USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster county Indians: annals of the Susquehannocks and other Indian tribes of the Susquehanna territory from about the year 1500 to 1763, the date of their extinction > Part 16
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revengful heart of the Susquehan- nocks. At a Council held on the 31st. of March this year at Notley Hall, the following is set forth, "At this time and place the Emperor and great men of the Piscataways came to acquaint his Lordship that they had a great desire to make peace with all the Northern Indians, both the Senecas and Susquehannocks and to that end had prepared several pre- sents wherewith they had desired to send some agents of theirs to the Mattawomans to desire their assist- ance."
And in the same book, p. 279 under the date of April 1st., the following letter was given by the Council of Maryland :- "To Our Civil and Mili- tary Officers in the Province and other. Good People: Whereas the Em- pereor and great men of the Pisca- taways in behalf of himself and the Indians under his subjection are de- sirous to conclude a general peace with the Northern Indians, including the Senecas and Susquehannocks and have sought of us liberty so to do and ask a letter of consent, granting free pass to their agents :- This is to allow their agents, two men and a woman quietly to pass, etc., which we hereby grant unto them."
1680-The Senecas and Susquehan- nocks Building New Forts from Which to Fight the Pis- cataways.
Under the date of May 12, 1680, it is set forth in 15 Maryland Archives, p. 280. "On Monday the 10th In- stant, in the evening came down from Piscataway Fort an Indian to inform me that the Senecas and Susquehan- nocks Indians had built them a fort within sight of the Piscataway fort. They judge it to be about 500 yards distant and that there are about 300 of them. When our Indians dis-
couraged them they immediately en- gaged with them which had been the best part of two days when the In- dians came down to us. I under- stand their desire is that they might have some English to assist them; therefore I thought fit to acquaint you. In their engagement I under- stood from this Indian that they sev- eral times discoursed with each other and that they likely scattered about and killed several horses for their provisions." This is all of a letter of William Chandler, High Sheriff of Charles County on the River that the Senecas and Susquehannocks have come down to the Piscataway Fort.
On the same day that this letter was read it was concluded, "that Captain Randolph Brandt be com-
manded with one squadron of his troop, consisting of 20 men whom he shall deem fit forthwith to march to Piscataway Fort and there fully to inform himself of the truth; and that John Stone be commanded to accom- pany him to the Fort and assist the gentlemen of Charles County, and also to take report by Monday next," (See 15 Md. Arch. p. 281).
1680-Captain Brandt's Report About the Susquehannocks and the Senecas.
Under the date of May 17, this year this report was made and is as fol- lows: "In obedience to your Lord- ship's command we have been with the Piscataway Indians, who seemed much concerned that we came not sooner; but have given them satis- faction in that particular. What they say in touching the Senecas and Susquehannocks is that they came upon the Forte on Sunday last, their number was supposed to be about 200, and several times firing upon the Fort, and at last they came to a treaty. The Piscataways would have bought their peace, proffering a pre-
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sent; but the Susquehannocks told them they would have revenge for the great men killed in the late war, and that they expected to have their Indians who were taken by the Eng- lish restored. They several times asked about this when the English- men were at the Piscataway side, and in a skirmish one man was wounded in the foot, being then in the Em- peror's Cabin. Sundry shott were made at the Fort and many horses killed by them. The Senecas left them Wednesday and went very much dissatisfied. They expect them back daily in great numbers. A boy of Mr. Lines being sent from his quarters to look for a horse lot himself in the woods and by chance came on the Fort, and confirms this also. The Piscataways ask for more powder having spent much of their store; and they ask to be allowed to move down to the Mattawomans."-(See 15 Md. Archives, p. 283).
1680 - Council Decide to Help the Piscataways Against the Sus- quehannocks.
In 15 Md. Archives, p. 284, under the date of May 17, it is set forth, "The proprietor and Council take in- to consideration the present condi- tion of the Emperor of the Piscata- ways and the Indians under his com- mand oppressed by the Senecas and Susquehannocks. And the Emperor of the Piscataways having declared that he will not stay at the place of his wasted habitation, but for security remove himself and his men and their wives and children to the Matta- womans or other places of safety. His Lordship commanded the several articles of peace with the said Em- peror and nations under him to be read of 1666-1670. He also, with the advise of his Council doth hereby ap- point Nanticoke River for the place for the said Emperor to receive his
men, women and children until such time as they have heard what peace their ambassador lately sent to the Senecas and Susquehannocks can procure and in the interim powder and shott be sent them for better de- fense against the Susquehannocks, if a war come on."
