USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 59
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was employed in raising men and building forts, according to his in- structions at Philadelphia, that he was at Kishycoquillas when the let- ter was delivered to him, that the Indians were mostly gone a hunting, and he expected as many more at least as were there, to come in a day ortwo.
Mr. Weiser was then sent for, and it was taken into consideration what should be said to the Indians.
Mr. Croghan informed the Governor and Council, that he had sent a Delaware Indian called Jo Hickman to the Ohio for intelligence, who returned to his house the day before he came away, and brought him the following account, namely :
That he went to Kittanning, an Indian Delaware town on the Ohio. 40 miles above Fort Du Quesne, the residence of Shingas and Captain Jacobs, were he found 140 men, chietly Delawares and Shawanese. who had then with them, above 100 English prisoners, big and little, taken from Virginia and Pennsylvania.
That then the Beaver, brother of Shingas, told him that the governor of Fort Du Quesne had often offered the French Hatchet to the Shaw- anese & Delawares, who had as often refused it, declaring they would do as they should be advised by the. Six Nations, but that in April or May last, a party of Six Nation Warriors in company with some Caghnawagos and Adirondacks called at the French fort in their going to war against the Southern Indians, and on these the governer of Fort Du Quesne prevailed to offer the French hatchet to the Delawares and Shawanese, who received it from them, and went directly against Virginia.
That neither Beaver nor several others of the Shawanese and Dela- wares approved of this measure, nor had taken up the hatchet, and the Beaver believed some of those who had were sorry for what they had done, and would be glad to make up matters with the English.
That from Kittanning he went to Logstown, where he found about 100 Indians and 30 English prisoners, taken by the Shawanese, living at the Lower Shawanese town, from the Western frontier of Virginia, and sent up to Logstown. He was told the same thing by these Shaw- anese that the Beaver had told him before, respecting their striking the English, by the advice of some of the Six Nations ; and further, he was informed, that the French had solicited them to sell the English prisoners ; which they had refused, declaring they would not dispose of them until they should receive advice from the Six Nations what to do with them.
That there are more or less of the Six Nations living with the Shaw- anese and Delawares in their towns, and these always accompanied them in their excursions upon the English, and took part with them in their war. That when at Logstown, which is near Fort Du Quesne, on the opposite side of the river, he intended to have gone there to see what the French were doing in that Fort, but could not cross the river for the driving of the ice ; he was however informed, that the number of the French did not exceed 400. ยท
That he returned to Kittaning and there learnt that ten Delawares were gone to the Susquehanna, and as he supposed, to persuade those Indians to strike the English, who might perhaps be concerned in the mischief lately done in the county of Northampton.
Mr. Croghan said he was well assured, by accounts given him by
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other Indians, that the Delawares and Shawanese acted in this hostile measure, by the advice and concurrence of the Six Nations, and that such as those as lived in the Delaware towns, went along with them, and took part in their incursions. And further, that a party of the Six Nations had brought some of the Cherokees from their country and settled them on the Ohio at Kentucke river about one hundred miles below the Lower Shawanese town, where they were now living.
Mr. Croghan was asked, why the Delaware he sent to Ohio did not come with the other Indians, and he said that he had undertaken to carry a message from one of his relations, whom he saw on the Ohio to some of his friends on the Susquehanna, and was gone upon that errand. He likewise said that the White Mingos and several other Indians were on hunting, and he had sent for them, and he hoped they would come, but he must inform the commissioners that great differ- ences had arisen between the White Mingo and the Belt about a suc- cessor to Tanachrisson, that they were in great heats, and perhaps about, and if any thing hindered the White Mingo from coming, it would be hearing that the Belt was already at Carlisle.
It was then taken into consideration what should be said to the In- dians, and in substance agreed to.
Mr. Hamilton being in November last at Harris', and finding the people collected here in the utmost confusion, and in continual fear of being fallen upon by a large body of French and Indians who were said by Scarrooyady and Montour to have passed the Allegheny Hills in their march towards this province, promised Aroas, an Indian of the Six Nations, then at Harris', called in English, Silver Heels, a handsome reward if he would undertake to go along to the east side of the Suequehanna as far as to Shamokin and Nessopecka to observe, what was doing by the Indians there, and return with the intelligence, and he accordingly went, and not having received any consideration for his journey he was called in, and desired to relate what he found doing by the Indians, and he gave this account.
