USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 56
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
charge to take down every thing that Passes in Writing. Pray make the Indian Chief my Compliments, and excuse my not coming to see him, being under a necessity of going away immediately.
" The Warriors intended to assist the Back Inhabitants shou'd be sent away with all possible Dispatch, and Colonel Weiser inform'd of their Bout, that he may know where to order Parties to join them. I must press their going without Delay, as their Success depends entirely on the Quickness of their Motions. The Enemy Indians will go off with their Plunder, Prisoners, and Cattle, and if they do it with impunity it will be for want of Dispatch in the march of the Warriors.
" The Sheriff has my Orders to conduct the Indians to Philadel- phia with a sufficient Guard. I make no doubt but the Commis- sioners will honourably discharge any Contract you may make with Mr. Grey for his Trouble, in case you can prevail on him to go to Diahogo, or any other Expences you may be put in the Execution of this or any other of my Requests for the Public Service.
" I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,
" WILLIAM DENNY.
"To Mr. GEORGE CROGHAN."
-
Passport & Order to the Sheriff to guard Indians from Lancaster to Philadelphia.
" The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Govern". And Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, &c., &c., &ca.
" [L. s.] To the Sheriff of the County of Lancaster :
"These are to authorize and require you to take into your Care any Number of Indians that shall incline to return home by the Way of the City of Philada., and them safely to conduct to that City, with a sufficient Guard, and to empress what Horses or Carriages may be wanted for their Use, paying for them according to Law.
" All his Majesty's Subjects are hereby, strictly enjoined not to molest, or in any wise insult, or do Injury to the Indians committed to your Care, as they shall answer for their Behaviour, in Case of Disobedience.
" And all Officers, civil and military, are Hereby ordered to be aiding and assisting to you in the Performance of these Orders.
" Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Lancaster, this 21st Day of May, One Thousand seven Hundred & Fifty-Seven.
" WILLIAM DENNY."
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MINUTES OF THE
" Instructions from the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutent Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania & 3 Lower Counties, To Mr. Thomas McKee.
" You are to conduct such of the Indians as return by the Way of the Sasquehannah, as far as Shamokin. I understand there are several Spots of Land near Fort Augusta, already cleared and fit for planting. I wou'd have you purchase a proper Quantity of In- dian Corn, and see that it be planted as soon as you get there. I leave it to you to chuse a proper Place for the Indians to settle at ; you know what will be at first wanted, and are to provide it. You must not leave them till they be commodiously settled to their Satisfaction. You are to furnish Carriages and Provisions for them in their Journey. You are to apply to Mr. Croston, the Contractor for supplying the Garrison with Provisions, who is hereby order'd to furnish Cattle and Flour for the use of the Indians, not only in their Journey, but after they are settled, in such Quantities as you shall demand. In case of his not being able to do this at first, You are to apply to Major Burd, who is desired to deliver what is wanted for their immediate use, till the other Provisions arrive that are to be furnishd by the Contractor. You are so well ac- quainted with the Wants of Indians, that I must leave the whole to your Management, in which I must recommend it to you to be as frugal as possible. The more the Indians hunt, the more it will conduce to their Health. When their Demands arc reasonable, and for Things absolutely necessary, they are to be granted, but not otherwise. Much depends upon their first setting out; If their Conduct be orderly, and their Expences light and easy, the better the Province can continue it, and others be encouraged to come and settle there ; but if they be too much indulged, and not laid under the Necessity of hunting, they will quarrel with one another, and no other Indians join them, or at least not such as will be of Ser- vice to the Cause. You are to draw upon the Commissioners for such Sums as you lay out, giving them advice of your Draughts, and a just and full Account of the particulars, for which the Money has been laid out.
" All Officers, civil and military, are enjoined to be aiding and assisting to You and the ffriendly Indians under your care, And to do you and them, all the good Offices they shall stand in Need of ; particularly, It is hereby required of all the Officers and Soldiers in the Garrison at Augusta, to give you all the assistance possible in the Execution of these Orders, and to be of good Behaviour to the Indians, as they are on all Occasions to demean themselves towards His Majesty's Subjects with the utmost Care & Kindness.
" Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Lancaster, this Twenty-first Day of May, 1757.
"WILLIAM DENNY."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
May 22nd, 1757.
MEMORANDUM.
