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 47
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Tach - nech - doarus, Saiuchtowano,
Catara dirha, Tohomady Huntho, a Mohock from Ohio.
George Stevenson, William Wilson, Hermanus Alricks, Esquires.
Sai-uch-to-wano spoke as follows: Brethren:
We were in hopes of giving the Sec- retary a Cheerful Welcome into this part of the Country; but we have just heard a piece of bad news which has interrupted our Joy, that one of the principal men of the Province is taken away by a sudden death, a wise Counsellor and a good friend of ours. He pleased, therefore, to con- vey to the Governor our Expressions of Sorrow on this Melancholy Occa- sion and let this String of Wampum serve to comfort his heart and wipe away the tears from his eyes till this great loss shall be supplied by some fitt person to succeed him.
Then Catara-dirha, on behalf of the Conestogoe Indians, spoke: Brethren:
When the Six Nations sold their Land on Sasquehannah to the Pro- prietaries, the Conestogoe Indians were then living in their town near Lancaster, for which reason the Place where they lived was excepted out of the sale. It will appear by your records that they were to live there as long as they pleased, and when they should incline to depart
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they were to signify it to the Pro- prietaries and receive a Considera- tion; they are now inclinable to move nearest to the Other Indians and according to the agreement al- ready made to the Proprietaries they request you to inform the Governor of their intention. They want to sell their improvements and now make the Proprietaries the first offer of them.
A String of Wampum.
"Brother, the Governor:
Many of our old people are dead, so that we are now left as it were Orphans in a destitute condition, which inclines us to leave our old Habitations. When we are gone ill- minded people may tell you stories to our Prejudice; but we assure you that Distance will not alter our af- fections for you. Therefore, give no ear to such stories, as we on our part will not think you can lose your regard for us, though there are some whom would perswade us that we are now not so much re- garded by you as we have been."
From this item we see that the Conestogas now are very much ground down and they now fear for their safety and ask permission to move. According to what happened later it would have been a wise thing for the Government to allow them to move.
1751-A Nantikoke In Lancaster Jail.
In Vol. 5 of the Col. Rec., p. 543, it is stated that at the beginning of this year one of the Nantikokes was committed to the prison at Lancas- ter for abusing a white girl. It seems that such pressure was brought to bear that he was soon re- leased.
1753-An Indian Deed Executed at Lancaster.
In Vol. 5 of the Col. Rec., p. 700, it is stated that the following letter was written to Governor Dinwiddie:
"Philadelphia, Nov. 15, 1753. Sir:
I am favored with two of your let- ters, one by the Post of the Third of September last, enclosing a copy of the Indian Deed executed at Lancas- ter which I shall send to Mr. Weiser, at whose Instance I desired the Copy, the other of the twenty-third of October, by express enclosing a letter of the twenty-eighth of Au- gust last from the Earl of Holder- nesse, one of his Majesties' Princi- pal Secreataries of State, to whom I shall do myself the Honor to write by a ship from this port, chusing, as my letter from hence may arrive as soon as by the return of the Man-of- War and the contents of his Lord- ship's letter are of great moment, to take some time in the considera- tion of my answer."
1754- Another Purchase of Land Across the Susquehanna River.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., p. 111, a conference was held with some of the Indians, in which the following report was made .:
"May it Please the Governor:
The first Indians that made their appearance were from the Heads of Sasquehannah as low down as One- cquago, and by those who came im- mediately to visit the Commissioners from Pennsylvania, as indeed all the other Indians did."
The report then goes on to state that two Connecticut gentlemen were in town trying to negotiate "a purchase from the Indians for the Sasquehannah Lands lying within the latitude of the Connecticut char- ter in favor of some private persons of that Government, and had with them a thousand pieces of Eight and were busy conferring with the In- dians on this subject at the House and thro' the means of Mr. Lydius."
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1754-The Above Purchase Included
the Governor Dungan Tract.
