USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 50
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Strings.
" Brethren :
" By this Belt I do, in behalf of this Province, and all the Good People in it, clear the road from this City to the place of your Habitation at Chenango. You may rest assured that none of the King's subjects will molest you in the least. You may Use it very safely on all occasions that require your coming or sending to us."
A Belt.
" Brethren :
"The Indians of Waghaloosen came and paid us a very friendly Visit, and spoke good Words to us, and they expressed great satis- faction with our reception of them, when they took their Leave of us to return home.
" Brethren :
" In consideration of what you said yesterday to us, of the diffi- culties you met with in Getting Provisions on the Road, and how scarce everything was in your Towns, I have provided a Small mat- ter for you which we desire you will accept as a testimony of our regard for you."
The Present of Goods.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Munday, the 8th September, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Richard Peters, - Esquires.
Lynford Lardner.
The following Letter from General Monckton was read :
A Letter from General Monckton to Governor Hamilton.
" Sir :
" As it Cannot be expected that General Amherst will be able to spare any of the regular Troops now with him for the Winter Gar- risons of the Posts in this department, which are now Considerably encreased, and the Number of Regular Troops here greatly Les- sened, I think it my duty, Sir, to give you the earliest Notice that it will be absolutely necessary for the support of his Majesty's Rights on Lake Erie and the River Ohio, that a Body of the Penn- sylvania Troops Consisting of Four Hundred Men, with Officers and Non-commissioned Officers in Proportion, should be immedi - ately re-enlisted for this Service, the Garrisons of Augusta and Al- len included.
" This, Sir, is so essential a Service, that I cannot in the least doubt but you will use your utmost Endeavors with your Assem- bly to induce them to Comply with this so necessary a Requisition, I have the Honour to be,
" Sir, Your most Obed. Hble. Servt., " ROBERT MONCKTON."
Thereupon the Governor drew up a Message to the Assembly, which was sent to them along with the Letter.
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
" I have lately received from General Monckton a Letter dated at Fort Pitt, the Twenty-first of August last, in which he acquaints me that as the Posts to the Westward are Considerably encreased and the number of regular Troops greatly lessened, it will be abso- lutely necessary for the support of his Majesty's Rights on Lake Erie and the River Ohio, that a Body of Four Hundred Provincials should be kept up for Winter Garrisons at those Posts, and at the Forts Augusta and Allen ; And to that end he hath requested me to use My best Endeavours to induce you to consent that out of the Troops now in the pay of this Province the aforesaid Number of men, with Officers in proportion, may be immediately re-enlisted for that Service, as will appear by his Letter herewith Laid before.
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"I am perswaded, Gentlemen, you want no information with Re- spect to the Importance of our possessing those advantageous posts as well for maintaining his Majesty's Right to the Country he hath at so great an Expence recover'd, as for protecting our Inhabitants from any further Violence of our Enemies, whether Christians or savages, in that Quarter.
"And as it is Scarce to be expected that General Amherst (what- ever be the issue of the Great work he is engaged in, will be able to spare for the above purpose any of the Regulars now with him, I am in hopes that upon weighing the Contents of Mr. Monckton's requisition, you will be of Opinion that a Compliance with it is not only reasonable but even necessary at this Juncture, and that you will enable me to act in Conformity to it.
" JAMES HAMILTON.
" September 9th, 1760."
On the 12th September, the Assembly returned the following Answer :
Assembly's Answer to the Governor's Message.
" May it please your Honour :
" We have taken into our Consideration your Message relating to General Monckton's requisition of Four Hundred Men for Win- ter Garrisons to the Westward, and as it will take up more time than can possibly be spared at this Juncture, when the Assembly in a few days must be dissolved of coarse by the Charter, to deter- mine how far it will be reasonable in us to impose on our Constit- uents the Burthen of Garrisoning these fortifications, when they Labour under the weight of very heavy Taxes already, we beg leave to refer your Honour to the next Assembly, who, if on more ma- ture deliberation, they shall see the expediency of the Measure pro- posed, may, in due time, without any Inconvenience or danger to his Majesty's Rights in that Quarter, enable your Honour to act in Conformity to the General's Requisition.
" Signed by order of the House,
" ISAAC NORRIS, Speaker.
