USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 65
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Owing to these cruelties committed by Cresap and Great-house, the inhabitants of Racoon and Weiling fled from that settlement, and are chiefly gone to Virginia. After Cresap had been guilty of these cruel- ties, he returned to Maryland, but has since come back with a party of men. Cresap wrote to Connelly and Mr. M'Kee, threatening that if they did not give him security that the Indians would not do any mis- chief for six months, that he, Cresap, would immediately proceed to commit further hostilities against the Indians. About the 21st of April, Connelly wrote a letter to the inhabitants of Weiling, that he had been informed by good authority that the Shawanese were ill disposed towards the white men, and that he therefore, required and commanded them to hold themselves in readiness to repel any insults that might be offered by them. This letter fell into the hands of Cresap, and he says that it was in consequence of this letter and the murders committed by the Cherokees on Mr. Butler's people, that he committed the hostilities above mentioned. I am informed that the 6th of May, Mr. Croghan, sent Capt. White-Eyes, of the Indian chiefs, in company with some of our traders, to acquaint the Shawanese and Delawares, that the outrages had been committed by some of our ill disposed people and with- out the least countenance from government. This Indian promised to use his best endeavors to accommodate matters; and returned here the 24th of May, and brought with him ten white men, who had been pro- tected by the Delawares eight days in their towns, and guarded safe to this place. He also brought a speech from the Delawares, from which we have great reason to believe they are not inclined for war ; we also believe that they will endeavor to preserve the lives of the traders that are now amongst the Shawanese ; he had also brought from the Shawa- nese chief, called the HARDMAN, an answer to a speech sent to them by Mr. Croghan, upon this occasion, in which he signifies that the Shaw anese are all warriors, and will not listen to us until they have satisfaction of us for what injuries they have received from the Virginians.
White-Eyes informs us that a Mingo man called LOGAN, whose fam- ily had been murdered in the number, had raised a party to cut off the Shawnee town traders, at the canoe bottom at Hawkhawkin (Hockocking) creek, where they were pressing their peltry ; but we have heard since that the Shawanese have taken them under their care until matters are further settled ; but God knows what fate they have met with. We hope they are all alive and if they be so, they have a chance to come in if the outrageous behavior of the Virginians does not prevent them. The 6th of this month, we had account from Muddy creek, which empties into the river Monongahela, near Cheat river, that the Indians had killed and scalped one man, his wife and three children ; and that three more of the same man's children were missing. It has since been confirmed.
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SMITH'S LETTER, 1774.
We suppose this to be Logan's party, and that they will do more mis- chief before they return. About the 20th of May, one Campbell, lately from Lancaster, was killed and scalped, near New Comer's town, and one Proctor at Weiling, by a party of Shawanese and Mingoes.
The Virginians in this part of the country seem determined to make war with the Indians, at any rate the one-half of this country is returned already to all intents and purposes, which a few months ago was in a flourishing way. Connelly has embodied upwards of one hundred men and will have this fort in good order in a short time. He is gathering in all the provisions he possibly can get from the country, which he says will be paid by the government of Virginia. The militia have by Connelly's orders, shot down the cattle and hogs belonging to the in- habitants as they please. They also press horses, and take by force any part of our property they think proper ; and tell us that they have authority so to do, therefore, you may judge our situation at present. Before I returned from Virginia, about the 5th of May, Mr. Connelly sent an armed guard of men to my house, who attempted to take away a quantity of blankets and bags by force. Mr. William Butler, who lived at my house at that time, had a great dispute with them in defence of my property, and put them out with great difficulty, on which they complained to Connelly, who immediately dispatched a party of twelve men to the house in order to put their villainous scheme in execution, on which my wife locked her doors. Connelly came at the same time, began to abuse Mr. Butler and my wife. He also threatened to send Mr. Butler to Virginia in irons, and take every farthing's worth of his property from him, damned my wife, telling her the same time that he would let her know that he commanded here, &c. &c. &c.
