in North America," wch, were read in these words :
[Copy.]
" Minutes taken at a meeting of the Governors of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, with the Earl of Lou- doun, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in North America, began at Philadelphia, March 15th, & continued by several Adjournments to March 24th, 1757.
"The Meeting having been informed by the Earl of Loudoun that there was a Plan, approv'd of by his Majesty, of employing the greatest part of the Troops this Campaign to the Northward, and that he had invited them to this Meeting, in order to concert in con- junction with them a Plan for the Defence of the Southern Pro- vinces whilst the other Operations were carrying on.
" His Lordship further acquainted them, that he was willing to leave for the Defence of the Southern Provinces One Battalion to be compleated to one Thousand Men, and the Three Independent Companies in South Carolina of One Hundred Men each, which may amount to 200 Effective Men.
" And that he thought it necessary for the Security of the whole, that the several Provinces shou'd furnish by the following Propor- tions :
" Pennsylvania - -
-
-
-
- 1,400
" Maryland -
-
-
-
-
- 500
" Virginia
-
-
-
- 1,000
" North Carolina
-
-
-
-
-
400
"South Carolina
-
-
-
500
"Wch. joined to the King's Troops
-
1,200
" Make in the whole - -
- 5,000 Men. - " And the several Governors do engage to use their best Endea- vors, with their several Provinces, to raise and Support the above Number, to act in Conjunction with the Regular Forces, and under the Command of his Majesty's General, or the Officer properly authorized according to His Majesty's Regulation.
"The Meeting taking into Consideration the Situation of the several Provinces, and the Intelligence receiv'd from different Parts, it appears to them that there is Danger of the Enemy's making an Attack on the Province of South Carolina, either by Sea from St. Domingo, or from the Abama Fort, in the Creek Indians on the
471
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Head of the Mobile, ffor which Reason they have agreed that there ought to be Two Thousand Men employed in the Defence of that valuable Province of South Carolina, and to secure Georgia, and that they shou'd be compos'd as follows, vizt .:
" Five Companies of regular Troops - 500 -
" Three Independant Companies -
- 200
"Provincial Troops rais by the Province of South Carolina - - 500
"Provincial Troops from Nº. Carolina - -
- 200
" Provinc1. Troops from Virginia - - - 400
"Provincial Troops from Pennsylvania - -
- 200
" Making in the whole - 2,000 Men.
"That the said Troops shou'd be put under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Bouquet, and transported to Charles Town in South Carolina, as soon as possible ; the regular Troops, and the 200 Provincial Troops of Pennsylvania, by Sea from hence.
" The 400 Provincial Troops of Virginia by Sea from
-
" And the Two Hundred Provincials from Nº Carolina, to march by Land.
"The Earl of Loudoun, on the Part of the Crown, agrees that he will, at the King's Expence, supply the 200 Men from North Carolina, the 400 Men from Virginia, and the 200 from Pennsyl- vania, with the King's Provisions from the Time they arrive in South Carolina, during the time he keeps them there, but that he expects the several Provinces from whence they are detached, shou'd trans- port them there at the Expence of the Province from where they are sent.
" And to prevent any Mistake hereafter arising in relation to any Demand that may be made, It's agreed that the several Provinces shall maintain the remainder of the Troops raised by them for the Service in every Article, As on this Occasion they are entirely em- ployed in the defence and for the security of their respective Pro- vinces.
" And it is further agreed that, We, the Governors, shall, in our respective Provinces, take particular Care to form such Regulations, and to see them properly executed, that in all Time coming, Car- riages for Transporting the Baggage of his Majesty's Troops shall be prepared at stated reasonable Rates, And that all the Troops of what ever Denomination, either passing thro' our Provinces, or while in fix'd Quarters therein, shall in Time of Peace, be properly Quarter'd, and in Time of War, whatever Number of Troops the Commander-in-Chief may judge necessary for Defence or carrying on the general Service, shall be Quarter'd according to Custom or the Exigencies of Service.
"The above Resolutions are agreed to by the several Governors,
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MINUTES OF THE
and signed by us in presence of the Earl of Loudoun, His Majesty's Commander-in-Chief.
" ARTHUR DOBBS,
"WILLIAM DENNY,
" ROB". DINWIDDIE, 1 " HORº. SHARPE.
"LOUDOUN."
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[Copy.]
" Rules for settling Rank and Precedence in North America. "[ George R.]
" Whereas, doubts may arise with regard to the Rank and Pre- cedence to be observed between the Commander-in-Chief, Generals and other Officers of our Forces in America, and the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Precedents of the Council of our several Provinces and Colonies, in order to fix the same and prevent all Disputes, We do hereby declare that it is Our Will and pleasure, that the following Rules be observed with respect to the Rank and Precedence of the said Persons in America, viz":
" Ist. The Commander-in-Chief of our Forces by Commission under Our Great Seal of Great Britain.
"2nd. Captains General & Governors-in-Chief of our Provinces and Colonies, when in their respective Governments, as appointed by our Commission under Our Great Seal of Great Britain.
"3d. General officers upon the Staff.
"4th. Captains General and Governors-in-Chief of our Provinces and Colonies when out of their respective Governments.
"5th. Lieutenant Governors and Presidents of Council, when Commanders-in-Chief of Our Provinces and Colonies in their re- spective Governments.
"6th. Colonels.
