USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 71
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As the Indians seemed very much at a Loss about the Gov- ernor's Speech, I spoke to the King, and told him that the first part of the Governor's Speech was only to inform the King, that the Deeds are now produced and Copies will be given to him agreeable to his own Request, that they may be sent to Sir William Johnson, to be by him transmitted to the King for his Determination; This done, we in the next place now Offer to take hold of the two Belts you mentioned at the last Meeting, That what was said about agree- ing upon Terms, only referred to the Exchange of Prisoners, and other Things usual on making Peace, which Teedyuscung said he would do after the peace was confirmed ; that in the Conclusion of his Speech, the Governor only told the King that the Proprietaries Letters, for a Copy of which the King asked, were at Philadelphia, for which Reason the Governor could not comply with what the King had requested, but that an Extract of as much of them as referred to this Affair, will be delivered to me some time hence, in Confirmation of which the Governor gave the Belt.
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As soon as the King heard this he rose up, and taking up the two Belts tied together, he spoke as follows :
" I desire you would with attention hear me. By these two Belts I will let you know what was the ancient regular Method of con- firming a lasting Peace. This you ought to have considered, and to have done, but I will put you in mind. You may remember when you took hold of my Hand and led me down, and invited my Uncles, several of whom are present, with some from each of the Ten Nations, when we had agreed we came down to take hold of one of your Hands, and my Uncles came to take hold of the other Hand. Now, as this Day and this Time is appointed to meet and confirm a lasting Peace, we, that is, I and my Uncles, as we stand, and you, as you stand in the name of the Great King, three of us standing, we will all look up, and by continuing to observe the Agreements by which we shall oblige ourselves one to another, we shall see the clear Light, and Friendship shall last to us, and to our Posterity after us, forever. Now, as I have two Belts, and Witnesses are present who will speak the same by these Belts, Brothers, in the presence of the Ten Nations, who are witnesses, I lay hold of your Hand (taking the Governor by the Hand), and brighten the chain of Friendship that shall be lasting, and whatever Conditions shall be proper for us to agree too, may be mentioned afterwards. This is the Time to declare our mutual Friendship. Now Brother, the Governor, to confirm what I have said, I have given you my Hand, which you were pleased to rise and take hold of; I leave it with you. When you please, I am ready Brother, if you have any thing to say as a token of confirming the Peace, I shall be ready to hear, and as you arose, I will rise up, and lay hold of your Hand. To confirm what I have said, I give you these Belts."
Gave two Belts tied together.
The Governor said that he and I would be ready to give an An- swer presently. Then the King taking out another Belt said, " If the Governor please, I have a word or two more to say to you. In remembering the old ancient Rules of making FriendP., I remember I was formerly represented as a woman by my Uncles, the Six or Five Nations ; but they gave me a pipe and good Tobacco, those present know it to be true, and what I say is in behalf of all those present, and those far off. That Pipe and good Tobacco of Friend- ship I now deliver to you. Brother, when you shall smoke that good 'Tobacco, it will give you such a relish that you shall feel it as long as the Sun Shines. That very good Tobacco and Pipe that I shall deliver into your Hand, represents among us perpetual Friendship. Now I deliver you an equal part of it, and I desire it may be a lasting Comfort in this World and the World to come."
Gave a Belt.
After Teedyuscung had confirmed the Peace in behalf of the Ten Nations he represents, his Honour to the Governor and myself,
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confirmed it in behalf of the King and all His Subjects, and ex- changed the Belts in the following manner :
" Brother Teedyuscung and all our Brethren of the Ten Nations :
" We, your Brethren, all his Majesty's Subjects now present, we have heard with Satisfaction what you have said, and with great pleasure receive the Two Belts you have given us, which will con- firm a lasting Peace to us and our Posterity, and we embrace this Meeting to exchange with you a Belt of Friendship, and take hold of you with one Hand, and the Five Nations with the other, and confirm, in the name of the King of Great Britain, and all his Sub- jects, a lasting Peace, that may continue as long as the Sun and Moon give Light; and we hope this day may be always held in Re- membrance by our Posterity ; and we will be ready to consult with you at any Time about settling other matters, as you yourself have said. We now rise and take you into our Arms, and embrace you with the greatest Pleasure as our Friends and Brethren, and heartily desire we may ever hereafter look on one another as Brethren & Children of the same Parents. As a Confirmation of this, we give you this Belt."