On the 27th day of May, Mr. Mckay and I rode out about seven miles from town, and on our return were met on the road by a man from Mrs. McKay, who came to tell us that Connolly had sent a party of men to pull down Mr. Mckay's house. When we came home, we found a guard of six armed men pulling down two out-houses, in Mr. Mckay's back yard; he ordered them to desist, saying that he would defend his people at risque of his life ; upon which the men agreed to wait until we would talk to Mr. Connolly about the matter. We walked toward the fort with that intenion, but were met by one Aston, ( a cap- tain of Connolly's) at the head of about thirty armed men, followed by Connolly. Aston approached, and in a blasphemous manner accosted Mr. Mckay, ordering the Virginia sheriff to seize him. Upon which the sheriff, Aston and several others, siezed him in a violent manner. Aston presenting a rifle at Mr. Mckay, threatened to shoot him down, which some of the by-standers prevented. Connolly came up at the same time, in a great rage, telling Mr. Mckay that he would send him to Virginia in irons. He endeavored to expostulate with him, but all to no purpose ; but told him that he would tear down this dwelling house if he thought proper. He also accused Mr. Mckay with being refractory on many occasions, and a fomenter of sedition, &c., &c., in opposition to the colony of Virginia, and that he had encouraged his servants to abuse one of his men, who was then present; calling the man to prove what he had asserted; but the man cleared Mr. Mckay and his servants,
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APPENDIX-NO. XXI.
saying that it was a man of Mr. Spear's who had struck him. Con- nolly being then confuted before upwards of sixty persons, said it was all as one of the magistrate's servants.
Aston attempted to run the muzzle of his gun at Mr. Mckay's face, but was prevented. In the meantime Connolly suffered a foresworn rascal (one Riely) to shake a stick at Mr. Mckay, and abuse him in an outrageous manner, without bringing him to an account for so doing. In this manner, Connolly enforces all his laws.
The seventh of this instant, one Christy returned to this place from Williamsburg, and brought Connolly a packet from My Lord Dunmore; he also brought some late newspapers, in which we had an account of the house of Burgesses being dissolved by Lord Dunmore. It happened that Mr. McKay told this news to a neighbor man, and that same even- ing Connolly came to his house, accompanied by one of his officers, and began to abuse him in a most blasphemous and outrageous manner, accusing him for being the cause of a meeting amongst his men, and alleged that he had asserted that there was no provision made by the House of Burgesses for the payment of the men under his command.
Connolly continued to threaten Mr. McKay with confinement. He read a paragraph of a letter to us, in which Lord Dunmore acquaints him of the commissioners from Philadelphia being at Williamsburg, and that the proposals they made in regard of a temporary line, were so extravagant that nothing could be done in it; but that Connolly might settle a line at present with the magistrates of this country, allowing it to be twelve or at least ten miles east of this place. We told him that no magistrate in this country could pretend to do any thing of the kind, without instructions from the government of Pennsylvania. At this time the magistrates had raised a number of men in behalf of the gov- ernment for the protection of the frontiers, and prevent the country from being entirely depopulated. About thirty of them were stationed at the Bullock Pens, seven miles east of this town. Connolly told us that he was determined to go or send out the next day with a party to dispossess our men of that post, and if they did not behave them- selves he would not suffer one Pennsylvanian to live on this side of Laurel Hill.
12th-Mr. Connolly proposed to march from this place to-morrow with 200 men, to build a stockade fort at Weiling creek, and another near Hawkhawkin creek, and says he will send parties at the same time against the Shawanese towns ; and I am of opinion that they will make no distinction betwixt Shawanese and Delawares, as they are determined to have a general war.
Mr. Croghan has set off this morning to Williamsburg as he says, to represent the state of this country to Lord Dunmore and council, as also to acquaint them of Mr. Connolly's rash conduet at this place, which he seems to disapprove of.
We are this day informed, that the three children before mentioned that were missing near Muddy creek, were found dead and scalped ; and two other men in sight of a fort that is lately built on Dunkard creek, up the river Monongahela, all supposed to be done by Logan's party.
[216]
REMARKS ON CONNOLLY'S PROCEEDINGS, 1774.
The inhabitants of the town are busily employed in stoccading it round about ; yet we have no reason to expect any thing better than ruin and destruction.
Mr. Mckay wrote to Governor Penn from Storm Town, the 5th of May, informing him of our enlargement ; I also wrote to you and Doc- tor Smith, at the same time ; but these letters were since returned to us here, by Colonel Wilson, as also the Governor's letter, which we have answered. I would be glad to hear the candid opinion of the Governor and council, concerning these extraordinary disturbances.
I am, sir, your most obliged and humble servant,
DEVEREUX SMITH.
To Doctor WILLIAM SMITH.
