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 89

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

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 89

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The treaty of Albany, in 1754, with the Six Nations, was held by orders of the king. The lords of trade and plantations had recommended this, that all the provin- ces, if practicable, might be comprised in one general treaty, to be made in his majesty's name, as the prac- tice of each province making a separate treaty for it- self in its own name, was considered to be improper, and attended with great inconveniences to his majesty's ser- vice; votes of assembly, vol. 4, pages 279, 280, 286. See the whole proceedings in the minutes of council, Book M, page 339, to 386.

The Indian deed executed at Albany, is dated July 6th, 1754, and is as follows :--

Henry Peters, Abraham Peters, Blandt, Johannes Satfyhowano, Johannes Kanadakayon, Abraham Sas- taghredohy, sachems or chiefs of the Mohawk nation. Aneegnaxqua Taraghorus, Tohaghaaghquyserry, alias Kachneglidackons sachems of chiefs of the Oneydo na- tion. Otsinughyada, alias Bunt, in behalf of himself, and all the sachems and chiefs of the Onondago nation. Scanuraty, Tannaghdorus, Tokaaiyon, Kaghradodon, sachems or chiefs of the Cayuga nation. Kah chdodon, alias Groote Younge, Takeghsatu; Tiyonenkokaraw, sachems of chiefs of the Seneca nation. Suntrughwac- kon, Sagochsidodagon, Tohashuwangarus Orontakayon, alias John Nixon, 'Tistoaghton, sachems or chiefs of the

Tuscarora nation, in consideration of £400 lawful mo- ney of N.York, grant, &c. to Thomas and' Richard Penn, "all the lands lying within the said province of Pennsyl- vani , boun ed and limited as follows, namely, beginning at the Kitrochtinny or blue hills, on the west branch of Susquehanna river, and thence by the said, a mile above the mouth of a certain creek called Kayarondinhagh; thence northwest and by west as far as the said pro- vince of Pennsylvania extends to its western lines or boundaries; thence along the said western line to the south line or boundary of said province; thence by the said south line or boundary to the south side of the said Kittochtinny hills; thence by the south side of said hills, to the place of beginning: recorded in Book H, vol. 5, page 392, February 3d, 1755.

The history of this eventful period is still within the memory of many yet living. Many of the Indian tribes seeing their lands gone, joined the French, and in the following year fatally evinced their resentment at Brad- dock's field. The settlers were driven into the interior, their improvements were laid waste, and desolation marked the path of the warriors.

Governor Morris, in his address to the assembly, No- vember 3d, 1755, expressly tells them, " that it seemed clear from the different accounts he had received, that the French had gained to their interest the Delaware and Shawanese Indians, under the ensnaring pretence of restoring them to their country; votes of assembly, vol. 4, page 492. The assembly themselves, in a reply to governor Denny, in June 1757, say, "it is rendered beyond contradiction plain, that the cause of the pre- sent Indian incursions in this province, and the dreadful calamities, many of the inhabitants have suffered, have arisen, in great measure, from the exorbitant and un- reasonable purchase made, or supposed to be made of the Indians, and the manner of making them -So ex- orbitant, that the natives complain that they have not a country left to subsist in;" ib. 718, 722, 728, 737, 738. The fact was indeed notorious in both hemispheres, al- though some palliation was attempted in the report made of the conferences at Carlisle in 1753. After the treaty of 1758, it was however fully admitted by John Penn himself, who was then governor, upon communicating a letter from general Gage, on the subject of the con- tinued discontent of some of the western Indians; " I would willingly, he said to the assembly, take every measure in my power, not to remove the just causes of their complaints of past injuries, but to protect their persons and properties for the future." And general Gage's letter thus communicated, has this remarkable paragraph. "The encroachments made upon the Indian lands, for which they could obtain no justice, with the daily threats of more invasions of their property, lost us the affections of the savages before, and was the princi- pal reason for them throwing themselves into the arms of the French for protection. From hence arose the hostilities they committed upon us in 1754 and 1755, and the war that followed. The same causes will have the same effects." Votes of assembly, vol. 6, pages 7-8.