This Day Mr. Croghan called a Meeting of the Chiefs of the several Tribes and repeated over to them the Messages going to be sent to Teedyuscung by this Government agreable to their Request, And at the same Time acquainted 'em that there was a small Present provided by this Government for their Brethren, the Chero- kees, who had come into this Government, and was now waiting in Expectation of its being sent them agreable to their Request. He then desired them to give their Opinion about the Message to be sent to Teedyuscung, and whether it was agreable to them. To which they made the following Answer, viz' :
"Brother :
" We have considered every Part of your Message to Teedyus- cung, and we approve much of it, and think it will be acceptable to our Nephews and Brothers; And we likewise approve of our Brother Onas' sending a Present to our Brothers, the Cherokees. You, our Brothers, the English, took some Pains to bring about a Peace between them and Us, and we embrace this Opportunity of brightening the Chain of Friendship between Us in your Presence. We have appointed Three Men to go with you to see them, And hope you will provide for them on the Road."
Gave a String of Wampum.
After the Message for Teedyuscung was deliver'd to the Messen- gers the Sachems of the several Tribes made the following Speech : " Brother :
" As we have finish'd the Business for this Time, and We de- sign to part to-morrow, You must be sensible that we have a long Journey and a Hilly Country to pass over, and several of our Old Men very weak, we hope that you will not send us from your Frontiers without a walking Stick .*
In answer Mr. Croghan acquainted them that the good People of this Province had provided some Cags for them on the Frontiers which wou'd be given them by the Persons employed to conduct them thro' the Settlements.
* Meaning a Cag of Rum.
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MINUTES OF THE
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday 31st May, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
and Esquires.
Thomas Cadwallader,
John Mifflin,
.
The Minutes of the Indian Conferences held at Lancas". were read, settled, and approved.
The Assembly being to meet to day, in Virtue of the Governor's Summons, The Minutes of the Conferences held by Lord Loudoun with the Southern Governors were read, and a Message draughted from them, which was approved, and the Secretary was order'd to lay it before the House, together with the Papers refferred to in it.
The Governor laid before the Council several Letters and Papers respecting the Cherokee Indians, which were read in their Order, & are entered as follows, viz* :
A Letter from Colonel John Armstrong, enclosing Minutes of a Con- ference held with the Cherokees.
"FORT MORRIS, 23d May, 1757.
" May it please your Honour :
" In Obedience to your Honour's Commands, as well as at the Request of Captain Paris, I did, with all convenient Speed, proceed to Maryland, and in the Afternoon of the 17th Instant was intro- duced by Captain Paris to the Indian Warriors then at Fort Fred- erick, who kindly receiv'd me and the other Officers in Company, letting me know by Captain Paris that To-morrow Morning They wou'd be glad to hear what their Brother, the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, had to say by me.
"The Minutes of the Conference I herewith transmit to your Honour, And am
"Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant, "JOHN ARMSTRONG.
"P. S .- The Five Rifle Guns, agreed by the Commissioners to be given the Cherokees, I cou'd not conveniently get, but purchased Three, which, with 4 Holland Ruffled Shirts and a little Wampum, was what. I delivered them, at the same time taking proper Care that, on the One Hand, no Umbrage shou'd be taken by the In- dians at the smallness of the Present, And on the other, That no.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Disparagement shou'd thereby arise to the Government who gave it. The sending up of the Belt will be of Use.
" J. A.
"In case Con1. Stanwix has not left Lancaster, please to shew him the Conference.
" Governor DENNY."
" Minutes of a Conference held at Fort Frederick, On Wednesday, 18th May, 1757.
"PRESENT : " For Pennsylvania.
" Lieuten". Colon1. John Armstrong.
" Captain Hugh Mercer.
" Lieuten". William Armstrong.
" Lieuten" Thomas Smallman.
" For the Cherokee Nation.
"Waughhaughy, Governor of the Cherokees on this Side the Hills.
" Yaughtanno, a Chief & Warrior of the same Nation On the West Side of the Hills.
" Captain Richard Paris, Interpreter.
" Sundry Officers and other Gentlemen belonging to Maryland.
" Colonel Armstrong, addressing himself to the Two Indian War- riors, spoke as follows :
" ' Brothers :
"' I joyfully receiv'd your ffriendly Speeches from Fort Lyttleton, and immediately had them conveyed to the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, who las sent me to bid you welcome, and to testify the great affection he and all his People bear to their Brothers, the Cherokees, and especially to you and the other Warriors, who, at a Time when we have many Enemies, have come a great Way to shew us your Friendship.
