THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY
ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
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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
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indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was
published.
Unauthorized Treaty
(February 22, 1751)
|
"Unauthorized Treaty Between the Wawiagtas and Piankashaws and Pennsylvania" in: "Enclosure #1, Mercer to Charlton Palmer, July 27, 1762," Mulkearn, Lois, comp. and ed., George Mercer Papers, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1954, pp. 138-139. |
The following is the Copy of the Treaty533 with the Wawiagtas and Piankashas mentioned in Gi[st's] Journal folio.
Whereas at an Indian Treaty held at the Tawightwis Town on the Big Mineamis creek being a branch of the River Ohio, on Friday the 22d day of February, Before George Croghan and Andrew Montour, Twenty men of the Wawiagtas and Piankashas two of their Indian Chiefs ViztTakintoa Molsinoughko, and Nynickonowca, appeared in behalf of themselves and their nations, and prayed that as their Indian Brothers the Tawightwis had been lately admitted into the Friendship and Alliance of the King of Great Britain and his Subjects and as they are Tribes of the said Tawightwis earnestly desire to be admitted into the said chain of Friendship and Alliance of the King of Great Britain and his Subjects professing on their parts to become true and faithful Allies to the English and so forever to continue, Mishikinoughwee and Nemesgua and all of them Nations in friendship and Alliance with the English becoming earnest Intercessors with the said Chiefs on their behalfs the Prayer of the said Chiefs of the Wawiaghtas and Piankashas, was granted, a firm treaty and Alliance of Friendship was then Stipulated and agreed on between the said George Croghan and Andrew Montour in behalf of the Government of Pensylvania and the said Cheifs [or deputies of the Wawiaghtas and Piankasha] nations as by the Records of that Council held will more fully appear. Now these Presents Witness, and it is hereby declared that the said Nations of Indians called the Wawiaghtas and Piankashas are accepted by George Croghan and Andrew Montour as good friends and Allies of the English Nation and they the said Nations and Subjects of the King of Great Britain shall forever after be as one Head and one Heart and live in true friendship as one people, In Consideration whereof the said Tokintoa Molsinoughko and Nynickonowca, Cheifs of the said Wawiaghtas and Piankashas Nations do hereby in behalf of said Nations covenant promise and declare that the several people of the said Wawiaghtas and Piankashas Nations or any of them shall not at any time hurt injure or defraud or suffer to be hurt injured or defrauded (page 139) any of the Subjects of the King of Great Britain either in their person or Estates but shall at all times readily do Justice and perform to them all the Acts and Offices of friendship and good Will. Item. that the said Wawiaghtas and Piankashas Nations by the Alliance aforesaid becoming entitled to the Priviledge and protection of the English Laws [they shall at all times] behave themselves regularly [and soberly, according to the laws] of the Government of Pensylvania [whilst] they live or be amongst or near the Christian Inhabitants thereof, Item [That none] of the said Nations shall at any time be aiding assisting or abetting to or with any other nation whether of Indians or others that shall not at such time be in Amity with the Crown of England and the said Government of Pensylvania, Item That if at any time any of the Wawiagtas and Piankashas Nations by means of evil minded Persons and Sowers of Sedition should hear of any unkind or disadvantageous Report of the English as if they had evil Designs against any of the said Indians in such Cases such Indians shall send Notice thereof to the Governor of the aforesaid province for the time being and shall not give Credit to the said Reports till by that means they shall be fully satisfied of the truth thereof. And it is agreed that the English shall in such Cases do the same by them. In Testimony whereof as well the said George Croghan and Andrew Montour as the Cheifs of the Wawiagtas and Piankashas Nations have Smoaked the Calumet Pipe, made mutual Presents to each other and hereunto set their hands and Seals the 22d day of February in the year of our Lord 1750 and in the 24th Year of the Reign of George the second King [of] Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c.
533. Although Gist's entry in his journal for February 22, 1751, does not mention this Indian conference, he witnessed the signing of the pact. Also, John Mercer stated that Gist, who was present, "took a copy of it." In 1748 Conrad Weiser, a Pennsylvanian, kindled a separate Council Fire for the Ohio Indians, at Logstown; yet the Colony's Indian policy was one of strict respect for Iroquois authority over tribes said to have been subjugated by them. The Iroquois claimed control over all the western Indians east of the Illionis. Therefore, they feared that entrance into a pact with these separate western nations might offend the Six Nations. Croghan was reprimanded severely by Governor Hamilton, who in turn had been interrogated by the General Assembly when he presented the treaty to that body.- Pennsylvania, General Assembly, Votes and Proceedings, IV, 186. See also note 319.
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