USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania > Part 6
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May 24th, Governor Mifflin applied to the President to order one thousand militia from the western brigades, for the purpose of supporting the commissioners, who were authorized to lay out the town. The brigade inspectors of Westmoreland, Washington, Allegheny, and Fayette accordingly made a draft for that number, to co-operate with Captain Denny's detachment, under the command of
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General Wilkins. The citizens of northwestern Penn- sylvania urged on improvements, and the President, fear- ful of giving offense to the Indians, advised to a tempo- rary cessation. Governor Mifflin, in writing to the Secre- tary of War, says: "Some old grievances, alleged to have been suffered from the Union, the inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester, the constant machinations of British agents, and the corruption of the British tribes, had, in truth, previously excited that hostile disposition, which you seem to consider the effect of the measures pursued by Penn- sylvania for establishing a town at Presqu'ile. * I desire to be clearly understood, that, on my part, no assent is given to any proposition that shall bring in doubt or controversy the rights of the States. At the same time I am anxious to promote the views of the general government, and to avoid increasing the dissatisfaction of the Six Nations, or in any manner extending the sphere of In- dian hostilities." The bounty offered to settlers by the Population Company was limited to those who should ac- tually inhabit and reside in the town before the first of Jan- uary, 1794; the time was consequently extended to May 1st, 1795, by an act of the Legislature. Captain Denny also had orders to proceed no farther with his detachment than Le Bœuf, where, under the direction of Brigadier-General Wilkins, two small block-houses had been erected for the protection of the commissioners.
Attorney-General Bradford having been written to by the Secretary of War as to the constitutionality of rais- ing four companies of troops "for the port of Philadel- phia and the defense of the frontiers," replied as follows : " There is nothing in the Constitution, I apprehend, which prohibits the several States from keeping troops in time of war. If peace shall be made with the Indians, and the United States be engaged in no other war, these troops cannot be constitutionally kept up in Pennsylvania, although the war should continue to rage in Europe."
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Some particulars of interest relating to the Indian diffi- enlties in this region will be found in the following deposi- tion and letters :-
Deposition of D. Ransom.
Allegheny County, ss.
" Personally appeared before me, John Gibson, one of the Associate Judges of the above county, Daniel Ransom, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he, this deponent, hath for some time past traded at Fort Franklin with the Senecas and other Indians, and that a chief of the Senecas, named Tiawoncas, or Broken Twig, came there and informed him the time would soon be bad, and advised him to move off his family and effects. On this he, this deponent, asked him how he knew the time would soon be bad. The Indians then informed him that the British and Indians had sent a belt of wampum to him, inviting him to council at Buffalo Creek; that he had declined going, and that the messengers then informed him of the intended plans of the Indians; they said that the Cornplanter had been bought by the British, and had joined them ; that he (the Cornplanter) intended soon to come to Fort Franklin, on pretense of holding a council respecting the Indian who was killed by Robertson ; that then the British and Indians were to land at Presqu'ile, and there form a junction with Cornplanter on French Creek, and were then to clear it, by killing all the people and taking all the posts on it; that he was so much affected as to shed tears, and said, 'What shall I do? I have been at war against the Western Indians, in company with Captain Jeffers, and killed and scalped one of them. If I now go back to the Indians, after having discovered this, they will kill me.' He also informed this deponent that a number of cannon had been purchased by the British, and collected at Jurisadagoe, the town where Cornplanter lives, for the purpose of conveying the Indians down the river.
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"He, this deponent, further saith, that the Standing Stone, a chief of the Onondagoes, also informed him, at Fort Frank- lin, that he thought the times would soon be bad, and pressed him very much to leave Fort Franklin, and assisted him in packing up his goods, etc .; that from what he had heard and seen, from other Indians, he has every reason to believe the above account to be true; that seven white men came down the Allegheny, a few days ago, to Fort Franklin, who informed him, they saw the above-mentioned cannon at Jurisadagoe; and the Indians appeared very surly, and had not planted any corn on the river, at their towns.
"Sworn and subscribed at Pittsburg, this 11th June, 1794."
