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.
Extracts of Letters,
Declarations, Etc.
(June 1763 - June 1764)
(Due to length divided here into four parts)
In: Historical Collections, Michigan
Pioneer
and Historical Society, Vol. 27,
1897, pp. 631-670.
that he had fought against Capt. Dalyell on the 31st July and has Sr Robert Davers's Rifle and the Powder Horn and Point of Cap. Robinson. The said Dusette is the Person hinted in Mr. Trueax's evidence to have sent Belts to the young men of the settlement and treated the Prisoners so ill.
PROCEEDINGS OF A COURT OF INQUIRY HELD AT DETROIT, OCTOBER 1, 1763.
Capt. James Grant, 60th Regt., President.
Lieut. Bain of the Queens Rangers Ensign Anderson of the 55th Regt, Members.
John Severings soldier in the 60th Regiment being taken Prisoner by the Savages in May last by the Chippewas and brought down to the Outawa Camp near Melosshes House, says that during the time of his imprisonment he was made to work by the Savages at the Rafts with which they intended to fire the Vessels, he saw two Frenchmen, the two Melosshes, assist the Savages not only in constructing said Rafts but had given them augres, axes and other implements fit for that purpose. That he was in some time brought to the South Side of the River to a Frenchman's house with whom he was made to work. That the Frenchman paid the Savages half a bushel of wheat for every four days work (the Frenchman's name he knows not) but knows his House that he had saw some Indians come to the House demanding a cow to kill, that the Woman of the House asked them for Pondiac's order, which they said in Indian, Panama, signifying soon, that he had frequently seen billets or orders from Pondiac to several French for what the Savages might want, which was always readily granted, that he heard the woman of the same house say when the Indians are gone that Montreal was to pay half their loss by the Indians. James Conner soldier in the 60th Regiment being taken Prisoner at the same time with the above, was brought to Jacoe St. Aubergs an inhabitant's house who bought him, that soon after he was bought Pondiac the Indian Chief came and desired St. Aubergh to send him to work at the Rafts then making to sett fire to the Vessels, which the Frenchman obeyed and sent him and his own son with a horse and cart to draw timber for the Rafts, that the same day he saw St. Aubergh give a small Bullock to the Indians which they slaughtered before his door; that one day one Piero Bart came to St. Auberghs house and asked him the Prisoner what he thought of the war, will the Fort be taken, to which he cry'd no. That Bart said it would in two days, & that he would buy the two Jones's gunsmiths from the Indians; that Bart had at another time told him that the soldiers in the Garrison were entered in a Conspiracy, and under the silence of the Night intended to leap over the Pickets and abandon the Fort, and after they had got out (page 651) were to be conducted to Pondiac's camp by one Rhenbeaux, an Inhabitant in the Fort, desiring him at the same time not to speak of it to any of the English prisoners (This Conversation with Bart was in English) that he knew Mayack, St. Aubergh, Mathias Meloshe, & Brother to have been constantly at the Indian Councills, whilst he was a Prisoner, that his Master St. Auberg had told him, these Councills were held to get them to take up Arms against the English, which they refused, but that two Frenchman had taken up arms, one Charloc Dusette, the other name he does not know. That he knows his Master St. Auberg to have tilled about ten acres of ground, which he had given to four different families of Indians to plant corn in, that he had often seen his master feed the Indians and knows him to have bought from them different sorts of goods plundered and taken from the English.
