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 50
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377
ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
sage was immediately prepared, read and approved and the Secretary was ordered to transcribe the same and carry it to the House this evening, and at the same time lay before them the minutes of Indian conferences therein referred to for their perusal."
1763-The Governor's Message to the Assembly on the Conestoga Slaughter.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 94, in his Message to the Assembly among other things, Governor Penn said, "I am also to lay before you a piece of Intelligence I received from Lancaster on Friday last, which has given me the utmost concern. On the 14th instant a number of people well armed and mounted, went to the Indian Town in Conestoga Manor, and without the least Reason or Pro- vocation, in cool blood, barbariously killed six of the Indians settled there, and would probably have treated all the rest with the same cruelty, had they not been abroad at that time and after burning all their Houses the Perpetrators of this inhuman and wicked action retired.
As the Indians were seated on the Manor by the Government, and had lived there peaceably and inoffen- sively during all our late troubles, I conceived they were as much under the protection of the Government and its laws, as any others amongst us, wherefore I thought it my duty to do everything in my power for the im- mediate apprehending and bringing to Justice the authors of this horrid scene; and accordingly, by the ad- vice of the Council, I have dispatched letters to the Magistrates of Lancas- ter, Cumberland and York Counties, requiring and charging them to exert themselves and endeavor by all pos- sible means to discover and secure the principals concerned in this out-
rageous act, and their accomplices. I am also preparing a proclamation,or- dering and requiring all officers civil and military, and all his Majesty's subjects in his Government, to be aid- ing and assisting to the Magistrates in execution of the Laws on this un- happy occasion. Such of the Cones- togoe Indians as had the good for- tune to escape the fury of the above mentioned lawless party, are now taken under the protection of the Magistracy at Lancaster and are se- cured in the work house there, but are in great distress for want of nec- essaries and apparel having lost everything they had except the little they had on their backs, in their Houses which were burnt.
As they do not apprehend them- selves to be safe where they are, they have by a verbal Message by one of Your Members requested of me that they may be removed to this city, or its neighborhood; and I am very .ready to comply immediately with the desire, provided you will en- able me to defray the Expense of it. JOHN PENN.
1763-Governor Penn Issues a Pub- lic Proclamation on the Slaugh- ter of the Conestoga In-
dians.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec. p. 995, the following proclamation to the People was issued by the Governor: "A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, I have received infor- mation that on Wednesday the four- teenth day of this Month, a number of people armed and mounted on Horseback unlawfully assembled to- gether, and went to the Indian Town in the Conestoga Manor, and without the least reason or provocation in cool blood barbarously killed six of the Indians settled there and burnt and destroyed all their Houses and
378
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
effects. AND WHEREAS, so cruel and inhuman an Act was committed in the Heart of this Province, on the said Indians, who iived peaceably and inoffensivey among us during all our late troubles, and for many years before, and were justly consid- ered as under the protection of this Government and its laws; calls loud- ly for the vigorous exertion of the Civil Authority to detect the Offend- ers and bring them to condign pun- ishment, I have therefore, by and
with the advice of the Council, thought fit to issue this Proclama- tion, and do strictly charge and en-
join all Judges, Justices Sheriffs, Constables, Officers, Civil and Mili- tary, and all other his Majsty's liege subjects within this Province, to make diligent search and inquiry af- ter the Authors and perpetrators of the said crime, their abettors and accomplices, and to use all possible means to apprehend and secure them in the Publick Jails of this Province, that they may be brought to their tryals, and be proceeded against ac- cording to law.
AND WHEREAS, a number of In- dians who lately lived on or near the frontiers of this Province, being willing and desirous to preserve and continue the ancient Friendship which heretofore subsisted between them and the good people of this Porvince, have, at their earnest re- quest been removed from their Habi- tations and brought into the County of Philadelphia, and seated upon the Province Island and in other places of the Neighborhood of the City of Philadelphia, where provision is made for them at the Publick ex- pense. I do therefore hereby strictly forbid, all persons whatsoever, to in- jure any of the said Indians as they will answer the Countrary at their Peril.
Given under my hand and seal and the Great seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of December, Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and sixty- three, and in the Fourth year of his Majesty's Reign.
