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 35
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I have now my friends and broth- ers, said all that I think can be of any service at this time, and I give you these things here laid before you to confirm my words, viz: five Stroud coats, twenty pounds of powder, and forty pounds of lead for each of the Five Nations; that is twenty-five coats, one hundred weight of powder and two hundred of lead in the whole, which I desire may be deliv- ered to them, with these my words in my name and on behalf of this province.
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ANNALS OF THE SU SQUEHANNOCKS AND
"I shall be glad frequently to see some of your chief men sent in the name of the rest, but desire you will be so kind as to come to us to Phila- delphia to visit our families and chil- dren born there, where we can pro- vide better for you and make you more welcome, for people always re- ceive their friends best at their own houses. I heartily wish you well on your journey and good success in it, and when you return home I desire you will give my very kind love and the love of all our people to your kings and to all their people.
Then the Governor rose up from his chair, and when he had called Ghesont the speaker to him, he took a Coronation Medal of the Kings out of his pocket and presented it to the Indian in these words.
That our children when we are dead may not forget these things, but keep this treaty between us in per- petual remembrance. I here deliver to you a picture in gold, bearing the image of my great master the King of all the English; and when you re- turn home I charge you to deliver this piece into the hands of the first man or greatest Chief of all the Five Nations whom you call Kannygoodk, to be laid up and kept as a token to our childrens' children, that an en- tire and lasting Friendship is now established forever between the Eng- lish in this country and the Great Five Nations.
1721-James Logan Continues the
Conestoga Treaty After the Governor Left for Phila- delphia
'n Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 130, "James Logan, Secretary, further reports, that having continued at Conestogoe, after the departure of the Governor and the rest of the Company, he had the next day by the continued treaty held by James Logan Governour's approbation and direc-
tion held a discourse with Ghesaont, the Chief of those Indians and their Speaker Civility, the Captain of Conestogoe, and John Cartlidge, being the Interpreter.
That he had first put Ghesaont in mind of the great satisfaction the Governour had expressed to him in the Council upon their kind visit, and the freedom and openness that had been used to them on our parts, and therefore advised him if he had anything in his thoughts further re- lating to the Friendship established between us and the matters treated in Council he would open his Breast in his free Conversation, and speak it without reserve, and whatever he said on those heads should be re- ported faithfully to the Governour.
Ghesaont then, said that he was very well pleased with what had been spoken. He saw the Governour and the English were true friends to the Five Nations, but as to their people going out to war, which head we chiefly insisisted on, the principal reason was that their young men had become very poor, they could get no goods nor clothing from the English, and therefore they went abroad to gain them from their Enemies.
"They had at once a clear Sky and Sunshine at Albany, but now all was over cast, and they could no longer trade and get goods as they had done, of which he could not know the reason, and therefore they had resolved to try whether it was the same among the other English Gov- ernments."
"To this the Secretary answered, that they had from the first settle- ment of New York and Albany been in strict League and Friendship with that Government, and had always had a trade with and been supplied by them. with Goods they wanted
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That it was true, three or four years
past the French had come from Canada to Albany in New York, and purchased and carried a great part of the goods, Strowd waters especi- ally, sometimes three or four hundred pieces in a year, which the Five Nations ought to have had; but that now, another Governor being lately sent thither from the Great King of England, he had made a law that the French should not have any more goods from the English; that this had been the reason of the Clouds and dark weather they com- plained of, but that now a clear Sun- shine as they desired would be re- stored to them; That he knew very well this Gentleman the new Gov- ernour, that he had not long since been at Philadelphia, and at his (the Secretary's) house, and that he had heard him (the Corlear) say he would take care of his Indians should be well supplied for the future, and accordingly they might depend on it.
Ghesaont being hereupon asked whether they did not know that the French had for some years past had the Cloths from the English, an- swered, that they knew very well that these English goods went now in a new path, different from what they had formerly gone in, that they knew not where they went, but they went besides them and they could not get hold of them, though they much wanted them.
