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
[41] This stockade fort was built on Aughwick Creek, where stands the
present town of Shirleysburg. It was known first as Fort Croghan, then
a private enterprise; but later in the same year (1755), a fort was
built on this site by order of the government and named for General
Shirley, commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America.
Governor Morris wrote, after a visit to this fort in January, 1756, that
seventy-five men were garrisoned therein (_Pennsylvania Archives_, ii,
p. 556). It was appointed as the rendezvous for Armstrong’s expedition
against Kittanning in August of this same year; but by October 15 the
site had grown so dangerous that the governor ordered it abandoned.—ED.
[42] This account of the situation on the Ohio, obtained from the
journey of a Delaware Indian, is reprinted from _Pennsylvania Colonial
Records_, vi, pp. 781, 782. Since the last letter written by Croghan, the
Assembly had passed a militia bill (November, 1755), and Franklin had
been commissioned to take charge of the erection of a series of frontier
forts. Croghan was commissioned captain, and promptly raising a company,
entered with zeal upon the work. For his instructions, see _Pennsylvania
Archives_, ii, p. 536.—ED.
[43] Robert Hunter Morris, son of Lewis Morris, prominent colonial
statesman and governor of New Jersey, was born at Morrisania, New York,
about 1700. Having been educated for the law, he became chief-justice
of New Jersey (1738), a position held until his death in 1764. The
Pennsylvania proprietors chose him as lieutenant-governor to succeed
Hamilton in 1754; during his term of office he vigorously defended the
province, but engaged in constant disputes with the Quaker party in
the Assembly. The annoyance arising from this caused him to resign in
1756.—ED.
[44] King Beaver (Tamaque) was head chief of the Delaware Indians on the
Ohio, with headquarters at the mouth of Beaver Creek. He was somewhat
half-hearted in the English service, but protested his desire to preserve
the alliance until after Braddock’s defeat, when he openly took the
hatchet against the English settlements. Post met him upon the Ohio in
1758, and secured a conditional agreement to remain neutral; but after
the English occupation of the Forks of the Ohio, he retreated to the
Muskingum, where a town was named for him. He took part in the treaties
with the English in 1760 and 1762; but was one of the ring-leaders in the
conspiracy of Pontiac (1763). After Bouquet’s advance into his territory,
he reluctantly made peace, and delivered up his English prisoners. He
died about 1770, having in his later years passed under the influence
of the Moravian missionaries, and become one of their most eminent
disciples.—ED.
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