And a few days later May 22, it was ordered "that the Emperor of the Piscataways be given to understand that the Susquehannocks say if all the Chopticos and the Mattawomans were at Piscataway with the Em- peror they would not then even be able to fight the Senecas and Susque- hannocks who are over 1000 men; and that the Virginians do not be- lieve that the Senecas murdered these people and say all the murders now committed are by the Piscata- ways. And the Council think better for the Piscataways and Mattawoman to remove with their wives and chil- dren to the Nanticokes for some time till the Virginians do say that the Senecas and Susquehannocks murd- dered the people and that we may have time to procure them a firm peace with the Senecas and Susque- hannocks."
At the same place it is set forth that the Emperor of the Piscataways was lately at the Susquehannock Fort, conferring with the Susquehan- nocks before he confers with the English again.
1680-The Piscataways and Matta- womans Blame the English for Making Them Enemies of the Susquehannocks.
In 15 Md. Archives, pp. 299 and 300 under the date of June 1, Captain Randolph Brandt gave this report, "In obedience to your command of the 23rd. ult., I have communicated with the Piscataways and Matta- womans and Mr. John Stone who
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conferred with them and they say they will not remove but will use their power to defend and when they can not hold out any longer, they will thrust themselves amongst the Eng- lish; and they also say they are be- come enemies of the Susquehan- nock Indians and all other Indians through the means of the English and for that reason they will not leave us. And the King of the Mat- tawomans allegeth that the Eastern shore Indians are as much their ene- mies as the Susquehannocks, occa- sioned by their going with us against the Nanticokes about two years ago."
1680-Susquehannocks and Senecas Moving Foul on the Piscataways.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 302 under date of June 5, 1680 is set forth a note from John Munn's relating to the Piscataways and it says :- "I suppose the great men had been down before this, but I hear the Susquehannocks and Senecas have been foul of them on Friday last, they having killed 7 of the Picata- way men. This information I have of James Jefferson, who came from the fort and brought a horse from there lately shot with an arrow."
1680-Susquehannocks Desert From the Seneca's Armies and Tribes.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 305 under the date of June 16, 1680 it is set out in a communication to Lord Baltimore as follows: "I have endeavored to inform myself by all ways and means what Indians did the late murders but they are still unknown. But I am of the opinion it was some of those Susquehan- nocks fled from the Seneca army and happily it may be those that did the mischief, for the several foregoing years along the same river. It does not appear to be the Senecas as I. feared at first."
We begin to see now that the Sus- quehannock Indians among the Sene- cas are held among them by force and that they are trying to escape from them. We shall see shortly that the Senecas quickly resented this and determined to butcher a lot of them which brought on the appeal by the Susquehannocks to Maryland for help and Ninan Beall then led the . expedition to their aid.
1680-The Beginning of Conestoga, Etc.
Mombert in his History of Lancas- ter County, p. 25 says that about this year "a settlement was pianted by the conquerors at Conestoga which became the chief and place of Coun- cil seated on the Susquehanna below its fork. The residence were of the Five Nations, chiefly the Seneca Tribe but comprising some times Oneidas, Cayugas and Tuscaroras." By the Conquerors here he means the Senecas and others of the Five Na- tions whom we have been about. talking
This is further attested to by the Dauphin County History Pamphlet, where the author says that "the In- dians whom Penn found in this lo- cality were beggar Iroquois (and that in 1682 there was not one of the Susquehannocks dwelling on his an- cient seats) and were representing themselves as Conestogas, not in blood but in occupation." Facts seen to prove him not entirely correct in this statement.
1680-Mattawomans Fear the Senecas and Their Susquehannock-Slaves.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 313, under the date of July 6, it is set forth that "the King of the Mat- tawomans shows a medal in token of your Lordship's friendship to him and begins now to be in fear of the Susquehannocks and Senecas and
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pretends a want of arms and am- | 1681-The Piscataways Much Frigh- munition and intends speedily to tened. make his address to you and the Pis- cataways and sending scouts out. daily have discovered the enemy (the Susquehannocks) and are in some doubt they will be foul of them before the Fort is Finished."
