Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814

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"' 6thly. That as to tlie Feint with 2,000 Men against Que- bec, by the way of the River Chaudiere, they are unanimously of Opinion that it should be carried into Execution, provided it can

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be done without Prejudice to the other Parts of the Service already agreed on.

"' 7thly. That with Regard to the Operations on Lake Onta- rio, it was the Opinion and Advice of the Majority of the Council that they be begun by the Attack of Cadaraqui.

"'Lastly. The Council considering the Several Services to be carried on in North America, are unanimously of Opinion that an additional Number of Regular Troops will be necessary for the ef- fectually recovering and securing his Majesty's Rights and Domin- ions upon this Continent.

"'WM. SHIRLEY,

"' CHAS. HARDY,

"' HORº. SHARPE,

"' ROBT. H. MORRIS,

"'THOS, DUNBAR,

"' PETER SCHUYLER,

""' CHAS. CRAVEN,

"'JOHN ST. CLAIR,

"'JAS. KINNER, "JOHN RUTHERFORD.

"' A true Copy.

"'WM ALEXANDER, Sec'y.'

" Proportions of the 10,000 Men proposed to be rais'd for the Crown Point Expedition, according to the Plan settled by Commis- sioners at Albany :

" Maryland,

1,000

" Virginia, -

1,750

" Pensilvania,

1,500

" New Jersey,

750

" New York,

1,000

" Rhode Island,

500

" Connecticut,

1,250

"New Hampshire,

500

" Massachusetts, -

1,750

10,000

" General Shirley's Proposals for Measures to be taken by the West- ern Governments from Pensilvania to South Carolina, both in- clusive.

"' By his Excellency Major General WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Gene- ral and Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Forces in North America, &ca. :

"' Upon taking into his Consideration the very great Importance of the numerous Nations of Indians in Alliance with his Majesty's Southern Colonies, the Advantages that will accrue to the English

. 30

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in general from their Friendship, and the particular Necessity there is at this Time to enter into a solemn Treaty with them, in order not only to secure them to the British Interest so far as to prevent them from joining in the Designs of the French, but to engage them to assist his Majesty's Subjects in defending their Frontiers and an- noying their Enemies, It is proposed,

"'Ist. That a Treaty be held with the several Tribes of Indians in Alliance with his Majesty's Southern Colonies at such Time and Place as shall be agreed on between the Governments of South and North Carolina, and notified by them to the General and to the other Western Colonies as far North as Pensilvania.

"'2dly. That one or more Commissioners should be appointed by each of the Western Provinces from South Carolina to Pensilvania, both inclusive, to carry on that Treaty in behalf of his Majesty and of those Colonies, to be particularly instructed by their respective Governments for that Purpose.

"'3d. That such Instructions be without Delay transmitted to the General, and that he or the Commander-in-Chief of the King's Forces for the time being give such further Instructions to the Commissioners, collectively or separately, as he shall think necessary for his Majesty's Service.

"' 4. That the Governments of Virginia and the Two Carolinas, as soon as possible, dispatch Messengers to those Southern Tribes, inviting them to a general Treaty in his Majesty's Name and in the Names of all the said Western Provinces, And that the Time and Place agreed on for such Treaty be particularly mentioned in such Invitation.

"' 5. That at such appointed Place Provision be made for the Reception and Entertainment of the Indians that may attend the Treaty by the Province wherein such Place is, to be afterwards reim- burs'd in Proportion by the other Colonies.

"'6th. That Money be provided by the said Western Provinces for defraying the Expence of the Treaty, and for providing a proper assortment of Goods to be given in Presents to the Indians that shall attend and sent into their Countries to be distributed among those that cannot personally assist at the Treaty.

"'7th. That the Commissioners be instructed to engage those Tribes to assist the English in the present Dispute and to take up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians, and that they be enabled to promise English Pay and Provisions, Arms, Ammuni- tion, and Indian Cloaths, to such of their Warriors as shall join his Majesty's Forces, or the Troops in the Service of any of the said Western Provinces; and as to such of them as shall incline to attack the French upon the Ohio, or any of the Indians in their alliance, to promise them certain Rewards for every Prisoner or

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Scalp they shall bring in, and to appoint certain Places to which such Scalps or Prisoners shall be brought.

