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'j ^7^5i the deed of the Six Nations to the / Proprietors of Indianai the Miautcs of the w 9®ngfefs at Fort Stanwix, in Oaobcr and J^ovtmbcr, 1768; the deed of the Indians, Ycttling the boundary line between the Eng- V\ih and Indians lands ; and the opinion of Counfel oa the title of the Proprietors of Indiana. ■r 4 % ft i f ! : 1 1 k 'I ...'«-' "■'"^^^f i ^^t ^' ^ # VIEW O F T H E Title to Indiana. * i / ' r I'' AT a conffrence held with the Six Nations at John(ni-hal), r/I?y the zd, 1765, PRESENT,. Sir Willinm Johnson, Uaronct, the King's Stiperintcndatfgf In- dirsn Affairs. John .lohnfon, I'fq-, Wr. Arthur, Wr. Kirt- Jand, IVTr Krcifer, f'nniel Clr.ufe and Guy Johnfon, Efctiires, D puty Agents, Butler, Parthius, Monteur, interfretus to the Crown. Sir William addrefTed the Six Nations as follows : Bretliren, AM now to fprak to you on fomeafFiirs which greatly cor.cern vs both, and 1 fxpcrtyou will give me your attention, and ?.£l a beri^miiig put upon theoccafion. • You know the treacherous and cruel pirt afled by fonre of your people at Logflown and about 1 he Ohio, two years ago ; you then plundered numbfrs of the traders, who were fupply- ir^ you with goods : fonie of them you have pronjifed to praeft p.nd fave their ofFefls, but you did not keep your words ; fevtral of Ihefe unhappy fuffcrfrs are thereby reduced to gr>a' ".e.-cf- .^ry, fonie of v.!:om are thrown into jail, becaufe they could not pny their d.j'-tc. 'J'hi? has induce 1 them to apply to me, a:id todilire I would Isy bef(-re you their diHreffe.":, (hat you might pive them a trnfl cl land to compcnfate in fome meafurc for thtir p,reat lolfes. j|i«eed not tell yoii I o\v incumbent it is upon you to agree to theWdeh're, as you niufl all be fe.iHble tliey were ra- ined by fome of your people in a time of peace, and when they were fupplying your necefHtios : This condurt is fufi=cient t(- mike (iie traders very fhy of going towards your country ; and therefore J think it indifpenf.ibly your interert to grant their ro- qiiefi, wl-.irh, though it will tje but a fmill recompence, will, Jiowever, fliew the world that you repent cfwh-it i;^ pall, and like honell rne'i, j^r'' defirous of making foine r?rtifution for the da- inigoi you l:r.-e committeb f cxpe^ y )u will, withoutSfelay, pive m" an a-ifwe-, and I wifli it miy be a f;VQurableone, it as wili Le for y^Hir oivn i redit. Er"fl're:', T'le n -xf thin,7 I ht, tn t ik-" roiire o"", isat l!,e dorr- of t!>e f ;■■. n»r:il who comm-ind-. r,|| tiie army in this country, llrhas rrpre- fented to me ti.e necfility (here is for the troops to ha'e gardens and corn about the fwrts; and although it ii the culloro in ail Cllltf % $ I * '*'-' a' ".e cT- lufe they coiilil jply t3 nrie, a "J that you might leafurc for th«ir it is upon you ; tliey were ra- and when they is fufficient to r country ; an.l grant their r> :ompeace, will, 3 pall, and like tion for the da- without*rtelay, rable one, it as lerr.^oft.'ipf;'. • Ho ha', rcpre- hri'egurdeiiH cullom in all cilier '—■'% "y^f ^ ( 3 ) ri'icr Dhce-.. that all the ground within cannon-fliot (hall belong to t' effort he has yet fuch a regard for you, that he wouli hotm ke any ufe of it without you were fir made acquan- ?ed apd approved of it. This is an inlV.nce of fo much good- S and conlef-eiuion, that I expert vou wll n<>t hcl.tate . n o - me.tto eiVe »P t:,e ground within cmno,! (hot r .unJ .1 iie K for^ eufc^of the K.ng'3 army; .nd I kno.v yoa w.U tne readi'e do at, as fuch ground fo near a fort can be of no ufe ^mZ as t s only intended for the ferv.ce cf the garnfon ; Tut^a the Wr fcn of krt Pitt is larger th^n the rett. a ^d a great vay rom 'ur feUlunents, I have m, doubt but you ^^Mllg.veu? Tlare'r qvantity of ground there for the ufe of le (^IJ'"'- And i yn agrJe to this, I am perfuaded. th.y w 11 look upaa you in a nufh more friendly light than formerly ; to that I ex- pert a fpe-dy and agrseable anfwer. Th^e'lairbut mott important afFalr I have at this time to metl- tioT; i 'vith regard to the fetllmg a boun.iary l.re between you and heEnglilh. I fentamelfage to fomeof ycur nations fom.- >ime aeo to ' q aint you that I ftiould confer w.th you at tn>. nuet- in^g'upon7t The King, whofe generofity and f.r^r.or.e.s yo.. "a''.el ready experienced, b.i.g very d.nrous t. V^^^}^^ end to difputes between his people .: d y .,>, cxic.rnu..^ ^rJ-, Tnd t9-Jo you nrirt jufiicc, has fallnupon ^^.e pU;' of a Lou„- ^ % ^ to in.adc) as the befl -and furfit ^nethod ot en-, He „ch liSc-brpntes, an J f.xurinr; your property to you be- vol' on^^ili-y of d.nurbance. T.us will, I iope, appear to vou7. rea 'abK and fo juft, on the part of tr.e King, and fo do lU < "yw cheerfully joiniag with n.e in fetthng fuch a di- v-r.Vl e^.r, ill be be/foi the ad . .ntage of both ti'.e wh.te men aXe Indians, and as (hall baft agr^u «,th th. ex:en and .n- crea of e;ch province., and the Gov-era>rs, whom \ linll con- fu upontl'uoccaf^on/fofoonas I am fully enp w red^ but. t^I\^. S^ien^whS: [s-^:d,p^f t i[^^i Soft w;iUedTthat tnen you w.ll receive a conf.ler.ble pr.fent m SX'sd^f M^rt^'^:. Nation, by the Onondaga Speake. made the folio ving aiif.ver. • P-rotherXVarriphiyag'-y. (Sir V/iU.am Jonnfon's radian nam^.; ' fve lave he d a 1 you .'.id to u. y.-lerday, and weg.veyou many thanks for your ad/iceanddirertious to U5, wh.cU weihall 'i::^^%S, to n.e-.v onrgooJ d^fpoll^lon b/ - ;;^7f; - welh.llcomeintoe^ery taing you pro.u|., thins re.on.b.e^a^^^^^^^ X,'. liooD it will reader us mote r-jardcd by tie .ing i)..- 1 'i«^'^ •'■ \ 1'' H ■t' A'i^^ . i f«*-^/" 1-. •f', ».r**>-( . X^.J' ( 4 ) areftrious articles, and we (hall confult both fachems and war- riors about them, and by to morrow be able to anfwer you upon them • but with regard to wt^at you fpoke to us abiut the King's dtfire', that we (hould agree about a line between is and the En glifh, we mull defire to know of you how you mt^nded the line Ihiould go, and how far. Sir William anfwered, ^ Brethren, I THANK you for taking what I laid into icriojs confidera- tion. With regard to what you defire to know coijcerning tlie line,' if one fachem from each nation attends early to-morrow morning, I (hall fpeak farther upon that fubjeft. On the 4th of May, the Onondaga Speaker addrefled Sr William as follows : Brother, We yeflerday opened our enrs to what you taid to us, and we have deliberated on it ever finer. We now beg you will open your ears, and hearken to what we have to fay in anfwer to it. , „ . Gave .three (trings. Brother, ... We have heard what you told us, concerning the intettions of the great Kinp, about a line Ijetweon us and the Engliti, and •we have confici'*r«d that fuch a tliing will be very neceiTar/, pro- vided the white people will abide by it. ^ j Brother, . , A, , The chief caufe of all the late wars was about lands. \ye faw the En'i^Ufti coming towards us from all parts, and thei have cheattrd us fo often, that we could not think well of it. W« were afraid t'lat in a little time you would be at our very cadleii; for this reafon we thank the great King for his good intentions, and we hope he will make his people keep within bounds, which they have not yet done : We therefore agree, that a boundary fliail be made between us, and that it (hall run from Fort Edward along to the Mohawk's caftle, and from thence along thJ great mountain to Harris's ferry, on the river Sufquehanna, agreeable to what we have drawn here, on a piece of bark. A Belt. Brother, W E have told you our minds -, if it does not pleafe you, it is none of our faults. Wt were always rrady to give, but the Eng- lifh do not deal fairly with us ; they are more cunning thsn we are ; they get our names upon paper very fall, and we ofton do ;iot know what it is for. We would do more to plenfs the King, but it is hardly it our power, and fome of us do tiot like it he- caufe weare fo often impofed upon: one of our nations is geing to b» cheited out of almoft all the land between the Mohawk and tlie Big river, by pe^ pie at Albiny, to whom they never publickly made any fuch grant, nor never received any thing for it. We fpoke to you once before about it, and here are their ctiiefs now, who fay, that fince they (irft heard of it, they were promif- ed juftice by the fevcral Governours at Albany long ago. Ttiry have likewif* fpoke to you on twelve ditierent belt?, and beggffd that .ft ■ -vl^^^' ■^ "•*\.,. , A^J. - .,-<•■ chems and war- nfwer you upon ibiut the King's I IS and the En- nt^nded the line \ crioYs confidera- coijcerning the early to-morrow :«ed Sr WiUiam id to ut, and we :g you will open fay h anfvver 3 .three firings. the intettions of he Enghft, and yaece'tidtf, pro- \ lands. Vfe faw , and thei have of it. W« were very cadlei; for 1 intentions, and mds, which they I boundary fliall m Fort Edward ; along th'J great hanaa, agreeable :. A Belt. pleafe you, it is ve, but the Eng- :unning thsn w« and we often do plenfs the King, do not like it he- nations is gaing the Mohawk and ,' never publickly ling for it. We their ctiiefs now, ey were promif- long ago. They elt?, and begfffd thai: ,i,'^4 . . C 5 ) ♦hat vou would get Juftice for them, but it is not done- they Snt a belt over tS the King about it, but they have not yet had any fatisfaaion. y Oulee'how it is with uS; if the Englifh would be more », n.O «P fhould be more generous, and there would be peace ^?