Glenn

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.

 

Journal of Transactions
and Presents Given the Indians

(Dec. 23, 1768 - March 12, 1772)

(Due to length divided here into three parts)

Wilkins, John in: (Enc. in Wilkins
to Gage, June 1, 1772), William
L. Clements Library, University
of Michigan, pp. 1-53.

pp.

 

43, 44, 45, 46,

 

 

47, 48, 49, 50,

 

 

51, 52, 53.

(page 43) Philadelphia See his Story of this Journey, 2 Kickapoes came with him from Post vincent, one of them the brother of the black fly Chief of the Piancashaws with a Speech from that Chief of his distress'd Situation for want of every thing.

May 27th  The Brother Set out on his return gave him & the 2 others at Sunday times 3 Gallons rum & an order on Cap:t Shee at Kahokia for 10lb powder & 20lb lead, to carry to the Black fly.

June 1st  Come on a visit the Black dog with thundering reports of nations coming to Strike in this Country, he brought with him the other Chief and half the nation of Peorias that hath been absent for 1 1 /2 year up the Missoury, they made heavy demands for everything, gave them 10lb powder & 20lb lead, & 3 Gallons rum.

6th  To Don Pernas Boatmen & attendence 5 Gallons of Rum.

11th  Mr. Morgans (said to be Kellys) plantation attack'd by a party of Indians Suppos'd to be Kickapoes who kill'd 2 white men & a Negro, did not enter the house (page 44) or do any other damage. Sent off a Serj:t Corpl. & 20 men under the Command of Captain Barbeau with a party of militia but the Enemy disappear'd the Cap:t Buried the dead Bodies & return'd.-

June 12th  Captain Barbeau gave intelligence of Indians been Struking about this village, sent off in the night Lt. De Berniere, 1 Serj:t 1 Corpl & 30 Voluntiers to act with Captain Barbeau & his militia, they hid themselves in the woods all night in hopes to Surprise those Skulkers but without Success.

17th  Gave the Chief & warriors of the Chickasaws (left here) & party of mitches after a persuit & Search for some Enemy Indians said to have attack'd some Mitches & a Squaw actually kill'd on the road 1/2 miles from this Fort. I was with, & am Eye witness of, the Diligence & Conduct of the Chickasaws &c on this occasion, & it being a very wett day gave the whole party 5 Gallons rum, 2 Carrots of Tobacco, & a Blanket to bury the dead Body.

19th  The above Chief & party of the Chickasaws set off from hence for Kaskaskias on their way (page 45) to return to their nation with my letters to mess:r Mc. Intosh & Struthers on Indian affairs, also a Speech to the great Chief of the Chickasaw nation (Opaymattaka) gave them as follows VIZt. to the Chief a blue blankett, 1 lb Vermillion, 1 looking Glass, 1 pair leggins & britch Cloath. To Two Warriors, 2 Shirts, 2 blanketts, 2 pair leggins & 2 britch Cloaths, to Econner tho a dangerous & bad man, 1 Shirt, blanket, leggins & britch Cloath. To Sherlock going with this party & having Charge of my letters &c, the Same as to Econner & the whole party, 6lb powder & 12 lb lead, a Fuzie, Gorget & 3 Gallons rum.

June 20th  Arrived an old Chief & party of the Pianquchas recommended to me by Mons:r St. Merit [Marie] Commandant at Post Vincent, all wretched in Appearance and demand everything, told him of Strokes being lately Struck in this Country by some of their Neighbours, that our friends the Chickasaws are much enraged there at, & I feared that the folly of the Patawatimies & Kickapoes &c would be of bad Consequence to those nations &c &c.- (page 46) I could not get quit of those people without 6lb powder 12lb lead, some Netmegs to make bait for beaver, 4 Knives & 2 Gallons off rum during their stay here.-

