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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Manuscripts

The following manuscripts were authored by numerous figures directly and indirectly involved in the Paxton debates, including Benjamin Franklin, Israel Pemberton, and Thomas Penn. Some correspondence predates and postdates the pamphlet war and offers bridges to other colonial events, including the Seven Years' War, Pontiac's rebellion, and the Black Boys uprising. You may also filter manuscripts by following the Correspondence Concerning Conestoga Manor, Edward Shippen, Friendly Association, Moravian Indian Diaries, Timothy Horsfield, Walking Purchase sub-paths.

	We have currently digitized 236 manuscripts, arranged chronologically in the path below "Contents."

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Includes a true copy of a letter from James Logan to Joseph Wheeler concerning purchases from Native Americans. Three excerpts, in the same secretarial hand. Watermark: WW (ligature) / Postal Horn in shield. Cf. Gravell, Foreign Watermarks, #714-715, (Philadelphia, 1764). These excerpts might have been prepared to demonstrate the settlers' interest in the Delaware lands prior to the Walking Purchase. The first two excerpts concern the case of two Upper Forks traders, Nicholas Dupui and Daniel Broadhead, who battled for exclusive rights to the upper Delaware Indian trade. Both tried to ally themselves with the Delaware sachem Lapowinzo. In a meeting with Thomas Penn, Dupui showed the proprietor a petition signed by Lapowinzo and forged marks of other Delawares, asserting that Broadhead's April 5, 1737 land warrant for six hundred acres should be recalled since he "had done them much wrong." Dupui, meanwhile, "had been their trusty and loving friend" which the Delawares rewarded by the same tract of land. The petition's author was Dupui. The proprietor summoned Broadhead who happened to be in Philadelphia. Under the cross-examination, Lapowinzo said Dupui told him that he must sign the petition, although he had nothing against Broadhead of his claims; other Delawares never signed it.
Signed: "Tattemy." Signature and the body of the petition are in the same hand. Docketed on the fold: No. 8; "24th March 1732 Tattemy an Indian." Watermark: Royal arms under Garter, with motto and buckle. Cf. Gravell, Foreign watermarks, # 606, 1746; not an exact match; the Gravell's sample has S.C. on the bottom of the shield). "That your Pettioner being a Native of This Cuntrey and Have Taken a Great deal of Pains and Industery to Make a plantation on Hoping that yr Honnneur will be pleased to Give me a Grant for the said Lands which I suppose may contain about Three hundred Acres on the forks of Dillaware and William Allen and Irishman Longhorn know my Behaviour and the place and your Pettioners as In duly Bound shall for Ever pray. " A warrant for the survey was issued on December 30, 1736 and a patent to "Tundy Tetamy one of our Indian Friends was granted by the proprietaries on April 28, 1738. Tatamy's application was endorsed by Jeremiah Langhorne and William Allen (Northeastern Indian Lives, 1732-1816), p. 259. Cf. Tatamy was the first Native American to own land in accordance with English law. In 1733, while Delawares generally were negotiating for goods and using land as capital or skins as medium of exchange, Tatamy applied for "a piece of land of about 300 Acres on the forks of the Delaware" (Harper, Promised Land, 88 citing James Steele letter book in HSP) The petition might have been retained in order to prove that Tatamy, a Delaware, acknowledge the Penns' rights over the land in the forks.
