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.
First Journal
(9/11/1750 - 5/19/1751)
(Due to length divided here into two parts)
Gist, Christopher in: Mulkearn, Lois,
ed.
and comp. George Mercer Papers,
University of Pittsburgh Press,
1954, pp. 8-31, 98-121,
and 252-266.
1750. In Complyance with my Instructions from the Committee of the Ohio Company bearing Date the 11th Day of September, 1750.
Wednesday Octr 31 Set out from Colo Thomas Cresap's61 at the old Town62 on Potomack River in Maryland, and went along an Old Indian Path N 30 E about 11 Miles.
Thursday Novr 1 Then N 1 Mile N 30 E 3 M here I was taken sick and stayed all Night.
Friday 2 N 30 E 6 M, here I was so bad that I was not able to proceed any farther that Night, but grew better in the Morning.
Saturday 3 N 8 M to Juniatta, a large Branch of Susquehannah, where I stayed all Night.
Sunday 4 Crossed Juniatta and went up it S 55 W about 16 M.
Monday 5 Continued the same Course S 55 W 6 M to the Top of a large Mountain called the Allegany Mountain, here our Path turned, & we went N 45 W 6 N here we encamped.
Tuesday 7 Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 Had snow and such bad Weather that We could not travel for three Days; but I killed a young Bear so that we had Provision enough.
Friday 9 Set out N 70 W about 8 M here I crossed a Creek of Susquehannah and it raining hard, I went into an old Indian Cabbin where I stay'd all Night.
Saturday 10 Rain and Snow all Day but cleared away in the Evening.
Sunday 11 Set out late in the Morning N 70 W 6 M crossing two forks of a Creek of Susquehannah, here the Way being bad, We encamped and I killed a Turkey.
Monday 12 Set out N 45 W 8 M crossed a great Laurel Mountain.
Tuesday 13 Rain and Snow.
Wednesday 14 Set out N 45 W 6 M to Loylhannan71 an old Indian Town on a Creek of Ohio called Kiscominatis, [p. 99 Kishekeminetas] then N 1 M NW 1 M to an Indian's Camp on the said Creek.
Thursday 15 The Weather being bad and I unwell I stayed here all Day: The Indian to whom this Camp belonged spoke good English and directed Me the Way to his Town, which is called Shannopini [p. 99 Shannopin] Town.72 He said it was about 60 M and a pretty good Way.
Friday 16 Set out S 70 W 10 M.73
Saturday 17 The same Course (S 70 W) 15 M to an Old Indian's Camp.74
Sunday 18 I was very sick, and sweated myself according to the Indian Custom in a Sweat House, which gave me Ease, and my Fever abated.
Monday 19 Set out early in the Morning the same Course (S 70 W) travelled very hard about 20 M to a small Indian Town of the Delawares called Shannopin on the SE Side of the River Ohio, where We rested and got Corn for our Horses.
Tuesday 20 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 and Friday 23 I was unwell and stayed in this Town to recover myself; While I was here I took an Opportunity to set m y Compass privately, & took the Distance across the River, for I understood it was dangerous to let a Compass be seen among these Indians; The River Ohio is 76 Poles wide at Shannopin Town; There are about Twenty Families in this Town; The Land in general from Potomack to this Place is mean stony and broken, here and there good Spots upon the Creeks and Branches but no Body of it.
Saturday 24 Set out from Shannopin's Town, and swam our Horses across the River Ohio, & went down the River S 75 W 4 M, N 75 W 7 M Q 2 M, all the Land from Shannopin's Town is good along the River, but the Bottoms not broad; At a Distance from the River good Land for Farming, covered with small white and red Oaks and tolerable level; fine Runs for Mills & c.
Sunday Novr 25 Down the River W 3 M, NW 5 M to the Logg's town;77 the Lands these last 8 M very rich the Bottoms above a Mile wide, but on the SE Side, scarce a Mile wide, the Hills high and steep. In the Loggs Town, I found scarce any Body but a Parcel of reprobate Indian Traders, the Chiefs of the Indians being out a hunting: here I was informed that George Croghan & Andrew Montour who were sent upon an Embassy from Pennsylvania to the Indians, were passed about a Week before me. The People in this Town began to enquire (page 10) my Business, and because I did not readily inform them, they began to suspect me, and said, I was come to settle the Indian's Land, and they knew I should never go Home again safe; I found this Discourse was like to be of ill Consequence to me, so I pretended to speak very slightingly of what they had said to me, and enquired for Croghan (who is a meer Idol among his Countrymen the Irish Traders) and Andrew Montour the Interpreter for Pensylvania, and told them I had a Message to deliver the Indians from the King, by Order of the President of Virginia, & for that Reason wanted to see Mr Montour; This made them all pretty easy (being afraid to interrupt the King's Message) and obtained me Quiet and Respect among them, otherwise I doubt not them woud have contrived some Evil against me- I immediately wrote to Mr Croghan, by one of the Trader's People.
Monday 26 Tho I was unwell, I prefered the Woods to such Company & set out from the Loggs Town down the River NW 6 M to great Beaver Creek where82 I met one Barny Curran a Trader for the Ohio Company, and We continued together as far as Moskingum.83 The Bottoms upon the River below the Logg's Town very rich but narrow, the high Land pretty good but not very Rich, the Land upon Beaver Creek the same kind, From this Place We left the River Ohio to the SE & travelled across the Country.
Tuesday 27 Set out from the E. Side of Beaver Creek NW 6 M, W 4 M; up these two last Courses very good high Land, not very broken fit for farming
Wednesday 28 Rained, We could not travel.
Thursday 29 W 6 M thro good Land, the same Course continued 6 M farther thro very broken Land; here I found myself pretty well recovered, & being in Want of Provision, I went out and killed a Deer.
Friday 30 Set our S 45 W 12 M crossed the last Branch of Beaver Creek where one of Curran's Men & myself killed 12 Turkeys.
Saturday Decr 1 N 45 W 10 M the Land high and tolerable good.
Note by Mr Gist's Plat he makes these 2 Courses N 45 W 10 M & N 45 W 8 M, to W 8 M and N 45 W 6 M.
Sunday 2 N 45 W 8 M the same Sort of Land, but near the Creeks bushy and very full of Thorns.
Monday 3 Killed a Deer, and stayed in our Camp all Day.
Tuesday 4 Set out late S 45 W about 4 M here I killed three fine fat Deer, so that tho we Were eleven in Company, We had great Plenty of Provision.
Wednesday 587 Set out down the Side of a Creek called Elk's Eye88 Creek S 70 W 6 M, good Land but void of Timber, Meadows upon the Creek, fine Runs for Mills.
Thursday 6 Rained all Day so that we were obliged to continue in our Camp.
Friday 7 Set out SW 8 M crossing the said Elk's Eye Creek to a Town of the Ottaways,89 a Nation of French Indians; an old French Man (named Mark Coonce)90 who had married an Indian Woman of the Six Nations lived here; the Indians were all out a hunting; the old Man was very civil to me, but after I was gone to my Camp, upon his understanding I came from Virginia, he called Me the Big Knife; There are not above six or eight Families belonging to this Town.
