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 33
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What the Governor has said to you by himself. and by Colonel French, and what I now say to you is for your own advantage, and if you are your own friends you will pursue the advice that is given you. If any of the Five Nations go this way in their going out to war, and call on any of you to accompany them, you must in- form them as you are in League with us, and are as one people, you cant not break your promises, and it can not be pleasing to them to see you living in such friendship with us. I have said enough on these heads, and you I hope will lay it up in your hearts and duly observe it; let it sink into your minds, for it is of great weight.
The Ganawese having hebaved
themselves well since they came amongst us. and what they desire. they shall have Your people of Conestogoe about twenty years agoe brought the Shawanese with them to Philadelphia to see and treat with I must further inform you as a friend that this whole business Governor Penn, and then promised of the Governor that they would answer making War in the manner you do, is for the Shawanese that they should
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live peaceably with us and in friendship with us, but we find their ears are thick, they do not hear what we say to them, nor regard our ad- vice.
The Chiefs of the Shawanese an- swered to this with a deep concern, that this was occasioned by the young men who lived under no Gov- ernment; that when their king who was then living, Opessah, took the Government upon him, but the people differed with him; he left them, they had then no Chief, therefore some of them applied to nim to take that charge upon him, but that he had only the name without any authority, and could do nothing. He counselled them, but they would not obey, there- fore he can not answer for them, and divers that were present, both Eng- lish and Indians, confirmed the truth of this.
The Secretary hereupon admonish- ed him and the rest to take a further Care. that what had been said should be pressed upon the young people and duly observed, and then calling for Liquor and drinking with them dismissed them.
But the Indians, before they would depart, earnestly pressed, that on ac- count of this treaty should with all possible speed be dispatched to the Governours to the Southward, and to their Indians that further mischief might be prevented, for they were ap- prehensive that the Southern Indians might come out to met the Five Na- tions, and then they, as had been said to them lying in the road might be the sufferers. but they truly de- sired peace, and were always against molesting any Indians that were un- der the protection or lived in friend- ship with the English.
The Secretary then proposed to them that they should send some of their people with Belts of Wampum to the Governor of Virginia, to assure
| him of their resolution to live in Peace, and to desire him to acquaint all his Indians with the same. They readily agreed to send the belts with- out delay and promised the following week to bring them to Philadelphia, but they seemed apprehensive of dan- ger to their People in going to Vir- ginia, where they were all strangers. unless the Governors would send some English in Company with them to protect them.
After this conference was ended, Civilty desired to speak with the Secretary in private. and an oppor- tunity being given, he acquainted the Secretary that some of the Five Na- tions especially the Cayoogoes, had at divers times expressed a dissatis- faction at the large settlements made by the English on Sasquehannah and that they seemed to claim a property or right to those lands. The Secre- tary answered, that he (viz: Civil- ity) and all the Indians were sensi- ble of the Contrary, and that the Five Nations had long since made over all their right to Sasquehannah to the Government of New York, and that Governor Penn had purchased that right with which they had been fully acquainted. Civility acknowl- edged the Truth of this but proceeded to say that he thought it his duty to inform us of it, that we might the better prevent all misunderstanding.
The Secretary having made an end of his report, the Governor observed, that from the last particular year if there was ground to apprehend that the Five Nations. especially the Cay- oogoes, did entertain some secret grudges against the advancing of our advancig settlements upon Sas- quehannah river, and that it was very much to be suspected that the Five Nations were spirited up by the French agents from Canada or Mis- sissippi, to make these new and groundless claims upon 11S whom
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they believed to be a mild defenceless people, and therefore liable to be with less hazard and more easily in- sulted than any of the neighboring colonies; that though the Governor was not under any immediate appre- hension of Danger from the Indians of the Five Nations, yet our present security semed to depend upon the strength and authority of New York, and not upon the peaceable disposi- tion of faith of these barbarians; That if the French (as it was but too pro- bable at this juncture), should pur- sue their usual policy in not only de- bauching the Indians everywhere from the English interest, but also to provoke and encourage them to make war upon one another. and thereby to embroil all the English settlements upon this continent every Colony would in that case find themselves sufficiently employed in their own proper defence. And these things had made such a deep impression up- on the Governour's mind, but he could not but think of the Public safety, as well as his honor and character, to be particularly con- cerned in making such timely pro- vision for the defence of this colony, as the nature of the Constitution and the good inclinations of the people would permit, unto which end the Governors believed that a voluntary militia might be raised and put un- der such good regulations by an Ordinance as could give no offence to any, but be of a general advantage and security to the Trade and People of this province.
