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 31
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The Governor ordered John Cart- ledge to acquaint them, that upon their visit he had at their desire now called Council, in order to hear what the Indians had to lay before them.
Togotelessa, Captain of the Cones- togas, said that they were come only on a friendly visit to see us, and to renew the old League of Friendship that had hitherto been between us and them, that most of their old men were indisposed and could not under- take the journey, but they had brought some of their young men to see us, and learn how they of them- selves ought when they come to more advanced years treat with their parents and friends.
The Governor told them that their visit was very acceptable, and he hoped all was well with them, but desired them now to be free, and if they had anything to complain of that wanted to be redressed, they should without reserve communicate it. They then presented a small bundle of skins, and said that they had some time before the Governor's arrival lost their King in war, but there were those left amongst them who have the same respect and friendship for this Government, that
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he had in his life time. That now he is gone they are more sensible for their loss of so good a man to Govern them, and they heartily la- ment him, for they hope that his place will be supplied and the same friendly disposition will always be continued among them. And now they desire that the Governor is to take notice, that though their last good King is taken from them. they have one left who is very nearly re- lated to him, who has an English heart and a great love for the Chris- tians. Him they have now chosen for their King in the others stead, and as such present him to the Gov- ernor by the name of Oneshanayan.
Then when laid down a second small bundle of skins, and proceeded to say. that their king being present with the chief of the Shawanois and Ganawase, what he, viz: Tagotelassa or Civility says is what will all agree in with one voice and mind; that they are glad to find themselves in good and happy circumstances, for that they have not for some years past had a Governor who took such notice of them, but, now the present Governor gives them the same satis- faction as if they thought that Wil- liam Penn himself was amongst them; that they had brought a few skins not by way of present, for they were not worthy to be account- ed such. but only to lay them under the Governor's feet to keep them and his House clean; that they came not to make any new treaty or Lea- gue of Friendship, but only to renew or confirm those which had been made, and were hitherto invincibly kept on both sides.
They threw down a third parcel of skins, and Civility said, that he with some of the young men hadthis last Spring some inclination to go out to war towards the Southward,
but being put in mind that it would not be agreeable to this Government and after receiving the Governor's: letter forbidding them to proceed, they desisted; that they intended to go out this next winter a hunting, that way, and think it proper to ac- quaint this Government therewith, for that they bear such a respect to the Government, and know that we have always been so ready to pro- tect and assist them. that they are agreed not to do anything which will be disagreeable to us, but that they look upon themselves but like chil- dren rather to be directed by this Governor than fit to offer any- thing more on this head.
But they must crave leave to add one thing further, viz: that they have reason to think the authority of this Government is not duly observ- ed for that notwithstanding all our former agreements, that rum should not be brought amongst them, it is still carried in great quantities, they had been doubtful with themselves whether they should mention this, because if they were supplied with none from hence, they would be from Maryland which would be a means of carrying off their peltry thither, but there have been such quantities of that liquor carried of late amongst them, by loose settlers who have no fixed settlements, that they are apprehensive mischief may arise from it. that though they are perfectly well inclined when sober, yet they can not answer for their people when drunk, and least any inconveniences may ensue from thence to this Government whom they so much respect, as well as to their own people, they desire this may be taken into consideration, in order to be prevented and redressed by all proper measures."
Shecokkeneen added, that the
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young men about Pexton had been lately so generally debauched with rum, carried amongst then by strangers, that they now want all manner of clothing and necessarys to go hunting, wherefore, they wish it would be so ordered that no rum sould be brought amongst them by any except the traders. who furnish- them with all their necessarys, and who have been used to trust them and encourage them in their hunt- ing.
Having thus delivered themselves, they withdrew, and the treasurer and the secretary were ordered to take an account of the real value of their small presents, and to provide some English goods, exceeding that value by about one-fourth or a third at most, and then Council adjourned until four in the afternoon.
Present: The Honorable William Keith, Esqr .; Lt. Gover., William
Trent; Jonathan Dickinson, Isaac Norris, James Logan, Samuel Preston, Robert Assheton.