A letter from Captain Denny, dated Fort Franklin, June 14th, 1794, says :-
"SIR :- I have the honor of acknowledging your two letters, dated the 9th and 11th inst. After receiving the first, we concluded it would be best to proceed upon our march. We arrived here the day before yesterday, all well. The account of Ransom's people being killed was too true, but by what nation of Indians is doubtful. Mr. Ellicot and Mr. Wilkins have written, and sent two runners from Corn- planter, and they have requested me to wait the return of the express. When they arrive you shall be informed of the success of the message. I am suspicious the old fellow will not show himself. The fact is, that the Indians about here, from twenty downward, have been exceedingly inso- lent, treated the officers, the fort, and every person about it, with the utmost contempt; but since our arrival they have altered their tune. So says Lieutenant Polhemus and Dr. McCray. We have written to Le Bœuf and given the officers there a caution. The day after to-morrow the runner is to be back. Van Horn and Bales, the two men who brought your last letter, saw one Indian on the plain, about twenty miles this side of Pittsburg, and the trace of six or seven."
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A second letter, dated June 16th, says :-
" Yours, inclosing a copy of Polhemus, came yesterday. The Cornplanter's nephew arrived from the town about the same time. He delivered a long speech from his uncle to Lieutenant Polhemus. Upon summing up the whole, we have not a shadow of doubt but that a plan was formed to destroy all the posts and settlements in this quarter. It was · all done upon the strength of the prospect of a war between
the British and - -. That subsiding, the other, I am in hopes, has also done so. There is no doubt but the English will urge them to join the Western Indians, and have done everything possible, and perhaps a few may; but I rather think that, unless we have a war with them, we'll have none with the Six Nations generally. The Cornplanter has gone to another council at Buffalo ; he set out at the same time the nephew started for this place, and will return in about ten days. He says he is very sorry for the mischief done lately, and is extremely concerned at the account given of their going to take up the hatchet. Says they were bad men that reported it; that it's a lie; and insists upon knowing whom the information came from, as it is evident that a stroke was meditated, but now perhaps dropped. Every apology which he can possibly make won't be sufficient to clear him of the imputatiou of a traitor. Some of the nation say the English have bought O'Beil. We shall spend two days to come in helping Mr. Polhemus to put his garri- son in some state of defense ; for should anything happen it, we should fare the worse above."
ANDREW ELLICOT TO GOVERNOR MIFFLIN.
"June 29th, FORT LE BOEUF.
"DEAR SIR :- In my last letter to you from Pittsburg I mentioned that you might expect to hear from me, both from Fort Franklin and Le Bœuf; but from a variety of circum- stances no opportunity occurred of writing at first. On my arrival there, the place appeared to be in so defenseless a
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situation that, with the concurrence of Captain Denny and the officer commanding at the fort, we remained there some time, and employed the troops in rendering it more tenable. It may now be considered as defensible, provided the number of men is increased. The garrison at present consists of twenty-five men, one-half of whom are unfit for duty, and it is my opinion that double that number would not be more than sufficient, considering the importance of the safety of the settlement on French Creek. At Fort Franklin, General Wilkins and myself wrote to Cornplanter to attend there, that we might have an opportunity of explaining to him the nature of our business, and of obviating any difficulties that might arise in our proceedings. However, he did not come as we expected, having gone some days before to a council of the Six Nations at Buffalo. With this letter you will re- ceive a copy of their message, presented by General Chapin and Mr. Johnson to Captain Denny and myself, with our reply to the same. I leave to yourself to consider the pro- priety of a British agent attending a considerable number of Indians, with a superintendent of Indian affairs of the Uni- ted States to order the people of Pennsylvania to remove from those lands which have been ceded to them by treaty, by the King of Great Britain, and since that time regularly purchased from the Six Nations, and punctually paid for. After repairing Fort Franklin, we proceeded to this place, and are now beginning to strengthen the works here, so as to render it a safe deposit for military and other stores; and in doing which, agreeable to instructions, economy shall be strictly attended to. The line described by the Indians on the map will take from the State of Pennsylvania the Cas- sawago settlement, (Meadville,) being part of the purchase of 1784, and the whole of the purchase of 1788. But with respect to this claim they can be serious only so far as encouraged by the British agents and the countenance shown them by the late interference of the United States. The objection made by Mr. Brandt to General Chapin,