1681-More Light on the Location of the Susquehannocks Fort.
In a communication found in Vol. 5 of the Maryland Archives, p. 272, dated January 25, 1681 it is stated that "the petition of Mr. Penn is read concerning a tract of land
to be granted to him in America, but that it appeared by John Verden's letter the part of territory desired by him is already possessed by the Duke of York. He must apply to his Royal Highness for adjusting this respec- tive pretention; and Mr. Penn being acquainted with the matter from the letter of Lord Baltimore's Agents, he does agree that the Susquehannock Fort shall be the boundary of the said Lord Baltimore's Province; and as to furnishing arms and ammuni- tion to the Indians Mr. Penn declares himself ready to submit to any re- straint his Lordship may propose."
This item seems to refer to some- thing that passed between Penn and authorities representing Lord Balti- more at home in England because the date is before his arrival here. He seems to have had knowledge of the location of the Susquehannock Fort before coming to Pennsylvania. For our purposes it is interesting to some extent as fixing the location of this famous old Fort. This is a pro- ceeding which took place in England as is very evident from Hazard's Annals, pp. 475 and 476 and what the Maryland Archives quote as simply a report of it which was made from England to Maryland.
In Vol 15 of the Md. Archives, p. 336 it is set down that "the Pisca- taways and Mattawomans are very much frightened at the approach of the Susquehannocks and that they are now in the Piscataway Fort for safety and dare not stir out of it. They claim that the help which they gave the English as against the Sus- quehannocks caused them this trouble."
1681-The Susquehannocks Turn Out to Be Thieves.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 372 it is stated that "a certain In- dian woman being examined for being accused of stealing a certain apron says that one of her children found them upon the ground and that she bought them from the Susque- hannocks at their Fort; and that they stole them. Being further examined she says that she thinks it was not the Susquehannocks but the Senecas that killed the English."
1681 - Maryland Determines to Rid the Province of the Susque- hannocks.
In Vol 7 of the Maryland Arch., p. 111, under the date of 1681 is set forth a speech of the Governor of Maryland to the Assembly, in the course of which he says, "You have not been called together for a long time .. ... and had there not been some Indian murders by some In- dians not yet discovered, I should not have called you until October next; but being duly alarmed by the approach of a considerable party of Indians that have been discovered and discoursed with by Captain Brandt and very much apprehending a sudden attempt by them on our in- habitants, it is absolutely necessary you should meet to renew speedily
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those Articles of Peace made some
years ago with the Senecas. We ought to cherish their friendship for it must be by their means and as- sistance that we are able to hope to rid the Province of these Susquehan- nocks and other mixed Indians that come early down and infest both Maryland and Virginia. Therefore I earnestly desire you to take this great and weighty affair into serious consideration and by some early course secure the Senecas to be our friends that they may be gained to aid and assist us in cutting off these enemies of ours (the Susquehan- nocks) that certainly design our des- truction as soon as they have taken from us our friends and neighbor In- dians."
In this we see again how deter- mined the Susquehannocks were to revenge themselves for the killing of their five chiefs in 1676. They seem- ed never to forget the slaughter. An- other thing is noticeable here and that is that the extracts stating that Ninian Beall slaughtered the Senecas in order to assist the
Susquehan- nocks are wrong as we shall show later. That slaughter if there was such was simply to rid the Province of Maryland of both
Senecas and Susquehannocks alike.
1681-Susquehannocks Again Become Fearful of the Mischievous
Senecas.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 374 it is set out under the date of June 25, 1681 that a Council held a letter of Colonel Brandt was receiv- ed saying, "I give you an account of my being at Zachariah Fort where I found the Indians much troubled for the loss of 13 of them being stolen away by the Senecas and in daily fear of being destroyed. Yesterday they say they discovered a Seneca near the Fort. The Senecas laid their
corn fields down. I am apt to be- lieve these Indians are not Senecas but Susquehannocks separated in-
to several parties; and the Sus- quehannocks are not now as friend- ly as the rest of us."
1681-A Mattawoman Prisoner Who Escaped from the Senecas, Tells of the Condition of the Sus-
quehannocks.