^fu' .h fh^ Und -but it is hard, that one of our nations, 'hat live fo near you'., and have fuffered fo much on your ac- nfhouU be fo greatly wronged. This makes us appre- f^lLtZ io';-,f;Kcr-iu ob'..i„ iun,c. .ten .i«y^.pp./ for it. W E hivJ finifhed what we had to fay for the prefeaj and we hope you will anfwer us to morrow upon it, at wu.ch time we S^'lvl^^r^K^il^- ^Sd the Indians inthe fo,, '' lowing manner. Y5uR'''p^ech yenerdaymuchfurprifedme; you appeared defir°us tofe^ta bondary between the Englifh and you, -ind /enfi- wrrTf the a Ivantaee of it ■ at the fame time, you have defcrib.^d ^L'uS'rvwSi "ridiculous, and which (liews me, Joudonot mean what you fay, and are not defirous to purfue what has ^e/n recom-^nided tc you : neither does it proceed from ycur Sorare for >Su convinced me yefterday by the remarks you _ ^Vnr«^\nH fettled The land is patented loo miles beyond purchafed and lettiea. ine i\i:.- [ ran prove by papers I lave here, that I laid it bi.or.-Go_/u- 'o«"ainton fifJeei; years ngo^ and that at ^<- ^^^^^.^^^^'^ .t Albany, in 17 5-1, I did >'hat ecu d for 1 ,k .VIo a^^^^^^^^ were promifed to have the ,-«-tter llr.aiy 7;-^ "^^ "^,': • ^J^c « i^ a natenf hr it, and it is not an -Jfy m:>ftrr 10 brcu. u- T .c MohS hav 'given me inhuite trouble about >t, ever hnce tho rrport that it w;.. ^o b.' Curveycd ; it has :i.A a. yet aucaed Me,r » The Mohawks. 7. -^4 if •■»■ I I » 'm: *, t^M. :;/-.; Y \^ t \ \ > :» J.unlip.g, as it has never been furveyed or fettled -aid 1 hav'fl fiiiteJ t'eir compbints and doubt not but they will beredrelfed. Tnat is t' c only Iit^c traft wli^ch at prtfent conierns them, -.tnd H.erefore I am forry to find, you (hould make it any objec- tion to the Pood work which tlie King recummends. Thefe thingi require much time with white people; I have "ften re- commsnded paUmce to them, and I with they would follo'.v niy ddvice, and not interrupt a bulincfs which is of fo p.reat im- portance. 1 wanted only at prefent fo know yonr general fcnti- rnentil upon thisfubjeO, and I wiOi they had been more favoum- ble, becaufe it would nave been as much for your mterelt, as that ofHie Cnglifli. , . ^ r a To which the Six Nations th;ii anfwered, Brother, , u 1 1-^ WE have heard yoa with attention, and we are much obiig- fd to you for fhcwng us what is baft for our intcreft. We (h-ill there'ore take it farther into confidrruion, becnife we are w.lhiig to iTiew 6W good difpofition. We iiope our behaviour on mis OCCsfion will ffivea proper eiTeft upon the Great King, and in- duce him to hearken to our complaints. We do not dou n but you have done what you could for us, and we widi it may be tdken notice of; otherwifo we nmd thinlc ourfelves Cr«tly wronged, and our minds cannot beat peac^ To morrow we flwil Bllfwcr you more parti. ularly and to your fatisfattioa. TJien Thomas King (a chief of tUc S:x Nations) addrelfsd the feveral nations as follows; I wouH Willi you all to enter with c! eerfulne^s into the bu.l- refl you brotier Warrsghiy-igey hns recommended to yju, aii_l do it from your hearts. L-t us tullo.v the example of our a.ic.f- tors, Whofe bones are now turned into duR • they were w.fe m-n, ROd took care of every tine thr.t concerned peace; let u, c^ thtfam?, and let us mske aline for the benefit of our caik.rcn; thftt thf-y may have lands which cannot be taken from them ; ' nnd let us, m doing that, (hew the King that we are ge«arou,, and thst we will grant him land enougii far his people. Fi^.i lie will regard us, and take better ere that his people do not On the 6th of May, after the fever-.l nalions were airemb.eJ, the Onend..ea fpeaker adJreffed Sir William, as follows : wtiWe^now airembleJ to anf-ver what you faid to us yofler- d^y, regarding the boundary Ine, concermng which we have not given yoi^ fat,sf;.ft!on. We hope we ftiall not plaL yo better, and v;e beg you will attend to our anfwer, and pardon our miftikes and the manner of our oxprenion as -« ^-;^ ^ ; ways been acuftomed to fp^ak our tliou^hts freely, tne rather n» we hf ard from the Fren^ch, that you had defijns upon u., and we lieard from you, that they hid the firae, but of lat. we had you b'lth had the like motives. . ^ At leurh we have at^reed together for ourfeWes, our wivr ondcii.ld'en, tomakeaceffionto the King, of tne binds we fluU .1-- -T W^ / \ I ; a-id 1 ha\'« ) be redrelfed. jnierns them, ; it any obj°c- mends. Thefe ave (iften re- would follo'>v f fo p.reat im- • general fcnti- niore favour.i- ir iiitereft, as red, e much oblig- reft. We (h-iU i .ve are willing '.vi'iur on lt".is King, and in- not dou'n but wi(h it msy be •felvfs Creatly ro morrow we itisf^ftion. I addrelfcd the 's into the buri- ed to yju, an I le of our a.ict'f- were wife m"n, ice ; let ui d:) our children; Len from thpm ; e are genaroui, people. Tr.eu people do not affembled, the s follows : lid to U5 yoder • which we have not phafj you ;r, and pardon , as we liave al- ely, the rather ns upon u"=, and ; of lat» we find ves, our wives ,e linds we Hull now ( 7 ; j.-.,;v,» KfcJrrin'^ at OwcpVi OH the tafl branch cf Suf- ''^itn tl'en ! o^Tn the enr^fde of the river .0 Shamokin ;'o Fc t AuruHa' "aild runnu g up the .eft branch of S^f^u^- hama onle fouth fide thereof, and from thence to K.tt.mmr, or Od' CO on the OIno, thence along and down the Oh.o to ihe Cherokre river, and vp ti-ef.imc to its head, on th.s fide; upoa conSitt^n that -ou ha,;c feme regard fcr -"^ v.arr.rrs v-ho - ways pafs through that country. ""^ e^ye tj-, n, '^l;^ 'j/ / ;*/ mlfspe- and we are very happy m beii-.g f11 ahcmtieo l.tre, Eothfachems and wr^rricr., at this t,mc, and not as J..« been fhrmprlv the cafe on fuch occafions. WecLnow all aft together, as all fhould receive a Pure for whYt t'"ey hive ceded, S.7 whicl-. it will be rrefervtd in our minds We have nevt^ rcfufed you lands. In mnny pla.f s we have piven proofs of our friendfliip, on ^vlnch we have l-^en pro- fnTfed a recornpence which we have not received. We '-.fl-Jed your army laft year, i.nd many of our people were forfaken and left to famifh, and we have been prom, ed a large trade and to fix interpreters, etc at each pcft, wl;.ch it is not come as vet We beg you will confider thefe things, and have rfg^dto Tour prCnig and our rcquefts, as we y^y^^^^^'^^^^Z Hefires at prefent ■ that therefore you will take thcU thiDg' mto ?w co'Sf&ion, and afford us a Pl-tiful tr. de, and prjr interoretcrTltUe pofts, as you have promiftd. It is uy^petU- ?on of this, that v;e have i.ow agreed to your propofals, and for the ake of enabUfliing tmrquility. we therefore recoaimccd earneflly to you, to confider what we have fiid. V/e have farther oadd,\hat you ^ill confider our hungry P.-^^Pl^ «>U Sometimes kill your cattle and tread down y°"X" Iji^ "l^^^^ fo now it may be wcrfe v.h.en we aflcmble all nations we he eo're be^, -hat, wl enever you finally, fettle thr. ff''r, a-jd that all your Govemours meet about it, you would appoint eConrref"in fome place mere rem'^te, and that y of your Crnrons. Then Thomas King f.ud to the feveral nations, , I fo'oe you' will now remember what we have asrecd to, End ^vhat your brother has f.id: for we have new M , men, women, and children, been witn-fs cf tbi^.tranfaaion, which ,s done pub- lickly, nor can it.be fiid our c, icfs received any Lr.bes ; tl.flre- fore fliould we for.-H wl.nt is now done, it will be a rteat reflec- tion uron us, as nonr cf u,-^. wi-'i irnlh, can deny it. May the 6th, Sir Willi.i.n airchMMed all tl.e.hi^fs, aid fpoke to them concerning the boundiry line, ohf.rv.ng t.at they had not clofcd it properly to the eahward, which was highly MCef- ^'^' The Onondaga fpeaker anfwered, ' /, . '. WE hpve attended to vou, anfi we have already corfi-lfred about clofing the line ; Uut we fii.d it a difficult «'«'^"[^^*^j^^' «A /■.