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V '»• •> «. »... • » H 11 III j> .■ » 'tvi--.^. % «» £ ■, -^ ■ •-* -, ' •J ; r' .■it !■»' -,!:. i.;*fi' fari The h^ Of her Detcri] Tbci^ Accot Hisni< His arj hit JCind £xam) His ai Jofepl burl Hilfq .»*..*. .MV,UJrtii''«-v^* n ■ . I C O N T E N T S- ♦ • - I. Frxkch and Indian Cruelty. THE author's Mrth, and ffltniMr of hit being icidnipped At Aberdeen 3 He arrrives ofF the coaft of AoicH^a. and ii (hip* wrecked at Cape May 4 Sold at Philadelphia to a planter. 5 Di^cription of the city of Fhiiadelphia 6 Hif marriage, and fcctlemeot in a piantatttitt 7 His iionfe biirnc by the Indians s and ' 9 Himfeif carried off b/them II The cruel treatment be fuflfered while among t6e farages II. The (hocking mzfSkcrc of Jacob Snyder and hit family , 14 Oi her indances of the barbarity of^ the Todi ant • 16 Deicripttoii of their drefii and difpofitiona : sr The author meditatei his efCape ; and ?7 Accompiiihes jt| at the ri(k of his life 38 His manner of travelling and concealing hifhfelf ' 39 His arrival at the houfe of John Bell/ who takes him f9r an Indian, and threateni to (hootbiin $0 JCind reception amonp^ hit wife's friendi $i £xamination before^Gpvernor Monit . tb Enters a voluntier iii $hitley'a regiment 3^^ His arrival at Bofton» and a defcription of it . ^3 Jofeph Long, Eibt with his houfe and fcrranti| burnt by the Indians ^$ Hit foil and daughter carried off by them g6 Jamea •-, M i». contents: )afii^9 Of l^cr jiuei Crawford, Efq j bil expedition for the refcue of Mift Lon|» Tlit deplorable condition 'n which fhc wak found Fifty of the favapes killed, and ic^lped 'i'h< YouQg Lady's accouiu o£ (be mafi bro(hcr ' ^ Mifs Long married to her (deliverer March of the forcfs for Ofwego Account of the different motions of the Indian! Theii education, manners, reh'gion, kc, I'reparaiions for defending €>fwe(»o ' rite author's danger In a batteau among tHe cUtara^ls 50 Mutiny of the fotdicrs fur want of provifions and pay Gen. I^r^Jdock^s defeat; and mifcoaduA in that €3^ ped iron / Afj 'yal of 3000 FrencMn Canada I>j.A;riptJon of New\ifor1c Frefh rncQffions and dei^aftations of the favagei Many i{^{tances ef their diabolical crueity Scarro-oyda liia fpeech to the Aflembly The ambor goes op an expedition againft the Indians 6t Tk^nce againft the favages in KennoftowB«hcad Chorch Pu(h thro' the Indian*^ and retire with loft ' Keinforcedby Gen. Frankland from PhUadelphia Fiiriher outrages of the fivages, in wbich George Humeri £^ ; and 16 of hit family are burnt Gipt. Armftroix^^i expedition againfV them 37 ib 43 ,43 AT 51 53 54 55 56 IT 55 69 ib 63 64 67 Capt. Jtcobs, chief the Delawares, and (qoaw kiHedl ib p '1 Cgpt. Hogg's braveiy The author wounded at the Great Carrying-Place Shirmtfli w^itb a body of Indians near Ofwego. Ao Irifhman ffalped when drunk, yet recovered The French difcovered foming to atlack Ofwego Trenches opened be'bre Fort Qbtarid Tbefort abindontd-by the £iiglt(h , Preparations to attack the ()ld.ForC The brave C>l. Mercer killed 1 . j fiurrenc'er of the fort and garriTdn, ^with tbe articles 8r^ Crueity o^' ihe Ipdiana oa th»i occ i^on tt Thf finglifh conduced by Mbmreil, to.&c. $i Adv4iuage of the E^iglifli in mainuioing (riendihip with them ^l Tlurtr complaintt agaioft the fraudulent dealiogi of the tradeti 9a Methods inggefttd for removing thtCe compUinii 5^4 u !!• Account of the BRirisifi Set- tlement in N. America. Dcrcription of New-England. Jti foily prodjice, trtde, &c. 9f ■ of New- York, &Ci 96 ■ . of Penfylvania, &c. . 97 of Mtryland, &c, 99 I of Virginia, &c, lod ■ ■ of Carolina, frc. 101 ■ I of Nov* Scotia. &c> : 10^ ! '• of Canada, $tc. . ib The embaikatioQ at Qacbcx for E^Und 10^ III. A Difcourfe on Kidnapping. T^e author's arrival at Aberdeen in qneft of hit relations Profectttioii of the Mngiftrates againft him His books Ittzed and burnt by the hangn^an Put in cotafin^ment tiH he fuhfcribed a recantation The Magiltrates judge in their own complaint Improbability that they could be ignorant of the V praAice of Kidnappi g 1078 Pte^f of that pra«5Uce by a cloud of WitnclS^ ico De^fition of Aicjiaader King to i. M ! r , of John VVilfon . ib - or Jf'raiicis FrAfer^ Efcj; - ' 1 10 7. of Robert K<»id I'ti Depofitioil 105 ib 106 ib 107 m- jrl p.- ^ C O N T E If T ft Itefofirirn of liabel Wiliod .■>i of Maigdret RrUJ ■I. I of George Johnfton ■ ■ of Atcxandtri Gfigcrfoa m of MargartM Rofs > of* William Jmiitfoa ■I.I o^ George Ltfl e — of CUriilian Finlatcr of Robert Br^^nrf .1 of George Maclcie ■ of Jimes Rattray < ' of George Garioch m , -^ of Alexander Gordoo I • - of Alexander Gray ■ ■I of Helen Law of JaiTies Robrrtlbn . of James Smith -— of Walter Cochran I " ' 11 of William Gibfbn i f . . . of John Dickfon n^c wickedncfi of the prtAice of Kidnapping evpofed r^ Queries concerning the lawfniiiefs of it i^j Accoant.of the various itratagemt ufed toinve^fe .chilr'rrn *" 134 Xhc manner of di(pofin^ 6f them abroad f 3 f The ufagc they receive from the Planters 136 Bad charadier of thofe yiho voluntarily indent them- fslves 137 Advantages which Artificers^ &c. may reap in fet- tling there* 238 trt lit tij ti4 118 "i2 110 ib 131 I24't ib Mil 118 '291; 13a ib ■^ = if fell IV. Hiftory of the Proccfs between the Author and the Magillraics^ of Aber- deen. ^ Jf^ftt^Qtion and aatltonty of Magiftratet llicgolarity of their proceedings 'I;he Author applies for redrets If lerlocutor of the Court of Se(^n j^ler Vrom two of the Batlit s ef Abeirdcea tf%-«f a Country w here law and juftivc prof tl) ig t)us Qa|rA|ivf »39 •7 1 » 1 r ^. ., - *■••*• ••;!! ..VV-^.iy • "' ' m ^MM « ■ . '1 . » • ^'^^B^^^H !' FRENCH ' -' f -■- - .- ■ - • • r • » and INDIAN 1 C R U E L T Y, i;*i;- 'i':*?vlrj ^■*- i' o;*-* rr^- H£ reader is nrtt here to expf^l a large and ul'elefs detail of the tranfaiSrions of lirf years, in that part of the AvorlJ, vvhere> •ever fince my infancy, it has beeii'my misfortune to have lived. Was it in my powf r, 'fndccd, to fct olF with pompous di£tion, and cmBeiUfli with'tij:*tK ficial defcriptions, what has fo ingrofied'thVSlt'en- tion \:if Europe, ViS well as the fcenes of y:^!^^^ fotnfc years paft, perhaps I might; hut niy -poor peb; Ocing wholly urffit for fuch a talk, and never utfccr- wife employed than juft for my ow^n a^'airs ahd emulenient, while I had the pkalure of living tran- auii and undifluibcd, I muft beg leave to defift from fuch an attempt ^ and, if liich is expected from me, claim the indulgence of that pardon vljcii is never re fu fed 'to thole incapacitated of performing ?vliat may be dcfiied of them. And, as a plain, •ttppart^^^^^ and fucciti£l: narsative of my mvn Vift , ll^ous viciiTitudcs of fortune, is all I fhali aim ^^^16^11; herein confine raylelf to pliain -firriplfe *Hh| Bftc^,'»in the dictates reflating ffom anhoncft ft>: |>ive.t^e reader qo oth^r entertainment thai^ .-*'% ;:*"^1 -7 TheLIFEot what fliall be matter of faft ; and of fuch things -as have a£>ually happened to me, or come to my own knowledge, in the Tphere of life, in which it has been my lot to be placed. Not, but I hope I may be allowed, now and then, to carry on my • narrative from the informations I have received of fuch things as relate to my dcfign, though they have not been done or tranfa£ted in my prefcnce. It being iifual in narratives like this, to give « Ihort account of the author's birth, education, and juvenile exploits, the fame being looked upon as a •necefTary, or at leaft fatisfaftnry piece of informa- 'tion to the curious and inquifitive reader ; I fliall, without boaAing of a family I am no way intitled -to, or recounting adventures in my youth, to which J was entirely a ftranger, in a (hort manner, gra- tify fuch curioHty; not expeOing, as I faid be- fore, to be admired for that elegance of (lile and profuHon of words, fo univerially made ufe of in details and hiAories of thofe adventurers, who have of late years obliged the world with their anecdotes and memoirs ; and which have had fcarce any other cxiftence than in the brains of a boQkieller*s or printer's Garreteer ; who, from fewer incidents, and lefs furprizing matterthan will be' found in this ihort narrative, have been, and are diaily enabled, to fpin and work out their elaborate performances to three or four volumes. That I, like them, pub- Ji(h this for liipport, is true; but as I am too lend- ble, the major part of mankind will give much more to a bookleller, to be in the tafliion, or fa- tisfy their curiofity, in having or reading a new puffed up hillury or novel, than to a real objeft oT jdillrefs, for an accurate and faithful account of 4 feries of misfortunes, I have thought it mor€. ad? ^vi^eable to confine myfclf as to fize and price, th^Q iij making a larger volume, mil's that a^iflaRCi^ \< V '^ 1^.. PETER WILLIAMSON. j and relief^ of which I at prcfcnc am in fo great need. Know, therefore, that I was born in Hirrthy. irt the pariOi of Moyne and county of yJberdeen, North* Britain ; if not of rich, yet of reputable parents, who fupported n»c in tlie beft manner they could, as long as they had the happinefs of having me un- der their infpe^^i'on ; but fatally for me, and to their great grief, as it afterwards proved, I was fent to live with an aunt at Jberdeen, when under the years of pupillarity, playing on the key, witn others of my companions, being of a ftout robuft conlU- tuti jn, I was taken notice of by two fellows belong- ing to a veflel in the harbour, employed (as the trade then was) by forae of the worthy merchants of the town, in that villainous and execrable prac- tice called kidnapping', that is, ilealing young chil- dren from their parents and felling them as flakes in the plantations abroad. Being maiked out by thofe xnonliers of hnpiety as their prey, I was eafily ca- joled on board thi (hip by them> where I was no - . fooner got, than they conducted me between the decks, to fome others they had kidnapped in the * fame manner* At that time, I had no lenfe of the fate that wasdeftined for me, and (pent the time in childifh amufements with my tcUow-lutFerers in the ileerage, beiiTg . never . Tuffered to go upon deck whilll the veflel lay in the harbour; which was un- til luch a, time as they had got in their loading, . with a compliment of unhappy youths fur carrying , on iheir wicked commerce In about a mcnih'b time the (hip fet fail for Jmerica* The treatment we met with, and ihc trifling incidents which happened during the voy- age, 1 \hopc I may be excuied . from relating, as • not being, at that time, of an age lufficient to rc- maiii any thing more than what muft occur to every ouepn iucU an occafion. However, 1 cannot for- : Aa;.. gee :/' « 4, T . \- '"^^ammm f« i ii .i >>i ^ p . m ^ -yw— wp«wimw . I I . I * ' X 4 T u n L 1 F E ar ger, that, vhcn v.e arrived en the coafl w« vv^rft- ciertined for, a hard gale of wind fprung up fri-m. tlic S. F. anj, to the captain's great lurpiize, (he not thinking he was near landj aiihuugh having fcccn ekvcn wcekson tlie j ;i(ragc, atn ut Jv/elve o*clock at nlr'it tl c (hip {huclv'.m a fan J bank, off Cr.pe ATciyy naar. the cnpes of Ddawarty and to the great terror and affright nf the (hip's cunipanvx in a. (mall time, wns simc ft full of water. The boat was then huiilcd out, into which the captain, nnd his feltow- villains, tha crew, g^ot with (oma ttiSiculty, leaving me and my deluded companions tppciiih ; as they then rxut?iMil!y concKidcd inevi^ limbic death to be our fate. Often in my diftrcffes and miferles fince, haye I wifhc4 that fuch had h^ow the confecuence, when ui a (late of innocence ! i^Ut Providence inougiit proper to rescue me for fu- tmc trials of its n:ooidne(s. 1 hu? abandoned and cteferted, without the Icall prolptcl of rcUcf, hut tlireatcncJ cvcrv tnosnent with de.:ih, did thcfe vil- Jairts leave us, The cies, the (hrieks and tears of a parcel of infants, had no c(R6ton, cr cauied the lead rernpri: in the bi.vfls of thefc nicrciiefs v/rctches. Scarce can I l.nv., to which to give the fe j-jicicrcncc ; wheihcr to (ich as thefc> who lia\e had the opportunity of knovvir.g the Chri(li9.n ifcli- , rion, or tv) tlic lavages heicin alter difcj iJbed, wha ,' ptofancnci the gofpcl, crboan of huu.apiiy ; and^ if they ntfl in a moic brutal and butcherly manner, yet 'tis to tiieir ( iicmi-es, tor the ibke of plisnder and the rewards cflcrcd thcra ; fv^r their principles are. alike,; the love of (brdid gain beir.g bt-th their mo« tivc.s. The (hip being on a lai^d bank, which did ri t give way to let her deeper, we lay in the fame dephjrablc condition until morning: w;hen^ thougli >ve law the hir>d of Cape Mfty, at about, a milpfa ' mcc, we kiicNv not, whjit wpuld.b.e Qur fate. ,/ I ■ *--V ,. 1 . ■- '^ ■ ■ TO*- \ V 1 ti'> PT.TER WILLI AM SON. 5 The wind at length abated, and the captain (un- willing to lofe all her carg >) abmit lu o'clock. Tent fome of his crew in a boat to the fliip's fide to bring MS on (bore, where we lay in a ion of a camp, inade of the fails of the veflel and fuch other things as they could get. The provifions lafted us until we were taken in by a vefTcl bound to Philadelphia ; lying on this ifland, as well as I can recollect, near three weeks. Very little of the cargo was faved undamaged, and the veiTel intirely loS. uiWhen arrived and landed 2X Philadelphia , the capital o£ Penjyhama, the captain had loon^ people enough who came to buy us. He making the moft of his villainous loading, . after his difader, (old us at about 16 /, per head. . What became of my un- happy companions, I never knew ; but it was my lot to be fold to one of my countrymen, vvhofe name was Hugh (Vilfon, a North- Britairtf for the term of feven years, who had in his youth under- gone the fame fate as myfelf; having been kid- napped from St. Johnflon in Scotland. As I ihall often have occafion to mention Philadelphia during the courfe of my adventures, I (hall, in this place, give a (hort and concife deicription of the fineft city in America, and one of the bell laid out. in the World. '• I A,lt-f<^'!>,'- » r,.-| 4 :•;,,-. f i-i-. This city would have been a capital fit for aa «mpire, had it been built and inhabited according to'the proprietor's plan. ; Confidering its late foun- dation, it is a large city, and mod commodioufiy fi- tuated between Delaware and Schuylkill^ . two navi- gable rivers. . The former being two miles broad, and navigable 300 miles for fmall vefiels. It extends^ in length two miles from one river to the other. There arc eight long Greets two miles in lengthy to the firfl plan. It has tvvo fronts to the water,- one on the eaft fide facing the Schuylkilh, and that* «n the weft facing the Dclawaret The SchuyikilP feeing navigable Soo miles above the falh, the eaft- ernpart'is FiKift popalous, where the ware-Itoufcs, . tome three ft'^ries high, and whar-fs are numerous and convenient.- All the lioufes have laKge orchards- and gardens belonging to them. Th© merchants^ that refide here ape numerous and wealthy, many^ df then> keeping -thdr coaches, ^Ct In the centre of the city there is a/pace of ten acres^ whereon* arc built the ftatc hourcj market* ho life, and fehool-^ houfe; The former is built of brick, and' has 2LK prifun under it. The ftreets have their numes from* the feveral forts .of timber cr>mmon in Penjyiv untax as hJulherry'Jtreety Saffofras flreet,. Chef nut -fir e€i^\. Beach ftreety and Cedar Jireet. ^'hc oldelk church* h ChnfiChurchf Siv\d has a- numerous congrega-* tion ; but the m-ajor part of- the inhabitants, being; at firft Qi-akcrs, ftill xontmiie fo^ who have ieveral^ Me-ethir-loiifefy and may not tmpropei ly-be called* t-he church, as by law eftabliAed, beifig the origft nals. The key is bcautitiri, and 200 teet fquarc,; ti> which a ihipof 2Q0' tons* mny-lay her abroad fidc.^ As tl'iC advantages this city may boaft of, ha-s ren* dercd it ons ot> the btft trading townif -out of the. Stit'fjh cmpipe ; fo in all probability H will increafo rn commerce and licl.cs.it not prevented by^party^ faTion, and rel^ious feuds^ which of lat^ years* li !ve made it luticr coiil-iJerablyc The afii€mblics» and courts of judiGature are held here, as in all ca«< pit ils. The tref.cb have no city likje k itL^il-^tne^ rica. ■ f^'.^'- i\^v^-A-. i Happy was my lot In falliog into my country*, man^ ptwcr, as he wasj^cdintrary tomaayothdfii:^ • ; > of lis caliing, a humane, worthy houcft maiu;!';;; Having ng children of his own^ and cum£aiier^uni|^^|| (' -f «^ iB'^W %. J!^ ""iy-. •*•». '^^ '~^- P E T E R W ILL I A MS O Ni ;r my unhappy conditiDn, he took great eare of mer. until I was fit for bufinefs; and about the iith' year of my age, fet me about little trifles rin which: ftate ^ jntinucd until my 1 4th year, when I was* more ;n for harder work-. During ftich my idle* flate, feeing my feilow-fervants often reading and- writing, rt incited in me an> inclmation to learn,- •which 1 intimated to my mafter, telling him, I fliould^ be very willing to ferve a year longer than the con-- traft by which I was bound obliged me^if he wculdv indulge me in goirig to fchool: this he readily agj-eed: to, laying, that winter would be the beft time. lt> being then fummer, I-waited with impatifince for t+ie other feafun ; but to make fomr pr ogrels it\ my. dtjfigty, I got a Primmer^ and learned as much from* Sly feilow-fervants as I could. At fchool, where I. went every winter for five years, 1 made a tolerable; pruficicncy, arid have ever fmce been improving* myielf at leiiuie hours. With this good mafter, L continued till I was Icvcntccn years old, when he^» died,, and, as- a.reward for my faithful fervice, left* me 200 1, currency, which was then about laaAx Hurling, his befl h^irle, faddle, and ail his weariug. appeared Being now. my own ; mafter^ having money iftv- XT9y pocket, and all other ncceflkries,. I employed/ ni5^elf ill jobbing about the counti-y,. working tor; atny that would employ me^ tijr ntdariiyea yeais j: whcn 'thinking 1 had money lutficient tO:ftpUo^vt atliucnt manner, made me a deed of* i^t^..o£.jLXiSL£tjji land,iiut lay (unhappily for me^^ V I' .J^ r m: f- Thi LI F E" or as it has fince proved) on the frontiers of the pro-- vince or Penfylvani^y near the forks of Delaware , in : erks county, containing about 200 acres, thirty of which were well cleared, and fit for immediate ufe, whereon, was a good houfe and barn The place plealing me well, I fettled on it ; and though it coll me the major part of my money, in buying fh>ck,houleh old furniture, and implements for out- door work ; and happy as I was in a good wife, yet did my feiici y laft me not long; For about the year 1754, the Indians m xht French intereft, who had for a long time before raviftied and deftroyed other p^rts of America unmolefted, I may very properly fay, began to be very troublefome.on the frontiers of our province, where they generally appeared in fmall dculkiiig parlies, with yeilings, Ihoutings, and antic poilures, inllead of trumpets, and drums, <;omniitting great devellations ^ The Penfylvamans little imagined at firft, that the Indianr gulty of fuch outrages and violences were fome of thofe who pre- tended to be in the Engli/h intereft j which alas I proved to be too true to many of us : For like the French in Europe, without regard to faith or treatieJ^ ; they fuddenly break out into furious rapid outrages; and devaftations, but foon retire precipitately, ha- ving no ftores or provifions but what they meet with: > in their Incurfions ; fome indeed carry a bag with: bilcuit, or Indian cora therein, but not unlels they have a long march to their deftined place of aftion., And thofe French, who were lent todifpoifefs us in- ; that part of the world, being indefatigable in their . duty, and continually contriving, and uling all man- ner of ways and means to, win the Indians to thelr> . intereft, many of whom had been too negUgenty^ and fometknes, I may fay, cruelly treated by thofe. ^«^o pretend to be their protestors and friendly /jbund it no very difficult matter to get over to tbc||^^-' aotereft; many who belonged to thofe natlotti^li^^ VI /A ii1iBi l W> % ^ \\ yi J A i .' PETER WILLIAMSON. i| amity with us : cfpecially as the rewards they gave them were fo great, they paying, for every Icalp of an Engl'tjh perlbn 1 5 /. (lei ling. ^ Terrible and (hocking to human nature were the barbarities daily comn.ittedby the favages, and are not to be parallelled in ail the volumes of hillory \ Scarce did a day pals but (bme unhappy family or other fell viflims to Frtrtch chieafiery, and lavage cruelty. Terrible indeed it proved to mc, as well as to many others •, } thet was now happy in air eafy ftate of life^ bkffed with an affe<5lionate and tender wife, who was podlded of all amiable qua- lities, to enable me to go through tnis -,voild with that peace and (crenity of mind, which every Chril» tian wiQies to polTcfs, became on a fuddcn one of the moft unhappy and deplorable of mankind ;, fcarce can I fudain the (bock which for ever recoils, on me, at thinking on the laft lime of feeing that good woman. The fatal 2d of O^f.ber i 754, (he that day went from home to vilit fomc of her relations^ as 1 ftaid up later than ufual, expecting her return, Dooe being in the huufe beiides myich, how great was my lurprize, terror and aiKight, when,, about eleven o'clock at night, I heard the diimal v/ar-cr}'^, or war-whoop of the lavages, which tbty make oiv fuch Gccaliont, and may be exprefied JVoachy ivoach, ha, huy hach iMjach, and to my inexprefiible grief, foon found my houle was attacked by them ; 1 flew- to the chamber-window, and perceived them to be twelve in. number. They making feveral attempts to come in, 1 a(ked them what they wanted I They gave me no anlwer, but continued beating, and try- ing to get the door open. Judge then the condition I. muft be m, knowing the cruelty and mercilels difpolicioQ of thole lavages (huuld J tall into their hands. To efcape which dreadful misfortune, ha-r ying my gun loaded in my hand, I threatened them? «i£ death^ if they Ihould not defid. But how( vain. tT> Th E L I F E or rain and fruitlefs are the efforts of one man againfT- the united force of Co many ! and of fuch mercilefs, undaunted and blood thrifty mongers as I had here to deal with. One of them that could fpeak a little Englijh, threatened me in return, " That if I did <* not come out, they would burn me alive in the '* houle;" telling me farther what I unhappily perceived, ** That they were no friends to the ** EngViJhy but if 1 would come out and furrender •* myfelf prifoner, they would not kill me." My terror and diftraftion at hearing this is not to be ex- prefled by words, nor eaiily emagined by any per- Ibn, unlefs in the fame condition. Little could I depend on the promifes of fuch creatures ; and yet, if 1 did not, inevitable death, by being burnt alive, muft be my lot. Ditlrafted as I was in fuch deplo- rable circumltances, I chofe to rely on the uncer- tainty of their fallacious promifes, rather than meet, with certain death by rejcfting them; and accord, ingly weAt out of my houle with my gun in my hand, not knowing what I did or that I had it*.. Immediately on my approach they rufhed on me^ like fo many tygers, and inftantly diiarmed me., ^ Having mc thus in their power, the mercilefs vil- lains bound me to a iree near the door: they then went into the houle and piu/idercd and delhoyed I s every tiling there was in it, carrying off what mo- , , veables they could ; the rell, together with the ■ houie, which they let tire to, was tonfumcd before my eyes. The Barbarians not latisfied with this, , fet fire to my barn, ttable, and out-houfes, where- in were about 200 buihels of wheat, fix cows, . four horics, and five (heep, which ur.derv\ent the Ainie fate, being all intiiely conlumed to a(lie§.' During the confiagratiun, to delcribe the thuugl7ts,[ the fears, and milery that 1 felt, is utterly irapof-v fibie, as it is even now to mention wliat \ teei at' . ^ tkc rcnjen. brance thereof. / ' Havin|^, MHMM 'Msi i T'E T E R W I L L I A M S O N. ir "HaYing thusfinifhcd the execrable bufinefs about which they came, one of the monfters came to me with a Tomahawk* in his hand, threatening me with the worft of deaths, if 1 would not willingly go with them, and be contented with their way of living.^ This I feemingly agreed to, promifing to do every 'thing for them that lay in my power ; trulVing to Providence for the time when I might be delivered out of their hands. Upon this ihey untied me, and •gave me a great load to cany on my back, under which I travelled all that night with them, full of the mdft terrible apprehenfions, and opprefTed with the greateft anxiety of mind, lelt my unhappy wife Should likewife have fallen a prey to thele cruel monflers. At day-break, my infernal mafters or- dered mc to lay down my load, when tying my hands again round a tree with a fmall curd, they forced the blood out of my fingers ends. They then kindled a fire near the tree whereto I was bound, which filled me with the moft dreadful agonies, con- -eluding 1 was going to be made a faGrilice to their barbarity. This narrative, O reader ! may fecm dry and • tedious to you : ]V?y miieries and misfortunes, great as they have been, may be confidered only as whalt others have daily met with for years pail; yet, on refie£l:ion, you can't help indulging me in the reci- tal of them : For to the unfortunate and cilhc/ied, recounting our miieries, is, in fome (ort, an alle- viation ot them. Permit me therefore to proceed ; not by recoiint- ing to you the deplorable condition I then was in, * A Tomahawk, is a kind of hatchet, made fomrthing Uke oiir Plailleifr's han>nicrs, about two feet long, handle . rd aU. To take vp the hatcher (or Tom a hawk) among thtm, i lo dc- clare-war. They gtneraUy nfs it after firing their gurus by . TUlhing on their enemies, and fradluring or cleaving their fculU ^dtk.if« aa K or for that 13 more than can be difcribed to yoti, T^y €)ne who thought of nothing Icfs than being imme- •diately put to death in the moft excruciating man- ner the(e devils could invent. The fire being thus made, they for (ome time danced round me after their manner, with various odd motions and antic geftures, whooping, hollowing, and crying, in a frightful manner, as it is their cuftom. Having fatisfied themlelves in this fort of their mirth, they proceeded in a more tragical manner ; taking the burning coals and flicks, flaming with fire at the cndi, holding them near my face, head, hands, and feet, with a deal of monftrous plcafure and fa- tisfaiVion ; and at the fame time threatening to burn me intirely, if I made the leaft noife or cried out : Thus tortured as I was, almoft to death 1 fufFered their brutal pleafure withtnit being allowed to vent my inexpreffible anguifti otherwife than by fhedding ^filent tears ; even which, when thefe inhuman tor- mentors obferved, with a fliocking pleafure and alacrity, they would take frefh coals, and apply near my eyes, telling me my face was wet, and that they would dry it for me, which indeed they cruelly did. How I underwent thele tortures I have here faintly defcribed, has been matter of wonder' to me many times ; but God enabled me to wait with more than common .patience for a deliverance I daily prayed for. - 1 ; ' Having at length faii^fied therr brutal pleallirc; they fat d' wn round the fue, and roafted their meaf, of which they had robbed my dwelling. When they had prepared it, and fatis-tied t-heir voraciQUS appetites, they offered fon.e to me; though it is culily imagined 1 had but little apfetite to eat,,' after the tonujes and miferics 1 had undergv)ne ; yet, ^f I forced to fccm pleated wiili what they ofFer^^jjfc^" left by rcfufing it, they had again reafTumed tjif|p, iicUifb pradic^s. What 1 could not eat, I^cc^*« trive4 - ■by ic- lan- Ihus Ifter In tic a 'ing I l] J' PETER WILLIAMSON. 13 trivcd to get between the bark and the tree, where I was fixed, they having unbound my hands till they imagined I had eat all they gave me ; but then they again bound me as before ; in which deplora- ble conditicai was I forced to continue all that day. When the fun was fer, they put cut the fiie, and covered the aflics with leaves, aj h their uluiil cul- torn, that the white people might not cfifco\tr any traces or ligns of their having bctn there. Thus had ihefe barbarous wretches nnilhrj their firft diabolical piece of woik; and (hotkirr; as it may feem^ the humane Erfgl'/Jj heart, yet \A.i,t \ underwent was but trifling, in comparifon t ) tho torments and miferies which I was afterwards an eye witncfs of being inflidled on others of my un- happy fellow creatures, , < > Going from thence along by the river Sufquthan.t for the fpace of fix miles, loaded as I was before, AH c arrived at a fpot near the Jpdachlcjt mcuntainr, or Elue-HlUSf where they hid their plunder under logs of wood. — -And, oh, fhocking tj relate! from thence did thefe hellifti monflers proceed to a neighbourmg houfe, occupied by one Jacob Snider^ and his unhappy family, confifting of his wife, fivj children, and a young man his fervant. They foon got admittance into the unfortunate man's houfe, where thry immediately, without the leaft remcrfc, l^nd with more than biutal crueltj'^, ycd/^^^ * the • ScitPiNG, is taking cflT die /kin from tlie tf^p of the tead ; whicU thty perfi rm with a long knhe that thty han^; Tound their neck, i.nd aluays carry \iith tbtm. They cut iha ilkin rounJ a< much tf the head as they thir.k proper, fome- tiines 4i.i:e roui d from the neck and forehead, then take it in their fingers aid pli.ck it oft* and often leave the mhappy cr icrved, toilieina mod miferable manner. Sitne, uho fre not. cut loo deep in ihe temples or fcul*, live in hunid turmtnts ^any hours, and f«.nittimes a day tr two after. The fcalps, ortkins thus taken off, t' ey prekrvc ar>d cany home in t r 'imphi where they rcccivf , as is f..i4 b.fore» a cti.rdcrublc ium for fftry.ooc-. ..■,,,.: •• ^ ;. . .-., ■ " B tender ^ I: vl -tl Tub life or tender parents and the unhappy children : Near coi'lJ the tears, the fhrieks, or cries of thcfe un- "happy viftims prevent their horrid mafTacre : For liaving thus icalpcd them, and plundered the hnufe of every thing that was moveable, they fet fire to the fame, where the poco: creatures met their final doom amidll the flames, the hcUifh miicreants Handing at the door, or as near the houfc as the flames would premit them, rejuicing, and echoing hzck in their diabolical manner, the piercing cries^ lieart-rending groans, and paternal and affectionate Joothings, which KTued from this moft horrid facri« lice of an innocent family. Sacrifice ! I think I may properly call it, to the aggrandizing the am- bition of a king, who wrongly lUles hinifclf Mofl Chr'^JfianJ For, had thefe favages been never tempted with the alluring bait Of all powerful gold, TTtylelf as well as hundreds of others, might (lift have lived moft happily in our ftotions. If Chrift tians countenance, nay, hire thofe wretches, t6 live in a continual repetition of plunder, rapine, inurder, and conflagration, in vain are millionaries ient, or fums expended for the propagation of the gofpel. But thefe fentiments, with many others, muft before the ead of this narrative occur to every bumane heart. Therefore to proceed ; not con- tented with what thefe infernalshad already done, they fiill continued their inordinate villainy, iti making a general conflagratioji of the barn and ilables, together with all the corn, hories, cows^ and every thing on the place. Thinking the young man belonging 'to this un- happy family, would be of fomeTervice to thcitf. In carrying part of their hellifh-acquired plunder^ they fpare4 his life, and loaded him and myielt witli what they had here got, and again marched to the filue-HiUs where they flowed their goods as before^ "^yfcllov^.fujfcrcrcoiild aot long bear the crudtr^6» mtxx \ >. ■■ ■^. ^ ..t.:':t..i--y^-...