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
(April 16 - May 5, 1774)
McKee, Alexander in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 1087-1100.
informed Some of their party had Enter'd into an Agreement with The Revd. Mr. Monro of Albany to settle upon his lands and had Received money from him, that if this was the Case it was unjust in them not to perform their agreemt. and that he did not Choose to interfere or have to do with people who were under ingagements to Others.
this was in Presence of John Butler, John Dan & Bryant Lefferty Esqr. Doctr. Wm. Adems, Capt. John Mc.Donald, Mr. Donald Mc.Gregrier, and the subscriber when Murdock Mc.Pheurson, Alexr. Cammeron & Peter Ferguson, Absolutely declared that they never had the smallest Conection with Mr. Monroe, or had they Ever made an Agreement with him, or Recd. any money from him.
Finlay Grant saith that he and several Others were in treaty with Mr. Monro, and made some kind of agreemt. to settle on his Lands, which he affirms was Broke and forfeited in Every Particular by Mr. Monro, and that he never Received one Farthing of money from him, and Each of the above named four Persons offered and declared they were Ready and willing to make oath to the truth of the above
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JOS CHEW |
JOURNAL OF ALEXANDER MCKEE
Contemporary Copy1
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[April 16-May 5, 1774] |
April 16th.-
Private Intelligence2 received from a Shawanese Indian by Mr. McKee, Sir Wm. Johnsons Residt. on Ohio
Brother-
Although you have frequent Meetings with our great Men and they pretend a Friendship for you and that they wou'd not keep (page 1088) anything a Secret from you, I have reason to believe that they do not divulge all they know to you. Therefore I am come to inform you of what I have heard. I have not lived long amongst them, altho' I am a Shawanese, but am only upon a Vizit from the Creek Country which is my home, and to where I intend to return in a short time; Brother, You have heard that a great Meeting has been some Years past, and is now expected to take place at Scioto, Indians from Nations westward and southward expected to it. This Meeting whenever it happens is the fixed time of striking the English, for when the Chiefs are once assembled, The Warriors can readily bring all Nations into the Measure, and although the Chiefs of [all] sevl. Nations have been busied in conducting good Speeches about, [it has only served]3 the Warriors are of difft. sentiments in genl. & use it as a Cover[ing] to this General Design and the Hopes depending upon it have prevented many Broils with The White People. Tho' now Mischief seems almost unavoidable from the Disposition of our People in General, owing to the [Settlements making upon the Ohio] Encroachments upon our Lands, the ill treatment recd. from the frontier people, and the Interuption the Indians meet with in their Hunting.- The [Six Nations] Chenussios, tho' they may deny it, have their share in this plan, for it is no new one, but has been upon foot many Years, and indeed I may say such a one has been in Being since our first Acquaintance almost with the English, & particularly since the French left their belts to the Northwd. for We discovered an early Design in them of takeing away our Country and it will be a difficult Task to collect all the bad Belts that have been handed from the[m] [Six Nations] Canada & Chenussio to us upon this Subject.-
At present almost all Indians this way wish to strike those people gone down the River, and we are only waiting to hear again from the [Six Nations, for by some private messages received from them in the Beginning of the Winter they (we were) desired us to keep our selves in Readyness, for that the next News (page 1089) we might expect from them would be, That they had struck the English. The Reason they gave us for being so precipitate was that] Northwd., the Senecas being disatisfied with the Terms offered them by the [White people for] English on acct. of a Breach of Friendship [committed by] their Young Men had been guilty [of was too] which Terms were so hard [and] that they cou'd not comply with them,4 therefore That they wou'd make War first, as this wou'd certainly be the Consequence of their Refusal to the White People's Demands; That in the mean time they were amusing them with Speeches from the Lips only untill the Spring approached: This had induced some of our Chiefs to stay behind the rest to collect all the Six Nation Indians, Muncies and others settled hereabouts together, in order to carry them off, and settle them at our Towns amongst us; and they have already agreed to go with us, and pay no Regard to any Messages that may come to remove them toward the Six Nation Country; You will be convinced in a Short time, That what I tell you is Truth, and I do not tell it to you thro' any View of Interest, but that you may know what is to happen; Perhaps I may never see you again, if I shou'd return to my own Country as I intend; but shou'd I be detained here longer than I propose; I will make it my Business to come again and inform you with what I can hear. Tho' at the same time I am convinced that if it shou'd come to the Knowlege of my people, that I gave you this Information, it wou'd endanger my Life.