CHAP. XXIII.
The present state
of Indian affairs in New-Jersey.
To the accounts
before given respecting the Indians, we now add other
particulars, as
far as New-Jersey hath been concerned.
For nigh a
century, such of them as were natives of that province, had all
along maintained
an intercourse of great cordiality and friendship with the
inhabitants,
being interspersed among them, and frequently receiving meat
at their houses,
and other marks of good will and esteem: When the
troubles broke
out among the back Indians, it was observed, that some who
had usually
resided there, were missing, and supposed to have retired
among them.
In the year 1758,
for a considerable time after the first hostilities had
commenced in
Pennsylvania, the family of Nicholas Cole, in Walpack, nigh
the frontier of
New-Jersey, were at two in the afternoon unexpectedly
attacked, and
most of them murdered and carried off; this, and a few other
murders alarmed
the province, as it was not known or supposed they had any
complaint against
it.1 The legislature appointed commissioners to examine
into the
treatment the Indians had received; they first met them at
Crosswicks, in
the winter 1756, and heard what they had then to allege as
grievances, and promised
to lay them before the legislature; which they
did at a session
in 1757; when an act passed to remedy them, by laying a
penalty upon
persons selling strong drink; so as to intoxicate them, and
declaring all
Indian sales or pawns for drink, void; that the person of no
Indian should be
imprisoned for debt, and that no traps larger than to
weigh three
pounds and a half should be set, &,, and making all sales of
lands or leases
void, not obtained according to the direction of the act.2
They afterwards,
by another act, gave the commissioners power to
appropriate
sixteen hundred pounds, in purchasing a general release of
Indian claims to
New-Jersey; one half to be laid out in a settlement for
the Indians
residing in the province to the south of Rariton river,
whereon they
might reside, raise the necessary subsistence, and have
always in view
the consideration they had received for the remainder of
their lands; the
other half was to be applied to purchase any latent
claims among the
back Indians not resident in the province.
The commissioners
accordingly procured a second conference 3 with the first
mentioned; which
was held at Crosswicks in the second month (February)
1758. They first
reminded them, that they had above a year since informed
them, that the
disorders committed in the back parts of Pennsylvania and
this colony, had
not lessened the regard they entertained for their
friends the
Indians, who in this time of trial lived peaceably and quietly
among the
inhabitants, and assured them of the governor's protection; that
they had then
desir'd they would make known any burthen that lay upon
their minds; that
the Indians then signifying some abuses they were
subject to by
private sales made by some of their own people, and the
inconveniencies
they had suffered from setting iron traps for deer, being
cheated of their
goods when in drink, and that they thought they had still
a right to some
pieces of land, which they had not sold; that in
consequence of
these demands, they, the commissioners, had faithfully
reported to the
legislature, who had passed a law to prevent all future
abuses of that
kind; and that they were now impowered fully to hear the
particulars of
any claims they had to lands in the colony, which was
determined to do
them strict justice: The Indians informed the
commissioners,
that the lands they claimed, could not be by them described
by lines, very
intelligible to persons not on the spot, as they went to
hollows, and
small brooks, which had no certain names; but that they had
described them as
well as they could: And then they delivered lists of the
tracts they
esteemed unpurchased, as follows:
No. 1: A power of
attorney from Capoose and Telaman, to Moses Totamy, dated
the 30th of
January, 1743-4, for lands on the south and southwest side of
the south branch
of Rariton, joining thereto; as explained by the said
power.
No. 2: A paper
declaring the lands from the half way from the mouth of
Metetcunk, to
Tom's river, from the sea to the heads of the rivers, belong
to Capt. John,
Totamy Willockwis; and from John Eastel's to Hockanetcunk,
on Crosswicks;
then on a strait course to Mount-Holly, and so up Ranchocas
creek, to the
head; and from thence to the heads of Wisteconk creek, and
along the said
creek to Jarvis Farrow's Mill, and so to the sea. Pompshire
and Stephen
Calvin, say, they are concerned in the tract.
No. 3: A power of
attorney to Totamy, and Capt. John, dated the 21st of
February, 1742,
from Tawleyneymun, Tohokenum, Gooteleck, to sell lands on
Egg-Harbour,
between Mount-Holly and Crosswicks.