Saturday 8 Stayed in the Town.
Sunday 9 Set out down the said Elk's Eye Creek S 45 W 6 M to Margarets Creek92 a Branch of the said Elk's Eye Creek.
Monday Decr 10 The same Course (S 45 W) 2 M to a large Creek.
Tuesday 11 The same Course 12 M killed 2 Deer.
Wednesday 12 The same Course 8 M encamped by the Side of Elk's Eye Creek.
Thursday 13 Rained all Day.
Friday 14 Set out W 5 M to Moskingum a Town of the Wyendotts. [p. 161 Wiandots] The land upon Elk's Eye Creek is in general very broken, the Bottoms narrow. The Wyendotts or little Mingoes are divided93 between the French and English one half of them adhere to the first, and the other half are firmly attached to the latter. The Town of Moskingum consists of about one hundred Families. When We came within Sight of the Town, We perceived the English Colours hoisted on the King's94 House, and at George Croghan's;95 upon enquiring the Reason I was informed that the French had lately taken several English Traders,96 and that Mr. Croghan had ordered all the White Men to come into this Town, and had sent Expresses to the Traders of the lower Towns,97 and among the Pickweylinees;98 [p. 101, Picqualinnees] and the Indians had sent to their People to come to Council about it.
Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 Nothing remarkable happened.
Monday 17 Came into Town two Traders belonging to Mr Croghan and informed Us that two99 of his People were taken by 40 French Men, & twenty French Indians who had carried them with seven Horse Loads of Skins to a new Fort100 that the French were building on one of the Branches of Lake Erie.
Tuesday 18 I acquainted Mr Croghan and Andrew Montour with my business with the Indians, & talked much of a Regulation of Trade with which they were much pleased, and treated Me very kindly.
From Wednesday 19 to Monday 24 Nothing remarkable.
Tuesday 25 This being Christmas Day, I intended to read Prayers, but after inviting some of the White Men, they informed each other of my Intentions, and being of several different Persuasions, and few of them inclined to hear any Good, they refused to come. But one Thomas Burney101 a Black-Smith who is settled there went about and talked to them, & then several of them came; and Andrew Montour invited several of the well disposed Indians, who came freely; by this Time the Morning was spent, and I had given over all Thoughts of them, but seeing Them come, to oblige All, and offend None, I stood up and said, Gentlemen, I have no Design or Intention to give Offence to any particular Sectary or Religion, but as our King indulges Us all in a Liberty of Conscience and hinders none of You in the Exercise of your religious Worship, so it woud be unjust in You, to endeavour to stop the Propagation of His; The Doctrine of Salvation Faith, and good Works, is what I only propose to treat of, as I find it extracted from the Homilies of the Church of England, which I then read to them in the best Manner I coud, and after I had done the Interpreter told the Indians what I had read, and that it was the true Faith which the great King and his Church recommended to his children; the Indians seemed well pleased, and came up to Me and returned Me their Thanks; and then invited Me to live among Them, and gave Me a Name in their Language Annosanah; the Interpreter told Me this was a Name of a good Man that had formerly lived among them, and their King said that must be always my Name, for which I returned them Thanks; but as to living among them I excused myself by saying I did not know whether the Governor woud give Me Leave, and if he did the French would come and carry me away as they had done the English Traders, to which they answered I might bring Great Guns and make a Fort, that they had now left the French, and were very desirous of being instructed in the principles of Christianity; that they liked Me very well and wanted Me to marry Them after the Christian Manner, and baptize their Children; and then they said they woud never desire to return to the French, or suffer Them or their Priests to come near them more, for they loved the English, but had seen little Religion among Them; and some of their great Men came and wanted Me to baptize their Children; for as I had read to Them and appeared to talk about Religion they took Me to be a Minister of the Gospel; Upon which I desired Mr Montour (the Interpreter) to tell them, that no Minister coud venture to baptize any Children, until those that were to be Sureties for Them, were well instructed in the Faith themselves and that this was according to the great King's Religion, in which He (page 13) desired his Children shoud be instructed, & We dare not do it in any other Way, than was by Law established, but I hoped if I coud not be admitted to live among them, that the great King would send Them proper Ministers to exercise that Office among them, at which they seemed well pleased; and one of Them went and brought Me his Book (which was a Kind contrived for Them by the French in which the Days of the Week were so marked that by moving a Pin every Morning they kept a pretty exact Account of the Time) to shew Me that he understood Me, and that He and his Family always observed the Sabbath Day.
Wednesday Decr 26 This Day a Woman,102 who had been a long Time a Prisoner, and had deserted, & been retaken, and brought into the Town on Christmas Eve, was put to Death in the following Manner: They carried Her without the Town, & let her loose, and when she attempted to run away, the Persons appointed for that Purpose pursued here, & struck Her on the Ear, on the right Side of her Head, which beat her flat on her Face on the Ground; they then stuck her several Times thro the Back with a Dart, to the Heart, scalped her, & threw the Scalp in the Air, and another cut off her Head: There the dismal Spectacle lay till the Evening, & then Barny Curran desired leave to bury Her, which He, and his Men, and some of the Indians did just at Dark.
From Thursday Decr 27 to Thursday Jany 3, 1751 Nothing remarkable happened in the Town.
Friday Janry 4 One Teafe (an Indian Trader) came to Town from near Lake Erie, & informed Us, that the Wyendott Indians had advised Him to keep clear of the Ottaways [p. 103, Outawais] (these are a Nation of Indians firmly attached to the French, & inhabit near the Lakes) & told Him that the Branches of Ohio belonged to Them, and their Brothers the English, and that the French had no Business there, & that it was expected that the other Part of the Wyendott Nation woud desert the French and come over to the English Interest, & join their Brethren on the Elk's Eye Creek, & build a strong Fort and Town there.
From Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 The Weather still continuing bad, I stayed in the Town to recruit my Horses, and tho Corn was very dear among the Indians, I was obliged to feed them well, or run the Risque of losing them as I had a great Way to travel.
Wednesday 9 The Wind, Southerly, and the Weather something warmer; this Day came into Town two Traders from among the Pickwaylinees (these are a Tribe of the Twigtwees) and brought News (page 14) that another English Trader103 was taken Prisoner by the French, and that three French Soldiers had deserted and come over to the English, and surrendered themselves to some of the Traders of the Pick Town, & that the Indians would have put them to Death, to revenge their Taking our Traders, but as the French Prisoners had surrendered themselves, the English woud not let the Indians hurt them, but had ordered them to be sent under the Care of three of our Traders and delivered at this Town, to George Croghan.
Thursday 10 Wind still South and warm
Friday 11 This Day came into Town an Indian from over the Lakes & confirmed the News we had heard.
Saturday 12 We sent away our People towards the lower Town104 intending to follow them the next Morning, and this Evening We went into Council in the Wyendott's King's House- The Council had been put off a long Time expecting some of their Great Men in, but few of them came, & this Evening some of the King's Council being a little disordered with Liquor, no Business could be done, but We were desired to come next Day.
