USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 3
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But this course was far from giving satisfaction to many of the think- ing and sturdy people of Old England. They became anxious for per- sonal freedom in their devotions. Especially they asked for purer forms than those of the established Church, and thus they obtained a name given them in derision, PURITANS. How honorable among the nations of the earth have those men rendered the name by which they were designated.
The Rev'd. John Robinson was the father of the first settlement in New England. The company consisting of about one hundred and twenty persons, sailed from Plymouth in the never to be forgotten "May Flower," and landed on the dreary coast of Cape Cod, in the bleak month of November, 1620. Their destination, upon sailing from Plymouth, was to have been the Hudson river, but they were carried to the north, as was supposed, by some treachery of the captain under the influence of the Dutch.
This voyage and vessel is immortal on many accounts ; principally, because on board of her was drawn up and adopted, the first written con- stitution of government, ever adopted by any nation of people.
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The place of their settlement, was named Mt. Plymouth, and the colony, after undergoing trials of famine and diseases, which carried off one half of them, and an Indian war commenced a short time after the landing, were reduced to the utmost distress before the following spring. The history of some other colonies, especially the one established by Penn, and the lights since thrown upon the Indian character, shows, that the hostility of the nations, was not caused so much by their ill-dis- position, as by the imprudence and rashness of the settlers themselves.
This miniature view of the first settlements established upon this con- tinent, from which have grown a miglity people, seems a proper intro- duction to any history of any part of it. We cannot look too often upon our humble origin, and the sacrifices of our forefathers. Precedent, also, justifies us in this course.
The adjoining province of Maryland, was founded by Sir Geo. Cal- vert, Baron of Baltimore, in Ireland. He was a Roman Catholic noble- man, though born in England. He went at first to the province of Vir- ginia, but he there found an unwelcome reception, on account of his religious faith. He then fixed his attention upon the lands north of the Potomac, and obtained a grant of them from Charles I. This country he called Maryland, in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria.
The charter granted by Charles to said Baltimore, is highly honorable to his memory, as the original draft was made by Lord Baltimore him- self. In it, religious toleration was secured ; the first example in history of what would strike every one as proper, at the first flush, of allowing men to think, and secure Heaven in their own way.
The eldest son of Lord Baltimore succeeded to his titles, and to the Maryland grant, but his second son, Leonard Calvert, was the first Governor. He purchased lands of the Indians, and with them cultivated friendship and peace. The early colonists of Maryland, appear to have enjoyed happiness and peace. Whilst Virginia was engaged in perse- cuting the dissenters from the English church, the northern colonies were also engaged in persecuting dissenters from the primitive faith. It was the high honor of the Roman Catholics of Maryland-a sect which had not, until that time, professed the doctrines of toleration, to estab- lish religious freedom on that true basis. They received and protected their brethren of every Christian church, and this was one of the reasons of their prosperity.
New York was first settled by the Hollanders, and was held by them for half a century. But in 1664, it was surrendered ts the English, and together with Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and part of Con-
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necticut, was assigned by Charles II, to his brother the Duke of York. The same year New Jersey was granted, by him, to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret, and was settled by Swedes and Danes.
Having.thus alluded to the early settlement of the neighboring colo- nies, we will briefly notice the early settlement and history of Pennsyl- vania.
Several unsuccessful attempts were made by the Hollanders, to settle on the banks of the Delaware, but they were frustrated by Indian hos- tilities, always treacherous, and sometimes bloody, The Swedes were then excited by the success of the Dutch West India company, in tra- ding with the Indians, and a company of like character was established, under the auspices of Gustavus Adolphus. In the following reign, under the liberal patronage of Chancellor Oxenstein, two vessels with Swedish colonists arrived in the Delaware, in the year 1698. They settled near · Cape Henlopen, but made surveys upon the west bank of the Delaware so far as Trenton. They were reinforced from time to time, until the Swedish colonists became numerous, and by their conduct to the Indians, every thing bid fair for the permanent establishment of that people. But colonists arrived from Holland, and for some years, the banks of the Delaware were held by these people in common. The Dutch had ac- quired the political ascendant, but the Swedes gave character and pros- perity to the colony.
