USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 16
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In testimony whereof, I, said Coroner, have as well as the Jurors and affirmants aforesaid to this Inquisition, interchangeably set our hands and seals, the day and year above mentioned.
George Stricker, William Atkinson, John Dehuff, Christopher Craw- ford, Christian Wertz, Andrew Graff, John Miller, John Hambright, John Barr, Frederick Stone, James Ralf, Patrick Work, Anthony Snyder.
Mathias Slough, Coroner.
When the news of this massacre reached Philadelphia, Governor Penn issued a proclamation offering a reward for the perpetrators being brought to trial, and to be proceeded with according to law.
Notwithstanding the Governor's proclamation, and the vigilance of public officers, the Indians placed in the work house, were not safe, for on Tuesday, the 27th December, 1763, the Paxtonians and others assembled in great numbers in Lancaster, marched to the prison, forced the doors in, and says Gordon, butchered all the miserable wretches they found within the walls. Unarmed and unprotected, the Indians prostrated themselves, with their children, before their mur- derers, protesting their innocence and their love to the Eng- lish, and in this posture they all received the hatchet.
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INTRODUCTION.
Those slair in the prison were Captain John, whose In- dian name was Ky-un-que-a-go-ah, Betty or Ko-wee-na-see, his wife ; Bill Soc or Ten-see-daa-qua, Molly or Ka-mi-an- guas, his wife ; John Smith or Sa-qui-es-hat-tah, Peggy or Chee-na-wan, his wife; Qua-a-chone, Captain John's son ; Jacob or Sha-ee-kah, a little boy ; Ex-un-das, young Shee- hay's boy ; Christley or Ton-qu-as, a boy ; Little Peter or Hy-ye-na-es, a boy ; Molly or Ko-qua-e-un-quas, a little girl ; Ka-ren-do-u-ah, a little girl; Peggy or Ca-nu-ki-e- sung, a little girl .*
The names of the Indians killed at Indian Town, and those in jail for safety, were given to John Hay, Sheriff, by Chee- na-wan, wife of Sa-qui-es-hat-tah, and by Ko-wee-na-see, wife Ky-un-que-a-go-ah, shortly before they were massacred in the jail .- Pro. Rec. S. p. 456.
From the following letters, written at the time, the reader may form somne idea of the condition, and death of the inhabi- tants of Indian Town, in Manor township.
LANCASTER, 27th Dec. 1763.
Agreeable to your orders when at Philadelphia, I have inclosed a list of the names of the Indians found killed at the Indian Town in Con- estogo Manor, with the names of the survivors, fourteen in number, whom I found on my return had been collected and placed in the work house of this county by my son, with the assistance of John Miller and Robert Beaty (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 your Honor's farther directions relating to them.
I likewise agreeable to your order give herewith an account of the Effects and papers which have been found belonging to the said In- dians, which now remain in the possession of the said Miller and Beaty in trust for the Indians, to wit:
Three Horses.
A writing on parchment pourprting an article of peace and amity concluded between the governor of Maryland and the chiefs of the Conestogo and other Indians.
* List of Indians belonging to the Conestogo Indian town, in January 1755 : John Hays, John, Billy Sock, Peter, Billy Sam, Will James, Young Peter, Will John, George William, Young Warrior, Isaac, Harry, Jemmy Harris, Billy Taylor, Betty, Sally, Margaret, Jemmy Sam, achild; Nancy, Peggy, Mary, Young Billy, Young Jo, Old Molly, Old Peggy, Peggy Tillehauzey, Jemmy Wright, Young Mary, Young Margaret, Hawanah or Big Road, a boy ; Hawonesah, a girl; Suzy, a girl; Saw- ateah, a girl ; Tuahahuhn, a girl ; Quahawey, a girl ; Whawney, a girl ; Kintasa, a girl; Hayenehs, a boy ; Kaquaongush, a girl .- Pro. Record, for 1755.
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A writing or parchment purporting an article of agreement between William Penn, Proprietary &c., of Pennsylvania and the King of the Indians inhabiting in or about the river Susquehannah and other In- dian nations, dated the three and twentieth day of the second month called April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and one.
A letter (which seems to be under the lesser seal of the Province) signed W. Keith, dated Philadelphia, May 26, 1719, directed to Civility and the rest of the Indian chiefs at Conestogo.
