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FRASER TO HALDIMAND, MAY 4, 1766 |
227 |
Tho' this River is considerable at Fort Pitt for its size during the greatest
part of the year, yet it is very much increas'd both in Depth and Width by the
many Rivers that Discharge themselves into it. The most considerable of these
are the Muskingum whereon the Delawars live. The Canaway which comes from the
back Frontiers of Virginia, the Scioto on whose Banks the Shawanese dwell, La
Riviere de Rochers, which begins at a little distance from the Miamis, the
Ouabache which comes from near the Same place & the Cumberland &
Cherokee Rivers which fall into it considerably Lower-These lesser Rivers are
Navigable for Batteaus during the greater part of the year. from the middle of
October to June 8 months.
There are no Indian Nations living contiguous to the Banks of the Ohio but those two I have Just mention'd (the Delaw: & Shaw.) & the Mingos or Senecas who live a little above Fort Pitt-excepting those of Ouabache, on which there are five Nations [in margin: Ouiachtonons, Quicapous, Mascoutains, Peankishaw & Vermillion] settled besides a French Village call'd St Vincent in which there are about Sixty Farmers who raise a considerable quantity of wheat & Tobacco, And have a good Stock of Cattle.
Between this River and the Illinois are Several very extensive plains on which there are always vast Numbers of Buffloe & Deer And every other Species of Game common in that Country.
The Soil in the Illinois Settlements is not so good as at any of the places I have already Named owing perhaps to the Quantity of Sand mix't with it by the Mississipi, the Inhabitants, Suppose that the River overflowed formerly all the land at present cultivated in that Colony & the Situation with some other Vestiges seem to give great probability to their Conjecture.
The Land however is capable to produce any thing which one cou'd expect in so northerly a Climate. They raise a great deal of wheat and Indian Corn, they have also most kinds of European Fruits, & Vegetables tolerably good considering the little pains they give themselves in Cultivating them. They have attempted to rear the European Vines, which they say they cou'd not bring to any Perfection, but I impute their having given it up of late more to the want of Skill in those who planted them, on the Monarch's Injunctions prohibiting the raising any thing which might interfere with the Staple Commodities of the Mother Country-They make however
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CROGHAN TO JOHNSON, SEPTEMBER lO, 1766 |
373 |
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CROGHAN TO JOHNSON, September 1O, 1766 |
|
|
[Johnson MSS., 13 :80 - L.S.] |
|
|
FORT CHARTRES Sepr 10th 1766. |
|
SIR,
After a long & fatiguing Passage from Sioto, from which place I wrote your Honour last, we arrived here the 20th of August where I found the Several Nations of Indians residing in this Country was Collected together at the Kaskaskias a large Indian Village near [blank in MS. ] a French Town, after delivering my dispatches to Colonel Reed & consulting with him about the Conference to be held with the Indians I set out for the Kaskaskias & had a meeting with the several Nations where the Deputys of the Six Nations, Shawanese, Dellaweres, & Hurons, delivered the Speeches sent by them from their Nations, to those Nations, in a very Spirited Manner.
and in the afternoon the Several Nations Returnd those Deputys answers to their Speeches; after which I fixed a day for them to assemble at Fort Chartres in Order to hold the Conference.
The Conference begun at Fort Chartres the
25th of Augt where was Assembled the Chiefs & principle Warriors
of Eight Nations, divided into Twentytwo tribes or bands, which made it very
deficult to do business with them; however after two days meeting with them we
finnished the business to the Satisfaction of the Several Nations, who all
seemed Convinced that the French had imposed upon them in every thing they had
told them, a General Peace & Reconciliation was then declared in Public
between his Majesty's Subjects the Northern Nations, & all those Western
Nations, except three Tribes which the French had influence enough to keep back
from attending the Conference. But those the Chiefs which attended the
Conference brought them to me at Fort Chartres the 5th of this Month, when I
settled every thing with them, & Received them into the Covenant Chain of
friendship; The spirited Conduct & Steadi-
____________
dant is dated July 4, 1766. (See ante, 84.) Major Farmar appears to have expected the arrival of his successor in July or August. (See Farmar to Barrington, March 19, 1766, ante, I9I.) Reed was relieved of his command at Fort de Chartres in February, 1768. (See Gage to Hillsborough, June 18, 1768, post, v. 3.) In 1769 Reed's regiment was recalled to serve in Ireland. He either died or returned soon afterwards, for his place was filled by another on May 5, 1769.
