obstructive causes at times occurred, difficult to combat. This
induced Friends, among them, to believe that a change made in their
situation, so as to render them more independent of the natives,
might subject them to less difficulty in the further prosecution of
the concern. The improvement heretofore made on their own land, for a
time, had a good effect; but their ideas were weak, and for want of
more sensibility in some of the intentions of Friends towards them,
it had led to a dependence, which evidently impeded their progress
in civilization. This dependence seemed to increase, as they saw the
increase of produce from the land that Friends cultivated. Some of the
Indians had increased their stock of cattle faster than the means of
supporting them through a long and rigorous winter. When their hay and
other fodder become reduced, they applied to Friends to give them some.
These requests could not be complied with, to an extent proportioned
to their necessity, without reducing Friends to alike state of want;
and fearing, least in future winters, a renewal of similar requests,
without the means of supplying them, might disturb that harmony which
had hitherto subsisted between Friends and the Indians, it was thought
adviseable by the committee to embrace an opportunity which now
presented, of purchasing from a company of white people, an adjoining
tract of land, in order to make such improvements thereon, as might
accommodate a family or more, of such, who from time to time, might
feel desirous to assist in the instruction of the Indians, and thus by
making it a more permanent establishment, entirely independent of the
natives, be enabled to extend more efficient aid to other branches of
the Seneca nation.
In the spring of 1803, this proposal of a removal of Friends’
settlement was communicated to the Indians, and they generally
coincided with it, provided the move should not be far up the river.
They had several councils on the occasion, and communicated to Friends
their views; and although their prophet, Connediu, had, in time back,
been somewhat opposed to the views of Friends in changing the customs
of the Indians, he was now entirely friendly, and strongly recommended
industry and perseverance in the plans which Friends had recommended
to them. The following paragraphs from one of his speeches on this
occasion, may be worthy of notice.
* * * * *
“My friends, Quakers, attend.--It is now a long time since you first
came amongst us. It has even exceeded the time that was first proposed.
I now speak the united voice of our chiefs and warriors to you, of
our women also, and of all our people. Attend, therefore, to what I
say. We wish you to make your minds perfectly easy--we are all pleased
with your living amongst us, and not one of us wants you to leave our
country. We find no fault with you in any respect, since you come
amongst us; neither have we any thing to charge you with. You have
lived peaceably and honestly with us, and have been preserved in
health, and nothing has befallen you. This we think is proof, also,
that the Great Spirit is pleased with you living here, and with what
you have done for us.”
“Friends, Quakers--we now all agree to leave you at full liberty,
either to remain where you now are, on our land, or to remove up the
river and settle on land of your own, only that you settle near us,
that you may extend further assistance and instruction. For although we
have received much benefit from you, and some of our people have made
considerable advancement in useful labour, yet we remain very deficient
in many things, and numbers of us are yet poor.”
* * * * *
As the important change proposed to be made in conducting the affairs
at Alleghany, required serious consideration, four of the committee
proceeded to that settlement, and on conferring with Friends there,
were satisfied of the propriety of a removal from their present
station, to one more independent of the Indians, and less subject to
their control.
A tract of land adjoining the Indians’ reservation on Tunesassa creek,
which empties into the river on the east side, about two miles above
Genesinghuta, was agreed upon, and afterwards purchased, as the most
eligible place for a settlement; inasmuch as it furnished an ample
situation for water works, and much of the tract was covered with
excellent pine timber. The tract included about seven hundred acres.
Friends had free and open conferences with the Indians on the subject
of their removal, and various other matters; and satisfactory
arrangements were made respecting the old settlement, the Indians
insisting on Friends’ occupying the farm until they got suitable
accommodations, and provender for their stock, at their new settlement.
In one of their conferences, Cornplanter observed:
“Brothers, when your friends first came amongst us, and for a long
time after, the white people told us, ‘keep a good watch on those
Quakers--they are a cunning, designing people; and under pretence
of doing something for you, want to get hold upon you, to make an
advantage of you some way or other;’ but of late, finding that all was
straight, and no advantage was attempted to be taken, they have left
off talking about it.
“Brothers, your young men do not talk much to us, but when they do they
speak what is good, and have been very helpful in keeping us from using
spirituous liquors.”
Here it may be proper to remark, that in the spring of 1798, an Indian
lad of the Tuscarora nation, from near the falls of Niagara, had been
taken to Philadelphia, and placed with a Friend in Chester county,
to learn the blacksmiths’ business, where he continued till the last
spring;--and having acquired a competent knowledge of his trade, and
made considerable proficiency in school learning, the Friend with whom
he had been instructed, felt such an interest in his welfare, that he
accompanied him home to his Indian friends, staid several weeks with
him, to see him set up in his business, and assisted him therein.
