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 19
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1689 - Rumor that the French and Senecas are Coming to Destroy the Conestoga and Sur- rounding Settlements.
By the year 1689 it would appear a great change had come over the Five Nations as to their attitude to- ward the Indians of the Susquehanna country. It seems that the French by this time had won them over from the English. At any rate under this date in Vol. 1 of the Colonial Rec., D. 299 it is set forth that the Gov- ernor acquainted the Council that he called the Council together for the particular reason that it was rumored that 8000 French and Indians in con- junction with the Papists were com- ing toward Conestoga and Maryland and that neighborhood for the pur-
pose of ruining the Protestants in Maryland and Delaware, and that the Sheriffs and Justices of the Counties of Delaware are coming themselves for defense. He further stated that he had received a letter from "Cap- tain Letort, a Frenchman living up the country, agreeing therewith." This rumor first arose in April of 1689 and grew out of two letters sent to the Council by the Justices and Sheriffs of Sussex County, stating there was an intended invasion on Maryland "by Sennekers (Senecas) and French." This latter reference is found at page 277 of the same book.
1689-The First French Traders Up Among the Indians of Susquehanna.
At p. 299 of the book cited in the last item we have a reference to "Captain Letort, a Frenchman living up the country." This was the fam- ous James Letort who with his wife Ann were Indians traders along the Susquehanna River. I do not know just where he lived at this time but it is likely that he was among the In- dians of this neighborhood because a few years later he was known as an old resident about Conestoga. It is likely too that he had associate traders as early as 1689 because in Vol. 2 of the Colonial Records, p. 131 under the date of 1704 it is stated that Martin Charter "has lived a long time among the Shawnese Indians and upon the Susquehanna." And 1698 is not even a long time before 1704. So that we deem it safe to say here that these two were the earliest traders among the Susquehanna In- dians. Rupp also says in his history of Lancaster County, p. 53 that Mar- tin Charter had a trading station among the Shawnese at Pequea near Conestoga. As to this man James Letort, while he was a Frenchman it is stated at p. 100 of Vol. 2 of the Colonial Records that he was "bred in it (Pennsylvania) from his in- It turned out to be unfounded but fancy," so it appears that he was a
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long time in some part of Pennsy- Ivania.
1690-A Commissioner Sent Up to the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Country Indians.
In Vol. 10 of the Colonial Records, p. 334, under the date of 1690 it is stated that Lassie Cock intends to go up the Schuylkill among our In- dians and he was instructed to make particular inquiry concerning the am- munition which the few French fam- ilies had, who lived up on that river. Here again we see the fear of French invasion and the danger of the French weaning our Indians to them at this time. We must also notice that the French were actually living on the Upper Schuylkill and our Indians were very much afraid because of it.
1690-Susquehanna Indians Trading With Philadelphia.
and West Jersey from the Western parts of the continent, where they bring them." He also says that they had a more direct course "laid out between the two rivers very exactly and conveniently at least three years ago." All this goes to show that the Susquehanna tribes of Indians were trading at this date with Philadelphia.
1690-Campanius on the Minquas and Other Indians of the Susquehanna.
We have spoken before under a much earlier date (as early as 1640 to 1650) of the trade which Old Cam- panius says existed between the Sus- quehannocks and the Swedish settle- ments. He wrote however, about the year 1690, and from his writings we infer that what he said existed earl- ier continued at this latter date and for a particular description of it the reader is referred to ante, p. 26.
1690-A Branch of the Senecas At Enmity With the French Design to Come to Susquehanna and Live.
