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A CONFERENCE
Held at St. George's in the County of York, on the Twentieth Day of September, Anno Regni Regis GEORGII Secundi, Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae, Viceſimo Septimo. Annoque Domini, 1753.
BETWEEN Sir William Pepperrell, Baronet, Jacob Wendell, Thomas Hubbard, and John Winſlow, Eſqrs; and Mr. James Bowdoin.
COMMISSIONERS Appointed by His EXCELLENCY WILLIAM SHIRLEY,
Eſq
Captain General and Governour in Chief, in and over His Majeſty's Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in New-England, to Treat with the Eaſtern Indians of the one Part, and the Indians of the Penobſcott Tribe of the other Part.
BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND: Printed by Samuel Kneeland, Printer to the Honourable Houſe of REPRESENTATIVES. 1753.
THE Commiſſioners, with ſundry other Gentlemen attending them, arrived in the River St. George's this Day in the Forenoon, on Board the Sloop Maſſachuſetts, Captain Thomas Saunders Maſter.
THE Commiſſioners being ſeated at a large Table near the Fort, attended by a Number of Gentlemen and others, Spectators: And ſome of the Chiefs and other of the Penobſcott Tribe of Indians, being ſeated over againſt the Commiſſioners. After the uſual Salutati
Captain Joſeph Bean was ſworn to the faithful Diſcharge of the Truſt of an Interpreter at this preſent Conference, And,
Mr. Ezekiel Price was alſo ſworn to the faithful Diſcharge of the Truſt of a Clerk to the Commiſſioners.
William Pepperrell, in the Name of the Commiſſioners, ſpake to the Indians as follows, viz.
Friends and Brethren,
GOvernor SHIRLEY, who is lately returned to his Government, would have met You in Perſon at this Conſerence; but his Stay Abroad hath been ſo long, that it would have been a Diſſervice to Him, as well as the Province, to have been here himſelf; but he hath done us the Honour of a Commiſſion, and thereby hath given us full Power to appear and act in Behalf of the Government.
Through the Favour of divine Providence we have been preſerved in our Voyage hither, and are very glad of this Opportunity of ſeeing ſo great a Number of you at this Interview, and deſire to know what Tribes you repreſent, and with what Power you do appear.
The laſt Treaty with you (we truſt) hath been kept ſacred & inviolate on our Part, and in ſome Reſpects we have exceeded our Engagements, particularly as to your Trade with us, wherein you have had thoſe Advantages which none before you have enjoyed; and that your Hunting might be better ſecured to you, the Government (on the Return of the Commiſſioners the laſt Year) immediately came into an Act, forbidding any Encroachments on your Game, under very ſevere Pe
nalties, and doubt not but you have before now reaped the happy Effects of it; and beſides this, have removed HallfromMontinicus,whom you then complained of as interrupting you in your Fiſhing and Fowling.We rejoice in the happy Effects of the Peace and Friendship ſubſiſting between us, and hope that any Attemps to violate the ſame will have no Impreſſion upon you; but that we may open our Minds freely to each other, ſhall now proceed to a Conference with you, in which we have Nothing new to offer, but to renew and confirm our former Treaty (which is the ſame as that formerly agreed on between you and Governor DUMMER) that ſo the Chain of Peace and Friendſhip ſubſiſting between us may become brighter and brighter; and to receive any Propoſals from you for this End, if you have them to
. 〈◊〉
Will you now give an Anſwer to what we have ſaid to you?
We will Anſwer you preſently.
The Commiſſioners withdrew into the Fort, and in half an Hour after returned. When,
Abenquit, In the Name of the Reſt of the Penobſcott Tribe, ſpake as follows.
Brethren,
WE are well pleaſed to ſee you here, and that GOD has pre
ſerved you in your Voyage, and brought you in ſafety to this Place. We like what Governor DUMMER did, and alſo what was done by Governor SHIRLEY; and we will ſtand to what our Sachems then did. I came from
Penobſcot,and was impowered to do what was Right. No Man ſhall prevent the happy Union ſubſiſting between us; the ſeveral Treaties we have now with us we will ſtand by, and are ready to Ratify. And,Then delivered the Commiſſioners the Treaty of Peace made and renewed in the Year 1749. And the Ratification thereof made the laſt Year: Which the Commiſſioners ordered to be returned them. Which was done accordingly.
How came you by theſe Treaties; and from whom did you receive them?
Our Tribe ordered us to bring them to be ratified and confirmed.
We give our Service to Governor SHIRLEY, and to the Great Council of the Province.
It is very good in them to ſend you here, what is done we like well; on our Part we will do every Thing that Peace and Friendſhip may continue among us.
How do you appear, and what Tribes do you repreſent?
We are impowred by the Penobſcott Tribe; and appear for them only.
There are not ſo many of your Tribe here preſent as there were two Years ago: Where are the Reſt?
The Reſt are gone to Canada upon their own private Buſi
Is your whole Tribe ſatisfied with every Article of the former Treaty; and are you impowred to agree for them?
If we were not, we ſhould not have been here; nor have brought the Treaties with us.
