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.
Sir William Johnson
to the Lords of Trade
(Johnson Hall, Nov. 3, 1763)
Johnson, Sir William in: New
York Col. Docs (London
Docs.: XXXVI): VII,
pp. 572-576.
liberty to avail yourself of His Majesty's permission to return, after so long an absence, to your native country.
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I am, &c |
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(signed) |
DUNK HALIFAX. |
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Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade.
[Plantations General Papers, R., 51, in Bundle S.]
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Johnson Hall Novr 13, 1763. |
My Lords,
In obedience to your Lordships commands of the 5th of August last, I now do myself the honour of writing my sentiments concerning Indian affairs and of transmitting the best state I am able at present, of the several Nations within my department, with whom I have hitherto had intercourse.
Your Lord may please to observe that in my letter of the 20th of August 1762, I gave a pretty general account of the Indians sentiments at that period, of the uneasiness amongst them and my apprehensions thereon, as also my sentiments on the best method of conciliating their affections and preventing a Rupture; and I flatter myself it will appear, from what has since past, that my then opinion, was not ill founded.
In my letter of the 1st of July and 25th of Septr last I repeated my former sentiments, and humbly represented the causes to which the late hostilities might chiefly be attributed.
I shall therefore in this chiefly confine myself to the claims, interest, cause of defection and sentiments of the several Nations within my department, and with deference, offer my opinion on the ways and means for effecting a lasting peace, and securing their affections to the advantage of His Majesty and the safety and welfare of His American subjects for which importand end, I shall humbly lay before Your Lordpps a necessary plan for the better regulation of my Department.
In the State herewith transmitted I have (with as much exactness as the subject would possibly admit of at present) laid down the several Confederacies in my Department hitherto treated with, and pointed out as nearly as I could the situation and numbers of each Nation comprehended therein, with their present alliances; but as the Western Indians or Ottawas Confederacy, were but newly received into our alliance, I have only taken upon me to ascertain the numbers of them residing in the neighbourghood of the several outposts lately taken, as reported by my deputies, who performed tours amongst them, and given the best General Computation I have met with of the rest of their Confederacy, who live so scattered about the North of Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron, and even about the Lakes, Superior and Michigan, that no particular account can as yet be procured of them.
I am now to lay before your Lordpps the claims of the Nations mentioned in the State of the Confederacies.
The Five Nations having in the last Century subdued the Shawanese, Delawares, Twighties, & western Indians so far, as lakes, Michigan & Superior, received them into an alliance, allowed them the possession of the Lands they occupied, and have ever since been at peace (page 573) with the greatest part of them, and such was the prowess of the Five Nations Confederacy, that had they been properly supported by us, they would have long since put a period to the Colony of Canada, which alone, they were near effecting in the year 1688. Since that time, they have admitted the Tuscaroras from the Southward amongst them, giving them a Trace of Land beyond Onejda, and they have ever since formed a part of that Confederacy.
As Original proprietors, this Confederacy claim the Country of their residence, South of Lake Ontario to the great Ridge of the Blew Mountains, with all the Western part of the province of New York towards Hudsons River, west of the Caats Kill, thence to Lake Champlain, and from Regioghne a Rock at the East side of said lake to Osswegatche or La Gattell on the River St Lawrence (having long since ceded their claim North of said line in favour of the Canada Indians as Hunting ground) thence up the River St Lawrence and along the South side of Lake Ontario to Niagara.
In right of conquest, they claim all the Country (comprehending the Ohio) along the great Ridge of Blew Mountains at the back of Virginia, thence to the head of Kentucke River, and down the same to the Ohio above the Rifts, thence Northerly to the South end of Lake Michigan, then along the eastern shore of said lake to Missillimackinac, thence easterly across the North end of Lake Huron to the great Ottawa River, (including the Chippawae or Mississagey Country) and down the said River to the Island of Montreal.- However, these more distant claims being posessed by many powerful Nations, the Inhabitants have long began to render themselves independant by the assistance of the French, and the great decrease of the Six Nations; but their claim to the Ohio, and thence to the Lakes is not in the least disputed by the Shawanese Delawares ettc, who never transacted any Sales of Land or other matters without their consent, and who sent Deputys to the grand Council at Onondaga on all important occasions.
On my coming to the management of Indian Affairs, in 1746, when the Indians refused to meet or treat with our Governours, the Indian interest was from our former neglect in so visible a State of decline, that it was conjectured by many, they would entirely abandon us; in this scituation, it was with the utmost difficulty that I was enabled to prevent their falling off, but by proper measures and personal interest, I was happy enough, not only to keep them in our interest but also to employ many parties of them against the Enemy, who greatly harassed them. On my further appointment by General Braddock (for which I never received any salary) I then acquainted them that I feared, the utmost I could do would be to preserve a neutrality, which alone would be of great consequence, and for this my opinion, I had sufficient reason, as the Indians had from the year 1749 to 1754, been continually complaining of neglect, and remonstrating against the growing power of the French, and repeatedly requesting our assistance, on which they would disposess them notwithstanding their Interest with the western Indians whom they had at an immense expence, and by the artful insinuations of Jesuits and other proper Emissaries brought over to them, and which in the declining state of the Six Nations, were to o formidable Enemies alone to cope with.
