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 51
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was granted, al-
385
ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
though never anything appeared more buted to their Support, wherein they reasonable or necessary, as the Inter- ests of the Province lay so much at stake and the Standing of the Frontier Settlements, in any manner, evident- ly depending under God, on the al- most despaired of success of his Ma- jesty's little army, whose valor the whole Frontier with gratitude ac- knowledge, and as the happy means of having saved from ruin a great part of the Province; but when a number of Indians falsely pretended Friends, and having among them some proved an oath to have been guilty of Murder since the War began,
when they together with others, known to be his Majesty's enemies, and who had been in the battle against Col. Bouquet reduced to distress by the destruction of their Corn at the Great Island, and up the East Branch of Sasquehannah, pretend themselves Friends and desire subsistance, they are openly caressed, and the Publick, that could not be indulged the liberty of contributing to his Majesty's assis- tance, obliged, as tributaries to Sav- ages to support these Villains, these enemies to our Great King and our Country, nor only so the hands that were closely shut, nor would grant his Majesty's general a single farth- ing against a Savage Foe, have been liberally opened, and the publick money basely prosituted to hire, at an exhorbitant rate, a mercernary Guard to protect his Majesty's worst of Enemies, those falsely pretended In- dian Friends, while, at the same time, Hundreds of Poor Distressed Famil- ies of his Majesty's subjects obliged to abandon their Possessions and fly for their lives at least, are left, ex- cept a small relief at first, in the most distressing circumstances, to starve neglected, save what the friendly hand of private Donations has contri-
who are most profuse towards sav- ages, have carefully avoided having any part. When last Summer troops were raised for the defence of the Province were limited to certain Bounds, nor suffering to any attempt of annoying our Indians in their Habitations, and a number of brave volunteers, equipped at their own ex- pense in September, up the Sasque- hanna, met and defeated their Enemy, with the loss of some of their number and having others dangerously
wounded, not the least thanks or ac- knowledgment was made by the Leg- islature to them for the Confessed service they had done; nor only the least Notice or Care taken of their wounded; Whereas, when a Seneca, who, by the Information of many, as his own confessions, had been, through the last War, our inveterate Enemy, had got a cut in his Head, last Summr in a Quarrel with his Own Cousin, and it was reported in Philadelphia that his wound was dan- gerous, a Doctor was immedately em- ployed and sent to Fort Augusta to take care of him and cure him if pos- sible. To these may be added that though it was impossible to obtain through the Summer, or even yet, any premium for Indian Scalps, or en- couragement to excite volunteers to go forth against them; Yet, when a few of them known to be the fast friends of our enemies, and some of them murderers themselves, when these have been struck with a distressed, bereft, injured frontier, a liberal re- ward is offered for apprehending the perpetrators of that horrible crime of killing his Majesty's Cloaked Ene- mies, and their conduct painted in the most atrocious Colours, while the horrid ravages, cruel murders, and most shocking barbarities, committed
386
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
by Indians on His Majesty's subpects, of the Majority of the Good Inhabi- are covered over and excused under tants of this Province, should awaken the resentment of the People grossly abused, unrighteously burdened and made dupes and Slaves to the In- dians? And must not all well dis- posed people entertain a Charitable sentiment of those who, at their own Great Expence and trouble have at- tempted or shall attempt, rescuing a laboring land from a weight so op- pressive, unreasonable and unjust? It is this we design, it is this we are re- solved to prosecute, though it is with great reluctance we are obliged to adopt a Measure not so agreeable as could be desired, and to which extent alone compels. the charitable term of this being their method of making war. But to re- count the many repeated grievances whereof we might justly complain, and instances of a most violent at- tachment to Indians were tedious be- yond the patience of the Job, to en- dure more, and better be expected ; nor need we be surpried at Indians inso- Ince and Villainy, when it is consid- ered, and which can be proved from the public records of a certain county that some time before Conrad Weiser died, some Indians belonging to the Great Island or Wighalousing, assur- Ed him that Israel Pemberton (an in- cient leader of that Faction, which 1764-Benjamin Franklin's View of This Killing on the Conestoga. for so long a time have found means to enslave the province to In- As nearly