JOHN PENN. By his Honour's Command. Joseph Shippen, Junior Secty. GOD SAVE THE KING." 1763-The Paxtang Boys Kill the Re- maining Conestoga Indians in Lancaster Jail.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 100, there is set forth the following night express from Lancaster to Philadel- phio, giving news of the killing of the last remnant of the Conestogas:
"Lancaster, 27th December,
1763, P. M.
Honoured Sir:
I am to acquaint your Honour that between two and three of the clock this afternoon, upwards of a hundred armed men, from the Westward, rode very fast into town, turned their horses into Mr. Slough's (an Inn- Keeper) Yard, and proceeded with the greatest precipitation to the work House, stove open the door and killed all the Indians, and then took to their horses and rode off, all their business was done, and they were re- turning to their horses before I could get half way down to the work house, the Sheriff, and Coroner, however, and several others, got down as soon as the rioters, but could not prevail with them to stop their hands; some people heard them say and declare they would proceed to the Province Island and destroy the Indians there. I am with great Respect, Sir,
Your Honour's most Obedient humble Servant,
EDWARD SHIPPEN.
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
The Honourable John Penn, Esp.,
Governor."
Upon this the following action was advised on the part of the Council also found p. 100:
"The Council further advised the Governor to dispatch the Express back to Lancaster, with a letter to Mr. Edward Shippen, desiring him to gain all the inelligence in his power respecting the further designs and motion of the lawless Rioters, and to endeavor to learn the names of any of the Ringleaders or persons concerned in the Murder of the In- dians in the Work House and to ac- quaint the Governor from time to time by Express, with every piece of intelligence he should receive. con- cerning them.
The Governor was also advised to write to Colonel Armstrong, at Car- lisle and the Rev. Mr. Elder at Pax- ton, to exert themselves on this oc- casion, by using all means in their power, to discover and detect the rioters and to supress all such insur- rections among the People under their influence for the future."
1763-The Sheriff of Lancaster County Sends a List of the Possessions of the Indians Killed at Conestoga to Phila- delphia.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 101, the following statement appears be- fore a Council held December 31, 1763:
"A letter from the Sheriff of Lan- caster, of the 27th of December, In- stant, with the list of Conestogoe In- dians were read, and ordered to be put on these minutes:
A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR FROM JOHN HAY, ESQ., SHFF. OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Lancaster, the 27th December, 1763. Sir:
Agreeable to your orders to me when at Philadelphia, I herein en- close a list of the names of the In- dians found killed at the Indian Town in Conestogoe Manor, with the names of the Survivors( fourteen in number) whom I found, had been col- lected and placed in the work House of this County, by my Son, with the assistance of John Miller and Robert Beatty (who by appointment of Messrs. Hockley and Peters, had the care of the Indians belonging to the Town), where they are properly taken care of, and fed and wait for your Honour's further directions re- lating to them.
I, likewise, agreeable to your order give herewith, an account of the ef- fects and papers which have been found, belonging to the said Indians, which now remain in the possession of the said Miller and Beatty, in trust for the Indians, to witt:
Three Horses,
A writing on Parchment, purport- ing an article of Peace and Amity concluded between the Governor of Maryland and the Chiefs of the Con- estogoe and other Indians.
A Writing or Parchment, purport- ing an Article of Agreement between William Penn, Proprietary, of Penn- sylvania, and the King of the Indians inhabiting in or about the River Sus- quehanna, and other Indian Nations, dated the three and twentieth day of the second month, called April, in the Year, one thousand seven hun- dred and one.
A Letter (which seems to be un- der the Lesser Seal of the Province) signed W. Keith, dated Philadelphia, May 26, 1819, directed to Civility, and the rest of the Indian Chiefs at Con- estogoe.
A Letter (which seems to be under the Lesser Seal of the Province), signed W. Keith, dated 5th May, 1719,
380
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
and the Indian Chiefs at and near directed to Civility or Tagotelessa, Conestogoe.
A Writing purporting a Letter, signed James Logan, dated the 22nd of the 4th Month, 1717, directed to Civility and the Other Indian Chiefs at Conestoga.
A Paper (which seems to be under the Lesser Seal of the Province), signed James Logan, purporting an Order of Council at Philadelphia, September 28, 1708, or a request to the Indians to apprehend Nichole Godin, on a suspicion of several treasonable practices against the Government.
And two Belts of Wampum."
One or two points about this letter are quite pathetic because it states that among other things there was found among the effects of the poor Indians the treaties which they had made with the whites and had kept, and various other paper which show that they were always on the best terms with the whites.
