USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 67
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He said, further, he should be glad if the Governor would give him something now till then ; he is got into debt & wanted money to pay his debts.
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9th September, 1761.
MEMORANDUM.
The Assembly being to meet on the 7th Instant, but not making a Quorum till to-day, the Governor laid before them a Copy of the late Indian Treaty, with the following Message :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"Since your adjournment I received, very unexpectedly, a Mes- sage from the Chiefs of a considerable number of Indians, living to the Northward, & upon the Head Branches of the River Susque- hanna, consisting of Six Nations, Delawares, Nanticokes, &ca., in which Message they acquainted me, that in consequence of an In- vitation from this Government they had proceeded as far as Wyo- mink, in their way to Easton, where the Council Fire had of late been kindled, and where they desired that I would give them a meeting.
"Being conscious that no such invitation had been given them by me, & forseeing how great an Expence the proposed Interview would necessarily bring upon the Province, I was uneasy and uncer- tain what to do upon the Occasion.
" But on considering the ticklish situation of our affairs with those People, together with an Information I had just before re- ceived, that a Dissatisfaction was prevailing among them on ac- count of some supposed neglect or ill Treatment from the English, I thought it might be for the Public Service forthwith to attend them, and to use my best endeavours to efface any impressions of that Sort, before they should have taken too deep root in their minds to be easily removed, and accordingly, by the advice of the Council, & some of the Gentlemen of your House, I did repair to Easton the beginning of the last Month, where sundry Confer- ences (I hope to good effect) were held between me & those Indians, the substance whereof is contained in the Treaty I have ordered to be now laid before you.
"The Gentlemen who on the part of the Provincial Commis- sioners attended & defrayed the Expences of the Treaty, will lay the accounts before you ; and altho' the Charges that have arisen thereupon cannot but appear to be extremely high, yet when you call to mind of how great importance it is to remove all Misunder- standings, & even Jealousies, from the minds of those people, and to conciliate, as much as possible, their Friendship & Affection to the English Nation, I cannot entertain the least doubt but you will approve of what hath been done on the present occasion. not- withstanding that it does not appear that they had any particular business of Consequence to transact with the Government which necessarily called upon them to come down at that time.
"JAMES HAMILTON.
"September 8th, 1761."
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The Governor laid before the House Letters from Mr. Horsefield inclosing Intelligence of several Discourses that had passed lately among the Indians, which shewed much uneasiness and disaffection to the English, supported by Affidavits.
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16th September, 1761.
Information having been repeatedly given the Governor that the New England Tresspasers refused to remove, & that others were in- tending to join them, he thought proper to issue the following Pro- clamation :
" By the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware,
"A PROCLAMATION.
" Pennsylvania, ss. :
"WHEREAS, divers persons, the natural born Subjects of his Majesty, belonging to some of our neighbouring Colonies, have lately come into this Province, & without any Licence or Grant from the Honourable proprietaries, or Authority from the Govern- ment, have presumed in a Body to possess themselves of & settle upon a large Tract of Land in this province not yet purchased from the Indians, near Cushietunck, on the River Delaware, and in the Upper parts of Northampton County, and are endeavouring to per- suade & inveigle many of the Inhabitants of this and the neigh- bouring Provinces to confederate and join with them in their illegal and dangerous designs; and to assist in settling and holding the said Lands by strong hand. And whereas, The Delaware Chief, Teedyuscung, hath made a very earnest & formal Complaint and Remonstrance to me against the said practices, insisting that the Intruders should be immediately removed by the Government to which they belonged or by me; and declared if this was not done, the Indians would come and remove them by force, and do them- selves Justice; with which he desired they might be made ac- quainted before hand, that they might not pretend Ignorance ; which has been since accordingly done by my Order. And whereas, since the making of the abovementioned complaint by Teedyus- cung, the Chiefs of the Six Nation Indians, who were present at the Treaty held at Easton in the month of August last, did, in the most earnest manner, renew the said Complaint & re- monstrance, and insist that this Government should afford them its aid in obliging the said Intruders to remove; affirming, ' That the said Lands had never yet been sold, or were intend- ed to be sold by them, to any person or persons, whatsoever, not- withstanding what the said Intruders have said, or may continue
