USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 57
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This is a plain state of that unhappy affair. Some, I hear, reflect severely on the civil officers concerned it, and on the keeper of the pri- son ; but I am fully convinced, on a candid examination it will be found they acted, every man, with the greatest uprightness of heart, that part which appeared at the time most conducive to the public good, tending to the preservation of good order, and support of govern-
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ment, and what, perhaps, even those who may blame with the great- est severity, conld have thought most prudent, had they been in the situation."
Carlisle, March 15, 1768.
Messieurs Hall & Sellers-
As several injurious aspersions have, in the affair of Frederick Stump, been cast on my people and me, and so assiduonsly pro- pagated and made public, as that there now remains no other method of overtaking and wiping away the reproach, but by a public defence. I hope, therefore, a regard to injured innocence, will procure the fol- lowing a place in your next paper, which will much oblige many, as well as, gentlemen, Your humble servant,
GEO. DUFFIELD.
To the Public .- It gives me peculiar concern to find myself obliged to the disagreeable task of vindicating my conduct in this manner, in a matter where I thought myself secure from the attacks of malice it- self; but the gross misrepresentations of facts, which I have good rea- son to believe, have been made by some invidious pen or pens from this town, and industriously spread, lay me under the unhappy neces- sity of either sacrificing my character of those assassins, or justify myself to the public by a true state of facts; which latter, every man having regard to either character or usefulness, would choose. This, therefore, I hope, will sufficiently plead my excuse. I am then openly reproached, as having advised and prevailed on Col. Armstrong to op- pose the chief justice's warrant, ordering Stump and Ironcutter down to Philadelphia, and having also used influence in exciting the people that rescued the prisoners, to that riotous undertaking. As to the first of these, it is sufficient to observe : The prisoners were brought in on Saturday evening ; on Monday forenoon, when they were nigh ready to be sent off, a number of reputable inhabitants of the town, with some from the country, met and remonstrated against it, as has been repre- sented in this Gazette of the 3d inst,, and that afternoon ihe temporary commitment of the prisoners, until removed by superior orders, was wrote. From early on Sabbath morning, until the whole was over on Monday, I was out of town, having been in course at my congregation in the country; nor saw Col. Armstrong, nor heard from him, nor sent to him, from before the prisoners came in, until the Monday evening, after 7 o'clock, he came to my house, and greatly complained of the opposition which had that day been made to sending off the prisoners; and expressed, in the strongest terms, his sentiment, that the chief justice's warrant must be obeyed, and his earnest desire of having the prisoners taken down, according to the order therein contained, and went away fully of the same mind ; only proposing to have the assist- ance of some of the magistrates from the country, in a matter where the uneasiness of the people was so general and great, which step had been proposed and advised to by some of the magistrates in town be- fore he came to my house; nor had I any thing farther with the colo- nel on this head, at any other time. From this true state of the fact, which I am able to prove, if requisite, it is evident, Ist. That I had no intercourse of any kind with Col. Armstrong, from before the pris- oners came in, until the evening after they had been, in consequence of the unreasonable weather, and remonstrance of the people, prevented
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from being taken off, and committed as above. 2dly. That the expe- dient of having other magistrates, was not by any advice of mine, but proposed before I so much as saw the Col. 3dly. That Col. Armstrong was equally firm in the sentiment of obedience being due to the chief justice's warrant at his going from my house, as he was at coming to it, and equally desirous of having it obeyed, and was the same af- terwards, as I am also able to prove. And 4thly. As a natural conse- quence from the whole, that the anthor and spreader of the report, that Col. Armstrong was informed by me to disobey, or oppose the chief justice's warrant, were guilty of raising and spreading a false report. As to my having used any influence to excite those who rescued the prisoners, in that iniquitous step, I shall just observe : That week the prisoners were in jail, I was providentially prevented from visiting my charge; (the service I was then engaged in) this now appears a favorable circumstance, for had I been employed in executing that part of my office, the pen of detraction would, most probably, have construed it into sowing sedition from house to house : but from the time I returned home on Monday afternoon, I was no where out of my house, except at two or three neighbors in town, and saw scarce any body but my own family until Wednesday morning, when I set off, by sun up, in company with several gentlemen, for Yorktown, and did not return till Saturday afternoon, (the day after the rescue) and can, if requisite, vindicate my character, stabbed by defamatory influence. On my way home, I was alarmed with the news of the rescue. On the next day (being Sabbath) I publicly declared from the pulpit, my detestation of the fact. Early on Monday I crossed the North mountain, in company with William Lyon, Esqr., before the posse were yet gathered, and joined my best endeavors, in attempting to re- cover those infatuated people to reason ; and openly, in the presence of a large number assembled together, condemned their distracted con- duct, and urged the return of the prisoners. The next Sabbath on sub- jection to government, and that week went over again, in company with Col. Armstrong, and some other gentlemen, who went to make those people assurances from the Governor, of the prisoners being tried in their own county. These things I say not with boasting, but in self vindication, and whether this was consistent with having ex- cited to the fact, let the impartial world judge. I must have had a face of impudence, almost qeyond Beelzebub himself, to have encouraged first, and then acted thus, and blamed and censured, even to raising resentment of some against me, for my being so much engaged.
