History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 12

Author: Schenck, J. S., [from old catalog] ed; Rann, William S., [from old catalog] joint ed; Mason, D., & co., Syracuse, N.Y., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1020


USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 12


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.


these two days' traveling with our canoes we had not more than 16 miles of strong water, the bed of the river being like a mill pond, and in general so deep that we could not find the bottom with our setting poles.


"Monday, July 12th .- Set off in the morning and found it extremely diffi- cult to get up the creek. The water was very low and divided with a great number of small Islands and the channels stopped up with driftwood and tim- ber that had fallen across the creek. In some places we cleared a passage, in others we were obliged to slide our canoe on Scates. We had about five miles of this kind of water; at length we entered the - lake, which for about two miles widened gradually-the shore remarkably muddy and covered with splat- terdocks. From there the lake opens at once and has a very pleasing appear- ance. We got about four miles up and encamped."


On the morning of the 14th, having found the old French wagon road, Colonel Matlack and Mr. Maclay followed it to Lake Erie, returning to Lake Jadockque (Chautauqua) on the 15th. Mr. Maclay estimated the distance from the mouth of the Conewango to Lake Erie to be eighty miles "to go by water," and says the "greater part of the distance is through a very rich soil." On the morning of the 17th Maclay and Matlack rejoined Adlum at the camp at the mouth of the Conewango, and the three, with their employees, proceeded down the river to "Fort Frankland." From there another route was surveyed to Lake Erie, by way of French Creek. When this was completed they again continued down the "Alegina" to the mouth of the Kiskiminitis. This stream was explored and its chief tributary, the Conemaugh, was ascended to its source. After a vain attempt to find a passage across the Allegheny Mountains suit- able for a wagon road, they concluded to return home, arriving at Lebanon on September 17 of the same year.


CHAPTER X1.


CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS - 1790-91.


The Seneca Chieftain Invited to Visit Philadelphia - Letter from Thomas Mifflin - Ensign Jeffers's Letter - The Journey - Arrival in the Quaker City -Subsequent Proceedings - Cornplanter's Sprech to the Supreme Executive Council - President Mifflin's Reply - Corn- planter Meets President Washington - Returns to His Forest Home with Gifts and Various Supplies - Attempts on the Part of Pittsburgh Thieves to Steal the Same - Colonel Brodhead's Opinion of Early Pittsburgh Residents -Cornplanter Makes Choice of the Lands Granted Him - Their Location, etc. - Sketch of His Life.


M EANWHILE, affairs along the western frontiers were in an unsettled condition, and, apparently, were daily becoming worse- murders of white families by Indians from the Ohio country, and of peaceful Seneca In-


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CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS-1790-91.


dians by white men, were of frequent occurrence. Indeed, numbers of Corn- planter's own family had been robbed and killed, and he had repeatedly peti- tioned the authorities of the State for protection and relief. At last, on the 10th of May, 1790, President Thomas Mifflin sent a letter 1 to the Seneca chieftains on the head waters of the Allegheny, wherein he said : " It gives us pain to hear from you that some bad people have plundered your camps and taken your property. Our laws do not permit one man to injure another. We are willing to give you an opportunity of laying before the government of Pennsylvania your grievances, and of explaining your wishes ; and agreeably to your request, we hereby invite three of your chief counsellors and warriors, vizt .: Corn- planter, Half-Town, and the New Arrow, to come to Philadelphia, on Wednes- day the first day of September next, when the General Assembly will be in session. We have granted a commission to your particular friend, Joseph Nicholson, to act as the interpreter to your three Chiefs, and will give him directions to conduct them to this city.


"To Kientwoughko, or Cornplanter, Guyaugh Shoto, alias the Great Cross, Hachuwoot, or Half Town, Kyendo, Shendeshowa, Wadungueta, Hagungush, Hucheaguough, alias the Dog Barker,


" THOMAS MIFFLIN.


Chief Counsellors and Warriors of the Six Nations of Indians."


Oe-wha-gaw-yo, alias the Oldnews, Candagowa alias Large Tree,


Tehewanias, alias the Broken Tree.


