Chapter 3

According to the Promise made at our last Treaty with you, Mr. _Logan_, who was at that Time President, did write to the Governor of _Maryland_, that he might make you Satisfaction for such of your Lands as his People had taken up; but did not receive one Word from him upon that Head. I will write to him again, and endeavour to procure you a Satisfactory Answer. We do not doubt but he will do you Justice: But we exhort you to be careful not to exercise any Acts of Violence towards his People, as they likewise are our Brethren, and Subjects of the same Great King; and therefore Violence towards them must be productive of very evil Consequences.

'I shall conclude what I have to say at this Time with Acknowledgments for your Present; which is very agreeable to us, from the Expressions of Regard used by you in presenting it: Gifts of this Nature receiving their Value from the Affection of the Giver, and not from the Quantity or Price of the Thing given.'

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held at _Philadelphia_, _July_ 8. 1742.

PRESENT

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Samuel Preston_, } _Clement Plumsted_, _Thomas Lawrence_, } Esqrs; _Samuel Hasell_, _Ralph Asheton_, } _Abraham Taylor_, _Robert Strettell_, }

The Board taking into Consideration, whether it be proper or not at this Time, to make a Present to the _Indians_ of the _Six Nations_, now in Town, in Return for their Present to this Government at Yesterday's Treaty:

_Resolved_,

That it is highly fit and proper that a Present be made to the said _Indians_ at this Time.

And it is the Opinion of this Board, that the said Present should be of the Value of £.500, or at least £.300.

And it is recommended to Mr. _Logan_, Mr. _Preston_, and Mr. _Lawrence_, to acquaint Mr. _Kinsey_, the Speaker of the Assembly, with the Opinion of this Board; and that they request him to confer with such other Members of Assembly as are in Town, and report their Sentiments thereupon.

The Board taking into Consideration the Threats express'd by the _Indians_, at the Treaty Yesterday, against the Inhabitants of _Maryland_, settled on certain Lands on the West Side of _Susquehanna_, which the _Indians_ claim, and for which they require Satisfaction; and considering, that should those Threats, in any sort, be put in Execution, not only the Inhabitants of _Maryland_, but of this Government, and all his Majesty's Subjects on the Northern Continent of _America_, may thereby be involved in much Trouble: It is the Opinion of this Board, that the Governor write to the Governor of _Maryland_ without Delay, to inform him of the _Indians_ Complaints and Threats, and to request a satisfactory Answer; and that his Letter be sent by a special Messenger, at the Publick Expence.

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held _July_ 9. 1742.

PRESENT,

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Samuel Preston_, } _Clement Plumsted_, _Ralph Asheton_, } Esqrs; _Samuel Hasell_, _Thomas Lawrence_, } _Robert Strettell_, }

And Mr. _Peters_.

The Governor informed the Board, that the _Indian_ Chiefs dining with him Yesterday, after Dinner delivered their Answer to two Affairs of Consequence:

The first related to the violent Battery committed on _William Webb_, in the Forks of _Delaware_, whereby his Jaw-bone was broke, and his Life greatly endangered, by an unknown _Indian_. _Canassateego_ repeating the Message delivered to the _Six Nations_ by _Shickalamy_, in the Year 1740, with a String of _Wampum_, said in Answer: 'The _Six Nations_ had made diligent Enquiry into the Affair, and had found out the _Indian_ who had committed the Fact; he lived near _Asopus_, and had been examined and severely reproved: And they hoped as _William Webb_ was recovered, the Governor would not expect any further Punishment; and therefore they returned the String of _Wampum_ received from their Brethren, by the Hand of _Shickalamy_, in Token that they had fully Comply'd with their Request.'

