USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 51
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" We have that Confidence in your Honour, that you in Equity and Justice will support our Request, and not suffer that these poor, friendly, but at present Necessitous Indians, shall either be thrown entirely upon the Brethren at Bethlehem, already so very great Losers in this Province, or be left to the Mercy of their imbitterred Indian Brethren.
" Not doubting of your Honour's equitable Resolution, We rest " Your Honour's Most obedient humble Servants. "Signed in Behalfe of the Brethren. " MATHEW SHROPP, Steward. " Bethlehem, April 22nd, 1757."
The Council advised the Governor to lay the above Address be- fore the provincial Commissioners for their Consideration and Con- currence.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday the 3d Day of May, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell, William Logan,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew, Esquires.
John Mifflin, Thomas Cadwallader,
A Letter from Lord Loudoun of the 30th of April, and a Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, inclosing Minute of Council of New York of the same Date, were read in these Words : -
A Letter from the Earl of Loudoun to Governor Denny. "NEW YORK, April 30th, 1757.
" Sir :
"It having been represented to me, that at the Time of laying
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on of the Embargo, there were a Number of Vessels in the several Ports of the Provinces where the Embargo took place, that were actually loaded and cleared previous to the Embargo being laid ;
" And being desirous to give every Ease to the Trade consistant with Carrying on the Service, I have consulted with Sir Charles Hardy, and we both agree that considering the forwardness in which the Transports now are, that the said Ships so to loaded and cleared at the Time of laying the Embargo, may, without Preju- dice to His Majesty's Service, be permitted to depart on Friday the 6th Day of May next; And I am in hopes of having Things soon in such Forwardness as to be able to write to you to take off all Restraint from the Shipping, on Account of that Part of His Ma- jesty's Service that I am particularly appointed to manage. I am, with great Regard,
" Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, " LOUDOUN.
"To The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr.
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A Letter from Sir Charles Hardy to Governor Denny. " FORT GEORGE, New York, 30th April, 1757. " Sir :
" As there was some Ships and Vessels in this Port that were actually loaded and cleared out when the General Embargo was laid on, and the Transports taken up for His Majesty's Service being in great Forwardness, I have with the advice of His Ma- jesty's Council, given leave to such Ships and Vessels to depart on a certain day, agreable to the Inclosed Minute of Council, to which I beg leave to refer you, and shall only observe that no Ships or Vessels that were not cleared on the 2nd day of March last will be permitted to Sail, but the Embargo will be continued till His Majesty's Service will admit of taking it off, in all which I hope your Government will concur.
" I am, with regard, Sir, " Your most obedt humble Servant,
" CHAS. HARDY. " The Honb'e. Governor DENNY."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Minute of New York Council held at Fort George, 29th April, 1757. " At a Council held at Fort George, in the City of New York, on Friday the Twenty-Ninth Day of April, 1757.
" PRESENT :
" His Excellency Sir CHARLES HARDY, Knt-, Capt., Gen1., &ca.
" Lieutenant Governor De Lancy,
" Mr. Kennedy,
" Mr. Chambers,
Mr. Rutherford,
Mr. Horsmanden,
Mr. Smith.
" His Excellency observ'd to the Council that there are a Num- ber of loaded Vessels in this Port that were actually loaded and cleared on the Second Day of March last, the day on which the Embargo was laid, and that the Transports are in such Forward- ness that he conceives such loaded Vessels may be permitted to depart without any Prejudice to his Majesty's Service, and there- fore his Excellency required the Opinion of the Council thereupon.
" The Council advised that Leave be given to such Vessels to depart on Friday next, and that His Excellency do give immediate Notice thereof to the other Governments.
" A true Copy. Examined by
" JAS. BANYAR, D. Clk. Con."
On considering which Letters, Mr. Mifflin and Mr. Chew were desired to examine the Custom House Entries and Papers, and make an Extract of such Vessels as were laden and cleared before the Governor's Orders for an Embargo, which were delivered to the Collector on the 4th Day of March.
Then a Letter from the Speaker, and an Address from the Com- missioners, were read in these Words, to wit :
" May 2d, 1757.
"May it please the Governor:
" If I had been able to do it, wou'd have waited upon the Gover- nor instead of giving him the Trouble of this Letter, but as I am not, I hope he will be pleas'd to excuse the Freedom I have ven- tured to take in Regard to the Indians at Lancaster, who I am informed have sent down a Message, to invite the Governor to expedite a Treaty with them there, and to shew their Uneasiness at being so long detained without being able to issue their Business with this Government.