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to say to the contrary; and that if any Indian or Indians had taken upon them to sell or dispose of the said Lands, they had done it un- known to the Six Nations, and had stolen them, with a View to fill their pockets with the Money.' Wherefore, as well to assert the just Rights of the Proprietaries of this Province to the said Lands, & to preserve the peace and Friendship which is now so happily re- stored & subsisting between us and the Indians, & to prevent the terrible Consequences that must necessarily arise by their carrying into Execution their Threats of removing by Force, the Intruders on the said Lands, as also, to warn & prevent any of the Inhabitants of this Province from being unwarily drawn in to join the said In- truders, in their intended design of making Settlements in the said Indian Country, I have judged it proper, by and with ye advice of ye Council to issue this, my second Proclamation, hereby strictly re- quiring & enjoining in his Majesty's Name, all and every person and persons already settled, or residing on the said Lands, imme- diately to depart & move away from the same; And do hereby forbid all his Majestie's Subjects of this or any other Province, or Colony, on any pretence whatsoever, to intrude upon, settle, or pos- sess any of the said Lands, or any other, the Lands within the; Limits of this Province, not yet purchased of the Indians, as they will answer the contrary at their peril, and on pain of being prose -- cuted with the utmost Rigour of the Law ; And I do hereby, also,. strictly charge, enjoin, and require all Sheriffs, Magistrates, Peace Officers, and all other, his Majesty's Liege People within this Pro- vince, to exert themselves, and use their utmost endeavours to pro- secute, and bring to Justice and condign punishment, all offenders in the Premises.
" Given under my hand, & the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred & sixty-one, and in the first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, & Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &ca.
"JAMES. HAMILTON ..
" By His Honour's Command,
" RICHARD PETERS, Secretary. "GOD SAVE THE KING."
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday the 22nd Septr., " 1761.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &cª.
Joseph Turner,
Thomas Cadwallader,
Richard Peters,
Benjamin Chew, S Esq's.
The two following Bills having been presented to the Governor for his Concurrence, were read and considered, namely, a Bill enti- tled " An act to enable the Owners and Possessors of Shuylkill point Meadow Land, in the County of Philadelphia, to keep the Banks, Dams, Sluices, and Flood-gates in repair, & to raise a Fund to defray the Expence thereof." A Bill entituled " An Act for ap- pointing certain persons to apply for, and receive the distributive Shares & Proportions which are or shall be allotted to this Province, out of the sum or sums of Money granted, or to be granted by Par- liament to his Majestie's Colonies in America." To the first Bill there was no objection, & it was returned to the House with a Verbal Message, that the Governor would be ready to pass it when presented to him for that purpose. As to the second Bill, the Gov- ernor was advised to pass it, but before he signified his assent to the House, it appeared to them that the Governor should inform him- self whether the Trustees of the Loan Office had drawn for that Par- liamentary Grant which was allotted to this Province for the Year 1758, amounting to the sum of ££26,902 8 0 Sterling, whereupon the Governor sent to the House the following Verbal Message by the Secretary :
" The Governor has now under consideration the Bill for appoint- ing certain persons to apply for and receive the distributive Shares & Proportions which are or shall be allotted to this Province out of the sum or Sums of Money granted or to be granted by Parliament to his Majestie's Colonies in America; but before he returns the same, or gives an answer thereto, he desires the House will inform him whether the Trustees of the Loan Office have drawn for the sum of Twenty-six Thousand nine hundred and two Pounds eight Shillings Sterling, the part of the Parliamentary Grant allotted to this province for the year 1758, which, by an Act passed in the thirty-third Year of his late Majesty, was expressly directed to be drawn for by them, & applied in Abatement of the publick Taxes, & which he understands has already been received by Mr. Franklin."
The Secretary likewise was ordered to demand a List of the Cer- tificates & Draughts already drawn, or to be drawn, by the House for the Service of the Current Year.