This letter having been received by Cornplanter July 7 of that year, his preparations for visiting Philadelphia were completed as speedily as circum- stances would permit, and, furnished with the following recommendatory letter by the commandant of Fort Franklin, at the mouth of French Creek, he set out on his journey accompanied by his interpreter, Joseph Nicholson, and six other chiefs and warriors.


" My age, rank & situation in the world renders it rather improper for me to say anything on the subject I am about to relate, but I cannot but mention that the Bearer hereof, Cyentwokee, the head Chief of the Senica Nation, is an undoubted friend to the United States. When Indians have stolen Horses & other things from the good people, I have known him with the greatest dig- nity to give orders for them to be returned, & never knew his orders to be disobeyed.


" When the people of Cussawanga [now Meadville] were about to flee on


1 See allusion to this letter in Mr. Maclay's diary, preceding chapter.


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.


account of unfavorable accounts about some of the Southern Indians, he sent a Speech to me, & said, 'he wished the people to keep their minds easy, & take care of their Cornfields, that the Six Nations were friends, that should the Southern Indians invade the Settlement he would gather his Warriors & help to drive them to the setting of the Sun.' In consequence of this the people rest intirely easy. On his arrival here, he told me that should I be invaded so that I could not get provision, that he & his warriors would clear the way - he said that at the Council at Muskingum, the great men asked him which side he would die on ? He told them on the side of the Americans, he says he is of the same mind yet.


" Sundry other things might be said, but as he is now on his way to attend the Assembly at Philadelphia, I will only recommend him to the particular attention of the good people of Pennsylvania between here & that place. They may depend upon it that they not only entertain a friend, but a consequential friend, for the Senica Nation is so much Governed by him that if he says War, it is war, & if he says peace it is peace - of Course he is a Man worthy of the greatest attention. The other Chiefs with him second him in every thing, & are Men worthy of great attention.


"I am, my Dear fellow citizens, with sentiments of the highest esteem, your obedient & humble Servant,


" J. JEFFERS, Ensign,


" Ist U. S. Reg't. & Commanding Fort Franklin on French Creck. "To the Good people between here & Philadelphia."


Thus supplied with a kind of passport through the State, Cornplanter and his party arrived in Philadelphia towards the latter part of October, he having been detained beyond the appointed time by reason of certain untoward cir- cumstances. A day or so later, or on Saturday, October 23, the deputation was introduced to the president and members of Council, when Cornplanter was pleased to make the following speech :


" Brothers, We were very happy when we received the answer to our letter sent to the Quaker State; we are happy to see you. We could not come at the time appointed, it was too soon afterwards. When we were coming we heard of the murder of two of our people. I was obliged to satisfy my pco- ple. After I had satisfied my people, I received a message from the Shawan- ese and other nations that I should not come till we had a Council with them. When the fire was kindled with the Shawanese they brought a Virginia scalp and insisted on our scizing the scalp, or they would treat us the same way as the Big Knife; 1 we told them the Council was for peace not for war, I sent to all the tribes to be at peace with the Thirteen Fires.2


" Brothers, I am much fatigucd, I want to get a friend to write my speech,


1 The Indians of that day termed the Virginians " Big Knives," or " Long Knives."


2 The thirteen original States.


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CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS-1790-91.


as no interpreter can do it as well as if it was wrote. I will be ready on Tuesday morning."


When Tuesday morning came Cornplanter sent a letter to the Council say- ing that he was not ready and requesting further time to prepare the state- ment he wished to make to the Council. His request was granted. Three days later, however, or on Friday, October 29, 1790, the renowned Seneca chieftain with the Indians who accompanied him, attended the sessions of the Supreme Executive Council, " His Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Esquire," pre- siding, and spoke as follows concerning his tribe and nation :


"The Fathers of the Quaker State, Obeale or Cornplanter, returns thanks to God for the pleasure he has in meeting you this day with six of his people.


"FATHERS, Six years ago I had the pleasure of making peace with you, and at that time a hole was dug in the earth, and all contentions between my nation and you ceased and were buried there.