- I must likewise inform you That I am well acquainted with the Policy of all the Southern Indians and I can assure you That their Designs are exactly the same against the English & that whenever they come to a Meeting in this Country, as soon as their own Differences are made up, That they will not hesitate to strike the English, for they make nearly the same Complaint against them, that is usurping their Country and driving them from their old Hunting Grounds has exposed many of their people to loose their Lives by their Enemy Indians.-
Brother.-
Lett the Chiefs of all Nations make whatever Professions of Friendship they will to the English, it is from their Lips only, and not from their Hearts; for they do not mean to promote any other Interest than what I have now told you, For the Great God who made us all gave them this Country, so that it is natural for them to endeavour to take Care of it.-
April 17th, 1774.-
The Remainder of the Shawanese Chiefs left this to return home. The same day an accott. was brought in, That a Trader's Cannoe was fired upon the Day before near Little Beaver Creek about fourty miles from hence down the River on their way to Scioto, one of their Men killed and another wounded who had made his Escape & brought in this Intelligence, with adding That he knew the Indians who had fired upon him to [be three] Cherokee Men and a Woman whom he had seen before he left Pittsburg.- The same Evening a Party of Militia was dispatched after the Murderers- and Keyashuta being just returned from Sir William Johnson's sent a Message to a small Village of Six Nation Indians living below Logs Town to accompany the Militia in pursuit of those Cherokees.-
April 21st.-
The Party of Militia return'd without Success having only found the Cannoe with some Liquors remaining in her below the Two Creeks.-
April 24th.-
Was informed that the Six Nations living below Logs-Town had left their Village and accompanied the Chiefs of the Shawanese down to Muskingam.-
April 25th.-
Delivered the following Speech directed to the Shawanese and Mingoes inhabiting Muskingam & Scioto.-
Brethren
As there is the greatest reason to imaging That three Cherokee Men and a Woman who committed the late Murder and Robbery (page 1091) upon one of our Trader's Cannoes, are gone towards your Town with the Plunder, and as we cannot suppose that you wou'd be either privy to or countenance such a flagrant Breach of Friendship; We therefore desire you to be strong shou'd they come to your Towns and send them back to be delivered up to Justice; This proof of your Sincerity is as little as we can expect from you; As those Cherokees came to see you, and it was by this means they came to this place, It behoves you in a most particular manner to have those Murderers taken; not only from your Promises of doing everything to preserve the Chain of Friendship and a regard to Justice; But if you consider well, this Outrage is committed against yourselves, for those Traders were going to your Towns to furnish you with Necessaries; Besides this, You must be looked upon in some degree accountable for the Behaviour of those Cherokees, as it was you brought them this way, and they have resided some time amongst you. Therefore they ought to have been better advised; for some of your own people who were innocent might have suffered for this Crime; These, Brethren, are Arguments sufficient to induce you to think That it is your Duty to apprehend the Perpetrators thereof, Even if it had not been required of you.-
A Large Bunch of white Wampum
Keyashuta arrived & repeated to me the Heads of several Speeches he was charged with from Sir William Johnson for restoring good ordr. to the Southwd. & bringg. the refractory Tribes to reason. [which were as follows.]-
Brother Keyashuta
I return you my Thanks for the Fidelity you have shewn in delivering the several Speeches you were charged with from the Ohio, as I find them exactly correspond with my Letters by way of Detroit.- I now take you by the Hand and desire you to be strong in continuing to do good as you have done, as I shall now have more Speeches of Consequence to intrust you with.-
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A Belt of Black Wampum.- |
Brethren The Hurons.-