all readers of History know the most intelligence and the severest denunciations of the dastard- ly killing of these Conestogas ap- peared in the form of a pamphlet by Benjamin Franklin. It may be found in the Historical Society at Philadel- phia. A great many other pamphlets were written upon the subject and numerous articles in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette and other papers of the time. It caused a great excitement throughout all Eastern Pennsylvania. dians), together with others of the Friends, had given them a rod t scourge the white people that were settled on the Purchased lands, for that Onas had cheated them out of a great deal of land, or had not given near sufficient price for what he had bought; and that the traders ought also, to be scourged, for that they de- frauded the Indians, by selling goods to them at too dear a rate; and that this relation is a matter of fact, can easily be proved in the County of Berks. Such is the unhappy situation, 1764-The Last Two Indians in Lan- caster County. uder the Villainy, Infatuation and In- fluence of a certain Faction, that have In the New Era of September 11, 1907 among the proceedings of the Hershey family reunion appears the following item: got the Political reigns in hand, and timely tyrannize over the other good subjects of the Province. And can it be thought strange that a scene of "In a lonely spot in one of the back pasture fields of this Homestead (The Old Hershey Homestead) the visitors found four stone markers set securely in the ground within whose enclosure lie the remains of 'Michael and Mary', the last two Indians of Lancaster County. These Indians such treatment as this, and the now adding, in this critical juncture, to all our former distresses, that disagree- able burden of supporting in the very heart of the Province, at so great an expense, between one and iwo hun- dred Indians to the Great disquietude
387
ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
were friendly and during their de- clining years were cared for by Christian Hershey, who then owned the homestead. The following docu- ment was read by Mr. Hershey at this spot, after prayer over the remains of these last Children of the Forest, by Rev. Hershey.
'Protection for Two Friendly Indians In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. By Ho'ble John Penn, Esq., &c.,
To Whom It May Concern:
Greeting: Whereas, I am given to understand that the Bearers Michael and Mary his wife are friendly In- dians who formerly resided with other Indians in the Conestoga Man- or, and have for upwards of fifteen months last past lived with Christian Hershey, at his plantation in War- wick Township, Lancaster Co., Pa., during which time they have con- stantly behaved in the most friendly and peaceable manner to all his Ma- jesty's subjects, I do hereby grant the said Michael and Mary my pro- tection and do enjoin and require all officers, civil and Military, as well as all other persons whatsoever within this Government to suffer to pass and repass on their lawful business with- out the least molestation or interrup- tion, and they are hereby also desir- ed to treat the said Indians with Civ- ility and to afford them all necessary assistance.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Philadelphia, the 17th Aug., 1764.'
JOHN PENN.
'By his Honour's Command
JOHN SHIPPEN, Secretary.
Thus it will be noticed that the Hershey family is honored with de- ently burying the last Indians
of Lancaster County, and suitably mark- ing their graves."
1768-A Reference to the Conestoga Killing.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 409, the Assembly sent a message to the
Governor, referring to General Gage's and William Johnson's views of the killing, and recalled to the mind of the Governor the fact that we did not pay sufficient attention to the point hat we were occupying the Indians' lands without their consent. And they also say that they can never for- get the horrid murder committed in 1763 on the remnant of the Cones- toga Indians at Lancaster.
1770-The Murder of the Conestoga Indians Still Lingers in the Minds of the People.
In Vol. 9 of the Col. Rec., p. 683, under the date of 1770, there is a deposition by John Philip DeHoos of the Tonnship of Lebanon in Lancas- ter County, in which he says that it is understood that 200 Pounds were still offered as a premium for the persons who were concerned in mur- dering the Indians in the Lancaster jail.
1775-Descendants of the Cayugas Claim the Old Indian Town in Manor Township.
In Mombert's History of Lancaster County at p. 280 we find the follow- ing:
"At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday 16th May, 1775.
PRESENT:
The Honourable John Penn. Esquire, Governor.
James Tilghman, Andrew Allen, Es- quires.
The Governor acquainted the Board that eight Cayuga Indians came to Town on Saturday last from Cones- togoe, on the Cayuga Branch of the Susquehanna, on some Business with this Government, and that he now proposed to hear what they had to say. Whereupon the Board agreed that they should be immediately sent for, and they were accordingly intro- duced.