The English in 1664, conquered the whole country occupied by the Dutch, and compelled it to submit to English power. 'This led to a war between England and Holland, which ended in a treaty, ceding the en- tire possessions of the Dutch in North America, to the English. This possession was never disturbed, except for a very short period.
The title to the state of New Jersey, passed through the Duke of York, to whom it had been granted by the King, to Lord Berkley and Sir Geo. Carteret. It was subsequently assigned in trust for creditors, and William Penn became one of the trustees. His acceptance and acting in the trust, enabled him to acquire a knowledge of the country on both sides of the Delaware. The first Legislative Assembly was held in 1681.
This noble old Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was founded by William Penn, son of a distinguished Baronet and Admiral of the same name. As a trustee of the state of N. Jersey, just alluded to, where he had been actively engaged in colonizing, he obtained a knowledge of the country, and sufficient prescience to perceive its future greatness. His ambition was to found a Commonwealth on the principle of religious
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toleration. 'Though born and bred among the aristocracy of England, this excellent man joined the Quakers, then a persecuted and obscure sect. But persecution could not shake his faith, or subdue his zeal. As a preacher, he was several times imprisoned, but he plead his own cause at trial with such eloquence and boldness, as to procure his acquittal from an English jury, in the face of a penalty for contempt. To relieve himself and the jury, he afterwards paid an unjust fine, but the trial was to him a lesson of wisdom.
To relieve his new friends, the persecuted Quakers, from trials at home, and to secure for them an asylum where their morals, and purity of faith might be exercised unmolested, became with him a favorite ob- ject. Though it is not probable he aimed at a higher work, he suc- ceeded in laying the foundation of a State whose greatness and prosper- ity is destined to render his name undying.
Sir William Penn, the father, during the reign of Charles, had become a creditor of the government to the amount of sixteen thousand pounds. This sum could not be liquidated in cash. 'The old admiral foresaw this state of his affairs, and being a favorite with the King, and the Duke of York, on his death had obtained assurances of protection to his son .- These promises were in part redeemed.
In 1681, Penn obtained his grant from Charles for a discharge of the sixteen thousand pounds due his father, with a charter, bearing date of March 4th, in that year. Soon afterwards he obtained from the Duke of York, who claimed most of the continent by grants from his brother Charles, a conveyance of the country which now forms the State of Delaware, and the town of Newcastle. The King himself gave name to his grant, and it is said against the wishes of Penn, called it Pennsyl- vania. It was at that time a beautiful forest country. Mr. Penn pre- fered the name of New Wales.
The charter awarded with the design of the King. The grants were liberal. The annual rents were ten beaver skins, with one-fifth of all the gold and silver. The proprietor was empowered to enact laws, with the assent of the province, and in but few particulars was he short of sovereign. In all cases of dispute, the charter was to be construed most favorably to the proprietor. The extent of the province was three degrees of latitude in breadth, by five degrees of longitude in length. This grant was made known by the King's proclamation, and Penn himself published an account of his province. An arrangement was soon made between Penn and numerous adventurers. They were to
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pay forty shillings per one hundred acres, and an annual rent of one shilling forever.
The first settlers under Penn arrived at Chester, Dec. 11th, 1681 .- The river had then just closed, and they were obliged to winter there. In August, 1682, this eminent man himself embarked in the ship Wel- come, with about two thousand emigrants, and arrived in October.
The first colonists were chiefly of his own sect, temperate, industri- ous and economical Quakers, and they conducted themselves with great prudence. They laid the foundation of the magnificent city of Phila- delphia, at the confluence of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. Be- sides his own people, Penn was aided in the first settlement by Welsh traders, Germans, and other English. Their success exceeded that of any other colony ; and one year after his arrival Penn estimated the num- ber of the colonists at 4,000 souls. The Welsh settled west of the Schuylkill, and the Germans founded Germantown.
But this colony had to submit to numerous privations and hardships, incident to the settlement of a new country ; such as can scarcely be realized by their future descendants, of the present city of brotherly- love.