As soon as your former Fathers the French were re-moved from Detroit There was a great Council Fire kindled at that place (page 1092) which was at that time put under your Care. But I am sorry to tell you, That I can observe at this Distance that you have almost lett it extinguish. I therefore now desire you to be strong and renew it, and to be so industrious about it, that the Smoke of it may be seen by your Nieghbouring Nations who shou'd always come to it to brighten their Friendship, as this is the way to preserve it from decaying between all Nations.-
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A Belt. |
Brethren the Hurons.-
I now return you my Thanks for the Care you have taken to deliver my Messages to the Wabash Confederacy last Year, as well as in forwarding their answer back, and I now take you by the Hand by this Belt of Wampum, and lead you to the Council Fire at my House, and I must desire you to bring the Twightwee Confederacy with you, That I may see them and speak with them myself, as I have things of great Consequence to say to you & them both. I will expect to see you here by the Time the Corn is between three & four feet high.- Be strong and expeditious in coming, and not think the time I have limited too short.- Consider that it is our Wellfare we are going to talk about.-
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A Belt. |
Brethren The Hurons.-
With respect to the person you want appointed to speak to you at Detroit, I have to inform you That there is one there already and I wou'd desire you to be strong & listen to him, as well as to apply to him to transact any public Business you have to do, and I have directed him to be attentive to what you say to him, and constantly to send to me in Writing what you have to inform me, as this is a more expeditious way than sending Runners.-
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A Belt. |
Brethren the Hurons.-
I now tell you to be strong and speak to the Wabash Confederacy. Give them your best Advice and lett me hear always from you what they say.- This is the right way to preserve peace and good Order.- Brethren, I have been informed that (page 1093) some bad Birds whistle Evil Things into one of your Ears, I now shut up the Ear next to those ill disposed Birds, That what they sing may have no more Effect upon you, and I open wide your Other Ear That you may listen to me when I desire you to promote what is good between us and all the Western Nations in our Friendship.-
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A Belt |
Brethren The Six Nations.-
You have been labouring for some Years past to collect your scatter'd people upon the Ohio together, but to no purpose; I see the Cause why you have not succeeded, & you yourselves cannot be ignorant of it. It is owing to the bad advice of those people they are settled amongst, who it seems have keep'd them with no other View than to lay whatever Mischief happens upon them.- The Shawanese Message is a sufficient proof of the Truth of this, who have complain'd against them and desired That they might be taken away, Notwithstanding it was them who took them from you; but the Design is plain. Therefore, Brethren, Be strong & bring them nearer to you. I do not point out to you any particular place to settle them, but I desire you to bring them away from those bad people they are now amongst, for Nothing but Broils & Disturbances will be the Consequence of their Residence there.-
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A Belt |
Brethren The Six Nations
I Desire you to pay the greatest Attention to what I am now going to say to you, as I will now tell you a little of my mind, and in return, when you have considered well what I say to you, I shall expect your Sentiments freely and fully upon it.- Brethren, We have been speaking for many Years past to the Shawanese, and you see they take but little Notice, and shew no Inclination at all to do what is good.- You have been yourselves frequently Witnesses of their extraordinary Behaviour when We have been endeavouring to promote the Peace and Tranquility of all Nations; Therefore consider what is to be done with them, and tell the Hurons, That I desire them also to think seriously of this (page 1094) matter, and that I expect that they will bring me the Oppinion of the Wabash Confederacy upon it, as well as all other nations inhabiting the Lakes, and by the time that the Corn is in blossom, I will expect to see all those Nations at the Council Fire here and then have their full Determination with Respect to the Conduct of the Shawanese.-
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A Belt. |
April 25th, 1774-
Keyashuta address'd Captain Connolly5 Commandant of the Militia at Pittsburg with the following Speech.-
Brother
As I understand you have an Appointment to command in this Country, I therefore take this Oppertunity of informing you That at this Time it will be very detrimental to the Public Interest to suffer Spirituous Liquors to be sold or carried into the Indian Towns, for I am sorry to observe that there appears at present a great deal of Confusion and Discontent amongst many of the Indian Tribes, and the Addition of Rum will serve greatly to increase their dissorderly Conduct.-
