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.

Minutes of the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania

In: Pennsylvania Provincial Council
Minutes, Colonial Records,
Vol. V, pp. 437-451.

Thomas Lawrence,	Samuel Hassell,
Robert Strettell,	Joseph Turner,	} Esquires.
Thomas Hopkinson,	Richard Peters,

The Governor laid before the Board a Message from the Chiefs of the Four Nations of the Twightwees, which was spoke to Mr. Hugh Crawford, Indian Trader, in one of the Twightwee Towns on the Owabach, where he was trading last Winter, and which he put down in Writing. Mr. Crawford added that though he was order'd to deliver it to the Governor of Pennsylvania, and the Traders of that Province only were mentioned, yet the Message was to all his Majestie's Governors, and the Invitation to the Traders of all the English Provinces.

A Message from the Twightwees, sent by Mr. Hugh Crawford to the English Governors, tho' only delivered to the Governor of Pennsylvania.

The Four Miamy Nation of Indians (Part of whom were at Lancaster last Year) desir'd Hugh Crawford to acquaint the Governor, James Hamilton, Esquire, That last July about Two Hundred French and Thirty-Five French Indians came to their Towns, in order to perswade them to return back to the French Settlements from whence they came, or if fair means would not prevail with them they were to take them away by Force; but the French finding that they were resolved to adhere to the English, and perceiving their Numbers to be great, were discouraged from using any Hostile Measures, and began to be afraid least they should themselves be cut off. The French brought them a Present consisting of Four Half Barrels of Powder, Four Bags of Bullets, and Four Bags of Paint, with a few Needles and a little Thread, which they refused to accept of, whereupon the French and their Indians made the best of their Way off for Fear of the worst, leaving their Goods scattering about. But at the Time of their Conference the French upbraided the Indians for joining the English, and more so for continuing in their Interest, who had never sent them any Presents, nor even any Token of their Regards to them.

The Indians further desired Hugh Crawford to assure the Governors of their steady Friendship to the English, which they hoped would last whilst the Sun and Moon ran round the World:

The Indians send by Hugh Crawford to the Governor Four (page 438) Strings of Wampum to confirm their Message, and Two Strings more that the Traders of Pennsylvania may be encouraged by him to go out and deal with them, and they earnestly request the Favour of an Answer from the Governors by the said Hugh Crawford.

The Governor laid before the Council a Conference held with the Indians by Mr. Peters at Mr. Croghan's on Thursday the 7th of June, 1750, which was order'd to be entred:

At a Conference held with the Indians at Mr. Croghan's on Thursday the 7th of June, 1750, by Mr. Peters.

George Croghan,		Andrew Montour,
Mathew Dill,		Cana-ja-chanah, als. Broken Kettle,
Hermanus Alricks,	}Esquires.	Hatchin-hana,
William Trent,		Cadsedan-hiunt,
George Stevenson,		Chiefs of the Seneca Nations
		settled at Ohio.

We have been sent for by Cap^t. Cressap and are now upon our Road to his House. Meeting with Settlements of White People as we came along from Allegheny, we asked why they settled so far back, and whether the Six Nations had sold that Land to Pennsylvania, but received from them no satisfactory Answer. As we came among the Inhabitants we were told that the Lands were not sold by the Six Nations, and that the Secretary had been turning the White People off and was at Mr. Croghan's, whereupon we came here to inquire if this be true; and as we find it is, We return the Government Thanks for their Care of our Lands.

We were sent from Ohio about Six Years ago to Canada to desire the French to supply us with Goods, and they could not supply Us. When we returned our Council determined to send a String of Wampum to the Governor of Pennsylvania to desire that the English Governors would send their Traders with Goods among us, which String was sent by James Lowry; to which we have received no answer. Therefore We present You with this String to know whether that was delivered or any answer ever given to it.

The Six Nations come down every Year to sell Land, and we (page 439) are Part of the Six Nations, live at Allegheny and hunt there. They sell Lands and give us no account of the Value; therefore we are sent by the Ohio Council to desire our Brother the Governor to recommend it to the Six Nations that when any Lands shall be sold we may have Part of the Value.

