slate of them, to be laid before His Majesty.



Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade.

[ New-Tork Papers, Hh., No. 143.]

Fort George in, New York

13 June 1751
My Lords

I informed your Lordships by my Letter of twenty ninth of January last, that I designed to
invite the Governors of the neighbouring Colonies from New Hampshire to South Carolina
inclusively to join with me in an interview, which I proposed to have about this time at Albany
with the Six Indian Nations, and the other Nations depending on them, in order to defeat the
Designs and intrigues of the French to withdraw their affections from us, and to prevent
the encroachments the French are dayly making on the Indian Territory subject to [the] Crown
of Great Britain and to which His Majesty has a just claim by the Treaty of Utrecht — All the
Governors have severally approved of the Proposals I made, except the Government of
Virginia from which I have heard nothing, tho I sent a Triplicate of my letter to the President
of the Council there

The Governours respectively approved the Measures I proposed, they promised to press the
Assembly their Assemblys' to contribute towards the expence which may be necessary on this
occasion by sending of proper Presents, (without which nothing can be done with Indians) and
several of them gave me hopes that their Assemblies would contribute on this occasion But
that (as in the Charter Governments) the Assemblys meet on their own adjournments they
could not give me any positive answer till some time in May after their Assemblies had mett;
for this reason I delayed my going to Albany till the end of this month in hopes of having that
meeting more solemn and effectual by the uniting the Influences of all the Governments and at
the same time I called the Assembly of this Province in hopes that they would contribute
farther towards the expence, which I foresaw must unavoidably be much greater than usual,
if any thing more be done to the purpose ; and the more to induce them I laid before them
all the informations I had received, and likewise the several letters from the neighbouring

' Sic. — Ed.



704 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

Governors confirming the same: But I am sorry that after all I must inform your Lordships
that all the Assemblies have refused to contribute or to enable their Governors to go personally
or to send Commissioners to assist at the Interview at Albany, except Massachusetts Bay &
South Carolina: The Governor of the last place has sent one Commissioner & six Indians in
order to make Peace between their Indians and the Six Nations ; but by what I can hear from
the Commissioner their Present Is by much too small to answer the Purposes designed

I transmit to your Lordships a copyof Gov"^ Glen's to me on this occasion. The only reasons
I can give for this neglect of a service which I and all the Governors think so necessary at this
time are the penurious tempers of the American Assemblys and the private views which the
trading part among them have, in endeavouring to draw the interviews with the Indians into
their own Colonies, tho' it can not be doubted that Albany is the most proper place for this
purpose in which IVP Glen agrees with me tho' his Government be the furthest distant

The reasons for the Assembly of this Province refusing to add to the allowance they have
made for this Service I can only give your Lordships by their answer to my speech on this
occasion I transmit copies of both

After the Assembly was prorogued, I suppose they found that their savingness on this
Occasion was not approved without Doors, and thereon the Speaker in private conversation
with me told me that the Treasurer should be directed privately to advance ^200 more, which
I hope the necessity of the Service will excuse my receiving in this manner, tho' it shows at
the same time, how absolutely the Treasurer and the Treasury is under the private and single
direction of the Assembly — This may some time or other prove of dangerous consequence.
I can only apprize your Lps of it because a remedy can only be given by the Kings
immediate Authority as will more fully appear by the several Representations I have made, to
show that all publick money is absolutely in the disposal of the Assembly, and they have
thereby, assumed to themselves the who[le] executive powers of Government

Upon receiving the report N" 9 from Lieutenant Lindesay commandant & Commissary at the
trading house of Oswego, informing me of the French building a fortified house and seizing
and detaining prisoners the English Traders ; 1 immediately dispatched a Gentleman to the
Governor General of Canada with a letter of complaint of this encroachment on the Kings
Territory and injury done his subjects, demanding reparation for the same; a copy of which
letter N" 19 I shall by the very first opportunity after I have received an answer do myself the
honor to communicate the contents to your Lordships
I am with Respect

My Lords

Your Lordships most

obedient humble Serv'

G. Clinton.



LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX. 705

Governor Wentworth to Governor Clinton.