I spoke to the Traders last Fall upon this Subject and desired they wou'd then desist for their own Sakes as well as our's from taking such Quantities of Rum with them a Trading, but I received no Answer from them, and it seems since they pay no Regard to what I recommend to them, but have continued this pernicious Practice.- This is the Reason, I wou'd therefore Request You to use your Influence in preventing them untill Things appear more settled.-
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A String of Wampum.- |
April 26th, 1774.-
Some Cayuga Families came here from Susquehannah to settle, and informed me they wou'd plant this Year at the Mouth of Big Beaver Creek, and requested a little Amunition to hunt for their People.-
April 27th.-
I received Information That Eighteen Cannoes of the Six Nation Indians and others who lived near Logs Town and big Beaver Creek, had pass'd little Beaver Creek the 23d Inst. on their way to Muskingam.-
May 1st.6 The followg. Alarming Intelligence arrived at Fort Pitt.
One Stephens, who had proceeded in the Trader's Cannoe who was attack'd the 16th. by the Cherokees, in order to have carried her to the Scioto, return'd to this place with the following accott.- That on the 26th. Instant upon his way down the River, and near Whealing, He observed a Cannoe coming up the River, which suspecting to be Indians, made to the opposite Side to avoid them, but upon his Approach near the Shore was fired upon, and a Shawanese Indian in the Cannoe with him was killed; Upon a second Fire from the Shore a Delaware Indian who was also in the Cannoe was likewise killed.- The said Stephens says further, That he cou'd not perceive who it was fired upon him, as they lay concealed in the Weeds, and he having thrown himself into the River observed the Cannoe That was coming up to be white people, upon which he made towards them and found it to be one Michael Crissop7 with a party of Men who denied knowing anything of what had happined to them; Although upon Circumstance He the said Stephens is well Convinced That the above Murder was done by some of said Crissop's Associates.- Stephens likewise informed me that whilst he was in Company with said Crissop, He heard him make use of Threatening Language against the Indians, saying, That he wou'd put every Indian he mett with on the River to Death, and that if he cou'd raise Men sufficient to cross the River, he wou'd attack a small Village of Indians living on yellow Creek.-
The same Evening one Major Mc.Daniel of Virginia, who had been down the River as low as little Kannaway, returned to this (page 1096) place with an Accott. That a Skirmish had happin'd between a party of the Virginians and the Indians near the big Kannaway. That a Number was killed on both Sides which had occasioned the Surveyors and Land Hunters from that Colony to return. And that on his way hither the 27th. Instant He was at Michael Crissop's House at or near Whealing, when an accott. was brought to said Crissop by One Mc.Mahon, That five Indian Cannoes had stopp'd at his House, on their way down the River, containing fourteen Indians, who asked him the said Mc.Mahon for some Provisions which he refused to give them, and told them That Two of their Brethren had been killed by the White People the Day before; The Indians reply'd, That if it was so They knew nothing of it, and then proceeded down the River. Upon this Information The sd. Crissop collected fifteen Men, pursued them, & overtook them near Grave Creek where they had stopped and drawn up their Cannoes in the Mouth of a Creek That was hardly perceivable on accott. of the Bushes where they had prepared themselves to receive the white people, suspecting that they wou'd be follow'd after what Mc.Mahon had told them, and That upon the said Crissop's observing the Indians, He fired upon them, upon which a Skirmish ensued between them. But the Indians retured after loosing one Man, and One Man was killd also on the White peoples side.- Crissop and his party found Sixteen Keggs of Rum, Two Saddles & some Bridles in the Deserted Indian Cannoes.-
Upon receiving the above Intelligence, I dispatched Messages to the Chiefs of the Indians who are nearest at hand to attend here as soon as possible, and made Application to the Officer Commanding the Militia to dispatch Expresses to the said Crissop, to know from what provocation he acted towards the Indians in this manner, and to desist from any further Hostilities till matters cou'd be inquired into and settled if possible.-
May 2d, 1774.-
Parties of Militia were imployed in bringing in the Inhabitants to this place, in order to sett about fortifying, but instead of going (page 1097) upon this Service, most of them [proceeded] fled down the Country to avoid the resentmt. of the Indns.
