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.

Examination of Morris Turner
and Ralph Kilgore

(October 11, 1750)

In: Pennsylvania Provincial Council
Minutes, Colonial Records,
Vol. V, pp. 482-484.

pp. 482, 483, 484.

(page 482)

P. S. I should have been to wait on your Excellency long ago, but was much out of order as was most of my Family, having eleven sick at once with a violent cold and sore Throat which raged here very much.

NEW YORK.

A true Copy Examin'd by
	GEO. BANYAR, D. Sec'ry.

The Examination of Morris Turner and Ralph Kilgore were taken in Council, and being sworn to, were ordered to be enter'd as follows:

These Examinants say that they are hired Servants of one John Frazier, of the County of Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Indian Trader; that in May last they were trading for him among the Twightwees to whom they had sold a large quantity of Goods, and had received in Return more Skins than they could carry with their Horses at one time; that after having delivered one Parcel of their Skins at Allegheny, as they were returning for a Second with empty Horses, and were got within Twenty-five Miles, as they think, of the Twightwee's Town, on the Twenty-Sixth Day of May last, Seven Indians came into their Cabins a little before Sun-set, received Victuals from them, and dress'd and eat it, and behaved like Friends. That some time after their coming into the Cabin the Indians in the way of curiosity took up the Guns belonging to these Examinants and a Tomhock, and ask'd them for Knives to cut their Tobacco with, which as soon as they had given them they seized them and tied their Hands with Ropes, and told them they must carry them to their Fathers the French, and, accordingly, they took them along with them, pinioning them in the day and fast'ning them in the Night with Ropes to the Ground; that they did not go the direct Road to Fort De Troit, but went round about ways, for that they did not reach it in less than sixteen Days, though from the Place where they were taken it is not as they think above one hundred and fifty miles. That all the way they were very inquisitive about the Courses of the Road and of the Waters between the Twightwee Country and the Allegheny Towns, and made these Examinants draw Draughts of those Roads and Waters. That when they came about a mile from the Fort they unpinioned them and marched them into the Town called De Troit, consisting of one hundred and fifty Houses stockaded all round.

That on their Arrival at the Town more Indians join'd them, when a Council was imediately convened by the Commander of the Fort, in which the Indians gave a formal Account of their taking these Examinants Prisoners, delivered them to the Commander in (page 483) Council, and received some Presents in reward of their Services, viz^t: a ten gallon Cag of Brandy and about one hundred Pound Weight of Tobacco.

That the Commander of the Fort sent them to a Farmer's House about a mile from the town, where they were made to reap Wheat and how Indian Corn, and work Country Work. That about six Days after they were placed there the Indians who took them came to see them, and treated them very contemptuously, flirting their Fingers against their Noses and saying they were Dogs, and they were going for more of them. That they remained in this Farmer's House about three Months, when there arrived a new Commander, one Monsieur Celoron, the same Officer who the Year before had commanded a Detachment of French Soldiers sent to Ohio with design to intimidate those Indians and the Twightwees.

That about three Weeks before their leaving the Farmer's House one of the Garrison Soldiers came to visit them along with two or three others who talked English. This Soldier told them that he was but just come to the Fort, having been taken Prisoner by the Catawbas, who carried him to Williamsburg, where he was treated very civilly and permitted to go home, and that he came through Philadelphia and New York, and was every where entertained much to his satisfaction; and hearing that there were two English Men Prisoners at that house he came to see them, and in Confidence told them that in the Spring an Army of Five Hundred French Men would march to Ohio, and either bring back the Shawanese and Owendats or kill them, and that they had offered One Thousand Dollars for the Scalps of George Croghan and James Lowry, imagining if they were taken off as they had great Influence with the Ohio Indians they could easily gain over those Indians to them.

That the late Commander of the Fort departing for Canada, they were committed to his Care, and in fourteen Days arrived at Niagara, where they found one Jean Ceur, the Head Interpreter for the French at Quebec, conducting, as they were inform'd, a large Present of Goods to Ohio which lay upon the Bank, and which they believ'd if they were to be bought in Philadelphia could not cost less than Fifteen Hundred Pounds.

These Examinants likewise saw at this Place eight or nine Batteaus laden with Bacon, Peas, and Flower, which they were told were to be stored in the Magazines at Fort De Troit for the use of the Spring Expedition.

That somewhere between Niagara and Oswego, on Lake Frontiniac, these Examinants made their Escape in the night time, the Persons appointed for their Guard being asleep, and got safe to (page 484) the Fort of Oswego, and from thence came by New York to this Place.

his
MORRIS M T TURNER.
mark
RALPH KILLGORE.

Sworn before the Governor in Council.

RICHARD PETERS, Secretary.

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