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
In our selection of material from the large amount of Croghan’s published
work, we have chosen that which exemplifies Western conditions under
three aspects: First, the period of English ascendency on the Ohio,
which is illustrated by three documents of 1750 and 1751. Secondly, the
period of French ascendency, hostility toward the English, and war on the
frontiers; for this epoch we publish four documents, ranging from 1754
to 1757. The third period, after the downfall of Canada, is concerned
with the surrender of the French posts, and the renewed hostility
of the Indians; the two journals we publish for this period present
interesting material for the study of Western history. Each deals with a
pioneer voyage, for Rogers and Croghan were the first Englishmen (except
wandering traders or prisoners) to penetrate the Lake Erie region and
reach Detroit. The voyage down the Ohio (1765), with its circumstantial
account of the appearance of the country, and its description of Indian
conditions and relations, is noteworthy.
Croghan was a voluminous writer. In addition to the official reports of
his journeys, he evidently had the habit of noting down the events of
the day in a simple, straightforward manner, so that many manuscripts of
his were long extant, presenting often different versions of the same
journey. The earlier antiquaries published these as chance brought them
to their notice.[13] The official reports themselves were preserved in
the colonial archives, and are published in the Pennsylvania and New
York collections. It is believed that this is the first attempt to bring
together a selection of Croghan material that in any adequate manner
outlines his interesting career. The chronological extent of these
journals (from 1750-1765) makes those which follow—Post’s of 1758; and
Morris’s of 1764—interludes in the events which Croghan describes, thus
throwing additional light upon the same period and the same range of
territory.
R. G. T.
A SELECTION OF GEORGE CROGHAN’S LETTERS AND JOURNALS RELATING TO TOURS
INTO THE WESTERN COUNTRY—NOVEMBER 16, 1750-NOVEMBER, 1765
CROGHAN TO THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA[14]
LOGSTOWN ON OHIO,
December [November] the 16th, 1750.[15]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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