-'• /■ .A »!. ■.:r^ 4 J "i, ■t f " «■ ■■ '•''»*' ■^ / %a ** ; 'i. 1^ ' # ( « ) tcrmine, as fo many tribes and branchts ofourconftderacy have their refidence about the Sufquthanna. We think to continue the line up that river to Cherry Valley Latce, and from thence to the German Flats, would be very advantageous to you; be- caufe our brethren the Oniedas fay, you have no right or titleon the fouth fide the Mohawk river above that place; however, for the prefent, we Ihall not extend the boundary line higher than Owegi, but when the affair comes to be finally determined, we fhall think farther about it. Then Canaghqhiefa faid, Brother, You know that we are the owners of the land weftward of the German Flats, we hope we are not to be cheated out of it, but we have reafon to think oddly of it ; as a German is gone to live at our large field Orifca, which is our property, we beg you will drive him off; for he has no right to it, for we well know the lands we fold, from tne reft, and ^ve tell you this, becaufe we •would not do any thing in it, till we fpoke to you about it. V7e think we are flrangely dealt with, our fathers were allced to fell farms, and whenever tliey agreed to it, the white people took •woods, and all vhich we knew nothing of, till we faw people coming into our country. Brother, fiuce that is the cafe, let us know, what the white people claim, and we will tell honeftly what we fold. Sir tVilliam anfwered, Brethren, ^ , . ) As I only wanted to know your fentimenfs in General, about a boundary, I am content the line remains for the prefent, as far as you recommend as to what you mentioned, running to the German Flats, it cannot be agreed to, there are good titles with- in that line. What the Oneidas fay about the man at Orifca, 1 did not hear of till now, if he is unjuftly fettled, he will remove on proper warning. Whenever I can hear of your being wrong- ed, I (hall ufemy interefl to get juftice for you; but you would have much lefs caufe to complain, if your people would never Tticddle in land affairs, without the knowledge of the whole nation. v. TO all people to whom thefe prefents fhall come, greeting: Know ye, that we Abraham a Mohawk chief, Sennghois a Oneida chief, Saquarifera a Tufcarora chief, Chenaugheata chief of the Onandaga council, Tagaaia a Cayuga chief, and Cuftarax a Seneca chief, chiefs and fachems of the Six United Nations, and being and effeftually re prefent hi g all the tribes of the faid Six United Nations, fend greeting : WHEREAS Robert Callender, David Franks, Jofeph Sim- mons, Levy Andrew Levy, Phillip Boyle, John Baynton, Sa- uiuel Wharton, George Morgan, Jofeph Spenre, Thomas Small- man, Samuel Wharton adminiftrator of John Welch deceafed, Edmund Moran, Even Shelby, Samuel Poftlethwait, JohnGib- fon, Richard Wiafton, Dennis Cjohon, William Thomfon, A- braham f-. .fi C ■T;- % IK^ -A :^"^;^ ^•^L:' ■>s.. e'V nftderacy have nk to continue id from thence us to you; be- right or titleon ; however, for ne higher than determined, we iveflward of the I out of it, but I is gone to live r, we beg you r we well know his, becaufe we u about it. We ere allced to fell \ite people took i we faw people ! the cafe, let us ill tell honeftly General, about the prefent, as , running to the good titles with- uan at Orifca, 1 , he will remove lur being wrong- but you would pie would never e of the whole V. :ome, greeting: icf, Sennghois a , Chenaugheata 'uga chief, and f ttie Six United ; all the tribes of nks, Jofeph Sim- in Baynton, Sa- , Thomas Small- Welch deceafed, iwait, JohnGib- m Thomfon, A- braham r ( 9 ) Abrrtharo Mitchel, James Dundas, Thonns Dundir, and JoI,n Ormlby, in ind by thfir fevtnl md refpeftive letters or pcvers of attornf-y, <|iily (icni'd, fe:;lcd, ii-d ieliveroJ l,y them, and now produced interprfied, nn I (xpli!n'"d to u=! ; i.^.ve ronfiitulcd, nominated md appointed. Will in Trn.t, o' the county o.r'um- berlmd, and pro mce o- Kf.Mvylvinii, merchaiu, t e^rluvful attorney and ag nt, to afi<, foiicit, demini, and r'^crive froin tlie fache.115, counceilors ml warriors of tlie fiid Six \l--\trd Nations, a gr:iTit of a tra''! of hnd, as a compenfatio'i, fuishic- tioii, or retribution for the goods, nierchandifc, and eff fls of the fiid William Trent, und tne tr icrs aforefai^', whicii the Sha'.vnelTe, DelawrTf, and Huron tribes, tril^utarles of the fp.ii Six Nations (contrary to nil good faith, and in violation of their repeated prcmifes of fiC'.'ty :;nd prott"ion to their poi Ton':, fervants, and eifefts, whild trading i-. llieir country) did in the fpring of the y?ar 1763, violently feize upon, and unjufily ap- pr priate to their o\n uft»: AND WHEREAS we are now convened in full r-ouncil, by order of our father, the Kinp of Great-I5rit.Tin, France and Ireland, defender of the faitli, etc at Fort Stmwix, in the pro- vince of New-York, in order 10 -i^ree for, r.fcertain, and finiUy fix and fettle 1 permanent and lifting boundary line betwera tlie hunting country, wl:ich we, at the conference r.forefiiJ, (hall and,ivill referve for ourfelve*, our children and our tribu- taries, and the territories of tlie faid King of Gre it Eritiin : AND Whereas application wd'^ forrae:ly made to the faid Six United Nations by Sir William Johr.fan, Bironet, at the requifitionof theaforcfaid traders, who hid fu'lained and fuliVr- fcd the loffes aforef.iid, for a retriisution for the f:m;, which the f:iid Six United Nationi pi-omifed and agretd to, whenfocver iiP, the faid Sir WilliL'.ni Jolmfon, Faronef, llioul-l be empo«er''d hy his faid Majeuy, the King of Great-Britain, to cliublir.i tue boundary line af ;ref;iid ; AND W H E R L^ AS^ tl e faid Sir V/iUiam Johnfan, Tiro- net, has now at tiiis prjrent Congrcfd, reminded tlie f.ij 1 'liM United Nations of their fiid promife and at tiie earnsft d_:ire of the afr-ref'id tr.iders, by their faid attorney, ftrongly reconi- mended to the faid Six United Nations, to make them a reftitu- tion, by p. grnnt of tj traiTl of land to hi.'^ f'id IVI--jefiy, tlie Ki.'c; of Gre-it-Britain, his l.eirs and fnrre^Ti ur."! to and for the only ufe, benefit, nnd behoof of t'-e f '' '.Vi!!iim Trent, in his own riaht,- and asattor-.iey as aforofaiil • -1! 'vluch the fiid Six United Nations h".ving taken into'their confidention, and bciig hearti- ly difpofed to agrey thereunto, as an inil^nce of their iuftice and concern f-ir the f :id laffes .!o therefore by tiiefe profent-, lignify, puhliih, and deciar , that notwit iftaiiding t e gnnt an ! gift hereby rmd' nnd given hy them unto his faid MnieHy fh-.'ICing nf Great Pr:tiin, n^d fo for" '' • ■■ h ( to mi; nr.'.i for t e on;y n!o, liene- (ir, and behoot of the (lid William Trent, in hir. o.vn r'Pnt, ipcl as .ntlorncy as aforer.iiJ ) w.ij b^* iiKhidr- ' rtiil:i 1 ' ereflion, fdf and boundary line whkn tie fii i S k i' ir-- i '.'uion- ("hall ',nd tvill make, fe.i and gra:u to tiit iaid Ki.ig of Gredt-Critaio, at 8- . . ■ ta« 4v 'iL^ •'■Kit »iM*8«ii,-y'''^;;r''«?*r'^^>'t^ Jji***-*** "'T";-^ ( 'o ) the coi -ence aforefaid, now hoI:len at Fort Stamvix, ^iforcfaid, liv the (aid Sir Willi mjohnfon, Bironft: V 'v T N E V r. R T H E L E S S, the (xd Six United Nat, ons have'neitlfr nilxd, dem nded, nor received from him the fai^ pfr "v.iK'm Jobnfon, Earonet, nor fn -n any other perfon or perron in behalf of the faid King of Great-Br.ta.n, any con.nde- ra on for the hereby given and granted premifes, t^^'thcr ihall noi wi'l the niid Six United Nations, nor their he.rs nordefcen- dartr f'-n-l 1 i ele prefent., they, the faid Six United Nations, lS\y ; d eLirely Vnerdia and prohibit them from fo doing ) dem'nd, nor rece:ve from the faid King of Great- Britain, nor from Hs fuccefTom-s nor from his or thcT miniders or fevvantf, aTconSuon ^^'hatfoever, or howfcever, for the hereby printed h-.rgain, or now given prcmife^, or any part, ^POTj, or P reel tireo, the fame being their own voluP.tary aa and deed fo'ly, and bona f^de deopred and inter.ded by them a. a comnenfation, (atir.faaion andretribution for the bffes fnnainrd by the raid VVillia.a Trent, and the Indian traders aforefaid by ihe depredations of Ihe Shawneffe, Dehvvare, and Huror> tribes of Indians aforefiid, in the aforefaid yfa'•^'7j'^ NOW this indenture witneffeth, tliat we the laid Abraham, Senncl- I?, Saquarifera, Chenaucheita, Tagaaia, andGauftarax (Ss and fachcms of the f.id S.x United Nation*, and being apd effeaually as aforefaid, r-t .efenung all the tribes of the Six United Nations) for and inconfider'tion of the fiimof$5,oitl-ios. r^rVawful m rjy of the province of Ne.v-York ( the fame being ti mount of the good and merchandifc, which were uniufUy li^;rrnd take, afaforefaid by tl^ ^'^e^l Wm^ Tr'f Huron tribes ci rmiim'i aforefaid, from t.;e faid William irc.u, Foh'rt CaUrrdcr. David Frank., Jofeph Simons, Levy Andrew r.