They have a tract
of land beginning at the Old-Ford, by John Fowler's; then
on a line to
Doctor's creek above, but in sight of Allen-Town; then up the
creek to the
lower end of Imlay's town; then on a line to Crosswicks
creek, by Duke Horseman's;
then along the said Creek to the place of
beginning.
Teedyescunk and Totamy are concerned in the above lands. Then
they said, that
from the Mouth of Squan, to No. 2. belongs to Sarah Store,
to whom it was
given by her husband, to the heads of the branches, and so
across from one
branch to the other. Tom Store and Andrew Wooley, claim a
tract between
Cranbury and Devil's Brook, possessed by Josiah Davison's
sons, that has
two new houses built thereon, in which is included the
whole tract of
the late president Hamilton, and also Mr. Alexander's
surveys, where
Thomas Sowden lives; he has sold part of this tract to
Hollinshead,
where M'Gee lives; also has sold some to Josiah Davison, to
Doore Marlet,
John and James Wilson: He claims lands from Cranbury brook,
to the cross
roads, lying on the right hand of the road, and is claimed by
William Pidgeon;
James Wall and John Story lives upon one corner of it;
also a piece upon
Pompton river, the livers upon it he knows not; it lies
in one piece, and
is the same that Mr. Woodruff and company, were about
purchasing of
him.
They also claim
from the mouth of Squan, to the mouth of Shrewsbury river,
by the streams of
each, to their heads, and across from one head to the
other. Also
Vanot's place, an the west side of Squan river. Also a piece
at Topanenus
bridge: In this piece Ben Claus is concerned.
Tom Store and
Andrew Wooley, also claim a piece on the north side of South
River. Polly
Ritchies place
Also a piece between
Allen-Town and Millstone brook, where Hockan Gapee
used to live,
joining on the east side of the post road to Amboy; part of
Dunstar's tract.
Also, Vanse's
place, joining to Millstone brook, on Amboy road; part of
Fullerton's
tract.
Also a swamp near
Gawen Watson's place, belonging to the Johnston's
family, and the
Furmans.
Isaac Still
claims from the mouth of Great Egg-Harbour river, to the head
branches thereof,
on the east side; so to the road that leads to Great
Egg-Harbour; so
along the road to the sea side, except Tuckahoe, and the
Summers,
Steelman, and Skull's places.
Robert Kecott,
claims in Piles grove, the places whereon John Mayhue's sons
live.
Also the township
of Deerfield, in the county of Cumberland, where the
presbyterian
meeting house stands.
Also the tracts
of James Wasse, Joseph Peck, and Stephen Chesup. Jacob
Mullis claims the
pine lands, on Edge Pillock Branch, and Goshen Neck
Branch, where
Benjamin Springer and George Marpole's mills stands; and
all the land
between the head branches of those creeks to where the waters
join or meet.
Abraham Loques
claims the Cedar-Swamp, on the east side, Tuckahoe Branch,
which John
Campion and Peter Campbell have, or had in possession. Also
Stuypson's island,
near Delaware river. Tom Store claims 30 acres
adjoining Richard
Parks, wheelwright in Middlesex county.
Teedyescunk
claims a tract; in Hunterdon, called Neshannock, beginning at
Philip Ringoe's
house, which stands near a corner of it; and so along the
road that leads
from thence to Brunswick, as far as Neshannock creek;
thence up the
same to George Hatten's; thence on a strait course to
Petit's place,
and so on to a hill called Paatquacktung; thence in a
strait line to
the place of beginning; which tract was reserved at the
sale, and marked
out by Wauhaway, who is alive.
The Indians in
general, claim their settlements near Cranbury, on Menolapan
river, in
Falkner's tract, whereon many of the Indians now live.
And also a few
acres below the plantation of Robert Pearsons, on the north
side of
Crosswicks creek.