The Six Nations living at the Ohio, had even requested both of Virginia and Pennsylvania to erect a Post on the Ohio, where Fort Du Quesne since stood, concerning all which I have the authentic Records and proceedings, but finding it neglected and themselves dispised, they in 1754, at the great Congress held at Albany ( in the presence of the Govr of New York and Commissioners from several of the Governts mett there, to consider on ways and means to bring about an Union of the Colonies and to preserve the Friendship of the Six Nations, as (page 574) also to check the growing power of the French) refused to hear Gov or any of the rest, until I was sent for, as I had for some time declined the management of Indian Affairs, on not being properly supported.- When addressing the Gov ettc. the Indians said: "This is the ancient place of Treaty, where the Fire of Friendship always used to Burn- it is now three years since we have been called to any public treaty here; it is true, there are Commissrs here (meaning the Albany Commissrs for Indian affairs, persons of very little capacity, who were all devoted to their own interest and Trade, and by whose means the French were constantly supplied with Indian and other goods, thro' the channel of Canada Indians) but they have not invited us to smoak with them, but the Indians of Canada come frequently and smoak here, which is for the sake of the Beaver. Bretheren, you desired us to speak from the bottom of our hearts, and we shall do it. Look about you and see all these houses full of Beaver, and the money is gone to Canada; the fire is here burned out"- that is the fire of peace, meaning that their friendship was at an end.
Since I had the honour of being appointed to the sole management of Indians Affairs by His Majty's commission in February, 1756. I had the satisfaction to find that my endeavours to regain the Six Nations ettc to his Majty's interest was not totally without success, as well as advantage to the public, and your Lordpps approbation. I beg pardon for the preceeding digression, but I judged it necessary to remind your Lordpps in the words of the Indians, of their then sentiments and the cause thereof.
As the claims of the Western Indians, are on the North side of the Lakes, and extending thence to the Country of the Sioux, they in no wise concern our present possessions, except as to the Lands, on which the out posts have been erected, and of that, among other particulars I shall speak hereafter.
I apprehend from what I have formerly and now wrote, on this subject, it will appear clearly to your Lordpps that the Colonies, had all along neglected to cultivate a proper understanding with the Indians, and from a mistaken notion, have greatly dispised them, without considering, that it is in their power at pleasure to lay waste and destroy the Frontiers. This opinion arose from our confidence in our scattered numbers and the parsimony of our people, who, from an error in politics, would not expend five pounds, to save twenty, and it must be a matter of real concern to any good subject to find, that nothing but fatal experience would convince many of their errors.-
Without any exageration, I look upon the Northern Indians to be the most formidable of any uncivilized body of people in the World. Hunting and War are their sold occupations, and the one, qualifies them for the other, they have few wants, and those are easily supplied, their properties of little value, consequently, expeditions against them however successful, cannot distress them, and they have courage sufficient for their manner of fighting, the nature and situation of their Countrys, require not more.
As the French well knew the importance of the Indians, they wisely, took advantage of our neglect, and altho' they were not able to effect a proper reconciliation with the Six Nations, took care to cultivate a good understanding with the Western Indians, which the safety of their Colony, and their ambitious views of extending their bounds, rendered indispensably necessary; to effect this, they were at an immense expence in buying the favour of the Indians.
On the reduction of Montreal, whereby the frontiers claimed by Canada were ceded to His Majesty, I thought it prudent, to send Mr Croghan, one of my Deputys with the Troops, who were to take possession of Detroit ettc, whereby I reconciled the change to the neighbouring (page 575) Indians, then in arms against us, and the next year went in person to Detroit, where, I held a Conference with the several neighbouring Nations, the particulars of which will appear from y transactions last year transmitted to your Lordpps; but apprehensive that our occupying these out posts, would never be approved of, unless the Indians shared our favours, as they had been accustomed to those of the French, I represented to the Commander in Chief, the necessity of weaning them therefrom gradually, as well as the repeated accounts I had constantly transmitted me of the uneasiness amongst the Indians and my apprehensions thereon.
