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.
Minutes of the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania
(January 12, 1754)
In: Minutes of the Provincial Council
of Pennsylvania, Colonial
Records, Vol. V,
pp. 731-735.
were read by the Secretary, and the former ordered to be enter'd in the Minutes of Council, but as Mr. Patten in his Diary had given pretty much the same Account as Mr. Croghan of the publick Business done with the Indians, they did not think it necessary to be transcribed, and agreed with the Governor that a Map should be carefully made by Mr. Patten of the Courses and Distances from the Sasquehannah to the Ohio, and reduce to a strait Line; and that all possible Information should be obtained of this Matter, Mr. Peters acquainted them that a Temporary Line was run by Commissioners of Pennsylvania and Maryland, one hundred and forty-four Miles West from this City; that as soon as Mr. Patten should finish his Map he could shew them where a Meridian would strike the Path he went, and from thence the Distance to the Ohio might be easily calculated so as to admit of very little Doubt.
He further informed them that Mr. Weiser had set down the Distances from the Sasquehannah to Log's Town in his Journal of the Year 1748, and Mr. Montour and other Indian Traders had likewise been frequently examined by the Governor and had given an Account of the Distances of that River from Sasquehannah according to the Roads they went. All which might be compared in order to find out the true Distance.
___
George Croghan's Journal, 1754.
|
January 12th, 1754. |
I arrived at Turtle Creek about eight miles from the Forks of Mohongialo, where I was informed by John Frazier, an Indian Trader, that Mr. Washington, who was sent by the Governor of Virginia to the French Camp, was returned. Mr. Washington told Mr. Frazier that he had been very well used by the French General; that after he delivered his Message the General told him his Orders were to take all the English he found on the Ohio, which Orders he was determined to obey, and further told him that the English had no business to trade on the Ohio, for that all the Lands of Ohio belonged to his Master the King of France, all to Alegainay Mountain. Mr. Washington told Mr. Frazier the Fort where he was is very strong, and that they had Abundance of Provisions, but they would not let him see their Magazine; there are about one hundred Soldiers and fifty Workmen at that Fort, and as many more at the Upper Fort, and about fifty Men at Weningo with Jean Coeur; the Rest of their Army went home last Fall, but is to return as soon as possible this Spring; when they return they are to come down to Log's Town in order to build a Fort somewhere thereabouts. This is all I had of Mr. Washington's Journey worth relating to your Honour.
On the thirteenth I arrived at Shanoppin's Town, where Mr. Montour and Mr. Patten overtook me.
On the fourteenth we set off to Log's Town, where we found the Indians all drunk; the first Salutation we got was from one of the Shawonese who told Mr. Montour and myself we were Prisoners, before we had time to tell them that their Men that were in Prison at Carolina were released, and that we had two of them in our Company. The Shawonese have been very uneasy about those Men that were in Prison, and had not those Men been released it might have been of very ill consequence at this time; but as soon as they found their Men were released they seem'd all overjoyed, and I believe will prove true to their Alliance.
On the fifteenth Five Canoes of French came down to Log's Town in Company with the Half King and some more of the Six Nations, in Number an Ensign, a Serjeant, and Fifteen Soldiers.
On the sixteenth in the morning Mr. Patten took a Walk to where the French had pitched their Tents, and on his returning back by the Officer's Tent he ordered Mr. Patten to be brought to him, on which Word came to the Town that Mr. Patten was taken Prisoner. Mr. Montour and myself immediately went to where the French was encamped, where we found the French Officer and the Half King in a high Dispute. The Officer told Mr. Montour and Me that he meant no hurt to Mr. Patton, but wondered he should pass backward and forward without calling in. The Indians were all drunk, and seemed very uneasy at the French for stopping Mr. Patten, on which the Officer ordered his Men on board their Canoes and set off to a small Town of the Six Nations about two Miles below the Log's Town, where he intends to stay till the Rest of their Army come down. As to any particulars that pass'd between the Officer and Mr. Patten I refer your Honour to Mr. Patten.
By a Chickisaw Man who has lived amongst the Shawonese since he was a Lad, and is just returned from the Chickisaw Country where he has been making a Visit to his Friends, we hear that there is a large Body of French at the Falls of Ohio, not less he says than a thousand Men; that they have abundance of Provisions and Powder and Lead with them, and that they are coming up the River to meet the Army from Canada coming down. He says a Canoe with Ten French Men in her came up to the Lower Shawonese Town with him, but on some of the English Traders' threatning to take them they set back that night without telling their Business.
By a Message sent here from Fort De Troit by the Owendats to the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese, we hear that the Ottoways are gathering together on this Side Lake Erie, several hundreds of them, in order to cutt off the Shawonese at the Lower Shawonese Town. The French and Ottoways offered the Hatchet to the Owendats but they refused to assist them.
We hear from Scarrooyady that the Twightwees that went last Spring to Canada to counsel with the French were returned last (page 733) Fall; that they had taken hold of the French Hatchet and were entirely gone back to their old Towns amongst the French.
From the sixteenth to the twenty-sixth we could do nothing, the Indians being constantly drunk.
On the twenty-sixth the French called the Indians to Council and made them a Present of Goods. On the Indians Return the Half King told Mr. Montour and me he would take an Opportunity to repeat over to Us what the French said to them.
On the twenty-seventh We called the Indians to Council, and cloathed the Two Shawonese according to Indian Custom, and delivered them up in Council with your Honour's Speeches sent by Mr. Patten, which Mr. Montour adapted to Indian Forms as much as was in his Power or mine.
