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.
Information Concerning
an Indian Conspiracy
(Fort Pitt, March 7, 1771)
Edmonstone, Charles in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 8,
pp. 6-8.
THE PAPERS OF
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON
Prepared for publication by
The Division of Archives and History
ALEXANDER C. FLICK Ph. D., Litt. D.
Director and State Historian
VOLUME VIII
ALBANY
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
1933
of the pleasure I should otherways have had when I was at the Hall. I also hope Colo Johnson has got the Better of his disorder that he Mrs Johnson Sir Colo. Claus his Lady and their Family, are Very well, to whome please to make my best Compliments as well as to Mr Byrne Mr Dayly and the Gentlemen of Johnstown Mrs Chew and miss Fann present their best Complements and Respects to you and I am with my Earnest prayers for your health
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Dear Sir |
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Your most Obedt & |
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most Hble Servt. |
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JOS CHEW |
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The Honble SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON Bart
INFORMATION CONCERNING AN INDIAN CONSPIRACY
L.
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[Fort Pitt] March 7 th1771. |
This Day Mohikin John and Joseph two Stockbridge Indians who have resided above a Year amongst the Shawnese and Delawares gave me the following Intelligence before Mr. Croghan & Mr. Mc Kee which they desired might be kept a Secret from the Indians otherwise it might Cost them their Lives.-
Mohikin John says that during his Stay in the Indian Country he was present at all their Councils and that he saw the Belts of all Nations that were sent to the Shawnese; That the Six Nations since the Treaty of Fort Stanwix told the Shawnese and Delawares that they had not sold the Lands on the South Side of the Ohio to the English, that the English had forced and Stolen them & was encroaching into their Country (the Shawnese and Delawares) and therefore desired them to make Peace with all the Western Nations as fast as they cold and fixed four Years for doing it in, and that as soon as that was done they would all strike the English at once & drive them out of their Country; That the Shawnese and Delawares have been ever (page 7) since that Treaty employed Negotiating with the Western & Southern Indians, and that early in the Fall, the following Nations were all of one Mind & determined to strike the English, which was agreed on at the Plains of Sciota.
The Delawares, Shawnese, Hurons, Ottowas, Putiwatimees, Chipawas, Twightwees, Wawcoughtenoes, Piankeshaws, Kicapoes, & Musquetons, and that when all was thus Settled, they said they only waited for the Six Nations to come, who had prom[ised] at the Council, he says their Plan is for all the Western Nations & Six Nations, Shawnese and Delawares to strike at Fort Chartres, Detroit, Michilimackinac, and this Place; The Cherokees and all other Southern Nations to strike on the Frontiers of the Carolina's & Virginia all at the same time; that the time was not fixed when he left that Country, as they waited for the Six Nation Deputy's who were at the Head of this Enterprize and the promoters of it, which said Mohikin John says he is Certain of, and further says that the Mohawks is as much concerned, as any other Tribe of the Six Nations; On Mr. Croghan's telling Mohikin John it was very odd that the Six Nations and Mohawks in particular shou'd have a Hand in such Measures, He answered, We might believe him or not, but what he said was true and we would soon find it so, for that all the Nations had received Belts from the Spaniards and French giving them great Encouragement to prepare and get Ready for that they intended to make War this Spring or Summer on the English themselves- which the Indians were all very glad to hear, and which he said he thought would make them strike before the time they had first agreed on, which was four Years. Mr. Croghan then asked him what the Indians meant by coming here and speaking so fair, to which he said the Delawares and Shawnese had agreed to speak fair to the English, but it was from their Lips only, and not from their Hearts; th'o he says he is sure that the Delawares and Shawnese would not Strike but for the Six Nations, nor does he believe any of the other Nations would; And that whether we believed him or not, it would not be a great While, till We would find his Words come true.
He then said it was not for nothing so many Parties of the Six Nations went last Fall and this Winter to the Cherokee Country that some of them had told the Shawnese that they were going against the Cuttabas, and that the English were cross, as the Cuttabas Lived amongst them, that they would Strike the English likewise, & perhaps you may soon hear of some mischief being done that Way.-
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INDORSED: |
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Intelligence
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