USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 88
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After several ineffectual attempts to compose the clamors of the Delawares, it is said the proprietor com- plained of them to the Five Nations. In 1736, the de- puties of the Five Nations arrived, and a treaty was held with them, at which Conrad Weiser was an import- ant agent. The deed of 1736 is as follows:
mentasachta, and by the Delaware Indians, the Kekach- taramin hills Signed by 23 Indian chiefs of the Onon- dago, Seneca, Oneida, and Tuscarora nations, recorded in Book C. vol. 1, page 277, May 7th, 1741.
What is remarkable at this period, is, that the Indian chiefs, on their return, staid several days with Conrad Weiser, at Tulpehocken, and there executed the fol- lowing deed. dated October 25th, 1736, which is proved and recorded in Book C. vol. 2, page 350, May 22d, 1741.
We, the chiefs of the Six Nations of Indians, the On- ondagoes, Isanundowans, or Sennekas, Cayoogoes, Oneydas, l'uscaroroes, (in behalf also of the Canyingoes, or Mohacks, ) who have I. tely, at Philadelphia, by our deed in writing, dated the 11th day of this instant, Oc- tober, released to John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Rich- ard Penn, proprietors of Pennsylvania, and to their heirs and successors, all our right, claim, and preten- sions to all the lands on both sides of the river Susque- hanna, from the mouth thereof as far northward, or up the said river as that ridge of hills called the Tyoninha- sachta, or endless mountains, westward to the setting of the sun, and eastward to the farthest springs of the waters 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 release to the said proprietors, &c. all the lands lying within the bounds and limits of the govern- ment of Pennsylvania, beginning eastward on the river Delaware, 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 they fur- ther engage, never to sell any of their lands to any but the proprietors, or children of William Penn.
October 11th, 1736 Whereas the late proprietary There is an indorsement of ratification on this deed, dated 9th of July, 1754, signed by nine Indians. of the province of Pennsylvania, William Penn, Esq. soon after his first arrival in the said province, took But notwithstanding this latter deed, it was earnestly contended by those who were unfriendly to the proprie- tary proceedings, and probably from an apprehension or foresight of the disasters which ensued, that the right of the Five Nations lay only on the waters which run into the Susquehanna; and as they claimed no lands on the Delaware, they could by that instrument convey none. However this fact may have been, we find about eighteen months afterwards, the proprietors procured a release from the Delawares, for at least part of these lands, or a confirmation of the supposed deed of 1686, or the walking purchase. This singular relcase is in the following words: measures to have the river Susquehanna, with all the lands lying on both sides of the same, purchased for him and his heirs, of those Indians of the Five Nations inhabiting in the province of New York, who claimed the property thereof, and accordingly did purchase them of Col. Thomas Dungan, formerly governor of New York, and pay for the same; notwithstanding which, the Indians of the Five Nations aforesaid, have continued to claim a right in and to the said river and lands, nor have those claims been hitherto adjusted; whereupon the said sachems or chiefs, having, with all the others of the said nations, met the last summer at their great council, held in the country of the said On- August 25th, 1737. We, Teshakomen, alias Tishe- kunk, and Nootamis, alias Nutimus, two of the sache- mas, or chiefs of the Delaware Indians, having almost three years ago, at Durham, begun a treaty with our honorable brethren, John and Thomas Penn, and from thence another meeting was appointed to be at Penns- bury the next spring following, to which we repaired, with Lappawinzoe, and several others of the Delaware Indians, at which treaty several deeds were produced, and shewed to us by our said brethren, concerning se- veral tracts of land, which our forefathers had more than fifty years ago, bargained and sold unto our good friend and brother William Penn, the father of the said John and Thomas Penn, and. in particular, one deed from Maykeerickkisho, Sayhoppy and Taughhauglisey, the chiefs or kings of the northern Indians on Delaware, who for, &c. did grant, &c. all those lands lying and being in the province of Pennsylvania, beginning upon a line formerly laid out from a 'corner spruce tree by the river Delaware, (Makeerikkitton,) and from thence running along the ledge or foot of the mountains, west- northwest to a corner white ovk, marked with the letter P. standing by the Indian path that leadeth to an Indian town called Playwickey, and from thence extending westward to Neshameny creek, from which sa'd line, the said tract or tracts thereby granted, cloth extend itself back into the woods, as far as a man can go in one ondagoes, did resolve and conclude that a final period and conclusion should be put to all disputes