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 5
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Evidently the strength of the Sus- quehannocks varied exceedingly rapidly because Indian authorities (notably the Committee on Archaeol- ogy of the Dauphin Historical Society in their pamphlet 'Ind. Hist. of Low- er Susquehanna) say that about this time or in 1647, the Susquehannocks had 1300 able bodied men. See last named work p. 40. Smallpox had made disastrous ravages upon them about this time. That may explain it. The above refernece to their wars recalls to our minds what says Cam- panius of them when going to and in war, that they make bread made of Indian corn and tobacco juice, which is very good to allay hunger and quench thirst in case they have nothing else at hand p. 122 and p. 137 he says "These Indians are of- ten at war and they are fearless of their enemies."
I omitted to mention above that Robert Evelyn mentions in his letter that, "I went to Chicocoen the north- ern part of Virginia on the Potomac and I found the heathen of Virginia were at war with the Susquehan- nocks and all the eastern bay Indians. We found 14 canoes and 140 Susque- hannocks reduced by three Swedes in- to a half moon with intent to en- compass the first sail boat before the second could reach the former; and at the first volley of 10 shots and the loss of one Indian, they all ran away."
Appropo of the mischief and de-
predations of these Indians we have an early description of them by the Dutch deputies about this time. In Vol. 5 2nd Series of the Penna. Archives p. 130 it is stated, "The natives are generally well limbed, slender around the waist and broad shouldered; all having black hair and brown eyes, they are swift and nimble, dirty and slovenly and make light of all sorts of hardships. The men have very little beard and pluck out what they do have. As soldiers they are not honorable; but accomplish their success by perfidy and treachery. They make little of death when it is inevitable, despise torture at the stake, generally singing until they are dead. They use duffels, deer- skin leather, skins of raccoons, wild cats, wolves, dogs, fishers, squirrels and beavers for garments Some have shoes of corn husks and head gear of turkey feathers. Since Christians are among them some now wear bon- nets or caps. They wear wampum in ther ears and around their necks. They have long deer's hair dyed red of which they make ringlets to en- circle their heads. All of them can swim. Their marriages are without ceremony, and men and women fre- quently trade spouses. They know little of God. They are in dread of the devils, but their devils they say will have nothing to do with the Dutch."
1644 -Susquehannock Annex Their Lands to New York's Government.
About this time also (1644) there were important changes in the rela- tions of the Susquehannocks to the lands of this section. Page 755 of the book last mentioned (Pa. Arch.) there is a report of Gov. Dongan, of New York, dated 1684, and in it he says, "Those Indians about 40 years ago did annex their land to this gov- ernment and have ever since con- stantly renewed the same. Endeavors
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
have been used but to no purpose to persuade our traders to go and live on the Susquehanna River." This annexation to New York however was done by the Five Nations, and not by the Susquehannocks, as the Five Nations even at this time began to claim authority over the Susquehan- nocks. The true date was about 1648 when this occurred; but as we shall see in next paper, the Five Nations were very much mistaken in think- ing the Susquehannocks would sub- mit to them.
1644-Rivalry Between the Swedes and the Dutch to Secure the Susquehanna and Sur- rounding Indian Trade.
So that we shall keep in mind that when the Dutch and the Swedes speak of the Minquas, they mean the Susquehannas I again refer to Vol. 8 p. 301 of the Jesuit Relations where it is stated that the Andastes are "called Minquas by the Dutch and Susquehannas or Conestogas by the English."
In tracing up this contest by the Swedes and the Dutch to get the best of the Susquehanna trade each from the other, we must not forget that the Swedes were more tactful than the Dutch in the affair, and also were more friendly received by the In- dians. They were the favorites. They were never hostile to the In- dians and they dealt more fairly with them.