We are now become a stronger Body than when We received the Present from our Brothers the Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and have got many to join us, and are become a great Body, and desire to be taken notice of as such; and for this Purpose Our Nation by Us present this

Tho' We have been sent for Cap^t. Cressap, yet if it be to buy Land of Us We shall have nothing to say to that, as it has not been given us in Charge by our Council; but if it should be for any thing else, perhaps Trade, now we see you we would know your opinion about it.

I am glad I happen'd to be here, and shall consider your Message and give you such an Answer this Afternoon as I can, tho' whatever I say will be only my private Sentiments.

I shall give your Belt to the Governor and faithfully relate what was said to me at the Delivery of it, and doubt not but you will receive his Honour's Answer in a little Time.

As Trade is of a private Nature, the Indians, since you ask my Advice, ought to buy their Goods where they can be best served. The People of Maryland and Virginia who deal in this Trade may serve You as well as any Others from Pennsylvania or elsewhere, and I advise you by all Means to go to Cap^t. Cresap's and to cultivate a good Understanding with every body who can supply You with Goods, for it is equal to this Government from whence the Indians are supplied so that there be a good Harmony kept up between them and all the King's Subjects. It is no Part of my Business to give You Advice, but I cannot help repeating to You my Sentiments that you do well to trade with the good People of Virginia and Maryland as well as with those of Pennsylvania, and to give them the Preference if you find they treat You better than our People; And as I am now at the House of an Indian Trader, I charge You, Mr. Montour, to tell them truly what I say, and that it will be agreeable to the Proprietaries and this Government that the Indians trade wherever they can be best supplied.

In a Conversation after the Conference The Indians desired Andrew to relate to me the particulars which passed about the Invitation of Cressap, viz., that last Fall Barny Currant, a hired Man of Mr. Parker, brought them a Message from Cressap to let them know that he had a Quantity of Goods, and from the true Love that he bore to the Indians he gave them, viz., Seneca George, Broken Kettle, and the Stone, an Invitation to come and see him; that he intended to let them have his Goods at a low rate- much cheaper than the Pennsylvania Traders sold them; and notwithstanding the People of Pennsylvania always told them they were Brethren and had a great Value for them, yet this only come from their Mouth and not from their Heart, for they constantly cheated them in all their Dealings, which he Coll^o. Cressap was very well acquainted with, and taking Pity of them he intended to use them in another manner, and mentioned the rates that he and Mr. Parker would sell their Goods to them at, which is cheaper than the first Cost be they any where imported, viz.: A Matchcoat for a Buck, a Strowd for a Buck and a Doe, a pair of Stockings for two Racoons, twelve Bars of Lead for a Buck, and so on in Proportion.

Then was read Mr. Peters' Report of the Proceedings of the Magistrates of Cumberland County against the Trespassers over the Blue Hills, and Mr. Weiser saying it was a just and true Account, and desiring it might be received as his own in the several Transactions wherein he was personally concerned, it was order'd to be enter'd:

To the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware,

The Report of RICHARD PETERS, Esquire, Secretary of the Province of Pennsylvania, of the Proceedings against sundry Persons settled in the unpurchased Part of the Province aforesaid:

Mr. Weiser and I having received your Honour's Orders to give Information to the proper Magistrates against all such as had presum'd to settle and remain on the Lands beyond the Kittochtinny Mountains not purchased of the Indians, in Contempt of the Laws repeatedly signified by Proclamations, and particularly by your Honour's late one, and to bring them to a legal Conviction, least for want of their Removal a Breach should ensue between the Six Nations of Indians and this Province, We set out on Tuesday the fifteen Day of May last for the new County of Cumberland, where the Places on which the Trespassers had settled lay.

