Forks of Mohongialo, where I was informed by John Frazier, an Indian
Trader,[31] that Mr. Washington, who was sent by the Governor of Virginia
to the French Camp, was returned. Mr. Washington told Mr. Frazier that he
had been very well used by the French General; that after he delivered
his Message the General told him his Orders were to take all the English
he found on the Ohio, which Orders he was determined to obey, and further
told him that the English had no business to trade on the Ohio, for that
all the Lands of Ohio belonged to his Master the King of France, all to
Alegainay Mountain. Mr. Washington told Mr. Frazier the Fort where he was
is very strong, and that they had Abundance of Provisions, but they would
not let him see their Magazine; there are about one hundred Soldiers
and fifty Workmen at that Fort, and as many more at the Upper Fort, and
about fifty Men at Weningo with Jean Coeur; the Rest of their Army went
home last Fall, but is to return as soon as possible this Spring; when
they return they are to come down to Log’s Town in order to build a Fort
somewhere thereabouts. This is all I had of Mr. Washington’s Journey
worth relating to your Honour.[32]
On the thirteenth I arrived at Shanoppin’s Town, where Mr. Montour and
Mr. Patten overtook me.[33]
On the fourteenth we set off to Log’s Town, where we found the Indians
all drunk; the first Salutation we got was from one of the Shawonese who
told Mr. Montour and myself we were Prisoners, before we had time to
tell them that their Men that were in Prison at Carolina were released,
and that we had two of them in our Company. The Shawonese have been very
uneasy about those Men that were in Prison, and had not those Men been
released it might have been of very ill consequence at this time; but as
soon as they found their Men were released they seem’d all overjoyed, and
I believe will prove true to their Alliance.[34]
On the fifteenth Five Canoes of French came down to Log’s Town in Company
with the Half King[35] and some more of the Six Nations, in Number an
Ensign, a Serjeant, and Fifteen Soldiers.
On the sixteenth in the morning Mr. Patten took a Walk to where the
French had pitched their Tents, and on his returning back by the
Officer’s Tent he ordered Mr. Patten to be brought in to him, on which
Word came to the Town that Mr. Patten was taken Prisoner. Mr. Montour and
myself immediately went to where the French was encamped, where we found
the French Officer and the Half King in a high Dispute. The Officer told
Mr. Montour and Me that he meant no hurt to Mr. Patten, but wondered he
should pass backward and forward without calling in. The Indians were
all drunk, and seemed very uneasy at the French for stopping Mr. Patten,
on which the Officer ordered his Men on board their Canoes and set off
to a small Town of the Six Nations about two Miles below the Log’s Town,
where he intends to stay till the Rest of their Army come down. As to any
particulars that pass’d between the Officer and Mr. Patten I refer your
Honour to Mr. Patten.
By a Chickisaw Man who has lived amongst the Shawonese since he was a
Lad, and is just returned from the Chickisaw Country[36] where he has
been making a Visit to his Friends, we hear that there is a large Body of
French at the Falls of Ohio, not less he says than a thousand Men; that
they have abundance of Provisions and Powder and Lead with them, and that
they are coming up the River to meet the Army from Canada coming down. He
says a Canoe with Ten French Men in her came up to the Lower Shawonese
Town with him, but on some of the English Traders’ threatning to take
them they set back that night without telling their Business.
By a message sent here from Fort De Troit by the Owendats to the Six
Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese, we hear that the Ottoways are
gathering together on this Side Lake Erie, several hundreds of them, in
order to cutt off the Shawonese at the Lower Shawonese Town.[37] The
French and Ottoways offered the Hatchet to the Owendats but they refused
to assist them.
We hear from Scarrooyady that the Twightwees that went last Spring to
Canada to counsel with the French were returned last Fall; that they had
taken hold of the French Hatchet and were entirely gone back to their old
Towns amongst the French.
From the sixteenth to the twenty-sixth we could do nothing, the Indians
being constantly drunk.
On the twenty sixth the French called the Indians to Council and made
them a Present of Goods. On the Indians Return the Half King told Mr.
Montour and me he would take an Opportunity to repeat over to Us what the
French said to them.
On the twenty-seventh We called the Indians to Council, and cloathed
the Two Shawonese according to the Indian Custom, and delivered them up
in Council with your Honour’s Speeches, sent by Mr. Patten, which Mr.
Montour adapted to Indian Forms as much as was in his Power or mine.
