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.
Journal of James Kenny
(1761-1763)
(Due to length divided here into eight parts)
Jordan, John W., ed. in: Pennsylvania
Magazine of History and Biography,
vol. 37, 1913, pp. 1-47,
152-202.
THE
PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE
OF
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.
|
VOL. XXXVII. |
1913. |
No. 1. |
JOURNAL OF JAMES KENNY, 1761-1763.
EDITED BY JOHN W. JORDAN.
The original manuscript of the journal of James Kenny, "kept by him on his journey to Pittsburgh, and notes or remarks of what he judged worth taking notice of while he remained there," is preserved in the Manuscript Divisions of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He had charge of the trading store established by the Commissioners of Indians Affairs, of the Province, and his records of local, military and Indian affairs are valuable and of interest for their details. He describes the great freshet, which did so much damage to the new town; William Ramsay's experiments with a double section batteau, propelled by paddles worked by the feet; he accompanied John Bartram on his botanical excursions; his friendship with Christian Frederick Post, the Moravian missionary to the Indians, and the movements of the Indian kings of Pennsylvania and Ohio tribes of Indians, will be found of especial interest.
James Kenny was a member of the Chester Country family of the name resident at Kennett Square, and
for ye Tea- some Huckle Berris on one Hill up ye Monongahela. I Caught some fish with a Rod & Line, one Cat fish that Weigh'd Nine Pounds. I have seen some that Weigh'd fourty One Pounds & they tell me for Certain of some being Catched last Year that Weigh'd One Hundred Weight; they catch likewise a sort of young Alligaters about a foot or fourteen Inches long, but I have been informed some battoe men has seen one ye matter of five or Six foot Long.
12th.- Some of ye Indians I was acquaint'd with before being come, was Glad to see me, one of which Call'd Jammy Willson had some Bundles of Skins & some fur, he dealt here; this man has Curled black hair & never went to War by report, but having obtain'd a White Woman & Boy, he kept ye Woman as his Wife, using her kindly; on finding she inclin'd to return to her own People he brought her & ye boy with ye Amount of his Estate to our Store & told ye Woman notwithstanding He Loved her, as she want'd to leave him, would let her go, so he divided his substance equally with her, giving half ye remaindr to ye Boy & set them both free & went with ye Woman home giving her a Horse to Ride; an Instance of more self denial than many men of great Christian professions shews their poor Negros.
23d.- This Morning about One o'Clock John Langdale (ye Agent that was here this last year) is set off to Philadelphia & Capt Clapham came to me to Day about ye sd Agent. Here has been Eight or Nine Men that were Prisoners amongst different Nations of Indians, (& set free by them at Detroit) came here some time ago, one of which that lived amongst ye Picks, inform'd me that that nation seem'd well affect'd toward ye English, but that there were very current reports amongst them of ye Massissippy Indians being set on by ye French to come to take some English place this way.
Frederick Post came here & stay'd with us about two Days and then set off to Beaver Creek in order to Preach to ye Indians and inform them of ye Principels of Christianity as ye Moravians do hold ye Same I hear since; he was made Welcom by ye Indians and is gon to ye Beaver's Town Tuscorawas. Being hunting in ye Woods for a Horse ye Agent lost here, Glad of ye opportunity to Ride out. I been a considerable way all about between these two Rivers & ye fork of Land is much Narrower then they are draught'd; seen many Human Sculls & bones that lies about ye whole belonging to a Body in Places except some of ye smallest- I have took some time to fitt them together.
Being got much in faviour with ye Doctor, as he recons me a Great botanest I goe with him sometimes to Vissit ye Sick & see him Dress sores.
7mo 1st.- Here came sundry Expresses from Detroit with accounts that ye Indians were about attacking that Place Presque isle & this, last Night or this night all by storming ye places. This News came here some days agoe & caus'd such Hurries here that ye Soldiers were set to work to make up a part of ye fort bank that was but very low, strict orders against Selling any Powder or Lead to Indians were Issu'd.