The same Indians attending again, the Governor ordered the Interpre- ters to deliver to them what follows, being first drawn up in writing, viz:
That their friendly visit on a de- sign to brighten and strengthen the chain which had for so many years bound and united them and this Gov- ernment together as one people. was very acceptable. They were sensible that William Penn, the Lord of this Country, had been as a Common Father to them; that he had given it in charge to all those who govern- ed in his stead, to treat them in the same friendly manner he had done himself that the present Governor, for his part always be as ready as a father to embrace and support them, while they continue the same fidelity to this Government they had hitherto done.
That we were all much affected with the loss of their last Good King, and the Governor would have been pleased to see more of their old men, and however, he now took the young men that came on this visit by the hand, as those that were com- ing up in the places of the ancients, and were to continue the same friend- ship with our younger people. that their parents, the elders on both sides had done before them.
That we kindly received the per- son they had appointed their King or Chief, in the place of our good de- ceased friend, if it be by a general approbation. The Governor hoped he would always have the same heart and friendly disposition towards the English that his pre- decessor was well known to have in his lifetime, and would unite him- self and all his people with his Gov- ernment as one heart and one body; that for the future we should apply to him as their chief in all publick business, and doubted not but the old men would assist him with their ad- vice in the best manner for theirad- vantage and preserving a strict tie of friendship with us.
That the Governor could not take in good part their motions towards going to war last Spring, consider- ing that they had engaged themselves to their contrary in the last treaty with him at Conestogae. The Gover- nor expects that they will not make the last advance that way for the fu- ture, without the approbation and leave of this Government, for they are now but weak in themselves, and may be rash attempts draw won- derful enemies upon them, and not only entirely ruin themselves. but engage us as their friends into their quarrels; they must therefore be Governed in this point by this Gov- ernment, who can judge better of these affairs than they are capable.
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The Governor is sensible they may without delay disclose it to the Gov- have too just cause to complain of ernor or some person in authority under him. In fine they ought ever to consider us as their best and nearest friends, who have always been and ever will continue ready to relieve and protect them. while. they on their parts remain faithful as their ancestors or fathers have. hitherto done before them. loose idle fellows bringing quantities of rum amongst them to their great injury, that this has not for some time past been sufficiently looked af- ter, but the Governor would speedily take care to have it in a great mea- sure prevented. That they of their parts must endeavor to prevent their women and young people coming to That as they offered the Governor a small token, so now for the con- veniency of their return, there are. a few garments provided for them, with some powder and shott to kill venison, some tobacco and pipes, and when they go some bread and a dram will be provided for them, and the Governor expects they will be care- ful hereafter to provide likewise for himself and his attendants, or those. who shall be sent at any time for their services at Conestogoe. Philadelphia to purchase and carry up rum from hence, which too many were ready to deliver them privately for their skins, and that they meet with any brought amongst them, they should stave it as they had formerly been ordered and un- dertook to do. That in reference of the surveys of land, they can not but be sensible of the care that has been taken of them, they had expressed a willingness to retire from Conesto- goe; yet the Government here had These things being delivered to them they appeared very well pleas- ed, and to that part in which the in- closing by surveys the lands where they are seated, which would not be broke in upon; they further desired. that the lands on which the Shaw- neis and Ganawese are settled on Susquehannah, should likewise be encompassed with lines at the dis- tance of four miles from the river, that they might not be disturbed by the cattle of any persons settling near them. persuaded them to continue near us; we had run a line around them that none might come near them, and had fenced their corn fields by John Car- tledge's care, who alone being placed within those lines, may be the more capable of looking after the tract and the bounds of it. It is also further thought fit, that lines should be run around the other Indian towns, as soon as conveniently may be to se- cure them the more effectually from incroachments. But while such care is taken of them, it is expected they The skins they delivered in the morning having been numbered and weighed as ordered, they were found to be, shall in all cases on their parts shew a due regard to this Govern- ment, that they be aiding to all its 28 sumer deer skins in the officers in what may lie in their hair, many of them ordi- Pds. s. d. nary weight 681. at 18d. 2 0 5 Power, that they suffer no idle per- sons to spread rumors amongst them 10 small Drest Skins, wt. I Good Winter Buck in the hair 6 0 181. at 3-6d. 2 2 0 or if they hear any such that they give no credit to them, that if they can discover any evil minded persons 2 Bear Skins at 8 ps. 16 0 to have ill designs against this Gov- ernment, or any part of it, they must 8 6 0
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What is prepared and was delivered them, are
Pds. s. d.
