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.
Letter to Johnson
(Fort Pitt, Oct. 18, 1767)
Croghan, George in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 5,
pp. 736-738.
FROM GEORGE CROGHAN
L. S.
|
[Fort Pitt, October 18, 1767] |
[ 1] [ ] with me two Y[ ] and informs me that the [five tribes of the Ouabache?] which reside on that River [ dissatis]fied that a place of Trade is not fixed [ ] for them, as well as at Fort Chartres, & [ ] appointed to see Justice done them in Trade [ ] as the other Nations round them; & looks upon [ ] slighting them above any other Nations. Mr. [Mai]sonville says there is Numbers of French Traders [ ] those Tribes who follow them to their Hunting Grounds both from Cannada, Detroit, & the Illinois, who poison the minds of the Indians against the English for their own Interest, to sell their Goods, & does much hurt. But says, he is certain that if a Mart was fixed for Trade, & English Traders to settle there, they would carry the Trade which at present he says is carried chiefly to New Orleans: our neglect of those People he says has disgusted them much.-
[ 1][]ing those [ ] [ ] Maisonville passed by Sandusky [ all] Manners from the Western Nations [ ] Wampum going to the Shawanese, & Dellaweres [ ] now that the Great meeting of Indians intended [ ] in the Shawanese Country was not to take place till March; and since I came here the Shawanese have Confirm'd [ ] Accounts.
I have had Several meetings of the Indians I met here, & examined them particularly what the design of the great Council was or which Nation or Confederacy desired it. They all say (page 737) that they are unacquainted with the Business to be settled at it, & says the Chepwa's sent the Belts to all the Nations this way, & on the Ouabache, & say they heard that the Sen[ecas] desired the Chepwa's to call the Several Nations together.
Some Shawanese I met here inform me that their Nat[ ] is affraid a War against us is intended; as they have Received Belts last Summer from the Senecas, complaining of the ill treatment they met with from the English in passing to & from War against the Southern Indians, on the frontiers of Virginia where they have had several of their Warriors kill'd & Wounded.
[ 1] God gave them to [ ] shall settle them for nothing [ ] their Blood, or Die every Man[ ]
I have not been able to give [ ] worth relating, but am sorry to find t[ ] a Temper, as they at present appear. I wish [ ] have never been Mention'd to them or that His M[ ] before now, Ordered it Confirmed. Indians cannot [ dis]appointments, or delays where they expect to get a [ ] And nothing now, will in my opinion prevent a War [ ] taking a Cession from them, & paying them for their Lands. Notwithstanding all the trouble that has been taken [to re]moove the People settled on Redstone Creek, & Cheat [River] I am well Assured there are double the Number of Inhabi[tants] in those two Settlements that ever was before: And I hear the Indians have stopped the Surveyers2 a little beyond Cheat River, from extending the Line between Pennsylvania & Maryland, ho true this report may be I can not say, [ ] I have not heard from any of the Gentlemen on the Line. The Report was brought from Redstone Creek Yesterday.
The Traders that went from this last Winter to Trade in the Indian Country unknown to Capt. Murray are still amongst them, & tho' Capt. Murray reported them to Governor Penn [ 1] [ Redstone] Creek & Cheat River or any [other ] [ ] goods which the Traders carry into their [ tempta]tion to the Indians, to Murder & Plunder [ enab]le them to carry on a War against us. [ ] the different Posts would Certainly be a [ ] making the Indian Nations Dependant on us & prevent [ irr]egularity's, in particular the Seal of Spirituous Liquors [ ] Indians Complain much off, but how this can be done [ ] it would be fore the Good of His Majesty's Service I [ ] your Honour.-
I will set out for Detroit in two days, & will [ ] by some of the Shawanese & Dellawere Villages, where I hope to find out more of the Indians Sentiments, & will send Mr. Mc Kee [ ] Montour to others of their Villages in Order if Possible to find out the real cause of their discontent, by my return here.
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I am with Great respect your Honours |
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|
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GEO: CROGHAN |
|
To the Honourable
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON Baronet
His Majestys Sole Agent & Superindant for Indian Affairs
in the Northern District of North America &c, &c, &c
Johnson
Hall
__________________________________
1 Several lines missing.
2 Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon.
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