that might possibly arise on that occasion, and having appointed the aforesaid sachems or chiefs, as plenipotentiaries of all those nations to repair to Philadelphia, in order to confirm the several treaties of peace which have hither- to been concluded between them, and the said province, and also to settle and adjust all demands and claims that have been heretofore made, or hereafter may be made, touching or concerning the aforesaid river Susquehan- na, and the lands lying on both sides thereof; and the said sachems or chiefs of the Five Nations aforesaid, having for themselves, and on behalf of the said Na- tions, renewed and ratified the treaties of friendship and peace subsisting between them and the said pro- vince, did afterwards proceed to treat and agree with the honorable the proprietors thereof, about the said river and lands. Now know ye, &c. - grant, &c. to John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, their heirs, successors and assigns, all the said river Susque. hanna, with the lands lying on both sides thereof, to ex- tend eastward as far as the heads of the branches or springs which run into the said Susquehanna, and all the lands lying on the west side of the said river, to the setting of the sun, and to extend from the mouth of the said river, northward, up the same to the hills or moun- tains called in the language of the said nations Taya- I day and an half, and bounded on the westerly side with
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the creek called Neshamony, or the most westerly westerly branch thereof, and from thence by a line to the utmost extent of the said one day and an half's journey, and from thence
to the aforesaid river Delaware, and from thence down the several cour. es of the said river to the first mentioned spruce tree, &c. But some of our old men being absent, we requested more time to consult with our people, which request being granted, we have, after more than two years, from the treaty at Pennsbu- ry, now con.e to Philadelphia, together with our chief sachem, Monockykichan, and several of our old men. They then acknowledge that they were satisfied that the above described tract was granted by the persons above mentioned, and agree to rel ase to the proprie- tors all right to that tract, and desire it may be walked, travelled, or gone over by persons appointed fur that purpose. (Signed,) Manockykichon, Lappawinzoe, Teshacomin, Nootamis .- And witnessed by twelve oth- er Indians, in token of full and free consent, besides other witnesses. Recorded May 8th, 1741, in book G vol. 1, page 282.
The walk was accordingly made; but it tended only to increase the dissatisfaction of the Indians .- In giving this summary of the causes and effects of the Indian treaties, it is not designed, nor is it calculated, to en- croach on the province of history, which embraces a broader ground, but merely to connect them together, and shew how intimately they depend on each other. Nor will it escape the observation of the reader, how materially the frequent recurrence to, and confirmation of, Col. Dongan's deed, bears upon the deed of the 11th July, 1754, from the Indians to Connecticut claimants, whether that deed were real or fictitious.
This walk extended, it is said, about thirty miles be- yond the Lehigh hills, over the Kittatinny mountain; and a draught ofit was made by Surveyor General East burn,including the best of the lands in the forks of De - laware, and the Minissinks. The walkers were expert, and the Indians who could not keep up with them, complained that they ran; and moreover it would ap- pear that their expectation was that the walk was to be made up the river, by its courses. It is not intended to enter further into the controversy than to exhibit the general grounds which are said to have estranged the Delawares from our interest, and drove them into that of the French, who were always ready, in those times, to increase their diss tisfaction with the English. Nutimus and others, who signed the release of 1737, were not willing to quit the lands, nor give quiet possession to the people who came to take up the lands and settle in the forks. They remonstrated freely, and declared their resolution of maintaining possession by force of arms. In the year 1741, therefore, a message was sent to the Six Nations, who, it was well known, had great authority over the Delawares, to press them to come down and force the Delawares to quit the forks. They accordingly came in the summer of 1742, to the number of two hundred and thirty. Governor Thomas, in his message to the assembly of the 24th July, in that year, among other things, tells them, " That their coming down was not only necessary for the present peace of the province, in regard to some Indiuns who had threaten- ed to maintain by force their possession of lands which had been long ago purchased of them,and since convey- ed by the proprietaries to some of our own inhabitants: but for its future security, like wise, in case of a rupture with the French, who will leave no methods unessayed to corrupt their fidelity, and to persuade them to turn their arms against us. Votes of assembly, vol. 3, page 481-2.