^vvVhi V^'.cy^^ JohnBaynton, S.ir.vid Wharton George fe^->r, j'iCpl o ir, Th^M. Sm.llmni, S.uni'el Wharton 'h.iJ.v ^-niitl Po'-Hethwiit, 'Awi Ciib\on, Firhard W iiiitop, Dnne,\-;o1:r William Thimro;., Abraham Mitchr!l,J-..c. D und-.s, Tl,oar.s Dundas, and John Ormlby, m tl.e ...riuuu y"-ri;-%, whereof juft and fair acconnrr, have, ui o^.hand ^fr:.-rrimi been produced, inierprard, and cxphnred to u,. ; f r^ic : ^ our^lefire, aVe now'lodg- and depot ted wm. the J S r William Johnfon, Baronn : Avd (or and >" fonfi.^a- tion of the uirr o: 5'^. lawful money, r,:orefaKl, t'> us m han4 paid by the fr.id w'.liam Trent, thercceipt wnereof w.doi.ereny ^ .noil r'gr. to ?ive. j^rant, ba,.^:iin .ir.d fell unto !.a fa.d r.i;v.iiy 4 hcaAnd facceCcrr^, to and for theooly ..fo, br- •eils a„d N-hoofof the fai.l WilHam Trent, ■" '^'^.^i^^^^'g^ -nd r-. rttorppy afn-.'faid all iluit trt^ cr pane of hi, J, he- ■,".Vi".-c '- efn-flerlv (l-Ie cf the m.uth of Little Ksnhawa fr^' wiere it cmrti^;; iifrK i;Uo tie r^vc- Ohio, at'd n.nmng fntti'thencefonih-e'if.to theL'iurd Hdl, thence alor,C' t!:" Lau- S^m'mm ir uvikes the nv^r MorongchMa, ^■-^^^Z -^^^^ flream of the faid river Monongchela, />^"';''';^^;f,, '' '.J i',;;, courfes thereof, to the fout hern boundary line of the p.o.inre \: h .♦"^ ^ mix, aforefaid, United Nations jrti him the fa id other peifon or in, any conflde- fes, neither lliall heirs nordefcen- Unitcd N-tions, frcin fo doing ) •cat-Brit^Jn, nor iers or fe vantp, for the liereby J part, purport^ luEtary a^l and ,ed by them as- a e bffes fuftained raders aforefaid, ire, and Huron r, I7■'^^ e laid Abraham, I, aiidGauftarax tionf, and being tribes of the Six imof S5,ojtl. los. ( the fame being ich were unju(l!y , Delaware, and ;1 William Trent, IF, Levy Aivlrew /■barton, George aami'fl V/harL.n nd Ivlonn, Vm^xi Richard Win flop, Mitchell, J-'iTie.". in tiie iifurifriid ve, ( n o''th amJ explained to III ; depolitcd witii the and in ronfiJera- d, n us in han4 L'reofw': do hereby fell unto his faid the only \\{i, hr- in liif '^'■''r! right riel of I.inJ, be- f Little Kunhnwa hio, ;u'd riinniiig >ce aior.:;' t!:" Lrai- , thrr.ce t^'wn the \\\g to tht' fevfrnl ;e of the province of ( 4 *# ( II ) of PennMvania ; thence wefterly along the courfe of the faid province bouid-iry lins, as f ir as the f ime ftall exre.id, and from thence by the fame courfe to the river Ohio, thence down the fald r:ver Ohii, according to the f«ver:il ourfes t.iSi-Jo;, Vi the p'acc of beginning: tog tner with all anufinivil ir the tribes, woods, underwoods, mine:., minerals, ores, waters, wat.r-courf?3, fi-Tiings, fowlings, huntin?;', profits, commodities, acivaiit if;es, rights li'ieitics, privileges hereditdme.it.s and appurtemnco:; whatfoever, to the faid traa or parcel of hnd b loigng.or lu any ways appertaining; or which now ^rc or fonneny iuive beea accepted, reputed, tiUen, known, ufei, occuoKd orcap.yed, to or with the fame, or as pirt, parce:, or maml)'r tr.e.-eof, anci t''e reverfion and reverfions, remanv.'.i'r atid r:mar,v.krs, rents, iiTues, and profits of all and fnigular the (uJ premifes above mentioned, and every pu-t or parcel thereof with the appurte- nances: And alfo all the cRate, nglit, title, intereft, property, cliim, anddemtnd wiiaifoever; whether n.itive, icg^il, or equi- tible, of us the fnid Inii.as and £;ch and every of us, and ot ?U and every other pcrfon and perfons wlmtioevtr •. of or D-- hup'netothe faid nations of. in, to, and out o. :ill a,:d lii.gu-_ lir't le" premifes ab^^/e m'-'itioned : and of, in, to, and out ot e.ery pirt and parcel thereof, w t the Hppu.tcnanc.'s to have and to hold, all and fmgular the fiid tratt, p,:rcel and parcels of hnd, given, granted, and bargiined premifis w:th tuoir ap- purlenances, unto his fiid Majeiiy King G-org" t ,e t.ard, hs hcir3 and fucceltours but to and for t e only me, ocnefit, and b-'oof of t;,e faid WiUiara Trent, m Lis own nglif, and a? at- tor'-fy aforefaid, his heirs and affigns forever; And^the faid Ai"i' fiim, Seanphois, S.iquarif^ra, Chenanglieita, lagaai'), ar-.' Gaurtir;',", for tuemfeives, ind fur the Six United Nations, and ill and cv-ry othir nuion and nations, tribes tributaries, and 'dependants on the faid Six Ur.itei Nations, and thMr and every of ti.eir pofterities, the f.iid tra'l nn 1 pircel of hnd and premifrs, and every part tliertof, a; ai ift tiiem, t.;!e faid Abra- ham, SennphoiJ, S-n^uariffra, Chenaugheata, lajiiaia, and Gufiarax and againft the Six United Nations, and tneir tribn- t'ries and dependants, and all and every their polieniiCv, fohi» fnid MHiefiy, his heirs and fucc.floi.rs, but to ar.dtor tr.e only ufe, benefit, and bei.oof of the did William Trent, m his ov/ri rit'ln, and as attorney aforef-id, his heirs r.nd alFigna, nvul aiul Kill warrant, and fcr ever defend by ihtfs prefents: In witnefs wheresf, we the faid chie's and fachems, in behalf of ourfelvcs refpef^ively, and in behalf of the whole Six United Nations a- forefaid, have hereunto fet our hands and fcls, iu tne prelence of the perrons ("ubfcribing as witnefTes hereunto, at a CongreU held at fort Stanwfx aforefaid, this third day of November, ui the ninth year of his Majefty't reign, av.d in the year of our Lord onethoufand feven hundred anfl fixty eight. The mark, of his nation, Abraham, or 7 chief of .\ ■ (L- S.) the Mohawki, Tyahanefera, C ■ ^''^ "='^'- i^ |ifc^ -■■■•'■ ■> ' T'-'^f ■>,-*=^>dSiiT*^-' 'V I I- William, or Scunghois. Hendrick, or Saquarifera, Bunt, or Che naugheata, chief of chief of chief of Tagaain, chief of Gauflarax, chief of ( 12 ) The iTT^rk of liis nation. (L. 3.) the Oneidas. The ft one. The mark of his nation. (L. S.)ti:cTufcarorar,. The crofr. The mark of his nation. (L. o.)thcOnondaf;as. The mountain. The mark of his nation- (L. S.) the C-iyugas. The pipe. The mark ©f his nation. (L. S.) the Senecas. The high hill. Sealed and delivered in the prcfenre of us, William Frimklin, Gov?rnor of New-Jerfey. Frederiik Smith, Chief Jufliceof New Jerfey. Thomas W Iks-r, CommifTioiier for Virginia. Richard Peters, ? of theCouncilof Pennfylvania. James Tilgnman, C John Skinner, Captain in the 70th rfgiment. Jofeph Chew, of Connefticut. Jol:n Wentherhend, of New-York. , John Walker, of Virginia. E. Fitdi, of Connedicut. Thomas Walker, Jun. of Virginia. Jolin ButU r. Interpreter for tlie Crown. On the 7tii d y of Jan-iary, in the year of our Lord 1769, be- fore me Ifiac Jone , efq Mayor of the city of Philidelphia, came the Rev. Ricli.ird Peters, reftor of the two United Chur- cl.e.< or Chritt Church and St. Peters, in Philadelphia, one of thefubfcrib-ng witne'''esto the within written deed, and made onth on the Holy livangelills of Almighty God, that he was pre- fent, aivl did fee the within named Abrih-un, or Tyahn.nefeni, a chief of tiie Mor.awks •. WiUinm, or Sennghois, achitfoftiie Oneidis Hendrick, or Saquirifora, n chief of t%e Tiifcororas ; Bunt, or Cheniugi.eat 1, a chief of the Onondagas ., Tagaaia, a clii'f of tlieCayugas and Gauflarax, a ci.iet of th.e Si'necas, nnke the feveral m;irKs in the within written deed, againll their lefpevHve names, placed as tlie p'riicnlir m irk of each nation •, nnddid alfo fee the faid Abr ham, or Tyahancftra ; Willinm, or Sea;?l-.ois Hendrick, cr 'Saquarifera ., Bunt, or Crionaughesta • Tagaaia, and Gauiiar. Minutes of t!:c Congrefs at Fort Stanwix, in 1-53. A T a General Congrefs held with the Six NPtionr:, Shawr.'-f'e, ''*• Deiaware, Stnecas of Ohio, ?.vA their dependants, at Fort ct.mwix, Ortoberi6, 176S. PRESENT, The Honourable Sir Wiiliim Johnfon, Eironct, Suporintfn- dant of Indian afta'rs-, His Exccile.cy WiUiim Franklin, ECq ; Governour of the province ct New-Jcrfiry ; Thomi.i Walker, ' F.fq ; Goraniiflioncr fi-om tlie colony of Virginia; Ilonoiirabl'.' Frederick Smyth, C;i:ef Jullice cf Ne.vjerfoy ; Richard Peters and James Tilghmui, Ei'-iiiirf.", Commil'ioners fi-o:n the province of Pennfylvania; George Cro^Iii'.n and Daniel CUuff, Efquire.i, Depuiy Agents of Indian atfair.