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JAMES X CONNER. |
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Mark. |
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Thomas Meares soldier in the 60th Regiment being taken prisoner by the Savages at Presqu' isle the 22d June last says that he was brought from thence to the Indian Camp at Detroit where he saw Capt. Campble & Lt. McDougall Prisoners, that soon after Lieut. McDougall having made his escape he was carried to see Capt. Campble put to Death in a most barbarous and inhuman manner, and expecting the same to be his Fate as soon as they had done mangling the body of Capt. Campble, he implored the mercy of the man in whose house Capt. Campble & Lt. McDougall were whilst Prisoners, who answered no, were you my own Prisoner I would give you to the Indians, as you are an Englishman, for the Indians and we are all one, clapping of his hand to his heart, and proceeded in saying whilst he had anything they should not want, that on their return from the place of Execution he heared the same Landlord of Lt. McDougall tell many things of him to the Indians which occasioned their being very cruel and ill natured to him for a long time after. That he had been soon after Capt. Campble's Death brought to an Indian Village on the way to St. Josephs about four days march, in which Village he saw three Frenchmen (whose names he does not know but well know their Faces and their houses having been there sometime) come the day after Capt. Dalyell's Defeat in great haste, and heared them tell the Indians there, seemingly in the greatest joy, how the English were beat & had great numbers killed, showing how they were brought in complaining of their wounds & many other demonstrations of joy. That there is a Frenchman who lives below the Huron Village, & to his knowledge had given a cornfield to three Families of the Outawa Indians, as well as his Horses to carry the corn for them to the Riverside, when pulled (He also knows the man's face and house). That he also knows of St. Auberg having (page 652) given a Field of ten acres well till'd to the savages, and that he himself was made to work at the pulling of it, that he also knows the said St. Auberg having often run into the Indian Camp where he had been kept with intelligence when the English came out of their Fort with their Boats or otherwise. That he had often heared many of the Inhabitants spirit up the Indians by telling them that the English Garrison were living Upon two ounces of Flour pr day, and no Pork, nor was there any at Niagara to be sent to them, that he knows also the houses of several Inhabitants in which the English plunder is deposited and preserved for the Savages, which he can show at any opportunity.
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THOS. MEARES. |
The three soldiers, John Severings, James Conner & Thomas Meares, are ready to make affidavit to what they have declared in the Course of the above examination.
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JAMES GRANT, President. |
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Detroit 12 October, 1763 |
A COURT OF INQUIRY HELD BY ORDER OF MAJOR GLADWIN, ENG. COMMANDANT.
Captain Robert Rogers, President.
Lieut. Hay 60th Regt. (Members) Ensign Perry, Q. R. A. Rangers.
Evidence of John Seger, who was taken Prisoner at the Grand River in coming here, says that since he has been a Captive he has often heared the Indians say, in talking amongst themselves, that they were surprised that the French did not keep their words with them that they had promised they should not want for Provisions or Ammunition in case they should begin & continue the war with the English, & how would it be by and by if they began to draw back already. He further says that he was last Winter at Toronto a trading when he was told by Wapaumagen a Chief of the Missisagys that St. Luke Le Corn, had sent Belts to the Several Nations this Way, as he termed it under ye ground, which moved about last winter, the purport of which was to desire them to continue still in their friendship to the French, who would come in a Fleet in the Spring & take the Country again. He at the same time told him that the Indians would be at war with us in the Spring. That he was told by an Indian Chief in the Mohawk Tongue in Mr. Massack's House, in presence of many others that three Belts had been going about from the French these three years past exhorting the Indians to take up Arms against us. He also says that as soon as there is any alarm amongst the Indians they carried their goods in the French houses by way of security, that he (page 653) saw six pieces of straw in Massacks, which he believed to be part of what was taken from him at Grand River. The said Seger is willing to take his oath that the said evidence is true whenever he shall be called upon, and that Several Prisoners had shown him a Frenchman who spoke a little English, and whom he will know when he sees him, that always came to fire against the Fort with the Indians. The above Seger recollects that he was told by the Chippewas that the first canoe that went from here in the Spring to Montreal went on purpose to bring ammunition for them.
John Packs soldier, who was taken Prisoner coming from Michilimackinac in the Spring says that Charlo Dusette told him that he and Piero Barth had received two Belts of Wampum from the Indians as Commanders to raise the French in Arms to take the Vessels, they were to have had a mane from each family, but they would not go with them though they warned them. That the French Guard the most valuable of their goods that in case we should drive them off they can come back and get them. The above Packs is willing to be qualified to the above evidence whenever he shall be called upon. True Copy.