388
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
The Governor then acquainting them that he was ready to hear them, addressing himself to the Governor, first went through some short usual ceremonies of clearing the Throat and Heart, and opening the Ears, etc., and then producing a belt of wam- pum, spoke as follows, viz: That three of their Company, who were present as the nearest surviving re- lations of the old Seneca Sohaes, who lived for many years with his family and connections on a tract of land within the Manor of Conestogo, in Lacaster County; that the old man with his family and relations were several years ago murdered there by some wicked men belonging to this Government; and that the said Tract of Land containing about 500 acres, now became the property of h's three relations row present, one of whom is Sohaes' Brother; that they had come down at this time to see their Brother Onos, and make sale of the said land to him; that the land is very rich and worth a great deal of money, but as their brother Onas was himself well acquainted with its value, they desired he would purchase it from them at such a price as he thought reasonable, and they would be entirely satisfied. He then deliv- ered the belt of Wampum to the Gov- ernor, and told him that he had fin- ished what he had to say.
The Governor thereupon acquainted the Indians that he and his Council would take their speech into consid- eration, and give them an answer on Thursday morning.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, 18th May, 1775.
PRESENT:
The Honourable John Penn, Es- quire, Governor.
William Logan, Andrew Allen, Benja- min Chew, Edward Shippen, Junr., Esquires.
The eight Cayuga Indians being sent for, attended at a Board in or- der to receive the Governor's answer to their Speech on Tuesday last, which the Governor in part delivered to them; but as it appeared to the Board that the Indians did not clear- ly and fully comprehend his meaning, the person who undertook to inter- pret to them not being sufficiently acquainted with their Language, and the Indians expressing great dissat- isfaction on being informed that this land had already been purchased and paid for, it was agreed that Isaac Still, a Delaware Indian Interpreter, should be immediately sent for, to interpret the Governor's answer to the Indians in Council, on Saturday. morning next.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Saturday 20th May, 1775.
PRESENT:
William Logan, Andrew Allen, James Tilghman, Edward Shippen, Junr., Esquires.
The eight Cayuga Indians, by de- sire of the Governor, again attended the Board, with the Indian Interpre- ter Isaac Still, and having taken their seats, the Speaker repeated over the speech he had delivered to the Gov- ernor on Tuesday last, which was the same in substance as entered on the minutes of that day and the Gov- ernor returned them his answer, which was fully explained by them by Isaac Still, and is as follows, viz:
BRETHREN: The tract of land you mention, consisting of 500 acres, part of the Conestoga Manor, where old Sches dwelt, was included in a pur- chase long since made from the In- dians, notwithstanding which, I agree that Sohaes and his Family had the Proprietaries' permission to live thereon as long as they chose to re- main in the inhabitant part of the country. Some time after the death
389
ANNALS OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCKS AND
of Sohaes, and all his Family that re- sided there in the year 1768, there was a Treaty held at Fort Stanwix, to which I was invited by Sir Wil- liam Johnson,, in order to treat with the Indians, concerning the purchase of a large tract of land, part of which lay in the King's Governments and part in the Province of Pennsylvania; at this treaty the last great Indians purchase was made, for which I then paid the Indians ten Thousand Dol- lars. But before the treaty was fin- ished, Sir William Johnson informed me that the Indians expected to be paid for the 500 acres of land, part of the Conestogo Manor, where Sohaes dwelt; I accordingly agreed to pay them for it. The price agreed on was two hundred Pounds, York money, or $500, the value of which was then delivered in goods to Togaiato, the Cayuga Chief, to be distributed as he thought proper, and the deed I now show you, for the land of the Indians I bought of the Indians at that treaty, signed by he Chiefs of the Six Na- tions, expressly includes ths 500 acres of land.
Having therefore, already purchas- ed the land twice, it can not reason- ably be expected that I should pay it again. However, as you have come from a great distance, under the ex- pectation of selling this land, and perhaps did not receive as great a proportion of the goods I delivered at Fort Stanwix, as should have been paid to the relations of Sohaes, and to show you the desire I have to pre- serve peace and friendship with the Indians, and that when they pay me a visit they should not go away dis- satisfied; I am willing to make you a present, which I hope you will think a generous one; I, therefore, desire you will except of these $300.
The Indians, accordingly very glad- ly accepted the $300, and signed a
receipt for the same on the back of the deed executed at Fort Stanwix, expressing it to be in full satisfac- tion of all claims of Sohaes' Family to the said 500 acres of land."
From this we see that the Indians were very willing to give up anything they might lay hold to about the Con- estoga creek.
Indian Children's Sport with the German Children.
The subject of this item is put at the end of these annals because it is not practical to affix to it any date but inasmuch as it has to do with the children ancients, I have put it at the close. It is as follows:
In Vol. 7 of Hazard's Register, p. 163 it is found the following relative to the above. It is a narrative of an old time Mennonite or Amishman concerning the early doings about Conestoga.
