Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII, Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 812

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a Strait Line to Pasqualin, where it joins on Delaware River, and up Delaware to Clishetung, endorsed by Nimham, a Chief of the Pumptons or Wapings, who was sick at the Execution thereof, and approved by the United Nations, which was testified by three of their Chiefs signing as Witnesses, and Governor Bernard desired all present might take Notice of the Same, The Indian Title to all the Lands in the Province of New Jersey being conveyed thereby ; which being interpreted in the Six Nation and Delaware Languages, His Excellency addressed the Indians as follows :

" Brethren :

" I am very glad this good Work has been so happily finished. I came among you wholly unacquainted with your Farms, and therefore if I have omitted any Ceremonial, you will readily excuse me. But in whatever I have been deficient, I am sure I have not wanted a good Heart towards you.

" The Circumstances of our Province have hitherto rendered us unable to give you any great Proofs of our Regard for you; but I shall endeavour to perswade my people to do you good Service for the Future by openning a Communication with you, which if rightly managed, will be much to the Advantage of both people ; And, for my own part, I shall be always ready to do you Justice, and desire that whenever you have cause of Complaint against my People, you will take care to Signify it to me."

A String.

The five Nation Chiefs have laid all the Belts and Strings on the Table that were delivered at this and the last Conference. The Cayuga Chief, Tokaaio, desired the Governors and all present would hearken to what 'Thomas King was going to say on Behalf of the United Nations (now Eight in Numbers) ; on which Thomas King arose, and taking up the first Belt, which was given by Teedyus- cung when he requested a Deed for the Wyoming Lands, he addressed the Delawares, Teedyuscung not being present, as fol- lows :

" Cousins :

" By this Belt Teedyuscung desired us to make you the Owners of the Lands at Wioming, Shamokin, and other places on the Sus- quehannah River; in answer to which we, who are present, say that we have no power to convey Lands to any one, but we will take your Request to the great Council Fire for their Sentiments, as we never convey or sell Lands before it be agreed in the great Council of the United Nations. In the mean time you may make use of those Lands in Conjunction with our People, and all the rest of our Relations, the Indians of the different Nations in our alliance ;" which being interpreted in Delaware, the String of Wampum was given to Moses Tetamy and James Davis to be de- livered to Teedyuscung, as he was not present.

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MINUTES OF THE

Then taking up each Belt and string, in the order it was deliv- ered in this and the last Conference, he proceeded to repeat dis- tinctly what had been said under each Article, returning Thanks for all those good Speeches, which he said were extremely agree- able. He made particular mention of the Large Peace Belt, saying " that the Nations were vastly pleased that all the Antient Treaties made there, at Albany, and elsewhere, where renewed, as well as that the Old Council Fire at Philadelphia was kindled again, and a good Road made to it, that might be travelled without Danger ; these in Particular, as well as every other matter transacted at these Conferences, we will make known to our own Nations, and to every other in Friendship and Alliance with us ; and we are sure they will be very well received."

" Then addressing Governor Bernard, they thanked him for his farewell Speech, saying it was a very kind one, and that they were very glad at his having been present and given his assistance at this Treaty, which had given them an Opportunity of gaining an acquaintance with him, which they would ever remember with Pleasure. After a Pause, he desired to be excused in mentioning something that had been omitted by the Governors and their Coun- cils. You have forgot to bring your ammunition, of which we always used to receive a sufficient Quantity, not only to serve us in our Journey, but Support us in our Hunting Season, that we might be enabled to make provision for our Families ; You have given us Gun locks without Guns, which are of no manner of use to us, and therefore, this must surely have been forgot, as it is impossible for Indians to Subsist without Guns, Powder, and Lead, of which we received none.

"Brethren :

"As many of us are old and infirm, we desire our Brethren will be so good as to furnish us with a Number of Waggons to carry such of us as are not able to walk with the Goods you have been pleased to give us, as far as Wioming, where we have left our Ca- noes, and then we will discharge the Waggons. We further desire a Supply of Provisions may be put into Waggons enough to serve us till we get to our respective Habitations.

" He then took up the Proprietary Release, and returned Thanks for it. He said that when the United Nations first made the Re- quest to Sir William Johnson to be transmitted to Onas, they had no doubt; but Onas would comply with it, having always found him ready to grant all their Requests; with him we have never had any Difference, he has always settled our Affairs without giving us any Trouble, and to our Satisfaction; We heartily thank Onas; This act confirms us in the good Opinion we have always had of him."