[New- York Papers, Hh., No. 143.]

Portsmouth Jan"T 23"^ 1750
Sir

I have the honor of your Excellencys favor of the IS"" Dec'' past advising me of the Interview
you have appointed to have with the si.\ Nations of Indians and their allies, on the first weeii
in June next, which I esteem ahsolutely necessary at this time, and to secure those Tribes
Firmly in the Interest of His Majesty's Colonies in North America is of the last consequence
to each Governm' respectively, and yet I am apprehensive some who may at this time esteem
themselves safe, will endeavor to screen themselves from the expence, that will attend it,
without considering the dreadful calamitys that must unavoidably fall on every Government,
should these Nations be gained over to the French, which as your Excellency justly observes,
there will be great reason to fear, should there appear to these people a disunion in the
Councils of His Majestys Governments on this important meeting; on which I think it my
Duty to attend, but the unhappy situation I am under, with respect to the Assembly, renders
that impossible, unless between this time and that, I receive His Majestys pleasure concerning
them, or they return to their duty and obedience — I have communicated your Letter to His
Majestys council, who think it highly expedient that Commissioners ought to appear in behalf
of this Province, but on the other hand they think it will avail but little unless the appear
prepared with Suitable Presents which it is absolutely out of my power to provide and no
private gentleman will care to advance such a sum, as it will require to lay at the mercy of an
assembly for reimbursement

As I am very Zealous to strengthen the interview your Excellency has fixed with these
Nations and being persuaded of the universal benefit His Matys Government must reap from
the effects of it I would propose if it be agreeable and you think it will answer the end
designed, that you nominate to me a person residing in New York or Albany, that you approve
of, to Represent this Province, hereby obliging myself fully to impower him by the time
fixed for the meeting, engageing also as far as it concerns me to ratify and confirm all the
engagements he shall enter into on the part of New Hampshire

Thus Sir you [perceive] the melancholy Situation some of the Kings Governors are in, when
the must have recourse to such shifts as these to do the Kings business.

I am with great truth

Sir — Your Excellency's most

obedient humble Servant.

New York B Wentworth

Copy Exam*" P"'

Gw Banyar D Secry



Vol. Vr. 89



706 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

Lieutenant Lindesay's Report of Indian News., t&c, at Oswego.

I New-Tork Papers, Bh., No. 149. ]

A Report of the News 1 have had from the Indians &c

Oswego Feb 5"' IVfy. Came here three Frenchmen from Onondaga, and told me they were
come from the place Joncaire was at (on the River Ohio) with a message to the Governor of
Canada, desiring men &c to be sent him in order to build a Fort there, I understood they
had been at our several castles, telling them what they were to do soon after Adrawanah (one
of the Cheifs of the Cahugah Castle) came here, I spoke to him of this, and told him they
might now see the bad consequence of our Indians going to Canada, and receiving presents
from the Governor of said place, for now he looked on them as his Slaves, and Tributaries and
did what he pleased without their leave or consent.

I also told him I was informed they had built a Fort at the carrying place (above Niagara)
from the Iry to this Lake, and desired if they had any regard for their own property, that they
would have a stop put to it. He replyed the five Nations had heard of this Fort and had
appointed some Indians to go and prevent the building it further

April 3'^ Joncaires Brother came here in his way to Niagara, and said he was going to
command the new Fort on the carrying place above Niagara.

May 4"" Came here a Mesasagah Canoe (with Indians) who came and saw me and told for
News, that there was an Army passed Cataracque, in order to build a Fort where Joncaire
was, and to run off the Shawanahs, Chanundadies, and Twig-Twee Indians (who live at
Kyahagah on the Drafts of Ohio & Ohio) and with whom the Philadelphians trade, and to
drive them from thence, and that there was a good many Indians to go with said army. I told
them as'they had entered into an Alliance with the Five Nations (which place belonged to them)
and that many of the five Nations lived there as well as the other Nations aforesaid. I hoped
the would join the five Nations in defence of said Indians, and opposed the views of the French,
which was to make slaves of all Indians. Adrawanah being here I sent for him, and made
them repeat the News to him, who seemed much troubled with it. I did all I could to shew
the Frenches Views in all their doings, and to shew that they treated the five Nations and
all other Indians, as their Slaves, who had neither liberty nor property

