USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 60
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" Brother :
" As soon as ever I come to Wyomink, I will send Two Messen- gers, one of them my own Son, before me, to let you know what Number of Indians are with Me, and of what differnt Tribes or Nations."
The Speaker being asked if he had heard how many were likely to come, say'd " a large Number of Delawares, and other Nations were ready to come, & some of the Six Nations held a Council at Colonel Johnson's, and were to send their Answer to Teedyuscung, but they never sent it, and they were detain'd for want of it." What they will do the Chief cou'd not tell.
Then the Speaker proceeded with Teedyuscung's Message, in these Words, to wit :
" Brother :
" When I arrive at Wyomink, I desire you may send Four or Five Horse Loads of Provisions there, Not by White People, but Indians. I wou'd have no White People come with them; the Horses will be wanted for Women and Children, and the sick and tired, As I shall have a great Number of People."
Being asked how many Four or Five meant, He said, "it was an Indian Phrase, but had a Meaning in it, that is : He left it to the Governor. He does not mean Bread and Meal only, but dry Meat.
"These Things I speak to my Brother.
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" Brother :
" If you will grant this, I will take it kindly, that as I and the People with Me want to turn four aces from the French to the English, The Governor will favour us with a little Dram, to refresh Us in Our Journey.
" Brother :
" I desire you wou'd be carefull. I have heard, and have Reason to think it will grieve both you and me to the Heart. There are many Nations belonging to the French, who go around me ; And as I have heard, and have Reason to believe They know, and have understood, that I have taken hold of your Hand, and their Aim is to break Us a pieces, And to separate Us.
" The Road that was cleared they endeavour to stop; And there- fore, I desire You wou'd be carefull at all Times, And not trust any Indian that pretends to come as a Friend, Unless he has a certain Signal, with which we will make you acquainted before hand."
Then the Messengers spoke as follows, addressing the Governor : " Brother :
"It is Eleven Days ago since We came from Teedyuscung, & We have every day been as diligent as we cou'd. We have been only One Night at Bethlehem. In Eight Days after we left him, Teedyuscung said he wou'd rise and come to his Brethren."
A String of Wampum.
The Governor thanked them for their diligence, Dispatch and Trouble, said he was glad Teedyuscung is set out, And promised they shou'd be paid to their Satisfaction.
The Messenger said further :
" That when they first came Teedyuscung was glad to see them and all the People with him ; That tho' they wou'd not plant before yet when they came they all determined to plant their Corn.
" That at the Time they came in It was as if all the Clouds were broke away and dispersed; That the Indians who were backward last Year wou'd all now come; they knew they wou'd; they saw it.
" Teedyuscung has done his Endeavour by his Messengers. When he first visited the Indians over the Great Swamp and told them what was doing, they said It was a Bait, and that the English wou'd kill us all; But, however, when they saw we came back safe the first Time, they dropt their Tomhawk, and said if the English are true to you they will be true to us : So they dropt their Tomhawk.
" You must make a great Broad Belt of Wampum to invite these and other Indians."
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MEMORANDUM.
The Proclamation for a Fast not being entered in the Minutes of the Sixth Instant. when it was agreed to (tho' it did not issue till the 13th Instant), is order'd now to be entered, and follows in these Words, vizt .:
" By the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Dela- ware,
. " A PROCLAMATION.
" Whereas, under a Continuance of divine Judgments, the Minds of a People shou'd be repeatedly and more earnestly called upon to make the warmest Applications to the Throne of Grace, as it may reasonably be concluded, from such a Continuance, that they have not made a due Improvement of former Judgments by making them the Means of learning Righteousness; And Whereas, the wisest . Nations have ever thought it their Duty when the Hand of Heaven was more particularly stretched out against them, to set apart par- ticular Seasons for a more Public And solemn Humiliation of them- selves before the Lord their Maker; And Whereas such a Conduct seems at present more especially to be our Duty when our Mother Country is involved in an heavy and Calamitous War by an unna- tural Combination of European Powers against her, and These her American Colonies, bleeding under the murderous Outrages of the Heathen on our Borders, equally threatening the Destruction of the British and Protestant Interest; Wherefore, upon weighty Con- sideration of these Things, I have thought fit, by the Advice of the Council, to appoint Friday, the Eight day of July next, to be ob- served throughout this Province and Countys under my Government as a Day of Public ffasting, Prayer, and Humiliation before the Lord our God; And I do exhort and strictly enjoin all His Majesty's loving Subjects, within the Province and Counties aforesaid, to observe the said Fast with becoming Reverence and Devotion; to abstain from all servile Labour on that Day, and to join in most fervent Supplica- tions to Almighty God that He wou'd be pleased, thro' the infinite Merits and Intercession of his Son Jesus Christ, to forgive Us our Sins, both National and Private; to avert the Punishments justly due to them; to give us Grace for the Amendment of our Lives ; to relieve us from the Calamities We groan under; to bless His Majesty's Arms, both by Sea and Land, and especially the Expe- dition under His Excellency the Earl of Loudoun, wherein We are so nearly concerned; that it may be the Means of securing to Us and our latest Posterity the solid Enjoyment of lasting Peace, pure Religion, and all our other inestimable Privileges, as Britons and Protestants. And lastly, I do recommend it to the several
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Ministers of the Gospel to compose Prayers and Sermons suitable to the Occasion, to be used in their respective Churches and Places of Worship on that Day, and to publish this Declaration to their Congregations, immediately after divine Service, on some of the Lord's Days preceding the said Fast.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province At Philadelphia, the Thirteenth Day of June, in the Thirtieth Year of His Majesty's Reign, And in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" By His Honour's Command.
