USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 13
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Conrad Weiser, Esquire.
Information being given to the Governor that an Indian, William
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Sock, with his Comrade, had for some time been tampering with the Conestoga Indians, and that they were, at the Instance of these two Indians, proposing to remove from the Manner, his Honour had wrote a Letter to Mr. James Wright, to inquire into the Affairs, and to invite Sewaise and these Indians to come and see him.
A Letter from Mr. Shippen, of Lancaster, on this Subject, was read in these words :
" LANCASTER, the 3d of May, 1758. " Honoured Sir :
" I take the Liberty to acquaint your Honour that the Cones- togoe Indians are going to leave their Town. I had my informa- tion last night from Mr. Ross, of the blue Rock. He tells me, that last Thursday they sent Mr. McKnee to acquaint him they wanted to have a Conference with him, and when he came to them, they said they had nothing at all against him, for he had always been very kind to them in supplying them with all necessary pro- visions, but that they had been lately at Philadelphia, on a Visit to the Governor, to beg a few Cloaths, and particularly Leather for Moccosins, as they were Naked and barefotted, but that he had (to use their own phrase) broken his Word with them, for after having detained them a good many days in Town, he sent them packing away in the same destitute Condition in which they came; And that seeing this was the Case, and they were not allowed to hunt for Deer among the Inhabitants, They were forced to go into the Wilderness to seek Cloathing for themselves and Families; and they proposed to go a little beyond Fort Augusta, and there to build Indian Cabbins. But as they intended to return in the Spring, they desired Mr. McKnee might be permitted to remain in their Town, and plant Corn, to be divided between his and their Families, when they come back, and as a Token of their Friendship with the English, Old Sohaise gave him a String of white Wampum. And then Mr. Ross answered, and assured them he would supply their Wants immediately from Lancaster. Yet, notwithstanding this Declaration, they said they were resolved to keep there Reso- lution. Then he let them know, if they would not be perswaded to accept of his Offer, he hoped they would accept of some Beef and Flour for their Journey, and as it would be unsafe for them to pass thro' the Country without an Escort, he would employ Mr. McKnee to go with them to Hunter's Fort, to which they readily agreed. That on Saturday Mr. McKnee came to Mr. Ross again, and told him that the Indians were divided in their Council, whether to go off a Hunting or to stay and Plant their Corn, but that he understood by Betty Sock that Billy Sock (her son) and some of the Young Men were absolutely resolved to go [take her own words] and help the French, May be the English. Since VOL. VIII .- 8.
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which Time Mr. Ross has heard nothing of them. However, tho' it be a busy Time with me, As I think this Affair of very great Consequence to the Province, trifling as the Number of those Indians may be, I have thought proper to Visit them immediately, and shall use my utmost endeavours to appease them & keep them back.
"I am, with due respect, Your Honour's Most Obedient Hum. Servt.,
" EDWD. SHIPPEN."
The Governor received an answer from the Commissioners respecting Teedyuscung's Demands, which being read, and the Indians who were attending with Charles Thompson called in, The Governor spoke to them as follows :
" Brother Teedyuscung :
" All that you requested will be chearfully complied with, and with the utmost Dispatch. Mr. Hughes, one of the former Com- missioners, who lives in Town, has acquainted me that he is willing, and will soon be ready to go. Notice shall be sent to the other Gentlemen, who all live in the Country. You may be assured that this Business shall be performed to your satisfaction. " Brother :
"I desire, on your return to Bethlehem, you will not fail to send your Indians to scout and range in the places where the Enemy In- dians are know to - the Province, and that they may be directed to use their utmost Endeavours to bring in a Prisoner. " Brother :
"You may remember that I promised you and Moses Tetamy, at Easton, that who was committed on Suspicion of having mur- dered Indians, they should be tried according to our Laws. I now acquaint you that the Forms prescribed by our Laws have been ob- served with respect to - -; And no - being offered, he could not be found guilty. I am informed he is a -, and, therefore, I propose sending him out of the Country.
" Brother :
" I have now finished all I have to say to you at present."
Teedyuscung replied to the Governor's Speech in these Words :
" Brother :
" I thank you for your kind Answer to my request about Wio- ming.
