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.
Minutes of the Provincial Council
of Pennsylvania
(Due to length divided here into three parts)
In: Minutes... from the
organization to the termination
of the Proprietory Government, Dec. 17, 1745-
March 20, 1754, Published by the
State
Harrisburg: Printed by Theo. Fenn
& Co., vol. 5, 1851.
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A Letter from Mr. Weiser to the Secretary, dated the 24th Instant, was read, purporting that Shikalamy being at his House on a Visit he delivered to him the Present of the Council, for which he returned the Council his hearty thanks; that the Ohio Indians repeated to Shikalamy what had pass'd at Philadelphia, with which he was mightily pleas'd; they further assur'd him that the Janontady Hayas, the Twigtwees, the Unich Cathallan, the Konatawadeany, the Quisagochroanos had actually made Use of their Hatchet against the French in favour of the English & expected the English wou'd assist them with Necessaries; that the said Indians had seiz'd all the French Goods they cou'd meet with, and knock'd some of the Traders in the Head, and some they permitted to go to Canada naked & acquaint their father Onontio that his Children the Indians were angry with him. And in a Postscrip Mr. Weiser adds this Important piece of News, that the Gechdagechroanos & the Runategwechsuchroanos, two Strong Nations of Indians, had received the French Hatchet, & sometime last Summer Several hundreds of them were coming this way to make an Invasion upon this or the Neighbouring Provinces, but were persuaded to go back again by the Twigtwees, who told them it wou'd be as much as declaring War against the Six Nations & their Allies, who were become one body with the English. These two Nations live to the West of the Lakes, not far from the Mississippi.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 31st March, 1748
Sir:
I let You know by these Lines that our old Friend Shikalamy, with his Eldest Son, came down from Shamokinat my request; they arrived this afternoon; I wanted to consult with him about the Journey to Ohio, and to hear what passes among the Indians on Sasquehanna River and elsewhere. Chickalamy informs me he had certain Intelligence that some of the Chiefs of the Six Nations will be down early this Spring to pay a Visit to their Brethren in Philadelphia, and to transact an affair at Shamokin concerning the Delaware Indians and their deceas'd king Olumpies. This was agreed upon at the Council at Onontago last Fall. Shakalamy had this account from an Onontager Indian, and also from a Kayucker Indian. He further informs me that two of the Indians that were at Philadelphia last Fall from Ohio, stayed all Winter at Juniata, one is there still, the other in his way homewards was detain'd at Shamokin to the high Waters, and lodg'd several Nights at Shikalamy's House; his Name is Hodeecherich, of whom Shakalmamy Learn'd 'that the Indians on Ohio had not proclaimed War against the French; that they wou'd do nothing against the French before the Six Nations had declared War; that they were altogether subject to the Six Nations; that upon the first Notice they shou'd receive from the Six Nations they wou'd Act against the French, & not before; that it was the Sisagechroanus that had committed Hostilities against the French, & had desir'd the Indians between Lake Erie & Ohio to join them; that the Indians on Ohio sent them (or their Belt of Wampum) to the Six Nations; that the Indians about Ohio were all inclin'd to keep a good Correspondency with the English and protect their Traders, and that they expect nothing else but to have a War with the French;' so far Hockeecherich. Shikalamy for his own part tells me 'that he was well assured the Information of the said Hodeecherich was true, and that the Journey to Ohio would avail but little; that he has no Inclination to go, yet if I insisted upon it he wou'd accompany me.' This, Sir, is the substance of what Shakalamy told me, and I have thought fit to send my son with it by Express to Philada., & I hope (page 213) You will lay it before the President & Council, & let my Son be Dispatched with their Result. If the Journey shou'd be delay'd or given over, What must be said to the Indians by George Croghan? His own Cargo is already gone, & he must follow it in a few Days. I will undertake a ride to George Croghan's, let things go as they will, before he goes to the Woods; I reckon he will be greatly disappointed, he having kept about Twenty Horses in readiness to carry the Goods. I am ready to whatever the President & Council will be pleas'd to signifie to me, and so conclude & remain,
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Conrad Weiser. |
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 11th April, 1748
Mr. Weiser, with Shikalamy & his Son attending, they were call'd in, & Shikalamy related to the Board that an Indian, a Member to the Council of the Six Nations at Onondago, was sent to him with a Message from the Council to inform him that they were come to a Resolution of sending some of their old Men to Philadelphia to treat about some Business of Consequence, & particularly about the appointment of a proper Person to succeed Olomipas the King of the Delaware Indians, lately deceas'd at Shamokin; he said further: The Speaker of the Ohio Indians has staid all Winter with the Nanticoke Indians at their Town, situate at the mouth of Juniata, and in his return home had call'd at Shamokin, & during his stay there he & his Son had several free Conversations with him about the Concerns of the Indians at Ohio & about Lake Erie, in which he told them that those Indians had not taken up the Hatchet, nor wou'd not do it without consulting with the Six Nations, to which they belong'd; a particular Tribe of Indians, call'd ---------, had indeed begun Hostilities, but none of these Indians had join'd with them nor wou'd do it till the Sentiments of the Council at Onondago shou'd be fully known; that knowing these particulars he thought them of so much consequence, considering what was done at Philadelphia with regard to these Indians, as to come & impart them to Conrad Weiser, & that he was clearly of opinion that Mr. Weiser's presence wou'd be requisite when the Onondago Deputies shou'd come to Town, & that if it should be thought proper to delay the Interpreter's Journey for this purpose, he believ'd no harm cou'd possibly ensue, as these Indians were not at War & were determin'd to govern themselves by the advice of the Six Nations.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, 28th May, 1748
A Letter from Governor Gooch was read in these words:
Sir-
Immediately upon the Receipt of yours, dated April 12th, the council being then in Town, I call'd them together in order to have their final advice upon what at our first Meeting I told them I thought deserved their Consideration & my speedy answer. The Gentlemen, as they were very sensible of the Importance of keeping the Ohio Indians steady & firm in their present good disposition, and of the general Benefit which all the Neighbouring Provinces will receive from their friendship, readily & with one accord agreed it was incumbent upon us to act in Concert & Conjunction with the other Governments, and that we ought to contribute a reasonable proportion towards making those Indians an handsome Present at this Juncture.