^^k..,.-»;.. iiJiHiitkUfM »T I , nUM PETER. WILLIAMSON 15 VfLcnt which we were both obliged to fuffer, and* convpiaining bitterly to me, of his being unable tor proceed any further^ I endeavoured to conlole hini^ 96 much as lay in my power, to bear up under his- affii^lions and wait with patience^ 'till; by the di- vine aflillance, we (houM be delivered out of their dutches ; but all in vain, fur he flUl continued his moans aod tears, which one of the rava^res prcceivn(!i inticaticsOi' ihiL vcntrablc iufiercr, as they had be''n t" tliofc of ihe ollicrs, and proceeded in their hcilifh piM pofc of turning and deflroying his houfe,' lam, cor,i, hay, cattle, and every thing the poor r.ii:n a few hours before was rnader of. Having faved what ihcy thought proper from the flames,' they gave: thj old man, feeble, weak, and in ihe' rViJcixblc condiiion he then was, as well as mylelf^ liuithcns. to cany, and loading themrdvcs likewife' v.iih bread and lueat, purfued their journey on to- wards the Grei;ii Swamp ; where being arrived, they' lay for eight cr nine days, fometimes diverting tlKa^fclves, in exercifmg the inoft atrocious and bar- barous cruellies on their unhappy victim, the old man: fon-ciinus they would Http him naked, and I^riint him all over with vaiious forts of colours^, which they exira^led, or made from herbs and 1 oots : at other limes they would pluck the white I aus from his venerable head, and tauntingly tell lum, He ijas af'yA for living fo long, and that they ficuld Jltiv b'.m hindnefs in putting him cut of thf ivovld ; to all which the poor creature could but >ent hisllghs, Ms tears, his moans, and intreaties,' that, to my hTngbted imagination, were enough to penetrate a heart cf adamant, and fofien the molj. obdurate lavage. In vain, alas! were all his tears, for daily did they tire thcmfelves with the vaiious means they tried to torment him ; fometimes tying him to a trce^ and whipping him ; at others, fcorcH- ing his furrov;cd cheeks with red-hot coals, and biiinirjghis legs, quite to the knees : but the gcxxj wld xi:an' hiftcad of repining, or wickedly arraign* " • • •* ' /. I • U)g • r /. :, FETER WILLIAMSON 17. Ing the divine ju.Tice, like many others in fucfi Cifes even in the greatefl agonies, inccffanily of- fcreJ up his prayers to the \Iniighty, with the mofl fervent tlianktijivings for his former mcrcie?^, and hoping the flriuics, then fuiTouncIing and burning . his agcdlinib3, ^v^uld foon fend him totlie blisful manfions of the jult, to be a partaker of the blef- iingi there. Aiul, during fuch his pious ejacula« ti jLis, his infernal plagues w )uld coroe round him^ , mimicking his heait-rcnding. groans,. and piteous failings. One night after he had been thus tor- mented, whiKthe and I were fitting together con-- doling each other at the misfortunes and mireries we daily fuiTered, twenty five other Indians avnvtd, . Wringing with theai twenty fcalps and three prifincrs who had unhappily fallen into their hands iii Cdnnn'^ * Cfjjfgfre, SL fmall t'jwn near the liver Sufjuchana^ chiefly inhabited by the Jn/h. Theie prifoners gave Ui fome (Iiocking accuunti of the murders and dcf- vaftations committed in their parts. The various and complicated actions of thefe BirbarUn^ would: intircly fill a large vuliimc ; but ^vhat i have already written, witli a few . other inftances which I ihall ; feleft from thHr information, will, enable the reader to p^uefs at the horrid treatment the Engljh, and JndiansXvi their intereft, have luffered for many years , pad. . I (hall therefore only mention in a i>t ief man- ner thofe that iuffcred near thi? fame time with my- Jclf. This party, who now joined us, had it not, , liimnd, ia there power, to begin their wickedncfs as foon as ,tho(e who viOted.my habltatiber, 1754, v/hcn John Leiirff with. his. wifey and three fmaii cbiUlren, lell lUcrificcs to thtir crucUy, and were m'lihiMy fcalped knd murdered ; his h(if|ji|p, barn, and every thing he pofTefled, being ' buret and deftryed. On the aS^h J^f 0* AhWr, vttCh his wife and fix of his family^ tugaher with 3a ■ , . „.^:.=^^.*.>*- every 'IM^'ww^*^ wiW!rvtp .. H i! li I' I, ij, ^ . Tfi E L IF E OT every tnmg on his plantation, underwent the fame frire. 'Ihc 30th, the houib, Kiill, barn, twen* ty head of cattle, two teams of horfes, and every thing belonging to the unhappy George F(Jke, met with the like trc;atment, himlelf, wife, and all Lis mi fcrable family, confifHng of nine in number, be- ing inhumanly /t'^/ff^, then cut in pieces, and given to the fwine, which devoured them. I (hciil give another inflance of the numberlefs and un- heard of barbarities they related of thefe lavages, and proceed to their own tragical end. In (hort, one of the fubflantiai traders, belonging to the pro- vince, bavin ff bufmefs that called bim (ome miles tip the country, fell into the hands of thefe devils, who not only fcalped him, but immediately roalteS him before he y/as dead ; then, like Canibals for 'want of other IFood, eait his whole body, and of his head made what they called an Indian pud- ding. ,.. ;. .^.; ,..^- .; from thefe few mflahces of favage cruelty, thfe cJcplorablc fituation of the defcncelefs inhabitants, ■and what they hourly fuffered in that part of the globe mult Ihike the utmoft horror to a humane Ibul, and caufe in every bread the utraoft detefta- tion, not only -againft the authors of fuch tragic Scenes, but againft thjfe who thro* perfidy, inat- tention, or puiillanimous and erroneous principles, I'uffered thele favages at tii ft, unrepelled, or even unmoletlcd, to commit luch outrages and incredU l)le depredations and murders. For no torments, 110 barbarities that can be cxercifed'on the human i crifices, they get into their power, are left untiitd ! or omitted. ■■',, .-..^..*. ., ,. r .. , w ^ 'T ho thre:; prifoners that were brought with thefe * addjti nal forces, conftaiitly repiningat their lot, ai^ ahuvjll dead with their cxcellivc hard treatment, contrived at lali to make their ei'cape ; but being '. iui' froiik their o;va Icttiemeats, and txot knowing ■^ - - the : m .NS ; fame twen* every ?, met all l/is :r, be- \ given 11 ffivc * • d nil- ivagcs, (hort, le pro- ; miles devils, roaile6 als for and of t pud- y, thfe >itant£i9 of tl>e mane letcfta- tragrc inaC- :iples, even Icredi*^ lenis, lumaa itiied *•■-- Ithcfe f, antl lent, >eiiTg |wiitg the ■v F t a ? E T n R WILLIAMSON. t^ the country, were foon after met by fomc others of the t ibes or nations at war vi'ith us, and brought back to their diabolical mafters, who greatly re- joiced at having them again in their infernal power. The poor creatures almoft faraifhed for want of fuilenance, having had none during the time of their elopement, were no fooner in the clutches of the Barbarians, than two of them were tied to a tree, and a great lire made round them, where they re- mained till they were terribly fcorched and burnt ; when one of the villains with his fcalping knife, jipt open their bellies, took out their entrails, and burnt them before their eyes, whilrt the others were cutting, piercing, and tearing the flefii from their breads, hands, arms, and legs, with red-hot irons, -'till they were dead. The third unhappy vi(5liin Avas referved a few hours longer, to be, if pofliblc, facrificed in a more cruel manner ; his arms were tied clofe to his body, and a hole being dug deep enough for him to (land upright, he was put there- in, and earth ramM and beat in all round his body up to his, neck, Co that his head only appeared above ground ; they then fcalp'd him, and there let hiiti remain for three or four hours in the greateft a^;)w nies ; after which they made a fmall tii e near his head, caufing him to fufFer the moft excruciating torments imaginable, whiift the poor creature cot Id only cry for mercy in killing him immediately, lor hi:> brains were boiling in his head: Inexorable to all his plaints they continued the fire, whilH (h ck- , Sng to behold ! his eyes gufhed .jut of their focRets; and iuch agonizing torments did the unhappy crel« ture fufFer for near two hours, 'till he was quite dead ! They then cut off his head, and buried it ,^'ith the . other bodies; my talk being to dig the graves, which feeble and ten ificd as 1 was, the xlread of luffering the fame late, enabled me to db. i ihall not here ukQ up the reader's tiuiei ia vainly ••■ •« ,^ ■ , at* Nt %m ' The t IP E « f' attempting to difcribs what I felt on fuch an ocea* fi >n^ but continue my< narrative, as mure equal to . my abilities. s A great fnow novT falling, the Barbariaas were a little fearful, leaft the white people fliouU by their traces, Jftncl out their (kulking retreats, which obliged ; tl I cmto make the bt ft of their way totheir winterquarT tcrs, about 200 milos farther from any plantations 05 < inhabitants; where, after 'a longhand tedious journey, , being almoft ftarved, I arrived with this infernal crew. The place where we were to reft, in.theic< tongue, is called Aammgo^ There they found a number of ^'f^iuz/wi* fullof their womei> and chiL dren. Dancing, linging, and (hooting were, their, general amufements ; and in all their feftivals and dances, they relate what fucccfles they have had, , and what damages they, have luftained in their ex- p.editions; in which 1. became part of their theme* The fevcrity of the cold iocreafing, they.ftript me €>f my deaths for their own uiie, and gave me fuch n% they ufually WiL>re thcmleives, being a, piece of blanket, a pair of Mogganesy or ftjoes, with a yard of coaife cloth, to put round me inftead of breeci es To defer ibe their dr.f.. aod. manner, of living may not be altogether unacceptable to f »meotrliy reaucrs, but as the lize of this book will not permit me to be fo particular as i migiit otiierwiic be, 1 ihali juil oblerve ; -: ;.:,■ 1 . -y^y^ [ ,;.. ^^ j^-^a,. '. :i v ;■.- .^t-**. That they in general wear a white blanket, which in war time they paint with various figuies; but pracicularly the leaves of trees, in; order to deceive their enemies when in the woods. Their Moggartes are made of deer Ikias, and the beft lore have tucifx %f-\ m' • Wigwams, iaret^e names th^y give thetthoufA wMrh at*'- tin ni r th. n littk huts, made \i'i h tbr e or ^our f rkecl Uak .sdr Ve tot') the groiiid, und cover d iih deer or other fldns j urfor ^ant «£' them witti Igxge Laves hAJ caribf -■■■ ••«.- iV^-^,^', !1?-*i' n >» t f bounj. 'j^^'^if-^^A ft JU but. reive \anes Vh air*'- Ml *•• ':i bua I PETER WILLIAMSON. 21 i>ound round the edges with little beads ahd ribbands. On their legs they wear pieces of blue cloath for (lockings, fomething like our foldiers fpatter- daflies; they reach higher than their knees, but not lower than their ancles ; they efteem them eafy to run in. Breeches they never wear, but inftead thereof two pieces of linen, one before and another behind* The better fort have fhirts of the finefl linen they can get, and to thefe fome wear ruffles*, but thefe they never put on, till they have painted them of various colours, which they get from the Pecone rbot, and bark of trees, and never pull them off to Wafli, but wear them till they fall in pieces. They are very proud, and take great delight in wearing trinkets ; fuch as filver plates round their wrifts and necks, with feveral ftrings of IVampum (which is rriade of cotton, interv/ove with pebbles, cockle - ftiells, &c ) down to their breafts ; and from their cars and nofes they have rings and beads, which hang dangling an inch or two. The men have no beards, to prevent which they ufe certain inftiu- ; ments and tricks as foon as it begins to grow. The hair of their heads is managed difierently, fonic pluck out and deftroy all, except a lock hanging from the crown cF the head, which they interweave with IVarnpiim and feathers of various colours. The women wear it very long, twifted down their backs, with beads, feathers, and JVampum ; and on their heads mofl of them wear little coronets of brafs or copper ; round their middle they wear a blanket inilead of a petticoat. The females are V ry challe, and coallaiu to their hulbands ; and if any young maiden (hould happen to h»ive a child before marriage, fhe is never clieemed afterwards. As for their food they get it chiefly by hunting and (hooting, and boil, broil, or roaft all the meat they cat. 1 heir {tandingdiOi coniills of Indhm coni f;)akcd then bruibM aad buiied over a gentle lire. f^ ai^ Th E L I F E^ OF for ten or twelve hours. Their bread is rike\Kifet made of this, vrild oats, or fun-flower feeds. Set' meals they never regard, but eat when they are hungry'. Their gun^ Tomahawk, fcalping knife^. powder and fhot^ arc all they have to carry witi^j tbeiTi in time of war; bows and arrows being feU dom uled by them,. They generally in war decline open engagements ; bulh-fijhting or (kulking is. their dilcipline ; and they are brave when engaged^ having great fortitude in enduring tortures and deaths No people have a greater love of liberty, or affec-; tlon to their relations ;. but they are the moft implaii cably vindi^ive people upon tlieearth,^ for they re» venge the death of any relation, or any great affront,, whenever occafion prefents, let the diftance of time, ox place be never (o remote. To all which I may; add what the .reader has already obfer.ved, tliat they, are inhumanly crueU Bat, fome o^her nations might be more happy, if, in fjme inllances, they copied them, and made w'fe comhtcf, courage, and/ perfonal Jircngth^ the chhjf recommendations for. war-captains, or IVeroivancef, as they call them,. In times of peace they vilit the plantations inhabi- ted by the whites, to whom they fell ba(k.ets,Jadles,., ff»oon3, and other (uch trifles, which they are very, expert in making. When night comes, if admit- ' ted into any huule, they beg leave to lie down by, the fire-fide, chufm^ that place rather tlian any; other, which is feldom ref uled them, if fober, for then they are honefl ; but if drunk, ate very dan-, gerous and iroubleiome, if people enough are not. in tlie houfe to quell them. Nor would they at. any time be guilty of iiuch barbarous depredations. as they aie, did not thofe calhng themleives Chrif- tians, intice them thereto with ftrongjiquors, whicliv they are vaflly fond of ; as well as by the pecuniary, rewards vvhich they give for the Icaips. Jf ambi- tion c;innot be gratihwd^ or fuperionty obtained,^ •£ii«rwiie li'.an by the deaths ( f thoulands ; would it C#l»' PETER WILLIAMSON. 25 It not, in thofe who feek fuch airy phantoms, and are fo inordinately fond of their fellow creatures lives, favour a litle more of humanity to have them Tcilled inftantly, and, if they muft have proofs of murder, fcalpe^ afterwards ? ti">an by allowing and Encouraging fuch mercilefs treatment, render them- felves as obnoxious, cruel, and barbarous, to a humane mind, as the very favages thcmfdves. How- ever, they fomctimcs fufFer by their plots and chi« caneiy laid for the deflrudlion of others ; it often happening that the traders or emiflaries fent to al- luie them to the execution of their fchemes, rightly . fall vi<5lims themfelves ; for, as they always carry A^'ith them horfe-loads of rum, which the Indians are fond of, they foon get drunk, quarrelfome, and wicked, and, in their fury, often kill and deftroy their tempters.: A juft reward fir their wicked *def]gn$ ! nay, it has fuch an effect on them, that Vvhen fo intoxicated, they even burn and confume all their own effefts, beating, wounding, and forac- - times killing their wives and children : But, in difl j>utes among themielves when fober, they are very tenacious of decorum, never allowing m >re thaii ore to (peak at a time. Prophane (wearing they Itnow not ill their own language how to cxprefs, f>ut.are very fond of the French 2ix\di EngVjh oaths. The old people, who are by age and infi«mitic?8 Tendered incapable of being lerviccable to the com- munity, they put out of the world in a barbarous and extraordinary manner ; an iirflance of whicli I had whilft among them, an opportunity of feeing, pra^lifed on an old Indiatt, He being, through age, feeble and weak, and his eyes failing him fo that he was unable to get his living eitheir by hunt- ing or (hoodng ; he was fumrooned to appear be* fore fcvcral of the leading ones, who were to b« his judges. Before whom being corae> and having •othing to fay for himfelj^ (as how indeed could • •i.. H 24 The L I F E OF he prove himfelf to be youpg) they very formally, and with a feeming degree of compaffion, paffed fentcnce on him to be put to death. This was loon after executed on him in the following manner : He was tied naked to a tree, and a boy who was to be his executioner, flood ready with a 7cw^- bavjk in his hands j to beat his brains out : but when the young monfter came to infiift the lentence he was fo (hort of ftature that he could not lift the Tomahaivk high enough ; upon which he was held up by fome others, a great concourfe being prefent ; and then, though the young devil laid on with all his ftreng^h, he was not for fome time able to frac- ture the old man's fcuU, fo that it was near an hour before he was dead. Thus ate they from their youth inured to barbarity ! When they found no remains of life in him, they puthimintoaholedugin the ground for that purpofe, in which he ftood upright. Into his left-hand they put an old gun, and hung a fmall powder horn and (hort-bag about his (liouiders, and a firing of wam- pum round his neck ; and into his right hand a lit- tle filk purfe with a bit of money in it ; then filled the hole round, and covered him over with caiih. This I found to be the ufuul manner of treating the old of both fexes ; only that the women arc killed hy young girls, and put into th« ground with no- thing but a ladle in one hand, and a wooden diiU in ^he other. \. They are very ftrift in punifliing offenders, cfpcl cially iuch as commit crimes againft any of tht ^oyal families. They never bang any : but ihoic fentenccd to death are geneially bound to a ftakc, and a great fire made round them : but not fo near as to burn them immediately, Ft they lometimes remain roafting in the middle t f the fiames for two or thiee da^'s before they arc dead. • .ijit > V'ii^"«i*-* •*■%»■>'*!■• -itt/iWJ- f t*5«- Aftc-r -0. •mm \ V E T K B. W I L T. J A M S O N. a^ After this l^ng digreflion, it is time to return to the detail of my own airuirs— -At /Jhiryiingo was I , kept near two months, until ihe Inow v. as off the . ground. A Ion y time to be amcmgft fuch creatures, and naked as I almoft wiu. V/hatcver thoughts [ ^ iuight have of making mv efcape, to carry tlicm ^ into execution was impra^licablc, being fo far frcm , jAy plantations or white people, iind the fevcre weather rendering my limbs in a niamier quite fiifF. and motionlefs; however I contrived to defend my- ^ felf againft the inclemency of the weather as well ^ ap I could, by making myfelf a little Wigwamy with '^ the bark of the trees, covcriing tli^ fame witli * earth, which made it refemblc a cave ; and, to pre- vent the illefFedls of the cold which penetrated into it, I was forced to keep a good iire always near . the door. ' . Thus did I for near two -months endure fucli hardfliips of cold and hunger as had hitherto been unknown to me. My liberty of going about was, indeed, more than I could have expefted, but they well knew the impraflicability of my eloping from . them. Seeing me outwardly eafy and lubmiflive, ' they would fumetimes give me a" little meat, but my chief food was Indian corn, drefTed as I have above defcribed. Notwithflanding fuch their ciyi- . lity, the time pafled fo tedious on that I dmolt be-'' gan to difpair of ever regaining my liberty, or (ec-'V ing my few relations again ; which, with the -an- xiety and pain 1 fu/Fered on accouht of my dear wife, often gave me inexpreffible concern. At length the time arrived when they were .pre paring themfelves for another expedhion againli the planters and white people ; but before they let out, they were joined by many other Indians from fort Du Qt/efne, well (bred with powdcj^ and ball they had received from the French* m As f; 26 The 1. IFE op As foon as the fnow was quite gone, and no traces of their vile foot-fteps could be preceived, they fet forth on their journey towards the back parts of the province of Penfylvania, and leaving their wives and children behind in their Wigwams* They wei*e now a terrible and formidable body, amounting to near 1 50. My duty was to carry what they thought proper to load me with, but they never intrufted me with a gun. We marched on feveral days with- out any thing particular occurring, almoft famifiied for want of provifions ; for my part I had nothing but a few flalks of Indian corn, which I was glad to eat dry : Nor did the Indians themfelves fare much better, for as we drew near the plantations they were afraid to kill any game, lead the noife of their guns fhould alarm the inhabitants. When we again arrived at the Bluc-Hills, about 30 miles from Cann9co}igge the Iri/h fettlement be- fore-mentioBed,we encamped for three days, though God knows we had neither tents, nor any thing elfe to defend us from the inclemency of the air, hav- ing nothing to lie on by night but the grafs. Their ufual method of lodging, pitching, or encamping, by night, being in parcels of ten or twelve men to a fire, where they lie upon the grafs or bufties, ■wrapt up in a blanket, with their feet to the fire. ' During ci:r ftay here a fort of council of war was held, w^cn it was agreed to divide themfelves into companies of about twenty men each ; after which -every cajitain inarched with his party where he ^ thought proper. I ftill belonged to my old mafters, -but Wc.: left behind on the mountains with ten Indians, to ftay until the reft fhould return ; not thinking it proper to carry me nearer to Cannoco- ' jigge, or the other plantations. Here being left 1 began to meditate on my cf- cape, and though I knew the country round ex-. tremely well; having been .often thereabouts, with ■^'' . my ■ • PETER WILLIAMSON. 27 ny companions hunting deer, and otiicr beads ; yet was I very cautious of giving the Icaft lulpi- ciops of fuch my intentions. However the third day after the grand body left us, my ci^mpanions or keepers thoiif;ht proper to vifit the mount ins in fearch of game for their iubiilUince, caving me bound in iuch a manner that 1 could not clcape : At night when they returned, having unbound nx, we all fat down together to fupper on two Pole Gats, being what they had killed, and Toon after (being greatly fatigued with their day's exciufun) they compoied themlelves to reft as uibal. Ob- feivingthem to be in that lomnifcrov.s (late, I tiiwd various ways to lee whether it was a ichcmc to pro\ c; my intentions or not, but after making a noiic and walking about, lometimes touching them wiih my feet, 1 found there was no fallacy. My heart llicn exulted with joy at leeing a time come that I might in all probability be delivered from my captivity; but this joy was foon damped by tliC dread of being dilcovered by them, or taken by any flraggling parties. To prevent which I refolvcd if pollible to get one of their guns, and, if difcoveied, to die in my defence rather than be taken ; for that purpofe 1 made various eiforts to get one from under their heads (where they always fecured themj but in vain. Fruflrated in this my tirll eflay towards re- gaining my liberty, 1 dreaded the thoughts of car- rying my deiign into execution : yet, after a little coniideration, and tiuiliug myleif to the divine pioieftion, I fet forwards naked and defenceieis as 1 was. A raih and dangerous cnterprize ! Such was my terror, however, that in going trom them 1 halted and pauied every lour or live yards, look- ing fearfully tuvvaidb ihc iput where i iiad icit tl\cm, leit tiiey fhould awake and niiis me ; but when 1 was about two hundred yards Irom ihem, J mended my pace and made as riiuch haiie as 1 could tu the ^, C 2 iuot ■ fp l I'm mrm "P*"!"** mfrntftigm rmmmir^ i! 28 The life of , r It il \f B t Tk I of the mountains ; when on a fudden I was flri'ck whh the grcatcft terror nnd amaze at hearing :he wood. cry, as it is called, and may be exprcfled johau! J(j hau ! which the favages I had left were niftking, accompanied with the moft hideous ci iss and howlings ihe^^ could utter. The bellow- ing of lyons, the lluieks of hyn^nas, or the roar- ing of tygcrs, would have been mufic to my ears, in compaiifon to the founds that then faiutedthem. They having now mified t! e;r charge, I concluded that ihcy would fuon fepurate them'elves and hie in tji-cft of mc. The more my tencn* ir.creafcd the iaficr did 1 pr.fli on, and (mice knowing where I trc'J, drove th;our;h the woods with the utmolt precipitation, fomctiir.cjr fallirg and bruifing my- iclf, cutting iny feet and legs againfi." the (lones, m a miferafcie manner ; but though faint and maimed ;rs I was I continued my flight until break of da/, ■when, without having any thing to ftlfain nature but a little coin left, 1 crept into a hollow tree, in ■which 1 lay very fnug, and retuined my prayers and thanks to the Divine Being, that had thus far favoured my efcape. But iiy repofe was in a few hours deftroyed at hearing the voices of the favages near the place where I was hid, threatening an^d talking^ how tJiey would ufe me, if they got me again ; that I was before too fenfible of, to have the lead reft eithcir in body or mind fincc I had left them. However they at latt left the fpot where I heard them, and I remained in my circular afylum all that day without further moleftation. At night I ventured forwards again, frightened and trembling at every bHifli I paft, thinking each twig that touclied me to be a lavage. The diird day I conccaied mylelf in the like manner, and at night 1 travelled on in the laT.e deplorable conxH* tion keeping oiFthe main road ufed by the Indians, as nauch as poiSble, which made my journey maity ■ ,.. ■'■ :^ -■■ - -■■;■". .■ mik» if,, , i^-- -sr , — I m my* u\ ^ P E T E R W I L L 1 A ON. 99 miles longer, and more painful ani' irkfo^iie tl nn I can exprcfs. But how rtiall I defdii ih e f'cj*r ter- ror, and fliock, that I felt on & fourth ighr, wheh, by the rnftling 1 made amu.ig the avcs, a parly of Indians^ that lay round a fma.l fire which I did not preceive, ftartcd from the ground, and leizing their arms run from the fire amongil the woods. Whether to move forward or reft where 1 was I knew not, fo diftra^ed was my ima- gination. In this melancholy ftate revolving in my thoughts the now inevitable fiitc I thought waited on me^ to my great confternation and joy 1 was re- lieved by a parcel of fwine that made towards the place I guefled the lavages to be; who, on feeing the hogs, conjeftured that their alarm had been occa- fioned by them, and very merrily returned to the fire, and lay down to fleep as before. As foon as I perceived my enemies fo difpofed of, with more cautious Aep and filent tread 1 purfued my coutfe, fweating (though winter and feverely cold) with the fear I had been juft relieved from. Bruifed, cut, mangled, and terrified as I was, 1 ftill, through the divine affiftance, was enabled to purfue my journey until break of day, when thinking my (elf far off from any of thefe milcreants 1 io much l about four o'clock in the afternoon ar- rived at the hoiife of J:hn Etlly an old acquain- tance, where, knocking at the door, his ^vife, who opened it, feeing me in fuch a frightful condition, flew from !iic like lightening fcreaming. into r!ie houfe. This alarmed the whole family, who im- jnodiatcly tied to their arms, and I was foon ac- cofted by the niaftcr with his gun in his hand. But on my aflRiring him of my innocence as to any "wicked intentions, and making myfelf known (fca* he before took me tx) be an Imiwrj)he immediately carefTed me, as did all his family, with a dcnl of fiiendfhip at finding me alive ; they having all been informed of my being murdered by the favages Ibme months before. No longer now able to lup- port my fatigued and worn out (pirits I fainted and K'li to the ground. From which ftate having re- covered me, and perceiving the weak and famifhed condition 1 then was in, they foon gave me fome refrefhmcnt, but let mc partake of it very fparing- ly, fearing the ill efFetls too much at once woui'd feave on me. They for two or three nights veiy afiTeflionately fupplied me with all ncceifaricii, and carefully attended mc untill my ipirits and limbs were pretty wellrecruited, and J thought myfelf able t ) ride, when I borrowed of thefegood peopie(whofe kindnefs merits my molt gratefiil returns) a horlfe and fome clothes, and fct forward for my father-in- law's houfe in Chejicr county, about 140 miles from thence, where 1 arrived on the 4th day of January 1 /5,5, but fsarce one of the family could credit their eyes, believing with the people I had lately left, that 1 bad fallen a prey to the Indians, ' Great was the joy and fatisfaftion wherewith I wai received arfd embraced by the whole family ; buf, oh, what was my anguiQi and trouble, when on enq>.iring.for my dear wife I found (he had becti dead two months. This lutal news^ as every hti- 1 '^^j ,■;--" ^-f •: .■. ^- -*, ■ mane 'f-' ■ ■ ' t'-' PETER WILLIAMSON. 