"At a treaty then held at Fort Stanwix between the Six Nations of Indians, and the Thirteen Fires, three friends from the Quaker State came to me and treated with me for the purchase of a large tract of land upon the Northern boundary of Pennsylvania, extending from Tioga to Lake Erie for the use of their warriors. I agreed to the sale of the same, and sold it to them for four thousand dollars. I begged of them to take pity on my nation and not buy it forever. They said they would purchase it forever, but that they would give me further one thousand dollars in goods when the leaves were ready to fall, and when I found that they were determined to have it, I agreed that they should have it. I then requested, as they were determined to have the land to permit my people to have the game and hunt upon the same, which request they complied with, and promised me to have it put upon record, that I and my people should have the priviledge.


" Fathers, The Six Nations then requested that another talk might be held with the Thirteen Fires, which was agreed to and a talk was afterwards held between them at Muskingum. Myself with three of my chiefs attended punct- ually, and were much fatigued in endeavoring to procure the attendance of the other nations, but none of them came to the Council Fire except the Dela- wares and the Wyandots.


" Fathers, At the same treaty the Thirteen Fires asked me on which side I would die, whether on their side, or the side of those nations who did not attend the Council Fire. I replied, 'listen to me fathers of the Thirteen Fires, I hope you will consider how kind your fathers were treated by our fathers, the Six Nations, when they first came into this country, since which time you have become strong, insomuch, that I now call you fathers. In former days when you were young and weak, I used to call you brother, but now I call you father. Father, I hope you will take pity on your children, for now I inform you that I'll die on your side. Now father, I hope you will make my bed strong.'


L.A.C.


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- I speak but little now, but will speak more when the Thirteen Fires mect, I will only inform you further, that when I had finished my talk with the Thirteen Fires, General Gibson, who was sent by the Quaker State, came to the fire, and said that the Quaker State had bought of the Thirteen Fires a tract of land extending from the Northern boundary of Pennsylvania to Connewango river, to Buffaloe creek on Lake Erie, and thence along the Said Lake to the Northern boundary of Pennsylvania aforesaid. Hearing this I run to my father, and said to him father have you sold this land to the Quaker State, and he said he did not know, it might have been done since he came there. I then disputed with Gibson and Butler, who was with him about the same, and told them I would be satisfied if the line was run from Connewango river thro' Chatochque Lake to Lake Erie, for Gibson and Butler had told me that the Quaker State had purchased the land from the Thirteen Fires, but notwithstanding the Quaker State had given to me one thousand dollars in fine prime goods which were ready for me and my people at Fort Pitt, we then agreed that the line should be run from Connewango river thro' Chatochque Lake into Lake Erie, and that one-half of the fish in Chatochque Lake should be mine and one half theirs. They then said as the Quaker State had purchased the whole from the Thirteen Fires, that the Thir- teen Fires must pay back to the Quaker State the value of the remaining land. When I heard this my mind was at ease, and I was satisfied. I then proposed to give a half mile square of land upon the line so agreed upon to a Mr. Hartz- horn who was an Ensign in General Harmer's army, and to a Mr. Britt, a cadet, who acted as clerk upon the occasion, and who I well know by the name of Half-Town, for the purpose of their settling there to prevent any mischief being committed in future upon my people's lands, and I hoped that the Quaker State would in addition thereto give them another half mile square on their side of the line so agreed upon for the same purpose, expecting thereby that the line so agreed upon would be known with sufficient certainty, and that no disputes would thercafter arise between my people and the Quaker State concerning it. I then went to my father of the Thirteen Fires and told him I was satisfied, and the coals being covered up I said to my children you must take your course right thro' the woods to Fort Pitt. When I was leaving Muskingum my own son who remained a little while behind to warm himself at the fire was robbed of a rifle by one of the white men, who, I believe, to have been a Yankee. Myself with Mr. Joseph Nicholson and a Mr. Morgan then travelled three days together thro' the wilderness, but the weather being very severe they were obliged to separate from me, and I sent some of my own people along with Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Morgan as guides to con- duct them on to Wheclen [Wheeling]. After I had separated from Mr. Nich- olson and Mr. Morgan, I had under my charge one hundred and seventy per- sons of my own nation consisting of men, women and children, to conduct


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CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS-1790-91.


thro' the wilderness, through heaps of briars, and having lost our way, we, with great difficulty reached Wheelen. When I arrived there being out of provisions I requested of a Mr. Zanes to furnish me and my people with beacon and flour to the amount of seventeen dollars, to be paid for out of the goods belonging to me and my people at Fort Pitte. Having obtained my request, I proceeded on my journey for Pittsburg, and about ten miles from Wheelen my party were fired upon by three white people, and one of my people in the rear of my party received two shots thro' his blanket.