"The Secretary proceeded to say, that as New York and Albany had been their ancient friends, so they could best supply them, and they would certainly do it if they con- tinued in their Duty on their part; that they were sensible the Great King of England had a regard for them, by the Notice he took of them almost every year; that all the Eng-
lish everywhere were their Friends. We were now very gald to see them, but wished for the future they would come to Philadelphia, as they former- ly used to do; that he himself had seen their Chiefs twice at Philadel- phia, the two years that William Penn was last here, and that when his son came over about three years after, now about seventeen years agoe, a considerable number of them came down and held a great Council with us, and therefore he hoped they would visit us there again, which would be much more convenient than so far back in the woods where it was difficult to accomodate them and ourselves, that however we were glad to see them there. This they knew was a Government but lately settled, but that they were now going into two Governments that had been much longer seated and were very rich, and would make them exceeding wel- come; that we saw them in the woods only, at a great distance from home, but they would see the Govern- ours of Maryland and Virginia at their own towns and houses where they could entertain them much bet- ter; that they would be very kindly received, for we were all of one heart and mind, and should always entertain them as Brothers.
"Ghesaont took an opportunity of himself to enter again on the subject of their people making Peace with the other Indians on the Main. He said that he had in his own person laboured it to the utmost; that he had taken more pains to have it establish- ed than all the French had done; that their people had lately made peace with the Tweuchtwese; that they had also sent some of their men to the Flat Heads for the same pur- pose, that they had now a universal Peace with all the Indians, excepting
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three small Nations to the Southward with whom he hoped to have one concluded upon his present journey by means of the Governour of Vir- ginia, that his own desires were very strong for Peace as his Endeavors had shewn, and he doubted not to see it established everywhere. He said the Governous had spoken very well in the Council against their young men going to war, yet he had not done it fully enough for he should have told them positively that they should not on any acount be suffered to go out to war, and he would have reported it accordingly, and this would have been a more effectual way to prevent them.
"The Secretary then proceeded to treat with them about the road they were to take, and it was agreed that the Chief of the Nantikokes, a sensi- ble man, who was then present, should conduct them from Conestogoe to their own town on Wye Rver, that they should be furnished for their journey with provisions sufficient to carry them among the inhabitants, after which they were directed, as the Governour had before ordered, that they should produce his pass- port to the Gentlemen of the Country, where they travelled by whom they would be provided for; and the Nan- tikoke chief was further desired, upon their leaving the Nantikoke Towns to direct them to some of the Chief of Gentlemen and officers of those parts who would undoubtedly take care of them on sight of their passports and thereby knowng their business have them transported over the Bay of Annapolis. Being further asked how they would get an inter- preter in Virginia where the Indians knew nothing of their language, and some proposals being made to furnish them they answered there would be rights to him.
no occasion for any care of that kind, for they very well knew the Govern- our of Virginia had an interpreter for their language always with him.
"Provisions being orderd for their journey and also at their desire, some for those of their Company, who with their women and children were to re- turn directly home by water, up the . river Sasquehanna, viz: a Bagg of Biskett, some pieces of Bacon and dried venison; these matters were concluded with great expressions of thankfulness for the Governours great care of them and their families, which kindness they said they never should forget.
"The Discourse being continued they were told it was now very near, viz: within one Moon of thirty-seven years since a great man of England, Governour of Virginia, called the Lord Effingham together with Colonel Dungan, Governour of New York,held a great treaty with them at Albany, of which we had the writings to this day.