It further appears from Conrad Weiser's Journal of his conference with the Indians at Aughwich, that the dissatisfaction with the purchase of 1754, was general. They said they did not understand the points of the compass, and if the line was so run as to include the west branch of Susquehanna, they would never agree to it. Whatever pretences there were for it, (for it was suggested that the Connecticut commissioners were endeavouring to treat for some lands claimed by them, and had been making surveys above Shamokin, and that this deed was intended to prevent the interference, ) it is evident it left but a small part of the province to the natives. and that mountainous, and in a part too, most open to the Connecticut claimants. The lands where the Shawanese and Ohio Indians lived, and the hunting grounds of the Delawares, the Nanticokes, and the Tu- teloes, were all included.

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LAND TITLES.

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It will be evident also, that the course of the deed from Kayarondinghagh, or Penns-creek, was greatly mistaken, and that the line northwest and by west, would not strike the western boundary of the province; but would most probably have crossed the west branch of Susquehanna, a few miles below the mouth of Sinnem- ahoning, and have intersected the northern boundary a little to the west of Conewango creek.

The serious consequences likely to ensue to the Bri- tish interests, occasioned an application to the proprie- tors in England, from the government, through the lords commissioners of trade, and the proprietors agreed to limit the bounds of the purchase; and a cominission Was sent over, authorizing and directing a treaty to be held for that purpose, which commission is in the office of the secretary of the Land Office.

Previous to this treaty, great exertions were made to bring about an accommodation with the Delaware and Shawanese Indians, which was at length accomplished. These transactions will be found in the council books, and in the votes of assembly, vol. 4, p. 563, 583, 671, 672, 681.

We come therefore to the deed of October 23d, 1758, executed at Easton, which is as follows.

We Nichai Karaghiaghdatie, one of the chiefs and sa- chems of the Mohock nation; Assarodunqua, one of the sachems and chiefs of the Onondago nation; Sagebsa- don, or Tagesbata, one of the sachems or chiefs of the Seneca nation; Thomas King, alias Sagubsonyont, sa- chem and chief of the Oneyda nation; Tokaboyon, sa chem and chief of the Cayuga nation; Wisbaquontagush, sachem and chief of the Tuscarora nation; on behalf of ourselves and all the nations aforesaid, send greeting .- Whereas by a deed poll, bearing date at Albany, the 6th day of July, 1754, the sachems and chiefs of the said Six Nations, for. &c. (£400,) did grant and confirm to Thomas and Richard Penn, all the lands lying within the said province, &c. beginning at the Kittochinny or blue hills on the west bank of Susquehanna river, and tlience by the said river to a mile above the mouth of a certain creek called Kaarondinbab, (since John Penn's creek,) thence northwest and by west as far as the said province of Pennsylvania extended, to its western line or boundary, thence along the said western line to the south line or boundary of the said province, then by the said south line or boundary to the south side of the said Kittochtinny hill, thence by the south side of the said hill along the said hill to the place of beginning, &c. And whereas by an endorsement in writing on the back of the said deed, it was stipulated and agreed on part of the said land proprietaries, by their agent, that whenever the lands in the said deed, over the Apalachian or Allegheny hill, should be settled, the Indians who signed the deed were to receive a further sum, not ex- ceeding the consideration money in the said deed men- tioned, &c. And whereas since the execution of said deed, it having been represented to the said proprie- tors, that notwithstanding the said purchase was fairly made, yet there were some among the Indians who were disgusted with the said purchase, and were desirous that all that part of the said purchase for which they were to receive a further consideration by the terms of the indorsement of the said deed should be reserved for them, they the said proprietors, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, did authorize, appoint and empower Richard Peters and Conrad Weiser, Esqrs. their agents and attornies, to release and surrender to the said Six Na- tions all the lands comprised within the herein before recited deed, lying to the northward and westward of the Allegheny hill, provided they the said Six Nations or their deputies at the same time, did fully and effec . tually agree, stipulate and settle the exact and certain bounds of the residue of the said lands, included in the before mentioned purchase, which were sti I to remain to the said proprietors, after such surrrender made, as by a letter of attorney duly executed by the said propri- etors,dated 7th of November last past, may more fully ap-

