USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
meet the Indians at John Harris' ferry. He found several had gone up the river to settle about Shamokin. He found there, however, " the Belt" and Seneca George, and five or six other elderly men, and fifty or sixty others. The Belt said the Six Nations were now resolved to revenge the death of Braddock, and drive away the French, " which the great general could not do, because of pride and obstinacy, and for which the Most High had thus punished him."
Mr. Hamilton informed the council, that in Novem. 1755, he was at John Harris', and finding the people there collect- ed in the utmost confusion, and in continual fear of being fallen upon by a large body of French and Indians, who were said to have passed the Alleghany hills, in their march to- wards this province, he was induced to offer a great reward to (Aroas) Silver Heels, to go up the east side of Susquehan- na, as far as Shamokin, to ascertain the facts in the case, and he being since returned and now present, was asked to relate the facts of his journey. He had gone as far as Nes- copecka where he found one hundred and forty warriors in their dance, and expressed much anger against the English, and an intention to fall upon them to the eastward .- Wat- son's Annals.
Sir :
PAXTON, October 28th, 1755.
I received your letter, and shall observe the contents. Here is melancholy news, which I have wrote to his Honor, our Governor. If there was encouragement for 1000 or 1500 men to meet the ene- my, and build a fort up Susquehannah, I imagine a number of men will go at their own expense to assist.
I am sir,
Ycur most humble servant,
JOHN HARRIS.
P. S. I shall endeavor to keep out a few Mohawks that are here, as spies. The Belt of Wampum promised to send out some ; but it was our river Indians and some scouts from the French army, attacked us at Penn's creek.
Yours, J. H.
In a letter, dated October 29, 1755, he says, I have this day cut loop-holes in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I can get some men to stand by me.
John Harris erected a block-house and stoccade during the French and Indian war, at Harris' Ferry. Robert Har-
255
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ris, now living, saw the remains of the block-house and stoc- cade when he was young.
"Robert Harris' grandfather had a stoccade round his old house (in front of the present one). There an Indian came in with his gun, and fired upon the British officer therein ;* his gun flashed. His grandmother, there then, blew out the candle for concealment. This was in the log-house, before the present residence .- W.
"Edward Shippen, in writing to Governor Morris, under date of April 19, 1756, says, John Harris has built an excel- lent stoccade around his house, which is the only place of security that way, for the provisions of the army, he having much good cellar room, and as he has but six or seven men to guard it, if the government would order six men more there to strengthen it, it would, in my opinion, be of great use to the cause, even were no provisions to be stored there at all-though there is no room for scarce any in Captain McKee's fort.
"The first old log-house was gone before Robert Harris was born : he was born in the present stone house in 1768.
"Robert Harris' grandmother rode once, on urgency, to Philadelphia, the same horse, in one day ! At one time, when at Big Island,t on trade, and hearing of her husband's ill- ness, she came down in a day and a night, in a bark canoe. -Watson's Annals.
To Governor Morris.
HEIDELBERG, Berks co. Dec. 22, 1755.
Honored Sir :
Last night I arrived from John Harris's Ferry, and herewith in- form you that I did not reach my house in Heidelberg till the 14th inst. I sat out on the 16th for Harris's Ferry, where I found no Indians but the Old Belt and another Sinecker, called commonly " Broken Thigh," a lame man.
Their young men, about six or seven in number, being sent out by John Harris, to fetch scalps from Ohio, but stopt at Aughwick by Mr. Croghan. I sent for Thomas McKee, John Carson and Samuel Hun-
* Perhaps Watson alludes to the following :
We hear, says the editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette, July 20, 1758, from Harris' ferry that on Sunday night last, as Mr. Harris and some people were sitting in a room, a gun was attempted to be fired at them through a loop-hole, but luckily it happened not to go off, upon which the neighborhood was alarmed by some guns from the fort, and the next morning the track of an Indian was seen.
+ On the West Branch of the Susquehanna river.
256
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ter to John Harris's, to consult with them how to send your Honor's message to the Indians on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. They recommended one Hugh Crawford to me, on whom I prevailed to go to Aughwick with the message, and from there send Indians to the W. Branch of Susquehanna with it; and if the Indians thought it advisa- ble, to go with them and conduct them down the river, either himself or James Patterson, who is to go along with him to Aughwick.
I had the two old Indians in council with me. They received the message from me and Hugh Crawford; the wampum I gave and neces- saries for them, and the written invitation from me, in presence of the above named gentlemen. I hope he will go through with it.
