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.
Journal of Captain William Trent
(1752)
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
Trent, William in: Goodman, Alfred
T., ed.,
Journal of Captain William Trent from
Logstown to Pickawillani. . .1752,
Cincinnati, 1871, excerpts,
pp. 5-55.
(page 22) the governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia, so that they could provide a place of meeting. The Six Nations immediately notified the governors, and matter were expedited with all possible dispatch. On the 19th of July, 1748, the meeting took place at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, between the Hon. Benjamin Shoemaker, Thomas Hopkinson, Joseph Turner, and William Logan, Commissioners of Pennsylvania, and representatives of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanees, Nanticokes, and Miamis. In the speech of the latter nation, they expressed themselves as desirous of securing the friendship and alliance of their English fathers, and requested that a road be opened from their towns to the English settlements, and that a large number of traders be sent among them. In replying to the Miamis, the commissioners said: "A council road to this prov- (page 23) ince is a measure which nearly concerns you, as it is to be laid out thro' your towns, and no doubt you have thought well of this, and conceive you may depend on the sincerity of their professions, and that it may be for our mutual benefit, or you would not join with them in making this request. At your instance, therefore, and from the opinion we have of your prudence and integrity, we consent that such a road may be opened, and it may be depended on that on our part it will always be kept clean, not the least obstruction shall be suffered to remain in it. In confirmation whereof, we give this string of wampum."
A treaty was made with the Miamis on the 23rd of July, signed by the commissioners and the following chiefs: Cequenackqua, Assapausa, Natoecoqueha. By this covenant the Miamis became "good friends and allies of the English nation." It was also agreed that said Indian power, or any of its tribes, "shall not at any time hurt, injure, or defraud, or suffer to be hurt, injured, or defrauded, any of the subjects of the king of Great Britain, either in their person or estate, but shall at all times readily do justice and perform to them all acts and offices of friendship and good will." This treaty was of great advantage to the English, particularly the traders of Pennsylvania and Virginia, though New York, Maryland, and Carolina reaped much benefit from it.
In a message to the Pennsylvania assembly, August (page 24) 24, 1748, Governor Palmer thus refers to the new alliance: "This must necessarily strengthen the English interests in general among the Indians, contribute greatly to the security of our inhabitants in time of war and tend considerably to enlarging our Indian trade, especially as we are assured by the Twightwee (Miami) deputies, that no less than twelve towns in their neighborhoods are equally desirous with them to become our allies, and settle a correspondence with us; and that they only waited to know the success of their negotiations, when they would make like application. Should this be effected, besides the advantages already mentioned, the intercourse between the French at Canada and the Mississippi would be greatly interrupted, the nearest and most convenient passage being thro' those towns.
Early in the year 1749, the governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia rendered the Ohio Indians much service in clearing the trail which ran from the Miami country to the forks of the Ohio, and from thence to the mouth of Willis creek at the Potomac. This road, leading directly to the forks, was easy of access to the Pennsylvanians, who had a good horse path from that point to Harris' Ferry, where Harrisburg now stands. From thence to Lancaster and Philadelphia was a wagon road. It was very expensive to the Vir- (page 25) ginians to be obliged to carry their goods north to the forks, and from thence to the Great Miami and the Wabash. The result was the Pennsylvanians sold their goods cheaper. The Virginians complained bitterly on that account, and frequent difficulties arose between the traders of the two colonies. Acting Governor Lee of Virginia wrote to the governor of Pennsylvania, and accused the Pennsylvania traders with endeavoring to create a feeling against those of his colony. This was but a pretense. The Indians bartered with the traders of both colonies, but as was natural, the parties who sold cheapest secured the great bulk of the traffic. During the year 1749, as appears from a report of Sir William Johnson, the Miamis sent eleven canoes, eighty-eight men, and seventy-seven packs of skins to Oswego, New York. These probably, came from the tribes living on the Maumee. It was this year that M. de Celeron, on behalf of the French monarch, led an expedition into the Ohio country, where he visited many of the Indian nations, among whom he found several English traders, who were ordered to quit the country.
