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.
Memorandum
(Aug. 29, 1759)
In: Pennsylvania Colonial
Documents, vol. 8,
pp. 382-393.
The Governor having received several Letters from Colonel Mercer, with a Copy of a Treaty with the Indians, held by George Croghan and Colonel Mercer, in July last, and some Intelligence inclosed in the said Letters, all which were ordered to be entered in the Council Minutes and delivered to the House, with the aforesaid Message.
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Minutes of Conferences held at Pittsburgh, in July, 1759, by George Croghan, Esqr., Deputy Agent to the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Bart., His Majesty's Agent and Superintendant for Indian affairs in the Northern District of North America, With the Chiefs of the Warriors of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, and the Wyentotts, who represent the Eight following Nations: Ottawas, Chepawas, Putewatimies, Twightwees, Kushkuskies, Kecopes, Shockeys, and Musquakees.
At a Meeting held at Pittsburgh, on the 4th of July, 1759.
Present:
George Croghan, Esqr. Deputy Agent to the Honourable Sir William Johnson.
Colonel Hugh Mercer, Commandant at Pittsburgh.
A number of the Officers of the Garrison.
Captain William Front, Captain Thomas McKee, Assistants to George Croghan.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
The Beaver, the Delaware King, arrived here from over the Lakes, with a Number of the principal Counsellors and Warriors of the Delaware Nation. On their arrival they saluted the Fort with a Discharge of their Small Arms, which was returned by a discharge of the Cannon from the Fort. They then came in. After being seated, the Beaver said he only came over the River to shake Hands with us; that he was not prepared to speak on any Business, and desired we would not, as the Wyondotts, and other Indians, who came with him, was over the River. After Drinking a Glass of Wine round, we parted.
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At a Conference held at Pittsburgh on the 5th of July, 1759.
Present:
George Croghan, Esqr. Deputy Agent to the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Baronet.
Colonel Hugh Mercer, Commandant at Pittsburgh.
A Number of the Officers of the Garrison.
Captain William Trent, Captain Thomas McKee, assistants to George Croghan, Esqr.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
Indians:
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Six Nations. |
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Delawares. |
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Tagouuseday, |
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The Beaver, King of |
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Guywsuday, |
} Chiefs |
the Delawares, |
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Grandondawe, and |
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Shingas, |
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Sixteen Warriors. |
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George, |
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Kickeusking, |
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Killbuck, |
} Chiefs and Captains. |
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Windohale, |
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John Peters, |
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The Pipe, |
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Johnny, |
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Gooshamaqua, |
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Mattacha Peter, and a great |
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number of other Captns. |
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Wyondotts. |
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Diuatea, |
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Tanondany, |
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Sandeghgo, |
} Deputies Representing |
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Sonongua, |
their own & eight other |
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Terondea, and |
Nations. |
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Twenty-two Warriors. |
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Captain Croghan opened the Conferences with the following Ceremonies, addressing himself to the Indians present, of every Nation.
Brethren:
It gives me Pleasure to see you, The Representatives of so many different Nations, at this Council Fire. I bid you all heartily Welcome.
Brethren:
With this String I wipe the Dust and Sweat off your Bodies, pick the Bryars out of your feet, and Clear your Eyes, that you may see your Brethren's Faces and look Chearful.
Gave a String.
Brethren:
With this String I wipe the Blood from off the Council Seats, that your Cloths may not be stained nor your minds disturbed.
Gave a String.
As soon as we had done they performed the same Ceremonies on their Parts.
The Beaver then got up and desired to know when they might Expect the Peace to be confirmed, as the Deputies from the Several Nations had fixed a time for their return. Colonel Mercer and Captain Croghan appointed a private meeting next morning to fix on the time.
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At a Private Conference held at Pittsburgh on the 6th of July, 1759.
Present:
George Croghan, Esqr. Deputy Agent to the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Baronet.
Colonel Hugh Mercer, Commandant at Pittsburgh.
Captain William Trent, Captain Thomas M'Kee, Assistants to George Croghan, Esqr.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
The same Indian Chiefs as before.