It will be remembered that William Penn in the year 1690 in his prospec- tus concerning the settlement and a new County on the Susquehanna, which is set out in Vol. 1 of Haz. Reg., p. 400, speaks of the Susque- In Vol. 8 of the Maryland Archives, p. 181, there is a letter from Jacob Young to Hanns John Good, Com- mander-in-Chief of Maryland, near the Potomac in which he says :- "Sir I have no great matter further than this at this time. There are at my house 14 Chinockes (Senecas), and they tell me they have cut off the principal place of Canada, except the place where the Government doth reside. They likewise tell me they have at the fort they belong to Unan- dake (Onondago) above 100 prison- ers of the French and the rest of the posts have rather more. These Sen- ecas came from their own country about the last of April and their in- tent is to settle among the Susque- hanna Indians here upon the Susque- hanna Indians trading with Phila- delphia at this time and prior by means of a branch of the Susque- hanna River which lies near a branch of the Schuylkill. We have spoken of this before but I quote it now merely for the purpose of calling at- tention to the fact that there was In- dian trade at this time west to the Susquehanna River; its common course by water was up the Cones- toga to its source then three or four miles over-land to the source of French creek then down French creek to the Schuylkill and down the Schuylkill. William Penn speaks of it as follows, saying that this was the "common course of the Indians with their skins and furs into our parts and to the Province and East | hanna River for there are some of
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every fort of the Senecas coming down to them and they tell me that their great men will be down very shortly. I do desire your Honor's instructions what I may do with them as soon as possible you can. Nothing else at present but my ser- vices to your honor, I am yours to command," (Signed) Jacob Young.
I believe from this it will be plain to see the Sheriffs and Justices of the counties of Delaware were en- tirely mistaken in their report that 9000 French and Senecas were com- ing down to destroy the settlements at Conestoga, on the Susquehanna
and through Maryland. I believe that this article explains it fully that it was nothing more or less than these Senecas coming down among our Susquehanna Indians; and also that it is not true that the French were with them but these Senecas plainly show they had severed friend- ly relations with the French and be- cause of the enmity between them and the French large numbers of them intended to settle on the Sus- quehanna among the English. We also see here how exaggerated the reports of Indians invasions were likely to become, the actual coming of a couple of dozen was rumored to be 9000. It shows to us very clearly the nervous and fearful life the early Colonists lived.
1690-The Senecas and Susquehanna Indians Want to Confirm Peace With Maryland
In Vol. 8 of the Maryland Archives, p. 207 there is a letter from Mr. Neal Blakiston to the Governor of Mary- land in which he says that the Pis- cataway Indians complain that their men are being killed in Maryland and they think that the Susquehannocks are doing it. The letter then pro- ceeds to say, "The Indian Convention
for this Province is to meet at St. Mary's the 29th. When there we ex- pect to see some of the Senecas and Susquehannocks who have sent to the Governor expressing their desire to treat with us and to confirm the for- mer league of friendship to which the Committee return them a very ami- cable answer signifying our readiness to embrace and ratify the same; and in case they could not afford us an interpreter, then a time is to be fixed and a place is to be appointed for that purpose, and we will furnish an interpreter."
This amicable spirit of the Susque- hannocks shows itself quite plainly here.
1692-An Indian Expedition Up the Susquehanna.
In Vol. 8 of the Maryland Archives, p. 343, there is a letter dated July 18, 1692 which is written by John Thomas to Mr. George Ashman and it is as follows: "I have been up at Captain Richardson's this very day with 16 horse and we were going up to Mr. Thurston's hut, I was very well informed that the Indians were gone away up the Susquehanna, and they were peaceable and did nobody any harm and very friendly they were. But later the Indians did fire off several guns at the hogs and kill- ed some of them." From this it ap- pears that Maryland Indians were journeying back and forth in business intercourse with the Susquehannocks.
1692 - Testimony Concerning the French Among the Susque- hannocks.
In Vol. 8 of the Maryland Archives pp. 517 and 518 there appear cer- tain depositions taken before the Council of Maryland on the subject of improper friendliness between the French and the Susquehannock In- dians. It is there stated that Captain
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Herman and Jacob Young were call- ed and examined and they say that the Susquehannock Indians now brought down declared that they know those other Indians at the head of the Bay to come from the Southward and are called the Stabbernowle; and that, generally all the Indians in their parts know them to be the same; then the Frenchmen and Indians were called in, viz: one Susquehannock and another a King of the Southern In- dians. Demand was made of the Sus- quehannock Indians how long the Frenchmen have been among them. The Susquehannock Indians said,
"When those strange Indians went Northward then the Frenchmen came to them nearly two years and have since been traveling toward the Southward before they found a con- venient place of setting down and there they lived three years. The Seneca woman told him, the said In- dian, that a Frenchman about five years ago ran away from the North- ern Indians to the Southern Indians being reduced to a small number and as it were newly grown up, they de- sire the power of the Governor and Council that they may have liberty to come and settle upon their own lands and the Susquehannock Fort and to be taken and treated as friends and have liberty to come among the English without molestta- tion."
