USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 58
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Brethren-We have only this one thing further to say at this time. Whatever you answers you may have to give, or business to transact with us, we desire you would use dispatch, as it may be dangerous to you, and incommodious to us, to be kept long from our homes at this season of the year.
Oct. 3, 1753-same persons present.
Scarrooyady speaker :
Brother Onas-What we have now to say, I am going to speak in behalf of the Twightwees, Shawanase, Delawares and Owendots.
You have, like a true and affectionate brother, comforted us in our affliction. You have wiped away the blood from our seats, and set them again in order. You have wrapped up the bones of our warri- ors, and covered the graves of our wise men ; and wiped the tears from our eyes, and the eyes of our women and children ; so that we now see the sun, and all things have become pleasant to our sight. We shall not fail acquaint our several Nations with your kindness. We shall take care that it be always remembered by us ; and believe it will be attended with suitable returns of love and affection.
Then one of the Twightwecs stood up and spoke as follows (Scar- rooyady, interpreter.)
Brother Onas: The Ottowas, Cheepaways and the French have struck us. The stroke was heavy and hard to be borne, for thereby we lost our King and several of our warriors, but the loss, our brethren, the Eng- lish suffered, we grieve for most. The love we have had for the Eng- lish, from our first knowledge of them, still continues in our breasts ; and we shall ever retain the same ardent affection for them. We cover the graves of the English with this beaver blanket. We mourn for them more than for our own people.
Here he spread on the floor some beaver skins, sewed together in the form of a large blanket.
Then Scarrooyady spoke as follows :
Brother Onas-I speak now on behalf of all the Indians present, in answer to what you said when you gave us the goods and belt. What you have said to us yesterday is very kind, and pleases us exceedingly. The speech which accompanied the belt, is particularly of great mo- ment. We will take the belt home to Ohio, where there is a greater and
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wiser council than we, and consider it, and return you a full answer. We return you thanks for the present. Gave a string.
Brother Onas-Last spring when you heard of the march of the French army you were so good as to send us word, that we might be on our guard. We thank you for this friendly notice.
Brother Onas-Your people not only trade with us in our towns, but disperse themselves over a large and wide extended country, in which reside many nations. At one end live the Twightwees, and at the other end the Caghnawagas and Adirondacks, these you must comprehend in your chain of friendship; they are and will be, your brethren, let Onontio say what he will. Gave a string.
Brother Onas-I desire you would hear and take notice of what I am about to say to you now. The Governor of Virginia desired leave to build a strong house on Ohio, which came to the ears of the Gover- nor of Canada, and we suppose this caused him to invade our coun- try. We do not know his intent, because he speaks with two tongues. So soon as we know his heart, we shall be able to know what to do, and shall speak accordingly to him. We desire that Pennsylvania & Virginia would, at present, forbear settling our lands over the Alle- gheny hills. We advise you rather to call your people back on this side the hills, lest damage should be done, and you think it ill of us. But to keep up our correspondence with our Brother Onas, we will appoint some place on the hills, or near them, and we do appoint George Croghan on our part, and desire you to appoint another on your part, by a formal writing under the governor's hand. Let none of your people settle beyond where they are now, nor on the Juniata lands, till the affair is settled between us and the French. At present, George Croghan's house at Juniata, may be the place where any thing may be sent to us. We desire a commission may be given to the person entrusted by the government of Pennsylvania, and that he may be directed to warn people from settling the Indian lands, and empowered to remove them. Gave a belt and string.
Brother Onas-All we who are here desire you will hear what we are going to say, and regard it as a matter of moment. The French look on the great number of traders at Ohio with envy ; they fear they shall lose their trade. You have more traders than necessary, and they spread themselves over wide country, at such great distan- ces, that we cannot see them or protect them. We desire you will call back the great number of your traders, and let only three sets remain; and order these to stay in three places, which we have ap- pointed for their residence, viz: Logstown, the month of Canawa and the mouth of Mohongialo; the Indians will then come to them, and buy their goods in these places, and no where else. We shall likewise look on them under our care, and shall be accountable for them. We have settled this point with Virginia in the same man- ner. Gave a string.
