Transcription of the Conference Between the Six Nations of the Quakers
Minutes, 1756
DAR.1925.10 Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Transcribed by Mary Stibrik, April 2020
Additions and Corrections are appreciated, please contact the Archives &
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A portion of the original minutes of
the Conference between Quakers of Phila-
delphia and the Six Nations, 1756. For
the Marks of Hendrick Montour, in
6th pages. Printed (with many attractions)
in “Deceased of Conferences” in London, 1756,
pp. 69-77. Catalogue of Conrad Montour?
- From Brinley Sale Catalog
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Satisfaction & finding your retain a lovely & affectionate remembrance
of Wm. Penn & our forefathers the friendship that Subsided between
them & your fathers. It hath rejected our brethren who has heard of it &
Some of them are now come near to See you for that we have long
“illegible word” almost buried by a great numbers of other people who
we came further, many of whom are of different principles from us yet we
can inform you that there is a great number in this Citty other
different parts of the province and Some of even of the frontiers (where a
great deal of blood has been spilt). Who are children of Wm. Penn
of the first settlers. That are men of the same peaceful principles, &
who love you as our brethren. We Shall now ask and Show our
Selves to you for as we are Sorrowful that differences have
arisen between your Cousins of Delawares. & our people we
are desirous of using our endeavors to restore a Peace. and if
they will Stop from doing further mischief. we shall be
to stand between them the Governmt. that they may be
forgiven. & as a proof of our Sincerity we give you this Belt
(a large white Belt) wch you see is white without any mixture,
as our friendship to you is & as it is made of many pieces
wch were small and of little weight or strength before they were
knit together, but is now Strong and firm. So we when
connected and united together, shall appear to our brethen.
And we desire you by this belt to let both the Six Nations and the
Delawares know that we have not forgotten the love and kindness
of their Fathers to ours & as we are men of the same peacea-
ble principles we are ready to give our assistance in any
manner we can to put an end to the present bloodshed. &
to open the way for a treaty in wch all “illegible word” may be
freely opened and when the grounds there of are known,
we will endeavor to get them removed in every respect. (gave
a large white belt) as you are Wise men we desire you to
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Consider in what manner we may be soonest able to put a stop
to the Shedding of blood; for as many of our friends of the Same
peaceable principle with us, for whom you express so much
regard live in different parts of this province. & Some on the
very Frontiers without Something be done soon they may
be destroyed amongst others. therefore for their Sakes in particu,
lar, as well as our countrymen in general we are concerned to
have Some Speedy Stop put to the Shedding blood. (Gave a
String and Some medals with the Kings head)
Sarroyada answered.
Brethren We are glad to hear what you have Said to us & to
understand by the Belt you gave us that offer to Stand up
as Wm Penn Children & that the old principle of peace and Love
are yet in being: Your Fathers declared thay had nothing
but Love & good will in their hearts for all men: We thought
Ye people of that profession had been all dead or buried on their
Bushes or in their Ashes; but we are very glad that their are Some of the
Same men living & if you offer to Stand as Mediators between our
Cousins the Delawares & this Government now at Province;
We will heartily join you herein: It is not only us few who
hear you but all the Six Nations. As to this Misfortune it came
upon us as if an evil spirit had arisen from underground, &
Spread all over the Country & the blood was begun to be Spilt before
we had time to think. but we all must now apply to the good
Spirit to assist you & us to Subdeu this evil Spirit.
Brethren: We will think of the best way to advice you how
to communicate our sentiments before we leav Town:
We will fix the Medals you gave us on our Breasts; &
whenever we look on them we Shall remember & let
that Some of the Wm Penn’s descendants of the
Same principles are living:
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At another Conference held the 23rd of the month 1756 in the
house of Israel Pemberton.
Friends present Indians present.
Anthony Morris. Scarroyada or Muhanatutha.
Samuel Powell. Krayswooghtan iyondo or the Belt
Joshua Dixon. Kayenquyrengon or Jonathan.
James Lewis. Grggren or pride Baronyes.
Abrah. Farrington. Harendcio _ Neweaftle.
Mordecai Yarnell. O Senados Sinietra or Thick leg.
Thos. Brown. O ghsagh.matha _ George.
Daniel Stanton. Oghaistoony _ the Smith.
Wm Logan. or lanch Indian.
Israel Pemberton. Tsyohogath.Greene Jacket.
Owen Jones. Tsadaroonie – David.
Anthony Bengitto. Tonoughtega. the Claycega.
John Reynolds. U’ratsadacho. Scarroyada’s boy
John Armitt. Araw Silver heels.
Isaac Lane. Wm. Lacques a Delaware
James Pemberton.
John Pemberton.
Thos Say. Interpreters.
Thos Lightfoot. Conrad Weifar
John Smith. Andrew Montour
Daniel Claces.
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Scarroyada Standing up Said.
Brethren directing his discourse to
Onas ( by wch they mean people like minded with the first Setler.