The members present being all Quakers, some of them desired to be excused from giving their sentiments upon a subject of that nature but all seemed to acquiesce that leave that matter wholly to the Governour's prudence and good conduct. The Secretary was in the mean time dir- ected to examine whether there was
any ground for the Five Nations to claim a right to any lands upon the Sasquehannah; and also it was mov- ed and agreed upon, that the Gover- nor should write to the President of New York representing the ill treat- ment of our people lately received from those of the Five Nations in their last return from the Southward and the ill consequence which may possibly ensue from their opening a path to war through our settlement upon Sasqquehannah."
Governour Keith considered this treaty at Conestoga a matter of great importance and he wrote to the Gov- ernor of New York about the affair. the main points of which letter were, that we have a great reason to be apprehensive of the growth of the French settlements and the power of the Jesuits over our Indians on the Susquehanna, and that the Jesuits are very active in trading to get our Indians over to the French and that the Southern Indians are very much provoked and come out to fight the Five Nations and pursued to the Sus- quehanna river. He further says that when Governor Penn settled this country, when he came to treat with the Indians settled on Susque- hanna River, he began to deal with New York concerning it, and that Governor Penn on his last visit about twenty years ago held a treaty with the Conestogas settled on Susquehan- na River and that the question about the land was taken up.
So here we see in this letter that difficulties about the land around Conestogoe were again arising, and we also see what seems to be a clear admission that Penn made the two trips to Susquehanna, of which we have spoken of before. All this may be seen in Vol. 3 of the Colonial Re- cords, pp. 99 to 102. One of the chief questions that Logan was try- ing to settle was the dissatisfaction of these lands around Suquehanna.
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1720-The Conestoga Indians Com- plain that the Five Nations Compel Them to Go South
to Fight.
There is no doubt that. the subjec- tion to the Five Nations which the Conestogas were compelled to under- go was very galling to them and frequently brought them into dan- gerous situations and compelled them to go on expeditions in the South against their friends. The Con- estogas, Conoys. the Ganawese, the Delawares and the Tuscaroras, all of which tribes lived around about Conestoga and Susquehanna, were under the Five Nations at this time and if they refused to obey the Five Nations, they were in great danger of being butchered themselves. Their condition was pitiable and in a paper sent to the Council at Phila- delphia they set forth their sad con- dition. This paper and the proceed- ings connected with it are as fol- lows: At a Council held at Philadel- phia, July 20, 1720, besides the Coun- cil and the Governor there were pre- sent also "Conestogce Indians Tago- leless or Civility, Oyanowhachso. Sohais Connedechto's son, Tayuch- einjeh.
| to hear of the welfare of their people.
The Indians delivered two Belts of Wampum with a written paper, which they say contains the whole of what they were ordered to deliver to the Governor and Council at the time.
The said paper was read, and is as follows:
July 16th, 1720.