On the 23rd of September, a Message was delivered from the House to the Governor, acquainting him that the House had, pre- vious to his Verbal Message of Yesterday, entered into a Resolve
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and given orders to the Trustees of the Loan Office for the said sum of Money in the hands of Mr. Franklin, and they delivered to the Governor a Copy thereof for his Satisfaction.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday the 24th Sep- tem"", 1761.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &ca.
Joseph Turner,
Benjamin Chew,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
A Bill entituled "An Act for the relief of William Griffitts," was read and amended, and sent to the House with a Message that Governor would pass the Bill provided they agreed to the Amend- ments.
Mr. Chew, the Attorney General of this Province, acquainted the Governor that he had executed the said Office for upwards of Seven Years past, that the legal Fees arising from it were in no sort adequate to the time & Trouble required in executing the Duties thereof, & were in many prosecutions never received, the Criminals being, thro' their extream Indigence, unable to pay the same; and the Governor, in justice to him, sent the following Message to the House, recommending it to them to make him an allowance for his past Services as they think he deserves, or as hath been usually given :
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen :
"I am well informed that the legal Fees arising to the Attorney General of this Province, upon Criminal prosecutions, would by no means be a Compensation for the great paines & Trouble attending the execution of that Office, if the Offenders were all of ability to pay them.
"But when it is considered that the unhappy people, who, by their Crimes, subject themselves to such prosecution, are, in gene- ral, the most indigent of Mankind, & consequently unable to pay, you must be convinced that the perquisites of that important Office are inconsiderable, and very inadequate to the Service; and of this former Assemblies have been so sensible, that they have frequent given Salaries Annually to the Attorney General, as will appear by the Minutes of your House.
" The present Attorney General, Mr. Chew, hath held that Office for the last seven Years, during all which time he Hath not re- ceived any reward from the publick, tho' I have great reason to be- lieve that he hath discharged his Duty with the utmost care & Fidelity, both to the Crown & to the publick.
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"In Justice, therefore to him, I think myself obliged to lay his case before you, & earnestly to recommend it to You to make him such an allowance for his past services as you think they deserve, or as hath been usual on the like occasion.
"JAMES HAMILTON.
"September 24th, 1761."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday, the 26th Septem"., 1761.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esq"., Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &ca.
Richard Peters, Esquire.
The House acquainted the Governor that the Amendments made by him to the Bill for the relief of William Griffitts were agreed to, which, with the Bills assented to, were engrossed ; whereupon Mr. Peters compared them with the Originals, and having reported to the Governor that they agreed, his Honour sent a Message to the House, requiring the attendance of Mr. Speaker & the House in the Council Chamber immediately, & they accordingly waiting. on the Governor & presenting the three following Bills, entituled "An Act to enable the owners and possessors of Schuylkill point Meadow Land, in the County of Philadelphia, to keep the Banks, Dams, Sluices, & Floodgates in repair, and to raise a Fund to de- fray the Expences thereof;" "An Act for appointing certain per- sons herein afternamed, to apply for and receive the distributive Shares and proportions which are or shall be allotted to this Pro -. vince out of the sum and Sums of Money granted, or to be granted, by Parliament to his Majesty's Colonies in America ;" And "An Act for the relief of William Griffitts, with respect to the Imprison- ment of his person." The Governor enacted the same into Laws, and received a Certificate for £1000, for which he returned the House thanks.
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At a Conference with Teedyuscung, & the Chiefs of the Opies and Mohickons, at Bush-Hill, the 1st October, 1761.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esq"., Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &ca.
Teedyuscung.
Nimeham, Chief of the Opies.
Good Tomach, one of the Chiefs of the Mohickons. Isaac Stille, Interpreter.
Teedyuscung spoke :
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"Brother :
"You know it was agreed between our Grand Fathers long ago, that we should have but one Eye and one Ear, & that we should make use of these for our Mutual Benefit. Now, therefore, accord- ing to this rule, I will not stop your Ears or blind your Eyes, or withhold any thing from you that I have heard relating to you."
A String of 4 Rows.
