|
|
Description and Holding Information
|
|
|
1754, Penn. Report of proceedings at Albany to make a purchase of land from the Six Nations (MS)
|
|
The first page of this document has significant losses on the fold line; the remainder of the document is sometimes difficult to read because of ink
failures. John Penn and Richard Peters attended a meeting in Albany to purchase land from the Six Nations and their associated tribes. There were
several representatives from New England who were trying to wrest the area east of the Susquehanna from the Proprietors. Penn relied on his titles to
the land that he purchased in 1736. At this meeting, Pennsylvania was trying to purchase all the rest of the land in the Penn land grant, Basically
from the Susquehanna west to 41.30 and north to Lake Erie. On June 17, 1754, both the English and most of the Six Nations arrived at Albany. All the
Indian groups present were in favor of the sale except the Oneidas and Mohawks, who wanted to hold back significant amounts of land, so they led the
refusal of the offer. There was an argument about how much to put in the minutes, even though all previous meetings had been public and fully
documented. On July 5, in a formal Council, the Commissioners said they wanted to buy the rest of the land grant. The Nations, etc., had had time to think
about it, so the Commissioners expected an answer. The Nations were uneasy about the sale because they soon would have nothing left and their children
and grandchildren would curse their memory. They wanted to be able to live in peace with the white settlers around them. They especially wanted to
reserve the land around Shamokin because there had been a council fire there for many years. In the afternoon, Weiser warned that the Nations were
agitated, so the deed might not be completed. The Commissioners were offended by the natives' truculence and said so. The Nations offered a smaller
amount of land, which the Commissioners refused. The Commissioners did not consider Hendricks, of the Mohawks, the real spokesman of the group. Weiser
told the Nations that it would be wise to accept the request of the Commissioners and they eventually agreed. On July 6, 1754, all the participants
gathered again. Hendricks told the Commissioners that they were willing to sell most of the land requested, but still reserved an area around Shamokin.
The Nations would create an agent to police the boundaries and generally manage the area. There followed the text of the deed, with a long list of
chiefs and shamans who signed it. In consideration of L400, the boundaries were listed, with possession including all the timber, mines, water power,
etc. There was a long list of groups that now had no ownership of the land, but they were always entitled to kind treatment by the English. Then
came a long list of signatures and marks, followed by an endorsement that if settlers started moving over the Alleghenies, any Indians affected would be
entitled to more money. On July 9, 1754, the same group gathered again. Hendricks and others were uneasy about the land sale of 1736, so the deed
was exhibited and they were satisfied. The Nations asked for a short version of that deed, which was made for them. They also wanted it in writing at
this conference that the Nations agreed not to sell land to anyone but the Proprietors. Hendricks wanted the Commissioners to know he stood ready to
discuss any problems. There followed a long list of attendees arranged by tribe. Woodbridge, an interpreter/spy for New England interests, also
looked at the 1736 deed and was satisfied that the land could not be purchased anymore. John Penn and Richard Peters signed the report on August 5, 1754.
(Digitized from a microfilm copy held at the Pennsylvania State Historical Society)
|
|
|
Title:
[Report of proceedings at Albany to make a purchase of land from the Six Nations].
|
|
|
OCLC Number:
1439132277
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available Volumes
|
|
| Name | Fiche Count | Online | Paper Backup |
| Vol. 1 | | Yes | No |
|
|
|