3t mane reader muft imagine,grcatly IcfTcncd thcjoy and rapture I orhcrwife ftiould have felt at niy deliverance from the dreadful fhle find captivity 1 had been in. The news of my happy arrival at my father-iir- law's houfc, afrcr fo long and ftrangc an abfence, was foon fptead round the neighbouring plantations by the country people who continually vilited me, being very dclirous of hearing and eagerly enquiring An account of my treatment and manner of living among the Irtdia»r, In all which I fatisficd them. ^ Soon after this my arrival I wis fcnt for by his ex- cellency Mr. Morris, the governor, a worthy gen- tleman, whp examined me very pruticulaily as to all incidents relating to my captivity, and cfpecially in regard to the Indians^ who had firfl taken me away, whether they were French or Engltfh par- tics. I a/Tured his excellency they were of thofe who profeflcd themfelves to be friends of the formeif; and informed him of the many barbarous and in- human a^li'ons I had been witnefs to among them^ on the frontiers of the province ; and alfo that they were daily increafing by others of our pretended friends joining them ; that they were all well fupplied by the French with arms and ammu- nition, and greatly encouraged by them in their continual excurfions and barbarities, not only " in having extraordinary premiums for luch (icalpsas they (hould take and carry home with them at their return, but great prefents of all kinds, befides rum, powder, ball, &c. before they fallicd forth. HaT- i-ig latisfied his excellency in fuch particulars as he , requeUedj the fame being put into writing, 1 fwore to the contents thereof, as may be feen by thofe who doubt of my veracity in the public papers of that time, as well m England' vl^ in Phtladtlphian Having, done with me, Mr. Morris gave me three pounds, and fent the affidavit to the aftembfy who were then fittmg in the fkte-boufe at Philadelphia, canduding on proper mcafurcs to check thcdepredu- tions f rtmmnmmtrimim > »m \m afc(i>(nifi»i'if>»(i liMI ' ■ I '-limrr .. I m i n i I l iil<«lluld have been if I had may eafily be conceived. And there being at this time (as the afTernbly too late for many of us f und) a neceflity for raifing men to check thofe barbarians in their ravaging de- predations, i iniilkd myiclr Ub one with the greateil . alacrity and mod deteimiued refolution; to exert the V ■•;*: III ' 4 If ■ f i ^& ••..I ^ mmmm ^VfW^fXTf^i "V.'V 4il..*^., mmmm •It PETER WILLIAMSON. 3;^ the atmoft of my power, ia being revenged on the heinni authors of my ruin. General Shirly governor of NexV'E^landf and commander in chief of his rnajjfty's land forces in North America^ was pitched upon, to direfl the operations of the war, in that part of the world. Intoa regiment, immediately nndcr tiie command of this general, was it my lot to be placed for three years. This regiment was intended for the fron- tiers, to deftroy the forts ere£^ed by the French, as foon as it fliould be completely furnifhed with arms, 6r. at BoPon in Neiv-England, where it was or- dered for that purpofe. Being then very weak, and Infirm in body, tho' pofTefled of my refolution, it was thought advifeable to leave me for two months in winter-quarters. At the end of which, being pretty well recruited in flrength, 1 fet out for Bcf- totiy to join the regiment with fomc others, like wile left behind ; and after crofTing the river Delaware, we arrived at ^cw-Jerfey, and from thence pro- ceeded thro', the fame by Nenv-Tork, Mtddletown, Mendon in Conne^icut, to Bojion, where "wC arrived about the end of March, aad found the regiment ready to receive us. Bfjjhn, being the capital of Nev}-Enghndf and the largeft city in America, except two or three on the Spanijh continent, 1 fhall here iubjoin a Ihoit account cf it. 'Tis pleafantly fituatcd, and about four miles in compafs, at the bottom of Majfachujet^ bay, into which there is but one common and fafe pafTagc, and not very broad, there being fcarce room for three Ihips to come in a-breaA \ but once in, there's room for the anchorage of 500 faiL It is guarded by feveral rocks, and above a dozen iflands ; the nioft remarkable of thefe iflands \^'-€ztfiie-Jfatjd, which (lands about a hague from the town> and fo fitualtd^ that no ihip of burthen can approach the town^ G P k 34 - ' The LI F E town, without the hazard of behig fhattcrcd in pieces by its cannon. It is now callfid Fort-Willie am, and mounted with lOO pieces of ordnance ; 200 more which were given to the province by - Queen Anne, are placed on a plat-form, (o as to rake a fl^ip fore and aft, before fhe can bring about her broadfiues to bear againft the ca(lie. Some of thefe cannon are 42 pounders ; 500 able men are exempted from all military duty in times of war^. to be ready at an hour^s warning, to attend the fcr- vice of the caftle, upon a fignal of the approach of an enemy, which there Teems to be no great danger of at Bo/ion ; where, in 24 hour's time, 10,000 efFeftive men, well arm'd, mi^ht be ready for their defence. According to a computation of the colle(5l"ors of the IJgkt-houfef it appeared there were 24,000 tons of fliipping cleared annually. The pier is at the bottom of the bay, 2000 feet < long, and runs fo far into the bay, that fliips of the greateft burthen may unload without the help of boats or lighters. At the upper end of the chief ftreet in the town, which comes down to the head of the pier, is the. Town- hou/e, or Exchange, a fine building, containing, befides the walk for merchants, the Counciichamhtr, the Hoife of Commons^ and a rpacious room for the courts of juftice. Tue Ex- change is furrounded with bookfellers fhops that have a good trade : Here beiiig five printing houfcs, and the preiTes generally. full of work, wiiich is in a great raeafure owing to the colleges and fchouls in New- England ; and likewife at N'eiv-Tork and Philadelphia, there are feveral piinting-houfes lately created, and bookfellers conllantly employed, as well as at [Virginia, Alary I and, South-Carolina, Bar- badoes, and the Sugar JJlands, ;,. ^^ , The town, lies in the form of an half-moon round the harbour, and coniliUng of about 400a .; houies Av .' 1 '€' A ' ■^^.m^,-^ . .ji t^ ^ i» "'1'. •' w PETER Williamson 35 houfes, muft make an agreeable profpeft ; the fur - rounding (\ re being high, the ftreets long, and the buildiiirgs beautiful. The pavement is kept in fo good order, that to gallop an horfc on it is 3X. 4li M !II J I I " l /.-'f" ' ■' ", i ' JKJfH ' PETFR W [ LL I AlMsS N. 37 Tmoak in a part of the low grounds. This we im- .mediately, and rightly conjc(fturcd to proceed from a fire made by them. We accordingly put ourfcivcs into regular order, and marched Torwards, relolv- ing, let their number have been what it ml^ht, to "give them battle. "" ' ' ^ v. ' Arriving within a mile of the place, captain Crawford, whofe anxiety and pain, made i'.hn <|uicker fighted than any of the rell, foon pcrccKcd them, and guefTed iheir number to be about 501. Upon this we halted, and fecrctcd ouj lelvcs as well as we cottld, till twelve o'clock at night. At which time, fuppofing them to be at reft, we divided our men into tv^o divifions, 50 in each, imdmaichcd on; when coming within twenty yards of ihcn^^ the captain fired his gun^ whicli A\'as immediately followed by both divliions in fucceffion, who in- ftantly rushing on them with bayonets fixed, killed every man of them. Great as our joy was, and fluflied with fuccefs as we were at this fudden viftory, no heart among us but was ready to burft at the light of t'lc unhappy young lady. What muft the thoughts, torments., and fenfations of our brave captain then be, if even we who knew her not, were fo fcnfibly afTcOed ! For, oh ! what breaft, tho' of the brutal favage race we had juft deftroycd, could, without feeling tlie moftexquifite grief and pain, behold in fuch infer* ual pawer, a lady rn the bloom of youth, blell wiih every female accomplifliment tiiat could let oft' the mod exquifite beauty ! Beauty, which rendered her the envy of her own fex, and the delight of ours, enduring the ie verity of a windy, rainy night ! Be- hold one nurtercd in the mod tender manner, and by the mdfi: indulgent parents, quiie naked, and in the open woods, encircling with her alabafler arms and hands a cold rough tree, whereto (he was bound, with curds lo Uraitiy puli'd, that the blood £> . trick' '.' e 1 38 - Th E L I FE ©F trickled from her finger's ends I Her lovely tender body and delicate limbs, cut, bruifed^ and torn with Oox^ies, and boughs of trees as /he had been dragged along, and all befmeared with blood 1 What heart can even now, unmoved, think of her deftrefs, in fuch a deplorable condition ; having no creature, with the leaft fenfations pf humanity, near to fuc- - tour or relieve her, or even pity or regard her flow- ing tears and lamentable wailings ! The very remen^brance of the fight, has at this snfiant fuch an effe^ upon me, that I almofi Avant "words to go on. Such then was the condition in which we found this wretched fair, but faint and rpeechlefs with the /hock our firing had given her tender frame. The captain for a long time could do nothing but gaze upon and clafp her to his bo- fom, crying, raving, and tearing his hair like one bereft of his fenfes ; nor did he for fome time per- ceive the lifelefs condition fhe was in, until one of the men had untied her lovely mangled arms, and Ihe fell to the ground. Finding among the villains plunder the unhappy lady's cloaths, he gently put fome of them about her ; and after various trials, end much time fpent, recovered her di/Iipated fpi- rits, the repofTeflion of which /he firft manife/led by eagerly fixing her eyes on her dear deliverer, and fmiling with the moft complaifant joy, ble/Ted the Almighty, and him, for her miraculous deliver- ance. During this, plcafing, painful interview> our men were bufily employed in cutting, hacking, and fcalping the dead Indians ; and fo de/irous was every liian to have a fhare in wreaking his revenge on them, that difputes happened among ourfelves who ihould be the inflruments of further /hewing it on their Ufelefs truiiks,there not being enough for every inan to have one wherewith to fatiate himfeif t 'i'hc captain ebferving the animolity between us, ■* ' . jr i #: \1 PETER WILLIAMSON. 3$ on this occafion, ordered, that the two divifions fhoukt caft lots for this bloody, though agreeable piece of work: which being accordingly done, the party, whole lot it was to be excluded from this bufinefs, ftood by with half-pleafed countenances, looking on the reilj who with the utmoft chearful- nefs and activity purfued their revenge in icalping, and otherwife treating their dead bodies as the moHc inveterate hatred and deteflation coul^ fugged. The work being done^, we thought of ftccring homewards triumphant with the 50 fcalps ; but how to get the lady forwards, who was in fuch a condition as rendered her incapable of walking fur* ther, gave us Ibme pain, and retarded us a little^ untill we made a fort of carriage to feat her on '^ and then, with the greateft readinels, wc took our turns, four at a time, and carried her along. This in fome meafure, made the captain chearful, who ail the way endeavoured to comfort and revive his^ defponding aiflidled minteis : but atas i in vain ; for the miferies fhe had lately felt, and the ten ible fate of her poor brother, of whom, I doubt not buc the tender-hearted reader is anxious to hear, render- ed even her moil pleaOng thoughts, notwithftanding his Ibothing words, corroding and infufferable. - The account (he gave of their difaftious fate and dire ca(!rophc, befides what i have already nien- tioned, was, that the favages had no fooner feen all confumed, but they hurried off with her and her brother, pufhing, and fomctimes dragging them on, for four or five miles, when they llopt ; and dripping her naked, treated her in a (hocking man- ner, whilft others were dripping and cruelly whip- ping her unhappy brother. After which, they in the lame manner purfued their jourp.ey, regardleis of the tears, prayers, or intreaties of this wictcied' pair ; but with the moft infernal pleafure, laughed aad rejoiced at the calamities and dilkeifcs they had D z brought . i *t-*^ifmmm ^^^ ■ 40 .The life o» brought them to, and faw them differ, until they arrived at the place we found them ; where, they had that day butchered her beloved brother in the fallowing execrable and cruel manner : They firft fcalped him alive, and after mocking his agonizing groans and torments, for fome hours, ripped open his belly, into which they put fpl inters, and chips of pine-trees, and fet fire theretj; the fame (on account of the turpentine wherewith thefe trees a- buund) burnt with great quicknefs and fury for a iirtlc time, during which, he remained in a manner alive, aslhe could fometimes perceive hiuito move iiis head, and groan. They then piled a great quan- tity of wood all round his body, and confumcd it to allies. ' ' • , , V ,',.' Tiius did thefc Barbarians put an end to the be* ing of this unhappy young gentleman, who was o)i]y 22 years of age when he met his calamitous- iriit'. She continued her relation, by acquainting ns, that the next day was to have feen her perilh in the like manner, after fufFcring worfe than even fuch a terrible death, the fatisfying thefe diabolical miC. creants in their brutal lull. But it pleafed the AU mighty to permit us to lefcue her, and intirely ex^ tivpUQ this crew, of devils! Marching eafily on her account, we returned to the captain's plantatlcn the 6th of May, where, as well as at Bofiofi^ we were joyfully received, and Rewarded handfomcly for the fcalps of thofe favages v/e jiad brought v;ith us. Mr. Cratvjlrd and Mifs Long were foon alter married ; and, in gratitude to the fervices we had done them, the whole party were invited to the weddinfT, and nobly entertained, but no riotous or nci(y mirth was allowed, the young. fady, as we may well imagine, being flill under greatly aiBiciion, and in a weak Hate of health. % Nothing further material, that I now remember^ liappencddurin^ray Hay at Zr'^ow; to proceed there-^- ■- - .-J " . . ■ ' , , f bre4' .'4f'fi\\: >«tt'^ t^mm ftTT.R WILLIAWSON 4f^ fbre, v^ith the continuation of our intended expc forthamptoH, and Hadfield, in Ne%o-Engiand* From thence, marching about twenty miks fariher, we encamped near the mouth of the Mohar '. river by a town called Schene^la^ dy, not far from the Endiefs-Mcuntains* Here did we lye fome time^ uniill Batteaux (a- fort of flat-bot- tomed boats, very fmall, and (harp at both ends)' could be got to carry our ftores and provifions to Ofiuego ; each of which, would contain about fix barrels of Pork, or in proportion thereto. Two^ men belonged, to every batteaux, who made ufc of Urong fcutting poles, with iron at the ends, to pre^ vent their being, too foon deftroyed by the ftones iiv the river (one of the fources of the Ohio) which-a* bounded with many,; and lar^ ones, and in fome places was fo (hallow that the men' were forced t^ wade and drag, their batteaux after them^ Which^ together with fome Cataracts, or great falls of water, rendered this duty v«ry hard and fatiguing^ not being, able to travel more than feven or eight Englidi miles a day,. untilL they came to the Creat* Carrying place at- IVoed^s Creek, where the provifi- jons and batteaux were taken out) and carried abour ibur miles XoMliganeyj or Ohio great liver, that runs quite Itp Cfwego, to which place,, general Shirley got with part of the forces on the 8tii of Mgvjt : bit Colonel Mercer with the remainder^ did not arrive untill the 31ft. Here we found Colonel^/;«)'- Ur with his regiment of New-Jerfey provincials^ who had arrived there fome lime before.- Aftiort defcription of a place, which has aftbrded fo much <:ccafion for animadverfion, may not here be alto- gether difagreeable to thoie unacquainted with our iettkiuents in that part of the worl '« D 3, C'Cvieg9* \~. ■J '""""'"^^•^Mltti-i c fl ; 1-^'- 42 H 4. . T H E L I F E OF . .^ "v Cfwcgo U fituated N. Lat. 43 deg. 20 min. near the mouth of the river Cnondap^o^ on the loiiih-iide f)f the lake OtUittlOf or C^itara^uie, There was ge- MCf ally a fort and conibnt garrifon of regular troops- kept before our arrival. In the proper feafons a fair for the Jnd'^ati trade is kept here : /»di/ms of above twenty difr^rent nations have been obferved here at a time. The grcatclV part of the trade between Crt- nada and the Indians^ of the GreatLakes, and fome parts of the MJff^/ippi, pafs near this fort ; the near- eft and fafeft way of carrying goods upon this lake being along the fouthlide of it. The diftancc from Many to OJwego fort is about 300 miles weft ; to vender which march more comfortable, we met with many good farms 2nd fettlements by the way- The Outawaes, agrer.tand powerful nation,. living upon the Outawae river, which joins the Cataricjud river, (the out-let of the great lake) deal confide* lably with the New-York trading houfes here. ^'-^ *4 The different nations trading to Ofwego arc dif- tinguiftiable by the variety and different faffiions of their canoes ; the very remote Indians are cloathed in (kins of various forts, and have all fire-arms ; fome come fo lar worth as Pcri-Nelfon, in ffudfon^s Bay, N. lat. 57 deg. and fome from the CHraktes weft of South Curolma, in N. lat. 32 deg, Thi» ieen^s indeed to be a vaft extent of in-knd water- carriage, but it is only for canoes, and the Ihial- left of ciaft. - . ^ - .' ' Nor will it in this place be improper to give fome account of our ft icnds in thofe parts,, whom we call the Mohawks, viz. The Jf'otjuois^ commonly called the Mohawkf, the Cneiadaes, the Onondagues, the Cayugacsy and the Senekeas. In all accounts they are lately called the fix Nations of the Ntzo-Tot% fnQV\d\yJndi£ins ; the Tufcararoes^ ftragglers from the old Ivfcovarbes of Nrtb-Cardinciy lately are reckoned as the iixth. J ihall here reckon them as n. near iih-ilde kvas ge- troops- IS n fair ■ above here at ecn Ca- :d fome le near- )U lake :e from eft; to I'e met le way. r living itariqud :onfide* e. are dif* ions of loathed sarins : nrakees This waters e (raal- 7C feme we call \f called 'eSj the ts they w-Tot% from ly arc n them PETTERWILIAMSON 4^ as T have been informed they were formerly, i . The Alohaiuks ; they live upon the A'!ohaiuk*s or Schenec* iacly river, and head^ or lye north of NezvTork^ Penjyhauia, Maryland, and fome part of yirg'ima^'\ having a callle or village, welhvard from Jlbatiy' forty miles, and another lixty-five miles well, and about 160 fenfible men. 2 The Ctwiadaes, about eighty miles from the Mohmvk's fecond village, confiding of about near 200 fighting men. 3. The Onondaguesy about twenty-five miles further, (the famous Cfwego trading place on the lake Ontario^ is in their country) confifting of about 250 men. 4. The Cayugats, about feventy miles further, of about 1 30 mew ; and, 5. The Senekeas, who reach a great way down the river Stfijuekana, confift of about 700 marching, fighting men : fo that the flighting men of the five or fix nations of Mohaivks may be reckoned at 1 500 men, and extend from Jlbany^ well 400 miles, lying in about thirty tribes or governments. Befides thefe, there is fet- tled above Montreal f which lies N. E. of Cfwego^ a tribe of fcoundrel run-aways from the Mohawks 5 they are called KahnUitgeSf confifting of about eigh- ty men.— This ftiort account of thefe nations, I think neceflfary to make the Englijh reader ac- iquaiiited with, as I may have occailon to tnentlon things concerning (ome of them. ''* • *' T,' : It may not be improper here alfo, to give a fuccinA detail, of the education, manners, religion, 6c. of the natives. The Indians are born tolerably white ; but they take a great deal of pains to darken their complexion, by anointing themfelves with greate, and lying in the fun. 1 heir features are good, ef- pecially thofe of the women. Their limbs clean, ftraight, and well-proportiond, and a crooked and deformed perfon is a great rarity among them. They are very ingenious in their way, being neither fo ignorant, nor fo innocent, as foxne people ima- gine : \l j^gfciii^MUrM I rtW*M ■»..-*—-. 1 i '■ ' I I i 44 Tni Lirr cfr gine : Oti the contrary, a very iinderftanding gene-' fation are they, quick of apprehenfion, fndden m cTifpatch, fubtle in their dealings, exquifite in their inventions, and in labour aiTiduous^: The worldhas no better markfmen with guns,, or bows and arrows,, than the natives,, who can kill birds flying, H(he^ fwimming,. and wild.beafts running.; nay with fucU prodigious force do they dilcharge their arrow, that one of them will (hoot a man quite through, aad' nail both his arms to his body with the fame arrow* As to their religfon, in or :>v itMM J$' • I' vv i IJ PETER WILLIAMSON. 45 at all, or, at mod, very faint ideas of a deity • but all agree that they arc extravagantly fuperliitious, and exceedingly afraid of evil fpirits. To thcfc Damons they make oblaiions every nrvv-moon, for the (pace of feven days j during which time, they caft lots, and facrifice one of theniCelves, putting the perfon devoted 10 the moft cxquiliie niifery they can invent, in order to fatisfy the devil for that moon; for they think if they pleafe but the evil fpirit, Gpd will do them no hurt. Certain however it is, that thofe hdrans, whom the French priefts have had an opportunity of mi- niftring unto, are induced to believe, ** That the . *•* Son of God came into the world to fave all ** mankind, and deftroy all evil fpirits that now « trouble them ; that the EngH/h have killed him ; " and that ever fince, the evil fpirits are permitted *' to walk on the earth : that if the Englijh were, <* all destroyed, the Son of the Good-man, who is '' God, would come again, and baniih all evU " fpirits from their lands, and then they would have *' nothinS to fear or difturb them:" Cajoled by the(e falfe but artful inlinuaiions of the French JefuitSf the Indians from that time, have endeavoured to mafTacie all the Englifif in order that the Son of God might come again on the earth, and rid theni from their flavifli fears and terrible apprehenflons,. by exterminating the objects thereof. Being now atOfwegOj the principal objeftthat gave at that time any concern to the y^mencans, I ihall, before I continue my own account, give a Ihort re«» cital of what had been done in thele paits, in re- gard to the defence aiidprefcrvation of the fort and. the colonies thereabouts, before 1 came, upon fuch authorities as I got from thofc who had been long uOfwegOf and 1 can well depend upon for truth. General , ^ V, '■■-■t^9»- '■m, iii i ■^rmwmn 4«J The life 1^ ■•.-sS' Jd*" '4* General Shirley, in 1754, having crefted tvt(s^ new forts on the river Onotiifaga, it ftemed proba- ble, that he intended to winter at Cfwego with his- army, that he might the more readily proceed to ac- tion in the enfuing fpnng. What produced his in*' aftivity afterwards, and how it was, that fort <^/u;f» 00 was not taken by the French in the fpring of 1 75 5^ are things my penetration .vill not enable me to dif- culs. But (fwego is now loft, and would have beeiv fo in the fpring of i 755, if more important affairs^ had not made the French negledl it. \ At this time the garrifon of Cfwego confifted only of 100 men^ under captain Ktr.g, The old fort being their only proteftion, which mounted only eight four poun^ ders, was incapable of defence, becaufe it was coni^ manded by an eminence diredtly crofs a narrow ri- ver, the banks of which were covered with thick wood. ' In May 175^, Ofiuego being in this conditionj^ and thus garrifoned ; thirty French batteaux were feen to pals, and two days after eleven more ; each' batteaux (being much larger than ours) containing fifteen men: fo this fleet confifted of neai 600 men: A force, which, with a fingle mortar, might fooa Ijave taken pofleflion of the place* ;? -c A relolution was now taken to make the fort larger, and ei ecV fome new ones ; to build veficis upon the lake *, to increafe the garriibn ; and pro- vide every thing neceflary to aaiioy the enemy, fo as they might render the pi see tenable. Captaia Broacijlreet arriving on the 27th oiAhy at the fort, with two companies, (ome fmali (wlvil guns, and the fit 11 parcel of workmen, made fx)me imagine, that a II jp would be put to the French in their car- rying men in (Ight of the garrilon ; yet, they ftill permitted eleven more French batteaux to pals by, tho' we were then fuperior to them in thele boats, or at Icaft in number. The reafon our forces coutd ■ mt PETER WILLIAMSON. 47 pioba- ith hls- to ac- his in*' ■i755r to dif- e been- affairs is time D meriy lir only poun^ is coni^ rowrV* 1 thick iditiotij^ X were each' taining o men? ht iboa le fort vefiTcls id pro- my, fo Captain ie fort, as, and maginc. eir car- ley ftiil >als by, : boats, es cmld ■ mt ■S.'fl mt r^< attack four em, was, becaufe they were in the Oiling, on board large vc/Iels, in which the foldiers could iland to. fire without being overfet ; and our batteaux, in which we muft have attacked them, were fo fmall, that they would contain only lix men each, and fo tickli(b, that the inadvertent motion of one man would overXet them. No care, however, was taken to provide larger boats againii; another emergency of the fame .kind. At Ofiuego, indeed, it was in\pradicable for want of irothwork ; fuch being the provident forecaft of thofe who had the management of affairs, that though there were fmiths enough, yet, there was, at this place, but one pair of bellows, fo that the firft accident that ihould happen to that neceiTary inDrument, would ftop all the qpperations of the forge at once. The l)eginning oi June, the fhip- carpenters ar- rived from Boflon, and on the a 8th of the fame month, the firll: veflel we ever bad on the lake Cn- iariOf was launched and fitted out: She was a .fchooner40 feet in the keel, had 14 oars, and 12 fwivil guns. This vefTel, and 320 men, was all the force we had at Ofwego^ the beginning of J^/^^ and was victualled attheexpence of the province of New.Yorb, Hajjpy indeed, it was, that the colony |)rovirions were there ; for (o little care had been taken to get tlie king's provifions fent up, that, when we arrived, we muft have perifhed with famine, liad we not found a fupply, which we bad little rca- Xon to cxpeft- * About the middle of July, an attack was again cxpe(fled, when we (the forces under general 67;/r- ij) were ftill near 300 miles diftant. And, if the attack had then been made, with the foice the ene- my was known to have had at hand, it muft, for the reafon I have juft before ^ivcn, have fallen into their j)oj(reflion V ■ • ' • Such "t» Wi »Si i u lt» I #' :> T H S LIFE SjiTSf : ■) Such was the ftate of Cfivego, when wc arrnTd there: Where we had been but a (mall time, be- fore provifions began to be very fcarce ; and the king's allowance being ftill delayed, the provincial (lores were foon exhaufted, and we were in dange r of being foon famifl\ed, being on Icfs than half al- lowance. The men being likewife worn out, and fatigued with the long march ihey had lufrered, and being without rum (or allowed none at leaftj and other proper nutriment, many fell fick of the flux, and died ; fo that our regiment was greatly reduced in fix weeks time : A party that we left at the im- portant carrying-place, at JVood^s creeky being ablo- lutely obliged to defert it for want of neceflaries. Sickncfs, death and defertion, had at length fa fir reduced us, that we had fcarce men enough to perform duty, and proteft thole that were daily at work. The Indians keeping a (hift look-out, ren- dered every one who pafTcd the out-guards or cenvi' nels in danger of being fcalpcd or murdcied. To prevent confequences like thefe, a captaiii's guard of iixty men, with two lieutenants, two ferjeants, two corporals, and one drum, befides two flank-guards of a ferjeant, corporal, and twelve men in each, were daily mounted, and did duty as well as able. Scouting- parties were likewife lent out every days But the licknefs illll continuing, and having 303 men at work, wc were obliged to leflen our guards^ till general PeppereVs regiment joined us. A little dilligence being now made ufc of, about the middle of September, four other veflels were got ready, t;/z. A decked Hoop of eigbt guns, f -ur pounders, and 30 fvvivils ; a decked Ichooner, eight guns, four poundcis, and twenty eight fwivils ; one undecked fchooner, of fourteen fwivils, and four- teen oars, and another of twelve fwivils; and four* teen oars; about 130 tons each. On :*"' V: 'A "• *4 ^jfrii, ^ .:*\i., ij^ PETER WILLIAMSON. 4^ On the 24th of Odiober, with this annament, and a confiderable number of batteaux, which were loo fmall to live upon the lake in moderate wea- ther, we were preparing to attack Niagara; tho' (notwithftandiijg we had taken all the provifions we could find in Cfuego, and had left the gan ifon be- hind, with fcarcc enough for three day^) the fleet had not provifions fufScient on board, to carry them within fight of the enemy, and fupplies were not to be got, within 300 miles of the place we were going againft. However, the impracticability of fucceeding in an expedition, undertaken vvithout viftuals, was difcovered time enough to prevent our march, or embarkation, or whatever it may be called; but not before nine batteaux laden with officers baggage, were fent forwards, four men in each batteau ; in one of which, it was my lot to be. The men being weak, and in low fpirits, with continual harrafling, and low feeding, rendered our progrefs very tedious and difficult ; add to this the places we had to pafs and afcend; for, in many parts, the Catara^s or falls of water, v»'hich dc- fcended near the head of the river Omnda .f..*** In this manner, the fummer was fpent on ouP fide ; and the reafon why the French did not this year take Ofvuego, when they might, with fo little trouble, \v a s,^ as many befides"myfelf conjeftured,. that they thought it more their intereft, to purfiie their projefts on the Ohio, and preferve the fricnd- fliip of the confiderablc Indians'; which an attack upon Cfivego, at that time, would have deftroyed. How far they fucceeded in fuch their projects, and the reafons of their fuccefles, a little animad- verfion on our ov/n tranfailions will let us into the light of. For, as appearances on our fide were very favourable in the fpring ; general Braddock^% defeat greatly increafcd the gloom, which fat on the countenances of the .'