"An aged member of the Amish or Ommish faith relates, that he often heard his grandfather say, that his family was one of the first of the Europeans who settled west of the Conestoga. That the Indians lived near them; and that the German and Indian children would frequetly play together in the neighborhing wig- wam. Sometimes you would see them engaged in contests of foot race; in which the Indian lads would excel al- though the German boys would dis- card their clothes to put them on an equality with the naked savages. Sometimes with the bow and arrow, but here the little Indians would all show their superiority in skill, and accuracy of aim. In wrestling, and most of their exercises, the Indian boys . excelled; but in the mechanical arts the little emigrants had the ad- vantage. I have often seen the Chiefs reclining on the ground, leaning on the arm, looking at the diversions
390
OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY INDIAN TRIBES
and amusements of the children; and when the little Indian would excel they would laugh very heartily.
It would not infrequently happen, that the little German boys would show some degree of anger, when they were unsuccessful, by giving a blow, or taking up a stone and un- ceremoniously hurl it at the head of a competitor, which the little Indians would receive with the utmost com- placency. I was one day amused by seeing a struggle between an Indian and a German; the former was younger but more active than the lat- ter, and the little son of the forest was evidently playing with the strength of his adversary; the Ger- man became heated, and exerting all his strength endeavored to throw his companion on the ground; but the wily Indian gave a sudden trip, which caused the German to fall be- neath; who, rising angrily, seized a stone and levelled his opponent to the earth. The chiefs who were near laughed very heartily, but the little white faces did not wait to see the result but ran hastily homewards, dreading a severe castigation. In all and every transaction we had with the Indians, we found them mild and peaceable; and, as just related, not disposed to revenge, when the act appeared to be a momentary burst of passion: I have often seen the little Breneman's, children of a Mennonite emigrant, playing in the most sport- ive and innocent manner with the lit- tle red faces, and I ever know or heard of one little white face receiv- ing an injury from their red breth- ren; that is, no intentional injury.
I remember the hickory tree which once stood in the centre of Lancas- ter. It was customary for the In- dians, when about to form a treaty, to select a tree which had an appear-
ance of vigor, health and strength, and, I may add, beauty ; then sur- rounding it, they would say, 'by this chain thus linked together, may it re- main unbroken as this tree has sur- vived the storm'. Again, 'if any of us shall violate this pledge, may the lightning shiver such to pieces as a lofty pine in a thunder storm.'
It was not until the introduction of spirituous liquor, that the neighbor- hood of the Indians proved dangerous to the whites, but not to us, for we gave them no liquor, and neither did we trade with them, for our religion forbade it.
It may be not unnecessary to add, that the Indians had the most im- plicit confidence in William Penn; whom they were always inclined to respect as a superior being; and the great confidence was frequently .re- ferred to by them, in their several talks at Lancaster and at Conestoga." "The Brennemans' settled west of Conestoga in the year 1719."
We have now traced the history of the Indians that inhabited the sec- tion of the Country, which afterwards became Lancaster County, from the earliest date upon which any authen- tic information could be found down to the date of the disappearance of the last of them. These annals therefore extend over a period of two centuries and a half. The Indians
who inhabited this neighborhood were at one time the mightiest tribe in the Central Atlantic States. They frightened all the Virginia and Mary- land Indians into subjection, includ- ing Powhatan's mighty tribe. They conquered all the tribes around them North and South and during the per- iod from 1600 to 1660 were in the height of their glory and power. They were during that period known as the "Giant Susquehannocks." They met their first conqueror after the
391
ANNALS OF THE SUS QUEHANNOCKS AND
Five Nations of New York began a confederacy, and the mastery of the Five Nations, even in their confeder- ated strength and only determined after a 20 years' war beginning in 1655 and ending in 1675. From that date the Susquehannock Tribe was divided, and one branch after march- ing through Maryland and Virginia and inciting the Bacon Rebellion, came back to their old location on the Susquehanna. The other portion was taken by the Five Nations to live with them in New York, The com- ing of civilization was their death knell. Only à small portion of them staid in what is now Lancaster County and faded away before the white man. The Major portion of them went west as the Frontier moved Westward and met their Wat- erloo after Braddock's defeat on the extreme branches of the Susquehanna and the head waters of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers.
