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.
Shawanas or Delawars so they follow'd & I hear has taken 5 or 6 Scalps & prisoners of ye Wayondots, & are at peace wth the Shawanas & Delawars.
23rd.- I find that ye Indian Kings or head men has no arbitary Authority, but that all publick affairs are acted Volentary, Even in Going to War they will hardly persuade any but all goes Volentary, so that notwithstanding wt ye head men may promise in regard to bringing in ye Prisoners its not in their power nor practice to force any thing from ye rest that they look upon as their property, without their Consents. I understand that some head men of ye Shawanas has Pleaded Exceedingly in Councils for Delivering up ye Prisoners, telling the Indians they were Blind & Stupified & new nothing hardly. This report is Contradicted by some Delawars & says they are going to War against ye Cherokees, & has been geting a War Billet made here.
24th.- Rain all Day. The Prisoners tells me that ye Shawanas always when they Swim Over this Ohio river low down, that they are in danger of some Monsterous Creatures pulling them under Water & devouring them, to remedy which they Carry a root with them which they either Chew or infuse & rub on thier Skin, ye Smell of which is So offensive to ye Creatures they will not tutch them, they Say those Creatures (which I take to be Alegaters) will pull a Buffalo Bull under Water & Destroy him. The Root used is s to be Black Angilico, ye smooke it also.
26th.- About 5 o'Clock this Morning ye Ice in ye Monongehela broke loose, drove so that it Stop'd ye passage about Shirtees Island & ye Ice penn'd up to ye Point here, driving up ye Allegheny, broke some Canoes loose some Stuck in ye Ice & some drove up ye Allegheny. Abot 7 o'Clock ye Water riseing made a passage below, so it drove away.
27th.- Last Night much Ice drove down ye Alegheny (page 186) but it dont rise much this Morning, it seems Clear of ice only along Shore.
28th.- Came ye Rid Hak, & Wide Mouth's Brother & Teachenosens Head Men of ye Shawanas & 8 or nine more; brot Two Women & a Child, deliver'd them, being their one property & signifies ye rest will come in ye Spring; also a boy deliver'd up brot from ye Picks, Called Jacob Thomas, his Parents are sd to be in Virginia, his Father Call'd William Thomas.
29th.- Nee McCollon & John Hickman being in our House, was discoursing of Tediuscong & all ye Remaindr of ye Delawares on Susquahanna coming this next Spring & Settleing on Beaver Creek abot the Cuscuskeys where they talked of having a Great Town.
30th.- We propos'd to Send these prisoners away to Cumberland but ye Commandr Capt Aqnor thinks it is too hard for 'em to walk & lye in ye Woods, as ye Snows lyes on ye Ground tho these that come last lay so coming & they say could not have a Skin to ly on.
2mo 5th.- An Express came here with ye News of a Peace wt ye French & Spaniards, that ye English is to hold North America to ye Missippi at which ye Soldiers Rejoyce but not ye Officers. I am very Glad of it & hopes ye Indians may Repeat of thier folly.
6th.- Had Some Letters Ordering us to take a New Inventory of all ye Store Goods, & this I am busy about.
10th.- The Allegheny is broke up 2 days ago & a flood in both Rivers, ye Allegheny runs thick with Ice.
14th.- These Shawanas seems very conceited, which brot in the Prisoners, & one of their Youngsters told ye Prisoners in our House, that Geo. Croghan was ye Only Man amongst us they regard'd & only for him it might be War again, & that none of us knew how to please Indians but him.
16th.- We are of Oppinnion now that there's no occasion of humoring the Indians so much, & Waiting on, (page 187) & making such presents as is frequently Made or pretend'd in ye Kings name or nobodys unless ye Givers.
17th.- Its my oppinion that if ye Indians are Spoke to, address'd, or dealt with, in any kind of Transactions, timmorously, as if afraid of them, it makes them ye Bolder, & more insulting or imposing, but when Circumstances will allow it, to Spake Truly, Boldly & Honestly, leting them know their place, their Errors & their duty, & useing them well with all it would cast a Damp upon them that would make them have an Awfull regard for us whereas now they under Vallue us & dispise us,- for they are soon danted when dealt boldly with, being full of Pride & ambition, but Strangers to humility, but as dogs learns it.
19th.- This Day Sent off ye Prisoner, only Jacob Thomas who chus'd to Stay untill he heard from his parents. Sent Sam Shittle our hired man a Horse & provissions, along with them as far as Bedford.
