Glenn

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
Indian Transactions

(Detroit, Aug. 29 - Sept. 13, 1767)

Hay, Jehu in: The Papers
of Sir William Johnson,
vol. 5, pp. 669-676.

pp.

 

669, 670, 671, 672,

 

 

673, 674, 675, 676.

(page 669)

Particulars [  ] you off and yt. I would Joyn him ag[ain  ] as I found myself Capeable, which if not [  ] take Longer Time to do it then was Expected, [  ] suppose the whole proceeded from the people [  ] the flatts I mean those on ye. north side as they [  ] had stop'd me in my Travers, however I Cleared my way through, and would not be Bullied by them I heard at my Comeing away of a Meeting they Intend with the Indians, about Runing their Rear line. But have no Proper foundation for it as yet [  ] I shall the first Time I have the Pleasure of seeing you tell you how they are disposed   [] and Beg Leave to subscribe myself

  Honle. Sir
Your humble Servant

 

HENDRICK FREY

 

 

P. S.
if any Accts. from Sir
John I should be Glad
to hear from him

 

H. F.

 

On his Majesties Service

ADDRESSED:

 

To The Honourable

 

 

 

Sir William Johnson Bart.
Johnson Hall

 

 

JEHU HAY'S JOURNAL OF INDIAN TRANSACTIONS

D.1

[Detroit, August (29?) - September 13, 1767]

[    ] [    ] Croghan had been killed [  ] told him there was an [  ] a Boat, Loaded (page 670) with Merchandi[  ] with him, I then went on to [  ] all the Nations of the Wabach [  ] this Englishman gave all the Merchandize [  ] were going to kill him but I sent him away in [  ]

Father,

This is the way to Speake of g[  ] their is None of your Children Can say So Much.

A Large Belt of 7 Rows

Father,

The Shawanise have Call'd Ten Villages to Councill but I beleive its for no good, I nor none of my Nation will go Particularly as it is not Our fathers Desire.

Answer'd-

Children

I am very Sensible of your good Acts, & that you have Sense enough to Conduct yourselves Properly upon any Occation, I am no Stranger to all the facts you mention to me, But when I Spoke to you Regarding the affair of Mr Cuellerie I explain'd well to you that it was a thing that did not regard you, or any Indian whatever and those that Say that it is Speaking of Bad things or bringing of Old Affairs to light regarding you Deceive you I beg that you may remain quiet holding your father firmly by the hand, Who has your Intrest mor at Heart than any Body Else-

A Large Belt

[    ] [    ] [  ] Spoke to Pondiac [  ] [  ] had but not So Particularly as [  ]he prisoner been here, but that [  ]gh that Corrobarated with [  ]vince him that Cuellerie was [  ] him not to Meddle or appear in it any [  ] I thought the more he Stir'd in it the worse (page 671) [  ] I thought that from this information, they [  ] have Meddl'd any more with it, but on the Contrary Mr sterling & the above Mentioned Gentlemen came in the manner before Mentioned and heard Pondiac deny What he had said the 29th Instant.-

Septemr. 3d. Ottawaing a Chief of the Ottawas with Eight young men came here & Spoke as follows, Labute, Interpreter

Father

I deliver'd your message to Pondiac word for Word which I Sopose he hase inform'd you, I am now come with a few of my young men to take you by the hand as we Shall not See you again till next S[pring] as we are going to our Winters hunting Ground, & if the great Spirit preserves us I Shall See you in the Spring, with a heart as White as when I Saw my Father Sir William Johnson.-

The young men you See here are latly come f[  ] War and are poor, therefore will be Oblig'd to [  ] Some [  ] [    ] [    ] [  ] my Belt to [  ] had received. As you are go[ ] ing ground, I Shall undoubted[  ] Spirit to Preserve you, th   may h[  ] of Seeing you in the Spring, as I am [  ] have no Other intention than that of following [  ] Advice and Will of your Father.-

Gave them a Gallon of Rum, Three pounds of Tobacco And a little Provisions & Amunition.-

Mr. Labute brought One Oskkigoisin, Pondiacs Brother in law who spoke as follows.-

Father this day Mr. Labute ask'd me the truth regarding the Death of Mrs. Fishers Child which I told him, he afterwards told me it was necessary I Should inform you the Same which I will do, Father Pondiac threw the Child in the River and Muchet and young Cuellerie went in after her and Plung'd her (page 672) under the water till She was dead, & then bury'd or help't to Burie her but you need not mention my name; I told him I did not want to hear any thing about it from Any One that choze it should be kept a Secrrit, that if he told truth it might be Necessary at some time to tell it Publickly to which he Answer'd []ght he told a Lye I might bring W[itnesses  ] [    ] [    ] [  ] Chief came with Mr [  ] [  ] had left a fuze with the Smith [  ] which Fuse the Smith Said [  ] away [to] another Indian and beg'd [  ] make up the loss to him as he was Old & not able to hunt [  ].

I gave him a stroud a pair of Leggins and a blanket and shirt & a little Amunition after which he return'd me many thanks, and was well Contented.

Septemr. 9th. Mosswin and his little tribe of fifteen Sakys came here and beg'd that I would give them a little Amunition they being poor, and Sickly & not Able to purchase any.

Gave them Ten pounds of pouder and Ball in proportion with a days Provision and a Gallon of Rum and four pounds of Tobacco.-

Septemr. 13th. Pondiacs Nephew cam here and ask'd for a days Provision which I gave him for himself and four Other Ottawas, and afterwards Ask'd him if he Was not Present at the death of Mrs. Fishers Child that was [  ] with them he answer'd yes, upon which I ask'd him to [  ] the affair he then Said.-

Father, I was encamp'd a little distance from my Uncle, but ariv'd at his Cabin as he threw the Child in to the river Miamie & Muchett or young Cuellerie went in After her and kept her under the water Till She was Dead, and [  ] Brought [    ] [    ] [  ] some & I expected [  ] (page 673) [  ] She had much Dirtied [  ] [  ] up and threw her in the [river  ] [] went in after her and kept [  ] [  ]l dead, & afterwards brought her out & [  ] [  ]y her.