goes on, "In regards to this Schuyl- kill, these are lands purchased by the Company (the Dutch). The company's carpenter constructed a fort there. This fort cannot in any manner ob- tain control over the river; but it has command over the whole creek, while this creek is the only remain- ing avenue for trade with the Min- quas, and without this trade the river is of little value. A little dis- tance from this fort was a creek to the farthest distant wood, which place is named Kinsessing by the savages, which was before a certain and invariable resort for trade with the Minquas, but which is now op- posed by the Swedes having there built a strong house. Half a mile further in the woods Printz con- structed a mill of a creek which runs into the sea and on this creek a strong building just by the path which leads to the Minquas; so that no access to the Menqueas is left open; and he too controls nearly all the trade of the savages on the river, as the greatest part of them go hunting in the neigh- borhood which they are not able to do without passing by his residence. I therefore gave orders to go to the Schuylkill and wait there for the Minquas." In another remonstrance dated about 1649 the Dutch say, page 139 of the same book, "As relates to the trade with the Indians on the South River the English and Swedes are making great efforts to secure it as we shall show." This is the trade that came down from the Susque- hanna country, as Campanius des- cribed it 93 miles from New Sweden on to Conestoga. The Dutch also complain that the Indians themselves are not fair with them for they say they (the Dutch) bought lands from them, and thus expect their favor. P. 235. And especially as to the Sus- quehannock trading center on the
The Dutch complained sorely against the Swedes. In a remons- trance by Andreas Fudde, for the Dutch dated Nov. 1, 1645 p. 103 of 5 Vol. 5 of 2nd Series Pa. Arch., he states, "Further up the river (Dela- ware) on the west shore on a creek called Minquas Creek, so named as it runs pretty near the Minquas land is a fort named Christiana ...... the first fort built by the Swedes." He Schuylkill where as already mention-
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OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
ed Fort Beversrede stands was pur- chased from the right owners and principal Indians in 1633 by the Company's servant which conveyance the Indian chiefs in 1648 did renew. Notwithstanding the Swedes have erected a fort on these grounds and built a house in front of the gate at the Company's fortress for trading where our people are wholly shut out from the sight of the road to deprive the Company (Dutch) of the beaver trade and they have ruined the trade." On page 333 the Dutch fur- ther set forth their title to all the province from the South (Delaware) river westward "into the west as far and much farther than our line of limits are yet extended and seated, having legally bought them from the Indians the native proprietors." And as to the extent of the trade the Dutch say page 235, "Thousands of beavers can be bought here and around the Schuylkill or Beaver's Rede which was brought down in great abundance by the southern In- dians called Minquas and the Black Indians so that this river has always been held in great repute on account of its fitness and great convenience for both trade and agriculture." As to the Black Indians, Clarke in his Early Cayuga History page 36, in a note says, "The Black Minquas were considered an offshot of the Mo- hawks."
1645-Maryland's Governor Disowns Certain Interference With the Susquehannocks, Which His Council Set On Foot.
In a former item we saw that John Lewger, a member of Council and an attorney for the Government, and al- so secretary to the Lieutenant Gen- eral, gave certain instructions to Col- onel Fleet, how to proceed with the Susquehannocks, and make war or
peace with them as he saw fit. This was done in the absence of the Gov- ernor and the result was what now follows: "Now whereas John Lewger, Esq., one of his Lordship's Council of this Province, without orders or authority from the Proprietor or
Lieutenant General, pursuant to his own head, to counterfeit and deliver unto Henry Fleete a commission for a treaty of peace with the enemies of the Province, the Susquehannocks and likewise for the making said Fleete a captain or general to make war against them or against other Indians and to bear authority over his company and the inhabitants of this Province, and to do acts accord- ing to the tenor of the said commis- sion, he has presumed to affix and count his Lordship's seal and his Lieutenant General's hand, which acts being a high misdeameanor and of- fense and as such requires serious animadversion .- These are therefore to suspend the said John Lewger from the office or dignity of Council, from all other offices and dignities depend- ing thereon, and I do further revoke all other commissions at any time granted unto him, said John Lewger, by me as Lieutenant General. Sign- ed Giles Brent." See Vol. 3, Maryland Archives, p. 151.
It is evident that the government of Maryland at this time thought dealing with the Susquehannocks was too serious a matter for subordinates to take upon themselves, without consulting with ther superiors. Boz- man in his history speaking of this date, 1644, says the Susquehannocks were now the most formidable In- dians the Marylanders liad to en- counter, and they were in the habit of using firearms, having secured them from the Dutch and the Swedes and the Governor made a proclama- tion prohibiting any one from carry- ing powder or selling guns or shot
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
without a license, which assistance some of the colonists were in the habit of giving them. See Bozman, Vol. 2, p. 273.