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that the establishment at Presqu'ile would cut off the com- munication between the Six Nations and the Western hos- tile Indians, and thereby diminish their joint strength, is the strongest argument that can be urged in favor of that establishment. General Chapin and myself are of the opinion that all differences between the State of Pennsylva- nia and the Six Nations might be accommodated by treaty, which treaty ought not to be held in the neighborhood of any British post, the United States, and this State at pres- ent, and that Presqu'ile is the most eligible place for such a treaty. General Chapin, I presume, has communicated his sentiments to General Knox on this subject. Standing Stone, a chief resident at Conyat, las informed us, since we arrived at this place, that the late mischief on the Allegheny River and Venango path was done by a party of eight war- riors from Huron River, which falls into Lake Erie about twenty-six miles above Cuyhoga. One of his brothers saw them on their way to commit these depredations. Those In- dians are only to be chastised by way of the lakes, but it is neither the interest of the British, Brandt, nor the other agents to have them punished-it is the interest of the Uni- ted States; and yet the United States, by directing a sus- pension of the business at Presqu'ile, have taken effectual measures for the security of this nest of murderers, whose cruelties have for some years past been severely felt by the citizens of this State. You must recollect that I always had my doubts respecting the fulfillment of the contract for opening the navigation of French Creek, and a road from Le Bœuf to Presqu'ile, and agreeable to my expectations, have hitherto not been able to discover anything done in that business. For the further security of the frontiers of this State, it would be necessary to erect two block-houses on the Venango path, between Fort Pitt and Venango, and a third between Venango and this place. At present, Meade's set- tlement appears to me the most proper situation.
"I am, with great respect, your real friend, " ANDREW ELLICOT."
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
GENERAL CHAPIN'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
"FORT LE BŒUF, June 26th, 1794.
"I left Canandaigua on the thirteenth of this month, in order to attend a council at Buffalo Creek. I waited more than a week after my first notification for my son to return, that I might have an answer from you ; but the chief grow- ing impatient, kept constantly sending runners, and I was obliged to set out at last, to my great disappointment, with- out having received any information from you. On my ar- rival I found the minds of the Indians much agitated with regard to the movements made by the State of Pennsylva- nia. On the eighteenth I met the Indians in general coun- cil, the proceedings of which you see here inclosed. At this council I was requested to go to Presqu'ile, (as you will see by their speech,) to desire those people to move off who had made encroachments on their lands. I found that no excuse could answer, and was finally obliged to comply with their request. On the nineteenth I left Buffalo Creek, accom- panied by a delegation from the Six Nations, consisting of sixteen chiefs and warriors. I arrived at Presqu'ile on the twenty-fourth, but finding no person there, proceeded to Le Bœuf, where I found Mr. Ellicot and Captain Denny. After informing those gentlemen of the business I came upon, I gave them a copy of the speech which had been delivered me at Buffalo Creek. The answer which they made I send you, inclosed with the other speeches. Although the minds of the Six Nations are much disturbed at the injuries which they say they have sustained, they are still opposed to war, and wish, if possible, to live in peace with the United States. They are much opposed to the establishing of garrisons in this quarter, as they think it will involve them in war with the hostile Indians. They are likewise displeased with hav- ing their lands surveyed, which they say were not legally purchased. In this critical situation, would it not be best to have commissioners appointed to treat with the Six Nations,
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that all difficulties may be settled which subsist between them and the United States, especially those that regard the State of Pennsylvania? And it is the wish of the Six Nations that this treaty should be held at their council fire at Buffalo Creek. I shall return by Buffalo Creek," etc. etc.
A rumor prevailed that a large body of Indians, assisted by the British, had been seen crossing the lake, and others de- scending the Allegheny; that their object was to take Fort Franklin, destroy the settlement at Cassawago, and make an establishment at Presqu'ile.
Captain Denny removed to Venango with his men, and ordered the brigades to be ready to be called out should the reports appear well founded.