We are glad to hear so many of your Sort of people are now
alive that you rise again from the dead. & tho we have been
lost to one another a great while, we are very glad to hear
you are of the Same Sentiments with Onas Since he was dead;
There have been from time to time come new Governers one after
another. & another Sort of people different from the first
Setlers. & we lost him, (meaning Onas) We are very glad
at your rising up. & holding the white Belt in your hands as
an Emblem of Peace to endeavors to reconcile of that
are at War. We will hold fast what you Say & carry it to
the 6 Nations & add Strength to it who will be very glad
to hear there are people of the Same principles as the
first Setlers for we have not heard of you for many
years; A String Brethren we are glad to hear you
Speak after the language of Onas & of the principles of peace
he preached or recommended: we thought their
were no more of the people of the principl left in this
Country: we are glad to See you now & hear you Speak
we will assist you & Lay your Belt pf peace before the
Six Nations who will be glad to hear of you. And this
may Look to contradict what the Governor has Said to us.
we don’t mean So. – let that be as it is: But we assure
you that wat you propose to us is what we like best. &
we will assist you in it & Shall Send these three
Indians to Wyoming with a Message to let our Cousins
know there are a people risen in Philadelphia who
desire to have peace restorde & they must cease from
doing any more mischief & not be afraid to be willing
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to treat with you and we are Sure they will mind
our Message & what we desire will be granted A Second String
Brethren. As things are now circumstanced we would not have
you venture your lives to go or Send any message over the
Mountains to the Delawares or the Shawanocs. they are now
your and our Enemies: We will venture our lives to make the
Road Clear: but do you Stay where you are: If they ( our
Messengers) have their throats cut. you cannot then here
from them, but it may please the most high that they may
return Messengers of Peace: & if they Should bring you
an Agreeable Answer. we Shall then desire you may act the
part of Wisemen and be careful in Settling a Treaty. & then
you may go to meet them but do not Stir till you hear from us.
A 3rd String Brethren As we told you before these three
men two two of them are of whom are of the Council of Six Nations. &
Warriors of the other one of our Cousins have undertaken to
go whenever we Shall Send them, & perhaps it may please
ye most High to bring them back in Safety; and with an Agreeble
Answer: If they come back take notice of them as your firm
Friends. & as you are Children of Onas. & Some of us are of the
Council & Some Warriors of the Six Nations. we are very
desirous, that by your Means of Treaties of Friendship wch
have formally Subsisted between us may be renewed & remain
from Generation to Generation that the Chain may be kept
bright & never contract any rust. again: Gave a String
of Wampum. Brethren We hope you ill not take a miss
our answering you with So little Wampum, & not make a
return of a Belt. the times are very difficult with us & we have
little Wampum here, & we looke upon a white Belt you gave
us as belonging to you & us. & as an Emblem of peace, it
Shall preserve it as Such & carry it to the Six Nations;
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We have examined the foregoing & Certify it contains the
Substance of the conference held between the Indians & Wm Logan
& others, the 23rd of the 4th mth (April) 1756.
to have others, Conrad Weisar
Daniel Claces
Hendrick {
Alias { Montour
Andrew {
N.B. The proceeding minute called for to lay before the
Governor Sooner than expected. their was not time
to review & add the following concluding minute
wch ought to have been done.
J. Pemberton. We are glad to hear what you
have Said to us as we believe it to be Spoken
in Sincerity, & what you really think & tho we
judge it necessary in matters of importance to
observe the good method practiced by you, to take time
to delibrate: yet as we now believe you have opened
the real Sentiments of your hearts to us. So we being
all of one hearts & minds & knowing the many more
of our Brethren that are true Quakers will join
us here in can with out any hesitation readily
answer & assure you that we receive all you have
Said with great pleasure & whatever may be the event
of our endeavors. we hope on all future occasions to
demonstrate our real love & regard to you. – To all wch
they gave the usual expression of Appreciation.
Then Scarroyada addressing himself to the three Messengers
Said. As we are obliged to make use of your Ears & Tongues
we desire you may be hearty & Sincere in Attending to the
(illegible word) now undertaken to join with our brethen & us
in carrying the Same in to Execution And he intimated
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that if they did So they would merit our mutual regard
To wch they answered: We approve of the prudent
advice you gave them, & we hope they will remember it and
approve them Selves worthy of our regard wch we shall not be
wanting to manifest with them in a grateful manner; and added
as you are now going on your journey & the weather grows warm
we give you Some Handkerchiefs to wipe the Sweat from your
Faces (they are very fond of large Indian Silk Hankerchiefs
on wch account 20 of Such were given them) And Some Small
matters for your wives, with Some more Medals wch they thankfully
received: & distributed to each present. reserving a few for some
of their Brethren in Towne Sick – and J.P. Said, as you
mentioned to us you thought we ought to apply to the good spirit
that is over all to Subdue the evil Spirit wch had influenced
those who had done So much Mischief we Sincerely & heartily (illegible
word)
(illegible word) & Shall fervently desire & pray to God to change their
Hearts & that if it be his will that he would protect the Messengers now
going & grant that they may return in Safety & with the message
of peace: - Which they attended to & received with a becoming
Solidity & Satisfaction. Then Scarroyada Said. Brothers
Onas, We that are here, both Councellours & Warriours of the 6
Nations & Women, return you many thanks for what you
have given us. & Should be glad that we had words Sufficiently
Expressive of our love & regard to you.
Then with mutual & friendly Salutations by ye good old
custom of shaking hands. the Conference ended, Scarroyada & most
of the Indians Set out on the 25th on the Same month for New
York & thence to Onondoga: And the three Ambassadors under
the Conduct of A. & J. Spangerberg others by way of
Bethlehem to Winning.