" Brother :
" Be not discouraged; I assure you of Success if you press on. For my part, I shall never let it drop; I will do my utmost En- deavours so as neither one nor two Men shall ever Erect this good Work. I know there are a great many flying Stories and a great
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deal of bad News; Nevertheless, let us press on. I would have you Consider I have not all the Indians at my Command; there are many Indians still in the French Interest, and here and there some may be found among us who pretend to be our Friends, but whose Hearts are not true; Therefore, if you desire it, I will go myself, or send some sober Indians back, in order to find out who has done this Mischief; and if you desire it, you may send a white man with my Indians, who will see and Judge for himself. " Brother :
" As to the Boy who is in Jayl, as nobody was present when the fact was done, he ought not to be condemned to Death; if he be sent out of the Country, it will do very well. I desire no more ; I have now done."
The Governor let him know he took very kindly his proposal of going himself or sending some of his discreetest people to find out the Indians who had done the late Mischiefs. He added, that he might depend on his Suffering nothing to discourage him from bringing the present good Work they were engaged to a good issue ; and that this Government would faithfully perform all their Engagements, and promote, in every respect, the Good of the In- dians.
Teedyuscung, as he was rising to shake hands with the Governor, paused a little and said :
" Brother :
"I never did ask a favour of you before now, and as this is my first Request, I desire it may be granted. There is an hearty, stout Man, very healthy, and One who looks as if he was fit for Business, and such we want; I desire he may be made a Captain in Your Army; his Name is James Perry." ยท
The Governor said he was sorry Teedyuscung did not apply Sooner ; All the Captains' Commissions in the Province Service were filled up, but, if he would raise some good men to Serve the King, he would give him a Lieutenant's Commission. For which Teedyuscung returned the Governor thanks, and said he would talk with him; he was not of his Acquaintance, but he was taken with his Military Appearance.
The Consideration of the Intelligence respecting the Conestogoe Indians was resumed, and a Letter read that was wrote to Mr. James Wright, requesting him to sift this Matter, and to invite Sewaise, the head Man of the Conestogoes, to bring Will Sock and the other Indian to see the Governor; and Mr. Weiser was. requested to lay in Town, in order to interprete for the Conestogce Indians.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 8th of May, 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwalader,
The Governor, on Saturday, received an answer from James Wright, to his Letter relating to the Conestogoe Indians, which was delivered by Sohaise, Will Sock, and a Cayagu Indian called
The Letter was read and ordered to be entered as follows : "May it please the Governor :
"In pursuance of the Direction thou wast pleased to send me, I went to the Conestogoe Town and delivered the String of Wampum' and Message. Bill Sock and the Stranger (who is a Cayagu) agreed to wait upon the. I gave no Encouragement to any other Indian to go; but this Day Chagree and Shahaise came to my House, and told me they would take the Journey with their Brothers; as I be- lieve Shahaise to be an honest Man, and a hearty Friend to the English, I made no objection.'
"I have had a good deal of discourse with these Indians, and particularly with Shahaise, who said he would tell me what the Stranger and Sock told him; and as well as I could understand his broken English it was this, that the Six Nations, with all the Tribes in Friendship with them, have had long and general Councils, and the result of them was, that they would send some of their Chiefs to the French and some to the English, and demand to have Bound- aries fixed betwixt each Nation and themselves; that if the French on their part refused to comply with this Demand, they would then join their whole Force with the English against them ; and though he would not say it, yet it is reasonable to conclude they came to the same Resolution in regard to the English. He mentioned the Twightwees and some other Nations, and said there were several, of which he knew not the Names, who had Entered into this Confeder- acy. What I have wrote he repeatedly told me, so that I cannot mistake; as Shahaise has been intimate with me many Years, per- haps he may have spoken with more freedom than he would do in any other place, or then the others may do.
