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 22
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We have noticed in a former item that in September, 1700, the Susque- hannas and other Indians of this neighborhood made a deed of a large tract of land on our River to William Penn. To confirm this sale a treaty was made later which is found in Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 15. It was enacted on the 23rd day of April, 1701, by and between the Indians of the Susquehanna Territory and Wil- liam Penn at a Council on the after- noon of the said day; and it is as follows:
"PRESENT :- The Proprietary and Governor, with some members of Council and divers others, with the Sasquehannaugh Indians.
Connodaghtoh, King of the Sasque- hannah Minquays or Conestogo In- dians, Wopatha (alias Opessah), King of the Shawnese, Weewhinjough, Chief of the Ganawese, inhabiting at the head of Patowmeck; Also, Aho- aksonagh, brother to the Emperor or great King of the Onondagoes of the five nations, having arrived in town two days, with several others of their great men, and Indian Harry for their interpreter, with some of their young people, women and chil- dren, to the number of about forty in the whole. After a treaty and sev- eral speeches, the following Articles were solemnly agreed on.
ARTICLES
Articles of Agreement Indented, made, Concluded & Agreed upon at Philadia the 23rd day of ye month, Called April, In the Year 1701, Be- tween Wm. Penn, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsy- Ivania& Territories thereunto be-
longing, on ye one part, and Couno- odagtoh, King of the Indians inhabit- ing upon and about the river Susque- hannah in the said Province, And Widaaph, (alias Oretyaghr) Koque- eash & Andaggy-Inhekquah, Chiefs of the said nations, & Wopaththa, King & Lemonytungh & Pemoyajooagh, Chiefs of the nations of the Shawon- nah Indians, And Ahookassongh, brother to the Emperor, for and in behalf of the Emperor, (& Weewhin- jongh, Takyewsan & Woapaskoa, Chiefs,) of the nations of the Indians inhabiting in and about the Northern part of the River Powtowmeck, in the said province, for & in behalf of themselves & successors, & and their several nations, and the People on the other part, as followeth:
That as hitherto there hath always been a good understanding & Neigh- bourhood between the sd. Wm. Penn & his Lts, since his first arrival in the peace Continued between Wm. Penn his Heirs & successors, and all the English & other Christian In- habitants of the said Province, and the Said Kings and Chiefs, and their successors, & all the Several People of the Nations of Indians aforesaid; So there shall be forever hereafter a firm and lasting peace. And that they shall hereafter be as one Head & One Heart, and live in true friend- ship & Amity as one People.
(ITEM) That the said Kings and Chiefs, (each for himself & his People Engaging,) shall at no time Hurt, injure or Defraud, or suffer to be Hurt, Injured or defrauded by any of their Indians; and inhabitant or Inhabitants of the said Province, either in their Persons or Estates, And that the said Wm. Penn, his Heirs & Successors, shall not suffer to be done or Committed by any of the subjects of England within the said Province, Any Act of Hostil-
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ity or Violence wrong or Injury, to | Province without the Special appro- or against any of the Said Indians, bation & permission of the said Wil- liam Penn, his Heirs and Successors. but shall on both sides at all times readily do Justice, and perform all Acts & Offices of friendship & Good will to oblige each other, to a lasting peace, as aforesaid.
(ITEM) That all and every of the said Kings & Chiefs, and all and every particular of the Nations under them, shall at all times behave them- selves regularly and soberly, accord- ing to the laws of this Government while they live near or amongst ye Christian Inhabitants thereof, And that the said Indians shall have the full & free privileges and immunities of all the said Laws as any other in- habitants, they Duly Owing and Ac- knowledging the Authority of the Crown of England and Government of this Province.
(ITEM) That none of the said In- dians shall at any time be aiding, Assisting or Abetting any other na- tion, whether of Indians or Others, that shall not at such time be in amity with the Crown of England and with this Government.
(ITEM) That if at any time any of the said Indians, by means of evil minded persons and sowers of sedi- tion, should hear any Unkind or dis- advantageous reports of the English, As if they had Evil designs against any of the said Indians, In such Case such Indians shall send notice there- of to the said Wm. Penn, his Heirs or successors, and their Lieutenants, shall at all times in such cases do the like by the them.