Then addressing himself to the Delawares, with a String of Wampum, he spoke as follows:

"This serves to put Teedyuscung in mind of his Promises, to

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

return the Prisoners; Remember Cousin, you have made this Pro- mise in our Presence; you did it indeed before, and you ought to have performed it, it is a shame for one who calls himself a great Man to tell Lies ; Let us, as Counsellors, perform our Engagements and Promises; Cousin, you must not now fail to perform your Word; we are all one People, and we must all of us be punctual in the performance of our Engagements." This was interpreted in the Delaware Language, and the String was given to Moses Teta- my for Teedyuscung. He then said the united Nations had finished what they had to say.

Looking round the Room, he espied Mr. Vernon, the Person who had the Care of furnishing the Indians with Provisions, and he de- sired that, now Council Business was over, he might be ordered to take the Lock off the Rum, and let it run freely, that, as they were going away, their Hearts might be made glad, and we could very well spare it, as it was of no use to us.

Some Wine and Punch was then ordered in, and the Conferences were concluded with great Joy and mutual Satisfaction.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 25th of Octo- ber, 1758.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Robert Strettell,

Benjamin Shoemaker,

William Logan,

Joseph Turner,

Lynford Lardner,

Benjamin Chew, Esquires. John Mifflin, Thomas Cadwalader,

The returns of the Sheriffs and Coroners, for the Counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and Northampton, and the three Lower Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, were read, and the following Persons Commis- sionated.

[Omitted in Council Book.]

Mr. Frederick Post who had been sent by General Forbes, and by the Governor, among the Indians on the Ohio, to gain Intelli- gence, being returned, waited on his Honour, and presented him with a Copy of his Journal, which was read in Council, and the same was ordered to be lodged among the Council Papers.

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MINUTES OF THE

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 6th of Novem- ber, 1758.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Robert Strettell, Lynford Lardner, - Esquires.

Richard Peters,

Thomas Cadwalader,

John Mifflin,

A Letter from General Forbes, dated the 22d of October, was read in these words :

"RAYSTOWN CAMP, October 22d, 1758.

" Sir :

" The Heavy Rains that have fallen of late has rendered the Roads almost Impassable for Carriages; these few Days past of dry Weather have given things a more favourable Aspect, and every thing is in Motion, the last Division being to March from hence to-morrow.

" My State of Health continues precarious, but not so bad as to occasion any stop to our Operations, which must now come to a speedy Conclusion on account of the Advanced Season of the year.

" Whatever the Fate of the Army may be it is impossible to foresee, but whether we are successful or not it is necessary for me to leave as large and extensive a Barrier as possible to cover the Province of Pennsylvania.

" The Number of the King's Troops that I have under my Com- mand docs not exceed Twelve Hundred Men, the greatest part of which I must send down to the Inhabited Parts of the Country to recruit and fit themselves out for the unsuing Campaign ; for were I to leave the whole during the Winter in the uninhabited parts of the Country, these Corps would not be in a Condition to march on Service early in the Spring.

"I shall lay before you the Posts that are proposed to be kept up, which are now in possession of us, leaving it to you and the Assembly of your Province to judge of their Importance to them, and to know how far they can contribute in Men and Expences for the Supporting of these Posts, and making the Soldiers' Lives com- fortable, without which no real Service can be expected from them.

" I have received no Answer from you relating to Fort Duquesne, . if it should please God to grant Success; but whether that Fort is taken or not, the Forts of Loyal Hannon, Cumberland, Raystown, Juniata, Littleton, Loudoun, Frederick, Shippensburgh, and Carlisle, ought to be Garrisoned, beside those on the other Side of the Sus- quehannah. I have wrote to Mr. Fouquiere to know what assistance I may have from the Colony of Virginia, which I do not expect will

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

be very great, not even to Garrison Fort Cumberland, their Fron- tiers are so extensive that Augusta County will require Two Hundred Men to Garrison its Forts; Winchester, with the south Branch of Potomack, Three Hundred Men more, to which Colonel Washing- ton's Regiment will not amount at the End of the Campaign. I have nothing to expect from Maryland, as I am told they have abandoned Fort Cumberland and Fort Frederick.‹

" It will easily occur to you the Things that will be necessary for making the Soldiers' Lives Comfortable in this severe Climate during the Winter. The most necessary are, a second Blanket in lieu of a bed, a Flannel Jacket, a new pair of Breeches, two Pair of Stockings, and a pair of Shoes.