- Guy Johnfon, Efci ; Deputy Agent and Sctretar/ of Indian !' tiirs; wiih furdry other Gen- tlemen fro'iSi ttie diiTrent colonies-. John Butkr, Efq ; Mr- Andrew ^?ontour, au.l iMr. P.iiiip Phillips, Interpreters for t\y Crown. INDIAN CHIEFS PR E S E N T. INIoha wk?;- - Abra - ham, Kanp.di^'.ya, Kendrick, Araghiad'.cka, Kayenquerego::, • Tobarihoga,Onohurio,etc. etc.etc- Onon-Jagar,-1'hcCu;ir, Tewa- ruit, Diaguanda, Ta>vave t':(«n agreed together, how forn' part of that line fhould run, whenever trf,' faun" c iMe to be ftitlcd. Vou 11, r am hope ul, n-rollv-ft lie reiifon-^ I then gave ycu for raakiiK; fucn a Ijound ry iie'Trtheltfa, I fl\ill "gi;n rfpcat them. Von kiio-.v, brtiiire.i, that tlieencroachmfntf upon yci'r land;) have been alwr.ys one of your princip^:! fiibji'lbi 0^ com- plain' ; and th't, fo far as it could b.e done, e-ii'oavourn havo iKit be9'i wanting for yn\ir obt .in'ng r dref^. Ent it was a di-Ti- Cult lafk, and g'ntr.'iiy iinfucief'fui for altiiou^^in tlic provincf.s ha;e bounds betwcca cell other, ihcr'-' nrc no'tcrViin bounds l'r'.\vc?ri «-« - *i » -"^ 1 ( U ) Wf.vpen thetn and yoa, and thereby, not only feveral of our peo- ple, ignorant in [ndi n r.f^irs, have advanced too f.r into your iountry, but alfo m-ny oi your o.vu people, through the w:mt cffuchal.n*, .ave be-n le,,'i;rd ui the HIm they have made, or ia the limits mey aive let to our refpeaive clums. Tins b'fthrfii, is H fid rife, vmch .vt. frequently given us much trouble, and tur.e ! m. .y of your aridv bu it is Lively to rontinue fo, u„MI fo-ii-' bou rJ^ .^ro agreed t., fixed upon, and nvidi- public between us ri,e greit, i >e R r^\ Kmg of f.ngund, jnv mifler, whofe fnendihip an i t nder rt-.-ard for your i.itcrclb I wi(h you may ever hold ia rpnrmbr.ince, has, amjnS't other inaancti of his gcod.ifs, after long ^deliberation on fo.ne means tor your r=Ii;f, and for preventing futurs difputes concerning Urds, at length refolved upon fixing: a S^neral boundary Ime between his fubieas and you, and t;iat m luch a minner as lliall !« moft agreeable to you ; in coviequ-^nce of wu.cn I luye re^ ceived his royal coram uids to ciU you together for t.-.e ettJblilh- aient thereof- and aft:;r confering with the governments jntv.- refted hereupon you now fee before you the Go.-ernour of the T-rfey-s the commimoners on behalf of Aferegoa, uovemonr of Vireuiia, and commifnoners from Pennfylvinia, in order to give you the firongelt affuranccs on benalf of their refpef ive g>vern- ieuts, of their refolutions to piy due tefiird to what th^ll be aov7 catered into; th' prefence of fo many great men w,ll give a fenaiontolhe tranfaaioo, and C'ufe the fame to be >:nown^3 far as the Englifh name extends. H.s Ma.iefiy has dir aed me to «ivft you a handfome proof oH.is g-nerofity. proportionei to he rlture and extent of what land. U.ail ta to him. Upon th. ithole, I hope that your deliberations w:ll be unan.raouE, and your refolutions fuch as his Mijsay may confider as P/oo^s ol your grititude for all his favour.. A fine i ew Belt. ■ * Tho importance of this affair now before «;, requires the molt ferious attention ; I wiUn^t burthen you with ^"X "^ ;"/"^|;" Tmtil this is generally fettled, and therefore we fl\iU adjot^n that you may have time to thin;c of it, and come ful.y prepar- ed to sive an agweable anfwer. Then Abraham, Chief of t;.e Mohnwks, after repeating «hat Sir William had faid, addreiied hira, W ireiVTyou thanks for wiwt you have faid to us at this time; it ila we,g!uy affair, and we fhall, agreeable «« yf^/'f^'f' n! e it into our moft ferions confideration. VVe are g'.'d ^«^ [< m.ny grcMt men areairemblal ta bear w.tncfs of the tranfaaiou; ^,d wfare now refolved to retire ,rad confult on a P^op r «.- Tver to be given to all you have faid ; and o foon ^ ^ J=^;\^^ gr:ed «pou it, we ftall give you notice, 'h=»V?n r r h obi ged femble and m-ko it known to you, and we are a" r"»^_ii obl| d to vou, r at y.^u have direaed us to .attend to this gieat attair Itoneatthistim". that our minds migi.t not bo burthened or divert' d from it by attending; to any nunc elle^ AT m i i V -«f: 1 of our peo- 'nr into your igh the wHtit have made, liitns. Tiiis /en us much t IS likely to id upon, and jof F.ngiaiid, your iiitcrclls mJP.S'-i other n foine moans ?s concerning boundary line inner as iliall n, I luive re- tr.e eftablilh- -nnieiits jnto- :rnour of the Govemoiir of 1 order to give eflive g '>.ern- what thall be ,ien w>ll give a te known .'.s far dir tied me to ortionel to the m. Upon tho lar.im^uE, and er as proofs of fine new Belt, uires the mod y other fubjsil fl^iU adjourn i fully prepar- epeating what us nt this time; to your dcfirc, lie gl.id ti)at io iheiranfaftiou; i\ a proper an- i as we liave a- I HKiy iif^iinaf- il nui' h obliged tl'.is great affair ; burthcned or AT ( 15 ) A T a Gcner-i Concrefr. held at Fort Stanwix witHthc Six K'a- Atiops und other Indians, on Tuffday November the lil, i758- PRESENT as at the former iVleetmg. The Indians being all f.'ated, they defired to know, whether Sir William wss prepared to hear them ; and on bemg anfwtred m the aflfirmative, the Speaker nood up, and fpoke as follows : WE'^are hopeful that you will not fake it amifs thnt we hnv« delayed till now our publick aiifwer on the fubjett you recom- mended to us ; this was a great and weigiuy matter, requiring lone delilier-'tion, and fhould not be undertaken lightly ; we hkve accordingly coHfidere i it, and are now come to give you our \ *.•%' '. I.,- !, II ( ><^ ) US, andwethinkit will be of gooHcrnfeq^ence, if you, on your parts, pay a due regard to it ■ and we, in confe ;uence thereof, hrive had fundry tneetings amon^fi curOMvcs and with you and from all that you liave faid to us thereon, we have at lengtli come to a final refolution concerning it, and we hope that what is now agreed ujwnlfhall be in iolably obfrrvcd on your parts, as wp rre determined it flial! be on ours ; an J that no farther at- tempts will be mide on our lands, but thnt tliisline be confider- ed as final; and we do now agree to the line we have marked upon your map, now before you, on certain conditions on v^hich we havefpokfn, and ihM fay more, and we defired that one article of this our agre' ment be, that none of the provinces, or tiieir peo- ple, (lull attempt to invr.de it, under colour of any old deeds, or other pretences whatfoever; for in many of thefe things we have been impofed on, and therefore we difrlaim them ;ill. Which hounds, now agreed to, we begin on tiis Oii-o, at tiie mouth of the Cherokee river, which is now our juftriihr- and from thence we go up, on the fouth fide of the Ohio, to K:tt:nMig, above Fort Pitt, from thence a direft line to t: e i e Tf H fork of the Weft Branch of Sufquehanna, tlience ti'rou.'^;! th" Alegmy moun- tains, along the fouth fide of ti-f faid Wcfr .'"r-ai-h, till wo come oppofite to the mouth of the creek cafle. Tiadnghton . tl.ct-.ce acrofs. the Weft Branch, and along the c;;li fide of that creek, and along the ridge of Burnet's hills, to a creoK. ciUed Awa;.dje, thence down the f^me to the Each Branch o-' Sufquehmm, nnd RCrofs the fame, and up the eaft fide of that river lo Owi^^y !rom thence eaft ward to Delaware river, ar.d up that river to (.ppofite where Tiaiiadcrrai) falls into Sufquchaima ; tjence fo Ti^.nidf-r- rah, and up the we fl fide thereof, nnd' its weft brnncn, to tiie head thereof: thcace by a Ttraiglir liiip to the mouth of Camda creek, v^hcre it empties itfelf into \Voo:l < rtck, at the en.i of tlic j|long cp.ny^n;; pliicc beyond Fort Stanwix A'd t'. is we cieclire to be cur ,:;!,il rciol.'cr,, and weexped th:it the conditions of this our prar.t will be obferved. A Belt. Brother, NOW ss we have made fo larKf -i ceffion to the King cf fuch a valuable and extenfive co lUry, we do expect it as the terms ofouragreement, that firicl re.:;a.-d be paid to ail our rcafo- Jiable defires. We do now, on this cafe, onbelalfnnd in the name of all our warriors of every mtion, '--Condition, that our warriors (li ill have the liberty of huntint^througlrout the country, ^ 5S they h;ive no other i.ic-ms of fiibfiilance-, and as your people Jiave not the fame occafionsor inclinations, that the white peo- ple be refirifted from hunii.ig ou our fide of the line, to prevf-nt contention between us. A Belt. ' Brother, ;■? Y this belt we addrefs ourfelvrs to the great King of En- gland, through you our fiipfirintcnia -t, in the n inean'd in be- wnch''e, Ueliwares, and all ' ^ iialf of all tie Six Natio'.iss, SI otner onr fr en-;:', allies nnd dop-'i^d ints -. wp now tell tlirKin:^ "^ thiU we have gi/rn to Li:Ti a rr'-it and valui')!e country, .'ind we know t-^.