Upon my first arrival at John Harris's, I gave a string of wampum to the two old Indians above mentioned, requesting them to look upon me as a public messenger from their Brother Onas, and desired them in his behalf to let me know all that they knew about this war, and who it was that murdered Onas' people ? And for what reason ?
Next morning they made answer to the following purport: Brother :
We are very glad to see you here once more at these troublesome times. We look upon you here as our Brother Onas' messenger as we always did. The author of the murder of the people of Pennsylvania is Onontio ; he employs his children for that purpose, and they come to this river (Susquehanna) to murder. We are sorry to tell you that they have prevailed upon our cousins, the Delawares, living about half way from Shamokin to Schantowano (Wayomack) in a town called Nes- copeckon. Those Indians have given their town (in defiance of us their uncles) to Onontio's children as a place of their rendezvous, and had undertaken to join and guide them the way to the English. That there- upon the Shickalamys and others of the Six Nations, fled towards the Six Nation country. That a report was spread among the Delawares, on that river, that the Pennsylvanians were coming with thousands to destroy the Indians on Susquehannah, which had occasioned the Six Nation Indians before named to fly, because they would not fight against their Brethren, nor against the Indians, and that every thing was in a great confusion.
Honored Sir, Your most obedient And humble servant,
CONRAD WEISER.
P. S. Your Honor will have heard by this time that the Paxton peo- ple took an enemy Indian on the other side of the Narrows, above Sa- muel Hunter's, and brought him down to Carson's house, where they examined him. The Indian begged his life and promised to tell all he knew to-morrow morning, but (shocking to me) they shot him in the midst of them, scalped him, and threw his body into the river.
The Old Belt told me, that as a child of Onontio, he deserved to be killed ; but that he would have been very glad if they had delivered him up to the governor, in order to be examined stricter and better. Yours &c. CONRAD WEISER.
Prov. Rec, N. p. 335-6.
257
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
The Rev. Thomas Barton writes from Paxton to the Governor, as follows :
At 3 o'clock in the morning, Nov. 2, 1755.
I am just come from Carlisle. You may see by the enclosed in what a situation I left it. The Great Cove is certainly reduced to ashes. Andrew Montour charged Mr. Buchanan last night (at John Harris's) to hasten home and remove his wife and children. I suppose by to- morrow there will not be one woman or child in town.
Mr. Hans Hamilton marches this morning with a party of sixty men from Carlisle to Shippenstown. Mr. McConaughy came over with me to raise reinforcements in order to join Mr. Hamilton immediately.
I intend this morning to return to Carlisle with a party of men to guard that town. The gentlemen there desire me to request your as- sistance without delay.
I am, &c. THOMAS BARTON.
In Dec. 1755, John Harris of Paxton township, in conse- quence of instruction from George Croghan, continued a guard of thirty-two men upon the frontiers of said township for the space of eighteen days .- Votes of Assem. iv. 239.
Mr. Harris, to carry provisions and men up and down the river, for the defence of the frontiers, recommended the use of batteaux in preference to the common canoes. He wrote the following letter on this subject to Edward Shippen, at Lancaster :
PAXTON, April 17, 1756.
Bir :
The canoes that must be employed for the service on our river, are in general too small; therefore, it is absolutely necessary to have a small number of battoes (batteaux) immediately made, as they will carry a much larger burden, keep but the same number of hands em- ployed in working them up the river as our small canoes will, and will certainly answer the people better, as the sides will be higher to keep out the waves in our falls, many of which will be always to pass thro', and in high winds, which may sometimes happen. There will not be the least danger of passing up and down this river in a battoe, when a canoe must be unloaded or damage her cargo; therefore, as I think myself a judge of our river navigation and the most necessary and serviceable vessels to be employed in it, I think it my duty to write you this letter, and also to inform you that William Chestnut will sup- ply you with suitable plank, upon getting directions to make the bat- toes ; the boards, I imagine, are not to be sawed after the common manner.
I am, in haste, Sır, your most obedient servant, JOHN HARRIS.
P, S. Be pleased to write me a line, if your Honor may think to say, 3/cs.
J. H.
22*
258
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Governor Morris, came from Philadelphia, by way of Reading, and arrived at Harris' Ferry, and held a council at the house of John Harris, January 8th 1756. Present-the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Governor James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Joseph Fox and Conrad Weiser, interpreter ; two Indians of the Six Nations, called " The Belt of Wam- pum," a Seneca ; and " The Broken Thigh," a Mohock.