A letter (which seems to be under the lesser seal of the Province) signed W. Keith, dated Philadelphia, 5th May, 1719, directed to Civility or Ta-go-te-le-sa, and the Indian chiefs at and near Conestogo.
A writing purporting a letter signed James Logan, dated the 22d 4th mo. 1717, directed to Civility and the other Indian chiefs at Conestogo.
A paper (which appears to be under the lesser seal of the Province) signed James Logan, purporting an order of Council held at Philadel- phia, Sept. 28, 1708, or a request to the Indians to apprehend Nichole Godin on suspicion of several treasonable practices against the gov- ernment.
And two belts of Wampum.
DECEMBER 27, 1763, P. M.
Honored Sir :
Since writing the above, the poor Indians whom we imagined were placed in safety, are destroyed. A number of persons (by their ap- pearance) of fifty or sixty, armed with rifles, tomahawks, &c., 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 of myself and the Coroner, with many others, broke open the work house, and have killed all the Indians there, being the four- teen mentioned in the list to have survived 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 opposi- tion were in great danger.
I have, since the above affair, taken from Messrs. Miller and Beaty the above mentioned papers and belts of wampum, which I shall keep till I have orders from your Honor, and any thing further that I can find belonging to the Indians shall be properly taken care of. As it is rumored that the people with a superior force intend an attack on the Province Island, with a view to destroy the Indians there, I think pro- per to mention it to your Honor, and shall do all in my power not only to apprehend the offenders, but to preserve the peace of the county.
I beg your Honor's directions, which I shall endeavor punctually to observe, being
Your Honor's most obedient and humble servant,
JOHN HAY. Hon. Jno. Penn, Esq., Gov .- Pro. Rec. S. p. 450, '51.
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LANCASTER, 27th Dec. 1763, Pa.
Honored Sir :
I am to acquaint your Honor that between two and three of the clock this afternoon, upwards of one hundred armed men from the westward rode very fast into town, turned their horses in Mr. Slaugh'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 returning 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 say they heard them declare they would proceed to the Province Island and then destroy the Indians there.
I am with great respect, Sır, your Honor's most obedient
and humble servant, EDWARD SHIPPEN, Pro. Rec. S. p. 448.
The following was written by William Henry, Esq., to a gentleman in Philadelphia :
LANCASTER, Tuesday 27, Dec. 1763.
" There are few if any murders to be compared with the cruel murder committed on the Conestogo Indians, in the jail of Lancaster, in 1763, by the Paxton Boys, as they were then called. From fifteen to twenty Indians, as report stated, were placed there for protection, a regiment of Highlanders were at that time quartered at the barracks in the town, and yet these murderers were permitted to break open the doors of the city jail, and commit the horrid deed. The first notice I had of this affair was, that while at my father's store, near the court house, I saw a number of people running down street towards the jail, which enticed me and other lads to follow them. At about six or eight yards from the jail, we met from twenty-five to thirty men, well moun- ted on horses, and with rifles, tomahawks and scalping knives, equip- ped for murder. I ran into the prison yard, and there, what a horrid sight presented itself to my view ! Near the back door of the prison lay an old Indian and his squaw, particularly well known and esteemed by the people of the town on account of his placid and friendly con- duct. His name was Will Soc; across him and the squaw lay two children of about the age of three years, whose heads were split with the tomahawk, and their scalps taken off. Towards the middle of the jail yard, along the west side of the wall, lay a stout Indian, whom I particularly noticed to have been shot in his breast ; his legs were chopped with the tomahawk, his hands cut off, and finally a rifle ball discharged in his mouth, so that his head was blown to atoms, and the brains were splashed against and yet hanging to the wall, for three or four feet around. This man's hands and feet had also been chopped off with a tomahawk In this manner lay the whole of them, men, women and children, spread about the prison yard; shot-scalped- hacked and cut to pieces."