May 3d.-
Information received from Capt. Crawford8 and one Mr. Nevill9 from Virginia, That on their way to this place; they mett a Number of the Inhabitants settled below this moving off, among whom was a Party who presented several Indian Scalps, and related their having taken them in the following manner.- That a Number of Indians having incamped at the Mouth of Yellow Creek, They, with one Grithouse had collected themselves at the House of One Baker opposite to the said Indian Camp, and decoyed Two Indian Men and Two Women over to their side of the River to drink with them, who upon finding them intoxicated, fell upon them and knock'd them in the Head & scalp'd them; That soon after Two other Indians came over to see what had detaind their Friends, and were served in the same manner, after this The Indians appear'd uneasy and six of their Men were coming across the River to see after their people, who approaching near the Shoar observed them the said White People, where they were laying in ambush for them, and attempting to return to their Camp, were fired upon, and two of them killed, who dropp'd into the River, and two others they observed fall dead into the Cannoe, and the Fifth, upon their Landing, they cou'd discern to be very badly wounded, so that he cou'd scarce gett up the Bank.- And That They heard the Women and Children at the Camp raise a very melancholy Cry. Amongst those who were killed was an Indian Woman the Wife of one of our Traders, who had a young Child upon her back, which she had bore to him, and after some Altercation between those Murderers whether they shou'd put the Child to Death, They agreed to take [it] along with them.- The said Mr. Nevill asked the person (in whose Custody the Child was) if he was not near enough to have taken it's Mother Prisoner without putting her to Death in that (page 1098) inhuman manner? He answered, That he was about Six feet Distance, and that he had just shott her in the Forehead, and cut the Strap by which the Child's Cradle hung at her back, and that he intended to have dash'd it's brains out, but that he was struck with some Remorse on seeing the Child fall with it's Mother.- That one of his Companions recommended their takeing it along with them, That they might have an oppertunity of sending it to it's Father to take Care of- And that after They had perpetrated This barbarous Murder, They made off with their Families.- Also They further said, That by this Time the whole Country was deserted, as Michael Crissop who committed the first Mischief was likewise then on his way to Redstone.-
[May] 3d, 1774.-
I called a Meeting with Keyashuta, the White Mingo, & some other Six Nation Chiefs at Coll. Croghan's House, where was present the Commanding Officer of the Militia & several other Gentlemen. When I informed them of the Melancholly Murders of their people as before mentioned, which they had not before heard, and assured them at the same time of it's being done by a few rash inconsiderate White People and not by the Intention or Knowlege of any of our Wise People.- That I made no Doubt but the Governor of Virginia, when he Was made acquainted with the unhappy Loss they had sustain'd by his people, Every measure wou'd be fallen upon by him to make them ample Satisfaction as it was not done by the Intention of Government. That in the mean time I enjoyn'd them to afford all the Assistance in their Power in accomodating the unfortunate Breach of Friendship, That had happen'd between our People and them, as a General Difference wu'd not be attended with anything but the utmost Distress on both sides.-
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A Large String of Wampum |
They Returned for Answer
That they had considered what we had said to them, and as the Chiefs of the Delawares were expected in tonight or Tomorrow, They wou'd consult with them and know what Reply to make- That We might be assured, They wou'd do every thing in (page 1099) their power to keep Things quiet, which they made no doubt might be done from the General Disposition of their own people, provided we wou'd be strong on our parts in preventing our rash people from commencing any further Outrages against the Indians.-