Left side: the list of goods and moneys to be paid. With the note, in Thomas Penn's hand: Stenton, September 7. 1732: "I promise to deliver to Sasoonan & al the Goods mentioned in the above list; within nine months after the date hereof as also the fifty pounds with these mentioned. Right side: Stenton, Sept. 7, 1732. "Paid to Sassoman;" list of goods marked off in pen and pencil; "Rec'd the 7th day of September. The Several goods mentioned in the second column in part of those promised me by Thomas Penn in the first Column and also twenty pounds in parr of ye said fifty. Signed by Sasonan, Alalapis, Pesqueetan, Mayeemo "his mark." Witnesses: James Logan; James Steele, John Wray. Docket label: List of Sassonman's Goods in 1732 Rec'd. In the same hand below: No. 7. Watermark: C.A.W. / Pro Patria; with hat on the tip of the spear. Cf. similar watermark on Plan for rebuilding Magdalen College, 1720s, by Sir James Burrough, (The Architectural Drawings of Magdalen College, Oxford, p. 1). No No exact match in Gravell; cf. # 32 (with AW in Pro Patria, 1765). The unpublished appendix to the treaty negotiated by Thomas Penn and signed on September 7, 1732. The deal opened land along the Schuylkill River watershed between the Lehigh Hills and the Kittatiny Mountains and enlarged Bucks, Philadelphia, and Lancaster Counties. (Cf. Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 1, pp. 344-47).
This manuscript map was probably drawn for a 1732 deed. Nicholas Scull, the first deputy surveyor for Philadelphia (1719) and Bucks County (1733); handled land disputes in Delaware Water Gap; he was was part of the surveying that precipitated the Walking Purchase. He later served as the Philadelphia County sheriff (1744-1746) and the province's Surveyor General (1748), author of published maps of Philadelphia region; member of the Junto; fluent in the Lenape language.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Letter concerns an attack on a settler named Henry Webb by a Native American named Awannemeak near Menesinck. Watermark: Post Horn, in shield, with bell / C&I Honig. No exact match in Gravell, cf. # 369. Docketed: "Governor Thomas To Awannemeak's Indian King at Asopus" and "No. 49." Regarding the assault on Nicholas Webb. Published, as recorded in the minutes: Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania , vol. 4 (Harrisburg, 1851): 420; Pennsylvania Archives, 4th ser., vol. 1: Papers of the Governors, 1681-1747 (Harrisburg, Pa., 1900): 725-727.
The date is indicated as January 3, 1740/41, in reference to the March Julian year that began on March 25. Appeal in response to "a complaint made that I let up the Indians for to do mischiefe or make Difficulties or amoung the Peoples the Inhabetants of this Province." The author Jacob Sebring (Seabring or Seaberring) rejects the complaint and reports that the Delawares "tould me that Mr. Penn had taken their Land against their will and Settled a People upon it, that abused them so that they would live so no longer." He also reports that he had written a formal complaint on behalf of the Delawares to Jeremiah Langhorne and criticizes his accuser, "John Mccahon" who had been caught unlawfully detaining and abusing two Lenape young men. Watermark: Royal Arms under Garter / GR Cf. Grenell, Foreign watermarks, # 290-291. Cf: Alfred Mathews, History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe Counties, Pennsylvania (R.T. Peck & Co., 1886): 29-30, referencing a memorandum of "two letters to Jeremiah Langhorne," from "sundry Indians, dated Nov. 21, 1740 and Jan. 3, 1741, which was "referred to in Minutes, March 26, 1741." The memorandum was found in the collection of James "Logan's manuscripts in possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania." "The scribe for the Indians was Jacob Sebring," who was "arrested by the Sheriff of Bucks County for serving them in that capacity." Cf. Delawares to Jeremiah Langhorne, Smithfield, January 3, 1741. HSP, Penn Manuscripts, Indian Affairs, vol. 4. Cf. "A Letter to the Governor from the same Indians and the like purpose [i.e. seizure of land in Bucks county] Dated Jan. 3rd. 1740-1," mentioned in the Minutes of the of the Provincial Council March 26, 1741, in: Minutes of the Provincial Council. vol. 4 (Harrisburg, 1851): p. 481
A letter attesting to the character of Jacob Seaberring; signed by Jacob Kuykendall, Abraham van Campen, Nicholas Dupui and Jacobus Kuykendall. Signed: Jacob Knykendal; Abraham Scampen justice, Nicolas Dupui, Jacobus kuy kendael," i.e. Jacob Kuykendall, Abraham van Campen, Nicholas Dupui, and Jacobus Kuykendall. Watermark: Royal arms under Garter / PL ligature. No exact match in Gravell; Cf. #546 (Northampton, Pa., 1763). Docketed (in the same hand; on facing folds: Letter from the Indians to the Govr. Jan. 3rd 1740/31 referred to in the minutes of March 26 1741" and "Character of Jacob Seaberring 30 Jan. 1740." "The Character of Jacob Seaberring is such that he has always been very true and honest both to King and Country and that we have found great benefit by him." Sebring's accuser came into the country a Servant and Run away from his Masters amongst the Indians and their lived as an Indian many years and at last he could live no longer in peace and quietness for his Rogery, and falseness to them so then being forced to come down amongest the Inhabitants, and married a woman and has lived on idle life all his life time he has never done good for king or country and even for himself."