June 25th  Arrived Mons:r Leflambois & the Musqueta Chief and warriors from the Wabash, this Leflambois hath great influence over the Savages at Post Vincent &c therefore I sent for him to know whether he might be depended on if necessary, found him very Extravagant & fond of drink & if indulged would be very expensive to the Crown. I have been in Counsil with himself and party at times this 3 days, our talk hath been mostly the same as with the Indians the 20 Instant, gave this party a belt and Speech to the Several nations that Struck in this Country, a blue Stroud to lay the belt on, 14lb powder, 28lb lead, 1 lb vermillion, a new Saddle to the Chief, 2 Silk bedgowns to the 2 Squaws & at Sundry times 7 Gallons rum.-

29th  Monsr Leflambois made me a Visit & I Suspect he hath been set on to make great demands, but found it necessary to give him a riffle gun, a Sute Compleat, also a broad Gold laced Coat a black Cravat, (page 47) 3 Gallons rum, 1 lb vermillion & a large brass Kettle for his party.

July 7th  A Chief (Called English) & warriors arrived from their Nation far up the Missoury, they came to Trade, are great beggars & Complain'd much that the Spaniards would not permit Traders to bring them powder &c up the Missoury, declar'd their Attachment to the English & desir'd to be permitted to come and Settle with us &c &c, to which I made Such answers as Suspecting they would return with the same to Paincourt, but at this Critical times, thought it necessary to give them 12lb powder, 24lb lead, 2 Keggs or 5 Gallons of rum, a laced hatt for the Chief, 3 Blanketts to the head men or Speaker, 1 lb vermillion & at Sundry times from the 7th to the 12th Instant 9 Gallons rum.-

August 1st  To the Savages and party for taking Campbell & Sellers Deserters & Miligan 3 Gallons of rum.-

To a Scouting party of an Officer &c, & 30 men in Search of the Enemy Indians 2 Gallons rum.-

To a party at the request of the Priest to Conduct (page 48) a french Lady his relation back to her husband She having eloped from him, gave the party 1/2 Gallon rum.-

Novem:r  A party of Missoury Indians came to Trade and beg as mention'd the 7th July these being of Same Nation, found it necessary to give them 10lb powder & 20 lb of lead & a Gallon of rum.-

11th  Ten Chickasaws arrived with Letters from their Nation, have discover'd from the Cut lip Chief that Econner their Interpretor is an Enemy to mankind & to the English in particular & that he intends to join the Shawanes if they will Strike the English & use his art & influence with the Chickasaws & others to do the Same,- This Econner in a former part of this journal is Called by mistake OConner & during his Stay here with this party from the 11th to the 15th Novem:r contrived to Set them a plundering & threatening the Inhabitants & would have done more Mischief had not the Cutlip Chief artfully persuaded them to make off to the woods with what Booty they had got & when he got them Sober, made them truly Sensible of their Conduct & brought them back with the goods (page 49) truly Penitent.-

I have wrote to the Chickasaw Nation to lessen Econners Influence, they all detest his Charactar but are Tempted to join in his villainies.-

Novem: 21st  A party of Mitches from hunting & to trade to Enguire what news, & beg'd 3 lb powder & 6lb of lead.-

26th  The 2 Chiefs & party of Same nation arrived here for the purpose above mention'd & tho this is a weak & a poor Nation yet their being near this Fort are to be encouraged, as they bring usefull Intellegence of Sculking partys of the Enemy &c, gave them a gallon of rum, 8lb powder & 20lb lead.

Decem:r 23d  Dispatch'd a trusty Chickasaw with answers to the letters he with Sherlock brought me from Mr. Stuart & others at Mobile & the Chickasaw Nation, found it necessary to grant his requests and gave him at Mr. Murrays Store & pr his Account a Blankett, Leggins, Brtitch Cloath, a Shirt & riffle Gun.