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This tragic affair might have now ended, had not the Pax- tonians and others been too highly exasperated. The news of this massacre reached those who had the Moravian Indi- ans under care, on Province Island, near Philadelphia : but no sooner had the intelligence of removing the Indians near the city, reached the Paxtonians, than a large number assem- bled, and marched to Philadelphia, which produced consider- able alarm in the city. "The force of the insurgents was considerable ; since six companies of foot, one of artillery, and two troops of horse, were formed to oppose them ; and some thousands of the inhabitants, who did not appear, (including Quakers,) were prepared to render assistance, in case an at- tempt should be made upon the town." The governor fled to the house of Dr. Franklin for safety, and nothing but the spiritual measures of the inhabitants of the city saved it from the fury of an exasperated multitude, who would not have hesitated to extend vengeance from the Indians to their pro- tectors .*
Atter consultating among themselves, and on salutary ad- vice given them, they concluded to peaceably return to their homes, leaving Matthew Smith and James Gibson, two of their number, to represent their views to government. They laid their grievances before the governor and the assembly.t
After the excitement had been allayed, the bodies of the slain were interred, within the limits of Lancaster ; where the bones of the last remains of the Conestoga Indians rested un- disturbed till the month of May, 1833, when the workmen employed in excavating for the railroad, dug them up. The place of interment was still well remembered when the bones were exhumed, by Peter Maurer, who had been present when the bodies were buried. Mr. Maurer is still living near Lan- caster city. Governor Penn issued a second proclamation, and offered a reward for the discovery of the perpetrators of this last act of atrocity.#
* Gordon's Pa. 406-8. t See Appendix A. # See Appendix E.
CHAPTER XIII.
INDIANS MASSACRED AT PENN'S CREEK-(1768.)
Indians from Big Island settled on Middle creek-Stump and Ironcutter killed ten of the Indians and threw their bodies into Middle creek- A body of one of them found in Allen township-Blythe carries in- telligence of the murder of the Indians to the Governor-Captain Patterson and some twenty others arrested Stump and Ironcutter, and delivered them to the Sheriff at Carlisle-Patterson's letter to the Indians on West Branch-Shawana Ben's reply-Proceedings of Provincial Council, &c .- Penn's letters and Proclamations-Penn's message to Newoleeka, and other Indians-Stump and Ironcutter rescued from jail-John Armstrong's letter-James Cunningham's deposition before Council and before the Assembly-Sheriff Holme's letter-Justices' proceedings at Carlisle ; they arrested a number of persons, supposed to have been concerned in Stump's rescue-Great excitement-The magistrates censured ; but acquitted ; proof of their acquittal.
The case next to be noticed, is the murder committed by Frederick Stump, known as the " Indian Killer," upon sev- eral Indian families in Penn township, Cumberland county. This happened in the month of January, 1768.
Two or three families of Indians, one called the White Mingo, another Cornelius, one Jonas, and one Cammell, three Indian women, two girls and a child, had removed from the Big Island, on the west branch of Susquehanna, in the spring of 1767, came and built themselves cabins on Middle creek, about fifteen miles above the mouth of said creek; where they lived and hunted, and were on friendly terms with their white neighbors -- were always well received and kindly treat- ed. In the month of January, 1768, they came to the house of William Blyth, who lived at the mouth of Middle creek. He treated them kindly. From his house they went to Fre- derick Stumps, who lived near Blyth's, where it is supposed some differences happened. Here four of the Indians were murdered ; their bodies cast into Middle creek, through a hole in the ice. Stump, with his servant Ironcutter, (Eisen-
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hauser,) then proceeded to a cabin about four miles from his house, where he found two Indian girls and one child, whom he also murdered, and setting fire to the cabin, endeavored to consume the remains.
The body of one of those thrown into Middle creek, was afterwards found, " lying dead within the watermark of the river Susquehannah," some distance below the Harrisburg bridge, and interred in Allen township, as will appear from the following letter, dated
EAST PENNSBOROUGH, Cumberland co., Feb. 29, 1768. John Penn, Esq., Hon. Sir :
We take this opportunity to inform you, that on the 27th inst., at Allen township, in the county of Cumberland, one James Thompson found an Indian man lying dead within the water mark of the river Susquehannah, who, without doubt, is one of the Indians Stump killed, and was brought down there by the water. As soon as we heard there- of, hearing at the same time that the Coroner was sick, we went down and held an inquest on the dead body. He was struck, as appeared to us, on his forehead, which broke his scull. There was also a large scalp taken off his head which took both of his ears. We held the in- quest on the 28th inst., and interred him decently-cut small poles and made a pen about his grave. We have nothing material more to in- form you of at present, but beg leave to subscribe ourselves,
Your obedient and humble servants,
JAMES GALBREATH, JONATHAN HOGE.
