Part 14 (1/2)
The honourable the Governor and Commissioners, and all the Company present, returned the Compliment with three Huzza's, and, after drinking Healths to our gracious King and the _Six Nations_, the Commissioners of _Maryland_ proceeded to Business in the Court-House Chamber with the _Indians_, where _Conrad Weiser_, the Interpreter, was present.
The honourable the Commissioners ordered Mr. _Weiser_ to tell the _Indians_, that a Deed, releasing all their Claim and t.i.tle to certain Lands lying in the Province of _Maryland_, which by them was agreed to be given and executed for the Use of the Lord Baron of _Baltimore_, Lord Proprietary of that Province, was now on the Table, and Seals ready fixed thereto. The Interpreter acquainted them therewith as desired, and then gave the Deed to _Cana.s.satego_, the Speaker, who made his Mark, and put his Seal, and delivered it; after which, thirteen other Chiefs or Sachems of the _Six Nations_ executed it in the same Manner, in the Presence of the honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_, and divers other Gentlemen of that Colony, and of the Provinces of _Pensylvania_ and _Maryland_.
At the House of Mr. _George Sanderson_ in _Lancaster_, _July_ 2, 1744, _A. M._
P R E S E N T,
The Honourable the Commissioners of _Maryland_.
The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.
_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.
The several Chiefs of the _Indians_ of the _Six Nations_, who had not signed the Deed of Release of their Claim to some Lands in _Maryland_, tendered to them on _Sat.u.r.day_ last, in the Chamber of the Court-House in this Town, did now readily execute the same, and caused Mr. _Weiser_ likewise to sign it, as well with his _Indian_, as with his own proper Name of _Weiser_, as a Witness and Interpreter.
In the C o u r t-H o u s e at _Lancaster, July_ 2, 1744, _A. M._
P R E S E N T,
The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_ Esq; Governor, &c.
The Honourable the Commissioners of _Virginia_.
The Honourable the Commissioners of _Maryland_.
The Deputies of the _Six Nations_.
_Conrad Weiser_, Interpreter.
_C A N A S S A T E G O spoke as follows_:
_Brother_ Onas,
The other Day you was pleased to tell us, you were always concerned whenever any thing happened that might give you or us Uneasiness, and that we were mutually engaged to preserve the Road open and clear between us; and you informed us of the Murder of _John Armstrong_, and his two Men, by some of the _Delaware Indians_, and of their stealing his Goods to a considerable Value. The _Delaware Indians_, as you suppose, are under our Power. We join with you in your Concern for such a vile Proceeding; and, to testify that we have the same Inclinations with you to keep the Road clear, free and open, we give you this String of Wampum.
_Which was received with the usual Ceremony_.
_Brother_ Onas,
These Things happen frequently, and we desire you will consider them well, and not be too much concerned. Three _Indians_ have been killed at different Times at _Ohio_, and we never mentioned any of them to you, imagining it might have been occasioned by some unfortunate Quarrels, and being unwilling to create a Disturbance. We therefore desire you will consider these Things well, and, to take the Grief from your Heart, we give you this String of Wampum.
_Which was received with the usual Ceremonies_.
_Brother_ Onas,
We have heard of the Murder of _John Armstrong_, and, in our Journey here, we had Conference with our Cousins the _Delawares_ about it, and reproved them severely for it, and charged them to go down to our Brother _Onas_, and make him Satisfaction, both for the Men that were killed, and for the Goods. We understood, by them, that the princ.i.p.al Actor in these Murders is in your Prison, and that he had done all the Mischief himself; but that besides him, you had required and demanded two others who were in his Company when the Murders were committed. We promise faithfully, in our Return, to renew our Reproofs, and to charge the _Delawares_ to send down some of their Chiefs with these two young Men (but not as Prisoners) to be examined by you; and as we think, upon Examination, you will not find them guilty, we rely on your Justice not to do them any Harm, but to permit them to return home in Safety.
We likewise understand, that Search has been made for the Goods belonging to the Deceased, and that some have been already returned to your People, but that some are still missing. You may depend upon our giving the strictest Charge to the _Delawares_ to search again with more Diligence for the Goods, and to return them, or the Value of them, in Skins. And, to confirm what we have said, we give you this String of Wampum.
_Which was received with the usual Ceremonies_.
_Brother_ Onas,