Sunday Janry 13 No Business Done.
Monday 14 This Day George Croghan, by the Assistance of Andrew Montour, acquainted the King and Council of this Nation (by presenting them four Strings of Wampum) that the great King over the Water, their Roggony (Father) had sent under the Care of the Governor of Virginia, their Brother, a large Present of Goods to invite Them to come and see him, & partake of their Father's Charity to all his Children on the Branches of Ohio In Answer to which one of the Chiefs stood up and said, "That their King and all of Them thanked their Brother the Governor of Virginia for his Care, and Me for bringing Them the News, but they could not give Me an Answer untill they had a full or general Council of the several Nations of Indians which could not be till next Spring; & so the King and Council shaking Hands with Us, We took our Leave.
Tuesday 15 We left Moskingum & went W 5 M, to the White Woman's Creek, on which is a small Town; this White Woman was taken away from New England, when she was not above ten Years old, by the French Indians. She is now upwards of fifty, and has an Indian Husband and several Children- Her name is Mary Harris, she still remembers they used to be very religious in New England, and wonders how the White Men can be so wicked as she has seen them in these Woods.
Wednesday 16 Set out SW 24 M to Licking Creek- The Land from Moskingum to this Place rich but broken- Upon the N Side of Licking Creek about 6 M from the Mouth, are several Salt Licks,109 or Ponds, formed by little Streams or Dreins of Water, clear but of a blueish Colour, & salt Taste, the Traders and Indians boil their Meat in this Water, which (if proper Care be not taken) will sometimes make it too salt to eat.
Thursday 17 Set out W 5 M, SW 15 M, to a great Swamp.
Friday 18 Set out from the great Swamp SW 15 M.
Saturday 19 W 15 M to Hockhockin110 a small Town with only four or five Delaware Families.
Sunday 20 The Snow began to grow thin, and the Weather warmer; Set out from Hockhochin S 5 M, then W 5 M, then SW 5 M, to the Maguck111 a little Delaware Town of about ten Families by the N Side of a plain or clear Field about 5 M in Length NE & SW, & 2 M broad, with a small Rising in the Middle, which gives a fine Prospect over the whole Plain, and a large Creek on the N Side of it called Sciodoe Creek. All the Way from Licking Creek to this Place is fine rich level Land, with large Meadows, fine Clover Bottoms, & spacious Plains covered with wild Rye; the Wood chiefly large Walnuts and Hickories, here and there mixed with Poplars Cherry Trees and Sugar Trees.
From Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 Stayed in the Maguck Town.
Thursday 24 Set out from the Maguck Town S about 15 M, thro fine rich level Land to a small Town called Harrikintoms112 consisting of about five or six Delaware Families, on the SW Sciodoe Creek.
Friday 25 The Creek being very high and full of Ice, We coud not ford it, and were obliged to go down it on the SE side SE 4 M to the Salt Lick Creek- about 1 M up this Creek on the S Side is a very large Salt Lick, the Streams which run into this Lick are very salt, & tho clear leave a blueish Sediment: The Indians and Traders make Salt for their Horses of this Water, by boiling it; it has at first a blueish Colour, and somewhat bitter Taste, but upon dissolved in fair Water and boiled a second Time, it becomes tolerable pure Salt.
Saturday 16 Set out S 2 M, SW 14 M
Sunday 27 S 12 M to a small Delaware Town of about twenty Families on the SE Side of Sciodoe Creek- We lodged at the House of an Indian whose Name was Windaughalah114 a great Man and Chief of this Town, & much in the English interest- He entertained Us very kindly, and ordered a Negro Man that belonged to him to feed our Horses well; this Night it snowed, and in the Morning tho the Snow was six or seven Inches deep, the wild Rye appeared very (page 16) green and flourishing thro it, and our Horses had fine Feeding.
Monday Janry 28 We went into Council with the Indians of this Town, and after the Interpreter had informed them of his Instructions form the Governor of Pensylvania, and given them some Cautions in Regard to the French, they returned for Answer as follows. The Speaker with four Strings of Wampum in his Hand stood up, and addressing Himself as to the Governor of Pensylvania, said, "Brother, We the Delawares return You our hearty Thanks for the News You have sent Us, and We assure You, We will not hear the Voice of any other Nation for We are to be directed by You our Brothers the English, & none else: We shall be glad to hear what our Brothers have to say to Us at the Loggs Town in the Spring, & to assure You of our hearty Good will & Love to our Brothers We present You with these four Strings of Wampum.
This is the last Town of the Delawares to the Westward- The Delaware Indians by the best Accounts I coud gather consist of about 500 fighting Men all firmly attached to the English Interest, they are not properly a Part of the Six Nations, but are scattered about among most of the Indians upon the Ohio, and some of them among the six Nations, from whom they have Leave to hunt upon their Lands.
Tuesday 29 Set out SW 5 M to the Mouth of Sciodoe Creek [p. 106 Sioto Creek] opposite to the Shannoah Town,116 here We fired our Guns to alarm the Traders, who soon answered, and came and ferryed Us over to the Town- The Land about the Mouth of Sciodoe Creek is rich but broken fine Bottoms upon the River & Creek- The Shannoah Town is situate upon both Sides the River Ohio, just below the Mouth of Sciodoe Creek, and contains about 300 Men, there are about 40 Houses on the S Side of the River and about 100 on the N. Side, with a Kind of State-House of about 90 Feet long, with a light Cover of Bark in which they hold their Councils- The Shanaws are not a Part of the six Nations, but were formerly at Variance with them, tho now reconciled: they are great Friends to the English who once protected117 them from the Fury of the six Nations, which they gratefully remember.
Wednesday 30 We were conducted into Council, where George Croghan delivered sundry speeches from the Government of Pensylvania to the Chiefs of this Nation, in which He informed them, "That two Prisoners118 who had been taken by the French, and had made their Escape from the French Officer at Lake Erie as he was carrying them towards Canada brought News that the French offered a large Sum of Money to any Person who woud bring to them the said Croghan and Andrew Montour the Interpreter alive, or if dead (page 17) their Scalps; and that the French also threatened these Indians and the Wyendotts with War in the Spring" the same Persons farther said "that they had seen ten French Canoes loaded with Stores for a new Fort119 they designed on the S Side Lake Erie.