The distinguishing characteristic of the conduct of Penn, and a princi- pal cause of the success and prosperity of his colony, was his treatment of the aborigines. He set the example, and instructed all his agents to treat them with justice and humanity, and on christian principles. He acted as though he felt that they were children of the same common father, with souls impressed with His love, and that they might be in- fluenced by kindness and love. The fruit of this was amity and peace, instead of conflict and bloodshed.
Having established his constitution of government, elaborate, and filled with all the wisest principles known at that time, though with some defects, a first Legislative Assembly was convened at Chester, at that time called Upland. Among the first laws passed was one founded in wisdom and before the age. It declared " that none acknowledging one God and living peaceably in society, should be molested for his opinions, nor be compelled to frequent or maintain any ministry what- ever." Nicholas Moore was the Speaker. This session of the Le- gislature lasted three days, and three laws were enacted. 1. An act for the union of the province and territories. 2. An act of naturali- zation. 3. The great law, of which the above is an abstract. It also contained a system of morals, and laws in relation to property and de- scents, and other important subjects.
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In the early history of the State, Penn was much annoyed by a con- troversy with the heirs of Lord Baltimore, the proprietor of Maryland. Their claims conflicted, and war was threatened. They eventually en- tered into an agreement of settlement, which was finally in 1750, spe- cifically enforced by a decree in chancery, under Lord Chancellor Hardwicke.
The first great treaty with the Indians was held at Shorbanaxon, now Kensington. The sachems and warriors there, met Penn under the shade of a celebrated elm tree ; since as famous as the charter oak at Hartford. Penn was plainly dressed, without troops, arms or insignia of power, except he was distinguised by a blue sash. He was followed by a train of peaceful Quakers, holding in his hands a parchment con- taining the treaty of amity and purchase.
This council and treaty was one of the most remarkable ever known, and the character of Penn is not illustrated by any act so brilliant. It was just and adhered to, and the prosperity of the commonwealth was not afterwards for many years disturbed by Indian hostilities.
No other opportunity being likely to offer, we will conclude briefly the introductory history of William Penn. He suffered continual per- secution in England, and encountered great difficulties with his colony. His private fortune was injured by advances he made in conducting his affairs, and at length he was harrassed and imprisoned by his creditors. He died in the city of London in 1718, leaving an inheritance to his children, which would ultimately have been of immense value, but of which they were mostly deprived by the American revolution. They then compromised for a sum of ready money. He left a character which will be known in history to the latest times, and more desirable than that of any conquerer who has ever spilt the blood of his fellow man. It was that of a christian, embracing all the good attributes of christian character.
Having thus very briefly adverted to the discovery and early settle- ment of Pennsylvania, and some of the neighboring States, we must allude to the settlements of the French, with whom the history of West- ern Pennsylvania is still more intimately connected.
The city of Qubec was founded by Samuel Champlain, in 1608 ; and the extension of settlements by the English in Virginia and Maryland, were nearly simultaneous with the French in Canada and along the west- ern lakes. For about a century the " great west," as it is called, was explored, and in many places settled by the French, before any other people had crossed the Alleghenies, "except a few traders, especially
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from Carolina, who had ventured among the Indians, and, becoming wild like the men with whom they trafficked, had established their homes among the Cherokees, the Muskhogees, and the Chickasaws. The abodes of civilized man reached scarcely one hundred and fifty miles from the Atlantic."