P. S. Please to present, without delay, the Governor's letter, which I have enclosed.
13th-We have this morning received certain accounts from Ten Mile creek, (which empties into the Monongahela, ten miles above Redstone Fort) that on the 11th instant Francis McClure was killed, and one Samuel Kinkade badly wounded. These men were heading a party in pursuit of Logan, Mr. McClure as captain, and Kinkade as lieutenant, and owing to their bad conduct they advanced some consid- erable distance ahead of their men, and were discovered by Logan ; when the party came up they found their captain killed and lieutenant wounded. Part of them staid to take care of the wounded man, and the rest persued the Indians. It is said that one of the Logan's men was wounded.
DEVEREUX SMITH.
The inhabitants of this country are about petitioning Governor Penn by this opportunity.
Remarks on the proceedings of Doctor Connolly.
PITTSBURGH, June 25th, 1774.
The distressed inhabitants of this place, have just cause to charge their present calamity and dread of an Indian war, entirely to the tyran- ical and unprecedented conduct of Doctor John Connolly, whose de- signs (as we conceive) is to better his almost desperate circumstances, upon the distress of the public, and the ruin of our fortunes, as will ap- pear from the following facts :
Ist. On the 25th day of January last, a number of disorderly persons assembled themselves here, in consequence of his advertisements, as militia, who, when dispersing, wantonly or maliciously fired upon some friendly Indians in their huts, on the Indian shore, which conduct, to- gether with so unexpected an appearance of so many people in arms at a time that they expected no hostile intention on our parts, greatly alarmed them, as appeared by a complaint made by them at a council with Alexander McKee, Esq., Indian agent, and some of the inhabitants of this place, a few days after.
2d. Michael Cresap, in vindication of his own condnet, alledges, that it was in consequence of a circular letter said Connelly directed to
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APPENDIX-NO. XXI.
the inhabitants on the Ohio, that he murdered the Indians, and that in a manner, that savage ferocity could scarce equal, and in cold blood, with- out the least provocation, amongst whom were some Delawares, that had been employed by Mr. William Butler, to carry goods, and hand to the relief of his brother, who was at that time in the Indian country, all which property they have been deprived of, to a considerable amount ; also, every part of said Connelly's conduct to our friendly Indians, convinces us, that he means to force them to a war, as he both refuses to protect, and endeavors to murder those that, at the risque of their lives, came with our traders to protect them, and to deliver assurances of their friendship to the public, which can be produced if required.
3d. A large body of armed men broke open Mr. Mckays and Mr. Smith's back yard gates, and rescued the villain Riely, who was sworn constable of Westmoreland county at that time, and was confined for abusing said Mckay in his own house. Five of those men presented their guns at Mr. Mckay and Mr. Smith ; also, one of the party struck at Mr. Mckay with his gun, and broke it in pieces ; whilst another pre- sented his rifle through his parlor window, swearing that he would shoot down Mrs. McKay, if she did not immediately set open the doors of her house. Upon which she fled, but was immediately assaulted by one Aston, as a Captain, (by said Connelly's appointment,) with a drawn sword, who stabbed her in the arm. Mr. Spear was also abused, and scratched by said Aston, at the same time.
4th. Said Connelly, with an armed force of two hundred men, sur- rounded the court house, &c. &c.
5th. He sent Aeneas Mckay, Devereux Smith and Andrew McFar- lane, magistrates, under an armed guard to Staunton jail, in Virginia ; then proceeded to shoot down our cattle, sheep and hogs, taking by force of arms, any part of our property he pleased ; also pressing our horses without applying for them, or rendering any consideration to the suffer- ers for so doing.
6th. He sent an armed guard to town, to plunder the house of Dever- eux Smith, but was prevented by Mr. William Butler, at the risque of his life.
7th. He, Connelly, with his whole force, came to the house of Mr. Mckay, broke open his gates, pulled down a log stable and sheep house, threatening to pull down his dwelling, if he thought proper. He came again accompanied by one of his officers to Mr. Mckay's, and abused him in a blasphemous, outrageous manner, threatening to send him in irons to Virginia, next day.
8th. He sent an armed guard to town with a general search warrant, to search every house in town, without exception, for the effects of a man that died the evening before in their fort, that some of themselves had robbed his corpse of. In the couse of their search, they broke open a chest in a man's house that bears a good character here, and took out several articles, and at the same time, insulted the owner.
