USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 18
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I purpose to set off into Sherman's valley again to-morrow, and do what lies in my power to have the prisoners delivered up; though I fear that infatuated people will pay very little regard to my endeavors .* I am your Honor's, &c.
JOHN HOLMES,
Prov. Rec. T. p. 268-69.
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Nothing was left undone on the part of government, and the magistrates to re-take the escaped prisoners, and bring them to trial, also punish those who aided in their rescue .- The magistrates of Cumberland issued warrants for appre- hending and securing in jail those concerned in the rescue .- They discovered some twenty or more.
CARLISLE, Feb. 28, 1768.
May it please your Honor :
Your commands per Capt. William Patterson of the 20th inst. came to hand on the 24th. On receipt, a number of the justices met the same evening, at Carliste, (Mr. Montgomery assisting) to concert measures, how to execute your Honor's injunctions in the most effectual manner. As it appeared to us utterly impossible that these licentious people who rescued Stump, would, or ever had it in their power to return to justice the perpetrators of the late murder on the Indians, and as the best in- telligence we can gain, renders it matter of scruple whether he be in our county, we proceeded to take information on oath, and issue war- rants to the proper officers for apprehending and securing in jail these villains, who were concerned in the rescue. We have transmitted a copy of your Honor's injunction to the justices of the upper end of the county with our advice to exert themselves ; as it appeared to us pro- bable that the murderers might take that way to Virginia where it is thought they will seek refuge.
We cannot sufficiently acquit ourselves in not acquainting your Ho- nor, yet we can assure you the sheriff, justices and several of the prin- cipal people here, have exerted themselves with all their might, to re- gain Stump and Ironcutter, though we have not had success, we are persuaded all pains will be used by the proper officers to apprehend the rioters and that the magistrates will be aiding hereunto with all their influence.
With all wise and good men, we abhor the base insult on govern- ment, sensible of the direct tendency of such a crime, to the subversion of order. justice and propriety.
We are concerned your Honor's order and the chief justices warrant were not immediately complied with, which we conceived might have been done with safety before these licentious people had time to cabal and contrive their plan, this, we think, might have prevented such disagree- able consequences, nor can we conceive why it was not done. But your Honor no doubt has had reasons laid before you.
We are with many others highly pleased with the brave conduct of Capt. William Patterson, (he did honor to our county) and the notice your Honor has taken of merit in the manner of expressing your ap- probation, we persuade ourselves, will influence not only the young man himself, but others to behave worthily.
We gratefully respect your Honor's goodness in repeating your in- junctions of the 4th inst., as most of us had not the pleasure of seeing
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them before. We shall willingly receive from time to time, what com- mands your Honor may think proper .*
We are your Honor's
most obedient and humble servants,
JONATHAN HOGE,
JAS. GALBREATH,
ANDW. CALHOUN,
JNO. BYERS,
JNO. MCKNIGHT,
HERMS. ALRICKS.
Copy of a list of names enclosed in the original letter, preserved at Harrisburg.
James Murry, John Murry, Andw. Jones, James Hamilton, Richd. Shenky, Richd. Irwin, Neilson, Francis Irwin, Joseph Childers, James Rody, Wm. Adams, Thos. Huitt, Jno. Glass, James Ferguson, Joseph McDowel, William Williams, Jno. Clark, Wm. McGary, Jno. Beard, Matthew Gregg, Joseph Goldon, James Eakles, Wm. Willson.
The murdering of the Indians and the subsequent rescue of Stump and Ironcutter, produced a great excitement, not only at Carlisle, but through the whole country. The mag- istrates and sheriff, it appears had been censured .; But, the Compiler inclines to think, in examining some documentary evidence that the officers, sheriff and magistrates, did not favor the prisoners. In support of this opinion the following is submitted.
On the 26th of February, 1768, Governor John Penn, wrote to Col. John Armstrong, desiring him to appear before the Board of the Provincial Council .- Prov. Rec. Vol. T. 291.
On the 19th of March, the Governor informed the Board that both John Armstrong and John Holmes, the sheriff of Cumberland, were in town to attend the Council, in order to be examined with respect to their conduct. They appeared -"each related the circumstances respecting the detention of Frederick Stump in the jail at Carlisle, the reasons for taking that measure, as well as the manner and cause of his rescue, and then laid before the Board sundry depositions in proof of what they respectfully alleged.