Having delivered
these claims to the commissioners the Indians present
executed a power
of attorney, appointing Tom Store, Moses Totami, Stephen
Calvin, Isaac
Still, and John Pompshire, or the major part of them, to
transact all
future business with the government, respecting lands; and
then they
released all claims for themselves, and their heirs, to the
proprietors of
the respective divisions, and the purchasers under them, to
all the lands in
New-Jersey, not included in the above list; and to such
of these
likewise, as could be proved to be conveyed by deed from the
Indian
inhabitants, except the claims of the Minisink and Pompton Indians,
on the northern
parts; which power was acknowledged by all the parties,
before John
Imlay, Esq; one of the judges of Burlington county, in
order to be first
recorded, and then delivered to the Indian attornies.
Teedyescunk, the
next day told the commissioners that he was very well
pleased with what
was done, and esteemed the methods concluded on to be
just and
equitable; and to this all the Indians gave their assent.
Thus things
rested, 'till the latter part of the summer; when governor
Bernard procured
a treaty with several of the back Indians, by means of
the following
message:
"To
Teedyescung, king of the Delaware Indians; by Moses Tetamy and
Isaac Stille,
messengers deputed by me:
"Greeting:
"I was
surprised, on my arrival here with his majesty's royal commission
as governor of
this his province, to find that invasions have been lately
made on the
inhabitants of this colony, and much blood shed by Indians,
supposed to be
those of Minisink or Pompton, who have resided within this
colony, and have
sometime since withdrawn themselves; and as I have no
knowledge of any
reason they, or any of them, have, for being
discontented, or
offering violence to the inhabitants of his majesty's
colony under my
government; and no public complaint have been made by the
Indians of
Minisink or Pompton, formerly inhabitants of this colony, at
any of the
conferences held between the commissioners of New-Jersey, and
the Indian
inhabitants of the same; to prevent any further hostilities, I
hereby send you
this power, to go to the Indians of Minisink and Pompton,
formerly
inhabitants of this colony; and in my name, to desire them to
desist from
hostilities, and kindly to invite them to a conference with
this colony; and
to assure them they shall be received in the most
friendly manner, and
every endeavour shall be used to establish and
confirm a
friendship between the subjects of our great king George, our
common father,
and them, as a thing of the greatest use. You are to
enforce the
natural affection between us and them, and how much it is for
their interest to
be at peace with a people, who have the means of making
them happy and
easy, and have, by the blessing of providence, provisions,
and every
necessary of life in plenty, sufficient to supply their friends
in distress.
"As I have named
a time, most convenient for them to be down here, it
would give me
pleasure to see them then: But if unavoidable accidents
should put it out
of their power to attend at that time; I have left the
time and place to
themselves, so that it be in my government; and that
they come by Fort
Allen, and enter New-Jersey, below the falls at Trenton,
and send an
account of their arrival, that I may appoint persons to
receive and
conduct them to me. I prescribe this path, because the people
above, who have
lost their friends and relations, are so inflamed, as to
render it unsafe
for them to enter this colony above Trenton.
"If you
cannot go to the places of residence of the Minisink and Pompton
Indians, you are
(or in case of your death or absence, that Moses Tetamy
and Isaac Still
are) empowered to employ two good and faithful messengers,
to find out the
chief place of the residence of these Indians, and to
deliver to them
the message from me, with the belt and four strings of
wampum, and the
safe conduct and flag given you herewith; and you are
desired to report
to me, your proceedings herein, with all convenient
speed. Given
under my hand and seal at arms, the 25th day of June, in the
thirty-second
year of his majesty's reign. (L. S.) "By his excellency
Francis Bernard,
Esq; captain general governor and commander in chief of
the colony of
New-Jersey, &c."
"Brethren,
the Minisink, or Munsy Indians, and those of Pompton:
"It is with
great pain I am to tell you, that some Indians have invaded
our province on the
upper parts of the Delaware, and shed much blood, and
that you are
suspected to be concerned in it. A string.
"Brethren,
if you have been instigated to this by the false suggestions of
our enemies, the
French, we pity you; for these proceedings, if not
immediately
prevented, must cause a discord between us, which though it
may be greatly
hurtful to our people, must in the end entirely ruin yours.
A string.