^mc^^wj. ^- ■'*' ' Great things being expc<5ted from him, he arri- ved early in the fpring at Virginia, with a confider- able land force ; and fort Du Quefne feemed to be ours, if we did but go and demand it. The at- 'iacks defigned againft Niagara, and fort Frederick^ at (rovjn-point, were planned in the winter, and the troops employed, againft the French in Nova- Scotia, embarked at JSojhn in JpriL Let us view n the lable, 1 and an e* /er to gene- led at ch 6/. , ficulty fions; ence> : trou- cefTary to pre- on our ot this little eftured,. > purlue fVicnd- 1 attack Iroyed. projects, animad- into the de were h lat on he arri- confider- ed to be The at- Frederick, iter, and in NovU' i us vkw the I P E T E R W I L L I A M S O N. 53 'he events bcfides tbofe already mentioned, (gene- ral Bnttldock was ready to march in Jpnl. But through ignorance, or neglect, or a mirunderftand- ing with the governor of Virginiaf had neither fi cfh provilions, buries, nor waggons proviciec! ; and fo late as the latter end of May, it was nccefTaiy to apply to Penjylvaniaf for the mod part of thofe. This negle<5l created a raoft pernicious diffidence and difcredit of the Jmericarts, in the mind of the general, and prevented their ulefulnefs, where their advice was waiitedjandproduced very badeffefts. He was a man(as it is now too well known and believed) by no mean" of quick appi;ehenfion, and could not CO' nvw -at luch people .'Id inftruft him ; and his young couniellors prejuuiccd him flill more, foas to flight his officers, and what was worfe, his enemy; as it was treated as an abfurdity to fup~ pofe the Indians would ever attack regulars : And of courfe, no care was taken to inftrud the men^ to refill their peculiar manner of fighting. Had this circumflance been attended to, i am fully per- fuaded, 400 Indians, about tlie number that defeat- ed him, would have given him very kittle annoy- ance : Sure I am, 400 of cur people, rightly ma- naged, would have made no difficulty of driving be- fore them four times that handful^ to whom he owed his defeat and death. The undertaking of the eaftren provinces to re- duce the fort at Crown-Point, met that fate, which the jarring counfelsof a divided people commonly meet with ; for though the plan was concerted in the winter of 1754, it was y^i^gujt before thefe pet- ty governments could bring together their troops, In ihort, it 'muft be owned by ail, that delays were the banes of our undertakings, except in the bay- of Fundi, in ISovwScoiicf, where fecrecy and expe- dition were rewarded with iuccels, and that pro- vince reduced. The' T' V4> 54 ' ' Tke L if K or The general continued inaftivc, from the time he left OfwegOy to March 1756, when he was about to refume the execution ol his fchenr.e to attack Frontenac ond Niagara, What would have been the ill'ue of this projc<5l, neither myfelf, nor any other perfon, can now pretend to fay, for,juft at this crifis, he received orders from Englandf to at- tempt nothing, till lord Loudon (hould arrive, which was faid fliould be early in the fpring. However, his lorddiip did not get there untill the middle of July^ fo that by this delay, time was given to the marquis de Montcalm (major general Diejkau^s fuc- ccflbr) to arrive from France at Cafiada with 3000 leoular forces, and 'take the field before us. ' But to return from this digreffion to other tran- fa6ti(3ns. When I was pictty well recovered again, I embarked on board a veffel from Albany fur JVfw^ Tork ; where, when I arrived, I found to my for- row, captain John Shirley, the general's fon, had- been dead for fome time. He was a very promifing, worthy, young gentleman, and univerfally regret- ed. His company was given to major James Kin* fta'ir, who ordered, that none of his men fhouldgo out on the recruiting parties, as was at firft intend- ed by his predecefibr ; but, that the private men fliould either return to Ofwego, or do duty in the fort at Nevj-YorL Not liking my ftation here, I intreated the general, who was now arrived, for a furlow, to (qc my friends at Penjyhama, which he, having then no great cccafion for me at New-York, granted for three months. -> ' f ^;, ^7 -^ As I have here mentioned New-York, and before given a fliort account of the two cities, Philadelphia and Bojlon, it would be a difrefpef^ fliown to this elegant one not to take noti/:e. of it, as well as in f iP-e meafure debarring the reader from fuch infor- mation, as may not be difagreeable ; but not being u ; time about attack been 3r any |uftat to at- which wever, idle of to the <'s fuc- 1 3000 ;r tran- \ again, )r New* ny for- >n; had )miring, regret- 1£S KlTt" lould go intend- Ue men y in the here, 1 d, for a hich he, ^w-Tork, i before 'adelphia 1 to this ;11 as in :h infor- ot being PETER, WILLIAMSON. sS oC that note or confcqucnce with the others, I (hall briefly obferve ; that, v •■ / ^ ♦*^>;,t ^ j i New-Tork is a very fine city, and the capital of the province of that name ; it contains about 3000 houfes, and near 9000 inhabitants. 1'he houfes arc all well built, and the mcaneft of them faid to be worth 100/. fterling, which cannot be faid of the city of the fame name, nor of any of' ;r in England. Their converfation is polite, and their furniture, drefs^ and manner of living, quite ele- gant. In drinking and gallantry they exceed auy city in /America, The great church is a very handfome edifice, and built in 1695. Here is alfo a Dutch church, a French church, and a Lutheran church. The in- habitants oi Dutch extraction, make a confideiablc part of the town; and moll of them fpeak Engll/h, Having obtained my furlow, I immediately fet out for Penjylvania, and arriving at Philadelphia, found the confternation and terror of the inhabitants was greatly increafed, to what it was when I left them. They had made feveral treatits of friend- ftiip with the Indians, who, when well fupplied^ with arms, ammunition, clothes, and other necef- feries, through the pacific mealures, and defence- lefs ftate of the Philadelphians, foon revolted to the French, and committed great outrages on the back parts of the province, deftroying and maflacring men, women, and children, and eveiy thing that unhappily lay in their way. A few inftances of which, together with the be- haviour of the Philadelphians on thefe occafions, I (hall here prefent the reader with, who, of what- ever feci or profeflion, I am well aflured, muft con- demn the pacific difpofition, and private factions that then reigned, not only in the a y, but a- mong the magifirates themfelves ; who were a long time, before they could agree on proper petitions, t9 MNl 5# The LIFE oi' "^ ' *o roiife the afTembly from the lethargic and inac-* Mve condition they ablblutely remained in. For, about the middle of O^cber, a large body of Jndiiinsy chiefly ShciiKjnefe, Delawares, &c. fell up-« on this province, from leveral quaiteis, almofl at the fame inftant, murdering, burning, and laying, wafte all wherever they came ; fo that in the five counties of Cumberlandy York, Lancajier, Berks, and Northampton, which compofe more than half the province, nothing but (cenes ot deftruftion and defolatioii were to be feen. - The damages which thefe counties had fuHained by the defertion of plantations, is not to bereckon- , ed up, nor are the miferies of the poor inhabitants to be defcribed ; many vt whom, though efcaping with life, were, without a moment's warning, dri- ven from thelie habitations where they enjoyed every neceflary of life, and were then expoled to all the fevcrity of an hard winter, and obliged tafolicit their very bread at the cold hand of charity, or per rifii with hunger, under the inclement air. To thele barbarities I have already mentioned, I cannot pafs over the folio wirg, as introdu6lory caufes of the Philadelphians at lall withftanding the outrages of the Barbarians. - ^. At Gnadenhutietiy a (mall Moravran fettlement^ iu Northampton cuunty, the poor unhappy fufterers, were fitting round their peaceful fupper, when the inhuman murderers, muffled in the (hades of night, dat k and horrid as the infernal purpoies of theii diar bolic fouls, Hole upon them> butchered, (calped tl^em, and confumed their bodies, together with their horlcs, ftuck, and upw^ards of fixty head of* fat cattle, (intended for the (uWiftance of the bre- thren at Dethkhem) all in one general flame ; fothat next morning furnifhed only a naelancholy fpeftaclc of their mingUd^afhcs. ^^i^,.^ ■ ■ * . - . ^ . * . . . ^i- ;^^:^|ip ■-' «? i inac-* lody of fell up-* ooft at laying he five Berksj an half on and lAained reckon- ibitant^ leaping ng. dri- d every > all the y folicit or per oned, I duftory landing nent^ ia ifterers, hen the f night, leii diar Icalped icr with head of the bre- fothat )e€tacle «? P E T E P WILLIAMSON. 57 At tlic Great Cove in Cumbirlandf at Tulpehockin^ in Berks, and in feveral other places, their barbari- ties were Hill greater, if poffible. Men, women, children, and brute* beafts, (bared one common deftruftion ; and where they were not burnt to alhcs, their mangled limbs were found promifcuoully llrewed upon the ground, thofe appertaining to the human form, fcarce to be didingniflied from the brute ! But of all the inAances of the barbarities I heard 4)f in thefe parts, I could not help being moil af- £e6ked with the following : One family, confining of the huiband, his wife and a child, only a few hours old^ were all found murdered and icalped in this manner : The mother itretched on the bed, with her new born child, horibly mangled, and put under her head for a pillow, while the huiband lay on the ground hard by, with his belly ript up, and his bowels laid open. In another place, a woman with her fucking child, finding that ihe bad fallen into the.hands of the enemy, fell flat on her face, prompted by the ftrong call of nature, t© cover and flielter her inno- cent child with her own body. The accurfed fa- vage ruihed from his lurking place, ftruck her on the head with bis tomahaivk, tore off her fcalp, and fcoured back into the woods, without oblerving the child, being apprehenfive that he was diicovered. The child was found fometime afterwards under the body of its mother, and was then alive, • Many of their young women were carried by the favages into captivity, referved, perhaps, for a worfc fate that thofe who fuffered death in all its horrid fhapes ; and no wonder, fince they were referved by lavages, whofe tender mercies might be account- ed more cruel than their very cruelty itfelf. Yet even during all this time this province (bad things been propcily ordered) need but, in compari- fon 's 1 t , ',' 5r •• The LIFE or fon to her ftrcngth, have lifted her foot and cruilied ali the French force on their borders ; but unufcdtd fuch undertakings, and b jund by mrt rep/iing prhti> eipals from exerting her ftrength, and involved in difputes with the proprietaries, they Hood ftill, vain- ly hoping the French would be fo moderate as to be content with their victory over Bmddockf or at leaft confine their attncks to Virginia .• But they then law and felt all this was delufion, and the barbari- ties of the /W/ench officers: Notwithftanding all which they continued in domef- tic debates, without a foldier in pay, or a penny in the treafury. In flvort, if the enemy had then had but 1500 men at theOhh, and would have attempted it, no rafhnefs could have been perceived - in theif Inarching down to the city of Philadelphia. Thus flood our affairs on the fide of the Ohio^ y/fhtn an old captain of the warriors, in the intercll: ©f the Philadelphians, and their ever faithful friend^ whofe name wds Scarrooyda, alias Monokaioathy, on the firll notice of theie misfortunes, came haftening to PhiladirlphiUi together with colonel /r^z/er, the provincial interpreter, and two other Inditin chiefs* Scarrooyda immediately demanded an audience oi the allembly, who were then fitting, to whom h« fp'ke in a very alFec^big manner. Hii Ipeeches being printed, and fold about Philadelphii/, 1 pro-- cuicd one of them^ which was ab tollows. ■■^:.^..^, * Brethren^ i ' We are once more come among you, and fih- cerely coaduie with you on account of the lata bloodllied, and the awful cloud that hangs over you, and over us. - Brethren,, you may be un- doubtedly allured that thete horrid aiftions were committed by none of thole nanons that have any fellowlhip with us, but by certain falfe- hearted and treacherous bretnieu. It grieves u$ ' more is^mamam ilMlM j cruihei unufcd td iing prhtk volved in (lill, vain- : as to be or at leaft :hey then ; barbari- b officers; in domef- I penny in n had but ittemptcd in their a, the Ohio^ le intercd ful frien<]4 toathyy on haftcning eifcry the tin chiefsi dience of whom ha Ipeeches i pro- .' ■ '..li V , and fln- ►f the lata mgs over ay be un- ions were that have ain falfe- grieves u^ ' more iiU PETER WILLTAMSON. 59 jTiorc than all our othet misfortunes, that any of our good friends, the Englijh^ ftiould fufpcft lis * of having falfe hearts. ';.,-:■',.■. ■■ ■ '' (^' >•>• •* * Brethren, ' " . » . -- • . ' If you were not an infatuated people, we are 3^50 ' warriors firm to your intercft ; and, if you are fa * unjuA to us as to retain any doubts of our finceri^ * ty, we offer to put our wives, our children, and * all we have into your hands, to deal with then* '* as feemeth good to you, if we are found H the * leafl to fwerve from you. But, brethren, you ' mufl fupport and affifl us, for we are not able io ' fight alone againft the powerful nations who are * coming againfl you ; and you nriifl this moment * refolye, and give us an explicit anfwer what you ' will do : For thefe nations have fent ro dcfjre us, * as old friends, either to join them^ or gv^t out '^f '*' their way, and (hift for eurfelves. Alas! b.' ' thren, we are forry to leave you ! We remcn Der '^ the many tokens of your friendfhip to os : But * what (hall we do f We canAot fland Llotie, an4 ' you will not Hand with us !— • • ;..: .,.1 ••.• ■■'? ''Brethren, ' '* ' ' The time is precious. While we are here con- fulting with you, we know not what may be the fate of our brethren at home. We do therefore once more invite and requefl you to aft like men^ and be no longer as women, nurfuing weak mea- fures that render your names J^fpicable. If you will put the hatchet * into our hands, and lend out a number Cf your young men in con- junftion with our warriors, and provide the ne- cefTary arms, ammunition, and provifions, and likewife build feme flrong houfes for the protect* Sec tlie note under Tcmabawk, page 15. ■n tlOII I > i«ii» » ;|iT<^^>l^^< r t [>»■ I .^ '"■ 60 *.i TniL LIFE Gfr i-^^" ' tion of onr old men, women and children, wliile * we are abfent in war : We fhall foon wipe the ' tears from your eyes, and make thefe falfe hcart- ' ed brethren repent their treachery and bafenefs ' towards you, and towards us. f; But we muft at the fame time folemnly affurc ' you, that if you delay any longer to aft in con- * junction with us, or think to put us off, as ufual, ' with uncertain hopes, you muft not expeftto fee ' our faces under tiiis roof any more. We muft * ftiift for our own fafty, and leave you to the ' mercy of our enemies, as an infatuated people, ' upon whom we caa have no longer cjepen- * dance.' The tears flood in the old man's eyes, while he delivered this laft part ; and no wonder, fince the very being of his nation depended upon their join- ing the enemy, or our enabling them immediately to make head again ft them. i ■* ■ - r/ ,'»^^ ! ^ It was fome time, however, before the aflembly could be brought to confent to any vigorous mea- fures for their own defence. Their back inhabi- tants loft all patience at their conduft. Until at length the governor exerted his utmoft power, and procured the militia, and money bills to pafs. By virtue of the former, the freemen of the province were enabled to form themfclves into companies, and each company, by a majority of votes, by way of ballot, to chule its own officers ; viz. a captain, lieutenant, and enfign ; who, if approved of, were to be commiffioned by the governor. So that the Phlladelphians were at laft permitted to raife and arm themfelves in their own defence. They according- ly formed themfclves into companies ; the governor figning to all gentlemen qualified, wlio had been regularly ballotted, commiffions for that purpofc. H.. Captain ? PETER WILLIAMSON. 6i »n, while wipe the Ife hcart- 1 bafenefs nly aflure a in con- ^ as ufual, pea to fee We tnuft ou to the ted people. s, while he r, fmce the- 1 their join- Lmmediately the affembly gorous mea- back inhabi- a. Until at power, and to pafs. By the province o companies, otes, by way 1X2. a captain, ed of, were to So that the raife and arm icy according- the governor Ijo had been that purpofc. Captain Captain Davis was one of the fir ft who had a- company, and, being defirous of my fcrvice, in order to inftrua the irregulars in their diCcipline^ obtained from the governor a certificate to indem- > nify me from any punishment which might be ad- judged by the regiment to which I already belonged; for without that I had not gone, Our company, which confifted of I CO men, was not compleated untill the 24 of December, 1755 ; when, lofing no 'time, we next morning marched from Philedelphla in high fpirits ; refolving to (hew as little quarter to the favages as they had to many of us. Colonel Armjhong had been more expeditious, for he had raifed 280 provincial tiregulars, and marched alittle time before againft the ObioMorians ; but of him more hereafter. , We arrived the 26th of December at Bethlehera^ in the forks of the river Delaware, where, being kindly received by the Moravians^ we loaded fix waggons with provifions, and proceeded on to tb.e Appalachian Mountains, or Blue Hills, to a town called Kcnnorton- head, which the Moravians had deferted on account of the Indians. Fifty of our men, of whom I made one, were ordered before the reft, to fee whether the town was deftroyed or not. Difpofing tbeni to the beft advantage, we marched on till we came within five miles of the place, which we found ftanding entire. ■'- ' Having a very uneven, rugged road to it, and not above four men able to go a-breaft, we were on a ludden alarmed, by the firing of the flank- guards, w hich were a little in the rear of our van. The favages briikly returned their fire, and killed the enfign and ten of the men, and wounded fe« veral others. Finding this, I being chief in command (having ■^ aaed as lieutenant, and received pay as fuch from ' ray firft entrance, for my trouble and duty in learn* F iiK^ MOXK l U I W iW ' i i rl |l l » >i u» »-''<»»l^ ing the company,) ordered the men to march >aii with all expedition to the .town, and all the way to keep a running.Hre on the enemy, as they haa -fallen on our rear. We (hould have got there in very good order, had it not been for a river we had tocrofs, and the weather being fo excellently cold, our cloaths froze to our bodies as foon as we got out of the water.' However, with great difficulty we reached the town^ and got into the. church with the lofs of twenty- - feven men There we made as good preparations for our defence as polGble we couW, making a great iire of the benches, feats, and what we could find therein, to dry our cloaths 5 not efteeming it ; the leaft facrilege or crime, upon fuch an emergency. . The Indians foon followed us into the town, and furrounding us, tried all methods to burn the church, ^but our continual firing kept them off for about fix hours, untill ourpowder and ball were all expended. In the night they fet feveral houfes on fire ; and we dreadiog the confequences of being detained there, refolved tcmake one bold effort, and pufh ourfelves thro' the favages forces, which was ac- cordingly .done with. the mofl undaunted courage. The enemy fired continually on us during our re- treaty and killed many of our men, but in their confufion many ofthemfelves alfo; it being fovery dark that we were not well able to difcern our own party; fo that only five of .us kept together and got into the woods ; the reft whom we left, behind, 1 doubt, fell lacrifices to the fav.tges. The night being lb excefTive. cold,, and having but 'few cloaths with us out of the church, two of my •comerr ies froze to death, before we could reach any .inhabited place. In fhort, we did not get any re- lief till four o'clock in the morning, when we ar- rived at a houfe that lay in the gap of the Blue^ i^ ..... .»,. P E T F R' WILLIAMSON. 63 Ifills ; where our captain had arrived with the re. mainder of the men and waggons the day before. The captain inquiring our fuccefs, I gave him the melancholy detail of our unfortunate expedi'- tion : upon which an exprefs was immediately fent to the governor with the account, who orderetl 1600 men to march the next morning for the fame ■place, under the command of general Franklin, not only to biiry the dead and build a fort there, biit to extirpate the favages who infcfted thele parts, and were too powerful for our fmall number undet captain Davis, > The remainder of our little party were now building a fort at the place where we lay for out defence, untill more alliftance (hould arrive ; for we were under continual apprehenfions of the //i- , dians purfuing and attacking us again. On the 9th of Jannary 1 T^d, we were reinforced by general /r^«^//« and his body ; and the next day let out again for Ar(?/7wor/3M-^^^^; where, when we arrived, to our great conlternation, we found little occafion to bury our unhappy comerades, the Iwine (which in that country are vaftiy numerous in the woods) having devouicd their bodies, and nothing but bones lirewed up and down Were to be feen. We there built a fort in the place where the old church had ftood, and gave it the name of fort Allen ; this was finidied in fix days, and in fo gijod a manner, that ; 00 men would make great refill ance againft a much greater number oi Indians, On the jBth, 1400 of us were ordered about fifteen miles uiftant from thence, on the frontiers of the province ; where we built another fOrt called Fort'Norris. In our way thither we found fix men fealped and murdered in a moft cruel manner. By what we could diicecn, ihey had made a vigorous defence, the barrels and ftocks of theii guns bein^ F 2 broke V„,: ' >: 64 - T H E L I F E or broke to pieces, and themfelves cut and mangled in a terrible manner. From thence v/e were ordered to march towards a place called the Minni finks ^ but this journey proved longer than we were aware of. The In- dians committing great outrages in thele parts, hav- ing burnt and deftroyed all the houfes, &c. in our way : Thefe tragic adtions caufed us to divide our- felves into feveral parties, who were ordered divers ways, to cut off as many of thefe lavages as pof- fiblc. The day after this fcheme was put into execution, we met with a fmall party, which we put to the rout, killing fourteen of them. We then made all poflible defpatch to fave fome houfes we faw on fire, but on our nearer approach found our endea- vour in vain : John, Swi/ber and his family having been before fcalped^^iaid burnt to aflies in his own houfe. On the follotwing night the houfe of James JVallis underwent thet fame fate ; h,imfelf, wife, feven children, and "the reft ofchisfkmUy, being fcalped and burnt therein. The houfes and families of Philip Green and Abraham Nairn, fuffered in the like manner. Nor did the cruelty of thefe barbarians ftop here, but attacked the dwelling- hourfe o( George Hunter y Efq; a gentleman of con- fiderable worth, and ajuftice of the peace, who made a brave refiftance, and rather than fall into the hands of thefe inifcreants, chofe to meet death in the flames ; which he, his wife, and all his houf- hold confiding of fixtecn in number, did vvhh the utmoft bravery, before any alTiftance could be re- ceived from our general, who had difpatched 500 of us for that purpofc, on an exprefs being fent to him that morning. . - > v From thence we marched to the Mlnifinkesy and buik Fort Norris. On the 9th of Alarch we fet out with 1000 men to the head of the Minijinkes, and ' ^ buiit > execution, PETER "UriLLIAM SON. 65 bbilt another fort, which we named Franklin ^ in ho ' nour of our general. All which forts we garrifoned with as many men as we could poilibly (pare. After this we were daily employed in fcourlng the woods from fort to fort, of thefe noxious crea- tures the Indiana, and in getting as much of the coin together as we could find, to prevent the fa- vages from having any benefit therefrom. » Notwithftanding our vigilai cc, thefe villains on the I 5th attacked the houfe of James Graham, but by providence he, with his wife, who had jult lain in^ and the young infant in her arms, (with nothing about her but her (hift) made their efcape to Fort Jllen, about fifteen miles diftant. The child pe- rifhed by the way, aad it was matter of wonder to the whole garrifon to find either of them alive ; in- deed they were in a deplorable condition, and we imagined they would expire every moment. The ■wife however, to our great aftonifhment, recovered, but the huiband did'not furvive above fix hours af- ter their arrival. The houfe of Jfaac Cook fufFered by the flames, h'jmfelf, his wife, and eight children, being fcalped and burnt in it. Tedious and (hocking would it be to enumerate half the murders, conflagrations and outrages, com*, mitted by thefe hellish infidels. Let it fu(Ece therefore, that from the year 1753, when they firft began th«ir barbarities, they had murdered, burnt, fcalped, and deftroyed, above 3500 fouls; above J 000 whereof were unhappy inhabitants of the weftern part of Philadelphia, Men, women and children^ fell alike a prey to thefe favagcs : No re- gard being had by them to the tender intreaties of an affe6lionate parent for a beloved child, or the infant's prayers in behalf of his aged father and mother. Such are the miferable calamities attendant on fchemes for gratifying the ambition of a tyrannic Fa/ I J Wi Thp life er 'I 5 I ' }; i I monarch like France, or the weak contrivances and indolent meafures of blundering miniflers and ne- gociators . - i? T/- The time of my furlow at length expiring, I pre- pared to fet out for my regiment. Having a re- commendatory letter from general Franklin to p ajor K'nnair as to my fervices, I marched forward for J^eivYork: Where being arrived I waited on the major, he being a worthy gentleman univerfally f>eloved by the whole regiment ; and after giving tiim an account of all our tranlaftions, and the hardfhips and labours we had gone through, I was difmifled. After fome ftay there, I was ordered to proceed ' on my march for Cfwego once more, But before I go further with my own affairs, I ihall juft recount ilic rcfult of thofe provincials, who went, as 1 men-r tioned before, to quell the lavages, under the com- ' mand of colonel JrmJIrong, ' He having under his command 280 provincials defined againft the Ohio Monans, againft whom ; nothing had been attempted, notwithftanding their /frequent incurfi.)n3 and murders, penetrated 140 miles through the woods from Fori Shirley on 7«- "fit a! a river, to K'ttomlng, an Indian town on 4be ' Ohio, about twenty-fiv e miles above fort Du Qitefne^ ". belonging to the French. He foon joined the advan- ced party at the Beaver- darns ; and, on the fourth evening, aiier being within fix miles of Kittanningy the fcouts dilcovered a fire in the road, and reported tliat there were but three or four Indians at it. At that time it was no* thought proper to attempt fur- prifing thele hdtans, led, if one (hould efcape, the town might be alarmed: Lieutenant Hogg there- fore, with twelve men, was left to watch thei>i, with orders not to fall upon them until day-break; and our forces turned .>ut of the path, to pafs.th.dr fire, without dillurbing them. , i^^'-a I About- ■ • .'■'«■' i i )ns, and the PETER WILLIAMSON 6j About three in the morring having been guided by yLht-iuhofjfwg of the Indian vtariii »s, at a dance in the town, they reached the river at about loo perches below it. As foon as day appeared the at- tack began ; Captain Jacobs chief of the Indians^ gave the 'war 'whoop, and defended his houle bravely through the loop holes in the logs. 7 he Indians generally refufing quarter, Colonel Armjirong or- dered their houfes to be fet on fire, which was done by the officers and loldiers with great alacrity. On this fome burft out of the houlcs and attempted to reach the river, but were inllantly fliot down. Captain Jacobs in getting out cf a window was /hot ?ind fcalped, as were alfo his SquaiVy and a lad they called the king's ion. 1 he Indians had a num- ber of fpare arms in their houfes loaded, which went off in quick fucceffion as the fire came to them ; and quantities of gunpowder, which had been ftored in every houfe, blew up from time to time, throwing their bodies into the air. Eleven Englijh prifoners were releafed, who in- formed the colonel, 'that that very day tw'o batteaux of Frenchmeny with a large party of Delaware and French Indians, were to have joined Captain Jacobs to march and take Fort Shirley ; and that twenty- four warriprs had fet out before ihem the preceeding evening ; which proved to be the party that had kindled the fire the preceeding night ; for oui peo- ple returning, found Lieutenant Hogg wounded in three places : and learned, that he had attacked the fuppoled party of three or four at the fii e, but found them too ftrong for him. He killed three of them however, at the firft fire, and fought them an hour ; when, having loft three of his men, the reft, as he lay wounded, abandoned him and fied, the enemy purfuing. Lieutenant Hogg died foon alter ^ of his wounds. Enough » > I in 68 The life of K\ ll Enough of thefe two expeditions has been faid ; nor can I well tell which of the twowas moft fuc- cefsful, both lofing more of their own men, than they killed of the enemy. A little reirofpe^lion again on the anions and behaviour of the Philadelphians, and the other pro- vinces and places in conju^tion with them, may here be fomething neceflary : For, when I arrived at Phiiaeielphia, I found, that however melancholy their fituation had been of late, this good effefl had been obtained, that the moft, prejudiced and igno- rant individual was feelingly convinced of the ne- ceffity of vigorous meafures ; and, bcfides national and public views, then the more prevailing ones of revenge and felf-intereft gave a fpur to their coun- fcls. They were accordingly raifing men with the utmoft expedition ; and had, before the end of the fummer, a confiderable number, though not equal to what they could furnifh, having at leaft 45,00c men in Penfylvanla able to fight. ^ And, purfuant to agreement fomc months before, the four governments of New-Erfgland, in conjunc- tion with ^^ew York (which laft furnifhed 1300) had now aflembled 8000 men (for the attack of fort Frederic) at Jl^any, 150 miles N. of Neiv^ York, and about 130 from Croiun-Pointy xnvidcx the command cf general IVinJlov). But many people dreading the cruelty of the French, were not 16 very eager to join them this year as the laft ; an ini- prefs therefore of part of the militia was ordered in NeixiYork government. To prevent which, fub» fcriptions were let on foot to engage volunteers by high bounties ; io loth were they that fome got nine or twelve pounds fterling to inlirf. The 44th, 48>-h, 50th, and 51ft regiments of Great Br/tain were deftined for the campaign on the great lake Ontario, and moftly marched for Ofwego, tkcnce to be carried over in ioo great whale boats, which I PETERWILIAMSON. 