CHAPTER XIII. CHAP INDIANS MASSACred at penn's cREEK (1768.) Indians from Big Island settled on Middle creek-Stump and Ironcutter killed ten of the Indians and threw their bodies into Middle creekA body of one of them found in Allen township-Blythe carries intelligence of the murder of the Indians to the Governor-Captain Patterson and some twenty others arrested Stump and Ironcutter, and delivered them to the Sheriff at Carlisle-Patterson's letter to the Indians on West Branch-Shawana Ben's reply-Proceedings of Provincial Council, &c.-Penn's letters and Proclamations-Penn's message to Newoleeka, and other Indians-Stump and Ironcutter rescued from jail—John Armstrong's letter-James Cunningham's deposition before Council and before the Assembly-Sheriff Holme's letter-Justices' proceedings at Carlisle; they arrested a number of persons, supposed to have been concerned in Stump's rescue-Great excitement-The magistrates censured; but acquitted; proof of their acquittal. The case next to be noticed, is the murder committed by Frederick Stump, known as the "Indian Killer," upon several Indian families in Penn township, Cumberland county. This happened in the month of January, 1768. Two or three families of Indians, one called the White Mingo, another Cornelius, one Jonas, and one Cammell, three Indian women, two girls and a child, had removed from the Big Island, on the west branch of Susquehanna, in the spring of 1767, came and built themselves cabins on Middle creek, about fifteen miles above the mouth of said creek; where they lived and hunted, and were on friendly terms with their white neighbors were always well received and kindly treated. In the month of January, 1768, they came to the house of William Blyth, who lived at the mouth of Middle creek. He treated them kindly. From his house they went to Frederick Stumps, who lived near Blyth's, where it is supposed some differences happened. Here four of the Indians were murdered; their bodies cast into Middle creek, through a hole in the ice. Stump, with his servant Ironcutter, (Eisen hauser,) then proceeded to a cabin about four miles from his house, where he found two Indian girls and one child, whom he also murdered, and setting fire to the cabin, endeavored to consume the remains. The body of one of those thrown into Middle creek, was afterwards found, "lying dead within the watermark of the river Susquehannah," some distance below the Harrisburg bridge, and interred in Allen township, as will appear from the following letter, dated EAST PENNSBOROUGH, Cumberland co., Feb. 29, 1768. John Penn, Esq., Hon. Sir: We take this opportunity to inform you, that on the 27th inst., at Allen township, in the county of Cumberland, one James Thompson found an Indian man lying dead within the water mark of the river Susquehannah, who, without doubt, is one of the Indians Stump killed, and was brought down there by the water. As soon as we heard thereof, hearing at the same time that the Coroner was sick, we went down and held an inquest on the dead body. He was struck, as appeared to us, on his forehead, which broke his scull. There was also a large scalp taken off his head which took both of his ears. We held the inquest on the 28th inst., and interred him decently-cut small poles and made a pen about his grave. We have nothing material more to inform you of at present, but beg leave to subscribe ourselves, Your obedient and humble servants, JAMES GALBREATH, The murder of these Indians produced a prodigious excitement, at the time, as will appear from all the facts and proceedings arising from, and connected with it. As soon as this atrocity was made known to the governor of the province, and to Sir William Johnson, Penn issued his proclamation, offering a reward for the apprehension of Stump and Ironcutter, promising to punish them with death; and this declaration, with two strings of wampum, he sent to be made known to the Indians living on the Susquehanna, requesting them not to break the peace in consequence of the murder. A message was also sent to the same effect, says Heckewelder, by the governor to the Christian Indians, with the request that they should make it known in public assembly; and soon after a special message was sent to the Christian Indians (at Friedenshuesten) from Sir William Johnson, desiring if they knew any of the relations of those persons murdered at Middle creek, to send them to him, that he might wipe the tears from their eyes, comfort their afflicted hearts, and satisfy them on account of their grievances. Sir William Johnson also invited the chief of the Six Nations, and other tribes of Indians living on Susquehanna, and on the Ohio to an amicable convention. A convention was held, peace and friendship again re-established.-For particulars see Heckewelder's Narrative. All the circumstances connected with the murder were communicated to the governor and council. Mr. Blyth repaired to Philadelphia, and made information upon oath.See extracts of Records below. Mr. William Blyth of Penn's township, in Cumberland county, just arrived in town, in order to give information to his Honor the Governor, of the murder of ten Indians, lately committed by Frederick Stump, at Middle creek, in that county, appeared at the Board, and being examined on oath, related what is contained in the following deposition, taken in council before the Chief Justice, who was expressly desired to attend for that purpose, viz: The deposition of William Blyth of Penn's township, in the county of Cumberland, Farmer, being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, saith: That hearing of the murder of some Indians by one Frederick Stump, a German, he went to the house of George Gabriel, where he understood Stump was, to enquire into the truth of the matter; that he there met with Stump and several others, on the 12th of the present month January; and was there informed by the said Stump himself, that on Sunday evening before, being the 10th of the month, six Indians, to wit, the White Mingo, an Indian man named Cornelius, one other man named John Campbell, one other man named Jones, and two women came to his (Stump's) house, and being in drink, and disorderly, he endeavored to persuade them to leave his house, which they were not inclined to do, and being apprehensive that