" It appearing in their examination, that they disagreed in
* Prov. Rec. T. 294-5.
+ If tradition, as a late Sabido, would, is to be credited, rather than documentary testimony, then it would appear that "The sheriff and jailer were principal actors in freeing Stump and Ironcutter."- Sacudido.
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some partienlars, and that Robert Miller and William Lyon, Esqrs., Justices of the Peace, were also concerned in pre- venting the execution of the Chief Justice's warrant ; the Council were of opinion that they also should be examined with respect to their conduct and knowledge in this matter, before any proper judgment can be given on it."
The Board advised the Governor to have Miller and Lyon to appear before them. They were accordingly commanded to appear before the Board in the month of May .- Pro. Rec. T. page 298.
On the 6th of May, Col. Armstrong, Miller, and Lyon, Esqrs., appeared before John Pern, William Logan, Benja- min Chew, Richard Penn, and James Tilghman, members of the Board of Council, and "were severally examined with respect to their own conduct in the detention of Frederick Stump in the jail at Carlisle, as well as all that they knew in regard to his rescue from the hands of justice. The Board agreed to take this matter into further consideration and ap- pointed a meeting of the Council to be held the 12th of May, in order to come to a final result on the subject .- Pror. Rec. T. 319-20.
Depositions, still on file at Harrisburg, had been presented on the 19th of March and on the 6th of May ; affording the Council some aid to come as it is not unreasonable to sup- pose, to a correct conclusion as to the guilt or innocence of the persons aceused in the detention and rescue of Stump- and it is also not incredible to believe that Gov. Penn, who had evidence before him of the true state of the case, would not shrink to pronounce a true verdict-not exculpate, or acquaint the sheriff if he was indeed a principal actor in freeing the prisoners from jail, and rescuing them from the justices.
The 12th day of May the Board met, and came to a final result on the subject. What that was, the reader may learn from the following extract from the Provincial Records.
" At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday the 12th of May, 1768-present : The Hon. John Penn, Esq., Lieut. Gov. &c. William Logan, James 'Tilghman, Esqrs.
Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Lyon appearing at the Board, agreeable to the Governor's appointment, the following admonition, which was read to them, viz :
Col. Armstrong, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Lyon-Upon the
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rescue of Frederick Stump, and John Ironcutter, who had been arrested for the murder of ten Indians, I was informed that you, as magistrates of Curaberland county, had inter- posed to prevent their being brought to Philadelphia, in obe- dience to the Chief Justice's warrant, in the hands of the sheriff; and that in particular, Col. Armstrong, had himself, discharged the sheriff's guard, after he (the sheriff) had re- fused to do it; and committed the prisoners to the county jail, which was in a great measure the occasion of the rescue, as it gave the persons who committed that bold and daring in- sult upon the laws of the Government, time to consult mea- sures for the execution of it. The matter was of such con- sequence, and the reputation of the Government so much concerned in it, that I could not pass it by, without making an enquiry into it, and upon hearing you and the sheriff, and considering the several proofs, which both you and he have laid before me, I find, that on Monday the 25th day of Jan- uary last, the sheriff was ready to set off with the prisoners from Carlisle, under a guard of eight or ten men, in order to bring them to Philadelphia, as the warrant required-that the people of Carlisle, thinking the rights and privileges of their county would be infringed, by the prisoners being brought to Philadelphia, grew uneasy under these apprehen- sions, and did apply to you, and press you to interpose in the affair, until they could have an opportunity of remonstrating upon the occasion, which was first warmly opposed by Col. Armstrong ; but that at length, partly to quiet the minds of the people, and partly from an apprehension of danger of a rescue, in case the sheriff with the prisoners, should be de- tained on the banks of the Susquehanna, which was then hourly expected to break up, you were induced to cause the prisoners to be examined, and, upon their examination, they were committed by Col. Armstrong and Mr. Miller to Car- lisle jail ; in order, that the Government, informed by ex- press, which was determined to be sent on that occasion, should give further orders respecting them.