" As to any other Intelligence they may be able to give, I can- not learn anything at all from them ; neither did I chuse to ques- tion them too strictly, for fear of giving them Occasion to think themselves suspected, and perhaps preventing them from Comply- ing with thy request. As to these Conestogoes selling their Corn,
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they have usually done it, when they have more than they want for food, to purchase little necessaries; I have heard some time ago that a part of their Number designed to leave their Town, and a part of them to stay, which is still their Intention"; but they were purposed to go away privately, for about a week ago they gave a String of Wampum to Thomas McKnee, with a request that he might carry it to the Governor, and acquaint him that a Number of them were going towards Shamokin to get some Deer, as they could not Hunt with any safety in these parts, were barefoot, and in want of Cloathing for themselves and their Families, but that they left their Corn-fields and Cabbins, and should return next Spring; but, not- withstanding these assurances, I am of opinion the younger part of those who go will not return to settle among us, as indeed their way of living will scarce admit of it, for however kind the Government may be to them, yet Hunting is their Natural Employment, and that they have not dared to follow for two years past, except about my Brother's House and mine.
" Shahaise, I am perswaded, will never leave this place, at least he assures me he will not, and that some others will stay with him; and as for them that go, I really think they do not remove from any Dissatisfaction to the English, or evil Designs, but only for the rea- son they assign, as Thomas McKee tells me they are certainly in want of Cloathing (which I hope the Government will be so good as to take Notice of ). McKee likewise' tells me the Indians had desired him to meet them in Philadelphia, if he could, least they should not be understood ; the Cayagu would not wait till he could go with them, but he purposes to be in town in a few Days.
" The people are so prejudiced against Indians in general that I thought it necessary to procure a Substantial Man to take care of these down. I heartily wish their Journey may be Satisfactory to thyself and of service to the Publick.
" And am thy respectful Friend,
"JAMES WRIGHT.
" May 4th, 1758."
The Indians were sent for, and after the usual Salutations the Governor made the following Speech :
" Brethren, and Brother Sohaise :
" I have been informed that some of our. Brethren of the Cones- togoe Town were moving away with their Wives and Families, and selling their Corn and Improvements. As you had not given me any notice of this, I was much Concerned to hear it, and therefore sent my Brother Sohaise a String of Wampum to invite him here to see me, that I might hear from him the truth of this story ; and if it was so, whether that they were moving from any invitation of your Brethren, the Indians, or from any Dissatisfaction with us;
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and I now desire You, by this String of Wampum, to open Your Minds freely to me."
A String of Wampum.
"Brother :
"I was also informed that one of your Brothers of the Conestogoe Town had been in the Six Nations Country, and was lately returned from thence, and he brought with him one of our Acquaintance of the Six Nations. I therefore desire you will inform me what News he has brought from thence, and what passes among our Brethren there."
A String.
Sohaise consulted with the other Indians, and after a short pause return'd an Answer as follows :
" Brother, the Governor :
" You say you have sent for me and my Friends to learn from us if we were leaving your Town, and if so, whether any offence had been given us.
"Brother : 1
"We are neither leaving our Town, nor have we taken Offence at any thing; all that is in it is, that some of our Indians have a, mind to go on Susquehannah, partly to Hunt and partly to trade, that they may provide necessaries for their Families. If the Indians had a mind to go quite away from their Brethren, and leave the place, it would have been my Duty, and I certainly should have done my Duty in giving notice to you of such a Design. But it is not so ; and as to myself, were all to go, I would not go with them; I would stay where I am. You were intirely misinformed, depend on the Truth of what I say.
" Brother :
" Before we set out we held Consultation at -; Thomas M'Kee was present; he is expected in Town every moment; when he comes I shall speak again, having some things to say to you."
Chagrea, Will Sock, and the Cayuga Indian, let the Governor know, that at the Instances of Conrad Weiser, who was in haste to return home, they had told him all the News of what had passed in the Indian Country, and that he had put it down in writing, and had read it over to them, and they desired it might now be read in Council, which was done in these words :
" Memorandum of the News Will Sock, and a Cayuga Indian named Jorachgnison, both lately come from the Six Nation, taken the 6th of May, 1758.