9th. He sent a party that robbed Mr. Joseph Spear's carriers of one horse load of gunpowder, about six miles from town, which was sent by said Spear for the use of the inhabitants of this country, if necessity re- quired. This robbery was committed by a party, headed by the afore-
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DUNMORE'S COUNCIL, ETC. 1774
said Aston, who beat and insolently abused the persons who had said powder in charge, when he demanded a receipt for the. same.
These are but few of the many distresses we labor under, and with- out protection and speedy redress, cannot long support ourselves under such grievious persecution and tyranny.
[NO. XXII. ]
LORD DUNMORE'S COUNCIL, 1774.
WILLIAMSBURG, Friday, October 14, 1774.
This day an express arrived from His Excellency, the Governor, (Lord DUNMROE,) who has sent copies of several speeches that passed between him and the Chiefs of the Six Nations and Delawares ; where- in they greatly disapprove of the murders and outrages committed by the Shawanese, and promise to use their best endeavors to bring them to a treaty with His Excellency, when it is hoped a permanent peace will be established, and an end put to an Indian war so ruinous to the frontier inhabitants, as well as expensive to the country.
COUNCIL BETWEEN LORD DUNMORE AND THE INDIANS. At a Council held with the Indians :
Present-His Excellency, the Right Honorable the Earl of DUNMORE, Lieutenant and Governor of Virginia, &c.
ALEXANDER McKEE, Esq., Deputy Agent, &c.
Indians-Delawares-King CUSTALOGO, Captain WHITE EYES, and PLUGGY, a Six Nation Chief, and sundry others.
Captain WHITE EYES spoke :
"First. Brothers : I wipe the sweat and dust from your eyes by this string, and remove the fatigue that you have had during your journey ; and, also, I clear and open your ears, that you may readily comprehend and hear what your brothers have now to say to you; I also remove every concern from your heart, owing to any bad impressions which have been made upon you during your journey to this place, that you may believe the sincerity of us towards you and all our brethren, the English." A string.
"Second. Brothers : I will now inform you of what I know concern- ing the Shawanese. Our uncles, the Mohawks, have been sent by the Shawanese here, in order to know in what manner they should act, so as to be admitted to a conference with their brethren, the English, of Virginia. Our uncles, the Mohawks, desire to inform you that the principal men of that Nation continue to hold fast by the ancient chain of friendship; but that some foolish young men had loosened their hands therefrom, and that it was not in their power to prevent them heretofore. Brother, I have now told you of what our uncles, the Mo- hawks, have told us, of what the Chiefs of the Shawanese say, and hope you will be strong and consider upon what you have to say to them, that whenever you choose to speak, we may be ready to join you in so doing."
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APPENDIX-NO. XXII.
" Third. Brother: I desire you to listen to your brethren, the Five Nations, and Mohawks, the Wyandotts, and also, your brethren, the Delawares. These are the people who have taken pains to keep every thing quiet since those unhappy troubles. All the western Nations are quiet, but keep their eyes fixed upon this quarter. Brother, I am re- joiced to see you, as I was troubled and afraid before ; but now my apprehensions are dispersed on seeing you, which is the cause of my pleasure. Brother, I now esteem our women and children restored to life upon your arrival, and that even the foolish young people will have reason to be thankful on the conclusion of the present prospects."- A string.
" Fourth. Brother : I desire you to listen to us few of the numerous Chiefs who formerly were of our Nations ; as the few now remaining have a due remembrance of the friendship subsisting between our fore- fathers. Brother, during the trouble which happened, owing to foolish people, I was apprehensive it might be the cause of universal trouble, so as to have shook our amity, and weakened the ancient friendship between us. Brother, I tell you that I am extremely rejoiced at your arrival here, as you are esteemed our elder brother ; and I hope that, as you have it amply in your power, you will restore our ancient friend- ship, and establish it upon the former good footing ; to promote which, we will contribute our weak endeavors by affording all our assistance." A belt.
"This is what your brethren have to say to you who are here present." His Lordship said :
"I am much obliged to you for this mark of your friendship, and I will consider of what you have said, and shall return you answer hereafter."
His Excellency's answer to the Delawares and Six Nation chiefs :
"Brethren : I now wipe the tears from your eyes, which you have shed for the loss of any of your people. I remove the grief from your hearts which it may have occasioned. I also clear your ears from any bad reports, that you may now look upon your brethren, the Virginians, with friendship, and that you may believe what I am about to say to you in your hearts, and receive it with pleasure." A string.