Gave a very large White Belt, with the Figures of three Men in it, representing His Majesty, King George, taking hold of the Five Nation King with one Hand, and Teedyuscung the Delaware King, with the other, and marked with the follow" Letters and Figure : G. R., 5 N., D. K., for King George, Five Nations, Delaware King.
This done, the King again asked the Governor for a Copy of the Conferences that had been held in Private, that they might be read in Publick and entered with the Minutes. The Governor said it was ready, and should be delivered immediately, and one was sent for it. The Governor then asked the King when it would be agree- able to him to have the Deeds read; The King said to-morrow Morning between seven and eight a'Clock, which time was accord- ingly agreed on, and the reading of the private Conferences was de- fered till that Time.
I think it necessary to insert here the following Speech of Lab- boughpeton, a Delaware Chief, made to Teedyuscung at the Time he seemed at a Loss about the Governor's Speech to him, which is as follows :
" What, has not your Brother desired you to bring us down by the Hand to make Peace ? Why don't you do it ? We have been here these twenty days, and have heard nothing but Scolding and disputing about Lands.' Settle the Peace and let all these disputes stand till after."
As soon as the meeting was over, I let the Governor Know I could not help taking notice, that there was one Deed relative to those Lands wanting, which is mentioned in a Treaty held by this Government with the Indians in 1728, said there to be dated in
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1718; And that I expected to see that Deed, and have a Copy of it, and likewise Extracts of so much of the Proprietaries' Letters to him as relates to the Desire of his Majesty's Ministers, signifying to them that they ordered the Differences subsisting between them and the Indians, to be examined by Sir William Johnson. And that as Teedyuscung, in answer to a Message his Honour had sent by Mr. Weiser to him, Yesterday Morning (which will appear as follows): said that he would be contented, so he see all the Deeds relative to these Back Lands now in Dispute, and have Copies of them, and of the Proprietaries' Letter ; and further said, as soon as that was done he would not say one Word more about the Disputes about Lands. I then let his Honour know, as Teedyuscung had now confirmed the Peace, I expected his Honour would now furnish me with a Copy of that Deed, and the Proprietaries' Letter to him.
At a Meeting with the Indians in Easton, Thursday, Aug" 4th, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., 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 Crown.
Conrad Weiser, Esquire, Interpreter for the Province.
Mr. John Pumpshire, Interpreter for Teedyuscung.
Teedyuscung, King of the Delawares, attended by several Chiefs and Deputies of the Ten Nations he represents, and a great number of others.
The Conferences held in Council Between the Governor and King Teedyuscung were produced and read, and to them was added, by order of the King, and approved by the Governor, a Paragraph relating to the King's insisting a second Time on having a Secre- tary, and the Governor's Answer.
The Deeds shewn Yesterday were again produced, and Teedyus- cung was told that Mr. Charles Thompson, his Secretary, had got Copies of them and compared them with the Originals, and was asked if he chose to see the Originals. The King said, "I am satisfied, as my Secretary has seen the Copies compar'd. If he is satisfied that they are true Copies, I am satisfied that they should be sent to the King for his Determination ;" then asked Mr. Thomp- son if he had seen them compared. Mr. Thompson said he had
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seen and compared all the Deeds that were delivered Yesterday. The King then desired an Account of what Deeds were produced, which was accordingly taken, and is as follows : 1st. A' Paper Copy of the last Indian Purchase, 28th of Six Month, 1686. 2nd. A Release from the Delaware Indians, August 25th, 1737. 3rd. A. Release of the Indians of the Five Nations of the Lands'on Sas- quahannah River, October 11th, 1736. 4th. A Release from the Six Nations of Lands Eastward to Delaware River, Dated October the 25th, 1736, with another indorsed on it, dated the 9th of July, 1754. 5th. A Deed of release for Indian Purchase, dated the 22nd of August, 1749.
NOTE .- The above Deeds were shewn in open Council, and Copies of them delivered to Teedyuscung, which his Secretary ac- knowledged he had compared with the Originals, and that they were true Copies.
