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 23
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1702-The First Mention of the Sus- quehanna Road.
In Vol. 19 of the Second Series of the Penna. Archives, p. 303 under the date of 1702 it is stated that Joseph Fisher and several other land owners of Dublin Township, "remonstrated that the Sasquehan- nah road laid out through the said Township is run too much to the Northward by which means the set- tlements on that side are too short and those on the South too long."
This shows that at the early date of 1702 the Indian affairs on Susque- hanna were of sufficient importance to agitate constructing a road t their locality. The first road which finally did reach the Susquehanna was begun in 1683 and reached the river in 1714, but it was in use before the latter date. In Nicholas Scull's map of 1759 connected with
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the Penna. Archives. Dublin Town- ship is situated immediately North of Philadelphia county, as it then was. 1702-James Logan's Earliest Visit to the Conestogas.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Cor- respondence, p. 179 James Logan says in a letter of this year written to William Penn, "I design next month for Conestoga, God willing, to treat with the Indians there and con- firm them, for we have many re- ports about the attempts of the French to debauch all; and Indian Harry has never since he went to the Onondagoes last year been here, but he solemnly promised to return this way." However, in turning to p. 179 of the same book, Logan again says in 1703 in a letter to William Penn, that though he had designed to go to Conestoga that he put off the journey, waiting for Indian Harry to come back from Canada.
I cite this item to show the efforts that were constantly made by the French to get the Pennsylvania In- dians over to them. We remember that in the early years, the Jesuit Father had very many meetings with our Susquehannocks, and as Queen Ann's War was now approaching it was considered a great point to get these Pennsylvania Indians disaffect- ed from the English.
1702-Indian Harry at Philadelphia.
| of importance was to be done by the Conestogas, advice from the Five Na- tions was always necessary before anyone dared to make any move.
1702-The Conestogas on a War-like Expedition to the South.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 70 at a meeting of the Council held on the 17th of September, it was stated that, "information having been given to this board by Sylvester Garland, an Indian trader of New Castle that half a dozen Indians called Tackwheetap & Posackaselt, two of them of Dela- ware and the rest of Conestogoe, on Susquehannah, who had lately re- turned from the Southwards from hunting, were seen at the said Cones- togoe with several parts of women's attire, viz .: a, Petticoat, White Silk hood, Lace, etc., about them, and that upon a certain occasion Expres- sed themselves as if they murdered the persons from whom they had taken them. It was consulted what method of Inquiry or process should be taken with ye said Indians, see- ing they were by their Several Treat- ies obliged to be answerable to the English for what injuries or out- rages they should commit against them, and it was Resolved, that a Message with an Interpreter was necessary in the first place to be sent, but there being no interpreter of that language to be found who could be depended on for such a service till Harry, the Indian should return, who was gone to the Onondagoes, and every day expected back again, It was further resolved, the whole should be deferred until the said Harry's return, upon which a full in- quiry should be made, and ye treaty with the ye Conestogoe Indians re- newed and strengthened. In ye meantime it is expected that ye Gov- ernor of Maryland, who seems ear-
This year as is told us in Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Correspondence, p. 125, Indian Harry was in Philadel- phia about the end of July but that he went on to the Onondagoes to bring advice from them how matters stood concerning the Conestoga In- dian affairs. We, of course remem- ber that the Conestogas and all the Indians along the Susquehanna were · tenants,and in a manner slaves of the Five Nations and whenever anything lier concerned and has earlier infor-
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mation, will make inquiry also." -- This article sufficiently explains it- self and I need add nothing of an explanatory character to it.
1702-The French Make Peace With the Iroquois.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Correspondence, p. 88 it is stated in a letter from James Logan to Wil- liam Penn, that "in the Monthly Mer- cury for January there is under the head of "France" a passage, which if true would be of bad consequence to us, viz .: that the Government of Canada has made a peace with the Iroquois, which will oblige the great- er care in what has been said. Al- bany, by it, seems ruined; and we shall be greatly exposed when that barrier of the Five Nations is remov- ed."
I cite this because whatever the Iroquois did affected the Conestogas and as the Iroquois broke their alle- giance with the English and made a treaty of peace with the French of Canada, then the Conestogas were compelled to choose whether they would obey their masters the Iro- quois, or defy them and keep their peace with the English. We may add here that they never broke their agreements with the English.