"' 8th. That Proper Persons be appointed by the Commissioners to return with the Indians from the Treaty into their own Country, if necessary, to conduct the warriors to such Places as shall be ap- pointed for their Rendezvous, where Stores of Provisions, Arms, and Ammunition should be provided for their use.' "

A Letter from Governor Dinwiddie to Governor Morris. " VIRGA., WILLIAMSBURG, Jany. 2d, 1756.

" Sir:

"I congratulate you on your Assembly's being roused from their Lethargy and their voting 60,000 for the Service of the Expedition against the Common Enemy. As you are now enabled, I hope you will plan out Operations for next Spring, and I shall be ready to join in every thing for the Public Service.

" Some time since the Cherokees sent four of their Headmen to me, assuring me of their steady Friendship to their Brothers, the English. I sent them from this with new cloaths and Some Pres- ents ; sent a Person with them, and I represented the cruel Barbarities committed by the French and Indians in our back Settlements; when they were properly convinced thereof, they took up the Hatchet and declared War against the French and Shawonese, and sent into Augusta County 130 of their Warriors to protect our Frontiers. These People proposed go- ing to attack the Shawonese in their Towns, which I approved of, ordered four Companies of our Rangers to join them, and sent them up some Powder, Lead, and Matchcoats, and gave Directions for Provisions. I wish Success may attend it, as probably it may reclaim some of our friendly Indians that have joined the French, and encourage Twightwees to be our Friends, when they find the Southern Indians are in our Interest. However, I thought it absolutely necessary to send Commissioners to the Catawbas and Cherokees, to confirm them to our Interest; two of the Council have condescended to go, and with them have sent a Present to both those Nations, and to press the Catawbas to take up the Hatchet against the French and their Indians, and then to enter into a strict Treaty of Peace, offensive and Defensive, with them ; and endeavour to have them ascertain the number of Warriors they will supply us when occasion -- the last Message from them they proposed 1,000 Men; but there will be more certainty if included in the Treaty. And if anything is to be done in the Spring, I think they will be of very great Service, but must wait with Patience the Determinations at home, with Orders how to act. There appears some distant Views of Peace, if so, I wish it may be an honourable one; but in my private Opinion

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I think it is very unlikely after the vast Preparation and Charges the Nation has been at, and the French desire nothing sooner, as it will give them time to concert Measures to oppress these Colonies, and to execute their Designs against us that have been determined so many years.

"We have had an Importation of Neutrals from Nova Scotia, which is very disagreeable to our People, as they are bigotted Pa- pists ; however, we have received them, as we suppose the dispersing of them to the different Colonies is intended for a general good; we support them till March, after that they must work for their sus- tenance.

"Your Militia Law is very inconsistent with any Rules for an Army, and I forsee many inconveniences from it; you probably think, as I do, that it is something better than none. If your Peo- ple will incorporate with Spirit, probably, when joined with other Forces, they may comply and submit to their Regulations. I send you enclosed the Acts passed the last Session of our Assembly; the first is a Mutiny bill, pretty similar to that for his Majesty's Forces.

"I shall be glad how soon you can inform me of your Instruc- tions in regard to next Campaign ; you know the sooner we are in Action the better. I wish you Health and Happiness, and am, with great Regard,

" Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,

"ROBT. DINWIDDIE. " Gov". MORRIS."

A Letter from Governor Sharpe to Governor Morris. " ANNAPOLIS, January the 24th, 1756. " Sir :

"I return you thanks for forwarding to me by Express the Packet that you was kind enough to bring from General Shirley to Philadelphia, and for the Civilities I received at your Hands dur- ing my Stay in that City. Since my return hither, I have received a Letter from Governor Dinwiddie, advising me that 130 of the Cherokees have been prevailed on to take up the Hatchet against the French, and that in Conjunction with some Companies of the Virginia Rangers, they are gone to attack one of the Shawonese Towns ; he also informs that two Gentlemen of his Council, who have been with a considerable Present to the Catawba and Chero- kee Nations, have made a League with them both, and engaged them to send 1,000 Warriors in the Spring, to act in Conjunction with the Forces that may be employed in this Part of the Continent against His Majesty's Enemies. I should be glad to hear what has been the Event of your Interview with the Indians you had ap- pointed to meet, and also what Measures have been taken for the