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ROBERT ROGERS. |
LETTERS FROM M. NEYEON, COMMANDANT AT THE ILLINOIS.
To all my Children: The Iroquois, or Six Nations, Abenakies, Shawnes, Ottawas, Chippewas, Hurons, Pautewatamies, Shiraponts, Macoutins, Miamis, Ouiejalanaws, Peanquickias, Ilinois, Sakeys, Foxes, Folcavoines, Ozages, Kanses, Missouris, Panis, and to all Red Men.
My Dear Children, as none of you can reproach me of lying, I promised you to communicate to you the news, and you to listen to my speech. lo! here it is, My dear Children, open your ears that it may penetrate even to the bottom of your Hearts. The great day has come at last wherein it has pleased the Master of Life to inspire the Great King of the French, and him of the English to make Peace between them, sorry to see the blood of men spilled so long, it is for this reason they have ordered all their Chiefs and Warriors to lay down their arms and we to acquaint you of this news, to engage you to bury the hatchet, doing it as I hope, what joy you will have in seeing the French and English smoke with the same pipe and eating out of the same spoon and finally living like Bretheren. You will see the Road free, the Lakes and Rivers unstopped. Ammunitions and Merchandise will abound in your Villages; Your women and children will be cloaked as well as you, they will go to the dances and Festivals not with cumbersome & heavy clothes, but with skirts, blankets and Ribbands, forget then, my dear children, all the evil talcks, may the wind carry off like dust all those which have pro- (page 654) ceeded out evil mouths. The Respect and Friendship which you have always had for the Word of Onondiijo and for mine in particular makes me believe that you will listen to this one now: It is from a Father who loves tenderly his Children and who seeks nothing but your welfare.
The French are free even as you, they change the Land when the King orders it, he has not given yours, he has only ceded those which he had amongst you in order to avoid War for the future and that y may always enjoy tranquility and have abundance of merchandise in your Villages. I depend upon you that you will not make me lie, and that your Young Men will not quit their Rattle or play things to take up the Hatchet, but to carry it amongst Savage Nations from whom you expect no succours and who are on the Earth to Embroil it. Leave off then my Dear Children from spilling the blood of your Bretheren the English, our hearts are now but one, you cannot at present strike the one without having the other for enemy also, if you continue you will have no supplys, and is from us that you expect them, you will be always in my heart, and in those of the French who will never abandon you.
I bid you all farewell and recommend you to respect always the French who remain amongst you, altho I expect to go off sometime after the Couriers which I dispatch to you, send me your answer by them. If I do not receive it here it will be at New Orleans where I will concert with the great chief, the means for supplying you, thus having all the other side of the River Mississippi where the French will supply the wants of those who will be in this quarter.
I pray the Master of Life to enter into your hearts & that he may make you know that in following the advice which I give you to make Peace with our Bretheren the English, you may never stand in need of being pitied, and finally that the King, I and all the French will be glad to see you live in Peace, and for proof of the truth of what I tell you, I sign these Presents with my hand and put thereto the seal of my arms at Fort Chartre 27 Sept. 1763.
(Seal)
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Signed, |
J. NEYEON DE VILLIERE. |
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Fort Chartre at the Illinois, 27th Oct., 1763. |
Gentlemen: It is well decided that the King of France, the King of England and he of Spain (undoubtedly affected with the horrors of such a long and bloody war) have at length made Peace, whereof the Definite Treaty was Exchanged the 4th of March last. It is by virtue of a letter with the King's Seal that the Governour by his dispatches bearing date the 13th of last July (and which I received the 21st past) gives me orders to deliver up this Peace to the Commissaries of his Brittannick Majesty empowered by this orders for the purpose & evacuate it. I do not enter (page 655) into a Detail of this Cession; it is conformable to the articles in the Parliamentaries concerning this Quarter, and which you have seen, which leaves the Inhabitants free and at liberty to retire whereever it seemeth good unto them within the possessions of the Three Kings; he has then ordered me to acquaint all those who are willing to withdraw themselves hereof, & to propose to them New Orleans, the Allemants, Lapointe, Loup , Anhancas and Sante Gunnviene, to establish themselves there with assurance of having all facility in their new settlements. If any amongst you gentlemen choose to follow this resolution; they are free to do it and may assure themselves that I will procures them every succour that will depend on me. It remains then, Gentlemen, that I exhort you agreeable to the Kings intention to put everything in practice to contribute to the Peace with I demand of the Indians, being well persuaded that the English Gentlemen will take the most just means to accomplish it in consequence whereof I have dispatched these Couriers and am entirely, Gentlemen, Your very humble & Most obt. Servt.
