USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 66
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" Signed by Appointment, & in Behalfe of the Trustees & Trea- surer of the Friendly Association for regaining & preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures, the 15th of 7 mo., 1757.
"ABEL JAMES, Clerk."
The Governor desired the Attendance of the Council at the ensuing Treaty. .
Here follow the Minutes of Council & Conferences held at Easton during the Treaty with the Indians. The Minutes of the Council were taken by the Secretary. The Minutes of the Conferences by three persons separately, namely, Mr. Croghan as Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs under Sr. William Johnson, by Mr. Duche for the Governor, and by Mr. Charles Thompson as
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pretended Clerk to Teedyuscung. These several Minutes were all carefully compared together by Mr. Croghan, Mr. Duche, Mr. Thompson, and myself, Mr. Logan sometimes assisting.
This I certify in testimony of the Truth of the following Copy.
At a Council held at Easton, on Thursday, the 21st July, 1757. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
James Hamilton,
Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner,
William Logan, - Esquires.
Benjamin Chew, John Mifflin,
The Governor arrived Yesterday and sent the Secretary with his compliments to Teedyuscung, who immediately waited on His Honour.
The Council coming to Town whilst the Chief was with the Gov- ernor, they were introduced to him, and very kind Expressions were made by both of their mutual Satisfaction in seeing one another. After which Teedyuscung acquainted the Governor that he intended himself the Pleasure of going out to meet him, with some of every Nation along with him, according to an antient Custom with the In- dians, who always used to pay this Compliment to great Men when they knew of their coming near the Place where they were; But be was deceived by Mr. Weiser, who promised to give him Notice of his going and to call upon him, but he broke his Word with him, and if he cou'd do it in this Instance, he might do it in another, and seemed very much displeased with Mr. Weiser's Conduct on this Occasion.
The Governor sayd there must have been some Mistake, and de- sired the Chief to suspend his Judgment, till he shou'd speak to Mr. Weiser, who shou'd afterwards wait on him and set the Matter right, which was accordingly done, and no further Notice taken of it by Teedyuscung.
The Governor enquiring what Indians were in Town, was told 159 of Teedyuscung's Company, that is to say, 58 men, 37 Women and 64 Children; And there since came, 119 Senecas and others of the Six Nations, viz: 45 Men, 35 Women, and 39 Children, Two of these were Chiefs and principal Men, deputed by the Seneca Nation, and several others were of Esteem among their Tribes.
Teedyuscung this Morning acquainted the Governor by John Pumpshire, his Interpreter, That he and a few of his People wou'd wait on His Honour whenever he pleased to receive them, And the Governor saying they might come immediately, they accordingly did come, viz* : Teedyuscung, James English, Abraham Locquis,
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Moses Tattamy, John Pumpshire, &ca., &ca., &cª. Mr. Croghan was informed of this Visit, but concluding it to be only a formal one, and personal to the Governor, He desired the Governor wou'd hear them first and then send for him. After a short Conversation, Teedyuscung delivered himself as follows :
" Brother :
" You remember you invited me to come and treat with you, and to bring with Me the Ten Nations who have joined with Me and I with them; In Consequence of what you may remember I promised, I have done my best Endeavours; Some of each of the Ten Na- tions are come; I have faithfully and distinctly told them all that you said to me; You said I must come to the Council Fire, where we might all see one another and hearken to what you should say to us ; They are now ready to hearken to you at the Time which will best suit you."
A String.
" Brother :
" As you sat at home you looked this Way and saw your Breth- ren, the Indians, coming. When they arrived You took them by the Hand; You received them kindly, and also the Ten Nations who were with them ; You were glad to see them ; Observing them fatigued with their Journey, and their Faces covered with Sweat, You kindly wiped it off with an Handkerchief; Then looking at their Legs and seeing them torn and bloody with Briars and Thorns, you picked the Briars out of their Legs and anointed them with some of that good Oyl, as Your Forefathers used to do with Ours when they met together to renew their Leagues and make a lasting Peace. All of us now present are sensible of being used as our Ancestors were, and of receiving the same kind of Treatment they did."
A String.
