Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII, Part 63

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

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A Letter from Captain Thomas McKee, of the 21st June, was likewise read; and as both Major Burd and He mention, that the Indians expected in Consequence of what was said At Easton, to find a Store of Goods for sale at Fort Agusta, It was consid- ered what Answer to give them, but it appearing to be of too great Consequence to be settled by so small a Board, the Consideration was deferred till the next Council.

Then was read A Letter of the 22nd Instant, from Major Par-

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sons, with the inclosed Deposition of George Ebert, a Prisoner, lately escaped from the Indians, which was ordered to be entered, and follows in these Words, viz“ :

The Deposition of George Ebert, taken before William Parsons, Esquire, On the 20th Day of June, Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven.

" Personally appeared before Me, William Parsons, One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, for the County of North- ampton, George Ebert ( Son of John Ebert, late of Plainfield Township, in the said County, Yeoman, but now of Easton in the same County), aged Sixteen Years, and being duly sworn On the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth and de- clareth, That on or about the Second Day of May last, He, this Deponant, with about Eighteen armed Men, went with Two Wag- gons from Plainfield Township, to assist the Inhabitants of Lower Smithfield, who had a few days before been attacked by the Enemy Indians (and some of the Neighbourhood, murdered by the Sa- vages), to bring off some of their best Effects. That about Noon of the same Day, they came to the House of Conrad Bittenbender, to which House divers of the Neighbours had fled ; here one of the Waggons with about Ten Men, with this Deponant, halted to load their Waggon with the poor People's Effects ; and the rest of the Company with the other Waggon went forward about a Mile, to the House of Philip Bozart, to which place others of the Neighbours had also fled, with such of their Effects as they cou'd in their Confusion carry there. That this Deponant and Conrad Bittenbender, Peter Sheaffer, John Nolf, Jacob Roth, Michael Kierster, a certain Kiens And One Man more (whose Name this Deponant hath forgot) went about Two Miles into the Woods to seek the Neighbour's Horses, whereof they found Six, And were returning with them to within half a Mile of Bittenbender's House where they were attacked by Fifteen ffrench Indians, who fired upon them & killed Bittenbender, Jacob Roth and John Nolf, as he believes, ffor that he saw Three fall, one dead, And took Peter Sheaffer, who received Two fflesh Shots, One in his Arm and the other on the Shoulder, And this Deponant Prisoners; This Deponant received no Shot. And this Deponant further sayth, That the Indians frequently talked French together ; 'That they set off immediately with their Prisoners; That on the Evening of the next Day they fell in with another Com- pany of about Twenty ffour Indians who had Abraam Miller, with his Mother, and Adam Snell's Daughter, Prisoners; The Indians with their Prisoners marched in Parties as far as Diahoga ; That at this Place the Indians separated, and about Eight, the foremost, took this Deponant and Abraham Miller with them, and they never saw any of the other Prisoners afterwards; That in their way on this Side of Dialogo they saw Klein's Daughter, who had been taken Prisoner about a Week before this Deponant was taken ; That.

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a Day's Journey beyond Diahogo, they came to some ffrench Indian Cabbins, where they saw another Prisoner, a girl about Eight or Nine Years old, who told this Deponant that her Name was Cathe- rine Yager, that her Father was a Lock Smith and lived at Alle- mengle, And that she had been Prisoner ever since Christmas; That at this Place the Indians loosed the Prisoners, this Deponant and Abraham Miller, who they had bound every Night before; That finding themselves at Liberty, they, this Deponant & Abraham Miller, made their Escape in the night, and the next Day afternoon they came to ffrench Margaretts at Diahogo, having been Prisoners Nine Days; That they stayed about ffour Weeks with her, during all which Time she concealed them and supported them; That some ffrench Indians came in Search of the Prisoners, whereupon Mar- garet told them it was not safe for them to stay longer, and advised them to make the best of their Way homewards; That all the In- dians at and on this Side Diahogo were very kind to them, and help'd and directed them on their Way; John Cook was particu- larly helpfull to them; That while they were at Diahoga they were informed that the Indians had killed Abraham Miller's Mother, who was not able to travel further, And Snell's Daughter, who had received a Wound in her Leg by a Fall when they first took her Prisoner, but they heard Nothing of Peter Sheaffer ; That in Three Days they arrived at Wyoming by Water, as Margarett had ad- vised them; That at Wyoming the Indians directed them the Way to Fort Allen, but they missed their Way and came the road to Fort Hamilton, where they arrived last Sunday Week. And this Deponant further sayth, that the ffriendly Indians told them that the Enemy had killed Marshall's Wife at the ffirst Mountain. And further this Deponant sayth not.

