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.
Details of Indian Affairs,
1752-54
In: Pennsylvania Archives,
first series, Vol. II,
pp. 233-239.
1752.- 240 Indians, headed by 2 French men, attacked a Twightwee Village, & Killed 14 Indians & 1 Trader, & carried away 5 other Traders.
Message from a Twightwee Chief, with an account of this Attack.
1752.- John Pattin, an Indian Trader, came from London 26th Novr., 1750, he was taken Prisoner by the French at the Miami Fort; sent to old France; released at the Instance of Lord Albemarle. Sent to England, and there Examin'd. At Paris he solicited for restitution, but without success, being told his goods were confiscated for trading within the limits of the French.
See Pattin's Journal & Map.
1753, May 22. Govr. by message, acquainted the house that the County of Allegheny, in Ohio, was going to be invaded by an army of French & Indians, that the Govr. of Canada had avowed this hostile Invasion, before the Council of the soil, yet the French would still persist, sets forth the consequences; requested to be enabled to assist the Indians
See Govrs. Message, p. 18.
George Henry, John Evans, James Devoy, Owen Nicholson, came from England. As they were trading beyond the Ohio, they were taken Prisoners by a Number of French Indians, wth a French Man at their head, who carried them to Quebeck, and from thence, sent them to Rochell, in Old France.
29. Trents L'res., J. Galbreath, Jno. Harris, Mich. Teaffe, Rob. Calendar, Examind by the house. After wch ye state of Indian Affairs was considered.
30. 200 given for Condolence Presents to ye Twightwees; 600 Presents to the other Indian Nations, payable to ye Govr by the Traders.
1753, Augt. 29th. Govr. acquaints the House that he had sent Mr. Weiser to Onondago, intending to take his measures from the advices he should bring. The French were on ye march to the Ohio, & had dispatched several Parties of Indians before them.
Septr. 5. Conrad Weiser's Journal of his Journy to Albany, & ye Mohawks Country, together wth others Papers laid before ye ho.
October. Treaty with the Ohio Indians in 8ber Alexander Magenty, Indian Trader, trading w, the Cuttawa Indians, allies of Gt. B., was, on the 26th Jany. last, taken Prisoner by a Party of French Indians, of the Caghnawago Nation, near Kentucky, a Western Branch of Ohio, who beat & abused, & sent him to Montreal.
Govr acquaints the hoe yt some of the Chiefs of the Six Nations at Auckquick intend to go to the Council at Onondago, and expect in their absence to have their familys & ye other Indians supported.
Resolved, to give 20,000 to y King's use, on the Extension of the Excise for 10 years.
Resolved, to allow reasonable charges arising on a suitable Provision to be made for ye maintenance of the Indians at Auckquick.
Message from the Hoe yt ye Treatment our Indian allies have always received from this Province, has great weight wth them, & yt we have a large share in their affections, recommend to ye Govr if might not be more convenient to the Indians to come nearer our back Inhabitants.
150 put into ye Govrs hands for support of Indians at Auckquick.
During the Spanish & French war the Indian Trade was very considerably enlarged by means of ye Shawnesse, Delawares & Six (page 238) Nation Indians, who, from the quick Encrease of ye English in yr Colonies, quitted their old Places of Residence for want of Game or korn, & removed to Allegheny. They were greatly encouraged by ye Twightwees & other Nations inhabiting beyond ye Ohio, as they draw our Traders after them. Croghan & others had Stores on ye Lake Erie, all along ye Ohio from Bar, and other Store houses on Lake Erie, all along ye Miami River, & up & down all that fine country watered by ye Branches of ye Miamis, Sioto & Muskingham Rivers, & upon the Ohio from Bockasloons an Indian Town near its head, to below ye Mouth of the Miami River, an Extent of 500 miles, on one of the most beautiful Rivers in ye world, yn they traded all along the Rivers.
Great Quantities of Goods were vended in the towns of the Twightwees at their own pressing Instances. Several Nations, Twightwees, Picts, Tacons, Piak-kis-haws and Owendats, entered into an Intimated Friendship with the scattered Tribes of Shawenese, Delawares & Six Nation Indians, & pressing to enter into an alliance, they were on ye recommendation of ye Six Nations, Shawenese & Delawares, admitted in ye summer of 1748.
When the Indians perceived by the French Proceedings a Preparation that they not only contended for a sole & exclusive Trade, but for the Possession of the Country lying on ye borders of the Ohio, they gave us timely notice, entreated us to build Forts, continue our Trade, & make head against they, & to be expeditious & resolute. When they saw no fruits arising from their sevl solicitations, & noticed neither forces, nor workmen to help them to build Forts, they nevertheless repeated their applications, and offered to join us. We heard them patiently, continued to send unarmed Traders with great Quantities of valuable Goods wch fell from time to time into the hands of the French. The traders were seized and carried Prisoners to Canada without the least struggle or opposition.
The Presents sent to Logs Town shewd our wealth & good nature, but evidencd at ye same time the weakness of our measures, since in consequence of a free Consent given at that treaty by the Indians to build store houses on the Ohio, no other force was sent yn about 30 half-starved, ordinary men, under a very improper Commander, Cap. Trent; who wn about building a small, illconstrucd house at the Mouth of the Monongealo. The Govt of Virginia sent Mr. Washington to summon ye French Commander on the River B---, & on his haughty answer, raised a few forces, expecting ye Province of Pennsylvania woud have either sent men, or given a large sum to inlist such as woud enter Volunteers, but found yt instead of affording assistance, they fell into disputes wth their Govr, & seemed to espouse the French Claims to those Countries.
The Peace was concluded 7th 8br, 1748, at Aix-la-Chapelle, & in Novr Governor Hamilton arrived.
Care was taken to make ye new Govr acquainted with ye accession (page 239) of the Twightwees & Owendats into ye English Alliance wth yr good disposition towards ye English, and ye flourishing state of ye Indians Trade, & ye Great Interest his Majty had wth numerous Nations of Indians beyond ye Ohio.
In short, we irritated the French, dispirited the Indian allies, & gave the Enemy by our weak and small Efforts such immense advantages as are beyond Conception.
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