6f which were then at the lake, and were built ac Shene£lady on Mohawk's river, and were long, round and light, as the batteaux, being flat-boc- tonied and fniall, would not anfwer the navigation of the lake, where the waves were often very high. They were then, at laft, intended to attack tort FrontenaCf mentioned before, and the other French forts on the lake. Upwards of 2000 batteau men were employed to navigate the batteaux, each a ton burthen, laden with pro vi (ions and ftores from /4l' bany up the Mohawk^s river, then through Oneyda lake and river, down to Cfivego* There were like- wife 300 failors hired and gone up from New-York (as I found, when I arrived there) to navigate the ifour armed fhip^ on the lake, built there, as 1 have before-mentioned, the laft year, for the king's fer- vice, and two others were then building; Imiths, carpenters, and other artifices, having gone there for that purpofe fome weeks before. Such were the prepaj^tions and armaments for this campaign ; but how fruitlefs, to our great difgrace, were foon known all over the world I I fhall not trouble the reader with a long account of a long march 1 had to take from New-York to OfwegOf to join my regiment : fuffice it therefore, that 1 arrived there about the middle oi July ; but in my march thither with lome recruits, we joined colonel Uroadfireet at Jlhar.y, and on the 6th of J\!ay, at the Creai Carrying' i iace, had alkirmifh with the trench and Jndians, wiierein leveral were killed and wounded on both lides ; of the latter I made Receiving a (hot through my left hand. one. wliich inthcly dilubled my third and fourth fir^- g.rs ; and having*no hoipital, or any conveniencies for the (ick there, i was, after having my hand drelied in a wretched manner, (ent with the next batteaux to y^y/w?)' to get it cuied* »4r« *•*■-'■ i« -^ As •:.', c \ 70 v> The life or -^ As foon as I was well, I fet foniards for Ofwegb-^ again. And, wiicn arrived there, f began to make what obfervaiions I could, as to the alterations that had been made fmce my departiue in the month of Ci^ober preceeding. The works of OfwrgOf at this time, confined of throf forts, viz. The Old Fort, built many years before, whofe chief ftrength was a weak ftone wall, about two feet thick, fo ill cemented,' that it could not refill the force of a four pound ball, and fituated on the eaft fide of the harbour; the two other forts, caWcdi Fort Cnt aria and Fort CeorgCy were each of them at the diftance •f about 450 yards from the Old Fort, and fituated on two eminencies, which commanded it ;' both thefe, as I have already oblerved, were begun to be ,^ilt laft year upon plans, which made them defea- fible againA muiqueti-y, and cannon of three or four pound ball only; the time not allowing works of a llronger nature to be then undertaken. ' For our defence againft large cannon, we en- tirely depended on a fuperior naval force upon the IsKke, which might have put it in our power to pre- vent iht French from bringing heavy artillery againft the place! as that could only be dunr by water-car- riage, which is my opinion, as wclLas many others. If the navaK force had but done their duty, ^fwego might have been oirrs to this very day, and intirely cut off the commuHtcation of the Frtmh from ia^ vada to the Ohio: But if 1 would inlllV on this, as-. the particulars requiie, I perhaps fhould affiont fome, and injure mylelf, all to no puipvle or of/ any beneficial lervice to recal our former lofles; for that reafon, 1 fiiall defer enlarging on the iubje^t, . although, at the iame rmie, lean give very good circuniilances to maintain my argument, it rt* - quired. ;---.-■» |1-/^m->:-^ .•-':" - A day or two after being at. Ofivego, the fort was alarmed by hearing a firing *, when on difpatch* >. . ing PETER WILLIAMSON. 71 ing proper Icouts^ it was found to be the French and Jndians engaging the batteaumen and failors, con- voying the provifion? to Cfwego, from one river to another. On this a detachment of 500 men were ordered out in purfult of them, whereof I was one. We had a narrow pafs in the woods to go through, where we -were attacked by a great number of /«- dianSf wken a defperate fight began on both fides, that laded about two hoursl However, at U(i we gained a- complete vi£lory, and put them intirely to the rout, killing fourteen of them, and wounding, above forty. On ourUdcwe had but two men killed and iix wounded. Many more would have been killed of both parties, had it not been for the thicknefs of the- woods. I cannot here omit recounting a mofl fingular tranfadlion that happened during this my fecond time of being there, which, though fcarce credible, IS abfolutely true, and can be teflified by hundreds, who know, and have often feen the man ; in fhort, one Moglajhy of the 50th regiment, an Injhmany being placed as centinel over the rum which had arrived, and being curious to know its^oodnefs, pierced the cafk, and drank till he was ^quite intoxi- cated.; whep, not knowing what he did, he ram- bled from his poO, and fell afleep agood way from, the garrifon. -An Indian ^ulkiug that way for prey, (as is conje6hired) found him, and made free with his fcalp, which he.plucked and carried o£ Thefer- jeantin the motniog, finding him pruArate on his face, and ieeing his fcalp ofi^ imagined him to be dead; but on his nearer approach, and raiiiaghim from the ground, the fellow awaked from the found deep he had been in, and afked the ieijeant what he wanted. The ferjeant, quite furprized at the llrange behaviour of the fellow, interrogated him, how he came there in that condition ? He replied, Jie could not tell ; but that he had got very drunk, and ram- f < M i*' t. ^' ^ « ft •''^ O The life op' vamhUd he knew not whither. The fcrjcant advifcd him to prepare for death, not having many hours to live, as he had loft his fcalp. /fr* ■:'■'■' ^ n:y decv^ mw (cries he) and are you joking me .' ^>r b*^ really knew pothing of his being feived in the njanncr he was, and would not believe any accident had hap- pened him, until feeing his clothes bloody, he felt his head^ and found it to be too true, as well as having a cut from his mouth to his ear. He was immediately carried before the governor, who a(k- ing him, how he came to leave his poft ? He replied, 7 hat being very thirfly, he had broached a cajk ojrum, and drank about a pint, which made him drunk ; hut if his honour vjould forgive him, he*d never be guilty of the like again. The governor told him, it was very probable he never would, as he was now no better than a dead man. However, the furgeons dreHed his head there, as well as they could, and then fenthim in a batteau to Many, where he was perfeftiy cured ; and to the great lurprize of every body, was living when I left the country. This^ though fo extraordinary and unparallelled an affair^ I aver to be true; having feveral times feen the man after this accident happened to him. How his life was prefer ved feems a miracle, as no in- ftance of the like was ever known, t I had forgot to mention. That before I left z^- hany the laft time, upon colonel Br'jadJlreetH arri- val there, in his way to Ofwego, with the proyifi- ons and forces, confiiiing of about 500 whale boats and batteaux, intended for the campaign on the great lake Ontario, mentioned before ; 1 joined his corps, and proceeded on with the batteaux, or. Going up the river Onondaga towards Ofwego, the batteau-men were on the 29th of June, at- * tacked near the Falls, about nine miles from Of- luego, by 500 French and Indians, who killed and wounded 74 of our men, before we could get oa ^■'^ fhorc, vM*' PETER WILLIAMSON. 71 fhdre, which, as fo6n as we did, the French were routed, with thelofsof i^o men killed, and i'eve- ral wounded, whom wetook prifoncrs. Had wie known of their lyhig in anibufh, cr cf their intent to attack us, the victory would have been much morct:ompIcat on our fide, as the troops colonel Broadjireet Commanded, were regular, weU difcipKned, and in toleralble health, whereas the French, by a long paffagc at fea and living har^i af- ter their arrival at Canada, were much hauaHcd and fatigued. y>^n '^ .'< •y-:v.'v\^.'^'.>s \ •.;. •. However, we got all fafe to Ofwego vlth tl c batteaux and provifions, together with rigging and Hores for the large vefTels, excepting twenty four cannon, fix tpounders, that were then at the Great Carrying-Place \ which colonel Droadjheet was to bring with him, upon his rext paflage, from Schc^ meiiaify ; to which place, as foon aa he had deliver- ed to the quarter-maAer all the ftores under his care, he was ordered to return with the batteaux and Bien to receive -the orders of major-general Jher- €rombie^ In his return from Schene^lcdy^ it was ex- |>e6ledthet Halkft*s and Dunhar\ regiments would havexome with him, in order to take fort Fronte- mac, and the other French forts on the bke Ontario, Sut, alas! as fchemes for building cadies in the air always prove abortive, for want of proper archi- te^lure and foundation, fo did this fcheme of ours, for want of a due knowledge of our own (Itua- 4ion'! / - •- N •, ' :.'■':'«• ' V On the arrival of thcfe forces, a new brigantine 4ind floap were £tted out; -and^bout the fame time ^ large (how was alfo launched and rigged, and only waited for her guns and fome running rigging, Avhich they expeded every day by colonel ^ro^^« firtet ; and had he returned in lime with the ca«- non and batteau-men under his command, the French would not have dared ^to have appeared on the lake; G but 74 The life o^ ^r V* but coloneWrMliJIreet happened to be detained witft the batteaux at Scheneiiady for above a month, wait- ing for the 44th regiment to m^rch with him : The dilatorincfs of this^cmbarkation at Scheneifady can- tjot be imputed to colonel Bnadftreet, bccaufe ge- weral Shirley waited with impatience for the arrival of lord Loudon CampheU from England; and when bis lord/hip landed at New-Tork, he, in a few days after, proceeded to Many, wherebis lordfliip took the command of the army from gQuex^l Shirley, and upon comparing, and confidcring how bad a fituation bis forces, and the different governments up- on the continent were in, his lordfhip, with advice of feveial other experienced officers, thought him* felf not in a condition to proceed on any enter- pr'^ze for that feafon, no further than to maintain our ground at Ofwego; for which purpofe, colonel UroadJIreet was immediately ordered {ofF with the batteaux and provifions, as alfo the forefaid regi- ments; but before Broadjireet arrived at the Great Carrying-Place, OJwego was taken with all the (hips of vvaf, although our naval force was far fuperior to the French. ^ . Before I relate the attack of Ofwego, I fliall re- -view a little what the French were doing during thefc cur dilatory, pompous proceedings. The marquis de kaudreuil, governor and lieute- nant-general of Nevj'France, whilft he provided for the fecurity of the frontiers of Canada^ was principally attentive to the lakes. Bting informed that we weie making vaft preparations at Ofweg% for attacking Niagara and Front^nac, he tocic and raze 1, in the month of March, the fort where we had formed Qur principal magazine, and in June following deftroyed, on the river of Cbonegan or 0/tvego, lome of our vefTeis, and made fomc pri- iDtiers. The ffcccefs of thefe two expeditions en- ^^uiagcd him to aft otFenllvely, and to attack usat Ofwego led with th, wait* :The \ady can- iSLufe ge- le arrival Id when few days Alp took ^ley, and jHtuation nts up- h advice ght hinu enter- maintain colonel vitli the aid regi- he Great the (hips Superior fliall re- r during I lieute- jrovided (lay was iformed 0/weg9 Dok and here we in June ^gan or me pri- ons en- ck usat OfwegQ PETER WIL'LIAM SON. 7S ^fvtego. This fcttlement they pretended, and (lill *nfift on, to be an incroachment, or invalion, which we had made in a time of profound peace, and againft which, they faid, they had continually remonftratccj, during our blundering, negotiating Lawyer's rc(i- dence at France, It was at firft, lay they, only a fortified magazine ; but in order to avail themleh es of its advantageous fituation^in the centre almoltof the French colonies, the Englijh added, from time to time, feveral new works, and made it confift of three forts, as above defcribed. The troops defigned for this expedition by tlie /r^wc'A amounted to near 5000 men, 1300 of which were regulars. To prevent his defign being difco- vered, Ivi. de yaudreuil pretended, in order the better to deceive us^ who had fo long before been blind, that he was providing only for the fecurity of Nia- gara and Frcntetiac. The marquis de Montcalm, who commanded on this occafion, arrived the 29th of July at fort FroPitenac ; and having given the necef- iary directions for fecuring his retreat, in cafe it ihould have been rendered inevitable, by a fuperior force ; fcnt out two velfels, one of twelve, and the other of fixteen guns, to cruize oft* O/wego^ and ported a chain of Canadians and Indians on the road between 0/\vego and Jlbany^ to intercept our cou- riers. All the forces, and the vefiels, with the artil- lery and ii - ^ ieuiible of this impor- tant aitVir. . . . . . , - G /, Colonel ••5^^ * m^mmmiimigMr^t 76 Thk life of^ Vl '< .) Colonel Mercer, who was then commanding of* iicer of the garnfon at Ofivego, ha.ving onthefixtfo vf ^i^Pjifl, intelligence of a large encampment of French and IndicmSy about tvvcjve miles off, dif- patchcf] one of the fchooners, with an account of It to captain Erudlcyy who was then on a cruize with tha large brigantine and two (loops ; at the liime time, dcdred iiini to cruize as far to the caft- ward eis he could, and to endeavour to prevent the approach of the l-'rcnch on the lake ; but meeting the next day \\\i\\ a fmall gale of wind, the large brigantine was drove en lliorc near OfvjegOf in at- tempting to get into the harbour ; of which mif- fortuac, the /;z^/V/;/j immediately gave M.de Mcnt- calnif the French general, notice, who took that op- portunity of tranlporting his heavy cannon to about a mile and a half of the fort, which he could not otherwife have done, had not there been fome ne- glefl on our lide. For on the loth, the lirft divifion of the French being arrived at Jnfe aux Cahamjes, at two o'clock in. the morning ; the van-guard proceeded at four in the afternoon by land, acrofs woods, to another creek wiihin half a league of 0/vjego, in order to favour the debarkation. At midnight their firll divifion repaired to this 'creek, and there ere«^ed a battery on the lake Ontario, Colonel Mercer, in the morning of the lOth, on fome canoes being fecn to the eaftward, fent out the fmall fchooner to make difcovery of what they "were ; (he was fcarce half a mile from the fort, be- fore (lie difcovered a very large encampment, clofe under the oppofitc point, being the lirlt divilion of the French troops abovemeniioned. On this, the two (loops (the large brigantine being ftill on (hore) were (ent out with order?, if pofTible, to annoy the enemy ; but this was to no purpofe ; the enemy ^s cannoa being large and well pointed, hulled the' veileb ling of- [he fixth lent of ^ff, dif- :ount of cruize at the he eaft. ent the eeting e large , in at- ch mif. 2 Mcnt- that op- o about uld not jme ne- ; French o'clock at four another rder to eir firfl et^ed a 3 th, on nt out at they )rt, bc- t, clofe iion of is, the fhorc) oy the lemy^s d the veileh f PETER WILLIAMSON 77 veflels almoft every fliot, while theirs fell fliort of thefliore. — ./^— •-" ^ .y, ..../-.. .; ; This day and the next, the enemy were employ- ed in making gabions, fauciHlbns, and fafcincs, and in cutting a road crol's the woods, from the place of landing, to the place where the trenches were to be opened ; and, the fecond divifion of the enemy arriving on the i ith, in the morning, with the ar- tillery and proviiions, the fame immediately landed without any oppofition^ Tho^ difpofitions were made for opening the trenches on the i oth at night, it was midnight before they could begin thf! trench, which was rather a parallel of about loo Toifes* in front, and opened at the diftance of 90 Toifes from the fofs of fort Ontario, in ground embarralFed with trunks of trees. About five in the morning of the 1 1 th, this pa- rallel was finiihed, and the workmen began to ere/ ^i; I ! 78 Tnit LIFE OF *-j In i)ie evenings a detachment was made of 100 men of the 50th (general Pepper eU*s) regiment, and ] 16 of the Neiv-Jerfey provincials, under the com- mand of colonel Schuyler, to take pofleffion of the fort on the hill, to the Wellward of the Old Fort, and under the direftion of the engineer, Mr. M*Keller, were to put it into the beft (late of de- fence they could ; in which work, they were em- ployed all the following night. . The enemy on the Eaft-ilde continued their ap- proaches to the fort Ontario, but with their utmoft efforts for a long time xhey could not bring their cannon to bear on it. However, drawing their cannon with great expedition, next morning (the j)i3th) about ten o'clock, to a battery eic6tcd within iixty yards from it ; they played them very hotly on the garrifon, notwithftanding the conftant fire kept Oil them, and the lols of their principal engineer, who was killed in the trenches. A council of war was immediately held by the officers of general Pepperell's regiixcnt, who oufervlng the mortars were begifining to play, concluded it mod advifabje to quit fort Ontario, and join colonel Schuyler*^ re- giment at fort George pr fort Rafcal; and an account of this latter battery being fcnt to colonel Mercer^ by the commandant of the enemy, ordering him to evacuate the fcrt, they accordingly did, about three in the afternoon, deftroying the cannon, ammuni- tion, and provifions therein, and managed their re- treat fo as to pafs the river, and join the troops at the Weft-fidef without the lofs of a man. Thefe troops being about 370, were immediately ordered to j >ln colonel Schuyler, which they accordingly did, and were employed all the following night in com* pleating the vvorks of that fort. M. Montcalm immediately took pofTeflion effort Ontario, aiul ordered the communication of the parallel to be continued :o the banks of the river^ whcrci i,-:«.l^e^.Ai,, PETER WILLIAMSON. n of lOO nty and le com- 1 of the >Ufort, T, Mr. I of dc- sre em- beir ap< ' utmoA g thejr ig their ng (the t within lotly on ire kept igineer, of war general Siortars vifable fer's re- iccount Mercer, him to It three nmuni- heir rc- )ops at Thefe ordered jly did, ncum- effort of the ; river^ wherei where, in the beginning of the night, they began a grand battery, plated in fuch a nianner, that it could not only batter fori OJwegOf and the way from thence to fort George, but alfo the intrench- mento(0/wego, ^ In the morning of the 13th, the large brigantine being off the rocks and repaired, a detachment of eighty men of the garrifon was put on board of her and the two floOps, in order to go out imme- diately ; but the wind continuing to blow dire£lly into the harbour, rendered it impoilible for them to get out before the place was Surrendered. This night, as well as the night before, parties of the enemy's irregulars made feveral attempts to furprize our advance guards and centinels, on the Well fide of the river, but did not fucceed in any of them. The enemy were employed this night in bring- ing up their cannon, and railing a battery. On our tide, we kept a conftant fire of cannon and (hells from the Old Fort, and works about it. The cannon which moft annoyed the enemy, were four pieces, which we revcrled on the plat-form of an earthen work, which fui rounded the OU Fort, ind which wafe intirely enfiladed by the enemy's battery on the oppofite ihore : In this fituation, without the leaft cover, the train, aflilled by a detachmejit of Shirley's regiment, behaved remarkably well. At day- break on t* , 1 4th, we renewed our fire on that part of the oppofite Ihore, where we had the evening before, obierved the enemy at work, in raifingthe battery. *. . . The enemy in three columns, confiding of 2500 Canadians and lavages, crofled the river, fome by fwimming, and others by wading, with the water up to their middies. In order to invefi and attack the old tort. This bold action, by which they in- tirely cut off thy communication of the two forts ; the celerity witn whicii the works were carried on, T^ m m. *MlM|*. liberty on luch terms, being almuft ftarvec^ having nothing in the country to live on but dry breads whereas we in the prifon were each 23 WIST MAIN STMIT WnSTIR.N.Y. MSIO (71«)t72-4S03 4^ a "'^I^ ^ H The life • r The Indians of the Six Nuilons undoubtedly loolccd upon it as abandoning them and their country to the French : for they plainly faw that we had no llrong hold/jear them, and that (by the place at^ Wood*s Creek being Itoppedj we could not if we would afford them any affiftance at Omndago^ Cuyu^ gat and in the Senekea^s country, which were their chief caftles : That the forts begun by us in thofe countries were left unliniflied, and therefore could be of no ufe to them, and which, if we had kept the Carrying Place, we might have finiftied, and given them flill hopes of our being able to defend. But defpairing of our being further ferviceable to tbem, thofe Iroquois, who were before our friends, and fome of the others, have indeed deferted us, and the confequences of fuch their jun6lions with the French was foon after felt in the lofs of fort George on lake Sacrament, The fine country on the Mchaivk^s river down to Jlbany, was by this ftepJeft open to the ravages of the enemy, and an ealy paffage opened to the Trench and their Indians into the piovinces oi Pmfyivania and New Jerfey, by the way of B^ufquehmna and Delaware rivers, which were before covered by our iettlemcnts on the Mohawks river, and the «S/x hlations, ' ' '^ I fhall here give the beft defcripiion of the In- dians, their way of living, 6c. in my power. ^-v It is difficult to guels what may be the numbei* df the Indians Icattcred up and down our back- fcttlements; but, if their own account be true, they amount to many ihoulhnds. Be dVis, how- ever, as it will, they arc not to be feared merely on account of their numbers ; other circun.llances confpire to make them formidable : Ihe Erglijh in- habitants, though numerous, are extended over a vaft tja£l of land, 500 lesgues in length on th, without much difadvantage, quit their old habitations, and betake themielves to new ones: Add to this, that they can be liiddenly drawn toge- ther from any diftance, as they can find their lub- Cftence in travelling from their guns. No people on earth have a higher fcnfe of liber- ty, or ftronger affeftion for their relations ; whciv orfended, they are the moft implacable vindictive enemies on earth ; for no diftance of place, or fpace of time will abate their reientment ; but they , will watch every opportunity bf revenge, and when fuch opportunity offers,, they revenge thcmfeives efieftually. > t *£t:r-Hl^' ^ rhey will iboner facrifice their own fives" fcir the fake ot liberty, than humble thcmfelves to the ar* bitrary controul of any perfon whatfoever. In . battle they never fubmit, and will die rather than Ije taken prifoners. Our late tranfaftions in y^merica teftify, that the friendftiip of the Indians is to be defired, and tbo only way to maintain a friendly correfpondence with them, is by making fuch propofiiions to them ^s will fecure their liberties, and be agreeable to U^eir expedati6n« ; and not only by keeping the(e ... H 2 pro- ,-...ii..i»»i«M««Miiri>iit-»---''. 88 The life or propcfitions inviolable as well in time of peace as in time of war, but alfo renewing our treaties with them from time to time ; for they arc very jealous and tenacious of an affront or neglrft. They are very proud, and love to be efteemed. In time of peace, they live upon what they get of the white people, for which they barter /kins, furs, &c. Their cloathing, and every thing elfe they want, fuch as arms, they get in the fame manner. In war-time, they live upon what they can procure by their gun, and if that fails, upon roots, fruits, herbs, and o- ther vegetables of the natural produce of the earth. They have never the forellght to provide nccef- faries for themlelves ; they look only to the prc- fent moment, and leave to-morrow to provide for itfelf. They cat of every wild bcaft, which they kill without diffmftion. They always prefer jgamc to vegetables ; but when they cannot get venifon, they live on roots, fruits and herbs. They deftroy a great deal of meat at a time when they have it in their power, and when they leave any, be it never ilich a great quantity, it is ten to one if any of them will take the trouble to carry a pound of it, but will rather leave it behind them ; yet notwiihftand- ing this extravagance, fuch is their tempers, and ^ithey are fo inured to hardfhips, that if they cannot conveniently get at food, they can, and actually do faft fometimes for near a week together, and yet are as a£live as if they lived regularly. All their (pare time is taken up in contriving ichemes to (uc- ceed in their intended expeditions. Th^ 'an ne- ver be taken in a purfuit by any Europei. ■. They , will travel feventy miles a day, and continue fori months together, as I have reafon to know fron»l^, experience, and they are fure to bring their Pur-- fuers into a fnare if they aienot wary, and have lb me Indians on their fide to beat the bullies* When they are overtaken with Heep, they light a great i ■ -,i .-.to.iir. t>^-i«.vA^; peace as ties with y jealous rhey are time of he white c. Their fuch as ^ar-time, leir gun, and Q. be earth. e necef. the prc- )vide for ich they 'er^ame venifon, deftroy ive it in it never of them it, but thftand- rs, and cannot lally do nd yet II their to (uc- an ne- They Lie for fron» r Pur- have >ul)ies, ighta great PETER WILLIAMSON. 8(| great fire, which prevents the wild beafts from fal- ling upon them; for wild bealls have a natural a- verfion to fire ; nor is it eafy for an enemy to dii- cover them in this condition ; for the country is one continued tra£t of thick wood, overgrown with brufh-wood, fo that you cannot (ee the fire till yoU be within a fe«v yards of it. They have nothing covering them from the inclemency of the weather but a blanket put upon them, fumething in the ihape of a Highlander's plaid. And further, to prevent their being long obferv- ed by their purfuers, or to be feen too Toon when they have a mind to attack any plantation, they ^aint themfelves of the fame colour with the trees among which they hide themfelves. When they are to attack a plantation they never -^ come out till night, and then they rufh inllantly upon the farms, &c and deftroy every thing, as well men, women and children, as bcalls ; then they fall to plunder, and return to their lurking- holes till another opportunity of plunder happens, when they renew their attack in the lame manner ; fo that if fome method is nut taken to draw them into our interefl, our colonies will be in a continual alarni, and the country will foon become dcfoiate ; for no body will venture their lives to lettle on the back parts, unlefs the Indians are our friends. The Indian manner of fighting is quite diiferent from that of other nations. They induftrioufly a- Vuid all open engagements; and, belides ambulcades^ . their principal way is bulh fighting, in the cxercile of which they are very dexterous ; for the back- country being one continued wood, except lome few ipots cleared tor the purpole of hulbandry by our back fettlers, the Indians fquat themielves down behind the trees, and fire their muikets at the ene- my ; if the enemy advances, then they retreat be- hind other trees, and fire in the fame manner.; and i $• The LIFK of I as they arc good markfmen they never fire in vafcr,. whereas their purfuers fcldom hit. Notvvithftanding the politic fchemes of France are nearly brought to a period, yet if the Indians are not fatisfied with the conclufion of a peace be- twixt us and the French as to America ; I mean, unlefs they are fairly dealt with, we (hall gain but little by all our conquefts ; for it is the friendfliip' of the Indians that will make Canada valuable to us. We have already more lands than we are able ta nranage ; but the advantage, nay the neceflity of keeping Canada I have already fhown ; and there- fore 1 ftiaU go on with my account of the Indians. When lafT in London, I remember to have heard fome coffeehoufe politicians, chagrined at the deva* Hation they made on our back fettlements, fay, that it would be an eafy matter to root out the favages by clearing tht ground, i anfwer, that the taflc may Teem eafy to them, but the execution of fuch a fcheme on fuch a tra^ of land, would be fo diffi- cult, that I doubt whether there are people enough in Great Britain and Ireland to accomplifh it in a iiuhdred years time, were ihey to meet with no oppofition / but where there is fuch a lubtle enemy to deal with, I am afraid we (hould make but little progrefs in reducing the Indians, even allowing the country to be all cleared, there are hVlls and othes faitnefles to which the Indians can retire, and where they would greatly have the better of evciry attempt to diflodge them. The only way I would adviie is to k^ep friends with the Indians, and endeavour to prev.'vil on them to iettle in tlie fame manner as the Planters do, which they will be the more eafily brought la, if t4ie French are excluded from Csuia^ da. For notw i^hflanding li.eir wandring way? of life, I have the grcatclt realon to believe they have no diflike to an eafy life. And as they will have so temp THtlou^ to murder^ as they had when itiried in vaicr,. France Indians ace be- '. mean, i;ain but endfhip' e to us. able to fTity of d there> idians. e heard ie deva» ay, that ages by aik may iuch a fo diffi. enough I it in a with no ; enemy >ut little /ing the id othey d where attempt idviie is vour to r as the e eafily n Cana^ way of ey have ill have I iiuroi ^9 *'■ .'•K*. PETER WILLIAMSON. ft up by the fubje^s of his mod Chriftian Majeftyi they will foon become ufeful members of Ibciety* When firft the Englijh arrived in the American colonies, they found the woods inhabited by a race of people, uncultivated in their manners, but not quite devoid of humanity. They were ftrangers to- literature, ignorant of the liberal arts, and deltitute pf almoft every conveniency of life. But if they were unpraftifed in the arts of more civilized nations, they were alio free from their vi- ces. They feemed perfeft in two parts of the an- cient Perfian education, namely, in (hooting with* the bow, and fpeaking truth, in their dealings they commonly exchange one commodity for another* Strangers themlelves to fraud, they had an entire confidence in others. According to their abilities^ they were generous and hofpitable. Happy, thrice happy had they been, if, Aill preierving their native innocence and fimplicity, they had only been in- ilru£ted in the knowledge of God, and the doc- trines of Chriftianity. Had they been taught (ome of the more uieful parts of life, and to lay aiide what was wild and lavage \p their manners ! They received the Enolr/hf upon their firft arrival, with open arms, treated them kindly, and (hewed an earneft defire, that they (hould fettle and live with them. They freely parted with lome of their lands to their new come brethren, and chearfuUy entered kito a league of friendfhip with them. As the Englijk were in immediate want of the affifUnce of the Indianx^ ^^^^y <^n their part, endeavoured to make their coming agreeiible. 