At Mr. Croghan's we met with five Indians, three from Shamokin, two of which were Sons of the late Shickcalamy, who transact (page 441) the Business of the Six Nations with this Government, two were just arrived from Allegheny, viz., one of the Mohock's Nation called Aaron, and Andrew Montour the Interpreter at Ohio. Mr. Montour telling us he had a Message from the Ohio Indians and Twightwees to this Government, and desiring a Conference, one was held on the eighteenth of May last in the Presence of James Galbraith, George Croghan, William Wilson, and Hermanus Alricks, Esquires, Justices of the County of Cumberland, and when Mr. Montour's Business was done we, with the Advice of the other Justices, imported to the Indians the Design we were assembled upon, at which they expressed great satisfaction.

Another Conference was held at the Instance of the Indians in the Afternoon, in the Presence of Mr. Galbreth and Mr. Croghan, before mentioned, wherein they expressed themselves as follows:

"Brethren: We have thought a great deal of what you imparted to us, that you were come to turn the People off who are settled over the Hills; we are pleased to see you on this occasion, and as the Council of Onondago has this Affair exceedingly at Heart, and it was particularly recommended to us by the Deputies of the Six Nations when they parted from us last Summer, we desire to accompany you, but we are afraid, notwithstanding the Care of the Governor, that this may prove like many former Attempts- the People will be put off now and next Year come again; and if so, the Six Nations will no longer bear it, but do themselves Justice. To prevent this, therefore, when you shall have turned the People off we recommend it to the Governor to place two or three faithful Persons over the Mountains who may be agreeable to him and us, with Commissions impowering them immediately to remove every one who shall presume after this to settle there, until the Six Nations shall agree to make Sale of their Land." To enforce this they gave a String of Wampum and received one in return from the Magistrates with the strongest assurances that they would do their Duty.

On Tuesday the twenty-second of May, Mathew Dill, George Croghan, Benjamin Chambers, Thomas Wilson, John Finley, and James Galbreth, Esquires, Justices of the said County of Cumberland, attended by the Under Sheriff, came to Big Juniata situate at the Distance of twenty-five miles from the mouth thereof and about ten Miles North from the Blue Hills, a Place much esteemed by the Indians for some of their best hunting Ground, and there they found five Cabbins or Log Houses, one possessed by William White, another George Cahoon, another not quite finished in Possession of David Hiddleston, another possessed by George and William Galloway, and another by Andrew Lycon; of these Persons William White, George and William Galloway, David Hiddleston and George Cohoon, appeared before the Magistrates, and being asked by what Right or authority they had possessed themselves of those Lands and erected Cabbins thereon, they replied by no Right or Autho-

Finding such a general submission, and verily believing the Evil would be effectually taken away, there was no Kindness in my Power which I did not do for the Offenders, giving them Money where they were poor, and telling them they might go directly on any Part of the two Millions of Acres lately purchased of the Indians; and where the Families were large, as I happened to have several of my own Plantations vacant I offered them to stay on them Rent free till they could provide for themselves; then I told them that if after all this Lenity and good Usage they would dare to stay after the Time limited for their Departure, no mercy would be shewed, but that they would feel the whole Rigour of the Law.

It may be proper to add, that the Cabbins or Log Houses which were burnt were of no considerable Value, being such as the Country People erect in a Day or two, and cost only the Charge of an Entertainment.

Thus I have given your Honour a full Relation of this whole Transaction, humbly hoping the Part I have acted therein will meet with your Approbation, and that it will have the desired good Effect in removing the Trespassers and prevent their returning to their Settlements, and any future Clamours or Complaints from the Indians on that Head, and am

Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant,

RICHARD PETERS.

The Governor was inform'd by Mr. Montour that two or three Traders had been killed within these two Years by the Indians; that the Murderers were not under the least Censure for them, and that the Traders, contrary to their Duty, and to the manifest danger of the Lives of his Majestie's Subjects, had made no complaint to His Honour of these Murders; that he cou'd not tell whether the Facts were committed in Virginia or this Province, but in whichever Province if no notice was taken of it by this Government, it might occasion the shedding of abundance of innocent Blood, and prove of fatal Consequence; whereupon his Honour drew up the following Message, and gave it in charge to Mr. Montour to deliver it, and to observe all the Forms and Ceremonies used in delivering such Messages, so that the Complaint might go with the greatest Force; and if any Expression be omitted necessary and usual on such occasions that he should supply it:

To the Indians of the Six Nations, Shawonese, Delawares, and others living at Ohio.