" Brother :
"I now acquaint You that these Chiefs of the Mohickons & Opies are come to settle at Wyomink, and I have taken them by the hand, and put a Fipe into their hands, with some good Tobacco, which smokes sweetly, like the Sun, which gives life and pleasure to all things; And I desire you will also take them by the hand & bid them welcome, as they have heard of the good reception & kindness shewn to the Indians by this Government ; they are will- ing to live at Wyomink ; I have told them not to mind any distur- bances which have happened of late, for it often happens when Children play together, they fall out & quarrel ; but that ought not to break our Friendship."
A Belt of 6 Rows.
"Brother :
"You may remember I told you at Easton, that I and my young Men shall not mind a few drops of Blood, but were resolved to keep the peace entered into by us. We four Nations of Delawares, Ounananies, Mohickons, & Opies, have agreed to this as far as Wickalousen, & also the Indians to the Westward, as far as the Sun setting; But we have nothing to do beyond Wickalousin, to the Northward. We four Nations already mentioned, have tryed to persuade the Senecas & Minisinks to the same thing, but they would not hearken to us. Now if you would send a Message to them per- haps they would be persuaded to listen to it."
A String of 4 Rows.
" Brother :
"Listen to me. At the first of our Treaties of Peace of late, You told us that you were strong, & that we were weak, and, there- fore I desire you will be strong and have Compassion, and Pity our Young men, Women, and Children. You were chosen to be Gov- ernor for that purpose, and you may be assured that we four Na- tions, altho' we are weak, will strictly observe the Peace made betwixt us."
A Belt of 9 Rows.
Nuntian the Chief of the Opies spoke :
"Brother :
" I am to join with you, and will place myself at Wyomink with Teedyuscung, & will always agree to what you and he shall agree upon ; I am Chief of the Opies, and have a Commission for it, and if any other Indian pretends to be Chief, you must not regard it, for they have no Commission for it." Producing a Certificate from
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Governor Clinton of the Government's attachment and Behaviour of that Nation to the English in 1745. Producing also another of the same kind from Sir Charles Hardy in 1756, written in parch- ment.
A Belt of 7 Rows.
He also produced a large Peace Belt of 16 Rows with og and the figures 1745 Woven into it.
At a Conference held at Bush-Hill, October 11th, 1761. ' PRESENT :
His Honour the Governor, Joseph Fox, Esquire.
The same Indians as on the 1st October, Instant.
The Governor addressing himself to Teedyuscung, said : " Brother :
"On your Speech the other day, you told me it was agreed be- tween our Grandfathers, that we should have but one Eye and one Ear, & that we should make use of these for the good of one another. I acknowledge this to have been a wise agreement, and tending to the advantage both of you and us, and as I intend to comply with it on all occasions, so I am glad to find that you re- member it and conform yourselves to it by hiding nothing from me that you have heard relating to me."
A String.
" Brother :
" You tell me that the Chiefs of the Opies and Mohiekons, with many of their Nations, hearing of the kindness of this Government to all the Indians, are desirous to come and settle with you at Wyo- mink, where you have taken them by the Hand and bid them wel- come, & put a pipe into their Mouths with some good Tobacco that smokes sweetly like the Sun."
" Brother :
" I have heard a good Character of the Opies & Mohickons, and am therefore well pleased at their coming to settle with you at Wyomink, and I do take them by the hand and bid them welcome as you desire and promise them they shall have the same kindness from this Government that it extends to all the Indians who behave well. You did well to tell them not to mind any disturbances that have happened of late. Accidents of that sort will often happen while there are wicked people in the World. And therefore when they do happen, the best thing we can do is to acquaint one another of it, & endeavor to make it up immediately without going to War to revenge it; for if this were the case we should never be long together in peace."
A Belt.
" Brother :
"I remember you told me at Easton, that you and your Young Men would not mind a few drops of Blood, but were resolved to
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keep the Peace made between us. You now tell me You have cleared yourselves as far as Wickalousing, but that you have noth- ing to do to the Northward, & that you have tryed to persuade the Senecas and Munsies to the same thing, but they would not hear- ken to you and advise me to send a Message to them. " Brother :
"I acknowledge you have cleared yourselves as far as Wicka- lousing, for which I heartily thank You, as also for trying to per- suade the Senecas and Munsies to the same thing; And I am now sending a Message to the Munsies, according to your advice, which I am in hopes they will listen to, & that it will have the desired effect."