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
A summary or a precis of a letter from Thomas Penn to an identified recipient, perhaps Richard Peters. Mentions William Denny, Thomas Pownall, Benjamin Franklin and his instructions from the General Assembly, loss of Oswego; men raised in Pennsylvania "for the American Regiments;" the fate of Shirley's and Pepperell's regiments; John Stanwix; the news of the John Armstrong's expedition against Kittanning received by the Duke of Cumberland; "Parson Barton," (i.e. Thomas Barton), the supply bill; provincial elections; Loudoun's decision to quarter the regular troops in Philadelphia, "Land Tax" issue, etc.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore. For more information, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/sd/r17sdc.htm
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
The terms offered a public reading of the Walking Purchase deed in lieu of an inquiry by Sir William Johnson. Rough minutes of a conference between Teedyuscung and George Croghan. Added in a different hand: "Upon the Conversation, Mr. Croghan & Mr. Weiser at this instance came to the Governor & Mr. Croghan gave it as his opinion that if Governor" would let "Teedyuscung & some of his Cronies" to see the documents, it would "sate" Teedyuscung that would go "in his proceedings no further."
The deposition by Christian Budge and Edward Biddle who testified "that as We were standing by Nicholas Scull's House in this Town, King Teedyuscung with several Indians came there; that Mr. Israel Pemberton took the King by the Hand and went into Mr. Scull's House with him." On verso: 1757, Feb. 21. Draft of the summons from the "Committee appointed to inquire of Indian Complaints against this Government," to Edward Marshall, John Hyder, and Timothy Smith. Apparently, the draft was used as scrap paper to record Busse's and Biddle's deposition.
"Note, signed by Thomas Morrison and Conrad Weiser, describing the ""rest of Indians"" who ""Murmoured against Teediskon."" Added, in pencil: ""Teed did not like the 6 Nations laughing at him."" With: Denny, William. To ""Gentlemen."" 1757, July 11. Draft of the letter to ""a deputation of the Society of Friends expressing the displeasure of the Proprietaries at their interference in treaties with the Indians."" The draft was apparently used as scrap paper."
"Sir, I have Sent one Henry Deigenhart with letters from Carlisle to his Honour the Governor; as I understand both, Colonel Stanwix & Lieu. Col. Armstrong gave orders to the Post to get them sent to Easton. The Answers may be here by Saturday Morning, Time enough to be sent to Carlisle by the next Post. The Bearer is to have Thirty Shillings, which I make no Doubts, Sir, you will be so good as to sea he gets, as you were so kind as to get the Express from hence paid last week. Pray be so kind as to let me know whether it will be proper to let the Pacquets from Carlisle to the Govenor or yourself be carried to Philadelphia or whether it will be best to send them to Easton. The Bearer begs that he may not be obliged to bear his own expenses at Easton, as he thinks thirty shillings very low for riding so far Express. P.S. The Philadelphia Lawyers, I hear will not come over from Lancaster next week, to our Court, being afraid of losing their scalps if they should attempt. I am very much hurryd just now, preparing for the Term approaching."
Signed autograph letter. James Young, the Commissary of the Muster and paymaster of William Denny's Pennsylvania Regiment, complains about recalcitrant "Commissioners" of the General Assembly who have been refusing to appropriate the money "til they were assured they had had the duty they were engage'd," citing "great Complaints" that "the troops did not Range to the Enemy's Country, and the they were within One hundred miles of what was Commonly call'd For Duquesne, they never could learnt in Two Years, whether there was any such Fort there or no." As the Commissioners were "assured" that the men "they did not do their duty, the only Method they had to Compell them to it, or to make them leave the Service, was by detaining their pay from them."