That he found no Indians at Shamokin, and therefore proceeded higher up Susquehanna, as far as Nescopecka, where he saw 140 In- dians all warriors, that they were dancing the war dance, expressed great bitterness against the English, and were preparing for an expe- dition against them, and he thought would go to the eastward. He did not stay with them, finding them in this disposition, but went to the house of an uncle of his at a little distance from Nescopecka, between that and Wyoming, who told him the Dalewares and Shawanese on the Ohio were persua led by the French to strike the English, and had put the hatchet into the hands of the Susquehanna Indians, a great many of whom had taken it greedily, and there was no persuading them to the contrary, and that they would do abundance of mischief to the people of Pennsylvania, against whom they were preparing to go to war.
N. B. After this Silver Heels desired a private conversation with Mr. Weiser, and in it assured him that the Delawares and Shawanese had acted entirely on their head and by the instigation of the French. and that the Six Nations neither knew any thing of or would approve their proceeding, and earnestly intreated him to believe him this to be certainly true.
At a council held at Carlisle, Thursday, 15th January, 1756.
Present : The Hon. R. H. Morris, Lieut. Gov. James Hamilton, Wil-
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liam Logan, Esq. and Joseph Fox, Esq. The Belt, Seneca George, New Castle, David, Jagrea, Silver Heels, Isaac and others-Indians.
Conrad Weiser and George Croghan, Interpreters.
The Indians having taken their seats, the Governor spoke as fol- lows :
Brethren-I came to this part of the Province, and brought with me some of the wise and governing part of the people of Pennsylvania, with intention to hold a treaty with the Indians that were yet our friends, and for that purpose sent messages to the several branches of the Susquehanna, to invite them to meet at Harris's ferry ; but from the confusions that attend at the present times, I have reason to be- lieve that the messengers I have employed have not been able to go to all our friends upon that river, so that the number of Indians now met is not so large as it would otherwise have been. However, you that are come, I esteem our hearty friends, and thank you for meeting us here, which I take the kinder, considering the dangers that at pres- ent attend those that are our real friends. And, in the first place, you will permit me, to thank you for the kind expression of condolence which the Old Belt in your behalf made at Harris's in my way to this town, upon the losses we had sustained, and the blood that was shed by our Indian enemies, which he was pleased to say, was a common Joss, and affected you as well as us ; thereby signifying, that we were one people and our cause the same; and you will allow me by this string to wipe the dust from your eyes and ears, and to desire that what I shall now say to you, in behalf of the people of Pennsylvania, may be heard with attention and make a proper impression on your minds. Gave a string.
Brethren-You very well know, and your ancestors must have in- formed you of the ancient friendship that has subsisted between the people of this province and the several tribes and nations of Indians, as well as those of the Six United Nations, from the time that William Penn first landed in this country, till within these few months.
This friendship has ever been sacred on our parts, and we cannot accuse ourselves of having violated any treaties that were substituted between us, but on the contrary have at all times and upon all occa- sions given marks of our love and affection for our Indian allies-You cannot be strangers, Brethren, of the manner in which we have lately been treated by some that not many months before gave us the strong- est assurances of their fidelity, and of their accord renewed the for- mer friendships subsisting between them and us.
They have in the most cruel and barbarous manner fallen upon our peaceable inhabitants, living quietly under the faith of those treaties that subsisted between us, and slaughtered them without distinction of age or sex-such treatment was what we least expected, and having settled in peace, were not prepared to resist such an attack .- But, though we have been unused to a warlike life, and were at first unpre- pared for war, yet our enemies may be assured, that we are not inca- pable of it, or of defending ourselves. In behalf of the people of Penn- sylvania, I desirc you will tell me who those Indians are that have ae- ted so unfairly by us, and whether in this particular they have the ad- vice and consent of the Six Nations. And I further desire you will tell me what is the reason of complaint against us ; for they have never complained to us of any injury. Gave a belt.