But what innocence can secure from the impeachment of determined obloquy and reproach ? But to attack myself alone, and attempt to stab a single character, did not suffice-Haman's malice cannot rest in aiming at Mordecai's men only; the whole nation is marked out for vengeance. The same spirit seems to have actuated these modern Hamans, in attemptIng to roll over the blame of rescuing the prison- ers, entirely on my people, and assert that the rescuers were all of them, or that the whole was done by the new side (as they are termed) : this charge must have proceeded from the greatest malevolence and rancor, beyond expression ; partly in religion not having any hand, more or less, in the matter ; and to attempt turning it into the chan- nel, (though I know it was early done in this place, and is perfectly agreeable to the general course some have peen steering for seve-
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raj years past) is, I am bold to say, infamous and base to the last degree, calculated only to heighten the fire of party, embroil society, both civil and religious, weaken the country, by dividing it against itself, subserve in every respect, the Prince of Darkness, without being able of answering any one single valuable purpose. Suppose they had all been of my people that perpetrated the rescue, would it have been friendly, or acting the part of christian brotherhood, to have been so eager to expose the whole body? Would it not have been imitating Edon, as recorded by Obediah ? Might it not, in such case, have been sufficient to name out the guilty persons, without attempting to board the whole society with infamy, unless they had already become infamous for such conduct ? Or could any other reason be alleged for pointing out the particular society, unless to at- tempt rendering both me odious in the eyes of all good men, even on that suspicion of their having all belonged to me ? Which yet is far from being the case. A great part of the rescuers came from beyond the North mountain ; and though I detest the very idea of party in the affair, and esteem the attempting to fix it on, or roll it off, any one sect or party, an evidence of a wicked temper, as some of all sorts were concerned, as they happened to live in the neighborhood, or part of the country where the design was formed, and were made acquainted with it, both old side and new, Seceders, Covenanters, Church of England, and even Papists, as some of the persons concerned have declared. Yet, this I will assert, and can maintain, that as far as I have yet been able to learn the names of those found out to have been engaged, there are not more of what was formerly called the new side, than there are of what was called the old ; this I do not say, to blame or free any one particular sect or party, but merely to show it was no party matter.
I have now stated this matter in a fair point of light, which I am able to maintain, and leave it to every impartial mind, what sentiment to form of the author or authors, and spreaders of such invidious mis- representations. Every good man, I am sure, must hold them in detes- tation, as parts in society, civil or religious, base incendiaries, and a nuisance in a commonwealth. And yet, odious as the character is, and however detestable the conduct, there are some of so perverse a dispo- sition, so uninfluenced by religion, and destitute of honesty, as to lurk privily for the innocent without cause, who sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they have attemp ted to cause some to fall. If any see proper to contradict the state of of facts here given, I desire they may do it, not in the undermining way of private whispering and suggestion, the favorite plan of base detractors, whose safety lies in concealment, and whose day is as the shadow of death, but openly in the public prints, signed with their name. Nor shall I esteem myself bound to take any notice of any thing which the author will not dare openly to avow. And if none appear, I hope the public will be so candid as to take their silence on this head, as a full, though tacit confession, of their being convin- ced, that the representations they have made, or propagated, are false and groundless.
