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.
Mr. Croghan to the
Governor of Pennsylvania
(December 16, 1750)
Croghan, George in: Minutes of
the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania, Colonial
Records, Vol. V,
pp. 496-498.
(page 496) of America, in hopes that they will see the necessity of establishing such an Union, and if they cannot attend the Treaty at Albany in Person, then to send commissioners to concert and conclude on the necessary measures to be taken on this important occasion, assuring myself they will come furnished with proper Presents to be distributed among the Indians at this meeting, at which I flatter myself with your Excellency's assistance or that of Commissioners from your Government.
If this Proposal of an Interview between the several Governors or Commissioners representing them be approved of, and they meet accordingly, it will I conceive be very proper they should examine into and draw up a State of the Indian Affairs to be laid before his Majesty, and at the same time consider whether it would not be a proper step to agree on a Representation to the Governor General of Canada touching the conduct of some of the Governors and officers under him, who have been guilty of Infractions of the Treaties of Peace Subsisting between Great Britain and France, and particularly of the 15th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht, especially if it is done with such a concurrence on good Proofs which I hope all who know of any such will come furnished with, or with the means of procuring them.
Some other Governments I send this Letter to may possibly think they have no concern with Indian Affairs, because other Provinces lay between them and the Indians; But if our Indians should be gained by the French they may soon be induced to Harrass the Colonies lying between such other Governments and the Indians, so as to oblige the Inhabitants to desert them, as lately happened to the greatest Part of the County of Albany in this Province. In this case (which God avert) they will find when too late that they had an Interest in Indian Affairs, to which if they had duly attended these dreadful consequences might for ever have been prevented; And as the very news of such an union of Councils must on the one hand greatly encourage the Indians to be steady to the British Interest, so on the other it may tend to discourage the French from continuing their Endeavours to draw over our Indians from us. I am with very great regard,
Sir, Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,
|
G. CLINTON. |
The Honoble. JAMES HAMILTON, Esq.
____
A Letter from Mr. Croghan to the Governor of Pennsylvania.
|
LOGSTOWN on Ohio, December the 16th, 1750. |
Sir:
Yesterday Mr. Montour and I got to this Town, where we found (page 497) thirty Warriors of the Six Nations going to War against the Catawba Indians; they told us that they saw John Coeur about one hundred and fifty miles up this River at an Indian Town, where he intends to build a Fort if he can get Liberty from the Ohio Indians; he has five canoes, loaded with Goods, and is very generous in making Presents to all the Chiefs of the Indians that he meets with; he has sent two Messages to this Town desiring the Indians here to go and meet him and clear the Road for him to come down the River, but they have had so little Regard to his Message that they have not thought it worth while to send him an answer as yet. We have seen but very few of the Chiefs of the Indians they being all out hunting, but those we have seen are of opinion that their Brothers the English ought to have a Fort on this River to secure the Trade, for they think it will be dangerous for the Traders to travel the Roads for fear of being surprised by some of the French and French Indians, as they expect nothing else but a War with the French next Spring. At a Town about three hundred miles down this River, where the Chief of the Shawonese live, a Party of French and French Indians surprised some of the Shawonese and killed a man and took a woman and two children Prisoners; the Shawonese pursued them and took five French Men and some Indians Prisoners; the Twightwees likewise have sent word to the French that if they can find any of their People, either French or French Indians, on their hunting Ground, that they will make them Prisoners, so I expect nothing else but a War this Spring; the Twightwees want to settle themselves some where up this River in order to be nearer their Brothers the English, for they are determined never to hold a Treaty of Peace with the French. Mr. Montour and I intend as soon as we can get the Chiefs of the Six Nations that are Settled here together, to sollicit them to appoint a Piece of Ground up this River to seat the Twightwees on and kindle a Fire for them, and if possible to remove the Shawonese up the River, which we think will be securing those Nations more steady to the English Interest. I hope the Present of Goods that is preparing for those Indians will be at this Town some time in March next, for the Indians, as they are now acquainted that there is a Present coming, will be impatient to receive it, as they intend to meet the French next Spring between this and Fort De Troit, for they are certain the French intend an Expedition against them next Spring from Fort De Troit. I hear the Owendaets are as steady and well attached to the English Interest as ever they were, so that I believe the French will make but a poor hand of those Indians. Mr. Montour takes a great deal of Pains to promote the English Interest amongst those Indians, and has a great sway amongst all those Nations; if your Honour has any Instructions to send to Mr. Montour, Mr. Trent will forward it to me. I will see it delivered (page 498) to the Indians in the best manner, that your Honour's Commands may have their full Force with the Indians.
|
I am, with due respects, |
|
|
Your Honour's most humble Servant, |
|
|
GEO. CROGHAN |
|
The Honouble. JAMES HAMILTON, Esqr.
____
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly
Gentlemen:
I received by the last Post the Letter herewith laid before you from his Excellency the Governor of New York; and as it contains matters of very great Importance to the Inhabitants of all his Majestie's Colonies on this Continent, and to none more than those of this Province, I must desire you to take the Contents thereof into your most serious Consideration.
I am pleased to find by a letter from Mr. Croghan of the sixteenth of November, from Ohio, which came to my hand two days ago, that all our Indian Allies in those Parts as yet remain true to their Engagements with Us, and that some of them are desirous of removing nearer to their Brethren the English, with a view, no doubt, of receiving Protection from them against the French, with whom they expect to be at War in the Spring; but as that Letter contains several Matters worthy your greatest Attention, I choose to lay the whole of it before you without any comments of my own, I which I am perswaded would be unnecessary at this time.
The Money voted at your last Sessions as a Present to the Indians at Ohio has been laid out to the best Advantage in Goods proper to the occasion; Great Part of them has been some time since transported over Sasquehannah and there securely lodged in order to their being carried more early in the Spring to the People, for whom they are designed; the Remainder is yet in Town for want of Carriages to transport them thither, but shall be sent up as soon as the Roads will permit. But as all the Money given for this Service was invested in Goods, and no Provision made that I know of to pay the Charge of their Conveyance to Ohio, I must desire you to think of this and provide accordingly. The sum demanded for their Transportation is Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds, which appears to me to be very high; but by all the Enquiry I have been able to make, I do not find I can get it done for less by any Persons in whom I can place a Confidence.
I have nothing to add, but to assure you that whatever you enable me to do at this difficult Season shall be perform'd to the
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