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Signed, |
NEYEON DE VILLIERE. |
To all the Inhabitants at Detroit.
We Peter Joseph Neyon DeVilliere Major Commandant of the Illinois:
Mr Dequindre, Cadet, is ordered to set out this day with one named James la Devarette and two Indians to go to Detroit to carry our Dispatches thither.
He will be charged, moreover, with a parole from us in writing with a flying seal, three Belts and four pipes for all the Nations.
As the Ouyatanons are the first that he will find, he will cause their Chiefs to be assembled, together, to whom he will explain exactly our Parole in assuring them of the Peace, in token whereof, he will deliver up to them one Belt and one Pipe.
He will do the same with the Kekapouts, Maskoukins, & Miamis, and from thence he will go to Detroit, when he will deliver our letters to the Commandant.
If contrary to our intentions the siege of Detroit by the Indians should obstruct his entering into the Fort, he is to go to Pondiac, Chief of Outawas, where he will read over our Parole and give it up to them, enjoyning them to convey it to all the other Nations.
He will be on his Guard in order to avoid all manner of surprises from ill conditioned Indians.
we command to him most expressly to make all dispatch. We desire, therefor, all whom it may concern not to retard him but on the contrary to procure him succour and assistance. Given at Fort Chartre, 27 Sept. 1763.
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Signed, |
NEYON VILLIERE. |
THE DECLARATION OF MR. JADOU TO MAJOR
GLADWIN AND CAPT. GRANT AT
MAJOR GLADWIN'S HOUSE, THE 24TH DEC., 1763, IN THE EVENING.
Saith that in council with Pondiac composed of the following principal Inhabitants, viz.. Navarre Schcott, Campeau, Currie, and Frank Meloss, sometime about the latter end of June or beginning of July, 1763 Schcott told Pondiac that they would not fight with him against the English, as they would expose their wives and children to inevitable ruin, should they not succeed, but that there were about three hundred young men in the settlement who had neither Parents or much property to lose, that might and ought to join him, in consequence of which speech Pondiac addressed himself to some Young Men present, who immediately agreed to join him and fight against the English. Kenbarger told him of this Council and that Frank Meloss had insisted in said Council that Mr. Nevarre being a knowing & leading man would tell assure Pondiac that they were all ready and willing to take up arms with him against the English, which Nevarre absolutely refused, & said no I will not tell him, tell it him yourself. That on Jadocs hearing the result of this Council he came to Pero Potie, the Jesuit and prevailed upon him to come to the Fort and acquaint the Commandant of what passed, but as the Jesuit was ready to sell out, Piero La Bute & Baptist Gruereme came and finding he was going to the Fort told him he was mad, that Pondiac would burn his church, destroy all he had and then kill himself, which frightened him and prevented his going and acquaint the Commandant that it was agreed upon in Council about the 5th day of July that the Garrison was to be attacked without by the Savages and French, and within by the French Inhabitants residing in the Fort. N. B. This corresponds with three large Keys being found in the Fort, which answered in every respect the locks of the Fort & with the Deposition of McConie, a soldier in the 60th Regiment, who had at that time been Prisoner, and told by a fellow Prisoner, who spoke good French that the Garrison were all to be murdered, as the French were all to attack it from without and within, as well as the savages, or to this purpose. Jadoc further saith that at Piero Labutes House he told Pondiac of the Peace, and putting three of his fingers close, showing as the three great Kings had now made Peace, that in attacking the English it was attacking the whole three & many other arguments to prevail on the Savage Chief to listen to reason which he for a little time seemed inclined to giving great attention; But the said Labute in a rage told him Pondiac it was all a lie, propogated by the English to deceive them, and that Jadoc himself was no