1702 - Penn Wants Settlements on the Susquehanna and Chesapeake.
In a letter written by James Logan to William Penn in 1702, it is stated in Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Corres- pondence, p. 122, that a settlement on the navigable part of the North- east river is to be made and that it was to be located half way between New Castle and Conestoga, and the letter sets forth that another point in favor of the settlement is, that it is a convenient stage from the lower parts to Susquehanna which would much encourage a settlement of that
also. The letter goes on to say that Griffith Owen who was with Penn at Susquehanna know the place. The letter then says that Logan approves of Penn's inclination to have settle- ments on Chesapeake to trade be- tween Pennsylvania.
This I cite simply to show the im- portance of our Indians living up in this country because they had a cer- tain bearing upon the settlements in that locality.
1702-Conestoga Indians Have Ceas- ed Their Visits to Philadelphia.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Correspondence, pp. 148 and 149, un- der the date of 1702 it is stated that Indian Harry is still with the Onon- dagoes but promises to stop on his return, he did not do so. This
caused fear on the part of the whites and they found that he was return- ed home to Conestoga two months ago but that the Conestoga Indians are quiet, however, that they "for this last year have seldom come near us; some of them are uneasy and threaten to disturb the remote set- tlers of land: such as the New Ger- man tract, which they clamor is not purchased."
The importance of this topic lies in the fact that here under the date of 1702 is a "New German Tract" spoken of somewhere near the neigh- borhood of the Conestoga Indians. This is fully five years and may be seven years before the settlements began either in the Pequea or Cones- toga Valleys, and the "New German Tract" likely refers to bargains which Penn was making in England with German People indicating to them in a gneral way where their lands would be. Another noticeable thing in this item is the apparent doubt which the Conestogas enter- tained as to what they should do.
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Indian Harry had no doubt brought home from Canada the news that the Five Nations were thinking of joining the French, and his suspicious ac- tion in not stopping on his way back but going directly to Conestoga would confirm that there was some treachery on foot between the Five Nations and the Conestogas toward the English and the Conestogas seem to be on the verge of breaking faith. However, we will see later that all turned out well.
. As to this German tract, it may be that the. 20000 acres granted in 1701 to Cornelius Empsom near Octoraro is what is referred to. See a former item on this.
1702 - Thomas Chalkley Journeys Through the Susquehanna In- dian Country.
In Thomas Chalkley's works, . a book which we have referred to her- tofore, pp. 38-39 he tells of his jour- ney in this neighborhood and among the Indians thereof; but I am not able to say positively that he did com- municate with the Conestogas on this trip. We will find definite informa- tion about his later missionary journeys among the Susquehannas and Conestogas.
1703-Louis Mitchell or Michelle, Martin Chartier and Others Live at Conestoga With the In- dians.
In Rupp's history of Lancaster County, p. 53 he says that in the year of 1703 the Canton of Bern in Switzerland sent Louis Mitchell to look for vacant lands in Pennsyl- vania. Martin Chartier is also de- scribed as carrying messages from Philadelphia to the Shawnas at Pe- quea near Conestoga, where he had a trading station. On p. 54 Rupp says, though Mitchell was the person who first lead the rest there to Con-
estoga, yet others had come in since; and these were the pioneer whites in Conestoga.Rupp also says at p. 45, quoting the Colonial Rec., which we have also quoted in a for- mer item, that Martin Chartier had long lived among the Shawana In- dians.
1703-The French Again Trying to . Wean the Conestoga Indians From the English.
. In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Correspondence p. 227 James Logan on the 2nd of September of that year writes a letter to William Penn in which he says, "Indian Harry of Con- estoga is now here and acquaints us with the great endeavors of the French, but I have not fully dis- coursed with him." The letter also states that French are settling among the Five Nations and are at peace with them; and have emissar- ies all about us. This is sufficient to show that the French were trying to get the good-will of the Five Nations and of course the Five Nations abso- lutely controlled the Conestoga In- dians.