The murder of these Indians produced a prodigious excite- ment, at the time, as will appear from all the facts and pro- ceedings arising from, and connected with it. As soon as this atrocity was made known to the governor of the pro- vince, and to Sir William Johnson, Penn issued his procla- mation, offering a reward for the apprehension of Stump and Ironcutter, promising to punish them with death; and this declaration, with two strings of wampum, he sent to be made known to the Indians living on the Susquehanna, requesting them not to break the peace in consequence of the murder. A message was also sent to the same effect, says Heckewel- der, by the governor to the Christian Indians, with the re- quest that they should make it known in public assembly ; and soon after a special message was sent to the Christian Indians (at Friedenshuesten) from Sir William Johnson, de- siring if they knew any of the relations of those persons mur- dered at Middle creek, to send them to him, that he might wipe the tears from their eyes, comfort their afflicted hearts,
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and satisfy them on account of their grievances. Sir William Johnson also invited the chief of the Six Nations, and other tribes of Indians living on Susquehanna, and on the Ohio to an amicable convention. A convention was held, peace and friendship again re-established .- For particulars see Hecke- welder's Narrative.
All the circumstances connected with the murder were communicated to the governor and council. Mr. Blyth re- paired to Philadelphia, and, made information upon oath .- See extracts of Records below.
Mr. William Blyth of Penn's township, in Cumberland county, just arrived in town, in order to give information to his Honor the Gov- ernor, of the murder of ten Indians, lately committed by Frederick Stump, at Middle creek, in that county, appeared at the Board, and be- ing examined on oath, related what is contained in the following depo- sition, taken in council before the Chief Justice, who was express- ly desired to attend for that purpose, viz :
The deposition of William Blyth of Penn's township, in the county ot Cumberland, Farmer, being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Al- mighty God, saith :
That hearing of the murder of some Indians by one Frederick Stump, a German, he went to the house of George Gabriel, where he under- stood Stump was, to enquire into the truth of the matter; that he there met with Stump and several others, on the 12th of the present month January ; and was there informed by the said Stump himself, that on Sunday evening before, being the 10th of the month, six Indians, to wit, the White Mingo, an Indian man named Cornelius, one other man named John Campbell, one other man named Jones, and two women came to his (Stump's) house, and being in drink, and disorderly, he endeavored to persuade them to leave his house, which they were not inclined to do, and being apprehensive that they intended to do him some mischief, killed them all, and afterwards, in order to conceal them, dragged them down to a creek near his house, made a hole in the ice, and threw them in-And that the said Frederick Stump further informed this deponent, that fearing news of his killing the Indians might be carried to the other Indians, he went the next day to two cabbins about fourteen miles from thence up Middle creek, where he found one woman, two girls and one child, which he killed in order to prevent their carrying intelligence of the death of the other Indians, killed as aforesaid, and afterwards put them into the cabbins and burnt them; that this deponent afterwards sent four men up the creek, to where the cabbins were, to know the truth of the matter, who upon their return, informed him that they had found the cabbins burnt, and discovered some remains of the limbs of some Indians who had been burned in them -- And further saith not.
WILLIAM BLYTH.
Sworn at Philadelphia the 19th day of January, 1768, before me, William Allen.
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As soon as Capt. William Patterson, (formerly of Lancas- ter county, then residing on the Juniata) heard of this atro- cious act, went, without waiting orders from the governor, with a party of nineteen men, and arrested Stump and Iron- cutter, and delivered them to John Holmes, sheriff at Car- lisle jail. Aware that the relatives of the murdered Indians would be, on the receipt of this news, exasperated, he sent one Gersham Hicks, with a message to the Indians at Big Island, on the west branch of the Susquehanna.
CARLISLE, January 23, 1768.
Sir :
The 21st instant, I marched a party of nineteen men to George Gabriel's house, at Penn's creek mouth, and made prisoners of Fred- erick Stump and John Ironcutter, who were suspected to have murder- od ten of our friend-Indians, near Fort Augusta; and I have this day delivered them to Mr. Holmes at Carlisle jail.
