An Address to the Rev. Dr. Alison - 32
THE next Thing that calls for my Attention is another Charge equally false and groundless against the Quakers, —"That a Party of Indians among the Inhabitants that carried the Enemies Arms and Ammunition, and had conducted them into the Settlements, and assisted in murdering the Inhabitants, applied to the Quakers, and they found Means to bring them down to Philadelphia, and have maintained them at the Expence of the Province." Here I conclude you mean the Moravian Indians of Nain and Weketank, two Plantations of the Brethren; for no Other Indians remained among the Inhabitants after the Massacre at Lancaster. These Indians you well know were Part of the Moravian Community, converted to the Christian Faith by Missionaries of their and your Society, lived on their Lands, and were daily under their Care. They were also received, as Subjects, and taken under the Protection of the Government at their particular Request upwards of twenty Years ago, by Governor Thomas; afterwards, in the late War, by Governors Morris and Denny. They had ever since lived peaceably and inoffensively in this Situation, if the Testimony of their Divines and others who were constantly resident among them may be credited.—But as they were situated near the Frontiers, some of the People of the County were suspicious that they held a secret Correspondence with the Enemy: And one of them was charged with the Murder of one Stinson in Company with other Indians, but was acquitted by a Jury of the County on a fair Trial. However, a Pannick seized many of the Inhabitants, and Numbers declared, if those Indians remained among them, they would desert their Habitations.—Several Requests came down to the Governor to desire their Removal to some other Place.—He laid them
