Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)Croghan, George
History
Journals of Conrad Weiser (1748), George Croghan (1750-1765), Christian Frederick Post (1758), and Thomas Morris (1764)
Croghan, George
Mississippi River Valley -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
[10] After Braddock’s defeat, the ravaging of the frontiers both west
and north of the settled portions of Pennsylvania became so serious that
the colonial government appointed a commission, headed by Franklin,
to take means to protect the settlers, and defend the territory.
Franklin proceeded into Northumberland County, and made arrangements
to fortify the point on the Lehigh where Weisport, Carbon County, now
stands. But before the stockade was completed a body of Indians fell
upon and seriously defeated a party of militia from the neighboring
Irish settlements, led by Captain Hayes (January, 1756). The works were
pushed rapidly after this setback, and the fort was named in honor of
William Allen, chief-justice of the province. This post was garrisoned
until after Pontiac’s War, and probably throughout the Revolution. See
Franklin’s _Writings_ (New York, 1887), ii, pp. 449-454.—ED.
[11] Teedyuscung, one of the most famous of Delaware chiefs, was born in
Trenton about 1705. When nearly fifty years old, he was chosen chief of
the Susquehanna Delawares, and being shrewd and cunning played a game of
diplomacy between the Iroquois, the Ohio Indians, and the authorities of
Pennsylvania, by which he managed largely to enhance his own importance,
and to free the Delawares from their submission to the Six Nations. His
headquarters were in the Wyoming Valley, whence he descended to the
Moravian settlements, and even to Easton and Philadelphia, to secure
supplies from the Pennsylvania authorities. In 1756 a truce was patched
up with this chief at Easton, after he had bitterly complained of the
“Walking Purchase” of 1737, and the white settlements on the Juniata.
His loyalty to the English was doubtful and wavering, and his opposition
to Post’s journey was probably due to fears that his own importance as
a medium between the Ohio Indians and the English would be diminished
by the former’s success. His cabin at Wyoming having treacherously been
set on fire, during one of his drunken sleeps, Teedyuscung was burned to
death in 1763. The Iroquois, who were the guilty party, threw the obloquy
upon the Connecticut settlement, whereupon Teedyuscung’s followers
murdered all the band.—ED.
[12] Wyoming Valley was the bone of contention between the Connecticut
and Pennsylvania colonies, each claiming that it was within their charter
limits. The Connecticut agents succeeded in securing an Indian title at
the Albany conference (1754); but their first settlement being effaced by
an Indian massacre (see preceding note), their next body of emigrants did
not proceed thither until 1769. Meanwhile, on the strength of the Indian
purchase at Fort Stanwix (1768) the Pennsylvanians had occupied the
valley; and a border warfare began, which lasted until the Revolution.
The massacre of 1778, by the Tories and British Indians, is a matter of
general history.
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