Has any Body ſaid or done any Thing to you to create Jealouſies in your Mind againſt the Engliſh? If they have, we deſire you would freely mention it.
He that is a Man will hide Nothing; ſo we will ſpeak our Minds freely to you.
I hope all that has been ſaid pleaſes you; We like it and ſo will all the Reſt of our Tribe.
Why are not the Norridgawocks here as uſual?
Did not the Norridgawocks write to Governor SHIRLEY laſt Summer, not to come down yet; but to deter his coming ſome Time later?
Don't the Norridgawocks expect the Commiſſioners down this Year?
Yes: They do expect them.
Have you ſeen any of the Norridgawocks lately?
We have not; but our Prieſt has.
Has your Prieſt been to Norridgawock?
Yes: He has; and aſked us what we waited for here; he told us you would not come down, and tryed what he could to prevent our waiting any longer for you, or treating with you.
We intend to go to Richmond, to Treat with the Norridgawocks; but you being the principal Tribe, we came here firſt.
Then the Commiſſioners told the Indians, that they had ſome Tokens of Friendſhip from the Government; which according to their Promiſe made them the laſt Year, would be renewed to them Yearly, ſo long as they kept the PEACE ſacred and inviolate.
Then the Commiſſioners drank King GEORGE's Health; which was pledg'd by the Indians.
And then the Conference was adjourned 'till To-Morrow Morning Nine o'Clock.
The Commiſſioners and Indians being met.
WE are glad to ſee you this Morning in good Health; and are ready to hear what you have further to offer.
We have ſomething to ſay to you with Reſpect to the Trade and Beaver.
Beaver is now very good, and will be ſo two Weeks hence; two Sabbath Days hence Beaver will be as good as when catch'd under the ice. The young Men want to know when Beaver is good.
Beaver always ſpeaks for it ſelf: You may be ſure to have the full Worth of your Beaver according to its Goodneſs, at whatever Time of the Year it is catch'd.
What will Beaver be about two Week's hence?
Whatever it will fetch at Boſton, We will give you:
Brethren,
The Government are determined to treat you with the ſtricteſt Juſtice, and the greateſt Kindneſs: And if you will attend to the fol
lowing Particulars, you muſt be convinced of it. You give no more for what you buy at the Truck Houſe, than the ſame Articles be bought for with ready Money at
Boſton:Strouds laſt Year were £. 70. a Piece, now are but £. 60. In Governor DUMMER'S Time, Rum was ſold you atſ a Gallon; and Beaver was then ſold for 8 • ſ.a Pound▪ Rum is now but 10ſ.a Gallon, but Beaver is 40ſa Pound; ſo that you gain more than a Quarter Part: You have more now for four Shillings, than formerly you had for five Shillings; and this is the Caſe with almoſt every Thing elſe, excepting Wampum. Fall Beaver in Governor DUMMER'S Time was but 6ſ.a Pound, now it is 25ſ.Stage Beaver then was 4ſ.a Pound, now it is 15ſ.Then you had not a Buſhel of Corn for an Otter, now you have a Buſhel & an half.
We want to have Wampum as it was formerly; it is now dearer.
That Article is dearer we acknowledge; but we are ſo far from making any Advantage by it, that we ſend for it to New York, and purchaſe it with Dollars: Are at all this Trouble, and yet ſell it to you exactly as it coſt us, without the leaſt Advance.
What was the Price of Spring Beaver formerly? And in what Proportion to other Things.
Spring Beaver was then 8ſ. a Pound, and Corn 6ſ. a Buſhel; Spring Beaver is now 40ſ. a Pound, and Corn but 28ſ. a Buſhel. In GoverBoſton by Retail.
Brethren,
The Government will ſupply you with what you want; and have brought every Thing to the very loweſt Price, as cheap by Retail as you could purchaſe by Wholeſale; and give you for your Beaver and Skins as they are ſold atBoſton.The firm Reſolution of the Government is to make no Advantage of this Trade with you; they are determined to ſupply you cheaper than theFrenchcan or will do: And in every Inſtance of our Treatment of you, you muſt be convinced that we ſeek your Intereſt more than theFrenchdo, notwithſtanding the baſe Methods they take to perſuade you to the contrary.
There is ſometimes a Scarcity in the Truck-Houſe: We would have it always ſupplied.
Sometimes there is a Scarcity in Boſton; but when that is not the Caſe, you may depend upon a full Supply.
Capt. Bradbury, and Lieut. Fletcher, are very good Men, We like them well, and deſire they may be encouraged.
We are glad to hear it; the Government will always take Care to get the beſt Men.
We live a great Ways from the Truck-Houſe: We would have a Sloop with Goods ſent down to Paſſamaquody.
As ſome Indians have done Miſchief that Way, it will not be ſafe to ſend one there, unleſs it is covered with a Fort: If you in Behalf of that Tribe are impowred to make this Propoſal, We will upon our Return lay it before the Government.
We will let that Matter drop.
The Government has ſent us here, to hear any Grievances you may labour under, that the ſame may be redreſſed; and to do every Thing we can for your beſt Good and Intereſt.
Have you any Thing at preſent further to offer?
We have done.
