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Description and Holding Information
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1754, Penn. Report of proceedings at Albany to make a purchase of land from the Six Nations (MS)
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Wrapper: Rpt. of the Comm. from Pennsylvania at the meeting at Albany 1754 an the Indian Dur[?] 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. Many the Nations 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 Native Americans 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)
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Title:
[Report of proceedings at Albany to make a purchase of land from the Six Nations].
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OCLC Number:
1439132277
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Available Volumes
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| Name | Fiche Count | Online | Paper Backup |
| Vol. 1 | | Yes | No |
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