At the Great Albany Treaty of 1754 the question of the Susquehanna lands again came up and to settle the question the Six Ntaions made a new deed and released all claim to land on both sides of the Susque- hanna River from the mouth up to the endless mountains (See 6 Col. Rec., p. 124), in which it is stated that "Tahashwangoas was desired to tell the Indians the manner of a former deed being executed, and he declared that it was done pluckily and of their own voluntary motion as a testimony of their great regard for the Proprietaries who had at that very treaty given them a generous proof of their upright dealings with the Indians by paying a third time for the Sasquehanna lands, having bought them of Col. Dungan first and then of the Sasquehanna Indians and that he saw all the persons exe- cute it with great willingness. Then Hendrick and the other Indians present were desired to look at the Names of the Signers, .and having done so they acknowldged they were all principal men among the several tribes and being asked to confirm and ratify that deed and renew their engagements to the Proprietaries not to sell to ther persons any of their lands, they one and all declared it to be right, and desired that a short deed might be drawn, which was accordingly done, interpreted and executed both which followeth in these words:
DEED FROM THE SIX NATIONS TO THE PROPRIETORS.
"We the Chiefs of the Six Nations of Indians, Onondagoes, Tsanundow- ans or Sinickes, Cayoogas, Oneydas, Tuscaroroes (in behalf also of the
| Canyingoes or Mohocks), who have lately at Philadelphia by our deed in writing dated the Eleventh day of this Instant, October, released to John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Rich- ard Penn, Proprietors of Pennsyl- vania, and to their Heirs and Succes- sors all their right claim, and Pre- tensions whatsoever to all the lands on both sides of the River Sasque- hannah from the Mouth thereof, as far Northward or up the said river as that ridge of Hills called the Tyoninhasachta or endless moun- tains Westward to the Sitting of the sun and Eastward to the fartherest Springs of the water running into the said river, do hereby further declare that our true intent and meaning by the said writing was and is to release and we do hereby more expressly re- lease to the said Proprietors their heirs and Successors forever, all our right, claim and pretensions whatso- ever to all and every all the land ly- ing within the Bounds and limits of the Government of Pennsylvania, be- ginning Eastward on the River Dela- ware, as far Northward as the said Ridge or chain of endless mountains as they cross the Country of Penn- sylvania from the Eastward to the West.
And further, as we have made the firmest League of Friendship with our Brethren of Pennsylvania, and are become as one people with them, we do hereby promise and engage for our children and their children that neither we nor they nor any in Au- thority in our Nation will at any time bargain, sell, grant, or by any means make over to any person or persons whatsoever (whether white men or Indians), other than to the said Proprietors the children of Wil- liam Penn or to persons by them au- thorized and appointed to agree for and receive the same, any lands
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within the limit of the Government of Pennsylvania as is bounded North- ward with the Government of New York and Albany. But when we are willing to dispose of any further rights of land within the said limits of Pennsylvania we will dispose of them to the said William Penn's children and to no other persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we have in behalf of all our Nations signed this further writing, being distinctly read and Interpreted to us by our Friend Conrad Weiser the twenty-fifth day of October, 1736.
Witness (an interlineation of sev- enteen words, benig first made be- tween the 8th and 9th Lines)."
This deed then is signed by twenty-two chiefs and on the back of it there is an endorsement that it was interpreted to them and they un- derstand all that it means and they do confirm the deed good and promise Richard and Thomas Penn that neither they nor anyone under their authority will ever grant any land to anybody but the heirs and assigns of the Proprietaries. This was done on the Ninth day of July, 1754.
1754-Petition of Lancaster Coun-
tians for Protection.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., p. 131, the following petition is set forth from the inhabitants of Donegal, Lancaster County :
"Petition of the Inhabitants of Done- gal, in Lancaster County, to the Governor:
To the Honourable James Hamil- ton, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Prov- ince of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware,
The humble Petition of Us, the In- habitants of Donegal, humbly
sheweth:
That your Petition being duly sen- sible of the great Danger that our Province now is in by reason of such cruel and merciless Enemy as We are now engaged with, we therefore desire to join with our friends and neighbors in requesting your Honour to take our distressed condition into your considtiation, and to put us in a condition that we may be able to defend ourselves, and we on our part will join in all that we can do for the Safety of the Province; and your Petitioners as in duty bound will pray.
We empower our Trusty Friends James Galbraith, Esqr., and Thomas Foster, Esqr., to present to your Honour in our Behalf.