4th.- All ye Powder in ye Stores taken into ye fort & put into ye Magazine; Orders Issued by Collonl Bouquet Proclaim'd & Posted in Writing for all ye Inhabitants here, Merchants, Traders, Sutlers Artifiecers &c., that were Able to bear Arms should meet at appoint'd Places, give in their Names to be form'd in Companys under officers in order to keep out gaurds & help to defend ye Place, & they that did not do so must desert ye Place in two Days time;- which some expect'd would be my lot or else to bear Arms, on which occasion I wrote ye following lines & sent out Saml Dean to ye Collonl.
MAY it please Collonel Bouquet, as thy orders is
7mo 5th.- Ye Doctor inform'd me that ye Officers liked me much ye better for standing true to my Principels.- Notwithstanding I have been so foolish in Days past, as to give cause of reproaching ye name I went by, yet my understanding was mightily darken'd in some respects & its been ever cause of Sorrow & repentance to me when I think of my folly.
Here was ye Beaver King & Killbuck with me at Breakfast & I cannot find out by them when they think to goe to the Treaty to Philadela although White Eyes & Wingemun after their return from there seem'd mightly Pleas'd. Signifying that they would go there to hold a Treaty in about one moon & a half, & White Eyes signified to Collol Bouquet that he was willing to be made a Prisoner in ye fort & after default of bringing in ye Prisoners & ye Stolen Horses, even from ye Shawanes, that ye Collonl might do what he pleas'd with him.
6th.- I am jealous that Killbuck used endeavours with ye Beaver to frustrate or prolong their going to this Treaty, as he told me that there had been a Sum of money offer'd for killing him in ye War time & sent round ye frontiers in private Letters by subscription (which I had never heard), and that ye Indians told him frequently that as sure as he went toward ye Inhabitants he would be Kill'd: he is very subtile & Politick. I endeavour'd to remove all these Scruples leting him know that ye Men amongst us in authority would be for hanging any White man now that would Murder an Indian that was at peace with us; he confess'd that was ye old Law, & he is Imploy'd now at a Doller Day to go with Capt Callender to Sandusky with amunission for Detroit, which pleas'd him much.
Some time agoe there was a Mingo Indian kill'd by Lieutt Piper of ye Provincials for Stealing their Horses: as he came here he brought ye Sculp to this Place but ye Scalping was not aproved of here.
7mo 7th.- I have seen Letters come to this Place, giving Account that General Amherst is to be at Nighagara very soon on his way coming here & they think he will procee'd from here down ye Ohio, to ye Massisippy.
8th.- An express from Detroit but no bad News, had some Trade.
9th.- Last Night, after many of ye People were gone to Bed there was Eight or Nine Guns went off at ye uper end of ye Town by the Monongahela, which caus'd such an alarm that all ye People Hurried for their Lives; ye Soldiers & Milita got under Arms expecting ye Enemy was realy come to attack ye Place; ye Women & some Men Carrying bundles of their goods into ye fort. We got up being in bed & My Brother & two other men that was in ye house was for going into ye fort. I walk'd toward ye Monongahela & back to ye House, hearing no more Shooting, I told my brother as I had at first, I did not believe there was any Enemy, so we sat down by ye Door & seen ye Hurry, untill in about half an hour we heard it was men desarting & they fired on them kill'd one & Wound'd another; ye one that was kill'd is said to be one that rob'd a Store here lately & came back, kept hiden & was now going with more of ye Provincials; I hear since he was not kill'd.
10th.- It's said that ye Mingoes were Invit'd here to a Treaty by some strings ye Collol delived some of them here in order to Apease ye Relations of him that Lieut Piper kill'd for stealing Horses, & a Prisoner told me that an Old Delaware Squa told ye Indians over ye River that there was a Great Number of Mingo Indians lying up ye River & Charg'd them not to tell ye white People of it.