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Protection of your Frontiers ; at what Places the Commissioners have order'd Forts to be built, what Number of Men they propose to garrison them with, and whether they will furnish and support any Troops for carrying on another Expedition to the Westward, as well as their Quota for the Expedition to Crown Point. Our As- sembly meets the 20th of next month, when I shall lay before them the Plan of Operations that was concerted at N. York, and I flat- ter myself they will contribute something towards carrying it into Execution, at the same time I shall recommend to them the build- ing some Forts at proper Places on our Frontiers, whence Parties from the Garrisons may be detached occasionally to patroll between those that shall be raised on the Frontiers of your Province, and such as shall be built in Virginia on Potomac River. With the greatest Regard, '

"I am, Sir, Your most humble and most obedient Servant,

"HORº. SHARPE. " Gov". MORRIS."

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday, February the 10th, 1756.

PRESENT :

The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieu- tenant Governor.

Robert Strettell,

John Mifflin,

Joseph Turner,

Thomas Cadwalader, S Esqrs.

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.

Mr. Weiser's Report of his Proceedings with the Indians at John Harris' Ferry was read in these Words :

By Order from his Honour the Governor of Pennsylvania :

" Journal of the Proceedings of Conrad Weiser with the Indians at John Harris' Ferry in January, 1756:

"29th. Set out from my House with a hired Man-arrived at Harris' Ferry the 30th, being rainy Weather; met the Indians that Evening, acquainted them that I was sent by the Governor of Penn- sylvania with a Message to them. Next morning was appointed for me to deliver it, Aroas being not at home.

" 31st. Early in the morning we met in the Belt's Cabbin. There was present the Belt, Garisdooney, Jagrea, Newcastle. They desired me to repeat to them the Speech the Governor made to them in Carlisle a few Days ago, laying before me the two Belts they re- ceived there from the Governor. I made answer that I could not depend upon my Memory, and that I had no Copies of those Papers relating to it. They must excuse me till another Opportunity ; however the principal heads they remembered. A Messenger was VOL. VII .- 3.

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immediately sent for Aroas, who arrived in a few hours after. I then delivered the Message from the Governor with the addition that I could not leave the Place before I saw two of them set off. It was imediately agreed that Aroas (by us called Silver Heels) and David, a Mohock Indian, should prepare for the Journey to Nesko- pecka, &ca. Accordingly on the Second of February they set off in the morning, being rainy weather. They desired me to send John Davies and Thomas Grimes along with them over Peters' Hill to Robert Armstrong's Place, the last Settlement now, to conduct them safe, which I did. I sent also a String of Wampum all white to Jonathan, John Shikcalamy, and his Brothers, to invite them to come to my House if they could be found ; gave a written Pass to Aroas and David, and ordered them to carry a Silk Handkerchief upon a Stick on their Return, and that only two should come before and keep the Path. The old Belt gave them a long Lesson. They all looked very serious. Aroas said he would be back in ten days or in 15 at farthest; if not then we might think he was dead, So far as to the Message:

" On the 31st of last Month one James Young came over from Tobias Hendrick's and told me privately in the Presence of John Harris that above 15 Men with Arms came that Day to Tobias Hendrick's in order to come to this Side of the River to kill the Indians at John Harris'. Judging them of being guilty or privy to the Murder committed a few days ago in Sherman's Valley, and that he had much ado to stop them, and desired me to take all the care possibly I could. I thereupon sent a Letter with said Young Express to the Magistrates and the Principal Inhabitants in Car- lisle to desire them to caution the People of Cumberland against such imprudent Behaviour, of which nothing but a general War with all the Indians could be the Issue. A copy of their Answer is hereunto annexed. I took for granted what they said, and sent imediately another Express by James English and Jagrea (now called Satacaroyies) to bring the Indians that remained in Carlisle since the last Treaty away to John Harris' Ferry, there to remain with the rest till the Governor's Order should be known. I wrote to those Gentlemen to hire a Waggon for the Indians if needful. 4

" I thought it not prudent to inform the Indians of this Affair ; but Several People that came from over the River knew of it and the Indians came to hear of it. I had a good deal of Trouble to quiet their Minds (if I did at all). Satacaroyies and Newcastle went to Michael Taef's that night, and Newcastle got in the night light headed ; he looked upon every Person as an Enemy, and would persuade Satacaroyies to run away with him-he himself made off privately next morning and had not been heard of when I left John Harris', which was on the 2d Instant in the Afternoon. Michael Taeff and Satacaroyies declared before me that he had no Liquor, and I am persuaded Satacaroyies would not have come back so sober

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in the morning as he did if they had had any Liquor. I sent Word all about to the People to take care of the said Newcastle if he should be seen any where ; he had no Arms with him.