' (ITEM) That the said Kings and Chiefs & their successors, shall not Suffer any Strange Nations of In- dians to settle or Plant on the fur- ther side of Sasquehannagh, or about Potowmeck River, but such as are there already Seated, nor bring any other Indians into any part of this
(ITEM) That for the preventation of abuses that are too frequently putt upon the said Indians in Trade, that the said William Penn, his Heirs and Successors, shall not Suf- fer or Permit any Person to trade or Commerce with any of the said In- dians, but such as shall be first al- lowed and approved of by an instru- ment under the Hand and Seal of him, the said William Penn, or his Heirs or successors, or their Lieut's: And that the said Indians shall suffer no person whatsoever to buy or sell, or have Commerce with any of the said Indians, but such shall first be approved as aforesaid.
(ITEM) That the said Indians shall not sell or dispose of any of their Skins, Peltry, or furr, or any other effects of their hunting, to any Person or Persons whatsoever out of the said Province, nor to any other person but such as shall be Author- ized to Trade with them as afore- said; And that for their Encourage- ment, the said William Penn, his heirs and successors, shall take Care to have them, the said Indians, duly furnished with all sorts of necessary goods for their use, at reasonable rates.
(ITEM) That the Potowmeck In- dians aforesaid, with their Collony, shall have free leave of the said Wm. Penn to Settle upon any part of Pat- owmeck River within the bounds of this Province, they strictly observing and practising all and Singular the Articles aforesaid to them relating.
(ITEM) The Indians of Conestogo, & upon & about the River Susque- hannah, And more Especially the Said Connaodaghtah, their King, doth fully agree to, and by these pre- sents, Absolutely Ratify the Bargain
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& Sale of the Lands lying near and about the said River, formerly made to the said William Penn, his heirs and Successors, And since by Orety- agh, & Anadaggy-Junkquegh, parties to these Presents, Confirmed to the said Wm. Penn, his heirs and Suc- cessors, by a Deed bearing Date ye 13th day of ye 7br last, under their hands and seals, duly Executed. And the said Connoodaghtah doth, for himself and his Nation, Covenant and Agree that he will at all times be ready further to Confirm & make good the said Sale, according to the Tenor of the same, and that the said Indians of the Susquehannagh shall answer to the said William Penn, his heirs and Successors, for the good Behavior and Conduct of the said In- dians, and for their performing of the several articles here Expresed.
(ITEM) The said William Penn doth hereby, for himself, his heirs and Successors agree, yet he and they will at all times shew themselves true friends and Brothers to all & every of ye said Indians, by assisting them with the best of their Advices, Dir- ections & Counsels, and will in all things Just and Reasonable befriend them, they behaving themselves as aforesaid, and Submitting to the Laws of this Province in all things, as the English and other Christians therein do. To which they, ye said Indians, hereby agree and oblige themselves and their Posterity for- ever.
In witness whereof, the Said Par- ties have as a Confirmation made mutual presents to each Other: The Indians in five parcels of Skins, and the said William Penn in Several English Goods & Merchandizes, as a binding pledge of the promise, never to be broken or violated. And as a further testimony thereof, have al-
so to these presents Sett their hands and Seals, the day and Year above written.
Signed, Sealed & Delivered in the Presence of
Edw. Shippen,
Nathan Stanbury,
Alexr. Paxton,
Caleb Pussey,
James Streater,
J. Le Tort, John Hans Steelman,
James Logan, John Sanders,
Indian, alias Harry Shawydoohungh,
. his (H I) mark
Pemoqueriaehghan, his (Z) mark
Passaqussay, his [) ] mark.”
This was one of the great treaties and is nearly always referred to in subsequent matters by the Deputy Governors with the Indians of Con- estoga and Susquehanna River. The same treaty may be found in Vol. 1 of The Pennsylvania Archives, p. 144 and this same treaty is again referred to in Vol 1 of the Penn & Logan Cor- respondence, p. 39 and it is stated there to have been the most notable event of the year.
Watson in Vol. 1 of his Annals, p. 24 also speaks of Penn meeting the different Indians in 1701 and says that "Penn attended in Philadelphia in 1701 a great Indan treaty with 40
chiefs who came from many nations to settle the friendship. The same year he also had a
great Indian Councill at Pennsbury Mansion to take leave of them and to renew the convenants." Among these 40 chiefs were the Susquehannas above men- tioned. Watson also in Vol. 2 of his Annals, p. 156 again refers to this treaty.
Hazard in his Register in Vol. 5, p. 130 also refers to the deed and treaty of 1701, confirming the lands
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
on Susquehanna to Penn by those Indians and states there that this confirmation was renewed in 1726, and especially in the great treaty of Lancaster in 1744.
