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.
20th.- The Scheme project'd by G. C. of Trusting ye Indians which Levy, Trent & Co done much in it, now do not turn out Satisfactory, ye Indians not paying, ye Credit Stops; there is dissatisfaction in both sides.
21st.- The Shawanas that came to ye Treaty brought a Double Tooth here wh weigh'd 6 3/4lb & a piece about 15 inches Long of an Eye Tooth.
22d.- Robert Pusey (a Cossen of Joshua Pusey) came here from ye Shawana Town being a Prissoner there about 5 years; he brought a Tooth weigh'd 4 1/2lb & says that these Teeth are Esteem'd, that there are some Teeth too Heavy to be carried, that there are Horns about 12 foot Long, as I suppose is ye Eye teeth of Elephants.
23rd.- None of ye Indians can remember of seeing any of these Creatures alive, neither do they Know who kill'd them, but that there is a little Stone fortification made near the Lake where its believ'd ye Indians that kill'd them ambuscad'd themselves.
25th.- The Colonel has sat up ye Common Prayer & Littiany to be read on ye first Days ye Week. Jno Ormsby Reads the Prayr's.
26th.- Amongst other things, I am Inform'd by Robert Pusey that this Summer was four years ago, when Nanticoke Will came here from amongst ye Shawanas being ye first of them that came to See us; ye Account I gave him of ye Matters in Adjetation & ye Advice with ye List of ye Prices of Goods & Peltry with us, had such effect when he return'd home as to Stop about fourty or fifty Wariors just then going against ye English having held a Council & Stop't them; also that they profess a Great regard for ye Quakers & was against their Wariors coming to Pennsylvania at all, but are Still Spitefull against Virginia.
27th.- Here has been two men from ye borders of Carrolina who has pass'd many Counterfit 5 Bills Virginia Money, and ye Colll has Order'd to carry him (page 164) all ye Counterfit Bills above mentioned, in ordr I hear, to send them to ye Governor of Virginia.
30th.- Came here from Philada David Franks & John Reed Contractors to Settle ye Provission Accots.
8mo 1st.- Indian Peter return'd from Detroit & Says that another Belt for War, was sent by ye Mingoes to ye Wyondots who carried it to Capt Camble, & that ye Indians back there talks that ye English are going to Strike them. Meeting Mohickan John going from here, who told him he hear'd it at this place amongst ye White People, also that Michael Teafe has told ye Indians some foolish Stuff also, that Mohickan Jno sd that ye Indians who went to the Treaty would never Return.
2d.- An old fisherman Nam'd Robert Elliot fell out of his Canoe last Night, being at Ancor fishing, & was Drownded, not being found yet.
3rd.- Three days agoe return'd a Company of Mingo Warriors having One Prisoner & One Scalp of ye Cherokees.
4th.- Jacob Stroud, & 3 Waggons more came here, he brot sundry Goods.
9th.- Load'd two Waggons with Peltry yesterday and they set off; I sent my Wolf, racoon & Wild Cat, a present to ye Governor.
11th.- Been very Wet and Rainey to Day. An Accot been taken of ye Provissions at this place, ye 7th of this month: there appears to be 67,696lb Good Flour & 41,149 part Good & part bad, Due by the Baker's allowing 25 pr cent of Bread to 100lb Flour 38,781lb; Remain in Store 117,636lb; 733lb Rice, 284 Barrels Beef, 66 ditto Pork, 679 Pounds Bacon, 238 Oxen, 4 Milch Cows, 76 Sheep, 7 Hogs, 332 Bushels Salt. There was Condemn'd by a Court of Enquiry 10,068lb Flour & 1097lb Butter. Allow'd for Wastage by Jno Ormsby Commassary here, 22,352lb Flour & abt 4 Barrels Pork & Mutton, also Kill'd by Wolves & other Accidents 6 (page 165) Oxen, 13 Sheep, & 2 Swine. Whether ye Kings' Commassary will allow of ye sd Wastage is a question.
12th.- Its said ye remaindr of Damaged Flour is to be Condemn'd, I hear'd ye Grenediers refused to Eat of it.
13th.-There has been Great Rains up ye Monongahela as it has Rose very fast & High, so that it cuts a Cross ye Alegheny & drives Logs, Canoes &c up it with ye back Water.