When they were seated Colonel Mercer and Captain Croghan proposed to them their going to Philadelphia, in order to Ratify and Confirm the Peace; they refused, saying they would not go to Philadelphia while the English and French were at War in their Country; that they would go and see their Brethren when their Women and Children would sleep in Peace; they then proposed to the Indians their Waiting the arrival of the General, but they refused, saying a delay might be attended with bad Consequences at this Time, and then insisted on the Peace being confirmed, saying that as soon as it was proclaimed through the Nations that the Warriors of the several Nations, whose Deputies are now here, would abandon the French, on which Time was fixed to hold a Conference with them for that Purpose.
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July 7th.
The Deputies from the Several Nations waited on Captain Croghan, and desired to know the Prices of Goods and skins, which he acquainted them with; they Complained of the Prices of Stroud and Skins, saying Stroud was dearer than what they formerly gave for it, and that the Prices of Skins and Furs was also less than what the Traders formerly gave for them; and desired that he would Write the Governor to have the Prices settled.
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This Morning the Indians called Captain Croghan to a private Conference.
Pittsburgh, July 8th, 1759.
Present:
George Croghan, Esqr. Deputy Agent to Sir William Johnson.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
Indians:
The Deputies from the Several Nations as
before.
When we were seated, these Deputies fourteen Belts and two Large Bunches of Strings of Wampum, which they said was the Wampum of the nine following Nations: Wyondotts, Ottawas, (page 386-387) Chepawas, Putawatimes, Twightwees, Kushkushkies, Keopas, Shoekeys, and Musquakes, impowering the Wyondott Deputies to act in behalf of their Nations, and to confirm the Peace between them and the English, as was agreed upon in a Council held over the Lakes by the Beaver King with their Nations, and a Road Belt, by which these Nations have cleared the Road to the Sun Rising, that they may travel in Peace to see their Brethren, the English, as formerly. They then replied, we have now shewed you the Powers by which we act in favour of the Several Nations just mentioned to you, and we desire to hear what you have to say to us to-morrow, as we are impatient to return Home; And a meeting was appointed in the Morning for that Purpose.
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Captains. |
Lieutents. |
Ensigns. |
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Waggoner, |
Matthews, |
Crawford, |
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Woodward, |
Hydler, |
Crawford, |
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Prentice, |
Bedde, |
Morgan, |
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Morgan, |
Conrod, |
Mr. Vixan, |
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Smallman, |
Kennedy, |
Ormsby, |
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Clayton, |
Sumner, |
Allen, |
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Ward. |
Anderson, |
Gibson, |
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Hutchins, |
Lightfoot. |
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Dangerfield, |
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Wright of the Train. |
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Captain William Trent, Captain Thomas McKee, Assistants to George Croghan, Esqr.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
Indians:
Six Nations Chiefs, with Sixteen Warriors.
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Tagauusaday, |
Guyusuday, |
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Grandendawe. |
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Delawares Chiefs and Captains, with great numbers of others.
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The Beaver, King of the Delawares. |
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George, |
John Peters, |
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Keckenskung, |
The Pipe, |
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Killbuck, |
Johnny, |
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Wendshale, |
Gooshamaqua, |
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Shingas, |
Mattacka Peters. |
Shawonese Chiefs and Fourteen Warriors.
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Kiecennochthe, |
Louthema, |
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Opeiwa. |
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Deputies representing their own and eight other Nations.
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Wyondotts, |
Sonongua, |
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Dixeatea, |
Terondea, |
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Tanondany, |
Twenty-Two Warriors. |
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Sandegho, |
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As soon as the Indians had taken their seats, Captain Croghan made the following Speech:
Brethren:
The Wyondotts, Deputies of the Nine Western Nations of Indians, give attention to what I am going to say to you.
We are this day met in Council to renew and brighten the Ancient Chain of Friendship between us and you, in the behalf of the Nine different Nations of Indians you represent; with this String of Wampum I scatter the dark Clouds that hang over your Heads, Open your ears that you may hear, and your Eyes that you may see the sun that shines over us. And I desire that what I shall say to you this Day, that you publish it immediately through all the Nations.
Gave a String.
Brethren:
The Complaints which your People made three years ago to the Governor of Pennyslvania about their Lands, was settled last fall at the Treaty at Easton, and a Line settled by your People and the Six Nations to their Satisfaction, all which you were made acquainted with last fall by the Deputies of the Six Nations, sent with your Deputies from that Treaty for that Purpose, and you may depend on it that your Brethren, the English, will never violate any of their Engagements to you or any of your Brethren of any other Nation, but hold fast of the Chain of Friendship; and we make no doubt but you on your side, will take the same Care. To Confirm what I have said, I give you this Belt.