The governor finding here only two Indians and their families; he sent for them into council, and spoke as follows :
Brethren :
I am glad to see you and your families in good health. You have ever been esteemed our hearty friends, and you show you are really so by residing amongst us, at a time when so much mischief is done on every side of the Province.
I sent Mr. Weiser to acquaint you that I had kindled a council fire here, and had invited the Indians on Susquehannah to meet me the be- ginning of this moon, and that I expected yon would stay here till I should come, and afford me your assistance in council.
I thank you for staying here. You see that agreeable to my mes- sage, I come at the time appointed, but I find no other Indians here than you two, and indeed, I expect no more, as I believe my messengers were prevented going to Wyomink by the ravages of the Indians, which began in their neighborhood at the time they were preparing to set out on their journey.
Brethren :
The public business requires my presence at Carlisle, where I am now going, and I invite you to go along with me. If you incline to take any of your families with you, I shall readily agree to it, and provide a carriage for them and you.
To this the Belt replied.
Brethren :
I thank you for sending for us to council, and for your kind speech. What you have said is very agreeable.
Brethren :
The sky is dark all around us. The mischief done to you, I consider as done to the Six Nations, and am sorry for what has happened, and heartily condole with you upon it; but be not disheartened. As the public business is committed to you, nothing should be suffered to lie on your minds that night, in any wise, impair your judgment, which is now more necessary than ever. Let me, therefore, by this string entreat you to put away all grief from your heart, and to dry up your tears, that you may think and see clearly when you come to council.
I accept your invitation, and shall follow you to Carlisle. GAVE A STRING.
From the minutes of the treaty or conference held at that time, it appears there was but one single house and few con- veniences to hold a treaty at Harris'-"Mr. Weiser was
259
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
called in and asked if it might not be better to hold it at Carlisle, where all the business of that county could be done at the same time, and proper entertainment provided, as well for the governor and his company, as for the Indians, should they prove numerous." They then went to Carlisle .- See Appendix L. for the minutes of the treaty.
Conrad Weiser wrote from Heidelberg township, Berks county, to Governor Morris.
January 29, 1756, I set out from my house with a hired man, arrived at Harris' Ferry the 30th, being rainy weather. Met the Indians that evening, acquainted them that I was sent by the governor of Pennsyl- vania with a message to them. Next morning was appointed for me to deliver it ; Aroas being not at home.
January 31. Early in the morning we met in the Belt's cabin; there was present the Belt, Garisdoony, Jagrea, Newcastle. They desired me to repeat to them the speech the governor made to them in Carlisle a few days ago, laying before me the two belts they received there from the governor. I made answer that I could not depend on my memory, and that I had no copies of those papers relating to it ; that they must excuse me till another opportunity ; however, the principal heads they remembered. A messenger was immediately sent for Aroas, who ar- rived in a few hours after.
I then delivered the message from the governor, with the addition that I could not leave the place before I saw two of them set off. It was immediately agreed that Aroas, by us called Silver Heels, and David, a Mohock Indian, should prepare for the journey to Neskopecka,* &c. Ac- cordingly, on the second day of February, they set off in the morning, being rainy weather ; they desired me to send John Davis and Thomas Grimes along with them over Peters' Hill to Robert Armstrong's place, now the last settlement, to conduct them safe, which I did ; I sent also a string of wampum, all white, to Jonathan and John Shickalamy, and his brothers, to invite them to come to my house, if they could be found. I gave a written pass to Aroas and David, and ordered them to carry a silk handkerchief upon a stick on their return, and that only two should come before, and keep the path. The Old Belt gave them a long lesson ; they all looked very serious. Aroas said he would be back in ten days, or in fifteen at farthest ; if not then, we might think he was dead. So far as to the message.
On the 31st of last month, one James Young came over from Tobias
* Neskopecka was on the Susquehanna, at the mouth of Nescopecka creek, Luzerne county, where the Moravians had missionaries labor- ing at the time. Von Zeit zu Zeit, says Cranz, thaten die Brueder von Bethlehem eine Reise nach Wajonick, Neskopaeko und andere Orte ander Susquehannah, besuchten die von ihnen getauften, wenn sie sich dort auf der Jagd befanden, und predigten denen daselbst woh- nenden Indianern, welche auch oft nach Bethlehem zum Besuch kam- en, das Evangelium zu hoeren. Cranz' Brueder Ges. 580. Loskiel, P. ii. p. 151.