Mr. Croghan also informed them of several of our Traders having been taken, and advised them to keep their Warriors at Home, until they coud see what the French intended which he doubted not woud appear in the Spring- Then Andrew Montour informed this Nation as He had done the Wyendotts & Delawares "That the King of Great Britain had sent Them a large Present of Goods, in Company with the six Nations, which was under the Care of the Governor of Virginia, who had sent me out to invite them to come and see Him, & partake of their Father's Present next Summer" to which We received this Answer- Gib Hannaona120 their Speaker taking in his Hand the several Strings of Wampum which had been given by the English, He said "These are the Speeches received by Us from your great Men: From the Begining of our Friendship, all that our Brothers the English have told Us has been good and true, for which We return our hearty Thanks" Then taking up four other Strings of Wampum in his Hand, He said "Brothers I now speak the Sentiments of all our People; when first our Forefathers did meet the English our Brothers, they found what our Brothers the English them to be true, and so have We- We are but a small People, & it is not to Us only that You speak, but to all Nations- We shall be glad to hear what our Brothers will say to Us at the Loggs Town in the Spring, & We hope that the Friendship now subsisting between Us & our Brothers, will last as long as the Sun shines, or the Moon gives Light- We hope that our Children will hear and believe what our Brothers say to them, as We have always done, and to assure You of our hearty Good Will towards You our Brothers, We present You with these four Strings of Wampum." After the Council was over they had much Talk about sending a Guard with Us to the Pickwaylinees Towns (these are a Tribe of Twigtwees) which was reckoned near 200 Miles, but after long Consultation (their King122 being Sick) they came to no Determination about it.
From Thursday Jan 31 to Monday Feby 11 Stayed in the Shannoah Town, while I was here the Indians had a very extraordinary King of a Festival, at which I was present and which I have exactly described at the End of my Journal- As I had particular Instructions from the President of Virginia to discover the Strength & Numbers of some Indian Nations to the Westward of Ohio who had lately revolted from the French, and had some Messages to deliver them from Him, I resolved to set out for the Twigtwee Town.
Tuesday 12 Having left my Boy to take Care of my Horses in the Shannoah Town, & supplied myself with a fresh Horse to ride, I set out with my old company viz George Croghan Andrew Montour, Robert Kallandar, and a Servant to carry our Provisions &c NW 10 M.
Wednesday 13 The same Course (NW) about 35 M.
Thursday 14 The same Course about 30 M.
Friday 15 The same Course about 15 M. We met with nine Shannoah [p. 108 Shawane] Indians coming from one of the Pickwaylinees Towns, where they had been to Council, they told Us there were fifteen more of them behind at the Twigtwee Town [p. 108, Tawightwi], waiting for the Arrival of the Wawaughtanneys, [p. 108, Wawaughtanneys] who are a Tribe of the Twigtwees, and were to bring with them a Shannoah Woman they Informed Us had been taken Prisoner last Fall, by some of the Wawaughtanney Warriors thro a Mistake, which had like to have engaged these Nations in a War.
Saturday 16 Set out the same Course (NW) about 35 M, to the little Miamee River126 or Creek
Sunday 17 Crossed the little Miamee River, and altering our Course We went SW 25 M, to the big Miamee River, opposite [p. 108 Mineami river] the Twigtwee Town. All the Way from the Shannoah Town to this Place (except the first 20 M which is broken) is fine, rich level Land, well timbered with large Walnut, Ash Sugar Trees, Cherry Trees &c., it is well watered with a great Number of little Streams or Rivulets, and full of beautiful natural Meadows, covered with wild Rye, blue Grass and Clover, and abounds with Turkeys, Deer, Elks and most Sorts of Game particularly Buffaloes, thirty or forty of which are frequently seen feeding in one Meadow: In short it wants Nothing but Cultivation to make it a most delightful Country- The Ohio and all the large Branches are said to be full of fine Fish of several Kinds, particularly a Sort of Cat Fish of a prodigious Size; but as I was not there at the proper Season, I had not an Opportunity of seeing any of them- The Traders had always reckoned it 200 M, from the Shannoah Town to the Twigtwee Town, but by my Computation I could make it no more than 150- The Miamee River being high, We were obliged to make a Raft of old Loggs to transport our Goods and Saddles and swim our Horses over- After Firing a few Guns and Pistols, & smoaking in the Warriours Pipe, who came to invite Us to the Town (according to their Custom of inviting and welcoming Strangers and Great Men) We entered the Town with English Colours before Us, and were kindly received by their King, who invited Us into his own House, & set our Colours upon the Top of it- The Firing of Guns held about a Quarter of an Hour, and then all the white Men and (page 19) Traders that were there, came and welcomed Us to the Twigtwee Town- This Town is situate on the NW Side of the Big Miamee River about 150 M from the Mouth thereof; it consists of about 400 Families, & daily encreasing, it is accounted one of the strongest Indian Towns upon this Part of the Continent- The Twigtwees are a very numerous People consisting of many different Tribes128 under the same form of Government. Each Tribe has a particular Chief of King, one of which is chosen indifferently out of any Tribe to rule the whole Nation, and is vested with greater Authorities than any of the others- They are accounted the most powerful People to the Westward of the English Settlements, & much superior to the six Nations with whom they are now in Amity; their Strength and Numbers are not thoroughly known, as they have but lately traded with the English, and indeed have very little Trade among them: they deal in much the same Commodities with the Northern Indians. There are other Nations or Tribes129 still further to the Westward daily coming in to them, & 'tis thought their Power and Interest reaches to the Westward of the Mississippi, if not across the Continent, they are at present very well affected to the English, and seem fond of an Alliance with them130- they formerly lived on the farther Side of the Obache, and were in the French Interest, who supplied them with some few Trifles at a most exorbitant Price- they were called by the French Miamees; but they have now revolted from them, and left their former Habitations for the Sake of trading with the English; and notwithstanding all their Artifices the French have used, they have not been able to recall them.
After We had been some Time in the King's House Mr Montour told Him that We wanted to speak with Him and the Chiefs of this Nation this Evening upon which We were invited into the long House, and having taken our Places Mr Montour began as follows- "Brothers the Twigtwees as We have been hindered by the High Waters and some other Business with our Indian Brothers, no Doubt our long Stay has caused some Trouble among our Brethren here, Therefore We now present You with two Strings of Wampum to remove all the Trouble of your Hearts, & clear your Eyes, that You may see the Sun shine clear, for We have a great Deal to say to You, & we Would have You send for one of Your Friends that can speak the Mohickon131 or the Mingoe Tongues well, that We may understand each other thoroughly, for We have a great Deal of Business to do"- the Mohickons132 are a small Tribe who most of them speak English, and are also well acquainted with the Language of the Twigtwees, and they with theirs- Mr Montour then proceeded to (page 20) deliver them a Message133 from the Wyendotts and Delawares as follows "Brothers the Twigtwees, this comes by our Brothers the English who are coming with good News to You; We hope You will take Care of Them, and all our Brothers the English who are trading among You; You made a Road for our Brothers the English to come and trade among You; but it is now very foul, great Loggs are fallen across it, and We would have You be strong like Men, and have one Heart with Us, and make the Road clear, that our Brothers the English may have free course and Recourse between You and Us- In the Sincerity of our Hearts we send you these four Strings of Wampum, to which they gave the Usual Yo Ho- Then they said they wanted some Tobacco to smoak with Us, and that tomorrow they woud send for their Interpreter.
Monday Feby 18 We walked about viewed the Fort which wanted some Repairs, & the Trader's Men helped Them to bring Loggs to line the Inside.
Tuesday 19 We gave their Kings and great Men some Clothes, and Paint Shirts, and now they were busy dressing and preparing themselves for the Council- The Weather grew warm and the Creeks began to lower very fast.
