Glenn

THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed. The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather, indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was published.

 

Thomas Cresap to ?

(November ?, 1751)

Cresap, Thomas in: Calendar of Virginia
State Papers, vol. 1, pp. 245-247.

pp. 245, 246, 247.

(page 245)

Col Thomas Cresaps Account against Col: James Patton, for Articles furnished him, in the Indian Service & c-

Items mentioned- White Wampum- Pockett Compass-Ribbon, Tommyhawk, Tobacco, Tent, Liquors, Half Bushel of Wheat made into Bread-Black Wampum-&c &c-

 

1751


Oct.-

_______

Manuel Martines y Aguiat, Master & Supercargo of the Portugues Vessel called "St Peter"- driven into Norfolk by bad weather, asks for redress against one Capt: Kelly- and for permission, to charter another vessel, in which to transport the Cargo to Cadiz-

 

Port of Norfolk

_______

Sherif of Accomacs' Account with the Spanish Wreck; on the coast of Virginia & c & c

 

Dec. 27th

_______

Thomas Cresap to-

May it please your Honour-

Having just now received the following Accot from Mr Andrew Montour, who is on his journey home, from the Ohio, and who is the proper person to be our Interpreter, having a good Character, both amongst White people and Indians & very much beloved by the latter- I thought proper to communicate it to Your Honour's Consideration, which is as follows; that a few days before he left the Loggs' Town, there came Seven French Traders with a Parcell of Goods, and Invited the Indians to a Council. Accordingly the Indians that were there met to hear what they had to say to them, but as Mr Montour, was in the Town at that time, the Indians refused to receive their Speech without him, tho' the French were very unwilling to have him for an Interpreter, but finding the Indians would do nothing without him they agreed to admit him- They produced a String of Wampum, which they said they brought from the Governor of Canada, as a Token of his Friendship & to invite the Shannah Indians to a Council to be held at the Loggs Town early in the Spring, when sundry matters of Consequence are to be communicated to them from the said Governor, and also a Pressent to be delivered from him to them-

 

French invite the Indians to a Council, but they insist upon having Mr. Montour as Interpreter

 

Mr Montour informs me that he had a Brother who was Interpreter between the French and the Indians for a considerable time past, at a Fort called Detroit on Lake Eare, but he has now left them and come to the Ohio, and gives the following Accot: that the French had built a new Fort at a place call'd Kyhogo on the West Side of Lake Eare, and that there was a great number of French gathered together last fall in order to cutt of a Nation of Indians called Pickolines, who came from the French about four years ago & Settled on the Branches of the Ohio, but the Taways and Chipos interfer'd and told the French in a Public Council which was called and a large Belt of Wampum deliver'd, that they understood that they were about to go and strike their Brothers the Picks, which if they did, they should assist them & strike the French, upon which the French desisted going last Fall, but threatened to go this Spring, but tho' they did not then go themselves, they sent a party of Indians which they had brought with them from Canada to the number of Seventy called Adarundacks, sent by the Governor of that Place, which

 

Lake Eare

(page 246)

1751
Difficulties between the French and Indians

 

Indians in their way to the Picks, called at the Ottawas all painted for war  the Ottawas enquired where they were going, on which they shew'd them the Belt of Wampum and Hatchet they had received from the French & told them they was going to war against the Twingtwees the Ottawas told them that the Twingtwees were married and intermarried among them, and the Ottawana King, upon the Capt of the Arundacks insisting to go on, threw down his Tomahawk on the Ground, and told them that if they moved one Step further he would have their Scalps or else they his

 

The Adarundacks scalp some of the Twingtwees

 

while they were parleying three of the Adarundacks stole off unperceived & went to the Twingtwees and Scalpt an old Man & Woman in the Corn Fields & carried them off, but the rest did not proceed- the Twingtwees followed them on their Tracts till they came near the French Fort, which made them imagine that it was the Ottawanas that had struck them, and were preparing to revenge it, till the Pianguisha Kings' Son, who was married to an Ottawana Woman, came and told them who it was that had done it, and that it was the French that had set them on.

 

French scalped

Interpreters not to be relied upon

 

upon which the Twingtwees sent out three men, who brought in two French Scalps & they now wait to see how the French will take it before they proceed any further- Mr Montour informs me that the Indians at the Ohio, did not rightly understand the purport of the Message sent p: Colo Patton for them, for the Interpreter which he had to deliver it did not do it right, or others since have Interpreted it otherwise: some telling them one thing and others another, so that they are confused about it, and I beleive what Mr Muntour says is true, for I was informed of the same by others that came from thence before, and as the Persons, employ'd as Interpreters by the Colo were Pensylvanians & disaffected to us, it was in their Power to deceive him and the Indians also. therefore my Opinion is that it would be necessary for your Honour to send out Mr Montour to the several Towns and Nations settled on the Ohio in Amity with us & in particular to the Picks and Twingtwees who are all as one, and live together, to send some of their Cheifs to the Council, they having great faith in what he says to them.