1763-The Sheriff Sends Word of the Killing of the Conestoga Indians in the Lancaster Jail.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 103, is the following letter from John Hay, Sheriff of Lancaster County :
"December 27th, 1763, P. M. Honoured Sir:
Since writing above the poor In- dians whom we imagined were placed in safety were destroyed. A number of persons, to the amount( by their appearance) of fifty or sixty, Armed with Rifles, Tomahawks, etc., sudden- ly, about two o'clock, rushed into the Town and immediately repaired to the Work House where the Indians were confined, and notwithstanding all opposition to myself and the Cor- oner, and many others, broke open the work house, and have killled all the Indians there, being the fourteen
mentioned in the list to have sur- vived the former affair at their Town. After which they in a body left the town without offering any insults to the Inhabitants, and without putting it in the power of any one to take or molest any of them without danger of life to the person attempting it; of which both myself and the Coroner by our opposition were in great dan- ger."
1763-The Names of the Conestoga Indians Killed in Their Town in Manor and in the Lancas- ยท ter Jail.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec .. p. 103, appears the following:
"List of the Indians killed at the Indian Town in in Conestogoe Manor: Sheehay, George, Harry, A Son of Sheehays, Sally, an Old Wo- man, A Woman. Their Indian names, - Sheehays, W-a-shen, Tee-Kau-ley, Ess-canesh, Tea wonsha-i-ong, Kannenquas.
List of the Indians belonging to the Conestogoe Town in the Work House at Lancaster :
Coptain John, Betty his wife, Bill Sack, Milly his wife, John Smith, Peggy his wife, little John, Capt'n John's son, Jacob a Boy, Young Sheehays, a Boy, Chrisly, a boy, little Peter, a boy, Molly, a Little Girl, a little Girl, Peggy, a little Girl. Their Indian names, -Kyunqueagoah, Koweenasse, Tenseedaagua, Kaniinguas, Saq- uies-hat-tah, Chee na wan, Quaa- chow, Shaw e kah, Ex undas, Tong-quas, Hy ye naes, Ko qua- e un quas, Karen do uah, Canu- kie sung.
The names taken from Peggy, Wife of John Smith, and Betty, Wife of Captain John.
JOHN HAY.
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
1763-The Governor Writes to Gen- |same as the preceding one sent to Sir William Johnson on this dastard- ly slaughter.
eral Gage About the Conestoga Indian Slaughter.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec, p. 104, appears the following letter to his Excellency, General Gage, from our Governor:
"Philadelphia, 31st December, 1763. we find the following proclamation :
Sir:
I think it necessary to inform you that on the 14th Instant, a number of Inhabitants on the Western frontiers of this Province, without any author- ity, assembled in arms and proceeded in a party of between fifty and sixty men to the Indian Town in the Con- estogoe Manor, in Lancaster County, and there, without the least cause cruelly put to death six of the Friend- ly Indians, who had peaceably and inoffensively resided there for many years past, by permission from this Government, and after burning and destroying their houses and effects, precipitately retired. Upon receiving information of this barbarous out- rage, I immediately dispatched or- ders to the Magistrates of the back Counties to use their utmost endea- vours to apprehend and confine the offenders, that they might be brought to Justice, and likewise the enclosed Proclamation.
Notwithstanding which, these dar- ing rioters on the 27th Inst., again assembled in arms and came down in a large body to the Town of Lancas- ter, broke open the Work House, and murdered fourteen of the Conestoga Indians, who had before escaped their fury, and were confined there by the Magistrate for their security."