16th.- Edward Graham who has not been three Weeks gone from this place, has been at New York, in ye Jerseys & return'd here last Night; he met my Brother Charles at Legonier, who inform'd him that he had kill'd Seventy-two Rattle Snakes by Buyerly's at Brushey Run, being Coyled in three Heaps of different Seizes.
17th.- Pritty much Wet Weather; I hear'd by Edwd Graham that ye Indians were got to Scots, near Lancaster, when he met them, & that they had got some Liquor, but want'd to have more; being refus'd of it they told Frederick Post he should not more Travel in ye front as a Capn but should go in ye reer, & that he should not return back to live with them.
19th.- William Clappam who was Col formerly, his Son follow'd Trading at Detroit & leaving that place some Months ago, in order to come here, having Sent ye rest of his Company to Sandusky to come here by Land, himselfe & a Man & Woman (Prisoners being Indians) that those Nations Sell for Slaves when taken by them, he having bought these two set off in a large Bark Canoe along ye Lake for Presque Isle, only them two Prisoners with him; now there is no Account of them.
20th.- John Doubty, an old Indian Man Born in the Jerseys, Tells me that the Indians were much better People before any White People came amongst them, then now; that they used frequently Morning & Night Prayer and return'd thanks to ye Good Spirit Above, (page 166) for preserving them, and that they knew nothing of any sort Indn Corn, untill ye first of that Seed they got out of a Deer they had kill'd, only one grain between ye Skin & Ribs which they plant'd & soon had great Increase, So that a feast was made & many Indians Invited to Eat fat Venison Boyl'd with Corn, so they Eat & return'd thanks to ye Creatore of all things, for sending them that Good Grain & that they got Wheat in Same Manner, but made little progress in raising it. After ye White people Came ye Dutch about New York shot an Indn for pulling Peaches off his trees, which caus'd Wars, & after Peace, ye Indians being settled thick in a Town Near ye Dutch, in a very deep Snow, ye Dutch taking ye advantage kill'd ye Indians only one made his escape, who allarm'd others so that two other Wars & Peaces ensued, ye last Peace lasting untill this late War. He says that after ye White people brot Rum & suply'd ye Indians with it, they forgot God & lost their former Devotion.
21st.- Here is a Sort of Grape ye best Wild Sort I have Eatten, they Grow on ye Gravelly Sand & Stones where ye River overflows, ye Vines Spreding about.
22d.- George Croghan has sent up lately a Quantity of Liquors, & its said, none is to have liberty to bring any Liquor to this place but him; its taken into ye King's Stores as it comes & a Serjent has ye care of it to Sell it out. Many of ye Sutling Inhabitants here have got kegs of it & Drunkeness makes it's appearance again.
24th.- Letters come here say, that Young Clappam was Tomhocked by his Indian Captive, who with his Squaw made off amongst ye Chipawas; they confess'd to them what they had done; the Chipawas commend'd them, but enticed them to Detroit where they deliver'd them to Capt Camble, where they Lie in Irons.
25th.- It's said there are 20 New Battoes to be Built here Sufficient to Carry 32 Barrels of Beef Each.
26th.- One of ye Old Traders says, that he hear'd ye Head Man of the Shawanas say, that they want'd ye English to Build a Fort at some convenient place near ye Mouth of Sciota River, to protect their Wives & children while they were at War & Hunting from ye Cherokees.
27th.- Capt Basset was hear'd to say amongst ye Brick Makers, that they would see men Enough here next Summer.
28th.-Some aledges there may be an Expedition Next Sum down ye Ohio to Missippie.
30th.- The Common Prayer is Read now every first Day & ye Colll is pleas'd to see many of ye Inhabitants go to hear it.
9mo 4th.- I was told by a Mingo Man, that there had been a French officer & three Shawana Indians & one Missippi Indn Reconitering ye Fort & taking a Plan of it & that ye Shawanas told him that ye French would soon come up ye River in Battoes to this place, of which I acquaint'd Colll Bouquet, he not doubting their reconitering he being jealous of thire own Safty, but thinks they could not attempt an Attack here this Sumr.
5th.- Some Indians come before ye rest from ye Treaty & its report'd by Charles Brookins here, that ye Indians have made demands at ye Treaty that cannot be comply'd with; also that Friends held a private Council with ye Indians, not admitting any others into it, & that Friends are much blamed for it, as if they had occasioned ye Indians to make such demands.
