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.
Governor Dinwiddie to
Capt. Trent
(Williamsburg, May 31, 1753)
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Dinwiddie, Gov., "Case of the Ohio Company, 1754," (Enclosure #2, "John Mercer to George Mercer") in: Mulkearn, Lois, ed., George Mercer Papers, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1954, pp. 233-286. |
No. 8.
Governor Dinwiddies letter to Capt Trent.396
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Williamsburg May 31st 1753. |
Sir,
Yr letter from Winchester of the 21st May was deliver'd me by Collo Lomax, the contents thereof I have duly considered and it corresponds with the Intelligence I rec'ed from Mr. Montour, and what I have express from Philadelphia398 and I am sincerely sorry for the present situation of the Indians in Freindship with us and to shew them how much I have their interest at heart I have this day wrote to Collo Fairfax, to deliver you all or what part you see proper of the present intended for them that is now at Winchester.
I hope you will take proper care to advise the half king and the other cheifs of the Indians by a messenger400 of your bringing them the supplies as above from me, that they may send some of their people to escort you, so that it may not fall into the hands of their enemies, as you are thorowly acquainted in the woods, I must refer (page 285) this affair to you, and you will consider the great misfortune that will attend if these supplies should fall into the hands of the French Indians which I hope you will cautiously prevent.401
I am well pleased with the half kings speech402 and hope they will be able to give a good Accot of the French and their Indians, and prevent their taking possession of the lands of the Ohio. You may assure them of my firm Attachmt to their interest. It was not practicable yet to build the stronghouse, but when this attempt is defeated, they may be assur'd it will be built. If they secure some of the principal of the French and send them here I shall send them to France by way of Britain.
What the Delawar's told you, is confirm'd by Mr Montour in regard to the French and Indians giving the six nations a large black belt and the answer the six nations made them.403
I am sorry for the accot of the murders &c done by the French, and hope if we have a settlement on the Ohio, we shall turn the Tables on them, in every thing but their barbarity. You know how to frame a speech to the Indians in their stile better than I can, assure them of my sincere freindship and readiness at all times to assist them, deliver the present to them as from this colony406 and that it is intended for the six nations and the other nations of Indians in Amity with us and them. I intreat you to be as inquisitive407 as possible of the number of the French and their Indians of their designs and the situation, the Picts and Twightwees are now in, next year I hope to deliver them a large present from their father, and that I propose delivering it with my own hands. I shall be glad to hear that Burney got safe to the Twigtwees, tho' he broke my orders in remaining so long in this Colony if he had gone directly it probably had been [of much] service.408
I hope Pensylvania have been appriz'd of the present necessities of our freindly Indians and that they have or will send them some supplies
On yr return I expect you will send me as particular an accot as possible of all affairs relating to the intentions of the French and their Indians and that they are disappointed of their designs.
God preserve you and grant you a safe return & I remain with great sincerity
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Sr Yr most hble Servt |
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Robt Dinwiddie |
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______________________________________
396 Note in manuscript: 'Lre 2. fol. 16. Govr Dinwiddie to Capt Trent.'
Provenance of the letter is found in a manuscript, "List of Papers sent to Mr. Mercer by Capt. Robert Steward," which is endorsed as follows: "April 11th [1759] at night wrote Capt. Robert Steward a letter desiring him, to deliver my Letter to Mr Mercer, which had all my paprs inclosed in it agreeable to the acct on the other side, & sent them to him by Capt Ward & requested of him in my letter if Mr. Mercer should not be at Wmsburg to deliver them to any of the Ohio Company that might happen to be there. W. Trent"- Society Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Listed in the document are eight letters or communications to Trent and one to Thomas Cresap. Most of the items are included in the manuscript "Case" or in the printed Case of the Ohio Company, this volume. Some items, at least, were also used by John Mercer in a law suit, William Trent vs. Robert Dinwiddie. The whereabouts of John Mercer's private papers is unknown to the editor.
398 When Governor Clinton of New York heard from Colonel William Johnson and Hitchen Holland, commissary at Oswego, that the French and French Indians in great numbers had passed Oswego en route to the Ohio, he sent the information to the governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and to George Croghan on the Ohio.- Hamilton to Dinwiddie, May 6, 1753, printed in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 628-30.