" Brother :
" I am now arrived at the Place appointed for the Council Fire, where We are to hold Conferences together. I am come just to the Door ; I see a great deal of Dirt and Blood in it, which is grievous to us both ; seeing this I take a Wing in my Hand and I go into the House and sweep the Dirt all into one Place ; I wipe off all the Blood ; I take up Dirt and Blood together ; I throw it all the Lee- ward that it may be no more seen. I make the House quite clean that we may come together as our Forefathers used to do when they came to transact an affair of so great Importance as to brighten the Chain of Friendship and make a firm and lasting Peace.
" Brother :
" When I looked at You I saw Tears in your Eyes; I use the same Method to You as you have done with Me; I now wipe them
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off with an Handkerchief. I likewise take that soft Feather that we make use of to clean our Ears; with this I open your Ears that you may hear what I have to say. All those who are present join with me in these Things.
" Brother :
" I see some things that are not right may be in your Heart from flying Stories that are every where going about. Those that are present with me will use our Endeavours with one Accord to take them out of your Heart, that they may not obstruct our present Proceedings. Before I have done I open your Throat and Clean it all within that You may be able to speak to your Brethren with Freedom."
A String.
" Brother :
" The Great Being who created us made our Hearts alike at first, but of late they are divided, and have leaned different Ways. We who are now present will use our Endeavours to set them upright and unite them together as firmly as in the days of our Foreffathers.
"The cause why we differ at this Time from what we were at first is owing to the Conduct of our young foolish Boys who have seperated Us from the good Agreement in which we lived before."
A Belt.
" Brother :
" I see you are wounded. You have a Sore within you in your Heart. The great God who made us has provided Remedies on the Earth for all Diseases which can happen to us, if they are properly applied.
" The Ten Nations now present who are joined with Me, they and I will take hold of this Remedy with the greatest Care ; We will apply it to the Sore in your Heart. You shall feel it no more. You shall be perfetly cured from the inside to the outside, so that the Sore shall break out no more.
" Brother :
" It is our constant Usage, when we undertake to cure any Wound, to look often into it, and take Care that it does not fester. If we find any Appearance of Its festering We lose no time, but instantly apply the same good Medicine which we use at first, that it may be prevented in Time and never come to an Head."
Gave a Belt of 8 Rows.
" Brother :
" We have in former Years often held Councils together ; Let us look round us and behind Us, and observe what has been transacted in them. Let us not do as they did in several Respects, but be more carefull. Perhaps the evil Spirit was busy in former times,
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but he is busier now than he was then ; Let us therefore be ex- ceeding carefull in whatever we do. Let us try to exceed our Grandfathers in Care in our Proceedings. Let us look up to the supream Being that we may now by our faithfull Endeavours, have our End answered to the Good of both. In case my Endeavours shall be accepted, and my Faithfulness kindly received & believed, We may then live in lasting Peace, and our Posterity after Us."
Gave A String.
Teedyuscung then acquainted the Governor that he had opened the Conference and finished what he had to say ; and now the Treaty might begin at any time the Governor shou'd please to ap- point, either To-morrow or next day, as it wou'd be most conve- nient to him. He added, That he had something to mention by way of Discourse ; His Memory, he said, was weak, and as he wou'd have things done regularly, he desired he might have a Clerk to take Minutes along with the Governor's Clerk. He further desired that, when the Treaty was done, which he hoped by the assistance of the Almighty wou'd be to the Satisfaction of both, he might have a Copy of all the Proceedings, and that they might be put upon Record ; Indian Cabbins being often made of Wood, Grass, and Straw, they are apt to catch fire, and if his Cabbin shou'd be burned, and the Papers with it, he might then have Recourse to the Government for another Copy.
Mr. Croghan was then sent for, and presented to the Indians as Deputy of Sir William Johnson, Sole Agent of Indian Affairs in the Northern District, and as such accepted by the Governor.
After this, Teedyuscung said It now depends upon the Governor to let the Indians know what he has to say to them, as he invited them to come to the Council Fire. He might open the public Treaty when he pleased, To-morrow or next Day, as it wou'd be most convenient for him.
The Governor the Secretary to make out a Copy of this Day's Proceedings for Mr. Croghan.
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At a Council held at Easton, on Friday the 22nd July, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner, John Mifflin,
Esquires.