Brother Onas-The English goods are sold at too dear a rate to us. If only honest and sober men were to deal with us, we think they might afford the goods cheaper. We desire therefore that you will take effec- tual care hereafter, that none but such be suffered to come out to trade with us .- Gave a string.
Brother Onas-Your traders now bring scarce any thing but rum and flour. They bring little powder and lead, or other valuable goods .-
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The rum ruins us. We beg you would prevent its coming in such quantities, by regulating the traders. We never understood the trade was to be for whiskey and flour. We desire that it may be forbidden, and none sold in the Indian country ; but that if the Indians will have any, they may go among the inhabitants and deal with them for it .- When these whiskey traders come, they bring thirty or forty cags, and put them down before us, and make us drink ; and get all the skins that should go to pay the debts we have contracted, for goods bought of the Fair traders ; and by this means, we not only ruin ourselves but them too. These wicked whiskey sellers, when they have once the Indians in liquor, make them sell their very clothes from their backs. In short, if this practice be continued, we must be inevitably ruined. We most earnestly therefore beseech you to remedy it .- A treble string.
Brother Onas-I have now done with generals ; but have something to say for particular Nations.
The Shawanese have heard some news since they came here, which troubled their minds; on which they addressed themselves to their grand fathers; the Delawares, and said, Grandfathers, we will live and die with you and the Six Nations : We, our wives, our children, and children yet unborn.
N. B. This was occasioned by Conrad Weiser's having told them in private conversation, that while he was in the Mohock country, he was informed that the French intended to drive away the Shawanese (as well as the English) from Ohio.
Scarrooyady then proceeded, and said, I have something farther to say on behalf of the Shawanese.
Brother Onas-At the beginning of the summer, when the news was brought to us, of the approach of the French, the Shawanese made this speech to their uncles, the Delawares, saying, " Uncles, you have often told us, that we were a sensible and discreet people ; but we lost all our senses and wit when we slipped out of your arms ; however we are now in one another's arms again, and hope we shall slip out no more. We remember, and are returned to our former friendship, and hope it will always continue. In testimony whereof, we give you, our uncles, a string of ten rows."
The Shawanese likewise, at the same time, sent a speech to the Six Nations saying, "Our Brethren, the English, have treated us as a peo- ple that had wit : the French deceived us : but we now turn our heads about, and are perpetually looking to the country of the Six Nations and our Brethren, the English, and desire you to make an apology for us; and they gave right strings of wampum." The Delawares and Six Nations do therefore give up these strings to Onas, and recom- mend the Shawanese to him as a people who have seen their error, and are their and our very good friends .- Gave eight strings.
Brother Onas-Before I finish, I must tell you, we all earnestly re- quest you will please to lay all our present transactions before the council of Onondago, that they may know we do nothing in the dark. They may perhaps think of us, as if we did not know what we were doing, or wanted to conceal from them what we do with our brethren ; but it is otherwise, and therefore make them acquainted with all our proceedings. This is what we have likewise desired of the Virginians when we treated with them at Winchester.
. Brother Onas-I forgot something which I must now say to you ; it
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is to desire you would assist us with some horses to carry our goods ; because you have given us more than we can carry ourselves. Our women and young people present you with this bundle of skins, desir- ing some spirits to make them cheerful in their own country-not to drink here. Presented a bundle of skins.
Then he added-The Twightwees intended saying something to you, but they have mislaid some strings, which has put their speeches into disorder ; these they will rectify, and speak to you in the after- noon.
Then the Indians withdrew.
Afternoon-The Twightwees speak by Andrew Montour.
Brother Onas-Hearken what I have to say to the Six Nations, Del- wares, Shawanese and English. The French have struck us; but though we are hurt, it is but one side ; the other side is safe. Our arm on that side is entire ; and with it we have laid hold on our pipe, and have brought it along with us, to show that it is as good as ever. And we shall leave it with you, that it may be always ready for us and our brethren to smoke in when we meet together.
Here he delivered over the calumet, decorated with fine feathers.