" RICHARD PETERS, Secretary. "GOD SAVE THE KING."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, 22d June, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
William Logan and Esquires.
John Mifflin, Lynford Lardner,
The Governor sent to the House the Minutes of the Indian Messages deliver'd Yesterday, with the following Letters, viz. :
A Letter to the Governor from Mr. Horsfield, of the 19th Ins".
A Letter from Major Parsons to his Honour, of the same date ; and
A Letter to Mr. Parsons from Lieuten“ Orndt, dated the 18th June.
A Memorial of Sir John St. Clair, Baronet, Deputy Quarter Master General of all His Majesty's Forces in North America, setting forth the Necessity of opening One or more Roads On the Frontiers of Cumberland County for the Convenience of the Army under General Braddock, was read, and laid before the House, with the following Message :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" The Matter set forth in the Memorial of Sir John St. Clair, Deputy Quarter Master General, is of so much Consequence to His Majesty's Service, and the Ease of the People of this Province, who may be distressed by a Body of Troops halting and heavily quarter'd upon them, in Case the Baggage Waggons are stopped
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
by the Badness of the Roads. I, therefore, recommend to you to take this immediately into your Consideration, and prepare a Bill to supply the Defects of the Laws, now in Force, for the Repair of Roads and Highways, so that they may be widened and mended while the Season permits.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
"June 22nd, 1757."
The Militia Bill, and the Paper deliver'd to the Governor the 16th Instant, were considered. It was observed that it was unpar- liamentary to resume the Proceedings of a former Sessions relating to any Bill rejected by the Governor, and returned to the House with his Negative, Yet as this Bill was of real Importance to the Country, this might be overlooked.
Mr. Till and Mr. Peters having compared the Governor's former Amendments with the present Paper, related all differences between them ; And the Alterations made by the House appearing frivolous, and in no wise affecting the main Points insisted on by the Governor, They were rejected, and the Bill return'd to the House, with a Message that His Honour adhered to his Amendments. The Gov- ernor likewise desired the Secretary wou'd inform the House that he had not yet heard from Lord Loudoun, in relation to the Em- bargo, but expected it every Hour; having spoke with a gentle- man just come from New York, who was informed by his Lordship, that the Governor wou'd have received his Answer to that Business by Express, before the said Gentlemen got to Philada., But upon Enquiry after the said Express, it cou'd not be found that He was yet arrived. This Intelligence was brought by Captain Sampson Mifflin.
The Militia Bill differs from the last in the following particu- lars, viz* :
" Page 3. Sheriff is put under the Penalty of £100 instead of £50, In Issuing the Precept to the Constable.
" Page 5. Constable is under Penalty of £20 instead of £10.
" Page 7, Line 13. Addition [officers shall before Execution of their offices take the Oaths, and take and subscribe the usual Declaration ].
" Page 10, Lines 11, 12. Captain is laid [under Penalty of £30] to take Lists from Sheriff.
" Page 11, Line 4. An Addition [to belong to such religious Societies whose Tenets and religious Principles are against bearing Arms]
" Page 11, last Line, & Page 12, Line 1, 2. Instead of [not con- scientiously scrupling the Use of Arms] It is [not belonging to such Religious Societies whose Tenets are agst. the Use of Arms]. VOL. VII .- 38.
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MINUTES OF THE
" Page 12, Line 11. Instead of [June, August, November, and March] it is [November, March, June, and August].
" Page 12, Line 16. Instead of [October] it is [April].