WILLIAM SMITH, WILLIAM ALLISON, JOHN ALLISON, BARNEY HUGHES.
July 26th, 1754.
Signed by several others, being in all Ninety-Eight Signers."
On p. 132 of the same book there is a similar petition of Paxtang, Derry and Hanover Townships' people who then belonged to Lancaster County. I will not set that petition forth in full as it is similar to the first one and is sgned by fifty-seven signers.
1755-Dungan's Purchase Again Re- ferred To.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., p. 255, in a letter from Governor Morris to Governor Fitch, the following state- ment is made:
"Sir:
Mr. Hamilton, my Predecessor, having wrote fully to you and Mr. Woolcott the late Governor of Con- necticut, relating to a scheme form- ed in your Province for purchasing the English and settling some lands upon the River Susquehanna without the leave of this Government though within its bounds, I beg leave to re-
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
fer you to that letter and to lay be- fore you some other matters from whence you may judge of the Nature and consequence of that attempt. You will, therefore, please to be in- formed that about the year 1690 the Indians then of the Five United Na- tions, by deed regularly executed, conveyed to Colonel Thomas Dungan, Governor of New York, a large Par- cel of land, a great part of which lay upon the River Susquehanna and within the limits of this Province and that Col. Dungan afterwards by deed conveyed the late Proprietor William Penn, all those lands lying upon the waters of Sasquehannah
within the Province aforesaid. I would give you the particular dates of those deds, but am now a dis- tance from Philadelphia where they are. These instruments have been frequently produced to the New Six United Nations of Indians and their allies the Sasquehannas, are recited in many of their subsequent deeds, and have been pluckily acknowledg- ed, ratified and confirmed at several treaties between them and this Gov- ernment; and though the force and effect of those deeds has always been understood as well by the In- dians as by the English to vest in the Proprietors of Pennsylvania all the lands upon the several branches of Sasquehannah, yet they the Pro- prietaries of Pennsylvania have upon many occasions by treaty solemnly engaged not to take possession of those Lands or suffer them to be set- tled without making the Indians a particular satisfaction for such parts of that Country as they should from time to time agree to give up; and for that reason all subsequent deeds have been considered only as confir- mations, so far as they related to the Lands upon the waters of Sasque-
hannah; but as those lands are only a part of the Province of Pennsyl- vania, the six United Nations at a treaty held in October, 1736, did sol- emnly covenant and engage by In- strument, under the hands and seals of the Chiefs of the respective Na- tions to sell all the lands within the limits of Pennsylvania to the Pro- prietaries of this Province and to no other persons whatsoever. This in- strument was produced to the six Nations at the late General treaty at Albany by the Commissioners. from this Government, and proved by one of the Chiefs who was then present and a party thereto; where- upon the Six Nations in public Council declared that the Signers of that instrument were well known to them to have been the principal men and chiefs of their several Nations, and they did then solemnly ratify that agreement and by a new deed not only confirmed the several sales they had theretofore made to the Pro- prietaries, but voluntarily bound themselves to sell no land within the limits of Pennsylvania to any person whatsoever but to the Proprietaries only."
1755-Great Danger and Confusion in Lancaster Town About
Indians.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., p. 670 it is stated that, "Mr. Hamilton find- ing by the Letters received from Lancaster County, that matters were in the utmost danger and confusion, proposed to go instantly to the Town of Lancaster in order to do all the service in their power, and a Dedimus with Blank military Commissions by the advice of Council was given to the Governor by him, empowering him to fill up the blanks with such persons names as hould offer, and were men of known good characters. A Dedi-
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mus was likewise given Mr. Hamil- ton to qualify such officers as should be appointed in that part of the country. Sundry petitions from the most respectable persons in the Sev- eral Counties of Cumberland, York, Lancaster and Chester, setting forth the dismal condition of the inhabi- tants were read and sundry compan- ies formed and commissions granted to such as were recommended for Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns."
This shows us that stirring times were now in existence about little old Lancaster Town.