It was answered that their fort, as they called it falling within the limits of another government, viz: Penn- sylvania, this government can take no notice thereof and if as they pretend they are in league with the Mohawks, our friends, we shall not disturb them as long as they live peacebly.
It was then decided as far as the Susquehannock Indians were con- cerned that they may continue at their fort and as they are inclined
to enter into a league with us there, may be some of their great men may come down to confirm the same, and if they do they shall be kindly treat- ed, and then also must make choice of some great man to preside over them as Captain Civility formerly did and as they now desire. Then the interpreter asked the Susque- hann Indians, since the Government have declared their opinion concern- ing the strange Indians what nation they were of; and the Susquehanna Indians replied that there are two parties of them. one going to the Northward, designing to join the Senecas in their war, and those here who have desired to settle among us and be at peace and are called the Stabbernowle Indians."
The whole tenor of this interview shows that there is a pretty sound peace now established between the Susquehanna Indians and Maryland and also between them and the In- habitants of Pennsylvania. It must be remembered however, at this time there were no Pennsylvania in- habitants in and about Conestoga ex- cept the one or two traders of whom we have already spoken.
1693-The Letorts Suspected of Dis- affection Against the English
In Vol. 1 of the Colonial Records, p. 396 under the date of 1693 is set for an information against Ann Le- tort who several weeks before the date of the complaint had some con- versation with an Indian King who resented the unkindness of the Eng- lish and said that the English would soon all be driven out and that the French were making overtures to the Pennsylvania Indians again for the land and will take it from the English. This Indian King said that
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Peter Bassillion and Madam told him this and that they were in- terested in helping the French.
The information further sets forth that about a year before strange In- dians came to Letort's plantation and would not tell anything about their business; at another time Anna Le- tort said that there was no path for the Swedes and English rogues through the country near her house and she also ran and got a horse whip and lashed one of the men and called for others to help her. This complaint also states that about a year ago Bassallion and Mrs. Le- tort sent a lot of letters to certain strange Indians.
As a result of the complaint Mrs. Ann Letort was brought before Coun- cil to make an answer and it appear- ed that she and her husband and some other Frenchmen were rather dangerous.At any rate the next month a warrant was issued out against her and Bassillion and several others to come and stand trial. At the hearing she denied everything and she was left off rather easy .- See (C. R., p. 435.)
I cite this in connection with Lan- caster County Indian affairs because Ann Letort and her husband lived mostly at Conestoga; and Peter Bas- sallion did part of the time. As to Bassallion see 2 C. R., p. 186. The purpose of the article is to show simply how much care was required to prevent the French from weaning away our Indians in this neighbor- hood.
1694 -The Delaware Indians Visit Philadelphia.
I speak of the Delaware Indians as a tribe of the Susquehanna Country because as we shall show later (2 Col. Rec., p. 469) they moved from the Schuylkill River to the Susquehanna River in 1709. They were the Indians
Letort | who after Braddock's defeat did the murdering and scalping about Carlisle and Shippensburg and other central points of Pennsylvania.
In 1 C. R., p. 447 under the date of 1694 eight of the Delaware chiefs visited the Council at Philadelphia and represented to the Council that the Five Nations especially the Sene- cas had sent them, the Delawares, a belt of wampum, stating that "you Delaware Indians do nothing but stay at home and boil your pots and are like women, while we, the Onon- dagoes and Senecas go abroad and fight against the enemy." They fur- ther complain that the Senecas want them to be partners to go and fight against the French, but they say that they, the Delawares are peaceful In- dians and do not intend to go, and are going to the Indians of the Sus- quehanna river which River they af- terwards made their home.
1694 - Two Susquehannock Indian Chiefs Visit the Council.
In Vol. 1 of the Colonial Records, p. 448, it is stated that at three o'clock on the 6th day of July, 1694 it was decided to send the belt back.
This is sufficient to show the re- lation of these Delaware Indians with Lieutenant Governor Markham; and his Council were acquainted that Kyanharro and Oriteo two Susque- hanna Indians present and had some- thing to say and in replying could not be understood, and desire Menan- zes to speak for them.
Their message to Council was that a certain Indian come from the Cay- ugas to the Susquehanna's (Kyan- harro's) house to see him, and that on the way they had to fight the Tit- was or naked Indians. And the Sus- quehanna King desired that the Gov- ernment would allow these visiting Indians to live with at Susquehanna
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under protection.