"I think it highly necessary that the said Indians should be taken care of deeper within the Inhabitants ; for should they suffer by our foolish People, we should lose all Confidence and Honour with the rest of the Indians. Submitted to his Honour, the Gov- ernor, his Council, and the Assembly,

"By their faithful Indian Interpreter,

" CONRAD WEISER.

"Dated at Heidleburg, February 4th, 1756."

1209431

A Letter from Capt. Jacob Morgan to Col. Weiser, dated at Fort Lebanon, the 6th February, 1756, was read in these words :

[This letter does not appear on record.]

MEMORANDUM.

On the Sixth of February Two Members waited on the Governor and requested he would be pleased to let the Assembly know if there were any Grounds for the Complaint of the Senecas, as if some of their Warriors were killed at Conewago, and favour them with a copy of his answer to Governor Hardy ; And the Governor readily informed the Members that he had done all in his Power to come at the Foundation of this Complaint, had wrote both to Gov- ernor Hardy and Sir William Johnson about it, and would send Copies of those Letters to the House. At the same time the Gov- ernor desired the Members would take to the House a Letter he had received from Governor Hardy of the 30th of January last, with a copy of sundry Resolves of the Assembly of New York, made on the 28th of the Same Month of January, which follow in these Words :

A Letter from Governor Hardy to Governor Morris. "FORT GEORGE, New York, 30th January, 1756. " Sir :

" Having recommended to the Assembly to this Province to pro- vide for the raising and subsisting one thousand Men to act in Con- junction with the other Colonies in the proposed attempt upon the French Fort at Crown Point the ensuing Spring, agreeable to the Opinion of the Council of War lately held in this city by his Ex- cellency General Shirley. I have the Pleasure to inform you that they very readily came into the Measure, and I inclose you a copy of their Resolution upon it, not doubting but the Assembly of your Government will chearfully raise their Quota of Men for this neces-

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sary Service, whose Resolutions I should be glad to be informed of as early as possible.

" I am, Sir, with great Esteem, Your most obedient and humble Servant,

" CHAS. HARDY. " Governor MORRIS."

Resolves of the Assembly of New York.

" Assembly Chamber, the 28th January, 1756, P. M.

"The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House upon his Excellency's Message of the 27th Instant. After some Time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Thomas reported the Resolutions of the Committee thereon, which he read in his Place, and afterwards delivered in at the Table, where the same were again read and are as follow, vist:

"' Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that for raising, paying, and subsisting one thousand effective Men, Officers included, and, including the Forces in the Pay of this Colony now in Garrison at Fort Edward and Fort William Henry, to act in Conjunction with the neighbouring Colonies in making an Attempt upon the French Fort at Crown Point, in the ensuing Spring, there be allowed the Sum of forty thousand Pounds.'

" And the said Resolutions being read a second time. .

"' Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolutions.'

""' Ordered, That Mr. Cornell and Mr. Thomas wait on his Ex- cellency with the foregoing Resolutions.'

"By Order of the General Assembly.

"ABRM. LOTT, jun"., Cl'k.

" A true Extract. Examined By

"GEO. BANYAR, D. Sec'ry. "New York."

MEMORANDUM :

Several Companies formed on the Plan of the late Militia Act made return of their Officers, and Commissions were accordingly made out by the Governor; and as he heard they would apply for Field officers, he ordered that Lists of the officers forming those Regiments should be carefully entered in the Council Books.

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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 13th of February, 1756.

PRESENT :

The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor.

Robert Strettell,

John Mifflin,

Thomas Cadwalader, - Esquires.

The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.

The Governor informed the Council that he had received an Ad- dress from the Assembly, who at the same time sent him an Extract from major General Shirley's Letter to Col. Dunbar, dated the nineteenth of September last, from the Camp at Oswego, both which were read and ordered to be entered as follows :

" To the Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &.ca.