Benjamin Chew,
Mr. Croghan & Mr. Weiser were present by desire of the Gov- ernor, And after reading the Minutes of the proceeding Day, an Answer to Teedyuscung's Speeches and Request of a Clerk, was
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taken into Consideration. . It was observed That Teedyuscung's Request to have a Clerk was not accompanied with a String of Wampum, but only mentioned by way of Discourse after business was over.
The Governor having brought with him a Copy of the Indian Conferences in July and November, and of the Previous Messages. to and from the Indians on Susquehannah which brought on those. Treaties, he proposed it shou'd be delivered to Teedyuscung, which was approved, and then the Answer was settled & agreed to in these Words :
" Brethren :
"I return you my hearty Thanks for your kind Speeches Yester- day, which were very agreeable to me, and evidence such a good Disposition on your Part as gives me the highest Satisfaction."
Gave a String.
" Brethren :
"It is with a particular Pleasure I observe that all Obstructions are now removed. Be assured that I shall speak with the utmost Freedom and openness to You and the Ten Nations. I am ready to concur with you in devising and executing all such Measures as shall be thought the most proper to bring to a speedy and good Issue the great work .of Peace, which is already so happily begun, and so far advanced. This Belt confirms my Words."
A Belt.
" Brethren :
"You told me Yesterday that your foolish young Men had been the Occasion of the late unhappy Differences that for some time subsisted between us, and cautioned me not to give Credit to any idle Stories that might be going about. I shall retain in my Mind this good Advice; and as we have likewise a great many foolish People among us, who may have raised and propagated false Reports to obstruct the good Understanding between us, wch. We are now mutually endeavouring and taking Pains to establish on a solid and durable Foundation ; I desire you will shut your Ears against them, and believe nothing but what comes from Me or the King's Agent in relation to Public Affairs."
A String.
"Brethren :
"You may remember that in the first Conferences You attributed the Beginning of the present Troubles in a great Measure to the Confusions that had arisen from so many People's having concerned themselves in Public Treaties, and that, therefore, the Indians had agreed to put the Management of their Affairs into the Hands of a Few, And that Two Kings only were appointed to transact public Business, of which you, Teedyuscung, was one. You were told that
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the great King of all the English had found the like Inconveniences from so many of his Colonies holding seperate and distinct Treaties with Indians, and therefore had given one general Commission to your good Friend and Brother Sir William Johnson to be his sole Agent in Indian Affairs for this district. To him I desire you will go and lay all that had passed between you and the Government before him for his Approbation.
" According as I then promised, I have transmitted to that Gen- tleman all our Proceedings, which he has been pleased to approve of; and by Commission produced to me, and now ready to be shewn you, he has constituted and appointed Mr. Croghan his Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs in this Province, with particular directions to hear any Complaints, and Assist in accommodating the Differences you may have with his Majesty's Subjects, and particularly those set forth at your Treaty with me here in November last; at the same time Sir William Johnson finding in the Conferences sent him that you designed us a Visit in the Spring, was kind enough to send a Deputation of the Six Nations to attend at that Meeting, who waited a long time in Expectation of seeing you, but on your not being able to come, and they being under a necessity of returning home, I went to Lancaster at their Request, took them by the Hand, and conferred with them; at these Conferences Mr. Croghan, the Deputy of Sir William Johnson was present, and settled with me the Forms to be observed in the Treaty, and his Secretary only was permitted to take down the proceedings; No other person being allowed to take Minutes of what passed at those Conferences, not even the Secretary of this Government, whose proper Business it ever had been till that Time, when this new Regulation first took place. I am further told it is the constant practice of Sir William Johnson, as well as all others who have the conduct of Indian Trea- ties, to employ their own Secretaries, and as this Method was settled at Lancaster as a Precedent to be observed in future Treaties, I shall not take upon me to make any Alteration in this Respect. " Brethren :
"This Government as well as yourselves, has great Confidence in the Interpreters present, John Pumpshire and Moses Titamy ; whatever they speak from you will be faithfully taken down and Publickly read at the time, that all may hear, understand, and know it is to be exact. Mr. Croghan will afterwards cause the whole to be fairly transcribed, and two Copies to be made, one of which he will deliver to you, and another to me, which shall he put upon Record as you desired. In our Conference Yesterday, you had an Instance of the exact manner and care of taking down what passed, and I hope it gave you entire Satisfaction.