1703 - Letort and Bezalion . Again Held in Bonds.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 100 the following report is made of a Council held at Philadelphia the 17th of August this year, as follows :-
"James Letort who about two years agoe went out of this Province to Canada, and returned last spring, having been upon his return exam- ined before several of the Council and magistrates, and no great occa- sion found to support him of any evil designs against this Government, he having been bred in it since his infancy, had hitherto behaved himself inoffensively and was seduced to de- part in time of peace by the Instiga- tion of some others, without any evil
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intentions that could be made appear in himself and being now in town, together with Peter Bezalion another Frenchman and Indian Trader, it was Judged necessary to call them both before the Council, and for fur- ther satisfaction to take security of them for their behavior towards the Government, accordingly they were sent for and obliged each to give Se- curity in five hundred pounds Ster- ling, that they should behave them- selves as good subjects of the Queen and of this Government, and hold no correspondence whatsoever with ye enemy, but at all times during ye Warr make best discoveries they could do all designs that should come to their knowledge against this Gov- ernment, or any others of the Queens Subjects." In this article we plain- ly see how constantly the efforts were going on about Conestoga to get our Indians turned against the English.
1703 - James Logan's Intended Trip to the Conestoga Indians.
In a letter to William Penn dated the 13th of March, 1703, and found in Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Cor- respondence, p. 79, James Logan says, "I design next month for Con- estoga, God willing, to treat with the Indians there and confirm them for we have many flying reports about the attempts of the French to de- bauch all; and Indian Harry has never been here since he went to the Onondagoes last year, though he
solemnly promised to return this way." But it appears in the same book, pp. 197-198 that Logan never made this trip.
1703-Bazilion Again Suspected.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Cor- respondence, p. 224 in a letter from James Logan to William Penn, Logan states that it is not safe to let Baza-
lion to be at large, as he is a dan- gerous man against the English.
1703-Randall Janney to be Sent to Susquehanna.
In Vol. 1 of the book last above quoted, p. 214, William Penn writes a letter to Logan which begins at page 211, saying that he recommends Janney about the Susquehanna pur- chase; and that Logan shall use him kindly. His purpose there was to look after the intended New County and also to keep tally on Indian do- ings.
1703-Penn Desires Tobacco and In- dian Products to be Shipped Down the Chesapeake.
In the same Vol. last cited, p. 180 it is stated that a ship to carry 7 or 800 hogsheads of tobacco down the Chesapeake is about being built and that the costs of it may not exceed 3000 pounds, if built at best hand; and the cables and rigging may be had from England.
1703 - The Settlement at Octoraro Trades With the Indians.
.
In the same Vol. last quoted, p. 203 in a letter by Isaac Norris to Jona- than Dickinson, he speakes of the fact that the settlement of lands at the head of the Northeast river or Octoraro gives value to our Susque- hanna lands, and that our Susque- hanna country, considering the time of the year is very healthy. It may be collected from the letter as a whole that some trading is being conducted by the Indians with these parts.
1703-A Number of Indians Remove from Conestoga.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 131 in the proceedings of a Council held the beginning of the year of 1704 there is an item which indicates that a number of Indians about the end of
.
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the year 1703 left at Conestoga. The dians had come down and cut off article states that Martin Chartier the two families of neighbor Indians at Conestoga, and that they were all there under great apprehensions of further mischief from them, and were preparing to demand succor of the government in case the disorders should be continued. who long lived upon the Susque- hannna was examined in relation to himself, the Indians, "and those that had lately left Conestoga. And there not being sufficient occasion to put him any further trouble, he was dis- missed."
The subject mentioned in the let- ter, was considered in council, March 22; and it was resolved that messengers be forthwith despatched to Conestogoe, by way of New Castle, to know the truth of the information, the relation, as it appeared, being somewhat suspicious." This iteľ needs no further explanation.
1704-Rumors of a Plot to Carry Off the Shawnese.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 145, the Council heard that the Shawnese were about to be carried away by some strange Indians and they sent for Peter Bezalion to be informed of the fact. The minutes of Council on this subject are as follows: "Peter Bezalion ye French Trader, coming to town and being sent for informed ye Board That he had heard that those of the five nations who intend- ed shortly down this way, had a de- sign of carrying off the Shawnese In- dians, both settled near Conestogoe, and those near Lechay, (now Eas- ton), were their enemies; which being fully considered, it was resol- ved that it would be necessary to send an Embassy as well in behalf of our friends and allies, as the Shawnese are as of ourselves, and that all the belts of wampum be procured and sent up that were col- lected among the Indians three years agoe for that purpose." No parti- cular comment is necessary on this item as it explains itself.
