USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 69
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was then referred to be enquired into, and heard at our next Meeting. I therefore expected that Teedyuscung, at this Treaty, would have been very explicit, and if, on Enquiry, he had still been of Opinion that his former Complaints were just and well founded, he would have renewed them, and produced such Proofs as he had to support them, or if, on a further Consideration, he had found that he was mistaken in charging the Proprietaries with Crimes of so infamous and black a Die, he would have done them the Justice to have acquitted them in the Face of the World, and proclaimed their Innocence as Publickly as he at first charged them. But in his Speech of Yesterday it appears uncertain whether he means to renew the Complaints set forth in the former Treaty, or to drop those, and now only to charge upon the Proprietors, as an Act of Injustice, their having made such large Purchases of the Indians as to leave them no Habitation or place of Settlement for themselves or their Posterity. I therefore desire you will do me the favour to take an Opportunity of Conferring privately with the Indians, and bring them to an Explanation on this Point, that I may know how to frame an Answer to their Speech.
" You are sensible also that their Request to have Lands assigned them for a Settlement is so general that 'tis impossible for me to give an Answer to it till they ascertain the place they have in View, which you will also endeavour to Obtain of them in the Course of your Conference.
"I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant,
"WILLIAM DENNY.
" To Mr. GEORGE CROGHAN."
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At a Council held at Easton, Saturday the 30th Day of July, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner, Esquires. Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
The Governor about noon received, in Answer to his of Yester- day, a short Letter from Mr. Croghan, in the Writing of his Clerk, Mr. Trent, covering a long one, which, tho' addressed as a Letter to Governor Denny from Mr. Croghan, was all of the Quaker School-master Thompson's Handwriting, and was not then signed by Mr. Croghan, but he Afterwards, on this being remarked to him, put his Hand to it, and also inclosing a Paper containing a rude uninteligable Sketch of the Country from below Easton to Diahogo,
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supposed to be done by the said Thompson, the written part of it being of his Handwriting, which were all read, vizt:
The Letter to Governor Denny from George Croghan, Esquire.
" EASTON, July 30th, 1757.
" Sir :
" Agreeable to your desire to me in your Letter of Yesterday, I had this morning called a Meeting of Teedyuscung and eight of his Council, with his Interpreter, and desired he would consult them, and explain the Speeches he made your Honour two Days ago, which explanation you have enclosed with the Agreement I proposed to him about Fort Augusta, and his Answer.
"I am Your Honour's most Obedient humble Seryt.,
"GEORGE CROGHAN."
The Paper inclosed therein, wrote by Mr. Thompson.
" Sir :
" Agreeable to your Desire, I called a Meeting of Indians at half after 9 o'Clock this morning, King Teedyuscung, with Tepescahunck, Essoweyowallund, Penawaghwollind, Lapaghpetund, Kuktamaka, Tangekapawey, Weneywalika, his Counsellors, and John Pump- shire, his Interpreter, came to me and explained the Speeches he made to your Honour the day before Yesterday in the manner following :
""'The complaint I made last fall I yet continue. I think some Lands have been bought by the Proprietor or his Agents from In- dians who had not a Right to Sell, and to whom the Lands did not belong; I think, also, when some Lands have been sold to the Pro- prietor by Indians who had a Right to sell to a certain place, whether that purchase was to be measured by miles or Hours' Walk, that the Proprietaries have, contrary to Agreement or Bargain, taken in more Lands than they ought to have done; And Lands that be- longed to others. I therefore now desire that you will produce the Writings and Deeds by which you hold the Land, and let them be read in Publick, and examined, that it may be fully known from what Indians you have bought the Lands you hold; and how far your Purchases extend ; that Copies of the whole may be laid be- fore King George, and Published to all the Provinces under his Government. What is fairly bought and paid for I make no further Demands about ; But if any Lands have been bought of Indians to whom these Lands did not belong, and who had no Right to sell them, I expect a Satisfaction for these Lands; and if the Proprie- taries have taken in more Lands than they bought of True Owners, I expect likewise to be paid for that. But as the persons to whom
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the Proprietaries may have sold these Lands, which of Right be- longed to me, have made some Settlements, I don't want to disturb them, or to force them to leave them; but I expect a full Satisfac- tion shall be made to the True Owners for these Lands, tho' the Proprietaries, as I said before, might have bought them from Per- sons that had no Right to sell them.