To our Friends and Brothers, the Governour and James Logan. at Philadelphia. These as to what hath been proposed by our Friend and Brother James Logan, when here, of our sending to the Southward Gov- ernments to confirm a peace; We are very willing to have and keep Peace, and therefore send a belt of Wampum to confirm it, but we must leave it wholly to you to perfect the same. As to any of our People on this river going to the Southern parts about the same. it will doubtless oc- casion the death of us, while the Five Nations still follow the practice of going there to war, of whom at this time there is a great number going that way; therefore, we plainly tell you. we know not what measures to take, but leave all to you, resolving to follow your council, but sure we are to suffer for what we have al- Ganawese: Ousewayteichks or Captain Smith, Sahpechtah, Meemee- ivoonnook, Winjock's son, George Waaspessum, and John Prince. ready yielded to do in the affair aforesaid as soon as the Sinnekaes come to know thereof, if not protect- ed by you, for they will be enraged Shawanese: Kenneope. against us when they know that we Edwad Farmer, Sworn Interp'r. The Secretary acquainted the Board. that the Indians present were sent by their chiefs from Conestoga, in pursuance of the resolution they had taken at the conference he had lately held with them there, of send- ing a message to the Goernor of Vir- ginia. are willing to be at Peace with those Nations, that they resolve to maintain war against, and will certainly cut us off as well as the Back Christian Inhabitants; for they we are sure, do not bear true affection to your Government. and some of them are already very bold and impudent to the Christian inhabitants and us also The Interpreter, by the Governor's order, told the Indians that their for their sakes, whom we are unwil- ling should have any damage done by Governor was glad to see them and them if we can prevnt it, and in real
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
good will do certify the Government that we believe they will shortly have some trouble with them if not pre- vented. Our Captain Tagoteless, and some other of our people comes with . our words to you, and this present letter taken by his interpretation, by our good friend John Cartiledge, whom we could have been glad if he would have come himself and given an account of matters. We are your true friend and Brothers at Conesto- goe." See 3 Col. Rec., . 102. B.
This needs no further comment as everything is set forth fully in the paper.
The next day the Council being met again the Governor spoke as fol- lows .to them concerning their troubles :
"That nothing can be more accept- able to this Government than that the Indians should live in Peace with all the Nations around them, but above all with those who are friendly with the English Governments. The Governor has often seriously exhorted them to it. and they had engaged to go out no more to war, with which engagements he had acquainted the Governours to the Southward, and more specially the Governor of Vir- ginia, by Captain Smith, who came from that Governour to the North- ward, on purpose to engage the Northern Indians to live in Peace with all his people and friends. And the said Gentleman, Captain Smith, they may well remember, was pres- ent with the Governour at his first conference with them at Conestogoe soon after his arrival. when they promised in that treaty to go out to war no more.
That it was a very great satisfac- tion to all parties to find them thus engage themselves, though what was proposed to them was wholly for their own benefit and advantage. Captain Smith carried this news with
| gladness, and the Governour of Vir- ginia and his people received it with joy, and everybody believing that they might surely depend on these assurances.
Yet notwithstanding all these, some of their young men had been unhap- pily prevailed on to go out against the same people. The Governor is very well pleased to hear by the Sec- retary's respect on what they lately said on that head at Conestoga, that they condemn these proceedings, and excused themselves by the influence the Five Nations have over their peo- ple, and that the young men caried on by the Heat and Blood to martial exploits, and to shew their manhood are difficulty restrained by the more sage advice of their elders. But it is now hoped that these young men, some of them having forfeited their lives by their disobedience to their Elders. are also as fully resolved most strictly to observe these present engagements; and though the Gover- our really lies under some disadvan- tages in the representation he is now to make to the Governours of Virginia and Carolina, by reason of their having failed in their former, yet he will without delay acquaint these Governours with their renewed resolutions, and give them all pos- sible assurances from our Indians, that nothing in their power shall di- vert them from a strict observance of what they have promised for the fu- ture, and as a binding proof of it according to the custom of their Na- tions, shall convey these two belts of Wampum as firm and inviolable seals to all that they have said. These the Governour will convey to the Governour of Virginia with let- ters in their favour who sent them, and a particular account of their country and habitations, with all which the Governor of Virginia will i undoubtedly take care to acquaint
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all his Indians and people, and en- gage them for the future to consider our friends as his friends. and the Governour will endeavor to make them all as one People.
But as this will require some time, and all the Indians in those South- ern Parts, can not be immediately ac- quainted with these messages, though the Governor intends to use all possible dispatch. They must in the mean time take care of them- selves and keep out of the way of the Warrior's path, till a good and perfect peace and good understand- ing can be settled.