21st.- Frederick Post came here last Night from Cyahaga & informs that ye Delawars had Except'd ye War Belt & Tomhock, which came from ye Six Nations last Summer, that they held War dances & Sung of bringing in more White Prisoners & of hearing of ye Peace being made & ye French to quit this side ye Missisipi. Their head King Neetotwhelemy, i-e Newcomer was Struck dumb for a considerable time & at last sd he did not know whether ye News was true but if they could hear it from their fathers i.e. ye French he would believe it, sd after that he was affraid, on which Post told him that shew'd he did not love ye English otherwise he would be Glad; he sd ye English was grown too powerfull & seem as if they would be too Strong for God himself.
24th.- Frederick Post having Accompanied Josiah Davenport to Buyerlies, he is return'd it been Snowy Weather.
26th.- There has Some Pack Horses come & I sent off Six Load of Skins, got 29 Load remaining.
27th.- Some Packhorses come wth Flour as far as Tortle Creek where they had Six Horses Stolen, by ye Indians whom they follow'd & came up with them, but being too Numerous they could not get ye Horses again; the White Men has complain'd to ye Commandr here & he order'd Croghan to send after them, its said he has sent an Indian about it, but we think that these men who receive Tracks of Land & presents of ye Indians thier Mouths is thereby Stop'd; that they cannot Spake Right or Boldly telling them ye Consequence of their Thieveing so that its all Smoothed & ye Indians are not let into ye knowledge how much its resented & may be of dangerous consequence to ye Publick Peace.
28th.- The Mingoes has a Hunting Cabbin about 15 Miles up ye Allegheny; having Stole 6 or 7 Horses in ye fall, some White Men went from here a few days ago & Stole ye sd Horses back to this place while ye Mingoes were here Dealing their Peltry & its thot its ye same that Stole ye Six now from Tortle Creek.
3mo 1st.- James Mokesin a Delewar Man Informs me that its agree'd to by their Whole Nation, to follow thire new Plan of Religion, & all their Boys are to be Train'd to ye use of the Bow & Arrow for Seven Years Then to Live intirely on dry'd Meat & a Sort of Bitter Drink made of Roots & Plants & Water ye Women & Antient Men may Raise & Eat Corn at ye Expiraton of ye Seven Years, to quit all Commerce with ye White People & Clothe themselves with Skins, he also sd that none of the other Nations have fell into ye Scheme, only ye Delawares, & that if any ye others was to drink their Bitter Water they would die,- this is sd to by Physick to purge out all that they got of ye White peoples ways & Nature.
2nd.- The Prisoners brot here by ye Shawanas Inform'd us, that one Day in our house One of thier head (page 189) Men call'd ye Corn Cob said, that ye English had no right to live here, & that they should leave it & must do it.
3rd.- Some Artificiers come to build Battoes, its sd to go down this River to Build a fort opposite to New Orlains, which they say, lies on ye west side ye Missisippi.
4th.- A fine Day, some Wild Gees flying & ye Snow melts fast; ye Snow lyes abot One Yard Deep on ye Laurel hill & ye Great Mountain, by ye Agents Letters & ye Mans accot that went wth ye Prisoners.
7th.- Rain'd & thunder'd in ye Night & Rain'd all this Day mostly ye Rivers Rises fast & we have prepair'd for a nother Flood having Got our Goods put upstairs clear'd ye Cellar & ye lower Shelves in ye Store-
8th.- This Morning ye Water was rose equal to ye Banks in some places, nothwithstanding some people would not believe that it would overflow, but toward Noon it got in ye Street & they began to muster off, but ye dead Faith of Several promp'd 'em to delay carrying away their Goods untill ye Water was got so high that they had to break in ye Roofs or Gable Ends of ye Houses to get them away in Battoes. We kept House & fire untill Night, but had bespoke house room at Marcus Hulins, on ye Hill, if it appear'd dangerous to continue in our Own. I had asked ye Commandr Capt Aquaer, leave to goe into Coll Burd's House on ye Hill, being Empty, he signifyed he would let me have it, but when I sent for ye Key he told ye Man he must reserve it for himself to fly too; we Concluded, some of us, to go to Hulins & ye others to stay in ye House upstairs while they could keep ye Cannoe in ye House, under ye Door Head, so Frederick Post Chused to stay and Sam Shittle I left with him, but their Escape they made in ye Night, Locking ye House fast & had difficulty getting through ye Ice.
9th.- The Rain & thaw continued untill this Day, but
road from here, came off with some other Company to comer here to his Wife he delay'd behind ye rest, & they came ye new road, he took ye Old One & came to where it take close to ye Alegheny River in ye Bottom where he was found Dround'd.
13th.- I have had much discoarse wth F. Post & find him so bigotted that he censures All others, & shews little Charrity for any that differs from his Principles.
14th.- There are three Coffins washed bare, over on ye Island & painted its like some Indians that dyed there in ye War time.
15th.- Wrote to ye Commissioners, & ye Agent, Jno Armstrong, a Delaware Man, Informs me that Simon of Cuscuskey & 19 more ye Delawares are gone down ye River to War against the Cherokees, & that some of all ye Western Nations & two Hundr Mingoes are going, but it proves false.