other than an Englishman. He further saith that all the St. Obaignes & Campeaus are the most prominent people in the settlement, and by them proposed to make trenches, that when the enemy were close on the outside the (page 657) Garrison was to be attacked within. That Bart the gunsmith and Shippaton, two Inhabitants of the Fort had often gone out amongst the Savages and told everywhere that the English in the Fort were half Dead, and that a good savage cry would make them surrender; Further that Currie, Schicott, Meny Chene, Godfrey and others knew of the Plan to murder the Garrison in Council several days before it was attempted to be put into execution; and that by the requests of Curie, Campeau and some others Capt. Campbell was to be saved, That Pierro La Bute had told Jadoc that Currie had also desired of Pondiac to save Capt. Hopkins that he was as one of them, which he promised to do if he knew him. Further that Baptist Campeau came to his Jadocs house showed him some letters & a Belt which were to be sent to the Illinois by Godfrey and Meny Chene, which on reading surprised him so much that he asked said Campeau if he showed them to the Commandant; that he answered with equal surprise, what Commandant, we have no other Commandant now but Pondiac & next Sunday you'll go to the Mass in the Fort, and you'll see no English there, we will take it eer that time. Jadoc then replied, how will you take it. We will take it by sapp replied Campeau, further that Tiffoc, who came in the Fall from the Illinois and positively declared to all the Savages there was no Peace that it was all a lie & there would be an army soon from the Illinois with ammunition enough; he lodges and resides at old Predomes House. That LeVille Beau, Chartoc Campeau and old Predome particularly harboured and fed the savages in the times of want. Further that outside Rentaigne, Cabbarcher, St. Andrew and St. Bernard are all good men, but that, in short, the villaney of the settlement in general, to write it, would fill a volume.
PROCEEDINGS OF A COURT OF ENQUIRY
HELD BY MAJOR GLADWIN'S ORDER TO
EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING PERSONS UPON OATH, DETROIT, 20TH DEC., 1763.
Capt. James Grant, President.
Lieut. Abbot Royal Artillery Ensign John Christie Members.
James Barns soldier in the 60th Regiment being duly sworn declares that he was one of the Garrison of Miamis on the 27 May 1763, when that Garrison was taken by the Indians, and that Mr. Welch the Merchant who had been taken on the Miamis River some days before, told him after he had been taken, that being in the river he was haled to come on shore and was secured by the Indians in company with two frenchmen, Godfrey and Miney Chene, who were with the same Indians when he came to the Miamis Fort on the 26th in the Evening, & that next day after Mr. Holmes was killed, the serjeant taken and the men, having shut the Fort, the Frenchman Godfrey was with Mr. Welch at the Fort when he called to them to give up the Fort & that they would be all (page 658) saved, on the Contrary, the Fort would be set on fire & they all burn't, upon which they opened the gates and surrendered, that soon after they were Prisoners, Welch told him the Deponant that he was ordered to tell them to give up the Fort, By the two Frenchmen Godfrey and Chene, that Godfrey had told him, the Deponant, to give him a pair of silver buckles he had on his shoes, saying he might have them as well as the Indians, when he, Godfrey, made Welch Interpret to him in English, for which buckles the said Godfrey paid him, at Detroit, in December following, being then Prisoner there; the Indians who had them Prisoners told them they were going to take Ouatanaw, and went off accordingly accompanied by the two said Frenchmen, Godfrey and Chene, and that soon after they heard Ouiyatanaw was taken and that they carried two of the soldiers taken at Miamis with them, when they went off for Auiyatanaw. The Deponant further says that as soon as they were taken away from the Fort Miamis, He saw French Colours flying upon it, The Deponant further says, upon oath, that Godfrey and Miney Chene, the prisoners at Detroit, are the very Persons he saw with the Indians when Miamis was taken.