-it wiiat we ih;ill now get for it mull be far Ihort of .^ its ¥ ,i I #■ I* V f -Y ./■■ 'V ' I - ,r— •«? on your :ing of En- ?aiid ill bc- ;s, and all 11 thrKm^ Lintr)', .".r.d ur lliort of Ht ■ ( '7 ) its value ; We imke it a condition of this our aprrpement con- ceni g llie line, t ;at his m litPy will not f irg't or n -gle t to /hew us Ills favour, or fu iVr ;. e c.iain to co'.itr ;'■! rull -. but that he will dintX fhofe wo hav.- the m in^gemei;,- of our a fairs to b-^ punttuilii renewing our ' .Ci->nt igrccinenrs : T.nt - . t^ie Moh'wks .ire now within t.:e line 'v[-.ica we gi/e tc '. •, but tliitth" people with whom they hive agrred, m '.y luve tlv l»n J. We likewife f^irther condition, oa be .il' of all t..e -ix \' aims, a, id of hll ourrJli??, friends, and neu.e.vs, onrd.pendints, t;i'it as we have expesicnced howdif- ficiilt if IS to get jniiic-:, Jr torn k'" our compl-iints known, and til it iri- not In I c power of our fuperintcndant to tike Cire o£ our if ir,< in fli.iTerent phccs without t e King's help that his Mijefty will g.ve him help and lirengt;: to do us jutlice, and t» m .uge ■ ur aif lirs in a prop?r manner. We all k -ow the want of this, and we ^iike it a point of freat confoquc.ic', o.i whiclx this 'HI r prefent agreement is to depend, and without which af- f'irs will go wrong, and our heads m .y be turned. B'-.;tier, W E likewife defire that is we have now piven itpa great deal of ;a. d within tli; bounds thitMr. Penn claimed a right of buyi g> that ho nny, ii confequencc of the I'gr.ementt now e:i'i!-d info l-.etvr- n us, eijoy what we liave .-.ivon within them Knits. And as we know t!; it Lidius of Albmy did, in the name of Is'.'.ral perfons, hy claim tolind? in Pi-nnfylvania, whi li we know to I'C uniuit, n'.id thit the dcedUie preii.:idi a right to weri invaiil, we expert that no regivd will be paid to them, or any inch claims, nowor hereafter, a.s we have fairly fold thc-ni to tlie i^roprietors of Pennfylvanin, to w:.oai alone we fhill fell lands witiiin tr,at province; and we ill ill now g,ve ti.em a de d for that and otiier lind-. tiicro. And in order to fhew that we love i iflire, w;' ex'i?:! the tr ders wiio fufFered by fom? of onr dependants in the wa-s five ycirs a^o, may have a grant for tli2 lands 've now give them down 0:,io, as a fatisf'irtion for their loi- fes ; and as our friend Mr. Crogiun 1 j.ig -ro i,ot a deed fur lands from us, which may now be taken into Mr. I'enn's land'.-'; C Ihonld • This related to land'; on the Sufquehanna. pre. i) Mr. Prnncbiim'd tiiis pr"-emfion in virtue of KingCharles's charter to him, «f the .ith<-f M irch, ir>Si, and ofanaflofaf- femb'.y 6.f Peniifylvnnia, paff d in 1700, prohibiting; all perfm;, except hinifelf aid his licirs. fiom buying any I mds from l|ie na- tives within the limits tl.ereof. t Tiie proprietor! of Pennfylvania bcighf cfthe-'ilvr Natior'-, a large tradt of country at ; iiis Conrtc'.-. -v.c'. r.ii r"C'"ivinp; f rir deed of conveyance lor ih'-' f imcthe fiid propriftors paid t 1^ Six Nation.s 10,000 Spanifii miUi../4r';"^ ^~%y^-'%^/!''^ it?- ■ «?' /: . \ ■\ , \ \ I ' in^ * V ^' .h- ^ ■- —.rf«-; V . i •^ -\^v iff ^-. \ ■ :i V'^. ^ \,.::^ ( i8 ) fliould It (o happen, ^^c rtquclt Ihat it may be confidered, and that he may ttt as much from the King fcmewhere clfe, as he fairlv bought it. Ami as %ve have givf n enoi.ph to Ihew our love for fhe kirr, and make hi8 people eafy, in the next place, ^v-) expea, that nooldclal.Tis, which we difavow, or new encroach- ments may be allowed of. Brother, , , „ We have now gone through this matter, and we have (hewn our felves ready to give the King whatever we could reafonably iparc ; we on our parts, CKprefs our regard for him, and we hope for his favour in return. Our words are flrong and our refolutions firm, and wc expert that our requefls will he complied with, m- afmuch as we have fo generoufly complied with all that has been delired, as far as was confiflent with our inferen. \^'^^i;. AT a ceneral Congrtfs held at Fort Stanwix with tl;e oix l^..- tions, and other Indians, on Fridiy, November 4, i?^^- PRESENT, as at the former Meeting. SIR WiLLIAjyi, at the defire of the Gentlemen commifllonem from Pennfylvania, acquainted the Indians, that they, thecom- miffioners, had a prefent ready to the amount of f^ve hunclrm dollars, to give in fuUfatisfaaicnof theConoftoga lands, whic.i, l>y the death of that people, became vefled m the proprietor!-.. That they freely gave this fura, as a farther proof of the regard of that province for them aud of their concern for the unhappy fate of the. Conoftogas. Then Sir William told the Indians that as the proprietaries did not know, whether they would chocie money or goods for the addition of land to Pennfylvania, they were then unprovided; but that Sir William JohnfoD would le anfweratle for the fpeedy payment of the purchafe, and wou.a propofe to them, either 10 receive it in morey, to V,ejcnt 011 the commiinoners return, or in goods as fpeedy as Poffi'''e. ^f ;« wait till next fpring, by which time they could hive goods better, and more for the fame money from England, which was lubmit- tfid to their determination. As it grew late, Sir William difmilTed the Indians till the next day, when tuey were tofubfcnbe to the deed of cefficn, and re- ceive the confideration. , At night the Chifs came to Sir William, and told him, mat they had con.ndered the propofal made by the commiff.oners ot Pennfylvania, and they preferred the receiving the purchaie m cafli, as the fpeedieft payment : which was agreed to, and licu- lity given, that tke fame fliould be paid in fix weeks. A T a Congrefs with the fevcrnl Nations, Saturday, Novcmber| PRESENT, as before. THE deed to l.ih Majeny, that to the proprietors cf Penn- fylvania, with that to the trr.ders, being then laid on the table, were executed in ihe prcfence of the Governor, commillionfrr., andtlieieriof the gentlemen. , After which, the Chiefs of each nation rcccned the cam, whitn was piled on a table for that purpofe, and then proccfdcd to di- vide the goods amongft their people, which occupied the remain- der of that day. , p M. Tlie Covei-nour ai-,dcommifi'cners tocK leave, !"n'i re- turned to their refncaive provinces ; and that night Sir Willifim 'M -m M1^ ■W >^,^^'- M^,i«j»!-k^. r*n^- \m r^^ilK) .-4 « , , ( '9 ) •ook leave of the chiefj, recommending it to them to rein;mbei- v/hat had been then tranf lOeJ, and cautioning themagiinlx com- miting any diforJers at tkeir depirturc, bul to pack up their goods and return home in peace and good order. To all to whom thefe prcfents (hail come, or may concern, WE the Sicliems and Chiefs of the Six Confederate Nati- ons, and of the ShawanefTe, Del)wares,Mingoes of Ohio. u;d other dependant tribes, on behalf of ourfelves and of tl'.c reil of our feveni nations, the chiefs and warriors of wiiom are nowhere convene Iby Sir William Johnfon, Baronet, his Majef ty's Snperintenda-t of our affairs, fend greeting : WHEREAS his Majefty was gracioully pleafed to propofeto us in the year one thoufand feven hundred and fixty live, that a boundary lire ihould be fixed between the Knglilh iind U3, to afccrtain and efiablilh our limits, and prevent thof'? mtrufionsand encroachme-.ts, of whicli we had fo long and loud ly complained; and to put a (lop to tlie many fraudulent ad- Vintages which had bei-ii To often taksn of us •. which boun lary appearing to us a wife and good niMiur.", we did then agree to a part of aline, aid promiled to ftrttlothe whole (in:ll/, whcn- foever Sir Willi m Johnfon (hould be fully impowered to trca": with us for tiMt purpofe. And whereas fnis f ud Majefiy h-s at !?n,'^th given Si. Wiiiiam Johnfon orders to coinple.at the fiid boundary lire betwc n thi^ provinces and the Indians ; in ccntonr.iiy to wlvich order.-, Sir William Johnfon has convened the cliiefs and warriors of our re- fpeciive natior.s, wno are the .nu and .ibfoUif; proprietor; oC the lands in queflion, aid wlio are liere now to a very conllder- able number- And whereas many unearmcfTes doubts havearifen amongflus, which have given rifo to an apprehenfion that ti:e line may not be (IrifUy obferved on tr.e part of th^ Englifli, in which cafe matters may be wcrfe than before : v;hich apprehcnfion, toge- tiier with the dependant fiato of feme of our tribes, and other circumflanccE, retnrded tl'.e fcttlemcnt, and Iiecame thelubicft of fome debate ; Sir Willism Johnfon has at length fi far fatisficfl lis upon it, as to induce «s to come to an agreement concerninp; tiie line, whicii is now brought to p. conclulion, the whole beint; fully expl lined to u,5 in a large affembly for our people, beloro Sir Willlini Johnfon, and in prefenco ot his E"cel!:rry the Go- vernor of Ncvv-Jerfey , the cc mmiffiortTs from t!;e province.