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Brethren-
In this critical state of our affairs, I do in the name and behalf of the Province desire your advice and assistance in what manner we may best put a stop to the ravages of our enemies ; and as it may be necessary to send messages to several tribes of Indians in alliance with us, and it is dangerous to send our own people, I must desire some of you will undertake to carry such messages as there may be thought occasion to send. Gave a belt.
Council held on Friday, 16th January 1756-Same persons present as day before.
The Belt recited the substance of what was said yesterday upon the first.
Belt then said-Brethren :
When we of the Six Nations living on the Ohio were first informed of the French designs to take possession of lands upon that river, we resolved in conjunction with the Shawanese and Delawares, and their allies to hinder them from doing it, and sent the late Half-King to the French Commander, then on his march with a body of men for that purpose, to forbid him to proceed, and to require him to return home to Canada ; that the Half-King and others with him, pursuant to that resolution, met the French commander,* and forbade him accordingly, but he paid no regard to their prohibition, but moved on, which led us to enquire into the cause of their boldness and presumption, in taking possession of a country belonging to the Six Nations, not only without their leave, but contrary to their express and solemn prohibition by the Half-King; and we then first learnt that the French had prevailed upon the Shawanese, who were a nation in alliance with the Six Na- tions, and living by their suffrance upon a part of their country and upon the Delawares, who were a tribe conquered by, and entirely de-
* When Half-King called on the French Commander he was coldly received ; and sternly ordered to declare his business, which he did in these words :
Fathers, I am come to tell you your own speeches ; what your own mouths have declared. You, in former days, set a silver basin before us, wherein there was the leg of beaver, and desired all the nations to come to it ; to eat in peace and plenty, and not to be churlish to one another : and that if any person should be found to be a disturber, I here lay down by the edge of the dish a rod, which you must scourge them with; and if your father should get foolish, in my old days, I de- sire you may use it upon me as well as others .- Now, fathers, it is you who are the disturbers in this land by coming and building your towns, and taking it away unknown to us, and by force.
We kindled a fire, a long time ago, at a place called Montreal, where we desired you to stay, and not come and intrude upon our land. I now desire you may despatch to that place ; for, be it known to you, fathers, that this is our land, and not yours-I desire you may hear me in civilness ; if not, we must handle that rod which was laid down for the use of the obstreperous. If you had come in a peaceable manner, like our brothers the English, we would not have been against your trading with us, as they do ; but to come, fathers, and build houses upon our land, and to take it by force, is what we cannot submit to .- Drake v. p. 21-see note on page 308, antc.
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pendent upon them, to enter into a separate and private treaty with them, by which they, the Shawancse and Delawares had agreed not only to permit the French to take possession of the country upon the Ohio, as far as they would, but to assist them against the English, if their aid should be found nocessary in the contest, which the taking posses- sion of that country should occasion.
That in consequence of this secret treaty, and upon the persuasion of the French, who have acquired a considerable influence over those two tribes, they had fallen upon the English and done the mischief complained of without any just reason or cause that we know of, or ever heard of. That the Shawanese indeed pretend that the impri- sonment of some of their chiefs in South Carolina, is the cause of their conduct ; but we look upon that as mere pretence, as those chiefs were released upon the application of the government of Pennsylva- nia and by them returned in safety to their nation .- Gave a belt.
Brethren-In answer to that part of your speech, desiring our advice upon the present critical state of your affairs, we can only say, that we are ready and willing to give you our best advice and assistance. But you have sent messages to the Six Nations in their great council. We think it more prudent to wait for theirs, that we may know their resolutions, and this we are rather inclined to, as we ourselves by your messengers Scarrooyady and Montour sent a message of our own to enforce yours, and giving thereby our sentiments to the united coun- cil. And we would not have you uneasy at not receiving an answer, for the season of the year is bad, and the members of the great coun- cil live remote from each other, and require time to get together.
Then the Belt spoke as a warrior.
Brethren-We are sorry our number is not greater, but few as we are, we are all warriors, and at your service whenever you call upon us, and as the French are the cause of it, we esteem them our ene- mies, and shall, whenever you think proper severely revenge it upon them. The ensuing spring may furnish us with a favorable opportu- nity, when we shall gladly join and assist you against them.
