At a Council held at Philada, the 1st of June, 1718. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. William Trent, Samuel Preston, Jonathan Dickinson, James Logan, Robert Assheton, The Governr. Laid before the board two Votes of the Assembly, signed by the Speaker, in these words, vizt. : May 31st, 1718. A Motion being made & the Question put, That an agency to be settled in London for negotiating the Public affairs of this Province, Especially to Present an address to the King, signed by the Governr. & Speaker of this Assembly, and also to use Endeavours to obtain the Royal approbacon to such of our Laws as shall be transmitted thither from time to time, and that the Governour & Council be Desired to appoint an agent for that Purpose. Past in the affirmative. A motion being made & the Question put that the sum of one hundred & fifty pounds be Issued out of the Treasury of this Province, by order, under the Speaker's Hand, for such an Agent, and to Defray the necessary & Contingent Charges of his negociation in the Premises. WILLM. TRENT, Speaker. The Governour. hereupon informed the Board that just now an opportunity Presented for this River directly for London, which in his judgment ought to be embraced, the appointment of a proper agent to negotiate the Publick affairs of this Province, being of such Importance to the security of the Government here, that it ought by no means to be Delay'd, and therefore Recommended it to the Consideracon of the Board, Either to name a person suitable for that Trust, or otherwise to think of the best method for appointing one. Resolved, that Henry Goldney, with the Concurrence & approbation of the Proprietor or his Lady, be desired to nominate such a Person near the Court as in the best of their Judgement they shall think the most Capable & proper to negotiate our affairs as agent for the Province, to whom they are to allow so much of the menconed sum, vizt: one hundred & ffifty pounds money of this Province, as they shall think most Reasonable, and the Secretary is ordered to transmit an authentick Copy of this minuet to the sd. Henry Goldney. At a Council held at Philadia., the 15th of June, 1718. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, James Logan, Robert Assheton. The Governr. acquainted the board that one Martha Underdown, a single Woman, having at a late Court of Oyer & Terminer, held in the County of Bucks, been Condemned for murdering her Bastard Child, for which sentence of Death had passed upon her, The Judges of the sd. Court, Vizt: Chief Justice Lloyd & Judge Trent had apply'd to the Goverur. in a writing under their hands, & which was laid before the Board, Representing the Criminal as an object of Compassion, & thereupon Recommending her to the Governrs. Mercy to Reprieve her for such time as he shall think fitt; Upon which the Governour desired the advice of the Board, And it was their Unanimous Opinion that the sd. Offender having first been Recommended by the magistrates of the County to the Judges as they have Represented it to the Governour, and the Judges before whom the Tryal was, Concurring in Opinion that she is a fit object of mercy, and as such have Recommended her to the Governr; The Governr. therefore, if he think fit, may make use of the Powers of the Royal Charter, & with good reason Grant her a Reprieve, and accordingly a Reprieve was ordered forthwith to be made out under the Great Seal of this Province, for suspending the Execucon of the sentance of Death, past upon the said Martha Underdown, for the space of Twelve months after the day appointed by the Death Warrant, already signed by the Judges, for Executing the sd. sentance: Provided always, that the sd. Reprieve & the Effect thereof shall Terminate by, & be subject unto, any order & Direction that may within the sd. Twelve months Come from Great Brittain, to signify his Majesties Pleasure Relating thereunto, and then the Council was adjourned until ffriday next, in the afternoon. At a Council held at Philadia., the 16 of June, 1718. PRESENT: The Honble WILLIAM KEITH, Esqr., Lievt. Govr. William Trent, Samuel Preston, Jonathan Dickinson, Tagotolessa or Civility, the present Chief or Captain of the Conestogoe Indians, with Weeaywais, Soohayesse, Cannatellan & Calhagheherot of the same nation, Methawennah, Chief of the Shawnois above Conestogoe, George, an Indian sent to Represent the Ganawais & Sheeckokonichan, a Chief of the Delawares, formerly on Brandywine, all at present Inhabitants on Sasquehannah, being lately come from their respective habitations to Pay a visit to this Government, they now waited on the Governr. & Council, and John Cartledge & James Hendricks being Interpreters, both skilled in the Delaware Tongue. The Governr. Ordered John Cartledge to acquaint them, that upon their Visit he had at their desire now Called a Council, in Order to Hear what the Indians had to Lay before them. Tagotelessa, Captain of the Conestogoes, said that they were Come only on a ffriendly visit to see us, & to Renew the old League of ffriend ship that had hitherto been between us and them, that most of their old men were Indisposed & cou'd not undertake the Journey, but they had Brought some of their young men to see us, & Learn how they of themselves Ought when they come to more advanced years treat with their parents & friends. The Governour told them their Visit was very acceptable, he hoped all was well with them, but desired them now to be free, & if they had any thing to Complain of that wanted to be Redressed, they should without reserve communicate it. They then presented a small bundle of Skins, & said, that they had sometime before the Governours arrival lost their King in war, but there were those left amongst them who have the same Respect & Friendship for this Governmt. that he had in his lifetime. That now he is Gone they are more sensible of their Loss of so good a man to Govern them, & they heartily Lament him, but they hope his Place will be supply'd and the same ffriendly Disposition will always be continued among them. And they now desire the Governour to take notice, that tho' their Last Good King is taken from them, they have one yet left who was nearly related to him, who has an English heart & a Great Love for the Christians. Him they have now Chosen for their King in the others stead, & as such present him to the Governr by the name of Oneshanayan. They then laid down a Second small Bundle of Skins, & proceeded to say, That their King being present with the Chief of Shawnois & Ganawase, what he, vizt.: Tagotelessa or Civility says is what all agree in with one voice & mind; That they are Glad to find themselves in full happy Circumstances, for that they have not for some years past had a Governour who took such notice of them, but now the present Governr. gives them the same satisfaction as if they thought William Penn himself were amongst them; that they had brought a few skins, not by way of Present, for