1Printed in Hanna, Wilderness Trail, 2:49-51.
488 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
report such matters and observations, as Occurred to me, during my
negotiations with these Natives.
Upon my Arrival at Fort Pitt, I found there, a great number of Six Nations, Shawanese, Delawares, and Hurons from Sanduskey, who had waited for some time to see me. I soon discovered, that they were greatly Chagrined, on Acct of the Murder of some of their people, on the Frontiers of our Governments, and on the River Ohio, which rendered it indispensably necessary for me, with the Approbation of the Commanding Officer, to open a Conference with them and thereby, to remove disgusts, which appeared to me, to be of a very Serious and Important nature, to His Majesty's Colony's.-In this I was luckey enough, to Succeed.
From Fort Pitt, I proceeded to the Mouth of
the River Sciota, in Company with Captain Gordan, And there, I was met, by a
considerable number of the Shawanese Delawares, and Sandusky Indians; in short,
by all the Chiefs, and Warriors, of each Nation &
Understanding, that Twenty of the Shawanese, had Just returned from the
Illinois Country, I Assembled all the Chiefs and Warriors with them, in
Council. I desired to hear what News the [sic] brought from thence; They
very frankly Communicated it to me. And as I then Transmitted it, to your
Excellency, from Sciota, I must now beg leave to referr you to it.1-From
Sciota, I found it absolutely expedient, to send Deputys of these Nations, by
Land, to the Wabash, and Illinois Indians; in order to remove dangerous
Jealousies and Suspicions, which the French had Industriously propogated
against us.-In so much, that these Nations, were made to believe, we were
coming with a numerous Army, to Cut them Off, and by Violence to retain their
Country.-Having Settled matters with these Nations, and having thus Dispatched,
the Deputys to the Wabash, and Illinois Indians, I proceeded, with Caution, to
the falls of the Ohio, And from thence, I sent forward, some Runners to the
mouth of the Wabash, to discover, whether the Deputies, I had forwarded from
Sciota, had removed the insidious Jealousys and designs of the Indians; whom
the French, had Collected there, to intercept me.-They met me, near the mouth
of the Wabash, and represented to me, that the several Parties of Warriors,
which had been Collected there, were returned, they believed, to their
Towns.-upon which, I Dispatched over Land, a Deputation
____________
1See letter to Johnson from this place, ante, 373.
490 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
future Occasions. And take care, that their Warriors, should behave, in a
better Manner, than they had done. Affairs, thus being fully settled, between
the two Confederacys, I Acquainted them, that on the 24th I should
open a Conference with them, at Fort Chartres.
They Accordingly met me, and then, I informed them, of the several matters, with which, I was Charged by your Excellency, and Sir William Johnson, And I have now, the Pleasure of Acquainting you, That I ratified and Confirmed a Peace, with the Several Nations, on the following Terms.
First, they Acknowledged, the King of Great Britain to be their Father, and to have the Sovereignty of their Country.
Secondly, they engaged to deliver up to the officers of His Majesty's Garrisons, such English Prisoners, as they had in their Country, and to return the Horses, which they had Stolen from the Troops of Fort Chartres.
Thirdly They Agreed, That His Britannick Majesty's Troops might, when ever they thought proper, Occupy such Posts, where the French had before, or make others; for the Security of Trade wheresoever His Majesty Judged best.
Fourthly They Agreed, that they had sold
Lands to the King of Frace [sic] to erect Forts or Posts on, and also
Land to his Subjects; for all which, they had received a consideration.
