USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 18
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"I am, Sir, Your most Obedit and Hume Servt, " JAMES DELANCY."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 12th of Septem"", 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
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A Message to the Assembly was prepared, read, approved, and sent to the House by the Secretary in these Words :
" Gentlemen :
" The Honour and Interest of this Province are so deeply con- cerned in the late Request made by Admiral Boscawen to furnish him with a Number of Seamen, that I cannot avoid recommending it strongly to you to reconsider the matter. You will please to re- member that his Majesty, in a Letter from Mr. Pitt, his principal Secretary of State, bearing date the thirtieth Day of December last, laid before you in March, Signified to me His Royal Pleasure that all Legal Methods should be used to supply the Commander-in- Chief of his Ships in North America with such a Number of Sailors from this Province as he should at any time require for His Ma- jesty's Service. When, therefore, I received the Admiral's Letter generously offering that the Eccho, a Ship of Thirty-Two Guns, should in return for a Supply of the Seamen demanded be immedi- ately stationed here for the Protection of our Trade, I made no doubt of your readily acceding to so advantageous a Proposal.
" You are pleased to say that it is not in your Power to comply with this Requisition, because the Province hath been at a very great Expence in fitting out a Ship of War, now on a Cruize for the Protection of your Trade, and the Public Funds are near ex- hausted.
" Gentlemen, when you Consider that a Man of War Stationed on your Coast will render for the future the Province ship useless, that the great Sums necessarily expended in supporting her will be saved, and at the Same Time your Trade will be more effectually Secured. I am perswaded you will agree with me that it is your Duty as well as your real Interest to fall on proper Means to furnish the Admiral with the Number of Seamen he demands without Delay.
" New Funds will be wanting to Supply the Deficiency of those already raised ; but it is certain that the Taxes hereafter to be im- posed will be easier on the People if by the Measure proposed the heavy Expences of Supporting the Province Ship can be saved to them.
" I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that from the present face of things Indian Affairs seem to have a very favourable appearance. Since your adjournment in May last, I have been particularly atten- tive to improve every Opportunity that has Offered to reclaim such of them as have joined our Enemies, and of Conciliating the affec- tions of the Indians in general. Several Messages and Conferences have passed between us, in consequence of which a general meeting has been agreed upon to be held at Easton, and I have lately re- ceived Intelligence that many are already arrived on our Frontiers, and great Numbers are Assembling together and may be daily ex-
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pected there. At this Treaty the Governor of the Jersey has by the particular desire of the Indians agreed to attend; and in order to make an extensive as well as durable Peace with the Indians in general, I have invited the Governors of New York, Maryland, and Virginia, and Sir William Johnson to favour me with their presence and Assistance.
" A very ,Considerable Expence must necessarily attend this important Transaction, which the Commissioners have agreed with me to defray out of the last Sum granted to his Majesty by this Province. I hope every Hand and Heart will be united in endeavouring to bring to a happy Issue this Treaty, so interesting to his Majesty's Service, and the Colonies in general.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
" September the 12th, 1758."
The Governor received a Letter from Major Orndt, acquainting him that One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Indians were arrived at Fort Allen, and intended to stay there. The Letter was sent by the Secretary to the Provincial Commissioners.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 13th of Sep- temT., 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Benjamin Chew,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
A Letter from General Forbes to the Governor was read in these words :
" FORT LOUDOUN, Septem", 9th, 1758.
" Sir :
" I have the Honour of laying before you the Situation of His Majesty's Affairs under my Directions in these Southern Provinces at this Critical Juncture, and at the same time to shew you how much it depends on you and the People of this Province to assist in carrying on a Service which his Majesty has so much at Heart, or by their Neglect and Obstinacy have it in their Power to render every step that has been taken (for the safety of these Colonies) fruitless and to no Purpose, but to expend a very great Sum of Money.