When this was done the Governor spoke to Teedyuscung as fol- lows :
" Brother Teedyuscung, and all our Brethren of the Ten Nations :
" As you and all His Majesty's Subjects are now united again in the firm Bands of Peace, it is our duty to do every thing in our Power to make each other happy, and it was stipulated at the Con- ferences held at this place last Summer that all the Prisoners you had taken should be delivered up.
" The Relations of those who yet remain Prisoners amongst you have their Eyes fixed on me, expecting at my return to see their Friends restored to them, but as few of them are brought down, and this will be a Bar to our Happiness, it is necessary for you to do every thing in your Power to restore to us, as soon as possible, all our People that remain Prisoners amongst any of your Nations, and to procure those who are among any other Tribes in Amity with you to be sent to us.
" Brother :
" It is a Rule among Nations, upon confirming a Peace, to de- liver up all Prisoners on both sides. It is the only method we can take to convince each other of our Sincerity, and we do insist on this being done. You will be so good, immediately on your Return, to convey them down by some of your Young men, who shall be well rewarded for their Trouble."
Gave a Belt.
When the Governor had delivered his Speech and gave the Belt, Teedyuscung said, " I will take no other Belt but the very same I have. Why have you done this now ? Why did you not do it be- fore? After we had finished why do you make any words about such things ? This was your Duty ; you ought to have done it be- fore. If you really believe I would be faithful and honest you might be sure I would do it without your delivering a Belt. Now,
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as you have mentioned these things, I also will mention that you must deliver me my just Due about Lands. As you mention that your People look to you, expecting to see their Relations sent back at this Treaty, so the Nations that lay claim to these Lands look to me for them."
Returned the Belt.
The Governor told Teedyuscung that he did not do this as if he had distrusted his Honour, the King having already given a full Proof of that by delivering up some Prisoners, for which he thanked him ; that he only meant to put the King in Mind of his Promise.
I then told Teedyuscung that before the Peace was concluded, when I was explaining to him the Governor's Speech, that part of it where the Governor says, "as soon as we can agree upon the Terms," related entirely to the Exchange of Prisoners, and Teedy- uscung said that should be settled afterwards.
Teedyuscung then applied to his Secretary to know if any such thing had been mentioned; and being informed by his Secretary that it was entered in the Minutes, he (Teedyuscung) then rose up and having first consulted with his own People and the five Nations spoke as follows :
" Brother the Governor :
" Please to hear me in few Words. What you told me I have told to my Uncles the Six Nations present, and, also, to all the Ten Nations. We have consulted on these Words that you have now spoken. We now think they were very proper, and are very agree- able. We look on it as our Duty. Why should we keep your Flesh and Blood, or any of your People, when we have agreed as one, and look on one another as one, and Treat one another as Brethren ? After we have all considered and all present have heard, we beg your Pardon, that we forgot to give you an Answer imme- diately. As it was written down by our Clerk in the Minutes Yesterday, it must be so, and as we are now sensible this matter was mentioned Yesterday, we accept your Words, and look on it as our Duty to answer you and to perform; whatever shall be in our power we shall endeavour to do. In Confirmation of which I give you my Hand."
Gave the Governor his Hand.
After this Speech the Governor again delivered back the Belt to the King, who readily accepted it.
The Governor then told the Indians that a present was prepared and would be delivered to them To-morrow, as a Token of Friend- ship.
I told Teedyuscung that as the Business was nearly finished with Onas, I had something to say to him, in the name of the King of Great Britain, and that I would let him know when I was to speak to him.
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After the Council broke up the Governor sent for Teedyuscung and some of his Counsellors to his Lodgings, from whence we went to Mr. Vernon's, where an Handsome entertainment was provided, at which were present the Governor, his Council, the Speaker and Members of Assembly, the Commissioners and Gentlemen in Town, the Delaware King, his Counsellors, Warriors, and all the Indians, Men, Women, and Children, in number about Three Hundred. After Dinner Peace was proclaimed in form, and the Proclamation interpreted to the Delawares and Six Nations, at the Close of which the Governor, by his Secretary, expressed his Satisfaction at being one of the happy Instruments of bringing about this Peace. His Honour recommended it to all Ranks and Professions of Men to cultivate, to the utmost of their Power, a good understanding with the Indians, and to treat kindly, that they may daily see the Ad- vantage of Preserving our Friendship.