""'With Respect to our Settlements we intend to settle at Wyom- ing, and we want to have certain Boundaries fixed between you and us, and a certain Tract of Land fixed, which it shall not be lawful for us or our Children ever to sell, nor for you or any of your Child- ren ever to buy. We would have the Boundaries fixed all around, agreeable to the Draught we gave you, that we may not be pressed on any side, but have a certain Country fixed for our use & the use of our Children for ever.
"' And as we intend to make a Settlement at Wyoming, and to build different Houses from what we have hitherto done, such as may last not only for a little Time, but for our Children after us, We desire you will assist us in making our Settlements, and send Persons to instruct us in building Houses, and in making such ne- cessaries as shall be needful; and that Persons be sent to instruct us in the Christian Religion, which may be for our future welfare, and to instruct our Children in Reading and Writing; and that a fair trade be established between us, and such Persons appoint'd to con- duct and manage these Affairs as shall be agreeable to us.'
" I then asked him, as Fort Augusta was within the Lands he de- sired to be assigned to them, whether he would acknowledge that Fortress to belong to the King of Great Britain for the use of his Subjects in Pennsylvania, and all his other subjects, and whether he would not be willing it should continue as a Trading House, not only for the good of us, the English, & the Nations he represents, but of all the Nations that now are or may be hereafter in Alliance with us; And whether he will not engage, in Conjunction with the English, to defend it against any of his Majesty's Enemies that may come against it.
" To which the King in behalf of the Nations he represents, re- plied that he agrees that that Fort shall belong to the English ; that it shall continue as a Trading House, and he and his People in Conjunction with their Brethren, the English, engage to defend it against any of his Brittanic Majesty's Enemies that shall come to attack it.
" I am Your Honour's most humble Servant,
" GEORGE CROGHAN.
" July 30th, 1757.
"To Governor DENNY."
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The Draught or Sketch of the Country from Easton to Diahogo enclosed in the foregoing Letter.
[Omitted. ]
On considering the Style as well as matter of the said Paper in- closed in Mr. Croghan's Letter, which is entered at large in Mr. Croghan's Minutes of the Treaty, together with the Draught or Sketch of Land requested, which contains above two Millions of Acres, it appear'd plain that their Explanation was not in the Indian Form, nor agreeable to their Notions of things, but that it must have been dictated by some of the People in Town or by Charles Thompson, who was known to be under the Directions of the Quakers and Commissioners. Whereupon Mr. Weiser and Mr. Croghan were sent for, and they both declar'd themselves of that Opinion. Mr. Weiser, in particular, was much suprized at the Ex- traordinary manner in which the Indians had not only continued their Complaints against the Proprietaries, but enlarged their De- mands, and averred that it never could be the True Sentiments of the Indians-Teedyuscung having not only at Fort Allen on his going last from Easton, but again his coming to the Treaty told him that they did not want to continue the Dispute about the Lands so they might have a Country assigned them to live in which they cou'd call their own. Mr. Croghan likewise said that whatever the English Expressions might be thought to purport, the real meaning of the Indians was only to get a sight of the Deeds relating to the disputed Lands that they might know what Indians granted the Lands; and that they were all of Opinion the Proprietaries had made fair purchases of the Lands from the Six Nations; but these they said were not the right owners of those Lands, nor would they allow any Deeds made by the Six Nation Indians, from whom the Proprietaries had bought the Lands, to be good. Mr. Peters again related to the Council the substance of the Particular Instructions and Letters he had received from the Proprietors. The Governor likewise informed the Council that he had received Letters of the . same Import from the Proprietaries.
Mr. Croghan and Mr. Weiser and all present were of Opinion that if the Delewares shou'd persist in this manner of proceeding it would occasion a Breach between the Six Nations & them, of which the Consequences at this time might be very fatal; and that as the Six Nations' Title was included in the Proprietaries' Defence, it wou'd not on that Account be prudent to enter into it here; and that Sir William Johnson only cou'd properly conduct this Affair and prevent a Breach amongst the Indians which wou'd very much affect and prejudice his Majesty's Interest at this juncture.
After long Consideration of what was proper to be said to the Indians, they were made acquainted that an Answer wou'd be given to-morrow, tho' Sunday, to their Speech of Yesterday.
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At a Meeting in Easton, Sunday, July 31st, 1757. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Governor, &ca. The Council.