" The Mark of "GEORGE MEBERT.

"Sworn at Easton the Day & Year abovesaid, before me,

"WM. PARSONS.

"N. B .- This Deponent saith that they understood by the ffrench Indians That they'd Three Day's further to go from the Place from whence They escaped.".

Also, another Letter from Major Parsons of the 26th Instant, giving an Account that a large Body of Indians had attacked and burnt Broadhead's House, which is about a Mile from and in sight of Fort Hamilton; And that they had killed and scalped One Tidd, besides killing a great Number of Creatures.

And a Letter from Lt. Colonel Weiser of the 24th, wherein he mentions that one Peter Gersinger was shot and scalped behind his Plow, between Fort Henry and the Fort at Mortkill, was likewise read.

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At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday the 7th July, 1757.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

James Hamilton,

Joseph Turner,

Benjamin Chew,

Benjamin Shoemaker, And Esquires.

Richard Peters,

A Letter from Justice Horsfield of the 6th Instant was read, ac- quainting the Governor with the arrival of Tecdyuscung at Fort Allen.

It was considered by the Council what answer to give to Major Burd and Captain Thomas McKee with respect to fixing a Store of Goods at Fort Augusta agreable to what was said at Lancaster ; but as Teedyuscung was already come to Fort Allen and expected a Number of Senecas, and this was a Matter that ought to be well explained and settled in the most public Manner with the Indians, the Governor was advised to have it mentioned at the ensuing Treaty, and to let Major Burd and Captain McKee know this.

A Letter from Sir William Johnson to the Governor, dated the 22nd June, and the Papers enclosed, vizt : An Extract from Indian Proceedings at Fort Johnson the 14th June; a Letter from Sir Wil- liam to Edmund Atkins, Esquire, dated the 20th June; and Copy of the- Minutes of a Conference with the Senecas, Cayugas, and Onondago Indians held at Fort Johnson the 20th Ultimo, were read, and follow in these Words, to wit :

A Letter from Sir William Johnson to Governor Denny. " FORT JOHNSON, 22nd June, 1757.

" Sir :

" I have just concluded a Meeting with the Senecas, Cayugas, and Onondagoes, and herewith I transmit You Extracts of what passed relative to the Delawares and Shawonese. I did intend myself the Honour of writing more at large, in Consequence of this Con- gress, but I am still so surrounded and my Time so wholly and so unavoidably taken up with Indians, that it is not in my Power to do it. As I am unwilling to delay acquainting You with Particu- lars, I hope you will excuse my referring You to my Letter to Mr. Atkins, which Governor De Lancy will transmit You herewith, and you will please to Seal it, and forward it, with the Papers inclosed, to Mr. Atkins by the first good Opportunity. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Esteem, Sir,

" Your most Obedient & most humble Servant, "WM. JOHNSON.

" To the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr-, &ca.

"P. S .- In reading over my Letter to Mr. Atkins, I think it

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proper to explain myself to You more explicitly on that part of it, wherein I say, 'that if the Government of Pennsylvania push on War with One Hand, and Peace with the other, they will have a ticklish and hazardous Part to act,' by which I do not intend a Censure upon encouraging the Catabaws and Cherokees to act in our Favour, but that if we do not properly support them and that System, in the Consequences which may flow from it, the Scheme may be attended with Effects very much to the Disadvantage of Your's and the Neighbouring Southern Governments.

" I am Your most Obedient,

"WM. JOHNSON."

" Extract from the Speech of the Senccas, Cayougas, and Onon- dagas, to Sir William Johnson, at Fort Johnson, the 14th June, 1757, P. M.

" ' Brother :

"' As you desired the Six Nations wou'd mediate between the English and the Delawares, and prevail on those Indians to cease their Hostilities, The Senecas, under whose more immediate Di- rection those Indians are, did, according to your Request, inter- pose ; and they have brought them to a Cessation of Arms, except those Indians who live on the Ohio, and are under the Guidance of the French, whom the Senecas have not yet been able to bring to Terms of Peace.'

" Gave a Belt of Wampum."

" Extract from the Answer of Sir William Johnson to the abovesaid Nations, at Fort Johnson, 16th June, 1757, P. M.

"' Brethren :

"I am well pleased that the Senecas, under whose Directions the Delawares are, have, upon my application, interpos'd their In- fluence, upon those deluded People, to stop their Hostilities upon this and the Neighbouring Provinces ; and I expect they will exert their utmost to compleat this good Work, with the Ohio Delawares. also.'