That these Lands, they Agreed, the King of France had a right to cede to the
King of Great Britain.-But denied, That He had any right to cede any other part
of their Country, to his Britannick Majesty.-And to prove, The truth of their
Allegations, they referred, to several Treaties, between then [sic
Fifthly, They informed me, that they had never refused, to make Room in their Country, for any of the King of France's Subjects, to settle on, neither had they any objection, at any time to grant any part of their Country to their Father the King of England. Provided they received a proper Consideration for it.- They sayd, that the Great Giver of Life, had given them that Country and the wild Beasts thereon, for their support, and that their Forefathers, had come thro' that Land, many hundred years before any white Man had crossed the great waters. wherefore, they looked upon
494 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
I Cannot conclude this Report witht Acquainting your
Excellency, with the Spirit Zeal & firmness
which the Deputation, from the Six Nations Shawanese, Delaware's and Hursons
(who Accompanied me to the Illinois) Uniformly Manifested, for the British
Interest- And therefore, as they lost all the Hunting Season, in our Service- I
must in Justice to them, and as a matter of necessary Policy, Earnestly
recommend, That you order the Commander of Fort Pitt, and the Commissary of
Indian affairs, immediately, to make them a Suitable Present, for their Services.
I am with great respect-Sir-Your Excellencies
most obedt& most humble Servt
Copy.-
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GEO: CROGHAN |
NEW YORK: 16th January 1767-
To THE HONOURABLE MAJOR GENERAL GAGE,
Commander in Chief
of all His Majestys Forces in North America-New York
The Names of the several Nations of Indians with whom, I held the Conference at Fort Chartres in the Illinois Country-
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The Kaskaskeys, |
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Peorias, |
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Mitchigamis, |
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Cahokias, |
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Pyankichaas, |
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Wawiatanons, |
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Kikapoos, |
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Masquitamis, |
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Tweetchwees, |
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Poutewatemis, |
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Sackees, |
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Outagamis, |
With the Deputies, of the Six Nations-Delawares, Shawanese and Hurons which
Accompanied me from Fort Pitt & Sciota
The above mentioned twelve Nations of Indians composed the Western Confederacy, in the Illinois Country, The French During the late War, divided them into Twenty six Tribes & appointed a Chief, to each Tribe, so that now they consider themselves, as so many distinct Nations Which makes it more difficult, to Transact business
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GAGE TO SHELBURNE, JANUARY 17, 1767 |
495 |
with them. Since that time, many of the Tribes, have divided from the rest,
left their Old Settlements, and have Settled in other parts of the Country.
CROGHAN TO JOHNSON, January 17, 1767
[Calendar of Johnson Manuscripts, 342
|
NEW YORK, January 17, 1767 |
George Croghan, speaking of ill health, an inclosed report, his intention of
resigning because of ill treatment by Gen. Gage, and war dresses and specimens
of the mandrake plant which he has obtained.
GAGE TO SHELBURNE, January 17, 1767
[P.R.O., C.O., 5.85, f. 5I - A.L.S.]
|
NEW YORK Janry17th1767 |
(No 3)
MY LORD,
The Packet had sailed with the December Mail,
before I got a Sight of the Address from the general Assembly of this Province
to their Governor, upon the Subject of your Lordship's Letter to him,
concerning the quartering of His Majesty's Troops, according to the full Extent
and Meaning of the Act of Parliament made in that respect. Sir Henry Moore2
will have transmitted your Lordship a Copy of the Said Address, and I have the
honor to inclose your Lordship a Return of the Number of Troops quartered in
the inhabited parts of this Province: And at the same time to represent to your
Lordship, that this Province has reaped very considerable Benefits from His
Majesty's Troops, beyond any other part of America, that it is to the Troops
the Traders chiefly owe the Fortunes they have made, the Citizens of this
Capital the great Increase of their City, and the neighbouring Farmers their
present opulent Circumstances. Your Lordship will judge from thence, whether
the Province is at present overburthened with Troops, or whether they can fear
at any Time to be overbur
____________
1This document, Johnson MSS., 14:21, was completely destroyed in the Albany fire; we have been unable to discover a copy of it, and therefore print this calendar.
2 Sir Henry Moore was governor of New York from 1764 until his death in 1769. For sketch of his life, see New York Colonial Documents, 8: 197.
416 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
Secure the Navigation of the Ohio, which is precarious from the War Partys of
the Western and Southern Indians, who cross the Ohio to attack each other. And
Sometimes meeting the Traders in their Boats, they too often insult and plunder
them.
Mr Steuart has acquainted me, that in Consequence of the new Arrangements made in his Department, he had wrote to all the Commissarys and other officers employed by him in the Management of the Trade, to acquaint them their Salarys would cease on the first Day of November. And had desired his Deputy in West-Florida to incurr no further Expence after the Receipt of his Letter. He proposes to employ for the future, two Deputys, and to retain a good intelligent Person in each Nation, as an Interpreter, to inform him of Occurrences, to deliver and receive Messages, and to attend publick Meetings.