A Belt.
" Brother :
"You may remember it is but a little while ago since you had a large present made you at Easton, which cost us a great deal of Money. Nevertheless, in compassion to your Circumstances, we intend to make you a small present, which will be delivered to you by Mr. Fox."
A String.
" Brother Nunetiam :
" You tell me that you are come to join yourself to Teedyuscung, and place yourself with him at Wyomink, and will agree to all that he and I shall agree upon. I am glad to hear you say so, and that you will settle at Wyomink. I therefore take you by the hand and bid you heartily welcome, and you may be assured of being always used with kindness by this Government while you behave well. Having seen your Certificate from the Governor of New York, I acknowledge you to be the Chief of the Opies; and if anybody also pretends to that Title I shall not believe them. I once more bid you welcome, and as you are come so far to see us and offer us your Friendship, we shall give you likewise a small present, which will be delivered you by Mr. Fox."
A Belt.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, the 15th October, 1761.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor, &ca.
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader, Esqrs.
The House having met Yesterday according to Charter, sent a Message by Six Members to acquaint the Governor that they had met & proceeded to chuse a Speaker, and desired to know when the House might wait upon his Honour in order to prosent him. And
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the Governor having acquainted them that he would be in the Council Chamber about this time, the Secretary was sent with a Message requiring the attendance of the Speaker wth. the House.
Accordingly the House, with Isaac Norris, Esqr., at the head, came and presented him as their Speaker; and after having received the Governor's approbation, he made a Speech, claiming the usual Privileges and Indulgencies, which were readily granted on the part of the Governor.
[Blank of ten and a-half pages in Council Book. ]
2d January, 1762.
MEMORANDUM.
This day the Governor executed a Commission appointing Mr. Joseph Shippen, Junior, Secretary and Clerk of the Council, for the Province of Pennsylvania and Lower Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, in the place of Mr. Richard Peters, who on account of Indisposition had requested the Governor to ex- cuse his further service, and accept of his resignation.
At a Council held at Philadelphia on Saturday the 16th day of January, 1762.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, &ca.
Joseph Turner, r
Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew,
Esquires.
The Governor laid before the Board a Message he had received the 13th Instant, from the Assembly, informing him that several Wicked and evil disposed Persons had of late made a practice of wan- tonly attacking, & grievously wounding, without the least provocation, several Women in the City of Philadelphia, greatly to the Terror of the inhabitants, and that the House requested him, if he thought necessary, to offer a reward of Fifty pounds for apprehending & bringing the offenders to Justice. The Board taking the same into Consideration advised the Governor to issue his Proclamation agreea- ble to the said Request.
And the following Proclamation was agreed on, & ordered to be forthwith Published :
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" By the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor, and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Penn- sylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Dela- ware :
" A PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, Information hath been made to me, That on the Thirty-first day of December last, in the Evening, and at sundry other Times, divers Women, Inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, while peaceably walking the Streets, about their lawful Business & Occasions, have been violently set upon, assaulted, and griev- ously stabbed, and wounded, and otherwise treated with the most shocking Indecency, by several wicked & evil disposed Persons, some of whom are hither undiscovered, to the disturbance of the Peace of the said City, and to the great Terror of the Inhabitants.
"To the End Therefore, That the authors, Perpetrators, and ac- complices of the Outrages, and inhuman Proceedings aforesaid, or any of them, may be brought to Condign Punishment, as an ex- ample to others, who may be tempted to offend in the like kind; I have thought fit, with the advice of the Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby offering a Reward of Fifty Pounds to any person or persons, who shall make known, & cause to be apprehended, all or either of the offenders (not yet discovered) who were con- cerned as Authors, Perpetrators, or Accomplices, in assaulting and wounding the aforesaid Women, or either of them, so that he or they shall be convicted thereof, according to the due Course of Law ; and I do hereby strictly charge & command the Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other Officers of Justice within the said City, to use their utmost diligence in detecting & punishing, in the most ex- emplary manner, all such as shall be found guilty of having been concerned in, or accessary to, the Outrages & Enormities aforesaid ; and in the mean time to attend diligently to the preservation of the publick peace.
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