In Vol 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 390, Jackanapes an Indian belong- ing to the Mattawomans declares that on New Years day he was taken a prisoner by the Senecas from the Mattawoman Fort, that when they came now lately before Zachaiah Fort, he came with them; that about a day or two before they came to the Fort they sent out two canoes, in one 10 Senecas and in the other 10 Sus- quehannocks and a Piscataway pris- oner whom they had taken as guide, with orders to go down the Potomac River and so to Patuxent to hunt for Indians who might be among the English.
And on page 383 of the same book, under the date of June 30, Jacka- napes describes the location of the Susquehannocks and others at that date. He says that the Senecas live in four towns at the head of a great River that comes to the Bay (The Susquehanna), that East of them live the Quiaquas supposed to be friends and eight Susquehannocks with them and that East of them the Ononda- goes and 14 Susquehannocks with them, farther East on a branch of the River and its source 17 Susque- hannocks, and further four towns of Senecas and that where the river and its branches come together is a place of rendezvous of all these Na- tions.
This shows the southern boundary of New York along its whole length to have been the location indicated.
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1681-Maryland Orders No Quarter to be Given to the Susquehan- nocks.
In Vol. 15 of the Maryland Arch., p. 384 under the date of June 30, 1681 instructions are given by Maryland to Captain Brandt as follows: "Since we have certain intelligence that there have been 10 Susquehannocks and 10 Senecas dispatched from this great party down the Potomac, with a prisoner for their guide to try what Indians they can surprise, and since we have certain intelligence that when the Susquehannocks meet either Indians or English they give no quarter, it is appointed that the Northern Indians refuse to treat with Captain Brandt at Zachaiah Fort is out of a design to do him mischief, to prevent this you are to demand:
(1) Ten Piscataway Indians as guides to find those Northern Indians to treat with them;
(2) Secure those Piscataway In- dians from all violence;
(3) If foreigners assault you, to defend against it;
(4) Make no peace unless it in- clude the Piscataways and the Matta- womans;
(5) Let the foreign Indians know that we had several murders com- mitted of late, that we know there are 10 Susquehannocks and 10 Sene- cas sent down to fall upon the Eng- lish."
All this shows that the Senecas and with them the Susquehannocks are still murdering the English and as we shall soon see are fast drifting into a war with Maryland which turned out very disastrous to the In- dians.
1681-The Senecas and Susquehan- nocks Make Overtures for a New
Fort on the Susquehanna River.
In Vol. 17 of the Maryland Arch., p. 4, there is an item dated August
22, 1681 in which the Senecas make it appear that the Susquehannocks show a redress to trust their for- tunes again to Maryland. They seem now to be in fear of their old con- querors the Senecas. The item is as follows :- Jacob Young who was a friend of the Susquehannocks and it seenis had married a Susquehannock squaw now came (with several Northern Indians, and in behalf of them all), and says: "They desire they may have a house built at the Falls of the Susquehanna River and that they may have the liberty of trading with the English when they come down and if any English desire to go to their country they will be safely conducted."
This request is made by 10 Sene- cas on behalf of their troop of 300 warriors. This is really a trick on the part of the Senecas to mislead the Marylanders and also the Sus- quehannocks.
1681-State of the Susquehannocks Among the Five Nations.
In Vol. 17 of the Maryland Arch., p. 5 appears the following informa- tion given by the Onondagoes, Sene- cas and Oneidas who appear before Council and are asked how many Sus- quehannocks are there among them. They say "There are in all four forts-Onondagoes, 300 men-Onei- das, 180 men-Quiagoes (Cayugas), 300 men-Mohawks, 300-and among these four Nations are some Susque- hannocks but how many they can not tell. Some are among the real Senecas and they believe were the Susquehannocks, all together they would make about 100 fighting men. There are 14 Susquehannocks with the Oneidas, 7 with the Onondagoes but the chief of them are with the Mingoes joined to the Sennondoni- anes, but the chief of them are with
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the Cayugas." They also say there ; lish in Patapsco and other places and is another small nation called the rendered the Piscataways suspected of being our friends. Black Mingoes joined to the Sennon- donianes, who are to the right of the (2)· That if we abandon the Pisca- taways they must incorporate them- selves with the Northern Indians and in that case become another engaged enemy with the Susquehannocks against them. Senecas. This shows the scattered condition of the Susquehannocks at this time; part of them were down the river and part of them amongst the various tribes of the Five Na- tions.
1681-The Iroquois Now Are Very Bold, Etc., And Threaten to Des- troy the Susquehannocks.