A Cherokee has been down with Mr Steuart, to know the Reason why the Troops left Fort Prince George, And to see whether any Preparations were making to commence Hostilities. Mr Steuart Says, the Fort was evacuated too Suddenly, before the Indians had been properly conciliated to the Measure. I find however, there had been a Message delivered upon the Subject, and as the quitting a Fort, has not the Air of any Design to commence a Rupture, I doubt not that Mr. Steuart will be soon able to reconcile the Indians as to that Point.
Governors Franklin and Penn, and some Commissioners on the part of Virginia, are attending the Congress with the Six Nations at Fort-Stanwix. Sir William Johnson designed to open the Congress about the 25th ulmo but no Account has been received of any thing that has passed there.
I have the honor to be with the greatest Regard, Respect, and Esteem, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Obedient, and Most humble Servant,
|
THOS GAGE |
RIGHT HONBLE EARL OF HILLSBOROUGH
One of His Majesty's principal
Secretarys of State.
[Endorsed:] New York Octber 9th
1768. Major Genl Gage.
(No 17) R/ 20th Novber A. 30. Entd.
|
ILLINOIS REGIMENT TO VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY |
233 |
OFFICERS OF ILLINOIS REGIMENT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
VIRGINIA, MAY 21, 17831
[Legislative Petitions, Va. State Archives.]
TO THE HONORABLE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
the Petition of the Officers of the Ilinois Regiment
humbly sheweth, That sometime in the Year
177 Col'o George R. Clark knowing the great advantages that would be
derived to the Commonwealth and especially to the Western Frontier from the
Conquest of the British Posts on the Oubache and Missisippi Rivers proposed a
plan for their Reduction which was approved of and Authority given him to carry
it into immediate execution; he was likewise promised if the Enterprise
succeeded a liberal Gratuity in Lands, in that Country, for the Officers and
Soldiers who adventured with him: that with great labour and hard marching the
Expedition was conducted with so much secrecy and the Affair managed with such
address, that all the settlements on the Missisippi were surprised and forced
to surrender before any Assistance could be sent them; the Reduction of Post
Vincents following that of the Kaskasky Forts and Villages the designs of an
industrious Enemy who were then meditating the means of depopulating our Frontier
Settlements, were entirely frustrated and an extensive and fertile Country put
into the possession of the State. That the Assembly sensible of the importance
of the services in the Cession of the country North-West of thee Ohio to
Congress, among other Reservations, made the following, to wit, "As
Colonel George Rogers Clark planned and executed the secret expedition by which
the British posts were reduced, and was promised, if the Enterprise succeeded,
a liberal gratuity in Lands in that Country, for the Officers & Soldiers
who first marched thither with him. That a Quantity of Land not exceeding one
hundred and fifty thousand acres, be allowed and granted to the said Officers
and Soldiers, and the Other Officers & Soldiers that have been since incorporated
into the said Regiment, to be laid off in one Tract; the length of which not to
exceed double the breadth, in such place on the north west side of the Ohio, as
the
_______________
1For the proceedings of the officers of the Illinois Regiment disposing of lands granted to them, see post, 413ff.