On the twenty-eighth We called the Indians to Council again, and delivered them a large Belt of Black and White Wampum in Your Honour's and the Governor of Virginia's Name, by which we desired they might open their Minds to your Honour, and speak from their Hearts and not from their Lips; and that they might now inform your Honour by Mr. Andrew Montour, whom You had chosen to transact Business between You and your Brethren at Ohio, whether the Speech which they sent your Honour by Lewis Montour was agreed on in Council or not, and assured them they might freely open their Minds to their Brethren your Honour and the Governor of Virginia, as the only Friends and Brethren they had to depend on.
Gave the belt.
After delivering the Belt Mr. Montour gave them the Goods left in my Care by your Honour's Commissioners at Carlisle, and at the same time made a Speech to them to let them know that those Goods were for the Use of their Warriors and Defence of their Country.
As soon as the Goods were delivered the Half King made a Speech to the Shawonese and Delawares, and told them as their Brother Onas had sent them a large Supply of Necessaries for the Defence of their Country, that he would put it in their Care till all their Warriors would have Occasion to call for it, as their Brethren the English had not yet got a strong House to keep such Things safe in.
The Thirty-First A Speech delivered by the Half King in Answer to your Honour's Speeches on delivering the Shawonese:
Brother Onas-
We return You our hearty Thanks for the Trouble You have taken in sending for our poor Relations the Shawonese, and with these four Strings of Wampum we clear your Eyes and Hearts, that You may see your Brethren the Shawonese clear as You used to do, (page 734) and not think that any small Disturbance shall obstruct the Friendship so long subsisting between You and us your Brethren, the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese. We will make all Nations that are in Alliance with Us acquainted with the Care You have had of our People at such a great distance from both You and Us.
Gave Four Strings of Wampum.
A Speech delivered by the Half King.
Brethren the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia: You desire Us to open our Minds to You and to speak from our Hearts, which we assure You, Brethren, we do. You desire We may inform You whether that Speech sent by Lewis Montour was agreed on in Council or not, which We now assure You it was in part; but that Part of giving the Lands to pay the Traders' Debts We know nothing of it; it must have been added by the Traders that wrote the Letter; but we earnestly requested by that Belt, and likewise we now request that our Brother the Governor of Virginia may build a Strong House at the Forks of the Mohongialo, and send some of our young Brethren, their Warriors, to live on it; and we expect our Brother of Pennsylvania will build another House somewhere on the River where he shall think proper, where whatever assistance he will think proper to send us may be kept safe for us, as our Enemies are just at hand, and we do not know what Day they may come upon Us. We now acquaint our Brethren that we have our Hatchets in our Hands to strike the Enemy as soon as our Brethren come to our assitance.
Gave a Belt and Eight Strings of Wampum.
|
THE HALF KING, |
|
SCARROOYADY, |
|
NEWCOMER, |
|
COSWENTANNEA, |
|
TONELAGUESONA, |
|
SHINGASS, |
|
DELAWARE GEORGE. |
After the Chiefs had signed the last Speech, the Half King repeated over the French Council, which was as follows:
Children: I am come here to tell you that your Father is coming here to visit you and to take You under his care, and I desire You may not listen to any ill News You hear, for I assure you he will not hurt You; 'Tis true he has something to say to your Brethren the English, but do you sit still and do not mind what your Father does to your Brothers, for he will not suffer the English to live or tread on this River Ohio; on which he made them a Present of Goods.
February the First.- By a Cousin of Mr. Montour's that came to Log's town in company with a Frenchman from Weningo by Land, (page 735) we hear that the French expect Four Hundred Men every Day to the Fort above Weningo, and as soon as they come they are to come down the River to Log's town to take Possession from the English till the rest of the Army comes in the Spring.
The Frenchman that came here in company with Mr. Montour's Cousin, is Keeper of the King's Stores, and I believe the chief of his Business is to take a view of the Country and to see what Number of English there is here, and to know how the Indians are affected to the French.
February the Second.- Just as we were leaving the Log's Town, the Indians made the following Speech:
Brethren the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia: we have opened our Hearts to You and let you know our Minds; we now, by these two Strings of black Wampum, desire You may directly send to our Assistance that You and We may secure the Lands of Ohio, for there is nobody but You our Brethren and ourselves have any Right to the Lands; but if you do not send immediately we shall surely be cut of by our Enemy the French.
Gave two Strings of black Wampum.
February the Second.- A Speech made by Shingass, King of the Delawares.
Brother Onas:
I am glad to hear all our People here are of one mind; it is true I live here on the River Side, which is the French Road, and I assure you by these three Strings of Wampum that I will neither go down or up, but I will move nearer to my Brethren the English, where I can keep our Women and Children safe from the Enemy.
Gave Three Strings of Wampum.
The above is a true account of our Proceedings, taken down by
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Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant, |
|
|
GEORGE CROGHAN. |
|
3d February, 1754.
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON Esquire.
The Secretary informed the Council, by Order of the Governor, that some Disturbance was likely to arise in the County of Northampton by reason of a Claim of Right pretended to be made of all Lands within the forty-first and forty-second Degree of Latitude as far as to the South Sea, by the People of Connecticut, notwithstanding Mr. Penn's Grant included this Degree as far as the Limits of their Province, and that some of their People had been tampering with the Inhabitants of that County, and gave out that they would come and settle some of the Lands of Wyomink on Sasquehannah in the Spring, and sell others to such as should be disposed to buy of
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