" Fathers, It was a constant practice with me throughout the whole jour- ney to take great care of my people, and not suffer them to commit any out- rages or drink more than what their necessities required. During the whole of my journey only one accident happened which was owing to the kindness of the people of the town called Catfish [in Washington county, Pa.], in the Quaker State, who, while I was talking with the head men of the town, gave to my people more liquor than was proper, and some of them got drunk, which obliged me to continue there with my people all night, and in the night my people were robbed of three rifles and one shot gun; and though every endeavor was used by the head men of the town upon complaint made to them to dis- cover the perpetrators of the robbery, they could not be found; and on my people's complaining to me I told them it was their own faults by getting drunk.


" Fathers, Upon my arrival at Fort Pitt I saw the goods which I had been informed of at Muskingum, and one hundred of the blankets were all moth eaten and good for not'g. I was advised not to take the blankets, but the blankets which I and my people then had being all torn by the briars in our passage thro' the wilderness, we were under the necessity of taking them to keep ourselves warm; and what most surprised me, was that after I had received the goods they extinguished the fire and swept away the ashes, and having no interpreter there I could talk with no one upon the subject. Feeling myself much hurt upon the occasion, I wrote a letter to you Fathers of the Quaker State, complaining of the injury, but never received any answer. Having waited a considerable time, and having heard that my letter got lost, I wrote a second time to you Fathers of the Quaker State and then I received an answer.


"I am very thankfull to have received this answer, and as the answer intreated me to come and speak for myself, I thank God that I have this oppor- tunity, I therefore, speak to you as follows: I hope that you Fathers of the Quaker State, will fix some person at Fort Pitt to take care of me and my people. I wish, and it is the wish of my people if agreeable to you that my present interpreter, Joseph Nicholson, may be the person, as I and my people have a confidence in him, and are satisfied that he will always exert himself to preserve peace and harmony between you and us. My reasons for wish- ing an interpreter to be placed there are that oftentimes when my hunters and


IO2


HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.


people come there, their canoes and other things are stolen, and they can obtain no redress, not having any person there on whom they can rely to interpret for them and see justice done to them.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- About a year ago a young man one of my Tribe who lived among the Shawanese, was one of a party who had committed some outrages and stolen a quantity of skins, the property of David Duncan, being at Fort Pitt, was seized by the White People there who would have put him in confinement and perhaps to death had not some of the Chiefs of the Seneca Nation, interfered and bound themselves to the said David Duncan, who insisted upon satisfaction for payment of the sum of five hundred and thirty dollars for the said skins so stolen, upon which the young man aforesaid was released and delivered up to them.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- I wish now to acquaint you with what hap- pened to one of my people about four years ago, four miles above Fort Pitt. A young man who was married to my wife's sister, when he was hunting, was murdered by a white man. There were three reasons for his being killed: In the first place he had a very fine riding horse; secondly, he was very richly drest, and had about him a good deal of silver; and thirdly, he had with him a very fine rifle. The white man invited him to his house, to light from his horse, and as he was getting off his horse, his head being rather down, the white man struck him with a tomahawk on the head and killed him, and having plun- dered him dragged him into the river. Upon the discovery of the murder, my people, with Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Duncan, had a great deal of trouble, and took a great deal of pains to find out the person who had committed the murder, and after three days' searching, they discovered him.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- About five years ago, one of my Chiefs, named Half-Town, was sent to Fort Pitt to deliver up into your hands your own flesh and blood who were taken in the war, and before he returned two horses were stolen from him by the white people. Now, Fathers, I will inform you of another accident which happened to my people last winter, fifteen miles below Fort Pitt. My Nephew, with a hunting party, being there, was shot thro' the head in Mr. Nicholson's camp, the particulars of which Mr. Nichol- son, who is here present can inform you.


