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.
Conference with Kayaghshota
(Jan. 5-15, 1774)
(Due to length divided here into two parts)
Johnson, Sir William in: The
Papers of Sir William
Johnson, vol. 12,
pp. 1044-1061.
CONFERENCE WITH KAYAGHSHOTA
D. S.1
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[Jan. 5-15, 1774] |
At a Meeting with Kayaghsotea2 chief of the Senecas on Ohio, who was charged with sundry Speeches to Sir William Johnson Bart. and the Six Nations from the Western Nations lately assembled at Fort Pit in answer to the Belts, and Messages wch. Sir William & the Six Nations sent to these nations last Year.-
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Johnson Hall 5th, Janry. 1774 |
Present
The Honorable Sir William Johnson Bart. Superintendt.
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Col. Guy Johnson |
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Depy. Agts.- |
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Doctr. John Dease3 |
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Kayaghsotea began by Repeating the Messages Sent by Sir Wm. Johnson last Year to the above mentioned Nations, vizt. the Hurons, and Ottawas at Detroit, Twightweis, Miamies, and other Western Nations living ion the Branches of Mississippi, after which he repeated the answers sent by the Hurons of Detroit to Sir William, which is in the Words following.-
Brother, and Chief of all the Indn. Nations to the Northward.-
We have received the Messages you sent us last Year with great Satisfaction, and accordingly have chearfully, and cordially Joined therein, and forwarded them to the Twightwees who are the head of a Confederacy of Nine Nations living upon the (page 1045) Wabache, as far as Fort Chartres, and after delivering them said Messages, and advising them strictly to give Ear to your Admonitions, which were for the real Welfare of themselves, and their Families, & to desist for the future from every ill Intention, and Hostile behavior towards the White People. We took agreeable to our Custom the War Axe from them, and buried it in the Twightwees Village in eternel Oblivion, and after that Ceremony, we opened the Road of Peace, and Friendship between our town, and Fort Chartres, and cleard it of every thing that might obstruct a free open, and safe Communication between these two Places, and every Indian Nation living thereupon.-
Whereupon the Twightwees gave us their Answer, and said, Brothers the Hurons.-
We have been long ago looking out for you who live on the other end of Lake Huron, and have been our good friends, & Advisers of old.- We thank Sir Wm. Johnson our Chief, and you most heartily for coming here, and telling us his mind, and your opinion thereupon, we take it to be sincere, and for our good, and assure you in the Presence of al our People, that we will listen to his Messages, and advice sent by you.- We have not had such genuine, and impartial Intelligence from him this great while, for the Shawanese who came to us with Messages from him by the direction of the Six Nations, deliver them in their own way, adding Speeches of their own, which rather make us uneasy than otherwise, for they always desire us to unite & be on our guard against the English, and French who are now under one Government, and were far from having any good Intentions towards us Indians, which they the Shawanese were convinced of, & therefore Advised us, and gave us the Axe to hold always ready between our Leggs, they being Sure the White People intended to take all our Country from us, and that very soon, and whenever that wou'd be the Case to rise, and defend it to the last Drop of blood.- But, Brothers, as you are now come with these Messages from our Chief, we cordially receive, and consider them as founded upon Truth, and Sincerity, and therefore assure you we shall Reject & give a deaf Ear to any (page 1046) thing the Shawanese may tell us for the future.- and to convince you of our taking your Messages to heart, we the Twightwees who are the principal Nation from this to Fort Chartre, have determined in Council to take all your Belts, and Messages, and communicate them truly, and honestly to the whole Confederacy, with our Advice, and Direction to receive them, and make them know n to their Young People, and for the future to drop all Hostilities against the White People, and accordingly shall set out upon that business immediately.