1 hus they lived for fbme years, in trte mutual exchange of iricndiy offices, i heir hoiifes were open to each other : they , treated one another as brothers. But by their diffe- I rent way of living, the Englrjh loon acquired pi o* «»erty, while the Indians continued in their foimer iadigence ; hence the former ^ouad they could ea>- .itltttf. ; : 111 9(1' ' The LI F E or . r 7. illy Hire without the latter, and therefore became lefs anxious about preferving their friendfhip. This gave a check to that mutual hofpitality that had hitherto lubfifted between them ; and this, together with the decreafe of ga r»e f )r hunting, arlfing from the in- creafe of the Rnglifh fettlements, induced the Indii ans to remove further back into the woods. From this time the natives began to be treated as a people of whom an advantage might be taken. As the trade with them was free and open, men of luofe and abandoned charafters enp;aged in it, and prai^lifed every fraud. Before the cvernment of themlclves/ The traders availed themfelves of this weaknefs ; inHead of canying our cloaths to cover the naked favages, they carried them rum, and thereby -tie* bauched their manners, weakened their conftituti* ons, introduced diibrders unknown to them before^ , and in (hort corrupted and ruined them. '■ < The Indianb findingjthe ill efFedts of this trade>, began to complain. Wheretcrc laws were made, pro- hibiting any from going to tradt with them without a licence from the Govern r, and it was allb made, lawful for the Indians to (lave the cafks, and fpill what rum was brought among them ; but this wad to little purpofe : the Indians had too little com* mand of themfelves to do their duty, and were cafily prevailed upon not to execute this law ; and the deiign of the tormer was totally evaded, by men of fome character taking out licences to trade, and then employing under them perlons of no honour or principle, generally fcrvants and convict Stranf* ported hither from Britain and Ireland, whom they fent with goods into the Indian country to trade on their account. Thefe getting beyond the reach of th« } m m '■^: ■J %' fi/ ; PETER WILLIAMSON. 93 the law, executed unheard of vilUnies upon the poor natives, committing crimes which modeily forbids to name, and behaving in a manner too blocking to be related. At every treaty which the Indians held with the Englifli, they complained of the abufes they fuf- feied from the tiaders, and trade as then carried on. They requefted that the traders might be re- called ; but all to no pui pole. 1. hey begged in the flrongefl terms, that no rum might be iuffered to come among them ; but were only told they were at liberty to fpill all the rum brought into their country. At this time, little or no pains was taken to civilize or indruft them in the Chriltian religion, till at length the condue fent the In- on and rcpre- ue and n theii? V their be fa* e and profli, Indi* we ia PETER WILLIAMSON. 95 I might here add fomc rb^ervations re^pc^ing the commodities proper to ho curried among the Indians, in kind as well as quality, with a n.rthod of carrying on the tra^-!e, fo a^ V> prrfcrve ihc na- tive innocence of the Indians, and at ti.e fame time confirm them immoveable in our intcrcft ; but thefe things, as well as fome remarks 1 have in a courfe of years made up n the Indians, I /hall leave for the fubjcdt of fume future hiilory. r% I (hall now proceed to give a concifc account of the climates, produce, trade, &c. of North Ameri- ca. And firrt, '"'„■■ '■ ■ • Of N E UT - E N G L A N D. The province of New England appears to be raftly extenfive, being about 40 j miles in length, and near 300 in breadth, (ituated between 69 and * 73 deg, VV. Long, and between 41 and 46 dcg. N. Lar. It was firft fettled by the Independents, a little before the commencement of the civil wars in England: They tranfpurted themfelves thither, rather than they would communicate with the church of England. The lands next the fea in New- England, are ge- nerally low, and the foil fandy ; but farther np the country it rifes into hills, anci on the Noith eiilt it is rocky and mountain.^us : The winters are much feverer here than in Old England, though it lies 9 or JO degrees more fouth, but they have ulualiy a clearer Iliy and more fettled weather, both in win- ter and (ummer, than in Old England ; and though their fummers are fhorter, the ait h confiderably hotter while it infls. The winds are very boifte- rous in the winter fealon, and the North wind blowing over a longtra(5l of frozen and uncultivated •countries, ^'ith leveral frefh water lakes, .makes it - ** • <^^ excflive I- 'i \ 96 .'T T H E L IFE f>r exceflive cold. Their rivers arc fomiettmes cdn- gealed in a night's time; the climate is generally healthful, and agreeable to rngliHi cunHitutions. ? . The fiuits of Old England come t > great pei- fe^ion here, particulaily peaches, which are plant- ed trees; and we have communly 1200 or 140* fine peaches on fuch a tree at one time ; nay, of the fruit of one fingle apple tree in one feafon, nine ban eh of cyder have been made. EhglKh wheat I find does not thrive here, within 40 or 50 miles of Bodon ; but farther up in ti.e country they have it in great plenty, and I tliink it comes to the fame perfection as in Britain. Now, why wheat /hould not grow near this city ] cunfefs 1 can afUgn no rcafon that will fully fatisfy the reader's curiofity. The conje6Vures upcn it are vari^ us : Some ven- ture to (ay, that it was occafioned by the unjud perlecution of the Quakers, the Independents ha- ving vented their ipleen againii them in a way the moli tigorous, and in flat contradiction to the laws of chriftianity. All other grain but wheat thrives in this place with great (uccels ; in particular In- dian corn, one giain whereof fiequently produces 1 200, and fometimes 2000 grains. This corn is of three diflerent colours^ viz. blue, white and yellow. -* ;.■ •':-■:• '■■■ ;.; ' .* .1' i Of N E W - Y O R K. The (ituation of this province is between 72 and 76 Wed long, and i)etween 41 and 44 North lat. being about 20c miles in length, and ico miles in breadth. The lands, in the Jcrleys and South part of New- York, are low and flat ; but as you aicend 20 or 30 miles up Hudfon's river, the country is rocky and mountainous. The air is much milder here in winter than in New- England, and in lum- xner it is pretty. much the fame. Th^ jproduc^e and, ij trade PR T E R WILLIAMSON 97 js cdii- nerally ions, at pci- e plant- 1409 , of the n, nine wheat miles ey have he fame t (hould (Tign no uriofity. ne ven- e unjud :nts ha» way the the laws t thrives :ular In- produces corn is hite and n 72 and lorth lat. miles in outh part >u aicend :)untry is h milder i in lum- >duce and, trade '' trade of New-York and the Jerfcys confift in catile and a good breed of horfes. They have plenty of wheilt and other grain, iUch as Indian corn, bud<' weed, oats, barley, and rye. It abounds alfowiili ilorc of filh ; they fupply the fugar illands with Hour, falt-beef, pork, lalt-filh, and tiiiibvx planks, in return for the produce railed there. Of P E N S y L V A N I A. The extent of this colonv in ? • n^ilf s in if"\it!"!, and 200 miles in breadth. 'I'hc lui. i •• liiwdi bcttT than m Jeriey, chiefly conlifting o[" a bLi^U m<-'\:\ ; the country rifes gradually as in tl:c ndjav-ent pro- vinces, having the Apalachinn mf>unti.Jn> n ♦he Weft, and is divided into fix coLintic>. 'Iheaii, it lying in the 40 dcg. of N. lat. is near i!ic fame ui in Ncw-Yojk, and very healthy to Engllih confii- tutions. The produce and merchandize of Peniyl- vania confifts in htr.es, pipe Itave*, beef, pork, fait iifli, (kins, furrs, and all forts of grain, viz. wheat, rye, peafe, oats, bailey, buck-weed, In- dian corn, Indian peafe, beans, pot-aflies, wax, &c. and in return for thefe commodities, they im^ port from the Carribec illand?^, and other places, rum, fugar, molafTes, filver, negroc*:, fait, and wine ; and fiom Great Britain, hou(hoid good?^ cloatiiing of all forts, hai dv/arc, Sec, The nature of the foil in Penfylvania, the Jerleyj, and New- York, is extremely proper to produce hemp, flax, €cc. • "^ ' ' • If the government of Penfylvania, fince the death of its firil proprietor William P^nn, had ta- ken proper methods to oblige the traders to deal rjuiVly with the Indians, whole tempers, when ex- aCperated with refentmcnt, arc more favagethan the hungry lion, thefe difafters might have becD^ in a good degree, prevented ^ ^. . . . • 1 -9' ^PIMMIM ■Mkt ^5 »* ^ .. Th-e I^IF'E of I intend to conclude this argument in a few worrfs and fliall endeavour to do juftice on both fides^ by adhering ftriftly to truth. Know, therefore^ that within thefe late years the Indians being tolerably acquainted with the nature of our commerce, have detected the roguery of fomeof the traders, where* upon they lodged many and grievous complaints to Col. Weifer, the interpreter between them and the Engli(h, of the injurious and fraudulent ufage they had receive:^ for fcveral years backwards from white people, who had cheated them out of their jQtins and furrs, not giving them one quarter their value for them. - ^ ■ * , ^rf^ Likewife they remonftrated, that whereas hun- ting was the chief way or art they ever had to earn a livelihood by ; ,gaiiie was now become very icarce, becaufe the whites praftifed it Co nnch on their ground, deftroying their prey. Colonel Weifer, their interpreter, advifed them to bring down their (kins and furrs to Philadelpl^.ia them- felvcs, promifing that he would take proper care to fee their goods vended to their advantage. Where- upvon tliey did (o, in purfuance of his iii{lru(ftions, :and finding it their intereft, refolved to continue in 'the way he had chalked out for ihem ; for now rthcy were fupplied with every thing tHcy wanted from the merchants (hops, at the cheapefl: ratc^. ■And thus it plainly appeared to the Indians, that they had been long impojed on by the triu.»ers, and therefore they were dctermiHtd to have no more dcalirgs M ith them. This conducl and fliynefs of the Indians was very difagreeable tofeveral gentle- men of the province, who were nearly interefted in that fpccics of commerce. ..- ^>.»^? >• # ,s Accoruingly, in the years 1 753 and i ^54, forae of the traders liad the afTurancc to renew their fricndrnip with them, when, infiead of remitting them cloihcs and other neceflaries ars had been ' ufual PETER WILLIAMSON. ^9 uTual, and were moft proper for them, ihey, with infidious purpofes, carried them large quantities of fura in fmall calks, which they knew the natives were fond of, under colour of giving it them gf ails^ In this manner were the favages inveigled into li- quor by the whites, who tool; the opportunity while they were intoxicated of going ofF with their (kins and furrs ; but the natives, recovering . from the debauch, foon detected the villainy, and, in re- venge, killed many of the traders, and went direc- tly over to the French, who encouraged them to flay every Engli/h perlbn they could meet with, and defttoy. their houfes by fire, giving them orders to fpare neither man, woman,, nor child. Befides, as* a farther incitement to diligence in this bloody ta(k, they prpmifed-the favages the reward of 15 I. fterling, for every fcalp they fliould take, on pro- ducing the fame before any of his rno/I chrijrhm Aiajelty's officers, civil or military, r Thus our perfidious enemies inlligated thofe un- reafonable barbarians to commence afts of depre- dation, violence and murder on the fevcral inhabi* Uois in Nvrtl>: America in 1754, ar.d mote cfpc- cially in Penfylvania, as knowing it to be the mod delencelefs province on the continent. This con- fideration prompted the favage race to exhauU their malicious fury on it in panic wlar, ^ - - ; Of. M A R y L a'n D. . ■ ' . This country extends about 1 50 miles^n length, and 137 miles in b»eath. The lands are low and flat next the lea ; towards the heads of. rivers ihcy, riie into hills, and beyond lie the Apalachian Moun- tains, which are exceeding high. The air of .this province is exccflive hot (b^nt pait of the lummer, «od ec^ually cold in the winter, when tiie Norih- u/. •t- jco i >^ The LIFE ©r -' well wind blows; but the winters are not of fo long duration here as in fomc other colonics ad- joining to it. In the fpring of the yenr they are infeHed with thick heayy fogS th^t rife from the low lands, which render the air more unhealthy for Knlifh conftitutions ; and hence it is, that in the •aforcraid feafon the people are conftantly afflicted with a«:^nes. . . ^ ■ , • =. * r^:.'^!' =>" The prod IT ce of this country is chiefly tobacco, planted and cultivated here with much application^ and nearly the fame fuccefs as in Virginia, and their principal ti;ulc with England is in that article. It ilfo r.ffjrds them moll lorts of the grain and fruits Li Europe and Amciica. ; . Of V i R G I N I A. .1 i^ I - The extent of this province is computed to be 260 miles in length, and 220 miles in breadth, be-- ing moflly low, ikt land. For one hundred miles vp the country, there is fcarce a hill or a ftone to fee Len. I'hc air and feafons (it lying between 3^ anti 2^9 cf Noi-h La*^.) depend' very much on ihe wind as to heat and cold, drynefs and moidure. The North and North-weft winds are very nitrous find piercing cold, or elfe boiftcrous and ftormyji The South and South-caft winds, hafy and fultry hot. In winter they have a fine clear air, which renders it very pleafant: The frofts are (hori, but fonietimes fo very fharp that rivers are froze over three miles broad. Snow often falls in large quan^ fities; but feldom continues above two or three' dkys at moft. . ^ .; . - k'n - The foil, though generally fandy and (hallow, produces tobacco of the bcft quality in great abun*'. dance. The people's ufualfood is^lndian corn madei into hommony, boiled to a pulp, and comes tbe^ neareil to buttered^ wheat of any thing I can com- * > par* of fo ies ad* ey are >m the thy for in the URiaed baccoy cation^ d their le. It ] fruits MTT E R W I L L I A^M SO N. jyi pare it to. They have horfes, cows, ftiecp, and hogs in prodigious plenty, many of the laft running wHd in the woods. The regulation kept here is much the fame as in Tew-England ; every man from 1 6 to 60 years ov age is inlifted into the mi- litia, and muftcred once a-year, at a general review, and four times a*year by troops and companies. Their military complement, by computation, •amounts to about 30,000 cffeftive men, the col- Iciftive number of the inhabitants, men, women and children, to 100,500 and including fervants aod flaves, to twice that nmiiber. . . * . , Oe CAR L O L I N A^ to be th, be- d miles [one to etween ich on Diilure. nitrous ormy(: fultry which n, but e over ^ quan* three ialloW| abun«4 1 made ' es the' 1 com- pare ;/ This, colony is computed to extend 660 miles in length ; but its breadth is unknown. The lands here are generally low and flat, and not a hill to be feen from St. AugulHne to Virginia, and a great way beyond. 'Tis moflly covered with wpods where the planters have not cleared it. About joo miles weft of the coaft, it fhoots up into eminences, and continues to rife gradually all along to the Apala- chian Mountains> which are about 1 60 miles dillant^ from the ocean. The North parts of Carolina are very uneven, but the ground is extremely proper for producing wheat; and all other loits of grain that grow in Europe will come to great pcrfedion -here. . The South parts of Carolinia, it properly cultivated, might be made to produce filk, wine, and oil. This country yeilds large quantities of rice, of which they yearly (hip off to other colonies about 80,000 barrels, each barrel containing 400 .■weight, befides they make abundance of tar, pitch, and turpentine. They carry on alio a great trade with deer-lkins, and lurrs, to all places of Europe^ wiiicli the EngliHh receive from the Indians in bar- Ji. li^^'* *^ -i Vk I 3 v^- tcr 9^ ; 16^ -^ - ? Th« life or f«? ivx for g«rts, powder, knives, rciflTars, looking- glaflTc^ beads, I'LiTn, tobacco, coarfe^cloath, &c. The Engiifti chapmen carry ihele pack-horfcs 5; or 600 miles into ihc country, Well: of Charl«i- Town; bui mod of the commerce is confined with* in the limits of the Creek and Cherokee oatioi)«y which do not lie above 350 milc^s from the coalL The air is very temperate and agreeable both fum- mer and winter. Carolina is divided into two- diiliii6l provinces^ viz. North and South Carolina. Of N O V A-S C O T I A. . , J, I HI m' This place extends about 600 miles in lengthy. nnd 450 in breadth : The air is pretty much the fame as in Old England t The foil is, for the nioft part, barren ; but where is is cleared and cultivat- ed, it alTords good conn and padure. Here is fine timber, and fit for building, from whcnee pitch and tar may be extra^cd. Here aUb hemp and flax \will grow, fo that this country will be capable o€ familhing ail manner of naval {lores» It abounds Jikewile with deer, wild^wl, and all forts of game. On the coad is one of the fined cod-fi(lieries in the >vor!d. European cattle, viz, (heep, oxen, fwine,, horles, &c. they have in great abundance* The winters aic very ccld, their frofts being (harp and of a long duration : Their fummers are moderate- ly hot, fo that the climate,, in the mai», feems ta be agreeable tp j^aglifh conilitutions. '■"' - ' :: ■; Of 'C A N A D A. ^''^'^^^.^^4 -fe* I (hall clofc the defcription of the American eolo^ ^ics, with a (liort account of the ioU and product of French Canada. Its extent is, according to thek* map, 1 800 miles in length, and 1260 in biea^hf. The Toil J la liie low lands aear the river St. Lau- rence ■I if- ?»■ ;Uirc% ffcs 5 £ larlei- ijM with* uioQfii coaft. ; 1 Tum- . J two roiina. 1 .Jr. f- lengthy •1 ch the le nioil ••f'' iltivat- is fine »;^ :ch and nd fiax. r ; I able a$ bounds i i ' game. t } in the -. fwme> • . The ■ "i n ■ }rp and '•- m )derate- li^^V rems ta j^^K* i^''^^^ ''«' t- .•■ -i/-W- H-* ■--'^^E i,i,^|^'4. J, ' iff- ■ ■' •■^' 'S' m eo\^ "^^li^ ?rodu«)e '' ':.#.^ to their * (i * K^aUth. / » >L Lau« 1 * -. rence fteher,will, indeed . raife wheat ; but, ^vitfiaI> I found it fo (hallow^ that it would not produce that grain above two years, nnlcfs it was properly manured. About 2o miles from the iaid river, fo hilly and mountainous is the country, that nothing tut In* dians and wild ravenous beads reiort there. How- ever, they have plenty of rye, Indian corn., buck- weed, and oats ; like wife of horfes, cows, fheep> fwine, &c. But 1 have obferved that fruits of any kind do not come to fuch perfe£tlon here, as in fome ef the Englilh fettlements, which is owing to the long duration and excelTive cold of their winter&i The fumiuer is flsort and temperately hot. Thf •ltmate> in general. Is healthy and agreeable to Eu^ sopean conlHtutions. And ib much for the pro^ viaccs in North" America.. It is now high tifnc to return to the embarkat5oi» -at Quebec. Five hundred of us, being to be ferit to England, were put on board La Renomme, a French ^quet-boat. Captain Dennis Vitree commander: 'we failed under a flag of truce, and though the French behaved with a good deal of politenels, yet "We were almofV ilraved for want of provifions. One > bifcQit, anc two onces of pork a day, being aH Qur allowance, and half dead with cold, having but few clothes, and the veflel being fb hnail^ that the major part of us were obliged to be upon deck in ^11 weathers.. Aftei* a puHage of fix weeks, we at laft, to ouF great joy, arrived- at Plymouth on tire fixth of November 1 756. But thefe oiur troubles and hard (hips were not, as we expef^ed, put to a period for fome time ; fcruples arifing to the com- miflaries and admiral there, about taking us^ on (hore, as there was no cartel agreed on between the French and EngliHi, we were Cvmfined on b^ard, ' until the determination of the Lords of the Admi- ralty ihould be known J lying there in a milerable cunditioii m^'- \ I )i 104 The life Of ^«*^: condition fcvcn or eight days, before we receive! orders to difembarkj which, when we were pemit" tetl to do, being ordered from thence, in different parties to Totnes, .Kingfbridge, Ncwtown-Bufhel, Newtown- Abbot in Devonftiire, I was happy in being quartered at Kinglbridge, where rniet with fucb civility and entertainment^ as I had for a long time been a -ftranger. to^ : • ^ r 1 r In about four months we were again ordered ta Plymouth- Docki tube draughted into other regi^ ments ; where, on being infpeftcd» I was, on ac- count of the Wf^und I had received in my hand, dif* charged sls incapable of further Cet vice ; and was allowed the lum of fix Shillings to carry »me home to Aberdeen, jiear the place of my nativity- • But finding that fum infiifficient to fubfidime half the way, I was obliged to make my appHcation to the honourable gentlemen of the city of York^ where, on ccmlidering my necefTity and reviewing my ma^ nuicript on the traofaftions of the Indians, herein before-mentioned, thought proper to have it print- ed for my own benefit, which they chearfully fub- icribed unto. And after difpoling of feveral of my. books through the (hire, 1 took the fiJl opportu- nity of goingino^ueftof myvrelatioj-js atAberdeem^. where I received very barbarous ufageand ill treatr ment, occalioncd by complaining againft the ille- gal practice of kidnappingy in the beginning of my ; book, which I fiiall . hereafter finally, defcribfi ia. , the following page?. n' '^ "jr 71 vtvf^l f;t: ii.'--^ 4# **.'*•:'- •'i '' \.' i -^■' :^^'^"'^ j'lP'^- .: ! I .1 '• •'V : ■ ■->% : ^ai biy^>^^ 1 -■ - : ; ... 1 -:u-:M'imm:m' ■ : ■ *v ^i^^m^^^. ■■ i , [^ -'U; -U^rJ^ ; > , ' ■/ • i-^-; U. --tM - .jf ^' "':'^.v, PETER WILLIAMSON 105' Fcrent ufhel, ; with I long ed ta regi* 3n ac- d, dif. \ was home But If the to the vherc, y ma*- herein : print- y fub- r)f my. portu- rdeenji. treatr e ille* of my . ibfi ia. - Plvi^*^ A Discourse on KIDNAPPING* '. l .<«.■,■(■■ •' ' ' : .'t ^: 'a^ • » - ij.'i' '? i 'i yt\> V :■ tT-, V ^■'^ With proper direftlons for tradcfmen, and others, ' to avoid flavery, when tranfported from thcii!" native country^ by the indication of peiiidious traders. -- - "■'*i » i i TO make the fubjeA of the enfuitig pages (he more accurate and di(lin6V, I (hall, in theftfi place, begin with the proceedings of the Magi- ihates of Aberdeen, when 1 arrived in that town in June 1758, after having completed the period of my flavery, as related in the beginning of this nar- rative; No fooncr had I offered this Irttfe work to fale in that town, which was then my only mean of fubfiftence, than I was arraigned in a fummary complaint at theindance of the magiftrates, before their own tribunal, and carried by three or four town-officers to the bar of that tremenduous court of Judicature. The complaint exhibited agalnft me contained in fnbfhince, ** That I had been guil- ty of caufing print, and of publiihing and difperfmg, this fcurrilous and infamous libel, reflecting greatly upon the characters and reputations of the mer- chants in Aberdeen, and on the town in general^ without any ground or reafon ; whereby the cor- poration of the city and whole members thereof were greatly hurt and prejudged ; and that there- fore I ought to beexemplarly puniflied in my pcr- fon and goods ; and that the taid pamphlet, and' whole copies thereof, ought to be leized and pub- licly burnt/' Such was the tettor of the complaints and inflead of allowing me an opportunity of ta- king advice, hi time to prepare for my defence, I' yr^$ hurried before them^^ and cuncuiied by threats f 9f. o* 106 Th r L I F E ^^ ^1 of imprifonment to make a declaration of a very extraordinary caft, and dictated by themfelves $ bearing, that "l had no grotuad for advancing and uttering the calumnies, mentioned in my bixjk, a- gaind the merchants in Aberdeen, but ihff fancy J took in ifiy younger years ^ which fiuck on mytnemo^ ry, . M I did not find, that J had reafim Jo to d'i ; nor did I believe thefe things to be true ; and that I was willing to cont radial in a public manner what I had fo advanced, ^c*- After eliciting this declaration, the magiftrates, without adjournment, '' appointed me to find cau« tion to (land trial on the laid complaint at any time when called for, and imprifoncd till perfor- mance; and. ordered all the copies of my pam- phlet to be lodged in the clerks chamber/' My , books were accordingly feized, and mylelf com- mitted to the cultody of the to^yn-officcrs, who-, conducted me to jail, and where I mud have laio^^ till next day, had not my landlord bailed me ouk^ Next forenoon the magillrates proceeded to fen<4 tence on their own complaint ; and accordingly , ihcy '• ordained the ofFenfive leaves of allthe ca-T' pies of the faid pamphlet to be cut out, and pub^ licly burnt at the market-crofs by the hands of the, common hangman, the town-oilicers attending and , publi/hing the caui'e of the> burning; that iiliould. give in a iigned declaration of much the fame te- nor with the former; begging pardon of the ma- . gidrates and merchants in the mpii fubmiflive man-, ner, and dednng this my recantation to be miertcd;. in the York news-papers, or any other .news papers they (hould think proper ; and alio ordained me to be incarcerated in the tolbooth, till I granted the. faid declaration; and ammerciated me in ten fhiU lings derling, under the pain of imprifonment ; and^ immediately aftet to remove out of town V^ '■»-r^--.*!»i!*V 'Hi VtTEK WILLIAMSON, lo? *Such was the fentence of the magiftrates of A- 'berdeen agai ^ me, every particular of which was forthwith -put in execution in the moft rigorous manner. Had thcfe judges had the leaft reflexion, they muft have been cuni'ci )us, that, in every ftep of their procedure, they were committing the grol- feft abufe. The complaint was made by their order and diied^ion^ and fervcd at their own inftigation, by V^hich means they were firft the Accufers, and afterwards the Condemncrs. The fubjeft of it was fo irrelevant, that they mull have been fenfible they were profecuting an innocent man, for relating the melancholy particulars of his life, which ought to .have rendered hioi rather an object of their prd- teftion,. than of their malice. The fadls he had fet forth in his pamphlet, relating to the original -of his misfortunes, were fo flagrant, that, had he •fucd for it, he was intitled to redrcfs againft the -authors of his mileries, from thofe very inagiflratet ^who now had the cruelty to aggravate them, by in- flicting additional hard/hips. To pretend ignorance .is a very lame excufe. He muft have been a very yodthful magiftrate in 1758, who ctiuld not remem- iber fome circumftances of a public branch of trade .carried on in 1744. It is inconceivable, that, of ^ whole bench of magiftrates, no lefs than fix in number, not one was of an age capable of re- .coliefting what had happened only fourteen years Jjefore ; nor is it to be preliimed, that, of almofl: .all the inhabitants of Aberdeen, they alone, who-- had the bcft accefs to know the tratfick of the' «4:own, fhould remain ignorant of a commerce, which was carried on in the market-places, on ■ihc l^igh ftreets, and in the avenues to the town, in the rnoft public manner. Neither of thefe fup- .pofitioirs will eahly gain credit. The magiftrates arc commonly of lucli an age, and ought to be •men of (ucb icflcctioii, as to render the firft im- :.rm^ ' poHiblc; ^ li I ^^ tpi -f.'ir The LIFE oii ^ • ""'"' 'o «l'e plan. ■ years of ,^,e. ,„d ,v,, ."A ''^ ,^''" st-out eigh, or ,l„ <«ing .belaid P.,e;wiUiw"'?y'- ""d "« i^ponen" «1.^ dep.,i,i„„, he i, lT^l°"f]'"f»^h at e„^.„';' fcaplilu,. " "i* '""iJ Peter WUlUmiuaS ab.ut twenty ye,,r, ann K i '^''" ^POnts, Tl.af ^'"ni;!.anan.andth.tbiTe ,d '";^ '" "" ^'"■'"'of '•«<) formerly in Hirnle „ , ^ '^'ll J""" Wilii.„fon ^ pones, He k„t«, federal of ?hf''y','''°'^^'"'Vnc. l)Jl '^ 'nerc!,ar,ts of Aberdeen ,^i'}^P"^"<>flomt of ,he r»"", He heard in ,[, ' " '^''' '°' fl^""- De. «n= of t!,eir (bns died p,;; [u f- '"f" ^''"^'een. a„d «"cfth.tj,„„s Smith i;' I e tn^ ""V°" '•"' '•"'lowed. ■ "'•e Uid Peter, a.,d til De o I^'T""!"!'"' '''^^^'^ "P Put>npri(„„, orpu,nlotZ,l- "t ^' '"'> '^">" t"ce<). .h. country, ,h„j,^,j PETER WILLIAMSON. 1 1 1 to be imagined it fliculd be confiDcd to thclc only, but that they muft have omitted many, who were either principals^ or abettors anJ d:coys in this ill • W-lHimfon and his wife repreted or ma'*e a tlimour (rr the lols of iheif fon, not knowing wjidt vv*s betoras of Li ID. , Robert Re id depones, That, to the beft of his re- ineini)Miice, i>e came to nberileen in the year i7'\0, to lee his filKr ; that his filUr propofed to the Deponent lo pp to a barn, to fee the country boys who vieie goin^ * over to Philadelphia, and to carry home to the-r parents foine aceouMS of them ; that the Dtpon<.nt avcordin^l/ went ovjr, and heard muac and a ^re t noife in laid barn; but die Deponent refufeJ to g') in, btk.iuic it occurred io him, that he had he hn Eurnct namcJ) to go over to America. Depones, Thar he was ti)id that the number of ..oys in the fiid baro, was between tl.J. ty aud forty. Deponeb, Tha*, lone time after ihif, the Dt'pouenent's motlu r re'ulcd lo aliow tl^e Deponenc to go into Aberdeen, and mentioned as the rciion cf-- tb\s refulal, that the ion of one Wiiliamfon, a tinam of Lord Ahojine's in Hirilei, and who lived witliin two miles of her, was amiiiing. . , ' .. . '•^ Isabel Wilson depones, That (he went to Aber» cjcen in the year 1740, and lived there tor feven years and a half, and that ihe heard it friqieutly reported in Abtrdeen, th.il many young people of both Itxts were de^o\ed by the artifices of mtrch.inrs In Aberdeen, p.ir- ticularly John Hurnct and Jobn Elphinglton,to c.-gatf iO- go over 10 America. Thai ihe once went ino a mjU-barn- to lee one Pcttr l.ey, who had en^a}.'ed to go to Ame- rica, and might be about thirty yeaii of age : that, upon- »l.hat occafion, flic faw tf.e birn full of boys and men, to- the nu uber of fifiy and upwards, as file believes, and. (hat they had a piper amongit them ; and that particur,: K 2 larl)t imBiaiwiii i pifjiyi i *^' 111 * "'-'■ t The life of infamous traffic. Some of the witnefles depone, that it was the general opinion, that the Magi(irates themfelves had a hand in it. But what exceeds every \\ ■ ..f I'-a '. W % 4 i . arlyfhe fiw two young boyf called Elfnics, whom (he knew, and who tvere the Ions of a widow woman there; the youngefl of whom appeared to her to be about ten years of age, and the eldell about fourteen years. De- pones, That after (he left Aberdeen and went back to her own country, (he has heard James Wiiliamfon, te- nant of Lord Aboyne in the town of Hirnley, frequent- ly complain, that a (on of his had been a-mi(Iing, and he did know not what became of him* Margaret Re ID depones, That, about the year 1740, or 41, (he heard that many young boys were decoyed by merchants in Abenlecn, particularly John Burnet, to go over to America, and that, about that time, one Peter Ley, and two brothers of the name of Elfmie, who lived in Aboyne, in the Deponent's neighbourhood, were a- milling, and were much regretted by their mother, and ^ho were believed to have been carried over to America* Depones, That, in the pari(h of Aboyne, they were ge- nerally afraid to (end their boys on errands to Aberdeen, for fear they (hould be carried off. Depones, That (he did not know the age of the fatd two Klfmies, but from their appearance, the one might be ten or twelve, and the other (even or eight years. Depones, That James Wiiliamfon tenant in Hirnley of Aboyne, had a fon who M/as a-miiling, whofe name was Peter, and who the De» ponent knew very well at that time, and who, in the year 1740, might be nine or ten years of age, in the De- ponent's opinion ; that in that year he was fent into A- berdren to be under his aunt's care, his mother being dead ; Thnt foon thereafter he was a-mifling, and the Deponent has frequently heard his father regret him very ]2iuch,who went into Aberdeen m fearch of him, but could not find him ; and that it was the general opinion of the country, and the opinion of his father aUb, that lie wai carried over to America* George PETER WILLIAMSON. 