they intended to do him some mischief, killed them all, and afterwards, in order to conceal them, dragged them down to a creek near his house, made a hole in the ice, and threw them in-And that the said Frederick Stump further informed this deponent, that fearing news of his killing the Indians might be carried to the other Indians, he went the next day to two cabbins about fourteen miles from thence up Middle creek, where he found one woman, two girls and one child, which he killed in order to prevent their carrying intelligence of the death of the other Indians, killed as aforesaid, and afterwards put them into the cabbins and burat them; that this deponent afterwards sent four men up the creek, to where the cabbins were, to know the truth of the matter, who upon their return, informed him that they had found the cabbins burnt, and discovered some remains of the limbs of some Indians who had been burned in them-And further saith not. WILLIAM BLYTH. Sworn at Philadelphia the 19th day of January, 1768, before me, William Allen. As soon as Capt. William Patterson, (formerly of Lancaster county, then residing on the Juniata) heard of this atrocious act, went, without waiting orders from the governor, with a party of nineteen men, and arrested Stump and Ironcutter, and delivered them to John Holmes, sheriff at Carlisle jail. Aware that the relatives of the murdered Indians would be, on the receipt of this news, exasperated, he sent one Gersham Hicks, with a message to the Indians at Big Island, on the west branch of the Susquehanna. Sir: CARLISLE, January 23, 1768. The 21st instant, I marched a party of nineteen men to George Gabriel's house, at Penn's creek mouth, and made prisoners of Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, who were suspected to have murdered ten of our friend-Indians, near Fort Augusta; and I have this day delivered them to Mr. Holmes at Carlisle jail. Yesterday I sent a person to the Great Island, that understood the Indian language, with a talk; a copy of which is enclosed Myself and Party, were exposed to great danger, by the desperate resistance made by Stump and his friends, who sided with him. The steps I have taken, I flatter myself, will not be disapproved of by the gentlemen in the government; my sole view being directed to the service of the frontiers, before I heard his Honor the governor's ordersThe message I have sent to the Indians, I hope will not be deemed assuming an authority of my own, as you are very sensible I am no stranger to the Indians, and their customs. I am, with respect, Your most obedient humble servant, W. PATTERSOX. JUNIATA, January 22, 1768. "Brothers of the Six Nations, Delawares, and other inhabitants of the West Branch of Susquehanna, hear what I have to say to you.-With a heart swelled with grief, I have to inform you, that Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, hath, unadvisedly, murdered ten of our friend-Indians near Fort Augusta--The inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania do disapprove of the said Stump and Ironcutter's conduct; and as proof thereof, I have taken them prisoners, and will deliver them into the custody of officers, that will keep them ironed in prison for trial; and I make no doubt, as many of them as are guilty, will be condemned, and die for the offence. "Brothers, I being truly sensible of the injury done you, I only add these few words, with my heart's wish, that you may not rashly let go the fast hold of our chain of friendship, for the ill conduct of one of our bad men. Believe me, Brothers, we Englishmen continue the same love for you that hath usually subsisted between our grand-fathers, and I desire you to call at Fort Augusta, to trade with our people, for the necessaries you stand in need of. I pledge you my word, that no white man there shall molest any of you, while you behave as friends. I shall not rest by night nor day. until I receive your answer. Your friend and Brother, W. PATTERSON. The following is an answer to Captain Patterson's message, of January 22, 1768. "FEBRUARY 11th, 1768. "Loving Brother: I received your speech by Gertham Hicks, and have sent one of my relatives with a string of wampum, and the following answer : Loving Brother: I am glad to hear from you--I understand that you are very much grieved, and that the tears run from your eyes--With both my hands I now wipe away those tears: and, as I don't doubt but your heart is disturbed, I remove all the sorrow from it, and make it easy as it was before. I will now sit down and smoke my pipe. I have taken fast hold of the chain of friendship; and when I give it a pull, if I find my brothers, the English, have let it go, and it will then be time for me to let go too, and take care of my family-There are four of my relatives murdered by Stump; and all I desire is, that he may suffer for his wicked action; I shall then think that people have the same goodness in their hearts as formerly, and intend to keep it there. As it was the evil spirit who caused Stump to commit this bad action, I blame none of my brothers, the English, but him. I desire that the people of Juniata may sit still on their places, and not put themselves to any hardships, by leaving their habitations; whenever danger is coming, they shall know it before it comes on them. I am, Your loving Brother, To Capt. William Patterson.-Pro. Rec. T. 286, '87. SHAWANA BEN. The council, after examining Mr. Blyth, immediately took this most important matter into consideration, and were of opinion that warrants should forthwith be issued by the chief justice, directed to the sheriffs, under sheriffs, and other officers of the province, and particularly to those of the counties of Cumberland, Lancaster and Berks, for the apprehending of the above mentioned Frederick Stump, and bringing him before one of his Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer, to be dealt with according to law. The Board also advised the Governor to issue a proclamation offering a reward of £200 for apprehending said offender, and bringing him to justice; but to delay the publication of the same for a short time, till other more secret means should be used for taking him, lest news of such a proclamation should reach his ear, and he might be thereby so alarmed, as to abscond, or make |