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.
Intelligence from Detroit
(June 11, 1763)
McCormick, Cezar in: [B. M., Add.
MSS. 21655, f. 210, D.] and in
Stevens et all. The Papers of
Col. Henry Bouquet,
Series 21655, 1943,
pp. 203-204.
We undermentioned James Sterling Merchant & Sampson Fleming Deputy Comissary of this Place being called by Cezar Cormick also Merchant here do Certifie to have heard the Intelligence of a Person whom we Can trust, as being well informed by said person hitherto of all the Conspiracies made against his Britanick Majesties Subjects since they came to D'Troit to the Sattisfaction of the Commanding Officers particularly since the beginning of the present Seige.
The said person has declared before us that Miny Chain Jacque Godfroy & Messrs Beaubien Chaurein & Labadee Junr went from hence the 12 or 13th Ulto being the third or fourth day of the Seige publickly as they pretended for an Officer from the Illinois to disperse the Nations & in their (page 204) they met John Welse Mercht from Miamis in the mouth of Miamis River with two Petty augres loaded with Peltry bound for this place; The said five Frenchmen ordered a Band of Indians who were with them to hide themselves in the Wood close by untill they would entice the English on Shore then hailing them to come and Smoake a pipe and get the News they came a Shore & Sate down. The Said Frenchmen then Seized and told them they were their Prisioners & calling up the Indians they devided the Prisoners & Peltry betwixt them, then the said Chain & Godfroy detatched the other three their companions back to D'Troit with their share of the Booty & Mr Welsh Prisoner who came and lodged the same in the House of the above said Miny Chain next in the Settlement to the Potewatamies Village the the Ottawas claiming Mr Welsh Seized and murthered him since and that the said Ottawas came this day Seized and carried off the said Peltry & told them that the French had no business with any Plunder but that it bellonged entirely to the Indians
The said Informer likewise declared that the said Chain, & Godfroy took also four of the said Prisoners along with them saying that they would take them to the Illinois make Soupe of them to Spirit up these Indians to War & come against the English which they now dayly expect here And that the said Chain and Godfroy proceeding with the same Indians to Miamis with whom they Acted in conjunction to destroy that Garrison, then parted for Ouiatinon intending to Act the same barbarous part there being in their way to Illinois
We then questioned the said informer if we could depend on the above Said intelligencees or from whence they were derived Answered that Niniway a Potewatamis Chief sent for Isidore Chain brother to the said Miny Chain the evening that the Said Ninaway arrived with Ensn Schlossor, Commanding Officer of St. Josephs and Acquainted him of what his Brother Miny had done Miamis that the said Isidore in tears replied that he wished to God that his Brother might die in that Place for as soon as he arrived at D'Troit he would be hanged and that the said informer declared to have been present when all this was told by the said Niniway in the House of the said Miny Chain
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