Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania, and the First Nations: The Treaties of 1736-62

August 1761

^ M I N U T E S O F C O N F E R E N C E S , HELD AT EASTON, In AUGUST, 1761. With the Chief SASCHEMS and WARRIORS of the ONONDAGOES,­CAYUGAS,­­ ONEIDAS,­NANTICOKES,­MOHICKONS,­ DELAWARES,­TUTELOES,­CONOYS. P H I L A D E LP H I A : Printed and Sold by B. FRANKLIN, and D. HALL, at the ­New-Printing-Office,near the Market. MDCCLXI. Minutes of Conferences, &c. At a CONFERENCE with the Indians at Easton, on Monday the Third of August, 1761.1 PRESENT, The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor; Richard Peters, and Benjamin Chew, Esquires, of the Council of the Province; Joseph Fox, Esq; one of the Provincial Commissioners, and several other Gentlemen from Philadelphia and other Parts of the Province; The Deputies of the Onondagoes, Cayugas, Oneidas, Mohickons, Nanticokes, Delawares, Tuteloes, Conoys; Men, Women and Children, about Four Hundred in Number, which encreased afterwards to near Five Hundred. Seneca George. Speaker. Samuel Weiser, James Sherlock, Joseph Pepy, Interpreters. august 1761 335 THE Governor opened the Conference with the usual Ceremonies of giving them a String, to bid them heartily welcome, and another to wipe the Sweat from their Bodies, to take the Thorns and Briars out of their Legs and Feet, to clear their Throats,and to open their Hearts; after which he acquainted them,that he then was, or would at any Time be ready,upon their giving him Notice,to attend to any Thing they had to say to him. Then Seneca George stood up, and spoke as follows, viz. Brother Onas, I am very glad to meet you here at this Time, and to find that the Sky is clear, and that the Road is open and safe to travel in: I speak this in Behalf of Seven Nations, and all their Cousins, Captains and Warriors, and thank the Almighty that he has once more brought us all together, to shake Hands. A String. Brother Onas,We suppose,that during the late Troubles,you may have lost many of your People, either by Sickness or War, since we were last together; by this String, therefore, we wipe away the Tears from your Eyes, clear your Throats, wash away the Blood from your Bodies, sweep the Council Chamber, and throw the Dirt out of Doors, that you may see and speak to us clearly at the present Conference. A String. Brother Onas, We the Seven Nations,2 and all our Cousins, are sorry, from the Bottom of our Hearts, for the Death of your Men,Women and Children; and by this Belt we collect all their Bones together, bury them in one Grave, and cover them up. A black Belt of eight Rows, streaked with White. Brother Onas, We the Seven Nations, and our Cousins, are at a great Loss, and sit in Darkness, as well as you, by the Death of Conrad Weiser, as since his Death we cannot so well understand one another: By this Belt we cover his Body with Bark. A white Belt of seven Rows, with four black Streaks. Brother Onas, By the last Belt I mentioned to you that we both sat in Darkness, now by this Belt I remove the Clouds from before the Sun,that we may see it rise and set,and that your Hearts may be eased from Sorrow,onAccount of what I mentioned before. A white Belt of five Rows, with three black Bars. AftertheDeliveryof theBelt,headded(havingforgotitbefore)WepraytheGreat God above, who can enlighten our Hearts, that we may live in Love and Peace until Death. Brother Onas, Having taken Notice of the Death of Conrad Weiser, and the Darkness it has occasioned amongst us, I now, by this Belt (taking Hold of the Belt 336 august 1761 in the Middle) raise up another Interpreter,by whose Assistance we may understand one another clearly. Brother Onas,(Speaking with the other Part of the Belt)You know that in former Times,when great Men grew old and died,we used to put others in their Places; now as Conrad Weiser (who was a great Man, and one Half a Seven Nation Indian, and one Half an Englishman) is dead, we recommend it to the Governor to appoint his Son (pointing to Samuel Weiser, then present) to succeed him as an Interpreter, and to take Care of the Seven Nations and their Cousins. We take Hold of this...