Schanahary (an other Cheif of the Cahugahs) coming here the next day I was at the same
pains with him

May 5"" This day came here a Seneca Indian who informed me that the French (who are
building a Fort near the Twig Twees) hearing of three Philadelphia Traders, that were going
to trade with that Nation, sent for them to smoke a Pipe in a friendly manner, which they
, accepted of, and as soon as they came took every thing from them, and put the men in Irons.
J On hearing this I sent forSchauahary, and told him the News, he said they had heard it, and had
sent to know the certainty of it, and said ,the Five Nations were determined to assist and
defend all those Indians who live at Cayahagah, and to protect the English that traded there —

I told all our Indians that were here, that when I came here first. I had opposed their going
to Canada, to receive Gifts and presents from thence for that was selling their Liberty and
property and they might now see come to pass. For the Governor of Canada looked on what
was theirs as his own and did what he pleased without their leave or consent as they saw by



LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXX. 707

the Fort built at the carrying place above Niagara, and that they were about to build where
Joncaire is, which place I was well informed they had given or sold to the Governor of
Philadelphia, and whether they had done that or not (as it was theirs) I hoped they would
allow no Fort to be built there but would all join & defend the Philadelphia Traders — The
Five Nations & others who lived on Ohio, or any of the Rivers terminating therein when
the English had any commerce

John Lindesay^
New York

A true Copy Exam'' P''

Gw Banyar D Secry.



Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton to Governor Clinton.

[ New-Tork Papers, Hh.. 155. ]

Philadelphia May 15. 1751
Sir

I deferred answering your Excellencys Letter of 13"" April, till I could certainly inform
you what Part this Province would Act with regard to the Treaty to be held at Albany in the
next month ; and I am now extreemly mortified at being obliged to acquaint you, that contrary
to my expectations, our Assembly has altogether declined having any thing to do in that
treaty; as you will see by the Copy of their message inclosed

Although from the religious principals of a great majority of the House I never expected
they would enter into any offensive Measures to protect the Indians against the French ; yet I
made not the least doubt, but that in order to shew them countenance, and to secure their
good will ; they would at least have contributed a very handsome Present to be delivered
with Yours and those of the other Governments, which would have made the whole appear
more considerable and better worth their acceptance This I did not fail to press upon

' John Lindksat, founder of Cherry Valley settlement, in the county of Otsego, N. Y., was a native of Scotland, and in
December, 1730, received from his countryman. Gov. Montgomerie, the commission of Naval Officer of the port of New-York.
In 1732, he was appointed Sheriff of Albany, which office he filled until October, 1739. He acquired nearly 20,000 acres of
the public lands, located in different parts of the province, by patents dated from 1736 to 1741. He removed to Cherry
Valley in 1740 with his wife. Lieutenant Congreve his fatherin-law, and servants, and gave to bis new home the name of
Lindesay's bush. But being unacquainted with practical farming, and the French war breaking out, he was obliged to
abandon his enterprise. Reinforcements being ordered to the western frontier, Lieutenant Congreve resigned his commission
in fiivor of Mr. Lindesay, who proceeded to Oswego iu 1744. He was in Schenectady in the winter of 1746-7. On the Hth
October, of the last mentioned year, the Council taking into consideration several petitions of the Oswego traders, praying
hia Excellency the Governor to continue Lieutenant Lindesay in the command of the garrison at Oswego, and the request of
the Indians of the Six Nations to the same purpose ; and being also of opinion from their own knowledge of Mr. Lindesay,
that he is well qualified for that command, and the more so on the account of hia engaging Address to the Indians,
unanimously resolved to recommend his Kxcellency to order Lieutenant Lindesay to repair to Oswego, to take the cominnnd
of the garrison there. He was commandant at that post until February, 1749, when he was appointed Indian commissary
and agent there. He retained the latter situation until his death, which occurred in 1751. His widow, Penelope Lindcsav,
survived hiin, but they had no children. At the time of his death, Mr. Lindesay was a lieutenant in Captain Clarke'a
company of Independent Kuzileers. Campbell's llixtortj of Tryon County, 23; Kew -York Book of Patentt ; Kew-York Council
Minuten, XXL, 277 ; Commissiona, IIL, 800, 368, 481 ; Johnson'a Maniucrtptx, I. — Ed.