1646-Susquehannocks' Cruelty and Customs-Progress in the Art of War.
Campanius Holm in his History of New Sweden (Pennsylvania) says p. 137: "In 1646 the Indians had taken one of the Mingoes (Susquehannocks) in war and bound him to a tree; then they made a large fire around him and when he was as well as half roasted they let him loose, giving him a fire brand in each hand and taking one in each hand themselves then challenging him to fight; and when at last he could no longer stand and fell down one of them sprang upon him and with his nails cut the skin of his forehead open and tore off his scalp, which they carried with them as a trophy of war." This was simply retaliation upon the Susquehannocks, because that was the exact form of cruelty the Sus- quehannocks practiced on their vic- tims regularly. Campanius also says at same page: "The Indians were of- ten at war with the surrounding tribes, especially the Mingoes; but they dare not engage with the Chris- tians, since they have discovered they are superior to them in the mil- itary art; they were mightly afraid of our guns; when they first heard a report of a firearm they would not remain while the firing continued. They wear on their heads a red tur- key feather as a sign they are going to shed blood; and on one of their arms they have a shield of bark or skin of an elk. After they have car- ried their wives and children to an island or place of safety they proceed on their way in a certain order, and when they meet their enemy they at- tack them with great outcries. They
think thy have a great battle when ten or twelve are dead on the field."
1646-Location and Trade of the Sus- quehannocks When Found by the Swedes.
Campanius says, p. 157: "There were found when the Swedes came to this country, within 93 miles, ten or twelve other tribes. Among these were the Mingoes or Minikus (Sus- quehannocks), the principal tribe, and renowned for their warlike char- acter. They live at a distance of twelve Swedish miles from New Swe- den (93 English miles), where they daily came to trade with us. The way to their land is very bad, being stony and full of sharp gray stones." What this trade consisted of we have shown in a former item. He also tells us the Indian fort of the Susquehannocks "had small cannon placed upon it." He also says of them: "They are vigorous, young and old, are a tall people but not frightful. When they are fighting they do not attempt to fly but all stand like a wall as long as there is one remaining. They force the other Indians to be afraid of them and make them pay tribute, so that they dare not stir, much less go to wai against them. But their numbers are diminished by war and sickness."
In later items we will deal with the Susquehannocks' relations with the Five Nations, showing a most mar- velous intercourse with the New York Confederacy.
1646-Fort Built or Improved on the Susquehanna by the Christians.
The forts on the Susquehanna are a very interesting subject of histori- cal investigation. There was an In- dian fort (may be several of them) on lower Susquehanna, when in 1608 Captain John Smith was near the | Pennsylvania line, because p. 120, of
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Vol. 1, of his History of Virginia, | which we have cited at another place, he says, "They make near 600 men and are palisaded in their towns to defend them," in speaking of the Sus- quehannocks. But John Watson says the earliest whites built a fort there too. In a paper on Indian lands in Vol. 3, Memoirs of the Historical Society at Philadelphia, part 2, p. 131, "It will be observed that before Penn's day there had been a fort con- structed by some Christian people upon the shores of that (Susquehanna) river." And to prove there was such a fort he says in a large folio in the land office at Harrisburg, in book 14, entitled "Old Surveys and Registry of Land Warrants," there is a dia- gram showing the 'walking purchase' back to the Susquehanna, one line of which. goes to a point on the Susque- hanna, 3 miles above the mouth of the Conestoga, marked 'fort demol- ished.' This then he concluded was a fort built by the Christians. Clay- borne may have had a hand in it; but we do not know. He was in that neighborhood in 1637 and later. The Swedes were there trading in 1640 to 1646; the Dutch were there also. In 1664 the Iroquois, who came down upon the Susquehannocks, found not only iron muskets in the hands of the Susquehannocks, but iron cannon mounted on the fort. So whether the Christians originally built the fort that Watson refers to, or whether they simply improved a fort first built by the Susquehannocks (as found by Smith), we cannot tell, and we leave the matter in the plight in which Watson placed it-viz., that the Christians had something to do with it. I make the date 1646 because that is about the time that the Chris- tians had some voice and directions in the doings of the Susquehannocks at that place.