" September 12th, 1760."
John Lewis having been found Guilty of the Murder of his Wife, Ann Lewis, and received sentence of death at a Court of Oyer and Terminer, held at Chester, on the 25th of August last, the record of Conviction was read, and nothing being alledged in his favour, either by the Judges, or Mr. Chew, Attorney General, a Warrant was Issued for the execution of the Said John Lewis.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at the State House, on Munday the 15th Sep- tember, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Richard Peters, Esquire.
Mr. Pemberton,
Mr. Say,
and several other Citizens.
Mr. Warder,
Teedyuscung,
Moses Tittamy,
) who attended Teed-
his Son Amos,
yuscung in his jour-
Anondounoakom, the Son of the Chief of the Minisinks, and Six other Delaware Indians, J
ney over the Ohio.
Isaac Stille, Interpreter.
Teedyuscung being returned from the Ohio, waited on the Gov- ernor on Saturday, to acquaint him that he had performed the Journey he undertook, and had brought a deal of Good News. The Governor expressed his satisfaction at seeing him safe returned, and appointed this day to hear his news.
After the usual Salutations, Teedyuscung arose and spoke : " Brother :
" I have nothing to Say to you of my own at this time; I shall only now tell you some News; You may remember that I often promised you to give the hallo thro' all the Indian Nations. I have been a long way back, a great way indeed, beyond the Allegheny, among my friends there ; when I got as far as the Salt Lick Town, towards the head of Beaver Creek, I stopped there and sent Messengers to the Chiefs of all the Indians in those parts, desiring them to come and hold Council ; it took three Weeks to collect them together, and then, having a large Number gathered together, I communicated to them all that had passed between me and this Government for four years past, at which they were glad, and de- clared that this was the first time they had had a right understand- ing of these Transactions ; they said they heard every now and then, that we were sitting together about Peace, but they were not ac- quainted 'till now with the Particulars of our Several Conferences ; I concealed Nothing from them, and when they had heard all they were right Glad ; It gave joy to their very hearts."
A String.
Then holding a Belt in his hand he proceeded :
" Brother :
" This belt came from an Indian Nation, the Kickabouses, who live a great way beyond the Twicktwees; by it they told me that it VOL. VIII .- 32.
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was the first time they had heard of my making peace with the English ; that they were greatly pleased with it, and joined their hands heartily to it, and they would all agree to what their Grand- fathers, the Delawares, should Conclude with the English; they likewise desired Me to let the Governor know that tho' they lived a great way off, further than the other Nations, yet they would come with them in the spring, and hold Council at Philadelphia."
A Belt.
" Brother :
" My Son Amos, sitting there, is a Warrior and Captain. I took him along with me, and at this great Meeting of Indians I gave him a Belt to speak to the Warriors, as from me to join in the Peace. So after the old men had done holding the Council the Warriors went by themselves and held a Council together; and when this was over they made a speech to us old men, in which they assured Us that they had consulted together, and agreed as one man to every thing that we had Concluded upon, and would heartily keep the Peace; that they pitied the Old Men, Women, and Children; and tho' they had hitherto kept their hands shut, yet they would now open them, and no longer keep the English Flesh and Blood within their hands, but open them and set all the Prisoners at Liberty."
A String.
" Brother :
"As I went along that part of the Country where the Munsies now live, I took along with me this young man, pointing to
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He is the Son of their principal men, and was very willing to go, havs a desire to hear what should be said on all sides. After the General Council was over, he was mightyly pleased with it, and in order to enable him to relate faithfully all that had passed, and to use his influence, that all his Nation might concur in it, I gave him two Belts and Eight Fathom of Wampum. I had a par- ticular reason for doing so, because I knew that their Nation had taken many Prisoners, and that they detained them in their Towns ; so I thought this would incline him to get them delivered up."
A Belt.