" ' Your Brothers, the Governor of Pennsylvania and Great Men of that Province, being at a Distance, have not yet Time to provide such necessary Supplies for your young men as they intend to send to you, But as they meet their Brothers with Hearts full of Love, so their Hands are not altogether empty. The small Present they have now sent, I hope will be kindly receiv'd as a Mark of their Esteem, till being made acquainted with your Desires they are enabled to send their Brothers such Things as will be most acceptable.
.
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MINUTES OF THE
""'You have heard, Brothers, that the French King, the old Enemy of our Great King George, has invaded his Dominions, and stirred up the Delawares, Shawonese, and other Indians in his In- terest to murder our Innocent People. This unjust Treatment has obliged us to take up the Hatchet, both for the Security of our Father's Dominions as well as in our own Defence; and we are determined never to lay down the Hatchet till the French are drove off our Lands and we have full Satisfaction of our Enemies, the Indians, for the Blood of our Brothers & Sisters spilled by them.
"' We thank Almighty God, the Great Governor over all, who put it into the Hearts of our Brothers, the Cherokees, to come so great a Distance to our Assistance against the Enemies of our Com- mon Father, King George, who has brought you safe to our Country, shewn you our Enemies, and made you victorious over them.
" The Prisoners and Scalps of our Enemies now in your Pos- session shews you are Warriors and good Brothers, and assures us that your Friendship will continue true, and your Hearts good towards us.
""' We doubt not of having your further Assistance by joining your Warriors with ours at some strong House, to be built as near to the Enemie's Country as possible, where we may join to defend our People by meeting the Indians and French in their Walks towards us, or by seeking them out in their own Ground; And we desire to know how strong you will come to stay with us, that suitable Preparation may be made.'
" Here, by advice of Captain Paris, I gave a String of Wampum to each of the Two Chief Warriors, and deliver'd the Presents in Behalfe of the Governor.
" Then the Interpreter letting them know I had finished, Waugh- haughy said :
""' This Afternoon we will consult together of your Talk, and to- morrow Morning speak to you what is in Our Hearts.'
- -
"Thursday, 19th May. "Present as above.
" Waughhaughy, addressing himself to Colonel Armstrong, spoke as follows :
"' I thank the Man above for bring me here, where I have found a Warrior and such friendly Treatment. When I was at Winches- ter, I heard that some of my Brothers were killed, this Way which hurt my Heart, and obliged me to come to their Relief.
""' Both my People and yours belong to the Man above; de- pending upon him, I have gone to War along with my Brothers.
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the English, and have been successful ; ffor which I thank the Man above ; And now my Heart is good, and my Thoughts straight.
"' My Young Men and Boys have now found out the French and Enemy Indians' walking Ground, And they will pursue and Kill them in their own Ground. I have heard Your Talk, and like it very well, And design, as soon as possible, to acquaint the rest of my People, now in Virginia, of it; And I will endeavour to bring as many as I can this way, because I have found out the Enemy's Walks, which, perhaps, They have not.
"' I remember my Father, King George, said, That the White People and we were equally his Children, And that both had an equal Right to the Land. Our Brothers, the White People, under- stand making of Cloaths and other Necessaries for us, And we un- derstood ffighting; so if your People will furnish Cloaths and other Necessaries for us, We will assist you in defending the Country. My Thoughts are entirely set upon War, and I long to see the Governor, or some One from him; and if he cannot come, I desire you will appoint a Day to meet me at Winchester, and there bring with you the Belts of Wampum, and other Things which I shall tell you, to make the Path between us.
"'I look upon every Thing you have said to be true, and hope what you have promised will be perform'd exactly. My Young Men are fond of Wampum, and will expect a good Quantity to keep, and to send home.
"'To-morrow, you said, you were to go home; and I hope we shall part with good Thoughts, as Brothers, and keep the same good thoughts till we meet again.'
" Waughhaughy being asked to receive the Presents of Penn- sylvania at Fort Loudoun, or Fort Lyttleton, where they cou'd be given more to his Satisfaction than at Winchester, He said, he wou'd consider that Matter; And accordingly, the next Morning, agreed to send the String he had receiv'd to his Nation, from whence he wou'd bring as many Warriors as we wanted, saying, That he had not a few People, being Governor of Thirty Towns, And that, as soon as he had finished his Business at Winchester, and spoke with a part of his People, gone to Fort Cumberland, he wou'd return to Fort Lyttleton, there to receive Presents from his Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania. As he cou'd not exactly appoint a Day, he wou'd write by Mr. Paris, the Interpreter, what Time we might depend on his Coming.