"Brethren,
the throne of the great king is founded on justice, and
therefore if you
had received any injury from any of his people living
within our
province, you should have made your complaints to me, who
am ordered to do
justice to all men, and I would have heard you with
open ears, and
given you full satisfaction. A string.
"Brethren,
if therefore you have any anger boiling in your breasts, I, by
this belt, invite
you to Burlington, in five weeks, at which time our
great council
will be together; there to unburthen your minds, and root
out of your
hearts the seeds of enmity, before they take too deep a root.
And I will kindle
a council fire, and bury all the blood, that has stain'd
our ground, deep
in the earth, and make a new chain of peace, that may
bind us and our
children, and you and your children, in everlasting bonds
of love, that we
may live together as brethren, under the protection of
the great king,
our common father. A belt.
"Brethren,
if these words shall please you, and you should choose that we
should be your
friends rather than your enemies, let all hostilities
immediately cease,
and receive this passport, and go to fort Allen; from
whence you shall
be conducted to Bristol, where you will find deputies,
who will take you
by the hand and lead you to me at Burlington: But if the
time and place I
have mentioned, be inconvenient to you, I shall be ready
to receive you in
this government when you can more agreeably to
yourselves,
attend. A string.
At a conference
held at Burlington, on monday, August 7, 1758.
PRESENT: His
excellency Francis Bernard, Esq; governor. The honourable
James Hude,
Andrew Johnston, Peter Kemble, Richard Saltar, Lewis M.
Ashfield, Samuel
Woodruff, esquires, of his majesty's council; Charles
Read, John
Stevens, William Foster, Esqrs, commissioners for Indian
affairs. Indians:
Otawopass, or Benjamin, Coallins, or Goatshank,
messengers from
the Minisink or Munsey Indians; Apewyet, or John Hudson, a
Cayugan; Samuel,
a Delaware Indian; messengers from the Mingoians;
Taudakass, a
Delaware Indian, who came with the Munsey Indians. John
Pumpshire,
interpreter. Moses Totamy, Stephen Calvin, assistants.
His excellency
sat, holding four strings of wampum in his hand, and spoke
to them as
follows:
"Brethren,
"As you are
come from a long journey, through a wood full of briars: with
this string I
anoint your feet, and take away their soreness: With this
string I wipe the
sweat from your bodies: With this string I cleanse your
eyes, ears and
mouth, that you may see, hear and speak, clearly; and I
particularly
anoint your throat, that every word you say may have a free
passage from your
heart: And with this string I bid you heartily welcome.'
Then delivered
all the four strings.
"His
excellency then informed them, that he should be ready to hear what
they had to say,
in answer to the message he had sent to their chiefs, as
soon as would be
convenient to them; when they informed him, they would be
ready in the
afternoon: And thanked his excellency, for using the customs
of their fathers,
in bidding them welcome."
Monday afternoon.
PRESENT: As in
the morning. The Indians being informed, that the governor
was ready to hear
them, Benjamin, on behalf of the Munsey Indians, holding
a belt in his
hand, spoke sitting, not being allowed to stand 'till the
Mingoian had
spoke.
"Brother,
"At first
when your messengers came to us at Assinske, twenty seven days
since, our
ancient people were glad to hear them, and our young men, women
and children
rejoiced at the tidings. We know you are great and strong,
and we took it
kindly. All our friends and relations were in sorrow, and
pitied the
condition of the women and of the children, who are growing up.
The kind words of
our brethren the English, we sent to our uncles the
Mingoians; and
one of them is come down here to the place of our meeting,
to be a witness
of what passes between us."
Then John Hudson,
the Cayugan, abovementioned, stood up, and spoke as
follows:
"Brother,
"In
confirmation of what has been said to you, I, who am the Mingoian, am,
by this belt, to
inform you, that the Munseys are women, and cannot hold
treaties for themselves;
therefore I am sent to inform you, that the
invitation you
gave the Munseys, is agreeable to us; and we have taken
hold of your
belt; and I desire you may write down my attending here; tho'
while I am here,
I left my family in danger of being cut off by our
enemies the
French.