On the twenty-eighth We called the Indians to Council again, and
delivered them a large Belt of Black and White Wampum in Your Honour’s
and the Governor of Virginia’s Name, by which we desired they might open
their Minds to your Honour, and speak from their Hearts and not from
their Lips; and that they might now inform your Honour by Mr. Andrew
Montour, whom You had chosen to transact Business between You and your
Brethren at Ohio, whether that Speech which they sent your Honour by
Lewis Montour was agreed on in Council or not, and assured them they
might freely open their Minds to their Brethren your Honour and the
Governor of Virginia, as the only Friends and Brethren they had to depend
on. Gave the Belt.
After delivering the Belt Mr. Montour gave them the Goods left in my Care
by your Honour’s Commissioners at Carlisle, and at the same time made
a Speech to them to let them know that those Goods were for the Use of
their Warriors and Defence of their Country.
As soon as the Goods were delivered the Half King made a Speech to the
Shawonese and Delawares, and told them as their Brother Onas had sent
them a large Supply of Necessaries for the Defence of their Country, that
he would put it in their Care till all their Warriors would have Occasion
to call for it, as their Brethren the English had not yet got a strong
House to keep such Things safe in.
The Thirty-First A Speech delivered by the Half King in Answer to your
Honour’s Speeches on delivering the Shawonese:
“BROTHER ONAS:—We return You our hearty Thanks for the Trouble You
have taken in sending for our poor Relations the Shawonese, and with
these four Strings of Wampum we clear your Eyes and Hearts, that You
may see your Brothers the Shawonese clear as You used to do, and not
think that any small Disturbance shall obstruct the Friendship so long
subsisting between You and us your Brethren, the Six Nations, Delawares,
and Shawonese. We will make all Nations that are in Alliance with Us
acquainted with the Care You have had of our People at such a great
distance from both You and Us.”—Gave Four Strings of Wampum.
_A Speech Delivered by the Half King_
“Brethren the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia: You desire Us to
open our Minds to You and to speak from our Hearts, which we assure You,
Brethren, we do. You desire We may inform you whether that Speech sent by
Lewis Montour was agreed on in Council or not, Which we now assure You it
was in part; but that Part of giving the Lands to pay the Traders’ Debts
We know nothing of it; it must have been added by the Traders that wrote
the Letter;[38] but we earnestly requested by that Belt, and likewise
we now request that our Brother the Governor of Virginia may build a
Strong House at the Forks of the Mohongialo, and send some of our young
Brethren, their Warriors, to live on it; and we expect our Brother of
Pennsylvania will build another House somewhere on the River where he
shall think proper, where whatever assistance he will think proper to
send us may be kept safe for us, as our Enemies are just at hand, and we
do not know what Day they may come upon Us. We now acquaint our Brethren
that we have our Hatchet in our Hands to strike the Enemy as soon as our
Brethren come to our assistance.”
Gave a Belt and Eight Strings of Wampum.
THE HALF KING,
SCARROOYADY,
NEWCOMER,
COSWENTANNEA,
TONELAGUESONA,
SHINGASS,
DELAWARE GEORGE.
After the Chiefs had signed the last Speech, the Half King repeated over
the French Council, which was as follows:
“CHILDREN: I am come here to tell you that your Father is coming here to
visit you and to take You under his care, and I desire You may not listen
to any ill News You hear, for I assure you he will not hurt You; ’Tis
true he has something to say to your Brethren the English, but do you sit
still and do not mind what your Father does to your Brothers, for he will
not suffer the English to live or tread on this River Ohio;”—on which he
made them a Present of Goods.
February the First.—By a Cousin of Mr. Montour’s that came to Log’s town
in company with a Frenchman from Weningo by Land, we hear that the French
expect Four Hundred Men every Day to the Fort above Weningo, and as
soon as they come they are to come down the River to Log’s town to take
possession from the English till the rest of the Army comes in the Spring.
The Frenchman that came here in company with Mr. Montour’s Cousin, is
Keeper of the King’s Stores, and I believe the chief of his Business is
to take a view of the Country and to see what Number of English there is
here, and to know how the Indians are affected to the French.