"The same Day, viz", Thursday, 19th Instant, Youghtanno, a Chief of the Over Hill Cherokees, desired a Conference with Colonel Armstrong, and spoke as follows :
"'Brother :
"' I have a Regard for my Brothers, the Pennsylvanians, and a Desire of settling a Friendship and being acquainted with them; I heard your Talk yesterday and am well pleased with it.
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MINUTES OF THE
" ' I have considered what you said of having a Strong House built where the Enemy walks, and like it well, ffor there they may be met with ; but I have a great Love for You and am afraid you would be killed about the Building, ffor there the Enemy often comes, and if you shou'd be killed I wou'd cry over you, ffor now I have found you and am acquainted and pleased, Or if you shou'd not be killed, some of your young Warriors (pointing to the Offi- cers) might be killed and I shou'd be sorrowful, for I have a great Love for You and all your Warriors, therefore, desire you may not begin to build, untill I send to my Nation for more of my People, and I will go round about you and save you when your People are building.
" I will send from Winchester Two of my running Indians in ten Nights to the [my] Nation, where they shall carry the String you gave me, and Speak good words with it among my People.
" I will readily join you myself to go any where, but what will that signify, unless I have my Young Men also, and when they are encouraged with Wampum, Match Coats, &cª., I will go with you to find the French and Enemy Indians, And if great Waters come before us my People will make Canoes of the Bark of Trees to carry us all over.
" I cannot appoint the Time when my People will return from the Nation, but Forty or Fifty Days is more Time than enough, if no accident prevents.
" Memorandum of the Goods desired by the Cherokee Indians, viz“ :
" Arms, Wampum, Silver Truck, such as Broaches, Arm Bands, Wrist Shackles, Breast Plates & Hair Plates.
"Strouds, Match Coats, Half thicks, Pipe-Tomyhawks, White ruffled Shirts, Plain White Shirts, Vermillion, Beads, and Scalping- Knives."
A Letter from Captain George Armstrong, enclosing one from Captain Paris, and an Answer from one of the Cherokee Indian Chiefs to Governor Denny, were read in these words :
" CARLISLE, 25th May, 1757.
" May it please your Honour :
" In obedience to your Instructions, I hastened to Fort Frederick, where I found the Cherokees who were engaged receiving the Pres- ents of the Government of. Maryland by the Hands of Mr. Ride- out, the Governor's Secretary, weh. Business was ended on Sunday Morning, when I deliver'd your Honour's Message and Wampum (by their own Agreement) to Youghtanno, the youngest of the Two Chiefs, Who receiv'd them with a deep Sense of Gratitude, but wou'd not appoint a Time of Mecting an Agent from Your Honour, least he shou'd be by some Means retarded from coming
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according to his Appointment, and desired you might not send a Messenger after him, untill the Presents and Person appointed to distribute them were actually arrived at, or come near the Place of Conference.
" Captain Paris has wrote your Honour with Respect to Mr. Croghan's making the Presents of the Government, and gives his Opinion of the Indian Dislike to him, and doubts it will be attended with ill Consequences.
" One of the Indians fancied a Rifle Gun of Captain Thompson's, wch. He gave the Savage, and has charged the Commissioners with her in the Accounts I have sent by Lieuten" Holleday to your Honour, hoping you will speedily recommend them to the Commis- sioners.
" I send your Honour Youghtanno's Answer to your Letter, and a List of the Goods given the Indians by Ridout, which may be informing what Goods will be most necessary for the Indians.
"I am Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,
" GEO. ARMSTRONG.
" The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr."
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Captain Paris' Letter to Governor Denny. " FORT FREDERICK, 22nd May, 1757.
" May it please your Honour :
" I had the Pleasure of receiving your Complements in the kindest Manner, by Captain George Armstrong, and gratefully return you Thanks for Your Honour's friendly Notice. I hope it will be more in my Power to do the Province of Pennsylvania better Services. I have assisted Captain Armstrong in the delivery of your Messages, which the Indians are highly pleased with. I durst not mention Mr. Croghan as a fit Person to distribute your Presents, as the Thoughts of that Gentleman, to the Cherokees, is very aggra- vating, knowing him to be a corrupt Peace Maker amongst the Nations who are our Enemies. This can't properly be called a Treaty, as they are Our Friends; It is only a friendly Conference, and I think you are not obliged to send Mr. Croghan. The Chiefs . have repeatedly urged that Colonel Armstrong shou'd be the Person chosen to distribute the Presents. I shall come with the Cherokees to Fort Loudoun.
