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Peters, Richard (1704-1776) to William Johnson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00766 Author/Creator: Peters, Richard (1704-1776) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 February 1761 Pagination: 8 p. ; 20 x 16 cm Order a Copy

Writes to the British commissioner about Northern Indian Affairs in upper New York. Discusses Indian tribes and Connecticut's attempt to get a new grant from the King. He concludes: "I most heartily congratulate You in the Surrender of Canada and on the most favourable Solution of all our Affairs." Richard Peters, Provincial Secretary, superintended Indian affairs and attended the Albany Congress, 1754.

No longer able to play the French off against the British, Native Americans found it increasingly difficult to slow the advance of white settlers into the western parts of New York, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. To stop encroachments on their lands in the Southeast, the Cherokees attacked frontier settlements in the Carolinas and Virginia in 1760. Defeated the next year by British regulars and colonial militia, the Cherokees had to allow the English to build forts on their territory.
Indians in western New York and Ohio also faced encroachment onto their lands. With the French threat removed, the British reduced the price paid for furs, allowed settlers to take Indian land without payments, and built forts in violation of treaties with local tribes. In the Spring of 1763, an Ottawa chief named Pontiac led an alliance of Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, and other western Indians in rebellion. Pontiac's alliance attacked forts in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that Britain had taken over from the French, destroying all but three. Pontiac's forces then moved eastward, attacking settlements in western Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, killing more than 2000 colonists. Without assistance from the French, however, Pontiac's rebellion petered out by the year's end.
The following letter provides context for Pontiac's uprising. Teedyuscung, a leader of the Delawares who is mentioned in the letter, originally sided with the French during the French and Indian War. Once the British agreed to honor Teedyuscung's land claims, however, he threw his support to England. The British also wanted to gain the support of the Iroquois, the most powerful people in western New York. At the Albany Congress in 1754, British commissioners including Richard Peters, the author of this letter, met with the leaders of the Iroquois League under the pretense of addressing Iroquois grievances. But instead they arranged agreements beneficial to themselves, outraging the Iroquois as well as many colonists who wanted the lands for themselves. Sir William Johnson (1715-1774) was the British commissioner of Northern Indian Affairs in upper New York. Richard Peters, Provincial Secretary, superintended Indian affairs and attended the Albany Congress, 1754. Teedyuscung, a leader of the Delaware tribe, originally sided with the French during the French and Indian War. Once the British honored Teedyuscung's land claims, however, he threw his support to England. Land claims created problems for the British with the Iroquois as well. In 1754, British commissioners met with leaders of the Six Nations (better known as the Iroquois League) in Albany under the pretense of solving the Iroquois's grievances, but arranged agreements beneficial to themselves. The reference to "Chinguss" is to Shingas, who was a leader of the Delaware people in the Ohio Country and a noted American Indian warrior on the western frontier during the French and Indian War. Johann Conrad Weiser (1696-1760) was a German Pennsylvanian pioneer, farmer, monk, tanner, judge, and soldier. His most significant contributions, however, were as an interpreter and emissary in councils between Native Americans and the colonies, especially Pennsylvania. Daniel Clause was a respected professional translator. John Henry Lydius was a counselor to Johnson. England gained control of Canada after the fall of Montreal in September 1760.

Philadelphia 12th Feby 1761
Sir
Mr. Croghan has no doubt given you from time to time a particular Account of Indian Affairs on, and to the west of, the Ohio, and that there is a general Disposition in all the Tribes of Western Indians to come to Philadelphia next Summer, which will produce a numerous meeting. He will further have informed you of the very bad behaviour of Teedyuscung at Pitsburg, and in the other Places where he had any thing to do, and that he is in very low Repute among his Ohio Brethren of the Delaware Nations. In fact Chinguss and his Relations have the best Pretensions to the Lands concerning which the Complaints were, made at Easton in [2] 1757 and neither Teedyuscung or any of his Jersey Basketmakers cou[ld have] made the least pretence to Lands on the West Side of the River Delaware. However abundance will be said by them at the ensuing Treaty, & many things which may affect the Rights and former Proceedings of the Six Nations; and therefore it may be absolutely necessary that there shou[l]d be a very respectful Body of Deputies properly instructed and empowered by the Council of Onondaga present at this meeting; and with them I hope and earnestly entreat that Mr. [Daniel] Clause may be sent, [3] cloathed with ye Authority [inserted: of a Deputy], and as Interpreter likewise; for poor Mr [Johann Conrad] Weiser is no more, he dyed suddenly in the Summer & has not left any one to fill his place as Provincial Interpreter. His Son Samuel has almost forgot what little he learned. Considering these circumstances, and the connections the Proprietaries as well as myself claim to have with Mr Clause on all necessary occasions, I flatter myself you will readily spare him to assist this unhappy Province or at least the Government in this important meeting. [4] and if any thing happens to him that he cannot come or he is necessarily employed in other publick Concerns I beseech you to send as able a Minister and Interpreter, and honour me with a letter by him. I shall write to Mr Clause with your Leave as soon as I am favourd with your Answer.
The Connecticut People are making their grand Push both in England for a new Grant from the King, and in this Province for a forceable Entry and Detainer of the Indian Land, on no other Pretence than that [5] their Charter extends to the South Seas, and so like mad men they will cross New York and New Jersey, and come and kindle an Indian War in the Bowels of this poor Province.
Mr Clause will be necessary as a Witness on this occasion, because he knows all the Particulars of the vile management of [John Henry] Lydius in the year 1754, and the Sentiments and Purposes of the Six Nations wh respect to that Deed that was signed at Lydius's House by Indians, as Lydius cou[l]d bribe them or get them drunk.
[6] The Governor has wrote you at large on this wicked revival of the Connecticut Claims, and I wish either you or General Amherst cou[l]d fall on some means to have it laid aside, for it will breed a civil war among our Back Inhabitants, who are sucking in, all over the Frontiers, the Connecticut Poison and Spirit, & will actually, in my opinion, go into [struck: open] Rebellion in the opening of the Spring.
I cou[l]d heartily wish that the Delaware Complaints were heard and adjusted; for as I am determined [7] to quit all publick business I shou[l]d be glad, before this be done, to vindicate myself as well as the Proprietaries against all Aspersions & Accusations.
If by mistake any Error has been committed it wou[l]d give me a Pleasure to have it detected and rectified; but I know of none. Nor has there been so much as a Secret in Indian affairs during my Management.
May the Almighty preserve your Life, that in case of a general Peace ye Colonies may avail themselves of your Influence and Judgment in [8] the Settlement of all matters betwn the Indian Nations & his Majesty subjects in every part of North America.
I imagine Instructions shou[l]d be given by the Onondaga Council to their Deputies about this Connecticut mad Attempt. Or if it was mentioned to ye Six Nations; they wou[l]d of themselves come to some Resolutions, & transmit them to the Connecticut Government.
I most heartily congratulate You in the Surrender of Canada and on the most favourable Solution of all our Affairs. I am with very cordial Esteem

Sir
your most obedient
Servant Richard Peters

Peters, Richard, 1704-1776

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