7mo 11th.- I think Drunkenness & feighting is much abated in this end of ye Town to what it was & some of ye Ordinary Houses is moved from here, Nine Train
made ye Indians as well as us, that he was willing to do them good & might send Good men amongst them on that account let him know that ye bad Spirit was ye mother of Wars because it made people hate one another, as also of all other vices. He acknowledg'd he knew ye Principels of Friends were such & that they were ye best People.
15th.- A Cousen of Delaware Georges, a Young Man born at Oley, had some Trade here, seemed very good Nature'd & having no English Name I gave him my Name which he said he would keep, went out a Hunting. I took a Vomit being unwell in my stomack & seems much better.
16th.- Spent most of this Day in Posting what dealings I had since Jno Langdale went away. I hear ye Genaral is gone to Detroit.
17th.- Jno Armstrong, mentioned ye 14th Inst, being going to ye Woods to Hunt over Alligany with his Squa, request'd some Lines under my Hand as a recommendation least meeting White men that might have had Horses Stolen from them, they might suspect him & so be in danger of being Shot, which I did.
The Trade runs so now at this Place that all Secams Subtilty can Invent is used to draw it & ye Master piece of gaining it now seems to be in Trusting ye Indians with Goods so this brings their Custom to such Stores & please them much that they are so much in Credit, of which ye Store that is kept by Trent & Levy here (Franks being Concerned & its thought Croughan) ventures much on trust, being some of Croughan's Polliticks & he & all his Instruments endeavours to draw all ye Custom to that Store; this is a Point they have ye advantage of the Province Store in at cent.
18th.- Came an Indian call'd John & another Young fellow who had a Pair of little Buffellow Horns fix'd to his Cap. John was recommend'd to me by Philip Powel, (page 14) one of my former Acquaintance, receiv'd about fourty Pounds worth of them in Peltry.
19th.- Ye Millitia Mustering is drop'd now, only on ye first Days of the week.
20th.- Notwithstanding ye strict orders against selling or giving ye Indians Strong liquors, they frequently get too much of it amongst ye Traders & sutlers, some treating them with Punch to draw their custom & I was told by Indian Jno above mentioned, that Levy ye Jew had sold ye Beaver's son two Ceggs of Rum today at 20/Gallon & told John to acquaint ye Indians at Moosekinggum that he would sell them Rum if they came to him & this Jew endeavours to set ye Indians against me as Jno told me, this Jew and Langdale that was Agent here, fought.
21st.- The Young Man that is hired with me, Saml Dean, running after our cow to bring her home this morning has cut his foot so bad that he keeps an Intire Cripple & I am oblidged to do all that is to be done partly myself- this store I think was never so distitute of hands before. I apply'd some time since to ye Collonl to allow me one of ye Provincials to assist in this Store and both General Standwix & Moncton alow'd of it, but, his Answer was that they were so necessiat'd for to get ye fort put in better order & to have work done, there could not a Man be spair'd, & I think they are very deligent ye Drum beats at its light in ye morning to set all to Work & holds it untill ye Gun fires late after sun Down. Mostly ye works going on are ye fort Banks raising higher, a fine large Stone House, a Building in ye S. E. Corner of ye fort for a Governor's House, Stone quarring & Squairing for the House, quarying for Lime & Burning ye Same, Making & Burning Brick, & farming & Gardening, having a fine Inclossure under Indian Corn & divers things, Mowing & Haymaking abroad up both Rivers.
22d.- No more accot of ye Generals coming here.
24th.- Going after our Cow this Morning, getting my feet wet in ye Dew, got something of ye Ague.
25th.- There's been much Rain toward ye Heads of ye Aligania river as it has rose very High in ye night.
26th.- Here is much Rain. I went over ye Monongahela & gatherd some Ginsang, but rained heavy before got back.
8mo 1st. There has nothing Material happen'd this Week past, only I hear of one of ye Lieutts belonging to ye Train who went from here having Shot a Man below Bedford some Miles, only for stricking his dog that was feighting ye Mans dog & stuck both in parting them, for which he first Horse Whipt ye Man & then shot him through ye Head with a Pistol. Doctor Millen being sent for from this place to try to Cure ye Man but too Late.