" Brother :
" Agreable to your Request at our last Meeting, I now present you with a true Copy of your Proceedings with this Government,
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under the Great Seal of the Province, which, as they will remain on Record, you may always have Recourse to."
John Pumpshire interpreted to the Delawares, and Conrad Weiser to the Senecas, what was said, Paragraph by Paragraph.
Mr. Croghan's Commission was read and interpreted to the In- dians, and they were told by the Governor that he was accordingly accepted by this Government, as Sir William Johnson's Deputy in this Province.
Teedyuscung expressed his Satisfaction at the Appointment, and gave thanks to the King of Great Britain, his Father, for ordering the Management of his Affairs with the Indians into the Hands of a Few, which he sayd was the method they themselves had fallen upon ; the Senecas likewise did the same, and then drank Sir Wil- liam Johnson's Health.
Teedyuscung being asked if what was said to him was agreable to him, he declared several times it was very agreable to him, and quite right ; and all the Indians went away well pleased.
Mr. Croghan acquainted the Governor and Council, that by his Instructions from Sir William Johnson, he was only permitted to demand and hear from the Indians the Particulars of the Injuries done them in this Province, either by the Proprietaries or any other Persons, with the answers that should be given to their Charges by the Persons concerned ; and then to make report to Sir William Johnson, who was finally to adjust, settle, and determine them between the Indians and the Parties concerned, if they cou'd not be amicably accommodated on the Spot.
Mr. Peters having received from the Proprietaries Instructions not to treat with the Delawares in any other place than at Sir Wil- liam Johnson's, or wherever he should appoint, and not submit their Accusation of them to any other Person, had some time ago privately informed the Governor and every Member of Council present of this, and that the Proprietaries had taken this Measure, by the Advice of the Lords of Trade, who had wrote to Sir William Johnson on the Occasion, and desired the Proprietary Letters and Instructions might be read, in order to consider what would be the most proper to be done at this Treaty, with respect to the Accusa- tions made by the Indians against the Proprietaries. Deferred to the next Council.
Mr. Croghan and Mr. Weiser were desired to put down in Writing their Sentiments, as to a proper Speech for the Governor to deliver at the opening of the Treaty.
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At a Council held at Easton, Saturday the 23rd July, 1757. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
Esquires.
Mr. Croghan,
Mr. Weiser,
The Minutes of Yesterday were read.
A Rough draught of a Speech for the Governor, as proposed by Mr. Croghan and Mr. Weiser was read ; and whilst under Consid- eration, Mr. Galloway, Mr. Fox, Mr. Masters and Mr. Hughes, four of the Provincial Commissioners, appeared at the Door, with Tee- dyuscung and most of the Indians who were in Council Yesterday and sends. for the Secretary, Mr. Galloway desired him to acquaint the Governor that four of the Commissioners and Teedyuscung de- sired a Conference with him. Being admitted, Mr. Galloway read and then delivered to the Governor a Paper in the following Words :
EASTON, 23rd July, 1757.
" Sir:
" As the Method of Managing the present Treaty is of the utmost Moment to the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of the People of this Province and the British Interest in general, we beg leave to remonstrate to your Honour.
" That Teedyuscung on Thursday last came to us and demanded that he might have a Clerk, to be appointed by himself, to take down the Minutes of the Treaty, who should compare his Proceed- ings with the other Clerks before they leave the Table ; This he insisted was the most certain means to searching out the Truth, and of obtaining Justice to the Persons who should prove to be injured; He was pleased further to add, that this was his pleasure and he would have it granted, and that he would not proceed to treat with- out it; Upon which we informed the Chief that his Demand ap- peared to us to be reasonable and just, but that we were not the proper Persons to grant it; We recommended him to the Governor on that Occasion (as he is the Head of the executive part of Gov- ernment) who we did not doubt would allow it.