- o- Vii • ginia and Peanfy lv •-■.".ia, and fundry o;hrr gentlemen ; by which lint! fo agreedupon, a toniirlerahle tratt of country alongfevcrnl pro- vinces, •.,■: by «3 ceded to liis faid Majelly, which -.vc are induced to, and do hereby ratify and confirm to hi-; faid Majefiy, from thee:T- pei'.lation a nd confidence we place in his royal goo.'neff, thntliewill gracioully comply w ::h cur humble reqnrii.'-., as tl:efame;'re fxpref • fed in the fpceLli of tl;e fever d nations » arldrelfed to hisMaiefly, throur.'i Sir Willi ira Johnfon, on Tuefday the fii-fl day of the 'prefent month of No'cml-er ; \.'!ie>' i i '.ve have declared ovirc:-.- peftations of the continuance of his I.T.ij;ily'^; favour, and our defire that orr a'K'icnt engagemr'"/.:; \y- ubfcrvci. and our afF.uri atttnded to by '.'''Miirictr wlio iias the management thereof, en- abling him tu u.,ihar^'e all tiif inalt;:r.s properly for cur inieitell : That the Lnd:; occupied l.'y the M.'.hawks around their vi!laf,e3, oce page i j. if *■>- i '\4 ^v <■ •*<>• :-v>- i '• % ■;'■ ! |v I " i: I, ,4 [., "^i^ ( io "1 as well 2S by any othfr mition affefttd hy this our cefi'on, mny eikQuiilly r?maiii t'. them aiul to their piherity : aiul that any en -agtm ..t-, r. girding ):roierry, -.vhich u.cy imy iiow beurder, ni7 beprofcciiied, ai;d our prtfeut E.r.uu.. ^ deui.ea valid on cur puts, witii ti.e ft -eriil other humble requtils cont.intd iii cur laid I'pcccii AND W II F R E A S ?.t thf fettling of the f-iid line, it ?p- pe^red that the line ddtr bed ly his M ijftrty's oider, was not txttiided t . ti.e i.crtiiwird ot Owegy, or to the foiithward of C.reat Kuihaw:* river, we have agreed to, and continued the li,;e to ti.e norliiward, on a fuppuHtion thai it was oiniiied, by re-fon of our n^L h.ivino; coi'ie 1>.. any dt!ei-rain;tion conccrnin;:; jtscourfe, at a Co ic/tf,; hi 1 J ini7»5t- '"'i^d inafniucii ;,5 the line to thenoitli-.v.r., bee '.ir.e the niol. n.KclTaiy ot any, f.;rpre^ venti'ir encronhmcts, on our very towns and rcfideiices ; and •we have given this lino mon f :vouribly to Fennfylvania, for the realons ...K-i cor.lM'raior/, rnentu.i'.td in th.e treaty We inye ]i!! vjtil.te i' tob'ourtrao hounds with fhc feu- thern Indians, andtlwt .(; li . e an undoubted r:g.t inthecouu- •try ns far fout;i as that river, which makes our cef! on to his Majelly muc. more advaniaf;?ous than that prop'.fed. Now therefore, know yp, tii.i; we tiie fchcini 'ind ciii ts afcremen- tio. ed, native I- di I's and proprietors of ti.e h.nds hereafter or- fciibed, for ai.d in bflPJf of rur'elves and 'he whole cf our con- fp'erHcy, foriheconfid rations hen. in before mentioned, hi: fo tor and in coi.fid rat, on of the valuable prerent cft-e favera. iirticlf s in ufe amongft Indi ns, whic. , together with a 1 ir-e !urn of money, amounts in the whole, to ti^e lum of ten ihoufHncl four hundred and fixty pounds fcven (liillings and thn-e ptncc flfrling, to us now dtiivfrtd, and paid by otr Wi'liini johnfon, Baronet, his Muielly's CcU- apert a id fup-rlnterdant of Indnii affairs for the northern departn;ei t of Americ;', m the name and behalf of our Sovereign Lord George t'e ti.ird, by the grace ot God, of Great-Britain, France and I.elmi King, ce ender oi the faith ; the receipt whereof we do l.erel^y acknowkoge v.-e the faid Indians, have for us our heirs and iucrcll'ours, granted, - . . . . . . , ,^ -;rtfents t. bounded by a line which we have nov/ ai'.rfed upcn, and do here- by eflabliih as the boundary between us an 1 ;l;e Britdn Colo- r.ies in America •, begin-np at the n^outh of the Cherokee or Ho- cohecc river, wicreit -m'oties into therivcr Ohio, and running from thence npwirds alon-* ti e fouth lide cf tf e faid river to Cit- tanning, wtiica if above For! Pitt from tltnce by a airea line to the nearefi fork of ti.e weft brancli of Safquehanna, thence througr. tie Allegany mouHtains along tho f.uth fideo! the faid brmch, till it comes oppofife to ilis .nouth o{ the erect: thence acrois tiiC wtfi: brancii and alcnj; liie v;el: called T.adaglitoii 4 The erants they then made, snd wiiich are l.cre allndcd to, sreas follows: one to Mr. Trent -, one to Ueorge Croghan, were Efq ; and one to Meffrs Pennfylvnnia. X Sec paje Peun?, proprietors of the province of ■m #•*-- II .^' k on, may that any )e iirder, id on cur J ill cur :, it ?p- , was r.ot hward of inued the lilted, by ir.ccrr.irg c!i us the , f':rprp- ices; and ia, for tiie We have caiile the 1 fke feu- the conn- on to his t'l. Now •.forcmen- ■e ifter clc- f our con- ], uv.d al- ..e faverii! lir^e fum thou find hvee pence 1 Job P foil, tcf Indinii name and e prace of e ender of Itdge- y-e i, granted, i'e prifents .u- fadSo- f land fit u- rttltmcnts, nd dohere- itiih Colo- kce or Ho- nd running ver (o C'it- diren line ina, thence »o! thefaid tlie creel: a;id alcnjj the a!lt;ded to, e Croghan, j^roviiice of ( 21 ) thpfjuth fiJe of that creek, and along tlie north fido cf Cura.M's hilh, to a creek Cilied Awmdie; thence down the fame to th« er- branc!i of S fquehanm, md acrofs t e fame, and up theeift fiJ>' of t.i't r.verto Owegy : from thencf caft to Del iv/a re river, . a'.i i uptint river tooppo.'ite ivuere Tianadorha falls into Sufque- haiiiia tn iice tj Tun iJeriia, and up the wefl fide t; ereof and tiie weft fid ufii3 •.veTi bruncSi, to the head thereof; .md thence ky\i direl iait u- Cnnad ere k, where it empties into Wood cr>e'<.at the velhiuofihe carrying pi le beyond l'or:£tanwix,a,i.; extend- ing c.ftw^i-l fromevc-ry part of tiie faid lines far as tl:eland.- for- m-rly purcliafed, fo as to comprehend the whcleof liic lands be- tween the f ij line and the purchaf; i lin:!.^ or fctti'imentj, t^- cejJt w 1 It is witl.in the pro/::ice of rcanfylvania, fog.;ihtr with .-.II the !.ereJitament.s and appurten-.nce;; to the f me belonging or appertaining, in the fulleft and moli ample m inner an.iail tie eftato, right, title, ir.tcr2n, property, poifeftio.i, f.e;if;if, clauif and dem-.nd, either in iuv or criiity, of each ai;d every (^f us of, in, or to the fame, or any piri thereof, to have and lo hold' the whole lands r.nd premiles ii-reby granted, har;:; lined, lol :, relcafeJ, and confirmed asaforefai.-^, with th-3 hercd.uineiits m I appurtenances tiiereunto belonging, under the rei"; rvations made ;n the treaty unto our fid Sovereirn Lord J^n'.q Gcoig'} ti,e third, nis heirs and fuccefTours, to and for kh a:id tficir own pro- per ufe an I behoof for ever. In witnefs whereof, we the chiefs of tliC co:;fe.der.icy, have hereu.ito fct our ii.irln and fe.il Fort Stmwix, the 5th d ly of November, iroS, in the rinth of his iVIajelty's reigp.. Se.dod and delivered in L ■ . •- , the prtfeiite of us .S ^ .;, at yew " AT,"^^^'^^'■''' ':^;^stt''-e<^e'-man Flat.s, in the province of »■ New Ycr;-:. with the Six Na:ionsof Jiidi-; .is ni Jiilv i7'.o by Sir Willi im J.hnfon, Baro.et, his Maj.i;y'3 I..,;, agent 'iincj fupcrintendant of Jndiati alFairs, etc. etc. ••' He fpok'j t3 them .-js follows : '• Brother'!, . • '•The King my mafler having recei-ed all t'-c papers and pro- ceedings reLuive to the grc 1 treitv ;,- Fort fctai-.rvi::, to- getner with tnc deed of cel.'.'on w„i. :, you th-.ii executed to hin, hns Uid them befor'.- his council of great men, ;ind after confidcring tiie whole of it, has (ignified to me, (which I nope w.ll be deemed a farth.cr iafiascc ot hi..s :>.Trf riwlKoodnef? ) tUit l:o did not require the land fo fir to the •.outhvv'ird (13 the convenicnr." tie,%inp a copy^ i- - ^'"f ^''?''' .'^■"" nil know it was cxocnieJ in a ptiblic niAti'ng of the g-:at; n numLer of Indians tliut has ever (. ..mO affemblfd within the Umc ot our rememhrance, and that all v. n hq,i nnv F--«n. 3d. fterling, then p:ii;l to the S<:i United Nations, and for other confidcrations menti- onerl and expre.Ttd in that deed and the treaties previous and preparatory to it. This deed»(pf cefilon, the ccnvfvancc to Tvlr. Trent, rrd the treaties in 176', and i7dS'j miifl be corfidtrcd together, rs tl;ey all tend to illufiratc the whole franf:;i1ion, r.nd e.'jpiain the in. tcnfion cf the contrafling partie;:: And r.ikiiig the whole under ronfi deration it appe.r--, that the Six United Nations wfre truly f,;nfiblc of the great lofs tho traders had niftaircd by the irea- . ehery anddeprodntions of feme of tlieir trihut"ry or dcpcnc'ant ■ tribes; that a requifition v.