I thank'd them for their Care; but reminded them, that tho' the Man did not die, yet he lay a long Time in extreme Misery, and would never recover the free Use of his Speech, and was rendred less able to get his Livelyhood, and in such Cases the _English_ Laws obliged the Assailant to make good all Damages, besides paying, for the Pain endured.--But as the _Indian_ was, in all Probability, Poor and unable to make Satisfaction, I told them, that for their Sake I would forgive him; adding, had _Webb_ died I make no Doubt but you would have put the _Indian_ to Death, just as we did two of our People who had killed an _Indian_; we caused them to be hung on a Gallows, in the Presence of many Hundreds of our People, to deter all others from doing the like. _Canassateego_ made me this Reply: 'The _Indians_ know no Punishment but Death; they have no such Thing as pecuniary Mulcts; if a Man be guilty of a Crime, he is either put to Death, or the Fault is overlook'd. We have often heard of your Hanging-up those two Persons; but as none of our _Indians_ saw the Men die, many believe they were not hanged, but transported to some other Colony: And it would be satisfactory to the _Indians_, if, for the Future, some of them be sent for, to be Witnesses to such Executions.' I assured them, that whoever gave them that Information, abused them; for the Persons certainly suffered Death, and in the Presence of all the People.

_Canassateego_ then proceeded to give an Answer to what was said to them the 2d Instant, relating to _Le Tort_'s Letter: 'That they had, in Council, considered in what Manner the Matter recommended to them ought to be conducted; and they were of Opinion, that as the _Shawanese_, not the _Twightwys_, (for they knew so much of it that the People were of the _Twightwy_ Nation in whose Bags the Scalps were found) had sent me a Present of Skins, I should, in Return, send them a Blanket or a Kettle, and with it a very sharp Message, that tho' they had done well in sweeping the Road from Blood, yet that was but a small Part of their Duty; they ought not to have suffered the _Twightwys_, after their Lye, and the Discovery of the Scalps, to have left them, 'till they had given a full and true Account how they came by them, whose Scalps they were, and in what Place, and for what Reason the Men were kill'd; and when they had been fully satisfied of all these Particulars, then it was their Duty to have given Information to the Government where the white People lived, that the Murderers might be complained against, and punished by the Nation they belong'd to: And as the _Shawanese_ had omitted to perform the Part of Brethren, that I should reprove them for it, and charge them to make amends for their Neglect, by using all possible Expedition to come at the Knowledge of these Things, and to aid their Brethren the white People in obtaining Justice.'

The Minutes of the Preceding Council being read, Mr. _Logan_, in Pursuance of the Board's Direction of Yesterday, reported, on Behalf of himself and the other Gentlemen to whom it was recommended, that they had confer'd with Mr. _Kinsey_, and requested him to consult the other Members of the Assembly concerning the making a Present to the _Indians_; and that Mr. _Kinsey_ having collected the Sentiments of several Members of the Assembly in Town, whom he had confer'd with on that Subject, found them generally of Opinion, that a Present should at this Time be made; but that they had declined nominating any Sum: However, that Mr. _Kinsey_ had given it as his own Opinion, that the Governor and Council might go as far as _Three Hundred Pounds_.

And accordingly it is refer'd to Mr. _Logan_, Mr. _Preston_, and Mr. _Lawrence_, to consider of and prepare a proper List of the Goods whereof the Present should be composed, to the Value of _Three Hundred Pounds_ as aforesaid; advising with the Interpreter as to the Quantity and Quality.

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held at the Proprietor's the 9th of _July_, _P.M._ 1742.

PRESENT,

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS, Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Robert Strettell_, } _Samuel Preston_, _Abraham Taylor_, } Esqrs.

The CHIEFS of the _Six Nations_.

_SASSOONAN_, and _Delawares_.

_NUTIMUS_, and the _Fork-Indians_.

_CONRAD WEISER_, Interpreter.

The Governor spoke to the Chiefs of the _Six Nations_ as follows:

'_BRETHREN_, [Transcriber's Note: original has "BRRTHREN"]

The last Time the Chiefs of the _Six Nations_ were here, they were informed, that your Cousins, a Branch of the _Delawares_, gave this Province some Disturbance about the Lands the Proprietor purchased from them, and for which their Ancestors had received a valuable Consideration above _Fifty-five_ Years ago, as appears by a Deed now lying on the Table.--Sometime after this, _Conrad Weiser_ delivered to your Brother _Thomas Penn_ your Letter, wherein you request of him and _James Logan_ that they would not buy Land, _&c._--This has been shewn to them and interpreted; notwithstanding which they have continued their former Disturbances, and have had the Insolence to write Letters to some of the Magistrates of this Government, wherein they have abused your good Brethren our worthy Proprietaries, and treated them with the utmost Rudeness and Ill-Manners. Being loth, from our Regard to you, to punish them as they deserve, I sent two Messengers to inform them that you were expected here, and should be acquainted with their Behaviour.--As you, on all Occasions, apply to us to remove all white People that are settled on Lands before they are purchased from you, and we do our Endeavours to turn such People off; we now expect from you, that you will cause these _Indians_ to remove from the Lands in the Forks of _Delaware_, and not give any further Disturbance to the Persons who are now in Possession.'