16th.- Sent my Letters off with Ensign Hutchins he going to Bedford on his way to Carolina.
20th.- Frederick Post has had a Meeting to Day with ye Millitary Men & ye Inhabitants, in ye foorenoon preach'd in English, ye afternoon in Dutch, but I went not to hear them; they had ye Musitioners playing Hymns & they were Drunk yesterday. I dreamed two Nights ago that I happen'd to Sit down in some Strange house with some Company & instantly it was made known to me, so that I doubted it not, that ye Devil sat in ye Company, I felt great abhorance & resentment of Mind, & as I was geting up to depart I looked with resentment at ye Devil & he appear'd to have Frederick Posts ficognomy & Dress in all appearance, So I departed, & awaked. This Man has told me that ye papists did not Worship Idols & endeavour'd to Excuse their making such things as if useful, but I shamed him so that he was Struck Silent. He told me, that St. Patrick's Night, so call'd, as he was drinking with ye officiers, & Geo. Croghan being President by ye Name (page 192) of St. Patrick, Drank Several Healths when ye President gave out King James's Health, which pass'd till it came to Lieut Bosourdge who sd, he was a Dam'd Raschael & although Much in Licquor was oblidg'd to drink a Bumper for refusing. I told Post in some parts this would be looked upon like Treason & ye Man that had that so near his heart was not very fit to be Trusted as an Indn Agent for ye Crown of England, considering what Interest & Influence he has amongst so many Nations of Indians, & ye Effect that French or Spanish Money might have on him.
21st.- This Old Man i. e. Post, would also endeavour to make us believe that ye Christians had Given ye Days & Months ye Common Names they go by when they had alter'd ye Sabbath to ye first Day of ye Week, but I told him he must produce better proof for that, before I should believe him, & that they were fell into great Appostisey if they done so.
This Man Professes Strongly of experiencing ye work of regeneration, being 12 Years under great Exercise of Mind, & now says he is led by ye divine Spirit but he Sallutes men by ye Hat & bowing & Cringing drink Healths & be their Humble Servant.
Post Told me, that Men led by ye Divine Spirit Might preach at any time they pleased, I told him they might & Exhort but not have ye Testimoney of Jesus which is ye Spirit of Prophesey.
26th.- The Indians seem under great Concern at ye Advantage ye English had Gain'd, by the peace being undr jealousys that we will revenge their former Insults.
27th.- I have told some ye Indians on this Accot that our principles leads us to better things then theirs do them, One of the Delawars called John Armstrong, who led a party of them in ye War, & is reconed an Ill fellow had much discorse on this Subject & he's disapproving of ye Western Council fire being Errected signifying (page 193) that ye Old One at Philada & Onandago or Albany was ye Best & that at Philada was always Good, I asked him, as it was so and Pennsylva always used them well, why did they Breake it, & put it out by Going to War; his answer was that ye white people covets ye Land & Eat them out by Inches & that they are doing ye same here, which was against ye Will of God. I told him that if their people would amend their ways leave off ye Abominations they had amongst 'em & fear God, then he might Establish & increase them, but if they resisted as they do; it was my oppinion that they would Vanish & decay away & that ye Great Creator was Angry with their Worke & would Give their Contry to Other people, if they Strove by War to divert it, it would come so much ye sooner to pass, observing ye Effects of the last War; he Acknowledged it might be so for he belived God was Angry with them.
30th.- The sd Indian wants to Go with me & Old Nee McCollon & his Son when we Go to Philada but was affraid ye White people would kill him, but I removed his jelousey much on that head, but dont Covet his Company as he loves Liquor too much.
31st.- The Other two Above, had Engaged me to Wait their time & Go with them to which I am very free.
4mo 1st.- Frederick Post has been Courting me to go with him amongst ye Western & Northern Nations of Indians & so round to Cannada, but my Constitution I think might not be sufficient for ye Living I must be subject too to bear it.
He tells me, he knows of No Man Else, Amongst our Friends that understands, or is fit to go amongst ye Indians, & Owned that I had some religion which he will alow very few to have,- but ye more I know of Indian affairs ye less I covet it.
He also Informs me, that when Geo. Croghan was going to ye Treaty Held at Detroit 2 Years ago, he told him that it was not necessary to insist on Delivering up (page 194) ye Prisoners yet, but in time we might Get them all;- also last fall after ye Treaty at Lancaster when McKee was sent by Croghan to ye Shawanas, Post told him at Tuscorawas that some of them were coming up wth Prisoners, he answer'd he wish'd they had deferred it Longer.