"7th. Lieutenant Governors and Presidents of Council, when Commander-in-Chief of Our Provinces and Colonies out of their respective Governments.
"8th. Lieutenant Governors of Proprietary Governments when in their respective Governments.
"9th. Lieutenant Governors of Our Provinces and Colonies not being Commanders-in-Chief out of their respective Govern- ments.
" 10th. Governors of Charter Colonies when in their respective Colonies.
"11th. All Field Officers under the Pank of Colonels.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
"12th. Lieutenant Governors of Proprietary Governments, out of their respective Governments.
" 13th. Governors of Charter Colonies, out of their respective Colonies.
" All Captains General, and Governors-in-Chief of our Pro- vinces and Colonies to take Rank according to the dates of their Commissions.
" All Lieutenant Governors of Our Provinces & Colonies the same.
" All Lieutenant Governors of Proprietary Governments the same.
" Governors of Charter Colonies according to the Date of their Charters.
" Given at Our Court at Kensington this Seventh Day of May, 1756, In the Twenty-ninth Year of our Reign.
"H. FOX."
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[Copy.]
Rank of Provincial General & Field Oficers in North America. " [George R.]
" Whereas, some doubts have arisen with regard to the Rank and Command which the General and Field Officers of the Troops raised by the Governors of our Provinces in North America shou'd have when joined or serving together with our regular Forces in Our said Provinces. In Order to fix the same and to prevent all Disputes on that Account, We do hereby declare that it is Our Will and Plea- sure that all General and Field Officers serving by Commission from the Governors, Lieutenant or Deputy Governors, or Presidents of the Council for the Time being of Our said Provinces, shall take Rank as Eldest Captains on all Detachments, Courts Martial, or other Duties wherein the said General and Field Officers may be employed in North America, in Conjunction with our regular Forces.
" Given at Our Court at Kensington the Twelfth Day of May, 1756, in the Twenty-Ninth Year of Our Reign. .
" By His Majesty's Command,
"H. FOX.
"Rank of Provincial General & Field Officers in Nº. America."
The Governor communicated to the Council sundry Letters in their Order relating to Indian Affairs, vizt-, his Answer to Mr. Cro- ghan's Letter of the 2nd Instant, wch. was read in these Words :
A Letter from Governor Denny to Mr. Croghan. " PHILADELPHIA, 6th April, 1757.
" Sir :
" I have receiv'd your Letter of the second Instant, and now ac- quaint You that 50 Indians, Men, Women and Children (among
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MINUTES OF THE
whom were two Sons of Teedyuscung), are arrived at Fort Allen ; the whole was order'd to wait till that Chief comes, so that the Messengers you sent will probably meet him. The small Pox is much at Lancaster, as I am inform'd, and not here, and the Indians may be very commodiously provided with every thing at Springets- burg, and not come into the City.
" You say the Indians are in great want of Cloaths, & I have laid that part of your Letter before the Commissioners, whose Answer I shall send you as soon as I receive it.
"I am, Sir, Your very humble Servant, "WILLIAM DENNY."
1
A Letter from Major Orndt of 31st March, to Major Parsons. . "FORT ALLEN, March 31st, 1757. .
" Honoured Sir :
" The Bearer hereof, an Indian, named Samuel Evans, desires to have an order from your Worship, to get a New Stock made for his gun, in Bethlehem and that the same might be charged to the Province. Since my last Letter web. I have wrote to you, ar- rived here King Teedyuscung's two Sons, Captain Harrison, and several other Indians, in number 50, men and squaws, and children ; they behave very civil here, they have made Cabbins about 60 perches from the Fort, where they live, and intend to tarry here till the King comes.
" I am, Sir, Your humble servant, " JACOB ORNDT.
" To Major PARSONS."
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A Letter from Major Orndt to Major Parsons of the 5th inst. " FORT ALLEN, April 5th, 1757.
" Hond. Sir :
" This is to acquaint your Worship that the day before yester- day, arrived here Four Indians from Susquehanna, above Diahogo, and have brought one White Prisoner, whose name is Nicholas Ramston ; he was taken at the same time that Christian Pember was killed. The same Indians informed me that King Teedyus- cung can hardly come down here till the latter End of this Month, for the Mohock Indians were not quite ready to march. Those four Indians will come with the bearer hercof, one of my Soldiers, whom I have sent to escort them to Easton. and I have also order'd the white Prisoners with them. I desire your Worship wou'd be
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
pleased to send an order to Mr. Warner, who is order'd to enter- tain the Indians, that he shall not give them too much Rum, as he has done to those who were at Easton last Week, for some of them were so drunk that they stay'd all Night in the Woods, and the re- mainder went with my Men to Bethlehem, and by so doing, there might easily happen any Misbehaviour.
" I have received Advice that His Honour the Governor, hath signed the Money Bill, and that the Money wou'd be ready now, within 6 or 7 Days, and my Men are very desirous of their Pay ; therefore, I pray your Worship wou'd be pleased to grant me a Furlow for Seven Days from next Saturday, when I purpose to set off from the Fort, if it please your Worship, as I cou'd then come back again before King Teedyuscung wou'd come in.
"I am, Sir, Your very humble Servant,
" To Major PARSONS."
" JACOB ORNDT.
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A Letter to Governor Denny from Major Parsons. " EASTON, April the 8th, 1757. "Sir :
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