1755-The Delawares and Shawanese Again Desert the English.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., pp. 724 and 725, the citizens presented a pe- tition to the Governor of Pennsyl- vania stating that the Delawares and Shawanese . are now
so alienated against us as to take up the hatchet in favor of the French. The petition- ers inquired whether the Shawanese were not satisfied at the last treaty. The Governor then goes on to give the whole Shawanese history from the time that the first sixty families came to us from the South and shows that their actions have always been treacherous while they have done everything in their power to keep them friendly.
1755-A Meeting of Our Friendly In- dians at Harris's Ferry, Now Harrisburg.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec. pp. 745 and 746, it is stated that the Gover- nor sent a request that all of our friendly Indians on Susquehanna River ought to come together at Har- ris's Ferry to discuss measures with their Government for general protec- tion.
Such a meeting of Indians it seems was held because the Governor sent
the following message to be given to them which may be found in the book last mentioned, p. 754, as fol- lows:
"Gentlemen:
I give you the charge of a mes- sage to the Sasquehannah Indians, the purport of which is to invite them to meet at John Harris's in the first of January next, where I intend to hold a Council with all the Friend- ly Indians I can collect together, and as it ought to be delivered as soon as possible, and you have kind- ly offered your service, I must de- sire you will not give it the least de- lay, but taking with you such pru- dent persons as you shall judge necessary for your safety, proceed directly to Wyomink.
If they receive the Invitation in good part, and you find them well disposed to us and willing to come, you are then to take care that Indian Messengers be dispatched with the Invitation and String of Wampum to such other Indians as can attend that meeting."
1755- Lancaster County Furnishes Teams for the Indian Wars.
In the issue of May 15, 1755 of the Pennsylvania, Gazette, it is stated "We hear from the Councils of Lan- caster, York and Cumberland that notice being given there that teams, carriages and horses were wanting for the use of the army, great num- bers were immediately offered and 150 wagons laden with oats, Indian corn and other forage were dispatch- ed to the Camp in a few days and as many more might have been had, if wanted, the people offering with great readiness and pleasure from a zeal for his Majesty's service." In this item we can see that Lancaster County took part in the Braddock campaign near Pittsburg.
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In the issue of June 5 of the same paper it is stated, "We hear from Willis Creek that the wagons and horses lately contracted, for in the Counties of Lancaster, York and Cumberland were safely arrived at the camp and gave great satisfaction to the General and the other officers, being for the most part far the best of any that had been engaged in the service of the army since their arri- val. We likewise hear that there are fine bottoms for several miles around the camp in which there is a great deal of good grass and other food for horses."
In the issue of June 12 it is stated that another number of Wagons laden with forage are gone from the Counties of Lancaster and Berks.
And in the issue of August 21, af- ter the Braddock slaughter, it is stated that, "What seems most re- markable is that all the wagoners from Lancaster and York Counties in the Province, who engaged in the service of the army have returned safe except two; one of whom died by sickness."
1755-Great Excitement in Lancas- ter Town.
In the issue of the Pennsylvania Gazette for October 30, 1755, as fol- lows:
"As I imagine you have been alarm- ed before this time with a great deal of bad news from these parts I think it my duty to give you as much light into the affair as I can. About the 20th instant news was brought that the French and Indians had actually massacred and scalped a number of our inhabitants not more than forty miles from Harris's Ferry. It is rea- sonable to think the receipt of such news must put the inhabitants in the utmost confusion. About 45 of the stoutest of them got themselves mounted and in readiness the next
day to go and bury the dead-they reached the place accordingly and found no less than fourteen bodies shockingly mangled. Whilst they were in this place some friendly In- dians who were flying to the inhabi- tants for protection told them there were a large body of French and In- dians actually on their march to the inhabited parts of this Province and were already on this side of the Al- legheny Mountains. Upon this they concluded to go as far as Shamokin to know whether the Indians as- sembled there were friends or enem- ies (for our people suspected those Indians to have knowledge of the murder) and to get if possible further intelligence, about those they had heard were advancing against them. The Indians at Shamokin treated them civilly but had several councils and much whispering among them- selves, which made our men suspic- ious of them, especially as some of them were missing soon after. How- ever, in the Morning Andrew Mon- tour and Delaware George, advised them to going to a aprticular road in which they said there was danger, but our men suspecting their sincer- ity -- went their own way which was the very one they were cautioned to avoid and were fired on by a party of Indians about 40 in number some of whom they believed were with them the night before. Our men re- turned in the best manner they could but one of them came off when the enemy first began. And was feared was the only one that could escape alive out of the whole. This was soon spread over our country and we were in the utmost confusion till yesterday, we were told there were 15 more of our men returned. They all agree that it was the Delaware In- dians that did the mischief. Our Court House Bell has been ringing
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almost ever since to call the inhabi- tants to some consultation for their safety. We hear there are about one hundred men already gone up to Harris's Ferry out of Donegal and placed adjacent."