they were not worthy to be accounted such, but only to Lay them under the Governrs. ffeet to keep them & his House Clean; that they Came not to make any new Treaty or League of friendship, but only to Renew or Confirm those which had been made, & were hitherto Invioably kept on both sides. They threw down a third parcel of skins, & Civility said, that he with some of the young men had this Last spring some Inclinacon to Go out to war towards the Southward, but being put in mind that it would not be agreeable to this Governmt., and afterwards Receiving the Governours letter forbidding them to Proceed, they Desisted; that they Intend to go out this next winter a hunting that way, & think it proper to acquaint this Governmt. therewith, for that they bear such a respect to the Governmt., & know that we have always been so ready to Protect & assist them, that they are agreed not to do anything which will be disagreeable to us; That they look upon themselves but like Children, Rather to be Directed by this Governmt. than ffit to offer any thing more on this head. But they must Crave leave to add one thing further vizt: that they have reason to think the authority of this Government is not duly observed, ffor that notwithstanding all our former agreements, that Rum should not be brought amongst them, it is still carried in great Quantities, They had been doubtful with themselves whether they should mencon this, because if they were supplied with none from hence, they wou'd be from Maryland which wou'd be a means of Carring of their peltry thither, but there have been such Quantities of that Liquor Carried of Late amongst them, by Loose persons who have no fixt settlements, that they are apprehensive mischief may arise from it, that tho' they are perfectly well Inclined when sober, yet they Cannot answer for their people when drunk, and Least any Inconveniencies may Ensue from thence to this Government whom they so much Respect, as well as to their own people, they Desire this may be taken into Consideracon, in order to be prevented & redressed by all proper measures. Shecokkeneen added, that the young men about Pextan had been lately so generally debaucht with Rum, carried amongst them by strangers, that they now want all manner of Clothing & necessarys to go a hunting, wherefore they wish it would be so ordered that no Rum shou'd be brought amongst them, by any Except the Traders who furnish them with all other necessarys, & who have been used to Trust them & Encourage them in their Hunting. Having thus Delivered themselves they withdrew, and the Treasurer & Secretary were ordered to take an account of the Real value of their small presents, & to Provide some English Goods Exceeding that value by about one ffourth or a Third part at most, and then the Council adjourned to ffour in the afternoon. POST MERIDIEM. PRESENT: The Honble. WILLAM KEITH, Esqr., Lt. Govr. The same Indians attending again, the Governr. Ordered the Interpreters to deliver to them what follows, being first Drawn up in writing, vizt: That their friendly visit on a Design to Brighten & Strengthen the Chain which had for so many years bound, & united them & this Governmt. together as one People, was very acceptable. They were sensible that William Penn, the Lord of this Country, had been as a Common ffather to them: that he had Given it in Charge to all those who Governed in his stead, to treat them in the same ffriendly manner he had Done himself; that the present Governour, for his part, shou'd always as ready as a father to Embrace & Support them, while they Continue the same fidelity to this Government they had hitherto done. That we were all much affected with the Loss of their Last Good King, and the Governour wou'd have been pleased to see more of their old men, that however he now took the young men that came on this visit by the Hand, as those that were coming up in the places of the ancients, & were to continue the same ffriendship with our younger people, that their parents the Elders of both sides had done before them. That we kindly Received the Person they had appointed their King or Chief, in the place of our good Deceased friend, if it be by a general approbation. The Governour hoped he would always have the same heart & ffriendly Disposition towards the English, that his Predecessor was well known to have in his Life time, & would unite himself & all his People with his Governmt. as one heart & one body; that for the future we Shou'd apply to him as their Chief in all publick Business, & Doubted not but the old men wou'd assist him with their advice in the best manner for their advantage & for preserving a strict tie of Friendship with us. That the Governour Cou'd not take in good part their motions towards going to War last Spring, Considering they had Engaged themselves to their Contrary in their Last Treaty with him at Conestogoe. The Governour Expects they will not make the least advance that way for the ffuture, without the approbation & Leave of this Government, for they are now but weak of themselves, and may by rash attempts Draw powerful Enemies upon them, & not only Intirely ruin themselves, but Engage us also as their friends into their Quarrels; They must therefore be Governed in this Point by this Government, who can judge better of these affairs than they are Capable. The Governour is sensible they may have too just Cause to Complain of Loose Idle fellows bringing Quantities of Rum amongst them to their Great Injury, that this has not for some time past been sufficiently Look't after, but the Governour wou'd speedily take Care to have it in a great measure prevented. That they of their parts must Endeavour to prevent their women & young people from Coming to Philadelphia to Purchase & Carry up Rum from hence, which too many were ready to Deliver them privately for their skins, and that when they meet with any brought amongst them, they shou'd stave it, as they had formerly been ordered & undertook to do. That in Referrance to the Surveys of Lands, they Cannot but be sensible of the Care that has been taken of them, they had Expressed a willingness to Retire from Conostogoe; Yet the Governmt. here had perswaded them to Continue near us; We had Run a Line Round them that none might come near them, and had fenced their Corn Fields by John Cartledges Care, who alone being placed within those Lines, may be the more Capable of Looking after the Tract & the bounds of it. It is also further thought fit, that Lines should be Run Round the other Indian Towns, as soon as Conveniently may be to secure them the more Effectually from Incroachments. But while such Care is taken of them, 'tis Expected they shall in all Cases on their parts shew a Due Regard to this Government, that they be aiding to all its officers in what may Lie in their power, that they Suffer no Idle persons to Spread Rumors amongst them, or if they hear any such that they give no Credit to them, that if they Can |