February the Second.—Just as we were leaving the Log’s Town, the Indians
made the following Speech:
“Brethren the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia: we have opened our
Hearts to You and let you know our Minds; we now, by these two Strings of
black Wampum, desire You may directly send to our Assistance that You and
We may secure the Lands of Ohio, for there is nobody but You our Brethren
and ourselves have any Right to the Lands; but if you do not send
immediately we shall surely be cut of[f] by our Enemy the French.”—Gave
two Strings of black Wampum.
February the Second.—A Speech made by Shingass, King of the Delawares.
“BROTHER ONAS: I am glad to hear all our People here are of one mind;
it is true I live here on the River Side, which is the French Road, and
I assure you by these Strings of Wampum that I will neither go down or
up, but I will move nearer to my Brethren the English, where I can keep
our Women and Children safe from the Enemy.”[39]—Gave Three Strings of
Wampum.
The above is a true account of our Proceedings, taken down by Your
Honour’s most obedient humble Servant.
GEORGE CROGHAN.
3d February, 1754.
_The Honourable James Hamilton Esquire._
CROGHAN TO CHARLES SWAINE AT SHIPPENSBURG[40]
AUGHWICK, October 9th, 1755.
DEAR SIR: On my return home I met with an Indian from Ohio who gives me
the following accounts: That about 14 days ago he left Ohio, at that
time there was about 160 Men ready to set out to harrass the English
which probably they be those doing the Mischiefs on Potomack. He says
the French Fort is not very strong with men at present. He likewise says
that he is of opinion the Indians will do no mischief on the Inhabitants
of Pennsylvania till they can draw all the Indians out of the Province
and off Sasquehanna, which they are now industriously endeavouring to do;
and he desires me as soon as I see the Indians remove from Sasquehanna
back to Ohio to shift my quarters, for he says that the French will, if
possible, lay all the back frontiers in ruins this Winter.
This man was sent by a few of my old Indian Friends to give me this
caution, that I might save my scalps, which he says would be no small
Prize to the French; and he has ordered me to keep it private so that I
don’t intend to communicate it to any body but you. I don’t know whether
the Governor should be made acquainted with it or no; but if you judge it
proper write the Governor the whole, but at the same time request him to
keep it a secret from whom he had his Information, for if it should be
made publick to the Interpreters or Indians it may cost me and the man
I had my Information from our Lives; and, moreover, the best method to
frustrate their Designs will be for the Governor not to let the Indians
know that he is acquainted with their design, but to conduct the affair
privately, so as not to let the Indians know he has any suspicion of
them. Indeed it is only what I thought the Indians always aimed at, and
what I feared they would accomplish, for I see all our great Directors of
Indian affairs are very short sighted, and glad I am that I have no hand
in Indian affairs at this critical time, where no fault can be thrown on
my shoulders.
I am, Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant,
GEO. CROGHAN.
_To Mr. Charles Swaine._
P. S.—Sir, if you could possibly Lend me 6 guns with powder, 20 of lead
by the bearer, I will return them in about 15 days, when I can get some
from the Mouth of Conegochege. I hope to have my Stockade finished by the
middle of next week.[41]
G. C.
A COUNCIL HELD AT CARLISLE, TUESDAY THE 13TH JANUARY, 1756[42]
_Present_:
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS,[43] Esq., Lieutenant Governor.
JAMES HAMILTON WILLIAM LOGAN, RICHARD PETERS, Esquires.
JOSEPH FOX, Esquire, Commissioner,
MR. CROGHAN.
Mr. Croghan having been desired by the Governor in December last to
do all in his Power to gain Intelligence of the Motions and Designs
of the Indians, and being now in Town was sent for into Council, and
at the Instance of the Governor gave the following Information, viz:
“That he sent Delaware Jo, one of our Friendly Indians, to the Ohio for
Intelligence, who returned to his House at Aucquick the eighth Instant,
and informed him that he went to Kittannin, an Indian Delaware Town on
the Ohio about forty Miles above Fort Duquesne, the Residence of Chingas
and Captain Jacobs, where he found one hundred and forty Men chiefly
Delawares and Shawonese, who had then with them above one hundred English
Prisoners big and little taken from Virginia and Pennsylvania.
That there the Beaver,[44] Brother of Chingas, told him that the
Governor of Fort Duquesne[45] had often offered the French Hatchet to
the Shawonese and Delawares, who had as often refused it, declaring
they would do as they should be advised by the Six Nations; but that in
April or May last a Party of Six Nation Warriors in Company with some
Caghnawagos[46] and Adirondacks called at the French Fort in their going
to War against the Southern Indians, and on these the Governor of Fort
Duquesne prevailed to offer the French Hatchet to the Delawares and
Shawonese who received it from them and went directly against Virginia.