Brother Onas-We have a single heart. We have but one heart. Our heart is green, and good, and sound. This shell, painted green on its hollow side, is a resemblance of it.
The country beyond us, towards the setting of the sun, where the French live, is all in darkness ; we can see no light there. But to- wards sun rising, where the English live, we see light ; and that is the way we turn our faces. Consider us as your fast friends, and good Brethren.
·· Here he delivered a large shell, painted green on the concave side, with a string. of wampum tied to it.
Brother Onas-This belt of wampum was formerly given to the king of the Piankashas, one of our tribes, by the Six Nations ; that if at any time any of our people should be killed, or any attack made on them by their enemies, this belt should be sent with the news, and the Six Nations would believe it.
The Twightwees, when they brought this belt to the Lower Shawa- nese town, addressed themselves to the Shawanese, Six Nations, Dela- wares, and then on the English, and said-
Brethren, we are an unhappy people : we have had some of our brethren, the English, killed and taken prisoners in our towns. Per- haps our brethren, the English, may think or be told that we were the cause of their death ; we therefore apply to you, the Shawanese, &c. to assure the English we were not. The attack was so sudden, that it was not in our power to save them. And we hope, when you deliver this to the English, they will not be prejudiced against us but look upon us as their Brethren. Our hearts are good towards them .- A large belt of fourteen rows.
Brethren-One of our kings on his death bed, delivered to his son, the young boy, who sits next to me, these eight strigs of wampum, and told him, " child, I am in friendship with the Shawanese, Delawares, Six Nations and English ; and I desire you, if by any misfortune I should happen to die, or be killed by my enemies, you would send this string to them, and they will receive you in friendship in my stead."- Delivers the strings.
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The following is a speech of the wife of the Piankasha King, after her husband's death, addressed to the Shawanese, Six Nations, Dela- wares and English : "Remember, Brethren, that my husband took a fast hold of the chain of friendship subsisting between your Nations: therefore I now deliver up this child into your care and protection, and desire you would take care of him ; and remember the alliance his father was in with you, and not forget his friendship, but continue kind to this child."-Gave four strings black and white.
Brethren, Shawanese, Delawares, Six Nations and English-We ac- quaint all our Brethren, that we have prepared this beaver blanket as a seat for all our brethren to set on in council. In the middle of it we have painted a green circle, which is the colour and resemblance of our hearts, which we desire our brethren may believe are sincere to- wards our alliance with them .- Delivered a beaver blanket.
Then Scarrooyady stood up and said :
Brother Onas-The Shawanese and Delawares delivered this speech to the Six Nations, and desired they would deliver it to the English, and now I deliver it on their behalf.
Brethren-We acquaint you, that as the wife of Piankasha King de- . livered his child to all the Nations to be taken care of, they desire that those Nations may be interceded with, to take care that the said child may be placed in his father's seat, when he comes to be a man, to rule their people. And the Six Nations now in behalf of the whole, request that this petition may not be forgotten by the English, but that they would see the request fulfilled .- Gave four strings.
Then Scarrooyady desired the Six Nations Council might be made acquainted with all these speeches: and added that they had no more to say ; but what they have said is from their hearts.
Oct. 4-Same persons present.
The commissioners, unwilling to lose any time, prepared their an- swers early this morning, and sent for the Indians, who having seated themselves, the following was made to them :
Brethren : Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees and Owendots-The several matters delivered by you, yesterday, have been well considered, and we are now going to return you our an- swers.
The concern expressed by the Twightwees for the death and the imprisonment of the English, with their professions of love and es- teem, denotes sincere and friendly disposition, which entitles them to our thanks, and the continuance of our friendship-this they may cer- tainly depend upon.
Brethren-You have recommended to us the several Nations, who, you say, live in that great extent of country, over which our traders travel to dispose of their goods, and especially the Twightwees, Adı- rondacks and Caghnawagas, who, you say, live at different extremi- ties, and have good inclination towards the English. We believe you would not give them this character unless they deserved it. Your re- commendation will always have a weight with us, and will dispose us in favor of them, agreeable to your request.