A corrected draft. The immediate record of the affidavit of James Hyndshaw, "of County of Northampton & Lieutenant of the First Battalion or ye Pennsylvania regiment," before William Allen. Hyndshaw testified of a "Close Conference" between "People called Quakers belonging to ye said Province but chiefly from Philadelphia," including Israel Pemberton and Isaac Norris, and Teeduyscung. Cf. published text: Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 3 pp. 263-264.
A corrected draft. Docketed, in the same hand: "Dr. Affidavits of Mr. Allen, Mr. Hamilton, R. Peters, & Mr. Lyell." Peters testified, "on his oath," that he had found "Papers and Writings purporting to be a copy of an Original Deed for lands purchased by ye late Proprietor William Penn, Esq. from ye Delaware Indians, situated in & near ye Forks of ye River Delaware, bearing date ye 20th Day of August Anno Domini 1686 & of which now produced copy." Peters also testified that the copy "annexed" was "a true Transcript carefully compared & examined by ye Deponent with the ancient Copy."
"To be delivered to his Honor the Governor per Insign Martin (?)" Docketed: "24 December 1757 James Read with 3 Indians." Regarding "three Indians to wit, John Jacob, David, and James, a lad of about 13 years," all "Delawares one in Teedious Kon's son" to be escorted to William Denny to Philadelphia "gratifying their Inclination." With: Weiser, Conrad. To William Denny. Note informing Denny of the Delawares' arrival; "Jordyn (?) Eberhard, Martin, and a serjeant of Mass. Company came with them."
Manuscript bound with string. A copy concerning the Pennsylvania and Maryland boundary dispute. In secretarial hand, with broad margins, with manicules and cross-references. Docketed: "Penn v. Baltimore. Copy of the dispute in 1685. Loebbs (?) Br[ief]. of Bill & Answers." Record of the depositions of William Penn and Lord Baltimore before the Board of Trade, during the arbitration over their dispute over the three lower counties on the Delaware. The Board ruled in Penn's favor. (For the ruling, see Papers of William Penn vol. 3, p. 10). This copy was most likely made during the 1757 investigation. Cf. HSP. Penn family papers (Collection 0485A). Series VII: Penn v. Baltimore, vol. 1 (1606-1732). Unpublished.
A true copy of the allegedly lost 1686 Walking Purchase Treaty; the main document justifying the Walking Purchase. This copy was most likely produced by Richard Peters' office in 1757. Marked "Copia vera" on the bottom; with two blank spaces left unfilled in the text. Secretarial hand, the same as on No. 1. Watermark: Post horn / Wendelin Riehel / 4 WR / WW countermark. Cf. Grenell, Foreign Watermarks, #714-715; Philadelphia, 1764. The replica of the "antient" copy of the allegedly lost deed that entitled the Proprietor to a tract of land "back into the woods as far as a man can goe in a day and a half" and the main document justifying the Walking Purchase. Copy of the incomplete deed August 25 1686, most likely produced by Richard Peters' office in 1757. Cf. Alden T. Vaughan, Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and laws, 1607-1789. Vol. 1: Pennsylvania and Delaware Treaties, 1629-1737 (Washington, D.C.: University Publications of America, 1979), pp. p. 80, 476; after: Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, vol. 13, pp. 465-466; the published text is a recap of a summary rather than the full text. Cf. Sir William Johnson's report to the Board of Trade, Aug. 1, 1762, in: The Papers of Sir William Johnston, vol. 3, p. 840. Cf. manuscript copies in HSP: Board of Trade Papers, Proprietaries, 1697-1776, XXI-1, Ind X., 12 Doc. (b) and in Penn Mss., Indian Affairs, IV.