Friends and Brethren,
WHEN we met you in Conference Yeſterday, we were in Expecta
tion of ſeeing the Norridgawocksat this Place alſo; but as they do not appear, we would remind you of one Article ſtipulated and confirmed the laſt Year, which hath not been complied withal; We mean the Return of our Captives.Altho' we do not immediately charge YOU of this Tribe with this Neglect, yet you can't but remember the Commiſſioners were aſſured the laſt Year, that the Parents who had their Children then in Captivity might reſt ſatisfied, that they ſhould be returned them in the Spring following, at furtheſt; And as this Promiſe was made by the
Norridgawhen you were preſent, you engaged that you would endeavour that the ſeveral Articles of Peace then renewed (of which this was one) ſhould be complied with by thewocks Norridgawocks,as well as your ſelves; yet we muſt inform you, that after all Attempts for their Redemption, Nothing is done; but the Children ſtill remain in the Hands of theFrench,altho' their Parents have ſince been at the Expence and Trouble of making a tedious Journey toCanadafor that Purpoſe.You find that the
Engliſhhave faithfully fulfill'd all their Promiſes with theIndians,and therefore juſtly expect the like Return from you; and in Conſequence hereof, that you uſe your beſt Endeavours that all our Captives may be forthwith reſtored, that ſo there may be no further Reaſon for Complaint on this Account.You informed us Yeſterday that your Miniſter had been attempting to prejudice you againſt the
Engliſh,inſinuating that there would ſoon be a War between the two Nations; and thereby would (if poſſible) have prevented your meeting the Commiſſioners at this Time; but that you was jealous of him, and believed him not to be a good Man, becauſe he had wrote to Governor SHIRLEY (as you were informed) on this Head. To which we reply, That it is abſolutely falſe and without the leaſt Foun dation; for we do aſſure you, that there is at this Time a good Harmony ſubſiſting between the King of Great Britain,and theFrenchKing.The Government of the
Maſſachuſettsare fully ſenſible of the Artifices uſed by theFrenchto raiſe Jealouſies and create Miſunderſtandings between the Engliſhand theIndians,and of the Methods theFrenchuſe to defeat the Meaſures theEngliſhtake for maintaining Peace and good Friendſhip: But as a Proof of our Sincerity, Governor SHIRLEY,from a tender Regard to your Welfare, and to prevent your being any further impoſed upon by them, has ſent you a Letter by us, which we have Orders to have firſt interpreted, and then delivered you; as alſo another Letter which he received from the FrenchJeſuit (Pierre Gounon) your preſent Miniſter; by which you will ſee, he is not in the leaſt to be regarded, much leſs depended upon; and after ſuch clear and evident Demonſtrations of Friendſhip on our Side to you, in the foregoing Inſtances, and our fulfilling our former Engagements of making you an annual Preſent as long as you ſhould continue in Amity with us, which we have hitherto done, and our being preſent at this Time to deſtribute the ſame for this Year: We ſay, after ſo many Inſtances of Sincerity and Friendſhip from us, it will diſcover a baſe and diſingenuous Spirit in you, not to reſent all the Artifices and Tricks of the French(in whom there is no Truſt) and maintain a conſtant Friendſhip with theEngliſh,who have always been your ſteady Friends; in which we apprehend your real Intereſt doth conſiſt.
Then the Letter from Governor SHIRLEY to the Penobſcott Indians, and alſo the Letter from the French Jeſuit to Governor SHIRLEY were diſtinctly read, interpreted and delivered to them.
By this Letter it is evident, that your Jeſuit makes no more of you than if you were a Parcel of Miſqueters.
You muſt mind him no more than Traſh.
Our Miniſters preach Peace, and adviſe us to live in Peace with you, and are Men of Truth. Shall the Government ſend ſuch a One to you?
Have you any Thing further to ſay?
The Indians making no Anſwer.
Are you now ready to confirm the Peace as renewed at Falmouth in 1749. and ratified and confirmed the laſt Year.
We are ready to ratify and confirm the ſame.
There are ſome Indians at Mechias and Paſſamaquody, and what we ſay binds them equally with us.
Then the Commiſſioners informed the Indians, that they would meet them again in the Afternoon, in order to ſign the Ratification of the Articles of PEACE, and deliver the Preſents ordered them by the Government.
The Commiſſioners then drank King GEORGE's Health, as alſo Governor SHIRLEY'S; and a laſting PEACE. Which were pledg'd by the Indians.
The Commiſſioners and Indians being again met.
HAVE you conſidered of what we ſaid in the Forenoon, relating to the Captives? We are ſorry the Promiſe made by the Norridgawocks was not inforced by you: Such is your Weight and Authority with them, that had you uſed your beſt Endeavours for their Redemption, it would have been effected.
We wiſh to do that which is Good and Right, and we will try whatever we can that they may be returned, but we cannot do any more than we can do: This we further Promiſe, that if they are not returned ſome Time this Fall, we will go after them, and endeavour to Redeem them: All the Captives WE took have been returned.
According to your Promiſe we now expect you uſe your utmoſt Endeavours for the Redemption of theſe unhappy Captives.