Having given this in Charge to the Freeholders present, he desired Teedyuscung to do the same to his People, that we might on both sides forget what was past, and live affectionately together for the Time to come. A Detachment of the Pennsylvania Troops was drawn up in the Front of the Company, and fired three Vollies.
The Governor afterwards continued his Entertainment, at which there was great Chearfulness. At night was a large Bonfire, and variety of Indian Dances.
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At a Meeting with the Indians, in Easton, Friday, August 5th, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Governor &ca. The Council.
David Roberdeau, Esq'., Member of the 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 Delawares, and the same Indians as before.
This morning another Sheet of Council Conference was produced, which the Governor said was omitted to be delivered Yesterday ; For which reason they were delivered and publickly read To-day, and ordered to be annexed to the Conferences in Council, delivered and read Yesterday.
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After this was read, Teedyuscung rose and said, " Brother, I am obliged to you ; I hope, as it lies in your Power, you will act for your mutual Good. I take you as a Brother. When any thing is omitted I hope you will mention it to Me, and I likewise will men- tion any thing that I find you may have forgotten. I hope we both speak with an honest Heart; I trust much to my Interpreter. I thank you for making that Addition, and in token of Friendship, I give you my hand."
The Governor then addressed the Indians as follows :
"Brethren :
" The Peace so happily concluded gives an universal joy. I shall proclaim it far and Wide, that all may hear and know it. The People of this Province are disposed to observe it faithfully, and will do the Indians every good Office in their Power.
" Although we have now so solemnly entered into this Peace with each other, yet you are sensible there are still many enemy Indians, who are daily doing Mischief on our Frontiers. Yesterday I received an Account of one Womans being killed, and four Persons taken Prisoners, between Tolhas and Monaidy. As it will, therefore, be very difficult to distinguish between onr Friends and our Enemies, I should be glad you would favor me with your Advice how to act in such a manner as not to hurt our Friends, or suffer our Enemies to escape."
Gave a String.
" Brethren :
" The Governor and People" of this Province observe with a brotherly Compassion the many difficulties to which the Indians are exposed in these Troublesome Times, and have, therefore, provided a Quantity of Goods to supply them in their Distress. You will, on your return home, Proclaim the Peace, Union, and Friendship which is now established between us, and let every one know, as you have Opportunity, how well disposed you have found us. Ac- cept these Presents as a Testimony of the sincere Affection of us, your Brethren, towards you.
To this Teedyuscung replied :
" Brother :
"I am obliged to you for putting me in Remembrance of these Things. I will take them into Consideration, and To-morrow when I am ready to give you an Answer I will let you know." He further added :
" Brother :
" There is something which we intended to say before, but forgot, as we have not the use of writing. But better late than never ; we will therefore mention it now. The Copy of the Deeds and the Transactions of this Treaty we entrust to our Clerk; We believe
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him to be an honest man. Everything is done to perfection. We hope you will not be against his making out a Copy and give it to Mr. Isaac Norris, whom we also appoint for us, to transmit to the King a Copy of the Deeds and Minutes of the Treaty, that if one should Miscarry the other may go safe."
On which I acquainted Teedyuscung that the Governor & myself had no objections to Mr. Norris having true Copies of the Minutes of these Conferences & Deeds to send to the King, as he requested.
Then, by order of the Governor, Proclamation was made that no one should cheat, defraud, or purchase any of the Goods now ready to be given to the Indians, upon the Pain and Penalties that may fall thereon.
Then Teedyuscung said he had yet one thing more to mention : " Brother :
" I have some Complaints to make about Lands in the Jerseys in behalf of myself, John Pumpshire, Moses Tattamy, and others, which Complaints are contained in these two Papers; and as you represent Sir William Johnson, the King's Agent, here, I desire you may take them under your Consideration, and see that Justice is done us on that Account, as it is the King's orders to you to see Justice done to all the Indians in these parts."