" Page 13, Line 9. The Words [not less than one Shilling] are left out.
" Page 14, Lines 12, 13. The Amendment in the Printed Bill, Page 3, Line 21, is inserted with this Addition, after the Word [enrolled] [not belonging to such religious Societies whose Tenets are against the Use of Arms].
" Page 15, Lines 8, 9. The Words [and appearing on the days of Muster herein before appointed] are left out.
"Line 13. The Words [so appearing] are left out.
" The Clause empowering the Commissioners to discharge Persons incapable of paying 20 Shillings is left out.
"Page 16, Lines 5, 6. Instead of [one Serjant and Corporal] it is [Two Serjants, Two Corporals and one Drummer].
" Page 17, Line 4. After the Word [Corporals] there is added [and Drummer].
" Page 19, Line 14. After the Word [Chief ] there is taken in a Part of the Amendmt proposed by the Governor, viz [before they enter on the Execution of their said Offices, shall take the Oaths, and repeat & subscribe the Declaration appointed by the be- fore mentioned Statute of King George the 1st, and].
" Page 21, Lines 6 & 15. Instead of [Coronet] it is [Cornet].
"Page 22, Line 4 to L. 9. After the Word [Companies] The Amendment is added, viz+ [And the said Oficers and Private Men of the said Troops, shall afterwards during the Continuance of this Act meet and exercise on the Days and Times before appointed, under the like Penalties as are herein before imposed on the Officers & Private Men of the said Companies of Foot.]
" Page 22, Line last but one. Instead of [Twelve] it is [Twenty Four] in both Places.
"Page 23, Line 15. Instead of [Coronet] [Cornet].
" Page 28, Line 2. After the Word [him ] there is added [shall take the Oaths, and make, repeat and subscribe the Declaration aforesaid, and ].
" Line 12. After the Word [directed] The Amendment is added, viz" [under the like Penalties as are herein before imposed on the Officers and Private Men of the Foot Companies, and Troops of Horse, for their Neglect in Meeting and excercising on the days aforesd.].
" Page 34, Line 1 to L 8. Amendment added, vizt [And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Commissioned Officer, or Private Militia Man shall be maimed or disabled in ac-
f it
1
G R R
of T Tr int
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
tual Service, he shall be taken Care of and provided for during such Disability at the Expence of the Province].
"Line 13. Instead of [Five] it is [Ten].
"Page 35, Line 5. The Word [who] is left out.
"Line 6. The Words [be ready to] are left out.
" Line 13. After the Word [within] the Words [in suppressing Insurrections of Slaves, or other evil minded Persons during an Attack ] are left out.
" Page 36, Line 3. After the Word [Enemy] there is added [and other Duties and Services of like Nature].
Page 38, Lines 7, 8. Instead of [Forty Shillings] it is said [Five Pounds] as in the Amendment.
" Page 40, Line last. Instead of the Words [Counties of Cum- berland, York, Lancas"., Berks and Northampton] It is [several Counties of this Province ].
" Page 41, Line 10. The Word [that] is left out.
" ffrom Page 42, Line 9, to Page 49, Line 14. After the 9th Line of Page 43, there are added several New Paragraphs, which reach to Page 49, Line 14.
A Message entered in the Minutes of Council for June ye 18th, having been prepared in Answer to the Assembly's extraordinary Message of ye 17th Inst the same was read, approved, and this Day sent to the House.
Mr. William West delivered to the Governor, in Council, a Letter from the Justices of Cumberland County, which was read, and in it they inform His Honour, that they are not willing to act any longer as Justices of the Peace.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, 23d June, 1757. PRESENT :
The Honourable . WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Robert Strettell,
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader,
The Letter containing the Resignation of the present Justices of Cumberland County was again read, and it having been the Opinion of the Govern" and Council, from their weak Conduct for some Time past, that they were unfit to be continued in so important a Trust, the Council was desired to think of proper Persons to put into a New Commission of the Peace for that County.
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The following Letters from Lord Loudoun and Governour De Lancey, relating to the Embargo, were read in these Words, viz":
A Letter from the Earl of Loudoun to Governor Denny, dated the Fifth Instant :
"NEW YORK, 5th June, 1757.
" Sir :
" As the Fleet is now ready to sail, I take this Opportunity to acquaint you, that in Conjunction with Sir Charles Hardy, we have agreed that the Embargo shou'd not be any longer continued, on Account of the Service we are now going on, than Seven Days after we are sailed from this Port; but we think it absolutely necessary that it shou'd be continued so long, in Order to prevent the Enemy from having Intelligence of our Motion from any Ship they might take. And it will not be taken off here any sooner.