Gave a Belt.
Brethren:
As soon as all Disputes between us were ended last Fall at the Treaty at Easton, the Peace was confirmed in the Presence of the Six Nations, and we, in Conjunction with the Six Nations, immediately dispatched Messages to assure you of the truth thereof; and the Peace Belt was sent to our Brethren, the Delawares, that they might send it through all the Nations living towards the Sun setting in Friendship with them, that they might know what was done and take fast hold of it.
Last fall, when the French destroyed their Fortifications here, and run away, a Number of your Brethren, the English, under the (page 388) Command of Brigadier General Forbes, took Post at this Place; at that time I went to see our Brothers, the Delawares, at the Mouth of Beaver Creek, and gave them an Invitation to come and Confer with the General; when we came here we found the General's bad state of Health had obliged him to set off, but that he had left Colonel Boquet, who was second in Command, to receive them and treat them in his name at that Conference; they promised to perform all the Engagements their People had entered into with us at the Treaty at Easton, acquainting all Nations with what passed there, and invite all Nations in Amity with them to go to Philadelphia early this Spring to Ratify and Confirm the Peace, but as your own Business, or the Season of the year did not permit you, the General has sent me to Transact the Publick Business with you, and all Nations towards the Sun setting, in his Name, till his arrival.
Our Brothers, the Delawares, have performed their Engagements by taking a long Journey over the Lakes to make known to the Westward Nations what passed at the Treaty at Easton, and I assure your Brethren I am heartily glad to see the Deputies of so many of the Western Nations at this Place met in Council, and as you have already informed me that your affairs will not permit you waiting the arrival of the General, I have, with the Consent and approbation of Colonel Mercer, the Commanding Officer here, agreed to hold this Conference, and you may be assured that the Business transacted with you at this Conference, the King's General, and all the Governors on this Continent will Ratify and Confirm in the first General Meeting you have with them.
Brethren:
As the Design of this Meeting was to assure each other that we would keep fast hold of the Chain of Friendship, and perform our mutual Engagements made to each other at Easton, we on our parts shall punctually perform ours, and in order to our enjoying the Blessings we expect from that Peace, it is necessary, and we do insist, that you also perform these made on your parts, by restoring to us our flesh and blood that yet remain among you, as we can never taste true Satisfaction till that is done; we do not think it practicable for you to deliver up at once, or in any Place, all our People who yet remain Prisoners amongst you, but we place the greatest Confidence in the sincerity of your Intentions of performing all your Engagements made to us at that Treaty, and that you will loose no time in performing this Article of it. In Confidence of which I give you this Belt of Wampum.
Gave a Belt.
Brethren:
You have often requested your Brothers, the English, to carry on a trade with you in your Country, as formerly. The Enemy, you know, were in Possession of your Country at that Time, which (page 389) obliged us to bring out an armed Force to drive them away, but before we got here the French burnt the Fort and run away up the River, where they yet stay and carry on the War against us.
You are Sensible, Brethren, that while the Enemy are in Possession of your Country, we cannot Trade safely with you, as formerly. The General is on his Way here to build a Trading House, to secure the Goods brought by the English Traders for your use, from the Insults of the French, which will be performing all our Engagements to you; you must be convinced of the Sincerity of our Intentions, as you see already a Number of Traders here, and more on their Way, the better to supply you with such necessaries as you may want. And I assure you, as soon as the Enemy are drove out of your Country, which I expect you will be assisting in, that the General will depart your Country after securing our Trade with you and our Brethren to the Westward. In Confirmation of what I have said, I give you this Belt.
Gave a Belt.
Brethren, Chiefs and Warriors of the Delawares:
As you are our Near Neighbours, and now going to return to your several Towns, I take this Opportunity of desiring you not to go far abroad, nor think long till you hear from us, for I assure by this String of Wampum, that as soon as the General arrives here with his Majesty's Troops, I shall call you together, as the General will have something to say to you, and be glad to see all his Brethren of the Several Nations to the Sun setting.
Gave a String.