Teedyuscung then ordered Mr. Thompson to read the Papers and give me true Copies of them, which he did immediately in Pub- lick Council.
The Papers delivered to me are a Copy of an old Indian Deed and a Letter of Complaint about Lands in the Jerseys, signed by John Pumpshire. I then acquainted him that I would take the Papers under my Consideration, and give him an answer.
Easton, August 6th, 1757.
This Morning I expected to have had a Meeting with the Indians, but as the Friendly Association had called the Indians together to deliver them a present, the Indians thought proper to put off the Meeting for this Time.
After this the three Nanticoke Messengers came to me and con- gratulated the Governor and myself on the Conclusion of the Peace, and said they had put both their Hands into the Chain of Friend- ship, as they were ordered by their Chiefs before they left home, and, by a String of Wampum, desired that the Governor might send some Person with them to Lancaster, to take care of them, and supply them with necessaries on the Road, as they were come to take the Bones of their Friends which died at Lancaster to their own Town, to be buried with their Relations."
Gave a String.
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This afternoon Packsinosa, the Shawanese Chief, with Abraham, a Mohickon Chief, and about Fifty or Sixty of their People, came to Town. Soon after Mr. Peters and Conrad Weiser went to them and with a String of Wampum bid them Welcome, agreeable to the ancient Custom of our Forefathers. Teedyuscung and the Six Nation Chief did the same.
At a Meeting with the Indians in Easton, on Sunday, August 7th, 1757, at Seven o'clock in the Morning.
PRESENT :
Joseph Galloway, William Masters,
Joseph Fox, John Hughes,
Esquires, Provincial Commissioners.
Some 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 Delawares, and his Chiefs.
Packsinosa, Chief of the Shawanese.
Abraham, Chief of the Mohicons.
The Nanticoke Messengers.
Anaquateekà, Chief of the Six Nations.
Teedyuscung, taking out the Peace Belt that had been delivered to him by the Governor and myself, repeated over what had been said on it, informing Packsinosa and Abraham of the Peace con- cluded by him between the English and the Ten several Nations he represents, repeating over the Names of the Ten Nations.
After which I spoke to them in the name of Sir William Johnson as follows :
" Brother Teedyuscung, and all the Chiefs and Warriors of the Ten Nations, our Friends and Brethren :
" As we are now become one People, we must look on the Ene- mies of the one as the Enemies of the other.
" And I now, in the name of the King of Great Brittain, your Father and my Master, desire you will turn the edge of your Hatchet against your and our common Enemies, in Conjunction with your Uncles the Six Nations and us ; and that you will not suffer any of his Majesty's Enemies to pass through your Country to war against any of his Subjects in this or the neighbouring Colonies ; And'if a Body of the Enemy, so large that you are not
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able to repel, should attempt to pass across your Country, I expect you will give the earliest Notice you can of it to your Brethren the English, either by way of Fort Augusta, or any other way you shall judge most Convenient."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
" You said as soon as the Peace should be confirmed, that you would speak with a loud Voice, and the Nations around should hear you. As that good work is now happily accomplished, I desire you may proclaim it aloud, that all the Nations may hear it.
" Brother :
" You must be sensible that your Brethren, the English, are the most Wealthy and powerful People on this Continent; and not only so, but the best inclined to help and Assist their Brethren the Indians with the necessaries of Life; all this you should let the nations know that you speak to; and I assure you in the name of the King of Great Britian, and of Sir William Johnson, His Ma- jesty's Sole Agent and Superintendent of the Affairs of the Six Nations, their Allies and Dependents, in the Northern District, that they are ready to see with open Arms all the Nations you shall speak to, that desire to take hold of the Chain of Friendship, and be united with the Six Nations, you and us, your Brethren, the English."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
" The Papers you delivered me Yesterday, containing your, John Pumpshire, Tundy, alias (Moses) Tatamy, and others' com- plaints of Lands you say you have been defrauded of in the Jer- seys. I assure you I will do every thing in my Power to have a Strict Enquiry made about them; and when I can get the fair State of the Case, I will lay it before Sir William Johnson, for him to send it to the King for his Royal Determination, unless the Differ- ence can be settled here to your Satisfaction."
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