-
260
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Hendricks, and told me privately, in the presence of John Harris, that above fifteen men with arms, came that day to Tobias Hendrick's (now Bowman's) in order to come to this side of the river to kill the Indians at John Harris', judging them of being guilty, or privy to the murder committed a few days ago in Shearman's valley ; and that he had much ado to stop them, and desired me to take all the care I possibly could. I thereupon sent a letter with said Young express to the magistrates and principal inhabitants in Carlisle, to desire them to caution the people of Cumberland against such imprudent behavior, of which nothing but a general war, with all the Indians, could be the issue. A copy of their answer is hereunto annexed. I took for granted what they said, and sent immediately another express by James English and Jagrea, now called Satacaroyies, to bring the Indians that remained in Carlisle, since the last treaty, away to John Harris' ferry," there to remain with the rest till the governor's order should be known. I wrote to those gentlemen to hire a wagon for the Indians, if needful.
I thought it not prudent to inform the Indians of this affair, but seve- ral people that came from over the river knew of it, and the Indians caine to hear of it. I had a good deal of trouble to quiet their mind (if I did at all). Satacaroyies and Newcastle went to Michael Taeff's that night, and Newcastle got in the night light-headed ; he looked upon ev- ery person as an enemy, and would persuade Satacaroyies to run away with him. He himself made off privately next morning, and had not been heard of when I left John Harris's, which was on the 2d of Feb- ruary in the afternoon.
Michael Taeff and Satacoroyies declared before now that he had no liquor, and I am persuaded Satacoroyies would not have come back so sober in the morning as he did, if they had had any liquor. I sent word all about to the people to take care of the said Newcastle, if he should be seen any where ; he had no arms with him.
I think it highly necessary that the said Indians should be taken care of, deeper within the inhabitants ; for should they suffer by our foolish people, we should lose all confidence and honor with the rest of the Indians.
Submitted to his Honor the Governor, his council and the assembly, by their faithful Indian interpreter.
Heidelberg, Feb. 4, 1756.
CONRAD WEISER.
During the recess of the Assembly (having adjourned April 16, 1756) Robert Hunter Morris, Esq., Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, was at Harris' Ferry in the early part of May (1756), issued a message, dated Harris' Ferry, May 9, 1756, summoning the members of Assembly to convene immediately at Philadelphia ; twenty-three of whom met on the 11th May-In the conclusion of his mes-
* At a conference held with the Indians at Carlisle, January, 1756, it was left to the Indians' choice, till a fort had been erected at Sbamo- kin, to reside at one or other of the forts then building, or at Harris' cr Conestoga Manor ; they made choice of Harris'. See Appendix L.
261
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
sage, the governor says, "The affairs of the frontiers, and the particular expedition for building a fort at Shamokin, which is of great importance to the province, requiring my personal care and attendance here for some time longer, it gives me concern that I cannot be at Philadelphia at this time ; but you may be assured, I will give all the dispatch imaginable to any bills you may propose, which the Secreta- ry will send me from time to time by Express."-Votes of Assem. iv. 558.
The governor signed several bills at Harris' Ferry, having with him " and affixed the Great Seal to the transcribed co- py." While here, he received letters from governor Dinwid- die and governor Sharpe, giving an account of the miserable situation of their frontiers, and the danger they were in from the numbers of Indians and French that had already pene- trated as far as Winchester. These letters were laid before the Assembly by the Secretary, according to a message da- ted Harris' Ferry, May 12, 1756.
In the conclusion of his message to the Assembly, dated, Camp at Harris' Ferry, May 23, 1756, the governor says : "I propose to leave this place to-morrow, or on Tuesday at farthest, and hope to be with you by the time you can have any business prepared to lay before me."-Votes of Assem. iv. 561.
Abm. Smith of Carlisle, writes :
CARLISLE, May 20, 1756.
Sir-
On Monday last McConnaughy and myself arrived at Harris' Ferry, and delivered the bill to the governor, according to order, together with the message of the house ; and the governor was pleased to say, he would immediately pass the bill into a law, in our presence. We asked if that would do ; he said it would do well enough, and requested that we would stay and see him affix the Great Seal to it; and accordingly we did stay.
I am, sir, &c. JOHN SMITH.