" Will Sock said for certain, that he came from an Indian Village called Canowarookary, not far from Canasatagy, the Chief Town of the Senecas, where all the Councillers of the Six United Nations
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Sat, and were deliberating affairs concerning the present War, as far as concerned the Indians; that they had Concluded to send Mes- sengers to all the Indian Nations living on the Waters of Ohio, St. Lawrence, and Susquehannah River, to desire them to desist from making Use of their Hatchet, for the future, against the English and French, and to send a third Message to the Delawares and Shawanese on Ohio, they had sent two before, to lay Down their Hatchet immediately, and in case they should refuse, to strike them. And that Messengers would be sent to the Governor of Canada, and to Sr. William Johnson, not to Employ any Indians for the future, in the War, but to decide their quarrels among them- selves, or to some such purposes.
" That a large Visit was intended to Pennsylvania, and many of the Chiefs of the Six Nations included, to talk over Matters of great Consequence, in their Language called Caligh Wanorun.
" But it appeared very likely that the Six united Nations would not much Longer observe a Neutrality, but take up the Hatchet against the French as soon as they could prevail on their Allies, to whom they had sent messengers to perswade them to come into their Measures.
" The aforesaid Indian further informed me for a Truth, on which might be depended, that some time this Spring news was brought to Canasatagy by creditable Indians coming from Ohio to the fol- lowing purport, viz* :
"That the French Commander at Fort Du Quesne, on the River Ohio, sent Messengers some time last fall to the Indian Nation liv- ing on the other side Lake Erie, to invite them to a great Feast which he had, or would make for them, at his Fort; That, according to that invitation, some of the Chiefs of the Wiontots, Onigh-Cal- liackon and the Qisagechroanu, came, and the French Commander spake to them to the following purport :
"' Children, your Father, Onontio, has roasted a Big and fat Bear for you; a Bear that has been very mischievous, but at last got killed ; and I now desire you to Eat heartily of it,' and so throwed down some Belts or Strings of Wampum on the Ground.
"N. B .- That it is an Old Custom with the Northern Indians to throw down the Wampum by which they are desired to take up the Hatchet, and those that incline takes up the Wampum, then they agreed to comply with the Request.
" After some pauses the French Commander said : 'Children, what I mean by the Big Fat Bear is the united Nations whom Onontio has condemned to die, and desire that you, his Children, will assist in destroying them.'
" The Indians were desired to consult and give their Answer Seperate-Each Nation Answer for themselves ; which being agreed upon, they came in a Body to the Commander with their Answer to the following purport :
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"'Father : (the Wiontots spoke first), I heard and Considered well what you said to us about your feast. I won't Eat of it; and I will, die with the United Nations. Take your feast to yourself,' and therewith kick'd the Wampum with his foot towards the Com- mander.
" After him the Onigh Calliakon answered and said :
"' Father, we won't Eat of your Roast, it is quite Burned ; your Fire was too Hot, and you was Drunk when you kindled it, you must Eat the Roast yourself, it stinks; and therewith he gave the Wampum a harder kick and Kicked it toward the Commander's feet.
"The Third Speaker of the Quisagechroanu made the same Answer, with this Addition :
"'Father : Since the Time you stop't our Trade and Corres- pondence with the English our Brich Cloth is so much worn that * we Can't cover our Nakedness no more, and our Women can't cover their Thighs, and are ashamed to walk about. We are now grown very poor, notwithstanding your great Promises what you would do for us. Eat Your Roast yourselves ;' and then kicked the Wampum with his foot as far as under the Commander's Seat, or before his feet.
" The French Commander after a long pause replied :
"' Children : I believe what you said to be true. I have made a large fire and burned the roasted burn Meat. I shall take better Care the next time. You must take no offence at this spoiled Feast.'
" These Indians further inform'd me that when they came down Susquehannah River they saw 18 Indian Warriors from Ohio about the Mouth of the Creek called Shochary, on the West Side of that River, with 8 Scalps and Three Live Prisoners, all little Children, one of them a girl about 13 or 14 Years of Age ; that the Warriors spoke pretty rough to these Indians, and put them in some fear ; that about that Place the Enemy Indians crossed Susquehannah often, and that the said Company of Indians were all Delawares and Shawanese.
"'They told me over and over that the Six Nations would never join the French, that as soon as they had strengthened themselves, and secured the Assistance of their Allies, they would fall upon the French.