1704 -Indian Harry's Brother Re- ports the Doings of the Five Nations.
It appears from a French letter from Madame Letort, the French woman at Conestoga, directed to Ed- mund Farmer, bearing date 15th of In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 155, March, 1703-4, that the Towittois In- at a Council held on the 9th of Aug.
.
This is the only thing that I can find on the subject. I can not tell who or what tribe of Indians are re- ferred to or whether a large or small number left Conestoga. It does not refer to the Shawnese because they did not leave until quite some time later than 1703. But this is enough to indicate to us that certain bodies of these Indians were in the habit of shifting their homes.
1703 - Whites Among the Indians at Conestoga.
It seems as early as 1703 there were some whites among the Con- estoga and other Indians about Sus- quehanna, not to settle there but to trade with them. Rupp at p. 39 has briefly stated the history on this point and he says as follows :- "Though no actual. settlements had been made prior to 1708, or 1709, in Lancaster County, a few whites had their abodes among the Indians on the Susquehanna. - These were In- dian Traders, viz .: Joseph Jessop, James LeTort, Peter Bezalion, Mar- tin Chartier, all Indians, and upon the Susquehanna; and one Mitchel, a Swiss. Nicole Godin, an active young fellow, but rather a sneak, and one Francois. These, however, had no license to trade among and with the Indians.
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this year it is reported that, "In- |40, in revenge, were lately come and dian Harry's brother, late of Cones- togoe, being arrived in town from the five nations, was examined with James Le Tort and Peter Bizaillion, concerning those of the said five na- tions, that have been so long expect- here; and Peter Bizaillion was or- ordered to attend again, about five o'clock in the afternoon."
In this there is exhibited the further movements and difficulties which the English had at all times to keep the Five Nations faithful.
1704-The Chiefs of the Five Nations Came to Philadelphia to Make a Treaty.
In the same book just cited, p. 158 it appears at a Council held on the 28th of August this year that, "Kag- undanoyagh one of the Chiefs of the Onondagoes, with 7 or 8 others of ye chiefs of ye Five Nations, being come down to Philadelphia in order to hold a treaty to settle a correspondence with this Government. They were called before the Council, the Lieu- tenant Governor being by reason of sickness unable to attend."
1704-Nicole Godin Above Conestoga Reports Indian Depredations in that Neighborhood.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 138 we have the following information, which concerns not only the Senecas but the Indians from Potomac and Conestoga. The report of the pro- ceedings is as follows: "Edward Far- mer, acquainted ye Governor that according to this order, he had in- formed ye Assembly of what he had heard from the Trader Nicole Godin, viz .: That upon ye return of ye Caro- olina Indians, who was taken (as we said) by some of ye five nations last year, and after escape went home- wards through this province, some of ye Carolina Indians, to ye number of
had set upon some of those Potow- mock, but they taking to their fast- ness and being secured, ye others de- clared to them that they (of Caro- lina), had been for many years at- tacked and Injured by some Indians from ye Northwest, whom they had always hitherto taken to be those of Canada, but now found who they were, viz: ye Senecars and those of Potomock and Conestogoe, and that they were resolved to be revenged, and that the three nations had join- ed and would shortly come up and either destroy or be destroyed by them.
That upon this information, ye as- sembly thanked the Governor for his care in sending them an account of it and upon hearing there were two In- dians sent from some of ye five na- tions to this Government, on a mes- sage, requested that ye Governor would be pleased to examine ye said Indians to night, by Ja. Le Tort for an Interpreter, and that the said Nicole should be for to night, and ye said Indians be examined with him tomorrow."
1704-Suspicious Actions of Nicholas Gateau.