Brethren-The several articles which contain your observations on the Indian trades, and the loose, straggling manner in which that trade is carried on, through countries lying at great distances from your towns-Your proposals to remedy this, by having named three places
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for the traders to reside in, under your care and protection, with a re- quest that the Province would appoint the particular persons to be concerned in this trade, for whom they will be answerable. What you say about the vast quantities of rum, and its ill effects, and that no more may be brought amongst you, all these have made a strong im- pression upon our minds ; and was it now in our power to rectify these disorders, and put matters on the footing you propose, we would do it with great pleasure; but these are affairs which more immedi- ately concern government ; in these, therefore, we shall imitate your example, by laying them before the governor, assuring you, that our heartiest representations of the necessity of these regulations shall not be wanting, being convinced, that unless something effectual be speedily done in these matters, the good people of this Province can no longer expect safety or profit in their commerce, nor the continu- ance of your affection.
Brethren-We will send an account to Onondago of all that has been transacted between us. We will assist you with horses for the carriage of the goods given you. We grant your women and young men their request for rum, on condition that it be not delivered until you shall have passed the mountains.
Scarrooyady some days ago desired us to give orders for the mend- ing of your guns, &c. and we did so ; being obliged to send for a gun- smith out of the country, as no one of that trade lived in the town ; who promised to come ; but having broke his word, it has not been in our power to comply with this request-Here the string given with the request was returned.
Having delivered our general answer, we shall now proceed to give you one to what was said by particular nations, as well by the Shawa- nese in the forenoon, as by the Twightwees in the afternoon.
Brethren-Delawares and Shawanese-We are glad to see you in such good dispositions to each other. We entreat you to do every thing you can to preserve the continuance of this agreeable harmony. The Shawanese may be assured we retain no manner of remembrance of their former miscarriages. We are perfectly reconciled, and our esteem for their nation is the same as ever. Gave a large string.
Brethren Twightwees-We shall take your several presents, shells, strings, beaver blankets and calumet pipe, with us, and deliver them to the governor ; that these, and the several things said at the delivery of them, may remain in the council chamber, at Philadelphia, for our mutual use and remembrance, whenever it shall please the Great Be- ing who sits above, to bring us together in council again. Gave a long string.
Brethren-We desire you will send these two strouds to the young King, as an acknowledgment of our affectionate remembrance of his father's love to us, and our good will to him. Be pleased to present to the widow of Piankasha King, our late hearty friend, these handker- chiefs to wipe the tears from her eyes ; and I likewise give her son these two strouds to clothe him. Here two handkerchiefs and two strouds were given.
Brethren Twightwees-We assure you, we entertain no hard tho'ts of you, nor in any wise impute to you the misfortune that befel the English in your town ; it was the chance of war : We were struck to-
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gether ; we fell together; and we lament your loss equally with our own.
Brethren-Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees and Owendots-We have finished our answers ; and we hope they will be agreeable to you. Whatever we have said, has been said with a hearty good will towards you ; our hearts have answered our professions, and you will always find our answers agreeable to them.
Then the commissioners were silent ; and after a space of time, re- newed their speeches to them.
Brethren-Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Twightwees & Owendots- We have something to say to you, to which we entreat you will give your closest attention, since it concerns us and you very much.
Brethren-We have held a council on the present situation of your
affairs. We have reason to think, from the advices of Taaf and Cal- lender, that it would be too great a risque, considering the present dis- order things are in at Ohio, to increase the quantity of goods already given you : we therefore acquaint you, that, though the Governor has furnished us with a larger present of goods, to put in your public store house, as a general stock, for your support and service, and we did intend to have sent them along with you ; we have, on this late disa- greeable piece of news, altered our minds, and determined, that the goods shall not be delivered till the governor be made acquainted with your present circumstances, and shall give his own orders for the dis- posal of them; and, that they may be ready for your use, to be appli- ed for, whenever the delivery may be safe, seasonable, and likely to do you most service ; we have committed them to the care of your good friend, George Croghan, who is to transmit to the governor by express, a true and faithful account how your matters are likely to turn out ; and on the governor's order, and not otherwise, to put you in the possession of them.