_To inforce this we lay down a String of_ Wampum.

Then were read the several Conveyances, the Paragraph of the Letter wrote by the Chiefs of the _Six Nations_ relating to the _Delawares_, the Letters of the _Fork-Indians_ to the Governor and Mr. _Langhorne_, and a Draught of the Land; and then delivered to _Conrad Weiser_, who was desired to interpret them to the Chiefs when they should take this Affair into their Consideration.

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held _July_ 10, 1742.

PRESENT,

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Samuel Preston_, } _Clement Plumsted_, _Samuel Hasell_, } Esqrs; _Thomas Lawrence_, _Robert Strettell_, } _Abraham Taylor_, }

The Governor laid before the Board an Extract from the Treaty held here the 7th Instant with the _Indians_ of the _Six Nations_, so far as it related to the Inhabitants of _Maryland_; as also a Letter he had prepared for the Governor of _Maryland_ upon that Subject; both of which being approved, were ordered to be transcribed fair, in order to be dispatch'd to morrow Morning: The Letter is as follows:

_Philadelphia, July_ 10, 1742.

_SIR_,

_The inclosed Extract of the Speech made by the Chiefs of the_ Six Nations, _before a very numerous Audience, in this Place, with my Answer to it, is of so great Importance to all his Majesty's Colonies in this Part of his Dominions, and to your Government in particular, that I have imploy'd a special Messenger to deliver it you. I hope you will enable me to send them a satisfactory Answer. It would be impertinent in me to say more to one so well informed as you are of these Nations, and of their absolute Authority over all the_ Indians _bordering upon us, or of the Advantages of maintaining a strict Friendship with them at all Times, but more especially at this critical Juncture._

I am,

Yours, _&c._

An Account exhibited by _Conrad Weiser_ of his Expences upon the _Indians_ and _Indian_ Affairs, from _February_ last to _July_ 1. 1742, amounting to £.36 18_s._ 3_d._ was laid before the Board, and examined, and allowed to be a just and very moderate Account.

And the Board taking into Consideration the many signal Services perform'd by the said _Conrad Weiser_ to this Government, his Diligence and Labour in the Service thereof, and his Skill in the _Indian_ Languages and Methods of Business, are of Opinion that the said _Conrad_ should be allowed, as a Reward from the Province at this Time, the Sum of _Thirty Pounds_, at least, besides Payment of his said Account.

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held at the Great Meeting-House, _July_ 10, _P.M._ 1742.

PRESENT,

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Samuel Preston_, } _Thomas Lawrence_, _Samuel Hasell_, } Esqrs; _Abraham Taylor_, _Robert Strettell_, }

_CANASSATEEGO_, } _SHICKALAMY_, } And other _Indian_ Chiefs.

CONRAD WEISER, Interpreter,

And a great Number of the Inhabitants of _Philadelphia_.

The Governor spoke to the _Indians_ as follows.

'_BRETHREN_,

This Meeting will be short: It is in order to make you a Present from the Governor, the Council, the Assembly, and all our People. _William Penn_ was known to you to be a good and faithful Friend to all the _Indians_: He made a League of Friendship with you, by which we became one People. This League has often since been renew'd by friendly Treaties; and as you have declared that the Friendship shall always last on your Parts, so we would have you believe that it shall remain inviolable on ours while Sun and Moon endure.

'I gave you some Expectation of a Present, and we have it now ready to deliver to you. This Present is made you by the Governor, Council, Assembly, and all our People, in Consideration of the great Miseries and Distresses which you our good Friends have lately suffered. This will be some Relief to you for the present, and 'tis to be hoped your own Industry will soon retrieve your Circumstances.

'It has sometimes hapened, and may happen again, that idle and untrue Stories are carried to you concerning us your Brethren; but our Desire is, and we expect it from you, that you will give no Credit to them; for we are, and always will be, your steady and sincere Friends.