The same Members of Assembly.
The Provincial Commissioners.
A number of Gentlemen from the City of Philadelphia, & others the Inhabitants of the Province.
Captain Thomas McKee, Interpreter for the Crown.
Conrad Weiser, Esquire, Interpreter for the Province.
Mr. John Pumpshire, Interpreter for Teedyuscung.
King Teedyuscung desired that (before the Governor Spoke) what passed between and me in a private Conference, Yesterday, should be read in Publick; which was accordingly done, and Inter- preted to the Six Nations.
Then the Governor made the following Speech :
" Brother Teedyuscung, and Brethren Sachems and Warriors of the Ten Nations :
" It gives me pleasure to hear your Satisfaction at the Appoint- ment our Great King has been pleased to make of Sir William Johnson to be the Superintendent of the Affairs of the Indians, and that Sir William had appointed Mr. Croghan to be his Deputy ; and further, to hear you so fully and openly acknowledge it to be the Duty of both of us to respect the Person whom the King has thought fit to entrust with so Important a Commission. I thank you for these dutifull expressions, and do not in the least doubt but they come from the bottom of your Hearts. I assure you, Brethren, I shall heartily join my endeavours to yours, that the good work of Peace, so well begun, may be happily finished to our mutual Satis- faction."
Gave a String.
" Brother :
" You say that the Proceedings of our Ancestors were shorter than they ought to have been, in Respect and Behalf of their Children, and also of their own everlasting Peace. Brother, our Ancestors of this Province have been always esteemed a good, honest, and wise People, and have always been distinguished for their Brotherly Love and kind Treatment of the Indians, and their upright dealing with them in their Publick Transactions. You say that the cause of our Differences proceeded from the Land, and advise us to look strictly into our Hearts for the Truth of this. Brother, we have, according to your desire, looked into our Hearts, and are not sensible that any of our Transactions with the Indians,
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either with respect to Land or otherwise, could have given Reason for the unhappy Breach between us. You have been so honest as to declare, on all Occasions, that the Land was not the principal cause why you struck us ; but was only a Reason why the Stroke came the harder on us. As then, it was not the Cause of our first Differences, it ought not to be an Obstacle to an immediate Con- clusion of the Peace, which we are now met together, with such good Intentions, to establish. However, we may differ in Opinion about matters of Property ; these are trifling Considerations, com- pared to the important Affair of uniting together in the firm Bands of Friendship. Let us, therefore, for the present suspend them, and all Matters of less Moment, and apply ourselves, in the first place, heartily to the great work of Pcace, so much wished for by both of us; and put things on such a footing, that the Great King over the Waters, and his Subjects, and all the Indians, shall be pleased with it."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
" You say, that if you can prevail with us to do you Jus- tice in your complaint about Land, you will then, with a loud Voice, speak, and the Nations shall hear you. Brother, I must now inform you that immediately after our last Treaty, I sent to the Proprietaries a Copy of the Complaints you then made for their defrauding you of your Lands, and received their An- swer to it some days ago before I set out to meet you here, whercin they express the greatest concern that you, who they con- ceive have been so well Treated, both by their Father, William Penn, and themselves, should charge them with Crimes of so heinous a nature as Fraud and Forgery, by which their Reputation (which to them, and every honest Man, is dearer than Life itself) is so deeply wounded. Your Complaint has likewise been laid bc- fore the King's Ministers, who looking upon it as a Matter of great Importance, determined that it should be carefully enquired into, and examined before some Person no way concerned in Interest ; ยท on whose honesty and Judgement they could depend, and therefore, appointed Sir William Johnson to hear the Particulars of your charge, and the Proprietarys' Defence, and lay the whole matter be- fore his Majesty, for his Royal Determination, in order that he may do you Justice himself if you are injured. Our Great King looks on you as his Children ; And therefore, his Ministers have directed the same Method to be taken in hearing the merits of your Com- plaint, as is used among his own Subjects, with this Difference only, that their Disputes are finally settled by Judges appointed for that purpose ; whercas in your Case, his Majesty will Determine it him- self.