"A Belt.

"' Brethren :

"'Last Winter the Governour of Pennsylvania had a Meeting with Teedyuscung, the Chief of the Delawares, who live at Tiaogo, when Teedyuscung told the Governor that one of the chief Causes of the Delawares taking up the Ax against the English was that they thought themselves defrauded and injured with regard to their

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Lands. The Governor answered, that he desired to know in what Instances, and by whom these Frauds and Injustice had been done to them; and that he was then ready and willing to hear their com- plaints, and redress them to the utmost of his Power ; And heartily dispos'd to settle every thing to their Satisfaction. Teedyuscung answered that he was not then empowered by, nor were the proper Persons present, to accommodate these Disputes, therefore he pro- posed a Meeting with the Governor this Spring, when he said he wou'd come prepared to settle all these Matters.

"'The Meeting was accordingly agreed on, And I sent our Brother Mr. Croghan, my Deputy, to Pennsylvania, to act there in my Name, and see Justice done to the Indians. I gave the Six Nations Notice hereof, and several of them attended there accordingly. They waited a great while for Teedyuscung's Arrival, but he never came; so that all the Expence and Trouble of this Meeting did not produce the main Effects intended by it. I desire to know from Our Brothers, the Senecas, the Reason of this Strange Behaviour of Teedyuscung, which appears to me very blameable, and unworthy the Character of a Chief Man; And I must desire that our Brothers, the Senecas, will talk to him, and, if he is in Fault, make him sensible of it. The Governour of Pennsylvania hath spoke and acted like a wise and honest man; And appears sincerely disposed to do Justice with Impartiality of Heart. The Affair is of great Consequence, and Teedyuscung's Conduct doth not appear fair and candid by not ful- filling his own Proposals and Promises.'

" Gave Several large Strings of Wampum."

" Extract from the Reply of the Senecas, Cayougas, & Onondagas to Sir William Johnson, at Fort Johnson, 19th June, 1757. P. M. " ' Brother :

""' You told us you were pleased to hear that the Senecas had interpos'd, and prevailed on the Delawares to lay down the Hatchet against the English, and that you expected we wou'd continue our Endeavours to bring the Delawares who live on the Ohio to do the same.

"' Brother :

"""We have sent to those Delawares on the Ohio, who are about One Hundred & Thirty in Number, and we expect on our return to receive an Answer, which, when we get, we will transmit to You. " ' Brother :

"' You desire to know from the Senecas if they know the Reason why Teedyuscung did not attend the late Meeting at Lancaster, ac- cording to his Promise. The Senecas here present say They do not know, but that they shortly expect a great Meeting with the Dela-

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wares, And if Teedyuscung comes with them they will examine him upon his Conduct herein.'

" Gave 4 Strings of Wampum.

" True Extracts from the Original Records examin'd by Me. "PETER WRAXALL, Secry."

" Copy of the Minutes of a Conference with the 6 Nation Indians at Fort Johnson, 20th June.

" FORT JOHNSON, 20th June, 1757.

" At a Meeting of the Senecas, Cayugas, & Onondago Indians. "PRESENT :

" Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, Baronett.

" Lieuten. Claas,

" Mr. Robert Adams.

" Captain Peter Wraxall, Secretary.

" Mr. Arent Stephens, Interpreter.

" Several Oneido Indians.

"'Brethren of Seneca, Cayuga, & Onondago:

"' This Meeting is now upon the Point of breaking up, And you, in Consequence thereof, of returning to your respective Habitations.

"' Before you go away I think it Necessary to say a few Words more to You, which I desire you will listen to, remember, and faith- fully report to all your People on your Arrival at your Castles.

"' You have declared to Me that the Resolutions of your Three Nations are to act a Neutral Part in the present Hostilities between the English & French.

" ' I have told You, and I now again repeat it, that this Declara- tion is contrary to the many Promises and Engagements You have bound yourselves by At the several Public Meetings and Treaties You have held with Me since the King, your Father, was pleased to appoint me to the Management of His Indian Service in this Part of America. How He will receive this Breach of Faith, Notwith- standing the great Expence he hath been at In Cloathing,. Arming, and ffeeding You and your Families, And Building Forts in your Towns, at y". Request and for your Defence, Time will shew.

"' As you have now declared yourselves Neutrals, I think it proper to tell you what is expected from you under that Character.

"'First. That None of your People do, either by themselves or in Conjunction with any of His Majesty's Enemies, commit any Hostilities upon the Persons or Property of any of His Subjects.