But after the Governor has thus proceded in their behalves, and in some measure pledges his honor for them, they must not fail on any terms whatsoever, most strictly to make good their present engagements against the Perswasions of all Peo- ple whatsoever.
We are all friends to the Five Na- tions and have a great respect for them, and these can not but be pleased to find out that our Indians live in such Friendship with their English Neighbors, as to resolve also to live in Peace with all their friends. Whenever any of these Minquays come amongst them. they must not fail to inform them that they and we are one people and not to be sepa- rated in interest, and we desire that the Minquays also may be the same, and live with us as brotters."
This being interpreted, it was or- dered that they should be supplied with a Quarter Cask of powder, fifty pounds of lead, five gallons of rum, with Bisket, Pipes, Tobacco, etc., for their Journey; in the mean time that the Treasurer or Secretary should see them duly accomodated. This is set forth in Vol. 3 of the Col- onial Records, pp. 103 to 105.
1720-The Cost of the Second Treaty Made at Conestoga.
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p 107 the cost of James Logan's second
| treaty at Conestoga is set out as fol- lows: "The Secretary laid before the Board an Account of the charg- es of a Treaty held with the Indians at Conestogoe, the 27th day of June last, being Eight Pounds Four shil- lings and Eight Pence; as also an ac- count of goods and provisions sup- plied the Indians at Philadelphia, by order of this Board the 20th of July last, amounting to Eight Pounds, Thirteen Shillings and Five Pence, the whole charge being sixteen Pounds, eighteen Shillings and one penny, from which deducting the presents received from the Indians .to the value of ten Pounds, four Shil- lings, there remains due to the Sec- retary the sum of six Pounds, thir- teen Shillings and one penny, which accounts being examined were allow- ed by the Board, and the Treasurer is ordered to pay the said Ballance to the Secretary fortwith.".
1720-The Southern Indians Retal- iate on the Conestogas.
The above account of the Five Na- tions forcing the Conestogas to go southward and fight their friends is also taken notice of in Vol. 2 of tin. Votes of Assembly, p. 258, where it is shown that the expeditions to the South have caused an attack upon our Indians near the head of the Potomac River, by the Southern In- dians who are on their way to Sus- quehanna to fight our people, by rea- son of the fact that the Five Na- tions compel our Indians to go to war against those of the South.
1720-The Shawanese, Ganawese and the Delawares Present at Logan's Treaty with the Con- estogas.
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 92, in which we have discussed the treaty made by James Lgoan with
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
the Conestogas and others, he sets | 1721-The Conestoga Indians Send a forth that the Sachem or Chief of the Peaceful Message to the South- ern Indians. Shawanese, the Chief of the Gana- wese and the people of the Delaware Indians met him at John Cartledge's house the same as the chiefs of the Conestogas. I merely quote this item to show that these various other tribes were still living in this neigh- borhood at this time.
1721-A Message Sent to the Cones- toga Indians, Because of the Dissatisfaction of the Vir- ginian Government.
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 116, it is set forth that a complaint of Governor Spotswood of Virginia caused the Governor and Council in Pennsylvania to send a message to
the Conestoga Indians, in which he asked them to be very careful to obey all the laws and not to offend the In- dians of the South nor the Governor in any way.
Keith says in this message that he has had many conferences with the Government of Virginia about our Conestoga Indians. As the result of this the Conestoga Indians and other Indians at Susquehanna river promis- ed that they would not cross the Potomac river to go South, if the Southern Indians will not cross the Potomac River to come north. 'And the Governor further says that our Indians never do go down across the Potomac River.
1721-The Conestoga Indians Go to the Ohio and Wabash Rivers to Fish.
In Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 116, Governor Keith in a speech, states that the Conestogas and other allied Indians go hunting and fishing on the branches of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers in the Fall of the year and do not return until the following May.
In the book and at the page last mentioned it is set forth that he Con- estoga and allied Indians sent by Governor Keith to Virginia several belts of wampum as pledges of Peace with all the Indians from the South. On the next page we find that Keith begs the Governor of Virginia that I shall mention and include the Indians of the Susquehanna Country with his Cherokees and other Southern In- dians.