January 17, 1756, same present.
The Old Belt, addressing [himself to the Governor and people of Pennsylvania, in behalf of themselves and the government of Vir- ginia, and holding a stick with an Indian scalp and two belts of wam- pum tied at the end of it said :
Brethren-We now by this belt of wampum put you in mind of your message of condolence sent us on the death of Tanachrisson (the Half-King); and as he was accounted by us a ruler both among the warriors as well as in council matters, you said right that his death had greatly affected us all. We take your message of condolence very kind and return you our thanks, for the regard you have shown us in sending us that message, and as his death was occasioned by our ene- my, the French, driving him from the lands he was settled on near the Ohio, we sent out some of our warriors, at two different times to re- venge ourselves on them, either by taking some prisoners or scalps on his account, but by some accident they were disappointed going through their journey. Yet we have by your assistance fortunately taken one of these Indian enemies nearer home, and now inform you, that we think it very proper that your message of condolence for our brother's death should be sent by you, by way of New York, over the Mohock's
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country to the Six United Nations, and to their several towns; and we have agreed to join with you in this message, and to send this scalp (lately taken from our enemy, who was, as we have mentioned, the occasion of our friend's death) ; and in order to confirm our said mes- sage, have joined with your belt, another of our own, in order to com- fort and ease the hearts of the Six Nations, and to let them know that our said brother's death did not pass unnoticed, or was forgotten by us.
Then he delivered the Governor the belts and scalp, tied together, and proceeded :
Brethren-As we cannot tell how far our enemy may incline to ex- tend their claim to the lands in these parts, we desire you would im- mediately take possession of, and build a fort at Shamokin, lest they, who are a cunning, designing people, should take possession before you, and prevent you. And we desire also that you would place some proper person to live always there to manage Indian affairs, (mention- ing Conrad Weiser, or in case of his refusal, some other proper per- son) that we may have him to advise with in all difficult matters, and that this may be a place of refuge in times of distress for us, our wives and children to fly to for safety, and be also a security for you, and prevent their taking those lands to themselves.
The Belt also acquainted the Governor, that as they had been at a loss for some proper house to come to, when they came among the in- habitants, they had agreed among themselves for the future, to make use of William Blythe's, in this town, and had now brought him into council with them, and requested the governor would consent to it, and that William Blythe might take upon him Jagrea's (the Indian) name, in order to direct any of their brethren, the Indians, at their se- veral towns, whose house to enquire for, when they came to see their brethren of Pennsylvania. And as we may want, on some occasions, to send you a message from the Indian country, and we having adop- ted Thomas Graeme, who is now among us, as a warrior, we now in- form you that we have given him the name of Koss-how-wey-ha,* (Newcastle's Indian name), and Newcastle we call Ah-knoy-is, for the future, and Jagrea, Sata-ka-roy-is. And to confirm, gave a string of wampum.
The Governor then acquainted the Belt, and other Indians, that he
* It was nothing uncommon among the Indians to confer their names upon whites, and those whom they adopted. At Fort Stanwix, I was present, says Richard Peters, when the Delawares and Shawanese were released by the Iroquois, or Six Nations, (originally five) from the subordination in which they had been held from the time of their having been conquered. The ceremony was called taking off the petti- coat, and was a curious spectacle. When I was adopted into the fam- ily of a Tuscarora chief, at the time of the treaty of Fort Stanwix, he made me a speech, in the style used on such occasions. in which he assured me of his affection ; and added, that he was pleased with my being " one of the young people of the country of the much respected and highly esteemed Onas :" which means a quill or pen. He gave to me one of his names-Tegochtias. [Letter to R. Vaux.
David Zeisberger,a Moravian missionary, was among the Indians from 1746 to 1808, the day of his death-had the name of Ga-nous-se-rach- e-ry conferred upon him by the tawny sons of the woods.