At this treaty, at Philadelphia, the governor informed the d. puties of the conduct of their cousins, a branch of the Delawares, who gave the province some disturbance about the lands the proprietors purchased of them, and for which their ancestors had received a valuable
consideration about fifty- five years ago, (alluding to the deed of 1686, confirmed by the deed of 1737. )-That they continued their former disturbances, and had the insolence to write letters to some of the magistrates of this governinent, wherein they had abused the worthy proprietaries, and treated them with the utmost rude- ness and ill manners; that bring loth, out of regard to the six Nations, to punish the the Delawares as they deserved, he had sent two messages to inform them the Six Nation deputies were expected here, and should be acquainted with their behaviour. That as the Six Nations, on all occasions, apply to this govern- ment to remove all white people that are settled on lands before they are purchased from them, and as the government use their endeavours to turn such people off, so now he expects from them that they will cause these Indians to remove from the lands in the forks of Delaware, and not give any further disturbance to the persons who are now in possession.
The deeds and letters were then read, and the draught exhibited.
Cunassalego, in the name of the deputies, told the governor, "That they saw the Delawares had been an unruly people, and were altogether in the wrong; that they had concluded to remove them, and oblige them to go over the river Delaware, and quit all claim to any lands on this side for the future, since they had re- ceived pay for them, and .t is gone through their guts long ago."-Then addressing himself to the Delawares. in a violent and singular strain of invective, he said, " They deserved to be taken by the hair of the head, and shaked severely, till they recovered their senses, and became sober; and he had seen with his eyes a deed signed by nine of their ancestors about fifty years ago, for this very land, (1686,) and a release signed not many years since, (1737,) by some of themselves, and chiefs, yet living, (Sussoonan and Nutimus were pre- sent,) to the number of fifteen and upwards; " but how come you, continued he to the Delawares, to take upon you to sell lands at all? We conquered you; we made women of you; you know you are women, and can no more sell land than women; nor is it fit you should have the power of selling lands, since you would abuse it. this land that you claim is gone through your guts; you have been furnished with clothes, meat, and drink, hy the goods paid you for it, and now you want it again like children as you are. But what makes you sell lands in the dark? Did you ever tell us that you had sold this land? Did we ever receive any part, even the value of a pipe shank, from you for it? You have told us a blind story, that you sent a messenger to us, to in- form us of the sale, but he never came among us, nor we ever heard any thing about it. This is acting in the clark, and very different from the conduct our Six Na- tions observe in the sales of land. On such occasions they give public notice, and invite all the Indians of their united nations and, give them all a share of the present they receive for their lands. This is the behavior of the wise united nations. But we find you are none of our blood; you act a dishonest part not only in this, but in other matters; your ears are ever open to slanderous reports about your brethren. For all these reasons u e charge you to remove instantly; we don't give you liberty to think about it. You are women. Take the advice of a wise man, and remove instantly. You may return to the other side of Delaware where you came from; but we do not know whether, considering how you have demeaned yourselves, you will be permitted to live there, or whether you have not swallowed that land down your throats, as well as the land on this side. We therefore assign you two places to go to, either to Wy- omen or Shamokin. You may go to either of these places, and then we shall have you more under our eye, and shall see how you behave. Don't deliberute, but remove awny, and take this belt of wampum." He then forbid them ever to intermiddle in land affairs, or ever hereafter pretend to sell any land, and commanded
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them, as he had something to transact with the English, immediately to depart the council.