William Bolton, soldier in the 60th Regiment, being duly sworn, confirms the Depositions of Burns, excepting from the consternation he was in he does not remember who was with Welch when he spoke to them to surrender the Fort, as also that he heared that the Indians had told the Frenchman Godfrey and Chene to desire him to tell them in the Fort to surrender and that they would be all saved.
John McConnie Soldier in the 60th Regiment being duly swornne deposeth that he was taken by the savages at Presqu'isle in June 1763, that he was conducted from that to the Indian encampment above Detroit and from thence to one Labidie's house, an Inhabitant on the Riverside below the Fort, and that during the two nights he was there, he saw the Landlord Labidie with his own hands dressing the heads and painting of three Young Frenchmen in the Indian manner, each of the two nights. He believes the first night was only to please the savages, several being there. That on the day following, being the second day, he was there, one Rannoc, a Frenchman but a soldier taken with him and Prisoner at Labadies told him, with seeming sorrow, that this night they would all be killed within the Fort, That Waggeman, another Fellow Prisoner had been sent into the Fort to be exchanged for an Indian, and then would be killed, That he the Deponant having asked Rannoc how or in what manner they were to be killed telling him at the same time of his seeing Labadie painting and dressing the young Frenchmen the night before, that Rannoc then replied that the rain only hindered them from attempting it the night before and that the French were to assist the Indians, being angry for a Frenchman being wounded, and this Night they are (page 659) to be killed in the Fort, as they can go in when they please, they having gotten keys to open the Gates & all the French within are to rise and assist them as well as all the young men in the country.
The deponant further declares that the evening of the day Rannoc told him as above, Labadie, the Landlord, had the second time addressed his young men as above described, who had all gone out with several savages, he imagined to attack the Fort as told him by Rannoc, that at several other little intervals during the Night Labadie came to the place where the Deponant lay, touching him with his hand, he believes to prevent his escape, the house being dark and only one old soldier left to guard him, That about the middle of the Night, finding the House quiet he the Deponant got up, and crept as far as the Door, with an Intention to make his Escape but was prevented by Labadie's having heard him trying to open the door, challenged him and desired if he would go out to take the Indian along with him. The Deponant further says that he believes he might have got off, had he not in the same day, Rannoe and he conversed as above, put confidence in Labadie who had asked him if he knew the Indians to have got money in their plunders with some other questions to which he replied he did not know, but that they had got some Watches, and then consulted him about making his escape, that he told him it was impossible if could not swim, pointing to the River, which trust he is certain prevented his getting off that night by the vigilance of Labadie & likewise believes was the occasion of his being carried away next day to Sagama, where in his way he met with John Edwards a Soldier & Prisoner to whom he related the, circumstances as in this Deposition. The Deponant further declares that he saw Labadie buy three pairs of white stockings from the Indians for tobacco, which stockings he believes had been the property of Ensign Christie, who had been also taken at Presqu-isle. And that he further knows the said Labadie to have received spades shovels and other utensils belonging to the King from the Savages. The Deponant further says that in the Fall of the Year when he was at Sagana, he saw two cannons with eight or nine Frenchmen, mostly wounded, who the Indians told him were going to the Mississippi for to bring ammunition and men, that a French army from thence were coming this way. The Deponant further says that he was lying down in Labadies house one of his Daughters came to him, give him a kick with her foot and told him in English to move aside, and that the husband of that woman was one of the men dressed and painted by Labadie as above related, and had gone out with the savages in the night.
John Edwards soldier being duly sworn declares that the Deponant McConnie had told him on his way to Sagana the whole in regard to a Frenchman in whose house he had been in, having painted and dressed
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