" Tho' the transaction has not been proved in the aggra- vated light in which it was represented to me, yet, it was un- doubtedly officious and beside your duty to interpose at all in the affair, as it was unjustifiable in the sheriff to pay any re- gard to your interposition, and your conduct, upon the occa- sion, was in itself an obstruction of justice, and is not to be
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justified ; however, it may in some measure be excused by the motives of it. But as I am satisfied from the evidence, that both you and the sheriff were far from having any in- tention either to favor the prisoners, or to offer the least contempt to the authority of the Chief Justice's warrant, and that you acted for the best, in a case of perplexity, not expecting, but rather intending to prevent the consequences which followed. I shall take no other notice of the matter, than to admonish you for the future, to be very careful, in confining yourselves with the bounds of your jurisdiction, and not to interfere again in matters which belong to supe- rior authority."-Pro. Rec. vol. T. page 321-2.
CHAPTER XIV.
SON OF SENECA GEORGE, SHOT-(1769).
Son of Seneca George shot by one Reed-Proceedings of council-Con_ ference held at Shamokin, August 1769.
The last death of an Indian, caused by a white man, to be noticed in this connection, is that of an only son of Sene- ca George, who was shot by one Reed. This happened within the borders of Cumberland at that time. Mr. Reed was arrested, and lodged in jail. The governor, to concili- ate the relatives of the deceased, proposed a conference to be held at Shamokin. The proceedings had there, being so in- teresting, are inserted at length, from which all the particu- lars touching the death of Seneca George's only son may be learned.
Minutes of a Conference held at Shamokin or Fort Au- gusta, by Col. Francis on the part of the government of Pa. with Indians in and near Shenago, in order to condole with, and make a present to Seneca George and his relatives on account of the death of George's only son, who was shot sometime since by an unknown person, near the mouth of Middle creek, on Susquehanna.
.
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Saturday, August 19, 1769, a little before noon, Seneca George Gen-gu-ant, and about fifty-three more Indians of different tribes, being chiefly Nanticokes and Conoys, landed from their boats, and sent a message to Col. Francis to know when they might speak to him, who immediately returned an answer, that in the afternoon that he would be glad to see his brother, Seneca George, and the friends and brethren he had brought with him. Col. Francis then proposed to re- ceive the Indians, and desired the Rev. Doctor Smith, of Phila., who happened to come to the fort about half an hour before the Indians, to give his assistance in taking the min- utes.
Aug. 11, P. M.
Present, Col. Francis, Rev. Smith and about 50 inhabitants on and near Susquehanna ; Seneca George, Last Night, the Conoy King ; Gu- en-gu-ant an Onondago, and 22 more warriors and young men. ISAAC STILL, Interpreter.
Seneca George, speaks :
Brother : You sent a letter some days since inviting me to this place. I invited my brother Gu-en-gu-ant one of the Onondagoes to come with me, and likewise some of my children of the Nanticokes and Conoys. I also found other young men waiting for me to come down ; and now we are all here before you as you was the Governor, for you could not expect me to come alone.
Brother :
We have met among ourselves this day with many tears, but now see you, our tears begin to dry up a little, and we are ready to hear what you have to say, and you may appoint the time as soon as you please ; and when you speak, all of us will consider one with another what you say to us.
Brother :
I will speak one word more. I desire you would stop all your strong drink awhile, for you and I can neither speak nor smoke to- gether rightly, if our young men should get drink at this council fire, kindled by the Governor at Shamokin.
Brother :
You and I are friends, and know each other, and you likewise very well know what the custom is when the Governor meets his bre- thren at any place where he appoints a council fire-Now you see your brethren here, and we desire you will give us something to eat, for this is always the custom when we meet the Governor at a council fire- we have no more to say at this time.
Col. Francis was going to make some reply, and to express his plea- sure at meeting his brethren, and to tell them that they should hear
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good things from the Governor, on Monday ; but Seneca George got up and desired Col. Francis would not speak then, it being better to con- sider what had been said to him till Monday. The Indians then went to their camp and provisions were sent them. This evening, Joseph Shippen, Esq., Provincial Secretary, arrived at the Fort.
Sunday, Aug. 20, 1769.
The Indians having understood that Doctor Smith was to have divine service to white people, assembled at the Fort, Seneca George sent no- tice that his people worshipped the same God with the English, and would attend divine service ; which they did accordingly, with great decency, and Isaac Still interpreted the conclusion of the discourse, which was particularly addressed to them.