" Brother:
"You know that we have been sitting together these four Years past. All the Indian Nations back, yea, a great way back, have heard all the particulars that have passed between us. All their Chiefs and all their Warriors have made themselves as one Man, and have formed their hands to our Peace, and promise never to break it, but to hold the Peace Belt fast. The Warriors have agreed to confirm what the Old Men have done. I consequence of this, I assure you no one Nation Shall hereafter quarrel with you or with one another, without its being first determined in a General Indian Council, at which it is agreed that the English shall be present.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
This is the unanimous determination of all the Indian Nations that I have seen, viz. : the Tarons, the Nelametenos or Owendaots, The Twicktwees, the Shawonese, The Chippaways, all the Tribes of the Delaware and others, to the Number of ten Nations, all principal Nations of those who live far back to the Westward; they have all agreed to what has been said on the Belts and strings, which I have now deliver'd."
A String.
" Brother :
"This is all I have to say at this time. Tomaquior, the Beaver King (who is the head man of the Delawares at the Ohio), did not give me anything in Charge to say to the Governor. We were all present in the great Council held at Pittsburg, and heard him tell the General that he would go to Philadelphia in the Summer, and hold a Council with this Government, in Complyance with the Sev- eral Invitations he had received from it. I told Tamaqui that Pits- burgh Was no place to hold Council, as that the Old Fire was here ; that Pitsburg was only a place for Warriors to speak in, and that he should do no Council Business at Pitsburg. And accordingly Tomaqui told the General that he would not say any thing to him, but say it at the place where their Grand fathers were always used to hold Council with the English.
" Brother :
"This is all. I think to come and visit you to-Morrow, and to talk over many things that I have seen in my Journey."
The Governor said he would be glad to see him, and in the mean time he would Confer with the provincial Commissioners what had been said, and as soon as he should know their minds he would give him an Answer.
The Governor returned Teedyuscung thanks for his Speeches, and the next day made him a present of Goods, which he thankfully received.
September 17th, 1760; the following Letter, received from Mr. Holland, the Indian Agent at Shamokin, was ordered to be entered :
"SHAMOKIN, 9 Mo. 17th, 1760.
" Permit me to acquaint the Governor :
"That John Hatson arrived here on the 15th, in 8 days, from Margaret Town, and deliver'd me the inclosed String of Wampum, and the following speech, which he said was sent to the Governor by Catharine, the Daughter of French Margaret.
"That She desired, by this String of Wampum, to acquaint the Governor of the receipt of his by Papunohoal, and that she was sorry the Indisposition of her Family had so long prevented her
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from complying with the Governor's request to bring down the Prisoners, but that She would be down this Fall with the two that be- longed to her, and desired that She may not be blamed for her Sis- ters carrying the Woman She has to the Allegany, as it was not in her power to prevail with her to take her to Philadelphia; in Con- firmation of which she sent the Governor the inclosed String of Wampum.
" John informed me that Molley was to set off for the Allegany with the White Woman after he left the Town, and that he expected Cate here in ten days, and that he should go witn her to Phila- adelphia and deliver them to the Governor.
" from thy friend,
"NATHANIEL HOLLAND."
A Conference with Teedyuscung, the 18th day of september, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Richard Peters, Esquire.
" Brother :
"I am ready to set out, but have heard yesterday some bad news which obliges me once more to wait on you.
" Yesterday I was told that some of the new England People are gone on the West side of Sasquehannah with intent to Settle the Lands at Wyomink; If this should be the case, then all the pains that have been taken by this Government and me will be to no purpose ; It is the Indians Land, and they will not suffer it to be settled, I therefore desire the Governor will send a Smart Letter to the Government where those intruding People came from, to forbid this proceeding, and tell their Governor plainly that if they do not go away the Indians will turn them off; he added, with a great deal of Warmth, these people cannot pretend Ignorance, and if they Shall then continue on the Lands it will be their own fault if any thing happens, and repeated his Entreaties to the Governor to take every measure in his power to prevent the settlement of those Lands, for it will certainly bring on another Indian war."
The Governor informed Teedyuscung that he had the other day received Some information of this Matter, and that as the Justices of the peace were holding a Court at Easton, he ordered the Sheriff and some of the said Justices to go to the place where it is said these New England Men are settling, and if they find any people settling to let them know they are sent by this Government to warn them of, and show them the bad Consequences that would ensue on such an Encroachment on Lands belonging to the Indians
501
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
and the Proprietaries, and forthwith to report what they find doing, that proper measures may be taken to prevent it.