"Ghsaont answered, they knew i well and the subject of that treaty, it was said about settling of lands. Being further told that in that treaty the Five Nations had given up all their rights to all the lands on Sas- quehannah to the Duke of York, then brother to the King of England. He acknowledeged this to be so, and that William Penn since had the right to these lands, to which Civility, a descendant of the ancient Susque- hannah Indians the old Settlers of these parts, but now reputed as of an Iroquois descent added that he had been informed by their old men, that they were troubled when they heard that their Lands had been given up to a place so far distant as New York, and that they were overjoyed when they understood William Penn had brought them back again, and
that they had confirmed all their
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"Divers Questions were further | 1721-The Conestogas' King Killed
asked him, especially concerning the French of Canada, their trade and fortifications, on which he said, that the French had three forts on this side of the River St Lawrence, and between their Towns and Mentual furnished with great numbers of Great Guns, that the French drove a great trade with them, had people constantly in or going to and coming from their Towns, that the French kept young People in their towns on purpose to learn the Indian Language, which many of them now spoke as well as themselves; that they had a great Intercourse with them, that about three hundred of their men, (viz: of the Five Nations) were seat- ed on the other side of the Great River, that the French had this last Spring begun to build or to provide for building a Fort at Niagara Falls, but they had since declined it; he knew not for what reason, and they, (the French) had sent to his town (the Isanondonas) this last winter a great deal of powder to be dis- tributed among them, but nothing was done upon it. Being particular- ly asked whether the French had-ever treated them about any of their Land, or whether the Indians had ever granted the French any, he answered No! that his People knew the French too well to treat with them about Lands; they had never done it, nor either granted them any upon any account whatsoever, and of this, he said, we might assure ourselves. Thus the day was spent in such Discourses, with a Pipe and some small mixt
liquors, and the next morning Ghesaont, with the rest of his Com- pany, returning from the Indian town, to John Cartilidge's, took their leaves very affectionately with great expression of thankfulness to the Governour and this Government for their kind reception."
in a Southern War.
In Vol.3 of the Col. Rec., p. 128, it is set forth that the Conestoga In- dians lost their King not long ago, because the Five Nations compelled him to go along to the South to make war against the Southern Indians.
1721-Civility, A Descendant of the Ancient Susquehannocks.
In Vol.3 of the Col. Rec., p. 133, it is set forth that Captain Civility of the Conestogas was "a descendant of the ancient Susquehannocks; ' and it is also stated that the old Susquehan- nocks were reputed as being of the Iroquois stock, and that so was Civili- ty reputed.
1721-John Grist Takes Conestogas' Lands without Consent.
In Vol.3 of the Col. Rec., p. 137, it is set forth that John Grist was in prison at Philadelphia and that he was arrested because with other per- sons he settled himself and family and took up lands on the Susquehan- na River, without any warrant from the Commissioners of Property or temptuously defied any one to put him off, and that the complaint having been made to the Governor by the Indians of Conestoga in July last of the many abuses that they had received from John Grist; the Gover- nour with the advice of some of the Commissioners, who were then with him at Conestoga, thought it was necessary to have John Cartlidge one of the Justices of the Peace, to go to Conestoga and warn Grist to get off the land, which he refused and was now thrown in jail, and he petitions that he may be given his liberty. And the board in Compassion to his poor famiy, is pleased to order that
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ANNALS OF THE SU SQUEHANNOCKS AND
he be given leave to carry off his corn, provided he will enter into a bond to move off the land and be of good behavior for one year, and pay his fees.
1721-The Nantikokes Move to Co- calico.
In Lyle's History of Lacaster Coun- ty, p. 14 it is stated that the Nanti- kokes who first lived on Chesapeake Bay were allowed to move to Tulpe- hocken Valley and moved there until 1721, when the large settlement of Germans which came to Tulpehocken from New York made them restless and they moved to Cocalico Town- ship in Lancaster County, settling along "Indian River" at the place known as "Indiantown"; as late as 1758 there were still several scatter- ed tribes along the little streams of this viciity. The town covered 500 acres and came into the possession of John Wistar and Henry Carpenter. Another branch of the Nantikokes had a town on land owned by Levi S. Reist, called "Lehoy'. This land was also bought from Pennsylvania families by John Wistar. The Nanti- kokes understood the English lan- guage and were frequently with the whites; and afterwards moved up the West branch of the Susquehanna River.
1722-Conestoga Indians Killed By John and Edmund Cartlidge.
Richard Landgon, a butcher of Conestoga, took a message to Phila- delphia of the death of an Indian at one of their towns above Conestoga, caused by blows by John or Edmond Cartlidge or both. Langdon got the news from several persons of respon- sibility near Conestoga. The Govern- or found it advisable to call the Coun- cil together and inquire of this mat- ter; and they decided that it would be
necessary to get further information. It was ordered that Langdon and David Robinson, a blacksmith near Perquayomen, should meet the board and give full information. This may be seen in Vol. 3 of the Col. Rec., p. 146.