Monday, Aug. 21, 1769.
Present, Col. Francis, Joseph Shippen, Dr. Smith, Chas. Stewart, and near one hundred inhabitants; and all the Indians that had attended on Saturday. ISAAC STILL, Interpreter.
Seneca George speaks.
Brother, and all you, my Brothers :
This day we are all met here together ; some chief men, my bro- thers, are come with me, and some young men, to this council fire, kin- dled by the Governor. You have sent for me to come from Shenango, and now I am come to hear my brother, and I suppose you have some- thing within your heart to tell me. Gives a String.
Colonel Francis spoke then, as follows :
Brother Seneca George, and all you, my brethren :
I am glad to see you here, and that you received the letter I sent you, soon enough to meet me here, at the very time I wished to see you. My grief for what has happened has been equal to yours, but on seeing you here, in so friendly and good a disposition, my grief is now so much removed that I have been able to light this council fire, and to acquaint you with what is contained within the Governor's heart, on this occasion. Gives a String.
Now brethren, open your ears and listen-I am going to deliver to you what the Governer desired me to speak to Seneca George, and his friends, on this sad occasion-Attend then brethren ; for it is now the Governor speaks.
Brethren :
I take this opportunity by Col. Francis to give you my kind and hearty salutations, and by this string desire you will hearken to the message I send you by him. A String of Wampum.
Brethren :
It is not above a month ago, that Col. Francis came from Shamo- kin, on purpose to acquaint me of the death of one of our Indian bre- thren, and that the man who was supposed to have committed the crime was apprehended and secured in Lancaster jail.
On this information, I ordered the man to be sent to the jail of this city, to be kept secure, till he can be tried.
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Brethren :
Col. Francis further acquaiuts me that, the Indians, who were in the cabin with our deceased brother, at the time he was killed, were present when the offender was taken, and were satisfied with Colonel Francis' conduct in this affair, and were kind enough to take a mes- sage from him, to give you an account of what had been done, and to tell you he was hastening to Philadelphia, to lay the same before me, and would bring in a month, or six weeks, my message to you, on this melancholy occasion, and desired you to be at Shamokin, in order to receive it.
Brethren :
Knowing that by treaties between this government and the Indians, we are obliged to inform each other of any accidents that happen, which may be likely to disturb the peace subsisting between us ; as soon as I had made myself acquainted with the particulars attending this matter, I lost no time in sending account thereof to Sir Wm. John- son, that he might relate the real truth, so far as was come to my know- ledge, to the Indians of the Six Nations, and assure them, that the per- son apprehended should be taken great care of, and safely secured, and receive his trial in the same manner as if the deceased had been a white man, and by his trial it will appear whether the affair was acci- dental or designed.
Brethren :
We are sensible that whilst the body of our deceased brother lies above ground, your minds cannot be easy. We therefore, by these strouds, bury his body, and cover it so deep that your eyes may never more see it.
Brethren :
With these handkerchiefs we wipe away all the tears which run down your cheeks, and take the sorrow from your hearts, and desire you would grieve no more. Handkerchiefs.
Brother :
With this belt we scrape up all the blood that has lain on the ground, or may have stained the bushes. We collect them together, bury them under ground, that neither your nor your friends eyes may more behold them, as you pass and re-pass the place where the acci- dent happened. A Belt.
Brethren :
As we have now buried the body of our deceased brother, we de- sire you will suffer no uneasiness to remain in your minds, that may cause the least ill will towards your brethren of the English. A Belt.
Brethren :
As you are the relations of our deceased brother, as a token of our affection for you, and to comfort your hearts, we desire you would accept of this present of goods. Delivered the Goods.
Signed JOHN PENN.
Seneca George speaks.
Brother :
Now I have heard what the governor has to say to me on this oc-
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casion ; my young men and the chiefs that are come with me have likewise heard it and are very glad that they have heard the Governor of Philadelphia speak. Now I will return to my fire place, and to-mor- row will give an answer to what the Governor has said to us.
Tuesday 22nd Aug .- The Indians sent word they could not be ready to answer the governor's message till to-morrow in the afternoon.