-a..; made to thf Six lmit<^d Nations in Mpy 1765 for a fj-,nt of lane! by way of compenCaing in feme meifiir') for the dama;;C3 the i;-; d:rs hpd fnfiaincd by the dep,-e- dations of their dependmts or tributary Indians; thnt tlit Six ?lat:ons, nftsr deliberating from ihe^.J of May, whtn this re- tju:fi-ion v,M3 made, to the Gth of Miy, they agrjed tiiat therc- tju?!: si :he tr-.;d2U C.io'cld be complcd with, and they v/ou!d grant; the in '\f m I •*.. '-»i^' >^ir |a i w i' ' ■ » Aj^ :;;^^;;:a{'*v^ ''^■'fT^^^Ji^f'^^^'^-'''^^J-'^4' ( 23 ) anfwer you, ing's having; iwix, >7ith his lenfrd." rant of lands ofifion "th.if )fc frrm pri»- niigln poffefs • transfer (lie -, and upon 'h grant, ccf- :cn()ed to hij y^ lefidcd in the mode ot led, and {.'ifir reappropria- afe of vacant original pro- jprietors, by •s. that the In- d to the land? but however ;fs words by an-.vix, No- ne i;nd abfo' ley were alfo een England d in the cafe, vith particu- on, confidcr lolleiTors and November, Pierling, then Jtions n-.eiiti- revious and nt, rrd tho er, rs tlicy >iain tl.c in- whole under s wfre truly jy (lie irca- ;ir dopcnt'ant tnd iviations iiing in feme y the dep.-e- thnt tht Six hcii this re- that ther;- v.'ould grant tl.eiu ;*" - ti-.fm feme lands near Fort Pitt. That , (he Conrrefs ; nd tre.i. ty i'l November 17O3, held nt Fort StaiuMX, the chiefi -nd (,(- rliems of the Six United Nations agiin took thi, mailer under t.heir confideration, and upon t\tc fir:) day of that ii;oiUh t::pre(f- ly d. dared, that " in order to fhcw tivit t' ey loved juHicr " they expefled, that the traders who fu!fered by feme of their '* d. pendants in the war fiveyeais fincc, might hsvc a jrr'nt for " the lands tney then ^ave them down Ohio, as a fa:isf::ition for '• their loffes." On the 3d day of the fame month of November, the Six Na- tions, by their fachems and cliieis executed the convevaiice t.'> Mr. Trent, whicli proceeds upon a recit d, that J;e had ban impowered by feveral Isricrs of attorney frori; the fuif. rir.f, tia ders named in the faid deed, to alk, folicit, demm.*, ai.cl re- ceive from the Six Nations a grant of a traa of land as a Catis- fafhon, compenfation, in retribution for tiie goods, mrrciian- dife, and effefts of the faid William Trent, and of the faid feve- ral traders which tiie faid Shawnrffe, Deftware -nd Huron tribes, tributaries of the faid S;;: Nations (contr.ry to all good laith, and i(i violation of their repeated promifes of G:f5ty anri protection to the traders, their ftrvants and eXetAr-j while trad- ing ia their country) did violently feiv-e upon, and uniuftiv appropriate to their own iife. Tlis deed then declares tt.at in confideration of the fum of 85,9161. is. 8d. lawful money of t: e province of New- York, the fame being the cimount of the goods and meichandife which were unjuflly feizcd and taken from I'm: traders as aforefaid, whereof lufl and fair account* on oathaud aflirmuion had bern produced, interpreted and explaiiud to them, and which at their defire were then lodged ard depuiitcd vvit'tlie fai-l.Sir William jchnfon. The chiefs and fachtms of the (aid Six United Nations, for tlie faid confide; aiionp, and in rouiid^-ratjoii of 5s. did give, grant, bargain and fell unto hi:* Majelty, his heirs and fucceffnurs, to and for the only ufe, be- iicht, and behoof of tiie fa:d William Trent, in his oral right, and as attorney aforefaid, all that trart of land defcribed in the conveyance. To hold unto his Majefly, his heirs rrd fufc-f f "/lirn"' ^° ""'^ '''"■ ''"•'-' "'''>' "f"^' bcneht, and behoof of the laid VVilham Trent, 11 his own right, and as attorney aforefiid, ..is heirs and ailigns for ever. This deed of convtvancc feems to have been executed in tlie mofl public manner,"in tiie pre- fence of the King's Govemonr of New-Jerfey, and t::e commifn- oners tnira v,ri;inia and Fennfvlvania. And feveral other t rr- fons who uteijded the Con,-;rffE, «nd attefud the execution ut uiis conveyatic", which by that means rccdved evet}' decree cf folemnity andfanftion. ^ On the 5tii diy of the fair.o month of ICoveinbtr, 17CS, the ;fr-. -"v"^.;? - ''■?'^ txLxuted theirdecd of '•c'liim to hie' other grants then made ) 'TLI'P'^ ''""'■^^ '° "'- ^^'"?' "^f °"'^' '" tonfidcration'of the Piefentthen madt- nnd tht money then i,?. id by the K^n^- a- mouiitmg to^io,,5ol. ,os. ,d. but alio for il.ec:her conCd'i^nfioi; i,?„ u5 ,".'' ,bf^f mtniioMd, and the Habe-udum is to tbcKinp, Jer :hc rfferva; :.;./! ;::id'i.; '^ttrfu- t7 his heiriacd ''{JCirfTv •-,■:■. I :f^ :■■} % ' '4' WK'pfl^-n^-'iSi^Ij^.ftPI^'' :^Jiat^ft^ . .;' Mifrn ,1 ■^ -4^-. C5 OJ t,^ -^ r'24 5:^ "* ty ici Iriat (he deed of ceflion to the King virtually confirms the conveyance to Mr. ,3" rent. Upcr. the whole, 1 am of opinion that Mr. Trent in hieowri rig;ht, and as attorney for tlic traders, hath a good, IsKt'ial and fufficient title to the land granted by the faid deed and ciiveyance, fubicfl only to the King's fovereign- ty o"er the fettlements to be! cflabliftied thereon, and ovier th^ in* inbitants as Englifli fubieds. ' . ., Lincoln's Inn, >March 20^. 1775. (Signed) HENrYDAGGE. Serjeant G L Y"N's opinion. ■ .• • -IT I RELY cancur with Mr. Dagge in his opinion oii T ri, « cafe. The property of the foil conveyed to Mr Trent far iiimfelf and as attorney was certainly in the Six Nations, and' .incident to t^-^t property, they had a power of alienating and vri,-i;orriag in an/ manner, or to any perfohs, unlefs they had I) en rufl rained by their own laws. In this cafeihe fupreme power of the country rcMe^lfia the fellers, who had tilerefore an abfolute power of ;ilicnatijf|, and t.'.e tranfartion being fair and op;n, and for the exprefr-ourpofe of doing an aft oi public iuftice, mufl bind the S'%iimiortB in good faith. If we fuppofe, that the fovereignty o: fflft land fiill remains in the Six Nations, the property of the foil muftlhe in t:!e grantee Mr. Trent, and cannot without v^iolence anf*in- ]*u;lice be taken from 1 im. The very aft however of the fove- ■ reign power of the Six Nations admit-- a capacity ir the graniee to take under the deed according to their lawsorufag", and fi ere is no law that I ever heard of, that reftrains the fubjeftsof tlie cro.vn of England from purchifing in foreign dumi iions. The inte.uion of the parties here appears to h,ave been to trin'fer ','»e fovt-rei^nty to the crown of Ennlan*! tiy fhe f^nie irf(lrum,'nt whereby the land was conveyed. Tpis tr-'ns r»-r of the fow-'Pir ^tyV i«, effeft11.1l, it paded, and is confirmed hv t.,e defd of cefHcn to the crown, dated two days after ; hut fubjeft i,-.wevcr to aH the antfccdent rights o.' property, ih'.' crown beinp entitled only jo the immediate property of vacant and unappropriite-l lahfls- hut in this cafe the lands are abandoned, by the proprietors and' con- veyed to the grmtee. If the crown had an original fovereignty Hill the foil being the property of the Six Natio.n, they and fneir alienee (hould be protefted by that fovereignty in ti.eir pro- perty. If the crown acquired the fovereignty by the grant to Mr. Trent, or by tlie deed of ceflion, the title of the rrafttee is then under the prctfftion of the laws of En£>land. Upon the whole, I am of opinion, that in cv«r>>,wny of con- .'Idaring t:.:.vaUe, the gran; to Mr. Trent is good, fnfFcient and lawful ; andls under uie protec^•on of the laws of England. '^* Serjeant's Inn April ij, 1775. '. * (Signed) JOHN GLYNN.' ' ■TY 'A V ! N G long fince car'-fnlly fludied thcfe points, I ronru, ^■«- fully w:th Councellor Dagge and Serjeant Glynn in their opinion!) as above delivered. Philadelphia, July 12, 1775. (Signed) 6. FRANKLIN. r,' R iM principles which appear to me very clear, I concur in ■*• tiie .1 hove opinions. * Philidrlpliin, July 29, j"7i;. •■ C'-'C»ed) P. HEJv^RY, Jun. ■'4 :■■--»., -ikN-*^- \<4v/. ' ■i« V ':-% m^ -:4r^'. lly confirms ihc I am of opinion / for tlic traders, land granted by ting's fovereign. and oviur the in- 1 his opinion oii d to Mr Trent, nx Nations, and of alienating and unlefs they had y rffldeafijn the f ;iiicnRti'tt%, and exprefs-jpurpofe ■ S'%rMion8 in o; m land fliH 5 foil muftihe in i/iolence an^in- ver of the fove- f IP the pranire, jfag", and ti ere e fu')je£tscf the I'jmrjions. The n to tr in'fcr 'iie C'-me ■irfSkWiy of con- 1, fiifFcient and f England. ■ , '-^ 1 GLYNN.' Joints, I conrui' Glynn in their # N K I. I N. ;ar, [concur in iRY» Jun.