We rejoice; all our young Men rejoice, and the Reſt of our Tribe, when they hear of what we have now done, will alſo rejoice at it:—We are ready to confirm all the Treaties we delivered you to brighten the Chain, and wiſh that the Peace may continue forever.
Our Thoughts are much upon our Miniſter, and his deceiving us; but as we don't mind him, we hope you will not.
Then upwards of thirty of the Chiefs and others of the Penobſcott Tribes, Signed Sealed & Delivered to the Commiſſioners the Ratification of the Articles of Peace made and concluded on at Falmouth in Caſco-Bay, in the Year 1749. After which,
The Commiſſioners acquainted the Indians they were ready to deliver them the Preſents ordered to be given them by the Government. Which was done accordingly. For which the Indians expreſt great Thankfulneſs, and deſired Liberty that their young Men might expreſs their good Liking to what had been now done, by having a Dance in Preſence of the Commiſſioners. After their Dance was finiſhed,
The Commiſſioners drank King GEORGE's Health, wiſhing that the Peace now ratified might continue as long as the Sun and Moon ſhall endure.
Then the Commiſſioners went on Board the Sloop in order to proceed to Richmond, to meet the Norridgawock Tribe of Indians.
AT two o'Clock, P.M. The Commiſſioners arriv'd at Richmond (on Kennebeck-River) and in about an Hour after their Arrival, Quaruet, a Norridgawock Indian, came down the River in a Canoe, and waited on the Commiſſioners on Board the Sloop, and informNorridgawock Tribe were at Norridgawock, and did not expect the Arrival of the CommiſſioNorridgawock and fetch them in. The Commiſſioners diſpatch'd him accordingly, with Orders to bring them in as ſoon as poſſible.
QUARUET the Indian Meſſenger returned, and informed the ComNorridgawock, he met five Canoes with the Chiefs of the Norridgawock Tribe; and that they were on their Way to Richmond, and would be in To-Morrow Morning.
THE Chiefs of the Norridgawock Tribe being arrived, came into the Fort, and after the uſual Salutations had paſs'd, The Commiſſioners aſked the Indians, if they ſhould be ready in an Hour's Time to enter on a Conference. They told the Commiſſioners they would be ready. Then the Commiſſioners ordered Seats to be prepared without the Fort for that Purpoſe.
The Commiſſioners and Indians being met.
The Indians were informed that an Oath would be adminiſtred to Mr. Walter Mc'Farland, truly to interpret what ſhould paſs between the Commiſſioners and the Indians at this Conference; and alſo an Oath to Mr. Ezekiel Price, faithfully to diſcharge the Truſt of Clerk to the Com
Then Sir William Pepperre
in the Name of the Commiſſioners, ſpake as follows.
Friends and Brethren,
THE Reaſon of Governor SHIRLEY's not meeting You in Perſon this Year, is, his having been ſo long Abſent from his Go
vernment; and the Affairs of it at preſent not allowing Him to be here; We that are preſent, appear by his Order and Commiſſion, and come fully authorized and impowred to treat with you.
We are fully ſenſible of the Attempts the Frenchby Means of their Miſſionaries among you, have been making from Time to Time, in order to create Jealouſies and Miſunderſtandings between theEngliſhand theIndians; and thatPierre Gounon,the Father of thePenobſcotts,hath lately been here, and would, if poſſible, have prevented your Attendance at this Conference,he would have done the 〈◊〉 Penobſcottsat St.George's; notwithſtanding which, they readily met the Commiſſioners there, were pleaſed with that Interview; and we hope that you will take the Advice thePenobſcottsgave the Commiſſioners the laſt Week, not to mind him; that their Thoughts run much on him, and his deceiving them; and hoped that we would not regard him any more thantheydid, which was no more than Traſh: And we are well ſatisfied that before we Part, we ſhall produce ſuch Evidence of his Treachery, as ſhall convince you that he is a falſe Man; and that it will not be for your Credit to regard him, or what he ſays: But on the contrary, it will be your Intereſt to regard theEngliſhmore than theFrench.If we look into the laſt Treaty, we ſhall find, that three Articles were more eſpecially the Subject of it, namely Trade, our Captives, and our Lands.
As for Trade, we need only obſerve to you, That the Government have given Orders to the ſeveral Truck-Maſters, to ſupply you with Goods at a cheaper Rate than they were obliged to do; and as the
Engliſhcan furniſh you with them at a lower Price than theFrench; We do aſſure you that it is the Determination of the Government, that they will.As for our Friends in Captivity; We muſt remind you of your ſolemn Engagements to the Commiſſioners, that they ſhould be return'd by the laſt Spring at furtheſt; but they ſtill remain in the Hands of the
French:This Conduct of yours, is baſe and unjuſt, and as ſuch, deſerves the higheſt Reſentments; and therefore, after all your Promiſes, We now demand of you the Reaſon why they are not returned? And unleſs you give us ſome ſatisfactory Account hereof, we muſt plainly tell you, that you have not fulfilled your Engagements; and that if they are not forthwith reſtored, we muſt look upon it as a Violation of the Ratification of Peace the laſt Year. The Government according to their Promiſe, have conſidered your Complaints of the laſt Year, relating to ſome
EngliſhSettlements making onKennebeck-River,and were in hopes that what they had wrote you on this Head, would have been to Satisfaction; but if it is not, we truſt that in the Courſe of this Conference, we ſhall offer you ſuch Evidence of our Claim to thoſe Lands, as ſhall convince you that we have not done you any Injuſtice in what we have done; nor ſo much as deſigned it.
