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
(May 21, 1753)
In: Minutes of the Provincial Council
of Pennsylvania, Colonial
Records, Vol. V,
pp. 607-608.
At a Council held at Philadelphia Monday the 21st May, 1753.
. . . The Governor laid before the Board several Letters from Governor Clinton, enclosing Accounts from Coll. Johnson and from the Commanding Officer at Oswego that a large Armament of French and Indians had passed by that Fort destinated, as was suspected, for Ohio, in Order to take Possession of that Country, and to build Forts on that River; whereupon he had dispatched Messengers to the Governors of Maryland and Virginia; and likewise Mr. West was sent to Susquehannah there to procure and send away two Messengers, one by Patowmec and the other by Juniata, to Ohio to (page 608) give the Indians Notice of This, and to put them upon their Guard. He further informed the Council that Andrew Montour had been at Onondago to invite the Six Nations to a Treaty at Winchester, and on his Return home meeting Mr. West had desired him to let his Honour know that the Six Nations did not encline to come to Winchester, not thinking it proper to leave their Houses at a time of so much danger, and that he found the Indians not a little intimidated at the large Armament of French and French Indians which had gone by Oswego in their way to Ohio, especially after hearing what was said by Seven Indians who came into Council while he was present, and declared they were sent by the Governor of Canada to inform their Council that the King of France, their Master, had raised a Number of Soldiers to chastise the Twightwees and drive away all the English Traders from Ohio, and take those Lands under their own care, because the Indians acted a foolish Part, and had not Sense enough to take care of their own Lands. It is true Mr. Montour said they ordered these seven Indians to tell the Governor of Canada they wou'd not suffer him to build Forts there, nor take Possession of those Lands, nor drive away the English; that those Lands belonged to the Indians, and that neither French nor English shou'd have any thing to do with them; that the Indians were owners of the Soil and independent of Both, and wou'd keep the Lands in their own hands; but notwithstanding this Answer Mr. Montour said he saw plainly the Indians were frightened, and that there was a Strong Party for the French among the Indians, and the Senecas particularly were in their Interest and countenanced this Proceeding.
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