" The laying in Provisions for the Support of the Army I attempted to do without even being obliged to impress any Carriages. The Quantity of Provisions to have been Collected at our principal Magazine has fallen greatly short of what I had reason to expect,
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because most of the Waggons were not Loaded with more than Fourteen Hundred Weight, and took a Third more time in the Car- riage than they ought to have done, which obliged us to break in upon the Stock of Provisions laid in at Ray's Town, while the Troops were opening a Road over the Mountains, and Securing its Communication, which is now effectually done to within Forty Miles of the French Fort, so that if the Inhabitants who have Waggons are not obliged to furnish a Sufficient Number of them, who, in one Trip to Ray's Town, might Transport the Quantity of Provisions wanted, and where they may receive payment for the Trip at a just and equitable Price, to be fixed by Authority, in Pro- portion to the Quantity of Provisions so delivered and to the Length of the Journey that they make, the Expedition cannot go forward ; nor can I maintain the Ground I am already Master of, but shall be Obliged to draw off my Master's Forces to the Inhabited Parts of the Country, and take Provisions and Carriages wherever they can be found. The Evil which will Attend this Procedure is, that the Innocent must Suffer with the Guilty, and the Exigence of the Case is so pressing as to admit of no delay.
"I know there has been several Complaints made of the Scarcity of Forrage, and that several Waggoners has been abused by Officers. If there was any Scarcety of Forrage, it was owing to the Want of Waggons for its Transport; and no Driver ever made his Complaint but the Person who abused him was punished, so that I am induced to believe every Complaint of that kind is without foundation, and, therefore, shall not further insist on a detailed account of the Infamous Breach of Contract on the Part of the Inhabitants.
" I have sent to Philadelphia the Quarter Master General, who will explain to you fully the Situation of the Army. I should be sorry to employ him in executing any Violent Measures, which the Exigency of Affairs I am in at present must Compel me to do, if I am not relieved by a Speedy Law for the Providing the Army with Carriages, or a general Concurrence' of Magistrates and People of power in those Provinces in assisting, to their utmost, to provide the Same, and that with the greatest Diligence.
" Every thing is ready for the Army's Advancing, but that I cannot do unless I have a Sufficient Quantity of Provisions in the Magazines at Ray's Town. The Road that Leads from the advanced Posts to the French Fort may be opened as fast as a Convoy can march it. Therefore my movement depends on his Majesty's Sub- jects entering chearfully in carrying up the necessary Provisions. The new Road has been finished without the Enemies knowing it, The Troops having not suffered the least insult in the Cutting it.
" And as one Trip of the Waggons will be sufficient for carrying up Provisions to Ray's Town, they shall be paid off at that Place for the Weight they carry and discharged; When they arrive at Ray's Town I shall have nothing to do, but proceed with the Army
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under my Command, which hitherto have exerted themselves with the greatest Vigor and Spirit, in the great Labour they have under- gone; I have done every thing in the Power of Man, to carry on this Expedition with Vigor, if any stop is made to it now, there can be no part laid to my Charge. For this stop you know I have long dreaded, as Six Weeks ago I wrote circular Letters to the Different Magistrates to give all their Aid and Assistance in pro- curing Waggons to the Contractor's Agents for Transporting Pro- visions, and that nothing has been neglected that Occur to me for Expediting this so necessary Branch of the Service.
"I need not repeat to you the care I have hitherto been at to pre- vent our Parties from falling upon the Indians, lest, by mistake, it might have fallen upon those who are any wise well disposed to us, and who are, I hope by this time at Easton to meet you, where I hope you will as soon as possible bring things to an Issue, letting the Indians know that the Regard I had for them has been the only reason why I had not long ago fallen upon their Towns, Wives and Children, but that now I could no longer Stop from putting in Execution the Orders of the King, my master, against his Enemies, and all who joined with them.
" As you will see Mr. Croghan, you will be so good as to send with those who will follow up to me as soon as possible, and pray, as soon as you can form any idea how matters are likely to turn out, let me know by Express; And I beg your Sentiments as to my Proceedings, if God grant us success against the Enemy; You see the Difficulty of leaving a Garrison there, and you know how your Province have put it out of my power of leaving any of their Troops after the first of December, So I am really at a Loss what step I must take.
" I have the honour to be,
"Sir, your most Obed and Hume; Servt., "JOHN FORBES.
"P. S .- As I am willing to embrace every Measure for Carrying on the Service, I have wrote to Several of the Members of the As- sembly, to desire their assistance in relation to Carriages, as I sup- pose you may think it proper to Lay my Letter before them."