11 z depone, igiftratcs exceeds every vhom rtie ran there; about ten rs. De- back Co n^n, te- frequent^ ling, and ar 1 740, coyed by •t» to go' )ne Peter /ho lived were a* her, and America. were ge* berdcen, rhac Hie >ut from ve, and t James hn who the Dc- I in the the De. into A- p being md the m very t could of the be was ORGE 1 Ik every proof, and is equal to an acknowledgment> is, that from a book of accompts, recovered on leading the proof^ recording the expenees laid cup George Johnston depones, That he was fent o- vcr to Virginia by an uncle, to be put umler the care of a friend there ; that the (hip in which he failed was caU led the Inihan Q;,i en, Capt Fergufon commander; and the faid (hip failed from Aberdeen, and had above fixty boys on hoard, under inJeuiores to ferve for a number ot years in Virginia : That, as the Otponent has been: frequently informed, m^ny of thefe boys were enj»aged by liifFerent artifices to enter into the (aid indentures without tlx confent of their parents; and the Deponent particularly knows, that there were two brothers went over in the fiid (hip, to 7y//, Janes and William Sheds^. the elclert of whom was about fifteen years o^ age, and the other about fix years ; thit thefe two brothers were bought by one John Graham, in Quaniigo Creek in Vir» ginia } that the eidelt krvcd out toe time of hit* indenture,- which w^as five years, aiid the younge(t was adjudged to fcr.'C the faid John Gri ham until he ws twei.ty-one years of ajje. Depo.jts, Tha' he has been well infor- med, that Jjmes Abernt-thy, John Elphinilon, and John Burnet, merchants in Aberdeen^ were very much em- ployed in engaging hoys d> aforefaid. I>ep0):e.s, That he knows that fix or feven of the hoys before* men- tioned, were fold m Virginia lodfftrent mafters; one of them, namei) Thomab Whicthe.id« was fold to the De^ ponent*s matter; that one of them called Jfim:'S Shed, t'ne youngeft of the two Shtds above mentioned, was fold to a planter within three miles of where the Dcpo> nent li ed ; that he deferted his ma(ler*s fervice, was ap- pretunded, and whipptd for fa »iih other boys, and Uiey ucd to ^0 in companies bcat- ^ I feT^WJf.V'S-ataiafetat . „ . Jl'i^ The life of After fuch a demonilrati »n ot my veracity and the mal-tteatment i had former y luifc:ed^ the reader, Ms believed, cannot but relief vviiii iome degree H I \:'-^ ii| ' ■■ inf* the drum. Depones, that, on Sunday thereafter, Ihe came to the cliapel in the Gallovigatt to :«ar uor- Ship, and (he faw her Ion there, and got hold uf him, and carried him home with her to Loan*l)eid, which is about half a mile from Aberdeen. Depone.«, that (he Icept her faid Ton -it home for fome time, until four men came out of Aberdeen for him, in the iiiglu time, while the Deponent and herhufband we e in bed, and ihtir Ion James lying at their feet. Depones, (he knew none of theft four men, hut they told they were come from the fa^ Alrx.nder Gray, and wanted to carry the fiid Jameg Ingram into Aberdeen. Depones, that when I er ion heard them faying (o, he wept and fhed tears; and they infixing, caufed Itim rife out of bed, and go along with them to Aberdeen, and his father followed them, and fhr was told by her hiifbaud. they went to Alexan- d r Gray*s houfe« Depones, that, next day, the laid John Ingram, her liufb nJ. (as he informed the Dcpo* nent) cane mto Aberdeen, and met with Alexander Grny, irid fought back his ion ; who faid to him, That, if he would pay (even pounds Scots, for the expence of maintaining his (on while he was with Alexander Gray^ in that cafe he (houlJ get back his fon ; hut their circum- fiances could not ailow them to pay the faid fevcn pounds. Depones, that thereafter fhe cme nto Aberdeen, and mt't with Provoit Aberdeen, who was then provoft of the-town, and repr. ((>nted the cMetohim, and he lent for Alexander Gray lo com'e to the town-houfe and fpealc with the provolh Depones^ that when he came, the provoft afked him if he had a boy of the Deponmt's with him ; to which Alexander Gray aniwered. that he had a boy, one James Ingram ; whereupon the provoft faid to him, Tha? he did not think it right to take up any perfon's (hild without confent of parents; to which Altxan^trG a\ anfsvt-red that the boy complained that his mother was not ^ood 19 him i and the provoft repli^' ,. " -,- ^ -._^- ed^ cS»f ,f ,^ :ity and |ed^ the |Lii ionic degree PETER WILLIAMSON. 117 degree of indignation on thp iniquitous fentcnce of the Magiilratesof Aberdcen^and commiferatettiedii^ mal (ituation to ^vhich I was reduced in confcquence of i ere after, ar wor- of biiTiy which is that Hie our men e, while ihrir Ion none of from the the fn'd vhen I er irs; and ;o along d them^ AleAan- the laid )e Dcpo* iexander », That, pence of jr Gray^ circum- pounds. sn, and )vofl of he lent id fpeak DC, (he )onrnt*« that he provoft ake up > which ed that I tepli'* ed, that a parent could not correift a child out of time, and defiled, that the Deponent Ihould get her Ton: whereupon Aiexamier Gray a(ked who would pay his charges for maintaining the boy while he tmd him ; at fame^tilne Gray faid, he had given off the boy to one Mr. Copland in the Galiowgate. Depones, that the provolt lent an officer for Mr. Copland, who could not be tound that day, but the provoll defired the Deponent to go home, and return next day to the (own-houfe, and fhe ihould get her ion. Depones, that on her return, the provofl fent for Mr. Copland, and ordered him to give the Deponent her fon ; and he afked who would pay the charges of him ; and the provofl: replied, that when his futher grew rich, he would ^ut (tones for him, he being a (lone.cutter to his employment. Depones, that Mr Copland went along with her to a barn at the back fide of the town, where her fon and feveral other' boys were, the door whereof was open, and James Rofs, an oiHcer (landing thereat. Depones, that ieveral of the boys came out of the barn calling to Mr. Copland for (hoes, and other neceiTaries that they wanted, and her (on came to the door to her, and Mr. Copland de- fired to take from! him a dripped veft*coat that he had given him ; which was taken from him accordingly, and the Deponent put a plaid about her fon above his K^irt, and carried him home with her. Depones, that fhe kept her fon at home a confiderable time with htrfeif; thereafter he went into Aberdeen, and wa taken up (as (he was informed) hy one Lunen in Aberdeen, who went over with boys, and her fon, a trader to the Plantations. Depones, that, before her Ion went away, he was put into the tolbooth oK Aberdeen, and kept there for feveral Weeks by the fa^d Mr. Lunen ; ?tnd tie Deponent went twiw'e or thrice to the tolbooth and faw her fon there, and gave him her blefTing before he went away, and (he never faw him (ince. Depones, that when (he went into a Aiex» ^4/ mmmm mm* Ii8 The life or of that tyrannical decifion. Stript at once of nty ally and of my only m^an of fubfiflence, branded M'hh the chai after of a vagrant and impoftor, and ftig- i'- w I . l-''\ I t AlexAiider Gray's fliop, who canfed firft apprehend her boy. to feek him back, the faid Alexander Gray took her by the fhoulders and thriiH: her out of hs (hop. De- pones, that, at the atbrefaid time, when her fon was. taken up and carried away, provilions were very dear andfcarce, and many were difHculiiid to get iheir hrcidj but the Deponent and her huiband were in condition to have maintained her (on, and never contented to his be* >ng carried off. —~* John Ingram depones conlbrm to the fjid Mirgifet Rofs his ^pouiis. William Jamieson depones, That in Tpring I74f^ and for Tome years before an«) after, the Deponent re< fided with his family in the town ot Old Meldrutn^ wl.ich he reckons to be twelve computed inilfs from A- berdeen; that the Deponent had a foii named John, who was, in the fprmg 1741, between ten and eleven years of age ; that, about that time, tne fiid John his Ton having been amilTiug fiom his ioufe, the Deponent was informed by the neigt>bours in Old-Mchlrum, t^e day after he was amilling, (hat they law a man, whom they faid was a fervant to John Burnet, late merchant in Aberdeen, who was conimonly called Bunny John, with the Deponent's laid fon, an^I two other boys much al)out the fame age, travelling vowards Aberdeen; aud that his Ton would be lent 10 tke pluntaiions: Thar, in two or three days afier receiving this information, the Deponent went to Aberdeen, vi-hcre he found the faid Jol.n Burnet,, who toldliim that he had i'everai bo)s, hut did not know whether the Deponent's (on was amonglt them; but faid, that though ht was, ihe Deponent would not get him back, be^aufe he was L-ngdged with him. that the Deponent upon this left Mr. Burnet, and went down a- boui tie (bore, where he had been informed the boys. Were our getting the air ; that when be came there, he oblcrvtd a.great. number of boys, he thinks about Gxty^. diverting tFe PETER WILLIAMSON. 119 fligmatized as fuch in the Aberdeen Journal, ba- ni(hed from the capital of the county wherein I was born, and left to the mercy of the wide world, load- diverting themfelves j that they were attended l)y a man, who, theDtpont-nt ^Vas informed by the people of the town. Wis employed tor that purpofe by the faid John Burnet ; that this man had a horfe-whip, and the De- ponent obfcrved him ftriking the boys therewith when they went out of the croud. Depones, That he ob- ferved his own fon John amongft thefe boys, and called upon him ; tliat the boy came up to him, and to'd him that he would willingly go home w5th l)im if he was al- lowed ; that immediately upon this, the perfon wiio was Mr* Burnet's ovcrfeer, Canie up. and g :ve the boy a lafli uith his whip, and took him by the llioulder, and car- ried him ainonglt the reft, and immediately drove them *fr] 0^. and carried them -Co a barn, where the Deponent fjw them locked in bv the fore-mcntinned overfeer, who pui the key in his pocket : that the place where the boys were (landing when the Deponent fpoke with his fon as aboverdeponcd on, was on the (hr)re, and tl c Deponeiu thinks^ as far Jiftant from the fore mentioned barn, as from the Writer's C'^urt to the Nether-bovv-port ; that ivhen the bcy-s were marchin^ up to the barn, the De- ponent kept pace with the over'eer, who toll O'-'ed im>« mediately after the boys, intrealioj^ of Kim to get liberty to fpeak to his Ton ; who anlWered him, that he fi)Ould get leave to Ipc ik with him by and bye when they were cone to tie \?trn ; but wh* n thty came there, the over- feer locked the door as ibove-mentioneu, and refufed the Deponent accels ; that the Deponeat never faw his jbn after this : that the Depones. t in p.iffing thfouph the town of Aberdeen after ! is fon was fo lockfd up from him^ was told by ("everal trades ptOp'e, and others to whom he had told the Ilory of his Ion, ths^t it would be in vain ?i for him to apply to the ma^ifli*tites to get his fon libe- ^ rare; becjufc ibme of the magiHrates had a hand in tliofe doings, as well as the (iiid John Burnet; upon which the -Deponent went home, 7'hat in fummtr '■- ^- V thtfe-* ^1 11 •"^fffT'iiKK niiiumi. 120 T H B L IF E or . loaded with all the infamy that malice could in- vent. What a deplorable fituation this ! 1 could iQot help confidering myielf in a more >vretched • * ftate, : \ thereafter^ the Deponent cime up to Edinburgh to take iidvice whit he (liould Jo in this matter, being certainiy informed by the voice or the country, that the (hip on board of which his (on was put, had (ailed for Maryland about a tbrtni^^ht nr (b afte ti^at day when the Deponent was at Aberdeen, and faw his Ton as before-mentioned. Tbat after the Deponent came up to Edinburgh, be was recomuiended to the Jecejled Mr. VVHIiim Seton writer to the Signet, who gave hi ii a libelled fummons againll the faid John Burnet, bifore the Lord i of Council and SeQion, For reftitution of the Deponent's ion; that none • of the meflengers in Aberdeen would execute the fimi- mons againfi Mr. Burnet, becaufe they would not dif- bblige him for any thing the Peponent could give them; which obliged the D.ponent to (end a meffenger from Old Meidrum to Aberdeen ; that the Deponent having infixed in this funtnons, the faid John Burnet applied to the late Eul of Aberdeen, who lent for the Deponent's father, his tenant ; and the Deponent's father came and carried him to (he houfc of Haddo, where the Earl and John Burnet were at that time; that, at this meeting. It was agreed, that the faid John Burnet (hould give the Deponent his bond to reitore his fon to him within the fpace of a twelvemonth, under the penalty of 50/. Sterling ; that the Deponent did not get the ("aid bond, ' but that the Earl of Aberdeen promifed that be would 'i'^V^^^aule John Burnet grant the bond j that tfte Deponent y \^ thjnks,^ to the beft of his remembrance, tins meeting / >fc was in the end of fummer 1 742 ; that (hortly thereafter - ' twJ Aberdeen died, and the Deponent having inlifted iiHa (blldier, was fent over to Flanders, where he %ved fome years, and upon his return John Burnet was become bankrupt, and bad left the country: and the Deponent knows not whether his fon is dead or alive* having never heard of him fince he was carried from Aberdeen, and ijcver got the bond before-mentioned from John Burnet. W . Gio*Gi f jfi 'fj^ n; PETEl^ WILLIAMSON. fi^ ftate, to be reduced to fubmit to fuch barbarities m a civilized country^ and the place of my nativity, than >vhen a captive among the favage Indians, wh^ boaft not of humanity. ■• ' '• Con« George Leslie depones^ Thjt, about the year 1742, it was the current report, that Hugh Macki.: iiabler in Aberdeen,^ was employed by ]^t\n Blmii^c, merchant in Abtrdeen for taking vp bovs, that they rpight be carried to the plantation*. Depones, That .the faid Hugh Mackie, with a gang of live ur fix bays. ^^long wiih him, \va« at the hack of the Gal!»j\\i;riic, where the Deponent was working as a ina(on*< in v^nr, and they obferving a boy coming down the llret ,. :hfy took hold of him : hut the boy ftruggled and got < t of their grips; whereupon Hugh Mac kie kicked lUc >:\^k'<- ^oy with his foot^ and turned him into the lui,, ;>:.u the boy being hurt, was confined in the houfe of llun . Black (lablcr for eight or ten days, till he rccoveteil . but the Deponent does not know what became of^ tiat ; boy afterwards. Depones, That he faw a parcel of hoys and girls, confined in a barn. in the Grceni before tlt-y ^ere fent to thejplantationi. ,Qepones^ That 1iq believer - they were of different ages, from^tcn to fir'ceen years. > . Christian F1KI.ATER depones. That fome years before >he battle of Culloden, Hugh Mackie (labler in rheGaliowgate of Aberdeen, and James Wilfon ftabler there, were employed for taking; up boys tobe ftnt to s fhe plantations ; and one time fhe faw the faid Hugli Mackie driving a parcel of boys before him down the -Giliowgat^, with a .ftaff' in hirhand, and (he ha»< (een him chaGng boys in at clofes. Depones, She faw fome ^ boys looking out at the "window of a barn in the Green, 'and ftie reckons they were kept there till they (hould be )• fient to the plantations ; and (he heard there were other J* t|ylace8 in town where boys were kept until they (hould be '"' feiitaway. Depones, That, according to her knowledge gnd belief, fome of thefe boys woufd have been twelve ycjrs of age, ofhers of them thirteen, and fome sbove • and (bme left ^ and (he faw, aijiorvg them, lads from the Highlands of -the 'fize of meH^ and wH^men alfoj and L ' the '^■niM-'' .<»,'.;, >20 The L if E or \i r Confcious of my own integrity, and fired with refentment at the indignities poured upon nic by this, arbitrary decree, I was, by the advice and iiiliAance ;: . . ' . ,. . of the boys were generally trapping boys. Depones, That Oie heard one Mr. Copland in Aberdeen was conctrned in employing HughMacicie and James ^ilfon ^or ihe above purpole. '"^ Robert Brand depones, That aboot the month of June 1758, lie the Deponent faw -James Thomloo Dcin of Guild's officer, carrying out of George Matkie's houfe (where Peter Williamfon WiS quartered arthat. time) a parcel of books, hound or iliiched in blue pa- per ; the Deponent does not know the number o^' tlum^ but James Thonnfon bad his arms extended full of them. Depones, That thereafter ke faw a fervant maid of George MackieV coming down flairs of Mr. Mackie'a houfe« after the town-officer had come out of it, and > the Deponent aiked her what was tie matter; and . Hie anCwiTed, that it was the towfi-ofTicers carrying a* , way Mr, Wiliian>(bn's books to the clerk's chamber^ " -where Mr. Williamfon was himfelf, and this was the . iccond burden of them. * - • - ;George Mack IE depones. That two or three of ■ the townofficets came to the Deponent^s own houfe,. flnd he faw them carty away all tl)e copies of the fnid . pamphlets or books and the faid Peter Williamfon was alonij, with the officers, ard they wtre carried to the Towu. houfe. Dt'pones, That he iaw fome ofthefeco-^ pies c]r«fr by the way as the officers were carrying them .'to the Town houfe, hut he does not know how many copies were fo dropped, neither iHd he fee Peter Wil«l liamibn take lip any of the dropt copies. Deponesi, Th^, when Peter Williamfon Avas appointed hy tlic Magiftraiea \ to find bail for his appearance to flandtml on the com- plaint againiVhim, at the inflance of the Dt^an of Guild, and Procurator-fifcal, and when he was put in prif(m tiU be.fhould End the laid bail ; he the faid Peter VV-illiam- ' /^ " i)n,, of PnTER WILLIAMSON. I2t •f ' (ome worthy friendS) induced to ralfe a procefs of oppreHion and damages againfl thefe my judges, before the couit of Seiiion> the fupreme tribunal of k Ibn fent for the Drponent to fpeak (o him and to bail bin : Accordinffly ihc Oeponeut taxne up theTolbooth- tt%\r, and Founcrhim confined in that pare of the prilba oppofite to the door of the Court-rooni| and the Drpo* Bent fpokf to the faow eica ped his memory. Depones. That before the ''^. pcponcnt left the court, he faw the Purfuer carried oflT By the town>ofHcerg by order of the court, bot know^ not where they carried him to, further than that next day^. or the day thereafter^ the Deponent happening to be in tiip houfe of George Mackie inn* keeper, he was io- .^ formed by the fiid George M^ckle, that Peter William • y^n was obliged to I^ave the town; and that hc> the faiU ^ieorge Miickie ^ad become but tlie year 1 740, and forward for ibme years, leveral of the jienilemen -^rchants in Aberdeen, were in »(e to indent Icrvants for America; and if any young boys or girls ofuoder«age, were ^O indented, and that any of (heir parents or relations came to claim them back, even after they were hidented and atteded, they were, fo far as the Deponent knows or remembers, delivered back to their parents or relations upon paying up what iKoney the merchant had deburd-d on their account. De« |>one», Thai he wasin^iidwd, that» uuleii a lervant w 1119 o4vn opinion, Depo^e^, Thit {Iveral (crv.inrv^ Wert; indeMtcd in the >C4is 1740 and 1741^ at \^hich time pru^iiions were fcatcc in this couniry ; that n^any fervantf. were turned off from tlv.ir mailers, who could not afford ihem daily biead for their work, which for- ■ ced fundry perlons to cone from the coiictry Co Aberdeen and i dent ; aud on that account, the Deponent himlelf at that period indented icvtrais out of CI aiity, and, for (he dbove rtafoDS, belic-vei he wan the (ir(t, at that time ol icarcity, that be^an to indent fuch fervants. And • being interrogate by t ic 'aid Peter V/dliam!6n, whclhcr or not he employed people to go and inlilt fuch kind ok' l\, fervants through the couKtry ; or if all the fervant^ he in« Jilled ahoui that period, cdme to the Deponent's houfe voluntarily, to be indented b> him f Depones, That he - never employed perfons to ^o and bring perfons to be in* dented av fervants at his houle, but lueh as he indented eame of themlelveb, or with their companions, volunta-' Btly to him, and that fome of thoie who had indent'^d, , he has afierwards diicbarged, without exnAinpi any mo- ney of them. Ai»d being further interrogate by the faid ' P^Lcr Wiiliamlbn, whether or not there were any boys * Or chi drcn from eight to feutteen years of age that in- dented tbvmfelves with' the Deporient, or did their pa- rents after they were indented, xomc and demand them ' back tr^mr you after thev were indented f or did you noc fend over boys of that «^e/ after they defired themfslves -^ to be releafeJ, or that their parents or relations had rome and demanded thrm back ? and were any of fuch youn^ . • boys or children offiered up by their parents or relations - If , to you to be indented for fcarcity of- breid^ who were t6 . •'yoiir knovi ledge the mailers of fuch fervants, who dif-- miffed theno as before faid ? and whether or not did you fell fuch ii^dented boys in America ; for what number of yearS/ and what futns did yoii« rccuve fci 'them ? De* i^y^jxmmijvjL'.T: Jggffggjggglgglgl^g i WPPilWWwpiPIWWPW*''*'*'**^'^ mm 124 The life op me, I vras eaabkcl to lead fuch a proof, as convin* ced that moil honourable and impartial bench to which I now appealed, that 1 had met with the -: • ;- • \; • : v^high. pones, That lie never inclented any boy or girl of eight or ten years of age, except when the parents of fuch chiU drcn indented with him iikewi£f. Depones, That he t>crver fant off any bovs of girls of under-age incJented with l]ierdeeu,. wcrt ■ .^1 i:». ■X- mh • |j K- onvin- ich CO th the high- f eight ch chil- Miat he ndented parents ay boys 'eponeiiy by the rned ot? remem- hs went \t& wercl as were rs, and ken dc« fervants ) Ameii- r 1753; concern- accouHt carrying rent (hips I the brig Virginia vcr boys, adenturts 1^ to con^ twenty-' the price 3d and At ver-head.' depoites, ago, anih Lberdeet),;- wer« t^- m PETER WIL^. lAMSON. tt^ hlgheil injury and injuflice, and induced them to decern a fuitable rcdrefs. For the fatisfaftion of the reader the lubflaace ot this proof is iubjoined,, as before mcatioued. ' ■' ^ ■ ' The / were In pra^ice of hiring boys, gi^Is and other fervants^ attcfled before the magiltrateS oi' Aberdeen, or fbme 0- ther Juftices of Peace, to be carried to Amtrica, or other of his Majefty's Plantations, to be diipofed of ther^ Caufa/cientia, the Deponent dealt in that way himfclf* HELSr? Law depones, That about the years 1 740, 1 741* 1742, and fince^ ftveral of the merchants o( Aberdeen were in pra^ice to inlift boys to be indented, to carry over as fervants to the plantations, viz, George Black, Alexander Gray, Gcorjje and Andrew Gaiiochsj Mr. Copland^ Jannes Abernethy, John Elphinglton, all merchants in Aberdeen, md Capt Robert Rjg^> fhip- maUer, and James Smith fiidkr there: and that thefe tlvcral merchants have emji^loyed the Deponent to turnidi 4iet to boys and fervants that had indented wit!) ti.em. Dc-ponef, That about fevcnteen years paO the month of May lad, the Deponent wos employed to furni(h diet (o a parcel of boys ^^d fervants that were afterwards carr rird over from Aberdeen to the plantations by the faid Captain Robert R^gg, Depones, That there were nir.Q of the young boys whom fhe dieted at that time, t' at were never confined, but that (evera) of the big boyt and men who were' threatening te run o^, that were af« terwards confined in priibn, or in the work-houle of A* berd^en, for fome Ihort time before Captain. Raggfaiiedi. , Depones, That among the boys that were never conBt>edt and dieted at her houle, there was one bo) named Petee M*Wiliiam, who would have been upwards ol^ twelve years of age, a long ftowie clever boy, (by which (he " means a growthi& boy). Depones, That thcfe boys came not all at one time to diet with her; fhe be^an with Come of them a little after Miriinmat, and they were continuing to come to her till within a day or two betore the failing of the (hip io May thereafter} and that thetr . w^^a :-•''■ , . . weekly •I ti6 The life ap The following pages, when duly confidered, wHf be obvious to the meaneft capacity, as the fubjed^ is intirely calculated to open the eyes of the de- luded* weekly board vv^s twenty pence a week for each, and that the boy Peter M*William was fome weeks dieted by her. Depones, Thai there were four or fiveof thote boarded with her that were delivered back by the mef chants to their friends, on paying the char^ies- they had colt the merchants. Depones, That for five we.ks be- 'fore the flrp comn>andcd b/ Capt. Robert Ra^g failed from the harbour of" Aberdeen, (he lay at ihe key ofTory,and the boys werb carried over to the (hip; durin;> which (pace ih6 Deponent went over and hired a ',oufe at Tory, In wMchr houL* fhe made their diet, and earned it to them on board- the laid ftwp during tl at fpce; and the Deponent was Mirormed, that the reaion why the flvp lay at Tory^ was that (he was neeped, ^nd had not water to carry her^ over (he bar* And being furfher interrogate, If Peter W lliamfon, wliotn rtie noA' fee» before her, is the iden* ticul perton that dieted at the time foreiiald with her, then n med Perer M*WiUiam ?' Depones, That (he tjn* not Ivvear that he is ific lame perlon, for feveral of thefe bovs returned from the- pi i»'ti lions a few years afrer^- whom fhe-did not know again when (he faw them, by rtalon of the change in that time. Depones, that (lie^ h d a fori of her own that the year before had been car* ' rie ' over by James Abernerhy merchant in Anerdeeni . wiioin Ihetiad a(ked back, and Mr. Abernethy agreed at th'ee differem times to deliver him back to her ; but he- was relolute to go, and went accordingly. And being, interrogat • by- the faid Peter Willi imlon, whether or not- the Deponent ^vas not always in ulcto aCk^laveof the keepers on board of thcfhip, for the boys o come aftiore- ans tisie when they lay at Tory, and (Itch liberty was only oitained on the faid Helen Law's ob'i^ing her to retnru them back on fhiphoard? Depones.lhat (he did .Ik leave of tht keeper, on board o^ the (hip for fomc of the faid hoyr to.co.nc aihore .vith her, whicf< (he accordingly obtained,' and did becofli^ b^uiid to rcturu them bdck to .the (hip«r •m i: ed, wilf fubjed^ the de- luded' ich, anr] lletcj by of thote the mer- [hey had e.ks be- led from ',and the Ipace tl)6 In whiclr in board- int was t Tory, arry licr~ U Peter )e iden» ith her^ ftie tan» of tbefc -s afreri' em, by hat HifiH ;en car» •crdeeni . irced at but he- d being. r or not of the B aftiore- rasonly ) return eave of id hoy 9 taintdf' je ftiifv atid •5 >~ • V' -.*, PETER WILLIAMSON. 127 ludcd poor, many of whom have fufFercd tribula- lioafor the lofs of their children, whom the ties of nature bind^ every chriilian parent to prefer ve and • r . ■ ' ^ . -' ■ and on her verbal obligement or promift', (he was allow* cd to briag forne of them even over to the town pf Aber- deen wfAi her, and always returned them again on fhip-board. Depones^ Tiiat (he knows nothing about their parents confenting to their indentures, as fome inig!)t have had parents and Come of them none, and fe« verals of them were begging their bread through ilit totvn. But depones, Thit when any of their parents and relitions claimed them, they were given them by tUe mercliants on paying thc'r charges. c -/ ^ » -. - James Robertson ftabler in Aberdeen, depones, - That about feventecn years pall the month of May iaif^ the Deponent was employed by jimes Smith fadler as . keeper of feveral young boys, the youngeft of iivhom would have been about ten years of age, and Tome of them fixteen and upwards, who were indented^ Sind their indentures attefted by the MagiUrarts of Aber- deen, to be carried over to the plantations in Americi, along with other fervants, both men and women of full age, alio indented and aiteflcd by the Ma^iftrate* of A- berdeen, to be (hipped on board a (hip lying at the bar* hour of Aberdeen, then commanded by Capt, Robert Ragg (hipmatler in Aberdeen, and which (hip was car- ried over to Tory, where (he lay and received the fakl boys on board of her. The Deponent was fometimi^ Afterwards employed by the faid Jimes Smith to go over ^nd (lay on board the faiii thjp as a keeper of the (aid Jboys and other fervants, to the beft of his remembrance, jficF the Ipace of twelve or fourteen days, till the (hip fatl- ed, and he went with them in laid (hip out of the ^arbour, till the (h'p was in t)iero:d before Aberdeen,, from whence he returned back to the town of Aberdeea. )Depones, That during the time the faid J^innes Robert- fi>ti was on (h v i fl it * ^28 The LIFE op ^ * *• and cherifti as their owi lives : For as it is abfurci to imagine that any parent, tho' in ever fo nccef- fitous a condition;^ wuuld dilpole of thetr own i\c(\\ and likewife to take care of the fiTd boys and fervanti. De* pones, Tliit all the night they were confiucd, and put to^ their beds in the hold ot the (h^p^ but ail iViy had liberty to go upon the dick, ar.d even to play them afhore^ their keepers always looking after th(.ni, and (bms of them allowed to ^o to Heieo Law's houl'c to help her on- board with vidtiab tor theinfel ves and otiiers Depones^ That ftiiong the boys under the Deponent's and the 0ther keeper's care, there was a boy oi about fourteea years of age, who was^ ca-lled Peter M*W;lliam. De. pones, That Peter \ViHiaitiibnt whom he (ees prelently before. him» is the fame peribn that was then naaied Pe« Cer M' William, as he preleiitly appreiiends, but will not I'wear pofitivdy that^heikthe fatne perfoni tor' that Peter M'William hid black brows^and was pock-marked) and lb-is Peter Wttliamfon whom he now fce^; but does not remember any boy t'len aboard called Peter Wtiliamfon ; and that Peter iVl*WiHiam was a (tout, clever, tougbt loun, and very \U to guide, J^ MBS Smith fidltr in Aberdeen, depores, That^^ to the bed of the Deponent's onenhiry, about rrntreen or twenty years ago,- but cannot be abfolutely poiiiive about the precife time, hrc was employed by J')lin £'U phingdon merchant in Aberdeen, ami Captai > Robert Ragg Ihip-m ilter m Aberdeen, and Mr. Walier Coch- ran townclerk-depute of ^berdceOi in pirtnerfbip with theu), to make leather caps, and pay for diet, and to pay taylors for cloathing furniflied to (isveral young>oy» and other fervants-, that had entered into iitdeniure ,> attellcd before the Magiftrates oP Aberdeen* with \l,6 above-named Captain RTobert Ragg, to be cariied^roin Aberdeen to America, to t)e difpoted oV at Philadelp ia. Depones, That he accordingly furtiiihed the Paid fcrvants nith leather caps, and piid (or their cloathing and diet, ibr all which he was alter wards repaid' by- the above. " V tiain:'d 1 A, i 3S -,.'..> put iO^ iberty me of her on- pones» id the urteea De. elently; ed Pe- ^il) not t Peter £<], and )es not ir.ifon ; touglt That^ ■nV-een toliiivc llifi £U .obert Coch* IP with ia!)ct to ,jf..hoy« Hurt , > 1th u*d from |elp ia. .TV ant* Id diet, lahovei uuin:'d .4/" ,«^ PETER WILLIAMSON. 