Wednesday 20 About 12 of the Clock We were informed that some of the foreign tribes were coming, upon which proper Persons were ordered to meet them and conduct Them into the Town, and then We were invited into the long House; after We had been seated about a Quarter of an Hour four Indians, two from each Tribe (who had been sent before to bring the long Pipe, and to inform that the rest were coming) came in, & informed Us that their Friends had sent these Pipes that We might smoak the Calamut Pipe of Peace with Them and that they intended to do the same with Us.
Thursday Feby 21 We were again invited into the long House where Mr Croghan made them (with the foreign Tribes) a Present to the value of 100 Pensylvania Money, and delivered all our Speeches to Them, at which they seemed well pleased, and said, that they would take Time and consider Well what We had said to Them
Friday 22134 Nothing remarkable happened in the Town.
Saturday 23 In the Afternoon there was an Alarm in the Town which caused a great Confusion and running about among the Indians, upon enquiring into the Reason of this Stir, they told Us that it was occasioned by six Indians that came to war against Them, from the Southward; three of them Cutaways,135 and three Shanaws (these were some of the Shanaws who had formerly deserted from the other Part of the Nation, and now live to the Southward)136 Towards (page 21) Night there was a Report spread in Town that four Indians, and four hundred French, were on their March and just by the Town: But soon after the Messanger who brought this News said there were only four french Indians coming to Council, and that they bid him say so, only to see how the English woud behave themselves; but as they had behaved themselves like Men, He now told the Truth.
Sunday 24 This Morning the four French Indians came into Town and were kindly received by the Town Indians; they marched in under French Colours, and were conducted into the long House, and after they had been in about a Quarter of an Hour, the Council sat, and We were sent for that We might hear what the French had to say to them The Pyankeshee King137 (who was at that Time the Principal Man, and Commander in Chief of the Twightwees) said, He woud have the English Colours set up in this Council as well as the French, to which We answered he might do as he thought fit. After We were seated right opposite to the French Embassadors, One of Them said, He had a Present to make Them, so a Place was prepared (as they had before done for our Present) between Them and Us, and then their Speaker stood up, and layed his Hands upon two small Caggs of Brandy that held about seven Quarts each, and a Roll of Tobacco of about ten Pounds Weight, when taking two Strings of Wampum in his Hand, He said, "What he had to deliver Them was from their Father (meaning the French King) and he desired they woud hear what he was about to say to Them;" then he layed them two Strings of Wampum in his Hand, he said, "that their Father remembring his Children, had sent them two Caggs of Milk, and some Tobacco, and that he now had made a clear Road for them, to come and see Him and his Officers; and pressed them very much to come; then he took another String of Wampum in his Hand, and said, "their Father now woud forget all little Differences that had been between Them, and desired Them not to be of two Minds, but to let Him know their Minds freely, for He woud send for Them no more To which the Pyankeshee King replied, "it was true their Father had sent for them several Times, and said the Road was clear, but He understood it was made foul & bloody, and by Them- We (said He) have cleared a Road for our Brothers the English, and your Father have made it bad, and have taken some of our Brothers Prisoners, Which We look upon as done to Us, and he turned short about and went out of Council" After the French Embassador had delivered his Message He went into one of the private Houses, and endeavored much to prevail on some (page 22) Indians, and was seen to cry and lament (as he said) for the Loss of that Nation.
Monday Feby 25 This Day We received a Speech from the Wawaughtanneys and Pyankeshees (two Tribes of the Twigtwees) One of the Chiefs of the former spoke: "Brothers, We have heard what You have said to Us by the Interpreter and We see You take Pity upon our poor Wives and Children, and have taken Us by the Hand into the great Chain of Friendship, therefore We present You with these two Bundles of Skins to make Shores for your People, and this Pipe to smoak in, to assure you that our Hearts are good and true towards You our Brothers; and we Hope that we shall all continue in the Love and Friendship with one another, as People with one Head and one Heart ought to do; You have pityed Us as You always did the rest of our Indian brothers, We hope that Pity You have always shewn, will remain as long as the Sun gives Light, and on our Side you may depend upon sincere and true Friendship towards you as Long as we have strength"- This Person stood up and spoke with the Air and Gesture of an Orator.
Tuesday 26 The Twigtwees delivered the following Answer to the four Indians sent by the French- the Captain of the Warriors stood up and taking some Strings of black and white Wampum in his Hand he spoke with a fierce Tone and very warlike air- "Brothers the Ottaways, You are always differing with the French Yourselves, and yet You listen to what they say, but We will let You know by these four Strings of Wampum, that We will not hear any Thing they say to Us, nor do any Thing they bid Us"- Then the same Speaker with six Strouds and two Match-Coats, and a String of black Wampum (I understood the Goods were in Return for the Milk and Tobacco) and directing his Speech to the French said, "Fathers, You desire that We may speak our Minds from our Hearts, which I am going to do; You have often desired We shoud go Home to You, but I tell You it is not our Home, for We have made a Road as far as the Sea to the Sun-rising, and have been taken by the Hand140 by our Brothers the English, and the six Nations, and the Delawares Shannoahs and Wyendotts, and We assure You it is the Road We will go; and as You threaten Us with War in the Spring, We tell You if You are angry We are ready to receive You, and resolve to die here before We will go to You; and that You may know that this our Mind, We send You this String of Black Wampum." After a Short Pause the same Speaker spoke again thus- "Brothers the Ottaways, You hear what I say, tell that to your Fathers the French, for that is our Mind, and We speak it from our Hearts.
Wednesday 27 This Day they took down their French Colours, and dismissed the four French Indians, so they took their Leave of the Town and set off for the French Fort.142
Thursday 28 The Crier of the Town came by the King's Order and invited Us to the long House to see the Warriors Feather Dance;143 it was performed by three Dancing-Masters, who were painted all over with various Colours, with long Sticks in their Hands, upon the Ends of Which were fastened long Feathers of Swans, and other Birds, neatly woven in the Shape of a Fowl's Wing; in this Disguise they performed many antick Tricks, waving their Sticks and Feathers about with Great Skill to imitate the flying and fluttering of Birds, keeping exact Time with their Musick; while they are dancing some of the Warriors strikes a Post, upon which the Musick and Dancer's cease, and the Warrior gives an account of his Achievements in War, and when he has done, throws down some Goods as a Recompence to the Performers and Musicians; after which they proceed in their Dance as before till another Warrior strikes ye Post, and so on as long as the Company think fit.