Three men on their way to Pittsburg, of the names of Wallace, Power, and Van Tickler, were overpowered by the Indians. A party sent out by Lieutenant Polhemus found them shot, scalped, and tomahawked.
Joseph Brandt, in a letter to the British authorities, dated July 19th, 1794, says : " In regard to the Presqu'ile busi- ness, should we not get an answer at the time limited, it is our business to push those fellows, and therefore it is my in- tention to form my camp at Point Appineau, (a few miles above Fort Erie ;) and I would esteem it a favor if his Ex- cellency the Lieutenant-Governor would lend me four or five batteaux. Should it so turn out, and should those fellows not go off, and O'Beil (Cornplanter) continue in the same opin- ion, an expedition against those Yankees must of consequence take place. His Excellency has been so good as to furnish us with an hundredweight of powder, and ball in proportion, which is now at Fort Erie; but in the event of an attack upon Le Bœuf people, I could wish, if consistent, that his Excellency would order a like quantity in addition to be at Fort Erie, in order to be in readiness; likewise I would hope for a little assistance in provisions."
At Buffalo Creek, June eighteenth, at a council of the Six Nations, General Chapin was addressed by O'Beil or
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Cornplanter, in substance as follows : "That they depended upon the Americans to do all in their power to assist them ; they wished Colonel Johnson, British agent, (who slyly prompted them,) and General Chapin to remove back over the line, which they had laid out. This line began at O'Beil's town, and in a direct line crossed French Creek, just below Meade's, and on the head of the Cuyahoga; from thence to the Muskingum, and down the Ohio and to its mouth, and up the Mississippi ; leaving a small square for a trading house at the mouth of the rivers, and one where Clarksville now stands. If this removal was attend- ed to immediately, they should consider them friends; if not, they must be considered enemies." Mr. Ellicot and Captain Denny desired an interval of an hour to prepare an answer; at the expiration of which they replied as follows : "By the peace of 1782 the King of Great Britain ceded all the lands of Pennsylvania which they claim, but from regard to justice they desired to fairly purchase it from the Six Na- tions-the real owners of the soil. The purchase north of the north boundary of Pennsylvania, west of the Conawango River, Lake Chatanqua, and the path leading from thence to Lake Erie, and south of said lake, was made of your chiefs at Fort Harmer, (by Generals Butler and Gibson, ) and the money and goods punctually paid them. They had also sold those lands to such people as chose to settle and work them, and it was their duty to protect them from depreda- tions. Their military preparations were intended as a de- fense from hostile Western Indians, not supposing they needed any from the Six Nations, whom they considered their friends and allies. They could not consistently with their duty remove from the lands they had purchased, unless directed to do so by the great council of the people, to whom they would immediately send their message. They had been ordered by the great council of Pennsylvania to their present post, and they could not move from thence until orders came for that purpose."
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At another conference, held at the same place, the Indians maintained that "they had decided upon their bonndaries, and wished for nothing but justice, (forgetting their former contract; ) they wanted room for their children ; it would be hard for them not to have a country to live in when they were gone. Congress and their commissioners had often deceived them, and if these difficulties were not removed, the conse- . quences would be bad. A number of their warriors were missing, and they supposed they had been killed by the Americans. Big Tree was one of the number, and a nephew of theirs, (a Delaware;) and it had been customary to make satisfaction, (to pay a sum of money,) which had not been done. If a garrison were established at Presqu'ile, the Southern Indians might do injury, and the Six Nations be blamed for it." General Chapin replied that he was bound to look to the interests of both the Indians and the United States, and would accede to their wish, which was to accom- pany ten of their warriors and two chiefs to Presqu'ile, and to send their message immediately to the President.
They made the journey to Presqu'ile by water, and finding no one there, (from fear of the Indians,) they proceeded on foot to Le Bœuf, where they made known their business, which was to see the surveyors and forbid their running lines. They were informed that they had shortly before left the country by way of the river, and assurances were given them that the whole matter should be laid before the Presi- dent. On their return to Buffalo Creek another council was held, when Cornplanter again insisted that their former re- quest should be granted; they were determined the line should remain. Captain Brandt, a Seneca, the year before, at a council, claimed the same line, the Muskingum. Where lands were actually settled and improved they were to be circumscribed by a line drawn around them, and no claim admitted beyond such line. He added : "They must not suspect that any other nation corrupted their minds ; the only thing that corrupted their minds was not to grant their
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request. There was but one word said that they liked at Le Bœuf, that was the gift of some land to O'Beil; and to complete his wishes, he desired they would give all the Six Nations land."