20th  Tomery &c, Chief of the Kaskaskias &c from (page 50) hunting to Enquire what news & reported that a party of Chickasaws in great friendship had past the hunting time with himself and party, gave him 8lb lead & 1 Gallon Rum.-

Same day  Dispatch'd Pero. Bloit & Burns as hunters in Search of a Serj:t & party sent in a Boat to meet the Convoy expected from Fort Pitt, these hunters would have been of infinite Service had that said Boat & Convoy been froze up as was expected, as they could have Conducted the Unnecessary Men to this Fort thro the woods, or have remained to have Supplied the whole party with fresh meat, gave them 4 lb powder, 8 lb lead, 2 lb Small Shot, a Brass Kettle 1 1/2 Gallon Rum & provisions &c.-

1772  Order on Mr. Murray 5th January 1772

Sir

Please to let James Sherlock have on Account of the Crown for his going Express to the Chickasaw Nation & from thence to Mobile & Pensacola with letters to & from the Hon:ble John Stuart &c &c, on affairs of great Consequence, a Good Riffle Gun, a Blankett, pair of leggins and Britch Cloth, & 2 Shirts, & give and acco:t of the Amount thereof (page 51) for my Receipt.-

Order on Mr. Murray 5th January 1772.

Sir

Please to let Wm. Burns have on account of the Crown for his Journey to the ohio to meet the Convoy expected from Fort Pitt, & if necessary to escort a party thereof to this place through the woods in case the Troops or Convoy should be froze up & unable to proceed by water and other Services, Two Ells & a half of Stuff to make him Breeches & leggins, Two Shirts & Send the Amount thereof for my receipt.-

Febr:y 9th  Checuga Chief and party of Mitches from hunting & to Enquire what news, & report that Don Pernas is very Civil to some of their Tribe that Visit him, & that he makes them great presents, this I disbelieve from the Scarcity of Merchandize on the Spanish Side, they having none but what they get from this Side Except a bad Spanish Wine & Taffia, gave them 2 lb powder & a Gallon rum at times.-

10th  Apprehensive of a Stroke from our (page 52) dissaffected & dissatisfied Savages as reported to His Excellency ([blank]) for Lalands death & part of his Crew hunting on the Ohio in [blank] last, said to be done by the Chickasaws, have therefore sent M. Raphael Beauvais with a Speech, a belt, 8 Strings of Wampum & a pipe to the Nations & for me to see the Chiefs of the Kickapoes, Muskutains, Piankishas, Wiatanons & Potawatamis if mett with. Mr. Beauvais demanded for this Service 200 Dollars on his Return, & to fitt him & Companion out for the Journey at present with 3 Blanketts, 2 pair of Leggins, 2 Britch Cloaths 4lb powder, 1 Saddle 2 Deer Skins dress'd & 2 1/2 fathom of blue Stroud.- N. B. This Mr. Beauvais is well acquainted with those Nations their language & Customs.-

Saturday February 29th  Two Mitches from hunting & to trade desir'd to see me found they had nothing of Consequence to say therefore glad to get quit of them with a Bottle of rum.-

March 12th  Tomaroy & party from hunting reports (page 53) that he saw two Indians near this place from the Meamie River who were desirous to see me but fear'd to enter the Fort tho assured by Tomaroy I wanted to see any in safe Conduct who had Complaints to make, they declar'd they could not venture at present, as a part of their Nation was now out with intent t to Strike the Inhabitants at Prairie du roche, for the loss of one of their Nation Shot (very deservedly) by a Mons: Bastean. N. B. this poor Man hath been teazed much by pretended brothers of the deceas'd who want by turns to Chouce him out of all he has, however that village are prepar'd for an Insult of the kind, & I wish that the English could act with propriety against Savages as the French, but that must be a work of time. This Tomaroy Chief of the Kaskaskies is a great Church going man to the French Church, a great Speaker & I believe like most Savages very deceitfull, is now waiting here for M:r Beauvais arrival with the Chiefs daily expected.-

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