The Secretary was ordered to deliver the Letter, with the follow- ing Message, to the House :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly. " Gentlemen :
" I lay before you a Letter from General Forbes, which I have just received by Express. You will thence collect the Situation of Affairs under his Direction, and I most earnestly entreat you will consider it, and on this pressing Occasion, do every thing in your Power to promote the King's Service, by falling on the most speedy
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and effectual method for Supplying the King's Army with Car- riages, for want of which the General is in the utmost Distress.
" WILLIAM DENNY.
"September the 13th, 1758."
MEMORANDUM.
On the Fourteenth, the Governor sent to the House, by the Secre- tary, Copies of the Conferences lately held with the Indians, and his Honour's Message to them; and on the same day received a Message from the House, by two Members, in these Words : " May it please your Honour :
"We have considered your Honour's Message of the twelfth Instant, so far as it relates to Admiral Boscawen's Requisition of a Supply of Seamen from this Colony, as Recruits towards manning the Fleet under his Command, and have reconsidered the Secretary of State's Letter of the thirtieth of December, 1757, to which you have been pleased to refur us in your said Message, and are of Opinion, that if it was expected we should recruit His Majesty's Fleet at the Expence of this Province, we are at present so circum- stanced, that it is not in our power to comply with it. Your Honour must be Sensible, that the Sitting of this Assembly must soon tirminate, and the large Grant we have already made to His Majesty for the Service of the Current year, is almost expended ; what little remains, we apprehend, will be taken up in defraying the Expences of the ensuing Treaty at Easton, which tho' for the immediate Service of the Crown, and the general Interest of the Colonies, is likely to become principally, if not wholly, a Charge upon this Province.
" Signed by order of the House.
"THOMAS LEECH, Speaker.
"September the 14th, 1758."
MEMORANDUM.
On the Fifteenth, Two Members waited on the Governor with the following Message from the House, and acquainted his Honour . that Mr. Norris, Mr. Fox, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Roberdeau, Mr. Gal- loway, Mr. Masters, Mr. Strickland, and Mr. Gibbons, were ap- pointed by the House to be a Committee to attend at the Ensuing Treaty at Easton :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
1 " May it please your Honour :
" In Answer to that part of your Message, of the Twelfth In- stant, relating to Indian Affairs, we heartily approve of the general
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Meeting, which has been agreed upon to be held at Easton, as the most probable means of regaining and confirming the Antient Friendship and Alliance of the Natives to the British Interest; to which end this Province hath exerted itself in a particular Manner, and at a very great Expence.
" In an affair so interesting to our most Gracious Sovereign, and the British Nation, we sincerely hope, with you, that every Hand and Heart will be united in bringing this Treaty to an happy Issue.
" Signed by order of the House.
"THOMAS LEECH, Speaker."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 20th of Sep- tem"", 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell, Richard Peters, Esquires.
A Bill, intituled "a Supplement to the Act, intituled 'an Act for regulating the Hire of Carriages to be employed in his Majesty's Service,'" being presented to the Governor, last Night, it was read, approved, and sent to the House with a Message that the Governor would be in the Council Chamber, ready to enact it into a Law, at half an hour past Twelve a'Clock.
The Governor, with the Council, went to the Council Chamber, and his Honour sent a Message to the House by the Secretary, requiring their attendance in order to enact the said Bill into a Law. The House accordingly attending, the Bill was passed, sealed, and Lodged in the Roll's Office.
A Letter from the Governor a Jamaica was read, and a Warrant Issued thereupon by Mr. Strettell against the Officers of the Stan- wix Privateer.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 21st of Septem", 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Richard Peters,
John Mifflin,
Benjamin Chew,
1} Esquires.
Edward Shippen, Judge of the Admiraltry.
Captain Stevenson and four other of the Officers of the Stanwix
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being apprehended and committed to Jayl, were brought to the Governor's in order to be examined. The Examination of Captain Stevenson was taken, subscribed, and Signed by the Governor.
Captain Samuel Mifflin, Captain William Dowel, and Mr. Judah Foulk appeared as some of the Owners of the Stanwix, and declar- ing that the Proceedings in Admiraltry respecting the Capture of the said Jamaica Flag of Truce were copied and sent under the Great Seal of the Admiraltry and in the Hands of some of the Owners, Time was given for them to produce the Copy, and Cap- tain Stevenson and the men were set at Liberty on Captain Dowel's becoming Security that they should appear on demand before the Governor for further Examination.