This shows there was great excite- ment in Lancaster at this time. At another place in he same paper it is stated that "the women and chil- dren in the back parts of Cumber- land, Lancaster and Berks Counties are all come or coming to the Town- ships that are thickly settled and some have come into the town of Lancaster. In short the distress and confusion of our people in gen- eral on the frontier is inexpressible."
1755- A Report That the Indians Have Burned Lancaster.
In the issue of November 20, 1755 of the Pennsylvania Gazette, there is set forth a letter from Cecil County, Maryland, dated November 10, stat- ing that the rumors of Indian rav- ages about the Susquehanna. The writer says, "At day break of the third instant, messengers arrived, from New Castle County, confirming the Express sent in the night before giving dismal accounts of how 1500 French and Indians had burnt Lan- caster town to the ground and were proceeding downwards, driving all before them so that the inhabitants were in great distress. Under the in- telligence our Officers immediately warned the militia, who meeting in the afternoon, the chiefest men of the three companies and a body of horses bravely resolved to march against the enemy ; and accord- ingly on Tuesday they set out com- manded by proper officers and attend- ed with wagons carrying provis- ions, blankets and other necessaries, being better provided with arms and ammunition than could have been
expected on such short notice. Or Wednesday they assembled at the head of Elk River impatiently wait- ing for the arrival of our other forces from the Susquehanna side, and orders to proceed.
The like spirit raised the forces in Kent and in Chesapeake, who began their march towards the head of Elk river, on Thursday; but in the afternoon they were remanded on certain intelligence that the reports concerning Lancaster were all false, However, they continued all in the readiness on account of frequent ex- presses sent them from Baltimore, imparting that the enemy had dir- ected their route down the western side of Susquehanna; but messeng- ers being sent over the Bay and re- turning with assured accounts that there was no enemy in those parts the men were all discharged on Saturday evening.
The number going from these two Counties were about 100 and many more were resolved to follow them; and 500 more were intending to join them from Queen Ann's County, and undoubtedly the Counties of Talbot, Dorset, Somerset and Worcester would have exerted themselves in the same manner had the reports been true. These forces from Mary- land with those marching from the three lower Counties on Delaware, joined to those of Lancaster, Ches- ter and Philadelphia, etc., by this time might have formed an army of several thousand gallant men in high spirits sufficient to repel any force that the French and Indians could raise against us. Hence it is evi- dence that British courage is no more degenerated in the Southern than in the Northern Colonies."
According to all these statements we can see that it must have been very exciting in old Lancaster Town about this time.
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1756-An Indian Council at Lan- caster.
In Vol. 6 of the Col. Rec., p. 776, there is a letter set forth from the Governor from Lancaster and it is set forth as follows:
"Gentlemen:
I am at last got to this town, hav- ing in conjunction with the Commis- sioners done everything we thought would contribute towards the De- fence of the Western Frontier, and I am well assured that if the orders we have given are carried into exe- cution, and the men employed in that quarter do their duty, the inhabitants will be for the future secured against any small scalping parties. The Force on the West side of Sas- quehanna consists of three hundred men, who are divided into four Com- panies, and are to take post in four forts that are to form a line from the Sugar cabin to Matchitongo, within about twelve miles of Sasque- hanna; three of these forts are al- ready in hand, and I hope soon be finished, the fourth I have ordered to be laid out as soon as possible, and expect it will be complete in about ten days. What makes me think the higher of the Western force than I do of those employed to the North- ward, is, that they are regularly en- listed in the King's service for a certain time, and the Officers were chosen by the Government, and not by themselves.
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