1646-Approach of War Between Iro- quois and Hurons-Susquehan- nocks Offer to Help the Hurons.
The overture of the Susquehan- nocks to the Hurons to help the Hu- rons in their struggle with the Iro- quois, we have before touched on where we cited the Dauphin County Indian History Pamphlet as authority ; but as that is not first hand informa- tion I prefer now to cite an original authority, viz .: Vol. 30, Jesuit Rela- tions, p. 253, where the Jesuits write in 1646 from Onondago and say: "Our fathers with the Hurons say that the savages of Andaste (Susquehan- nocks) whom we believe to be neigh- bors to Virginia and who had former- ly close alliance with the Hurons in- somuch that there are still found in the Huron country people from their dialects,' have conveyed these few words to the Hurons, viz: 'We have learned that you have enemies, and you have only to say to us "Lift the axe" and we assure you either they will make peace or we shall make war on them.' The Hu- rons were very joyful at these fine offers and have sent an embassy to those people. The chief of the em- bassy was a worthy Christian, accom- panied by eight persons, four of whom have embraced the faith of Jesus Christ." We shall later cite Vol. 33, Jesuit Relations, p. 129, showing that under date of 1647 an- other offer was made to help the Hurons by the Susquehannocks and that the Hurons sent a representa- tive on to confer with the Susque- hannocks. All this goes to show the position and strength of the Susque- hannocks at this time, who at this time had 1300 warriors. This is the greatest number of warriors they had in all their known history. Never afterwards did they have so many and never before. Captain Smith said in his time, 1608, they had 600.
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
Thus about 1650 they were in the greatest power. This is also evi- denced by the manner in which the government of Maryland regarded them at this date.
1647-Susquehannocks Attempt to Intervene in Iroquois-Huron War.
The description of the attempt to intervene by the Susquehannocks, in the Huron-Iroquois war in 1647 is given in Vol. 33 p. 127 of the Jesuit Relations as follows: "The Andaste is a country beyond the neutral na- tion, distant from the Huron coun- try, about 150 leagues (450 miles) in a straight line to the southeast, a quarter south, from the Huron coun- try, that is southeast a little toward the east, but the distance because of the detours in the route is 200 leagues. They are very warlike, and in a single village they count 1300 men capable of bearing arms. They speak the Huron language, and have always been allies of the Hurons.
"At the beginning of the year 1647 two men of that nation came here, deputed by their captains, to tell our Hurons that if they lost courage and felt too weak to contend against our enemies, they should inform them (the two Andaste delegates) and send an embassy to Andaste for that ob- ject. The Hurons did not miss the opportunity. Charles Andasiondrout an excellent Christian of long stand- ing, was deputed as the head of the embassy and he was accompanied by four other Christians and four In- fields. They left here (Canada) on the 13th of April and reached An- daste only at the beginning of June. The harrangue delivered by Charles on his arrival was not long. He told of the wars and that the land was cov- ered with blood and the cabins with corpses. The reply of the Andaste was to deplore the calamaties, and added that tears and regrets were | differs
not the remedy for the wars and evils; but that their misfortunes must be arrested as soon as possible. Af- ter a number of councils, they de- puted ambassadors to the enemies of our Hurons to beg them to lay down their arms to think of lasting peace which would not hinder the trade of all these countries with one another. The ambassadors went and had not returned by the 15th of August. The Andastes insisted on peace and de- terminated to renew the war which they waged a few years ago with the Agnieronnous (that is the Mohawks), who are brethren of the Iroquois, if they refused to enter into peace. When Charles Andasiondrout was at Andaste, he went to see the Euro- peans, their allies who were at a dis- tance of three days' journey from that place. They received him with kindness. Charles did not fail to tell them that he was a Christian and requested them to take him to their church, that he might perform his devotions, for he thought it was like those in our French settlements. They replied that they had no place set apart for prayers, and the good Charles observed some acts of levity that were not very modest on the part of some young men, towards two of their Savage women who had come from Andaste. The captain of the settlement apologized for it and said he was not obeyed by his people for purity of morals. We think the people of that European settlement are mostly Dutch and English, who for some special reason have placed themselves under the protection of the King of Sweden, and have call- ed the country New Sweden. We had formerly thought it a part of Virginia." This account was written only a few years after the events happened. This accurate account
from the account given
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by the Dauphin County pamphlet, in that it puts the interview of the Sus- quehannocks with the Hurons first, whereas the Dauphin County pam- phlet puts the embassy of the Sus- quehannocks to the Iroquois first, and with the Hurons, second. We notice here, too, that the Susque- hannas had wars with the Mohawks (Agnieronnous) some years before this time, and we will speak of it again. The settlement "three days distant" from Andaste (Susquehanna) was the Swedish settlement on the Delaware, near where Wilmington and New Castle now stand.