"Further,
brother, I have told you your belt was agreeable, and received
by us as an
earnest of your friendship: But tho' we are glad of this
opportunity of
speaking with you, yet I am to inform you, that it is not
agreeable to our
chief men and counsellors, to have a new council-fire
kindled, or the
old one removed to this side of the river, from
Pennsylvania,
where it hath always been kept burning; the reason is this,
we know the
strength of the water, and that when the wind and tide is
strong, it roars,
that our people cannot hear: so that it is proper we
should have the
council-fire on the other side of the river nearer to us.
"Brother, I
think this is a good reason why it should be so: For, though
we should speak
loud, the distant nations will not hear us, if the roaring
waters are
between us and them. We therefore hope, as the council-fire is
kindled, and kept
burning in the forks of Delaware, by the desire of all
our nations we
shall see our brother the governor there.
"Brother, we
attend to the words we have heard from you: You say you are a
man of strength,
and we believe you are. I am a man as well as you: I know
of no nation
stronger than you; and our chief men and old councellers are
willing to meet you
at the forks of Delaware, and to confirm our alliance,
and brighten the
chain of friendship more clear than it has heretofore
been. This belt
confirms what I have said."
He then delivered
the governor a belt, on one side of which are three
figures of men in
black wampum, representing the Shawanese, Delawares, and
Mingoians, living
on the Ohio; on the other side, four figures
representing the
united councils of the six nations, in their own country:
By their being
now joined in this belt, he declared it expressed their
union. That the
western Indians having consulted their uncles, now joined
in sending it, in
pursuance of a belt of invitation sent them above a year
since, by George
Croghan, on behalf of the English.
Then Benjamin, on
behalf of the Munsies, stood up, and said:
"Brother,
"Our ancient
people, and chief men, are glad to hear of the kind
disposition of
the English. We believe you are wise and strong; and for
the good of our
wives and children, for whose protection we are concerned,
that they may
have some good and lasting settlement made for them to the
latest posterity,
in order to obtain it, we should be glad of the
opportunity, to
see all our brethren the English together. Our chief
men, and old
councellors, are making ready to come to the council-fire,
in order to
settle all matters which have been the cause of uneasiness
between us. We
believe your professions are sincere, and that you will
agree upon what
is most for the good of both you and us; and we shall be
ready to be advised
by you, as we think you are wise. We are glad to
have an
opportunity of conversing with you, without interruption, tho'
the sun is low:
But we hope our and your ancient and wise men, will
have the
happiness of consulting freely together, for the good of one
another, before
it be dark; and that we shall meet one another with
sincerity and
truth, as we expect the blessing from above to attend us
therein.
"And I am
directed to inform you, that the Indian nations will be
next full moon
after this, at the forks of Delaware, and will send the
governor word
before hand, of the particular day they will be there, and
of their nations
and numbers: And so you may make it known to whom
you think proper,
that they may be present at our meeting.
"There are
two nations besides the Munseys, parties to this message: The
Senecas, whose
chief man is Tageeskata, and lives at Mahahensink; the
Cayugas, whose
chief man is Eshakanata. The chief man of the Munseys, is
Egohohoun."
Tuesday, August
8, 1758.
PRESENT: His excellency
the governor; the gentlemen of the council; the
commissioners for
Indian affairs; the Indians, and the interpreters; as
yesterday. His
excellency delivered the following answer to what the
Indians said
yesterday:
"Brethren,
"I am glad to
hear, that our offers of peace and amity have been well
received by your
people, and that they are disposed to brighten the chain
that heretofore
had held us together, and to restore that brotherhood
that had for many
years subsisted between us. Of late a great darkness
hath overshadowed
the land, but we hope, that the sun is up that will
disperse the
clouds that have hindred us from seeing one another, and
make all our
future days bright and pleasant.
"We agree
with you, that it would be best for us all to meet at the great-
council-fire that
is kindled on the forks of Delaware: It is on many
accounts proper;
and the particular circumstances of this province, make
it most agreeable
to us. We differ from the neighbouring provinces in many
things: We have
bounds set to our people, beyond which they neither nor
desire to pass;
they are content with the cultivation of their lands, and
seek not for
extraordinary gains, by following trade out of their own
country. As we
have had little intercourse with your people, we can have
little cause of
contention with them: The encroachments of unbounded
settlers, and the
tricks of unfair traders, cannot be charged on us. All
we have to do, is
to offer your people our friendship; which, if you will
sincerely and
heartily accept of it, shall endure to you and your
children, as long
as the sun shall shine, or the river on whose banks we
meet shall flow.