6th.- Its also said, that ye Indians will not permit Frederick Post to Live amongst them.
7th.- I could forsee before ye Indians went from this place to ye Treaty, that ye Leading Men in Indian affairs, here away, took Umbrage at their going to hold treaties with our Governmt & lead by Frederick Post to Lancaster. I thought ye Indians might be excited to make that Treaty Burdensome to ye Province.
8th.- The Indians finding that ye White People are very anctious to have ye Prisoners, will according to their common dispositions, set more Price on them in thire minds, expecting that they will squeese out ye full Price of them, as if Sold, which I imagine is ye reason of their mentioning such things as to destroy Fort Augusta, & ye high demands they made at ye Treaty, alledging as much reason for it as for them to deliver up ye Prisoners, for nothing.
9th.- Bussiness seems but Dull at this place this summer, & many people has left it; if it comes right settled times & but a small Garrison kept here, I think it will not incourage many to Settle a Town here.
10th.- I think Geo: Croghan is return'd from ye Treaty & a Man who came in his Company from Bedford says, that he is so sick that he can't live long.
11th.- The man that came up with G. Croghan also says, that he hear'd him and ye rest of his Company Vaunt, how that ye Quakers was Hung at ye Treaty- this makes for my observation of ye 7th Instant denoating plainly that there was some party that strove against ye Quakers if not against ye whole Intention of that Treaty, & its report'd for truth here, that ye Beaver King has sent Governor Hamilton word that he may keep ye Goods (which was sent as far as London by Waggons for ye Indians) & they would serve him for another Treaty. This looks like more of ye Good Inspiration ye Indians has receiv'd & not against ye Quakers only, but ye Government.
12th.- The Beaver is return'd & seems unwell & not so Cheerful as befor they went down, they seem half Snow'd with Rum.
13th.- All ye Indians I have Spoke with, thats been at ye Treaty, seems well satisfied; ye Beaver's Oldest Brother John, says he never seen kinder people.
14th.- I never understood that ye Six Nations was Invited to this Treaty & I hear there were some (page 169) Hundreds of them there. If not Invit'd its been ye Pollicy of some hereaway to make it ye more Burdensom.
17th.- Ye Delawars are mightly pleas'd that I have preferr'd thier Tongue in learning most of it so that I can converse a little with them; one of them told me in Weighing his Skins, that I must not Chate or it would offend ye Good Spirit above; I told him I would not & that he should mind ye Same Rule.
18th.- The Indians say, that ye General report amongst thier people is, that Friends are kinder & better humour'd than any others.
19th.- The news of taking ye Havanna fills ye people here with Transports of Joy.
21th.- The Mingoes rais'd Reports of Seeing Cherokees not fare off, but it's not believ'd.
25th.- Thomas Hutchins has return'd from his long journey amongst ye Indians, brings no news, ye Indians used him very Civily.
27th.- The people in General very Healthy here.
28th.- Its Said many of the Shawanas at ye Lower Towns has Died of ye Ague, some say above 100, when Thos Hutchins was there lately; they had many Hands at work he says to catch ye Devil it seems they want to kill or confine him.
10mo 4th.- Geo. Croghan & ye Coll has apply'd to us, for a quantity of Goods to be given in pressents to ye Indians against they bring ye remain of ye Prisoners here which we have been assorting out of ye Store.
5th.- One Jno Gray, an Old Trader, came up from ye lower Shawana Town & says that ye Shawanas were got so Cross, that he was affraid to stay there, that ye Mingoes had sent a Belt amongst them advising them to mischeif against ye English & had told them many lies.
6th.- Many of ye Old Traders say they are of opinion, that the Indians will Breake out again to war.
7th.- I understand that Robinson ye Smith, who came up here, had Authority from Judge Allen which Col Bouquet was to Execute, in sending One of our Old Traders Down to Answer his Creditor for a quantity of Goods he had last year & had made no return, ye Trader is M- & Capt Trent answer'd ye Debt.
8th.- Col Burd came here having a Commission for him & Josiah Davenport to receive ye Prisoners & make some presents to ye Indians.
9th.- Frederick Post came here by whom we were Inform'd much of ye state of ye Treaty.
10th.- It's been reported here to Col Bouqt, that ye Indians were much dissatisfied with ye Treaty at Lancaster, which I must needs think is ye Information of such that would have it so, for all that we enquired of abot that Treaty they like thier usage very well.
