HC11-22017

Journal of Frederick Posts' Journey from Philadelphia to Wyomink June 20th 1758

The 20th received an Order and Message from His Honour the Governor to Teedyuscung at Wyomink. 21st. Set out from Philadelphia. When I was come within 12 Miles of Bethlehem met with a violent gust of Thunder and rain which obliged me to stay there that night. 22d Came to Bethlehem. I met with the same Company of Indians that accompanied mr. Thomson and me from Wyomink. I enquired of them when they intended to return there; they told me in three or four days Time. I informed them, that I had a message from the Governor and the Cherokee Indians to Teedyuscung, and desired them to accompany me to which they agreed 23d Set off from Bethlehem, and met with Lieutenant Peterson with a scouting Party from Allemangle, who informed us, that Levan's Servant had been fired at by seven Indians, near the place we must pass by, and painted the Danger of our Undertaking in very frightful colours. My Company being tired we put up 5 miles on this side of Fort Allen. 24th: When we came to the Fort, they told us the same Story; on which my Company concluded to stay there that day, and to set off early next morning. Further they told me, Brother, we assure you that it will not be long before the war be quite over. For there are but few whom the Devil rides, that cannot be easy; that the others often made hard Complaints against them to bring them to reason. 25th: Sunday we crossed Nishewatshowall the other side of Meskonekek Creek and came that Day 4 Miles the other side of Luquach. The Indians killed a Bear about a gunshot off from our Lodging. 26th. Near Taquachsekkuckkawad our people shot a Deer divided it in pieces to everyman his Portion and after dining here we went over Moshsioashong & Neshopekok River, from here onward my Companions would not have me go foremost. We lodged that night on a Hill; there was a violent gust of Rain and we had no other Cover over us, but the Heaven and all that fell from thence came upon us. 27th. We made great fire and dried our Clothes & c. My Companions desired of me to know the Contents of my Message before we came to the Town. I acquainted them with it and they seem'd well satisfied. About

About 2 o’clock we came to the town. My Indians called out on which there started out a great number of Indians out of the Houses, many with painted Faces and upwards of 40 strangers of different Tribes, some of whom I knew. I observed that they are upon their guard, & have scouts out. We went to Teedyuscungs house, which was as full as it could hold. He told me that some of their people were gone to Shamokin a little before our arrival. I met there Captive woman Cobus Decker’s Daughter from Jerseys near Minisinly and an Indian Trader Lawrence Bork of Lancaster County, who has been with them the whole time of the war. When we had been awhile there Teedyuscung called all their Men together.

First I told them in general the intent of my coming and told Teedyuscung my instructions and gave him the Governor’s answers with a string of Wampum; with which they all seemed well pleased. I then read to them the speech & repeated it three times, that they might get the full meaning of it: Augustus interpreted it, and they were well pleased and satisfied and were very attentive to the Words which they had heard, & returned many Thanks for the same. Then delivered the Belt. Then Teedy uscung showed me two chiefs and several other Indians from Allegheny who proposed to go down to Philadelphia; but the idle reports which they had all along heard had them suspicious and afraid. I told them that I was glad to see them, and as I had been twice married among them; I had a Great Love towards their nation and would speak very free with them and they might believe me. After we had discoursed awhile together, they shook Hands with me, and tole me Brother, we are very glad to see you, & have a long Time wished to become one of the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania with whom we could speak ourselves. For we cannot believe all that we hear, and know not what is true and what is false. Then the rest of the People, women and Children came to see me, and welcomed me to their Town. But unhappily a woman had brought 5 gallons of Rum of some Body did not know his name, but supposed he was a Jew in Easton, with which most of them got drunk, 2 beat their wives almost to Death. And I know that those who suffer such abuse, must sigh & groan to God, against those who sell them the Liquor.

28th: The Indians from Allegheny came early to visit me, invited me to their Fire, & to break fast with them on Bears meat &, Turkey At Breakfast they asked me many Questions which I gave them a true answer to. They said that the Indians thro the many idle Reports

Reports they had heard from Time to Time, were grown jealous of the English, and could not believe that they would make peace with them and hence were resolved to stay with the French; that they were sorry that they had gone to War against the English, & wished often to have seen some Messenger from the Government with whom they could have spoken, for then they had long left of the War against them. They complained strongly that they never had heard any satisfactory acct of the Peace made at Easton, nor any Treaties that had been held, nor received any Belt till now lately. They all passed by the Mohawks but did not go into any of their Towns. I assured them the English were not in Fault for they had often sent Messages Belts and Invitations to them; that they might come down & speak together Kulaikund, one of the Chiefs who lives on this side Allegheny, said that he was very old; but those who are just now come from Allegheny (pointing to Kikiguokund and Pisqucton) wish to know the Truth of Affairs, then lifting up his Hands to Heaven, wished that God would have mercy upon them and help them, and bring them and the English again together, and establish an everlasting Ground & Foundation for peace between them. He wished further that God would move the Governor and Peoples Hearts towarde them in Love Peace and Union, For he hoped without fail, that a firm and everlasting peace would be established and an End put to all War and strife. He said further that it would be well, if the Governor sent some body with them at their Return home for it would be of great Consequence to them who live about Allegheny to hear the Governor's Mind from their own Mouths; The above mentioned Chiefs told, that at the French Fort at the Ohio there were 1100 French Soldiers but almost starved with Hunger; had not the Mohawks helped them, the most of them must have left the Place. Their Provisions they got from the Mississippi, which was but very little. They told the Indians, Children! The English have almost beat me, I have nothing to live on. But for all, we are men and will Hunt; if we can get nothing else we will live on meat as long as we can. If the English come too strong upon me I will leave the Place. I am but weak and I should lose a great many men. I enquired about the Indians that fell on the Minisinks, and was informed, that three Parties were returned back, One Party had two wounded, and the others had each of them lost one. 29th We set off from Wyomink in all about 50 and came that Day about 20

20 Miles, and Kept in the open Air that night

30th About 8 Miles the other side Fort Allen we met with the Indian Messengers with a Message from the Governor of the Jerseys They sat all down by their Fire and the Messenger acquainted them with his Message; upon which they discoursed together of the Matter but all were at a Loss who this Nation of Pomton Indians is to whom the Message is sent, unless it be a Nation settled somewhere near the Mohawks River which is now with Sir William Johnson. At night arrived at Fort Allen.

Frederick Post's Journal to Wyomink June 1758