"'Secondly. That you' do not permit either the French or their VOL. VII .- 40.

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Indians to pass thro' your Settlements to come and make War upon the English.

"'Thirdly. That you do not, directly or indirectly, give our Enemies, or their Indians, any Intelligence to our Prejudice, or which may enable them to do us Mischief.

"' And Lastly. As you have now assured me You are determined .to hold fast the Covenant Chain, we shall expect you give us, without delay, all such Intelligence as may be in your Power, which any way relates to our Wellfare.

"' Brethren :

"'I give you this Belt of Wampum as a Testimony, that if you do not keep up to these Rules of Behaviour, We shall look upon the Covenant Chain as absolutely broke between us, And You among the Number of those Enemies whom His Majesty is now at War with.'

"Gave a large Belt of Wampum, with the Seal of Office, on a piece of Parchment, tied to it.

" They made Answer, that they wou'd take all the Care in their Power to comply with what Sir William had insisted on.

" A True Copy from the original Records, examined by Me. " PETER WRAXALL, Secry."'

Copy of A Letter from Sir William Johnson to Edmund Atkin, Esquire. " FORT JOHNSON, 21st June, 1757.

"Sir:

" I have delayed answering your Favour of the 12th March last, from New York, in order that I might acquaint You with the Re- sult of the Meeting at Onondago, at which the Six Nations pro- mised what was laid before them here, last November, shou'd be taken into Consideration, and that I shou'd know their resolutions in Consequence of the same.

" They have kept Me in waiting much longer than I expected ; 'Tis but a few Days ago their Delegates arrived here. 'There came Deputies from the Senecas, both from the further (or Chi- nosia) and the Neither Castle, from the Cayougas, and Onondagos. They called upon the Oneidas, who, they say, refused to come ; and the 'Tuscaroras (who are, as it were, under the Oneidas), I suppose, followed their Example. Some of the Sachems of each of the Mohawk Castles were present at the Meeting.

"The above Three Nations, to wit: the Senecas, the Cayougas, and Onondagos, say, that they find themselves to be in a dangerous Situation. That the Messages, who lay the Loss of some of their

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People to the Onondagos, have threat'ned Revenge; And that an Indian of the Latter Nation narrowly escaped, a little while ago, from being killed by a Party of the former, who met him in the Woods.

" They say they are threat'ned from several Quarters, and expect to be attacked in a few Months, tho' they cannot yet positively learn by what Enemy it will be. Thus Circumstanced, they say, their own Welfare and Preservation require them to stay at Home, and be on their Guard. Those three Nations have, therefore, de- termined, at least for the present, to be Neutral in the present Hostilities between the English and ye French.

" Herewith I send you a Copy of the concluding Speech I made to them in Consequence of this Resolution. They have given me the strongest Assurances that they are, Notwithstanding, determined to hold ffast the Covenant Chain wth. their Brethren, the English, and will not quit their old Friendship and Alliance with them. I apprehend part of the Oneido and Tuscarora Nations (who are divided amongst themselves) will embrace this Neutral System. Most of the ffighters of the two Mohawk Castles are now out against Canada, Crown Point, and Ticonderoga, in different Parties, and others of them daily making ready to follow, and unless we meet with some signal Misfortune this Campaign, the Mohawks will not, I believe, enter into the Neutrality.

"Tho' there may be some Foundation for the Fears the Upper Nations have expressed for their own Safety, Yet I am far from believing the Reasons they assign for their Neutrality to be the true Ones. Our Ill Success hitherto hath intimidated them. Our Methods of Carrying on the War is not according to their Methods, And the present Prospect of Our Affairs doth not seem to please them. Hence they are not prejudiced in our Favour, but seem to think We are going wrong, and therefore will not go with Us. In short, without some striking Success on our Side, I believe they will. not join us.

" They told me in a private Conference, that by the Time the Indian Corn is Knee high, they expect a grand Council will assemble at Onondago, at which they expect Deputies from all their Allies to the Southward & Westward. That Matters of the highest Moment are then to be deliberated on, and when all is concluded on, that I shall know their Determinations. But I expect, that as the Neighbouring Governments to the Southward are employing and pushing on the Catawbos and Cherokees to make War towards the Ohio, that they will be embroiled with some of the upper Nations, particularly the Senecas, some of whom, I suspect, will go out and aid the French that Way; some of them have been out, and some, I believe, are still out; And thus an Indian War be kindled between the upper Nations and perhaps all the Six Nations and our Indian Allies to the Southward and Westward. 'Tis what the French have

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been always, and are now more warmly promoting. I have con- stantly warned the Six Nations of it and against it .. I have done so now, but I fear neither your Influence and Management, or mine, will prevent it. We cannot help it, and it must take its Course.