The principal object of Celeron's expedition was to take formal possession of the territory in the name of his king; to which end he deposited leaden plates at several points along the Ohio and its tributaries. Several of the plates have been recovered. The inscription on one of them is as follows: "In the year 1749, during the reign of Louis XV., King of France, W. E. Celeron, commander of a detachment sent by the Marquis de Lagalissoniere, commander in chief of New France, to restore tranquillity in some savage villages of these districts, have buried this place at the confluence of the Ohio and Tch-a-da-koin, this 29th July, near the river Ohio, alias "Beautiful River," (Belle riviere) as a monument of our having retaken possession of the said river Ohio, and of those that fall into the same, and of all the lands on both sides as far as the sources of said rivers, as well as those of which the preceding kings of France have enjoyed possession, partly by force of arms, partly by treaties, especially by those of Riswick, Utrecht, and Aix-la-Chapelle."
Among the nations visited by Celeron, were the Miamis, who received him kindly, but withstood all his tempting offers for a treaty of amity and good will.
In May, 1750, Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, received the following message from the Miamis. The reference to the French means the expedition of M. de Celeron the year previous:
"The four Miami nations of Indians (part of whom were at Lancaster) desired Hugh Crawford to acquaint the Governor, James Hamilton, Esquire, that last July, about two hundred French and thirty-five French Indians came to their towns, in order to persuade them to return back to the French settlements, from whence they came, or if fair means would not prevail with them, they were to take them away by force; but the French finding they were resolved to adhere to the English, and perceiving their number to be great, were discouraged from using any hostile measures, and began to be afraid, lest they themselves should be cut off. The French brought them a present, consisting of four half barrels of powder, four bags of bullets, and four bags of paint, with a few needles, and a little thread, which they refused (page 28) to accept of, whereupon the French and their Indians made the best of their way off, for fear of the worst, leaving their goods scattering about. But at the time of their conference, the French upbraided the Indians for joining the English, and more so for continuing in their interests who had never sent them any presents, nor even any token of their regards to them. The Indians further desired Hugh Crawford to assure the governor of their steady friendship to the English, which they hoped would last whilst the sun and moon ran around the world. They Indians send by Hugh Crawford to the governor four strings of wampum, to confirm their message, and two strings more that the traders of Pennsylvania may be encouraged by him to go out an deal with them, and they earnestly request the favor of an answer from the governor by the said Hugh Crawford."
On the 17th of May, a meeting of the Miamis was held at George Croghan's house in Pennsboro', (page 29) Pennsylvania. The following are extracts from the speeches:
"We the Twightwees [Miamis], who are now one with you, desire that the road which has lately been opened between us, being a new one, and therefore rough, blind, and not well cleared, may now be made plain, and that everything which may hinder the passage may be moved out of it so effectually as not to leave the least obstruction; and we desire this may be done, not only as far as where you live, but beyond you to the place where our brethren the English live, that their traders, whom we desire to see among us, and to deal with us for the future, may travel to us securely and with ease."