" The Address of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said Province, in General Assembly met :

" May it please the Governor :

" The House being informed by Petition from the Masters, that a great Number of bought Servants are lately inlisted by the Re- cruiting Officers now in this Province, and clandestinely or by open Force conveyed away to the very great Oppression of the said Masters, and Injury to the Province ; we beg Leave to lay this Grievance before the Governor.

" We presume that no one Colony on the Continent has afforded more free Recruits to the King's Forces than Pennsylvania. Men have been raised here in great numbers for Shirley's and Pepperell's Regiments, for Halket's and Dunbar's, for the New York and Car- olina Independent Companies, for Nova Scotia, and even for the West India Islands. By this, and the Necessity we are under of keeping up a large Body of Men to defend our own extensive Fron- tiers, we are drained of our hired Labourers; and as this Province has but few Slaves we are now obliged to depend principally upon our Servants to assist us in tilling our Lands. If these are taken from us, we are at a Loss to conceive how the Provisions that may be expected out of this Province another year, for the Support of the King's Armies, are to be raised.

" We conceive that this Province could not possibly have fur- nished the great Numbers of Men and Quantity of Provisions it has done for the King's Service, had it not been for our constant Practice of importing and purchasing Servants to assist us in our Labour. Many of these, when they become free, settle among us, raise Families, add to the number of our People and cultivate more Land, and many others who do not so settle are ready and fit to

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take Arms when the Crown calls for Soldiers; But if the Posses- sion of a bought Servant after Purchase made is thus rendered pre- carious, and he may at any Time be taken away from his Master at the Pleasure of a Recruiting Officer, perhaps, when most wanted, in the midst of Harvest or Seed Time, or in any other Hurry of Business when another cannot be provided to supply his Place, the Purchase, and of Course the Importation of Servants will be dis- couraged, and the People driven to the Necessity of providing themselves with Negro Slaves, as the Property in them and their Service seems at present more secure. Thus the Growth of the Country by Increase of white Inhabitants will be prevented, the Province weakened rather than strengthened (as every Slave may be reckoned a domestick Enemy), one great and constant Source of Recruits be in a great Measure cut off, and Pennsylvania soon be unable to afford more Men for the King's Service than the Slave Colonies now do.

"The Injury complained of extends not only to those whose Ser- vants are actually inlisted, but even to those whose Servants are not inlisted, since they must humour them in every thing lest they should be provoked to inlist, which they daily threaten in case they are disobliged, and grow idle, neglectful, insolent, and mutinous, and occasion many Disorders in the Families they belong to; Be- sides, while this Practice continues, many leave their Masters on pretence of going to inlist, and not being pursued, as their Masters are discouraged by the Difficulty of recovering them, They often go quite off without inlisting, so that the Master is injured and no Service arises to the King.

"That Burdens may be chearfully borne by the Subject, for the Honour of the Prince or the Publick Welfare, we apprehend they ought to be equitably laid. But this inlisting of Servants is a most severe, unequal, and oppressive Tax on Particulars, often falling on People in low Circumstances, who have been put to great Difficul- ties in raising Money to buy a Servant or two, to assist in working their Plantations; and losing those Servants they are unable to buy others, or, if they have bought them on Credit are unable to pay, sued for the Money and ruined.

" We beg Leave further to add, that we conceive the Inhabitants of this Province have a legal Property in the Time and Service of the Servants brought into America and purchased here under Acts of Parliament, or becoming Servants by our own Laws. That they have as true and as just a Property in the Servant bought as they had before in the Money with which he was purchased. That the taking the Servants from us either by open Force or Private Prac- tice, is a Violation of that Property and our Rights, a manifest and grievous Injustice and Opression, And that the Magistrates who have refused to assist the Masters with the Civil Authority in re- covering their Servants, have egregiously failed in Point of Duty.

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" We therefore request the Governor that he would be pleased to acquaint General Shirley with these Proceedings of the Officers un- der his Command." We know the Practice is contrary to his Judg- ment, having now before us his Disapprobation of it, expressed in very strong Terms under his Hand, of which we send a Copy here- with to the Governor. We have therefore great Reason to hope, that at the Governor's Instance, he will do the People of this Pro- vince strict Justice, by causing an immediate Restitution to be made of all the Servants taken from us under Colour of his Authority, and effectually discourage the Practice for the future.

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII, Part 5

Author: Publication date: 1838 Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 814