When we have gone through theſe Articles, and renewed the Peace ratified the laſt Year, and given you the Preſents deſigned you by the Government; we know of Nothing that will prevent our ſpeedy return to our ſeveral Homes; unleſs you have ſomething new to offer, which, if you have, we ſhall give it its due Weight and Conſideration; but as we have been ſo long from Home, we muſt inſiſt on the greateſt Diſpatch.
Are you ready to Anſwer what we have now ſaid to you?
We will anſwer you preſently.
The Commiſſioners then acquainted the Indians they had a Letter from Governor SHIRLEY to them, which he had ordered ſhould be inPierre Gounon, the French Jeſuit at Penobſcott; which was alſo interpreted, and then deli
Then the Conference was adjourn'd to Three o'Clock, P.M.
The Commiſſioners and Indians being met.
Salutations as uſual.
WE have thought of the Words ſpoken to us in the Morning, and look upon what you then ſaid as if the Governor was preſent and ſpake himſelf.
We thank you for reading and interpreting to us the Jeſuit's Letter. We know the Hearts of all the Indians hereabouts, and of ſome now preſent, who are lately come from
Canada,and all our Hearts are good.We know the
Penobſcottslove Peace, and we as well as they love Peace, and will hold faſt to it.All the Gentlemen of the
NorridgawockTribe are here preſent.
Toxusis an old Man, and we believe will never be here.Do not mind any Thing the Jeſuit ſays, we know it is Peace all over the World. We want no Jeſuits to meddle with Treaties. All we want of them is to pray with us, and take Care of our Souls. If any of our Jeſuits ſhould write any Thing concerning us, or Peace or War, if you will inform us of it, we will let you know whether it is true or falſe.
What this PenobſcottJeſuit wrote is a Lye. We do not want War. We deſire to live in Peace. All that he has ſaid is falſe.We have done with that Article.
Hath not the Jeſuit been endeavouring to make Miſchief between you and us, and to prevent your coming to this Conference?
Friends and Brethren,
I would ſpeak further to you:
Here is a River belonging to us? You have lately built a new Garriſon here: we with you would be content to go no further up the River than that Fort.
Governor DUMMER's Talk was very good, we like it well.
Governor DUDLEY and Governor DUMMER, both told us that no Settlement ſhould be made above
RichmondFort: The Faſhion is, if the Governor don't like any Thing, to tell the Indians of it; and for the Indians to do the ſame to him. We live wholly by this Land, and live but poorly; the
Penobſcottshunt on one Side of us, and theCanadaIndians on the other Side; therefore do not turn us off this Land. We are willing you ſhould enjoy all the Lands from the New-Fort, and ſo downwards. We are done as to the Lands. We will now ſpeak as to the Captives.
We heard that Mr.
Noble,Father of the Children, was gone toCanadato fetch them.Here are
Paſſaguerent,andNeudegawaremes,two Indians that went toCanadafor a Fryar, and to carry the Belt of Wampum from the Governor to the Arraſagonticooks.That Tribe as well we rejoice to hear there is Peace all over the World, and that the Land is now ſmooth.
One of the Captives is at the Village of
Werenock,the others are atArraſagonticook.
Why did you not bring in the Captives, agreable to your ſolemn Engagements?
The Reaſon I did not go was becauſe I broke my Arm; the Journey is very great, and I could not Paddle. It was not worth while for twenty to go.
You promiſed to notify Capt. Lithgow? Why did not you do it?
It was early in the Spring.
You are miſtaken, it was the middle of Summer. BeNoble ſaw Mitchel's Son at Montreal.
Why did he not bring him Home when he ſaw him?
The French Governor ſaid, you had ſold them to the French
Arraſagonticook, to fetch thoſe that were there.
One of the Articles of the laſt Treaty, and upon which we greatly relied, was, the ſolemn Promiſes you then made us touching the Return of the Captives.
You ſay there is Peace between the two Crowns. How could the French Governor detain them?
Perhaps he expected that you who put them into their Hands, ſhould take them out.
If Sebaſtine was here, we ſhould be glad; he is a Man of Influence, he belongs to the Arraſagonticook Tribe; we believe he would fetch them in.
ſpeaking to Quenois. You promiſed laſt Year to go for them.
I told you before, I broke my Arm laſt April.
Is it not well?
No: It is not well yet.
If you was not able to go yourſelf; why did not ſome other of your Tribe go?
Mr. Noble went, and we thought he would have brought them.
Is this complying with your Promiſe? When the Engliſh Promiſe, they religiouſly comply with it; they promiſed the laſt Year that your Complaints ſhould be redreſſed reſpecting the Engliſh hunting on your Ground, and taking your Game; immediately upon the Great Courts ſitting after their Return, a Law was made to prevent it.