Yesterday I sent a person to the Great Island, that understood the Indian language, with a talk ; a copy of which is enclosed -
Myself and Party, were exposed to great danger, by the desperate resistance made by Stump and his friends, who sided with him. The steps I have taken, I flatter myself, will not be disapproved of by the gentlemen in the government ; my sole view being directed to the ser- vice of the frontiers, before I heard his Honor the governor's orders -- The message I have sent to the Indians, I hope will not be deemed as- suming an authority of my own, as you are very sensible I am no stranger to the Indians, and their customs. I am, with respect,
Your most obedient
humble servant,
W. PATTERSON.
JUNIATA, January 22, 1768.
" Brothers of the Six Nations, Delawares, and other inhabitants of the West Branch of Susquehanna, hear what I have to say to you .-- With a heart swelled with grief, I have to inform you, that Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, hath, unadvisedly, murdered ten of our friend-Indians near Fort Augusta -- The inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania do disapprove of the said Stump and Ironcutter's con- duct ; and as proof thereof, I have taken them prisoners, and will de- liver them into the custody of officers, that will keep them ironed in prison for trial ; and I make no doubt, as many of them as are guilty, will be condemned, and die for the offence.
" Brothers, I being truly sensible of the injury done you, I only add these few words, with my heart's wish, that you may not rashly let go the fast hold of our chain of friendship, for the ill conduct of one of our bad men. Believe me, Brothers, we Englishmen continue the same love for you that hath usually subsisted between our grand-fathers, and I desire you to call at Fort Augusta, to trade with our people, for the necessaries you stand in need of. I pledge you my word, that no
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white man there shall molest any of you, while you behave as friends. I shall not rest by night nor day. until I receive your answer.
Your friend and Brother,
W. PATTERSON.
The following is an answer to Captain Patterson's message, of Jan- uary 22, 1768.
" Loving Brother :
" FEBRUARY 11th, 1768.
I received your speech by Gertham Hicks, and have sent one of my relatives with a string of wampum, and the following answer :
Loving Brother :
I am glad to hear from you -- I understand that you are very much grieved, and that the tears run from your eyes -- With both my hands I now wipe away those tears : and, as I don't doubt but your heart is dis- turbed, I remove all the sorrow from it, and make it easy as it was be- fore. I will now sit down and smoke my pipe. I have taken fast hold of the chain of friendship ; and when I give it a pull, if I find my brothers, the English, have let it go, and it will then be time for me to let go too, and take care of my family-There are four of my. relatives murdered by Stump ; and all I desire is, that he may suffer for his wicked action ; I shall then think that people have the same goodness in their hearts as formerly, and intend to keep it there. As it was the evil spirit who caused Stump to commit this bad action, I blame none of my brothers, the English, but him.
I desire that the people of Juniata may sit still on their places, and not put themselves to any hardships, by leaving their habitations ; whenever danger is coming, they shall know it before it comes on them. I am,
Your loving Brother, SHAWANA BEN.
To Capt. William Patterson .- Pro. Rec. T. 286, '87.
The council, after examining Mr. Blyth, immediately took this most important matter into consideration, and were of opinion that warrants should forthwith be issued by the chief justice, directed to the sheriffs, under sheriffs, and other offi- cers of the province, and particularly to those of the counties of Cumberland, Lancaster and Berks, for the apprehending of the above mentioned Frederick Stump, and bringing him before one of his Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer, to be dealt with according to law. The Board also advised the Governor to issue a proclamation offering a reward of £200 for apprehending said offender, and bringing him to justice; but to delay the publication of the same for a short time, till other more secret means should be used for taking him, lest news of such a proclamation should reach his ear, and he might be thereby so alarmed, as to abscond, or make
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his escape, before any sheriff could arrive at Penn's creek, where it is believed he continues to remain with his family. They therefore advised the governor to write immediately to the magistrates of Cumberland county, strictly requiring them to exert themselves on this occasion, by giving their best as- sistance to the sheriff and other officers, and taking all other measures in their power for apprehending and securing the said Frederick Stump, and also to despatch letters of the same kind to the magistrates of Lancaster and Berks coun- ties, instructing them to send their sheriffs with sufficient aid to the utmost limits of those counties on the Susquehanna, so as to be nearly opposite to Middle creek, that they may be in readiness to apprehend the said Stump, in case he should cross the river to retire to either of those counties.
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