That neither the Beaver nor several others of the Shawonese and Delawares
approved of this measure nor had taken up the Hatchet, and the Beaver
believed some of those who had were sorry for what they had done, and
would be glad to make up Matters with the English.
That from Kittannin he went to the Log’s Town, where he found about one
hundred Indians and thirty English Prisoners taken by the Shawonese
living at the Lower Shawonese Town from the western Frontier of Virginia
and sent up to Log’s Town. He was told the same thing by these Shawonese
that the Beaver had told him before respecting their striking the English
by the advise of some of the Six Nations, and further he was informed
that the French had sollicited the Indians to sell them the English
Prisoners, which they had refused, declaring they would not dispose of
them, but keep them until they should receive Advice from the Six Nations
what to do with them.
That there are more or less of the Six Nations living with the Shawonese
and Delawares in their Towns, and these always accompanied them in their
Incursions upon the English and took Part with them in the War.
That when at Log’s Town, which is near Fort Duquesne, on the opposite
Side of the River, he intended to have gone there to see what the French
were doing in that Fort, but could not cross the River for the driving
of the Ice; he was, however, informed the Number of the French did not
exceed four hundred.
That he returned to Kittannin, and there learned that Ten Delawares were
gone to the Sasquehannah, and as he supposed to persuade those Indians to
strike the English who might perhaps be concerned in the Mischief lately
done in the County of Northampton.[47]
No more than Seven Indians being as yet come to Carlisle Mr. Croghan was
asked the Reason of it; he said that the Indians were mostly gone an
hunting, but he expected as many more at least would come in a day or two.
Mr. Weiser was then sent for and it was taken into Consideration what
should be said to the Indians.
CROGHAN’S TRANSACTIONS WITH THE INDIANS PREVIOUS TO HOSTILITIES ON THE
OHIO[48]
In November 1748 Mʳ Hamilton arrived in Philadelphia, Governor of
Pennsylvania. During the late war all the Indian tribes living on the
Ohio and the branches thereof, on this side Lake Erie, were in strict
friendship with the English in the several Provinces, and took the
greatest care to preserve the friendship then subsisting between them and
us. At that time we carried on a considerable branch of trade with those
Indians for skins and furrs, no less advantagious to them than to us. We
sold them goods on much better terms than the French, which drew many
Indians over the Lakes to trade with us. The exports of skins and furs
from this Province at that time will shew the increase of our trade in
them articles.
In August 1749, Governor Hamilton sent me to the Ohio with a message to
the Indians, to notifie to them the Cessation of Arms, and to enquire of
the Indians the reason of the march of Monsieur Celaroon with two hundred
French soldiers through their country (This detachment under Monsieur
Celaroon had passed by the Logs Town before I reached it.)
After I had delivered my message to the Indians, I inquired what the
French Commander said to them. They told me he said he was only come to
visit them, and see how they were cloathed, for their Father the Governor
of Canada was determined to take great care of all his children settled
on the Ohio, and desired they wou’d turn away all the English traders
from amongst them, for their Father would not suffer them to trade there
any more, but would send traders of his own, who would trade with them on
reasonabler terms than the English.
I then asked them if they really thought that was the intention of the
French coming at that time: They answered, yes, they believed the French
not only wanted to drive the English traders off, that they might have
the trade to themselves; but that they had also a further intention
by their burrying iron plates with inscriptions on them in the mouth
of every remarkable Creek, which we know is to steal our country from
us. But we will go to the Onondago Council and consult them how we may
prevent them from defrauding us of our land.
At my return I acquainted the Governor what passed between the Indians
and me.
This year the Governor purchased a tract of land on the East of
Susquehannah for the Proprietaries, at which time the Indians complained
that the White People was encroaching on their lands on the West side of
Susquehannah, and desired that the Governor might turn them off, as those
lands were the hunting-grounds of the Susquehannah Indians.
At that time the Six Nations delivered a string of Wampum from
the Connays, desiring their Brother Onas to make the Connays some
satisfaction for their settlement at the Connay Town in Donegal,[49]
which they had lately left and settled amongst the Susquehannah Indians
which town had been reserved for their use at that time their Brother
Onas had made a purchase of the land adjoining to that town.