8 Stroud Water Coats of the best sort. at 17-6d ... 10 lb. of Powder, at 20d ... 20 lb. lead, at 3d.
7 0 0
16 0
5 0
6 pr. Stockings, pt. Blew and pt. Red, at 2-9d. 16 6
1 Doz. Tobacco Boxes at .. 7
0
1 Doz. Tobacco Tongs, at. 5
6
4 .0
12 1b. Tobacco, at 4d .. .. 3 Doz. Pipes 1
0
1 Red Stroud to the Queen 17 6
10 12 2
These being delivered the Gover- nor gave them an entertainment, and the secretary was ordered to provide for them as from the first all neces- saries, during their stay and for their journey on their return home."
This was a prominent treaty and much that had heretofore disturbed these people was now put at rest and settled.
1718-Additional Steps Taken wards the Conestoga Road.
To-
It is perhaps appurtenant to this Indian subject to notice the steps taken to further open communica- tion to this Conestoga settlement; and the proceedings to do so are set forth in Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 43 as follows:
"A petition of several inhabitants of and near Conestogae, setting forth the great necessity of a road to be laid out from Conestogoe to Thomas Moore's and Brandywine, was read and the Board having taken the said petition into consideration, appoint- eded Isaac Taylor, John Cartledge, Ezekiel Harland, Thomas Moore, Joseph Cloud and William Marsh, to lay out the said Road, and make re- port thereof at this Board, in order to be confirmed.'
I cite this to show that the neces- sities of both the Indians and the whites made this road a very much desired thing."
1718-The "Old Sawannah Town."
In Vol. 19 of the 2nd Series of the Penna. Archives, p. 625, under the date of the second of the 11th month, 1717-18, which is the second of Jan- uary, 1718, at a meeting of the Coun- cil board it is stated that, "The Com- missioners being informed that Mat- thias Vanbebber, from Maryland,
taking with him Henry Hollins- worth, had lately surveyed a con- siderable tract of land near the head of Pequea Creek in this Province, including within the same the Old Sawannah Town, by virtue of war- rants from Maryland, and offering the people settled under this Gov- ernment to sell lands to them in right of Maryland and make them good titles for the same."
This item I quote not so much for its disclosure of the claims of Mary- land but for the purpose of estab- lishing the "Old Sawannah Town." It is here set forth as being near the head of Pequea Creek; and in the Quarter Sessions Records of Chester County of the year 1719, August Ses- sions, a road is described crossing the Octoraro Creek near the "Old Sawannah Town," so that it would appear that the Shawnese Indians had their towns all along the Pequea Creek and also all along the Octor- aro Creek.
1718-An Indian Signer of the Con- estoga Treaty of this Year.
In Vol. 2 of Watson's Annals, p. 209, he gives the following eulogy of Nedowaway and says: "Nedowaway was an Indian Chief of the Dela- wares, of more than common charac- ter, who had become a Christian, and died in Ohio in 1776, at ninety years of age. His name appears among the signers of the treaty at Conestoga in 1718; and in his child- hood he is said to have seen Wil-
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liam Penn on his second visit in
1701-2. As a trusty and discreet chief, he had been trusted with the preservation of all the verbal speech- es, bead vouchers, and wampum, and with such writings and instruments as had come from William Penn and his early Governors, etc.