The Indians of the Ottawa Confederacy (& who begun the present war) and also the Six Nations, however their sentiments may have been misrepresented, all along considered the Northern parts of North America, as their sole property from the beginning; and although the conveniency of Trade, (with fair speaches and promises) induced them to afford both, us and the French settlements in their Country, yet they have never understood such settlement as a Dominion, especially as neither we, nor the French ever made a conquest of them; they have even repeatedly said at several conferences in my presence, that "they were amused by both parties with stories of their upright intentions, and that they made War for the protection of the Indians Rights, but that they plainly found, it was carried on, to see who would become masters of what was the property of neither the one nor the other"- The French in order to reconcile them to these encroachments, loaded them with favours, and employed the most intelligent Agents, of good influence, as well as artful Jesuits amongst the several Western and other Nations, who by degrees, prevailed on them to admit of Forts, under the Notion of Trading houses in their Country, and knowing, that these posts, could never be maintained contrary to the inclinations of the Indians, they supplied them thereat with Ammunition and other necessaries in abundance, as also called them to frequent Congresses, and dismissed them with handsome presents; by which, they enjoyed an extensive commerce, obtained the assistance of these Indians, and posessed their Frontiers in safety; and as without these measures, the Indians would never have suffered them in their Country, so, they expect that whatever European power passes the same, they shall in some measure reap the like advantages. Now, as these advantages ceased, on the Posts being posessed by the English, and especially as it was not thought prudent to indulge them with Amuntion, they immediately concluded, that we had designs against their liberties, which opinion had been first instilled into them by the French, and since promoted by Traders of that Nation and others who retired amongst them on the surrender of Canada and are still there, as well as by Belts of Wampum and other exhortations, which I am confidently assured have been sent amongst them from the Illinois Louisiana and even Canada for that purpose.
The Shawanese and Delawares about the Ohio who were never warmly attached to us since our neglects to defend them against the encroachments of the French, and refusing to erect a Post at the Ohio, or assist them and the Six Nations with Men or amunition, when they requested both of us,a s well as irritated at the loss of several of their people killed upon the communication to Fort Pitt in the years 1759 and 1761 were easily induced to join with the Western Nations, and the Senecas dissatisfied at many of our posts, jealous of our designs, and displeased at our neglect and contempt of them soon followed their example. These are the causes the Indians themselves assign, and which certainly occasioned the Rupture between us, the consequence of which, in my humble opinion, will be, that the Indians (who do not regard the Distance) will be supplied with necessaries by the Wabache and several Rivers, (page 576) which empty into the Mississippi, which it is by no means in our power to prevent, and in return the French will draw the valuable Furrs down that River, to the advantage of their Colony, and the destruction of our Trade; this will always induce the French to foment differences between us and the Indians, and the prospects many of them entertain, that they may hereafter become possessed of Canada, will incline them still more to cultivate a good understanding with the Indians, which if ever attempted by the French, would, I am very apprehensive be attended with a general defection of them from our interest, unless we are at a great pains and expence, to regain their friendship, and thereby satisfy them, that we have no designs to their prejudice.
By the measures I have taken the Six Nations (Senecas excepted) are still our friends, and continue to repeat their offers of accompanying His Majty's Troops against the Enemy, when the Commander in Chief shall approve thereof. As the Six Nations are the barrier of this province in particular, and can easily cut off the important Communication to Lake Ontario either way, their attachment can not I conceive be too much cultivated, and the redress of their grievances I hope may appear worthy your Lordpps attention, more especially as they dread the resentment of our numerous Enemies for their fidelity to Us. Of the Seneca Villages, two remain still our friends, vizt Kanadasegey and Kanadaraygo, and the fidelity of the rest of the Confederacy, hath hitherto preserved the frontiers of this Province and the communication to Lake Ontario. But as those who are still our friends, particularly the Mohawks, are they, who have the most occasion to be redressed in land affairs, it is necessary to observe to your Lordpps the particulars in which they are aggrieved, concerning their Lands, which I have in my former letters generally represented.
As we have not extended our settlement further than the Onejda Country, and but few there, we have as yet had but few complaints from that Nation or from those more distant.
The claim of the Mohawks extends from near Albany along the Mohawk River to the little falls or carrying place (the Onejda boundary) about 60 miles above Schenectady, and all the Country from thence Eastward and North to Rejioghne in lake Champlain, with the Country South and West of the Mohawk River to the heads of Susquehana and Delaware Rivers; for the lands along the Mohawk River ( a few small Tracts excepted) the Indians acknowledge themselves to be contented, except that claimed by the Corporation of Albany, of which I shall speak presently; but a matter of the utmost uneasiness to them is the large Patent of Kayadarasseras alias Queensborough. In the Reign of Queen Ann, some people of Albany persuaded a few Mohawks to sell them a small piece of Land (about enough for three Farms) along the Hudsons River above Saraghtoga, and procured an Indian deed for that purpose, for a trifling consideration, which, small as it was, having been left in Schenectady, was there burned when that Town was destroyed by the French & the purchase money never since paid. Under the pretext of said Indian Deed, the parties procured a Patent bearing date the 2nd day of November 1708 for all the lands then unoccupied between Hudson and the Mohawk River, to certain places on both those Rivers containing by estimation about 8000000 Acres of land which included, the most valuable part of the Mohawks Hunting ground, subject to only four pounds currency per annum quit Rent, which if now granted, would yield a Revenue to the Crown of about 1700 pr annum currency; this unconscionable grant, the proprietors did not as yet attempt surveying or Dividing in 55 years, neither did they venture to settle any people thereon, 'till last year a few poor people were placed on it, which has greatly alarmed and revived the Indian's uneasiness, who never dreamed that they would have attempted to settle
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