" Well, Fathers, I beg of you once more not to let such bad people be 'longside of me. And, Fathers, you must not think I or any of my people are bad or wish evil to you or yours, nor must you blame us for mischiefs that have been committed by the other nations. Fathers, consider me and my people, and the many injuries we have sustained by the repeated robberies, and in the murder & depredations committed by the whites against us.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- I have now had the pleasure to meet you with six of my people. We have come a great way, by your desire, to talk with you and to shew to you the many injuries my nation has sustained. It


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CORNPLANTER AND OTHER INDIANS-1790-91.


now remains with you to do with me and my people what you please, on account of the present trouble which I and my people have taken for your sat- isfaction, and in compliance with your request.


" Fathers, having come this great way at your request, and as it is neces- sary for some of us to remain here to talk with the Thirteen Fires when they meet, I have concluded to send back four of my people, and to remain here myself with Half-Town and my interpreter, Mr. Nicholson, untill that time, which I hope you will approve of. But should you not approve of it, I must be under the necessity of returning with the whole of my people, which will be attended with a considerable expense.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- You have now got the most of our lands, and have taken the game upon the same. We have only the privilege of hunt- ing and fishing thereon. I, therefore, would make this further request, that a store may be established at Fort Pitt for the accommodation of my people and the other nations when they go out to hunt; and where they may purchase goods at a reasonable price. For, believe me, Fathers, you yourselves would be frightened were you to know the extravagant prices we are obliged to pay for the goods we purchase.


" There is a man (Esquire Wilkie) in Pittsburg, who has taken a great deal of pains to serve my people, and has pitied them ; my people, when there, are very kindly treated by him, and give him a great deal of trouble, but he thinks nothing of it; he is the man my people wish should have charge of the store.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- I have heard that you have been pleased to present me a tract of land, but as yet I have seen no writings for the same ; Well, Fathers, if it is true that you have given me this tract of land, I can only thank you for the same, but I hope you will also give me tools and materials for working the same.


" Fathers of the Quaker State :- Five years ago, when I used to be with my present interpreter Joseph Nicholson, he took care of me and my people. Considering his services and the difficulties he underwent in his journey from Muskingum to Fort Pitt, the Six Nations wished to have him seated upon a tract of land of six miles square, lying in the Forks of Allegany river, and Broken Straw creek, and accordingly patented the same to him, this being the place where a battle 1 was fought between my people and yours, and where about thirty of my people were beaten, by him and twenty-five of your people, and where he was shot thro' the thigh. Now, Fathers, it is my wish, and I tell you it is the wish of the whole Six Nations, in behalf of whom and myself, I request that you would grant and confirm to our brother and friend, the before named Joseph Nicholson, the aforesaid tract of land, as described in our patent or grant to him.


1 This fight look place in Angust, 1779, during Colonel Brodhead's march into the Seneca country.


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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.


" This, Fathers, is all I have to say to the Quaker State, and I hope you will consider well all I have mentioned.


" Philadelphia, October, 1790.


His


" CORNPLANTER X, mark.


His " HALF X TOWN, mark.


His " BIG X TREE, mark. His " JAMES X HUTCHINS, mark. His " SENECA X BILLV, mark.


His "JOHN X DECKART." mark.


On the following day a draft of a letter, addressed to the Cornplanter and the Indians who accompanied him, in reply to the representations which they had made to the Supreme Executive Council, was laid before the board, read and adopted as follows :


" IN COUNCIL, PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 30, 1790.


" BROTHERS : - Council have seriously considered the several matters which you laid before them yesterday morning, and assure you that it is their sincere desire to have all your complaints examined into and satisfactorily and specdily removed. But the change which has been made in the government of the State, puts it out of the power of this Council to give special answers to the most material parts of your speech.


" On the first Tuesday of next December, the Legislature of Pennsylvania will meet under the new form of Government, and on the twenty-fourth of the same month the new Governor will commence his administration.


" When those events take place, your speech, together with such further representation of a public nature, which you may think proper to make to us, shall be faithfully communicated to the new Government for their considera- tion and decision.




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