" These Indians are now come down to Lancaster at the Gover- nor's Request, and have staid there a considerable Time (at a great Expence to the Province), and any further Messages to create other Delays may appear to them trifling or evasive, especially considering the Season of the Year calls them home to their planting; and as their Influence with the other Tribes of Indians who have so lately VOL. VII .- 32.
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infested our Frontiers, and filled them with Blood and Cruelty, is very considerable, it may be of the utmost Consequence that they be made sensible of the Manly Conduct of this Government with Regard to their Complaints, if they have any, and their real Inclina- tion to do them Justice, and that the Governor will not hesitate to meet them for this, or any other purpose in which the Publick Welfare is so nearly concern'd. I am confident the Commissioners will heartily concur in defraying the necessary Expences, and will likewise chearfully attend him to this Treaty. The wisest Measures we can take will be to do nothing weh. may appear to these Indians with an ill Aspect, either as affecting Delay, or avoiding any Enquiries in which they or any other Indians may apprehend them- selves to have been injured, as we seem now, by an upright, prudent Management of our Affairs, to have an Opportunity put into our Hands of regaining the Affections of the Indians, and establishing such a ffrontier as, Under God, may in a good Measure protect this Province from the future Incursions of a savage Merciless Enemy.
"I am obliged to write in haste, will be, I hope, some Excuse with the Governor for the Incorrectness of what my great Affection for the Province has induced me to send to him on the present important Occasion.
"I am the Governor's assured & Affectionate ffrd.,
"ISAAC NORRIS."
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An Address to the Governor from the Commissioners. " Sir :
" The Commissioners think it necessary to inform You that on Saturday last, in pursuance of your Letter of the 27th Ultimo, they agreed to purchase £2,000 worth of Indian Goods to be distributed among the Natives in Presents at the ensuing Conferences, and that they have taken proper Care to have the Goods provided against the Time on which you shall direct the said Conferences to be held.
" We also beg leave to inform your Honour that we are ready to wait on You to the said Conferences when ever you shall think proper to attend them, and that we will defray the Expences of the Governor and his Attendants out of the Publick Money, or, if the Governor chuses to take that Trouble on himself, we will chearfully put such a Sum into his Hands as he shall think necessary for these Purposes.
" We are inform'd that the Indians at Lancaster are very uneasy, and complain of their long Detention from their Habitations. Their Sowing Season advances fast, and if not soon dismissed they must lose this Opportunity of providing the Necessary Subsistance for themselves and Families the ensuing Year. Sundry of their War- riors are now ill with the small Pox, and many more must take the
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Infection shou'd they remain much longer among the Inhabitants ; And their coming to this City must very considerably tend to pro- long their Absence from their Places of Abode, and be attended with many other unavoidable Inconveniences. We also understand by a Message from your Honour That you have recommended it to the Indians at Lancaster to send away their Women and Children, and as many Men as they incline shod go with them. This Mea- sure, we apprehend, will greatly disgust them, and shou'd they go off dissatisfyed may irritate them against the People of this Pro- vince and his Majesty's Service in general, if not excite them in their way home to join with our Enemies in Committing Depreda- tions and Murders upon our Inhabitants.
" We, therefore, think it our Duty earnestly to recommend to your Honour to gratify them in their Resolution of holding a Treaty at Lancaster, and that as soon as possible. To those who are ac- quainted with the Dispositions of the Natives it is known that they are a jealous People, easily disgusted and put out of humour, and when they are under this Circumstance, little Good is to be expected from a Conference with 'em.
" We doubt not your Honour is sensible of the great Importance it will be to the publick Peace and welfare, under its present un- happy Situation, to convince the Indians that it is their Int'rest to join the English against their Enemies, and to live in Amity with Us, and in Order to do this to remove all Grounds of Complaint they may have against any Persons concern'd in this Government, And more especially so as they have offered not to return to their Towns, but to settle at Wyoming & Shamokin, by which means they will become an advantageous Barrier to that part of our Frontiers.
" Moved by these Reasons we earnestly recommend it to y'- Honour to leave the Appointment of the Place of holding these Conferences to the Indians, to indulge them in nominating a short Day for that Purpose, and to miss no Opportunity of keeping them in good Humour, and sending them away perfectly satisfied with the Justice, Honour, and Conduct of this Government; ffor shou'd the Contrary be the Case we are very apprehensive it will prove greatly detrimental to the Interest of the Provinces in general, His Ma- jesty's Service, and this Province in particular.