234 |
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS |
majority of the Officers shall choose, and to be afterwards divided among the
said Officers and Soldiers in due proportion according to the Laws of
Virginia," That a majority of the Officers of the said
Regiment having convened for the purpose, after the most effectual Steps being
taken to make themselves acquainted with the Country, made choice of the Lands
opposite to the Town of Louisville on the North-West side of the Ohio,
Beginning where the Silver Hills bind close to the River, running thence up the
River as far as the Grant will admit and back for the quantity; which Land Your
Petitioners concieve may answer several valuable purposes to the public as well
as to the Regiment as a Settlement on them will serve as a Barrier to the
Settlement on this side the Ohio, and in case of a continuance of the Indian
war, it will draw thither the attention of the Ouabache and Miami Tribes; and
from its situation is well calculated for an Indian Trade, which from an
Experience of their disposition, Your petitioners apprehend is the most
effectual mode of conciliating their Affections, and from inveterate Enemies
making them substantial Friends. That as the immediate settling these Lands is
an object of national as well as of individual Interest, and as the Officers and
Soldiers of the Ilinois Regiment have in a peculiar manner experienced every
evil which so remote a Station cut off from any Intercourse with a civilized
people, and a savage Enemy could impose, and bore up under all the calamities
of Hunger, Nakedness and Shame without a murmur, keeping always in view that as
soon as the State was able she would comply with her promise and recompense her
suffering Troops for all their misfortunes, Your Petitioners pray that the
Assembly would explain and confirm the Grant of the above mentioned Lands to
the said Regiment, appoint a surveyor for the purpose of running the Lines
which shall include the Bounty, and as it is uncertain what description of men
are entitled to a proportion of these lands, that the Assembly would declare
what office and what Services give Right to a share thereof, and in what
proportions that are to be divided amoung the several Claimants. That as the
establishing a Town on a proper Basis may be a great means of bringing a Trade
to the Country and of collecting a sufficient number of Men to withstand the
attacks of the Enemy should they attempt it, Your peti-
Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, vol.
19.
footnote, p. 413.
ALLOTMENT OF LANDS IN CLARK'S GRANT TO SOLDIERS ON
THE ILLINOIS EXPEDITION, FEBRUARY 1, 1783 - APRIL 3, 1847
COMMISSION ORGANIZED, FEBRUARY 1,1783 AT FORT NELSON - LANDS LOCATED
OPPOSITE LOUISVILLE - WILLIAM CLARK APPOINTED PRINCIPAL
SURVEYOR
- THOSE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE LANDS, AUGUST 3, 1783-CLARK
EMPOWERED
TO ERECT A MILL IN CLARKSVILLE, AUGUST 7, 1783-SALE OF
LOTS, MAY 9, 1786 - CLARK PRESENT AT MEETING OF THE BOARD,
FEBRUARY 1, 1813.
"RECORDS
OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ILLINOIS OFFICERS
RESPECTING A GRANT OF LANDS."1
[Draper MSS., 61J.-D. S.]
Proceedings of the Commissioners on the Grant of Lands to Illinois Officers,
February 1, 1783
______________
1Governor Patrick Henry submitted Clark's plan for the conquest of the Northwest to Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and George Wythe. They advised that it should be carried out and promised to use their influence in securing from the Virginia Assembly three hundred acres of conquered land for each common soldier enlisting in the expedition and the officers in the usual proportion. See Clark Papers, 37-38.
In the resolution providing for the cession by Virginia of her lands north of the Ohio River (January 2, 1781), it was stipulated that a quantity of land, not to exceed 15O,OOO acres, should be granted to the officers and soldiers of the Illinois Regiment. Hening's Statutes at Large, 10:565.
During the October, 1783, session of the legislature, a supplementary act was passed which provided for locating and surveying these lands and naming a Board of Commissioners, composed of William Fleming, John Edwards, John Campbell, Walker Daniel, George Rogers Clark, John Montgomery, Abraham Chapline, John Bailey, Robert Todd and William Clark. This board was to consider all claims to land under the resolution and appoint a principal surveyor who was to assist them in locating and surveying the remainder of the 150,000 acres on the northwest side of the Ohio, after first laying out 1000 acres for a town. The land selected was opposite Louisville, and constitutes a portion of Clark, Floyd and Scott counties, Indiana, but the greater part of the "Illinois Grant" was in the first named county.
William Clark, the cousin of George Rogers Clark, was appointed a commissioner and the surveyor for the Indiana land grant to Clark's regiment. He was commissioned a lieutenant before he came to Kentucky, probably in the company of Captain John Rogers, and was first stationed at Fort Jefferson, then at Fort Nelson. He served in the Wabash campaign. Kellogg, Frontier Retreat, 230, note 1.
For Colonel William
Fleming, see ante, 32, note 1.
For Colonel John Campbell, see ante, 145, note
1.
For Walter Daniel, see ante, 192, note 1.
For John Montgomery, see ante, 21, note I.
For Captain Abraham Chapline, see Clark Papers,
23, note 1.
For Captain John Bailey, ibid., index.
For General Robert Todd, see ante, 14, note 1.
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