This Friend, on his return, had now been several weeks at Alleghany,
affording the two Indian blacksmiths there, some further instruction in
that art. They were very desirous he should tarry longer with them; and
an old chief observed, “Friends had now sent on a blacksmith, the best
they had ever seen--he knows how to make all things we want.”
Considerable improvement among the Indians at this time was observable,
more particularly up the river. Several families had settled about two
miles higher up, than where they formerly resided, and had cleared and
fenced in about sixty acres of land. Seventeen new houses with shingled
roofs, were observed neatly built, with square logs, most of them two
stories high, with stone chimneys and glass windows. They had about one
hundred head of cattle, thirty horses, and several hundred hogs. And
the Indians had opened a road, about twenty miles along the river, and
much of it through heavy timber; which was a great work for them.
The committee proceeded from thence to Cattaraugus, and noticed
considerable improvement in that settlement. Several of them were
building good houses. Their crops of corn were good, and their stock of
cattle increased; and, generally speaking, they had declined the use
of strong drink. They had divers requests to make to Friends, some of
which were granted; especially one, for a set of smith tools and plough
irons. While Friends were sitting with the chief warrior, he seemed
in a pensive mood, and said he wished to ask them a question, but
hesitated. They desired him to say on--It was, “_Do the Quakers keep
any slaves?_”--He was answered in the negative. He said he was very
glad to hear it; for if they did, he could not think so well of them as
he now did--that he had been at the city of Washington last winter, on
business of the nation, and found that many white people kept blacks in
slavery, and used them no better than horses.
The committee on their way home had interviews with the Buffalo and
Tonewanta Indians, and gave them such advice and encouragement as their
situation required. It was satisfactory to observe, from the account of
Red Jacket and others of their chiefs, that some improvement was taking
place among those Indians.
Our friends at Alleghany built a temporary house at their new
settlement this fall, to which they removed, which we shall hereafter
call Tunesassa. The land being heavily timbered, much exertion and
labour were necessary, to make their situation tolerably comfortable
during the first winter.
In the spring of 1804, the Indians generally removed from the lower
town, and settled higher up the river; several of them not far from
Tunesassa. This removal subjected them to some inconveniences, the
first year, but eventually proved much to their advantage; especially
to those who were detached from their little towns.
As it was believed much benefit would result to the Indians from the
erection of a grist mill on Friends’ farm, there being none nearer
than about forty miles, measures were adopted to have grist and
saw-mills erected this summer; and they were so far completed, as to
be in operation the ensuing winter, when the Indians had considerable
grinding done, and were much pleased to see the grain reduced to meal
so much quicker than by pounding it in wooden mortars.
An Indian man, after having a grist of wheat of his own raising ground
and bolted, said with animation, “I think this will make the Indians
see day-light.”
In the course of this season, some dissentions took place among the
Indians with regard to their chiefs. Several young men of considerable
influence in the nation, and who were anxious to assume the reigns of
government, became disaffected to Cornplanter, and taking measures to
subvert his authority, artfully prevailed with the Indians to confer
on themselves the dignified title of chiefs. This, among men whose
rulers only hold their authority during the good will of the people,
was not difficult to effect. In the mean time, Connediu, who had some
time before been promoted to the highest title in the nation, continued
(as he said) his imaginary interviews with the inhabitants of the
spiritual world, so that his fame spread abroad, and visits were paid
to him from distant tribes. He also travelled to distant parts himself,
and promulgated his doctrines, (which happily were now become more
innocent,) throughout the Seneca nation.
In the latter end of the winter and spring of 1805, the Indians
experienced much damage to their infant settlements, by some unusual
freshets in the Alleghany river. Nearly all their fences were swept
away; but instead of being discouraged by their losses, they joined
together very spiritedly, and soon repaired them; and in the end
appeared to have been benefitted; for by this exertion, they gradually
became more accustomed to labour--a thing, to them, of the greatest
consequence.
As it was believed the time had now come when it would be right to take
some measures to instruct the Indian women in the various branches
of housewifery, and domestic economy, and as this could not be done
without female aid, a suitable family were sought for, and a man and
his wife offering for that service, as well as a single female, who had
before been at the Oneida settlement, they proceeded to Tunesassa in
the early part of summer; and the natives expressed much satisfaction
on their arrival among them.
The arrival of the females was no less satisfactory to the Friends
residing at Tunesassa--for as from the first settlement to this
time, in addition to the various calls of the Indians, and their
out-door labours, they had all their domestic and culinary services to
perform,--except some little aid received at times, by hiring some of
the Indian women.
Although many of the Indians had constructed comfortable houses, very
few of their women took any pains to keep them clean and in neat order.