"That a Delaware Family that came from Tinogan had settled on Susquehannah River between Wyoming and Fort Augusta, and more would soon follow, but would not be Commanded by Teed- yuscung who is reported as one that wants to make English Men of the Indians and bring them under the English Government, and reign over them as his Vassals ; that his way of acting was disa- grecable to the Indians about Tiahogan. But because for the Good
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Work of Peace they suffer themselves to be advised by him. That the Indians about Tiahogan are well affected to the English, and no danger of Breaking with them again.
" That Some Time after the Treaty with the said Three Nations several sorts of Indians gathered about the Fort in great numbers in the Indians Cabins, and the French Commander invited the Old Men to come into the Fort, where they accordingly came, and the Commander asked them whether they were a Complete Council. Answered Yes.
"He the Commander said, 'Children, I am Exceedingly glad to see you about my Fort, and so many of your Young Men, will there- fore give them a Drink of Good Wine, which will Signifie the Blood of the Six Nations which I desire you will order them to Drink.' Whereupon a Barrel of Red Wine was presented and brought forth to the Young Men in the Indian Cabins, and the Young Men re- joiced at it, and beat out one of the Heads and fell to Drinking. After a while the Old Folks came out, and saw them Drinking, told them it was given them by the Commander, as the Blood of the Six United Nations, at which they all started, and did send their Old Men to the Commander back to let him know that the Six Nations were the Support and Defendants of all the Indians in North America and with them and in their side of the Question they would Die; they thanked their Father Onontio for the Wine.
" This news was confirmed by three Indians of the Wiontots Na- tion sent this Spring to the Six Nations Country, in particular to Onontago, by the French Commander on Ohio, as spies, to discover their Strength, who told to the Onontayers their Errand and what they came for and made great complaint of the Dearness of the French Goods, and Mischievous design, and desired the Onontayers would erect a Trading House in their Town for the English, And they the Wiontots and many others would come and Trade there; in particular they wanted a Smith; they put the Onontayers in a way how to begin this with safety. They gave a large Belt of Wampum by which they desired an English Trading House at Onondago; that the Onondagos had already sent Deputies to Sir William John- son to Consult with him about the affair, in order to bring it about as soon as possible.
"CONRAD WEISER.
" N. B .- That when this was told me by the Indian before named, Shahaise, Chagrea, and Seneca George were present, to whom I did read it; George understands pretty much of the English Language ; so does Will Sock; and all said it was right Interpreted."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 12th of May, 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
William Logan, Richard Peters, Esquires. The Indians, Six Nations.
Conestogos.
Shahaise, Will Sock, Seneca George, Chagrea.
A Cayuga Indian. Thomas McKee, Interpreter.
" Brother :
" When the two Indians, Will Sock and the Cayuga, came to Conesgoe, we sent for Thomas McKee and desired him to carry a Message to the Governor at Philadelphia ; it was to this purpose :
" We let the Governor know that most of the Indians who now live at Conestogoe, intended to remove thence to a place at some distance above Shamokin; that where they were at present their Women could get no Cloathis, nor their Young Men go a Hunting ; it was, therefore, determined that the Women should take some Kegs of Liquor with them and sell them for Skins, that would pro- cure their Women .Cloaths, and the Young Men with their Hunt- ing, would supply themselves with Shoes and other necessaries. But as they only intended to be absent one Winter, they desired the Governor, by Thomas McKee, not to think any thing a miss of them, for that they had no bad designs. They said it only was, that no Cloaths being given them they were become Naked, and this Measure of going above, thinking, for a while, would procure them Cloaths and other necessaries ; at the same time let the Governor know, that as a fire was kindled at Conestogoe that had burnt a long while, and he was born there and lived there all his life, he would not go with the other Indians, but stay and lay his Bones at Conestogo; this, he added, was the purport of one-half of the string. The other half was that the Women left their Houses, Hogs, and Cornfields, and desired they might be put under the . Care of Thomas McKee. They further desired that he might be ordered to plant Corn and take care of their Houses and Cattle ; for which he should allowed one-half, and the Indians were to have the other half."
Thomas McKee said that this is the String which the Conestogo Indians sent by him, and gave the String of Wampum.
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