The Delawares dared not disobey this peremptory command. They immediately left the council, and soon after removed from the forks; some,it is said, went to Wyoming and Shamokin, and some to the Ohio, Thus strangely was terminated the purchase of 1686- admitting the deed to have once existed. But even at this treaty with the Six Nations,it was not admitted that the proprietary right extended beyond the Kittochtinny hills; and the deputies complained that they were not well used with respect to the land still unsold by them " " Your people, (they said, ) daily settle on these lands, and spoil our Hunting. We must insist on your remov- ing them, as you know they have no right to settle to the northward of the Kittochtinny hills. In particular we re- new our complaints against some people who are set- tled on Juniata,a branch of Susquehanna, and all along the banks of that river as far as Muhaniay, and desire they may forthwith be made to go off the land, for they do great damage to our cousins the Delawares."
With respect to the people settled at Juniata, the Governor replied, " that some magistrates were sent expressly to remove them, and he thought no persons would presume to stay after that." Here they inter- rupted the Governor, and said, " These persons who were sent do not do their duty; so far from removing the people, they made surveys for themselves, and they are in league with the trespassers; we desire more effec- tual methods may be used, and honester men employed," which the Governor promised should be done. But we shall have occasion again to recur to this point. It is necessary only to add, at this time, the strong expres- sions of the speaker to the Governor-"We have given the river Juniata for a hunting place to our cousins, the Delaware Indians, and our brethren the Shawnese, and we ourselves hunt there sometimes. We therefore de- sire you will immediately by force remove all those that live on the river Juniata." And what less could be de- manded after the expulsion of the Delawares from the Forks?
Soon after this it appeared that the Shawnese were endeavouring to draw the Delawares from Shamokin to the Ohio, and that there were some heart-burnings be- tween the Delawares and the Six Nations, and that the foriner only wanted a favourable opportunity to throw off the yoke, which they afterwards did, and to revenge the insults that had been offered to them at Philadel- phia, in 1742. See votes of assembly, vol. 3, p. 555.
We shall now proceed to the causes and circumstan- ces which produced the treaty and purchases of 1749.
A meeting of the deputies from each of the Six Na- tions, had been appointed, by the grand council at Onondago, to go to Philadelphia, on business of impor- tance. The Senecas first arrived there, " One of the most considerable points," (said the speaker to the go- vernor, ) " which induced the council to send deputies at this time, was, that they had heard the white people had begun to settle on their side the blue mountains. And we the deputies of the Senecas, staying so long at Wyomen, had an opportunity of inquiring into the truth of this information, and to our surprise found the story confirmed, with this addition, that even this spring, since the governor's arrival, numbers of families were beginning to make settlements. As our boundaries are so well known, and so remarkably distinguished by a range of high mountains, we could not suppose this could be done by mistake, but either it must be done wickedly by bad people, without the knowledge of the governor, or that the new governor has brought some instructions from the king, or the proprietaries relating to this affair, whereby we are like to be much hurt. The governor will be pleased to tell us, whether he has brought any orders from the king or the proprietaries for these people to settle on our lands; and if not, we earnestly des're they may be made to remove instantly
with all their effects, to prevent the sad consequences which will otherwise ensue."
The governor acknowledges, in answer, That the people's settling on Juniata was contrary to the engage- ments of this government to the Indians; that he had received no orders in favour of them; that they had no countenance from the government, that no endeavours should be wanting on his part to bring the offenders to justice, and to prevent all future causes of complaint. Nothing else was done at this meeting, and the Senecas departed; but on their return they met the other depu- ties; and after considerable deliberation, and notwith- standing the opposition of Conrad Weiser, they all came to Philadelphia, accompanied by some Mohickans, Tute- las, Delawares,and Nanticokes, in number two hundred and eighty, about the 14th of August, 1749. Canassa- tego was again the speaker. They renewed the com- plaints about the settlements on the unpurchased lands; that b7 treaties all white people were to have been hindered from settling the lands not purchased of them; and if they did, the government engaged to remove them when discovered; but since it might be attended with a great deal of trouble, and having observed the people's settlements, they were willing to give up the lands on the east side of Susquehanna, from the blue hills to where Thomas Magee, the Indian trader lived, and leave it to the government to assign the worth of them. But as to the hunting grounds of their cousins the Nanticokes, and other Indians, living on the waters of Juniata, they must use more vigorous measures, and forcibly remove them.
On consultation, and their agreement to extend the purchase, so as to carry its breadth to the Delaware, the following deed was executed on the 22d day of August, 1749.