GEORGE DUFFIELD.
The Indian Me-de-u, i. e. Conjurors, are a set of professional impos-
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fors, who, availing themselves of the superstitious prejudices of their people, acquire the name and reputation of men of superior knowl- edge, and possessed of supernatural powers.
The Indians ascribing many of their diseases to the arts of sorcerers, witches, or wizzards, these conjurors or Me-de-u, are called for and consulted, not only to cure the diseases of the people, with which they are afflicted in the course of nature ; but to counteract and destroy the enchantments of wizzards or witches, as in the case of Half-King, at Harris' ferry, who, the credulous Indians believed, had been bewitch- ed by the French.
The conjurors pretend that some disorders cannot be cured by the ordinary remedies, generally employed by their common doctors .- They say that when a complaint or disease has been brought on by witchcraft, more powerful remedies must be applied, and measures adopted to defeat the designs of the one that has bewitched the unfor- tunate sufferer. This can only be done by removing or destroying the poisonous substance which has been conveyed into the patient, or if it is an evil spirit, to confine or expel him, or banish him to a distant region.
When the Me-de-u has succeeded in persuading the afflicted person that his disorder is such that ordinary remedies must fail, he then en- deavors to convince him of the necessity of enabling him, by superior strength, to drive out the spirit, the patient must make the Me-de-u ve- ry strong, that is in few words, give him a large fee, which he will say, is justły due to a man, who like himself, is able to perform such dif- ficult things. If the patient is rich, the conjuror will, in such a case, always ascribe the complaint, to the powers of witchcraft-To be re- lieved, the disordered one is modestly demanded to give a fine horse, a good rifle, a considerable quantity of wampum, or goods to a hand- some amount.
When his fee is well secured, he prepares, and before, for the hard task he has undertaken, with as much apparent labor, as if he was about to remove a mountain, he casts his eyes all around him to attract notice-appears wrapped in thought and deep meditation, and enjoys for a while, the admiration of the spectators. At last he be- gins his operation-Frightfully dressed, he approaches his patient, with a variety of contortions and gestures, and performs by his side and all over him all the antick tricks that his imagination can suggest. He breathes on him-blows into his mouth-squirts some medicines which he has prepared, into his face, month and nose-he rattles his gonrd filled with dry beans and pebbles-pulls out and handles about a variety of sticks and bundles in which he appears to be seeking for the proper remedy ; all which is accompanied with the most horrid gesticulations, by which he endeavors, as he says, to frighten the spirit or the disorder away, and continues in this manner until he is quite exhausted and out of breath, when he retires to wait the issue.
If the patient desires it, the visits are repeated from time to time ; not however, without his giving a fresh fee previous to each visit .-- This continues until the property of the patient is entirely exhausted, or until he resolves on calling in another doctor, with whom feeling must begin anew in the same manner that it did with his predecessor.
H. p. 264 .- Teedyuscung. This notorious Indian chief, was a conspi- cuous character. His conduct on many occasions was impolitic, and
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consequently irritated to the utmost the spirited nation of the Dela- wares; and was surrounded by enemies-his fate was destined-in 1763 he was burned with his house while lying in his bed asleep.