708 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

the Principal Members in repeated conferences both before and during the time of their last
sitting, tho' without effect, so that whatever may be the consequence of our not acting
with the spirit & resolution the present state of Indian affairs seems to require, and the
circumstances of this Province very well enabled us to do, I can not reproach myself with
having omitted any thing in my Power that would have contributed to so good a purpose

Upon the death of Canassatego and some other of the principal Sachims of the six Nations
vpho were our very good friends — We have thought it necessary to send to the Council at
Onondago, a message of condolence with a small present of one hundred pounds value, and as
there will be soon an opportunity of meeting that council together at Albany : 1 am to request
of Your Excellency that M"" Weiser our Province Interpreter may have your permission to
deliver the same at that place whereby much time & trouble will be saved to this Government

If our Assembly had entered heartily into the measures propos'd in your Excellency's letter
of the 18 Dec' I fully intended to have waited on you at Albany ; and to have joined my
best endeavors towards restoring our Indian affairs and putting them on a better foot for the
future But as they have neither thought fit to advise my joining in these measures, nor made
any provision of Presents suitable to tiie importance of the occasion. I must deny myself the
satisfaction I proposed in paying my respects to you in Person, and have only to wish all
possible success to your labors for the publick. Service

I beg the favor of your answer whether iNr Weiser may be permitted to deliver the
forementioned small Present at Albany and am with all possible Regard Sir

Your Excellencys

most obedient humble Serv'

James Hamilton

New York Copy Exam'' l""

Gw Baxyar D Secry

His Excellency Gov'' Clinton.



Governor Glen to Governor Clinton.

[ New- York Tapers, Hh., No. 156. ]

S° Carolina May 21" 1751
Sir

I was in great hopes to have been able to have accepted of your Invitation to New York,
being very sensible that such a General meeting of all the Governors that have any connection
V, with Indians, would before' his Majestys service, and the security of the Colonies, and altho'
it might be more convenient for Carolina tiiat such meeting should be at Virginia as was
proposed last year by M'' Lee, yet upon many accounts New York should be preferred, both as
it is in a manner the center of the British Colonies upon this continent, and because the six
Nations and many other Indians have for many years past been more immediately dependent
upon or in alliance with New York no doubt Indians may be allured by Presents to any place,

■ Sic. Qu ? be for. — Ed.



LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX. 709

but they are not attracted to Albany by presents only, tliey are attracted by Treaties I have
been prevented from attending the meeting proposed to be held in June next at New York by
some disturbances among the Cherol^ees, but I have sent a Gentleman who is no stranger to
Indian affairs, as Commissioner (rom this Province : he is one of the Council here, and I beg
leave to recommend him to your regard