pear. And whereas at a treaty held at Easton, on the 23d October, instant, the certain and exact bounds of such parts of the lands included in the before men- tioned deed or purchase, which are and shall remain to the said proprietors, have been amicably and freely stipulated and settled between the aforesaid sachems and chiefs, and Richard Peters and Conrad Weiser, Esqrs. &c. and are hereby declared to be as follows, that is to say, beginning at the Kittachinny or blue hills on the west bank of Susquehanna river, and running thence up the said river, binding therewith to a mile above the mouth of a creek called Kaarondinbab, (or John Penn's creek,) thence northwest and by west to a creek called Buffaloe's creek, thence west of the east side of Alleghany or Apalachian hills, thence along the east side of said hills, binding therewith, to the south line or boundary of the said province, thence by the said south line or boundary to the south side of the Kittatinny hill, thence by the south side of the said hill to the place of beginning, in consideration of the said sur- render, and five shillings, &c. And there is a covenant not to convey the residue to any persons else than the proprietors.

Recorded in book 1, vol.4, p.488, September 5th, 1768.

There is a rude map annexed to this deed, intended to represent the waters on the line from Buffaloe creek to Alleghany mountain, which line is represented as passing very near the junction of Spring creek with the Bald Eagle. It is probable the true line, relying on the correctness of Howell's map, would pass Belfont at the mouth of Logan's branch of Spring creek. So cau- tious, however, were the proprietors, at this period, of offending the Indians, by making surveys beyond the line, that the most positive instructions were given to the deputy surveyors on this head; and as the line was not run, nor its exact position known, the end of Nit- tany appears to have been assumed as a station, and a west line fiom thence presumed to be the purchase line. The error was on the safest side,although it is now known the end of Nittany is several miles within the deed of confirmation and surrender. In many instances, appli- cations, where it was probable they called for lands near the line, were retained in the office, and endorsed " quære, if in the purchase." As controversies have existed. and may still exist, respecting this boundary, more cannot with propriety be said upon this point.

The last purchase of the proprietaries from the Indi- ans, was made at Fort Stanwix, November 5th, 1768, and was as follows:

We, Tyanhasare, alias Abraham, sachem or chief of the Indian nation called the Mohocks, Senughsis-of the Oneydas; Chenughiata-of the Onondagos; Gaus- tarax-of the Senecas, Sequarisera -- of the Tuscaroras; 'T'agaaia-ot the Cayugas, in general council of the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, assembled for the purpose of settling a general boundary line between the said Six nations, and their confederates and dependent tribes, and his majesty's middle colonies, send greeting, &c. In consideration of ten thousand dollars, they grant to Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, all that part of the province of Pennsylvania, not heretofore purchased of the Indians, within the said general boundary line, and beginning in the said boundary line, on the east side of the east branch of the river Susquehanna, at a place called Owegy, and running with the said boundary line, down the said branch on the east side thereof till it comes opposite the mouth of a creek called by the In- dians Awandac, (Tawandee, ) and across the river and up the said creek on the south side thereof, and along the range of hills called Burnett's hills by the English, and by the Indians , on the north side of them, to the heads of a creek which runs into the west branch of the Susquehanna, which creek is by the Indians call- ed Tiadaghton, and down the said creek on the south side thereof, to the said west branch of Susquehanna, then crossing the said river, and running up the same on the south side thereof, the several courses the reof to

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the fork of the same river which lies nearest to a place thereof, the several courses thereof, to the fork of the on the river Ohio, called the Kittanning, and from the same river, which lies nearest to a place on the river said fork by a straight line to Kittanning aforesaid, and Ohio, called Kittanning, and from the fork by a straight line to Kittanning aforesaid, and then down the said river Ohio, by the several courses thereof to where the west- ern bounds of the said State of Pennsylvania crosses the same river," at the place of beginning. then down the said river Ohio by the several courses thereof to where the western bounds of the said pro- vince of Pennsylvania crosses the same river, and then with the said western bounds to the south boundary thereof, and with the south boundary aforesaid to the east side of the Alleghany hills, and with the said hills on the east side of them to the west line of a tract of

Nation Indians, and confirmed October 23d, 1758, and then with the northern bounds of that tract to the river Susquehanna, and crossing the river Susquehanna to the northern boundary line of another tract of land pur chased of the Indians by deed, (August 22dl, 1749, ) and then with that northern boundary line to the river Del- aware at the north side of the mouth of a creek called Lechawachsein, then up the said river Delaware on the west side thereof to the intersection of it, by an east line to be drawn from Owegy aforesaid to the said river Delaware, and then with that east line to the beginning at Owegy aforesaid.