After having thus delivered the Purport of the Congress in the Twightwee Country with the Hurons, and Twightwees--
Kayahshota then proceeded, and said that that while the Congress of the above Nations was held at Fort Pit, a white man named Richard Butler arrived from Scioto with a message from the Shawanese to Mr. Croghan, Mr. McKee, and himself, by which the Shawanese complain to him (Kayashota) that the Senecas living at Scioto were continually ill disposed towards the White People, and greatly inclined to Hostilities, that therefore they requested Kayaghshota to withdraw them from thence, and settle them near him at Fort Pit, so as to have them under his Eye, and prevent their doing mischief. Whereupon the Hurons Senecas, and Delawares made the following Observations upon the Message from the Shawanese that "they did not understand why they sent it by a White man, and delivered it not themselves, as they the Shawanese were the People that drew the Senecas from Weeling Creek as Place Sixty miles down the Ohio from Fort Pit, prevailing upon them to move to Scioto, by telling them as they, and the Whites cou'd not agree together, to Sit down by them where they might be more easy, wherefore it now became the Duty of the Shawanese to keep them quiet after taking them under their Protection, and which these three Nations determined to tell the Shawnese in answer whenever they had an Opportunity.-
Kayaghshota then continued, and said that at the same time it was observed to Butler the Messenger, that the Traders were greatly the Occasion of these uneasinesses between the Indians, (page 1047) and them, by following them with Liquors &c to their very Villages, and Hunting Places, & that disputes were chiefly owing to Drunkeness, which were they [to] desist from, and trade at the Places, and Markets appointed by Sir Wm. Johnson sevl. Years ago, all these mischiefs wou'd be prevented.-
To this, the Traders then present to the Number of 12 had no Reply to make in their own Vindication, which convinced the Indians of the truth of what they were accursed of , and were very sensible that their Strolling about in that manner, was productive of many Quarrells, & murders on both sides, and endangered the Peace, and Tranquility, between the Whites, and Indians.-
Then Mr. Croghan addressing himself to the different Nations assembled at Fort Pit, told them that, as they had been acquainted there was a new Colony to be established on the Ohio, and of Consequence a Governor expected, who was to come to Fort Pit this Summer to take the Command of both Whites, and Indians upon him, but that as in all appearance he wou'd not arrive this year, the Season being too far advanced, Mr. Croghan, and Mr. McKee then had consulted together to say a few words to the Indians upon the Occasion, and then told the Hurons that he was very glad to See them at Fort Pit, considering the great distance they came, that he was convinced they were sincere, and well inclined towards the English, and recommended to them to use their Endeavors to keep all the Nations under their Influence in the same disposition, and said "as you have opened a Road of Peace, good understanding, and Communication from Detroit to the Illenois, I must desire, and insist upon it, that the same Road may be continued, and cleard of every Obstacle from Fort Chartre to where it ought to go, which is the Rising of the Sun, (meaning the Council place of the Six Nations at Johnson Hall)."-
Then Mr. Croghan in conjunction with the Seneces added that he was to acquaint, and propose to the Nations then present that the Delaware Chief Custalogo was superannuated, and unfit to preside over that Nation, that they had with the old Man's Consent, and Approbation made Choice of his Nephew Capt. Pipe, a sober sensible Indian to take upon him the Charge of (page 1048) the Delaware Nation, and that he was henceforth to be looked upon as their Chief.- In like manner the Delawares of Newcommer's town below Tuscarawas had appointed Captain Grey Eyes al Sir William, to be their Chief in the place of their former Chief Newcommer who they thought unfit for the charge, & desire that all the neighbouring Nations will take notice of these Appointments accordingly.- Upon which Mr. Croghan gave a Belt to these new appointed Chiefs representing the Chain of Friendship between there, and the English with two Figures, the End holding fast of that Chain, which Belt was to be left at Beaver Creek Captain Pipe's Residence.-