In consequence whereof, the Council came to a Resolution of sending two hundred Pounds our Currency, which we hope Your Honour & Council will think & accept as a proper Sum for us to advance on such an occasion; and as I could not have a more secure & quick Conveyance of the Money, I have committed it to the Care of Captn Robinson, who is appointed our Commissioner for that purpose, & who has directions to consult your Honour in the purchase of such Goods as will best Suit with those your Province intend for them; which Goods when bought, with the assistance of Mr. Weiser, he had order'd to deliver himself to Mr. Weiser, who will have Instructions from us to place either the Money or Goods, as your Honour & he shall think most expedient, in the hands of those Indians as a Free Gift from the Government of Virginia, that the Ohio Indians may know to whom they are oblig'd, and not only remember their Engagements to the Crown of Great Britain, but they & all the Indians living near that River may by Gratitude be (page 258) restrain'd from doing any manner of Injury or Wrong to our Inhabitants. These are the Instructions we have thought fit to give Captain Robinson and your honest & worthy Interpreter, which we trust will be satisfactory to your Honour & the Council of Pennsylvania.
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I am, with much Esteem |
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Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant, |
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WILL GOOCH |
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, 16th July, 1748
Whereas, some of the Chiefs of the Six Nations Indians living on the Waters of Ohio, a Branch of the Mississippi, in Amity & Alliance with Us, have signified to our Governor of our Province of Pennsylvania that the Twightwees, a considerable Nation of Indians residing on the Borders of Lake Erie, and late in the Interest of the French King, are now earnestly desirous to enter into the Alliance & Friendship of Us and our Subjects; and for that end that several Chiefs and Deputies have been sent from the said Twightwees Nation, and are now waiting at Lancaster with divers Chiefs of the said Six Nations, in order to enter into a Treaty of Alliance & Friendship with Us and our Subjects; And also, that several Chiefs & Deputies from the Shawnees Nation of Indians at Allegheny are now likewise waiting at Lancaster in order to renew the League of Amity subsisting between Us & that Nation; Know ye, that reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Abilities, and Circumspection, We have thought fit to Nominate & Appoint You the said Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson, & William Logan, & ever of your, our Commissioners on behalf of our Governor of our Province of Pennsylvania aforesaid, to treat with the said Indians now at Lancaster, or with their or any or every of their Chiefs or Delegates, & with them to our said Province of Pennsylvania and the said United Nations of Indians, or between us and the said Shawonese Nation of Indians, & likewise to enter & compleat such Treaty of Alliance with the said Twightwee Nation; And further to do, act, transact, & finally to conclude and agree with the Indians aforesaid all and every other Matter and thing whatsoever necessary, touching or in anywise concerning the Premisses as fully and amply to all Intents, Construction, and Purposes, as our Governor of our Province of Pennsylvania aforesaid might or cou'd do being Personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming and holding for firm and effectual whatsoever you, the said Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson, and William Logan, or any of You, shall lawfully do in and about the Premisses. In Testimoney whereof We have cause the Great Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. . .
At a Council held at Philadelphia Wednesday 24th August, 1748
The latter end of June last we received a Letter from His Excellency Governor Shirley, acquainting us that an Interview with the Indians of the Six Nations was appointed to be held at Albany on the 10th July, desiring that Commissioners might be sent from this Government to be present at it to consult & join with the other Commissioners there; but taking into Consideration your Sentiments delivered to us in a matter of the like kind, and observing the Notice being so short that it wou'd scarcely afford time sufficient for consulting with You on this Affair, and for appointing Commissioners with proper Instructions, we declined calling You together on this occasion.
The Information we received from the Cajukas had the appearance of a matter of the greatest Importance to the safety of the People of this and the Neighbouring Governments; we, therefore, immediately dispatch an Express with it to His Excellency the Governor of New York, whose answer together with the Information we received will be delivered you by our Secretary.
In consequence of the Letters which in our Message we acquainted you we had wrote to the Governors of Virginia and Maryland, the former has sent a Present for the Indians at Ohio, to be deliver'd them by Mr. Weiser with the Presents from this Government.
We have the Satisfaction to acquaint You that the Twightwees, a considerable Nation of Indians living on the River Ouabache, a Branch of Ohio, hitherto in the French Interests, being desirous of entering into Friendship with the English, communicated their Intentions to the Indians of the Six Nations at Allegheny, who con- (page 330) ducted their Deputies to Lancaster, where a firm Treaty of Friendship & Alliance has been established between us. This must necessarily strengthen the English Interest in general among the Indians, contribute greatly to the Security of our Inhabitants in time of War, and tend considerably to the enlarging our Indians Trade, especially as we are assured by the Twightwee Deputies that not less than twelve towns in their Neighbourhood are equally desirous with them to become our Allies, and settle a Correspondence with us; & that they only waited to know the Success of their Negociations when they would make the like Application. Shou'd this be effected, besides the advantages already mentioned the Intercourse between the French at Canada & the Mississippi would be greatly interrupted, the nearest & most convenient Passage being thro' those Towns. . .
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