May 4th, 1774.-
Received the following Letter from Colo. Croghan.-
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May 4th, 1774 |
GENTLEMEN
Keyashuta stay'd with me an hour Yesterday Evening, and told me, That the Determination of the Six Nations was to take no part with the Shawanese, and he was sure the Delawares were so likewise; That they wou'd joyn us in sending one Message to the Shawanese, That if they wou'd not listen to Reason they ought to be chastized; He says, for their parts & the Delawares, They have been for some time past determin'd never to quarrell with their Brethren the English, and that he is sure they will live & die with us.- He thinks the Governor of Virginia shou'd build a Fort at the Mouth of the Kannaway to keep them in Awe and prevent them makeing Inroads amongst the Inhabitants, And that The People shou'd put in their Crops, and be guarded by some of the Militia 'till we see what part the Shawanese will act; He is sure no other Nations will joyn them, as he is certain all other Nations are displeased with the Shawanese Conduct these Twelve Months past. He says likewise, That if the Shawanese come up this way to do any Mischief, That they and the Delawares, he is sure will resent it; This he desires may be made known to all his Brethren the English upon the River to Redstone & Every where, and desires That none of the people may fly or be afraid, as the Shawanese by themselves can't do much Mischief.- I am Gentlemen
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Your humble Servant |
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GEO: CROGHAN |
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To Capt. JOHN CONNOLLY &
ALEXR. MCKEE
Esqr.
May 4th, 1774 Continued
This afternoon Simon Girty who was sent for the Delawares Chiefs, return'd with Capt. White Eyes, Capt. Pipe, Sam. Compass & some others, who went up to Colo. Croghan's where the Six Nation Chiefs had appointed to meet them.-
May 5th.10-
This Day had a Meeting before a number of the principal Inhabitants of Pittsburg, with several Chiefs of the Six Nations and Delawares, when I condoled with them for the Losses they have sustained by the Barbarity of some rash People from Virginia, covering the Bones of their deceas'd Friends with some Goods suitable to the Occasion and agreeable to their Custom.-
I Delivered them some Messages also agreeable to the present Circumstances, to be conveyed to their People at their several Towns with the utmost Dispatch, Desiring some of them who had influence to exert themselves upon this Business, as the present Emergincie required the Answer of those of their other Friends who had likewise suffered by the late unhappy Outrages, I hope they woud not delay making us acquainted as soon as possible with the[ir] Sentiments upon this unfortunate Affair, and in order to convince those People to whom they were to be delivered, of our Sincerity, And That We did not countenance these Misdemeanors Two of our People woud accompany them in the Execution of this good Service.-
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INDORSED:11 |
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[Extract]s from Mr. Mc.Kee's |
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1 In Canadian Archives, Indian Records, Vol. 16.
2 The first part of this intelligence is printed in Doc. Rel. to Col. Hist. N. Y., 8:467.
3 Words italicized and in brackets are crossed out in the manuscript.
4 End of extract printed in Ibid.
5 Captain John Connolly. This brief speech is extracted and printed in Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. of N. Y., 8:462.
6 Extracts of these entries through May 3, are printed in Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 8:462-65.
7 Captain Michael Cresap.
8 Colonel William Crawford.
9 General John Neville.
10 Entry of this date printed in Doc. Rel. Col. Hist. N. Y., 8:465. It is followed by the answer of the Shawnees to Capt. Connolly, May 21, and report of May 26, when Capt. Arthur St. Clair spoke to the Six Nations.
11 In Sir William's hand.
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