" 'This Morning the Chief further informed us that he had made an Application to the Governor for the above purpose, but that your Honour did not think proper to allow his Demand, That he was extremely dissatisfied therewith, and declared he would not treat without it; That as the Governor had begun with clearing his Eyes and Ears with a soft Feather that he might hear and see clearly, he looked on it both unjust and unkind to attempt now by this re- fusal to lead him on Blindfold and in the Dark; and, therefore,
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requested that we would assist him in a second Application to your Honour, which if refused he declared he was determined to give over the prosecuting the good Work he was ready and willing to accomplish with the English and go home; and further requested that this Demand and Refusal might be taken down in Writing, that it might be represented to the great King in his Behalf, as the reason of his not concluding the Peace he had undertaken; This he assures us was a thought of his own at Wioming after the last Treaty held by him at this place, and not suggested to him by any Person whatsoever.
"In pursuance of which request we beg your Honour would con- sider the Right and Justice of this natural Demand, and the dan- gerous Consequences that may attend persisting in a Refusal of it. He appears to us to have an undoubted Right, as a King and Chief of a Nation, to have a Clerk or Secretary to take down Minutes of the Transactions of this important Affair; And this seems more natural, as he and his People are illiterate Persons.
"Your Honour will be pleased further to consider, that the Lives and Properties of the People, and his Majesty's Interest in General, are immediately concerned in the event of this Treaty, and there- fore should the Chief do as he has declared, the melancholly Conse- quences must necessarily be a farther Devastation of the Province, more Murders of the People, and an Allienation of the Affections of the Indians of many Nations from the British Interest.
" WILLIAM MASTERS, "JOS. FOX,
"JOS. GALLOWAY, .
" JOHN HUGHES.
"To the Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esq."
Mr. John Pumpshire, by Teedyuscung's Directions,declared that every word there wrote as said by him was really his own Desire, & said by him; and in Confirmation of this he gave a Belt of Wampum.
The Governor acquainted Teedyuscung that he would take the Matter into Consideration and give him an Answer ; and after he and the Commissioners were gone the Remonstrance was read.
The Governor and Council were surprised at Teedyuscung's ap- plying again with so much Warmth for a Clerk after he had expressed himself so well satisfied the Evening before with the Speech made them by the Governor assigning Reasons why he cou'd not comply with his request, and suspected that the Indians had been tampered with on this Occasion by some evil disposed Persons and put on renewing this Demand.
Mr. Croghan declared that Teedyuscung's telling the Commis- sioners of his having thought of this Matter at Wioming could not. VOL. VII .- 42.
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be true, because he had mentioned to the King the maner of con- ducting the Treaty before the Governor or Commissioners came up, and among other things had acquainted him that he had provided a Clerk to take the Minutes, with which Teedyuscung expressed great Satisfaction, not mentioning any thing of his Intention at Wyoming to have a Clerk of his own as is set forth in the Remonstrance ; and this Fact, he added, will appear in his Journal.
Mr. Weiser likewise declared he very believed, from what had passed last night at the Public House where he lodges, that Teedy- uscung was persuaded by some of the People in Town to make this second application ; and at the Governor's Instance he related the Particulars, viz" : that as he was sitting alone in his Chamber Israel Pemberton abruptly opened the Door, ask'd his Pardon and shut it again. That some little Time afterwards he went into Company with Captain Orndt and Busse, who were sitting together in another Room in the same Public House ; that he had not been long there before Teedyuscung and Pumpshire came into the Company ; and after a short Space of Time Teedyuscung spoke to him in an abrupt and rough manner, complaining that he had not been well used * by the Governor in the Business of the Clerk. He was a King, as such had a Right to have a Clerk, wou'd have one, and wou'd be no longer led by the nose, and desired the Governor might be told so. Mr. Weiser answered him, if he was so disposed, he shou'd speak to the Governor himself, which he said he wou'd. After the Indians left the Company, Captain Orndt told Mr. Weiser that Teedyuscung had been with them before he came in, but he and his Interpreter were fetch'd away by a Quaker Gentleman, known by Captain Orndt to be Isreal Pemberton, and that they had been absent about half an hour. From whence he concluded, that the Affair of the Clerk had been the subject of their Conversation, and that Teedyuscung's ill Temper arose from what had been said to him by that Gentleman.
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