1763-The Governor Sends a Letter to William Johnson on This
Subject.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 105 is found a letter almost exactly
1764-A Reward Offered by the Gov -. ernment for the Capture of the
Conestoga Murderers.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec, p. 107,
"By the Honourable JOH NPENN, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex on Delaware. A PROCLAMATION:
WHEREAS, on the twenty-second day of December last, I issued a Proclamation for the apprehending and bringing to Justice a number of Persons, who, in violation of the Pub- lic Faith, and in Defiance of all Law, had inhumanly killed six of the In- dians, who had lived on Conestogoe Manor for the Course of Many years, peacefully and inoffensively, under the Protection of this Government, on
lands assigned
to them
for their
habitation. Notwithstanding which, I have received Information on the
27th of the same month, a large party of armed men again assenibled and met together in a riotous and tu- multuous manner in the county of Lancaster and preceded to the Town of Lancaster, where they vio- lently broke open the work House, and butchered and put to death four- teen of the said Conestogoe Indians, Men, Women and Children, who had been taken under the immediate care of the Magistrates of the said County, and lodged for their better security in the Work House, till they should be more effectually provided for by order of the Government. AND WHEREAS, common Justice loudly demands, (upon the preservation of which not only the Liberty and Se- the | curity of every individual, but the
382
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
being of the Government itself de- pend, require that the above offenders should be brought to condigne Pun- ishment; I have, therefore, by and with the advice of the Council, pub- lished this Proclamation and do here- by strictly charge and command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, Officers Civil and Military, and all other his Majesty's faithful and liege subjects with this Province, to make diligent search and enquiry after the Authors and Perpetrators of the said last mentioned Offence, their Abettors and accomplices; and that they use all possible means to apprehend and secure them in some of the Publick Gaols of this Province, to be dealt with according to Law. And I do hereby further promise and engage, that any persons or person who shall apprehend and secure, or cause to be appehended and secured, and three of the Ringleaders of the said party, and prosecute them to conviction, shall have and receive for each the Pub- lick Reward of Two Hundred Pounds; and any accomplice, not concerned in the immediate shedding of the Blood of the said Indians, who shall make discovery of any or either of the said Ringleaders and apprehend and prosecute them to conviction, shall, over and above the said reward, have all the weight and influence of the Government of obtaining his Majesty's Pardon for his Offence.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Phila- delphia the second day of January, in the fourth Year of his Majesty's reign, and in the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty- four.
JOHN PENN. By his Honour's Command.
Joseph Shippen, Junior, Secretary, GOD SAVE THE KING."
|1764-The Governor Writes a Letter To the Governor of New York About This Killing.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 112, we find a similar letter by Governor Penn on the killing of these defence- less Indians, to Governor of N. Y. And on p. 113 a similar letter to Gov- ernor Franklin on the same subject is found.
1764-The Colony of New York En- raged at the Conestoga Killing.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 121, appear the proceedings that the Gov- ernor of New York held upon the killing of these Indians at Conestoga. This meeting was more necessary from the fact that these Conestogas were the subjects of the Five Nations and some of those killed actually be- longed to the Five Nations.
1764-Benjamin Kendal of Lancaster Reports the Particulars of the Conestoga Killing to the Council.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 126, appears the following narration upon oath by Benjamin Kendal of the kill- ing of the Conestoga Indians:
"CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, SS:
Benjamin Kendall, of the City of Phialdelphia, Merchant, being one of the People called Quakers on this solemn affirmation declareth and saith, That on Thursday, the 25th day of this Instant, January, he, this de- ponent, being on his return from the Borough of Lancaster, to the City of Philadelphia about two miles on this side the sign of the inhabitant of the said Borrough of Lancaster, who, this affirmant understood, had been, the day before, in the Township of Pe- quea, or its Neighborhood; that this affirmant, being acquainted with the said Robert Fulton, stopped, and en- tered into some conversation with
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ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
him, 'in the course of which the said | would be fired over their heads. The Fulton acquainted this affirmant that he understood Captain Coultas, had been appointed to raise and command Five Hundred men to guard and pro-
said Fulton further informed this af- firmant, that some time ago, when he heard the said Indians were sent out of this Province, he, the said Fulton tect the Indians in the said City of sent a letter to a number of people Philadelphia, and that he was very sorry for it, and that in ten days fif- teen hundred men would come down in order to kill the said Indians, and that if Fifteen Hundred Men were not enough Five Thousand were ready to join them, and desired this affirm- ant to tell Captain Coultas, from the said Robert, to make his Peace with Heaven, for that he (the said Coult- tas) would not live about two weeks longer. This affirmant answered, that he was very sorry to hear him, the said Fulton talk in that manner, and as he understood that he, the said Fulton, had a great deal of influence with those people who intended to
come down on the above purpose, he, this affirmant requested the said Fulton to exert himself in persuading them to desist from their crime or de- sign. The said Fulton then said, if Gabriel, was to come down from Heaven and tell us or them (but which of the words this affirmant can not be sensible of) we or they were wrong, they would not desist for it, for that they were of the same spirit with the blood ran, blood-thirst Pres- byterians, who cut off King Charles his head. This affirmant then said to the said Fulton, 'I hear you are going to kill the Quakers.' Fulton answered, No, God forbid, but they or any others who should oppose them they would kill.' That he (the said Fulton) had heard the Indians were put in small numbers into different families in the City of Philadelphia, for Protection, but that such families must tell where they (the Indians, were, and deliver them up, or their Houses
who were then preparing to come down and cut the Indians off, to ac- quaint them of it, and stop them from coming. This affirmant further saith, that a certain William Way was in Company with the said Fulton during this whole conversation, and from what little he said that he seemed to join in sentiment with the said Ful- ton and among other things asserted that he was lately in a store in that Neighbourhood where there was a magazine of three barrels of Gun Pow- der, and One Hundred small arms. ready for the above expedition, and that he verily believed a number of men would come down to Philadel- phia to kill the Indians and further this affirmant saith not.