In secretarial hand. Watermark: Royal Arms under Garter / GR under crown. Cf. Gravell, 1755. Cf. Pennsylvania Archives, vol. 1, pp. 539-543; William Joseph Buck. History of the Indian Walk: Performed for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania in 1737, to which is Appended a Life of Edward Marshall (Edwin S. Stuart, 1886): 69-70. The minutes of meeting of the Provincial Council, a day before the conference between the Penn brothers and the Delaware chiefs in Stenton. Thomas Penn reported on the previous conferences with the Indians "to adjust some Matters relating to Lands lying in the Country of Bucks which tho formerly fully and absolutely released by the Indians then inhabiting those Parts to his Father yet they had of late made some claims to them." Most likely, the excerpt was prepared in the course of the 1757 investigation.
Miscellaneous manuscripts and fragments. First Meeting" and "2nd Meeting." List of names: Sergeant, Patterson, Biddle, Sutherland, Duane, Galt, Earle, Macary, Randall, B.C.; Sergt. Newbold, C.J. Ingersoll, Kane, Earle, Jack, Lehman. "Memorandum in Book C. 190." Wrapper, docketed: "Conrad Weiser's Affidavit proving the Execution of Two Deeds from the 5 Nations in 1736 for Lands in Susquehanna & the Forks & their Petition to the Proprietors not to buy any Land from the Delawares.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Watermark: Royal arms under Garter / GR under crown in cartouche. Docketed: "an old Indian Speech." No. 39. Docketed on P. 4: "Part of Genl. Indians speech at Easton." Contemporaneous record of the famous speech, in Conrad Weiser's hand. This is the fourth known copy. Cf. copies in: HSP, Penn. Mss. Indian Affairs, V, 63; the Chatham Papers (PRO, 30/8, 96, ff. 108, 154-55, attached to Thomas Penn's letter to William Pitt of February 3, 1759), and PHMC, Provincial papers, XXVII, 69; enclosed in Weiser's letter to Richard Peters of November 15, 1758. Ackawonothio, or Anacatotha was a a Shawnee or Delaware chief who earlier lived in Wyoming Valley. Published, after the HSP copy, in: Alden T. Vaughan, Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and laws, 1607-1789. Vol. 3: Pennsylvania Treaties, 1756-1757 (Washington, D.C.: University Publications of America, 1979), p. 425.
A contemporary copy, marked: "Copie." Watermark: Royal arms / GR under crown. This is the fifth copy of the petition. Cf. a draft at the American Antiquarian society and three contemporary copies at HSP. Published: Petition to the King in Council, [2 February 1759]," Founders Online, National Archives, accessed September 29, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-08-02-0070. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 8, April 1, 1758, through December 31, 1759, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1965, pp. 264–276.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
This manuscript offers a critique of A Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania (1759). A Historical review was anonymously published, but it has been credited to either Benjamin Franklin or Richard Jackson. Written in the wake of the politically divisive 1750s, the pamphlet attacked the proprietors of Pennsylvania and the proprietary nature of the colonial government and defended the actions of the Assembly and Quaker Party during the Seven Years' War. The manuscript in the APS's vault was written in 1759 or 1760, likely in London. It defends the proprietor and the government in general. Largely unknown to historians, this manuscript provides insight into the deep political divisions within colonial Pennsylvania by offering a clear view into the beliefs of the proprietors and the proprietary party. The anonymous author of the work is almost certainly Thomas Penn. The manuscript was never published.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
As the French and Indian Wars wind down, The Commissioners for Indian Affairs are negotiating to secure the release of the white settlers that are still being held prisoners by the Indians. However even before a general Treaty, Trustees of the Mennonite Church are attempting to accelerate this release by offering the Indians 'presents' if they would escort the white prisoners from their lands to Pittsburgh. This gesture is to be considered payment for the cost and inconvenience to the Indians for this journey, and not as a ransom for releasing the white prisoners...Letter written by Israel Pemberton addressed to the Indian Affairs Commission inquiring about an agreement to instruct agents in Indian towns along the frontier to look into how many captives are in each town, and their physical descriptions. He also implores the commission to ask the agents to make inquiries to the "dispositions" of the Indians holding captives, as well as their readiness to accept ransom in exchange for release of captives.