Wednesday 23rd Aug .- Having met; Seneca George spoke as follows :
Brothers :
We have met here on this good day, and as the Governor of Phi- ladelphia has sent you here to speak to me, I shall look upon you as in the governor's room. I am glad to hear what my brother the governor has said, and so are also my young men, and I doubt not your young men are likewise as well pleased as our young men are with what the governor has said.
Brother :
I let you know, I am not a king, but a captain of the Six Nations. But here is a king (pointing to Last Night, the Conoy King) you will hear him speak good things. His words and mine are one.
Brother :
You may see that the occasion which has called us to meet here, is not from a bad spirit on our part, but on yours. The Great and Good Spirit put it into the hearts of our grand-fathers and yours to lay strong foundations for peace with each other ; we must follow what they have done, and if we hide any thing in our hearts from one ano- ther, this Great Spirit, whom you call God Almighty, will know it.
The Conoy King then speaks.
Brother :
I am really glad to see you at this fire which the governor has placed at Shamokin, and to hear what my brother the governor has said ; and to see all these young men that are come with you. My young men are likewise all glad on the same account. A string of four rows.
Brother :
I now speak to the governor, by you, Col. Francis. I have put into my heart what the governor has said. My young men have done the same. We all believe what the governor has said to Col. Francis has really come from his heart. I will, therefore, now open my heart, and you shall hear my good things. 2d string of four rows.
Brother :
I am well pleased the governor takes this method to bury our grief under ground. I need not repeat what you said to us. I am glad you have wholly wiped away that stain from the face of the earth, and I now assure you, I will look on you, my brothers, as I used to do, and think well of you.
Brother :
As I told you, we are all glad to hear our brother, the governor. But I assure you, brother, I do not know what to do on the affair we are met about. I have considered this sad breach, and should know
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what to do in it if any of my people had committed the like against any of yours.
Brother :
You know best how to manage such of our people as have been overcome by the Evil spirit, and therefore I leave this matter wholly to you. A belt of seven rows.
Brother :
Let me now speak one word to my brother the governor, and to you Col. Francis. I would have my brother, the governor, be strong, to hold fast that good friendship, whereof our forefathers laid fast foundations when you first came into this country. Sir William John- son is but lately come-But we had in old time a very firm peace, and you and I used always then to speak to one another. Now, as I said, brother, we then laid a firm foundation for peace, and this was one great arti- cle of that peace ; that we should have pity on our young men and also on our women and children ; because we all came from one woman, as you may easily know by the mark-" That our little children when born have all the same shapes and limbs as yours, altho' they be of a different col- our." Wherefore, I would have you be strong, and in good earnest to preserve this our ancient friendship, so that our young men, whoever they meet on a journey or hunting about in the woods, may always be glad to see one another.
Brother :
There was also another mark in this, our old friendship, that if we had one loaf of bread, when we meet each other in the woods, we would cut in two, and divide it with one another. Let us all then cast our eyes to the great Good Being, to bless our endeavors to preserve this, our ancient friendship. A belt of eight rows.
Brother : .
You know that our Grandfathers made a road between each other, which passes by my door and reaches to Onondago. We have now kindled a council fire at Shamokin. Let us then be strong, that our young men, women and children may pass and repass, and always be glad to meet one another as they hunt in the woods.
Brother :
You may perhaps hear bad stories from other nations, but I would not have you listen to them, but let you and I still hold fast the an- cient friendship.
Brother :
You and I are brothers. The Nations to which I belong, the Nan- ticokes and Conoys, never yet, since the beginning of the world, pulled one scalp, nor even one hair from your heads ; and this, I say, gives us a right to call ourselves brothers. Although you have done me some hurt, I have never yet cast my eye upon that, but have always looked steadfastly to our ancient friendship.
Brother :
Now we have healed this sad breach, and you see all my young men here, are satisfied it is so made up, and I hope your young men are also pleased. But, brother, I would have you tell your young men,
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never to make the least breach of our friendship again, and I will tell our young men the same: A belt of seven rows.
Brother :
Now you have heard all your brothers had to say to you on this good day. There is, as I told you, a council fire at Shamokin, which is the door of the Six Nations. When I go home all your brethren shall know, what you have said, and Sir Wm. Johnson shall also know it.
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