"Brethren, I
speak the words of justice and benevolence, and not of fear.
It is well known
to many of you, that as our people are industrious and
hardy, they are
also bold and resolute: If they are attacked, they give
shot for shot,
and blow for blow. But we should be sorry that this their
warlike spirit,
should be turned again you our antient friends and
brethren: No; let
it be exerted against the French, who are the common
enemies of us, of
you, and of all people that would be free and
independent.
"Brethren,
what I speak to you, I speak to those that sent you; and say to
our brethren,
that we are honest and sincere in our professions to them;
and hope they
will be so in what they profess to us. But as we have been
struck, without
having injured any one, we shall expect that they will
give us a proof
of their good intentions towards us, by bringing with them
all the prisoners
that have been taken from us. Those among you, who are
husbands and
fathers can best tell what our people must feel, who have had
their wives and
children torn from them. We also expect, that until we
shall all meet at
the great council fire, and these our mutual offers of
peace and
friendship shall be brought to maturity, by a solemn and publick
treaty, you will
not suffer your own people to commit hostilities against
us, nor any
others to pass by you, without giving us early notice, to
prepare ourselves
against them.
"Brethren,
the great God, whom we serve, and who protects us, and gives us
all the blessings
of life which we enjoy, hath commanded us to be just and
benevolent to all
mankind. We are desirous to be so; and if we can be
assured, that
your people will live on terms of friendship with us, the
lowest person
among you shall receive no hurt from our people, that we can
prevent or
redress. Of this I will give your people further assurance,
when we meet at
the council fire: In the mean time, I confirm what I have
said by these
belts." His excellency then delivered one belt to John
Hudson, the
Cayugan, and one to Benjamin, the Munsey.
The two foregoing
treaties, opened the way for another to be held the
October following,
at Easton, in Pennsylvania; so much of this as concerns
the purchase of
the Indian claims to the province of New-Jersey, were as
follow:
At a conference
held at the town of Easton, on the eighth day of October,
1758.
PRESENT: The
honourable William Denny, Esq; lieut. governor. Lawrence
Growdon, William
Logan, Richard Peters, Lynford Lardner, Benjamin Chew,
John Mifflin,
esquires, members of the governor's council. Isaac Norris,
Joseph Fox,
Joseph Galloway, John Hughes, Daniel Roberdeau, Amos
Strickland,
esqrs., committee of the house of representatives. Charles
Read, Jacob
Spicer, esquires, commissioners for Indian affairs, in the
province of
New-Jersey. A number of magistrates and freeholders of this
and the
neighbouring province, and of the citizens of the city of
Philadelphia,
chiefly of the people called Quakers. George Croghan,
esquire, deputy
agent for Indian affairs under Sir William Johnson.
Indians of
several nations, viz.
Mohawks: Nichas,
or Karaghtadie, with one woman and two boys. (In all 4)
Senecas:
Tagashata, alias Takeaghsodo, alias Sigachsadon, chief man, with 7
other chiefs, 37
other men, 28 women and children. (In all 83)
Onondagas:
Assaradonguas, with 9 men, 9 women and children. (In all 19)
Oneidos:
Segughsonyout, alias Thomas King, Anagaraghiry, Assany quon, with
3 warrior
captains, 6 warriors, and 33 women and children.
(45)
Cayugas: Tokaaio,
with 8 men, 11 women and children. (20)
Tuscaroras:
Nichaquantaquoah, alias Jonathan with 5 men, 12 women, and 2
children. (20)
Nanticokes:
Robert White, alias Wolahocumy, Pashdomokas, alias Charles,
with 16 men, 20
women, and 18 children. (56)
Conoys: Kanakt,
alias Last Night, with 9 men, 10 women, and 1 child. (21)
Tutelos:
Cakanonekoanos, alias Big Arm, Asswagarat, with 6 men and 3 women.