4th.- Whatever ye Cause of these Messages might be, sent by McKee we see no better Effect this Spring, then that, we hear there is 100 of ye Shawana Wariors coming to see what Good usage they shall receive amongst us, & no prisoners but five that they had deliv'd to McKee in ye Winter; he is now return'd & these are coming at his Heels, a very likely Scheem to increase the Charges to our Province, or to ease dislike in ye Indians to it, as ye Commanders here alows no presents to be made them by Croghan, since ye Province has took it in Hand, & now he wanted to Slip off to Bedford out of their way, but ye Commandr told me he shall Stay their Coming.
5th.- Croghan wanted to Settle some Accots of Goods deld him by ye Commandrs Orders for ye Indians, out of our Store, offering me Peltry or a Draft on Philada as he termed it, but I refus'd both, untill ye Agent comes, not knowing whether his Draft might be protested, & knowing ye Peltry he has to offer are not Merchantable, & upon settleing must deliver him ye Orders we had from ye Commandrs & put ye whole in his power.
12th.- I sent off ye remaindr of ye Peltry we had on hand 17 Horse Loads.
13th.- The Shawana Wariors are Come 90 in Numr & 5 prisoners, they saluted ye Fort wth three rounds of Shot & were answered by firing three Cannon Shot.
14th.- I Coppied a piece of Writing that Cr F. Post Draw'd up about all his journeys & Messages amongst ye Indians for ye Publick & complains he only receiv'd 100 of ye Province of Pennsylvania which was not over what his Expences came to. It's word'd as if done by (page 195) another hand, & directed to ye printers of ye London Magazine to have it published in hopes to have some pension settled on him.
27th(?- look up). John Ormsby is return'd & a New Commissary to take his place. Josiah Davenport return'd & brot me a Letter from ye Commissioners giving their Apretiation of my going down to see my friends. The Shawanas that came here Lately, as I supose Invited in order to create Expences to ye Province & forbid to bring in ye Prisoners, but ye Deputy Agent being disappointed as Josiah Davenport was not here, there was noone to Act in regard to making presents in behalf of ye Province, so Croghan nor his deputy Spoke at ye Trading but Jno Hart, a Trader, was employ'd & Order'd to take Eleven Bundles Skins that ye sd Indians had brot (when ye first party came in ye Winter & some this last party brot) to deliver them with ye Prisoners that was to all come this Spring, these Skins were depossited in the Fort untill ye Prisoners were deliver'd which is certain Since they had fully determined & would have brot them had not Some of us that find it our Intrest put a Stop to it. So Hart took ye Peltry & deliver'd them presents to ye Value as he liked, I supose, it was talked ye Indians were not very well Satisfied but they have no reason to blame any one unless them that Invited them on this idle Errand. Ye Chief they said was that they come to Eat & drink with us & see us & this they did for ye Commandr Spared them Liquor enough to make them drunk; they mentioned that they see ye English were making Shoes to go down ye River, but they gave it as a friendly Advice that they might not go down to be contented here at this place, for there were many Bad people down there, but were answer'd that it was agread on by ye Kings of England & France, that ye former should take possession of ye Forts ye other had There, & that we should not go in ye Dark but in ye Open Light no War being Intended- So being asked (page 196) when they would bring in all ye Prisoners they answer'd they did not know, & its very like to be true, because ye man that they chiefly adhere to amongst us had carried his Polliticks so far that they do not know his pleasure yet in that point but I hear ye General has refused to pay him all ye Large Sums he made presents of to ye Indians on ye King's Account, & as he will now be in danger of haveing no more presents of Land made him from ye Indians, also apearing Meaner or poorer in thier Eyes since he's no longer enabled to put largely into thier mouths, so he is for declineing ye Service, & perhaps expects a Thousand pounds from ye King to bring him back to go down ye Missisippi, but he has gained too much influence over ye Indians already at other peoples cost which one day ye English may be convinced.
5mo 5th.- Some Days ago came an Express from Detroit with Letters from Capt Campbell that ye Miami Indians had taken up ye Belt that was handed round amongst ye Indians last fall in order to joyne ye Mingoes to go to War with us, having deliver'd sd Belt to him & aquaint'd him with ye Scheam. A party of about 30 Mingoes of which Silver Heels was one came here going to War wth ye Cherokees, they applyed to the Commandr Capt Aquoyer for some Amunition but receiv'd none & was told of their War Belts they send out So often in ord to raise War against us. I went to see Silver Heels, being such a Steady friend to ye English during ye War, & Shew'd my regard for him amongst them by giving him some good Tobacco, & Mentioned to my Company that he was ye Man that went to Martinico wth ye English, at which he seem'd well pleas'd. Many of ye others were half French I understood, but ye Capt seem'd to be all Indn.
10th.- Some Traders that came here from Salt Licks, up Beaver Cr, say that ye Delawars had held a General Feast, there ye Provision for it was 24 Bears 24 Deer
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