Whilst the Council was sitting, a Bill intituled " An Act for the Continuance of an Act of Assembly of this Province Intituled 'a Supplementary Act to the Act intituled ' An Act for preventing the Exportation of Bread and Flour not Merchantable, and for the New Appointment of Officers to put the said Law in Execution,"'" and was presented by two members of the House for the Governor's Concurrence, and read.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 25th of Septem"., 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- crnor.
William Till,
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew, Esquires.
John Mifflin,
A Letter from Mr. Weiser was read, wherein he gives an Ac- count of the ill behaviour of Teedyuscung and the Indians at Easton, and upon Consideration of the ill Consequences that may attend such irregularity, it was unanimously judged proper that some per- son should immediately be sent who can keep the Indians in order; and Mr. Peters was requested to undertake this as being acquainted with the Indians, and used to their Manners and tempers, and Mr. Peters consented to go.
A Proclamation was issued prohibiting the Sale of Rum to the Indians, which was ordered to be printed, and Mr. Peters had direc- tions to serve the Magistrates of the County of Northampton with it, and to affix Copies at all publick Places in the said County.
MEMORANDUM.
On Tuesday, the Twenty-Sixth, the Governor, by the Secretary, sent to the House the Bill intituled " An Act for the Continuance
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of an Act of Assembly of this Province, intituled ' A Supplementary Act to the Act intituled ' An Act for preventing the Exportation of Bread and Flour not merchantable,' and for the new appointment of Officers to put the said Law in Execution,'" with a Verbal Mes- sage that he would pass the same into a Law as soon as presented to him for that Purpose. Upon which Two Members waited on the Governor to acquaint him that the Bill would be ingrossed by Five o'Clock in the afternoon, and his Honour desired them to acquaint the House that he would be in the Council Chamber at Five o'Clock. But the Secretary being obliged to go out of Town Suddenly on some important Business, the Governor sent a Verbal Message to the House that He would be at the Council Chamber to-morrow morning at Eleven o'Clock; and on the Twenty-Seventh the Governor sent a Message to the House by the Secretary requir- ing the Attendance of the Speaker and the Members in the Council Chamber, and Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, attending, the said Bill was enacted into a Law, had the great Seal affixed to it, and was deposited in the Roll's Office.
MEMORANDUM.
On the Twenty-Eighth a Bill, in addition to the Act intituled " An Act for regulating the Hire of Carriages to be employed in his Majesty's Service," was presented to the Governor by Two Members for his Concurrence, and on the Twenty-Ninth the Gov- ernor returned the Bill to the House, with a Message that he would attend the House at Half an hour after Twelve o'Clock, in the Council Chamber, to enact the same into a Law; and accordingly the Secretary was sent to require the attendance of Mr. Speaker and the House in the Council Chamber, who waited on the Gover- nor, and the Bill was enacted, sealed, and enrolled.
At a Council held at the State House, Wednesday the 3d of Oc- tor., 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esq", Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Chew,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Lynford Lardner, Joseph Turner,
William Logan,
Esquires. John Mifflin,
Several of the Inhabitants.
The Governor acquainted the Council that having been informed. that Pisquitom, an Indian, who was sent with Frederick Post to
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Allegheny some time since, was returned from thence and had something of Importance to Communicate to him, he had called them together, and after reading several Letters and conferring about Indian Affairs, the Governor desired Mr. Logan to go to know of the Indians, whether the Matters they had to communicate and deliver to him, were of a Publick or Private Nature.
Mr. Logan returned and reported that he had been with the In- dians, who told him that what they had to say they were directed to deliver in Publick that every Body might hear it, and they were admitted accordingly.
The Governor welcomed them and told them he was ready, and should be glad to hear what they had to say.
Then Pisquitom said :
" Brother :
"'Tis now Twenty-Five days since we left Cuskushki, that the Indians had met and sat in Council there;" that they had there de- livered him the several Strings and Belts in the same manner as they now lay before him on the Table, and that the Substance of all which is continued in the Paper which he now delivers to the Governor; But the Paper which they delivered being only a Letter from the Commanding Officer at Shamokin, and was the Paper they refered to, they were desired to deliver what they had to say from their Memory, but answered that he depended upon that Paper to Assist his Memory in what he had to say, he could not do without it; Whereupon the Governor proposed to them that they should defer delivering what they had to say to their meeting the Govesnor at Easton, to which place he intended to set off in a Day or two, and where they would also see who they supposed had the paper they wanted, they expressed themselves well pleased with the Gov- ernor's Proposal, and desired to set off for Easton to-morrow morning.