(11)
Chogknots: Ten
men, 20 women and children. (30)
Chihohockies:
alias Delawares, and Unamies: Teedyuscung, with divers men,
women and
children. (60)
Munsies or
Minisinks: Egotchowen, with sundry men, women and children. (35)
Mawhickons:
Abraham, or Mammatuckan,with several men, women, and
children. (56)
Wawpings or
Pomptons: Nimham, Aquaywochtu, with sundry men, women, and
children. (47)
In all 507
Conrad Weiser,
Esq; provincial Interpreter. Captain Henry Montour,
interpreter in Six
Nation and Delaware languages. Stephen Calvin, Isaac
Stille, Moses
Tetamy, Delaware Indians, interpreters in the Delaware
language.
At a conference
held at Easton with the Indians on the 11th of October,
1758. P.M.
PRESENT: Governor
Denny, with his council, and the several Pennsylvania
gentlemen, as
before. The Indians, &c. as before. His excellency Francis
Bernard, Esq;
captain general and governor in chief of his majesty's
province of
New-Jersey. The honourable Andrew Johnston, Charles Read, John
Stevens, Jacob
Spicer, William Foster, Esqrs, commissioners of New-Jersey,
for Indian
affairs.
Tagashata, the
Seneca chief, intending to speak first, on behalf of the
Indians, had laid
some belts and strings in order on the table.
As soon as the
company sat down, Teedyuscung holding out a string, said he
had something to
deliver, and desired he might be heard first of all. Mr.
Croghan requested
to know, if what he was going to say was the result of
the Delaware
council, and if it was their desire it should be spoke first;
but no answer was
given, him as to this.
Governor Bernard
signifying his desire to bid the Indians welcome, and just
mention to them
the business he came upon, it was agreed he should speak
first; which he
did as follows:
"Brethren,
"I am glad
to see so many of you met together, to cultivate peace with
your brethren and
old friends the English. I heartily bid you welcome, and
with that the
good work for which you are now assembled, may prosper in
your hands, and
have that success, which your wise men, and all that wish
you well, must
desire as a thing much to your advantage.
"The
situation of the province over which I preside, and the disposition
of its people,
have hitherto afforded very little occasion for treaties
with the
neighbouring Indians; but having some months ago sent a message
to the Minisinks,
I received a message from our brethren the Senecas and
Cayugas, wherein
they take upon them to answer my message to the
Minisinks, and
desire that I would meet them at the council fire burning
at this place.
"It is not
usual for the king's governors to go out of their provinces to
attend treaties;
but I am glad to have an opportunity of shewing my good
disposition to
establish peace and friendship with my neighbours, and
therefore I have
waved all form, and am come here according to the
invitation I
received at Burlington.
"To you,
therefore, our brethren the Senecas and Cayugas, and your nephews
the Minisinks, I
now speak, and desire that you would take into your most
serious consideration,
my message to the Minisinks, your message to me,
and my answer
thereto, and let me know what we are to expect from you.
"What is
past we are willing to forget; but I must remind you, that if you
are disposed to be
our friends for the future, you should give us that
proof of your
sincerity, which I have desired in my answer to your
message, and
return us the captives that have been taken out of our
province, and are
now within your power: This should be one of the first
steps, and will
be the best that can be taken towards restoring and
confirming that
brotherly love and friendship between us; which, I am
convinced, will
be for the mutual benefit of all parties."
This was
interpreted in the six nations language, by Mr. Weiser, and in the
Delaware, by Mr.
Stephen Calvin, the Indian school-master in West-Jersey.
Then Teedyuscung
spoke:
"Brethren,
"I desire
all of you who are present will give ear to me. As you, my
brethren, desired
me to call all the nations who live back; I have done
so. Now if you
have any thing to say to them, or they to you, you must
sit and talk
together.
"Brethren, I
sit by, only to hear and see what you say to one another; for
I have said what
I have to say, to the governor of Pennsylvania, who sits
here; he knows
what has passed between us. I have made known to him the
reasons why I struck him. Now I and the