The Friendly Association, short for "The Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures”, was established by a group of eminent Philadelphia Quakers in 1756. The group formed in reaction to months of horrific violence between settlers, mostly Scots-Irish and German, and Native Americans on the Pennsylvania frontier. The leaders of the Friendly Association endeavored to establish lasting and productive peace with the Native American tribes of Pennsylvania [mostly Lenape, Susquehannock], and as a consequence prove the effectiveness of Quaker pacifism. This digital record contains images that depict the entire contents of folder 13, held in box 18 of the Cox-Parrish-Wharton papers.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
A draft of the account of Sir William Johnson's and Israel Pemberton's speeches to the Indians at Easton. "At 5 O'Clock Sir William Johnson by a Messenger gave us Notice that he had appointed the Indians [added in different hand: which had been prepared to hold the conference in] to meet him the Bowery within an hour when he intended to speak to them. We attended and Sir William Johnson made a Speech at them, the substance of which was as follows." [note on the margin] That it was injust to deny Teedy. a clerk which was his national right that he had as much right to app. a clerk as Sir William upon which Mr. Marsh said that he was not appointed Secretary by Sir W. but the King. Cf. Papers of Sir William Johnson, vol. 3, 762-771. "Sir William then asked Israel Pemberton 'what right he had to interpose in this matter, and said that, He was, by the Royal Order, to hear the Complaints of the Indians, and the Proprietaries Defence, and that no other person had any right to Intermeddle. That the Governor, and the Proprietary-Commissioners who were, by did not at all interfere. Israel insolently answer'd that He was a Freeman and had as much Right to speak as the Governor. That it was injust to deny Teeduyscung a Clerk which was his natural right. Upon which Mr. March said, that he was not appointed Secretary by Sir William but by the King. Mr. Marsh is Witham Marsh, Secretary for Indian Affairs.
A corrected draft; the excerpts were used by the Proprietors' lawyers to prove the authenticity of the 1686 treaty. Endorsed as follows: "Examined & compared to William Markham's old Diary W. Peters and Richard Peters." Heavily edited draft of the alleged excerpt from the "antient" diary of William Markham for August 9-27, 1686. The excerpt was used by the proprietors' lawyers to prove the authenticity of the 1686 "treaty." Watermark: Royal arms under Garter/GR under crown, same as the copia vera of the 1686 treaty.
Record Group 294 consists of Alison's sermons, miscellaneous manuscripts, and miscellaneous items; also included are some family documents. Francis Alison, born in Ireland, 1705. He studied at the University of Glasgow before travelling to America in 1735. In 1737 he became pastor of Pennsylvania's New London Presbyterian Church. Ten years later he opened an academy in New London. Students included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress. In 1752 Alison moved to Philadelphia to take charge of the Philadelphia Academy. He was later appointed Vice-Provost of the newly established University of Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was also assistant minister at the First Presbyterian Church. Alison died in 1779.
James Burd was well-known in colonial Pennsylvania through his role in the French and Indian War, as well as his connections to many of the colony's leading families (most notably the Shippen family). This diary from the summer of 1763 documents Burd's time at Fort Augusta. It recounts the opening of Pontiac's Rebellion and the initial reports of the Indian raid on the Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming Valley.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore. For more information, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/sd/r17sdc.htm
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Letters from Thomas Penn to nephew John Penn, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania (Dec. 10, 1763) and Sir William Johnson, British superintendent of Indian affairs (Sept. 7, 1763), regarding Indian disturbances and colonial administration. To his nephew, Penn praises the military response of Col. John Armstrong to Indian aggression and mentions parliamentary bills to enlarge the military and end paper money disputes with the Pennsylvania Assembly. Penn praises Johnson's handling of Indian affairs and advises him on obtaining preferment. He also discusses Johnson's plan to set a boundary line between the colonies and the Indians, and notes Pennsylvania's intention to pay the Indians for any lands lost in the demarcation.