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joined with them in sending the message of condolence to the Six United Nations, and in their manner of doing it, and should very soon forward it by way of New York, to their several towns, and should also, at their request, make immediate provision for building a strong house at Shamokin, and that he should desire, and depend on their assistance in guarding the men, he should send on that account from any attacks of our enemy Indians.
He then told him, he approved of their choice of Blythe's house, and their exchanging his name with Jagrea's, and their choice of Tho- mas Graeme, and the exchange of his name with Koss-how-ey-ha.
"He then acquainted them, he had in behalf of the brethren of Penn- sylvania, provided a present for them, in these distressing times,which he should deliver them to-morrow, and accordingly, it was delivered in the presence of the governor and commissioners the next day.
Monday, 19th January, 1756-Present, same as before.
Last night the late Half-King's son, Johnny, and a Nanticoke Indian called Johnny, came to town, deputed, as they said, to make the excuse of the White Mingo and other Indians, for not waiting on the governor, being in the midst of their hunting ; but Mr. Croghan says, that they are well disposed, yet they would not come because of the difference subsisting between the White Mingo and the Old Belt.
The governor sent for Johnny and John King, and the other Indians into council, and spoke to them in these words :
Brethren-I desire you will impart with the two Indians who are sent by the White Mingo and others, as deputies to represent them here, all that has passed between you and me. What was said by me, was meant for them as well as you ; and, indeed, all our friendly Indi- ans ought to be made acquainted with it, as you shall see them and find opportunity to speak to them. Then the governor addressed himself to Johnny and John King; expressed a great deal of satisfaction at seeing them, and hearing that the White Mingo and the other Indians were in health and well disposed ; and said that he accepted their ex- cuse, and as he was obliged to visit the other parts of the province, he had ordered the Indians now present to communicate to them what had passed in the several conferences, that they might inform those that sent them of it, and had likewise reserved for them, as he expect- ed to see them, a present of equal value with what was given to the other Indians.
The governor then proceeded in his speech to all the Indians.
Brethren-It will be some time before the fort can be finished at Shamokin, and till then you may reside at one or other of the forts now building, or at Harris's, or at Conestogo Manor, and I desire you will make your choice, that the necessaries may be provided for you, at the place you shall choose.
If you incline to live at, or near the forts, you may hunt at the same time, and I have directed the officers to give you two pence a pound for all the venison you shall deliver at any of the forts, and to be just and kind to you in any dealings you may have together.
Brethren-Mr. Weiser and Mr. Croghan have something from us to confer with you about ; you will regard what they say, as if spoken by me, and I expect you will be ready to execute whatsoever shall be re- quired of you for the public service at this time.
I now take my leave of you, heartily wishing you health and all manner of prosperity.
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The Indians thanked the governor for his kind speech, promised to communicate to the two deputies the particulars of their several con- ferences-mistook the governor, as if he had offered them their choice of the forts, Harris's and Conestoga Manor to live always at for the future, and therefore besought the governor to excuse them from living at any other place than Shamokin, and renewed their request to him to begin to build a strong fort there as soon as possible,that they might go there and dwell in safety; but he set them right, by telling them that he desired them to chose one of these places to live at till the fort should be built and no longer, and they chose Harris's.
Memorandum.
Mr. Peters, who staid behind the commissioners, found Johnny and John King very much disgusted at their not being more particularly taken notice of, and rewarded for their trouble, in going with a mes- sage from Mr. Croghan to the Indians who were hunting, and now com- ing to Carlisle. Whereupon, he sent for them, and by the advice of Mr. Logan, who was not gone out of town, Mr. Weiser and Mr. Crog- han, he gave them each five pieces, and told them he was left to do this, and to confer with them, and ask their news ; which, as the gov- ernor before they came had fixed on the several stages of his journey, and could not then alter them, was showing them all the respect pos- sible. On this they expressed great satisfaction, entered freely into discourse, and John King being a little merry, began to be open, and in the course of his conversation, discovered a transaction between the Delaware, who was sent to the Ohio (Jo Hickman) and him, and averred positively, that he solicited him to strike the English, and when he refused, he upbraided him with cowardice and being a wo- man; and said further, that the White Mingo was going out of these parts, and, as he said, to Onexquago, to be out of the way.
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