In November [1750] I went to the country of the Twightwees by order of
the Governor with a small present to renew the chain of friendship, in
company with Mʳ Montour Interpreter; on our journey we met Mʳ Gist, a
messenger from the Governor of Virginia, who was sent to invite the Ohio
Indians to meet the Commissioners of Virginia at the Logs town in the
Spring following to receive a present of goods which their father the
King of Great Britain had sent them.[50] Whilst I was at the Twightwee
town delivering the present and message, there came several of the Chiefs
of the Wawioughtanes and Pianguisha Nations, living on Wabash, and
requested to be admitted into the chain of friendship between the English
and the Six Nations and their allies; which request I granted & exchang’d
deeds of friendship with them, with a view of extending His Majesty’s
Indian interest, and made them a small present. On my return I sent a
coppy of my proceedings to the Governor. On his laying it before the
House of Assembly, it was rejected and myself condemned for bad conduct
in drawing an additionall expence on the Government, and the Indians
were neglected.[51]
At the time that the Secretary, the provincial Interpreter, with the
Justice of Cumberland County and the Sheriff were ordered to dispossess
the people settled on the unpurchased lands on the West side of
Susquehannah, and on their return to my house, they met a deputation
of the Ohio Indians, who told the Secretary that they had heard of a
purchase that the Governor had made on the East side of Susquehannah,
and said they were intitled to part of the goods paid for that purchase,
but had received none, that they were come now to desire the Governor
to purchase no more lands without first acquainting them, for that the
lands belonged to them as well as to the Onondago Council; on which they
delivered a Belt of Wampum, and desired that the Governor might send that
Belt to Onondago to let them know that the Ohio Indians had made such a
complaint.
In April 1751 the Governor sent me to Ohio with a present of goods; the
speeches were all wrote by the Provincial Interpreter Mʳ Wiser. In one
of the speeches was warmly expressed that the Govʳ of Pennsylvania would
build a fort on the Ohio, to protect the Indians, as well as the English
Traders, from the insults of the French. On the Governor perusing the
speech he thought it too strongly expressed, on which he ordered me not
to make it, but ordered me to sound the Chief of the Indians on that
head, to know whether it would be agreeable to them or not. Which orders
I obeyed, and did in the presence of Mʳ Montour sound the Half King
Scarioaday and the Belt of Wampum, who all told me that the building
of a Trading House had been agreed on between them and the Onondago
Council, since the time of the detachment of French, under the command of
Monsʳ Celaroon, had gone down the river Ohio, and said they would send a
message by me to their Brother Onas, on that head.
After I had delivered the present and done the chief of the business,
the Indians in publick Council, by a Belt of Wampum, requested that the
Governor of Pennsylvania would immediately build a strong house (or Fort)
at the Forks of Monongehela, where the Fort Du Quesne now stands, for the
protection of themselves and the English Traders.
But on my return this Government rejected the proposal I had made, and
condemned me for making such a report to the government, alledging it
was not the intention of the Indians. The Provincial Interpreter, who
being examined by the House of Assembly, denyed that he knew of any
instructions I had to treat with the Indians for building a Trading
House, though he wrote the speech himself, and further said he was sure
the Six Nations would never agree to have a Trading House built there,
and Governor Hamilton, though he by his letter of instructions ordered me
to sound the Indians on that head, let the House know he had given me no
such instructions: all which instructions will appear on the Records of
Indian Affairs.[52] The 12ᵗʰ June 1752, the Virginia Commissioners met
the Indians at the Logs Town and delivered the King’s present to them.
The Indians then renewed their request of having a fort built as the
government of Pennsylvania had taken no notice of their former request to
them, and they insisted strongly on the government of Virginia’s building
one in the same place that they had requested the Pennsylvanians to build
one; but to no effect.[53]
In the year 1753 a French army came to the heads of Ohio and built fort
Preskle on the Lake, and another fort at the head of Venango Creek,
called by the French Le Buff Rivere.[54] Early in the fall the same year
about one hundred Indians from the Ohio came from Winchester in Virginia,
expecting to meet the Governor there who did not come, but ordered Coll.
Fairfax to meet them. Here again they renewed their request of having a
Fort built, and said altho’ the French had placed themselves on the head
of Ohio, that if their Brethren the English would exert themselves and
sent out a number of men, that they would join them, & drive the French
army away or die in the attempt.