There is also in this deed a release of the Indian tract in Conestogoe manor, in Lancaster county.

Recorded at Philadelphia in the Roll's Office in book of deeds, No. 3, p. 23, July 12, 1781 ; and at Lancaster, in the recorder's office, in book U. p. 68, July 23d, 1781.

This deed incloses a part of Scull's map, with the boundaries marked thereon

The line from the canoe place, near the head of the west branch of Susquehanna to the Kittanning was run, and is marked on the maps; but what was the bounda- ry on the northern side of the west branch was uncer- tain. To prevent controversy with the Indians, no lands were permitted to be surveyed to the west of Ly- coming creek, which was considered the probable boundary on that side, although many applications were deposited for lands between Lycoming and Pine creek.

At the treaty at Fort Stanwix in October, 1784, the Pennsylvania commissioners were instructed to inquire what creek was meant by Tiadaghton, and also the In- dian name of Burnett's hills, which wasleft blank in the deed of 1768. The Indians told them Tiadaghton is the same we call Pine creek, being the largest emptying into the west branch of Susquehanna. As to Burnett's hills, they call them the Long Mountains, and knew them by no other name.

At a treaty held at Fort M'Intosh, with the Wyan- dott and Delaware Indians, by the same commissioners, January, 1785, a deed was executed by those nations, land purchased by the said proprietors from the Six [ for the same lands, in the same words, with the same boundaries, which deed is dated January 21st, 1785. Both these deeds, with the treaties or conferences, are printed at large in the journals of the assembly, in the appendix to the journal of the session of February -- April, 1785.

Thus, in a period of about one hundred and two years has the whole right of soil of the Indians, within he charter bounds of Pennsylvania, been extinguished. The legislature being apprehensive that the directions given to the commissioners to ascertain the precise boun- daries of the purchase of 1768, might produce some inconveniences, declared by the third section of the act of December 21st, 1784, (post. chap. 1111,) "That the said directions did not give, nor ought to be constru- ed to give to the said commissioners, any authority to ascertain definitively, the boundary lines aforesaid, and that the lines of the purchase so made, as aforesaid, in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, striking the line of the west branch of Susquehanna, at the mouth of Lycomick or Lycoming creek, shall be the boundaries of the same purchase, to all legal intents and purposes, until the general assembly shall otherwise regulate and declare the same "

It is necessary to state, that on the 3d of October, 1788, an act was passed, entitled, an act to authorize the supreme executive council to draw on the state treasurer for a sum of money, for defraying the ex- pense of purchasing of the Indians, lands on lake Erie, (chap. 1355.) By which act a sum of £1200 was granted to purchase the Indian rights, in the lake Erie tract, bargained to be sold by the United States to Pennsylvania, and a further grant was added for the same purpose by an act of the 28th of September, 1789, (chap. 1439.)

The Indian cession of the Presque Isle lands, is dated January 9th, 1789, and is in these words :- "The sign- ing chiefs do acknowledge the right of soil, and juris- diction to, and over that tract of country bounded on the south by the north line of the State of Pennsylva- nia, on the east by the west boundary of the State of New York, agreeable to the cession of that State and Massachusetts to the United States, and on the north by the margin of lake Erie, including Presque Isle; and all the bays and harbors along the margin of said lake Erie, from the west boundary of Pennsylvania, to where the west boundary of the State of New York may cross or intersect the south margin of the said lake Erie, to be vested in the said State of Pennsylvania, agreeable to an act of congress dated the 6th of June last (1788.)