I answer'd him by explaining the different [  ] Majestys Subjects are govern'd by and their own, and [  ] convicted of murder with us must absolutely Suffer, [  ] as for him or any Other Indians every thing was [buried?] that had happen'd dureing the war between them and [us] & that the Belt of friendship which he carried was a Wittness of it, & beg'd that if any one try'd to make him believe to the Contrary that he might inform me and I would undeceive him, & get them punished.

Pondiac Said

Father No one has Said any thing to me upon this Subject & if they had I should not have listned to them.

I Should be glad this man could be pardon'd if Caught again; if I thought he would, & could find him I would bring him in myself- Nay I would go to my father Sir William Johnson was it not so late, if I thought he would be pardon'd.-

Answer'd

Child

Its, not in the power of Sir William Johnson nor any Person here to Pardon him for the Crime he Stands accused of, the nature of which I have already explain'd to you but Nevertheless it is your duty to exhort & require your young Men [    ] [    ] [  ] have inform'd me [  ] [  ] in his favour [  ] want of many Necessarys [  ] [  ]- I intend Staying here [  ]

Answer'd

(page 674)

[  ] Shall not See you and your Family Suffer [  ] [  ] Cloaths & Amunition, which I will give you when [  ]y

Augst 30th. Sickaho and Some of his young men [  ] here and Spoke as follows.-

Father I only come to day with these young men to take you by the hand, it being Some time Since wee Saw you, we beg you may let us know if you have heard any news from Niagara by the last Vessell or by any Other occation; of any of the Six Nations having been kill'd that way

Answer'd

Children I am very glad to See you and take you by the hand, Some time ago I heard by report that their had been two or three of the Six nations Kill'd, but no one knows by whom, & a few days ago heard what gives me great uneassiness Viz. that a Party of the Saguinan Indians had kill'd Eleven English men that were going down the river Ohio.

Sickaho Answer'd

Father what you mention with regard to the Saguinan Indians I have not Heard a word of & it much Surprise me, but some of our young people who came from Niagara a few days ago tells us that there was a great Many Senecas, their and that Wabecomigat came their to Speake to them, but that their Father then told them, that he, [    ] [    ] [  ]ult of the people you [  ] [  ] three gallon Kegg of rum [  ]

Answer'd

Children,

I Shall not refuse your request [  ] must recommend Hunting & Trade to you, & that [  ] yourselves with Idle reports.-

(page 675)

Sickaho Answer'd-

Father it is my intention to follow what you [  ] I Shall be here again in About Eight days.- Gave him a 3 Gallon kegg of Rum & about 3 || of Tobacco for which they return'd many thanks.-

Septemr. 1st. 1767

Pondiac and his Nephew came to my house & Desired I might Send for mr. Labute to Interpret, Chesne being out of the way, when mr. Labute was ariv'd Pondiac Spoke as follows.-

Father, I Shall repeat a few words that [  ] Father Sir William Johnson told me last year, he Said Child here is Minichesne who will go with you to your Winter Quarters & remain with you, & will be your Ear to listen & report any thing you have to Say to Mr. Hay- my Comissary at Detroit, accordingly he went with me, & I hope you'l let him go with me now.-

Answer'd.-

I am extremly Sorry that it is not in my Power to grant this request, as I have received Orders to Strik off Mr. Labute from being Interpreter, & if Chesne goes with you I shall not have any Body with me, and you know that I have business for him every day.-

[    ] [    ] [  ] you'l open your Ear[s  ] When they inform'd me of [  ] [  ] great Spirit.

I had a great deall of joy to See [  ] turn in Safety & with success, but the pain that [  ] given me who did Otherwise than they Should do [  ] away all that Pleasure, I beg you may have Pity upon me and them.-

(page 676)

Father

Is it Posible that my brother who goes from Village to Village & hase not the Sense, I should be glade he had, should mix with other fools & Strike against you.

Father,

I beg you may have pity on my:

My Brother who left me along while, and despised My Advice has done wrong but dont think that me or any of my people present had any hand in it on the Contrary you See how they behave, & far from deceiving you pursued their dessign & Proceeded.-

Father, me and my young men present beg that you may have pity on us, my Brother who has been so foolish, left me ten years ago and would not be guided by me, those present are my young men who have never committed a fault since they took our father by the hand and I will be Answerable never will.-

 

FROM GEORGE CROGHAN

A. L. S.

New York Sepbr. 14th, 1767

DEAR SIR

I Should have Wrote you from Albany Butt Did Nott See Mrs Rauschor till I was Just going aboard the Sloop when I Deliverd him your Honours Note with y. Box & Stones which Made that Devine Crature Very hapy.

we was Six Days Geting Down hear when I arrived I wated on the Gineral & Deliverd yr leter with My Instructions all wh. he Aproved of and Talkd a Considerable Time to Me on the Subject, of the uneseyness of ye. Indians when I tould him what I aperehinded the uneseyness of the Sinicas to proceed from as your honour & I was Minshoning he has had Some Intelegince of Belts passing from the Indian Nations privatly wh. wth [what] Mr. Macdugall & Myself has Said has []tly prepaird. him for yr. Laters I am [] think his Intiligance Came from Detroit, he Seems to think Y [t Governor]
___________________________

1 A fragment.

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