"Brethren: With these trifling goods I cover the graves of your deceased friends, that the remembrance of your grief upon that occasion may be buried in total oblivion." Condolence present.
"Brethren: Your desire is gratified ; I do see clearly, and the sweat and fatigue I have experienced on my journey here, will be no cause of complaint to me, when I find an opportunity to convince my brethren, the Delares and Six Nations, of my good intentions toward them .- You may be assured, brethren, that as I am now here present, I shall be able to hear plainly, and to distinguish clearly what is just and unjust between me and my brethren, the Indians." A string.
"Brethren : I am much obliged to you for the pains you have taken to heal the sores made by the Shawanese, and would have been very glad to have now given you a more favorable answer as to them ; but you yourselves must be well acquainted how little the Shawanese de- serve the treatment or appellation of brethren from me, when, in the
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DUNMORE'S COUNCIL, ETC. 1774.
first place, they have not complied with the terms prescribed to them by Colonel BOUQUET, (and to which they assented,) of giving up the white prisoners ; nor have they ever truly buried the hatchet; for the next summer after that treaty, they killed a man upon the frontier of my government ; the next year they killed eight of my people upon Cum- berland river, and brought their horses to their towns, where they dis- posed of them (together with a considerable quantity of peltry,) to the traders from Pennsylvania. Some time after, one Martin, a trader from my government, was killed with two men, on Hockhocking, by the Shawanese, only because they were Virginians ; at the same time per- mitting one Ellis to escape, only because he was a Pennsylvanian. In the year 1771, twenty of my people were robbed by them, when they carried away nineteen horses, and as many owned by the Indians, with their guns, clothes, &c., which they delivered up to one Callender and Spears, and other Pennsylvania traders in their towns. In the same year, on the Great Kenhawa, in my government, they killed one of my people, and wounded his brother; and the year following, ADAM STROUD, another of my people, his wife and seven children, were most cruelly murdered on Elk waters. In the next year they killed Richards, another of my people, on the Kenhawa. A few moons after, they killed Russell, one of my people, and five white men and two negroes, near Cumberland Gap, and also carried their horses and effects into their towns, where they were puschased by the Pennsylva- nia traders. All these with many other murders, they have committed upon my people, before a drop of Shawanese blood was spilt by them ; and have continually perpetrated robberies upon my defenceless fron- tier inhabitants, which at length irritated them so far that they began to retaliate. I have now stated the dispute between them and us, and leave it to you to judge what they merit." A string.
"Brethren : You desire me to listen to my brethren, the Five Na- tions, the Mohawks, the Wyandotts, and to my brethren, the Delawares. I do so with the utmost attention, and am well pleased to return you my thanks for the pains you have taken ; and am extremely happy, and exceedingly desirous, that the eyes of the western nations, and all others, may be continually fixed upon me ; for then they will plainly see that my real intention and sincere desire is, only to do justice to all parties. Brethren : I hope our pleasure at meeting is mutual; and you may be assured, from my late proceedings, that my good will towards you is most sincere, and I rejoice equally with you at the new life your women and children have acquired by my arrival ; and I most sincerely wish that they may long continue in a full enjoyment of peace and hap- piness, to which I will most cheerfully contribute my utmost assistance." A string.
"Brethren : I am very glad to find that the chiefs of the different nations, have a due and friendly regard to the friendship formerly sub- sisting between our forefathers, which I shall be happy at all times to continue. I am glad to observe that few (if any) of the foolish people who have been the authors of the late troubles, were in any wise partic- ularly connected with you; and I hope that our ancient friendship is too strongly linked to be broke by a few banditti of a distant nation. I
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APPENDIX-NO XXII.
own I am very much rejoiced at my arrival here, as I hope it will be the means of adding fresh strength to the ancient chain of friendship sub- sisting between us ; and particularly so, as I see your inclinations are to facilitate this good work. I acknowledge myself your elder brother, and shall, upon every occasion, manifest my regard as such towards you ; and I do expect that you will continually look up to me as your elder brother, from whom you may be assured of the strongest marks of brotherly kindness, either in peace or war. And as you may now be certain of protection from your elder brother, I flatter myself you will continue to tread the ancient path towards him here, when he will be answerable that the most ample justice shall be done you." A belt.
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