To Isaac Norris, Esq.
Votes Assem. iv. 561.
I have examined a number of letters dated Fort at Harris', one of many, directed io Gov. Morris, is given.
FORT AT HARRIS' July 14, 1756.
May it please your Honor :
The Col. has ordered me to go to Fort Halifax, at Armstrong's, to
262
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
take care of the stores there ; but they are all taken up to the Camp at Shamokin, only what are left there to maintain that garrison-and if I go there it renders me incapable of taking care of the stores now at Harris', and hereafter to be sent there, by my being so far distant from them ; and by your Honor's warrant, which you gave me, I am to go no farther than McKee's store ; but if it be your Honor's pleasure that I shall go up there and leave these stores, I am still ready and willing, but as it extends farther than my warrant, I wait your Honor's orders. I am your Honor's
humble servant,
WM. GALBREATH.
George Croghan, Esq., Deputy Indian Agent to the Hon. Sir William Johnson, writes to Gov. Denny.
HARRIS' FERRY, Jany 25, 1757.
Sir-
I have dispatched two of the Conestogoes to Ohio, with messages to the Six Nations, Delawares and Shawonese there. The messengers I sent to Diahogo are not yet returned, but as this river is now open, I suppose they will soon be down; as soon as they arrive, I will give your Honor notice, &c .- Prov. Rec. P. p. 149.
He writes again to Governor Denny.
HARRIS' FERRY, April 2, 1757.
Sir-
Thursday last, the 29th of March, I got here and found one hundred Indians, chiefly Six Nations. The messengers sent to Ohio are not yet returned. Teedyuscung was gone to the Seneca country, when these set out, and is expected soon in with not less than two hundred In- dians, &c .- Prov. Rec. P. p. 196.
On this occasion Croghan had come to Harris' to attend a conference with the Indians. The following are the min- utes of their proceedings here.
"At a meeting of the Six Nations and their allies, and George Croghan, Esq., Deputy agent to the Hon. Sir Wil- liam Johnson, Baronet, his Majesty's sole agent and superin- tendent of affairs of the Six Nations, their allies and depen- dants, and by his special order, at John Harris', the 1st day of April, 1757. Present-The Revd. John Elder, Captain Thomas M'Kee, Mr. James Armstrong, Mr. Hugh Craw- ford, Mr. John Harris, William Prentup, Interpreter.
Mokawhs; Tihansorea, Connadagaughia, Sogeohanna, Peter, with thirty-one others, men, women and children.
Oneidas; Thomas King, Scarroyady, Tawnaquanagis, with thirty others, men, women and children.
Tuscaroras; Reet King, with twenty-six others, men, wo- men and children.
263
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Onondagoes; Ossaratonqua, and his two brothers, with eighteen others, men, women and children.
Nanticokes; Robert White, Joshua, with fourteen more, men, women and children.
Cayugas; Ogarawtawrea, Orranoquare, Jenkasarone, with twenty others, men, women and children.
Delawares; Samuel, Joseph Peepy, Thomas Evans, Jona- than, with twenty men, women and children.
Senecas; George, with eight more, men, women and children.
Connestogoes; Sahays, Captain John, with twenty-nine men, women and children.
The greater part of the proceedings were at Lancaster- the following were at Harris' Ferry.
Brother :
You and our brother Onas wisely considered the ancient custom of our forefathers, in condoling with us, and mixing your grief with ours. And as we make no doubt but some of your wise connections are dead, since we were here, and many of our brethren have been killed by the evil spirit, we wipe the blood off your council seats, and put them in order with this belt of wampum. (Gives a belt.) Brother :
After wiping the blood off your council seats, we, with those few skins, wrap up the bones of our brethren that died or were killed by the evil spirit, and cover their graves. (Gave a small bundle of skins.) Brother :
We, by this belt of wampum, wipe the tears from your eyes, and desire you may mourn no more. (Gave a belt of wampum.) Brother :
We, with this belt of wampum, disperse the dark clouds, that the sun may always shine upon us in friendship ; we heal your heart and free your mind from troubles, that we may meet each other in council, and brighten the chain of friendship made by our forefathers, and that the council fire may burn clear we throw a few chips on it. (Gave a belt.)
This evening I had a meeting of the Sachems, and proposed the go- ing to Philadelphia, to hold the treaty ; but I could not prevail on any of them to go there, except the Mohawks, the rest were afraid of sickness.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.