"I am, Honour'd Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,
"' RICH " PARIS.
" Governor DENNY."
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MINUTES OF THE
Minutes of Yaughtanno's (a Chief Warrior of the Cherokee Indians) Answer to a Message from the Governor of Pennsyl- vauia, deliver'd by Captain George Armstrong, at Fort Frede- rick, in Maryland, the 22d May, 1757.
" Brother :
"I received your Belt, String, and Letter, for which I return you my most hearty Thanks. I shall hold them fast untill I hear from you again, and, agreeable to your Appointment, will meet your Agent at Fort Loudoun, or wheresover you please, But I think it proper not to appoint a Time for our Meeting, as I have to go to Winchester to consult the remainder of my People There, and leave you to send an Express for me, On the Arrival of your Agent and Presents [Gifts] at Fort Loudoun.
" If you cannot come yourself to meet me, I hope you will send Colon1. Armstrong, with whom we have already made up an acquain- tance, and find to be a brother.
" YOUGHTANNO."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday the 4th June, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
William Till,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Benjamin Chew, Lynford Lardner, and
Richard Peters, John Mifflin, ? Esquires.
The Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas, coming on next Week, for the County of Philadelphia, the Consideration of a New Commission of the Peace for that County was resumed ; And after Examination of the Character of the several Persons recommended, a List of Names was made out, and each Member of Council furnish'd with a Copy, to examine further into their Character.
Then was read a Letter, of the 29th April last, from William Till and John Vining Esquires, Two of the Supreme Judges of the Lower Counties, web. was deliver'd to the Governor, on Monday last, by Mr. Ross, Attorney General, wherein they acquaint the Gov- ernor, that they had held a Court of Oyer & Terminer at New Castle, in which Four Persons were capitally convicted ; Two for Murder, and Two for Burglary, and all of them sentenced to dye ; and that they had enclosed the Records of their Convictions. As to one of them viz: Cornelieus Gaffery, a Soldier, who was indicted
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
and convicted by the Jury for the Murder of his Wife, they pray leave to observe, that after hearing the Whole Testimony, they were of Opinion, and the Attorney General concurred with them, that the Offence amounted to no more than Manslaughter, and so in- formed the Jury. Yet they convicted him of Murder. It appeared a sudden Heat and falling out between him and his Wife, and before he cou'd cool, or the Heat of Passion abate, He gave her a kick or two which bruised her, and broke some inward Blood vessel, so that She soon expired. It appeared they were in perfect Love and Harmony an Hour before this falling out. He is a Soldier, and was sent to Wilmington into Winter Quarters ; has long been in His Majesty's Service ; They believe him to be a brave, and may yet be an useful Soldier, and Pray leave to recommend him to His Honour's Mercy.
Then the Record of his Conviction was read, and Mr. Till relat- ing the particular Circumstances given in Evidence at his Tryal, which were in Favour of the Criminal; and again very earnestly recommending him to Mercy, the Governor and Council were unanimously of Opinion that he was a proper Object of Mercy, and ought in Justice to be reprieved. It being likewise told the Governor that he was in Irons in the condemned Vault of the Jayl at Newcastle, His Honour ordered the Sheriff to take off his Irons, let him be in some other part of the Jayl, and to signify to him that he wou'd be repriev'd.
The Record of the Conviction of Margaret Sexton for the Murder of her Husband's Child by a former Wife, an Infant aged 4 Years, was read, and it appearing by Mr. Till's Account of the Tryal that it was a most barbarous & wilfull murder, the Council cou'd not advise the Governor to respite the Sentence.
The Records of the Conviction of David Brown and James Coughlin for Burglary, were read, and Mr. Till declaring that he cou'd not say any thing in their Favour, Warrants were ordered for their Execution.
A Letter from William Greene, Esquire, Governor of Rhode Island, of the 19th May, was read, in which he requests that a Sloop, called the Hanover, Stanfast Wyat, Master, which has been loaded Five or Six Weeks with Provisions for that Colony, may be cleared ; and engages that the whole shall be applied to the Con- sumption of the People of Rhode Island.
The Council, considering that the Governor of Rhode Island might have applied to Lord Loudoun at New York, were of Opinion that it wou'd not be proper to grant the Request.
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