I shall not presume to point out what may be the proper heads for your deliberation in
general I think it would be adviseable to contermine all the Plotts and Intrigues of the French
and in order thereto, it will be necessary to collect from all the different Governors or
commission" tiiat maybe present at that meeting such circumstances & facts as can give any
ligiit into these matters — To one unacquainted with Indian affairs the designs of the French
may seem dark & doutblful, their projects improbable, and their views very distant however
they are not less to be minded upon that account and if Britisii Govern" are either indolent or
negligent, it may prove very fatal to the Provinces. Whether the observations that I have
made for these last seven years, will satisfy any other person what the designs of the French
may be, I shall not take upon me to assert, but I assure you I myself who at first was but
suspicious am firmly convinc'd and confirmed during the War I found their Indian
Commissaries and even French Agents, amongst our Indian Nations inciting them to a general
insurrection against the English, but their proposals not having, been listened to, their next
attempt were to get some'footing amongst these Nations themselves, and accordingly they told
them it was good for them to have a Trade both with the Frencii & with the Englisii, that the
English seemed to covet the Deer Skins but the French were desirous to trade with them for
their Beaver and small Furrs and the hoped they would permitt them to build strong houses to
put their goods in; This we very truly interpreted to mean Forts but in this we also prevented
their designs and they have ever since continued to harass our Indians by sending them to warn
against them, and by giving them rewards not only for the Scalps of our Indians but even for
the skalps and heads of our Traders: Tiiey also make it their constant practice to raise &
continue Warr betwixt the Nations in the British Interest to prevent all accomodations, and by
doing every thing in their power to rekindle Wars when by the care of English Governors
they have been extinguished they consider that the English first settled all along the Sea Coast,
and that their back settlements being thinly inhabited must for many years be their weakest
part, that the Indian Nations are a sort of Bulwark to us, and if they could get them in their
Interest, and so turn the Canon upon us, they might invade us with double advantage, but even
if they can weaken this Barrier by making our Indians destroy one an other they would have
much less to struggle with, in any future attempts upon these Provinces in any future War.
Our first care therefore ought to be, to make all the Indians that are friends with the English
Friends also among themselves, and for that reason I hope you and the other Governors and
commissioners will heartily join your Interest in removing all the obstacles to a Peace, in
reconciling all the differences and cementing together in a close union the Northward and
Southward Indians; under the name of Northward Indians I include, not only the Six Nations,
the Delawares and Susquehannah Indians, but all the different Tribes who may be in
Friendship with them particularly those on the Ohio River, as under the name of Southward
Indians, I comprehend the Cherokees, the Catawbas, the Creeks, called sometimes Muscagee,
the Chickesaws, and such part of the Chactaws as are in our Interest, and all the Tribes in
friendship with those Nations, or that live amongst our settlements, such as Charraws, Uches,
Pidees, Notchees, Cape Fears or other Indians ; and 1 hope that all Prisoners on each side will



710 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

be mutually delivered back ; and whereas about two or three years agoe, a Gentleman of this
Province one Capt" Hague, was carried off and murdered by some of the Indians who live
upon or near the Ohio River, who came to War against the Catawbas, it is absolutely necessary
that some satisfaction be obtained for the said murder, and I hope you will take the opportunity
of so general a meeting to demand it

This Province has more Indians in Alliance with it, who have no dependance upon, or
connection with any but the English of Carolina, than any other Province whatever as you
will see by my account of them in some of my former letters, and I hope that any representation
concerning Indian affairs that may be laid before His Majesty, as the united sence of New York
Carolina and New England, the Center and the two extreems of the Continent will not fail of
having its due weight

At present I have not time to add any more but that

I am with much Respect

Sir, Your Excellencys

most obedient and

most humble Servant
New York Copy Exam"* P James Glen

Gw Bantar D Secry



Oovernor Hamilton to Governor Clinton.

[ New-York Papers, Hh., No. 167. ]

Philad» June G"- 1751.
Sir

I am favored with your Excellencys Letter of the S?"" of May, expressing your consent
to the delivery of our small Present at Albany: for which I am now to return you my
thanks ; and to assure you M' Weiser shall in all things conform himself to the conditions
therein mentioned

I am much obliged to your Excellency for imparting to me the Intelligence from M' Lindsay
great part whereof I am inclined to beleive is true, having myself in april last received from
M''Croghan, an information of very nearly the same import, which I enclose for your perusal —
This Account I laid before the Assembly at their Sessions in May, and in repeated conferences
with the principal members, pressed them to enable me to do some thing effectual for the
Preservation of that part of His Majestys Dominions, as well as for the security of our Indian
Trade, both which were in danger of being lost by the Frenchs taking possession & building
Forts on the River Ohio even within the Limits of this Province as we have reason to beleive.
But ail arguments that could be used on that occasion availed nothing towards inducing them
to do what was indispensably their Duty to his Majesty and to the people they represent.
Hence it is that I have little reason to expect they will ever act a proper part in Indian
affairs, untill either some notable calamity befall our back inhabitants, or till they have such
injunctions laid upon them from home as they will not venture to disobey



LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXX. 711

I beg leave to express my acknowledgement of your great civility upon this, and all other