As the result of these investiga- tions Colonel French was sent to Con- estoga to investigate the affair. He did so and James Logan went with him. Upon their return they made a report, which may be found in the same book, p. 148.
1722-James Logan and Colonel French's Report of the Conestoga
Indian.
In the last mentioned book,pp 148 and 149, Logan and French gave the following report:
"To the Honourable Sir William Keith, Bart., Goernour of the pro- vince of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Deleware, and the Council of the same.
The Report of James Logan and Colonel French, of their execution of a particular commission to them directed.
May it please the Governour and Council:
Pursuant to the instructions given to us by the Governour we set out from Philadelphia for Conestoga on the 7th Instant, as soon as our com- mission was delivered to us, and the next day meeting with the High Sheriff of the County of Chester, according to an appointment made with him. We sent herewith a proper warrant before us for a greater Dis- patch, to apprehend the two brothers John and Edmund Cartlidge, who were reported to have committed the fact which occasioned our Journey. On the 9th, in the afternoon, we came to John Cartiidge's house where
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we found himself in the Sheriff's cus- tody, Edmond Cartlidge was then in- formed, for his brother to join him to proceed on their business of trade towards the Patowmeck; but on our informing John of the necessity there was of seeing his brother. he was pre- vailed upon to send for him the next day, and accordingly he came. The same morning, we dispatched a messenger to summon Peter Bizail- lion, who lives about 36 miles higher up Susquehanna, to attend us as In- terpeter between us and the Indians, but he having no horses at home, and being far from neighbors, he could not get down till the fourth day after the messenger set out, viz: till the 13th in the afternoon.
Soon after our first arrival at Con- estogoe we gave the Chiefs of the Indians Notice of our Business, and upon Peter Bizallion's coming, we appointed a meeting with them the next morning; accordingly, we met, with the Chiefs of the Mingoe or Con- estogoe Indians, of the Shawanese and Ganawese, and some of the Dela- wares in Council, in which we spoke to them in the following words, inter- preted in sentences, first from our language into Delaware Indian by Peter Bizaillion, who took an oath faithfully to interpret between us and the Indians, and afterwards was interpreted into the three other lan- guages by Captain Civility of Cones- togoe and Smith the Ganawese, who excels in the skill . of those lan- guages.
At a Council held at Conestogoe, the 14th day of March, 1721-2, be- tween James Logan, Secretary, and Colonel John French, in behalf of the Governour of Pennsylvania, thereun- to authorized by virtue thereof a commission to them from the Govern- our, under the Great seal, bearing
date the 7th inst .; and also came
Civility, Tannacharoe, Gunnehator- ooja, Toweena, and other old men of the Conestoga Indians, and
Savannah, Chief of the Shawanese; Winjack, Chief of the Ganawese; Tekaachroon, a Cayoogoe; Oweeye- kanowa, Nostarghkamen, Delawares.
Present divers English and Indians. The Secretary laying down a belt of Wampum on the Board before them. which he had taken with him for that purpose, spoke to the In- dians, as follows:
Friends and Brethren:
William Penn, our
and your Father, when he first settled this country with English subjects, made a firm League of Friendship and Brotherhood with all the Indians then in these parts, and agreed that both you and his people should be all as one Flesh and Blood. The same League has often been renewed by himself and other Governours under him, with their Council held as well in this place where we now are as at Philadelphia, and other places. Both his People and yours have hitherto inviolably observed these Leagues so that scarce any one In- jury has been done, nor anyone Com- plaint made on either side, except one for the Death if La Tour and his company for near forty years past, and of this you are fully sensible.