" The Senecas are drawing all the Indians they can to settle near them; most of the Mohickanders, or River Indians, who used to be dispersed thro' this and the Neighbouring Provinces are removed and removing to Otsaningo, on one of the West Branches of the Sasquehannah River, near to where the Cayougas & Senecas live.

" A meer Indian War may be no essential Prejudice to the Brit- ish Interest, but if the Southern Governments become Parties in it, and It seems at present they will be, or will be so Considered, then how it may turn out with regard to the Safety and Welfare of these Governments, I will not take on me to judge; but unless those Provinces exert themselves with more Vigour and Unanimity than former Experience justifies, I fear an Indian War will be a very dis- tressing One to them.

" Pennsylvania have for some time been pursuing pacific Measures with their Neighbours, the Delawares & Shawonese, and matters seem to be in a promising Way. If they will keep up to that System I think they may succeed, at least with those Indians, and probably carry it further. But if they push Peace with one hand and War with another they will have a ticklish & hazardous Part to act. I have co-operated with them in their Pacific Measures, and not without Success.

" Thus, Sir, I have given you in as short a Compass as I cou'd the present Situation of Indian Politics this way. I shall continue to do the same as Subjects may offer. Both in a Public and Pri- vate Capacity I shall be proud of your Correspondence, and do sincerely wish you Health, Success, and Honour.

"I am, with great Esteem, Dear Sir, "Your most obedient humble Servant, "WM. JOHNSON.

"To The Honourable EDMUND ATKINS, Esqr.

" Captain Wraxall is with me, and desires I will present his re- spectful Salutations and best wishes to you."

A Letter from Governor De Lancy to Governor Denny, enclosing the above.

"NEW YORK, 30th June, 1757. " Sir :

" I had the favour of your Letter of the 24th Instant with the Intelligence you received from Col. Stanwix, Copies of which I sent

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this Morns. by the Albany Post to General Webb, and shall by the first Opportunity send other Copies to my Lord Loudoun. The Embargo was observed in this Province with the utmost exactness ; but I am told not with equal Strictness nor so long in the Govern- ments to the Eastward of this, nor in those to the Southward of Yours. You are in the right to keep your Assembly together till you have certain Accounts of the Number of the Enemy, and where they intend an Attack, that in such an Event they may be ready to enable you to act with Vigour. I wish you had a good Militia Law in your Government ; Surely the dangerous Situation of these Colo- nies calls aloud upon us all to contribute whatever we can for Gene- ral Safety.

" By the Albany Post I received from Sir William Johnson the enclosed to you, and the open Letter to Mr. Atkins, and am sorry to find Sir William has not been able to engage the Senecas, Cayou- gas, & Onondagos to declare for us.

"I wish they may observe the Neutrality wch. they promised to keep.

"I am, With great regard, Sir, " Your most obed. & most humble Servant. "JAMES DE LANCY. " The Honble. WILLIAM DENNY, Esq."

The following Letter from Colonel Stanwix, with the Papers en- closed, to wit : Copy of a Letter from Captain Dagworthy of the 17th June, and a Copy of a Letter from Mr Croghan to Col. Arm- strong, dated 28th Ultimo-, were read, and are as follows :

A Letter from Colonel Stanwix to Governor Denny. " CAMP AT CARLISLE, June 28th, 1757. " Dear Sir :

" I am favoured with your obliging Letters of the 23d & 24th, And had just recd. the Letter, a Copy of which I enclose to you, from Captain Dagworthy, Commander at Fort Cumberland ; shou'd have marched the Day I proposed. Am of Opinion that a large Party of French and Indians did leave Fort Duquesne the 10th Instant, but without Artillery or Waggons; but what is become of them I cannot yet learn. As it was probable they might appear towards Ray's Town, I augmented the Garrison at Fort Lyttleton 150 Men, And ordered Scouts out towards Ray's Town, but no In- telligence of them, tho' now 18 Days since the Enemy was sup- posed to be in Motion. I have had ffour Spys out over the North Mountains ; some are returned, but without seeing any Enemy. I march a Captain's Piquet Two or Three Times a Week as scouting Parties, but as yet have found the Coast all clear. Where Captain Croghan is I cannot realy say, but have got Colonel Armstrong to

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send your Letter and find him out ; the last I had from him, he told me he was coming this Way with some Indians, so believe I shall see him very soon, And shall advise him to come to you as soon as possible.

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII, Part 63

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