This refers to Mr. Ellicot, relating the particulars con- cerning the treaty at Fort Harmer, and informing the Indians that the State of Pennsylvania had made these grants of land to Captain O'Beil. This present to Corn- planter was at the suggestion of General Richard Butler, who had been witness to his usefulness in all the treaties since 1784. [He mentions that it would be good policy to secure the chief's attachment; and that his ideas of civiliza- tion would make the present grateful -- that it could be made in such a manner as not to excite the jealousy of his own people, and wishes for the quiet and interest of the State, as well as the merit of the man, had prompted him in the liberty he was assuming. ]
General Chapin replied to Brandt that he hoped the In- dians would "sit easy on their seats until they heard General Washington's voice," and that he would forward their speech to him immediately.
In reply to this, the President appointed a conference at Canandaigua in October, for the purpose of establishing a firm and permanent friendship with the Six Nations, and appointed Timothy Pickering sole agent for this purpose. Cornplanter was charged by his people at their council "with having been bribed in the sale of Presqu'ile, and that he and little Billy received $2000 at Fort Harmer, and a like snm at Philadelphia ;" but these and all other difficulties were amicably settled. A large tract of land west of the Phelps and Gorham purchase in New York was reserved to them, with $14,500 in goods; and fifty-nine sachems signed a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship with the United States.
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CHAPTER VII.
An Aet to lay out the Towns of Erie, Waterford, Franklin, and Warren- To protract the Enlistment of Troops at Le Bœuf-Deposition of Tho. Rees, Esq .- Actual Settlers-Memorial to the Population Company -- Deaeon Chamberlain's Story-Captain Martin Strong to Wm. Niehol- son, Esq .- Louis Philippe at Mr. Rees's-Murder of Rutledge and Son -Mr. Augustus Porter's Visit-Mr. Judah Colt's MS. Autobiography -Number of White Settlers on the Lakes west of Genesee River- General Wayne's Death at Presqu'ile, 1796.
ALL difficulties being removed, April 18th, 1795, an act passed the Legislature to lay out a town at Presqu'ile; at the mouth of French Creek; at the mouth of Conewango Creek ; and at Le Bœuf-being the towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren, and Waterford.
Two commissioners were appointed by the Governor to survey at Presqu'ile sixteen hundred acres for town lots, and thirty-four hundred adjoining for out lots, (the three sections of about a mile each, only one-half of which is now occu- pied,) to be laid out into town lots and out lots; the streets not less than sixty feet in width, nor more than one hundred ; no town lots to contain more than one-third of an acre; no out lot more than five acres; and the reservation for public uses not to exceed in the whole twenty acres. After the commissioners had returned the surveys into the office of the Secretary, the Governor was to offer at auction one-third of the town lots and one-third of the out lots, upon the follow- ing conditions : that within two years one house be built at least sixteen feet square, with at least one stone or brick chimney. Patents were not to be issued till the same was performed, and all payments to be forfeited to the Common- wealth in case of failure. (This condition was afterward repealed.) Exclusive of the survey of in lots and out lots,
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sixty acres were reserved on the southern side of the harbor of Presqu'ile for the accommodation of the United States, in the erection of necessary forts, magazines, dock-yards, etc .; thirty acres to be on the bank, and the remainder below, comprehending the point at the entrance of the harbor; and upon the peninsula thirty acres at the entrance of the har- bor, and one other lot of one hundred acres. The situation and forms of these lots were to be fixed by the commissioners and an engineer employed by the United States. Andrew Ellicot had previously surveyed and laid out Waterford, and an act was now passed to survey these five hundred acres for out lots, to reserve for public uses not more than ten acres, and to give actual settlers the right of pre-emption.
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