It is true, we made a Promiſe to fetch in the Captives; there is but little Water now, we tho't they were returned. We are now going upon our Hunting, but in the Spring we will go to Canada, and talk with the French Governor, and do what we can to bring them in.
Did not you ſell them to the French?
We did not ſell them; it was the Arraſagonticook's that ſold them.
Then the Commiſſioners read to them the Conference of laſt Year reſpecting the Captives, and Quenois's Anſwer, wherein he owned that he was at Swan-Iſland when Noble's Children were taken.
I deny that I ſaid I was at Swan-Iſland; I ſaid that I was no nearer than Richmond. If I ſaid that I was there, I did not ſpeak true, I was drunk.
Paſſaguerent ſaid that he and Quenois were on the other Side the River, at Richmond, when the Children were taken, and not on the Iſland.
Agreable to our Promiſe the laſt Year, we acquainted the Government of the three Things you then complained of. The firſt was with Reſpect to the Price of Goods, which you have cheaper now than in Governor DUMMER's Time. The ſecond was relating to one Hall and his Family, living at Montinicus, who you complained of as ſpoiling your Hunting; and he has ſince been removed by Order of the Government. The other was, that ſeveral Engliſhmen from the Weſtward had frequently hunted on your Lands to the ſpoiling of your Game: The Government hath ſince made a Law to forbid any Perſons hunting there under very ſevere Penalties. So that you ſee the three Things the Penobſcotts and you complained of are redreſſed; and as the Engliſh have been as good as their Word to you, we expect the like from you; and that by next Spring, according to your preſent Promiſe, you go after the Captives, and bring them in; otherwiſe we ſhall look upon it that you intend to break the Peace now ſubſiſting between us.
In the Spring we will go, I myſelf will go: We will get them in, if poſſible? If I can get but one, I will bring him in.
You promiſe fair, and we depend upon your faithful Per
We will now ſay ſomething to you concerning the Lands.
By the Treaties made in Governor SHUTE'S and in Governor DUMEngliſh were allowed to have all the Lands that they had purchaſed or poſſeſſed.
Then that Part of Governor SHUTE'S Treaty which related to the Lands, was read and interpreted to the Indians; as alſo, that in Gover
You made the ſame Complaints reſpecting your Lands at the Treaty with Governor DUMMER, as you do now.
Are you not ſenſible that theſe Lands were ſold to the Engliſh by your Anceſtors, and fairly purchaſed by them?
We have never heard from our old Men, that our Fore
The Tribes in Governor DUMMER'S Treaty ſaw the old Deeds, and owned them.
We ſhall be glad to ſee the Deeds, and to know the Names of the Indians that ſold theſe Lands.
Then the Commiſſioners ſhewed the Indians the Deeds from the an
Have you never heard of, nor ſeen the Ruins of old Houſes built at Cuſ
and Teco
?
We have never heard of any more than one at Cu
By ancient trading Houſes up this River, by ancient Settle
We will inform the Relations and Friends to the Owners of theſe Lands of what has been ſaid.
We ſhould be glad you would enquire into theſe Facts, particularly as to ancient Settle
Two Indians from Arraſagonticook coming in, the Commiſſioners aſked them, if they were impowered to appear in Behalf of their Tribe; but they told the Commiſſioners they were not.
Have you any Thing further to ſay?
We have nothing further to ſay.
Are you ready and willing to ratify and confirm the Treaty of Peace made at Falmouth in Caſco-Bay, in the Year 1749. and which was ratified and confirmed the laſt Year at St. George's.
Yes: We are ready to do it.
Then King GEORGE's Health was drank by the Commiſſioners; and the ſame Health was pledged by the Indians.
The Commiſſioners and Indians being met.
WE are glad to ſee you this Morning, and hope you are all well.
We told you Yeſterday that all the Land on both Sides Kennebeck-River as high up as Waſſerunſick belonged to the Engliſh, they having bought it of the Indians; your Forefathers many Years ago ſold them to the Engliſh, as appears by the Deeds we then produced to you, which Deeds you then appeared fully ſatisfied with, as you knew by Tradition moſt of the Names of the Indians who ſigned them.
In Conſequence of theſe Purchaſes, the Engliſh took Poſſeſſion of ſaid Lands, and made Settlements upon them, and carried on a great Trade, particularly at Cuſhnoc and Teconnoc, where are now to be ſeen the Ruins of the Engliſh Houſes.
Being convinced of this, and the Engliſh Right to ſaid Land, you ceded them to the Engliſh by ſeveral Treaties formerly made, particularly by Governor SHUTE'S, and Governor DUMMER'S; and by other Treaties before their Time, which you have ſince confirmed.
The Engliſh therefore have an undoubted Right to all the aforeſaid Lands, and conſequently have a Right to ſettle them whenever they think proper: And it is expected by this Government, after giving you this Satisfaction, that you do not diſturb the Engliſh in any Settlements they are now about or may hereafter undertake on the Lands aforeſaid: And we on our Part promiſe you, that you ſhall not be interrupted in your Hunting & Fiſhing; to which Purpoſe a Law of this Government has been made ſince the laſt Treaty, at your Deſire, forbidding under a very ſevere Penalty all the Engliſh from Hunting within ſaid Lands, or giving you the leaſt Interruption in that or any other Regard.