" I shall leave my Letters with Lieutenant Governor De Lancey, to be forwarded to You as soon as we sail.
"I am, with great Respect, Sir, " Your most obedient humble Servant,
" LOUDOUN.
" The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY."
A Letter from Governor De Lancey to Governor Denny, dated the 21st Instant. " NEW YORK, 21st June, 1757.
" Sir :
"Sir Charles Hardy sailed Yesterday from Sandy Hook, and as I have inform'd You that the Embargo wou'd be taken off here a Week after the Fleet's Sailing, and of which You shou'd have timely Notice, I therefore take this Opportunity to acquaint You that I have, by the Advice of His Majesty's Council, ordered that the Embargo shall be taken off on Monday next, when all Vessels loaden for any Ports abroad, will have Liberty to depart from hence, and not sooner. I make no doubt but you will Keep to the same Day, that the Merchants may have an equal Advantage.
"I am, Sir, your most obedient " And most humble Servant, "JAMES DE LANCEY.
"P. S .- I enclose you a Letter, directed to your self, wch. I recd. from Loudoun; And Two for Governor Sharpe & Govr. Dinwiddie, web. You will be pleased to forward to them.
" Governor DENNY."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
fi Letter from the Earl of Loudoun to Govr. Denny. [The Letter not inserted in Council Book. ]
The Governor laid before the Council a Lre. of the 16th Inst. from Mr. Thomas M'Kee, who was appointed to accompany the Indians from Lancaster Treaty, and to take Care of them at Fort Augusta, which was read in these Words, viz“ :
A Letter to His Honour from Mr. Thomas M' Kee. " FORT AUGUSTA, June ye 16th, 1757. " May it please your Honour :
" According to your Instructions I left the Indian Camp at Lan- caster the 23d of last Month, and when I came as far as Samuel Scott's I was obliged to stop and bury a Tuscarora Indian who was killed by one of his own Nation ; from thence with much Difficulty, by reason of the Indians excessive drinking, I came to John Harris,' where I was detained 3 Days, and buried another Man of the same Nation who died of the Small Pox; ffrom thence I came to Fort Hunter, where the Indians in spight [spite] of all that I cou'd do, got into a drinking Frolick, which detain'd me Three Days ; and from thence we set up by Water to Fort Augusta, where Major Bird received us very kindly, and gave the Indians Plenty of all such Provisions as he was Master of; And least that there sho'd be any Difference be- tween the Indians and Soldiers, He gave the Indians but a Jill of Rum a Day, which did not altogether please them, as they expected another drinking Frolick, but we did not think it expedient, by Reason that our scouting Parties daily discovered fresh Signs of the Enemy Indians. I must acquaint Your Honour that after we left the Inhabitants Thomas King, one of their Indian Chiefs, seemed much out of Humour, and did not prove so free or familiar as I expected ; And after we were some Time at Augusta I asked him in the Presence of Major Bird which of his People he wou'd leave here, And he replied that he wou'd leave none but what died here. They left this Fort the 5th of last Month with Plenty of Flour, Meat, and Rum, sufficient to carry them home. I have still here two Families of the Tuscaroras and Two Families of the Conne- stogos, and old Ogohadoria, alias Kishatay ; but they have not as yet resolv'd whether They will stay here or not. I must further acquaint your Honour that a Family of the Oneidas came Yester- day down the River, and they want Powder and Lead; but the Major does not think proper to part with any more Ammunition out of the Garrison ; so that in my humble Opinion it wou'd be very requisite that Your Honour wou'd order a Supply of Powder, Lead, and Flour, to be sent to this Fort, In so much as by all In- formation there will be a continual Resort of Indians at this Place.
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I understand by this Family that Teedyuscung is gone from Wyo- mink across the Country with a great Number of Indians in order to go to Easton. The aforesaid Indians likewise inform me that They expect Two Canoes with Indians here this day or To-morrow in Order to get Powder, Lead, and Provision, and as they are in a starving Condition they expect Sustenance from here during this Summer. If it is your Honour's Pleasure that I shou'd remain here I humbly desire the favour of receiving your Honour's In- structions, and a Liberty of distributing amongst the Indians, ac- cording as it will suit, such things as are designed for them for sale.
"I remain y". Honour's most obed& hble. Servt., " THOMS. McKEE. " To The Honble. WM. DENNY, Esqr."
