THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and
considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed.
The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or
standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather,
indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton
to Governor Clinton
(May 15, 1751)
Hamilton, James in: N. Y. C. D.
(Lon. Docs.: XXX), VI,
pp. 707-708.
(page 707) the Fort built at the carrying place above Niagara, and that they were about to build where Joncaire is, which place I was well informed they had given or sold to the Governor of Philadelphia, and whether they had done that or not (as it was theirs) I hoped they would allow no Fort to be built there but would all join & defend the Philadelphia Traders- The Five Nations & others who lived on Ohio, or any of the Rivers terminating therein when the English had any commerce
|
JOHN LINDESAY1 |
New York
A true Copy Examd Pr
Gw BANYAR D Secry.
________
Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton to Governor Clinton
[New-York Papers, Hh., 155.]
|
Philadelphia May 15, 1751 |
Sir
I deferred answering your Excellencys Letter of 13th April, till I could certainly inform you what Part this Province would Act with regard to the Treaty to be held at Albany in the next month; and I am now extreemly mortified at being obliged to acquaint you, that contrary to my expectations, our Assembly has altogether declined having any thing to do in that treaty; as you will see by the Copy of their message inclosed
Although from the religious principals of a great majority of the House I never expected they would enter into any offensive Measures to protect the Indians against the French; yet I made not the least doubt, but that in order to shew them countenance, and to secure their good will; they would at least have contributed a very handsome Present to be delivered with Yours and those of the other Governments, which would have made the whole appear more considerable and better worth their acceptance. This I did not fail to press upon (page 708) the Principal Members in repeated conferences both before and during the time of their last sitting, tho' without effect, so that whatever may be the consequence of our not acting with the spirit & resolution the present state of Indian affairs seems to require, and the circumstances of this Province very well enabled us to do, I can not reproach myself with having omitted any thing in my Power that would have contributed to so good a purpose.
Upon the death of Canassatego and some other of the principal Sachims of the six Nations who were our very good friends- We have thought it necessary to send to the Council at Onondago, a message of condolence with a small present of one hundred pounds value, and as there will be soon an opportunity of meeting that council together at Albany: I am to request of Your Excellency that Mr Weiser our Province Interpreter may have your permission to deliver the same at that place whereby much time & trouble will be saved to this Government.
If our Assembly had entered heartily into the measures propos'd in your Excellency's letter of the 18 Decr I fully intended to have waited on you at Albany; and to have joined my best endeavors towards restoring our Indian affairs and putting them on a better foot for the future. But as they have neither thought fit to advise my joining in these measures, nor made any provision of Presents suitable to the importance of the occasion, I must deny myself the satisfaction I proposed in paying my respects to you in Person, and have only to wish all possible success to your labors for the publick Service.
I beg the favor of your answer whether Mr Weiser may be permitted to deliver the forementioned small Present at Albany and am with all possible Regard Sir
|
Your Excellencys |
|
|
most obedient humble Servt |
|
|
JAMES HAMILTON |
|
New York Copy Examd Pr
Gw BANYAR D Secry
His Excellency Govr Clinton.
________
Governor Glen to Governor Clinton.
[New-York Papers, Hh., No. 156.]
|
So Carolina May 21st 1751 |
Sir
I was in great hopes to have been able to have accepted of your Invitation
to New York, being very sensible that such a General meeting of all the
Governors that have any connection with Indians, would before2
his Majestys service, and the security of the Colonies, and altho' it might be
more convenient for Carolina that such meeting should be at Virginia as was
proposed last year by M Lee, yet upon many accounts New York should be
preferred, both as it is in a manner the center of the British Colonies upon
this continent, and because the six Nations and many other Indians have for
many years past been more immediately dependent upon or in alliance with New
York no doubt Indians may be allured by Presents to any place.
_______________________
1 JOHN LINDESAY, founder of Cherry Valley settlement, in the county of Otsego, N. Y., was a native of Scotland, and in December, 1730, received from his countryman, Gov. Montgomerie, the commission of Naval Officer of the port of New-York. In 1732, he was appointed Sheriff of Albany, which office he filled until October, 1739. He acquired nearly 20,000 acres of the public lands, located in different parts of the province, by patents dated from 1736 to 1741. He removed to Cherry Valley in 1740 with his wife, Lieutenant Congreve his father-in-law, and servants, and gave to his new home the name of Lindesay's bush. But being unacquainted with practical farming, and the French war breaking out, he was obliged to abandon his enterprise. Reinforcements being ordered to the western frontier, Lieutenant Congreve resigned his commission in favor of Mr. Lindesay, who proceeded to Oswego in 1744. He was in Schenectady in the winter of 1746-7. On the 17th October, of the last mentioned year, the Council taking into consideration several petitions of the Oswego traders, praying his Excellency the Governor to continue Lieutenant Lindesay in the command of the garrison at Oswego, and the request of the Indians of the Six Nations to the same purpose; and being also of opinion from their own knowledge of Mr. Lindesay, that he is well qualified for that command, and the more so on the account of his engaging Address to the Indians, unanimously resolved to recommend his Excellency to order Lieutenant Lindesay to repair to Oswego, to take the command of the garrison there. He was commandant at that post until February, 1749, when he was appointed Indian commissary and agent there. He retained the latter situation until his death, which occurred in 1751. His widow, Penelope Lindesay, survived him, but they had no children. At the time of his death, Mr. Lindesay was a lieutenant in Captain Clarke's company of Independent Fuzileers. Campbell's History of Tryon County, 23; New York Book of Patents; New-York Council Minutes, XXL, 277; Commissions, III., 300, 368, 481; Johnson's Manuscripts, 1.- ED.
2 (1, p. 708) Sic. Qu? be for.- ED.
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