Friday March 1 We received the following Speech from the Twigtwees. The Speaker stood up and addressing himself as to the Governor of Pensylvania with two strings of Wampum in his Hand, He said- "Brothers our Hearts are glad that You have taken Notice of Us, and surely Brothers We hope that You will order a Smith to settle here to mend our Guns and Hatchets, Your Kindness makes Us so bold to ask this Request. You told Us our Friendship should last as long, and be as the greatest Mountain, We have considered well, and all our great Kings & Warriors are come to a Resolution never to give Heed to what the French say to Us, but always to hear & believe what You our Brothers say to Us- Brothers We are obliged to You for your Kind Invitation to receive a Present at the Loggs Town, but as our foreign Tribes are not yet come, We must wait for them but You may depend We will come as soon as our Women have planted Corn to hear what our Brothers will say to Us- Brothers We present You with this Bundle of Skins, as We are but poor to be for Shoes for You on the Road, and We return You our hearty Thanks for the Clothes which You have put upon our Wives and Children"- We then took our Leave of the Kings and Chiefs, and they ordered that a small Party of Indians shoud go with Us as far as Hockhockin; but as I had left my Boy & Horses at the lower Shannoah Town, I was obliged to go by myself or to go sixty or seventy Miles out of my way, which I did not care to do; so we all came over the Miamee River together this Evening, but Mr Croghan (page 24) & Mr Montour went over again & lodged in the Town, but I stayed on this Side at one Robert Smith's (a Trader) where We had left our Horses- Before the French Indians had come into Town, We had drawn Articles of Peace and Alliance between the English and the Wawaughtanneys and Pyankeshees; the Indentures were signed sealed and delivered on both Sides, and as I drew them I took a Copy- The Land upon the great Miamee River is very rich level and well timbered, some of the finest Meadows that can be; The Indians and Traders assure Me that the Land holds as good and if possible better, to the Westward as far as the Ouabache which is accounted 100 Miles, and quite up to the Head of the Miamee River, which is 60 Miles above the Twigtwee Town, and down the said River quite to the Ohio which is reckoned 150 Miles- The Grass here grows to a great Height in the clear Fields, of which there are a great Number, & the Bottoms are full of white Clover, wild Rye, and blue Grass.
Saturday March 2 George Croghan and the rest of our Company came over the River, We got our Horses, & set out about 35 M. to Mad Creek (this is a Place where some English traders had been taken Prisoners by the French.)
Sunday 3 This Morning we parted, They for Hockhockin and I for the Shannoah Town, and as I was quite alone and knew that the French Indians had threatened Us, and woud probable pursue or lye in Wait for Us, I left the Path, and went to the South Westward down the little Miamee River or Creek, where I had fine travelling thro rich Land and beautiful Meadows, in which I coud sometimes see forty or fifty Buffaloes feeding at once- The little Miamee River or Creek continued to run thro the Middle of a fine Meadow, about a Mile wide very clear like an old Field, and not a Bush in it, I coud see the Buffaloes in it above two Miles off; I travelled this Day about 30 M.
Monday 4 This Day I heard several Guns, but was afraid to examine who fired Them, lest they might be some of the French Indians, so I travelled thro the Woods about 30 M; just at Night I killed a fine barren Cow-Buffaloe and took out her Tongue, and a little of the best of her meat; The Land still level rich and well timbered with Oak, Walnut, Ash, Locust, and Sugar Trees.
Tuesday 5 I travelled about 30 M.
Wednesday 6 I travelled about 30 M., and killed a fat Bear.
Thursday 7 Set out with my Horse Load of Bear, and travelled about 30 M this afternoon I met a young Man (a Trader) and We encamped together that Night; He happened to have some Bread (page 25) with Him, and I had Plenty of Meat, so We fared very well.
Friday 8 Travelled about 30 M, and arrived at Night at the Shannoah Town- All the Indians, as well as the white Men came out to welcome my Return to their Town, being very glad that all Things were rightly settled in the Miamee Country, they fired upwards of 150 Guns in the Town, and made an Entertainment in Honour of the late Peace with the western Indians- In my Return from the Twigtwee to the Shannoah Town, I did not keep an exact Account of Course or Distance; for as the Land thereabouts was every where much the same, and the Situation of the Country was sufficiently described in my Journey to the Twigtwee Town, I thought it unnecessary, but have notwithstanding laid down my Tract pretty nearly in my Plat.
Saturday March 9 In the Shannoah Town, I met with one of the Mingoe Chiefs, who had been down at the Falls of Ohio, so that We did not see Him as We went up; I informed Him of the King's Present, and the Invitation down to Virginia- He told that there was a Party of French Indians hunting at the Falls, and if I went there they would certainly kill Me or carry Me away Prisoner to the French; For it is certain they would not let Me pass; However as I had a great Inclination to see the Falls, and the Land on the E Side of the Ohio, I resolved to venture as far as possible.
Sunday 10 & Monday 11 Stayed in the Town, and prepared for my Departure.
Tuesday 12 I got my Horses over the River and after Breakfast my Boy and I got ferryed over- The Ohio is near 3/4 of a Mile wide at Shannoah Town, and is very deep and smooth.
Wednesday 13 We set out S 45 W, down the said River on the S E Side 8 M, then S 10 M, here I met two Men belonging to Robert Smith at whose House I lodged on this Side the Miamee River, and one Hugh Crawford, the said Robert Smith had given Me an Order upon these Men, for two of the Teeth of a large Beast which they were bringing from towards the Falls of Ohio, one of which I brought in and delivered to the Ohio Company- Robert Smith informed Me that about seven Years ago these Teeth and Bones of three large Beasts (one of which was somewhat smaller than the other two) were found in a salt Lick or Spring upon a small Creek which runs into the S Side of the Ohio, about 15 M, below the Mouth of the great Miamee River, and 20 above the Falls of Ohio. . .
61 In 1740 Thomas Cresap purchased from John Charlton 200 acres of land in Maryland, called "Indian Seat." Two years later he added by purchase 50 acres more and renamed the tract "Indian Field." Here Cresap established the frontier post, Old Town.- Kenneth Bailey, Thomas Cresap, Maryland Frontiersman (Boston, Christopher Publishing House, 1944), pp. 62-63.
62 Shawnee Old Town or Opessa's Town (Ca. 1697-1730) was on the Maryland side of the Potomac where the great Warriors' Path from north to south crossed the river, on the site of Cresap's Old Town. The location is about 15 miles southeast of the present city of Cumberland and near Green Spring, Maryland. Maryland made her first treaty with the Shawnee from "the head of Potomock" in 1698.- Treaty, dated May 26, 1698, printed in Archives of Maryland. . . (Baltimore, Maryland Historical Society, 1884-date), XXIII, 426-31.
In 1700 and 1701 Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively, signed "Articles of Agreement" with Chief Opessa and other Shawnee inhabiting the headwaters of the Potomac.- Ratification and confirmation of the treaty of 1698, printed in ibid., XXV, 104-106; Articles of Agreement concluded and agreed upon between William Penn and certain Susquehanna and Shawnee and other nations of Indians living along the Northern Potomac River, April 23, 1701. Pennsylvania. Provincial Council, Minutes of. . .from its Organization to the Termination of the Proprietary Government (Philadelphia, J. Severns & Co., 1852-53), II, 14-18.
In the 1720's Opessa's Town, was a haven for runaway slaves from Virginia and Maryland. By 1731 the town was abandoned and the Shawnee had moved over the Allegheny to settle on the Conemaugh and Allegheny Rivers.- Gist (Darlington Edition), op. cit., p. 90: Archives of Maryland, ibid., XXIII, 92-93, 429; XXV, 442-43; Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, ibid., III 211-15, 459-60; Pennsylvania Archives, first series (Philadelphia, Joseph Severns & Co., 1852-56), I, 301-02.