The Beaver, the Delaware King, then got up, addressing himself first to all the Indians present, desiring them to listen to what he was going to say, which was from his Heart, and to take example by him, then addressing himself to all the White People present, made the following speech:
Brothers:
I have brought with me some of your flesh and Blood; there they set. One is my Mother, the other my Sister. I deliver them up to you, in the presence of all here; do not think I am tired of them; no, I love them as well as I do my own Mother and Sister. When they go to the Inhabitants do not hide them; when I go down, I shall Call and see them. Then delivered up the two Women.
The Beaver, then addressing himself to Colonel Mercer, with a String of White Wampum, made the following Speech:
Brother:
When I was here in the fall, I desired our People might have Liquor, but sparingly; but now I desire the Bung may be knocked out of the Keg, and when the Liquor comes, we may have Liberty to purchase, and then returned thanks for the Speeches we had made them, which he said he believed come from our Hearts.
Gave a String.
Captain Montour, by order of Colonel Mercer, acquainted him that the first Liquor that came up, they should have Liberty to buy part of it; Then returned thanks for the Speeches they had made us, and the Colonel gave the whole an invitation to dine with him next Day.
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At a Private Conference held at Pittsburgh on the 11th of July, 1759.
Present:
George Croghan, Esqr. Deputy Agent to the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Baronet.
Captain Henry Montour, Interpreter.
Indians:
The Chiefs and Warriors of the Delawares
and Shawanese, and the Deputies and Chief Warriors of the Wyondotts.
Diccatea, the Chief of the Wyondott's Deputies, spoke as follows, in behalf of his own, and the other eight Nations they represent:
Brothers:
By this String of Wampum, we assure you that as soon as we get home we will call a general Council of all Nations over the Lakes, and lay before them what you have said to us, and you may depend on a large Body of our people being here in about two Months, in order to Confirm the Peace on our parts. And we shall use all the Influence we have to withdraw such of our young Men as the French have stole from us this Spring, as soon as Possible. As to your Flesh and Blood, that is amongst us, we can assure you that you will see them again; but Brothers, we have not many of them, no never had.
Gave a String.
The Beaver made the following Speech in behalf of the Delawares and Shawanese:
Brother:
We are very well pleased with what you have said at this Conference. Ever since the Treaty at Easton and what passed here last fall, we have looked on the Peace to be Confirmed between you and us; And it give us great Pleasure to see it now in a manner confirmed between you and all our Friends, the several Nations to the sun-setting. As to your flesh and Blood, a little Time will convince you that we are sincere and will perform our Engagements in restoring all them that is in our Possessions.
Gave a String.
During the Time of the Conference, there was near five Hundred Indians here.
July the 16th, 1759.
At the Request of the Indians here and with the approbation of Colonel Mercer, Captain Croghan sent the following Speech to Venango by two Wyondott Messengers, for the Warriors of the Western Nations who had joined the French before this Conference:
Brethren:
The Wyondotts, Chepawas, Ottawas, Putawatimes, Twightwees, Kushkushkies, Kecopas, Shockeys and Musquakes, hear what I am going to say to you: your Brothers, the English are not Come here to War with the Indians, but to carry on Trade and Commerce with all Nations of them as far as the Sun setting.
Brothers:
As the Peace is now Confirmed between your Deputies and us, I expect you will abandon the French and leave them and us to fight our own Battles. The Beavers who were present at this Conference can tell you what passed between your Deputies and us; with this Bunch of Wampum I take you by the Hands, and lead you to your own Country, where I desire where I desire you would sit and smoke your Pipes till I give you a call; I assure you the English have no intention of Injuring you, and I must insist on your paying due regard to this Message and immediately quitting the French, which will confirm me in the good opinion I have of the sincerity of your professions made in your behalf by your Deputies at the Conference I held here with them, and will be convincing your Brothers, the Governors of the several Provinces, that you are determined to renew, and remain steadfast in your antient friendship with all His Majesty's Subjects.
Sent twelve fathoms of white Wampum.
The Indians of the several Nations here sent Speeches to inforce the above speech. The Beaver, the Delaware King, spoke in behalf of all the Nations who were present at the Conference held here, and desired that the General might be mad acquainted with what passed here between them and us, and desired that the General might bring none of the Southward Indians with him; if he should, there would be no perswading some of the Indians but we intend to deceive them.
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