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Proceedings. Present Lieut.-Gov. Cadwallader Colden, [Daniel] Horsmanden, [William] Smith, Mr. [John, Watts, Mr. [William] Walton, [William Alexander,] Earl of Stirling; attacks on the Indians by settlers near Lancaster, Pennsylvania; peaceable Indians, on an island in Schuylkill near Philadelphia, molested; Gov. Penn wishes the Indians removed to New York; the Council disapproves and advises governor of New York, not to receive them. Attested copy, signed by Gw. [Goldsborow] Banyar. Endorsed: "Minutes inclosed in Gov. Colden's Letter of Jan. 1764. (Read in Council 16th Jany 1764)."
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Excerpt from Julia Maynard Maserjian, "Moravian Indians: A Brief Introduction." Bethlehem Digital History Project, 2000-2009. bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html The Pennsylvania frontier recalled the violence visited upon it during the Seven Years' War. The new bloodshed brought about by Pontiac's War bore down on the western backcountry and bred a new contempt among frontiersmen toward Indians and the government to the east. These individuals saw no distinction between hostile, friendly and Christian Indians. In an attempt to protect the Moravian Indians, the government moved them from the villages of Nain and Wechquetank to Philadelphia in November of 1763. Angered by the government's protection of the Moravian Indians, while it seemed to ignore the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier, an angry band of men called the Paxton Boys visited their rage upon a small group of Conestoga Indians near Lancaster. On December 14, 1763, fifty armed men murdered six Conestoga Indians at their settlement. The remaining fourteen Indians were taken into protective custody only to be brutally murdered by the Paxtonians on December 27. Fortunately, through negotiations, attempts to make the Moravian Indians housed near Philadelphia their next target were thwarted. The dispersing of the Paxton Boys did not, however, alleviate the threat to the Moravian Indians. The Pennsylvania government tried to transfer the refugees to New York or New Jersey, but the Moravian Indians were rejected by both governments and were returned to Philadelphia where they remained confined in barracks until 1765. After their release from the barracks in Philadelphia, the missionaries and their converts, in an effort to place themselves as far away as possible from any future threats posed by white settlements, moved to the Wyalusing valley. There the second Friedenshutten was founded and would flourish until 1771. Although the Iroquois granted the land for Friedenshutten to the mission Indians in 1768, they sold the Wyalusing land to Pennsylvania in 1771. Land disputes were avoided when the Delawares of the Tuscarawas Valley offered the Christian Indians a home in Ohio. By 1773, virtually all of the Moravian Indians had moved from their various settlements to Ohio bringing an end to Moravian missions in Pennsylvania. The events of 1763 through 1765 drastically altered not only the Moravian Mission effort but also the face of Pennsylvania colonial politics. The challenges faced by the Moravian Indians during this period speak to these regional events. Like their unconverted counterparts, the Christianized Indians suffered attack, betrayal, persecution, and forced migration."
Miscellaneous collection of twelve letters written by Sir William Johnson between 1755 and 1773. The content of most of the correspondence relates to the French and Indian War, Indian treaties and conferences, the Conestoga Massacre (1763), land patents, and the appointment of Johnson's successor. Correspondents include: Cadwallader Colden, George Croghan, Thomas Gage, Peter Gilman, Richard Gridley, Hubert Marshall, John Penn, William Shirley, Henry VanSchaack, John Watts, and Thomas Wharton.
Manuscript copy of remonstrance from Matthew Smith and James Gibson to Governor John Penn. They position themselves as representatives of public opinion, submit nine points that decry the perceived underrepresentation of the western counties in the Assembly and bill changing trial location of persons charged with killing Indians, allege that Indians under government protection conspired with others to plan attacks, lament lack of public funds for the care of wounded frontier residents, request new bounties for Indian scalps, request embargo to effect return of captives, accuse private individuals of trading and treating with enemies of the province, and requests Fort Augusta garrison be ordered to take more proactive measures. Handwritten copy, perhaps draft. 13 February 1764. Gift of Paul and Judy Ware, 2009.