" Before I receiv'd the Orders of his Majesty's Ministers, that your Complaints should be heard before Sir William Johnson, I
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fully intended at this Meeting, to call on the Proprietaries' Agents to answer the Charge you made against them, and to have the matter strictly enquired into ; but as I am the King's Servant, and bound by Duty, as well as Inclination to Obey His Orders, and His Majesty's Deputy Agent, Mr. Croghan, who is now Present, informs me he has no power to suffer any Altercations on this Complaint, and that he does not think it would be for the good of his Majesty's Service, I must refer you on this Occasion to Sir William Johnson, to whom I shall send proper Persons to represent the Proprietaries, with Records, Deeds, and Evidences, to shew the Justice of their Title at any time he shall appoint, of which he will give Notice to you, and all Persons concerned. As that Gentleman is known to be a good Friend to the Indians, and a Man of Honour and Integ- rity ; it gives me great Pleasure to find he is well approved of by you, and I do not doubt but you will most chearfully agree to leave the Examination of your claims to him, and concur in the method his Majesty has directed for Settling our Differences, in which you will be certain of having Strict Justice done you."
Gave a Belt.
".Brother :
" I could give you many Instances of the great Affection and Re- gard the Propriet8. have for you and all the Indians ; and that they set a far greater value on your Friendship than on any private In- terest or Advantage to themselves ; they have lately given to you and the World a most convincing Proof of this. You no doubt have heard, that the Proprietaries about three Years ago, at a gene- ral Meeting of the Six Nations, held at Albany, fairly and openly purchased of them a great Country, lying on the West Side of the River Sasquehannah ; but upon its being represented that some of the Indian Tribes were dissatisfied with the Extent of that Grant beyond the Allegheny Hills, the Proprietaries chearfully agreed to Surrender and give up again to the Indians the Lands Westward of those Hills, and have given their Agents orders to release it to them at the proposed Meeting before Sir William Johnson, and to - settle Boundaries with them."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
" I have considered what you said about a Settlement for your- selves and your Posterity, & am informed by Mr. Croghan, that Wyoming is the place you would chuse to settle at.
" Brother :
" The Proprietaries have never granted away any Lands, though within the Limits of this Province, without first purchasing them of the Indians; and having never bought of them the Lands be- tween Shamokin and Wyoming; they have, therefore, never laid claim to them under any Indian Purchase, and expressly desired this may
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be told to the Indians, lest evil disposed Persons should have sug- gested any thing to the Contrary; and in the name of the Proprie- taries I now disclaim all such right, of which I would have you take Notice. I am pleased you have made choice of that place; it is perfectly agreable to me, and I assure you I will heartily concur with you in using all the means in my Power to have these Lands settled upon you and your Posterity, agreable to Your Request. As to the other Purposes for which you desire this Settlement of Lands, they are so reasonable that I make no doubt, but on my Recommenda- tion of them to the Assembly, they will chearfully enable me to comply with them."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
"I have now answered the Speeches you made me the other Day, and I hope to your Satisfaction, as I agree with you to submit the Differences about Lands to the Great King, which is your own de- sire. I now assure you that I am heartily disposed and ready, with the King's Deputy Agent, to confirm the Peace which you and I have been, for some Time, taking Pains to establish."
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At a Council held at Easton, Monday, Ist August, 1757, P. M. PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
James Hamilton,
William Logan,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner, Esquires.
Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
Teedyuscung's Speech, made this morning at the Publick Con- ferences, was read, and the Governor and Council desiring to know of Mr. Peters, what part he would act as Proprietary Agent, with respect to producing and giving Copies or Extracts of the Proprie- tor's Deeds and Title to the disputed Lands, as required in Teedy- uscung's Speech to day, Mr. Peters answered, that his having the Custody of, or Access to the Proprietaries' Title Deeds, is not in vertue of his Office of Secretary, but merely a private Trust; and he having lately received Express Orders from the Proprietaries not to shew their Deeds, or go into any Hearing or Altercation about their Title at this or any other Treaty or Publick Occasion in this Province, but to submit and lay the same before Sir William John- son, the King's Agent, who is appointed by his Majesty's Ministers and the Proprietaries, to hear and enquire into the Claims and Dis- putes of the Deleware Indians about Lands in this Province, and to make his Report thereon to His Majesty, for his Royal Determina- tion. He is Opinion that his exposing or giving Copies of or Ex- tracts from the Proprietaries' Deeds, will be a direct Breach of that
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private Trust, and a disobedience of his orders, and that he cannot justify or answer it to them, and therefore hopes the Governor and Council will not require it of him. Mr. Logan, as soon as Mr. Peters had delivered himself in this manner, declared it was his Opinion that all the Deeds relating to the Lands the Indians had complain'd of, as taken from them by fraud, should be shewn, read, and explained to them, with the names of such Indians as had signed them, and that the refusal of this wou'd he unjust to them, and inconsistent with the Proprietary Interest; and further, that as the Indians seemed to come down so well disposed to a Peace, the Proprietaries' Instructions referring their Complaints to be heard and settled by Sir William Johnson, shou'd not be so strictly ad- hered to, but endeavours used to settle the matters with themselves, for that he was assured as their Affairs were circumstanced, they wou'd never consent to leave the Determination to Sir William.