This we hope you will think a prudent caution, and a testimony of our care for your real good and welfare.
Brethren-We have a favor of a particular nature to request from your speaker, Scarrooyady, in which we expect your concurrence and joint interest ; and therefore make it to him in your presence.
Here the Commissioners, applying to Scarrooyady, spoke as follows :
Respected Chief and Scarrooyady-We have been informed by An- drew Montour and George Croghan, that you did at Winchester, in public council, undertake to go to Carolina, to solicit the release of some warriors of the Shawanese Nation, who are said to be detained in the public prison of Charleston, on account of some mischief com- mitted by them, or their companions, in the inhabited part of that pro- vince ; and these two persons, who are your very good friends, have given it as their opinion, if, after you know what has passed at Ohio, you shall now leave this company of Indians, and not return with them to their families, and assist in the consultations with the Half- King, and their other chiefs, what measures to take in this unhappy situation of your affairs, all may be irrecoverably lost at Allegheny, and the loss, with justice, be laid at your doors. You may, perhaps, be afraid to disoblige the Shawanese, as it was at their instance you undertook this journey ; but we intend to speak to them, and have no doubt of obtaining their consent ; convinced as we are, that the re- lease of these prisoners will be sooner and more effectually procured,
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by the joint interposition of the Governor of Pennsylvania and Vir" ginia, than by your personal solicitation, inasmuch as our governor, to whom we shall very heartily recommend this affair, can send with greater dispatch, his letters to Carolina, than you can perform the jour- ney ; for at this season, opportunities present every day of sending by sea to Charleston ; and an express by land may be dispatched to Gov- ernor Dinwiddie as soon as we return to Philadelphia.
The Shawanese chiefs expressing dissatisfaction at this endeavor of the commissioners to stop Scarrooyady, it gave us some trouble to satisfy them and obtain their consent ; but at last it was effected, and when this was signified to Scarrooyady, he made this answer :
Brother Onas-I will take your advice, and not go to Virginia at this time ; but go home, and do every thing in my power for the com- mon good : and, since we are here now together, with a great deal of pleasure, I must acquaint you, that we have set a horn on Andrew Montour's head, and you may believe what he says to be true, be- tween the Six Nations and you. They have made him one of their counsellors, and a great man among them, and love him dearly.
Scarrooyady gave a large belt to Andrew Montour, and the commis- sioners agreed to it.
After this difficulty was got over, nothing else remained to be done : and as the absence of these Indians was dangerous, the commissioners put an end to the treaty, and took their leave of them, making them private presents at parting, to such of the chiefs, and others, as were recommended by the interpreters to their particular notice.
The letter of Taaf and Callender, referred to in the above report, was read and ordered to be entered.
September 28th, 1654, Shawanese cabins.
Sir-This day met with Joseph Nelson, coming from Ohio, and bro't the news, which I believe to be true; which I am sorry for of the French coming down and all the English have to move off the river Ohio, and have brought their goods with them. The Half-King went to the French fort to know what was the reason of their coming to set- tle the lands of Ohio. The commander told him the land was theirs, and discharged him home, and told him he was an old woman, and all his Nation were in his favor, only him, and if he did not go home he would put him in irons. He came home and told the English to go off the place, for fear they should be hurt-with tears in his eyes.
Sir-We are on our journey to the river, to see the Half-King, and to talk to him ; but durst not take our goods over the hill. Pray, sir, keep this news from our wives, but let Mr. Peters know of it, as we understand he is to be in Carlisle.
We remain your friends, &c.
CALLENDER & TAAF.
To Wm. Buchanan.
L. p. 259-At a council held at Carlisle, Tuesday 13th, January 1756-Present : the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Esq., Lieut. Governar; James Hamilton, William Logan, Richard Peters, Esq., and Joseph Fox, Esq. Mr. Croghan not coming till Sunday, and no more than 7 Indians yesterday, he was sent for and asked the reasons of this de- lay, and why no more Indians were come; and in answer said : he
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