1721-The Five Nations Come to Con- estoga to Make a Treaty.
In Vol. 3 of the Colonial Records, p. 118, it is set forth that the depu- ties of the Five Nations are on their way to Conestoga to treat with this Province; and word is sent to Phila- delphia that the Five Nationas are coming to treat. (120).
This statement is given by the Gov- ernor to the Board or Council which he says that he had yesterday received an express from the Cones- toga, intimating that they were cer- tainly informed of some deputies of the Five Nations being on their way to Conestoga in order to treat with this Government. The Council de- cided, however, not to do anything until they heard of the arrival of the Five Nations at Conestoga, but in the meantime the Government will send a message to the Conestoga Indians to inform them about his negotia-
tions for peace in Virginia.
As is shown on p. 120 of the same book, John Cartledge sent an express to Philadelphia, announcing that the deputies had arrived at Conestoga, that he entertained them at his house and desired them to come to Phila- delphia and treat with the Governor.
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That they were very reserved in tell- ing their business and insisted that they must meet the Governor himself at Conestoga, where they wished him to come. . Cartledge also states that a considerable number of the Chiefs and others of the Indians of the Five Nations now actually at Conestoga, positively refused to go any nearer to Philadelphia than Conestoga and he urges the Governor to come at once and treat with them; and the Governor accordingly made the trip.
1721-Governor Keith's First Great Treaty at Conestoga.
Pressed by the above urgent de- mands that he should come to Con- estoga to meet the Five Nations and other Indians the Council decided that the Governor should go on the journey; and the Governor named Richard Hill, Janothan Dickinson, Colonel French and the Secretary, James Logan to accompany him in his journey. It was decided that they would leave on Monday, the third of July. (See Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., pp. 120-121).
This treaty of Governor Keith also attracted the attention of the people generally and a notice of it may be found in the American Weekly Mer- cury, the only newspaper at that time which began publication in 1719 and ran until 1746, under the editor- ship of Andrew Bradford. The newspaper account is found in the issue of July 6, 1721, in which the paper states, "His Excellency, Sir William eKith, our Governor, with some of his Council and thirty other gentlemen set out Monday last for Conestoga in order to meet our In- dians there and some of the Five Na- tion to settle a peace with them as usual."
It is to be noticed that the news- paper report states that thirty of the
citizens went along. The return from Conestoga is also set forth in the same newspaper in the issue of July 13, 1721, where it is stated that, "On Tuesday night last, his Excel- lency, Sir William Keith, Baronett, our Governor, and the gentlemen who attended him arrived here (Philadelphia) from Conestoga. He went thither to meet the heads of the Five Nations who awaited his com- ing to renew the treaties of peace and friendship with them, and ac- comodated some irregularities com- mitted by the young men of those na- tions of war Indians. The Governor and all the Company were handsomely entertained and treated at the house of John Cartledge, Esq., during their stay at Conestoga."
In the issue of July 27, 1721, the particulars of this treaty are adver- tised as being for sale, having been published by Andrew Bradford, but I can not find that the pamphlet was ever seen. Dr. Jordan of the Phila- delphia Historical Society says that this pamphlet has never been seen in print. It is, however, quoted in Hil- deburn's issue of the Pennsylvania press, p. 58. There is a Dublin re- print of it dated 1723, in the Ridge- way Branch of the Library Company of Philadelphia, which I have seen, and excepting the introduction, it is a literal copy of the Colonial Records.
This Irish reprint of 1723 (which is found in Vol. 797 in the Ridgeway branch, etc.,) sets forth on the title page that Andrew Bradford printed the original and published it at the request of the gentlemen whow were present at the treaty, and who went on the journey. It is said that it was reprinted by Eliz. Saddler and Sam. Fuller at the Globe & Scales in
Meath street, Dublin, in 1723. The
following glowing introduction ap- pears in the book,which is not found in the Colonial Records;
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