BENJAMIN KENDALL.
Taken and Affirmed in the presence of the Governor and Council, at Philadelphia, January 28, 1764. Before JOHN PENN."
1761-The Murderers of the Cones- estgoa Indians Put Up Flimsy Justification.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., 142, ap- pears what is meant to be a justifica- tion for killing of the Conestoga In- dians. This justification is in the na- ture of a petition signed by many people who favored the killing and it was laid before the Assembly on the 17th of February, 1764, it is as fol- lows:
"The Declaration of the Injured Frontier Inhabitants, together with a brief sketch of Grievances the good Inhabitants of the Province Labour under.
384
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
Inasmuch as the killing of those
Indians at Conestogoe Manor and Lancaster has been, and may be, the subject of much conversation, and by invidious representations of it, which some, we doubt will not, will indus- triously spread, many acquainted with the true state of affairs may be lead to pass a severe censure on the Au- thors of those Facts, and any others of the like Nature, which may here- after happen, they we are persuaded they would if matters were duly un- derstood and deliberated. We think it therefore proper thus openly to
declare ourselves, and render some brief hints of the reasons of our Conduct, which we must, and frank- ly do, confess, nothing but necessity itself could induce us to, or justify us in, as it bears the appearance of fly- ing in the face of Authority, and is attended with much labour, fatigue and expense.
Ourselves, then, to a man, we pro- fess to be loyal subjects to the best of Kings, our rightful Sovereign George the third, firmly attached to his royal person, Interest and Gov- ernment, and of consequence equally opposite to the enemies of his throne and dignity, whether openly avowed or more dangerously concealed under a mask or falsely pretended Friend- ship, and chearfully willing to offer our Substance and Lives in his Cause.
These Indians, known to be firmly connected in Friendship with our openly avowed embittered enemies, and some of whom have, by several oaths, been proved to be murderers, and who, by their better acquaintance with the situation and state of our Frontiers, were more capable of do- ing us mischief, we saw, with indig- nation caressed and cherished as dearest Friends; but, this, alas; is but a part, a small part, of that ex- yet not one man
cessive regard manifested to Indians, beyond his Majesty's loyal subjects, whereof we complain, and which to- gether with various other Grievances, have not only enflamed with resent- ment the Breasts of a number, and urged them to the disagreeable evi- dence of it they have been con- strained to give, but have heavily dis- pleased by far the greatest part of the good Inhabitants of this Province.
Should we here reflect to former Treaties, the exorbitant presents and great Servility therein paid to the In- dians, have long been oppressive Grievances we have groaned under; and when at the last Indian treaty held at Lancaster, not only was the blood of our many murdered Breth- ren tamely covered, but our poor un- happy captivated friends abandoned to slavery among the Savages, by concluding a Friendship with the In- dians, and allowing them a plentious trade of all kinds of Commodities, without those being restored, or any properly spirited requisition made of them; how general dissatisfaction those letters made and the Measures gave the Murmurs of all good people (loud as they dare to utter them) to this day declare and had here infat- uated steps of conduct, and a mani- fest partiality in favour of Indians, made a final pause, happy had it been; We. perhaps had greived in si- lence for our abandoned, enslaved Brethren among the Heathen; but matters of a later date are of still more flagrant Reasons of Complaint. When last Summer his Majesty's forces, under the command of Colonel Bouquet, marched through this prov- ince, and demand was made by his Excellecy General Amherst, of Assis- tance to escort Provisions, etc., to re- lieve that important Post, Fort Pitt,
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