We Canasatago, Sataganachly, Kanalshyiacayon, and Canechwadecron, sachems or chiefs of the Indian na- tion called the Onontagers. Cayanockea, Kanatsany- Agash Tass, Caruchianachaqui, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Sinickers. Peter Ontachsax, and Christian Diaryhogon, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Mohocks; Saristagnoah, Watshatuhon and Anuchnaxqua, sachems or chiefs of the Indian na- tion called the Oneyders. Tatis Tawis, Kachnoaraase- ha, and Takachquontas, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Cayiukers. Tyierox, Balichwanonach- shy, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Tuscorrorow. Iachnechdorus, Sagoguchiathon, and Cachnavra-katak-ke, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Shomoken Indians. Nutimus and Qualpaghach, sachems or chiefs of the Indian nation called the Delawares; and Bachsinosa, sachem or chief of the Indian nation called the Shawanes, in considera- tion of £500, grant, sell, &c. all that tract or parcel of land lying and being within the following limits and bounds, and thus described. Beginning at the hills or mountains called in the language of the Five Nation Indians Tyanuntasachta, or endless hills, and by the Delaware Indians Kekactany hills, on the east side of the river Susquehanna, being in the north west line or boundary of the tract of land formerly purchased by the said proprietaries from the said Indian nations, bv their deed of the 11th of October, 1736; and from thence running up the said river by the several courses thereof, to the first or nearest mountain to the north side or mouth of the creek called in the language of the said Five Nation Indians, Cantaguy, and in the language of the Delaware Indians Maghonioy, and from thence ex- tending by a direct or straight line to be run from the said mountain on the north side of the said creek to the main branch of Delaware river, at the north side of the mouth of the creek called Lechawachsein, and from thence to return across Lechawachsein creek aforesaid, down to the river Delaware by the several courses thereof to the Kekachtany hills aforesaid, and from thence by the range of said hills to the place of begin- ning, as more fully appears by a map annexed; and also
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all the parts of the rivers Susquehanna and Delaware from shore to shore which are opposite to said lands, and all the islands in said rivers, &c.
This deed is recorded, May 6th, 1752, in book H, vol. 2, p. 204.
This purchase is distinctly marked by natural boun- daries, so as not to be mistaken. And at this treaty the engagement was renewed, that the white people should be removed from the Juniata. Proclamations were accordingly issued, but disregarded by the settlers on the unpurchased lands. In May 175C, Richard Peters, then secretary of the Land Office, with some magis- trates, was sent to remove them. Of this circumstance further notice will be hereafter taken, in the course of the note. See votes of assembly, vol. 4th, p. 137. But these proceedings appear to have had little effect Numbers were spirited up to stay, and others went and settled by them, so that in a few years the settlements in the Indian country were more numerous and farther than ever. See governor Hamilton's message, ibid .- and also p. 509, 517, 528.
It is necessary merely to mention the treaty of Car- lisle in 1753. Canassatego, and several of the sachems attached to the British interests, were dead; and the sachems at the head of the council of the Six Nations was known to be in the French interest, and the affec- tions of that people appeared to be much shaken. Those who adhered to us were threatened by the arms of the French, and Indian affairs wore a most gloomy aspect. See votes of assembly, vol. 4, p, 152. At this critical time the Indian friends were unwilling to do any thing which would give room to suspect their fidel- ity. They remonstrated it is true; but they remonstrat- ed without threats. They desired that our people would forbear settling on the Indian lands over the Al- legheny hills; for so far they now encroached, although none of the land on the west side of the Susquehanna beyond the north, or Kittatiny mountain had been pur. chased. They advised the government to call back their people; that none should settle on the Juniata lands, till matters were settled between them and the French, " lest damage should be done, and we should think ill of them." The council books, and votes of assembly shew the great anxiety of the government to strengtlien the fidelity of the Six Nations, and of the Delaware and Ohio Indians; communications by means of agents were frequent, and the presents considerable; until the unfortunate purchase of 1754, contributed to kindle a flame which could be extinguished only by a deluge of blood. See votes of assembly, vol. 4, pages 336, 392-4-9.
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