Last night Collonl Bouquet had a large Sum of Money Stolen out of his Room in ye fort while he was out at ye Mess House about ten o'Clock at Night, has Advertised Two Hundred Dollars for ye discovery of ye thieves, and Pardon to any One of them that will discover of ye Rest; ye Sum is said to be ye Matter of One Thousd Pounds Stole.
George Croughan is gone toward Detroit with White Wampum to endeavour to settle ye Nations there as there ahs been a Plot discover'd amongst ye Indians, in which they had propos'd to attack, that place & this & Niagara all in one Night, by storming ye Places or geting in Sliely & then destroying ye People with Tomhocks. As it is said they are not settled yet, they keep Robing People betwen Venango & Presque Isle, such times causes exercise of minde & some dread which proceeds from weakness as I can die but once & my peace being made, while I keep it, what need I fear ye Sting of Death as I feel no guilt in my Soul.
2d.- There has been 100 of ye Collol Money found in (page 16) one of ye Great Guns & there has been much searching for ye Rest, but did not search our House.
3rd.- I hear that ye Mingoes has request'd Lieutt Piper (who kill'd ye Indian for Stealing Horses some time ago) to be deliver'd up to them, upon which accot he is sent away from this Place.
An Indian came here from Tuscorowas Town where ye Beaver King Lives, informs that ye Beaver's family gets Rum at this place frequently & carries home by which ye Indians frequently get Drunk pawning their Clothss Wampum & all they have for it; that two Mohaks Indians got Drunk there, & ye One kill'd ye other in fighting, him self being much wounded, & that the Mohacks were not pleas'd with ye Beaver King about it; its commonly said that Levy ye Jew sells Rum to ye Indians & some publickly by ye Collols mission, especially to ye Beaver's family.
4th.- Levy's Negro run away with ye Indians last Night. A young man Call'd Wm Ramsey has made two little Boats being squair at ye sterns & joined together at ye sterns by a Swivel makes ye two in form of one Batoe, but will turn round shorter than a boat of ye same length, or raise with more safty in falls & in case of stricking Rocks; he has also made an Engine that goes with Wheels inclose'd in a Box to be worked by one Man by sitting on ye end of ye Box & treding on Traddles at bottom with his feet setts ye wheels agoing which works scullers or short Paddles fixed over ye gunnels turning them Round ye under ones always laying hold in ye water will make ye Battoe goe as if two men Rowed & he can steer at ye same time by lines like plow lines.
5th.- I hear ye Beaver King is gone with Croughan toward Detroit & that Collenl Johnson is to meet them to Hold a Treaty there & that ye Indians had deliver'd ye War belt up, to ye Command there which they made.
6th.- I receiv'd a Letter from Frederick Post dated (page 17) ye 27th of last month at Tuscorawas Town, in which he informs me that the Indians are not all willing to deliver up ye Prisoners as yet & that he has hard living amongst them any Provisions they have being to dear- a Bushel of Corn being forty Shillings, one quart Milk two Shills & Six pence, One Pound Butter Ten Shills & for washing one Shirt Two Shills & Six Pence, & Venison 7 pence, he also adds that he hopes of being of Service amongst them & signifies that he was in fear some time ago when ye Beaver took Six Ceggs Rum there & they were Drunke Six Days; that they talk of going to Philada soon to hold a treaty there.
7th.- Had some little Trade to Day tho, trade is very dull here now.
8th.- Was Invited to a Barbacue of Tortle this Day by Levy ye Jew & Crafford ye Trader, but had not appetite for ye feast, being held on ye Island & they came over about Dusk like so many Drunken Indians.
9th.- My Namesake Indian returned from his Hunt last Night, having brought thirty Skins with him & dealt them with me. This Day, had I once more of some Shawanas being brought to me by Jno Owen, who is desirous to serve ye Commissr.