1^9 and biood to ftrar>gers. who make a prey of inno- cent children, to accumulate their ill-gotten wealth and fupport their grandeur, by conveying the un- . happy, hamed pcn'lemen. Depones, That, among them f^r^^ •vanis th it wire lb indented, there was one boy raided WilliamfoihO uboiu la years of a^e, and another hoy ©f the fame firnime, of about 13 or 14 years of age, to th bcfl; o^ the Depon«nt*8 knowledge and rem^m* brincc; but ikpones, he does * 01 know any of thefaid two boy> ChriOian names. Depones, That he hai not ill hi« culh'cy any «ccouDts or writings .relative to the ierv.mts that were fent from Aberdeen to the Plantations in tl»e year r745: B*it depones, that the account (hewn to him at deponing, and exhibited by Waller "Cochran ' town cleik liepate of Aberdeen, confiftkig of twelve leaves w^th a docqtiet on the Idl page thereof, dated 16th July 174^, i$ ajnft ^ind true account, all wrote with the Deponent's 'hand writing; ^nd the 'Deponent received from the faid Walter Cochran payment of tl>e balance of faid account, confbriT> ro'his rcccpt and d f-"* charge; and the whole of the articles in -faid ^ccounnt, -and names therein inffrt, are genuine and true as wrote by the Deponent, and which account is figned by the Deponent andCommiflione^ at deporting. D<^p'>ne8. -^He beard the Ihip tl»c- Planter, Captain •R')bertRagg'fnafter, who Carried lirrv nts ior the Pliintaiions iovthtjear 1743, -was (Iranded on^Cape May* •Walter Coc»R AH town clefk-depme^of Aberdeen, depones,^ and, produces an accrnint. wrote hook-ways, and boundin marled paperi intttled. Account Bailie Willia^n Fordyceand Company toJime^Sntithj which accnontbe* ^gins the third day of -December 1743, >and confilts of twelve Ieave5, and upon ;hela(f p■ ■ ■■ v ' U mm ii m i ■ ■ SI ri H U^ 'S ^1 M 13a Thf LlTt or '». -» happy vi£^ims to the rcmoteft parts of thfe globe, ^herc they can- have no redrels for the injuries done them, .thefe-> cautions arc offered to. prevent their falling into the fnare. , _, Mr .n. ^, Sen!^ all he could demand of then^ ; upon th6 fecond pape of wltich account, tlu re is charged a fix-pence for a pair of ftocking* to Pfter Williamlbn, and fivepenc^for a wool- len cap ro ditto, AS dt^burfed 8th January 1743 > and on - the third page, tbrre is charged one (hilling and three- jiencc Sterling* for five days board of Williamfbn, as deburfed 13th January 1 74?. Depones, That he re- ceived the foreiaid account from James Smith fjdier in Aberdeen, and paid him the balance contained in the Ibrefaid account, and which account i? figned by the Dtponeftt and CommifTioner, and produced with the re> pout » and further adjs, that the foref jd account has been IjNttg by the Deponent for feveral years pafl, he hfiagoae of the company that were owneri of the (hip i tHe nantrr. Robert Rigg mailer, who tranlporred fer ^ ' vanti to the PUntatioos, and was wrecked at Cape May* ; •, . ■ . -:^;^r:d the That the ^i» % PETER W I L L I A 1\! S O N. «3 " Senfiblc T am that what I have already (aid :;- gninft my firft prolecuturs, Ciuadsatcs wlih the truth ill every particular, and that many unf jrtii' natc pcrfons have been involved in mi^ry, and de- coyed into flavcry and bondage, as we'l as mylelF.* Separated from their dearell relations, and ob'igcJ tamely to fubmit to the capiice and chaflilemciit of arbitrary malters, v;ho have le(s piiy and conipai- (ion on thern than on their very bealis of burden. Hard fate to fulFer all this ! harder lliil to be pro. fecuteil f )r tellina: the interelhnrr tale ! 1 fpcak r!/;i by woeiul experience, as well aSr from the knuv/- ledgc at the hard fate of feveral young people, i.i the neio-ib )urbood of my nativity, whether i hu 1 gone In qaeit of my relations. After fo Lmo mx abience, my perfonal appearance mufl:, no dt}ubt^ recall to the memory of my friends the manner of my being carried off in my infancy, and they muli receive wae with wonder and aaiuzcaient, whom *^''r ■'■ * ■" " ' : ' ' .■ "• •■^> >^;•^' ■"■1 -ihey -f V Depones, That the faid fhip, on her arrival from Lon di>n, in order to perform the ("aid voyage, lay at ihc pier of Tory iintil fhe fa led from W\d river on ht r voyajjc a^ the Deponent remembers, on the 12th of M.y 174? and took in her cargo tlcre, which conlifted of fomc parcels of ^oods, and lerverHl.lev.int5, being men, wo- «ieu, and boys, who, he believes, were all indented as jervanis, for behoof of the contraftors wi;h them, t<» he difpofed of in Virginia : . That the (liip was before her arrival, ftraoded to tl>e northward of Cape May, upon a littlc'ifland in the r)rovince oV ^Jew Jerfey, where Hii; became a wreck. Dispones, Tlut ho^v fbon tfc« \ Ibip ftrack, fd many of the crew took out a yoil to diC^ Over a hndi»)^-p1;\ce, aiid the reft of the crcW,and fbrre of the fervants went into five long-So^r, and go! fa^e a- fcore ; and fonre of thein returned with the long-boat, and hroightout the reirbfihe frvints j anvl aiieivv rds id floop tame down ^ery fooD and caarkd. ihem. up ke JPh*ladeJi>hia. "^ ^^ ** M V ' .#• ^3* Tii^ Llf E Of 4 they had for many years deemed for loft. Th« fatisfaftion my prefencc gave them/ of which t^ey had. been folong deprived, is not to be exprefled, and the comfort I enjoyed in the profpeft of feeing my ncareft relations, was in fome degree a folace f >r the mifcries 1 had undergone: But, even-in this, hard fortune purlued me Uill, and my troubles were not yet at an end. New enemies ftarted up, \i ho, as if the abettors of thofe who laid the fnare for me when a child, now contrived a new Ipecies of captivity for me, whcn'Iwas a man. They be- grudged uie my liberty, and the freedom I took to relate my misfortunes ; in order, therefore, to (iip- .prefs a disagreeable truth, they again deprived me of it fpr a time ; deftroycd my means of idhfif- tcncc, and loaded me with infamy and reproach ; from which, thanks to the juftice of my caufe and the integrity of my judges, I have at laft been honourably delivered. Kidnapping, a fpecics of trade followed by thefe monflers of impiety for the luftof gain, 'imay be compared to the pra6lice of the lavages formerly mentioned, who, to gratify ihcir propenliiy to mifthicf, cut, mangle, burn and defiroy, all the innocent peoole they can catch. And lureiy the guilt of the kiddnapper muft be •much greater than that of the favage race, who boafl not of humanity. If the latter commit fuch crimes, it is againA thofe *they imagine to be theii* enemies, for the fake pf plunder ; but the former are void of all excufe. What then can fomc of th« worthy merchants of Aberdeen fay'f r^themfclves. Prompted by avarice, and defpifing ihe laws df God and all civilized nation*, have they not been guilty of this attrocious crimei And does not thic hJood of the innocent, fevetal of whom have died under the hands of their^^cruel mafters," ciy agairtH them for vengaence ? Certain jt is, that this cxc- cratlc praftice of ^iddnappiiig was put-in execution •I- • :,--X irorh h t^ey feeing ace f.T is, hard s were y, ^^ho, are for cies of ley be- took to to lup- ivetl me iubfil- jroach ; lufe and all been ecics of 1 for the ;£lice of ) gratify ,le, burn in catch, mud be xty ■who imit fuch be thek c former ic of the emfclvcs. laws d[ not been s not the bave died ly againR this exc- execution froth • y' w- ^ PETFR WILLIAMSON. 133 trom the year 1 740 and djwnwards, by fevert\t' -merchants in that city, fome of whom, fjr r^alons too well known, have fince defertcd their country. I reraerober that,much about that time, there were idle fellows employed by thofe traders, to cajole and decoy, men, women and children, to ferve in the plantations in Araeiica. The poor deluded parents, being ignorant of the nar- j of the traf- fick, and equally ignorant how or where to apply for redrefs, were obliged to rely on the fair pro- mifes of the merchants, whofe delufions proved fatal to many of the unhappy vi6tims who were, even come of age, and much more fo to infant?" from fix to fourteen years, who were incapable to contra pity at the relation of fo difmal a tale? Whoi:an think, without horror, on thefe monlters of impiety,., who could make a trafHck of their fellow creature> in a Chriftian country, almoin as openly as is prac- tifed on thecoaft of Guinea. Quis talia jando tem^ feret a lachrimisl — And here the following queries occur, wich will tend to explain the rtieaning of kidnapping. I. Whether or not. When children are cither carried off by force, or decoyed by fraud, without the confent,. or without the knowledge, of their, parents, in a ftate of infancy, or under the years of pupiliarity, and incapable of entering into a. . contract. ■ y ■if'-!' -^iAM. ^;|'^-, '■'?^'-^^^^'' •"m^ 1 \ ; • 5 La j- III Kv>9 " W'yt Ei ft 1 'TM 1 *'*;« R5 111 '34 T ji r L I r E o r contra(f^ or indenture, may not this be called Kid- NAPPING ? *- II. Whether or not, The /hutting ihefc Children up in prifons, or places of confinement, in (Tder to make furc of ihem as a prey, and c^nceal them from ihcir parents, is not contrary to law, and an attrocioiis crime? ' 'c/ .•..;,:. . III. If tlitlc proceedings were agrceab'e to law, and the inciinaiions of ihc pcrlons fo iniprifoncd ; \;hat occafion was there lor confinement ? "When a perfon inlifts rimfelr in any fcrvicc as a volun- ticr, where is the neccfTKy for putiin [hira in pn.'on ? Bur, IV. U thefc pr^'^ccedings were contrary to all laws, hr.man and divine, V\ hat puniflimcnr ca» ,^ nflicied adequate to the crime? My Betrayers well knew the impradicability of ranking children abide by any obligation extorted from them, or any agjecmcni to \vhiGh they weic ^\'coytd; and theielore they co»Iined us in barns, rn borrd flfips, and other convenient places ; and, to make our time pafs awr.y the mire infenfibly and free of reflection, they entertained us with ianl:c, catds, and other childi/h diverfions, till f uc!) lime as they had got their complement^ and the (hip was ready to l«il, /. ;-* Various were the arts and ftratagems made ufe cf to inveigle thefe unhappy creatures. Some .were iafnared by receiving a triffle of money, and then told they were fairly inlifted. Others were tempted with the bait of great promifes, being told that they were going to a country where they fhould live like gentlemen ; that they ftiould ride in their coaches, with (cveral negroes to attend thcmj that they iliould poflefs large plantations of their own, and foon be in a condition to come home and vifit their friends with great pomp and grandeur. By thefe fpetlous and artful infmuations, many un- thinking ' V * lildrcn order I them [ind an :o law, foncd ; When volun- lira in to all .ility of rxtorted ey weic 1 barns, s ; and, ifenfibly s with ns, till nt, and jade ufc' Some key, and ;rs were [ing told ly ihould in their |mj that ;ir own, md vifit |ur» By lany un- Ithmking PETER WILLIAMSON. 135 thinking giddy youths were fcduced into flavcry, relying on promKes which were meant only to In- fnare and nit to inrich them. Some were carried . off* from their parents by violence, and whipt into the flock, like Grayed fheep going to the (hambles. All thcfe methods, and many more, were praf^ifed. in this execrable branch of trafEck, of which the Reader will find a proof to his convi6tion, by pe- rufing the depoiitions formerly inferted. How far thefe fpecious promifes were fulfilled,', will appear from the treatment we met with when landed in America. On our arrival there, our > merchant, or fiipercargo^who had the charge of us, . took the earlicfl oppoiTtunity to difpofe of us to the • planters, fome of whom will buy ten, others twenty^ , to labour in their plantations ^nd . cultivate their ^ ground. Thus.werewe driven through the country like cattle to a Snuthfield market, and expofed to ' iale in public fairs, as fo many br^ite beads. When » thus maltreated by our countrymen, what reafon had ^ we to expert better ufage from our new mailers, whofe propertyxwe now were ? Luckily for me, I . fell into the hands of one of my own countrymen; . who had undergone (the fame fate himfelf, and who * ufed me.in»^ more tender manner than many of my- companions in. ilavery had to boall of. NO thanks^ however, to my Kidnappers ; for if the ' devil had come in the fhape of a man to purchafe tts,with money enough in his pockets. It would hav« been as readily accepted as of the honedeA and mod humane man in the world > Befides, thefe childien are fometimes iold to barbarous and cruel maflers, from whonrihey often make an elopment, to avoid the harfh u(ilge they daily meet with ; but as there is fcarce a poifibility of making a total eicape, they are generally taken and brought backy *lii d for every day they have been abfent, they are 'cumpelkd to ierve a. week^ hx every week a ' • . - ■■ •-.>■,' ;■-,-:— ^i,:- -; montbj «3« Tub life or >i I '4 ! f II { i I r- t I if ruonih, and for every month a year ; they are be-' fiJes obliged to pay the caft of advertifing, appre- hending, and bringing them back, which often protra^s their flavcry four or five years longer.- B4it a more rtiockinjj cafe often occurs ; fome uf thcfe poor deluded Haves, after groaning for (bme lime under the yoke of tyrany arid opprcflion, with only a dlftant profpeft of relief, in order to put an end to their bonda'^e, put a period to their lives at the fame time. What a diimal reRe^ion this, to be the in.lriiment of driving an innocent hclplef* creature to dcfpair, and ruining him both in foul and body ! The planters thcmfelvcs arc generally of an idle ^d.Thnt difpofition, not caring to fatigue themfelves with work. How loon therefore they can raife 20 or 30 1. they purchafe fcrvants from the European merchants, whom they make (laves, fome for four or five, others fur (even years. Thefc they fend to the woods, or employ in other kinds of hard hi- bour, and oblige them to peform a certain taOc of work in a day ; in which if they fail, they are fe- verely puniflied by their mafters, who review their work at night. Nor dare the fervant, when he is thus chafiilcd, perfume to vindicate himfelf, for fear of giving a new offence ta this unrelenting tyrant, whofe humour muflbeindn3ged,even at the expence of ftrokes ond blows. This is generally- the cafe throughout the different colonies m N. A- m erica ; but more efpecially in Maryland and Vir- ginia. Thele two are tlie beft markets to which our European merchants can refort for the fale o^ their illicit cargoes of flaves. Here they may bar* ter them , for tobatco, the flapic commodity, of thefe colonies, upon which, they, kave an immenfe Kciurn of ptofit. The feivants in, Maryland are moflly convii£):s^ who have been .baniihed their native^ country foi I I rebc-* • appre- oftcn ongcr.- )me of r Come n, with I put an lives at this, to hclplef* rouiand • an idle jmfelves ^ raife 20 'uropeaa for fouf \f fend to hard ta- in tafk of :y are fe- ievv thcip hen he \s nfclf, for irelenting yen at the generally unN. A- and Vir^ to which he fale of r noay bar* ■nodity. of \ Immenfe Y convlifts^ lountry foi PETER WILLIAMSON. rjy mil-icmcanors ; yetfomc of ihcrn, when iheir pe« riod of Ilavcry is. over, acquire plixitations of their own, and arc very expert in railing tobacco, and in the other branches of trade in that country. They frequently contract wirh their corrcfpon- * dentf* in FAirope, to lend them over men, women and children, to be employed in the culture of their ' plantations^ But the fallacious promifes of the un- dertakers here, are Co peirHcious to thole whom ;' they engage, that they generally prove their utter dtdru^iun. fiy their manner of cajolling, they. ^ induce ihofe ignorant creatures to believe, that,, when they indent themfelves for four or five years, to ferve in the plantations, they are to have high wages, to be paid annually as in their mothcr-coun-* try : But when thele deluded perfons come to make the experiment, they will find it quite the contrary. Be aflbred, you will meet with no fuch entertain- ment in any part of America ; for you muft ferve your indented time, agreeable to ehe laws of the country, without one farthing of allo\vance, but at the difcretion of your mailer ; and it is well Tf you are fuiniihed with cloaths fuffiejient to cover ^our niikednei's. Befides, you who indent yourfelves in this man* Vner, labour under another difadvantagc ; for, in that country, (hey are of opinion^ (and a natural piefumption itisj that when men and women, come to the age of matuiity, willfully and deiiberatel'y a* . gree to traniport themlelves as (laves for any number of years, they muft have been guilty of Ibme no- ' torious crime ; thofe, therefore, who come over in this manner, are looked upon as in the black elate of c jnvi£ls, vvhj for fear of a profecutimi at b honeft can be laid to their charge ; this being ap* proved off and recorded in the books of a court^^ of Juflice, the perfon's oath is then deemed legal. From hence it appears, that number lefs incon* venienctes and difadvantages attend the perfon,who^. tho' of an age capable to difpofe of himfelf, by fooUHily liftening to the deceitful promifes of thefe recruiters for (laves, at once ftakes his happinels, his liberty, and perhaps his life. You wUl perhap/ be told that you are going to a country flowing with milk and honey. Thefe, it is true, are to be had in great plenty in America; but before you come to enjoy them, yoo will find that yon mufi wade thro' an ocean of labour and fatigue, and that out ofthefwcet Cometh forth bittemefs. Where* as, if you are pofiefled but of three or four pound$ to pay your palTage, and are of an ingenious dif« pofition, whether in mechanicks, cemmerce, ag^l* culture or manufa^ures, you are certain not only of handfome bread, but, by moderate frugality and indttiUy, of making a genteel fortune in a few years*. /.. i#- •t ■- *^ C 139 3 A Short History of the Process bcrwcen Peter Williamson and the Mtigiltrates of Aberdeen. IN the Introduction to the former difconrfe on Kidnapping, I fairly dated the cafe betwixt the MagiOrates of Aberdeen 'agd me, withoat difgui- fing the truth in any the moft minute particular, I therefore appeal to the unbiaffed judgment of the candid Reader, whether, after the unmerited mal- treatment IfufFcred from the arbitr^y proceedings of thefe Magiftratcs, merely for relating a fimple, but diiagreeabje faO, 1 fay, I fubmit it, whether J was not entitled to fue for redrefs before a high* (r tribunal. The motives or principles upon which they a6ted in th# irregular profecution againft me, in which they were both my Accufers and Judges^ I (hall not pretend to determine ; but from the proof before inferted, the Reader will hardly be at a lofsto forraf^ conjefture. In order to afccrtain the. power of a Magidracy, it is neceflkry to have recourfe to the original inltitutiou of it. That liberty which the conftitution of this country confiders as its favourite object, is the refult of the equipoife which our laws have e|la- blilhed between the authority of Magitlrates and the rights of the people. As the relative duties of Society muft be inforced by the Magiflrate, and compliance with the laws exaftcd from the citi- zens, by means of his authority, all the power that is necellary for thefc laiutary purpofes, is v«(led in him, and, in the due exccun n of if, he is not only i.. titled to the protection of the laws, but Js ah object of it« veneration : Yet the fame princi- ples th.;i h;.AC thus armed him with authority for the beaeht of fociety, have wildy impofed upoa . ' him ^i 1 li i 1 it The LirK of I id* . , r-« -.f Scnfible that au> Z^ reftraint from abuttng «. S "Ub^ ^^^ ^.^ AorUy improperly ^r'=^' ^^ ° ,he law has not A^^^^-^^'^T-lxlSSin office to be a only d^-^l^^-^l'^l^fTuve Offered by the pro- crime, but 'o thofe who hav ^^^^, i„attent.on> and damages, f^"^^' r . vate party .has ^f''^^.,^ ^y,^ har(b fcntence of In thisligt>tdid IconMer^t ^^_ ^^^ the Magiftrates of Aberdeen „ j^^yilhed forms- Had they aded ?=^°f "Sjo* ^^^^^jing. woij^d of aU courts of Juft^e.«««Pf regplarity; tho> at leaft, have had f°"»= f;°" b^ea lefs iniquous. their fentence would "f" »'' V ^ party having. Why was not I ^^^'^ ^ no' t^^ ''""P'r' intefeft in the caufe i WbyJ« ^ ^^ j^e in An- fwers? Why were "«'*! ^f defence J Ml thefe- allowed me to F'P*^« flfX. The Magiftrates . forms were negleaedot <'"P7? ,. .vjeyproceedtdi Semfelve. 'm^^^tX^ T-S '^f"^' ,0 judge »P°^" "" ^rLers 1 i»'evW««. there, ;irihe7S^notXgWates.b«tasp^ in I viras born, and ftnpt ot mV » ' j^eis. m.. myfelf where f i^°t .^"//ey to Edinburgh .• but, this view I purfued ""y J^^'^J \i„ted with any ot ignorant of the law, ?"^. ""^''^^noaey and friends., its members, equally dcftU"'^^^^^^^^^^^ Jhich.the ca- ' and labouring under »h' ^^f^^^'a^y ,he Magiftjate.. lu«nious advertifemen pubh^ed J^ ^^ ^ ^^^ threxv on my charaaer, 1 vv ^ j j„, d„ec- Whoraorinwhatmannerimou FKJ tion. From this daemma, however. ^.^^^^ * * % PRTXR WILLIAMSON. 14^1 iieved by the alGGftance >of kind proyideiure. v^^o tthrew me 10 the way of a GcDtieman 'verfant \a th6 Law, a Gentleman df knowledge^ cbara£ler tate a moment to declare his opinion, That I was not only entitled to ample damages from my pro- fecutors, but that the Court of Seflion would find no difficulty to award thefe, with full cods of fuir. ^t is unneceflary here troQf of the pra^ice, by a number of perfohs who had fiifFered by it in being deprived of their children. And her« I cannot foii>ear doin^ jufiice to the conduct of the Gentleman whom 1 named as Com* miiTioner, to take the depofitions of the witnefies on iliC part of my Opponents. During the various l)e|>s ot procedure in leading the Proof, wherein I r-5 I >4a T H E L IFE OF I'met with all the ohftiTftions that the malice of my enemies could throw in my way, he afted a nioA candid and ingenuous part. ' * After a fliort dependence, the Caufe at laft came to be advifed in cour'e before the C urt of Scffi«)n, by Mem'-^rials on the Proof; when, after hearing of parties at the bar at fiill length, their LordHiips were pleafed, on the 2d February 1762, to pio- nounce the foil )wincr Ipterlcutor : " The Lords having advifed the ftate of the " procefs, tcftimonles of the witnefles adduced, *' writs produced, with the memorials given in hmc " /W(p, and having heard parties procurators there- " on, find the libel relevant and proven ; and find " the defenders, conjun<5tly and feverally, liable to " the Pui-fuer in damages, and modify the fame to ** the fum of 100/. Sterling, and decern •, and find '* the Defenders alfo,conjun£i:ly and feverally, liable <* to the Putfuer in the expences of this procefs, " and.of the extraft of the Decrcet,as the fame fliall <* bt certified by the Colleftor of the clerk's fee? ; for which the Lords declare the Defenders to be perfonally liable, and that the fame (hall be no burden upon thd town of Aberdeen ; and ordain " an account^of the faid expences to be given in ; " and' ordain the accompt book mentioned in the ** State, and produced upon oath by Walter Coch- **,raa, andfigned by the Lord Prefident of this •* date, to remain in the handsel the clerk of this ** procefs; till further order of the Court" Againfl this Interlocutor the Magiftraics pr cfen- tcd a reclaiming Petition, craving cither to be af. foilzied from the Procefs ; or,atTtaft> that the da- mages awarded ihould be modified. To this^^ Peti- tion is fubjoined the following ^ariotis lettei'; > a -A • • '■^f» MMIMM MM ^»m> lalice of aftcd a aft came Seffi«>n, bearing ortliliips to piO- 5 of the adduced, , nin h^nc ^rs there- anJ find liable to E fame to , and find illy,liable s proccfs, fame fliall rk*s fee 5 ; dcrs to be lall be no ind ordain given in ; ied in tbe liter Coch- nt of this er k of ibis rt" Its pf cfen^ ;r to be af- hat the da- otbisl?cx*> UtUiii '■^^ irETEJt WILLIAMSON. 143 Gkfy (fa tetter from William Dayidfon anJ James , , Jopp, Jate Bailies eftAberdeeo^ /o Walter Scot . Ulster to the Signet* *^ S I R, Aberdeen, February 4, 1762. WE are very forry to fijyd, by yours of 30th pad, ihat there is a fenteoce pronounced againft us in W.Uliamfon's pcocefs, >vhereby vfe are decerned fo pay to him a^ very large fum out of our [Kivate poqkets. . ,We think it necciTary to inform you, tfiat our^ conduct and intentions, with rfgard to our fentence ~ againft him, have been entirely mifunderftood. We * can with the greatcft integrity declare, 1 hat» at the time of pronouncing that lentence, neither ofus- knew direftly or indire^ly, that Walter Cochran, the depute-clerk, was any^ wile concerned in tran- fporting boys to America, or that there ever was in being the book he produced In the proof: That neither of us had ever any intereft. or concern in fuch tuade : That we never kQe\y, and did not be- lieve, that any men or boys w^ re ever tranfported from Aberdeen to America contrary to lav/ : That we confidered "the paragraph in Wdliamfon's pamphlet, refpc£ling the merchants of Aberdeen, to be a very calumnious and reproach fui afperfion- on them which they did not defervc : That Wil-. ii^imfon himfelf had the appearance of being air idle ihrolier, and could give no good account of hs^mCelf, and had procured this |)ainphlct . to be comppied for him^ of l«ch fhocking circumfianccF, in order the more cafily tojmpofe upon and druw money from the credulous vulgar : And, upon the whoJe> That we bad no niotivc of intereft, cither N . . ■ oil \ I i ''■ I ^ I 44'- •■ Ti«r t IF* ••o r- • ■• '^j on our own account, or any other perfon whatever^ nor any. prejudice againfl Williamfon, (having ne- ver before fcicn or -htariJ of him), to induce us to ' pi-onbiince the^rewtcnce againft him : That we did it purely as what we judged matci-ial jtrfHcc, to vin- dicate the chara<^cr of thofe we believed to be in- nocent, and wcry unjuftly rcfle^cd upon ; and tbafi A^hatevci- iii the^ fsnttncc appears to tl^cir Jaortl- ihips to be cither ppprcflivc or illegal, proceeded rn:]rcly from error in judgment, and not from any' linifter dcfign : So that however far the fentcnce bias been wrong, we are ready moft freely to make- ^y dieclaration that may be nccclTary, that it pro- ceeded ffom the moA innocent intention. 0ndcr thiefc circumilances, you will cafily per- ceive, how much we were furprifed oh reading' yours; giving account of the fcntencc againft us, ■ und how hard a thing it is to be decerned to pay a' Ibmof money as' a fine, for do'^nf what we con* iidered.to be our dwyv ' . You wilt therefore hy this before the Itwycriy. in order they may ihe better form a reclaimingr petition-. We muft think our cafe very hard, i** redrefs inr this mat* ineir Liordmips dor tcr. We. are, 8:c. grant W. DavidAon. Tl.is Jettefi h'owever, drdncr avail tb^ircaufes it was m rain to deny their being in the knowledge^ that fuch an illicit fpecres of tralfick was carried on by fome of the merchants m Aberdeen, when* it was done in fo public a manner, that the meanelV fcelidenter in the city obferved it ; when ihc famm clamo/d of K rr napping overipread the wbole- country, fo that the poor people; whole bufinciS' led them frequently to town, were afraid to carry their chiUren along with them> icaft tfaey /hould* . . be tMIMMiJIM 118 to^' e did ) vm- )C in- } tbafi f,orti- ceded n any' itcncc make* y rer- eading ' fift us," . pay a.' re con*- timingr ard, W is mat- VT> ff \r caofe^' wiedge^ carried when* eanclV fgnm whole' bufioers- o cMry Ihouldr* be e PETElt WILLIAMSON. 145' be pickM up,, and traAfpovted to the plantations*^ In the end they inHnuate that their fentence againft^^ me proc(!edcd from an > error in> judgment, and' not from any finifter defign, and that ' they >yere \viHing to make any declaration necefTai^, to evince ' the innocence of their intentions. But if a fentence . calculated for the fopprcifion of truth, and to pre- vent the deteftion of a commerce the moft ille-' gal and moft dcftru^ive of Society j can be faid to proceed from no frniiler defign, then every fen-; tence that has a tendency to fcreen the g'liity, and encourage thofe monfters wh* vr ' a traffick of the ' pi'rfons and liberties of theii «jilo :reatures; moft be accounted innocent. The whole of the proce- ' dure of the Magiftrates againft me, appears to have * been directed to this (ingle end. From this view, they frft caufed the whole impreffion of my book to be felzed, and thofe ofTenilve tell-truth leaves to - he burnt, that they miglit not revive the memory ' of this viUainous trade, and rife ii>judgrnent againft their brother Merchants. 2:vv ■; ndciing II t/:i\ ( • ■i; 'A :- merlng the mterits of «he ci^ufe, were pleafed <^ Miere to iheirfonn«r Intedociitor*'>«Thtt» eoded t^$ procefs of oppreffian, carried on by a poor tikzxi, agaiiift the Magiih'acy of one of the dnoA ofluleat and moftreljpeaable boroughs in Scotland. . . It if the peculiar happioefs of this knd of liberty to be blefled with a Supreme Courts wherein junice ts^ difpenfed with ah e4ual hand to the poor and rich ; wherein the caufe oif Uie King and the Beg- gar is weighed in the balance of equity and law, and decided in favours of him whofe fcale prepon- derates. Happy is that nation whofe Judges ar« men of integrity, uninfluenced by power, unbiafsMv' by party, and untainted by corruption I Such be- come the Guardians of the liberties and prppertiea > of the pj^ople, the prote£fdrs of the innocent, th«; fcourges of the guilty, the fupporters of the weak^ and the terrors of the tyrant and opprefTor. Such are the members of that honourable tribunal to which I appealed my caufe, who rcdrefled my grie* vances, and allowed me luch compeniation for thofc a£ts of Tiolence and oppreffion which I had fuf- fered from my tyrannical profecuters, a$ they, in their wifdom, thought juft and equitable Nor mulV I omit to pay a tribute of gratitude to thofe worthy and learned Gentlemen who appeared i»:. roy caufe at the bar, and vyho nobly exerted them- . felves in opening up and difplaying that fcene of. oppreflion and lawlefs perfecution where^vich J had. been harraded, and that without any profpeft of^ fee or reward. In particular I muA acknowledge my obligations to that learned Lawyer who was ai^gned me as Council by their Lorddiips, when my circumltances could not afford the price of a. conf'ultation. He generoufly embarked in my caufe, and, by the force of argument, law and eloquence,, expofed the injudice done me, and the weakneis yiq^ to tne raeaneil catoacjty. 1 (hall trouble the Reader no further on thisfj^j^ jeAy my chief intent in ptb;i(hing this naira^iifre of my Procefs being, to warn Gentlemen in pow^r i^id ltatioii»Dot to abufe them' by a lawlefs exerclft of their authority againfl; the poor and innocent; "ibr thCy may be aflured, thai^power will not fan^l^ fy oppreifion, nor will juihce be hoodwinlcM bv nches. On the other hand, the wealc and frienc^ lefs need not defpair of obtaining redrefs, though Soaning under the yoke of tyrany: Let th^m ,ve but the refolution to apply to the College of Juftice ; Providence will throw friends in their way^ their gippreflbrs /hall hide their heads, and the .cruelties they have committed be retatiatcd upon tbeni. F J ]^ I SL ,., ,,.. ,.:_ ,-,