As to the Owners of theſe Lands, who you ſay are at Arraſagonticook, and elſewhere: We wiſh they were now here, that we might have an Opportunity of confering with them, and giving them the ſame Satis
We will ſay what we know about the Lands
Theſe Governours, and General NICHOLSON, called the Indians into Piſcataqua, and after a Treaty was made, they talked about the Lands.
General NICHOLSON ſaid, they would bury all that was bad, and make the Land ſmooth.
The Indians deſired the Engliſh might not ſettle further Eaſtward than Brunſwick, which was then ſettled.
We were then bid, that if any Engliſhmen ſhould ſettle further Eaſt
The Penobſcotts, and Arraſagonticooks, who were the Owners of the Land that Way, were at that Treaty, and talk'd about it.
The Governor then ſaiEngliſh ſettled that Way: We mean at Brunſwick, North-Yarmouth, Caſco-Bay and Saco; and the Indians conſented that it might be ſo.
Governor SHUTE had a Treaty at Arrowſick, and the Indians then told the Engliſh, they might go three Miles up this River.
Governor SHUTE ſaid, it was not far enough. We were willing, and agreed that the Engliſh ſhould go as far up the River as Richmond, and the Governor was glad of it, and liked it well.
What we have now ſaid is what we have heard of former Times.
Indians, Friends and Neighbours,
We ſhould be glad to be heard upon ſomething further.
We are ready to hear any Thing you have to ſay.
We have ſeen Governor PHIPS'S Letter, he
We have alſo ſeen Governor SHIRLEY'S Letter; we take it kindly of him; he writes in Love, and is for Peace; and we like it well.
There have been a great many Governors at Boſton; we believe them to be all very Good
We have never heard that any of the Governors deſired the Engliſh might ſettle higher up than Richmond; altho' we have heard it from other People.
We have wrote twice upon this Matter to Boſton, and now you hear it from our Mouths.
We hope you will think of what we have ſaid as to the Land; we are willing you ſhould ſettle all the Lands below the New-Fort, and hope you will go on in ſettling them with Courage and a good Spirit: You have Land enough below the New-Fort, without going any fur
We have told you our Hearts; we hope you will not ſettle any fur
We deſire to live in Peace with you, and like Brethren: We and you have always built on Governor DUMMER'S Treaty, and look'd upon it as a good one; by that Treaty, we are allowed to ſettle, where former Settlements have been made by the Engliſh, and to have all the Lands they have heretofore purchaſed of the Indians; and they were then freely given up and confirmed to the Engliſh.
All the Indians like Governor DUMMER'S Treaty very well.
We freely give Liberty to ſettle all the Lands below the New-Fort, but we want the Lands above for to Hunt upon, and get a Living by.
As your Forefathers ſold theſe Lands to the Engliſh, and they were paid for by them; why are you againſt our ſettling them? The Engliſh have no Deſign to diſturb you in your Hunting & Fiſhing, but would always be glad to receive you into their Houſes, and live peaceably with you.
The Reaſon is, we get our Living on theſe Lands, and if the Engliſh ſhould ſettle on them, it would drive away our Game; which has been the Caſe with Reſpect to the Lands between Richmond and the Sea.
It will appear plainly to any indifferent Judges, that we have fairly purchaſed theſe Lands from your Forefathers; and as we don't deſire to abridge you of your Rights, ſo we expect you will not diſturb us in ours.
Upon the whole of what you have ſaid; you don't pretend to deny, but that the Purchaſes made by the Engliſh were fair and honeſt.
We don't think theſe Deeds are falſe; but we apprehend you got the Indians drunk, and ſo took the Advantage of them, when you bought the Lands.
It was not ſo; the Engliſh ſettled before your Eyes, and Nothing was then ſaid againſt it, but your Anceſtors allowed of it.
We had no Religion in that Day, and uſed to buy only Rum and Wampum.
There was no Rum at that Time, the whole Trade then carried on was in Corn, Cloathing and Proviſion.
We know of a Man that occaſionally traded at Teconnock, he built a Tent there.
Above a Hundred Years ago, the Government built a Truck-Houſe at Teconnock at the Indians Deſire; and there was more Trade carried on in that Day, than there is now in all the Truck-Houſes put together.
There was a Trade then, but we know of no Lands ſold at that Time. There was no Religion in that Day.
You ſaw the Writings Yeſterday, and then ſaid, you knew the Names of many of them that gave the Deeds. Your Forefathers were honeſt Men, and held the Religion of Juſtice.
We ſhould be glad to know how much Money was paid for theſe Lands. You ſay that you have bought them?
No doubt they had the full Value of them, the Deeds ſay ſo.
What is the Reaſon the Sum they were ſold for, was not mentioned in the Deeds.
It was the Cuſtom among the Engliſh in that Day not to mention any Sum; but he that ſold the Land acknowledged he was ſatisfied and contented.
I am an old Man, and never heard any of them ſay theſe Lands were ſold.