 

Mr. Muntour to be trusted

 

I dare Engage for everything Your Honour puts under his direction to be faithfully and honestly done, being thoroughly convinced of his integrity. I am certain from my own knowledge that the Indians put very little faith in any of the Traders, some telling them one thing & some another. therefore I really beleive the Indians are under some concern to know the Right. What induces me to give Your Honour the trouble of reading so long an Epistle, is, Your Honours' and the Gentlemen of Virginias' being Strangers to the Indian Affairs, therefore, I though it proper to inform you so fully.

 

Proper way to arrange for a Council

 

the proper way to invite the Indians to a Treaty is, to send a Belt of Wampum, which signifies that you have something of Importance to Communicate at a Council, the time of wch should then be agreed on: and not to mention the Business till the time of that Council is come. the Remarks the Indians made on the Message from the Honble Lewis Burwell Esqr by Colo Patton, was that he had told them his Business then, and therefore they had no occasion to come to a Council to hear the same thing over again-

 

Importance of withdrawing the Indians from the French

 

Mr Muntour likewise informs me, that it will be in Your Honrs Power to Reconcile to our Interest the greatest Body of Indians, that are now on the Continent & to draw them from the French, which will be a matter of great Consequence to his Majesty, as well as much

(page 247)

Credit to Your Honour, for doing so great a Piece of Service to the Government-

 

1751

 

One James Finley and another are suspected to be taken and carried off by the French, who make a practice of taking off our men every Year, therefore I think it highly necessary to take the French that are at the Loggs Town & detain them 'till those of Ours taken last Year, as well as those suspected to be taken this year are Restored and Restitution made for the Goods taken with them. Mr Muntour tells me the Indians on the Ohio would be very glad if the French Traders were taken, for they have as great a dislike to them as we have, and think we are afraid of them, because we patiently suffer our men to be taken by them, without making Reprisals of them the same way. I am of opinion, if it would not be too fatiguing, Your Honours Personal Preference at the Treaty would be of great Consequence- I am with the Respect-

 

Reprisals should be made against the French

 

Your Honours' most humble Servt

 

THOMAS CRESAP.

 

______

Spanish Wreck on the Sea Side of Northampton, In account with Peter Hog- &c &c- For Ferriage across the Bay to Communicate with the Council, Lawyers' fees, saving cargo, rigging, Clerks & Sherifs fees &c

 

1752
April 10th
Northampton County

______

The Regulation proposed for the County of Stafford-

William Fitzhugh- County Lieutenant- Henry Fitzhugh Jnr Colonel of the Militia- Francis Thornton Lieutent: Col: & Wm Fitzhugh Major of Horse- Benj Strother Major of Foot- Gerrard Fowkes 1st Capt &c &c-

 

Aug. 19th
Stafford Co

______

Wilson Cary, County Lieut: of Elizabeth City- sends return of the Field Officers of said County viz: "John Hunter Colo- John Tabb Major of Horse, & Robt Armstead, Maj: of Foot- "The Whole Militia Consists of One Troop and Two Companies,- I mention the Captains according to ye Dates of their Commissions- Cary Selden, Capt of 100 men- Charles King Capt of Troop 66 men- Westwood Armstead- Capt: of Troop 60 men-

 

Nov. 22d
Hampton, Va
Eliz: City
Militia

______

A List of Officers and Common Soldiers in Essex County, under the Command of the Hon: Richard Corbin Esqr-

 

 

1753

April 9th

 

JOHN CORBIN, Col: of Militia

   Capts:

no of men

 

THOMAS WARING, Col: of Horse

Forest Upshaw

65

Essex Militia

WM DANGERFIELD, Col: of Foot

James Jones

59

 

FRAN: SMITH, Major of Horse

Wm Covington

43

 

WM ROAN, Major of Foot

Fra: Waring

70

 

 

Richd Tyler

59

 

 

Thos: Edmundson

51

 

 

Wm Garnett

69

 

 

Saml: Hipkins

73

 

 

Simon Miller

70

 

 

 

___

 

 

 

559

 

 

R. CORBIN.

 

 


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