An answer was returned in these words. "Brethren of the Twightwee [Miami] nation; You have, by your (page 30) deputies desired of us that we would open the new road between us and you wider, and take out of it everything that can possibly hinder our traveling safely and pleasantly to one another, and that the English traders may come more amongst you; and further, that you henceforth put yourselves under our care, and desire we will assist you with our counsel, and that you have entirely laid aside Onontio, and will no more be governed by his counsels. We declare ourselves well pleased with every part of your message, and will heartily join with you in making the road perfectly clear and free from all impediments." In August, Governor Hamilton returned the following answer to the message brought by Hugh Crawford in May:
"Brethren of the Twightwees, or Miamis: I have received four strings in behalf of four of your Nations, by Mr. Hugh Crawford, and your message purporting that a number of French and French Indians came to your towns last summer, and by persuasions and presents, and when these were rejected, by menaces, endeavored to shake your friendship for us, but all to no purpose, and that you were determined to continue faithful to us, and desired more traders may be sent with goods to your country. I have repeated the message, that you may know what was delivered to me (page 31) by Mr. Crawford, and in answer I assure you, on behalf of this, and the other English governments, to whom I shall communicate your message, that we have a grateful sense of your attachment to us, and desire our alliance may be as strong as the strongest mountain and endure while the sun shines and the rivers run. I have proposed it to some of the best of our traders to carry on commerce with you, and to see you their goods at as easy a price as they can afford, and by all means to cultivate a good understanding with you, and they seem willing to do it; but as your towns are at a great distance from the Six Nations, and that several of your tribes seem still to be firmly attached to the French, the traders can not help expressing their apprehensions of the great danger there is in being intercepted, either in their passage to or returning form your country, and that, unless some measures be concerted to preserve the road safe and commodious for their persons and effects, it will not be possible to extend their trade into a country so remote to any great degree. I mention this with the more earnestness, as I have lately received information that two or our traders, going from Loggstown to the Twightwees [Miamis], about three hundred miles from the first place, were either killed of taken by the French or Indians, and that a party of French Indians have killed fourteen of our people belonging to Carolina. I say our people, for the inhabitants, of Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, this province, and New York, are all one people, and if any (page 32) be obstructed, robbed, or killed, all of us are equally affected, and must resent it alike. Some other stories are likewise told us, which , if true, make it evident that the road is by no means safe to travel. We give you four strings of wampum in acknowledgment of your professions, and thereby assure you that we desire to bind the chain of friendship between us as firm as it can possibly be." Here give a string of four rows of wampum. "Inasmuch as the road is insecure, and the traders make a difficulty of traveling in it while it is so, we give you this belt to remove out of it everything that renders it dangerous." Here a belt of wampum of eight rows. "There is a hearty inclination in the English governments towards all the Twightwee Nation, and it would be a pleasure to them to have an opportunity of showing you the many advantages which would accrue to you from your alliance with the English. If I receive the answer from the other governors, time enough to send it this fall, I will transmit it to you, if not, you may expect it early in the spring." "Philadelphia, 27th August, 1750."
The Miamis at this period were extremely obnoxious to the French. The Pennsylvanians sent a large number of presents in the fall of 1750, by George Croghan and Andrew Montour. For this act of attention, the English received permission to build a strong trading-house at the town on the Miami, at the mouth of Loramies creek. The principal traders at that point were mostly Philadel- (page 33) phians, men of considerable wealth and influence, and differed in character from the generality of factors. It was about this time that the proprietors of Pennsylvania, residing in England, offered to give four hundred pounds toward the erection of a strong fort among the Ohio Indians, and guaranteed one hundred pounds a year toward supporting it; but the Pennsylvania assembly rejected the offer upon its presentation. During the winter of 1750-51, according to Geo. Croghan, thirty Miami Indians were killed by the French. In 1751, four Pennsylvania traders, named Luke Arowin, Joseph Fortiner, Thomas Borke, and John Pathen were taken prisoners near the Maumee. Early in 17512, the Miamis suffered severely from the small-pox. During the year occurred the destruction of the English post at Pickawillany, all of which is detailed elsewhere. Soon after this, in a communication to his government, the governor of Canada expressed the opinion that, unless the alliance between the English and Miamis was broken off, the fall of Detroit would eventually ensue. In 1753, a large body of French from Canada moved to the southwest, and erected Forts Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, and Venango. In April of that year, M. Jon- (page 34) caire was sent, with a small detachment of regulars and a number of friendly Senecas, to visit the Indians on the Ohio and its branches. He had full powers to treat, and was directed, if thought necessary, to demand hostages for the good conduct of all nations in alliance with the English. When Joncaire reached the Miamis, he marched into their towns with great ceremony. The Indians were frightened, and promised to "again become the children of the French."