" JOHN MIFFLIN, "JO· FOX, " WM. MASTERS, "JOHN BAYNTON, "JOSEPH GALLOWAY.
" To the Honble. WM. DENNY, Esqr."
Which being taken into Consideration, it was the Unanimous Opinion of the Council that it wou'd be for his Majesty's Service and the particular Benefit of this Province if he wou'd meet the Indians at Lancaster, agreeable to their Invitation, and the Governor
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consenting to go, the Indian Messengers were sent for, and the Governor returned an Answer to their Speeches in these Words :
"' Brethren :
"I have considered the Message you deliver'd to me on Saturday.
" The Indians have given me so affectionate an Invitation that I propose to go up to Lancaster in a few days as soon as I can get ready ; and in the Meantime Mr. Logan, a Member of Council, is so kind as to carry my Resolution to the Indian Chiefs."
After which the Governor invited the Gentlemen of the Council and the Provincial Commissioners to accompany him to Lancaster.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, On Saturday the 7th of May, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew, Richard Peters,
The Committee of Council brought in their Report, which was read and is as follows, viz":
" Having been requested by His Honour the Governor, to ex- amine & enquire what Vessels were laden and cleared out of the Port of Philadelphia for parts beyond the Seas, before the laying of the Embargo, We do hereby certify, that from the Papers pro- duced to us, and the Report of the Collector of his Majesty's Cus- toms, the Vessels mentioned in the following List were laden and cleared out for the several Places, and at the several Times in the following List specified, before the said Embargo took place.
" Witness our Hands, May the 5th, 1757,
" BENJAMIN CHEW, "JOHN MIFFLIN.
" A List of Vessels clear'd out of the Port of Philadelphia, at the Time of laying the Embargo.
" Vessels Names.
Captains Names.
Daniel Rees, William Cuzzens, William Simpson, Lewis Edwards, David Stewart, Nathanl. Sayer, Mussenden Auld, Richard Winter,
Places to wch. bound.
Time when cleared.
" Ship Ann,
" Ship St. George,
Gilbert Falkoner, Jamaica,
" Ship Alexander,
Nathanl. McGhee, Belfast.
" Snow Charming Polly, Henry Dougherty, " Briggt. Friendship, " Ship Isabella Maria, " Sloop St. Andrew,
St. Christopher's, Newry, Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, Londonderry,
March 4th. March 2nd. March 3d.
March 2nd.
" Briggt. Rebecca, " Briggt Nancy,
" Snow Ross.
Belfast,
March 2nd.
" Briggant. Warren,
" Ship Delahante,
George Fortune, Dublin,
March 2nd, 1757.
March 3d. March 3d.
March 3d.
March 3d.
March 2d.
Belfast, Belfast,
March 2nd.
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The following Letter was thereupon wrote to Mr. Taylor, and one of the same Tenor to Mr. Till and Mr. Metcalfe :
A Letter from Governor Denny to the Collector of the Port of Philada.
" PHILADELPHIA, 6th May, 1757. " Sir :
" Lord Loudoun have signified his Pleasure to the Governors of the Provinces in North America, where the present Embargo has taken place, that all Vessels which were laden and cleared, before the Time it was laid on, should be permitted to sail on the 6th In- stant. And it appearing to me by a Report of a Comittee of Council, that the above Vessels were cleared out of the Port of Philadelphia, before the Time of laying the said Embargo, I do permit each and every of them to sail, and do authorize and de- sire you to clear them accordingly.
" I am, Sir, Your most humble Servt.,
"WILLIAM DENNY. " To ABRAHAM TAYLOR, Esqr."
Mr. Roberdeau, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Francis having acquainted the Gov". that more Provisions wou'd be wanted for his Majesty's Navy, the Council left in Town to do Business. was desired to issue the Necessary Orders, taking Care not to violate the Directions given by Lord Loudoun in his Letters.
A Letter from Sir Charles Hardy of the 2nd Instant, acquainting the Governor of his being appointed an Admiral of Great Britain was read in these Words, to wit:
"FORT GEORGE, New York, 2nd May, 1757.
" Sir :
" Yesterday I received by his Majesty's Sloop Ferrett the Inclos'd Packet from Mr. Secretary Pitt, with Directions to forward it to you, for which I take the Opportunity of Lord Loudoun's Express, And at the same time to acquaint You that I have received Orders to hoist my Flagg, and shall, as soon as Lord Loudoun can embark the Troops, proceed with his Lordship and them to join the Fleet and Succours expected from Europe.