11th.- This Evening Frederick Post set off to Tuscorawas to see how his Lad does that is Sick with ye Ague & to see what receptions he will have amongst ye Indians, being resovled if these Indians do not accept of his Service, he will Travel to ye West as far as ye English Garisons reach.
12th.- Post Asked my Advice in such a Case as he thought it his duty being Moved by ye Divine Spirit to settle amongst these Indians & so many Enemies Raised amongst them to his Service in ye Gosple, having destroyed his Garden & small hope of being Alowed to Plant anything next Spring, having no help from ye Publick nor from his Brethren could not see how he could subsist. I told him that if ye work was of yeLord & he intend'd to help ye Indians by his endeavours at this time, that these difficulties would be removed, & yet to try & wait to see the result. I think his residing amongst ye Indians might be of Great Service to ye English Intrest by removing their jealousies, which they are often subject to from Lies raised by ye Mingoes (page 171) & others to set them against us, such being now busy amongst ye Shawanas.
13th.- Receiv'd abot 70 fine Deer Skins to Day. A Prisoner called Frederick Ire, who was a bitter Enemy against ye White people & threatened to kill Several of them, has been by ye Indians (at Mohickan John's) this Summer killed, at ye request of some of ye white people as it is said.
14th.- A Lad that was sent to Venango by some of ye Traders is return'd & says that he was Robed & Strip'd of his Cloths, by Indians that Talked Delaware. One of them returned him his Shirt but I think he lost ye Road.
15eth.- I have I think made mention before of ye Imposter which is raised amongst ye Delawares, in order to shew them ye right way to Heaven. This plan is Portrayed on a Dress'd Leather Skin & some on paper, fixes ye Earth at ye Bottom & heaven at ye top, having a straight Line from One to ye Other, by which their forefathers use'd to assend to Hapiness. Abot ye middle is like a Long Square cuting thire way to Hapiness, at right Angles, & stoping them representing ye White people, ye outside is a Long Squair like black Stroke Circomscribing ye Whole within it, & joyning on ye left Hand Issuing from ye White peoples place is cut many Strokes parralel to thire Squair or Situation, all these Strokes represents all ye Sins & Vices which ye Indians have learned from ye White people, through which now they must go, ye Good Road being Stopt. Hell being fixed not far off, there they are Led irrevocibly.- Ye Doctrine Issued on this & ye way to help it, is said to be, to learn to live without any Trade or Connections with ye White people, Clothing & Supporting themselves as their forefathers did; its also sd that ye Imposter Prognosticates that there will be Two or Three Good Talks & then War; this Gains amongst them so much, that mostly (page 172) they have quit Hunting any more then for to suply Nature in that way.
16th.- Having some discourse with Major Smallman (G. Croghans Cossen) about the Province Store, I mentioned perhaps ye Governmt might renew ye Law for continuing ye Store at Shamokin, if not for this, at Pittsburgh, he answer'd he thought not, as there was several Complaints against it, or ye conducting of it. I am doubtful ye Indians have been set on, to make complaints against that Store and ye Conductor of it.
17th.- Coll Burd Lodges at our House & seems Very Sociable; Allexr McKee is gone several Days agoe toward ye Lower Shawana Town with a Message from Croghan in regard to bringing in the Prisoners, as we are told.
18th.- The Indians at their Towns make feasts (its said) now every Day & perform their new devotions by Dancing, Singing & sometimes all Kneeling & praying (its said) to a little God who carries ye petitions & presents them to ye Great Being, which is too High & mighty to be Spoke to by them; this little God lives in some place near them.
19th.- The 10th Instnt Allexr McKee went with a Message from Croghan to ye lower Shawana Town abot bringing ye Prissoners in.
20th.- Charles Steward return'd from ye Shawana Town, being after his Daughter a Prisoner there, but Could not Get her, he says there has Died of them lately 180 Shawanas being taken & Dies in two Days after.
22d.- Frederick Post's Lad that came here, Informs us that Shingass was very cross to him & almost starves ye White Children he has Prisoners.
23d.- We had a Letter from Post & he says that ye Indians receiv'd him with much seeming kindness.
24th.- Colol Burd got me to Copy ye Commission & Instructions given him & Josiah by ye Governor, where
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