Joncaire assured them of protection, and succeeded in inducing a large number to go with him to the fort on the Maumee. A considerable portion of the Miamis, however, adhered to the English, and in September attended a council at Winchester, Va. The following month a like conference was held at Carlisle, Pa. During the spring of 1753, the Pennsylvania and Virginia assemblies had voted large presents to the Miamis, as tokens of condolence and sympathy for their recent loss at Pickawillany. After the French appeared at Presque Isle, the governors of both provinces hesitated (page 35) to confer the gifts until the real intentions of the Indians were ascertained. The bulk of the intended bounty consisted of powder, lead, flints and was in charge of George Croghan, as agent of Pennsylvania, and Messrs. Gist, Trent, and Montour, of Virginia. When the Miamis visited Winchester and Carlisle, they expected to receive these goods, having received assurances to that effect. It is no wonder, then, that they were dissatisfied at being dismissed on their good behavior, especially after the sacrifices they had made the year previous in defending the English from the French. The Miamis felt this destrust, and soon after their return home, the great body of the nation resolved to cast their fortunes with the French. In May, 1756, war broke out between the Illinois and Miamis, but did not long continue. Peace was arranged by ambassadors sent by the commandant at Detroit. The same year Sir William Johnson sent Kindarunte, a Seneca chief, with a belt of wampum, and a message inviting the Miamis to a council at Oswego. The invitation was (page 36) declined. At this time most of the Western Indians were strong allies of the French, and assisted their armies upon various occasions. In 1757, a large body of the Miamis were as far east as Fort William Henry, and assisted the French at the capture of Fort George. The Miamis continued their alliance with the French until 1759, when the majority of the nation sought English favor. This change was produced from a feeling of discontent at repeated failures and defeats, and the loss of the posts about the head-waters of the Ohio. These the French had promised to retain. The Ohio Indians were generally at peace with the English until the year 1763, when Pontiac's war broke out. In that short yet eventful struggle, the Miamis were with their red brethren, and assisted particularly in the destruction of Forts Miami and Sandusky. They brought into the field one thousand warriors, who strenuously opposed the occupating of the Illinois country by the English. They even carried this opposition so far as to refuse to allow a detachment from Colonel Bradstreet to march through their territory. After the failure of Pontiac, that great chief sought refuge among the Miamis, and continued with them for more than a year. In March, 1765, we find Sir William Johnson com- (page 37) plaining that the Miamis took a soldier of Fort Miami prisoner, robbed him of all his clothing, and turned him into the woods. He also reports that the Miamis are at war with the Chippewas, allies of the English, and had killed and captured a large number of them. In May, George Croghan, who had been appointed Johnson's deputy, set out from Fort Pitt to make peace with all the Western Indians. On the 24th of August, attended by Colonel Campbell, he made a treaty with the Miamis, by which that nation was to remain undisturbed in its hunting grounds. Not long after this the tribes abandoned their towns on the Great Miami, and removed to the Maumee, the St. Joseph and Wabash rivers. During the revolution they adhered to the British, and gave the frontier posts much trouble. After the peace of 1783, they remained bitterly hostile to the Americans. They were the leaders in nearly all the incursions that ravaged the border settlements from 1783 till the treaty of Greenville in 1795. The disastrous campaigns of Harmar and St. Clair were especially directed against their towns. The victory of Wayne broke their power for evil, and from that time the nations seem to have gradually dwindled into insignificance. As the West began to be settled, the Miamis moved off in small bodies for the lands beyond the Mississippi, so that the once powerful confederacy became scattered and amalgamated with other tribes. Their identity is now entirely lost.
Return
to TOC, p. 12
Continue to
next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami
Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home]
Last updated: 01
December 2000
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University