"I am, with great regard, Sir, "Your most obedt & humble Servant, " CHAS. HARDY. " The Honble. Gov". DENNY."
Mr. James Humphreys having petition'd the Governor to be ap- pointed to the Office of Clerk of the Orphans' Court, vacant by the
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Resignation of Mr. Price, his Honour was pleas'd, by the Advice of the Council, to order his Comission to be prepared.
The Governor received a Letter of the 23d of April, from Colon1. Armstrong, inclosing Intelligence sent him by the Commander at Fort Cumberland in Virginia, which was read, and the Intelligence order'd to be enter'd, viz“:
Extract of a Letter dated at Fort Cumberland, April the 9th, 1757. " Sir :
"One hundred & twenty-four Catawbas arriv'd here Yesterday. I recvd. them in a Manner that was entirely agreeable to them ; And this Day I gave them a formal welcome. What I said to them happen'd to please so well that they have submitted themselves entirely to my Disposal.
" By some Inadvertant Persons who came to go out Volunteers wth. them, they learn that some Delawares and Shawonese are gone down to make Peace with Pennsylvania; Which chagrien'd them so much that they had a good Mind to enter Pennsylvania and Cut every Quaker's Throat. However, I explained it off as well as possible, and proved the Quakers Fools, by Treating with one Party of a Nation, whilst the other Part are supplied with Ammunition and committing Hostilities.
" The Catawbas came upon me without any Notice, and I have no Orders about them; I am at a Distance from the Inhabitants, and am at a loss for Carriage Horses, otherwise I wou'd proceed im- mediately, and at least get certain Intelligence of the Ohio. By our last Accounts there were 700 Men at Duquesne, and 400 at Wenango. I wish you Success.
· " I am, your most obed'. " Humble Servant, "ADAM STEPHEN."
Since the Receipt of the above Letter, Intelligence arriv'd herc, wch seems to be confirm'd, That as two of the Catawbas were plea- suring in a Canoe some Distance from the Fort, they were killed, upon which the whole Body of the Catawbas, with about One hun- dred White Men, set off in Pursuit of the Enemy; 'tis said by some they took 30, by others 60 Days' Provisions with them.
This Minute Accounts informs us, that on Monday last 13 Per- sons were killed about a Mile above the Mouth of Connicocheeque Creek ; 'tis said they captivated none, as all that were missing are found dead.
Eight Days ago, a Man within 300 Yards of Fort Frederich, in Maryland, was killed and scalp'd.
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A Letter from Mr. Croghan of the 2nd Instant, from Lancaster, was read in these words, videlicet :
" LANCASTER, May 2d, 1757. " May it please your Honour :
" Ffriday last a Party of Onondaga Warriors left Camp to go to Fort Cumberland, in Order to join the Southern Indians there, and from thence to proceed against his Majesty's Enemies.
" To-morrow Scarroyady, with a Party of the Mohawk Warriors, set off for Fort Augusta ; I have given them Orders to reconnoitre the adjacent Woods for a few days, to see if any of the Enemy be lurking about the Garrison; They are then to proceed towards Ohio, reconnoitering all the Country well as they go; if they shou'd dis- cover any Body of the Enemy, or Party of Indians coming down towards Fort Augusta, or any part of those Colonies, they are to return and give Notice to the Commanding officer of Fort Augusta, or any other Fort on these Frontiers where they may return to.
"There are here now 15 Indians in the small Pox, most of which seem likely to recover.
" I am your Honour's most obedient " Humble Servant, " GEO. CROGHAN.
"To the Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esq".