The last remnant of those who re- mained here were cruelly butchered as we have just shown in December, 1763. After the outrageous slaughter their bodies were tenderly taken charge of and buried in the ceme- tery, in the rear of what is known as Martin's Hall on East Chestnut Street, which I understand was
a Mennonite or Quaker cemetery or both. When the Pennsylvania railroad was cut through Lancaster, which now lies in a deep cut, pass- ing back of the cemetery, the bones of these poor old Indians rolled down the slopes of the cut from their graves where they had lain or repos- ed over three-fourth of a century. And this concludes the annals of the "Susquehannocks and Other Indian Tribes of Lancaster County."
H. FRANK ESHLEMAN, Esq., January 21, 1909
392
INDEX.
A
Argoll, Samuel on the Susquehannocks 14
Andastes or Susquehannocks 14
"Alaentsic" Grandmother of the World 19
Analysis, Evans' 25
Alsop's Account of the Susquehannocks 62
Attainder of Truman 92
Andros, Edmund, Invites the Susquehannocks Back to the River. 100
Andros Stands by the Susquehannocks 103
Askin Sells Rum to the Conestogas 154
Airens, Rev., Preaches at Conestoga 169
200
Albany Treaty
274
Albany and the Conestogas
280
Assembly on the Cartlidge Murder
281
Aston, George, Warns the Conestogas
290
Albany Treaty 315
Apples Grown by the Indians 319
Allegheny-Shawanese at 321
Armstrong, John, Killed near Lancaster
348
B
Big Indian Picture Rock 5
Barbarities of the Susquehannocks 18
Baptism of a Susquehannock 21
Brent, Arrested for Abandoning Expedition 29
Beaver Trade of the Susquehannocks
45
Burial Customs of the Susquehannocks
63
Brant, Captain, Reports the Susquehannocks and Senecas Invading. 115
122
Beall, Ninian's Expedition and Slaughter
122
Beall, Ninian Helps the Susquehannocks to Slaughter Enemies
122
Basallion, Order Against
142
Beall To Keep the Susquehannocks Out of Maryland.
148
Bizalion's Trading House
155
Buck's Statement of Penn's Visit 160
Bizalion and Letort Held in Bonds 172
Bizalion Again Suspected
173
Bizalion Takes Up Land Above Conestoga
193
Bizalion Acting Suspiciously
201
Butchery in the South
239
Bacon's Rebellion-Susquehannocks Caused It
240
Baltimore, Lord Interferes With the Conestogas
276
Blunsten. Letter to, by Gordon
297
Blunston's Letter to Logan 309
Blunston Fears the Loyalty of the Five Nations. 309
Bears Caught at Conestoga 320
Ball at Lancaster in 1744 344
Baell, Ninian-Witness Against Truman 92
Beall, Ninian, To Slaughter the Susquehannocks 119
Beall, Ninian, Made Ranger
Assembly Wants Larger Presents for the Conestogas
393
INDEX
Billy Sock's Treachery . 370
Breneman Children played with the Indian Children 389
Burial Place of Murdered Conestogas 391
C
Cannibals, First Susquehannocks Cannibals
4
Chesapeake, Delaware Channel Proposed in 1613 15
Claybourne on the Susquehanna 15
Claybourne's Attack 16
Claybourne Arrested for Treason
17
Cornwaleys Against the Susquehannocks
19
Claybourne Buys Susquehanna Valley
19
Claybourne Petitions King for Trade Rights 19
Claybourne Defends Purchase 20
21
Conawago, Limit of the Swedes' Purchase
21
Claybourne's Title Set Aside
23
Clay bourne Produces a Witness
24
Christian Susquehannock Speared to Death
27
Cornwalyes, Their Power Against Susquehannocks
30
Cruelty of the Susquehannocks 36
69
Cayugas Whipped by Susquehannock Boys
70
Cotton, Anne's Account of the Fall of the Susquehannocks.
88
Collyer to Protect the Susquehannocks
104
Coursey, Henry, Ambassador To Make Peace With the Susquehannocks
107
Conestogas Agree to Watch the Shawanese 111
Conestoga, The Beginning Of 117
117
Conestogas Meet Penn
125
Conestogas Take Meat to Penn
126
Conestogas Sell to Penn 127
129
Conestoga, Penn's First Visit to
129
Council of Pennsylvania Protects the Susquehannocks.
135
Conestoga Road to Philadelphia
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