We are fully ſatisfied theſe Lands were fairly purchaſed of the Indians: We deſire you will enquire and ſearch into it, and then we doubt not, but you will be ſatisfied of the Juſtice of our Claim; and that we ſhall live in Peace and like Brethren.
We will enquire of our old Men, and make what Enquiry we can reſpecting the Lands; and what we hear and ſee, will inform you of.
Are you ready to ſign the Ratification of the Articles of Peace made and concluded on at Caſco-Bay, in 1749. and ratified and confirmed by you the laſt Year at St. George's.
We are ready.
We expected that the Arraſagonticook Tribe of Indians would have been here, but as they are not, we would inform you, that if they will come to Richmond, and ſign a Ratification of the aforeſaid Articles of Peace, which we have left with Capt. Lithgow, they ſhall receive a Preſent from the Government; which ſhall be left with him for them.
We will inform them of what you ſay.
I would ſay one World more.
Our young Men are very apt to get drunk: We deſire you would give Orders to Capt. Lithgow, not to let any one of them have any more Rum than one Quart in two Days.
We are well pleaſed with what you ſay. We are ſenſible of the miſchievous Conſequence, of your young Men's having too much Rum.
Capt. Lithgow being preſent.
We now give Orders to Capt. Lithgow before you, not to let your young Men have any more Rum than you have now deſired they ſhould have.
The Conference being now ended; the Preſent ordered them by the Government was delivered them accordingly.
Whereupon the Commiſſioners took Leave of the Indians; imbarked on Board the Sloop, and proceeded for Boſton.
Brethren of Penobſcott and Norridgawock,
AT my Return to my Government, I found Letters from you to Lieutenant Governor PHIPS, dated the 6th of July laſt, from St. George's-Fort, and the 13th of the ſame Month from Fort-Richmond, in which you deſire that the Conference between this Government and your Tribes may be ſooner this Year than it was laſt Fail, as that was held in your Hunting Seaſon, when but few of you could attend it, which created Jealouſies and Diſſatisfaction among thoſe that were abſent: And in the Letter from St. George's-Fort it is particularly ſigniThat if I was returned to
Boſton, you ſhould be glad you might ſee me, which would be a great Satisfaction to you.
In Anſwer to theſe Letters, I informed you in mine dated the 11th of Auguſt, of my Arrival at Boſton; and that the Buſineſs of my GoAuguſt 23d from St. George's, and the 20th from Richmond, wherein you tell me, you rejoice at my Return from Great Britain, that you are ſorry the Buſineſs of my Government will not admit of my meeting you this Year, that you like the Contents of my Letter very much, and deNorridgawock Tribe inform me, will ſuit the St. Francois Indians well, ſome of them ſent me at the ſame Time a Preſent of a String of Wampum, as a Token of Friendſhip from their Tribe, who deſire to be admitted to the Conference and Treaty with us.
According to your Deſire, Brethren, and my Promiſe to you, I now ſend you Commiſſioners to brighten the Covenant Chain between us, and to diſtribute the Preſents among you, as ſoon as I poſſibly could.
Brethren, acquaint you that I have receiv'd a Letter from the Jeſuit Pierre
the French Miſſionary to Penobſcott Tribe, dated the 25th of August juſt from St. George's Fort, in which he tells me, That he underſtands I deſign to have a Treaty with you, and deſires me not to mention
As you will ſee by his Letter under his own Hand.
I muſt alſo apprize you, that I have receiv'd a Letter from an Engliſh
This Letter and Suggeſtions of the Jeſuit, Brethren, the plain Deſign of which is to prevent this Government from having any Treaty with you, and conſequently from making you the Preſents which they have promiſed to give you from Year to Year; being ſo contrary to your DeFrench at your Coſt, and How far you may confide in the Sincerity of this holy Father your Confeſſor.
I can further aſſure, Brethren, that this Prieſt's Suggeſtion, that War will ſoon break out between the two Nations, is groundleſs, and that there was no Sign of it in France, whilſt I was there about a Year ago, nor in England, which I left a few Months ſince: I doubt not but the French may be deſirous of involving you and us in a War, if they can, by their Artifices; but I have Reaſon to think, that they will not be fond of enCanada in it, as they did Cape-Breton in the laſt.
I Underſtand, you deſire a Treaty with the Indians of Penobſcott. Permit me, Sir, to beg of you, not to mention this Interview any more, becauſe the Indians being always either Hunting or Travelling, it is difficult for them all to be preſent at this Interview, and Jealouſy may cauſe ſome or other of them to do Miſchief. I had a great deal of Trouble after the laſt Interview, to prevent the Jealouſy of thoſe who were not preſent at it, from having a very bad Effect. The moſt ſure Way to maintain Peace between you and the Indians, would be to let me know your Will, and I would take Care to let you know that of the Indians. I pray only, that if you write to me, and if you think fit to pay any Regard to what I ſhall Anſwer, we may do it as ſecretly as poſſible, for I deſire nothing ſo much, as to maintain the Peace now ſubſiſting. I will do all I can to this End, being no more engag'd for the Service of the King of France, than I am for that of the King of England.