400 Trent sent Barnaby Curran to the Ohio to inform the Indians that he would be there with a present of arms in 20 days. Also, William Russell had been sent to the Ohio by colonel William Fairfax (Virginia Council Journals, V, 427). William Russell, commissioned to go to Logstown, had received written instructions "in the gov's name to desire admittance to the Commandant of the French forces and to demand by whose Commission and authority he acts." Russell was "also to gain what Intelligence he can relating to the Designs of the French & their Indians" (ibid., 433). Curran, according to Trent, was abused verbally by Russell who informed the Indians that Curran's message was a lie, for Trent was not coming with a gift. Trent unjustly accused Dinwiddie of duplicity in sending another emissary to the Ohio. At the request of the Executive Council, Colonel Fairfax sent Russell; Trent was Dinwiddie's personal informant.
401 Neither Virginia's nor Pennsylvania's present was given directly to the Indians at the time of the conferences. Trent took Virginia's present to the Ohio in February, 1754 (Croghan to Hamilton, February 3, 1754, printed in Pennsylvania Archives, II, 119-20). Pennsylvania's gift was delivered to them by Andrew Montour at Logstown on January 28, 1754 ("George Croghan's Journal," January 12-February 2, 1754, op. cit.). George Croghan stated that this fact aroused suspicion among the Indians, thus lowering morale among those who were friendly to the English.
402 Refers to Half King's speech made at Croghan's trading house at Pine Creek on May 13, 1753, after John Harris had brought the news that the French were on the march (note 398). The Half King and other chiefs assembled listened to Croghan's and Trent's promises, and then deliberated upon them a whole night and until 2:00 P.M. the next day when Half King, in behalf of the Six Nations (page 580) at the Ohio, addressed the English. Half King answered that if the French came peaceably, they would be treated as friends; but, if they came as enemies, they would be treated as such. Also, he expressed the hope that the English would send them arms and ammunition, and promised that, if necessary, they would strike the French.- Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 615.
403 Montour's report, as given by him to Mr. West at Philadelphia, does not mention "a large black belt" but records that the answer of the Six Nations at Onondaga to the French Indians, sent by the governor of France to them, was that they, the Six Nations, "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" (ibid, p. 608). Montour's formal declaration, made to Colonel Fairfax on his return from Onondaga, was more reserved.- Declaration, May 15, 1753. Op. cit.
406 Trent delivered the present to the Indians at Logstown, not in the name of the Governor, but as spokesman for the governor, by addressing them as follows: "His Honour the Governor of Virginia has sent me here to speak to You in his Name, which I shall do in the same Manner as he wou'd have done were he here Present," and continues "Brethren, Capt Trent from Ohio inform'd me of the March of a French Army to attack You;. . .Capt Trent deliver'd Your Message to me, desiring me to send you some Powder, Lead, Guns, &ca Things suitable for Your Warriors."- Trent's account of the conference at Logstown, July 11- September 14, 1753, Op. cit.
The Indians were so impressed by the manner in which the gift was delivered that they deferred their thanks for the present until they would go to Winchester where they expected to meet the governor and thank him in person.
407 Trent was inquisitive indeed. Minutes of this conference reveal that in addition to much time spent with Half King, Trent interrogated every Indian he met- and there were many who came to Logstown; Conewagas, Delawares, Ottawas, Chipewas, and Six Nations who had gone to the French to inquire why there were in this territory white men from the Lower Shawnee Town.
408 When Thomas Burney reported the destruction of Pickawillany to Governor Dinwiddie (note 105), he immediately dispatched Burney back to them with assurance of support from Virginia, a present, and promise of a supply of arms for "next May at Winchester." The governor blamed the trouble on the Ohio on the fact that Burney tarried too long before setting out for the Miami Country (Dinwiddie to Cresay and Trent, February 10, 1753, op. cit.). Burney did not report back to Dinwiddie until after June 22, when he was sent from Ohio to the governor of Virginia by the Half King and "Monakatootah" (Scarouady) informing him that the western In- (page 582) dians, including the Twightwee and Shawnee, could not come to Winchester. According to the message, the chiefs could not leave their homes on the Ohio, for the French were within two days' journey of Logstown and they feared immediate attack. They also requested of the French why they had come to build forts on the Ohio.- Half King or Monacatootha's speech, June 22, 1753. Op. cit.
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