Two French missionaries, after a council had been held with the natives, and formally announced to them of their intentions, entered upon an enterprize of discovery. Marquette and Toilet, the mission- aries, accompanied by assistants, and two Algonquins, as guides, on the 10th of June, 1673, set out for the discovery of the Mississippi river, which they entered July 15th, 1763, decended that river to the Arkan- sas, a distance of 990 miles, and then returned to Canada by way of the Illinois. This adventure opened an extensive field of speculation. M. De La Salle, commander of Fort Frontinac, on Lake Ontario, built a small vessel, (the Griffin,) embarked with a company, which, at first, consisted of Father Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan Friar, and thirty-four men, passed up lake Erie, lakes St. Clair and Huron, coursing along Michigan, disembarked near where fort Chicago now stands. He left this in December 1679. M. De La Salle, and his followers, descended the Illinois river, and in January 1680, halted at an Indian village on its banks, about 150 miles from the Mississippi. The Iroquois had exten- ded their destructive ravages to this country, where they had obtained 800 prisoners at one time, and carried them into slavery ; and this cir- cumstance induced the Illinois Indians, to treat their new visitors with great hospitality. Here the French, for their better security, built a fort, named Crevecœur, i. e. " Broken Heart." As soon as they were secure in winter quarters, M. De La Salle, selected three men, returned over land to Canada for additional supplies and adventurers.
When M. De La Salle started for Canada, Father Hennepin, at La Salle's directions, prosecuted the enterprise. In his excursions, he as- cended, according to his own account, the Mississippi to the falls of St. Anthony, where he, and two men that accompanied him, were made prisoners, robbed of their property, and taken to some Indian villages, situated on one of the upper branches of that river. They were soon liberated, and returned to Canada by way of Ouisconsing. Father Hen- nepin went immediately to France, where he published a splendid ac- count of the vast country he had discovered, which he named LOUISIANA, in honor of Louis XIV. Though Hennepin claims to be the first dis- coverer of the Mississippi, it is, however, beyond dispute, that this honor
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belongs to Toliet and Marquette, who made the discovery in 1763 .*
M. De La Salle had left Mr. Tonti in command of Fort Crevecoeur ; but who, after some time, followed him to Canada, and by their united exertions, supplies were eventually procured ; and also, a considerable number of adventurers, who were inclined to seek their fortunes in un- known regions. They set out with the design of forming new settle- ments, and 1683 arrived on the Mississippi-they established them- selves on the east side of that river ; and Cahokia, Kaskaskia, and some other villages were founded at this period. M. De La Salle, after he had regulated the affairs of his little colony, left M. Tonti in command, and then proceeded, with a number of men, to the mouth of the Missis- sippi, where he made such observations as time and other circumstances permitted. He speedily returned to Quebec, and from there, passed over to France, and communicated the particulars to the French ministry.
The certainty of a great inland water communication from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to that of Mexico, a distance of about three thousand and five hundred miles, awakened the surprise and curiosity of the French Cabinet. This discovery was the foundation of that policy which was ultimately adopted to extend around the English settlements a strong cordon, calculated to draw them gradually into the embraces of France. This policy had less of hypothesis in it than was at first believed by the English. To carry it into effect, the French adopted the most artful and prudent precautions, and all their subsequent colonial measures tend- ed to this point.
After several efforts more to settle various parts of Louisiana, M. de La Salle perished, March 19th, 1617, having received a mortal wound from two assassins, in the country of his adventures.
M. Tonti, two years before this fatal event, had descended to the mouth of the Mississippi to meet La Salle. After a fruitless stay of some weeks, he proceeded on his return to the Illinois. He entered the Arkansas river for the purpose of discovery, and soon found himself among the Indians of that name. He made a treaty with that people, opened a trade with them, built a fort, and made preparations for a set- tlement. The soldiers he left here were soon joined by adventurers from Canada, many of whom married Indian women.
While the more southern settlements were making, those in Illinois were prosperous. The climate was salubrious, the soil prolific ; the in- habitants pursued, however, agriculture only as a secondary object; yet they were plentifully supplied with provisions.
* Bancroft's Hist. U. S., p. 300, 157.
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After 1700 the French made a number of settlements on the Missis- sippi and its several tributaries, south of the mouth of the Ohio river.
"Not a fountain bubbled on the west of the Alleghenies, but was claimed as being within the French empire. Louisiana stretched to the head-springs of the Allegheny and the Monongahela, of the Kenhawa and the Tennessee.