71 An Indian village probably founded by the Shawnee when they moved from Opessa's Town to the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers in the 1730's (see also note 62). In 1758 Captain Harry Gordon, in preparation for General John Forbes' expedition against Fort Duquesne, built Fort Ligonier on the site of this old Indian town. (page 475) - A. P. James, "Fort Ligonier: Additional Light from Unpublished Documents" in Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine (Pittsburgh, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1918-date), XVII, 265.
On the present site of Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
72 An important Delaware Indian village located on the southeast side of the Allegheny River at the mouth of Two Mile Run, in present twelfth war, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Shannopin, a Delaware Chief, for whom the village was named, figures in Ohio Indian and Pennsylvania affairs from 1730-1740 (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, IV, 432-34, 443-47; V, 355; Pennsylvania Archives, I, 254-55; 301-02, 341). Since Shannopin was no longer the Delaware chief at Allegheny in 1751 (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 519) and Gist does not mention him in his Journal, one may assume that he died sometime between May, 1748, after his attendance at the Logstown Conference of that year, and November, 1750. The name, Shannopin's Town, appears many times in official Pennsylvania correspondence from 1731 to 1754.
73 Gist's course as stated S 70 W does not coincide with the regularly traveled path to Shannopin's Town. The established trail was more nearly N 70 W. Mr. Darlington states that the trail passed through Chestnut Ridge by Miller's Run Gap, passed south of the present town of Latrobe and then directly west.- Gist (Darlington edition), op. cit., pp. 91-92.
74 Cockey or Cock Eye's Cabin stood about three miles north of Penn, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (ibid.). John Harris, in his account of the road to Logstown, places Cock Eye's Cabin 15 miles from Shannopin's Town. - Pennsylvania Archives, II, 135. In the vicinity of present Bushy Run Battlefield Park.
77 Logstown (ca. 1743-54) was the English stronghold on the Ohio before the French and Indian War. It was probably founded by Kakawatcheky, the Shawnee Chief who migrated from Eastern Pennsylvania in 1743 or 1744 (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, IV, 648, 747). By 1747 this village was inhabited by a heterogeneous group of young warriors and hunters. Delaware, Shawnee, and Six Nations were the principal tribes represented. They had, however, one tie- a common dislike for the French. The Onondaga council who ruled over the tribes represented on the Ohio had named Tanacharison, a Seneca chief, as their resident deputy or Half King. Also, Onondaga had placed as guardian over the Shawnee one Scaroudy, an Oneida, known also as Monacatootha (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 615). In 1747 the group became so strong and so closely knit together that they issued an invitation to all the Indians in the Ohio and Miami Country to attend a general council to be held the next year. Then ten principal warriors, representing the group, made their first trek over the Alleghenies to Philadelphia, there to explain to official Pennsylvania that they no longer could abide by the parent Onondaga Council's order of "strict neutrality" in the French-English dispute. At the same time they asked for arms and ammunition with which to fight the French and solicited Pennsylvania's recognition of a separate Council Fire (ibid., 145-47). Conrad Weiser, veteran Indian interpreter and emissary, persuaded the Pennsylvania authorities to recognize the integrity of this group (ibid., 147-48). Therefore, it was he who kindled their first separate Council Fire on the Ohio, in 1748 and, at the same time, delivered them a gift worth 1,000.
In answer to Weiser's request for "a List of their fighting Men," the deputies of all the Indians nations "settled on the Waters of Ohio" gave him ten bundles composed of 189(?) sticks to represent the number of warriors available.
Logstown, at that time, was the headquarters for many English traders. Weiser reported that more than 20 were in business there. After 1748 the Ohio Indians looked upon Logstown as their official rendezvous. - "Journal of Conrad Weiser, Indian Interpreter at Ohio," August 11-September 29, 1748, printed in ibid., 348-58; Pennsylvania (Colony). Treaties, etc., 1748, A Treaty Held by Commissioners, Members of the Council of the Province of Pennsylvania, at the Town of Lancaster, with Some Chiefs of the Six Nations at Ohio, and Others, for the Admission of the Twightwee Nation into the Alliance of His Majesty, &c. in the Month of July, 1748. (Philadelphia, Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, 1748); Minutes of Virginia's Conference at Logstown in 1752, see Chronology, June 13, 1752.
This village was headquarters for the Half King, or Tanacharison, Scarouady, and Kakawatcheky, aged chief of the Shawnee (Journal of Conrad Weiser, . . ., 1748, op. cit.). The Virginians never projected a fortification for Logstown. Their efforts of 1754 were farther up the Ohio at the mouth of Chartiers Creek (Orders of the Committee of the Ohio Company, July 25, 1753, see Chronology) and the forks of the Monongahela (Robert Dinwiddie, The Official Records of . . .with an introduction and notes by R. A. Brock [Richmond, Va., Virginia Historical Society, 1883], I, 59). After the French took possession of the English stockade at the "forks" in April, 1754, "Monacatoocha" burned the first Indian village named Logstown (George Washington, Journal of . . . across the Allegheny Mountains in 1754. . ., edited, with notes, by J. M. Toner [Albany, N. Y., Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers, 1893]. p. 128). However, the name continued in history as the name of the French Shawnee village built in 1755 (Christian Frederick Post, The Second Journal of . . . [London, J. Wilkie, 1759], p. 47) and, after the fall of Fort Duquesne, as the headquarters for a few English traders (Hanna, op. cit., I, 380-81). In November, 1792, General Anthony Wayne established winter army quarters, Legionville, near the site of the old Logstown (present Ambridge, Pennsylvania).- Horatio N. Moore, Life and Services of General Anthony Wayne (Philadelphia, John B. Perry, 1845), p. 174.