The Governor likewise laid before the Council a Letter from Colonel Stanwix, of the 12th and 13th Instant, relating to the Cherokee Indians, together with one from Colonel Armstrong of the 10th, and another from Mr. Croghan of the 11th, which were enclosed. The Colonel likewise sent Copies of Two long Letters of the 8th Instant, from Mr. Atkins, Superintendant of Indian Affairs in the Southern District, to Mr. Croghan. Mr. Atkins' Letters being extremely long and Tedious, after they were read, were ordered to remain among the Council Papers; the others follow in these Words, vizt. :
A Letter from the Honble. Colonel Stanwix, dated the 12th Instant.
" CAMP NEAR CARLISLE, June 12th, 1757. " Dear Sir :
" A few Days ago Colonel Armstrong left this Place, with Fifty of the Provincials, for Fort Loudoun, under which Party the In- dian Presents were guarded ; And Mr. Croghan set out Two days before him. Colonel Armstrong seemed inclined to meet the Southern Tribe, and to have some Conference with Captain Paris, and to try if these People wou'd Join in a Scout towards Ray's Town ; to all which I consented, tho' realy as to Indian Matters, you must know I can be but a Stranger, and I find all those em- ployed as Agents very jealous of one another, and I can perceive Mr. Croghan so of Colonel Armstrong, and by the enclosed you will find Mr. Atkins so of them all, as well as of the Provinces. The enclosd. is a Copy of one I received Yesterday from Colonel Armstrong, weh. wou'd not have been worth an Express, but as one is returning to Philadelphia, give You this Trouble, which may be a Satisfaction to You, as our Accounts, till I got this Letter, gave
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out that Lieutent Hollyday, wth. Fifteen of his Party, were all either killed by the Indians or taken Prisoners.
" Believe me, Dear Sir,
" Your most obedt hble. Serv.,
" JOHN STANWIX. " Governor DENNY.
"P. S .- I Send out scouting Partys here Three or Four Times a week, but have yet met with no Indians ; find a few of the Pro- vincials joyn'd with me on these Occasions very usefull, as they are realy good Men, and know the Country."
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Colonel Stanwix' Letter of the 13th Instant.
" Dear Sir :
" I write this, and enclose these Accounts, ready to send You when any Opportunity offers, which is always uncertain, as no Post to Lancaster. Mr. Atkins' Account is long, and as I have no Clerk, send you just as I received it, without keeping a Copy ; when you have, you'll please to return it, as I may have further Occasion to peruse it. I send you a Copy of Colonel Armstrong's Letter with his last account of the late Skirmish wth. and Surprize by the Indians, &cª. Shall as often as I have anything material and Opportunitys of doing it, give You Trouble of this Sort; who am, Dear Sir,
" Your most obedt humble Servt,
" JOHN STANWIX.
" To Governor DENNY."
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A Letter from Lieut. Colonel Armstrong to Colonel Stanwix, dated the 10th Instant, at Fort Morris.
"FORT MORRIS, 10th June, 1757. "Hond. Sir:
" At one o'clock this Morning I receiv'd an Express from Fort Loudoun, with Intelligence of Lieutent. Hollyday's having set out with Twenty-ffive Men to reconnoitre the Woods; and at the deserted House of one McClelan, in a Place called the great Cove, part of the Men, with the Lieutent-, went into the said House, whilst the residue were at some Distance drinking Water from the Spring, and were unhappily surprized and surrounded by a Party of Indians, said to be near One Hundred in Number; Ten of our Party were got into Loudoun before the Express set out; their Account is so imperfect that little Dependance can be laid on it; they say they
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saw one of the Soldiers fall and another captivated. The Lieuten" was not come in.
" Yesterday Morning L' Armstrong left this Place charg'd with the Waggons and Cattle for Loudoun, who will, I expect, proceed from that Garrison in quest of the Enemy; and is follow'd this Morning by Capt. Kallender & Ens. Hay. Littleton may possibly head the Enemy, being Eight Miles West of the said McClelan's.
" Yesterday we waited the Return of Mr. Croghan's Express, who is detained at Winchester by Mr. Atkins, the Superintendent. That Gentleman has wrote Captain Croghan by another Hand, whereby it appears he is miffed about the Provinces having taken any notice of the Southern Tribes without first consulting him. He has quar- rell'd with Captain Paris, and I doubt the Indians are affronted. Mr. Croghan thinks the Virginians have given him a wrong State of Matters.
"I am, Sir, with the greatest Respect, "Your most obedient hble. Servant,
" JOHN ARMSTRONG.
" Colon1. STANWIX.
"P. S .- We set out for Fort Loudoun directly; Mr. Clark, a Ped- lar, can give an Account of the Indian Affairs at Winchester."
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