The Susquehannas, Conestogas and Other Neighboring Indians Go to Philadelphia to Give Penn Good- Bye, On His Leaving for England.
In 2 Col. Rec., p. 46 under the date of the 7th of October, 1701, at a Council held the afternoon of that date, at which William Penn and six members of Council were present it is recorded, that "the Sachems of the Susquehanna and Shawanah In- dians with some of their people hav- ing come to take leave of the Pro- prietary before his departure for
England ,he informed them that this now was likely to be his last inter- view with him, at least before his return, that he had ever loved them and been kind to them and ever should contiue so to be, not through any Politick Design or for interest, but one of a most real affection, and Desired them in his absence to Cul- tivate friendship with those he would leave behind in authority, as they would always, in some degree con- . tinue to be to them as himself had ever been. The Governor also in- formed them that the Assembly was now enacting a Law, according to
their desire, to prevent their being abused by the Selling of Rum, with which Orettyagh, one of the Sachems in the name of the rest, Exprest a great Satisfaction and Desired that that law might effectually be put in Execution and not only discoursed of as formerly it had been; they had long suffered by the Practice but now hoped for a redress, and that they should have reason to complain no more.
And for the more effectually an- swering so good a design, the Gov- ernor Desired that whenever any transgressed the said Law, and Came Contrary amongst them, to agree- ment they would forthwith take care to give information thereof to the Government, that the offenders they might duly be prosecuted; which they promised to observe, and that if any Rum were brought they would not buy it but send the person who brought it back with it again.
Then the Governor informed them that he had charged the members of Council,and then also renewed the same charge, that they should in all respects be kind to them, and enter- tain them with Courtesy and Demon- strations of Goodwill as he himself had ever done, which the said mem- bers promised faithfully to observe; and making them some presents they withdrew."
It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful meeting and leave-taking than this must have been-the sav- ages in their simplicity and honesty on one hand and the goodly William Penn and his Council equally sincere and honest on the other hand. This leave-taking is also noticed in Vol. 6 of Hazard's Register, p. 72 but as it is exactly the same copy from the Colonial Records, we will not repeat it. Penn left for England a few weeks after this incident.
According to the Colonial Records this leave-taking occured in Phila- delphia. It seems that a little later Penn made a great leave-taking event for in Vol. 2 of Watson's An- nals, p. 156, Mr. Watson says that in 1701 Penn held a great Indian Coun- cil at Pennsbury to take leave of them.
1701-Difficulties Growing Out of the Use of Rum at Conestoga Continue.
In 6 Hazard's Register, p. 11 it is set forth that the "Proprietary in- formed the Council of the great abuses committed in Indian trade and
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the great dangers that might arise | is used and that at once connects from thence, and the advantages that these irregularities with the Susque- hanna Country. might accure to the province in gen- eral from it. Proposed that some measures might be concerted for the regulation thereof, and redressing the grievences that we generally la- boured under upon the score and especially by means of two French- men, Louis and P. Beasalion, who have been suspected to be very dan- gerous persons in their traffique with the Indians in this troublesome con- juncture of affairs.
Resolved that it was absolutely necessary the said two Frenchmen should be confined and restrained from inhabiting or trading amongst the Indians, and that some way should be agreed to carry on the trade by a certain number or Com- pany who should take all measures to induce the Indians to a true va- lue and esteem of the Christian reli- gion by setting before them a good example of probity and candour both in commerce and behaviour and that care should be taken to have them duly instructed in the fundamentals of Christianity. And the further consideration hereof is referred to next meeting of the Board.
The Governor also acquainted the Board, That reports were brought that some of the five nations of In- dians had sent an embassy to our Indians on Delaware requiring their aid and concurrence and that it was suspected the French of Canada had been endeavoring to debauch the said Indians from their fidelity to the Crown of England.
Resolved, That care should be taken to inquire into the grounds of the said reports-and then adjourn- ed."
The same is found in Vol. 2 of the Colonial Records, p. 18. I mention this because Peter Bezalion's name
The Shawnese also complain against Garland for selling rum to the In- dians on Susquehanna. This, how- ever, we have spoken of before. Their complaint was made by Shemeken- woa one of the Chiefs of the Shaw- nese, about him bring 140 gallons of rum and making them very drunk, see 2 Col. Rec., p. 33. This same com- plaint is noticed in a somewhat dif- ferent form in Vol 6 of Hazard's Re- gister, p. 34 and it was there decid- ed that Indian Harry of Conestoga should be sent for to overcome the evil.