Then Kayaghshota addressing himself to Capt. Pipe recommended to him to maintain Peace and Tranquility among his People, adding, that as his nation was fond of Straggling, having within a few years removed from Venango the Place they, the Six Nations had assigned them first, to Beaver Creek, and now were again inclining to disperse down the Ohio towards the Fall, and apprehensive that they wou'd make another Settlement there, he must desire and advise them by the Bunch of 12 Strings of Wampum he then delivered, that they wou'd keep themselves together for the future at Beaver Creek, and Consider that as their Council Place, and where the Belt of Friendship now given, was to remain.-
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12 Strings of Wampum |
Then Mr. Croghan in Conjunction with the Hurons, Ottawas & Delawares enjoined the Senecas then present, to collect their People that were dispersed on the Ohio, and its Environs, and make a Settlement [along] some where above Fort Pit in order to be in one Body, and more respectable, than they were at present.-
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4 Belts.- |
Mr. Croghan the Spoke to the Shawanese who were 13 in Numbr. at the Congress, telling them that he was sorry to say that there Nation for some time past had not acted a becoming part, and that he had reason to be convinced of their having spoke hitherto with a double tongue nothwithstanding the good Advice (page 1049) he and the Six Nations had given them to be sincere, and behave with uprightness, he therefore, and the Senecas expected they wou'd lay aside all false, and underhand Dealings, and w. act with more Candor & Sincerity for the future.-
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A large White Belt. |
Mr. Croghan with another Belt opened their Ears to receive, and retain every thing that was spoke to them for their Good, and welfare, and to keep them shut to every thing that might tend to disturb their Peace and Tranquility.-
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A Belt.- |
Then Mr. Croghan said he had finished what he had to communicate to the Congress.- Upon which a Shawanese Chief arose with a Pipe of Peace in his Hand, and after lighting it, handed it about to all the different Nations then assembled, and then in order to vindicate himself from the before mentioned accusation, said that he, (meaning his Nation) had faithfully discharged his trust in delivering the messages the Six Nations charged him with to the Nations living about Fort Chartres, and that in token of the truth of what he had said, those Nations agreeable to their Custom had given him the Pipe he had been handing about, thanking thereby Sir Wm. Johnson, and the Six Nations for the good advice they gave them by said Messages, and begged they wou'd stand their Friends & good Advisers for the future, & then desired that the Hurons might keep the Pipe.-
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Gave the Pipe.- |
Kayaghshota added that the Shawanese Chief at the same time delivered a Message from the three Illenois Indian Nations called the Kaskaskeys by which they acquaint the Six Nations that they cou'd not comply with their desire to come to their Country, on account of the nations about them being in continual war with some Nation, or other who they must always be in dread of being struck by, and therefore cou'd not leave their Families exposed to them. but if one general Peace was brought about with the Indians in that Country, they wou'd with Pleasure receive their Call, and attend.- Gave nine Strings.-
Then the said Chief thanked the Six Nations for the trust reposed in him to deliver said Messages to the Nations he was desired to deliver them to, and Congratulate them on the Success he had in his Embassy, wishing they might answer the Intention of them that send them.-
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Gave a large Belt.- |
The Shawanese Chief continued, and addressing himself to the Six Nations said,- Brothers, it is near two years ago since you invited us, together with the Hurons, Ottawas, Delawares Twightwees, and their Dependants to a Congress to be held at Onondaga, and left one of the Messengers with us to wait 'till we were all ready to set out in order to run on before and give you notice of our Coming, but not being able to get ready as soon as he expected, he grew tired waiting, and stole off unknown to us. We soon found out that he was gone, and immediately dispatched two Runners to go after him who overtook him at Wakatawick about 100 Miles from Scioto, where they stopped him, and insisted by our Direction, upon his Staying there 'till next Spring 'till the Grass was about a foot high, when he might depend upon our Setting out for the intended Congress.- Brothers, we are not to blame for this delay. it is the White Peoples fault. (Pointing to those present, who have always the Cup with Rum at our Mouths, keeping us in continual Drunkeness.)-
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Gave a Belt mark'd Sir Wm.