1694-The Five Nations Desert the English; and Join the French, and Want to Compel the Susquehanna Indians and Other Pennsylvania Indians to Desert Also.
Under the date of the 23rd of May 1694, in Vol. 1 of the Colonial Re- cords, p. 459 is set forth a statement of Governor Benjamin Fletcher, who at this time was Governor of Pennsyl- vania as well as New York, the King of England having taken the Govern- ment out of Penn's hands) to the effect that "the Five Nations were now debauched to the French inter- ests and are entering into a league
with the Governor of Canada." Fletcher then says, "I must assure you that our Indians here will be compelled to join in this fatal con- federacy."
Nothing need be added to this ex- cept that consequences of a very ser- ious nature are about to befall the Indians of the Susquehanna River; and that they are now evidently be- tween the Devil and the deep sea.
1696 - Susquehannocks, Senecas and Shawnese Now All at Peace with Maryland.
It would seem that the defection of the Five Nations to the French did not last very long because at this date only two years later it is stat- ed in 19th Maryland Archives, p. 319 at a Council held in Maryland, that "Colonel Herman acquaints the House that the Senecas, Susquehan- nas and Shawnese Indians have de- sired peace with this Province and also that they might be in league and trade with us."
So here it appears that at least the Senecas, if not all of the Five Na- tions want both peace and trade ar- rangements with the English
Maryland.
The same facts are noticed in the proceedings of the Assembly of Mary- land, in Vol. 19, of the Maryland Archives, p. 363 where it was "re- solved that his Excellency the Gover- nor be acquainted that this house have discoursed with Colonel Her- man, who acquaints them that the Relique of the Senecas and Susque- hannas with the Shawnese had de- sired peace with this Province, and that they might be in league and trade here; and that the House de- sires of his Excellency, if he think it may be beneficial to this Province to enter into peace with them."
1696-Letort and Bazallion, the Sus- quehanna River Indian Traders, Also Operate in Maryland.
In Vol. 20 of the Maryland Arch- ives, p. 470 is set forth a part of a letter from William Markham, Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania to the Gover- nor of Maryland as follows: Sir :- Upon a copy of what Colonel Herman gave unto your Excellency and Coun- cil, I shall require security for Bas- sallion and Letort, though I know will still be uneasy until he gets all the Indian trade himself. I have known Colonel Herman a long time and that he trades for himself in the Susquehanna is better known than trusted. I enclose to your Excellency what I found among
cast away papers. Bassallion was in equal par- tnership with Petit and Sallway, though it went in only their own names, Bassallion coming in after
the other had forwarded for the voy- age and after the cargo was over- thrown, I demanded the left cargo and Bassalion had one-third. As
to Letort, he is a Protestant. was sent over in the year 1686 with a considerable . cargo and several in French Protestants to settle 30,000
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acres of land up the Schuylkill that they had bought from William Penn and that is the place he lives at. Other houses were built and families settledthem that he brought with him, but being so far up in the coun- try they deserted him. This Letort was going for England in the ship with Governor Hamilton but he was taken. Letort was carried to Tholoun and narrowly escaped the galleys but after a long and hard usage got into England. where he became acquaint- ed with the West Jersey Company and they understanding that his house stood upon the Schuylkill upon a con- venient place for trade with the In- dians contracted with him to trade for them there; and wrote to their agent to supply him with goods. It is not many days since that he went to Burlington to make up his account with the agent, intending to soon as conveniently can for England. Gov- ernor Hamilton will give a very good account of him."
This letter by Markham makes clear where this famous James Le- tort lived before he moved to Cones- toga, and it also shows that his trade as well as Bassallion's extended over a wide territory all the way from the Schuylkill to the Susquehanna and even to the Potomac.
1696-Governor Dungan Leases Back to Penn the Land to Dungan by the Susquehannock
Indians.