Teedyuscung further desired that he might be made acquainted with whatever is doing of this sort, for if the Governor can't the Indians will put a Stop to it, and he was answered that he should certainly be informed of it.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, the 25th Sep- tem"., 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner, Thomas Cadwalader, S Esquires.
A Bill presented yesterday to the Governor for his Concurrence, Entituled "an Act for appointing Agents to apply for and receive the distributive Shares, and Proportions of the Monies which have been or may be Granted to His Majesty's Colonies in America," was read, and the following Amendments were made thereto :
"' Amendments to the Bill Entituled ' an Act for appointing Agents to apply for and receive the distributive Shares and proportions of the Monies which have been or may be granted by Parliment to his Majesty's Colonies in America, which are or shall be as- signed to this Province.'
" Page 3, Last line, and so throughout the Bill. Instead of [Rob- ert Charles ] say [Messieurs David Barclay, Jr., and John Barclay, Merchants in London ].
"Page 5, Line 10. After the word [People] say [of this Province ].
" Page 5, Line 11. After the word [House] say [agreed to and signed by the Governor of this Province, for the time being].
"Page 6, Line 12. After the word [being] say [with the Consent of the Governor of this Province, signified in writing and not otherwise].
" Page 7, Line 8. After the word [shall] say [from time to time].
" Page 7, Line 12. After the word [accounts] say [and a Com- mittee of the Council of this Province, to be appointed for that purpose by the Governor, and not otherwise.
" 25th September, 1760."
On the next day the House returned the Bill, with the following Answer :
" Answer of the House to the Governor's Amendments on the Bill entituled 'An Act for appointing Agents to apply for and re-
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ceive the distributive shares and Proportions of the Monies which have been or may be granted by parliment to his Majesty's Colo- nies in America, which are or Shall be assigned to this Province."
" Page 3, last Line. The House adhere to the Bill.
" Page 5, line 10. The House agree to the Governor's Amend- ments.
" Page 5, line 11. The House adhere to the Bill, as the whole Money, whenever the Bill is enacted into a Law, is thereby appro- priated to the Sinking the Bills of Credit of this Province, and cannot be used for any other Purpose whatsoever, but by an Act of Assembly.
" Page 6, Line 12. The House adhere to the Bill for the Reasons alledged above.
" Page 7, Line 8. The House agree to the Governor's Amend- ment.
" Page 7, Line 10. The House adhere to the Bill, Because the Council, or a Committee of Council have never been admitted to join the Committees of Assembly in sinking our Bills of Credit, as we have no Controul over them, and they are no part of the Legislature, and the admitting them as the Governor proposes, is. contrary to the constant usage of this Province."
On the 29th the Governor returned the Bill to the House with the following Reply to the Answer of the Assembly to the Gov- ernor's Amendments to the Bill Entituled "an Act for appointing Agents to apply for and receive the distributive Shares and propor- tions of the Monies which have been or may be granted by Parli- ment."
" Page 3, line the Last. The Governor agrees that the name [Robert Charles, Esqr.,] stand in the Bill, but adheres to the other part of his Amendments.
" Page 5, Line 11. By the several Acts passed in this Province, for Granting supplies to the King, the Governor hath a Concurrent power with the Commissioners therein appoint'd in the disposing of all the money so granted, &ca. 1.
"Page 6, Line 12. The share or proportion of the money alotted to this Province by the Lords of the Treasury, pursuant to the power lodged in them by Parliment, and which, by the present Bill, is to be invested in the publick funds, is expressly given to the whole legislature and not to any one branch of it.
"Page 7, Line 12. The Governor, therefore, as one branch of the Legislature, being intrusted jointly with the Assembly in the disposition of that Money, conceives he hath a right and that it is his particular duty to see the same regularly drawn for, and the Bills of Credit arising from the Sale of those draughts sunk and destroyed agreeable to the intention of the Bill now under Consider- ation, And this, he apprehends, cannot be so effectually done as by his appointing with the Assembly proper persons to apply for and receive the money in England. Joining with the House in direct-
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
ing when and in what manner the money shall be drawn for, and in nominating proper persons on his behalf to see the Bills of Credit sunk and destroyed agreeable to the directions of the Bill.