'It is a Custom when we renew our Treaties with our good Friends the _Indians_, to clear the Road and make our Fire burn bright: We have done so upon this Occasion; and, in Token of our Sincerity, we deliver you, as a Present from the Governor, the Council, the Assembly, and all the People of _Pensilvania_, the following Goods, _viz._

24 _Guns_, 600 _Pounds of Lead_, 600 _Pounds of Powder_, 25 _Strowdes_ } 90 _Duffel_ } _Match-Coats_. 30 _Blankets_, 62 _Yards of Half-Thicks_. 60 _Ruffled Shirts_, 25 _Hats_, 1000 _Flints_, 50 _Hoes_, 50 _Hatchets_, 5 _Pounds of Vermilion_, 10 _Dozen of Knives_, 8 _Dozen of Gimblets_, 2 _Dozen of Tobacco-Tongs_, 25 _Pair of Shoes_, 25 _Pair of Stockings_, 25 _Pair of Buckles_.

Whereupon the Chiefs and all the _Indians_, returned their solemn Thanks; and _Canassateego_ said, 'They had no more to say as to publick Business at present; but they had somewhat under Deliberation, which when they had duly considered they would communicate.'

* * * * *

At a COUNCIL held at the PROPRIETOR'S, _July_ 12, 1742.

PRESENT,

The Hon'ble GEORGE THOMAS Esq; Lieut. Governor.

_James Logan_, _Clement Plumsted_, } _Thomas Lawrence_, _Abraham Taylor_, } Esqrs; _Robert Strettell_, }

Mr. _Richard Peters_.

_CANASSATEEGO_, } And sundry Chiefs of the _SHICKALAMY_, } SIX NATIONS.

_SASSOONAN_, and _Delawares_.

_NUTIMUS_, and _Fork-Indians_.

_CONRAD WEISER_, Interpreter.

_Pisquetoman_, } _Cornelius Spring_, } Interpreters to the _Fork Indians_. _Nicholas Scull_, }

_CANASSATEEGO_ said:

'_BRETHREN the Governor and Council_,

The other Day you informed us of the Misbehaviour of our Cousins the _Delawares_, with Respect to their continuing to claim, and refusing to remove from some Land on the River _Delaware_, notwithstanding their Ancestors had sold it by a Deed, under their Hands and Seals, to the Proprietaries, for a Valuable Consideration, upwards of _Fifty_ Years ago; and notwithstanding that they themselves had about ---- Years ago, after a long and full Examination, ratified that Deed of their Ancestors, and given a fresh one under their Hands and Seals; and then you requested us to remove them, inforcing your Request with a String of _Wampum_.--Afterwards you laid on the Table our own Letters by _Conrad Weiser_, some of our Cousins Letters, and the several Writings, to prove the Charge against our Cousins, with a Draught of the Land in Dispute.--We now tell you, we have perused all these several Papers: We see with our own Eyes, that they have been a very unruly People, and are altogether in the Wrong in their Dealings with you.--We have concluded to remove them, and oblige them to go over the River _Delaware_, and quit all Claim to any Lands on this Side for the Future, since they have received Pay for them, and it is gone thro' their Guts long ago.--To confirm to you that we will see your Request executed, we lay down this String of _Wampum_ in Return for yours.'

Then turning to the _Delawares_, holding a Belt of _Wampum_ in his Hand, he spoke to them as follows:

'_COUSINS_,

Let this Belt of _Wampum_ serve to Chastise you. You ought to be taken by the Hair of the Head and shaked severely, till you recover your Senses and become sober. You don't know what Ground you stand on, nor what you are doing. Our Brother ONAS'S Cause is very just and plain and his Intentions to preserve Friendship. On the other Hand, Your Cause is bad; your Heart far from being upright; and you are maliciously bent to break the Chain of Friendship with our Brother ONAS and his People. We have seen with our Eyes a Deed sign'd by _Nine_ of your Ancestors above _Fifty_ Years ago for this very Land, and a Release sign'd, not many Years since, by some of yourselves and Chiefs now living, to the Number of _Fifteen_ or upwards.--But how came you to take upon you to sell Land at all? We conquered you; we made Women of you; you know you are Women, and can no more sell Land than Women; nor is it fit you should have the Power of selling Lands, since you would abuse it. This Land that you claim is gone through your Guts; you have been furnish'd with Cloaths, Meat, and Drink, by the Goods paid you for it, and now you want it again, like Children as you are.--But what makes you sell Land in the Dark? Did you ever tell us that you had sold this Land? Did we ever receive any Part, even the Value of a Pipe Shank, from you for it? You have told us a blind Story, that you sent a Messenger to us to inform us of the Sale, but he never came amongst us, nor we never heard any Thing about it.--This is acting in the Dark, and very different from the Conduct our _Six Nations_ observe in their Sales of Land; on such Occasions they give publick Notice, and invite all the _Indians_ of their united Nations, and give them all a Share of the Present they receive for their Lands.--This is the Behaviour of the wise united Nations.--But we find you are none of our Blood: You act a dishonest Part, not only in this, but in other Matters: Your Ears are ever open to slanderous Reports about our Brethren; you receive them with as much Greediness as lewd Women receive the Embraces of bad Men. And for all these Reasons we charge you to remove instantly; we don't give you the Liberty to think about it. You are Women. Take the Advice of a wise Man, and remove immediately. You may return to the other Side of _Delaware_ where you came from: But we do not know whether, considering how you have demean'd yourselves, you will be permitted to live there; or whether you have not swallowed that Land down your Throats as well as the Land on this Side. We therefore assign you two Places to go, either to _Wyomen_ or _Shamokin_. You may go to either of these Places, and then we shall have you more under our Eye, and shall see how you behave. Don't deliberate; but remove away, and take this Belt of _Wampum_.'

This being interpreted by _Conrad Weiser_ into _English_, and by _Cornelius Spring_ into the _Delaware_ Language, _Canassateego_ taking a String of _Wampum_, added further.

'After our just Reproof, and absolute Order to depart from the Land, you are now to take Notice of what we have further to say to you. This String of _Wampum_ serves to forbid you, your Children and Grand-Children, to the latest Posterity for ever, medling in Land Affairs; neither you nor any who shall descend from you, are ever hereafter to presume to sell any Land: for which Purpose, you are to preserve this String, in Memory, of what your Uncles have this Day given you in Charge.--We have some other Business to transact with our Brethren, and therefore depart the Council, and consider what has been said to you.

_Canassateego_ then spoke to the Governor and Council:

'_BRETHREN_,

We called at our old Friend _James Logan's_ in our Way to this City, and to our Grief we found him hid in the Bushes, and retired, through Infirmities, from Publick Business. We press'd him to leave his Retirement, and prevailed with him to assist once more on our Account at your Councils. We hope, notwithstanding his Age, and the Effects of a Fit of Sickness, which we understand has hurt his Constitution, that he may yet continue a long Time to assist this Province with his Councils. He is a wise Man, and a fast Friend to the _Indians_. And we desire, when his Soul goes to GOD, you may chuse in his Room just such another Person, of the same Prudence and Ability in Counselling, and of the same tender Disposition and Affection for the _Indians_. In Testimony of our Gratitude for all his Services, and because he was so good as to leave his Country-House, and follow us to Town, and be at the Trouble, in this his advanced Age, to attend the Council; we present him with this Bundle of Skins.

'_BRETHREN_,

It is always our Way, at the Conclusion of a Treaty, to desire you will use your Endeavours with the Traders, that they may sell their Goods cheaper, and give us a better Price for our Deer-Skins. Whenever any particular Sort of _Indian_ Goods is scarce, they constantly make us pay the dearer on that Account. We must now use the same Argument with them: Our Deer are killed in such Quantities, and our Hunting-Countries grown less every Day, by the Settlement of white People, that Game is now difficult to find, and we must go a great Way in Quest of it; they therefore ought to give us a better Price for our Skins; and we desire you would speak to them to do so. We have been stinted in the Article of Rum in Town. We desire you will open the Rum-Bottle, and give it to us in greater Abundance on the Road.

_To inforce this Request, about the_ Indian _Traders, we present you with this Bundle of Skins._

'_BRETHREN_,

When we first came to your Houses, we found them clean and in Order: But we have staid so long as to dirty them; which is to be imputed to our different Way of Living from the white People: And therefore, as we cannot but have been disagreeable to you on this Account, we present you with some Skins to make your Houses clean, and put them into the same Condition they were in when we came amongst you.

'_BRETHREN_,