Col. Clapham's Instructions to Capt. Hambright, commander of a de- tachment from Col. Claphanı's Regiment, given at Fort Augusta, Nov. 4, 1756. Sir :- You are to march with a party of two sergeants, two corporals, and thirty-eight private men under your command, to attack, burn and destroy an Indian town or towns with their inhabitants on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, to which Monsieur Montour will conduct you, whose advice you are directed to pursue. In every case you are to attack the town agreeable to the plan and disposition here- with given you, observing to intermix the men with bayonets equally among the three parties in the attack ; and if any Indians are found there, you are to kill, scalp and captivate as many as you can ; and if no Indians are there, you are to endeavor to act in such a manner and with such caution, as to prevent the discovery of your having been there, by any party that may shortly arrive after you, for which reason you are strictly forbidden to burn, take away, destroy or meddle with any thing found at such places ; and immediately dispatch Monsieur Montour with one or two more to me, with intelligence. When you come near a place of action, you are to detach Monsieur Montour with as many men as he shall judge necessary to reconnoitre the parts, and to wait in concealment in the mean time with your whole party till his return ; then to form your measures accordingly. After having burnt and destroyed the town, you are in your retreat to post an officer and twelve men in ambush, close by the wood side, at the most convenient place for such purpose which may offer, at about 12 miles distance from the place of action, who are to surprise and cut off any party who may attempt to pursue, or happen to be engaged in hunting there- abouts, and at the same time, secure the retreat of your main body.
It is very probable on these moonlight nights you will find them en- gaged in dancing, in which case, embrace that opportunity by all means, of attacking them, which you are not to attempt at a greater distance than 20 or 25 yards ; and be particularly careful to prevent the escape of women and children, whose lives, humanity will direct, to preserve as much as possible. If it does not happen that you find them dancing, the attack is to be made in the morning, just at such a season when you have light enough to execute it, in which attempt, your party is to march to the several houses, and bursting open the doors, to rush in at once. Let the signal for the general attack, be the discharge of one firelock, in the centre division.
If there are no Indians at the several towns, you are, in such a case, to proceed with the utmost caution and vigilance, to the road which leads to Fort Du Quesne, there to lie in ambush, and to intercept their march to, or from the English settlements; and there to remain, with that design, till the want of provisions obliges you to return.
I wish you all imaginable success, of which, the opinion I have of yourself, the officers and party under your command, leaves me no room to write.
I am, sir, &c. WILLIAM CLAPHAM.
P. S. You will not omit to post the sergeant with a party on the op- posite side of the river during the attack, according to direction, to
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prevent the enemy from escaping that way, and to reserve one half of your force.
J. p .- There was a conference held with the Indians at Mr. George Croghan's in Pennsboro township, Thursday, May 17, 1750-Present, Richard Peters, Secretary ; Conrad Weiser, James Galbreath, George Croghan, George Stevenson, William Wilson and Hermanus Alricks, Esqrs .- Andrew Montour, Jac-nech-doaris, Sai-nch-to-wano, Catara- dirha, Tohonady Huntho, a Mohock from Ohio.
The object of this conference was to conciliate the Indians, and give them assurances that those who intruded upon their lands on Juniata should be removed without any further delay.
Another conference was held at the same place, Thursday June 7th 1750-Present, Richard Peters, George Croghan, Matthew Dill, Her- manus Alricks, William Trent, George Stevenson, Esqrs .- Andrew Montour, Ca-na-ja-cha-nah, alias, Broken-Kettle, Hatchin-hatta, Ca- dre-dan-hin-nut, chiefs in the Seneca Nation, settled on Ohio.
K .- A meeting of the Commissioners and Indians, at Carlisle, Oct. 1st, 1753. Present-Richard Peters, Isaac Norris, and Benjamin Franklin, Commissioners.
The Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twight- wees and Owendots.
Conrad Weiser and Andrew Montour, Interpreters. James Wright, John Armstrong, Esq. members of the Assembly. The Magistrates & several other gentlemen and freeholders of the county of Cumberland. The speech of the Commissioners :
Brethren, the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees & Owendots : Though the city of Philadelphia is the place where all In- dians should go, who have business to transact with this government, yet your request, signified to Col. Fairfax, at Winchester, and by him communicated to the Governor, by an express to Philadelphia, he has been pleased on this particular occasion to dispense with your coming there, and has done us the honor to depute us to receive and treat with you at this Town, in his place and stead ; this is set forth in his commission, which we now produce you, under ths Great Seal of this Province, the authentic sign and testimony of all acts of Government.
Brethren-By this string we acquaint you, that the Six Nations do at our request, join with us in condoling the losses you have of late sustained by the deaths of several of your chiefs and principal men, and that Scarrooyady is to deliver for both what has been agreed to be said on this melancholy occasion.