Yet as all human affairs are liable to accidents which sometimes fall out even between Brethren of the same Family though issuing from the same Parents, so now your good Friend, our Governour and his Council hav- ing heard by report only, that one of our Brethren had lost his Life by some Act of violence, alleged to be done by some of our People, without receiving any notice of it or Com- plaint from you, but moved with great
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
Concern for the loss and unhappi- ness of the accidents, like true friends and Brothers, the very next Day sent us two, Colonel French and me, first to condole with yon, which we now do very heartily, and next by the full Power with which we are invested to inquire how the matter came to pass, that Justice may be done and satisfaction be made ac- cording to the firm Leagues that have from time to time been made between us and you, for We will suffer no injury to be done to any of you without punishing the offenders according to our Laws; nor must we receive without just satisfaction made ot us, for so the Laws of Friendship and the Leaques between us require.
We therefore now desire you, that according to the notice we gave you three days agoe, to have all those persons ready here who know any- thing of this matter. You would fully inform us of every particular, for we are now here to take their Examinations, which we expect you will take care shall be given with Truth and exactness, and without any partiality from resentment or favour; that when our Governour and Council are assured of the Truth they may proceed more safely in doing of Justice.
This being interpreted, as has been said, into the four several Languages of those People, we judged it neces- sary that our Commission should be publicly read in the hearing and for the satisfaction of the English who were there, and then we proceeded and put the following Questions, and to examine Indian Evidence.
Quest. When did Civiliity and the other Indians of Conestogoe first hear of the death of the man, and by whom?
eral Indians much about the same time.
Quest. Where was it done?
Answer. At Manakassy, a branch of Potomac river.
Quest. What was the man's name, his Nation, and rank among his own people ?
Answer. His name was Sanataeny of the Tsanondowaroonas or Sinne- kaes, a Warrior, a civil man of very few words.
Quest. What was his business there?
Answer. He was hunting, he being used to hunt in that place.
Quest. Who do you understand, was present besides the English at the Commission of the fact?
Answer. The Man had been hunting there alone, with a Squaw that kept his Cabin, till John Cartlidge and his people came thither to trade with him for his skins. John Cartlidge had an Indian guide with him of the Ganawese Nation, named Aqua- chan, who is here present; also two Indian Shawana Lads came thither about the same time, whose names are Acquittanachke and Metheegue- yt; also, his Squaw, a Shawnese woman, named Weyneprecueyta, Cou- sin to Savannah, Chief of that Na- tion who are all here present.
Then Winjack and Savannah, Chiefs of the Ganawese and Shaw- nese, were required to charge those four witnesses of the fact of their respective nations to speak the im- partially, without malice or Hatred, Favour or affection on any account whatsoever. The three Shawanna Witnesses being desired to witdraw Ayaquachan, the Ganawese, aged ac- cording to appearance, about thirty years was called uon to give an ac-
Answer. They heard of it by sev- count of what he knew, and accord-
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ingly he said, that he came in the evening to the Indian Cabin in which Indian is dead, with John Cartlidge and Edmund Cartlidge, who had with them William Wilkins and one Jonathan, both servants to John Cartlidge with an intent to trade with the said Indians, for his skins, they having hired him to be their guide; that John Cartlidge gave the Sennikae some small quantities of Punch and rum three times that evening, as he remembers, as a free gift, and then sold him some rum; That both the Sinnekae and this Ex- aminant were drunk that night; that in the morning the Sinnekae said he must have more rum, for that he had not received all he had bought; that accordingly he went to John Cartlidge and demanded it, but that John de- nied to give him any, and taking the pot out of the Indians hands threw it away; that the Sinnekae told him he need not be angry with him for asking more for he owed it to him, and he still pressed him to give it; that John then pushed the Indian down who fell with his neck across a fallen tree, where he lay for some time, and then rising walked up to his Cabin; That this Examinant was then by the fire which he thinks was about thirty or forty, others say a hundred paces from the Cabin; that he saw John Cartlidge strip off his clothing near the fire; That then this Examinant went up towards the Cabin and saw the Sinneka sitting on the ground with the blood running down his neck, and that when John Cartlidge came up he kicked him on the Forehead with his foot; that this Deponent was in liquor at the time and knows no more. Being asked if he saw any gun, he says he saw none.
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