At this treaty, a purchase was made of the residue of the Indian lands within the limits of Pennsylvania, and the deed signed by the chiefs of the Six Nations, is cuted October 23d, 1784. The boundaries are thus described: "Beginning on the south side of the river Ohio, where the western boundary of the State of Penn- sylvania crosses the said river, near Shingo's old town, at the mouth of Beaver creek, and thence by a due north line to the end of the forty-second and beginning of the forty-third degrees of north latitude, thence by a due east line separating the forty second and forty-third degrees of north latitude, to the east side of the east The said chiefs agree, that the said State of Pennsyl- vania shall and may, at any time they may think pro- branch of the river Susquehanna, thence by the bounds of the late purchase made at Fort Stanwix, the fifth day | per, survey, dispose of and settle all that part of the of November, Anno Domini, one thousand seven hun -! afuresaid country, lying and being west of a line run- dred and sixty-eight, as follows: "Down the said east ning along the middle of the Conowago river, from its confluence with the Alleghany river into the Chadoch- que lake, thence along the middle of the said lake to the north end of the same, thence a meridian line from the north end of the said lake to the margin or shore of lake Erie. branch of Susquehanna, on the east side thereof, till it comes opposite to the mouth of a creek called by the Indians, Awandac, and across the river, and up the said creek on the south side thereof, all along the range of hills called Burnett's hills, by the English, and by the Indians on the north side of them, to By an act of the 13th of April, 1791, (chap. 1556) the governor was authorized to complete the purchase from the United States, which, according to a commu- nication from him to the legislature, was done in March, 1792; and the consideration money, amounting to 151,640 dollars and twenty-five cents, paid in continen- the head of a creek which runs into the west branch of Susquehanna, which creek is by the Indians called Ty- adaghton, but by the Pennsylvanians Pine Creek, and down the said creek on the south side thereof to the said west branch of Susquehanna, then crossing the said river, and running up the same on the south side | tal certificates, of various descriptions.,

312

ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDING OF WILLIAM PENN.

[NOVEMBER

The deed of confirmation from the United States is dated March 3d, 1792, which is recorded in the Roll's Office, in deed book, No 31, p. 107, April 25th, 1792.

A draught is annexed of the triangle, as containing two hundred and two thousand one hundred and eighty- seven acres.

These papers remain in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth.

(To be continued.)

From Pou'son's American Daily Advertiser.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDING OF WIL- LIAM PENN.

The society instituted for the purpose of commemo- rating the landing of the Founder on the shores of Penn- sylvania, and of paying the annual tribute of respect- and gratitude to his name and virtues, assembled on Thursday, the 24th of October, the 151st anniversary of that event.

At 4 o'clock, the members sat down to an excellent dinner, provided by Mr. Saint, at his new and beautiful establishment in Sixth street.

In the absence of Joseph Parker Norris, Esquire, the chair was taken by Peter Stephen Duponceau, LL. D. assisted by George Vaux, Esq., as Vice President, and the Committee, Richard Peters, Thomas I. Wharton,and Thomas Dunlap, Esqrs.

After dinner the following toasts were drunk:

1. The day, and all who honor it.

The President, P. S. Duponceau, Esq., introduced the second toast with the following address.

Gentlemen,

It was nine years ago that eighteen of us first met to- gether to celebrate the glorious epoch that we are now commemorating. Eighteen only were assembled; though a large, very large number might have been ob- tained; but vou will remember that we had determined that the first celebration should take place in a small dwelling, which, we had learned by tradition, was once the abode of our great founder and his family, and of course was sacred to us by the recollections which it brought to our minds. Of that house, which, following the course of all human things, will in time perish, and, like that which was the mansion of the great Franklin, destroyed soon after the death of its illustrious possess- or, will not leave a wreck behind; an accurate drawing has been fortunately preserved by our associate, Mr. Watson, one of the eighteen who participated in the enjoyment and the happiness of that day.

I shall never forget that delightful day, thatday of pure, unmixed happiness, when we, the eighteen, sat together at the social table, crowded for the want of space, which brought our persons almost as near to each other as our hearts then were, enjoying the recollections that crowded upon us, until we at last thought ourselves brought back to the times which we were commemo- rating. We forgot the great and numerous changes that had taken place since; we fancied ourselves in the Philadelphia of 1633, we saw the grove of tall pine trees, we saw the caves which were the dwellings of the first inhabitants; William Penn, Hannah Penn, his daughter Lætitia, were all present to our imaginations, and the pleasure we enjoyed can only be known by those who assisted at that first celebration, who now seldom meet without bringing it to each other's remem- brance: it was, to use the language of Penn. himself, in one of his familiar letters, truly a savoury meeting; a meeting of love, of peace, of happiness, worthy of the times which we were commemorating. If the souls of the blest can see from their celestial abode what passes on this little earth, the spirit of our great founder must have looked down upon us with joy and triumph.

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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 89

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438