"I should be glad to know, without Loss of Time, how far your Assembly will go in putting it in my power to maintain the Ground that is Gained. If they do nothing for the Safety of the Province, I am certain it is not in my Power to defend them during the Winter with the strength that I shall have left and which I must expect will daily diminish.

"To Cover the Country between Susquehannah and Potomack, and to secure the Communication to the advanced Posts will require, in my Opinion, Twelve Hundred Men, stationed in the following manner, Vizt. :

" At Loyal Hannon -

300

" At Ray's Town -

200

" At Fort Cumberland.

200

" At Fort Frederick -

100

" At Juniata

100

" At Littleton -

100

" At Loudoun -

- 100

" At Shippensburg and Carlisle -

100

" 1,200 Men.

"I must intreat you to return me an Answer to this Letter as . soon as possible, as it is a Matter of the greatest Consequence to the Colonies.

"I am, with the greatest Regard, Sir,, " Your most Obedient and Hume Servant,

"JOHN FORBES."

The Council unanimously advised the Governor to call the As- sembly together by Summons to meet on Wednesday the fifteenth Instant; and the Secretary was directed to prepare Writs for that Purpose.

The Governor likewise directed the Secretary to order the Pay- master to prepare an Estimate of the Arrears that would be due to the Provincial Troops on the first of January next.

VOL. VIII .- 15.

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MINUTES OF THE

The Minutes of the Indian Treaty lately held at Easton were produced and ordered to be printed Time enough to have a Copy laid before the Assembly at the Meeting.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 16th of No- vember, 1758.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Benjamin Shoemaker, Richard Peters, Esquires.

Lynford Lardner, John Mifflin,

The Governor acquainted the Council that two Members delivered him last Night a Message that the House was met agreeable to the Governor's Summons and desired a sight of one of the Summons's which the Governor promised to send this Morning; and the Sec- retary was accordingly sent with one to the House.

"Then was read the Governor's Speech to the House, which was approved ; and the Paymaster having delivered to the Governor an Estimate of pay, which will become due to the Provincial Forces by the First Day of January, 1759, the same was likewise read, and ordered to be entered as follows :

" Estimate of Pay that will become due to the Provincial Forces by the First Day of January, 1759, as by their last Pay Rolls, vizt. :

" To Twenty-Five Old Companies, from the First of October, 1758, to the First of January, 1759, exclusive of Draughts in the Light Horse, and about Seventy Men at Fort Augusta,

£9,115 0 0

"To two Troops of Light Horse Men, from the First of October, 1758, to the First of January, 1759, 889 0 0

" To a Detachment at Fort Augusta of the Old Companies, about Seventy Men, from the First of June, 1758, to the First of January, 1759, "To Twenty-Three Companies new Levies, Viz : Eleven Companies from the first of September, Seven Companies from the first of August, and five Companies from the several Dates of their respective in listments, after a Deduction of Seven Pounds advance Money + Man, and three Months Pay to the Officers, there will remain due to them by the first Day of January, 1759, "To staff Officers from the first of October, 1758, to the first of January, 1759,

1,660 0 0

14,000 0 0

358 0 0

£26,022 0 0

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

"N. B .- The Calculation for the new Levies not to be depended on as exact, but as nearly so as I could possibly make it, they hav- ing not been all paid up to one Day, nor the Seven Pounds ad- vance; advance Money all deducted ; that depending on the several Dates of their Enlistments.

"JAMES YOUNG, Paymaster."

The Governor received a Message by seven Members, that the House had met on the Fourteenth of October, and chose a Speaker, and had afterwards adjourned on Account of the Governor's being then at Easton, and now desired to know when and where they might present their Speaker ; His Honour was pleased to say that he could be in the Council Chamber at Twelve o'Clock, and they might present their Speaker to him there. Accordingly, the Gov- ernor and Council repaired to the Council Chamber, and Isaac Norris being presented as the Speaker elected, he was approved, and proceeded to request the usual Privileges, the Governor having declared they were the Rights of Assembly. His Honour then made the following Speech, which was ordered to be entered in these words :

" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly :

" I have ordered the Secretary to lay before you a Letter I lately received from General Forbes, the Importance of which will, I am perswaded, convince you of the Necessity I was under to convene the House on the Occasion.