" The energy of the centralised Government of New France enabled it to act with promptness ; and, before the English Government could direct its thoughts to the consequences, the French had secured their in- fluences on the head-springs of the Ohio."(1)
The attempt on the part of the French had attracted the attention of the colonies. Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, made an effort as early as 1711, to resist French encroachments, by attempting to establish the line of Virginia settlements far enough to the west to interrupt the con- templated chain of communication between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. "For that purpose he also causes the passes in the mountains to be examined; desired to promote settlements beyond them, and sought to concentrate within his Province bands of friendly Indians. Finding other measures unavailing, he planned the incorporation of a Virginia Indian Company, which from the emoluments of the monopoly of the traffic, should sustain forts in the western country. Disappointed by the determined opposition of the people to a privileged company, he was still earnest to resist the encroachments of the French. But from Williamsburg to Kaskaskia the distance was too wide; and though by a journey across the mountains, the right of Virginia might be sustained, yet no active resistance would become possible till the posts of the two nations should be nearer. A wilderness of a thousand miles was a good guaranty against reciprocal measures." (2) 1
As early as 1719, the French began actively to erect a line of Forts for the purpose of connecting Canada with the Valley of the Mississip- pi, at both extremites of which they had extensive settlements-and continued their efforts till they succeeded in erecting Forts at the most important points. Fully to effect their purposes, and previous to thor- oughly exploring the country along the Allegheny, Ohio, they sent out missionaries or agents to conciliate the Shawanese, and Delaware, and other Indians. (3)
(1) Bancroft's His. U. S., vol. 3, p. 340.
(2) Bancroft's His. U. S., vol. Ill., page 344; also, Hall's Sketches of the West, page 184.
(3) Gordon's His. Penn., page 213.
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As early as 1728, the French attempted to dissuade the Delawares and Shawanese from their friendship with the English.(1)
1729. Effectually to gain the several Delaware and Shawanese In- dians settled on the Allegheny,* the Governor of Montreal had sent, a few years previous, a French gentleman amongst them, at his depar- ture, 1728, carried with him some of the Shawanese chiefs to the Gov- ernor of Montreal, with whom they, at their return, seemed highly pleased. The same French gentleman, with five or six others in com- pany with him, in the spring of 1729, had brought with them a Shaw- anese interpreter; and the better to secure their affections, he had brought with him a gunsmith to work for them gratis. To prevent so fatal designs, Mr. Logan proposed that a treaty should be set on foot with the Five Nations, who had an absolute authority as well over the Shawanese as all our Indians, that by their means the Shawanese might not only be kept firm to the English interest, but likewise be induced to remove from Allegheny nearer to the English settlements. (2)
Shekallamy was sent with a message to the Six (formerly Five), Nations. The Six Nations were invited to come to Philadelphia : they appeared, August, 1732. Touching the French's procedure at Allegheny, they stated that last fall, 1731, the French interpreter, Ca- hichtodo, came to the Ohio, er Allegheny river, to build houses there, and to supply the Indians with goods; which they, the Six Nations, no sooner heard than they went out and forbade them, telling him that the lands on the Ohio belonged to the Six Nations ; that the French had nothing to do with them, and advised him to go home; but he not re- garding their advice proceeded, upon which they sent to the French
(1) Prov. Rec., III., p. 313.
(2) Prov. Rec., III., pp. 628, 629.
* About the year 1698, three or four score families of Shawanese Indians, with the consent of the Governor of Pennsylvania, removed from Carolina and planted themselves on the Susquehanna, at Conestoga. Sad were the fruits of their hospitality. Others followed; and when in 1732 the number of Indian fighting men in Pennsylvania was estimated to be seven hundred, one- half of them were Shawanese emigrants. (1)
About the year 1724, the Delaware Indians, for the conveniency of game, emigrated (from Delaware river and Susquehanna) to the branches of the Ohio; and in 1728, the Shawanese gradually followed them. They were soon met by Canadian traders, and Joncaire, the adopted citizen of the Seneca na- tion, found his way to them from lake Erie. (2)
Proud says, the Indians on the Ohio chiefly consisted of the hunters of the several nations round, under the protection or subjection of the Six Nations, as the Delawares, Shawanese, Willinis, (called by the French, Illinois) and their own several nations. (3)
(1) Bancroft's His. U. S., vol. III., page 240.
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