Governor Hamilton to Papunehan, October 12, 1761 - 1
to be delivered and distinctly explained to him by Mr Isaac Greenleaf
au Mr Isaac Land.
Brother Papunan,
I received the letter you wrote me by Tougachiunds and the
other messengers, in relation to the temper, disposition, and designs of
the Munsies, on account of the death of One of their Kinsmen who was
unfortunately killed, on his return from the Treaty of Easton, by one
of our people._For which intelligence I think my self much obliged to you.
Brother, You tell me that the Munsies were calling down to war
against us their Brethren, to revenge the death of their Kinsman-who
was killed as aforesaid. But that you, by means of your good speeches,
and by a large present of Wampum, dissuaded them from it, till they
should hear from us by the return of the Munsies.__ And that
they are now waiting at Wyoming for that purpose.
Brother, The part you have acted upon this occasion, is not only
that of a good Christian, by preventing the shedding of innocent blood (which
must have been the case had there people proceeded in their design) but,
also that of a faithful and sincere Friend, by giving us an opportunity
of talking cooly with those people, explaining the sincerity of our
intentions toward them, and making them also the satisfaction and
reparation in our power, for so unfortunate an accident
Brother, I now acquaint you that I have sent a Message to the Munsies
by our good Friends, Isaac Greenleef and Isaac Laud; to condole with them on
the death of their relation; to let them know, in what manner their Brother
came by his death, as far as hath yet come to my knowledge, and to acquaint
them what measures I am talking to have the matter more particularly
enquired into, and I have promised them that the person who killed him,
who is now in Prison for it, shall be fairly tried by our Laws: and if,
if shall appear that He did it otherwise than in defense of himself, or
of his wife and children, he shall suffer the same punishment, as if
he had killed a white man. Which punishment is death by our law.
[Transcribed by Dylan Reel]