He was grieved with the encroach- ments of the white men, westward, on the Indian Lands; and early for- seeing that wars must ensue, and that his people must be sufferers, he resolved with his people to get far off in the west. By the advice of the Wyandot chief, he settled on the Cayahage river, where he was visited and seen by Heckewelder in 1772.
See in his picture in this work, how pensive he sits alone, and pon- ders in the mute eloquence of grief, upon his former well known scenes, along the mountain range traversing the Susquehanna, near Harrisburg. The picture seems to speak his in- ward emotions and distress at being obliged to leave the regions of his former home."
This strikes me as an interesting episode revealing the side of Indian character that we do not always give credit for.
1718-Jealousy Against the Pala- tines Amongst the Conestoga Indians.
In Vol. 2 of the Votes of Assembly p. 220 the Assembly in a speech to the Governor says, in referring to the Palatines settling among the Conestoga Indians, "That the coming in of so many foreigners rests upon us with great concern and the more for that they have no license from the King to transport themselves here; and the royal charter seems to be against them, unless they were denizis'd or at least come under the proper tests that should largely dis- tinguish them from his Majesty's enemies.
Therefore, we desire that the Governor would be pleased to favor us with his sentiments in the prem- ises and either appoint a committee of the Council to join a commission of this House, or otherwise, as the Governor shall think fitt, to concert proper methods to remove the jeal- onsies already raised in the minds of the inhabitants concerning these foreigners; as also to prevent the in- conveniencies which may attend their settlment in one place, or pro- miscously among the Indians."
The fear of difficulties arising between the Foreigners and the In- dians, is here set forth.
1719-Colonel French's Treaty with the Conestoga Indians.
On the 28th of June, 1719, Colonel French reached Conestoga in com- pliance with a direction from the Government that he should go there to make a further treaty with those Indians; and having done so he gives the following report of the treaty which is found in Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 78; and in which report he states that he addressed the Indians as follows:
"Friends and Brethren:
By the seal to this paper affix- ed, and by my old acquaintance and friendship with you, you will be- lieve that I am a true man, and sent from your good friend and Brother. the Governor of Pennsylvania, to let you know that we will be pleased and satisfied with the letter he re- ceived, by the care of our good friend John Cartledge, in the begin- ning of this month, signed in behalf of you four nations here met, in which letter you declare severally your intentions of keeping his words. and if any among you have done amiss, and departed from what was
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right and good in keeping your pro- mises, to observe strictly with all the Indians in Friendship and League with the English, you have therein acknowledged your errors and mis- takes, and engaged to offend no more in that nature or case.
The Governor takes these assur- ances of your good behavior very kindly, and now he and his Council have sent me on purpose to visit you that I might further treat with you, and receive from you in the same manner and as fully as if he and his Council (of which I am one) were all here, and present with you a renewal of these good promises and engage- ments with you, so well and largely give him an account of your affairs and how matters go with you. I must therefore acquaint you from my Governor, that as you in your treaty call yourselves his children, he will always treat you as his sons, and he has, ever since your good friend William Penn, (who is now dead) send amongst you endeavored by all means to keep you in peace, and give you other tokens of his friendship that you might flourish and increase, that your old men might see their children grow to their comfort and pleasure, and that the young men might bury their old parents when they die, which is much better than to see your old people mourn for their young sons, who rashly and without cause go to war and are killed in the prime of their years; and he now hopes that you are fully convinced that Peace is better than war, which destroys you and will bring you to nothing; your strong young men being first killed, the old women and children are left defenseless, who soon will become a prey. And so all the na- tion perishes without leaving a name to Posterity.
This is plain mark that he and we are your true friends, for if we were not then we should encourage you to destroy one another. For friends save people from ruin and destruc- tion but enemies destroy them, and this will serve as a mark to know all people by who are your enemies, either amongst you or elsewhere, if they want, or study to throw strife and dissention amongst you. These are a base and bad people, and ought to be rooted out from amongst you; for love and friendship makes people multiply, but malice and strife ruins and destroys. Such should therefore be shut out, both from you and us, as disturbers of our peace and Friendship which hath always continued.