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A Letter from Colon1. Armstrong of the 5th Instant, was read in these Words, to wit :
"CARLISLE, 5th May, 1757. "' May it please your Honour :
" The Sixty Cherokee Indians, mention'd in my last, under the Direction of Capt Paris (a Trader in their Nation), found the Tracks of the Enemy Indians who committed the late Mischiefs near the Mouth of Connigochegue, which they followed into this Province, called at Philip Davis' and Justice Maxwel's Forts, & lodged at a Place called Black's Mill, about ffive Miles from Fort Loudoun, where they were discovered by a Country Man, who had in that Neighbourhood been making Search for his Horses. The Man taking the Cherokees for Enemies, fled to Fort Loudoun with the News, upon which Sixty Men, with Three or Four Officers, marched to the Place and found the Indians were there, but thought it expe- dient to postpone the Attack until Break of Day. Accordingly they lay out all Night, divided themselves into 3 Parties, surrounded the House where the Indians were, and at Day break drew near to begin their Fire, but being happily discovered, some White Men
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who came with the Indians sprang out and hollow'd to our People that those were our Friends, the Cherokees, come for our Assistance; Whereupon the Indians came out of the House, laid down their Arms, which Our officers discovering, ordered the Soldiers to do the same, upon which ensued a very friendly Meeting. The Indian Chief was highly pleas'd that our Soldiers discover'd themselves Men by so surrounding of him, but wonder'd much, as did Captain Paris, that Notice of their being in those Parts had not been sent from Maxwell's Fort to Fort Loudoun, which they said they had expressly desired. They were asked to go to Fort Loudoun and be refreshed, and told that the Tracks they were then on were too Old, that the Enemy wou'd soon be down again, &cª. To which they answered, They were then on the Footing of their Murderers and our Murderers ; That they left their Country with Design to kill those, our Enemies, and wou'd call in at Fort Lyttleton if they shou'd want Provisions, or at Fort Cumberland. They farther said, that they wanted to see me, that they might shake Hands and be thankfull for killing some of the worst of their Enemies, and wou'd readily join with Us in the like Service whenever occasion served.
"I have been sundry Times informed that shortly after we came from the Kittanning One Campbell in Carolina wrote his Father in Connecochegue that a Number of the Cherokees were getting ready to come here and join this Battalion, but were discouraged by hear- ing that this Government was entering into Treaty with their Enemys the Delawares and Shawones. Something like this I hear was dropt by the Indian Captain to our People at Black's, but as that part of the Intelligence is not come clear I cannot assert it.
" The Coming of the Cherokees and Catawbas appears to be a very favourable Providence, which shou'd in my opinion be speedily and properly emproved, as well for the Benefit of this as of others his Majesty's Colonies, and prompts me to propose to your Honour what I have long ago suggested to the late Governor and Gentle- men Commissioners, that is the Building a Fort at Ray's Town, without which the King's Business and the Country's Safety can never be effected to the Westward, To this Place, were we there encamped or fortified, might the Southern Indians be brought fre- quently from Fort Cumberland, provided the Necessaries of Life and of War cou'd there be given them ; and from it might proceed Patroling Parties to.spy, waylay, intercept, &c., which Dutys shou'd constantly or frequently be follow'd, while others might carry on the Building. "T'is true this Service will require upwards of 500 Men, as no doubt they will be attack'd if any Power be at Fort Duquesne, because this will be a visible, large, and direct Stride to that Place ; but no doubt Colonel Stanwix will bear a party in Duty and Expence.
" Besides the Inclination which the Cherokees have expressed to be acquainted and occasionally join with Us, I am well acquainted
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with Paris, the Trader, who is at the Head of those People, and can, I'm persuaded, get him to visit and assist us with more or less of his People, except when they may be put on some Expedition or particular Service from Virginia; but have not taken the Liberty even of writing to that Gentleman on the Subject, until I have your Honour's Authority for so doing. I am informed that on their coming over Potowmack, Commissary Ross rode Express to the Governor of Maryland; Their Arms were said to be of the worst sort of Sale Guns with painted Stocks, and that they wou'd fondly have had an Exchange of some Rifles that were among our People. The Indian Capt" was gratified and got a Rifle from one of the Soldiers.
" I think Paris will, for some time, stay at Fort Cumberland; if your Honor thinks proper to write, or order me to fix any thing with him relative to the Indians and this Province, the sooner 'tis done the better, least they shou'd be able to charge us with any Neglect of them; but as I don't mean any thing of the Nature of a Treaty, not to attempt breaking in upon the proper Province of any Person whatsoever, but only to fix a good Understanding with all the Friends of a British Constitution, and in Conjunction with them, to oppose and resist His Majesty's avowed Enemies, and the ungratefull Murderers of our Fellow Subjects, so let me beg you Honour wou'd send no Indian Interpreters nor corrupt Peace Makers amongst Us, for at this time, Nothing is so likely to loose us the Friendship of these Southern Tribes as the Appearance of tampering with a few abject Delawares and Shawonese. East of Sasquehannah Peace Makers may be requisite, but West of it Warriors are most needed, and those in the End will make the best Peace. I am,
" Hond. Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant, " JOHN ARMSTRONG.
" Governor DENNY."
At a Council held at Lancaster, on Tuesday the 10th day of May, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province.
William Logan, Lynford Lardner,
Richard Peters,
George Croghan,
Esquires.
Yesterday Evening the Governor, attended by a Number of his Council, a Number of the House of Representatives, the Commis- sioners for the Province, with a great Number of other Gentlemen arrived here.
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