10th.- The Indians that deal at our Store, often want to stay in ye House at Nights while they remain here, & often want Victuals; they also want to bring their Squas to lie with at Night, which I Object against, letting them know that they shall bring none such to Sleep in our House, & having shut out two Squas last Night, they kept throwing Stones on ye House & Door after we went to bed, untill we went out & threaten'd them away. So many Roberies Commited here at Nights that all Noise tends to keep me from Sleep & ye fleeas together, that I get but little Sleep.
12th.- Several Hunters that lodg'd here are going out this Day to hunt & leaves all their best Cloths & things in my keeping. I am Indispos'd wt a kind of Desentery.
13th.- I have been Poorly all this Day; had some Trade, receiv'd a Bill of Lieutt Meyer on Capt Harry Gorden on Acct some Wine I sold him belonging to Allexr McMullen, he is going with a command of Men & some Bullocks & pack horses to Build a Block House at Sandusky.
14th.- Had some conversation with Delaware George in which he informs me that ye Indians cannot settle matters amongst themselves so as to Go to hold a Treaty this year at Philada & that White Eyes & Beaver did not let him know when White Eyes went to Philada that their Nation are subject to three Heads, Viz ye Beaver, himself & White Eyes which all be consulted.
15th.- Receiv'd some Lines from Frederick Post, in which he says that things about them at Tuscorawas is Still & quiet, ye Indians being gone to ye Treaty at Detroit; but that he is in a Suffering Condition for want of Provissn & requests of me to send him some ye first opertunity.
16th.- Receiv'd ye first Letter from Joseph Morris signifying of Jno Langdale haveing Resign'd ye Agency, & Josiah Devenport & I, & some others being return'd to ye Governor he gave Devenport ye Commissn to be Agent here, & that Langdale comes with him to Deliver up ye Store.
17th.- Having sent Saml Dean over ye River with ye Battoe for an Indian with a Load of Skins, who came, & as we began to Deal for them Crafford ye Old Trader came to ye Store after them bringing some Indians with him, whom he had set on to draw ye man with ye Skins away from our Store which they effect, by teeling ye Indian that was about Dealing, that our Stillards was too light, & having sent for Ormsbey's Stilliards I wey'd ye Skins with them & there was about One Pound more by them in about one Hundr Wt tho I told ye what I could & had an Interpreter, yet they took them to
9mo 1st. Kept taking an Inventory of ye Goods.
14th.- About ye 14th Inst Jno Bartram ye botanist & Member of ye Royal Society came here, who I was glad to see & well receiv'd by Collol Bouquet & ye officers. About this time one of ye most reserv'd men in apearance amongst ye officers call'd Jams Miller, Chirugen of ye Garrison, Cut his own throat at Night in his Room with two Rayzors, which affect'd ye People very much in General; he had been at times Hipt or Lunatick.
16th.- About this time Jno Bartram, Capt Gordon & me went over ye Monongahela looking for Curiossities in Plants & having shewn Bartram a Vine, that I looked on as rare, we pull'd of its fruit, being long like Cucumbers which he recons a great rarety or new Genus, if it proves not to be Aristolochia, not being ever found in these parts before; also a fine Violet in Blossom which is a rare thing in ye fall.
Bartram desirous that he & I should go out by ourselves, we did another Day going to ye Saw Mill & up ye Run from thence ye South of ye Monongahela Mountain in order to go to ye French Lime Kiln & ye Coal Mine which lay on a Branch of ye sd Run, but we keeping ye Main Run it lead us some Miles wrong to ye South & coming on Rain, we set by Gess a Course ye nighest way through ye woods & came right opposite to ye fort; have observ'd some Curiosities.
18th.- Having propos'd to go down ye Ohio to ye Oyle Spring & desirous of my company, we Set off this Day in company with Capt Bryen of ye Provincials, being also bread a Friend, & four of his men to work ye Battoe, also Hugh McSwain for an Interpretor, ye Collonel having furnish'd us with a tent & Provissions, also Liquor plenty. I tooke ye Courses of ye River as we went, by a Good Pocket Compass having several Islands & from Pittsburgh to ye mouth of Beaver Creek will be very near a North West Course. Not having many Crooks we first put ashore in a long Island below
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