An aditional difficulty that Penn had to deal with about Conestoga and the trade there of rum, was in the fact that John Hans frequently pro- mised Penn to meet him and help him to carry out the laws as to liquor fully, but refused to do so. In Vol. 1 of the Penna. Archives, p. 143, Penn writes a letter to John Hans and says, "Thou hast often
promised to visit this place in order to treat with me about the Indian Trade, but hast as often disapointed me. Thy present management there- of amongst us is directly contrary to our Laws. I have therefore Stopt thy Goods intended for Lechay, until thou come thyself and give further satisfaction." This is under the date of 1701.
1701-A False Story Arises About the Coming of the Piscataways.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Correspondence, p. 43 William Penn in a letter from Pennsbury to James Logan dated the 30th day of June, says "I forgot. a material point-the last Indian instrument from the Con- estoga Indians-which I must have, or a copy, before I can answer Col.
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
Blackinston's letter, a false story fir- ing two or three of their foolish people of our inciting the Piscata- ways from Maryland, instead of their seeking to us: but Governor Blackis- ton would not believe it. Fail not, therefore to send it to me with all speed."
1701-Susquehanna Indians Now Co- Operate Strongly with Penn- sylvania.
Proud in his History of Pennsy- Ivania, in Vol. 1, p. 430 says that this year the Susquehannas made a pro- mise with Pennsylvania that they would not allow any strange Indians to settle on the west side of the Susquehanna River but would inform the people and help to put them off the further side of the Susquehanna River.
The Five Nations also now show very strong love for Pennsylvania and Penn in a message to Council on the 15th of September, 1701 says, "1 must tell you the good news of the Governor of New York's happy issue of his Conférences with the five na- tions of Indians, that he hath not only made peace with them for the King's subjects of that Colony, but, as I had by some letters before de- sired him, for those of all other gov- ernments under the Crowns of Eng- land, and also the nations of Indians with those respective Colonies, which certainly merits our acknowledg- ments."
1701-Evidences of the Great Sus- quehannas Living Within the Bounds of our County.
In Vol. 7 of Hazard's Register, p. 395 it is stated that great Indian re- lics and remains were found near the neighborhood of Columbia and that they were probably buried there 200 years. The Article is as follows: "COLUMBIA, (Penn.) June 2. IN-
DIAN RELICS: A gentleman visit- ing this place from Philadelphia, had' his attention attracted a few days; since, while near the canal basin, by the singular appearance of the earth, which resembled an Indian mound or tumulus, such as he had before seen. On digging down a short distance: his suspicions were confirmed; the skeletons of three Indians were found, supposed to be those of a male female and a young child. On being exposed to the air, the bones, with the exception of the teeth, and a few of the large bones of the male, crum- bled to dust. They were buried in a sitting posture and had on their heads an earthen vessel, at the spout of which was carved the figure of a human face. Between the feet of the one taken to be the male, were found an iron hatchet, several arrow heads, and seven smooth stones nearly round; the smallest weighing about a quarter of a pound, the others varying in regular gradation to the seventh, which weighed two pounds and a quarter. These stones were supposed to indicate the num- ber of children which the deceased had. Between the feet of the female were found two stones of a medium size with those found by the male. How long these remains had been de- posited there it is impossible to tell; probably not less than 200 years. It is supposed that a great many In- dians lie buried along the banks of the river, but it is not often their bones are discovered .- SPY."
And in Vol. 8 of Hazard's Regis- ter, p. 48 similar remains were found about the neighborhood of Bain- bridgeand that article is as follows: "A few weeks since we took occa- sion to speak of some Indian Relics that were discovered north the Canal Basin in this place. Since then the workmen in Section No. 18 of the
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OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
Canal, about two miles this side of Bainbridge came upon one end of an old Indian burial ground. The bones had so completely gone to dust that they could only be distinguished from the natural soil by a difference in color. A great many articles of use and ornament were found; ther were crocks, hatchets, tomahawks, arrow heads, bullets, buck-shot, thim- oles, beads, pipes, etc. The pipes are made of clay, and are spoken of as being very perfect and beautiful, with the head of a fox engraved on the bowl; so highly is one of them valued by the finder, that he has re- fused to take less than five dollars for it; together with ornaments; the beads were of different kinds, and unlike any we had seen before. It is thought that a short distance from where the excavation was made towards the river, the earth would be found to be filled with these cur- iosities .- COLUMBIA SPY."