The Governor and the other Members likewise apprehending that it will be of the most Dangerous Consequence to the Peace and safety of the Inhabitants of the Province, particularly those near the Frontiers, to refuse to gratify Teedyuscung the Indian Chief, in his desire of seeing and hearing read the several Deeds referred to in the Governor's said Answer now read and approved as above, and especially as in the Conference Mr. Weiser had with him this morning in the presence cf Mr. Croghan, as mentioned in the said Answer, he declared that "he would be contented with seeing and having Copies of the said Deeds, and would thereupon say no more about the Differences on Lands, but confirm the Peace as soon as that is done ;" and on taking the same into Consideration and well knowing all the said Deeds are enter'd upon the Publick Records at Philadela., and that the Members of Assembly, Commissioners and Quakers had brought up with them exemplified Copies thereof, it cou'd not prejudice the Proprietaries to produce them Publickly, or to read and give Copies thereof to Teedyuscung, especially as the Governor in his Speech had insisted that he could not go at this Time into a defence of the Proprietors' Title, but that the whole matter must be referred to Sir William Johnson, to be by him fully heard and examined; They do, therefore, all (save the said Mr. Peters) now declare it to be their Opinion, and Advice, that the five follows. Indian Purchase Deeds be produced and read at the Publick Conference to be held with the Indians this Afternoon, vizt: the Copy of the Deed, No. 21, dated 28th August, 1686, the Confir- mation Deed for that purchase, No. 33, dated 25 August, 1737, the deed of release (No. 33) from the Indians of the Five Nations of the Lands on Sasquahannah River, dated the 11th October, 1736, with the 2d Deed of Release (No. 25) dated the 25 October, 1736, from the Chiefs of the Six Nations for the Lands mentioned in the said Decd (No. 33) of the 11th October, 1736, and the Deed (No. 38) dated the 22nd day of August, 1749, for the Lands therein mentioned to the Westward of the Kittatiny Hills; And that after-
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wards Copies of the said Five several Deeds be made and delivered to Teedyuscung.
Mr. Weiser attending the Council, and saying he was sure that Teedyuscung wou'd be satisfied with the sight of the Deeds which related only to the Lands North of Tohiccon, he was desired to confer with Teedyuscung and his Counsellors thereon in the pres- ence of Mr. Croghan, at which he expressed his Satisfaction and said he would willingly undertake it.
At a Meeting with the Indians in Easton, on Monday, August Ist, 1757, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Governor, &ca. The Council.
The same Members of Assembly.
The Provincial Commissioners.
A number of Gentlemen from the City of Philadelphia, and others the Inhabitants of the Province.
Captain Thomas McKee, Interpreter for the Crown.
Conrad Weiser, Esquire, Interpreter for the Province.
Mr. John Pumpshire, Interpreter for Teedyuscung.
Teedyuscung, King of the Delewares, attended by several Chiefs and Deputies of the Ten Nations he represents, and a great number of others.
Teedyuscung, addressing himself to the Governor, spoke as fol- lows :
" Brother, the Governor :
" By this Belt (holding up a Belt), I remember what you said Yesterday, in the Evening. All was well accepted and very good, only one Word, or one material thing. When the several different Nations of us, that call ourselves the Ten Nations, that are present, I mean the Counsellers, had considered what you said, we approved all except one thing. Also, this morning carly, when we came to sit down by ourselves, with our Secretary with us, when we had done, and fully understood one another, and agreed on every word, we then ordered our Secretary to write it down. [John Pumpshire said, I will just mention this in Addition, we ordered him to read it over three or four Times, and approved it]. Having done that, wo have the Words already written down, and if it please the Governor to hear it read, this that is written down is what was concluded on.
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