Then the Commissioners gave a string of wampum.
The Scarrooyady spoke as follows :
Brethren-the Twightwees and Shawanese-It has pleased him who is above, that we shall meet here to day and see one another. I and Bro- ther Onas join together to speak to you. As we know your seats at home are bloody, we wipe away the blood, and set your seats in order at your council fire, that you may set and consult again in peace and comfort as formerly, that you may hold the ancient union, and streng- then it and continue you your old friendly correspondence. Here a string was given.
Brethren-Twightwees and Shawanese-We suppose that the blood is now washed off. We jointly, with our Brother Onas, dig a grave for your warriors, killed in your country; and we bury their bones
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decently ; wrapping them up in these blankets; and with these we cover their graves. Here the goods were given to the Twightwees and Shawanese.
Brethren-Twightwees and Shawanese-I and my brother Onas, jointly condole with the chiefs of your towns, your women and chil- dren, for the loss you have sustained; we partake of your grief, and mix our tears with yours ; we wipe your tears from your eyes that you may see the sun, and that every thing may become clear and pleasant to your sight ; and we desire you shall mourn no more .-- Here a belt was given.
The same was said to the Delawares.
And then he spoke to the Owendots in these words :
Our children and brethren, the Owendots-You have heard what I and my brother Onas have jointly said to the Twightwees, Shawanese and Delawares. We now come to speak to you. We are informed that your good old wise men are all dead, and you have no more left.
We must let you know, that there was a friendship established by you and your grandfathers ; and a mutual council fire was kindled .- In this friendship all those then under the ground, who had not yet obtained eyes and faces (that is those unborn) were included; and it was then mutually promised to tell the same to their children, and children's children. But so many great men of your nation have died in so short a time, that none but youths are left ; and this makes us afraid, lest that treaty so solemnly established by your ancestors, shoud be forgotten by you : We therefore now come to remind you of it, and renew it : We rekindle the old fire, and you put on fresh fuel .- Here a string of wampum was given.
The other speeches of burying the dead &c. were the same as those to the Twightwees &c. After each had been spoken to, Scarrooyady proceeded thus :
Brethren, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees and Owendots :- We the English and Six Nations, do now exhort every one of you to do your utmost to preserve this union and friendship, which has so long and hap- pily continued amongst us. Let us keep the chain from rusting, and pre- vent every thing that may hurt or break it, from what quarter soever it may come.
Then the goods allotted for each nation, as a presence of condolence were taken away by each ; and the council adjourned to the next day. (October 2d 1753-Same persons present that were the day before.) The speech of the Commissioners.
Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees and Owendots-Now that your hearts are eased of grief, and we behold one another with cheerful countenances, we let you know that the governor and the good people of Pennsylvania, did not send us to receive you empty handed, but put something into our pockets to be given to such as would favor us with this friendly visit. The goods, therefore, we re- quest you would accept of, and divide amongst all that are of your company, in such proportions as shall be agreeable to you. You know how to do this better than we. What we principally desire, is, that you will consider this present as a token of our esteem for you, and use it with a frugality becoming your circumstances, which call at this time for more than ordinary care.
Brethren-With pleasure we behold here the Deputies of 5 different
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Nations, viz : the United Six Nations, the Delawares, the Shawanese, the Twightwees and Owendots. Be pleased to cast your eyes towards this belt, whereon six figures are delineated, holding one another by the hands. This is a just resemblance of our present Union. The five first figures representing the Five Nations to which you belong, as the sixth does the government of Pennsylvania, with whom you are linked in a close and friendly union. In whatever part the belt is broke, all the wampum runs off and renders the whole of no strength or consist- ency. In the like manner, should you break faith with one another, or with this government, the union is dissolved. We would hereby place before you the necessity of preserving your faith entire to one another, as well as to this government. Do not separate. Do not part on any score. Let no differences nor jealousies subsist a moment between Nation and Nation ; but join altogether as one man, sincere- ly and heartily. We, on our part, shall always perform our engage- ments to every one of you. In testimony whereof, we present you with this belt. Here the belt was given.
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