Johnson Wch. |
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Then the 6 Nations, or Senecas spoke with ten Strings of Wampum to the Ottawas telling them that they understood some of their young men had gone to War against the Fort Chartre or Kaskaskey Indians, and killed, and scalped two of them last Spring, Saying, "Brothers, you have acted wrong in Striking the Indians who are under the Protection of the English, and consequently our Friends.- We hope, and expect it was not done with the Consent of your whole Nation, and that it may not happen again."-
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Gave 10 Strings.- |
Upon which an Ottawa Chief rose up, and replied that with regard to what they were just now told about killing two Kaskaskey Indians, it was true enough, but entirely the fault of a Party of their young men who committed the Fact,- that their nation was quite Ignorant of it until they heard the War Whoop;wherefore they hoped the Six Nations wou'd no more think of it,- that they were sorry it happened, but that these things might easily be prevented for the future, it being not done with the Consent of their Nation.-
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Nine Strings.- |
Then the said Chief addressing himself to Mr. Croghan & Mr. McKee and the Senecas, told them that his whole Nation was much concerned at the before mentioned affair, and finding themselves incapable of making it up with the Kaskaskey Indians on account of their Ignorance in such matters begg'd of Mr. Croghan, and Mr. Mc. Kee, and the Senecas to intercede for them, and accomodate the Breach with the Kaskaskeys.-
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Gave a large Belt.- |
The business of the Congress thus finished the Nations present concluded with the following Speech addressing themselves to Mr. Croghan & Mr. McKee Sir Wm. Johnson's late, and present Deputy.-
Brothers-
Having now gone through the business of this Meeting wch. was assembled for the Preservation of Peace, and Tranquility with all the Indian Nations in these Parts agreeable to his Majesty the King of England his gracious Intentions towards us, we have still to observe to you that were we ever so willing, and inclined to Peace, your People counteract us by their unfriendly, and hostile behavior towards us. for we cannot cross on the side of the Ohio River which you call yours, but our People are ill treated, and even knocked in the Head and thrown into the River by yours, whereas when your People come on our side they have the liberty to walk peaceably, and quietly wherever they please.- You Pennsylvanians will endeavor to exculpate yourselves, and throw this Charge ion the Virginians, but we are convinced (page 1052) you are equally culpable.- It is therefore you white People who oppose the good intentions of the King, and his Servants, and we must assure you that if there be not a stop soon put to such Insults on your Part, it must being on a general Quarrell which will not easily be made up afterwards.-
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Gave 16 Strings.- |
Upon this Mr. Croghan, and Mr. Mc. Kee replied without Wampum, that they were very sensible of many Irregularities, and Insults of the Whites, and sorry for it, that all they cou'd do was to forewarn those Settlers from behaving so for the future, and to accquaint them wth. their Speech.-
The Shawanese of Wakatawick then in the way of discourse told their Story as follows.- That the Shawanese Nation of Scioto came to those of Wakatawick last Spring desiring a meeting; and when met, they in a serious manner, and full of Concern told the latter that they plainly saw they wou'd soon be Hemmed in on all Sides by the White People, and then be at their mercy, they therefore saw no other way to escape their Ruin, than by Removing from Scioto, and considering the Whites as their Enemies, & hoped they the Wakatawicks wou'd join in their measures.- The latter then replied, and checked the former for attempting such a thing, telling them, that but the other day, they received the most friendly Messages from the English by the way of the Six Nation Country, that they hardly cou'd think but they were meant sincerely, and that therefore they were determined to adhere to them, advising the others to do the same; but the others told them they cou'd not think of living so near the White People, and wou'd go off as soon as their Corn was ripe, and accordingly they also did, and having packed up every thing and ready to set off, a Trader with nine Horse loads of Goods arrived at their Village, of whom they took every thing he had upon trust, as they pretended, & went off.- The Trader then followed them in expectation of being paid, but there was no account of him since.- The Party that left Scioto were about 170 Men besides Women, and Children, which is more than half the Village, and it was imagined the rest wou'd follow soon.-
Saturday the 8th Jany, 1774-
Kayaghshota with Kanias, and Kanaegi two Seneca Chiefs requested a private Conference which being agreed to, they entered Sir Wm's. Study with the Interpreter.- then Kayaghshota spoke to Sr. Wm. as follows,
Brother, and Chief-