I am also to acquaint you, that you have in a grave and solemn manner renewed your last treaty with me, on which message I now come, that our Governor will write to all the Governors of the English, that the Indians within the Govern- ment are resolved to live peaceable and quietly, and for that reason that they should give notice to all their Indians thereof, and that all the friends to the English should be ac- counted as one people, and the Gov- ernor desires that you will let him know of what nation these Indians were who gave you the late disturb- ance, that they may especialy be or- dered to do so no more.
I am also to acquaint you that it is the Governor's pleasure, that if any of the Five Nations come amongst you to trade or hunt, that you re- ceive them as friends and Brothers; but if they come amongst you either to persuade you to go to war or to go themselves, or in their return from it, that then you have nothing to do with them nor entertain them; for he expects that none of his
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friends will know any people but such as are peaceable, lest they bring you into a snare, and you suf- fer hurt for their faults.
The Governor expects and requires that if any Prisoners by any means whatever fall into any of your hands that he be quickly acquainted with it, and that no person offer or take upon him to kill any stranger pris- oner for it will not be suffered here. He has been much displeased at
what happened, and was done by some amongst you last year in these parts, but he is now again a friend upon their promise and engagement to do so no more, and will take no more notice of it if they observe and fulfill their words. It is indeed a shameful and a base thing to treat & creature of their own shape and kind worse and more barbarously than they would a Bear or Wolf, or the most wicked creature upon earth. It is not man-like to see a hundred or more people singing songs of joy for the taking of a pris- oner, but it is much worse to see them use all their contrivance of torture and pain to put that unfor- tunate creature to death after such a manner and war as other Nations, especially the English, never heard of it; for if they in a just war kill their enemies it is not like men in the battle, and if they take them prisoners they use them well nad kindly, until their King gives them orders to return them to their own Country. They take no pleasure to meanly burn, pinch or slash a poor man who can not defend himself, it shows mean spirits and want of true Courage so to do. For men of true Courage are always full of mercy. I am commanded to tell you, and I
by torture here, for whoever does it must answer to the Governor and Government at their peril. It is in- consistent with the ways of Nations; it is a violent affront to our Govern- ment, and it is contrary to the Laws of the Great King and will not suf- fer it.
As our natural and good friend- ship has long continued, sc the Gov- ernor hopes, and the Government al- so, that it will last from one gen- eration to another, as long as the sun endures, and that we shall all be of one mind, one heart, one in- clination, ready to help one another in all just and good ways, by Charity Compassion and mercy, sticking close and invioably to all treaties heretofore made, and most exactly to this now concluded, which he hopes will forever last and remain to your good and prosperity, which he and his Government heartily
wish. And as it is expected that every article of this treaty be from the whole hearts of all of you, so if amongst yourselves you know of any who have from your last treaty or iwill dissent from this, let them be known either by their own words or your knewledge of them, for what I do is done with the whole consent of cur Governor, Council and People."
The Council at Conestoga in addi- tion to Colonel French consisted of Capt. James Gould, Joseph Piegeon, John Cartledge, James Hendricks-
son ; and Canatowa, Queen of the Mingoes, Sevana, King of the Shaw- anese, Wightomina, King of the Delawares. Waninchack, King of the Canawages, and Capt. Civility of Conestogoa; and before that Council the Indians the next day, June 29, 1719, gave the following report:
"Civility Interpreter in behalf of would have you remember it well, the four nations, who all agreed to that no person whatever offer after return one answer, acquainted John this time to put any man to death Cartledge, Interpreter for the Eng-
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lish, that this day the Indians were met to return an answer to the Gov- ernor's speech by Colonel French, and on no other account. Looking upon everything said to Colonel French to be said as if the Governor and his Council were there present, and well knowing Colonel to be a true man to this Government and to the Indians. They return with one heart and mind their thanks to the Governor for his kind message. They meet him and take him by the hand, and are forever determined that his will shall be theirs, and that on all occasions they will be ruled by the såme ..
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