By the Honourable John Penn
JOHN PENN Penn, Esq;
Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania,
and Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex, on Delaware,
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas on the Twenty-second Day of December last I issued a Proclamation, for the apprehending and bringing to justice a number of persons, who, in Violation of the public Faith, and in Defiance of all Law, had inhumanely killed Six of the Indians, who had lived in Conestogoe Manor, for the Course of many Years, peaceably and inoffensively, under the Protection of this Government, on Lands assigned to them for their Habitation; Notwithstanding which, I have received Information, that on the Twenty-seventh of the same Month, a large Part of armed Men again assembled and met together, in a riotous and tumultuous Manner, in the County of Lancaster, and proceeded to the Town of Lancaster, where they violently broke open the Workhouse, and butchered and put to Death Fourteen of the said Conestogoe Indians, Men, Women and Children, who had been taken under the immediate Care and Protection of the Magistrates of the said County, and lodged, for their better Security, in the said Work-house, till they should be more effectually provided for, by Order of the Government: AND WHEREAS common Justice loudly demands, and the Laws of the Land (upon the Preservation of which, not only the Liberty and Security of every Individual, but the Being of the Government itself depends,) requires that the above Offenders should be brought to condign Punishment; I HAVE THEREFORE, by and with the Advice of the Council, published this Proclamation, and do hereby strictly charge and command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, Officers Civil and Military, and all other His Majesty’s faithful and liege Subjects within this Province, to make diligent Search and Enquiry after the Authors and Perpetrators of said last mentioned Offence, their Abettors and Accomplices; and they use all possible Means to apprehend and secure them, in some of the public Goals of this Province, to be dealt with according to Law. AND I DO hereby promise and engage, That any Person or Persons, who shall apprehend and secure, or cause to apprehended and secured, any Three of the Ringleaders of the said Party, and prosecute them to Conviction, shall have and receive for each the public Reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS; and any Accomplice, not concerned in the immediate shedding the Blood of the said Indians, who shall make Discovery of any or either of the said Ringleaders, and apprehend and prosecute them to Conviction, shall, over and above the said Reward, have all the Weight and Influence of the Government for obtaining His Majesty’s PARDON for his offence.
GIVEN under my Hand, and the Great Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the Second Day of January, in the Fourth Year of His Majesty’s Reign, and in the Year of our LORD One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Four.
JOHN PENN.
By His Honour’s Command,
Joseph Shippen, junior, Secretary.
GOD Save the KING.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by B. FRANKLIN, and D. HALL.