In Vol. 2 of Smith's laws, p. 111 it is stated that the deed from the In- dians to Governor is not known to exist. We have, however, shown that all this Susquehanna land was sold by our Indians to Dungan about 1684. Now during a lapse of 12 years Dun- gan as we have shown in the former article held the lands only in trust for the Indians; and now at their
direction he first leases them to Penn for 1000 years and then sells them to him absolutely. This lease is found at page 121 of Vol. 1 of the Penna. Archives, and is as follows:
"THIS INDENTURE, made the twelfth day of January,Anno Dom., 1696, and in the Eighth Yeare of the reigne of our Sovereign, Lord Wil- liam, the Third, King of England; between Thomas Dongan, late Gover- nor of New York and now of London, Esq., of the one part, and William Penn, Governor of the Province of Pensilvania in America, of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Dongan, for and in consid- eration, of the sum of one hundred Pounds of lawful money of England to him in hand paid, by the said William Penn, the right whereof is hereby acknowledged, HATH demis- sed and granted, and by these pre- sents doth demise and grant unto the said William Penn, ALL that Tract of Land lyeing upon, on both sides of the River commonly called or known by the name of the Susquehanna River and the Lakes adjacent, in our near the Province of Pennsylvania, in America, Beginning at the moun- tains or head of the said river, and running as far as and into the Bay of Chesapeake, with all Isles, Is- lands, Mines, Minerals, Woods, Fish- ings, Hawkings, huntings, Fowlings, and all other Royalties, profits, com- odityes and hereditaments unto the same belonging which the said Thomas Dungan lately purchased of or had given him by Sinneca Susque- hanna Indians and also all the lands, hereditaments, Isles, Islands, Rivers, Royalties, mines, minerals, lakes, waters, profitts, priviledges, and ap- putenances, whatsoever lyeing on both sides of the Susquehanna River, and near adjoining thereto, which he the said Thomas Dungan did, at, any
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time purchase, or which were at any time given unto them by the said In-
dians, or any of them. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, unto the said Wil- liam Penn, his Executors, Adminis- trators and Assigns, from the day of date hereof, for and unto the end and Term of One Thousand years, PAY- ING unto the said Thomas Dongan, his Executors and Administrators, yearly, and every year on the First day of St. Mitchell, the Arch Angell, the rent of a pepper Corn, if the same shall be lawfully demanded to the intent and purpose that by force and virtue of these presents and of the Statute for transferring of uses into possession, the said William Penn may be in the actuall possession of the premisses, and may thereby be the better enabled to attempt and take a grant, release or other Con- veyance, of the revercion and inheri- tance thereof, to the use of Himself, his heirs and Assigns forever. IN WITNESSE whereof the said parties as Duplicates to the other Indentures of the same contents and are here- with sett their hands. Seales Dated the day and year first above written. THOMAS DUNGAN, (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered, being first Stampt according to Act of Parliiant in ye presence of
SAM. VAUS, FR. HARDING, WM. SPRINGETT."
1696 - Governor Dungan Now Deeds Back to Penn Absolutely, the Lands Sold to Him in Trust by the Susquehan- nocks.
same. At least it is so stated in the lease and deed which we are now considering. The deed of this Sus- quehanna Country may be found in Vol. 1 of the Pennsylvania Archives, p. 122, as follows:
" THIS INDENTURE made the Thirteenth day of January, Anno Dom., 1696, and in the eighth year of the reign of our Soverign Lord, Wil- liam, the Third, King of England, etc., BETWEEN, Thomas Dongan late Governor of New Yorke, and now of London, Esq., of the one part, and William Penn, Governor of the Pro- vince of Pennsilvania, in America, of the other part, WITNESSETH that the said Thomas Dongan, for, and in consideration of the sum of One Hun- dred Pounds of lawfull money of England, to him in hand paid, by the said William Penn,the receipt where- of is hereby acknowledged, HATH granted, Enfeffoed, released, and
confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, enfeoffe, release and confirm unto the said William Penn, and his heirs, ALL that Tract of land, lye- ing upon, on both sides of the river commonly or known, by the name of Susquehanna River, and the Lakes adjacent in or neare the Province of Pennsylvania in America, beginning at the Mountains or head of the said river, and running as far as and into the Bay of Chesapeake, with all Isles, Islands, Mines, Minerals, Woods, Fishings, Hawkings, Huntings, Fowl- ings, and all ther Royalties, profitts, comodities, and hereditaments, unto the same belonging, which the said Thomas Dongan lately purchased of, or had given him by the Sennica Sus- quehanna Indians, and, also all the lands, hereditaments, Isles, Islands, Rivers, Royalties, Mines, Minerals, also Lakes, Waters, profits, privi- ledges and appertences, whatsoever
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