I was surprised by some of my People who lately came from Ohio with the News that two or three of them had been killed by you within these few Years, and that no manner of notice was taken (page 450) of the Murders by you. You must be sensible that to see the Blood of our own People is aggravating and is sometimes of dangerous Consequence, if proper care be not taken by the wise men of the Place where it is shed. I must, therefore, charge you to make a strict enquiry what occasioned the Blood of my People, for you cannot expect, according to the Law of Nations, that I can treat with you on friendly terms till you have brought the Murderers to Justice. I have been informed that some of you said one of the persons killed was a Virginian, and this would not draw on you the anger of the Government of Pennsylvania, but I must tell you that to hurt or kill any of the Inhabitants of that Province will give us equal concern, equal offence, as if it was one who lived in my Government, we are all one People- there is no difference between us, and if any one be hurt all ought to resent it, and will do it you may depend upon it.

The Governor then laid before the Board his Answer to the Message from the Twightwees or Miamis sent by Mr. Hugh Crawford, which is enter'd in the first part of this Minute.

I have received Four Strings on Behalf of Four of your Nations by Mr. Hugh Crawford, and your Message purporting that a Number of French and French Indians came to your Towns last Summer, and by Perswasions and Presents, and when these were rejected by Menaces, endeavour'd to shake your friendship for us, but all to no purpose; and that you were determined to continue faithful to us and desired more traders may be sent with goods into your Country.

I have repeated the Message that you may know what was delivered to me by Mr. Crawford, and in answer I assure you, on behalf of this and the other English Governments, to whom I shall communicate your Message, that we have a grateful Sense of your Attachment to us, and desire our Alliance may be as strong as the strongest Mountain, and endure while the Sun shines and the Rivers run. I have proposed it to some of the best of our traders to carry on commerce with you, and to sell you their Goods at as easy a price as they can afford, and by all means to cultivate a good understanding with you, and they seem willing to do it; but as your town are at a great distance from the Six Nations, and that several of your Tribes seem still to be firmly attached to the French, the traders cannot help expressing their apprehensions of the great danger their is in being intercepted either in their passage to or return from your country; and that unless some measures be concerted to preserve the road safe and commodious for their persons and effects it will not be possible to extend their Trade into countrys (page 451) so remote to any great degree. I mention this with the more earnestness as I have lately received information that two of our traders going from the Logs' Town to the Twightwees, about three hundred miles from the first place, were either killed, taken by the French or Indians, and that a Party of French Indians have killed fourteen of our people belonging to Carolina. I say our people, for the inhabitants of Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, this Province, and New York, are all one people, and if any be obstructed, robbed, or killed, all of us are equally affected, and must resent it alike. Some other stories are likewise told us, which if true make it evident that the road is by no means safe to travel.

We give you four Strings of Wampum in acknowledgement of your professions, and thereby assure you that we desire to bind the chain of Friendship between us as firm as it can possibly be.

Inasmuch as the road is insecure, and the traders make a difficulty of travelling in it while it is so, we give you this belt to remove out of it every thing that renders it dangerous.

There is a hearty inclination in the English Governments towards all the Twightwee Nations, and it would be a pleasure to them to have an opportunity of showing you the many advantages which would accrue to you from your alliance with the English. If I receive the answer from the other Governors time enough to send it this fall I will transmit it to you, if not you may expect it early in the Spring.

Thomas Lawrence,	Thomas Hopkinson,
William Logan,	Richard Peters,	} Esqrs.
Joseph Turner,

The Governor informed the Board that on the Receit of Mr. Peters' Report of the Proceedings against the Trespassers over the Hills, he had thought proper to write a Letter to the Justice of Cumberland County, commending them for their Zeal shewed on this occasion, and recomending it to them that the Recognizances which they had taken might punctually be put in execution against

pp.		437, 438, 439, 440,
		441, 449, 450, 451.

Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania

Minutes of the Provincial
Council of Pennsylvania