"The Governor never contended that the Council was a part of the Legislature of this Province, nor is it by any means implied in his having named a Part of them as a Committee to receive and attend the sinking of the Bills of Credit. The Assembly, it is true, should this Bill pass into a Law, would have no power over the Commit- tee proposed by the Governor ; Nor, on the other hand, would the Governor have any Controul over the Committee of Assembly. He is not, however, tenacious that Such a Committee should of neces- sity be members of Council, and since he finds the Assembly hath an exception hereto, He will so far recede from the proposed Amendment as to Consent to the razing the words [a Committee of the Council of this Province7, and instead thereof to insert the words [three persons ] ; to the rest of the Amendments the Governor adheres."
The two following Letters from General Amherst, giving an Ac- count of his Embarking the Army at Oswego, and his Success at the Isle Royal and Montreal, were read and order'd to be enter'd :
" RIVER ST. LAWRENCE, below the Isle Royale, ? 26th August, 1760.
" Sir :
"On the 10th Instant I Embarked the Army, and proceeded with the same across Lake Ontario into this River, Where, on the 16th, in the Evening, off Oswegathie, the advanced Guard descried One of the Enemy's Vessels; but it being soon after duskish, Nothing Could be Effected that Night, tho' we tryed as much as possible to Attack her. At break of day on the 17th, our Row Galleys engaged her, and by Seven in the morning She Struck. Her Name was the Ottawawa, mounting ten twelve pounders and One Hundred Men, Officers included, besides Mons" de la Broquere, who commanded her in the Engagement. We had only One Man killed and another wounded, and the Enemy thirteen of both.
" The Army, which the preceding Night had Encamped on the point du Barit, then moved d'own to Oswegatchie, a very good In- dian Settlement, with a Blockhouse Fort, but Abandoned, the Enemy being posted on an Island between four and five Miles fur- ther down the River, Where they were reported to be very strongly fortified. Both Shores were Reconnoitered during the Night and early the next morning; and the Engineers having reported to me the Situation of the Coast and Islands nearest the Fort, imme- diately on the return of the Engineers on the 18th, a part of the Army passed down on each Coast, and after some opposition, by a Smart Cannonading, the Fort was compleatly Invested, so that none of its Garrison could make its Escape. The four following days were employed in raising my Batteries, which being finished, on the
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morning of the 23d, in Concert with our shipping, I began to fire on the Fort, which lasted till yesterday afternoon, when the French beat a Parley, desiring to know what terms should be granted them. My answer was, that the Garrison should be Prisoners of War ; that every thing in and depending on the Fort should be deliver'd in its present State ; and that I gave them only ten Minutes to Accept of or dissent from these proposals. They Accordingly Yielded to these Conditions; and I have the Satisfaction to inform you that his Majesty's Troops are now in possession of Fort Levis.
"Our loss upon this occasion has been very inconsiderable ; that of the enemy (whose Garrison consisted of about Three Hundred Men) about twelve Killed and Forty wounded. Mons" Pouchot, the same Gentleman that was last Year taken at Niagara, Com- manded them.
" I am, with Great regard, Sr., " Your most Obedt Humble Servt., "JEFF. AMHERST."
"CAMP OF MONTREAL, 9th Sept., 1760.
" Sir :
"In mine of the 26th Ultimo, I Acquainted you with the pro- gress of the Army after their departure from Oswego, and with the success of his Majesty's Arms against Fort Levis, now Fort Wil- liam Augustus, Where I remained no longer than was requisite to make such preparations as I judged Essentially necessary for the passage of the Army down the River, which took me up 'till the 30th.
"In the morning of the following day, I sat out and proceeded from station to station, to our present Ground, Where we arrived on the 6th, in the Evening, after having, in the passage, Sustained a loss of Eighty-Eight Men drowned, twenty-Nine Batteaus of Reg's. Seventeen of Artillery, with Some Artillery and Stores, Sev- enteen Whaleboats, and One Row Galley Staved, occasioned by the Violence of the Current, and the Rapids being full of broken Waves.
"The Inhabitants of the Settlements I passed thro' in my way hither, having abandoned their Houses and run into the Woods, I sent after them ; some were taken, and others came in of their own Accord. I had them disarmed and Caused the oath of Allegiance to be tendered to them, which they readily took, and I accordingly put them in quiet possession of their Habitations, with which treatment they seemed no less surprized than happy.
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