The Indians who were refused a passage through New York returned to Philadelphia under escort of a party of Royal Americans, by order of Gen. Gage; this guard, and the opposition apprehended from the inhabitants of the city, prevented an attack by the armed men who came from the frontiers as far as Germantown with that design; it is necessary to remove all Indians out of the Province; asks his advice as to sending them to the towns on the Susquehanna, or obtaining the consent of Gov. Colden for their passage to Albany in a sloop.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore. For more information, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/sd/r17sdc.htm
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Letters from Thomas Penn to nephew John Penn, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania (Dec. 10, 1763) and Sir William Johnson, British superintendent of Indian affairs (Sept. 7, 1763), regarding Indian disturbances and colonial administration. To his nephew, Penn praises the military response of Col. John Armstrong to Indian aggression and mentions parliamentary bills to enlarge the military and end paper money disputes with the Pennsylvania Assembly. Penn praises Johnson's handling of Indian affairs and advises him on obtaining preferment. He also discusses Johnson's plan to set a boundary line between the colonies and the Indians, and notes Pennsylvania's intention to pay the Indians for any lands lost in the demarcation.
Contemporary copy of a treatise by Capt. Gavin Cochrane, tracing the history of British relations with the Indians of the Great Lakes region from 1760 to 1763, and offering suggestions as to how they might be improved. Also copies of cover letters addressed to the Earl of Halifax, then a minister in Grenville's cabinet, and to George III, for whom the essay was intended. Cochrane presents the circumstances that led to Pontiac's Conspiracy; recounts the means by which individual British garrisons were overthrown; and outlines steps the British could take to secure the Indians' loyalty.
Charles Mason maintained field notes throughout the nearly 5 years it took to complete his survey. The journal includes mathematical and astronomical data, as well as the daily progress of the survey. Prior to hiring Mason and Dixon to settle a boundary line once and for all, the quarreling parties of Maryland and Pennsylvania agreed that the line separating the two provinces would be run east to west along a latitudinal arc 15 miles south of Philadelphia. The entry for June 12, 1764, reveals how Mason and Dixon located the starting point of the line that would later bear their name. Based on their calculations, the point 15 miles south of the southernmost point of Philadelphia was in a field belonging to Alexander Bryan. To access the complete diary, visit https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5821514
May 23, 1765, letter to Sir William Johnson, British superintendent of Indian affairs, regarding the Indian trade, and white and Indian settlement on the west branch of the Susquehanna River. Penn remarks on a trading "scheme" of Philadelphians and George Croghan (deputy superintendent of Indian affairs for the western tribes), and on his own efforts to apprehend individuals responsible for destroying goods at Sideling Hill. Penn also states that he will act to remove white settlers on the west branch of the Susquehanna until that land is purchased from the Indians and asks Johnson to prevail upon the Munsees and other tribes to avoid that region in order to prevent bloodshed.
Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore.
Miscellaneous collection of twelve letters written by Sir William Johnson between 1755 and 1773. The content of most of the correspondence relates to the French and Indian War, Indian treaties and conferences, the Conestoga Massacre (1763), land patents, and the appointment of Johnson's successor. Correspondents include: Cadwallader Colden, George Croghan, Thomas Gage, Peter Gilman, Richard Gridley, Hubert Marshall, John Penn, William Shirley, Henry VanSchaack, John Watts, and Thomas Wharton.
Concerning the taking of [Frederick] Stump and his servant from jail by violence; expresses his regret at the outrage; the people acted under a misapprehension of the intentions of the authorities in taking Stump to Philadelphia; explains the sentiment of the people, who say that the government shows more concern at the killing of an Indian than at the killing of any of themselves; that the Indians have killed numbers since the last peace, and that the exposed frontier people must always suffer before the government dares to say it is war; he has argued with them that those matters have no connection with the present opposition to authority; the sheriff had feared a rescue on the road, but no one suspected an attempt on the jail; he believes they are keeping Stump somewhere beyond the mountains, and there are still expectations that he will be delivered back to the sheriff; will set out next day to cross the mountains.