At a council held the 15th of May, 1704 the following report was made concerning Gateau who was an In- dian trader and operated among the Conestogas and other Indians living on Susquehanna. The report is found in Vol. 2 of Col. Rec., p. 131 and is as follows: "A petition from Nicholas Gateau, the French cook, of this town was read, shewing that when the ad- ministration of the Government was in the Council, he had preferred a petition praying that according to the Laws of this Government he
might be naturalized in this Pro- vince and Territories; that his said Petition had been granted and an in- strument prepared, but that by the Governor's happy arrival the Execu-
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tion of it was prevented, and there- fore humbly prays that the Governor would continue the same unto him, and that he might be naturalized.
Ordered, that the said Nicholas Ga- teau, upon his taking the requi- site oaths, (viz .: ) fidelity to the Queen, the abjuration of the Pope's Supremacy, and fidelity to the Pro- prietary, be naturalized, and an In- strument prepared for it according to Law."
1704-Suffering of the Conestoga In- dians in the Winter of 1704.
In Vol. 1 of the Penn & Logan Cor- respondence, p. 359, it is set forth in a letter from Isaac Norris to Daniel Zachary that the winter was very se- vere. The letter is as follows :- "As the longest English liver has never known such a winter as this for the abundance of snow so we have never had such a vacation. All avenues were stopped and traveling wholly impeded till just now. The post has not been here these six weeks, which makes the time pass on very melan- choly, and the more particularly for the want of hearing from you as us- ual. This makes me assured it will be as welcome to thee to hear thy little boy is well, and our family, with friends generally. Our river has been fast these six weeks, and people go and come with carts, sleds, horses, etc., as on land. Dutch sleds are mightily in fashion here this winter."
On the following page of the same book, Isaac Norris writes a letter to John Askew on the same subject, which is as follows: "We have had the deepest snow this winter that has been known, (by the longest English liver here;) no traveling, all avenues shut; the post has not gone these
six weeks. The river still fast; people bring loads over it, as they did seven years ago when thou wast here; many creatures like to perish."
I have thought these two items might be of interest in this connec- tion as that would show the condition in the bleak winter around Conesto- ga at the time when the only houses in it were Indian huts or wigwams.
1704 - Strange Indians Kill Several Families of Conestogas.
In Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., p. 121 there is set forth a report made be- fore Council of information which Madame Ann Letort, the French- woman at Conestoga gave concern- ing the slaughter of Indians there; and it is as follows: "A French let- ter from Ann Letort, the French woman at Conestogoe, directed to Edward Farmer, bearing date of the 15th Instant, being brought to the Governor, informing that ye Towit- tois Indians had come down and cut off two families of neighbor Indians at Conestogoe, and that they were all there under great apprehensions of further mischief from them, and were preparing to demand succor of this Government in case the disor- ders should continue. The Governor laid the said letter before the Board to be considered how far the said in- formation ought to be regarded, and would be judged necessary to be done therein.
Resolved that some messenger or messengers be forthwith despatched away to Conestogoe, by way of New Castle, to know ye true grounds of the said Information, ye Relation as it now appears being somewhat sus- picious. This is the same incident quoted from Rupp in a prior item it is repeated here because the records of Council are here in full.
1704 - Gateau Complains Against Godyn at Susquehanna.
In a minute of Council, p. 181 of Vol. 2 of the Col. Rec., it is set forth that Nicholas Gateau exhibited a
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complaint that sundry goods were taken from him, some by Nich. Godyn at Sasquehannah; and others were in possession of William Slooby and he begs that justice be done him.
1704-A Report that Chartier & Two Other French Indian Traders are About to Leave Sus- quehanna.
In the Vol. last cited, p. 182 it was reported to Council that Chartier and other French traders were acting suspiciously about Susquehanna and on this information that they were about to depart out of the Govern- ment. It was ordered that the Sher- iff of New Castle, being nearest to their abode take it into charge and be diligent to observe the motions and designs, and if he finds any grounds, he shall arrest and secure Chartier and his accomplices. This item is important in connection with our Indian on Susquehanna because it locates the group of these French traders definitely at this time that are said in the item to live on Susque- hanna, and it is further *pointed out that the Sheriff of New Castle is clos- est to them. This shows that they were living on the lower Susquehanna perhaps below Columbia at this time. Their dealings with our Indians were extensive and intimate.
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