They manufactured none of their own clothing, except the mockasins they
wore on their feet. They had no knowledge of making soap, and of course
their clothes could not be very clean--and very little improvement in
domestic affairs had as yet taken place among the Indian families.
In proportion, however, as the men became more accustomed to labour,
it released the women from their former drudgery; and having now the
opportunity of getting all their grain ground, which before they had to
pound in wooden mortars, it would afford them more time to turn their
attention to the business of the house, and the concerns more properly
allotted to females, in all civilized societies.
To aid and assist them in accomplishing this, was the object of our
female friends; and some of the Indian girls pretty soon began to show
a willingness to be instructed in knitting and spinning. A house of
employment was built at a little distance from Friends’ dwelling,
and particularly allotted to their use; but for want of the necessary
materials, not much could be done at these useful employments the first
season. Our women Friends were, however, enabled to instruct many
of them in the art of making soap, which enabled them to keep their
clothes and persons more cleanly; and also by frequently visiting them
in their families, had opportunities of instructing and encouraging
them in habits more assimilated to civilized life. The Indian women,
also, made frequent visits to them, and by observing their industry,
economy, and superior mode of living, an inclination began soon
to manifest itself, even among these uncultivated females of the
wilderness, to imitate the more useful and rational economy of our
women Friends.
In the course of this summer, Friends had got about thirty acres of
land cleared on their farm--their spring crops were productive, and
they sowed fourteen or fifteen acres with winter grain. The grist
and saw-mills were kept in operation, and found to answer a valuable
purpose.
In the spring of 1806, the Indians were much engaged in clearing land,
splitting rails, and carrying on various improvements. One of the more
sagacious observed to Friends, “Our Indians are getting to have more
sense, very fast.”
They continued strongly opposed to the use of spirituous liquors, and
seldom held a council without some animadversions on their baneful
effects--and nothing excited more wonder among the surrounding white
people, than to find them entirely refuse liquor when offered to them.
The Indians said, that when the white people urged them to drink
whiskey, they would ask for bread or provisions in its stead.
In the course of this summer, a company of Indians from Alleghany, with
Connediu (whom they called their prophet,) at their head, paid a visit
to several villages of their brethren, near the Genessee river, in
order to dissuade them from the use of strong drink, and to encourage
them in habits of industry.
In the Ninth month, this year, the settlement was again visited by
three of the committee. The writer being one of the number, and
having resided more than two years among them at the first opening
of the settlement, was afforded a full opportunity of judging of the
improvements the Indians had made. A council was held with the Indians
at Cold Spring, which was a new town the Indians had built on the west
side of the river, a few miles above Tunesassa. Various subjects were
discussed in this council, relative to the Indians’ improvement, and
much advice communicated relative to their moral conduct, and long
replies again made by the Indians, which the limits prescribed for this
narrative will not admit in detail. One thing, however, not heretofore
noticed, was earnestly pressed upon them; to live in peace and harmony
with their wives, and not to let trifling matters part them, as was
sometimes their practice; but to consider them as companions for life:
and also to live in peace and friendship one with another, which would
enable them to make a greater progress in the good work Friends were
endeavouring to promote among them.
Our Friends at Tunesassa had now got about fifty acres of land
cleared, well enclosed, and in good order. They had built a large and
commodious dwelling house and barn, which, together with the mills
and improvements generally, gave it the appearance of a desirable
settlement.
It was believed the Indians had built about one hundred new houses
since the committee visited them three years before. Most of them were
put up with hewn logs very neatly notched at the corners; many of
them were covered with shingles, and some had pannel doors and glass
windows. The carpenter work was chiefly done by the Indians. Scarcely a
vestige remained of the cabins they occupied when Friends first settled
among them. Their farms, which were of different dimensions, were
enclosed with good fences, and much more detached from each other than
formerly. A much greater proportion of corn was planted this season
than had been known before, and generally looked well. Many of them
had raised wheat and oats, and several had raised flax and buckwheat,
besides potatoes and turnips in abundance. Their stock of cattle and
horses was increased, and they had a good many working oxen, which they
found very advantageous to them. Sheep were not yet introduced, owing
to the danger of their being destroyed by wolves.
Upon the whole, it was evident their improvements rather exceeded, in
divers respects, those made in some new settlements of white people on
the frontiers, in the same length of time.
Several of the young women had this year learned to spin and knit a
little; but although the improvement among the females was yet small,
it was, nevertheless evident, a change in this respect had taken place
for the better, since our women Friends came among them. Their persons
and apparel, as well as their houses, appeared in more neat and cleanly
order. And as Friends approached some of their habitations, a pleasing
mark of neatness discovered itself among some of their women, who
would immediately begin to sweep their houses, and appear somewhat
disconcerted, if Friends entered their doors before they got their
apartments in good order.