The Five Nations (or Iroquois) and the Susquehannocks by this time both had won military glory; both had gotten guns and had learned to use them. The Susquehannocks from 1634 to 1644 reduced the Piscataways, Patuxents and the Waocacoes tribes, in a ten years' war and the Iroquois had reduced the Hurons, as we have seen before. The Susquehannocks had finished their conflicts with the smaller tribes, which not only includ- ed the reduction of the three tribes just named but also the twelve small tribes which Robert Evelyn says in his letter (hereafter to be cited) lived on the Delaware and were whipped by the Susquhannocks. The Iroquois had not destroyed the Hurons, but simply weakened them. They were, now, however, bent upon exterminat- ing them. The Susquehannocks de- termined to stop hostilities.
The Dauphin County pamphlet, be- fore mentioned gives this account of this effort on the part of the Sus- quehannocks-see page 40. "When the Hurons in Upper Canada in 1647 began to sink under the fearful blows dealt them by the Five Nations, the Susquehannocks sent an embassy to Onondago (the headquarters of the Five Nations) to urge the cantons to peace. The Iroquois refused. The
Susquehannocks then sent an em- bassy to the Hurons, to offer them aid against the common enemy. Nor was this offer of little value. The Susquehannocks could put in the field 1300 warriors trained to the use of fire-arms and European methods of warfare, having been instructed by three Swedish soldiers; but the Hu- rons sank into apathy and took no active steps to secure the aid of the friendly Susquehannocks."
This interesting offer to interpose is graphically told in the Jesuit Re- lations by narrators who got the in- formation first hand from those in- terested in the affair. In this work as we have often said the Susque- hannocks are called the Andaste. The Jesuit Fathers in Vol. 8, p. 301 call them (Susquehannocks) "allies of our Hurons and who talk like them," and in Clark's Early Cayuga History, found in a note p. 36 of the same volume (i. e. 8) he says, "An- daste is a term used generally by the French and applied to several dis- tinct Indian Tribes located south of the Five Nations in the present ter- ritory and Pennsylvania. One of the most southerly tribes was located at the great falls between Columbia and Harrisburg in the vicinity of the lat- ter place occupying five towns and by Smith were called the Susquehan- nocks."
1647-Cost of Watching the Susque- hannocks.
In Vol. 4, Maryland Archives, p. 231, it is stated under this date that the following charge was preferred before the Assembly and allowed: "To Walter Watertson for bringing intelli- gence touching the Susquehannocks, eighty pounds." From this it is evi- dent that the Maryland government was compelled to keep scouts and runners employed to give the whites news at all times concerning the
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
movements and supposed plans of the | Susquehannocks. This is in line with what we have noticed in former items-namely, that the government of Maryland compelled all the inha- bitants to be ready with powder and shot and firearms at all times, either to defend against the Susquehannocks or to march against them. The pow- er and prominent place of this tribe among the savage nations of America at this time are well established.
1648-Susquehannocks' Influence on the Onondagoes.
Under this date in Vol. 33, Jesuit Relations, p. 123, it is stated; "The Andaste tribes (Susquehannocks) al- lied to the Hurons contribute in a great measure, it is said, toward the matter of peace, either because the Onondagoes fear to have them as enemies or because they desire their alliance." This is to be sure only a brief note; but it is a statement writ- ten at the time the situation existed and is worth more than a page of historical speculation written from inferences formed a hundred years later. It is in short another asser- tion of the pre-eminence of the mighty Susquehannocks. It will be noticed nothing like this is ever said of the other tribes of Maryland or of the Delaware, nor of the tribes of Powhatan.
1648-More Particulars of the Huron Embassy to Susquehanna.
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