" The advanced Season and late heavy Rains render it doubtful whether the General will be able to accomplish the Reduction of Fort Duquesne this Campaign. His Zeal and personal Bravery will, I doubt not, induce him to attempt every wise and prudent Measure practicable to make an Acquisition that will be attended with so many Advantages to His Majesty and his Colonies. It will, however, at all Events, be absolutely necessary for him to maintain this Winter the advanced Post he has possessed himself of, fortified, whereby he will be in a Condition not only to make an Attempt very early in the Spring, but will be the better enabled in the mean time to cover and protect this and the neighbouring Provinces from the cruel Incursions and Ravages of the Enemy. To these Ends his Letter will inform you the General expects to be supplied with Twelve Hundred Men and Necessaries for their comfortable Sup- port during the Winter, and that he desires to know, without Loss of Time, how far the Assembly of this Province will Contribute towards furnishing him with those Aids. I must, therefore, press you to take this Matter into your immediate Consideration, and give me your answer, that I may have it in my Power to communicate your Resolutions to the General with that Dispatch the Severity of the Season and his critical Situation require.

" But if General Forbes should be fortunate enough to take Fort

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MINUTES OF THE

Duquesne, I think it will be for the Interest of this Province to Garrison that Fortress with our Provincials, as thereby we may have an opportunity of Establishing a Trade and a lasting Friendship with the Indians, without which, it is much to be feared, the French and their Emissaries will still maintain such an Influence over the Warriors of the Several Nations as to excite them to renew their Barbarities against the unhappy People on the Frontiers.

" I must also inform you that the Provincial Commissioners have reported to me that the last Sum granted to His Majesty by the Legislature of this Province is near exhausted, and that Consider- able arrears are due to the Forces, as you will see by the Paymaster's Estimate, now laid before you. I do not doubt, therefore, you will, in the most Speedy and Effectual manner, raise the Supplies neces- sary for this Service.

" I have the Pleasure to acquaint you that at the late Treaty at Easton there was a numerous appearance of Indians, consisting of Deputies from the Six Nations and other Tribes, a general Peace was concluded, and I flatter myself every thing done on my part to their Satisfaction. They solemnly promise, immediately on their return, to restore to us all the Captives they have taken from us, and, from their Candour and Openness during the Course of the Treaty, the Concern and Sorrow they repeatedly expressed for the Mischief done by their foolish young Men, who were seduced and misled by the French, the many professions of Friendship and Love for their Antient Brethren, the English, we have the greatest Reason to believe them once more sincerely attached to the British Nation. I have also prevailed with them to exert their influence with the, Indians in the French Interest settled on the Ohio to withdraw themselves from our Enemies and return to their Former Friendship with us, and have joined with them in sending proper Messages on the Occasion, which I hope will be attended with Success. I have ordered the Minutes of the Several Transactions to be laid before you, and hope my Conduct therein will meet with your Approba- tion.

" November the 16th, 1758."

The Secretary delivered to the Speaker the foregoing Letter from General Forbes, the Paymaster's Estimate, and the printed minutes of the Conferences lately held at Easton.

229

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday the 2d of December, 1758.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Robert Strettell, ) Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew,

Esquires. 1

The Governor acquainted the Council, that on Wednesday the Twenty-Second of last Month Two Members delivered him a Mes- sage in answer to his Speech, which was read in these Words : " May it please your Honour :

" We have carefully weighed your Speech, recommending to our Consideration General Forbes' Demands of this Province, and we apprehend, was he sufficiently acquainted with the Circumstances and Abilities of the People of this Young Colony, the large Aids they have already granted on many Occasions to the Crown, and the Load of Debt they now labour under by means thereof, he could not reasonably expect them to bear the additional Burthen of defraying the extraordinary expence that must attend the Support- ing of Garrisons in Forts, and at Posts so very distant from the inhabited Parts of the Province as many of those are mentioned in his Letter to your Honour, which, as we are well informed, are usually Garrisoned by the King's Troops in other Colonies. How- ever, we are so well acquainted with the Circumstances of the People we represent, that we are of Opinion a Burthen of that Sort, added to the Sum they now owe, would be too heavy for them to bear.