After spending near a week at Alleghany, the committee proceeded to
Cattaraugus, and had a very satisfactory interview with the Seneca
Indians at that place. Various matters were opened to them in a written
communication, tending to incite them to industry, and to encourage
them in a life of sobriety. A great reform had taken place among
those Indians in this respect. The chief warrior in his reply said,
“He believed the Great Spirit was better pleased with them when they
took hold of the axe and the hoe and went to work, than when they were
pursuing their former bad practices of drinking, &c.” “And he was very
glad Friends had given them their speech upon paper, that they would
not only advise their young people themselves, but would have that
speech to apply to, to strengthen their minds.”
Although a considerable change had taken place for the better at this
settlement within three years past, their stock of cattle and horses
having considerably increased, (and instead of confining them as
formerly in small enclosures round their villages, they had, since
enclosing their cornfields, the advantage of pasturing them on the
large plains,) yet they appeared very far behind their brethren at
Alleghany, in agricultural improvements, as well as in buildings and
cleanliness of living.
In the year 1807, no very important change took place among the Indians
at Alleghany, except that divers of the young women and girls applied
themselves to spinning in the course of the winter, under the direction
of our women Friends, and succeeded so far as to have a piece of linen
spun and wove into cloth, besides manufacturing a quantity of sewing
thread with which many of the Indians were well pleased.
Some evil disposed persons, and doubtless opposed to the advancement
of the Indians in civilization, took every opportunity of creating
suspicions in their minds, of the views of Friends, and artfully
insinuated that Friends’ saw-mill was erected to accumulate an interest
out of them, notwithstanding that Friends had given them many thousand
feet of boards, and also their grain at the grist-mill was then ground
free of toll.
In order, therefore, to settle the minds of the Indians, to counteract
the suspicions in circulation, and as a convincing evidence of the
disinterested views of Friends,--believing also, that it might redound
to the Indians’ advantage, they offered to assist them in building a
saw-mill for themselves; and three hundred dollars, in addition to a
set of saw-mill irons, were granted for that purpose.
This fall Cornplanter was again restored to his former station of
chief; and from the disposition he had always manifested to the object
of Friends, there was reason to expect his renewed influence in their
councils would be useful.
The family at Tunesassa, experienced a great trial by the removal of
the Friend’s wife residing there, who, after about two weeks illness
was taken from this transitory scene. She had by her prudent and
obliging conduct very much endeared herself to the natives, many of
whom attended her funeral, and a number of them called to see the
family some days afterwards, and desired them to make their minds
easy, seeing it was the will of the Great Spirit, and what must happen
to all mankind; and they were come to sympathize with them, and to wipe
away their tears that they might sorrow no more.
In the following winter, a number of the Indian women and girls were
engaged at spinning, and a disposition to industry and manufacturing
their own clothing, seemed to be gaining ground. A loom was provided,
and several pieces of their own spinning were made into cloth.
1808. As Friends for sometime past, had been desirous of rendering more
essential service to the Indians at Cattaraugus, it was now believed
expedient to purchase a tract of land adjoining their reservation, and
have a family stationed there, that would more effectually accelerate
their improvement.
Accordingly a large tract of land was agreed for, on Clear creek, which
furnished a good seat for water-works, within four or five miles of the
Indian town. The land being heavily timbered, the Indians were engaged
in opening a road from their villages to it; and considerable advances
were made towards opening a settlement this season, superintended by
some of the Friends from Tunesassa.
The Indians at Alleghany got their saw-mill completed this fall so as
to be in operation, and the Friends at Tunesassa were joined by another
family, a Friend with his wife, a single female who accompanied them,
and several children; the parents offering their services to spend some
time in the instruction of the Indian natives.
Near the close of this year, and through the succeeding winter,
very considerable progress was made among the women and girls in
learning to spin; several purchased wheels and commenced spinning at
their own houses; and an aged female, of the first influence, named
O-yong-go-gas, resided sometime with Friends, to be instructed in this
employment, and made an unexpected progress. Her attention to assist
in encouraging and superintending the younger women and girls, was a
favourable circumstance, and tended to promote their improvement. On
hearing that Friends at Tunesassa were about writing to the committee,
she delivered the following address, desiring it might be sent also.
“Brothers, attend--I wish to speak a few words to you. Since your women
came here, I have frequently had a prospect of learning to spin; but as
I was an ancient woman, I was afraid to make a beginning, lest I should
not make out, and would then have to decline it, without accomplishing
any thing. I at length concluded to try, and have learned so much as to
be able to spin flax and tow pretty well.
“Brothers, I am very happy that I have the satisfaction to inform you
a little of my progress, and also that I can now with more assurance,
impress the necessity of this valuable improvement on the minds of our
young women, and I intend in future to recommend it as a most necessary
employment.