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.
Conference of Lord Cornbury
With the Indians
(July 9-Aug. 19, 1702)
(Due to length divided here into two parts.)
Livingston, Robert, Schuyler, P., and Wessels, Dirck
in: New York Colonial Documents, IV
(London
Documents: XV), pp. 978-999.
pp. 989, 998, 999.
Wee forgott to answer your Lordship yesterday concerning ye rendring an account of ye number of our People we cannot conveniently now give your Lordship an exact acct but shall do it as soon as we can. Your Lordship in your propositions requires an account of ye affairs of ye Country & how affaires stand relating to ye farr Indians &c which we are now come to give
Upon which one of the Sachims of the Sinnekes stood up and said
That there was about 24 of ye farr Indians called Twichtwichs and Dionondadees came to their Castle this spring and told them they were bound for Canada to Trade; and withall acquainted them, that they would deliver up ye twelve Sinnekes Prisoners which they had taken in Warr and desired that they might send for them, upon which ye Sinnekes ordered Owenano one of their Sachims to goe and fetch them from Tjughsaghrondie, they said further that all ye five nations ought to be acquainted with this their resolution as also Corlaer ye Governour of New Yorke for ye Governour of Canada has ordered that said farr Indians should make Peace with ye Sinnekes, and that there should be an exchange of Prisoners on both sides and they were now going to the Governor of Canada to acquaint him, that they had complyed with his desire, and upon this proposition they laid down a Belt of Wampum to ye Sinnekes
The said 24 farr Indians said further to the 5 nations we are now come to live at Tjughsaghrondie at one end of your house and having now concludd a firm Peace with you which ye Dowaganhaes have done in like manner, we must tell you not to trust too much to ye Dowaganhaes for they are a brutish People, and if any of your men happen to be killed by them we would not have you take up the Hatchett against them before you acquaint ye Govr of Canada with it, and they will doe the same if your People should be chance kill any of them, that soe the matter may be composed, and not come to an open rupture for the Governor of Canada has given such directions, that if either nation should send out a Troop to War upon ye other, he will have your Troop or Company if they were 30 delivered up to him to be punished and if that nation or castle should refuse to deliver up the said Company yt had so gone out to War without first acquainting therewith, then he would make War upon that Castle & nation & then there was another Belt given by ye said farr Indians
The 2 Belts so given we did present to ye Oneydes and Cayouges Maquase and Onnondages
An Onnondage called otsakana said that there was a Sachim of their Castle
called Great wald(see fn. 1) out a hunting this Spring
a Frenchman comes to him, and bids him to go to Canada which he did, and coming
to Mont Royall he went to Mons Marricour and the Preest who said they had not
sent for him neither knew they anything of ye matter, upon which he
returned again to his hunting, @ now when ye Sachims were upon their
way hither & gett as far as ye small carrying place a messengr
sent from ye Govr of Canada overtook them and ask'd them
to go to onnondio ye Govr of Canada but they told him
they were sent for by Corlaer ye govr of N Yorke &
were going to him & wd not go to ye Gov of Canada
His Lordship told him that they shd abide by their conclusion yesterday not to take any Preests into their country
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P SCHUIJLER. ROBt LIVINGSTON |
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DIRCK WESSELS justies of Pace, |
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Secry for Indian Affairs |
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Albany ye 20 July 1702 |
The 10 Sachims being sent for his Excellency my Lord Cornbury told them that he perceived the Principal matter that they insisted upon was the [Proposition] relating to that conveyance of. . .
Proposalls made by Dekannissore Cheiffe Sachim of Onnondage and two other Indians of said Nation to his Excellency Edward Lord Cornbury Captn Generall and Gov in Cheiffe in Albany ye 17 of August 1702
. . .
Our Sachims were arrived two days before I came from home. There are great divisions in Onnondage one half of ye Indians are inclined to have a French Jesuit among them ye other half are against it and many of those that are for ye Priests seem to be inclined to hearken to Corlaer and to take a minister to instruct them in ye Christian faith do give a faddom of Wampum
I am further to acquaint you that about 15 days ago, there are 10 of ye Onnondages gone to Canada to speak with ye Governor of Canada and 3 of the Cayouge whereof one is the principal Sachim, the Oneydes & Maquase have sent none neither do I know that ye Sinnekes have sent any, having not been in yt consultation
When ye messenger came from Canada for some of ye Sachims to go thither, we called Aradgi a Sachim of Onnondage of ye French faction came with him & told that a French Jesuit would come to Onnondage, & Tohonsiowanne that is great world has gone to fetch him, but I Dekanissore told him I would tell Corlaer, & that I did not approve of it
. . .
I cant be but surprized to hear that they are gone to Canada before they heard what was concluded here, since it is determined in the publick propositions that none should goe till further order.
I understand also that some of your people
are gone to fetch a Jesuit from Canada not withstanding it was concluded by all
ye 5 nations not so much as to suffer one to come into your Country much less
to send for him Now Brethren whatever I have promisd I will take care shall be
religiously observd on my part, and since that is my Resolution I expect that
what you have promised should in like manner be punctually observed, I am now
sending over to England to be supply'd with ministers to instruct you in the
Christian faith and therefore can stand in no need of any from ye French I
shall conclude and hold fast the Resolutions made when ye 5 nations were here
last, and hope ye brethren will doe the same, in token whereof I give you a
faddom of Wampum
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1world. post. p. 992.-ED.
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