" Your Honour will further be pleased to Consider the great In- conveniency which must attend the raising Supplies at this unusual season of the Year, before we have received the least Intimation of the Measures His Majesty shall be pleased to concert for the com- mon safety and Protection of the Colonies, or can form any Idea of the part it will be necessary for this Province to take therein. It is now not more than Seven Months since the last Aids were gran- ted to the Crown, and a very heavy additional Tax imposed on the People, from an expectation that, by one vigorous Effort of this and our Neighbouring Colonies, His Majesty's General in this District, would have been enabled to strike a decisive Blow, which would relieve them from the like Grievous Burthen for the future ; And should we, at this Juncture, grant further Supplies, and impose further Taxes upon our Constituents, in all probability when we shall be made acquainted with His Majesty's intended Operations in the next Campaign, mere Aids may be demanded, and will then become more necessary.

" We are, therefore, induced to postpone the raising of Supplies until our next meeting, when we expect we shall have an Opportu-

230

MINUTES OF THE

nity of taking into our Consideration, as well the Aids necessary to pay off the arrears due to the Forces, as to defray the Expences of the ensuing Year.

"Signed by order of the House. "ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker."

A Bill Intituled " A Supplement to the Act intituled ' An Act for granting to his Majesty a Duty of Tonnage upon Ships and Vessels, and also certain Duties upon Wine, Rum, and Brandy, and other Spirits, and a Duty upon Sugar, for the Supporting and main- taining the Provincial Ship of War, for protecting the Trade of this Province, and other Purposes for His Majesty's Service,' " was de- livered to the Governor last Thursday Night for his Concurrence, and was read over Twice and amended only in one Place, Vizt : After the word Act, in Page 19, Line 15, insert the Words [Law, usage, and Custom].

Mr. Chew acquainted the Governor that as he was coming to Council several reputable Merchants of the City informed him that they thought the Bill for granting a Duty on Tonnage, &ca., a great grievance, and were preparing Petition to the Governor, praying that his Honour would not give his assent to the Bill till their Reasons against it were first heard. On this Information, Mr. Chew and Mr. Peters were desired to inform themselves of this Matter, and if it should be found that many considerable Merchants requested this by Petition, the Bill should then be kept under Consideration ; if not, that then the Secretary should carry the Bill to the House, with a Message that his Honour would pass it upon the foregoing amendment being allowed.

A Petition, signed by Twenty-Four considerable Merchants, was presented to the Governor, and thereupon the Secretary was sent to the House with a verbal Message that many reputable Merchants of the City having presented a Petition to his Honour against the Bill before him, he has the said Petition now under his Consid- eration.

Upon which Message, Two Members waited on the Governor from the House to acquaint him that the House met again in the Afternoon, and proposed to adjourn to the Fifth of February next, and desired to know the Governor's Resolution on the Bill before him, to which his Honour answered that he would give it all the Dispatch in his Power, having the Bill much at Heart, as a Bill very much concerning the Publick, and that he wanted to hear what the Merchants had to say against it.

231

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 5th of December, 1758.

PRESENT :

The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.

Robert Strettell,

Benjamin Shoemaker,

Joseph 'Turner,

Richard Peters,

Esquires.

Lynford Lardner,

Benjamin Chew,

John Mifflin,

Thomas Cadwalader,

The Merchants who presented their Petition last Saturday having desired the Governor would be pleased to appoint a Time for hear- ing their Objections against the Tonnage Bill, Twelve o'Clock this Day was appointed, and the Council being convened on this Occa- sion, Two Petitions of the same Tenor, signed by a great Number of Merchants of this City, were read.

Then Mr. Samuel Mifflin, Mr. William Cox, Mr. John McMi- chael, and Mr. Edwin Shippen, Junior, appeared and acquainted the Governor that they were appointed a Committee by the Mer- chants to offer their Reasons in Objections to the Bill, and having reduced them to writing, the paper was presented by Mr. Shippen to the Governor and read.

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Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1838 Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State Number of Pages: 812

Author:
Publication date: 1838
Publisher: [Harrisburg] : By the State
Number of Pages: 812