Then the Governor returned them thanks, on behalf of the Gov- ernment, for the great Fatigue and Difficultys they had gone through in their Journey, and assured them they should be well rewarded and taken care of whilst in this Town.
At a Meeting held at Easton, on the 7th of October, 1758. PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Lawrence Growden,
Benjamin Chew,
Richard Peters,
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Lynford Lardner,
The Governor and Council coming to Town this Afternoon, Teedyuscung, accompanied with Moses Tetamy, Daniel, Teedyus-
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cung, and Isaac Still, waited on his Honour, and made the usual Salutations.
" Brother :
"I am glad to see you here again; you may remember that we have already made Peace, and you desired me to halloo aloud, and give notice of it to all the Indians round about.
" I have spoke loud and raised my Voice, and all the Indians have heard me, as far as the Twightwees, and have regarded it, and are now come to this Place.
"I bid you welcome, and join with me in casting up our Eyes to Heaven and praying the Blessing of the Supream Being on our Endeavours.
" According to our usual Custom, I with this String wipe the Dust and Sweat off your Face, and clear your Eyes, and pick the Briars out of your Legs, and desire you will pull the Briars out of the Legs of the Indians that are come here, and anoint one of them with your healing Oil, and I will anoint the other."
A String.
The Governor returned him thanks for the Visit, and his good advice, which he promised to comply with, and appointed a Meet- ing in the Morning for that Purpose.
At a Conference held in the Town of Easton, on the 8th of Oc- tober, 1758.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Lawrence Growden,
Lynford Lardner, Benjamin Chew,
Esqrs., Members of the
William Logan,
Governor's Council.
Richard Peters, John Mifflin,
Isaac Norris, John Hughes,
Esq's., Committee of the
Joseph Fox,
Daniel Roberdeau, House of Represen- tatives.
Charles Read, ) Esqrs., Commiss". for Indian affairs in the Province Jacob Spicer, S - of New Jersey.
A Number of Magistrates and Freeholders of this and the Neigh- bouring Provinces, and of the Citizens of the City of Philadelphia, chiefly of the People called Quakers.
George Croghan, Esquire, Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs under Sir William Johnson.
Indians of Several Nations, viz *:
Mohocks .- Nichas, or Karaghtadie, with one Woman and two Boys.
Joseph Galloway,
Amos Strickland,
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Oneidoes .- Thomas King, Anagaraghiry, Assanyquou, with Three Warrior Captains, Six Warriors, and Thirty-three Women and Children.
Onondagoes .- Assaradonguas, with nine men, and nine Women and Children.
Senecas .- Takeghsado, Tagshata or Segachsadon, Chief Man, with seven other Chiefs, Thirty-Seven other Men, Twenty-Eight Women, and Several Children:
Tuscaroras. - Unata, alias Jonathan, with Five Men, Twelve Women and Two Children. -
Nanticokes and' Conys, now one Nation .- Robert" White, alias Wolahocremy, Pashaamokas, alias Charles, with Sixteen Men, Twenty Women and Eighteen Children,
Kandt, alias Last Night, with Nine Men, Ten Women and One Child.
Tuteloes .- Cakanonekoanos, alias Big Arm, Asswagarat, with Six Men and Three Women.
Chugnuts .- Ten men, and Twenty Women and Children.
Chehohockes, alias Delawares and Unamies .- Teedyuscung, with Sundry Men, Women and Children.
Munsies or Minisinks .- Egohohowen, with Sundry Men, Women and Children.
Mohickons .- Abraham, or Mammatuckan, with Several Men, Women and Children.
Wapings or Pumptons .- Nimhaon, Aquaywochtu, with Sundry Men, Women and Children.
Conrad Weiser, Esqr., Provincial Interpreter.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter in the Six Nations and Delaware Languages.
Stephen Calvin, Delaware Indians .- Interpreter in the Delaware
Isaac Still,
Moses Tetamy, Language.
The Governor opened the Conferences with the following Cere- monies, addressing himself to All the Indians present of Every Nation :
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