1701-Some of the Shawnese Located at the Head of Pequea Creek.
We have before called attention to the location of the Old Shawana fort near the head of Octararo some- what towards Pequea Creek; and for it see previous articles.
That there was a Shawana town there as early as 1701 is additionaly proved by the following statements found in the Second Series of the Penna. Archives, Vol. 19, p. 625 where it is stated, "That the Commission- ers being informed that Mathias Van- hebber from Maryland, taking with him Henry Hollingsworth, hath late- ly surveyed a considerable tract of land near the head of Pequea Creek in this Province, including within the same The Old Shawannah Town, etc .;- "and again it is stated“ that 500 acres being granted to Col. John French in or near the Shawannah
old fields, on Pequea Creek, as a con- sideration of his services to the Pro- prietor."
From this we see that while these proceedings are dated 1718, the lands are referred to as the Old Shawannah Fields where the Shaw- nese lived as early as 1701 and be- fore.
At the same place it is stated that 300 acres should be surveyed to Peter Chartier where his father Mar- tin is settled on Susquehanna River; a warrant was also directed to Moses Comb at the request of his brother- in-law Peter Bazilion for 200 acres among the other surveys about Con- estoga.
I quote this simply to show that in 1701 that these Indian operations were going on about Conestoga and Pequea.
1701-Christian Inhabitants are Lo- cated Near Conestoga.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 16 in one of the items of the great treaty of the affairs on the Susquehanna river it is stipulated, "That all and every of the Kings and Chiefs, and all and every particular under them, shall at all times behave themselves regularly and soberly according to the laws of this Government, while they live near or amongst the Chris- tian inhabitants thereof."
Now as the only Indians concerned in this treaty were the Conestogas (Susquehanna- Minquays), the Shaw- nese and the Ganawese, and this re- fers to them. In warning the Chris- tian inhabitants it seems to indicate that there were some whites then at this date of 1701 in the neighborhood of Conestoga. They were, however, only trades and not regular settlers. We shall notice that in a year or two later that there will be references to Christian inhabitants living at and near Conestoga.
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1701-The Earliest Lands Taken Up | 1702-Earliest Preaching to the In- by the Whites Among the Con- dians at Conestoga. estogas and the Other Sus- quehanna Indians.
In Vol. 19 of the Second Series of the Penna. Archives, p. 245 it is set forth that the land commissioners of Pennsylvania granted to Cornelius Empson and twenty others 20,000 acres of land on Octoraro Creek at one bushel of wheat rent per hun- dred acres. Then warrants were made out for 15,000 acres as may be seen page 280, to the following persons for the following amounts, being a part of the above named tract :- Cornelius Empson, John Richards, James Brown, Henry Reynolds, John Bales, Edward Beeson, James Cooper, Randall Janney, Andrew Job, John Churchman, Ebenezer Empson, John Guest, Joel Baily for 1000 acres each and to Robert Dutton, Samuel Set- fler and Jeser Brown each for 500 acres; and surveyed off for William Penn's own use, 3000 acres. It is described as all in one tract, begin- ning at the Northern Barrens be- tween the main branch of Northeast River and Octoraro Creek, and bounding it to the Southwards with an East and West line parallel to the line of the Province, and Northward to the barrens.
In the same book under the same date, 1701, page 278 it is stated that a warrant should be made to William Clayton for 1000 acres of land at Susquehanna, "with the rest there." whoever they were.
These grants of land on the Sus- quehanna, I believe, are the very earliest that were made to indivi- duals by the authorities of Pennsyl- vania in the neighborhood of and among the Indians of these two Rivers.
We have heretofore stated that William Penn visited the Indians on the Susquehanna twice and from his nature one can not doubt that he gave them religious instruction be- cause this was constantly on his mind. But the earliest preaching of which we have any proofs was in 1702 by Rev. Jonas Airens who preached that year to the Conestoga Indians at Conestoga. Record of this may be found in Vol. 30 of Penna. Magazine of History and Biography in a note at the bottom of page 291. There is not much to be said about it and it is likely that there were only a few sermons preached; and that it was not a missionary move- ment extending over any length of time. A little later Thomas Chalk- ley preached to the Conestogas, and considerably later Count Zinzendorf, the last named about the year 1742.
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