The French looked upon Logstown, called Chinigue by them, as a strategic place for a fortification on the Ohio. Mr. Renick, a Pennsylvania trader, reported as early as 1732 that the French were building a fort of "Loggs" on or near the Ohio (Pennsylvania Archives, I, 309-10). There is no record that this fort was built, but it does give rise to the speculation that some sort of building made of logs may have been standing when the English traders came to this place. In a report of his mission of good will and possession for the king of France in 1749, Celoron gives the fullest account of its size and inhabitants. He reported there were 50 cabins of Iroquois, Shawnee, and Delaware, including many refugees from Shannopin's Town (Charles B. Galbreath, ed., Expedition of Celoron to the Ohio Country in 1749 [Columbus, Ohio, The F. J. Heer Printing Co., 1921], p. 30). Father Bonnecamp, who was with him on the expedition, remarks that the village was quite new, perhaps only five or six years old (ibid., 87-88). Philip Thomas de Joncaire, a French officer with Celoron, was chosen by the governor of New France to make a three-year expedition to the Ohio Country, a project which included building a fort at Logstown and gaining that group of Indians for the French interest. HE left Canada in 1750, carrying a large quantity of valuable goods with (page 478) which he hoped to purchase the good will of all the Indians from Lake Ontario to Logstown, where he arrived at the time George Croghan was conducting the Pennsylvania Indian conference in May, 1751. In the presence of the Pennsylvania commissioners he entreated the Indians to embrace the French cause and warned the English traders off the Ohio (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 530-31). Joncaire did not remain at Logstown, for minutes of the Virginia conference in 1752 do not mention the presence of any Frenchmen (June 1-13, 1752, see Chronology). The next direct report of French activities is of January 15, 1754, when some Frenchmen in the company of Scarouady and others of the Six Nations came to Logstown from Venango (Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, V, 732-33). Among the Frenchmen was the keeper of the King's stores (ibid., 735), one LaForce, who was captured by Washington at the time of the "Jumonville skirmish." It was LaForce who issued the warning to the English and their Indian allies, "You have but a short time to see the Sun, for in Twenty Days You and your Brothers and the English shall all die." (ibid., VI, 22). As stated previously, the native inhabitants destroyed their village in June, 1754 (Washington's Journal, 1754 [Toner edition], op. cit., p. 128), but the French immediately built 30 cabins for the Shawnee who remained true to the French interest after the English rout from the Ohio. The Indians who lived there during the French regime left their homes in 1758 and 1759 to take up residence at Kuskuskies, on the Pickawillany Plains and on the Muskingum. -Hanna, op. cit., I, 378-79.
82 Shingo's (Shingas) Old Town on the Ohio, near the mouth of the Big Beaver Creek. There, in 1748, Conrad Weiser had wampum belts made for the Pennsylvania-Indian conference held at Logstown ("Journal of Conrad Weiser. . .," 1748, op. cit.). King Beaver and his brother Chief Shingas resided here until after Fort Pitt was built in 1759, when they declared their intentions to migrate to Kuskuskies (Hugh Mercer to Richard Peters, March 1, 1759, printed in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, VIII, 305-06). A deed for land purchased from the Six Nations by Pennsylvania, dated October 23, 1784, gives a boundary as "near Shingo's Old Town, at the mouth of Beaver Creek" (Pennsylvania General Assembly, Minutes of the First Session of the Ninth General Assembly . . Which Commenced the twenty fifth day of October, 1784. [Philadelphia, Francis Bailey, 1784], p. 320).
83 On the Tuscarawas River at a point about five miles east of Coshocton, Ohio, also known as Conchake, the Wyandot Indian Town (ca.1748-1753). This Indian town was founded by the rebel Wyandot or Huron Chief Nicholas who, fearing the Ottawas, fled from Detroit to Sandusky. When he deserted the French and went over to the English interest, Chief Nicholas left Sandusky and went to the banks of the Tuscarawas. -Lawrence Gipson, The British Empire Before the American Revolution. . . (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1939), IV, 173-77.
87 Interpolated on a present map of Ohio, Gist's course from November 27 to December 5 was, in general, approximately from Libson, Ohio, across the northwest corner of Wayne Township, Columbiana County, to Bayard, to Oneida, Carroll county.
88 Present Big Sandy Creek.
89 This town may have had its roots in the Ottawa town mentioned in Sieur Navarre's report on the Indian settlements at the White River to Pierre Joseph de Celoron, French commandant at Detroit in 1743. In this region Navarre found five or six cabins of the Ottawas who had asked the Senecas (Six Nations) "for a small piece of land, in order to light a little fire." Navarre adds, "The greater part of these Ottawas are bad people who only established themselves in this place in order to be able to go more easily to Chouegon (Oswego) an English trading post in the Seneca country in New York." -Navarre's "Report," as printed in Hanna, op. cit., I, 317-18.
The location, White River of the French in the early 1700's, has been a controversial subject for many historians. Lawrence Gipson reviews the subject in detail and concludes that the French were referring to the region around the headwaters of the present Cuyahoga River, in Ohio (Gipson, op. cit., IV, 169-71, 61n). Also there is evidence that this White River region coveted by the French may have included the upper reaches of the Muskingum. Pennsylvania traders who were active at Muskingum and Tuscarawas by 1750 had well-established storehouses, built at the request of the Six Nations and the English (Ohio Company Papers, 1753-1817, Being Primarily Papers of the "Suffering Traders" of Pennsylvania, by Kenneth P. Bailey, Arcata, California, 1947, pp. 78, 102). De Longueuil, in 1744, directed the several nations of Indians living around Detroit to march to find and destroy the English traders at the White River and the Ohio (Gipson, op. cit., IV, 168-69). D'Anville in his map of 1746 calls the Muskingum, the White River (Hanna, op. cit., I, 332). Lewis Evans on his A General Map of the Middle British Colonies, In America. . . (Published According to Act of Parliament, By Lewis Evans, June 23, 1755. And Sold by R. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, London, & by the Author in Philadelphia) shows a portage of but one miles between the Cuyahoga and a branch of the Muskingum. He also located the Indian town Tuscarawas on the west bank of Elk's Eye Creek, present Big Sandy.
Camp No. 12 of Bouquet's expedition was at Tuscarawas. Here Bouquet received a message that the chiefs of the Delaware and (page 488) Shawnee were hastening there to treat with him (William Smith, op. cit., pp. 12-13).
The Ottawas had deserted this village by 1755, when the Delawares from near Fort Duquesne established King Beaver's Town or Tuscarawas (Hanna, op. cit., II, 183). Tuscarawas town is marked on Evans', A General Map of the Middle British Colonies, op. cit.
Fort Laurens of Revolutionary time was located here, near the town of present Bolivar, Ohio. Gist (Darlington edition), op. cit., pp. 103-105.
The Ottawas or upper Algonquians are of the western branch of the Algonquian tribe whose early habitat was along Georgian Bay. Gradually they moved westward to the shores of Lake Superior (Frederick Hodge, ed., Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico [Washington Government Printing Office, 1907-10], II, 168). Although spoken of as ancient friends of the French (N. Y. C. D., IX, 171), they had, according to Governor Dongan of New York, traded at Albany ever since it was founded. Dongan also relates that in 1683, for the first time in New York's history, some traders went to the far Indians called the Ottawas whose habitation was about three months' journey to the west and west northwest of Albany. These traders brought back many beaver skins and the report that the Ottawas were more inclined to trade with the English than with the French (ibid., III, 510, 395). Truly a vacillating nation, the Ottawas were both friend and enemy to other Indian tribes, to the French, and to the English. They quarreled with the Hurons, then banded with the English-loving Chief Nicholas against the French in 1748; they were allied with the French at Braddock's defeat and later had as their chief the infamous Pontiac.
90 Maconce, a French Interpreter from Saguin's (Seguin's) trading house on the Cuyahoga River. In 1742 Sieur Navarre reported that "one named Maconce offered to deliver a letter to the English" governor to inform him of the bad behavior of the English traders.- Hanna, op. cit., I, 316. Probably Jean Tafar, alias Maconts, who went with his uncle, Mr. Montour, on a mission to the far Indian nations in 1708.
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