I am now come with these two Chiefs to let you know their, and my uneasiness occasioned by a false, and malicious Report lately spread, and industriously propagated by ill designing People to our Prejudice.- At the late meeting here with the Six Nations, nothwth.standing which, at my desire they came down to exculpate themselves, and as I was the cause of Kanias's coming to Fort Pit, on which they grounded their ill natured Surmises, I think it my duty to lay before you the cause of his coming. It was this: I lost two of my Children last Spring; and as it is the Custom among us on such Occasions to call the Relations of the deceased, and divide their Effects among them, I sent for Kanias to come, and receive his, and his Brother Kanagies share. On the former's coming, it was reported that he left his Country with a view to do all the mischief he could among the different Nations on the Ohio &c. I now declare to you that they are much wronged having no such Intentions to my certain knowledge, and was he even so disposed, he had not time, for he set off for this Place the second day after his Arrival, besides, as he is my near Relation, I know his Sentiments to be upright, and his Attachment to you to be very Strong.- Wherefore I hope you will pay no Regard to what you have been told of him, and his Brother, but that you will look upon them in the same favorable light which you have ever done.-
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4 Strings of Wampum. |
Brother, and Chief-
As it is proper that all News Stirring among the many Nations under your Care shou'd be made known to you, and as I am well acquainted with the disposition of the several Nations in Alliance with us, as are also the Chiefs who send you this Belt, (page 1054) desiring I wou'd let you know, that to their great Concern (after having for many years made tryal to bring the Shawanese to a just, and good way of thinking) they find that their Endeavors are in vain, which you may see is confirmed by their Speeches made to you last Summer by the Twightwee Confederacy, who complain heavily of the duplicity of their Conduct on many Occasions, by changing the good Speeches which have been from time [to time] sent by you, and the Six Nations, to the Western Nations, Cherokees &c., which has caused ill blood between them, and us, and made them dislike the White People. for these, and many other Reasons, we the Six Nations have resolved to shake them off, and look upon them no longer as part of our Confederacy, and request to know your Thoughts thereon.-
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A large Belt half White, and |
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Sir Wm. told them that as what they had now laid before him, was of a very serious nature, he wou'd require some time to consider of it, and when ready to answer, wou'd send for them.-
Sunday Janry the 9th.-
Deyaquaande an Onondaga Chief who was sent some time since by Sir W. to know the reason of the Senecas not bringing down the murderers agreeable to their Promise, arrived, and reported to Sir Wm. that he was met in the Oneida Country by three Runners from the Senecas who were charged with Messages from the Chief, of their Nation to Sir William regarding that affair which he the Onondaga was sent upon, and then told the Onondaga he might return, and hear them deliver their Messages. he accordingly complied, and left them much fatigued at the German Flats, owing to the Depth of Snow in their Country, and said that he expected them here as this day, or tomorrow.-
Monday the 10th.-
Three Senecas arrived with a letter to Sir Wm. from John,5 and Wm. Johnston5 residing in the Seneca Country, acquainting (page 1055) him, at the desire of their Chiefs, that they had sent in search of the murderers, and were resolved to bring them down to him as soon as possible, and hoped he wou'd not be impatient at their Delay.-
At a Meeting with Kayaghshota, several Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and other Chiefs Thursday Jany. 13th, 1774.-
Sir Wm. addressed Kayaghshota &c. as follows.-
Brother, and Friend Kayaghshota.-
I am glad to see you, and heartily bid you welcome, also those Chiefs with you, and as I am informed that you met with a severe Loss by the Death of two of your Children since I saw you last, which I am sorry for, I take this first Opportunity of Condoling with you on the Occasion.-
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Here Performed the Ceremony of Condolence with three Strings of Wampum, and two black Strouds &c.- After which Kayaghshuta returned the Complimant by going thro' the same Ceremony for the Losses sustained by us.- |
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Gave three Strings of Wampum.- |
This necessary Form at Meeting being over, Sir Wm. spoke to him as follows.- vizt.-
Brother Kayaghshota.-
I am in the first place to thank you for the great trouble you have been at in delivering my several Messages to all the Indians along the Ohio &c to whom they were directed, and in the next place to express my great Satisfaction at the faithful, and candid manner in which you have conveyed to me the Sentiments of all the Nations to the Westward who I am glad to find have paid a proper Regard to my wholesome Admonitions, and which if they continue to follow, will prove of the utmost Service to them, and Posterity.- By this Belt you will continue your good Offices, which shall not be forgotten, nor unnoticed by me.-
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A Belt.- |
Brethren of the Hurons.-
I am greatly pleased with your Conduct not only in your Carrying my Belts,
and Messages to the Twightwee Confederacy,
_______________________________
1 In William L. Clements Library.
2 Kayaghshota, or Kayashuta.
3 Nephew of Sir William, son of his sister Anne Johnson Dease.
4 Patrick Daly, then living with Sir William.
5 A smith.
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