In Vol. 62 of the Jesuit Relation, p. 169 it is reported as follows: "that the utmost efforts must be used to prevent the Iroquois ruining the European Nations as they heretofore ruined the Algonquins, Susquehan- nocks (Andastes), Loups, Abenaques, and others," as these successers have made them very bold and haughty.
1682-The Senecas Now Make Bold Preparations to Invade Mary- land.
In Vol. 7 of the Maryland Arch., p. 270 under the date of May 4, 1682 is an article showing how Mary- land tries to defend against the Northern invasions. It is there set forth as follows: "We hope both houses will consider :
(1) That the Piscataways became enemies to the Susquehannocks merely upon the score of Articles of Peace made with Honorable Leonard Calvert, Esq., at first and afterwards by assisting us against the Susque- hannocks in the year of 1676. That it is the remnant of these Susque- hannock Indians that engage those Northern Indians with whom they are now incorporating to revenge. Thereupon the Piscataways remind- ing them that they (the Piscataways) formerly killed some Northern In- dians at St. Mary's because those Northern Indians had murdered Eng- | that they take to themselves."
(3) That then no Nation (not even '
the Northern Indians themselves) will ever trust us more; and the Nanticokes and the Eastern Shore In- dians must follow their example and leave us friendless and utterly un- able to deal with the skulking enemy who war only by surprise."
Efforts were now being made by the Senecas to bring this about so that a seperate invasion might be made into Maryland.
1682-The Susquehannocks Incite the Senecas to Fall Upon Maryland.
In Vol. 17 of the Maryland Arch., p. 100, the following is set forth as instructions to Colonel Coursey. "There hath been some discourse as if those Northern Indians would be hired to cut off the remnant of the Susquehannocks. If you find any truth in that fail not pursue that point and purchase the peace of this Province from the Senecas by extin- guishing that viper's (Susquehan- nocks) brood that never fails to kill all English whenever they are the greater number in any party and make us feel the effects of war though they.live under the shelter of Nations that pretend a peace with us; and be sure to inculcate into the Northern tribes upon all treaties for the Piscataways, showing the north- ern Indians that we are doing no more in protecting the Piscataways than they do in protecting the Sus- quehannocks and that they ought in reason to allow us the same liberty
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It is now evident that the relations between the Five Nations and the English of Maryland were very much strained and liable to produce the flame of war at any time. And this we shall see did shortly happen by Maryland protecting herself.
1682-Colonel Ninan Beall Made Ranger.
In Vol. 17 of the Maryland Arch., p. 72 it was "ordered that six men in arms under the command of Colonel Ninian Beall be commanded out to continue ranging between the head of the Patuxent River and the branches there about, up to the Susquehannock Fort for the discovery of any In- dian enemy that may appear."
1682-Ninian Beall's Expedition and Slaughter of Indians at Susque- hannock Fort.
From all we can gather is seems that it was about this year that Nin- ian Beall got into a bloody conflict with the Senecas and Susquehan- nocks under the Senecas. The writers of Maryland History all take the ground the Beall had this fight with the Senecas to help the Susque- hannocks. I do not believe that the real history sustains that. I believe that the Susquehannocks were in enmity at this time as intensely as the Senecas, and all which we have just been citing undoubtedly shows that. There is, however, only small proof that there was a great slaugh- ter and the historical writers take it for granted. They further show their unreliable information by not being able to fix the date. Lewis Evans in his "Analysis" which I have cited before at pp. 11 and 12 says the Five Nations “gave the finishing stroke to the extermination to the Susquehannocks. But Beall in the service of Maryland at the Fort
whose remains are still standing on the East side of the Susquehanna about three miles below Wright's Ferry by the defeat of many hun- dreds had given them a blow which they never recovered of and for this reason the confederates (The Five Nations) never claimed back to the Conewago Falls."
Evans and Ellis in their history of Lancaster County say, "the Govern- ment selected Ninian Beall to com- mand the troops (to help the Sus- quehannocks). At last a commander was chosen who was no coward. He marched with his forces up the left bank of the Susquehanna River to the town and fort which stood on what is now Witmer's farm. Colonel Beall took several small cannon with him. The exact date of the march and the time when the sanguinary battle was fought are not given but it must have been in the year 1675 or 1676. Mr. Johnson in his history of Cecil county placed the period in the year of 1682."
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