Message to the Governor, October 12, 1761 - 1
of the Munsey Indians at Assuntsing. Or to the Three
Munsey Indians now as Wyoming, being the Kinsmen &
Relations to the Indian lately killed near Fort Allen in
Northhampton County. To be deliver’d and distinctly explained
to them by Mr Isaac Greenleaf and Mr Isaac Lane or
either of them.
Brothers,
By this string I wipe your eyes, that you may see clearly,
and open your Ears, that you may listen attentively to what I am
about to say to you. A Shing
Brothers,
Some little time after the late Treaty of Easton in the month
of August last, I was much grieved to hear that an Indian man, in
his return from that place, was unfortunately killed by a white
man, one of our people.
As soon as I was informed of this bad news, I order’d the man
Who had committed the Fact to be taken up and put into Prison,
where he now is, and shall remain, until the matter can be
particularly enquired into and tryed by our Laws, in the same
manner as if He had killed one of our own people.
Brothers,
I will tell you, in few words, all that I yet know with certainty
relating to this unfortunate accident.
The Indian was found dead near the House of the person who
is now in prison on that account. – This man does not deny
that he killed him; But says, in his own Justification, that he
was obliged to do it in defence of his wife and children, whom the
Indian was about to murder with his scalping knife: after
coming, several times before, to his house in the night time,
disturbing him and using him very ill. – notwithstanding, that
at all those times, he had been very kindly and civilly treated
and entertained by him.
[Transcribed by Bradley Davidson]
